for nouns in English having no accufative termination, the verb cannot be faid to govern that cafe. The Author's obfervations on profody, etymology, and paufe, are general and fuperficial; and the whole work appears to us much inferior in merit to many fimilar publications. Art. 25. Defcription des Royaulmes d'Angleterre et d'Efcoffe: compofe par Etienne Perlin, Paris 1558.-Hiftoire de Entree de la Reine Mere dans la Grande Bretagne : par P. de la Serre, Par. 1639Illuftrated with Cuts and English Notes. 4to. 5s. Bowyer, &c. 1775. The Editor's account of this republication is as follows: • The two pieces here offered to the Public contain the idea which some of our neighbours formed of us in the two laft centuries. The Phyfician, in the fixteenth century, thinks he cannot fet us in two contemptible a light, and with the true vanity of his nation, delivers into the hand of his mafter, not only this little island, but the whole world. The hiftoriographer, in the feventeenth, flatters us a little more; but his picture of us is only a back-ground to fet off his miftrefs, who, the victim of her own fierte, leeks among us a momentary protection in the arms of her fon-in-law. Perhaps we fhould forgive the prejudices of both writers, for the fake of the anecdotes they tranfmit to us. The one brings us acquainted with fome hiftorical particulars; the other has tranfmitted to us feveral interefting topographical ones. The anecdotes of Edward VI. and Mary, and the elevations of old London and fome other places, muft atone for the groffiereté of Perlin and La Serre.' We find fo few facts really interesting in the former work; and in the latter fo little, befides a series of extravagant compliments to the heroine of the tale, and a minute detail of the particulars of her journey, and her entry into London; that we apprehend they might both have remained in the state of oblivion to which time had configned them, without any material lofs to the Public. The true antiquarian, who efteems nothing trifling that is ancient, may probably be of a different opinion, and will perhaps be able to extract both information and entertainment from this republication. The second work has three curious plates, the firit of the feat of Sir Thomas Mildmay, Mulfham Hall; the fecond of Giddy Hall, both in Effex; and the third of the proceffion of the Queen along Cheapfide. NOVELS and MEMOIRS. Art. 26. The Maiden Aunt. Written by a Lady. 12mo. 3 Volumes. 9s. Bew. 1776. We obferve, in this novel, evident traces of a cultivated mind, and a feeling heart; and think we may venture to recommend it to the perufal of our fair Readers, as not only perfectly inoffenfive, (which may be faid of many very infignificant performances of this clafs) but as capable of affording them rational and elegant entertainment. It is written in an eafy and unaffected ftyle the characters and fentiments difcover a nice attention to the operations of na ture in fome of its most interelling fituations: the incidents are natural without being infipid; and fufficiently diverfified without being Extravagant. The story of Julia merits a tear. Real merit in effential articles, being at beft but a poor apology for inaccuracy, we thould have thought ourselves under the neceffity of of cenfuring this female Writer for the incorrect manner in which her work appears before the Public, had we not received information (which in justice to the Author,-and to the Editor, we fhall communicate to our Readers), that fince the copy passed out of the Author's hands, the beginning of every letter in the first volume was altered, many of them in the most abfurd and valgar manner ;that the careleffnefs of the publisher has fuffered the groffeft blunders in fenfe, grammar, and fpelling to pafs into print, for which the copy was not answerable, and that he has added fifteen letters just before the conclufion, beginning with the 42d, and ending with the 56th, which the Author entirely difclaims, and confiders as a compound of inconfiftency, added merely to fpin out the work. Such an injury as this, though not expressly provided against by the aft of Queen Anne refpecting copy right, is of too ferious a nature not to merit the most fevere cenfare. We are certain it will excite the indignation of every one who is acquainted with the natural feelings of an Author; and we doubt not but the person, whoever he is, whofe offence now lies before a court fuperior to ours, will be condemned by the Public. Art. 27. Memoirs of a Demi-Rep of Fashion; or the private Hiftory of Mifs Amelia Gunnersbury. Containing curious Anecdotes of Perfons of the first Rank, which illuftrate many celebrated and eminent Characters. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. Dix. Some worthy fucceffor to the celebrated Treyfac de Vergy, has coined or dreffed up, a number of ill-digested tales of licentious love, in hopes that the public avidity for feandalous anecdotes may give them a welcome reception: but when we cannot approve a writer's motive, there is fome confolation in finding his abilities unequal to his intentions. Peace to De Vergy; he has followed his works, and we mean the prefent Writer no harm, in wishing hẹ would betake himfelf to fome lefs exceptionable employment. LAW. Art. 28. An Abridgment of Penal Statutes, which exhibits at one View, the Offence; the Punishment or Penalty annexed to that Offence; the Mode of Recovering, and Application of the Penalty; the Number of Witneffes and Juftices neceffary to convict the Offender; with a Reference to the Chapter and Section of the enacting Statute. By William Addington, Efq; one of the Magiftrates prefiding at the public Office in Bow-ftreet. 8s. Half bound. Uriel, &c. 1775. Tabular abstracts are peculiarly advantageous for the ready view of complicated fubjects, especially where prompt decifion is to be wished; and furely nothing can be more complicated than acts of parliament, or more embarraffing, where the conduct of a justice of the peace in any one object, is regulated by feveral statutes. It may be hinted in recommendation of this compendium, that it is the work of an acting magiftrate, and not of a meer compiler, actuated by the hope of fabricating fomething that may fell, The articles being all numbered, are referred to in an alphabetical table of contents; but could they have been all arranged in a strict alphabetical order, in the first instance, the neceffity of this reference Ja a letter from the Author. might have been fuperfeded by having immediate recourfe to them as to a dictionary: probably the Author is the best judge, how far this was practicable. He offers it as little more than an index to the ftatutes; and recommends it to every magiftrate, for greater fecurity, to refer from it to the ftatutes: it may be added, that it alfo behoves every purchafer to correct his copy with a pen, from the errata at the end. POETICAL. Art. 29. Elegiac Verfes to a young Lady on the Death of her Brother, who was flain in the late Engagement at Bofton. The Author M. M. Robinson. 4to. I S. Johnfon. 1775 As this Writer profeffes himself → an humble bard Untaught the depth of Science to explore, we fhall criticife him no further than to obferve that, for a bard fo circumftanced, the poetry is decent. There is a pretty vignette on the title-page. Art. 30. An Heroic Epifle to the Right Hon. Lord Graven, on his delivering the following Sentence at the County Meeting at Abingdon, Nov. 7, 1775, I will have it known that there is Refpect due to a Lord." 4to. I s. Wheble. This little poem is written with a degree of fpirit and elegance, worthy the Author of the Original Heroic Epiftle, and is one of the beft fatires we have lately feen. Art. 31, Duelling; a Poem: By Samuel Hayes, M. A. late Fellow of Trinity College, 4to. is. Dodfley. This is the Cambridge prize-poem for the Kiflingbury premium 1775The following lines, we apprehend, the Author meant as a defcription of the Temple of falfe Honour: 1. Lo, on a rock wide opening to the view, 2. Lav'd by the ambient deep, a Temple ftands, 14. What numerous tribes appear! Thro' the rough sea, 17. On to the fane they ruth. There, o'er the shrine 18. Grim Moloch fits Here, Reader, are fixteen lines and a hemiftich-all very good, Are they not? Why yes, Mafter Reviewer, I think fo, but I do not well know what you mean by that fame hemiftich.'-Pfhaw! now I dare fay you are either the Vice-chancellor, or the Greek Profef for, for, or the Mafter of Clare-Hall. It is an inftrument in husbandry, Man, ufed on the Kiflingbury eftate-And fo you say these lines are all very good. However, by your Chancellorship's, or your Profefforfhip's, or your Mastership's leave, we'll probe 'em a little with our critical pins: L. 1. Here is a rack wide-opening to the view. What do you think of that? Why very well; is it not? It means that you have a fair view of the rock'-No fuch thing: for then it must have been open, not opening-wide opening fignifies that the rock, whilft you look upon it, is splitting asunder. L. 3. Surely you must either be poorly read in poetry, or think this line very trite, and quite unoriginal. L. 4. Here, you fee, we want two commas to rectify the punctuation, which is very defective through the whole poem. the mental, eye L. 6-7. Of probing Reafon Do not you fee an error of the prefs here? No,-where?' Why, Mr. Vice-chancellor, it fhould be poring Reafon-The eye cannot properly be faid to probe; but pore, you know, it may.—' O `yes, Mafter Reviewer, I fee it very plain.' L. 8, &c. The watchful guardians of the god within. Now, Mr. Profeffor! What think you of this?- Wonderfully fublime, I think it, and then with what propriety Courage is made to ftand on the dread tog'-Oh, you are a Prince of a critic-I thought that would take with you. But, what would you say, fuppofing this fublime paffage fhould turn out nothing better than turgid nonfenfe? In the first place, you fee, that the top of the Temple is among the clouds ;' in the next place four Beings in these clouds are reprefented as the watchful guardians of the god within,' who is, at the fame time, defcribed as fitting o'er the thrine.' In their nebulous fituation how could they fee? See, Sir! Ha, ha, hah!⠀ See! Why, they are images form'd by the fculptor's imitative hand'-O, cry you mercy, good Mr. Profeffor-So, thofe are the watchful guardians of the god! Let us proceed; we are near the conclufion of the paffage. L. 15, 16, 17. In the two firft lines we find a tie drown'd in the waves. In the laft the votaries of the god are described as rushing to the fane, though that fane is previously reprefented as ftanding in the midst of the fea: now would not rowing, or even calling, or Swimming have been a more proper expreffion? Master Reviewer, I fee you are determined to find fault; fo good bye t'ye!' Art. 32. On illicit Love; written among the Ruins of Godstow Nunnery near Oxford. By John Brand, B. A. of Lincoln College, Oxford.. 4to. 1 s. 6 d. Wilkie. This poem has a moral purpofe, and contains many good lines; the apostrophes, in particular, to Love and Woman are very pretty These are the JUDGES that affign Mr. Seaton's reward, and and poetical; yet there are fome defective paffages, and fome obfcurities in the verses; which evince no want of genius, but a hand not long accuftomed to compofition. Art. 33. Almeria; or, Parental Advice; a Didactic Poem, addreffed to the Daughters of Great Britain and Ireland. By a Friend to the Sex. 4to. 3 s. Gardner, &c. There is a good deal of piety and divinity in this performancebut not poetical divinity. Nay-should the good, from deep humility; Texts mifapplied; or imbecility.' P. 11. &c. &c. Art. 34. The Bard; a Pindaric Poem; by Mr. Gray. Tranflated into Latin Verfe. To which is prefixed, a Dedication to the Genius of ancient Britain. 4to. 15. Chefter printed; fold by Wallis in London. The tranflation is fpirited, and poetical; but the dedication, in English verfe, is heavy and unpleafing; occafioned, evidently, by an affectation of running the laft line of the couplet into the first of the next. The genius of heroic rhyme will rarely admit of this licence, which, when frequently and indifcriminately used, totally deftroys the structure of its harmony. Art. 35. Rebellion; a Poem; addreffed to J-W, Esq; late L-d M―r of the City of L—o. 4to. is. 6d. Matthews. 1775. • Formal parade of patriots, liv'ry'd imps! Recorder, fheriff, council, mayor, and pimps! Attractive voice, that gathers imiths, and nailors, Thieves, hectors, bailiffs, bakers, dungmen, taylors.' Such is the burden of this Poet's fong, who feems to have purchased a dinner at the expence of fo much wrath and animal fpirits, that it is hard to fay whether he is a gainer or a lofer. Art. 36. The Fall of Mexico; a Poem. By Mr. Jerningham.. 4to. 2 s. 6d. Robfon. 177. There are feveral good verfes in this poem, but we do not think that, on the whole, it will add much to the Author's reputation. The heroic couplet does not feem to be his forte. Nor does he fuftain it fo well as the tender measures of elegiac compofition. Art. 37. The Hampstead Contest; a Law Cafe. By Farmer Hodge, of Golder's Green. 4to. 6d. Newbery. Goodman Hodge is an eafy, elegant bard, whofe farm, we fup pofe, lies fomewhere on Parnaffus, though he chufes to date from a village in the neighbourhood of London. Here are about 20 pretty ftanzas, relating to a law-contest between Mrs. Lemingham, the actress, and certain copyholders of Hamplead heath, who have riotoully oppofed the Lady, in her attempt to build an houfe upon the walle, in pursuance of a grant for that purpofe obtained. RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 38. Twenty Difcourfes on various Subjects. By William Craig, D. D. Minifter of St. Andrew's Church, Glasgow. 12mo. 3 Vols. 7 s. 6 d. Boards. Murray, &c. 1775 Such Readers as are fincerely defirous of making improvements in religious knowledge, and real goodness, will reap no fmall advantage from an attentive perufal of thefe difcourfes. The Author's man ner, |