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ART. 17. Poems. By John Lowe, Jun. of Manchester.
Dean and Co. Mancheiter. 1803.

143 PP.

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12me.

In what manner uneducated perfons form to themselves ideas of verfe, it is not eafy to guefs; but, even in thefe rhyming days, we frequently have compofitions brought before us, profeffing to be poetry, without poffeffing even the common requifite of palable measure. To this clafs of Poets does Mr. J. Lowe, Jon. of Manchfter, belong. I am confcious," he fays, that my rhyme is not fo fmooth as I could with, but as my efforts have been continually employed upon blank verle, on account of my Erec POEM!!! I truit my confeflion will be a reafonable apology to the critics." Of his Poems of this kind he prefers his Serious Paftoral. Take, therefore, good reader, a fpecimen from that.

"One Morning as the cheerly finging Lark
Did mount to fee the glory of new day,

He tended th' herd of goats-when a paffing clown
On 's back a fheep bound-greeting, did befeech
To leave with friendliness-this baing ecce
(As he, to where the freamlet wash'd the bower

-Ran for his crook neglected) "dacious thief!" P. 28.

Of the fame precious Munchefter fuff is the Epic Poem alfo made, of which a large fpecimen concludes the prefent volume. Here we find,

"Hail Homer, fay they, celeftial mortal hail!
And Virgil follow'd-Virgil hallow'd hail!
Milton follow'd-all hail! thee, Milton, man
Divine infpir'd." P. 100.

We can affure this baing (baa-ing) Puet, that neither critics, nor any other perfons of education, can accept an apology for fuch aonfenie as abounds in this volume. His Epic Poem, he fays, has been the proQua of many midnight hours; let him no longer murder fleep; let him adhere to his honelt calling, if he has one; let him bid farewell to the Mufes, and to the friends who, from mifchief or ignorance, inflame his poetic vanity; above all, let him make peace with Sir Ifaac may then Newton, who really is not at variance with Mofes; and he live uncenfured and refpectable in any manufacturing town.

DRAMATIC,

ART. 18. The Fall of Carthage. A Tragedy. First prefent dat the Theatre, Whitby." With Additions and Corrections. By William Watkins. 8vo.

68 PP:

15. 6d. Law.

1802.

The destruct on of Carthage by the Romans, under the younger Scipio, is faid to have been attended with circumstances of peculiar horror, and might, in the hands of an able writer, form the subject

of

of a ftriking, if not an interefting, Tragedy. Such, however, is not the character of the piece before us; which does not rife above mediocrity; and though it might pafs at a country theatre, would fcarcely be endured, certainly would not be applauded, by a London audience. A fhort fpecimen of a fpeech, which ought to be impaffioned, will characterize the general tenor of the compofition. It is a foliloquy.. "And art thou, Afdrubal, reduced fo low, To take cold confolation from a Roman? And art thou now in Scipio's tent a captiveAnd has thy treacherous heart deceiv'd thy friends, Lur'd by a villain to effect his purpose ? Perhaps even now thy wife, thy children, die And heap their dying curfes on thy head, Who like a coward left them.-Mighty Jove!

Preferve them fate, or end this wretched being."

Mr. Watkins muft have fallen among curious critics if they dif puted, as he tells us, his accentuation of 'Afdrubal, which is as well known and as much fixed as Hannibal. His proof is satisfactory; but our wonder is that it could be wanted.

ART. 19. A Houfe to be Sold. A mufical Piece, in Two A&s. As. performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. By James Cobb. 8vo. 56 pp. 28. Robinfons. 1802.

A musical piece in two acts can hardly be deemed an object of for mal criticifm, efpecially at a period when moft of the things denominated comedies are little better than farces of five acts. The drama before us, taken from a popular French performance, has its due fhare of extravagance and abfurdity, without difplaying much of the facetioufnefs and humour of our most fuccefsful after-pieces: yet it is not wanting in buftle; and may, by the help of well-felected mufic, have pleased on the stage, though affording little or no amusement in the clofet. What prices will hereafter be fet upon our larger dramatic productions, we are curious to know; as this piece of two acts is very modeftly fold for two fhillings.

MEDICINE.

ART. 20. An Account of the Discovery and Operation of a new Medicine for Gout. 8vo. 194 pp. 45. Johnfon. 1803.

A perfon unacquainted with the medical profeffion, and now in his 45th year, having been afflicted with acute rheumatism about fourteen years ago, was prompted by a fecret impulfe to make trial of a fruit, the name of which is at prefent concealed, for abating his fufferings, It had the wished for effect. His pains were removed. About fix months afterwards, his rheumatic affection returned, and was again cured by the fame means. At the age of between thirty and forty he became fubject to the gout; and in 1798 he was attacked with a

fevere fit. The fruit, which had worked much wonders in the rheumatifm, foon put the gout to flight. The aftonishing fuccefs of this "new medicine" coming to the ears of the difcoverer's rheumatic and gouty acquaintance, they were induced to make use of it, and had the fatisfaction to find relief.

He now wished to put it into the hands of fome perfons belonging to the medical profeffion; and accordingly prevailed upon Dr. Bradley of London, and Dr. Beddoes of Bristol, to make trials of it; the refults of their obfervations are laid before the public, in the prefent pamphlet. From the hiftories here given, this medicine (which is a tincture prepared from the fruit of a plant of which, as we are told at p. 18, not only the pharmacologift, but popular practice, has hitherto been ignorant) appears to have abated the pain, and shortened the arthritic paroxyfms in fome inftances; in others it afforded little relief; and the iffue of fome of the cafes is unknown. We perceive that where it proved moft beneficial, a good deal must be afcribed to the accompanying diet and regimen. It produced intoxication in fome patients; nor is this furprifing, when it is confidered that the preparation is at leaft as ftrong as Madeira, and that it is prescribed liberally. If, as we fufpect, this hygeian fruit fhall be found to belong to the clafs of poisonous or narcotic vegetables, we shall be at no lofs to account for its affigned virtues in alleviating the pains and fhortening a fit of the gout. Many narcotics joined with aromatics, or with alkohol, will do the fame. But can this be done with fafety in the majority of cafes? We apprehend not. John Brown is a woeful inftance to the contrary.

Whatever be the fate of this noftrum, we cannot commend the conduct of men, who have had a profeffional education, ftepping forward as abettors of concealed remedies and empirical treatment. If the medicine be really fafe and efficacious, the discoverer need not be afraid of revealing it at once. He may, in fuch cafe, be affured of an ample reward.

ART. 21.

Fats and Obfervations respecting the Air-Pump, Vapour Bath in Gout, Rheumatism, Palfy, and other Difeafes. By Ralph Blegborough, M. D. &c. Izmo. 150 pp. 3s. 6d. Lackington, Allen, and Co. 1803.

In the pamphlet which immediately precedes this, we have an account of the operation of a medicine for the gout, whose compofition is kept a fecret; in the prefent fmall tract we are prefented with a remedy, for the fame diforder, of which there is a full and unreserved defcription. The firft-mentioned remedy is a pharmacentical preparation taken internally; that which is here offered is a topical application, and confifts of an apparatus, which unites the effects of fomentation with thofe of the cupping-glafs. For a defcription of the apparatus we must refer to the book itfelf, and to the accompanying plate. Mr. Smith of Brighton is the inventor of this mechanical contrivance, which promifes to be of ufe in many local affections, if not in gout. Several cafes of rheumatifm, palfy, and other diseases are related, in which it is faid to have afforded great relief. DIVINITY.

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DIVINITY.

ART. 22. Charity the Bond of Peace and of all Virtues. A Serman, preached before the Society of the Sons of the Clergy in the Diocese of Durham, on Thursday, Sept. 2, 1802, and publifhid at their Request. By Thomas Burgess, B.D. Prebendary of Durbam. 8vo. 43 pp. 15. Durham printed. Rivingtons and Hatchard, London. 1803. The name of Burgefs, Prebendary of Durham, is one of thofe which excite expectation, and are certain not to cifappoint it. The difcourfe now published by that able fcholar and divine is of the old and found ftamp, almoft exhaufting the fubject of which it treats. The matter of more than fitty flourishing and popular fermions might be found in this. The definition and explanation of charity, the modes of cultivating that principle within us; the objections fomeumes oppofed to it; the nature of public charities, with a particular application to that which occafioned the difcourfe; the incitements to charity in general; and the real operation of it towards our falvation: all these things are diftinctly and judiciously explained; with conpreffion indeed, but with fufficient clearnets to lead to ample inftruction.

On the fubject of faith and good works, confidering charity as pre-eminently a good work, the remarks of Mr. Burgefs are fo ably itated as to throw ftrong light upon a fubject which cannot be too often explained, or too carefully confidered.

"From the most attentive confideration of this fubject, (the condaciveness of charity to our falvation) as connected with the whole of this difcourfe, and with the relative value of faith and good works, we may, I think, juftly draw the following conclufions: That God's earneft exhortations to repentance, faith, and good works, should convince us, that what immediately belongs to the attainment of our falvation, depends on ourselves; that alms-giving and other good works are very conducive to our falvation, but not fufficien' for it; that good works recommend to God's favour, but do not justify from fin; that nothing can juftify from fin, but the atonement, which Chrift made for us by his death: that both faith and good works are injoined in Scripture, as neceffary to our falvation; that our good works therefore can never fave us without faith, nor our faith without good works; and, confequently, that, though we must be faved by fait, and not by cur own good works, we cannot be faved without good works." P. 40.

Let the reader alfo obferve the explanation and note upon it, given in p. 38. An author whom we lately adinonifhed will do well to ponder the note in p. 4, directly oppofed to his prefumptuous attempt to exclude the moit inftructive of chriftian teachers, St. Paul, from the ftudies of Christians. That this found divine thinks as we do of fuch doctrines is very evident from that note, which is as found as the opinions of the writer oppofed are daring and dangercus.

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ART. 23. A Sermon on the Depravity of the human Heart; exemplified generally in the Conduct of the Jews, and particularly in that of Lieut. Col. Defpard, previous to his Execution. Prea bed at St. George's, Hanover Square, Feb. 27, 1803. By the Rev. William Leigh, LL. B. Morning Preacher at the afraid Church, and Rector if Little Plumstead, Norfolk. 8vo. 22 pp. 1's. Hatchard. 1803, While this author places in a frong light the depravity of the Jews, in reulting the various invitations of heaven, to call them from their fins, and to establish them in holiness, he rather fails in pointing out the connection or fimilarity between their offences, and thofe of the wretched man whofe career of wickedness was interrupted and con cluded by the vigilance of the laws. He difplays two feparate pic. tures of depravity, but he does not explain why thole two in particulaş should be brought together; the one the offence of a nation, the other the guilt of an individual. His reflections of a general nature re. fpecting the introduction of evil are found and proper; and every caution against the deceit of the heart, and the depraved tendencies of our nature, deferves attentive hearing in a congregation of Chrif

tians.

ART. 24. A Sermon, preached in the Church belonging to the united Parifbes of St. Antholin and St. John Baptift, on Sunday the 5th of December, 18oz. By the Rev. H. B. Viljon, A. M. Sunday Afternon Lecturer of the jaid Parifies; a Candidate for the Monday Earn ing Leatureship in the faid Church. 18 PP. JS. Cadell

and Davies. 1802.

8vc.

From the tenor of this difcourfe, it is very evident that the Methodists had been active in their endeavours to get poffeffion of one at least of the lectureships in St. Antholin's church, and in their afual way, had flandered the Sunday lecturer already established there, as not preaching the Gofpel. Under thefe circumflances, he ventures to follow the example of St. Paul, in appealing to the knowledge of his congregation for the truth of his character. We have great reafon to believe, both from the apparent fincerity of his appeal, and from o:h.r circumflances, that Mr. W. has preached the Gospel in all fincerity and truth; but with his opponents nothing is preaching the Gofpel, but ranting about fuppofed regenerations and converfions, and experiences, turning the common events of life into miracles, and promifing the rewards of faith without the chriftian froirs of ir. En hafiafm is caught with eafe, truth inculcated with difficulty; hence the manifest advantage of the preachers here defcribed, and their fuccefs proportioned to their activity,

ART. 25. The Importance of Religion to the military Life; illuftrated in a Sermon preached on Sunday, Sept. 6, 1801, at the Garrison Service in the Church of St. Peter's Port, Iland of Guer fey. By Thomas Brock, A. M. and Fellows of Pembroke College, Oxford. 4'0. 1s. 6d. Rivingtons, &c. 1801.

39 pp.

This refpectable difcourfe, from a very young divine, ought not to be entirely overlooked, though it has been cafually deferred. Mr. B.

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