How once knee-deep in blood Immoveably he flood, &c. But, perhaps, it may be faid in apology, that the old gentleman's imagination being bewildered, his memory deceived him. Be it fo. Art. 21. The Whim!!! or, The Maidstone Bath. A Kentith Poetic. Dedicated to Lady Worsley. 4to. I s. 6 d. Wil liams. Some degenerate feion, fprung from the venerable root of good Mafter Thomas Sternhold, here proftitates the honest Eke-and-Aye Mufe of his pious ancestor; forcing her to fing the unhallowed deeds of the Hampshire Meffalina.-O Shame, where is thy blush! DRAMATIC. Art. 22. The Dramatic Puffers, a Prelude; as performed at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden. 8vo. 6d. Kearfley. 1782. A flight outwork of a theatrical fortification. Art. 23. The Choice of Harlequin; or, The Indian Chief. A A Pantomimical Entertainment; as it is afted at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden. 8vo. I S. Riley. 1782. Pantomime Entertainments (so they are called!) though ACTED with the HIGHEST APPLAUSE, are commonly read with the very lowest degree of fatisfaction or delight. The following fcene is fuppofed to contain a corre& exhibition of the manners and language of the place it is intended to reprefent: SCENE VIII. Bride-well. A French macaroni-a modern beau-a well-dreffed Jew-two genteel harlots-a black one dreffed in white-an inforance-office keeper-and a hackney coachman, difcovered beating hemp. Keepers overlooking. They force Juno and the maid to work. One of the keepers comes forward and strikes at Harlequin with a rattan. He avoids the blow, jumps over the wall, and efcapes. A keeper enters, and fings the following fong: Ye fcamps, ye pads, ye divers, and all upon the lay, In Tothill-fields gay fheep-walk, like lambs ye fport and play, I'm jigger-dubber here, and you're welcome to mill doll. With my tow, derow, Sc. With my tow, derow, &c. The French with trotters nimble could fly from English blows, I fay, my flashy coachman, that you'll take better care, CHORUS. We're feamps, we're pads, Sc.' A deal of Oriental learning may also be collected from the Order of the Proceffion, in which Hircarrers and Nishamburdars, Sammangees with Tom-Toms, Ramjannees and Ticktaws, Coolies and Debabes, appear without number! Art. 24. Songs, Duets, Trios, Choruffes, &c. &c. in the Comic Opera of The Banditti; as performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. The Mufic by Dr. Arnold. 8vo. 6d. Cadell. These verses seem to have been penned with a view of humourous rather than poetical expreflion, and might perhaps produce the intended effect in their places in the drama. As a detached collection of Songs, their merit is very moderate. NOVEL. Art. 25. George Bateman. 3 Vols. 12mo. 7 s. 6 d. fewed. Dodley. 1782. The Authores (for fo fhe ftiles herself, though the distinction was unneceffary, fince many "minutias" concurred to evince her fex) hath related a plain and fimple tale, in an agreeable ftyle. She attempts, however, the bow of Ulyffes, without ftrength to bend it to advantage, by endeavouring fometimes to imitate Fielding, and at other times the Author of "Evelina." On the whole, however, as a novel, this work is much fuperior to the ufual furniture of a circulating library; and though it will not bear the feverity of criticism, yet it fometimes affects the heart without offending the judgment, and entertains the fancy without wounding the modesty of the most delicate and innocent of her fex. The adventures follow each other with rapidity; but though we have often been difgufted by a tedious minuteness in fimilar publications, we could not help regretting, in this work, that the little sketches of nature are so foon closed, and that we are often feparated from the company of agreeable acquaintance, whom we wished to have carried with us to the end. Since the above was written, we have heard that the Writer is Mifs E. Blower. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 26. The Beauties of Johnson: Confifting of Maxims and Obfervations, Moral, Critical, and Mifcellaneous, accurately extracted from the Works of Dr. Samuel Johnson; and arranged in alphabetical Order, after the Manner of the Duke de la Rochefoucault's Maxims. 8vo. 2 Vols. 4s. 6d. fewed. Kearily. 1782. The merit of Dr. John fon, as a moral and critical writer, is so well known, that it would be fuperfluous to point it out. His great excellence, however, lies in deep obfervations and acute remarks on men and manners, worthy both of the Sage and the Wit: With thefe, be interweaves reflections, which are admirably calculated to imprefs the the heart with a fenfe of the beauty of virtue, and the obligations of religion. The Collector of his Maxims fufficiently expreffes the defign of this publication in the Title-page; and we heartily with it fuccefs among the young, for whofe improvement and convenience, particularly in fchools, it feems principally intended. Art. 27. Curfory Examination of Dr. Johnfan's Strictures on the Lyric Performances of Gray. 8vo. I S. Crowder. 1781. This curfory Examination, though apparently the production of hafte, is written with liberality and candour. Those who interest themselves in the poetical reputation of our modern Pindar, will read it with pleasure. Art. 28. Reveries of the Heart; during a Tour through Part of England and France. In a Series of Letters to a Friend. Izmo. 2 Vols. 4 s. fewed. Johnfon. 1781. By accident this agreeable Medley hath been too long neglected; and we hope the candour of the Author will excufe an omiffion that was not intended, either as a flight to him or his performance. The title fufficiently expreffes the defign of the work; and the execution is fuch as merits at least indulgence, if not applaufe. A lively vein of Sbandean hilarity runs through it, fuperior at least to fome of the modern imitators of Sterne,-the bungling menders of his old and worn-out pen! Some will undoubtedly find fault with the Author for many very unneceffary, and even licentious allufions to fcripture, and charge him with profanenefs and infidelity. And indeed with fome reafon. This freedom with facred characters is unwarrantable in every view, and generally arifes from ignorance, affectation, or fpleen. The Writer of thefe Reveries may poffibly have feen much to difguft him among the class of people who have affumed a prefcriptive title to orthodoxy, and who would monopolize all the excellence of the earth within their narrow circle. On certain minds this early impreffion is often unfortunate; for Horace hath observed, Stulti in contraria currunt. Though not violently attached to the miniftry, we are equally dif pleafed with this Writer's virulence, and difgufted at his tedious repetitions of national grievances, to double, if poffible, the odium of government. At prefent this Tour-maker is not got out of England. We tremble for the very fmall remnant of religion which he feems to poffefs, when he fhall arrive in France. The fight of Dr. Franklin will certainly make him forget the fecond commandment!!! PHILOSOPHICAL. Art. 29. An Effay on Fire. To which is annexed an Appendix: By C. R. Hopfon, M. D. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Rivington. 1781. There are two methods of enlightening the world in philofophical matters. The firft, to which we moft readily give the preference, confifts in investigating the properties of bodies by new and appropriate experiments; and the fecond, in deducing confequences, and forming theories from the phenomena already known, and the experimental inveftigations of others. The prefent performance is strictly of the latter class; as it does not contain any new experiment of the Author's, whofe principal view appears to be, to prefent us with a 4 theory theory which he has formed, to account for the phenomena of which the philofophical world is already in poffeffion. Had the Author produced any new and interefting experiments on the curious fubjects of which he treats; we fhould, as is our conftant practice, have taken a pleasure in extending the knowledge of them among our philofophical readers. But an account of a mere theory, on a dark and involved fubje&, could not gratify, much lefs enlighten, any of our readers; especially in the narrow limits to which we are confined: unless, indeed, the Author, had the good fortune to hit upon fome fimple and luminous principle, by means of which the phenomena into which he inquires might be explained within a moderate compafs. Notwithstanding thefe remarks, we would have it underflood, that though we with the Author had given us fome new experiments, rather than bypothefes, on fire, phlogilton, &c. yet he appears to be well acquainted with what has been written on these subjects; and his fpeculations and reafonings on them may poffibly fuggeft new ideas, and furnish hints for new experiments, to others. For this last reafon principally, we fhall briefly fpecify the heads of the Author's chapters. His principal hypothefis, which forms the fubject of the first three chapters is, that fire (which he confiders as a substance, and not a mere quality) is not an element; as it confifts of two component parts, light and beat and that phlogiston confifts likewife of the fame two principles; and accordingly is fire, but in a fate of fixity. In the following chapters he treats of the communication, and the production of heat;-of the proceffes in general, in which the air is phlogifticated;-of inflammation and combuftion ;-of the deflagration of nitre;-of the explosion of gunpowder and pulvis fulminans, as likewife of aurum fulminans, and the fulminating mercurial precipitates of M. Bayen. A thefis on the subject of fire, published by the Author in 1767, is fubjoined, under the whimsical title of Tentamen Phyfico-chemico-medicum de tribus in uno.' Art. 30. Efays on Phyfiological Subjects: By J. Elliot. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Johnfon. 1780. Thefe Effays, which have through accident been long overlooked by us, contain feveral miscellaneous obfervations, hypothefes, hints, &c. on various fubjects of phyfiology, which bear a relation to the ingenious Author's former publication [Philofophical_Observations, &c. See M. R. January 1780.], and principally to his obfervations on animal heat. For many reafons, we must refer our philofophical readers, who have a taste for mere hypotheses, to the Pamphlet itself. LA W. Art. 31. The Trial, with the Whole of the Evidence, between the Right Hon. Sir Richard Worley, Bart. Comptroller of his Majesty's Houthold, Governor of the Ile of Wight, Member of Parliament for the Borough of Newport, One of his Majesty's, Moft Hon. Privy Council, &c. Plaintiff, -and George Maurice Biffet, Elq; Defendant; for Criminal Converfation with the Plaintiff's Wife: Before the Right Hon. William, Earl of Mansfield, and a Special Jury, in the Court of King's Bench, Westminter Hall, Feb. Feb. 21, 1782. Taken in Short Hand by R. P. Donkin. 4to. 18. Kearly. ONE SHILLING Damages! -How mortifying to the injured husband! What a triumph to the vicious! O tempora! O mores! SERMONS. I. In Lambeth Chapel, at the Confecration of Dr. S. Hallifax, Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Octob. 28, 1781. By Eaft Apthorp, D. D. 4to. Is. Cadell. An ingenious but flattering eulogium on Episcopacy and the Conftitution of the Church of England. There is an affectation in this Writer's ftyle and manner which favours of great vanity: if the young divine can dispense with that, we would recommend to his attention Dr. Apthorp's judicious hints refpecting the study of theology as a fcience, affixed to the prefent difcourfe. II. Advice addressed to the young Clergy of the Diocese of Carlisle ;preached at a general Ordination holden at Rofe Caftle, July 29, 1781. By William Paley, M. A. Chaplain to the Bishop of Carlifle. 4to. 6d. Faulder. We have perused this fermon with more than common pleasure. For the juftness of its reflections, the propriety of its language, and the benevolence, good fenfe, and piety which breathe through the whole, we have rarely met with its equal. That young divine must be ftupid or vicious to the laft degree, who can read it without being affected and improved by it. • In answer to the Correfpondent who enquires concerning the Mr. Jones who is the Author of Phyfiological Difquifitions, mentioned in our Review for January last, Art. II. we are to observe, that the Difquifitor is the Rev. Mr. Jones, Rector of Pafton in Northamptonshire. Our Correspondent is mistaken in fuppofing the Writer here meant, to be William Jones, Efq. The laft named Gentleman is of the Law; and one of the firft literary characters of the age. +++ In answer to B. D.'s Letter, dated from Coleshill, Dec. 8th, 1781, we can only fay, that we know of no Work, on the subject he mentions, that will give him fo much pleasure and inftruction as Millot's Ancient and Modern Hiftory. If B. D. understands the French language, we would recommend the original Work to him; if he does not, there is a good Translation of it, published for Mr. Cadell. The Sermons on the late General Faft in our next: Alfo the Letters on the Rot in Sheep, mentioned at the end of our last month's Review. |