Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

Art. 32. 8vo. I s. 6d. Leicester printed; fold by Lowndes in London. At the clofe of this lamentable Volume we are told, that, the Spectator of human woes muft, for the prefent, retire from the walks of mifery, to wait the flue of that judgment, which will direct his future conduct.' And he adds, If aught in this little Volume should amufe the ferious reader, an opportunity may be embraced, hereafter, of renewing the subject!'

Traits on Human Woe.. By a Spectator. Small

To fpeak honeftly, we find little amusement in the difmal events which are here huddled together, it should feem, for our entertain

ment.

This Writer's tafte for amusement, appears to be of the fame ftamp with his who told the late facetious Mr. Foote, who had refused to accompany him to an execution, that he took pleasure in nothing.

Art. 33

Matrimony; or the Road to Hymen made plain, eafy, and delightful; containing a new Collection of familiar Letters, which have paffed between Lovers in various Situations of Life, difplaying humourous and entertaining Characters, with fhort Hiftories of their Adventures. The whole clearly teaching the Art of Writing Letters on Love, Courtship, and Marriage, &c. I s. Milne. 1781. .

12mo.

This art of writing Love Letters, is entirely calculated for ftudents, whofe natural style muft improve amazingly when enriched by the amorous phrafes here prepared for them.

Art. 34. Metempfichofis, or the Tranfmigration of Souls fyftematically confidered, and refcued from Obloquy and Con tempt, by the joint Authority of Reafon and Revelation: the whole comprehending a compleat Body of Animation, fuccinctly investigated, and impartially revifed. By the late Lord in the probationary Character of a Poft Horse. 4to.

2s. 6d. Kearsley. "Chaos is come again !"-for this crude, heterogeneous mafs of malice, impudence, and calumny may be truly faid to be like the primitive Tobu Bobu, when the "the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep!" Art. 35. Occafional Letters. By Jofeph Greenhill, M. A. Rector of Ealt Horfley, and Eaft Clandon in Surrey; Author of an Effay on the MILLENNIUM. 8vo. 6d. Cadell.

Another chaos of another kind!-equally obfcure, and equally infignificant.

Art. 36. Lectures to Lords Spiritual, or an Advice to the Bishops concerning religious Articles, Tithes, and Church Power: With a Difcourfe on Ridicule. By the Rev. Mr. James Murray; Author of Sermons to Affes. 8vo. 2 S. Axtell. 1781. The Author may indeed be very well qualified to preach fer mons to affes; but why will he, like the familiar ass in the fable, break out of his own line, and his own company, only to be lashed back into it again; and be told with a fheer, that it is not for affes to take fo much liberty;-unless it be with fellowaffes.

Hh 4

Arte

Art. 37. A new Syftem of General Geography, in which the Principles of that Science are explained; with a View of the Solar Syftem, and of the Seafons of the Year, all over the Globe; together with the moft effential Parts of the Natural Hiftory of the Earth. Part I. By Ebenezer Macfait, M. D, Edinburgh printed for Balfour and Creech. Sold by Cadell in London. 8vo. 5s. 1780.

The Author of this Treatife profeffes to have taken Varenius for his model, attending to the many important difcoveries fince made in natural philofophy: and he affirms, with a degree of integrity, little attended to by compilers in general, that he has done juftice to all to whom he has been obliged; no where attempting to raife his own reputation at another man's expence. Indeed fuch attempts generally, and juftly operate inverfely to the crafty views of literary difengenuity,

This Volume being only called Part I. and no affurance being given how many more are to follow, it is impoffible to decide on the probable extent of the work, farther than may be collected from the Author's declaration, that his first intention was to execute it in one volume from which it may be imagined that one more may poffibly compleat it. Indeed, though this Part appears alone, it were to be wifhed he had fo far adhered to his original plan, as by a fuller page and fmaller letter, to have calculated the whole for a fingle octavo volume; efpecially when we confider that former fyftems, including particular Geography alfo, appear in that compendious form.

i

3

We cannot deem the Author altogether happy in the distribution of his materials. He art treats generally of the earth, its figure, menfuration, latitude, longitude, its diurnal and annual motion, &c. then digreffes to the folar fyftem, and treats of the celestial globe; after which wide excurfion he comes home again to this planet, to profecute his primary fubject. If this method was pursued from no better motive than to vary in fome degree from other geographical fyftems; we cannot but think he has departed from the natural order of premifing a brief view of the planetary fyftem at large, and then coming finally home to our own globe, as a member of that fyftem;-and this to the difadvantage of the performance. However, this is a circumftance to which few may attend; and it is but justice to add, that the work is written in a clear familiar ftyle.

This Part is illuftrated with a good reprefentation of the folar fyftem; and if one more plate bad been affigned for the earth, to explain the feveral geographical definitions by view, it would have greatly facilitated the acquifition of geographical ideas to young ftu

dents.

Art. 38. An Introduction to Merchandize. Containing a compleat Syftem of Arithmetic. A Syltem of Algebra. Bookkeeping in various Forms. An Account of the Trade of Great Britain, and the Laws and Practices which Merchants are chiefly interested in. In two Volumes; Vo. II. By Robert Hamilton, L. L D Matter of the Academy, Perth. 8vo. s. Boards. Edinburgh printed, and fold by Cadell in London. The first Volume of this ufeful compendium was mentioned in the Rav. vol. lviii. p. 4c0. to which we need only to add, that

this fecond Volume, which compleats the work, fupports the character already given of the former; both by the clear Syftems of Book-keeping defcribed in it, and by the miscellaneous mercantile information that concludes the whole.

HORTICULTURE.

Art. 39. The complete Forcing-Gardener; or the Practice of forcing Fruits, Flowers, and Vegetables to early Maturity, and Perfection, by the Aid of artificial Heat, in the various Departments ufually conftructed for this Purpofe. The whole difplayed, with every new Improvement, by which this capital and curious Branch of Gardening may be effected with Facility and Succefs. By John Abercrombie, of Tottenham Court, Gardener; Author of Mawe's Gardener's Calendar. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Davis. 1781.

The title-page contains an honest account of what is to be expected in this little Volume. Nothing seems to be omitted that general and approved practice has authorifed.

Art. 40. The young Gardener's beft Companion; for the thorough practical Management of the Kitchen and Fruit Garden; raifing all early Crops in Hot-Beds, and forcing early Fruits. The various Articles being arranged alphabetically under the general English Names, exhibiting alfo that of the Genus to which each belongs in the botanic Syllem. By Samuel Fullmer, Gardener and Nursery Man. 12mo. 2 s. 6d. Boards. Barker, &c. 1781. Though we do not altogether agree with Mr. Fullmer, that this is the Young Gardener's beft Companion, we think it, however, not a bad one, Mr. F. who writes like one more converfant with gardening than grammar, feems to have a clear knowledge of his business, which he explains intelligibly, and with concifenels.

CULINARY SCIENCE.

Art. 41. The Practice of Modern Cookery; adapted to Families of Distinction, as well as to those of the middle Ranks of Life. To which is added a Gloffary, explaining the Terms of Art. By George Dalrymple, late Cook to Sir John Whitefoord, Bart. 8vo. 6 d. Beards. Edinburgh printed, and fold by Longman in Lon1781.

don.

As far as our fender knowledge of the fubject may be fuppofed to have enabled us, as critics and authors, to judge of the merits of a book that relates folely to good eating, we will venture to fay that Mr. Dalrymple's performance Jeems to comprehend an excellent fyftem of Cookery; for many a favoury dish, compounded of rare materials, do we fee defcribed in it, that we never heard of before and therefore, fhould be glad to try the receipts by actual experiment.-But for this we must refort to our accustomed patience, till opportunity ferves.

SCHOOL-BOOKS.

Art. 42. Infitutes of English Grammar; comprizing, 1. The different Kinds, Relations, and Changes of Words; 2. Syntax, or the right Conftruction of Sentences: with Exercifes of true and falfe Construction: adapted to the Ule of Schools. By R. Harrifon. 12mo. Brown. 1780..

This is one of the easiest and most concife compends of English Grammar

Art. 43.

Grammar we have feen, and feems particularly adapted to the purpofe of teaching young children this ufeful branch of learning. The Rudiments of the Italian Language; wherein the Parts that are fundamental and neceffary for Beginners, are dif played in a regular and comprehenfive method; and illuftrated with Grammatical Remarks, and Explanatory Notes, for the Use of those who attempt to learn this Language without the affiftance of a Mafter: to which are added, An English and Italian Vocabulary; common Forms of Speech on various Subjecs ; felect Paffages from different Authors, with Tranflations to dif pofed as to exhibit diftinctly their respective Correspondence; and a Catalogue of the moll ufeful Books in that Language. 12mo. 45. Nourfe. 1780.

This Italian Grammar appears to us to be drawn up with judgment, and well adapted for general use.

RELIGIOUS.

Art. 44. Scriptural Meditations; intended chiefly for the Seafons of Sickness and Melancholy. To which are added feveral Prayers, Poems, &c. on divers Subjects; collected from fome of the most pious and learned Writers. By a Clergyman. 8vo. 3 S. Bound. Buckland. 1780.

This Collection, we are told, was made many years ago, and never intended for public view, but the folicitations of friends, and particularly of fome to whom thefe meditations and prayers had been acceptable and useful, have now prevailed on the compiler to fend them forth into the world. They are on a great variety of fubjects, and formed entirely in the language of Scripture. The Poems at the end are taken from Bishop Kenn, Mt. Additon, Mrs. Rowe, Dr. Watts, &c.

This Clergyman appears to us to have employed his time very properly and fuitably; and his Compilation, we doubt not, will be acceptable to numbers.

Art. 45. Some Golden Rules and Directions, chiefly calculated for young Men, &c. I2mo. 6 d. Milne, in Holborn."

A very flight, but well meant little tract, confifting of good advice, tending to the promotion of piety and virtue. It is infcribed to Lord George Gordon; whom the Author, in true Scottish phrase, confiders as being presently the champion for the better establishing of by far the most valuable part of the British conftitution! Art. 46. The Univerfal Week's Preparation for a worthy receiving of the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, recommended and enjoined by the Church of England. In two Parts. By the Rev. J. Worthington, LL. D. Author of the Univerfal Prayer Book. 8vo. Is. Hogg. 1780.

This paltry compofition of fpiritual quackery, is introduced with a Preface, written with the most unregenerate fpirit of malice and ill-will against the other manufacturers of Week's Preparations :' but the largest portion of its fpite is referved for a certain brother of the craft, who had been vending his noftrums before our holy mountebank had erected his flage, or his Merry Andrew had trumpeted forth the infallible virtues of Dr. Worthington's Preparation!

Art.

Art. 47. The Aunt's Advice to a Niece. In a Letter to Miís Alfo fome Account of a Correfpondence with the late Rev. Dr. Dodd, during his Imprisonment. By Mary Bofanquet. Leeds printed for Binns. 8vo. 6d. 1780.

This good Woman gives her Niece very pious and very orthodox advice.

At the conclufion of this little Pamphlet, is a Letter from Mrs. Bofanquet to the late unfortunate Dr. Dodd, foon after his conviction and imprisonment. It is written in an enthufiaftic ftrain; but it difcovers a deep fenfe of religion, mixed with the most friendly feelings of generous attachment to that unhappy man, in the hour of his greatest diftrefs. We were much pleafed with, as well as affected by the beginning of her Addrefs. Let it not furprize you in this tremendous hour, to be accofted by an old, perhaps forgotten, but ftill fympathing friend. The world fmiles in profperity. The Chriftian loves in adverfity: and the hour of Nature's forrow is the important period for fuch a friendship.--From the first moment the melancholy news had reached my ear, how truly was my gaged in prayer and pity. I anticipated the dreadful pangs which rend your foul: and the awful confideration that thefe things were but the beginning of forrow, was ready to draw blood from my heart, as well as tears from my eyes. Had you remained in profperity, nothing would have been farther from my thoughts than a renewal of acquaintance. But now I cannot forget you, if I would'

[ocr errors]

heart en

The Doctor felt this good Woman's friendship and fidelity; and a feries of correfpondence (fhe informs us) was carried on almost weekly, till within three days of his execution.' The Doctor's laft letter is published. It is ftrongly expreffive of his deep penitence, mixed with the hopes of divine forgiveness. Art. 48. Two Sermons on the Refurrection of the Body, and the intermediate ftate of the Soul. By Thomas Bateman, A. M. Chaplain to his Grate the Duke of Gordon, Vicar of Whaplode, Lincolnshire, &c. 4to. 1 s. Baldwin, &c.

[ocr errors]

1780. There is little or nothing, either in the matter or compofition of thefe fermons to recommend them to the public attention. They are two flight, fuperficial difcourfes on the fubjects mentioned in the title. The text of the former is, 1. Cor. xv. 35, 36. But fome man will fay, How are the dead raised up? and with what body da they come? Thou fool! that which thou foweft is not quickened except it die. In the first of thefe verfes this Writer has found, what nothing furely could have difcovered, but imagination unrestrained by judgment. The question here urged', fays he, refolves itself into two propofitions. The former refpecting the manner of our refurrection, implying fuch an impoffibility in the very nature of the thing, as to exceed even the power of God to accomplish.' The other fuppofes the poffibility of the refurrection granted; and is then an enquiry concerning the nature of our bodies after fuch refurrection.' The firft propofition then here flated by St, Paul: (what propofition is here ftated by St. Paul? cording to our Author's ideas, it is merely implied.) propofition then here ftated by St. Paul, when more

Even acThe first largely fet

forth

« AnteriorContinuar »