fays Mr. Wilfon, I have seen several phials so effectually repaired, that, after being frequently charged, they were at last broken by a fpontaneous discharge, but in a different part of the glass.

POETICA L.

Art. 24. Sophia to Alonzo; an heroic Epistle. 4to. I S

Bathurst. 1779.

This Epiftle, though conceived with more passion than tenderness, and expressed with more force than harmony, is not one of the worit imitations of Ovid that have come before us. There are strokes of nature in it which do credit to the justness of the Author's pencil. Art. 25. The Lovely Moralist: An Epistle from a late unfortunate young Lady, to her Lover the M-r-s of C-r-n, a few Hours before her Death, after the News of a late domestic Accident. With Notes and Illustrations. 4to. 1s. 6d. Faulder. This Epiftle, like the former, is written after the Ovidian model. We have not much to say in praise of its execution. The impropriety and impertinence, to speak in no harsher terms, of making free with private character, merely upon the credit of a newspaper anecdote, are fsufficiently obvious.

Art. 26. A Collection and Selection of English Prologues and Epilogues; commencing with Shakespeare, and concluding with Garrick. Crown 8vo. 4 Vols. 14 s. bound. Fielding and Co.

1779.

• The design of this compilation is to be a reservoir of all the prologues and epilogues in our language, worth preserving, given in a chronological succession, after the manner of Mr. (Dr.) Percy's Collection of ancient English Ballads; so as to intitle these volumes to a place in a library; and by presenting the various species of them, whether in prose or verse; in dialogue or declamation; in argument, supplication, or defiance; to thew the latitude with which they have and may be used. For our writers have deviated greatly from the original purpose of these exordiums and perorations; the licentia poetica of Englishmen partaking the nature of their libertas politica, which spurns at despotism, and would no more be governed by the laws of Aristotle, than by those of Alexander.' PREFACE. Art. 27. An Epistle to Jahn Count O'Rourke, Colonel of Horse, Knight of the Royal Order of St. Lewis, and formerly Lord Chamberlain to Stanislaus King of Poland. 4to. IS. Lewis. 1779. A compliment to the Count, reciting his high birth (being descended, it is faid, from the ancient Irish Kings), his virtues, his military attainments, and his Military book: fee Review for last June, Art. 41, of the Catalogue.

The Poet introduces, likewise, a copious panegyric on the Irish nation; at the same time lamenting, and enumerating, the great hardships which poor Hibernia hath endured, from the burthens laid upon her by the English, but he gratefully acknowledges the late very favourable regard shewn to her by government.

"'Twas thine, great GEORGE, with lenient touch, to calm
Her heart-felt throbbings-thine to pour the balm
Into her rankling wounds, those wounds to heal,
And give her earnest of her future weal."

The foregoing lines are here given as a fair specimen of the poetry.

5

MISCEL MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 28. Thoughts on the Times, but chiefly on the Profligacy of our Women, and its Causes. Addressed to every Parent, Husband, and modest Woman in the three Kingdoms. In two Parts; shewing First, the Danger of public Incontinence; the Absurdity of our Female Education; the Folly and bad Tendency of a fashionable Life, and the Evils that arise from French Refinement; and Secondly, how seldom Men-Midwives are necessary; that their Practice is dangerous-that it is repugnant to Modesty, tends to destroy the Peace of Families, and endanger Virtue. 2 s. 6d. Bew, &c.

12mo.

An indecent attack upon indecency-on what grounds it is made, we pretend not to judge.

Art. 29. The History of the Royal Abbey of Bec, near Rouen in Normandy. By Dom. John Bourget, Benedictine Monk of the Congregation of St. Maur in the faid House, and Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians of London. Translated from the French. 8vo. 3 s. fewed. Conant. 1779.

To those who are not blest with the true antiquarian inspiration, this hiftory must appear as dry and uninterefting, as the regifter of births and burials in any country church; affording not one curious fact or interesting anecdote: we will not therefore waste either our own time, or that of our Readers, by making any extracts from it. Art. 30. Pictures of Men, Manners, and the Times; interspersed with Descriptions of the Country, and Rural Enjoyments. Written in the Year 1777. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. bound, Boosey.

1779.

These two volumes confist of thirty chapters, each of which treats on some different topic. They are written in rather a lively manner, and may afford some entertainment, -the more, perhaps, because they abound with fatire; -fatire, which, indeed, is frequently too jutt, as particularly when it is employed on the remarkable delicacy of the times,' ' the luxury of the age, the blessings of the cardtable,' &c.

Art. 31. Lucubrations, Civil, Moral, and Historical. Small 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Scott, Chancery-lane. 1779. A man of literary decency would not disgorge indigestions wantonly in public view, but relieve a weak stomach from crudities in the utmost privacy. One Shandy in the memory of man is sufficient; but this hodge-podge brother of the fervum pecus tribe

has yet to learn,

That nine such scribblers will not make a Sterne. Art. 32. Exercises upon the different Parts of Italian Speech, with References to Veneroni's Grammar: To which is subjoined, An Abridgment of the Roman History, intended at once to make the Learner acquainted with Hillory, and the Idiom of the Italian Language. By F. Bottarelli, A. M. 12mo. 2 s. 6 d. bound. Nourse. 1778.

A work of this kind has been so much wanted, that it will be a fuficient recommendation of these Exercises, to say, that they appear to be judicioufly adapted to facilitate the learning of the Italian lanage,

Art.

Art. 33. The Playhouse Pocket Companion; or, Theatrical Vade Mecum. Containing, I. A Catalogue of all the Dramatic Authors, who have written for the English Stage, with a List of their Works, thewing the Dates of Representation or Publication. II. A Catalogue of Anonymous Pieces. III. An Index of Plays and Authors. In a Method intirely new, &c. To which is prefixed, A Critical History of the English Stage, from its Origin to the present Time. With an Inquiry into the Causes of the Decline of Dramatic Poetry in England. 12mo. 3 s. Richardfon and Urquhart. 1779

As great wits are generally said to have short memories, and may be as liable to have short pockets; they are here offered a memorandum book, filled with names, titles, and dates, equally adapted to the deficiencies of both.

Art. 34. The Annals of Europe, or Regal Register; shewing the Succeffion of the Sovereigns of Rome, Constantinople, Adrianople, Trebizond, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Lombardy, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Poland, Pruffia, England, Scotland, and Ireland: Together with the Bishops and Popes of Rome, from the Foundation of their States to the present Time: With the principal Events in each of their Reigns, and the Time when they happened. To which are added, Tables of the cotemporary Princes from the Year 800, and an alphabetical Arrangement of all their Names, shewing the Time of their Acceffion and Death, with concise Characters of all, as handed down by the best Historians. 8vo. 5 s. Boards. Newbery. 1779

The length of this title-page renders it unnecessary for us to say any thing in explanation of the design of this book; and the utility of the design is too obvious to need illustration: we have therefore only to remark, that the work seems to be executed with sufficient accuracy to render it a useful manual to the readers of history. In the doubtful periods of antiquity, the common dates are adopted, notwithstanding the decisive arguments by which the Newtonian chronology is supported. 'Tis astonishing, that in a matter fo clearly decided, and on such authority, new writers should still blindly follow the beaten track.

Art. 35. A View of the Earth, as far as it was known to the Ancients: Being a short but comprehenfive System of classical Geo. graphy, exhibiting, I. A Description of the several Empires, Kingdoms, and Provinces, their Cities, Towns, Rivers, and Mountains, mentioned in the Greek and Latin Classics. II. An accurate Abridgment of the Eneid of Virgil and Odyssey of Homer, in a Geographical Description of the Voyages of Eneas and Ulyffes. With the Travels and Voyages of St. Paul. Being a Work absolutely necessary for the right Understanding of the Claffics. Adapted to the Ufe of Schools and Academies, and illuftrated with a new Set of Maps. By R. Turner, junior, of Magdalen Hall, Oxford. Svo. 3 s. Boards. Dodiley. 1779. As it is probable that the classics were understood long before this sketch of ancient geography appeared, we cannot, with the Author, pronounce his work absolutely necessary for the right understanding of them: we must, however, do him the justice to acknowledge that it is executed in such a manner, that it may be very useful to the classical student.

Art. 36. The Dyer's Assistant in the Art of dying Wool and Woollen Goods. Extracted from the philosophical and chemical Works of Messrs. Ferguson, Du Fay, Hellot, Geoffroy, Colbert, and Julienne. Translated from the French; with Additions and practical Experiments. By James Haigh, Silk and Muflin Dyer, Leeds. 12mo. 5 s. 6 d. sewed. Leeds printed, and fold by Rivington, London. 1778.

This appears to be a useful compilement, on a subject concerning which very few books have appeared in this country. The art of dying is, in itself, one of the most curious; and in a commercial view, one of the most important. In a word, it is an art, in the improvement and perfection of which, the philofopher and the mechanic are equally interested.

Art. 37. A Dictionary of the Bible; Historical and Geographical; Theological, Moral, and Ritual; Philosophical and Philological. By Alexander Macbean, A. M. 8vo. 6s. bound. Carnan. 1778.

A dictionary of the Bible ought to be wholly confined to the explanation of the proper names and more difficult terms contained in the Bible. Instead of this, we find the technical language of Calviniftic theology, and of puritanical mysticism, plentifully dispersed in alphabetical shreds through this volume, the unavoidable consequence of which is, that the literary and scientific parts of the work are crouded into a very narrow compass: it may however be of fome "use to those who have not an opportunity of confulting larger works. Art. 38. Directions to Servants; particularly those who have

6

the Care of Children. 8vo. 6d. Dodsley, &c. 1779. The Author treats his fubject under the following distinct heads: -Importance of Servants who have the Care of Children-The real Interest of Servants-Directions to Servants in regard to Children. On each of these heads the Writer gives a number of sensible, and some fingular precepts. Among the first is the following: 'Take more care in what you say or do before children than before the world; for they may not only imitate, but misunderstand you.'From the novelties we have selected what follows: Children should have nothing faid to them on religion by servants. And even parents should avoid it while children are young, and until they have attained all necessary previous knowledge.'- All prayers should be carefully avoided; because children must misapprehend them. They should have no idea that a good may be obtained but by a right temper and behaviour,' &c. - As this is a point that merits the most ample and ferious confideration, furely the Author should either have treated it more at large, or have been filent upon it. The little page that he has employed on this subject, may, perhaps, only serve to unfettle the minds of many well meaning people, without fatiffying the doubts or scruples of any individual.

Art.

Art. 39. Dialogues of the Dead with the Living. 8vo. 4s. Boards. Conant, &c. 1779.

In these Dialogues, Lord Herbert is 'conjured up from the vasty deep,' to read his own recantation of his errors, and to perfuade David Hume to do the fame-Shakespeare' revisits the glimpses of the moon,' to give Garrick an opportunity of saying, " Angels and minifters of grace defend us," to praise his merits and reprove his faults, and to censure him for making his favourite poet 'the god of his idolatry' in the Stratford jubilee.-Fielding pays his compliments to Mr. Courtney Melmoth, to whisper in his ear, that he poffefses an everflowing vivacity, and a fund of genuine wit, which only require that they should be chastened by religion, and curbed by judgment, to render him a most agreeable writer: that his heart is good, his wit flowing, his language elegantly expressive; his painting the work of a master, and his powers in the pathetic, such as to make every fibre of the finer affections vibrate; that his Pupil of Pleasure is in its design great and good, and merits the warmest thanks of the friends of virtue-[Oh fie, Mr. Ghost! surely not!] and that he bids fair to be one of the first writers of the age [O tempora!]-Sherlock leaves the mansions of the blessed to upbraid Jenyns with infincerity, and to accuse him of arguing weakly with design, of treating Chriftianity with coldness and levity, and of throwing out infinuations unfriendly to the Chriftian cause. - Cowley lays aside his Seraphic lyre to reprove Dr. Hurd for publishing a mutilated edition of his works - Mr. Addison steals into the closet of Dr. Johnson, to give him a gentle rebuke, for rambling into the thorny paths of party, and to hint to him, that his writings would be more pleasing, if he would alter the uncouth dress of his expressions, and polith the rugged severity of his thoughts.' - The venerable Langton sternly reproaches the courtly Gibbon with having represented the Church as unfriendly to the rights of the people, and unjustly depreciated the Chriftian religion; and to assure him that in the world of spirits, all believe.' And lastly, Cicely, Duchess of York, does penance for her pride and ambition, by presenting herself before Lady S. to give an unwilling testimony to her uncommon merit.

In all this, there is neither argument enough to carry much conviction, nor wit enough to afford much entertainment.-Let this short outline of these Dialogues then fuffice.

MEDICAL.

Art. 40. A Review of Dr. Lettsom's Observations on Baron Dimfdale's Remarks respecting Dr. Lettsom's Letter on General Inoculation. By the Hon. Baron T. Dimsdale. 8vo Pamphlet. Owen, &c. 1779.

We took the liberty of declaring, with respect to the piece to which this is an answer, that the disagreeable dispute between these ingenious doctors being now become entirely personal, we looked upon ourselves as excused from entering at all into its merits. On this account, we only notify the publication of the present reply, for the information of those of our Readers who may be inclined to examine both fides of the question.

SERMON,