NOVELS. I 2m0. ART. 23. The Travels of Lycurgus, the Son of Eunomus, of Sparta to Crete, Tyre, and Egypt, in fearch of Knowledge. PP. 221. 3s. 6d. Vernor and Hood. 1899. These fictitious Travels are modelled rather after Ramfay's voyage of Cyrus, or Fenelon's Telemachus, than that of Anacharfis by Barthelemy. It is pure fiction, related in rather poetical language, for the fake of introducing certain fentiments on wisdom and policy; not a narrative formed to illuftrate ancient manners and customs, and corroborated every where by reference to the original authors by whom fuch manners and customs have been recorded. The account is fuppofed to be given by Lycurgus, after his return to Sparta. It is divided into four books, of which the first defcribes Crete and the adventures of the traveller in that island; the fecond conveys him to Tyre, which is in like manner de. fcribed, while the defcription of Babylon is given to him by the Tyrian mafter of a veffel. Egypt is the fubject of the third book, and in the fourth Lycurgus returns to Greece. Here is alfo introduced an account of Perfia. None of these accounts are corrobo rated by references to authors, but they are in general fufficiently correct for the purpofe of the work, which was, fays the author, "to connect fuch portions of ancient hiftory, in the form of travels, as to make an inftructive, and, at the fame time, an amufing book for youth." The most exceptionable parts are certain preternatural events, fuch as appearances of the heathen gods, which deftroy probability, without anfwering any good purpose. ART. 24. The Royal Exile, or Vidims of Human Paffions, an Hiftorical Romance of the Sixteenth Century. By Mrs. Green, Author of Romance Readers and Romance Writers. 12mo. 4 Vols. 11. Stockdale. 1811. This This tale is founded on a portion of English history in the fixteenth century, and exhibits perfons, characters, and incidents, partly real and partly imaginary. The ftory of Perkin Warbeck is well introduced, and the whole difplays confiderable powers of imagination, and is more entertaining than the greater number of productions of the kind which have lately come before us. is, indeed, but faint praife, for we have, for fome time, been an noyed with a prodigious deal of trumpery, under the names of Novels and Romances. The ftory of Edward Courtney entitles this writer to refpect, and it appears that the is qualified for better undertakings. ART. ART. 25. Frederick, or Memoirs of my Youth, interspersed with Occafional Verfes, in Two Volumes, 12mo. I 25. Miller, 1811. We have, in thefe volumes, a notable example of refpectable talents employed to no beneficial or honourable purpose, of much reading waited, and much time loft. There can be no doubt, that he who wrote thefe volumes could have produced fomething, both creditable and ufeful. He exhibits fome fkill in the deli neation of character, and a confiderable knowledge of life, but we cannot recommend the perufal of "Frederick," for there are many things offenfive to modefty: nor can we praife the general execution, for among fome fenfible, and fome judicious obfer. vations, there is a medly of abfurdity and nonfenfe. The young author, for fuch we have no doubt he is, will perhaps take this hint, and we add by way of admonition, that for fome time to come, he will do well and wifely, to read more and write lefs. An apothegm which we recommend to all thofe who, without fome maturity of experience, feel the pruriencies of authorship. The verfification is in part, at leaft, very refpectable, and the Ode to the Ocean, very poetical. We hope we may meet this writer again, under circumftances, when we fhall not have occafion to pafs cenfure upon him for mifapplication of talents, which are obviously valuable. INUNDATION. ART. 26. A Short Account of the late Inundation in the Neighbourhood of Boston; occafioned by a violent Gale of Wind, an extraordinary high Tide, and breaking of the Sea Banks: with a Statement of the Lofs and Damage occafioned thereby; and of the. Relief obtained by public Subfcription, and diftributed among the Poor Sufferers diftreffed by the faid Inundation. To which are added, an occafional Prologue and Epilogue, to a Play acted at the Theatre in Bofton, in aid of the faid public Subfcription. By the Vicar of Bofton, affifted by feveral Gentlemen. IS. Bofton, printed for the benefit of the poor fufferers. Rivingtons, London. 1811. I 2m0. 21. PP. This is a plain and fimple narrative, the principal facts of which are contained in the following paffage. "On the 10th of November 1810, being the day before the full moon; a tide fomewhat high was expected in the evening. But, in addition to this circumftance, a very strong gale of wind, from the east north east, accompanied with rain, began early ip the morning, and continued during the whole day; the ftorm being moft violent in Bofton, from five to feven o'clock. Veffels lying between the Bridge and Skirbeck-quarter, rolled gunnel under: under; a circumftance never before witnessed in that part of the river Witham. The tide, in Boston, was ftationary nearly an hour; on account (as it feems) of the flood running off another way; and began to ebb about eight. It far exceeded any remembered upon this coaft. The ancient fea-banks were, in many places, overflowed; and were broken down, by the washing away of the foil on the land fide: many boats, and other pieces of wreck, were carried over them: the banks lately constructed, on the inclosure of falt marshes, were deftroyed: and a great portion of the adjoining country being fuddenly inundated, feveral houfes and other buildings, many horfes and cattle, an immenfe number of theep; ftacks of hay, corn, &c. and fome persons, were fwept away. But happily, the perfons who perifhed, were found to be much fewer than was at firft apprehended." When the damages came to be eftimated, which they were by a very careful investigation, it appeared that the loffes fuftained by individuals amounted to 16,840l. 1os. of which about 8000l. was loft by perfons who are either totally ruined, or materially dif treffed by their loffes. To remedy this calamity, as far as might be practicable, fubfcriptions were undertaken, and collected through. out Bofton, from houfe to house. In March last, the fubfcrip. tions, from many different fources, amounted to 3,3051. The 8000l. was by further enquiry reduced to 62011. 8s.; and, the fufferers being divided into four claffes, (of which the first in. cluded 82 families, who had loft all their property, the other three, those who had fuffered in different degrees) relief was given, as far as it could be afforded, according to the proportions of the loffes. It is much to the credit of Mr. Robertfon, manager of a com pany of comedians then at Boston, that he gave the entire receipts of his theatre on one evening, amounting to 391.1 18.; more than half of which he must himself have difburfed in the ordinary expences of the houfe. The Prologue and Epilogue adapted to the occafion are printed in this tract. If the public at large would view the cafe at all in the fame light, and extend even a moderate affiftance, the fufferers would foon be completely relieved. We cannot fufficiently commend the zeal of Mr. Partridge, the excellent Vicar of Boston, for the exertions he has made, both perfonal and literary, in behalf of his poor neighbours, and we cordially hope that he will be rewarded by the complete fucccess of his efforts. EDUCATION. ART. 27. late tate Fellow of St. John's College. 8vo. 36. pp. 2s. Hatch ard, &c. 1809. We feel much regret that we have fo long overlooked this very important tract. The Chriftian Advocate, fince fucceeded in his very honourable poft, by a divine of great eminence, has here thrown together fome very valuable fuggeftions on a fubject of the highest public concern. The prefent dangers of the church, and the caufes of them, are ftated with much perfpicuity, and as a remedy for fome of them, an improvement is recommended in the mode of conferring honours and advantages in the University of Cambridge. We cannot undertake to abridge the reafonings by which this valuable writer has enforced his opinions; fince they are already as briefly ftated as is at all confiftent with utility. We shall merely transcribe the regulations which the author recommends, as the result of his various obfervations. First, that the ruling members of the Univerfity fhould "be more circumfpect in granting teftimonials for orders, and fhould promulgate fome general and irrefragable law on that important fubject. Secondly, to increafe the neceffity of religious ftudy among the under-graduates, by granting no degrees to those who are void of ecclefiaftical information; Thirdly, to offer some stimulus to Bachelors, to induce them to proceed ardently in fuch purfuits; Fourthly, to require a real ferious examination, very much on religious topics, from all incepting Mafters of Arts; Fifthly, not to grant fellowships at fo early a period as at prefent; Sixthly, to allow none to retain their fellowships above twelve years." P. 34. Various opinions will of course be formed on thefe propofed regulations, nor will we attempt to offer a decided opinion on matters which require fo much confideration. But this we can fay, without the fmalleft doubt or hefitation, that the whole deferve attention in a very high degree, together with the reafons and opinions by which they are enforced. Mr. Cockburn is a true friend to the church, who feeing what its dangers are, is ftudious to provide the most effectual remedies. We should obferve, that he allows, that his fecond regulation is already introduced in the univerfity of Oxford. A note on page 12 reprefents a moft alarming fact, with refpect. to a confiderable Parish in the metropolis. "The late Duke of Portland," he fays, "as Rector of Mary-le-bone, has for many years rejected all applications for leave to build more chapels in that parish, though it is fuppofed to contain 200,000 inhabi tants, and though the church and existing chapels, will not hold one tenth part of the number. What has been the confequence? Diffenting meeting-houfes are built and building in every corner. of the parish chriftians know that it is their duty to affemble together in public worship, and as they are unhappily restrained from going to church, they are compelled of neceflity to profefs E e BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXXVII. APRIL, 1811. diffent, diffent, which is in fact the only religion completely tolerated in the parish of Mary-le-bone." He adds, with great juftice: "that an individual, and a layman, fhould thus be permitted by law to withhold fuch multitudes of people from going to any place of eftablished worship, is the moft abfurd and mischievous folecifm in legislation that ever occurred." We have heard, with much fatisfaction, that this great evil is at length about to be remedied, and moft anxiously do we wish that the remedy may be effectual and complete. We trust that the whole of the pamphlet will be, if it has not already, fully difcuffed and confidered. LAW. ART. 28. Advice on the Study of the Law: with Directions for the Choice of Books. Addrefed to Attornies Clerks. 8vo. PP. 157. 58. Taylor and Heffey. 1810. The little work before us, contains much useful advice, but we fear the greater portion of it cannot be converted to the benefit of attornies clerks. The chapters on induftry, temperance, and ftudy, are general in their application; thofe which relate to the law of nature and nations, hiftory, ancient and modern, the dead lan guages, and the claffics, require too much to be within the reach of thofe to whom the work is addreffed. The law-ftudent may avail himself of most of the inftructions in this tract, and will find it, in many respects, a safe and useful guide; and fo may the clerk to an attorney, if he is one of the very few who enter into the profeffion mature in life, accomplished in fcholaftic education, liberally endowed in point of fortune, and with a profpect of being early received into a good and well established bufinefs. But the majority of those who undertake this branch of the profeffion are taken at fifteen or fixteen years of age from a-school," put into an office, where, for the first four years, they are employed in copying inceffantly, and in doing what is called the out-door business; that is, in running to the different law-offices, and to the Chambers of counfel; they are then allowed to draw a little, except where their want of knowledge is relieved by an application to the fpecial pleader, the equity draftfman, or the conveyancer, and thus they become qualified to be managing clerks, or to practife for themfelves. That the advice given by this author would qualify a young man for better things, we do not mean to dispute; but that which is daily done by many hundreds, will continue to be done in the ordinary way, and the purfuit of bufinefs and profit would be too much impeded by the attempt, if many were to aim at innovation. More knowledge than many attornies poffefs is very defirable; but much that this author points out is to the mafs unattainable, and would to many be an incumbrance. These ob. fervations |