Art. 23. An Epitaph on the late illuftrious Earl of Chatham. 8vo. 6d. Davies. 1784. Every man has characters, the one dictated by friendship, and the other by enmity; one takes the right hand of truth, the other the left; and as monuments are erected, and their infcriptions written, generally by a man's warmeft friends, no one upon reflection will confider an epitaph as an authority for more than the chronolo gical order of perfonal anecdotes. There are few, we believe, who are difpofed to difpute the abilities of the late Earl of Chatham; but there are many who are fenfible, from a general view of things, that a man is fometimes driven forward, and fometimes backward, by adventitious circumftances that coincide with, or counteract, his perfonal endeavours. When the motto in the title page of this epitaph, uhers it in by a declaration of the eulogift, that He was a man, take him for all in all, I ne'er fhall look upon his like again.' We are naturally prepared to expect the utmost ftretch of panegyric. There are more reafons than one to be given, why a perfonal declaration of that kind will be verified; but thould it be intended to imply generally, that there never will be fuch another man, we cannot do better than borrow a reply from the author of the Dramatic Mifcellanies on a fimilar occafion: I know very well,' fays this amufing writer, that fome of the furviving companions of Quin will pronounce it theatrical treafon to fuppofe, that it was poilible for this character (Falfaff) to survive their departed friend. But nature is not fo niggardly in her productions. The rifing generation may fee new Garricks, Barrys, Cibbers, and Quins. In like manner, we venture to affirm, notwithstanding the adopted exclamation of Hamlet, that from the dedication of this epitaph, the writer of it has already another Pitt in his eye! As to the epitaph itself, it is in fober truth a dry, laboured, prolix, biographical eulogium, far beyond the compafs of any mafonical recold, though compofed under fome fuch idea; as will appear from the commencement of it, which unluckily reminds us of an epitaph of a far different complexion. • Here continue Infenfibly to mingle with their original duft, Patriotic, And incorruptible Statefman ; The delight and glory of the British empire.' Lord Chatham's public conduct is celebrated through 246 fuck measured lines, ending with an exhortation to venerate the memory Of the right honourable and truly illuftrious William Earl of Chatham.' Vol. i. p. 251. I i 4 Art Art. 24. Lowndes's London Directory for the Year 1784. Containing an alphabetical Lift of the Names and Places of Abode of the Merchants and principal Traders of the Cities of London and Weftminster, the Borough of Southwark, and their Environs, with the Number affixed to each Houfe. Alfo feparate Lifts of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, Commiffioners of Excife and Cuftoms, Bank, South-Sea, and Eaft India Directors; Ruffia Company, Royal Exchange Affurance, Sun-fire, Union, Hand in Hand, London, and New Affurance Directors; to which are added, a correct Lift of all the Bankers of London, and a particular Account of public Stocks. 8vo. Is. Lowndes. 1784. This is the twenty-third Edition of a useful work; an epithet which is merited by few of the daily, weekly, monthly, yearly fwarms of literary infects, moths, butterflies, maggots, and bugs, with which this country is perpetually infefted. The publisher affures us, in his prefatory advertisement, that in order to render this Directory as complete as poffible, perfons are actually employed in enquiries at every reputable houfe in London, Weftminster, Southwark, and the environs.-Indeed, without this induftry, we do not fee how it is poffible to render a publication of this kind fo correct and useful as the prefen: work appears to be. 2 Art. 7. A Guide to Stage Coaches, Diligences, Waggons, Carts, Coafting Veels, Barges, and Boats, which carry Paffengers and Merchandize from London to the different Towns in Great Britain. Defcribing the Number of Miles to each Town, and the Days and Hours when the Carriages fet out from the Inns, &c. in and near London. With an Account of the feveral Wharfs, Keys, and Stairs, where Goods and Paffengers are ufually received, and conveyed in Veffels Barges, or Boats, to the different Parts of the Kingdom. Alfo the Rates paid to Carmen for the Carriage of Goods: together with their Orders and Ordinances, as fettled by the Lord Mayor, &c. The whole ufeful to Gentlemen, and designed as an Affiftant to Warehousemen and Shopkeepers, who fend Bales or Parcels into the Country. To this Edition are added, The Rates of Hackney Coaches, Chairmen, and Watermen. 8vo. 15. Lowndes. 1784. The fame marks of diligence and industry appear in these, as in the preceding lifts. Art. 26. Letters from a Mother to her Children, on various important subjects. 2 vols. 12mo. 2s. Marshall. 1784. Thefe little volumes are intended to fix on the minds of children an early regard to the principles of piety and morality, and form an habitual attention to them. They are written as from an affectionate mother, and contain fentiments highly proper, with arguments very perfuafive and affecting, and likely to influence young minds. The author trufts that the great fcarcity of religious books, tolerably adapted to the capacities of children, will prove a fufficient excufe for this publication' The writer further obferves, that the neceffity of rendering Serious fubjeċis pleafing, if they are in any degree expected to be beneficial to the youthful mind, will, it is hoped, obviate every objection that might, by the moft fcrupulous, be raised to the manner chofen to introduce them. We acknowledge we do not perceive any reafon for complaint in this respect. The different topics are introduced in an agreeable manner, by circumstances which may be likely to draw greater attention: if an objection might be hinted, it is that their caft is something too much of the grave kind, and not fufficiently cheerful; though at the fame time conveying the moft neceffary and ufeful truths, and not deftitute of a manner fuitable to the purpose. DRAMATIC. Art. 27. The Double Difguife, a Comic Opera, in two Aas. As performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane. The Songs fet to Mufic by Mr. Hook. 8vo. 1s. Bell. 1784. An unpretending trifle, which we fuppofe that the industry and fkill of the performers, with the addition of fome tolerable mufic, fupported for a few nights on the stage. In print its days cannot be long. Art. 28. Selima and Azor: a Perfian Tale in Three Parts. As performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. 8vo. Is. Bell. 1784. The most fatisfactory account that we can give of the piece, is to transcribe the advertisement prefixed to it : The following little piece (which is an imitation of the French Zemire & Azor), was the production of fome leisure hours, in a journey which the author made a few years ago: He was abfent from England at the time it was brought on the ftage; and he is very fenfible, that the uncommonly favourable reception it met with from the Pablic, must be principally owing to the great jultice done the piece by the managers, and by the performers: but most particularly to the taste and judgment of Mr. Sheridan, in feveral judicious alterations, and to the excellent music of Mr. Linley, to both of whom the author has pleasure in making this public acknowledgment.' This imitation of Zemire & Azor, is faid to be the production of a perfon of fashion, and he writes like a man of quality. Art. 29. Edwy. A Dramatic Poem. 8vo. is. 6d. Dilly, &c. 1784. It is pity that this ftory, one of Milton's subjects for the English Drama, fhould have been referved for the unskilful hand that has at length undertaken it. The piece poffeffes neither the intereft of a drama, nor the elegance of a poem. Art. 30. EDUCATION. The Children's Friend: Tranflated from the French of Mr. Berquin, Vols. V. VI. 18mo. Is. each. Cadell, &c.* We beg leave to recal our reader's attention to this excellent work (now publishing in fmall volumes once a fortnight), of which a particular account was given in the Review for March. Mr. Berquin, we are informed, has received from the French academy their annual prize (in value 50 guineas) granted to the author of that compofition which fhall be adjudged the most useful publication of the year. The reward was judiciously beftowed; and we hope the author of a work of fuch The whole of the original work, in French, is now published complete, in 24 vols. fewed. Those who chufe to have them halfbound, in 12 vols. are to pay l. 45. fingle vols. at 18. each. uncommon uncommon merit, will not fail to obtain, likewife, the general coun tenance and favour of the British public. Art. 31. Cobwebs to catch Flies: or Dialogues in fhort Sentences, adapted to Children from the Age of Three to Eght Years. In Two Volumes. 12mo. 25. Marthall. Thefe leffons are very well contrived for teaching children to read: they begin with pieces confifting entirely of words of three letters, and go on to words of four, five and fix letters; and of one, two, three and four fyllables. The dialogues, if not very entertaining or inftractive, are however level to the capacities of children. CLASSIC S. Art. 32. M. Val. Martialis Epigrammata in XII Libros digefta: ut uni fic omnibus Poetis facem præferente Jacobo Elphintonio. Londini. 8vo. 5. White, Dilly, &c. 1783. Of this new edition of Martial, Mr. Elphinfton thus fpeaks in his Hypercritic, after mentioning his own tranfia ion of the Roman Epigrammatit; Nor will the English work be the lefs welcome, that it is now accompanied by the original; cum Introductione ad Poëtas, præcipuè ad MARTIALEM; being the first Latin edition of Martial, that ever enjoyed the light of arrangement; with which that of the new English verfion exactly correfponds: and exhibiting, in like manner, the completeft collection of MARTIAL's works, that propriety ever can admit,' Such is Mr. E.'s own account of this edition; and as we believe him to be an honest man, we shall take his word, without comparing the order of the Latin epigrams with that adopted in his tranflation. It would, however, be unpardonable in us to omit taking notice of Mr. Elphinston's kindness towards the fubfcribers to his version of Mar tial, in now printing this new edition of his works; for we are con vinced, that there is no other poffible method which he could have adopted of rendering his tranflation intelligible, BOTANY. Art. 33. Tranflation of the Vegetable Syflem of Linnæus; by a Botanical Society at Litchfield. Svc. 2 vols. 8s. fewed. Leigh and Sotheby. 1784. We have only to announce the publication of two more parts of this work, viz. the fecond of Vol. if, and the first of Vol. 2d. For our account of the undertaking, fee Review for May 1783. N. B. Since the above was written, we have feen an Advertisement of the Tranflation, complete, in 4 vols. Art. 34. Obfervations on the Oheeroo, a Palm Tree, &c. 8vo, 32 pages; no Price mentioned. Printed by G. Bigg. 1784. This comes from a vifionary Behmenite, who would prove you, that "the righteous fhall flourish as a palm-tree,"-Now as none of the Afiatic palms are vigorous enough for his purpofe, he takes a trip to Utopia (doubtlefs in an air balloon), defcribes a fwinging one t, an unique, nuts, nubs, maggots and all, to be found only in that country, called the Oheeroo (a learned native writes it, O-queer-o), and then See our last Appendix, p. 595. † A print of the tree is prefixed. The Author fays it is called Ohecroo by the Arowacks, a tribe of Indians on the coaft of Guiana. fhews news you, how you fhall flourish-What is Sir Jofeph Banks to this most profound Natural ist! N. B. The Public are, probably, obliged to the fame writer, for the "Obfervations on one of the names of God." See p. 485. NOVEL S. Art. 35. The Magdalen: or the Hiftory of the firft Penitent re ceived into that charitable Afylum. In a Series of Letters to a Lady. With Anecdotes of other Penitents, by the late Dr. Dodd. Small 8vo. 2s. 6d. Lane. 6 In the Dedication to Mr. Harrifon, Chaplain to the Magdalen Hofpital, this publication is faid to contain Hiftoric Facts.-They may be fo. But whether facts or not, they have the merit of being natural, interesting, and pathetic. We have fome doubt, however, as to the moral tendency of fome particular parts of it, though there is no part that pofitively offends against the strictest rules of virtue and religion. The methods of feduction should be touched with a wife and delicate hand, left, instead of guarding the weak, we should ing fruct the wicked. Art. 36. Female Senfibility; or, the Hiftory of Emma Pomfret. Founded on Facts. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed.' Lane. 1783. We cannot better characterife this work, than by presenting the Reader with part of the introduction to it. "Whoever expects to find, in the following sheets, warm defcriptions of romantic adventures; improbable events, which never did, and never can happen; pompous accounts of bleeding heroes and of fcepired tyrants, will be disappointed. This is an artlefs tale, told in an artless strain.” The story is wrote only to the heart; and is plain, fimple, and unaffected. 66 In While we write probatum eft to this account of the work before us, impartiality, and justice, both to the original Editor and the Public in general, oblige us to remark, that it is only an adopted iffue, to which the fofter-parent, for the fake of paffing it on the world as a nevs production, hath thought it expedient to give a new name. fhort, this novel is literally the fame with one entitled Henry and Emma, and which may be found in a work published by Noble, under the title of Sketches from Nature. We know not on what principle of justice or propriety this fpecies of literary impofition can be vindicated or excufed. MEDICA L. Art. 37. An Efay on the most efficacious Means of treating Ulcerated Legs, in which the topical Applications in general Ufe are confidered, and fome new Methods for Relief proposed; with particular Obfervations on the Safety of healing Old Ulcers. 8vo. IS. Nicoll. 1783. The hints thrown out in this fhort piece are rational, but we imagine will not be new to thofe who have thought or read with any attention on the subject. RELIGIOUS. Art. 38. Sketches of Hiftory: In Six Sermons. By William |