Art. 38. Lo!!! A Panegyric an the King; with a faithful Portraiture of his Minifter. 8vo. 6d. Ridgeway. 1788.

The Author would be pleafant, if he knew how; and fo far, for his good intention, and defire to entertain us, we are obliged to him but this irony is a Will o' Whip, that leads many a benighted literary traveller

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A-gadding,

Through ditch, and through quagmire and bog;" and leaves him floundering in the mud at last.

NAVAL, &c.

Art. 39. An Addrefs to the SOVEREIGN, on the Minister's Conduct in rejecting the Petition of the Lieutenants of the Royal Navy. To which are added, Strictures on the late Promotion of Flag Officers. 8vo. 2 s. Bew. 1781.

Adminiftration having been unpropitious to the late application of the Navy Lieutenants, for fome alleviation of their grievances, arifing from the infufficiency of their pay, these brave men, who certainly merit every thing from their country which their country can do for them, have now only to look up to their Sovereign for relief, or, in the words of the motto to this Address,

I take my caufe

Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it

To a most noble judge. THE KING MY MASTER." Shakefp. Hen. VIII. Accordingly, our Author, after moft refpectfully introducing the fubject to his Majefty's attention, gives (as we believe) a very juft and fair statement of the hard cafe of the Navy Lieutenants; which he enforces by the most animated and cogent reafoning on the fubject, in order to prove the impolicy, as well as the injuftice, of that difregard to their complaints, which, he apprehends, has been manifefted by the minifter, under the idea, that the relief of their diftreffes would affect other eftablishments." Some modes of redrefs, however, are here pointed out, which feem to be neither improper nor impracticable: but for thefe, as well as for the pointed ftrictures on the late promotion of flag officers, we refer to the pamphlet, which is well written; though we fuppofe it would have been prudent in the Author to have omitted the afperities which are aimed at certain men in power, whom he confiders as having been hostile to the petition of the Lieutenants.

IRELAND.

Art. 40. A full Report of the Speech of the Right Hon. Henry Grattan, in the Houfe of Commons of Ireland, Feb. 14, 1788, in the Debate on Tithes. 8vo. I s. 6d. Debrett.

After urging the neceflity of a reformation in the mode of provid. ing for the clergy, Mr. G. propofed a commutation of tithes, or a general modus in lieu of them, by which, he faid, the incomes of the clergy would be rather augmented than diminished. He enlarged copioufy on the disturbances in many parts of the kingdom, occafioned by the prefent obnoxious methods of fupporting the in

Atructors

ftructors of an oppreffed people; exhibited his plan of remedy; and fupported it by a moft noble, animated, and eloquent oration; after which, on a divifion of the Houfe, lo! (the common fate of propos fals for reformation!) the queftion was ioft by a majority of more than two to one!-It feems aftonishing that the clergy themselves do not endeavour to get rid of this odium! But we have known shepherds who feemed to have no idea of popularity, or of rendering themselves efteemed and beloved by their flocks.

MATHEMATICS.

Art. 41. An Essay on Mathematical Language; or, an Introduction to the Mathematical Sciences. By C. G. A. Bafelli. 8vo. 6 s. Boards. Dilly. 1787.

In this age, when every effort is made to reduce the fciences to the utmoft fimplicity, we are forry to find ourselves under the neceffity of obferving, that the Author of the prefent performance has rendered the art of arithmetic and algebra more complex than he found it, and has deprived it of that fimplicity and concifenefs which ought always to diftinguish the first principles of the mathe

matics.

The book contains a variety of matter, among which we have obferved fome particulars that fhew the Author's ingenuity; and others which perfuade us that he has not applied to the mathematical ftudies in vain. In page 109 there is a just remark, that the fraction, whofe expanfion forms an infinite feries, is not always the fum of that feries. This agrees with what we mentioned in our Rev. Vol. lxxiv. p. 252, when we oblerved, that fome of the greatest mathematicians of the age had fallen into an error, by fuppofing fuch a fraction the true fum of the feries.

Mr. Bafelli promifes, if this performance fhould meet with a favourable reception from the Public, to give us a Second Part, explaining the methods of treating elementary and fublime geometry, and fluxions. What metaphyfical reafoning he may introduce into that work we pretend not to foretell; but from the fpecimen here given, when treating of the roots of equations, we fear that in the fublimer geometry he will find himfelf much more liable to high flights, than while he has been engaged in contemplating quantity in a few of its forms. He fays, p. xviii. that every fimple equation must have four different roots, two real and two imaginary. According to our fyftem of algebra, every equation hath as many roots as it hath dimenfions; but a fimple equation has only one dimenfion; therefore it can have but one root.

DRAMATIC.

Art. 42. Love in the Eaft; or, the Adventures of Twelve Hours. A Comic Opera, in Three Acts. As performed at the TheatreRoyal, Drury-Lane. 8vo. Is. 6d. Lowndes. 1788.

The comic opera, though not a plant indigenous to our foil, has yet been, fometimes, cultivated in it with fuccefs. Since Gay's time, indeed, its exuberance has been aftonishingly great: though it may poffibly be thought by many, that in proportion to the overgrowth of the tree, the fruit lofes its flavour.

The

The prefent production has, we understand, afforded confiderable entertainment on the ftage; as a literary compofition, it is not of a Species to yield much fatisfaction in the perufal; it is too farcical, too much beneath the dignity of the Comic Mufe; in fhort, the character that we gave of the Strangers at Home,' another comic opera, written by the fame author, will fuit this piece, much better than Baron Baton's coat fits the taylor, in the prefent performance: Such a strange tiffue of improbable adventures, equivoques, miftakes, and difguifes, that it is not eafy for the reader to gather up the thread of the ftory, &c. &c.' Vide M. Rev. vol. 74, p. 304. Art. 43. The Dramatic Works of Mr. Edward Moore, &c.

3s. bound. Lowndes, &c. 1788.

12mo.

Thofe who wish to have the plays of Mr. Moore, without his other works, may now be gratified, as we have here a neat and cheap edition of his lively and entertaining comedies, The Foundling and Gil Blas, and his deeply affecting tragedy of The Gamefter. Å Thort account of Mr. Moore is added, with his portrait ; and the plays are embellished with engravings from fome of the fcenes.

POETRY.

Árt. 44. Elegy on the Death of his Grace the Duke of Rutland. By Dr. Delap. 4to. is. Stockdale. 1788.

Compliments to the memory of dead kings, dead ftatefmen, and dead lords, are a harmless fpecies of poetry, and should, from the nature of their fubjects, be exempted from criticifm.

If the poet's grief be real [which may poffibly happen to be the cafe], it ought to be refpected; and who can even pronounce, that it is not real? Let then the prefent elegiac bard enjoy his forrows, uninterrupted by the cold ftrictures of unfympathizing Reviewers -who feldom join heartily in these general groans.'

Art. 45. The English Orator: Books the Second and Third. By the Rev. Richard Polwhele, Tranflator of Theocritus, &c. 4to. 56. fewed. Cadell, &c. 1787.

We have already given it as our general idea of this work, that the author's plan might have been better executed in the form of a profe effay, than in a poem. But Mr. Polwhele has perhaps the peculiar felicity of writing verfe more eafily than profe; and he has an undoubted right to amufe and inftruct the public in his own way. Many juft obfervations and lively defcriptions occur in the courfe of this didactic poem, which may be read with peculiar advantage by young adventurers in the fchool of eloqueuce. These books treat of the eloquence of the bar and the fenate.

Art. 46. Reflections on the Common English Verfion of the Scriptures, and the Neceffity of its being reviled by Authority. A Poem. 4to. IS. White. 1788.

This is indeed a very fingular title for a Poem, and we fhould as foon have expected to fee one on the neceffity of a revifion of the ftatute book, or of a new edition of the art of cookery. The fubject appears to us properly to belong to profe, and not to verfe, as it is altogether incapable of poetic illuftration. Nevertheless, the author's defign was commendable: he flattered himself that this mode

of

of expreffing bis fentiments would, from the novelty of it, and a fair chance of engaging attention. So it might; but we apprehend it has not merit and importance fufficient to contribute much to the end which the writer had in view. Though he appears to be a man of fenfe, and to have an ear for verfe, yet his poem will probably obtain but a tranfient notice, and juftify men in faying of it, as of a thoufand other little publications,

Art. 47.

Learning has bubbles as the water has,

And this is one of them.'

Charlotte to Werter: A Poetical Epiftle. By Anne
Francis. 4to. Is. 6d. Becket.

Some of the most pathetic incidents in the Sorrows of Werter, are here expreffed in eafy and harmonious verfe. The admirers of the original work will perufe this imitation with pleasure. To the fame hand the public are indebted for a poetical tranflation of the Song of Solomon, and the Obfequies of Demetrius Poliorcetes; of which accounts have been given in our Review.

Art. 48. The Controverfiad, an Epiftle to a Learned Friend; exhibiting a Sketch of the prefent Controverfy between Dr. Priestley and his Opponents; with fome Allufion to the Controverfial Attacks on the Rev. C. W. Hawkins and his Wife; by Father O'Leary, and others. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Stalker. 1788.

The weapon of fatire is here drawn in defence of Dr. Priest ey; but we are much mistaken if the Dr. will feel himself overburthened with obligation to an auxiliary, who, though a wit, does not feem to have formed a correct idea of the difference between fmartness and abufe. The latter never does credit to any party.

Art. 49. The Humours of Brighthelmftone. By J. Weft. 4to. Is. Scatchard and Co. 1788.

Tolerably defcriptive, but light and frivolous. The style of Anfty's Bath Guide is feebly imitated; but, on the whole, the verses are not ill calculated to invite the young and gay to a fummer excurfion to a place which, Mr. Weft affures them,

6

excels

The pleasures of Margate, and old Tunbridge Wells,'

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 50. A Letter to a Friend, with a Poem called The Ghoft of Werter. By Lady 4to. 1s. 6d. Hookham. Lady Wallace has here given to the public, in the form of a let ter to a female friend, fome very fevere ftrictures on the celebrated novel of Werter. Charlotte is juftly charged with the worst improprieties of conduct-indelicacy, nay downright indecency, with refpec to her LOVER,-and infidelity to her husband, -as far as the adultery of the mind can go. This fubject naturally leads the fair Critic into a variety of excellent obfervations on the defects of female education, with the confequent proneness of the fex [in the higher ranks] to thoughtleffnefs and diffipation.-As to the poem entitled The Ghoft, &c. its defign is to make the poor fuicide, Werter, expoftu late with, and reproach, his once too much lov'd Charlotte, for

having criminally indulged herfelf, while fhe was practising on him, with fatal effect, the arts of Seduction.

Many lines, in this plaintive poem, are animated, and impaffioned; but others are fo incorrect, and even inelegant, that, on the whole, we cannot highly compliment Lady W. on her poetry. Certainly her best talent, if we are to judge from the fpecimen before us, as a writer, is profe-compofition.

Art. 51. Tales and Fables, Nabob and Agib, &c. 4to. 2s. 6d.

Hookham.

Most of these moralities are imitated from the French of Dorat, who has diftinguished himfelf by feveral ingenious performances. The Imitator's poetry is tolerably eafy, though inferior to that of Gay and Moore. The following fable will ferve as a specimen of the Author's abilities, as well as of thofe of his Tranflator:

THE OSTRICH.

An oftrich thus was heard to cry:

Place, place:-Make room to fee me fly:"
And many a bird, that backward went,
Impatient waited the event.

66

Obferve my words," he thus went on,
And follow clofely when I'm gone:

With towering flights I'll quit my place-
The sky shall fee my rapid race.

Come, have a care!" As thus he faid,
Which, by the bye, fome laughter made,
His heavy wings to raise he tries,
But far too fhort to make him rife;
His clumfy foot the earth prefers;
In short, he ftrains, but never ftirs.
In many folks his fate we view;
In orators, and poets too;

Who, over-rating much their skill,

Exclaim, "we fly," though ftanding still.'

Art. 52. The Flowers of Ancient Hiftory; comprehending, on a new Plan, the most remarkable and interefting Events, as well as Characters of Antiquity. 12mo. 35. fewed. Kearsley. 1787. Art. 53. The Flowers of Modern Hiftory; comprehending, on a new Plan, the moft remarkable Revolutions and Events, as well as the most eminent and illuftrious Characters, of modern Times; with a View of the Progrefs of Society and Manners, Arts and Sciences, from the Irruption of the Goths and Vandals, and other Northern Nations, upon the Roman Empire, to the Conclufion of the American War. Defigned for the Improvement and Entertainment of Youth. By the Rev. John Adams, A. M. 12mo. 3 s. fewed. Kearsley. 1788.

The gardens from which thefe literary nofegays are culled are

"Wilds, where weeds and flowers promifcuous shoot ;" but they are of fuch great extent and richness, that many fine flowers yet remain ungathered-perhaps unobferved. Were Mr. Adams to take a farther range, and form another bouquet or two, it is to be hoped that the public would not let him go unrewarded for his toil: but we would advise him to be careful not to bind up weeds with his

13

flowers;