and Afia Minor, the founding of Maríeilles, its fett'ements, commerce and revolutions, the alteration of the characters and manners of the Provençaux, their barbarism, the restoration of arts and letters, which extend their influence among the Gauls and pafs into Italy; and lastly the union of this province with the crown of France.

XVI. Efai Theorique & Pratique fur les Batailles : i. e. A Theoretical and Practical Effay on Battles. By the Chevalier DE GRIMOARD. Paris. 410. 1777. This is a learned book in the science of manslaughter, which it reduces to a more regular system than we, as yet, have been curled with.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE,

For MAY,

1777.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 11. A Letter upon Education; Tranflated from the French of a Royal Author. Izmo. 2s fewed. Nourse. 1777.

HE Author of this little Tract on Education is fuppofed to be the King of Pruslia, and indeed it is more calculated for his fubjects than for the good people of England. The tranilation is fo vile, that it is impoffible to read it without difguft. Speaking of the duty of a female, the Tranflator fays, it is far preferable that he herself fettles the accounts of the houfe and keeps them regular, than foolishly to run in debt on all fcores, without thinking to repay what her creditors have advanced fo readily, for fo long a time." In another place fociety cannot fubfit without legitimate mar riages, which renews it and renders it eternal. Theje young plants then must be carefully nurfed which are formed for the flocks of future generations.' Thus, using thefe for thoje, the young plants are the felf-fame legitimate marriages which renews and renders. But there is no end of the blunders; many of which appear to be of northern extraction.

Art. 12. Remarks on Mr. Gilbert's Bill for promoting the Refi dence of the parochial Clergy, by building, rebuilding, and repairing parfonage Houfes, &c. recommended to the serious Perufal of the parochial Clergy. Evo. 1s. Parker. 1777.

Rational, folid and judicious objections to feveral claufes in the faid Bill, which is unfavourable in almost every afpect to that most ufeful body of ecclefiaftics, the parochial clergy. Their incomes are in general very inadequate to their station, and to the expences of the times and yet it is on thefe poor men that the burthen of this munificent Bill is to be laid. But there are a fet of men called Billfchemers, who are continually peftering the Houfe and the Public with every reverie that comes into their heads. Art. 13. A Letter to her Grace the Duchefs of Devonshire. 4to. Is. Fielding and Walker. 1777. A ferious expoftulation with the amiable Duchefs, for thofe youthful levities, and efpecially that affected fingularity of dress,

. by

by which, as it is faid, her Grace has frequently condefcended, in the most public manner, to diftinguish herfelf:

Pleas'd with a feather, tickled with a ftraw." Other ladies may, if they pleafe, perufe this fenfible remonftrance with advantage.

Art. 14. A Second Letter to her Grace the Duchess of Devonshire. 4:0. 1 s. Fielding and Co.

This fecond Letter fets out with a declaration that the apprehenfions which her Grace, and fome of her confidential friends exprefled, previous to the publication of the Author's first Letter, had induced him to fupprefs many parts of it;' that he (the writer) had formed a vain hope, that a ferious addrefs might awaken her Grace's lumbering reafon, turn its ferutinies to her past conduct, and force upon her a confcioufnefs of the many fubjects which might be observed there, for rigid investigation, and fevere chaftifemen'.' But, adds he, the public appearance of that epillle converted your apprehenfions, and thofe of your truly affociates, into a boatling affectation; and though it had been the fource of much anxiety, you treated it with a childish levity and contempt, which has brought me to my paper again. I fhall, therefore, proceed, with much good will, to offer the fuppreffions of my former Letter to the Public, and to your Grace,'

The fuppreffions are, accordingly, here reftored to the living world; and they confift of certain additional Atrictures on the great Lady's public conduct, and averred levities; conveyed in language of a Lefs ceremonious tone and tenor, than that of the former Epile.But does all this look well?-We hope the Author has not been endeavouring to levy contributions on the Duchef,! If he has, we are not forry to find that her Grace had fagacity and spirit enough to fruftrate the defign.-But we beg the gentleman's pardon-He profeffes (and every body believes the profeffions of anonymous writers), that he is not actuated by perfonal envy, or perfonal reJentment,-Yet, after all, is there not fomething like refentment, in the reatons affigned, as above, for the publication of these juppreffions?'

Art. 15. A Letter from M. Voltaire to the French Academy: Containing an Appeal to that Society on the Merits of the English Dramatic Poet, Shakespeare: Read before the Academy on the Day of St. Louis, 1-76. Tranflated from the Original, just publifhed at Paris. With a Dedication to the Marquis of Granby, and a Preface by the Editor. 8vo. Is. Bew. 1777.

This violent invective against Shakespeare was occafioned by the French Verfion of that Author, of which we gave an account in the Appendix to our 54th Volume. Most of the common-place objections to our incomparable Dramatiit are here collected and aggravated, viz. his irregularities, his meanneffes, &c. but there the attempt at a comparifon between him and the French authors is

• See, alfo, our fhort mention of the Original of this Letter, Rev. Dec. 1776, p. 47+

Cc 3

concluded.

concluded. On this occafion the wifeft method for an advocate of Shakespeare to purfue, would be to take up the argument where Voltaire has dropt it; not to defend Shakespeare, but to fhew, even allowing the whole charge against him, that Corneille and Racine, (to whom we may add Voltaire) have as many faults, and much fewer beauties. A female writer of this country has already opened that plan, with merited fuccefs. Art. 16. Political Lamentations, written in the Years 1775, and 1776. To which is annexed, a political Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of Walfal, Dec. 13, 1776, being the Day ap pointed for a General Faft. By John Darwall. 4to. 25. Nicoll. From the Author's ridiculous poetry, which he calls Political Lamentations, we, at the firit glance, thought him in jeft; but from his equally lamentable Sermon annexed, we found him in earnest: execrating the rebellious Americans, and bewailing the enormous fins of our own country; by which, if we understand him right, the rebellion of the colonies has been fuperinduced, as a divine judgment. There are, however, in his Sternholdian rhymes, a few ftrokes of fomewhat like wit. or, rather, humour; that fort which, in the ballad of Catherine Hays, (who cut off her husband's head and flung it in the Thames,') never fails, in defiance of the tragi cal fubject, to create an hearty laugh,

Art. 17. An Addrefs to the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Anne, Wefiminiter. By the Rev. Thos, Martyn *. Containing a full State of his Cafe with the Rev. Dr. Hind †, and the Opinion of the Court of King's Bench upon the Subject; in which the Clergy, in general, are materially interested; and the Rights of the inferior Clergy in particular are clearly ascertained. 8vo. 1s. Corral. 1777.

It is very true, as the above copied title page affirms, that the clergy, in general, are materially interested in the main question relative to the contest between Dr. Hind and Mr. Martyn; and that the legal decifion which has been made in favour of the latter, is of the utmost confequence to the curates, in particular: who are highly indebted to their ingenious and fpirited brother, for his inftrumentality in procuring, from the Court of King's Bench, a full and fatisfactory explanation of the different engagements by which rectors and curates are connected, and the different cafes which may from thence arife. Arbitrary dismissions, even under the flightest of thefe engagements, were confidered by his lordship t to be indefenfible, both in reafon and in law. It appeared, to the honour of his lordship's humanity, that he was neither indifferent or inattentive to the hardships of a numerous and refpectable body of men, who fuffer worse than Egyptian tyranny from the task-masters of their own profeffion. To thefe, his fentiments, -his doctrine, and his determination, will be a perpetual fource of comfort.'

* Curate.

Lord Mansfield.

+ Rector.

Art.

Art. 18. A fhort Account of the Motives which determined the Man called John the Painter; and a Juftification of his Conduct. Written by HIMSELF, and fent to his Friend Mr. A. Tomkins, with a request to publish it after his Execution. 4to. Is. Williams. The Author makes John declare himself an American born; and fired with the most enthufiaftic love of his country in confequence of which, he thought it was his duty, as a fincere and active patriot, to exert his utmost abilities, in order to diftrefs the enemies of America, by every poffible means, within the power of an individual to perform. Accordingly, many fpecious arguments are here used, and fome degree of learning is employed, to demonftrate that John's attempt to burn the Dock-Yard, at Portsmouth, was, on his principles, highly meritorious, and heroic. But how does all this agree with the accounts which we have had, of John's penitence after condemnation? Either the pamphlet, or thofe accounts, must be fpurious.-Sufpicion feems to fall heaviest on the performance before us.

Art. 19. A Letter to Courtney Melmoth, Efq; With fome Remarks on two Books, called Liberal Opinions, and the Pupil of Pleasure. 8vo. 6d. Wilkie.

This Letter freely cenfures fome of Mr. Melmoth's publications, as unfriendly to virtue; charges the writer with difplaying luxurious reprefentations of the fcenes of vice; and particularly characterifes his Pupil of Pleasure as the preceptor of voluptuoufnefs. It contains juft and ferious reflections on the degeneracy of the times, and gives Mr. Melmoth much good advice, which we wish for the fake of the Public, he may have the grace to follow. Art. 20. Letters on Female Education; Addressed to a Married

Lady. By Mrs. Cartwright. 12mo. 25. Dilly. 1777.

If this writer does not difcover the elegance of a Chapone, or the ftrength and penetration of a Gregory, fhe has, however, befide the merits of a good intention, that of having expreffed many just remarks and useful reflections with a degree of plainnefs and fimplicity which will render her work generally acceptable. She has enlivened her leffons of morality and prudence, by interweaving with them an agreeable and pertinent narrative.

Art. 21. A Father's Inftructions to his Children: Confifting of Tales, Fables, and Reflections, defigned to promote the love of Virtue, a Tafte for Knowledge, and an early Acquaintance with the Works of Nature. By Dr. Percival. Vol. II. izmo. 2s 6 d. fewed. Johnfon. 1777.

This fecond volume is fo like the former, both in the plan and execution, that it is only neceffary, after referring our Readers to the account given of the work in our Review, vol. liv. page 184, to fay, that it bears equal marks of folid judgment, elegant talte, a fcientific acquaintance with nature, and an amiable goodneis of heart. It is a work adapted not only to afford agreeable and useful inftruction to children, but to fuggeft many valuable hints to parents, in executing the difficult task of education.

Art. 22. Inftructions of a Duchefs to her Son; Tranflated into English from the original Italian. By a Young Lady. 4to. 2s. 6d. Becket. 1777.

A rhapfody of no very uncommon fentiments and precepts, decently tranflated by a young Lady, and published by her Italian matter.

Art. 23. The Hiftory of New York, from the first Discovery, &c. By William Smith, A. M. Svc. 58. Almon. 1776.

A republication of a work originally printed in 1757, and recommended in our Review for June, in the fame year, vol. xvi. p. 517. Art. 24. An Inquiry into Facts, and Obfervations thereon. Humbly fubmitted to the Candid Examiner into the Principles of a Bill intended to be offered to Parliament, for the Preservation of the Great Level of the Fens, and the Navigation through the fame, by a Tax on the Lands, and a Toll on the Navigation. 8vo. J S. Owen. 1777.

Contains a clear, and fo far as appears, a fair account, of the past and prefent fate of the fens in question; with the steps neceffary to be taken for their future fecurity.

Art. 25. The Modern Traveller: Being a Collection of useful and entertaining Travels, lately made into various Countries; the Whole carefully abridged; exhibiting a View of the Manners, Religion, Government, Arts, Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce of the known World. Illuftrated with Maps and ornamental Views. 12mo. 6 Vols. 11. 1s. Lowndes. 177. We have had feveral Compendiums of modern Voyages and Travels, in a pocket fize; and this, as containing an abridgment of the latest writers, feems to deferve the preference. In the year 1757, we had an abridgment of Modern Travels*, in four duodecimos: it comprehended Maundrel, Shaw, Pococke, Drummond, Ruffel, Hanway, Pontoppidan, Norden, and the celebrated Journey to Palmyra. That work we are to confider as the foundation of the prefent abstract now before us, in fix volumes; the Editor of which has extended the plan, and brought the collection down to the prefent time. The "Modern Traveller," therefore, contains, befide the authors before mentioned, the additional travels of Algarotti, Kalm, Sharpe, Baretti, Clarke, Abbe Chappe, Smollett, Grofley, Nugent, Riedefel, Brydone, Chandler, Pennant, Johnfon, Twiis, &c. He has, alfo, placed in chronological order, the voyages of Anfon, Ulloa, Byron, Bougainville, Ofbeck, Toreen, and Mefirs. Wallis, Carteret, and Cooke, and others.

Publications, fuch as the above, are well calculated for the million, but particularly for young perfons; as no kind of reading is more pleafing, and at the fame time more inftructive. They may, therefore, with great propriety be given as prefents to the younger readers of either fex: ince it is equally advantageous to both, to be furnished with books which (like the narratives of the most approved travellers) are adapted at once to inform and to expand the mind.

*See Review, vol. xvii.

Art,