ment is candid, and his manner agreeable. We may here, too, nb serve, that be all along preserves such an air of moderation, and decent segard to the characters and opinions of respectable men, who entertain different sentiments, both of measures and prospects, as cannot fail of procuring for him?elf, and for his reasonings, a great de. gree of approbation, and deference, from all parties, where violence does not exclude candour, and prejudice shut the door against conviction.

Io the fifth Letter, added in the presene edition, the Author treats on POPULATION; on certain REVENUE Laws and REGULATIONS, connected with the intereits of COMMERCE ; and on Public OECONOMY. On all these subjecis, he is the messenger of glad tidings. His speculations are of a complexion very opposite to those of Di. Price, whose efiimates, and mot alarming deductions, he endeavours to refute; while he opposes him in a manner becoming the character of a Gentleman, and with that conciliating urbanity, from which mén of letters thould never depart.--Though Mr. Eden is confidered as a ministerial advocate, he treats Dr. P. with that politeness and refpcct which are undoubtedly due not only to the Doctor's abilities, · but to his truly patriotic viows as a public writer : and he candidly acknowledges himself indebted to his reverend antagonist for that liberality of mind with which,' says Mr. Eden, he has communicated to me the knowledge of some of my own errors, at the same time that he differed from me, as to the principal positions which I had wided to establish - This is handsome; and it will seem not oniy HANDSOME but GENEROUS, if we allow that he has the ad. vaniage of the Doctor on the subjects of the Coinage, and of the Poo pulation of England. We canrot pretend, here, to enter into the calculations made by these ingenious writers, with respect to the last mentioned subject, nor to examine the data on which they are founded; but we bope, at least, that Mr. Eden is right in his actempt to prove, in opposition to Dr. P. that this country is not in a decrealing late of population. Art. 26. The Sysicin. Occasioned by the Specch of Leonard

Smelt, E!q: laic Sub-governor to their Royal Highnefies the Prince of Wales and Bihop of Osnaburgh, at the Meeting at York, Dec. 30, 1779. 8vo. 6d. Almon.

A very good whiggith fermon, to which Mr. Smelt's speech * serves for a text. The Author writes with a becoming decency of language, but his sentiments and reasonings are not the less weighty or energetic on this accoun:; nor is the view that he has given of our political ftuation the less alarming for the dispassionate terms in which he expatiates concerning the dangerous inroads that have been made on the British' conftitution of government; and which are all resolved into the Sygem' that (as it is affirmed) hath been adopted by the secret couniellors of the crown.'

* Sce, also, 'The Yorkshire Question,' in our last Month's Catalogue, Art. 13.

POETICAL.

POETICA L. Art. 27. The Ancient English Wake; a Poem. By Mr. Jerning, ham. 4to.

i s. 6 d. Robson. 1779. That primitive fimplicity of manners, so opposite to the artificial refinements of polished life, and which is supposed to characterize our uncultivated ancestors, is not easy to delineate. It will therefore be thought no llender compliment to the abilities of this inge. nious Writer to say that, in this part of his present work, he has displayed the fame judgment and taste which have been remarked in lome of his former publications.

Whatever may be the difficulties that the poet encounters, who attempts to describe manners at a diftance so remote from the present, they are, in a great measure, counterbalanced by the advan. tages he will gain in the construction of his fable. Unresirained by an attention to that propriety of conduct and occurrences which is expected in modern forv, he may give a loose to the reins of fiction, without danger of exciting either weariness or disguft. Events, which in themselves are not only romantic but improbable, will frequently, when viewed through the medium of antiquity, assume an air which is at once both graceful and engaging. That false glare of colouring, which shocks the eye of the spectator when brought 100 near, will, when placed at due distance, acquire a mellowness which has every effect of just painting. This obfervation may, with peculiar propriety, be applied to the principal incident in the poem before us.

As a specimen of the poem, and as a juftification of the opinice we have given of it, we shall subjoin the following extract :

• The hoary paltor near the village-fane
Receiv'd the honour'd chief and all his train;
This holy, meek, disintereited man
Had form'd his useful life on duty's plan :
Unpractis'd in those arts that teach to rise,
The vacant mitre ne'er allur’d his eyes.
Regardless still of diffipation's call,
He seldom tarried at the festive hall,
Where all around the storied texture hung,
Where psaltries founded, and where minttrels fungi
But to the humble cot's neglected door
The sacred man the balm of confort bore :
Still would he listen to the injur’d swain,
For he who listens mitigates the pain :
There was he feen reclining o'er the bed,
Where the pale maid n bow'd her anguilu'd head;
Where, reft of hope, the yielding victim lay,
And like a wreath of snow diffolv'd away:
With feeling foul the pallor olt enquir'd
Where the meek train of tilent griet resir'd,
Shame that deciines her sorrows to impart,
The drooping spirit, and ihe broken heart.
He ne'er the triar's gaping wallet fed,
Bus to the widow lens his loaf of bread:
• 5

His

His fee to Rome rela&tantly he paid,
And call'd the Pardoner's a pill’ring trade.
The sacred Psalter well he knew to gloss,
And on its page illuminate the Cross :
The written Millal on the altar seen,
Inclos'd in velvet of the richest green,
Display'd inicials by his fancy plannid,
Whore brilliant colours own'd his skilful hand,
This gaily-letter'd book his art devis’d,
The temple's only ornament compriz'd:
The hallow'd service of this modeft fane
(Far from the splendour of a choral train)
Could boali no labour'd chaunt, no solemn sites,
No clouds of incense, and no pomp of lights,
But at the plain and lowly allar lands
The village priest with pure oplitted hands,
Invoking from above, Heav'n's guardian care,

In all the meek fimplicity of pray’r.'
Art. 28. Epille from the Honourable Charles Fox, Partridge-
Sracting, to the Honourable John Townshend, cruising. 460.

IS. Faulder. 1779.

Few poems that we have lately met with bave afforded us more pleasure than the little epille which is now before us.

It is not only terse and elegant, but replete, also, with a kind of pleasantry which is, in some degree, peculiar to itself; a pleasantry unembit. tered by the gall of party or personal satire: it is very rarely that true humour and good humour are so happily blended. The Epiftle opens with the following lines :

• While you, dear TOWNSHEND, o'er the billows ride,
MULGRAVE in front, and HANGER by thy fide,
Me it delights the woods and wilds to court,
For ruftic feats and unambitious sport.-

· A: that dim hour when fading lamps expire,
When the lall, ling’ring clubs to bed retire,
I rise! -- how should I then thy feelings shock,
Un lav'd, unpowder'd, in my shooting frock!
What frock! thou criest--ill tell thee-the old brown;
Trimm'd to a jacket, with the kiris cut down
Thou laugh'it ; I know, thou do'it; but check that (neer ;
What thugh no fashion'd sportsman I appear,
Yet hence ihy CHARLE='s voice gains thriller force ;
Ah! Jack, if Dunning mot, he'd not be hoarse.

· Nor deem ev'n here the cares of state forgot,
I wad with gazettes ev'ry second shot:
ALOx's boid sheets the intervals supply;

And fill, methinks, his charges fartheft Ay.' The company and entertainment with which he purposes to celebra:e his friend's return, bear such evident marks of safte and good judgment, that we in vuld cieem ourselves happy in having a card oranviration to be of the pariv:

• That righe, to festive wit and friendship due, Tha: Ezkith, CHARLES's board hall welcome you.

Sallads,

Sallads, that shame ragouts, shall woo thy tale ;
Deep shalt thou delve in Weltjie's motley palle;
Derby shall lend, if not his plate, his cooks,
And, know, I've bought the belt Champaigne from BROOKS;
From liberal Brooks, whose speculative skill,
Is hasty credit, and a distant bill;
Who, nurs'd in clubs, disdains a vulgar trade,
Exults to trust, and blushes to be paid !

• On that auspicious night, fupremely grac'd
With chosen guests, the pride of liberal Taste,
Not in contentious heat, nor madd’ning frise,
Not with the busy ills, nor cares of life,
We'll waste the fleeting hours; far happier themes
Shall claim each thought, and chase Ambition's dreams.
Each Beauty that Sublimity can boast
He best shall tell, who fill unites them moft.
Of Wit, of Talle, of Fancy, we'll debate ;
If Sheridan for once is not too late :
But scarce a thought to ministers we'll spare,
Unless on Polith politics, with Hare :
Good-natur'd DEVON ! oft shall then appear
The cool complacence of thy friendly ineer :
Ofe shall FirZPATRICK's wit, and STANhope's ease,
And Burgoyne's manly ser.se unite to please.
And while each guest attends our varied feats
Offcatter'd covies and retreating fleets,
Me shall they wish some better sport to gain,

And Thee more glory, from the next campaign.' There are a few verbal inaccuracies, too trining indeed to be noticed in a poem of less excellence, which, in the ardour of composition, have escaped correction : one or two we have marked in italics.

We believe it is now a needless piece of information, that the Public are indebted for this performance to the same elegant pen that produced the Project, and the IVreath of Fashion Art. 29. Ruin seize ther, ruthless King! A Pindaric Ode, not written by Mr. Gray. 4to.

Alion.

1779. This free parody contains many lines that are humorous, some that are unintelligible, and a few that are impudent.

DR A MAT I C. Art. 30. William and Nanny; a Ballad Farce, in Two Acts.

As performed at the Theatre in Covent Garden. Evo. IS. Kearly. 1779.

Idle fing-long, and flimsy dialogue, sustained by hacknied chaJaders poorly delineated, not enlivened by humour, nor rendered interesting by any circumstances of the fable. Art. 31. The Cottagers : A Musical Entertainment. As performed at the Theatre in Covent Garden. 8vo. 6 d. Grifin.

The first draught of IWilliam and Nanny, the Author of which has thus charaderised the Cottagers. “ The fact is, that this little farce was originally wri::en ten or eleven years ago; as it stood then, a

real Baronet was in love with Nanny, who generously refigned her to William, on discovering their attachment; ihis was thought flat AND INSIPID."

Preface to William and Nanny. We have only to echo the Author's last words, fiat and infipid ! Art. 32. The Critic; or, Tragedy Rehearsed: a Literary Catch

penny! by way of Prelude to a Dramatic Afler-piece. By R. B. Sheridan, Esq. With a Dedication, Preface, and Prologue. 8vo. 1 s. Kingsbury. 1779.

Many a true word spoken in jest. This piece exactly answers the description in its title-page. “ A literary cacchpenny, by way of prelude to a dramatic afrer.piece.” Art. 33. The Critic Anticipated; or, the Humours of the Green

Room : A Farce. As rehearsed behind the Curtain of the Theatre in Drury Lane. By R. B. S. Esq; &c. 8vo. 15. Bladon. 1779.

Alius & idem! Another theatrical mushroom, engendered by the warmth of Mr. Sheridan's repu:ation. Art. 34. The Mirror; or, Harlequin everywhere. A Pantomi

mical Burleita. As performed at the Theatre, Covent Garden. 8vo. IS. Kearly. 1779.

This pantomimicai burietta may, for aught we know, be a very diverting spectacle on the theatre ;-in the closet it is but a poor entertainment. Art. 35. The Shepherdess of the Alps; a Comic Opera, in Three

Afts. As performed at the Theatre, Covent Garden. 8vo. Is. 6 d.

Kesrily. 1780. A dramatic travelyofile elegant and affecting tale of Marmontel. The character of Count Trife is founded, if we recollect rightly, on one of the Proverbes Dramatiques. Mat of the other coinic chafacters and incidents are mere counterparts to thole which have been repeatedly exhibited, with more address, in our late musical dramas.

L Art. 35. Remarks on the Law of Difcent, and on the Reasons

assigned by Mr. Juilice Baekhtone for rejecting; in bis Table of Deicent, a l'oint of Doctrine laid dowa in Plowden, Lord Bacon, and Hale. 410. | 8. Od. Brooke.

1779. The point of law here difcufled, in 17 quarto pages, is, “Whether the heir of the Great Grandmolher, on the part of the father, ought to be preferred, in the courts of the inheritarce, to the heir of the Grandmother on the fame fide; or, vice verja ?” Mr. Justice Blackitone gives the preference to the Great Grandmother, in contradiction (as this Author contends) to the ancient doitrins. Had the learned Commentarer en the Latus of Explaid contented himself with fingly declaring his opinion on tne fubject, the Public would find little difficulty in chuling between fo, weighty an authority, and that of an anonymous writer; but as the rtajons on which the former grounds his opinion are aligned at fome length, these reasons are certainly open to the fi cik cxamination. The question is shifted from authority to argument. Our Remarker enters on the discusion wi;h temper, and will decency; but with what fuccels he hath ac quicred himself, muit be less to the desition of those who are deep in

A