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able powers of invention; the style is in general more correct, and at the fame time more eafy and inartificial than that of fome of the Author's former works; and several of the characters are conceived with boldness, and drawn with lively strokes of humour: Mr. Mel moth has, however, fuffered his favourite idea, maintained at large in his liberal opinions, that to be good is not the way to be happy," to give a general tincture to the work, entirely different from that which univerfally diftinguishes the writings of the benevolent Shenflone. It has led him fo far to depart from the fpirit, and even miftake the meaning of his Author, as to admit into his village needy adventurers, broken fpendthrifts, gamblers, fharpers, reps and de-. mireps, who overturn the economy of the place by introducing horse-races, cock-fights, and every inftrument of gaming and diffipation. No wonder that such a selection fhould produce nothing but diforder and ruin. Surely, had Shentone executed his own plan, his elegant tafte and fine feelings would have taught him to have made choice of better company.

Art. 45. The Sorrows of Werter. A German Story, founded on Fact. 12m0. 5 s. fewed. DodЛley. 1779.

In this little work is drawn, by a masterly hand, a lively picture of the horrors of a mind difordered by the phrenfy of a disappointed paffion, and at length abandoning itfelf to defpair, and feeking refuge from its forrows in a voluntary death. An excellent moral may be deduced from it--if the reader pleafes.

POETICA L.

Art. 46. An Elegy on Winter, and other Poems. To which is added, an Infcription to the Memory of the late Lord Lyttelton! By John Jones, Schoolmaster in Kidderminster, &c. 4to. Is. Buckland, &c. 1779.

In a biographical Preface, which our Author has prefixed to his works, after modeftly acquainting us with the difficulties that attended him through the early part of his life, he adds, that by the encouragement of Dr. Johnstone, an eminent physician of Kidderminster, he opened a fchool, in which undertaking he has been conftantly fupported by most of the principal inhabitants; and, fome years ago, he was intrufted with the office of veftry clerk, the duties of which fill up his vacant hours.' When his fituation and opportunities of attainment are confidered, his poems will appear not deftitute of merit.

Art. 47. The Scotch Hut; a Poem.

Addreffed to Euphorous, or the Earl of the Grove. 4to. I s. Almon. 1779. This poem is meant, it feems, as a fatire on the Earl of C. for building a fhed decorated with the infignia of Scotland, and for feeding his own hogs. De Guftubus non eit difputandum.

Art. 48. Caufidicus; a poetic * Lafh: In Three Parts. Containing a real Picture of the Times; the Study at the Temple; with a Vifit to a certain Judge; and a most extraordinary Trial. 4to. 2 s. 6d. Bowen, &c. 1779.

Erratum, for a poetic lab read poetic trafb.

Art.

Art. 49. Parnaffian Sprigs; or, Poetic Mifcellanies. By Wil.
ham Macor, of Oxford. 8vo. 2 s. 6 d. Bew. 1777.
The mot fignificant lines in this publication are the motto:
Cacoethes feribendi

Tenet injatiabile multos

Art. 50. The Sacrifice; A Sacred Ode. To which is added, an Elegy, dedicated to the Rev. Mofes Brown, Vicar of Olney, Bucks, and Chaplain of Morden College. By William Auguftus Willis, M.D. . 4to, I S. Bew. 1779.

From perusing this irregular ode, we have formed a much more favourable idea of the Author's theological learning than of his poetical talents. The elegy on the death of a much-lamented wife, which he has fubjoined, convinces us that, if he is not an eminent poet, he is, what is much more meritorious, a good man. Art. 51. Poetical Tales. By Sir Gregory Gander, Knt, Small 4to. 1 s. Bath, printed by Cruttwell. Sold by Newbery

in London.

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This Gander is no way related to the Roman Geefe, who faved the capitol by their cackling. From the licentioufnefs of his manner, we fear his cackling will be attended by no fach falutary effects. For the fake of thofe into whole hands thefe tales may accidentally fall, we could with this remark had been unneceffary. Art. 52. Pygmalion. A Poem; from the French of J. J. Routeau. 4to. 2 s. 6 d. Kearly, &c. 1779.

¡A pleafing dramatic production of the pen of Rouffeau is here imitated, in verfes which are by no means deflitute of harmony or fpirit. The Tranflator has printed the original piece at the bottom of the pages.

Art. 53. Sixteen Sonnets. By John Bampfylde.

4to. I S.

Prince, Oxford. Brown, London. These short but fuccessful excurfions of the Mufe will be acceptable to fuch as can relish the fimple beauties of poetic imagery. The diction is, throughout, fo uniform, and the numbers are fo fimilar, that the following fonnet On the Evening, will give the Reader a perfect idea of the degree of entertainment he may expect from these pieces:

Slow finks the glimmering beam from western sky,
The woods and hills, obfcured by evening grey,
Vanish from mortal fight, and fade away.
Now with the flocks and yearlings let me hie
To farm, or cottage lone, where perch'd hard by
On moffy pale the red-breaft tunes his lay,

Soft twittering, and bids farewell to-day:

Then whilft the watch-dog barks, and ploughmen lie
Lull'd by the rocking winds, let me unfold
Whate'er in rhapfody, or ftrain most holy,
The hoary minstrel fang in times of old;
For well I ween, from them the Nine inspire
Wifdom fhall flow, and Virtue's facred fire,
And Peace, and Love, and heavenly Melancholy.

Art.

Art. 54. An Epiftle from a young Lady to an Enfign in the Guards on his being ordered to America. 4to. Is. Sewel, &c. 1779. Some "infignificant perfonage" feems to be here exhibited, for the entertainment of the Public, in the character of a military fribble. The Epistle is written in the character of a Demi-rep; and the poetry, which runs in the mock Ovidian strain, is too good for the frivolous fubject.

Art. 55. Ode to the Privateer Commanders of Great Britain: Being a Parody on Mr. Mason's Ode to the Naval Officers, &c. [fee our Catalogue for April] 4to. 6d. Oxford printed, and fold by Rivington in London.

In this animated parody, the poet ironically excites and applauds the piratical spirit of privateering; which he feems to confider as the meanest and moft fordid fpecies of warfare.

Art. 56. Odes on feveral Subjects. By Robert Alves, A. M. Edinburgh printed for Creech. 8vo. 1 s. Murray. London. 1778.

Of the pieces in this collection, the principal is a philofophical poem, intitled Viciffitude, An Ode; the intention of which is to defcribe the variety and confiftency of nature's plan both in the phyfical and moral world.' The remaining pieces are, Malevolence, an Ode, Ode to Night, Ode to Hygeia, and Ode to Wisdom. They are none of them wholly deftitute of merit. The verfification is eafy, and, if allowance be made for some few defective rhymes, for the most part harmonious.

Art. 57. The English Garden: A Poem. Book the THIRD. By W. Mafon, A. M. 4to. 2 s. Dodfley. 1779.

As only one book more is wanting to complete the whole of Mr. Mafon's plan, we fhall wait till that is published, before we enter upon any further examination of his English Garden. For an account of the two former books, see MONTHLY REVIEW, Vol. xlvi, page 219, and Vol. Ivii. page 79.

Art. 58. A Paraphrafe of Mr. Anftey's Paraphrase of the thirteenth Chapter of the first Book of St. Paul's Epifle to the Corinthians: or, a Poetical Expofition repoetically expounded. By Archi Mac Sarcafm. Folio. I S. Almon.

Verfes addreffed to Servility, in parody of Anftey's Poem on Charity, and intended as a compliment to Mr. Anftey: their merit is too inconfiderable to claim particular attention. Perhaps it was rather unfortunate for this little poem, that our expectations were raised too high, on feeing the name of Archi Mac Sarcafm, and recollecting the pleasure we had received from the perufal of two or three fpirited pieces, published under that defignation.

Art. 59. Edwy and Edilda. A Tale, in five Parts. 8vo. 3s. Dodfley. 1779.

A natural and fimple Tale, which might have been made extremely pleafing and pathetic in plain profe, is here drawn out through a thousand ballad stanzas, perfectly uniform in their ftructure, and for the most part of very moderate poetical merit. Some

For an account of Mr. Anftey's Paraphrafe, fee Review for laft. Month, p. 469.

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times, however, the writer difcovers no inconfiderable powers of defcription, and by a tender ftroke of fentiment, or a lively flight of fancy, repays the reader for many tedious lines. Of his ability for defcription the following is no unpleafing specimen:

In happier days, when halcyon peace

The gliding moments bleft,
Nor EDWY kenn'd the lurking fhaft
That rankled in his breast:

At times, beneath a blooming bow'r,
That hid the eye of day,
At fweet EDILDA's bidding he
His tuneful pipe wou'd play.

'Midft fummer's heats EDILDA still
The paftime much approv'd;
And who can doubt that what the lik'd
Th' empaffion'd EDWY lov'd?

A winding row of fringed elms
Led to the cool retreat,
Whofe rugged trunks were circled by
The pea and woodbine sweet,

The bow'r itself, a little heav'n
Of various sweets compofe,

Where jafmines and the fragrant brier
Wou'd emulate the rofe.

Nor eglantines were wanting there,
Nor myrtles odorous green,
Which form'd a feemly contraft to

The flow'rs that blufh'd between.

Sweet flowrets of a thousand dyes,
Enamell'd o'er the ground,

And with the bower's foft perfume vy'd
To scent the air around.

Here each plum'd warbler of the grove,
With envy ftretch'd his throat

To rival EDWy's dulcet ftrains,

With many a liquid note.

While the clear brook, that winding flow'd
Befide the calm retreat,

Its lulling gurgling's join'd to form

A mufic ftrangely fweet.

Not Eden's felf a fairer spot

Could boaft 'midft all her bow'rs,

What time calm innocence slept foft

On beds of fragrant flow'rs.

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Were it not that the piece is occafionally enriched with lines which indicate fome exertion of poetical talents, one might fuppofe that the Author poffeffed Lucilius's envied facility of veritying, and in borâ fæpe ducentos

verfus dictabat ftans pede in uno.

LAW.

LAW.

Art. 60. A Dictionary of the Norman, or Old French Language; collected from fuch Acts of Parliament, Parliament Rolls, Journals, Acts of State, Records, Law Books, Ancient Historians, and Manufcrips, as relate to this Nation. To which are added the Laws of William the Conqueror, with Notes and References. By Robert Kelham of Lincoln's Inn. 8vo. 6s. Brooke 1779. The uncouth and barbarous dialect in which our records antecedently to the reign of Edward the Third, and many public inftruments fince that time, are written, long maintained its ground with the writers on law. Moft of the Reports till within a century were communicated in this technical language. But fince it is now univerfally fallen into difufe, the profeffors of the law have contented themselves with a general acquaintance with its phrafeology, relin quishing all pretenfions to a more nice and critical skill to profeffed antiquaries. Hence, however, have been experienced fome inconveniences. How little the Norman or Law French is at prefent underftood by the gentlemen at the bar, is decifively fhewn by Mr. 'Kelham, who relates (and the incident, it must be confeffed, reflects on them no credit) that at a late remarkable trial a French gentleman was called in to read and explain fome Norman French charters in one of our courts of judicature. As the knowledge of this old language is fill the only key to many curious antiquities, and to feverl of our early writers, the prefent publication will be found of confiderable affistance to thofe who are engaged in refearches of this nature. Mr. Kelham's reputation as an antiquary is a fufficient pledge for the fidelity and accuracy of the work.

The laws of William the Conqueror are fubjoined in the Norman French, with a Latin and an English tranflation. They are brought together into one point of view, in order to combat and overturn fome novel opinions which Monf. Houard (a celebrated Norman jurist) has lately attempted to maintain. Mr. Kelham proves beyond all cavil, that the early laws of this king, prior to the introduction of the feudal law, were moulded on the Saxon cuftoms, which, according to the authority of our beft writers, are the elements of the common law.

HUSBANDRY.

Art. 61. A Treatise on the Culture of the Tobacco Plant; with the Manner in which it is ufually cured. Adapted to Northern Climates, and defigned for the Ufe of the Landholders of Great Britain. To which are prefixed two Plates of the Plant and its Flowers. By Jonathan Carver, Efq; Author of Travels † through the interior Parts of North America. 8vo. 2 s. 6d. Johnson: 1779.

Should the culture of tobacco ever form a part of English agriculture, we doubt not but the planter will meet with fufficient information, in the prefent pamphlet, to encourage him to attempt it with every reasonable profpect of fuccefs. The leaf is the valuable part of the plant. It is natural to fuppofe the humidity of our

* Introduction.

† An account of thofe Travels is given in the Reviews for Fe bruary and April laft.

climate

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