NAVAL. Art. 31. Reflections on the late moft extraordinary Promotion of Sixteen Admirals. 8vo. is. Murray. 1788. The Author warmly declaims in praise of our navy, as the great and fureft defence of the nation against its foreign enemies; but, at the fame time, he loudly complains of the inadequate pay of the officers; which was fixed fo long ago as the reign of King William, when money, he obferves, bore double its prefent value. But, fays he, among all the inftances which hiftory can produce, of difgrace, neglect, and contempt, fhewn to a fet of brave and gallant officers, the late extraordinary promotion of admirals affords the most aftonishing and striking one. Not lefs than thirty-one of the oldelt Captains of the navy are paft over, to promote fixteen others to the rank of Rear Admirals!' For our Author's keen animadverfions on * this aft of cruelty and injuftice,' as he ftyles it; and alfo for his tart reflections on Lord Howe, &c. we refer to the pamphlet. The object of this Author's complaint and invective, was, on the zoth of this month, moved in the Houfe of Commons; but the account given by the Lords of the Admiralty, of their conduct, with refpect to the choice of officers for promotion, was fo very fatisfactory to the Houfe, that the motion was withdrawn. Art. 32. Familiar Expoftulations, addreffed to Meffrs. Pitt and Thurlow. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Ridgeway. 1788. Familiar indeed! but, perhaps, if the Author had been lefs familiar, he might have been more fuccefsful in regard to the object which he has in view by, offering this addrefs. The principal of thefe objects is, the Imprefs of Seamen; against which he exclaims, and declaims, with that heat and violence which generally defeat their own purpose. We are forry for this over-trained zeal, as he is embarked in a good caufe, which may be injured by his want of temper in afferting it. We difapprove, as much as our Author can do, this tyrannical treatment of our brave defenders from foreign invafion; and should, therefore, be happy to hear of a better mode of managing our naval armaments, on fudden emergencies and to this end we heartily wish, that the warm remonstrances of this their violent advocate may contribute fomewhat; though they, poffibly, might have proved more perfuafive, had our Addreffer been lefs liberal of his familiarities with those who are placed at the helm of our fate-veffel. LAW. Art. 33. The Law of Parliamentary Impeachments. By a Barrister at Law. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Whieldon. 1788. The writer of this pamphlet has taken the opportunity, at a time when impeachments are the common topics of converfation, of compiling a fummary of the jurifdiction and mode of proceeding in cafes The materials, which are taken of parliamentary impeachments. from good authorities, viz. Selden Jud. Parl. the State Trials, Rush-. worth's Collections, and Blackitone, are arranged in a methodical manner, fo as to afford full information on the subject. POETRY. POETRY. Art. 34. The Tribunal: Addressed to the Peers of Great Britain, about to fit in Judgment on Warren Haftings. 4to. 2s. 6d. Stockdale. 1788. This compofition made its appearance a few days before the fitting of that auguft tribunal to which it is addreffed. The Bard's enthufiaftic zeal for Mr. Haftings, glows throughout this long effufion of invective on the one hand, and panegyric on the other; but is not equally and happily fupported by his poetic powers. There are, however, fome parts of the poem that would have ftruck its readers with greater effect, had not the piece been enfeebled by its length, which is too far extended for the fubject; and incompatible with every idea of an Address; especially an addrefs to the House of Lords. Art. 35. Reflexions on Impeaching and Impeachers: Addreffed to Warren Haftings, Efq. 4to. Is. Stockdale. 1788. This panegyrift of Mr. Haftings is, perhaps, as hearty in the caufe as the author of the Tribunal, above mentioned; but both his praife of the Impeached, and his fatire on the Impeachers, are lefs impaffioned, lefs vigorous, and less likely to give pain to the one, or pleasure to the other. Art. 36. A Monody on the Death of Mr. John Henderfon, late of Covent Garden Theatre. By George Davies Harley, of the Theatre-Royal, Norwich. 4to. 2 S. Wilkie, &c. 1787. As an expreffion of perfonal refpe&t and gratitude, these verses are entitled to candour; as an effort of poetical genius, they are not entirely deftitute of merit. Sometimes Mr. Harley's mufe overacts her part, and outrages probability; as when the makes Melpomene take up the poignard to ftab herfelf, on the news of Mr. Henderson's death and fometimes fhe forgets the fimple dignity of Elegy, and makes ufe of playful images; as when Melpomene is restrained from making ufe of the lifted-up poignard, by reflecting that there was no need to strike the heart that was already broke. The poem, however, discovers fome fancy, and contains feveral pleafing verfes. Art. 37. Poems; imitated from the Perfian. By J. Champion, Efq. 4to. 2s. 6d. Cadell. 1787. This work confifts of The Tears of Samarcand,' The power of Wine,' and feven Odes, in imitation of the Perfian Poet Hafez. The first of thefe is in the form of a poetical epifle from the High Priest of Iran, defcribing the cruelty fhewn by the people of Ghuz, in the invafion and plunder of his country; and imploring the affiftance of the King Khakan-Mouzzum. The fubject, as well as the title, feems to promife fomething pathetic; yet few readers, we believe, will mix their tears with thofe of Samarcand. The Power of Wine' reminds us of the accounts we fometimes fee of great convivial meetings, in which more toafts are reported to have been drank, than would have been fufficient to confign the Right Honourable Topers to temporary, and, perhaps, final infenfibility. Mr. Champion purfues his panegyric on wine through a series of feventy ftanzas, almoft each of which is a repeated call for the goblet. Under thefe circumftances, we cannot wonder if he should fometimes be unintelligible, though it is ftrange that he has not more spirit in his cups. The imitations from Hafez neither justify praife, nor provoke cenfure. Thofe who have patience to read, will judge for themselves. DRAMATIC. Art. 38. The New Peerage; or, Our Eyes may deceive us: A Co- This piece is ufhered to the prefs by an advertisement, in which the fair writer expreffes her apprehenfions for her firft effort in the Drama, and speaks with a degree of grateful diffidence, that ferves to intereft the reader in her favour. She is precluded, the fays, from that deep obfervation of life, which gives ftrength to character, and poignancy to expreffion. The dialogue, notwithstanding, is lively, animated, and generally natural; and where the deviates from the quality laft mentioned, it may be imputed to the tafte which has of late taken poffeffion of the ftage. Our new-fashioned writers want to glitter in wit, and pointed fentences: but the new mode of wit is often fuch as bears no resemblance to the conversation of real life, and the fentiments in our late productions are frequently dreffed in quaint expreffions. Finery is preferred to the juft and the natural. A few inftances of this kind we obferved in the piece before us; but they are excufable in a first attempt; and Mifs Lee fhould be informed that it is in her power to do much better, when the confults, hereafter, her own genius. There is another point, in which it is to be regretted that this promifing Writer has, as we conceive, been mifled by the modern fashion. Our comedies, of late years, feem to be novels turned into dramatic dialogue: hence probability (which cannot be too much obferved) is totally difregarded. This appears to be the principal defect of Mifs Lee's performance. The whole is founded on a deception, which cannot eafily gain credit. Old Vandercrab expects his fon, who has been fourteen years in Holland. At the age proper for a counting-house, a young lad must be fo formed, that a father, at his return, will have fome recollection of his features. Is it probable that Lord Melville could be received in the family as the fon of Old Vandercrab? The scheme feems too romantic. But this is not all: the fon goes to the weft end of the town, and passes himself on his guardian, and a lady of quality, for Lord Melville. The Lord, in the mean time, is discovered Vandercrab in the city by the arrival of Medley, who knew young in Holland; and being detected, he remains a prifoner in the house. All this for the foundation of a comedy is too incredible; the circumstances are almost impoffible: but Mifs Lee may be faid to have furmounted impoffibilities. She has ftruck out a great variety of fituations, and there is nature and vivacity in the dialogue. Vandercrab's character is well wrought; and the piece, upon the whole, has a confiderable degree of merit. NOVELS. Art. 39. The Rattle. In a Series of Letters. 12mo. fewed. Noble. 1797. 2 Vols. 5 5. The Rattle.' To fignify, we prefume, that the book is intended for the amusement of children. This Writer is at least ingenuous; he tells tells the purchaser of his volumes what he is to expect. There is, however, fome good morality in the work. Art. 40. Ela: or the Delusions of the Heart. A Tale, founded on Facts. 12mo. 3s. fewed. Robin fons. 1787. This Novel reprefents, in very lively colours, the fatal effects. which may arife to the female who indulges the tender paffion uncontrolled; who liftens not to the voice of reafon, nor to the admonitions of her relations and friends. It is indeed a moral, and truly pathetic tale. We therefore pafs over the few objections which might be urged against it in point of fyle. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 41. The genuine Memoirs of Dennis O'Kelly, Efq. &c. &c. 8vo. 2 s. Stalker. 1788. The Author of these Memoirs has induftriously collected many cu rious anecdotes of the celebrated Count O'Kelly, as he has been commonly styled from which it appears that his origin was indeed as low as it hath been reprefented in the daily prints ;-that he first figured in the capacity of a chairman; then a marker at billiardtables; next a fcampering blade on the town, connected with infamous women, ruined, and a prifoner in the Fleet. In his confinement he forms a friendship with Charlotte Hayes, which was improved by time, and lafted for life. By the affiftance of this noted: Cyprian prieftefs, his circumstances are bettered; he obtains first a hare in the famous racer ECLIPSE, and afterward the whole property of the animal-to whom he was chiefly indebted for all his future fortune, and even his military honours: The narrative clofes with an account of his retirement to his noble manfion of Canons, formerly the feat of the Duke of Chandos, which O'Kelly purchafed, and where he lately breathed his laft, leaving behind him rather a better character than is ufually obtained or merited by the beroes of the turf. *The news-papers have informed us, that the produce of O'Kelly's horfes, fold, fince his death, at Tattersall's, was 8,ocol. Their number was only fourteen! Art. 42. A Differtation on the Governments, Manners, and Spirit of Afia. 4to. I s. 6d. Murray. 1787. The following is the Editor's Advertisement: While the affairs of India occupy the public attention, and engage the investigation of Parlianfent, I take the liberty to publish the following Diflertation on the Oriental governments, which formed one of the Lectures on Hiftory, delivered by Mr. Logan at Edin-' burgh, in the year 1780. The high approbation which they met with, from a learned and refpectable audience, prompted me to take them down in short hand; and from my experience in that mode of writing, I can venture to affirm, that the prefent copy of his Lecture on Alia is neither imperfect nor inaccurate. At the fame time, I reckon myself bound to make an apology to the Author, for publishing his compofitions without his knowledge or confent, though fimilar freedoms have been taken. Should it prompt him to put the laft hand to his Lectures, and give them to the Public, I fhall be induced to think that I have performed a valuable fervice to the literary world.' Whatever Whatever this anonymous Editor may be induced to think, we cannot reflect on the mode in which Mr. Logan's Differtation is publifhed, without fome degree of indignation. It is impoffible not to fympathize with an author whofe works are thus furreptitiously expofed, even when their intrinfic merit fhields them from the fhafts of criticifm. In faying this, however, we mean not to give any character of the Differtation in its prefent form. If the unjustifiable conduct of the Editor fhould call on Mr. Logan to print the whole, or any part of his Lectures, we fhall be ready to examine them with impartiality at prefent, we doubt not that Mr. Logan will rather attribute our filence to motives of juftice and delicacy, than of difapprobation or negle&. Art. 43. A Scheme to pay off the National Debt in a few Years, by a Repeal of the Marriage A&t. 8vo. Is. Dilly. 1787. I like it hugely, quoth my uncle Toby, though to be fure, Mr. Shandy, you will fay he has made too free with matrimony, and you may not relifh fome of his calculations; neverthelefs, you must own my brother bachelor is a merry fellow.-A fig for his fcheme! though, to fay the truth, it is as good as many other fchemes of the kind. They are all like my friend's machine to perform the perpetual motion: in defcription it anfwered very well; and, when put together for the experiment, it had only this little defect,-it would not move at all.-No matter for that. Let us be pleafant, and all will go well. Every time an Englishman laughs about the national debt, he helps to pay it off. Perhaps the Public may efteem thefe opinions of Uncle Toby no bad review of this pamphlet. Art. 44. A Letter to a Member of Parliament; containing a Narrative of Proceedings relative to his Majefty's Proclamation, &c. To which are added, the Refolutions of the Magiftrates of the County of Glocefter, at their Seffions, in January 1788. 8vo. I s. 6 d. Robfon, &c. This is a fecond edition of a tract already noticed in our Review for November laft, p. 411, with the addition of the Refolutions, &c. above-mentioned. It was then entitled, "A Narrative of the Pro-, ceedings," &c. Art. 45. The Sympathy of Souls. By Mr. Wieland. Attempted from the French; and revifed after the original German. 12mo. Boards. Bladon. 1787. 3 s. Mr. Wieland is an author of confiderable repute in Germany, &c. He has written many entertaining pieces, which have been well received; and we have more than once mentioned his works with approbation. Of the prefent performance we cannot fo well judge, not having feen the German original, nor even the French tranflation, from which the prefent verfion is taken. To us it appears to be a string of fentimental and devotional rhapsodies, unconnected by interefting or exemplary ftories, and wanting the relief of cool reafoning and manly reflection.-With refpect to this English tranЛlation, it may be regarded as the commendable exercise of a young foreigner, who wished to improve an acquaintance with the English language, |