ART. 26. An eccentric poetical Epifle from the celebrated Mrs. Err-ngt-n to John Motherhill, the Brighton Taylor; with an ixplanatory Elucidation. 4to. is. Macklew. London, 1787. This is of a fimilar ftamp with the last article we reviewed, wretched, vulgar, and indecent, with notes as poor as the text, dedicated to the refpectable Mrs. Newton. ART. 27. Poems, chiefly Paftoral; by W. Hawkins. 8vo. Is. Egerton. London, 1786. These pastoral poems confift chiefly of fongs, which are not infe. rior to the ufual Vauxhall productions of the fame kind. ART. 28. The First Floor; a Farce, in Two Acts, as it is now aɛling at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. 8vo. 1s. Dilly. London, 1787. This farce contains a confiderable portion of low wit; and though it's plot is, in many refpects, improbable, it is nevertheless capable of affording a good deal of entertainment even in the closet, and certainly rifes fuperior to most of its competitors in the fame line. ART. 29. Facts dedicated to her Majefty. The Female Spy; or, Mrs. Tonkins's Journey through France in the late War, undertaken by the exprefs Order of the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, Secretary of State. 8vo. Is. 6d. Sold by the Authorefs. London, 1787. It appears, by this pamphlet, that Mrs. Tonkins, the author of it, was, on an application of her own to Mr. Fox (after fruitlessly apply. ing to other officers in administration) fent out in 1781 as a spy, to learn what was going forward in the fea-ports of France, with a promife of being honourably rewarded on her return. A floop was fitted out for her, and ordered to land her where fhe pleased on the French coaft. She accordingly failed, and landed at St. Maloes, under the name of Adams, in the character of an American, searching for a paffage to that place. Under this fictitious appearance, she travelled to Morlaix and Breft; and the intelligence the picked up and brought home was, that the combined fleets of France and Spain were to rendezvous, the enfuing fummer, in the channel, whilft an armament was to attack Gibraltar. At St. Maloes fhe was taken before the governor, as a spy; but, on her producing a forged letter as from her husband in America, begging her to make the best of her way there from fome French port, the was difmiffed, and obtained a recommendatory letter to Dr. Franklin at Paris, who gave her a paffport to Oftend, from whence fhe got fafe back to England. In this tour the spent 1421. of her own money; but, finding Mr. Fox out of office on her return, fhe applied not only to him, but to Lord Keppel, Lord Grantham, Lord North, Lord Shuldham, Meffrs. Stephens, Sheridan, Frazer, and others, from whom fhe could get no relief but feven guineas from Mr. Fox, though reduced to the last fhilling, and had the misfortune to break her leg in her attendance. Peace had taken place, and fhe was fent from one to the other without obtaining any fatisfaction or reward for her fervices. This has induced induced her to fubmit her cafe to the public; and we honeftly think fhe has been hardly dealt with, for every labourer is worthy of his hire; and, as he was employed by government, and ran the risk of her life in the public caufe, whatever may be her private character, The certainly ought to have been rewarded. Though this tract may entertain for half an hour, it is far from being well formed, and convinces us of the truth of the old adage, that a difappointed woman is the bittereft enemy. She calls Sir Tho mas Pye a fqueaking, grinning monkey; Captain Kempthorn, of the 50th of foot, an infignificant puppy; Mr. Todd, of the Poft-Office, an old gormandizer; Admiral Keppel's fecretary, a thickheaded fellow; and is equally abufive to Meffrs. Sheridan, Frazer, and Sneyd. General Conway, Lord Grantham, and others, are treated very little better; and the gives us an anecdote of Lord Shuldham and his patron that, if true, does little credit to either of them. In fhort, fhe feems to have taken ample revenge for any ill treatment fhe may have experienced. ART. 30. Exceffive Senfibility; or, the Hiftory of Lady St. Laurence. 5 vols. 12mo. 15s. fewed. Robinsons. London, 1787. This novel is written in a series of letters between perfons of both fexes, and, with refpect to the principal incident, bears a strong refemblance of Olivia. Mifs Julia Ofborn, a beautiful and 'virtuous young lady, is married to Lord St. Laurence; and there is the fairest profpect that their union will be attended with great domestic happiness. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Dillon, a libertine of fafhion, and intimately acquainted with Lord St. Laurence, is introduced to his lady, and foon forms the criminal resolution of violating, if poffible, his bed. For this purpose, he becomes an affiduous vifiter at Lord St. Laurence's houfe; and his defign is abetted by the malignant arts and infinuations of Lady Sufan Drayton and Lady Charlotte Mayne, who envy the happiness of the new-married pair. Lady St. Laurence, unfufpicious of any plot injurious to her honour, entertains Dillon with that innocent familiarity which feemed fuitable to one who enjoyed the confidence of her lord. In the mean time, the artifices of Lady Sufan Drayton and Lady Charlotte Mayne are put into motion; and Lord St. Laurence is rendered fo jealous of his lady's chastity that a feparation enfues. Lady St. Laurence, and her nearest relations, are thrown into the greatest distress by this incident; and, on account of her extreme fenfibility, her life is endangered. While things are in this fituation, the infamous plot is discovered by the Earl of Belville, who immediately communicates the important intelligence to Lord St. Laurence. The characters in this novel are well fupported, and the manners in fashionable life delineated in a lively manner. ART. 31. Elements of Latin Grammar, for the Ufe of the Academy at Uxbridge. By William Rutherford, D. D. 12mo. 35. Murray. London, 1787. Thefe "Elements" feem to be formed on the plan of the Eton grammar, though arranged in a different manner, and better accommodated to the young. The author not only difcovers a thorough knowledge of the principles of the Latin language, but a facility of explaining them to the comprehenfion of pupils. The addition of a vocabulary to the different declenfions and conjugations is one of the many improvements to be found in this grammar. The firft part only is publifhed; when the whole is completed, it will greatly facilitate the acquifition of the Latin tongue, and be highly useful to fchools and academies. ART. 32. A Sketch of Univerfal Hiftory, from the earliest Time to the Year 1763. By a Lady. 8vo. 25. Payne and Son. London, 1787. A fummary of general hiftory, from the creation of the world to the year 1763, in the space of 94 pages, has never been attempted before, and could only have been conceived by the rapid imagination of a lady. This compilation, however, may have its ufe. Though it be too concise to convey a particular knowledge of the events in hiftory, it may serve as a guide to the mind in generalizing its fcattered information, and prove as an affiftant to the memory in retracing its former acquifitions. Though hiftorical correctness and accuracy have been ftudied, the learned reader will find some mistakes in this compendium; but it is to be hoped that the public will shew its ufual indulgence to a female pen. ART. 33. William of Normandy; an hiftorical Novel. 2 vols. 5s. fewed. Lane. London, 1787. The supposed time of the tranfactions related by this novelift correfponds with that of William the Conqueror; and the principal fcene is the town of Falaise, and its neighbourhood. If the manners of that age were rude and barbarous, the writer now before us is not deficient in imitation: murders, rapes, and executions, are the incidents which occur; and the conduct of the narrative, in general, is barbarism itself. We learn, from this performance, that a woman's charms are threatening; that love is an arduous paffion; and that a man may be in a state of insensibility and dissatisfaction at one and the fame time. We are afterwards informed that love is a detestable paffion. But, indeed, the author's ideas, both of the nature and effects of this paffion, are too ridiculous to be mentioned; he seems to be very little acquainted with the natural operations of the human mind. In point of compofition there is little to be commended in the work, which is frequently void of punctuation, and violates, in an extreme degree, all the laws of grammar and orthography. ART! 1 ART. 34. Poems, by J. Donaldson. 4to. 2s. 6d. Nicol. London, 1787. Mr. Donaldson, a celebrated portrait-painter, now folicits the attention of the world in the character of a poet. Nor are his pretenfions to that character totally unfupported. He discovers taste, an elegance of thinking, and that juft eftimate of human enjoy. ments which proceeds from thefe principles and acquifitions. The fecond ode, entitled, "Rural Repofe," is fimple and elegant. The author is an ingenious man; but, if we may judge from this collection, his poetical ftores are not very ample; and he feems, from the paucity of his performance, to be under the dominion of indolence, which, if it is not a mark of genius, is one of its most frequent attendants. ART. 35. The Twaddle; a Christmas Tale. 8vo. 1s. Law. London, 1787. We cannot more aptly characterise this tale than in the words of its author. A Grub-street catchpenny, whose plan Or moral-find it if you can. To fum up all, and truth to fay, Reading it's throwing time away.' ART. 36. The Songs, Recitatives, Airs, Duets, Trios, and Chorusses introduced in the Pantomime Entertainment of the Enchanted Castle, as performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden, By Miles Peter Andrews, Efq. 8vo. 6d. Bell. London, 1786. A collection of abfurdity and nonfenfe, which a mind, capable of the most grovelling intellectual drudgery, could only condescend to produce. ART. 37. The Protection of Providence, an Ode; facred to the Fame of The verfification of this Ode is fomewhat rough and inharmo nious; yet it seems to be the produce of an imagination not deftitute of vigour. The following stanza will give fome idea of the author's powers: • The man whofe mind with virtue glows, A thousand thoufand at his fide shall fall, Thick arrows round him fly-secure amidst them all.' Though this be an imitation of Horace's Integer Vitæ, &c. yet, if we except the Sternholdian line, marked in italics, it is not unworthy of fome degree of approbation. Bb 3 ART. ART. 38. The Gentleman's Guide in his Tour through France; with correa Map of all the Poft-Roads; the Expence of travelling in a Peftchaife, Stage Coach, or Inland Water-Carriage: alfo, the Distances of the Towns, and the beft Houfes of Accommodation. The Ninth Edition, with confiderable Additions; particularly an Account of the Products, Manufactures, Finances, &c. from M. Neckar; and a Tour through Swifferland, by the Author of the Guide through Italy. 12mo. 3s. 6d. half bound. Kearfley. London, 1787. With respect to the mere article of travelling in France, this volume may piove of fome ufe to one who is a total stranger in the country; but it is too fuperficial, too imperfect, and too injudiciously compiled, to answer any interefting purpofe. Four-and-twenty pages are wafted on a catalogue of paintings, ftatues, &c. at Versailles, while many of the principal objects in the kingdom are scarcely fo much as mentioned. For a tour through Swifferland, announced in the title-page, we have looked in vain through the whole work. ART. 39. The Retort Courteous; or, a Candid Appeal to the Public on the Conduct of Thomas Linley, Efq. Manager of Drury Lane Theatre, to the Author of Dido. Contain ng original Letters and jufi Remarks on the Manager's arbit: ary and inflexible Rejection of that Tragedy. By the Author of the Regifter-Office. 8vo. Is. 6d. London, 1787. To dispute with a manager of the theatre about not exhibiting a dramatic performance, is much the fame as fighting with a man to obtain his beneficence. Our tympathy is due to the author of a meritorious production in fuch circumftances; but there is no contending with the lordly arbiters of the stage; the diftributors of thunder and lightning in the imitative world. ART. 40. Obfervations on the Caufes and Cure of Smoaky Chimnies. By bis Excellency Benjamin Franklin, in a Letter to Dr. Ingenhoufz. 8vo. 2s. Debrett. London, 1787. Thefe obfervations are ingenious and useful. For a particular account of them, we refer our readers to our review of the fame author's Philofophical and Miscellaneous Papers, among which the Obfervations are publifhed. ART. 41. Sketch of a Tour through Swifferland. 12mo. bound. Kearfley. London, 1787. 25. half. This tour affords a juft, and, in general, a lively defcription of Swifferland; but it is fuch as will prove more entertaining to the reader than useful to the traveller. ART. |