nation that gives, as of jealoufy on that of the nation which receives. We confider it as our duty, in finifhing this part of our Report, to return thanks to the English Nation and Government, to the Royal Society of London, to Sir Jofeph Eanks, prefident of the Society, to Doctor Blagden, Doctor Simmons, Mr. Greville brother of Lord Warwick, to all the heads of hofpitals, and in general to all the English to whom our colleagues were addreffed, and to Mr. Barthelemy, the French minifter plenipotentiary at the Court of London, for the zeal with which the Commiffioners of the Academy were reseived, and the fervices that were rendered to them. All the hofpitals were open to them; every thing was fhewn and explained to them; and not only the plans and defcriptions of all these different institutions were communicated to them, but even the registers of accompts. They have placed, in the library of the Academy, the works, the me

moirs, and the plans, on this fubject, they procured during their journey; and this valuable collection, relative to the hofpitals of England, is a proof of the reception they experienced."

114. Observations on the War with the Turks. Tranflated from the French of M. de Volney. THE author, whofe Travels in E gypt and Syria we have recommended. in our laft vol. pp. 806, 905, has here thrown out fome fenfible obfervations on the probable confequences of the prefent war carried on against the Turks by the Emprefs of Ruffia and the Emperor of Germany, on motives and interefts which render a bloody conteft inevitable. He pronounces the Ottoman empire to have been declining ever fince the conclufion of the last century, from the total change in the principles both of the governors and people, the effect of indolence, wealth, and luxury, without refources, and difheartened by prophecies, which, foretell the approaching period when their accidents lofe them conquefts, return to Afia, and fettle at Konics; and that Baron Tott has delineated it in its true colours, however the French miniftry affect a conduct towards the Porte fo contrary to its behaviour to their na tion, and have even named for their ambassador M. de Choifeul, who, in a work well known in Europe (his Voyage Pittorefque de la Greece) has made public the faults of their adminiftration, and expreffed a wifh for the fubverfion of their empire. Ruffia, which, not quite a century ago, was almoft un known by name to the rest of Europe, and at the beginning of this century

without a military eftablishment, has, fince the battle of Pultowa, 1709, and in the Pruffian war of 1756, acquired the reputation of being the fecond troops in Europe, and are now poffeffed of a numerous and powerful navy, of every rate, in all their feas. Admitting the Rufians to be barbarians, they are fitreft for the conqueft of Turkey. Such have been all preceding conquerors. The balance preponderates in fayour of Ruffia again any oppofition from the powers of Europe to her in. vafior of the Turkish dóminiens, which has only France to intereft itself in the fate of that empire, on account of her commercial and political connections. Thefe Mr. V. thews to be imaginary. It has been faid, that France might join in a partition of that empire, and take Egypt for her fare, but to this Mr. V. ftates weighty objections, The Emperor is certainly the arbiter in the prefent conteft; and here, unfortunately for the Turks, he is a party against them. France, notwithstanding the infults fhe perpetually receives from them, cannot break her ancient alliance with the Porte, however injudiciously enter ed into, when the ought to have prefer red Ruffia and a Greek church to Tur key and Mahometan infidels. "When

66

our politicians," fays he, "declare it "is for our intereft that Turkey fhould "fubfift as it is, do they reflect this is "faying a great nation fhould persist in

66

ignorance and barbatifm, which de 66 troy the moral and phyfical faculties: "that numerous countries fhould re"main fubject to a government inimi cal to the human race; that 25 or 30 "millions of men fhould continue to "endure torments from 300 robbers, "that call themfelves their masters, and "the finest foil in the world continue "barren, or produce not one-tenth of "what it is capable of." Mr. V. argues for agriculture in preference to commerce; and affirms, that both the Emperor and the Emprefs will encou rage agriculture in preference to arts and commerce, as the fource of both; fo that the true interefts of the new powers, fo far from militating againft commerce, are highly favourable to it. It is therefore the true intereft of France to fit ftill during this conteft. Judging from appearances, the crifis is not far diftant. It is even very poffible that a campaign or two will decide the princi pal event, it not being unreasonable to fuppofe that the allies may march to Conftantinople,

Conftantinople, which, in all probability, they will find deferted and in afhes. Should the power that occupies Conftantinople but know how to use its fortune rightly, by univerfal toleration and proper legiflation, the good effects of this invafion will caufe the evils attending it to be forgotten-From our obfervation of the prefent conduct of the war, by both the European powers, we cannot help thinking the Obferver too fanguine.

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We cannot help regretting that our best publishers do not employ better tranflators. The first half of this pamphlet is pretty clear of errors; but the fecond abounds with words untranflated, or mis-tranflated. Demarches, p. 41; melange, charlatans, p. 67; bruit, p. 71; it has been obferved with much 'force," p. 72; invidious for envious, p. 4. This affectation, unpardonable in authors (fee LVII. 990), is intolerable in tranflators. When Mr. V. fays, England regards with envy the increase of any other ftate, we find a note, "C'eft un François qui parle." If these are Mr. V's words, why leave them untranflated? if the tranflator's, why write them in French?

115. A Catalogue of Five Hundred celebrated Authors of Great Britain, mow iving. The Whale arranged in Alpbabetical Order, and including a complete Lift of their Publications, with occafional Strictures, and Anecdotes of their Lives. 8vo.

THERE cannot be a more invidious office than writing the lives of living men. Panegyric is conftrued into Partiality, and Cenfure into Jealousy. All that ought, therefore, to be expected is a faithful record of facts. A writer or compiler of fuch hiftory, or fuch biography, has little more to do than he who puts together the Red Book, or Court Calendar; and it is hard if he is not fufficiently verfed in his profeflion to put down what patles under his own eye, or but a little before he began his work. For, if he cannot regifter thus faithfully, how can he put together the hiftory of the world, or nations, or of individuals who have long fince quitted the stage?

The writer under confideration, poor man! has not the humble talents above required. He knows not the Chriftian names of his contemporaries, whofe works ought to be before him: or, if he is a book felier's apprentice, or jour GENT. MAG. June, 1788.

537

neyman, he might have found them in every Catalogue; for his work required no more talents than fuch beings in general, or perhaps more than half their mafters, poffefs. His apology, p. vi of his Preface, bears teftimony against him; his pages teem with blunders. The Catalogue is made the vehicle of scandal; and the man of retirement, and he whole means of information are few, will not be much wifer than he was before. See Addington, Anderfon W. Ayfcough, Badcock, Balguy, Banks, Burke, Mifs Burney, Cardonnel, Cordiner, Dimfdale, Fletcher John, Gilbert, Grose, Henley, Hewlet, Hurd, Lettfom, De Lolme, Luckombe, Macklin, Mulfo, Murry, Owen, Paley, Parfons, Patterfon S. Pennant, Percy, Phipps, Playfair James, Pownall, Rafpe, Steevens, Sullivan, Vallancey, Wodhull, Woide. The lift of authors is very far from being either complete or correct. Omitted: Beckford, Bicknell, W. Hutchinson, Jebb, Loft, R. P. Jodrell, J. Johnstone; aliifque quampluribus. -The lift of blunders is too great to be fet down. Mr. Abercrombie is a gardener, and his tracts are not named. This is the cafe of many more.—Qu. is Mr. Bryant in orders-The Fortters, father and fon, are called brothers.-Mr. Harmer, a diffenting clergyman, has written a performance of theological reputation.Qu. is Junius Mackenzie author of The Lounger or Mirror?-John Ward was the Gresham profeffor, and has long been dead.-King's Morfels fet down as octavo instead of quarto; a fpecies of blunder that runs through the whole performance.

1. Reviewers may be permitted to of fer advice to their High Mightineffes the Bookfell.r,, we would recommend it to them to be more attentive to their own reputation in accepting the books offered to their patronage; and, if they have not time to look the copy over themselves, at leaft to engage fome able alliftant to do it for them.

"the reputed author of a Hiftory of the Life and public Services of Mr. "Fox,' and of Tranfactions in Ire"land from 1760 to the prefent Time,' "each in one Svo volume, and is fupposed to be concerned with fome of "the news-papers." (Catalogue of 500 celebrated Authors now living).We forbear to infert the invidious reflection of the Catalogift on Mr. M's ftyle, as Mr. M. himfelf affures us, in his preface to thefe Gleanings, that he has long been accuftomed, with ma"ny of his betters, under all his neceffities, to have recourfe to his wits," and gratefully embraces this opportunity of making the fincereft acknowledgements to all his fubfcribers. And all who confider his fituation, without fortune or preferment, in the midst of a numerous family folely dependent on him, may probably excufe his earnestly foliciting their intereft in ftill procuring for his book what names they can, as he propofes keeping the fubfcription open till the whole impreffion is fold. Mr. M's whole dependance is on the lectureship of St. Dionis Backchurch, Fenchurch-ftreet, and his publications, for the fupport of a fickly wife and fumerous increafing family, who are all with him in the houfe inhabited by the late Dr. S. Johnfon in Bolt-court, which Mr. M. took with the hope of letting it out in lodgings.

117. Afport Account of the Doctrines and Prac tice of the Church of Rome, divefted of Controverfy, and bumbly recommended to the Perufal of all good Carbolics as well as Protants. Dublin, 8vo.

A plain account of fome of the principal tencts and practices of the church of Rome, without any further comment than may be necefiary to explain and exhibit them in their true light, the learned author, the rev. Mr. Daniel Beaufort, now in his 38th year, apprebends may be of equal fervice to Proreftants and Papifts; the former being Jittle acquainted with Popery, and the greatest part of the latter knowing their own religion but very imperfectly. With this intention he has written this inall tract of 80 pages; not doubting but that, if he is wrong, Mr. O'Leary, a gentleman of great learning and known mo deration, will fet him right.

See a statement of Popith do&rines in the reign of Charles H. by Candidus, in our vol. LVII. Jan. Feb. March; and the last and prefent month, pp. 412,

484. We recommend Mr. B's tract to general perufal, and wish to have it reprinted for the benefit of our fellow-fubje&ts in Great-Britain.

118. The Contraft, or the oppofite Canfequences of good and evil Habits, exbibited in the lowest Ranks of Rural Life, for the Benefit of intel ligent Servants, and the best Proficients in Sunday Schools.

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"The first and last attempt of the "fort, by two of those humble beings "whom nobody knows, as refiding "conftantly in a retired village, remote "from the capital, defirous to fecond "the good intentions of their rector in "behalf of the children of poor cotta gers, for whofe benefit he established a Sunday fchool about two years ago, "and revifed this book for the prefs." As they wrote the Contraft, they (J. S. D) fketched 15 plates for it, which were etched by J. Cook. If the work does not come up to Mrs. Teachum, or to Sandford and Merton, and feveral other fashionable good books for young folks, it may be more extenfively cir culated, as adapted to more general ufc and general capacity.

119. Efay on the Impolicy of the African Slave Trade. By the Rev. T. Clarkfon, M.A. 8°.

IN a former effay on the "Commerce "of the Human Species" Mr. C. enlarged on the injuftice and inhumanity of the African branch of trade. He now undertakes to fhew that it is impolitic. Wood, drugs, fpice's, rice, tobacco, indigo, are ftaple commodities of the African trade; all of them preferable to that of flaves, a trade in whom is here fhewn to be hazardous, and attended with great lofs. According to Mr. C. the crews of the flaving hips are treated little better than flaves. But why fear to difclofe names when impor

tant facts are to be afcertained? A mufter-roll for the fhip — is no mufter-roll at all. Will not parliamen tary enquiry protect an evidence? No court will be influenced by general evidence; neither will the great legislative body, before whom the queftion now is. Mr. C. applies the fame rule to the Africans.

120. Examination of the Rev. Mr. Harris's Scriptural Researches en the Licitnefs of the Slave Trade. By the Rev. Mr. Harris. 8. SCRIPTURE fhould not, in our judgement, be made a party to political difcullions. For if it is, how thall we get over the curfe denounced by Noah

To guard their fea-girt cliffs of old? 'Twas Liberty: fhe taught difdain Of death, of Rome's imperial chain. She bade the Druid harp to battle found, In tones prophetic, thro' the gloom profound Of forefts hoar, with holy foliage hung; From grove to grove the pealing prelude rung; Belinus call'd his painted tribes around,

And, rough with many a veteran fcar, Swept the pale Legions with the fcythed car, While baffled Caefar fled, to gain An easier triumph on Pharfalia's plain; And left the ftubborn ifle to ftand elate [itate! Amidft a conquer'd world, in lone majestic

A kindred spirit foon to Britain's fhore
The fons of Saxon Elva bore;
Fraught with th' unconquerable foul,
Who died, to drain the warrior-bowl,
In that bright Hall, where Odin's Gothic
throne
[thone;
With the broad blaze of brandifh'd falchions
Where the long roofs rebounded to the din
Of Spectre chiefs, who feafted far within:
Yet, not intent on deathful deeds alone,

They felt the fires of focial zeal,
The peaceful wifdom of the public weal;
Though nurs'd in arms and hardy strife,
They knew to frame the plans of temper'd
life;
[found
The king's, the people's, balanc'd claims to
On one eternal bate, indiflolubly bound.

III.

Sudden, to shake the Saxon's mild domain,
Rufh'd in rude fwarns the robber Dane,
From frozen waftes, and caverns wild,
To genial England's fcenes beguil'd;
And in his clamorous van exulting came
The Demons foul of Famine and of Fly is:
Witnefs the theep-clad fummits, roughly
crown'd

With many a frowning fofs, and airy mound,
Which yet his defultory march proclain!-

Nor ceas'd the tide of gore to flow, Till Alfred's laws allur'd th' intelline foe; And Harold calm'd his headlong rage To brave atchievement, and to counfel fage; For oft in favage breafts the buried feeds Of brooding virtue live, and freedom's faireit deeds!

lours;

Yet brought he flavery from a fofter clime

Each eve, the curfeu's note fevere (That now but foothes the mufing poet's ear)

At the new tyrant's ftern command, Warn'd to unwelcome rest a wakeful land; While proud Oppreffion o'er the ravish'd field High rais'd his armed hand, and shook the feudal fheld.

V.

Stoop'd then that, Freedom to defpotic sway,
For which, in many a fierce aftray,
The Britons bold, the Saxons bled,
His Danish javelins Lefwin led [yoke
O'er Haftings' plain, to stay the Norman
She felt, but to refift, the fudden stroke:
The tyrant-baron grafp'd the patriot's fteel,
And taught the tyrant-king its force to feel;
And quick revenge the regal bondage broke.
And ftill, unchang'd and uncontrol'd,
Its refcued rights thall the dead empire hold:
For lo, revering Britain's caufe,

A King new luftre lends to native laws!
The facred Sovereign of this feftal day [ray!
On Albion's old renown reflects a kindred

WINELOVE's COMPLAINT. A PARODY OF COLLINS FROM ROWE. W. who likes a chearful glafs, hired a Butler from a family, where the bottle never remained long upon the table after dinner. W. ftepping out of the roora on fome bufinefs, the new But'er entered, cleared the table, locked up the wine, attended the carriage with his mistress to a tea vifit, and left the diconfolate W, with no companions but his ipaniel, and no amusement, but a gaze into his park.

ESPAIRING a table befide,

D Squire Winlove forfaken was feen;

In verfe thus he 'gan for to chide,

And thus he gave vent to his ipleen, While Poply and Fancy and Dafh *,

To his fighs with their fores did reply; And the deer, while he look'd through the faih,

Mov'd mournfully murmuring by. Thy fate, filly wretch, how support !

Thus fadly complaining, he cried, To quit a good bottle of port,

'Twere better by far I had died. Its blood as a ruby was bright,

When it flow'd, 'twas a pleasure too great. I toatted and cried all the night. Not nectar itfelf was to fweet. How foolish was I then to think,

When I went unmolefted 'twould be, Or that a good foul would not drink

Of its juices with pleature and glee? What made me fuppofe that my wine

Untouch'd in my parlour would reft; That no tafte would approve it but mine, And drink it with relish and zeft!

* Spaniels.

What