Art. 25. A Dialogue betweeen two Gentlemen, concerning the late Application to Parliament, for Relief in the Matter of Subscription, &c. 8vo. 6 d. Towers. This is the laft publication that has appeared in the fubfcription controverfy, but though laft, not least in merit. It is in favour of the petitioners, and contains many pertinent obfervations. The Author has condefcended to take fome notice of Mr. Madan, and Mr. Samuel Roe. NOVEL S. K. Art. 26. The Miftakes of the Heart: or, Memoirs of Lady Caroline Pelham, and Lady Victoria Nevil. In a Series of Letters, published by M. Treyfac de Vergy, Counfellor in the Parliaments of Paris and Bourdeaux. Vol. IV. and last f. 12mo. fewed. Shatwell. 1771. 2 s. 6 dr Our principal objections to this volume, are, ift, The difgufting fameness of tyle in all the various letters fuppofed to be written by the feveral characters employed in this imaginary correfpondence. zdly, The affectation of a SUPERIOR air and tone of expreffion, which, instead of being a true refemblance of the happy freedom and eafe which always accompany true politeness, often gives us a prepofterous exhibition of high-life in buckram. 3dly, The eternal, ri diculous thee-ing and thou-ing, in this polite-epiftolary intercourse ; from whence a reader, wholly unacquainted with the prevailing manners of people in the higher ranks of life, might conclude that our nobility and gentry were all turned Quakers. If Monfieur de Vergy had ever been really acquainted with perfons of diftinction in this country, or had feen any of their letters, he could not have fo egregiously miftaken their flyle and manner. He has, perhaps, obferved the coffee-houfe converfation of fome of our bucks of quality, in the ufual familiarity of Harry and Charles;' and he has, from thence, concluded, that every man and woman of rank, and every well-bred perfon in the kingdom, obferved no other forms of addrefs than thee and thou, and Robert and Mary, and Richard and Jane +. The mistakes of the pen, however, may be pardoned in a foreigner, although we are quite wearied with their perpetual repetition,-and the frequent inftances of broken Englith, into the bargain. Art. 27. The Storm; or, the Hiftory of Nancy and Lucy. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. bound. Noble. 1772. This production is in the narrative form; and there is a vivacity in it which renders it more interesting than the common run of novels. All of which have been punctually noticed in our Review, except the fermons of Dr. Hallifax; of which we have not yet been able to procure a copy. See Review, vol. 40, p. 511 We are not ignorant that this kind of the familiar, is by fome modif perfons, affected as the true bon ton; but De Vergy has ridden the poor hobby-horfe to death, and made up fuch a ridiculous mixture of the flippant and the stately, that one is at a loss whether to Laugh at or be angry with him. 2 Art. Art. 28. The Hiftory of Lady Barton, in Letters. By Mrs. Griffith. 12mo. 3 vols. 7 s. 6d. fewed. Davis, &c. Mrs. G.'s talents for compofitions of this kind, are fo well known, that our readers will require little information with respect to the prefent novel. To say that it is fuperior to the generality of fuch pro• ductions, is certainly needlefs; and, to this remark, we fall only add, that the work abounds with affecting incidents, interefling fitua-, tions, and fuch rational observations as may be expected from a perfon who converfes with, and knows, the world. It affords, however, no new or extraordinary characters; and exhibits rather a picture of real life, than a view into the regions of Romance: So that, perhaps, the ftory of Lady Burton, exclufive of the epifodical parts of the work, has not enough of the marvellous, to pleafe the young people who read in fearch of adventures. Art. 29. The Reclaimed Proffitute; or, The Adventures of Ame. lia Sidney, zmo. 2 vols, 5s. Rofon. * Another defpicable and fcandalous attempt to impofe on the public, by a wretched piece of patch-work, the shamelets plunder of fuperannuated and worthlefs novels. The adventures here trump'd up, and published as originals, are chiefly ftolen from an old storybook, printed by Curl, above forty years ago, entitled Spanish t Amufements; a few, alterations being made to difguife the impofture. Art. 30. The Teft of Filial Duty. In a Series of Letters between Mifs Emilia Leonard, and Mifs Charlotte Arlington. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. bound. Carnan. 1772. The excellent leffons of morality, which this work inculcates, will not be able to fave it from oblivion, MATHEMATICAL. Art. 31. The nautical Almanack, and aftronomical Ephemeris, for the Year 1773. Published by Order of the Commiffioners of Longitude. 3 s. 6 d. fewed. Nourse. 1771. To this Ephemeris are added new tables of equal altitudes, more extenfive and complete than any extant, computed by Mr. William Wales, together with an account of their conftruction and use; alfo a catalogue of the places of 387 fixed ftars, in right afcenfion, de clination, longitude, and latitude, adapted to the Year 1770, with their magnitudes and annual variations in right afcenfion and declination, calculated from the late Dr. Bradley's obfervations, by Mr. Charles Mafon, formerly his affiftant; to which are likewise annexed, Memoranda, thewing the extreme differences of the right ascensions of stars, fettled from different days obfervations. R~-S. See the accounts of Love in a Nunnery, and the Oxonian, in our laft month's Catalogue; both of which have the fame publisher's name with the prefent article: from whence it may not unreasonably be concluded, that they are all the workmanship of one and the fame refpectable hand. We know not who this induftrious manufacturer is, but, after being fo fully detected, we hope he will have the grace to betake himself to fome honefter means of gaining a fubfiftence. Written originally in Spanish:-if we may believe Curl's preface, POLITICAL] M 3 POLITICAL. Art. 32. Confiderations on the Indignity fuffered by the Crown, and the Dishonour brought upon the Nation, by the Marriage of his Royal Highness the DUKE of CUMBERLAND with an ENGLISH Subject. By a King's Friend. 4to. I s. 6d. Almon. 1772. An artful production of A Duke of Cumberland's Friend,' covertly intended to divert the refentment of both king and people, occafioned by the Duke's indifcreet marriage, into fuch a channel, as may finally lofe itself in the full tide of popularity; and we should not wonder to fee the ftream (in time) take this courfe, notwithstanding the past irregularities in the conduct of his Royal Highness, by which he hath, for the prefent, fo juftly forfeited the esteem of the public. Art. 33. Reafons against the intended Bill for laying fome Restraint upon the Liberty of the Prefs Wherein all the Arguments yet advanced by the Promoters of it, are unanswerably answered. 8vo. Is. 6d. Wilkie. This pamphlet is written in a train of continued irony, and is intended as a fatire against the friends of liberty. The freedom of the prefs inftead of being defended is attacked; and the Author is aukwardly pleafant, to make our patriots afhamed of having fupported our natural, inherent, and conftitutional rights. It difcovers but a very flender share of ability; and fenfible men and good citizens, if they happen to perufe it, will feel that degree of contempt, which it is proper they fhould feel, when the partizans of a court employ themselves in weak attempts to impofe on the understandings of the people, and to infinuate the detestable maxims of tyranny. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 34. Something New. In two Volumes. 12mo. Dilly, &c. 1772. St. 6 s. A feries of original essays, observations, remarks, &c. by a man of parts and literature; written a little in the Shandy-way, and, probably, by the pen of the ingenious writer of Sterne's pofthumous works; of which fee our cenfure, Review, vol. xlii. p. 360. Art. 35. The Hiflory of the Life of Jonathan Britain, continued down to his prefent Confinement in Reading Jail. Written by himself. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Printed for the Author, and fold by Rofon. Jonathan Britain appears, from his own account of his adventures, to have been as unprincipled a rogue as Jonathan Wild, though his villainies have been of a different ftamp from Wild's. His reprefentations, however, of the facts contained in his narrative, are not, in any degree, to be depended on; and it is more than probable that his ftory of the fire in Portfmouth dock-yard (the particulars of which he has fo often inferted in the news-papers) together with the plot to affaffinate his Majefty,-may be all fiction, devifed to answer his particular ends: yet it will feem very odd if his pretended treafon fhould operate in bar of every other title to the gallows. He is yet to be tried for feveral forgeries. LA W. : Art. 36. Imprisonment for Debt confidered, with refpect to the bad Policy, Inhumanity, and evil Tendency of that Practice. Tranflated from the Italian. 8vo. Is. Newberry. 1772. It is time, that the severity of the treatment of debtors fhould be remitted. Long cuftom, and an idle refpect for ancient times, fhould not give a fanction to injustice and oppreffion. The prefent advocate for the honeft bankrupt has proved very ably the cruelty and dangerous confequences of imprisonment for debt. But is there a man of common humanity and understanding in the dominions of Great Britain, or indeed in those of any other country, who is not ready to defend the fame pofitions? The members of our legiflature fhould blush for their continuing to give authority to proceedings, which are found, fometimes, to shock the feelings even of catchpoles and pettifogging attorneys ! Art. 37. A Letter to Richard Whitworth, Efq; Member of Parliament for the Town of Stafford; on his publishing a Bill, propofed to be brought into parliament, for amending the Laws relating to Game, and pretended to be for the Eafe and Liberty of the People. 8vo. 1 S. Wilkie. 1772. We have here feveral valuable ftrictures on a bill for amending the laws relating to the game. The Author feems to be a friend to liberty and his country. MEDICA L. st. Art. 38. Efays Medical and Experimental. The Second Edi-tion, revifed, and confiderably enlarged. To which is added an Appendix. By Thomas Percival, M. D. F. R. S. 8vo. OS. bound Johnfon. 1772. Thefe valuable Effays, are, in this fecond edition, rendered fill more ufeful and complete by fome additional experiments, facts, and obfervations. The Appendix contains our ingenious Author's effays on Water †, and on Inoculation 1. There is a fhort article at the end of the Appendix, which we have not yet reviewed; and in which Dr. Percival judiciously recommends fome efficacious external remedies in the angina maligna or ulcerous fore throat. Thefe are especially to be had recourfe to in the cafes of children, where the adminiftration of such internal remedies, as are ftrongly indicated, often becomes impracticable. DRAMATIC. D Art. 39. The Fashoinable Lover; A Comedy: As it is acted at the Theatre in Drury-lane. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Griffin. 1772. Having, in the Review for February 1771, given our opinion of the merit of this Writer, in our ample criticism on his Weft Indian, a comedy, we fhall only remark, in few words, that his Fa·Shionable Lover has not ill fupported the reputation which he gained by his former piece. Perhaps there is lefs fpirit in this than in the lal winter's production; but it is more correct, more challe, and, confequently, on the whole, a more moral performance; yet it is *Monthly Review, vol. xxxviii. p. 21. † Do. vol. xl. p. 60. I Do. vol. xxxviii. p. 495. M 4 not not wanting in vivacity, nor totally void of humour, and well-aimed fatire. It is principally deficient with refpect to originality of character; but for this the Author has made a very allowable apology in his preface. In brief, Mr. Cumberland has fo much improved his acquaintance with the Comic Mufe, that we fcruple not to pronounce him one of the best of our prefent dramatic writers. POETICAL. Art. 40. Sanitas, Daughter of Efculapius, to David Garrick, 1772. Sanitas, or Hygeia, prefents herself before Apollo, to receive his commands relative to the prayers of Mortals. Among other Peti tioners (whofe requests are all particularized, with various touched of characteristic fatire) the Tragic and Comic Mufes appear as fuppliants in behalf of their favourite. In confequence of their request, the daughter of Efculapius receives the following command: Fly, Sanitas, this Mortal find This poem, the Author fays, in his prefatory advertisement, was fent to Mr. Garrick, in his late illness; and the polite reception which that gentleman (the favourite, perhaps, in fome degree of very mufe) afforded to this affectionate compliment, induced the Author to fubmit it to the infpection of the public.-We could not perufe this piece without frequently recollecting the late Mr. Robert Lloyd, of whofe manner feveral parts of it bear fome refemblance'; though, perhaps, it feldoms equals him, either in ftrength or terfenefs. Art. 41. An irregular Ode on the Death of Mr. Gray, 4to. Is. White. 1772. There is confiderable merit in this little elegiac poem, although is by no means a faultlefs piece:-but when the Mufe feelingly làments the lofs of a favourite, it were impertinence of cruelty to criticife the expreflions of her grief. We are very glad to hear that justice will be done to the fame of this eminent bard, by his furviving friend, the ingenious Mr. Mafon; who has advertised his defign of giving to the public, "The Life of Mr. Gray." Art. 42. The Conqueft ef Corfica by the French; a Tragedy. By 2 Lady. 12mo, 6 d. Printed for the Author. Sold by Chater. Although this piece is entitled to no praife, it is too humble for cenfure. The Writer is probably an object of compaffion; as we are led to infer, not only from her ftyle, but from feeing a fix-penny pamphlet printed by fubfcription. CORRE |