for redress, till toward the clofe of the last year; when, after having been long and variously agitated between hope and defpair, he was finally difmiffed, by an answer which feems to have cruelly put a period to his painful fufpence.-We are forry to fee a perfon of fuch apparent ability, and diligence in office, fo ill requited for thofe public fervices which he appears to have actually performed, or laudably purpofed We must not clofe this article without apprifing our Readers, that they will find, in Mr. Lott's pamphlet, a variety of obfervations on fubjects of public import, (independent of all reference to his perfonal concerns) as intimated in his title page; particularly in regard to the prefervation of hip timber; with other matters, of great confequence to the British navy: the profperity of which, our Author appears to have HONESTLY had in view, in his various well-intended plans of improvements, and propofals for remedying abujes.-In regard to the latter, we doubt not, many perfons were interested to oppose him; and to this caufe, perhaps, the defeat of all his schemes, and the creating to himfelf fo many enemies, must be attributed. MATHEMATICS. Art. 20. A Supplement to Calculations of the Value of Annuities, published for the Ufe of Societies inflituted for Benefit of Age. Containing various illuftrations of the Doctrine of Annuities, and complete Tables of the Value of 11. immediate Annuity (being the only ones extant by half yearly Intereft and Payments). Together with Investigations of the State of the Laudable Society of Annuitants; fhewing what Annuity each Member hath purchased, and real Mortality therein, from its Inftitution, compared with Dr. Halley's Table. Alfo feveral Publications, Letters and Anecdotes, relative to that Society, and explanatory of Proceedings to the prefent Year. To which are added, a Table and Obfervations to elucidate the Subject of the National Debt, occafioned by Mr. Laurie's Remarks on Dr. Price's Observations. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Ridley. 1777. We have done juftice, on a former occafion, to the merits of Mr. Dale, as a calculator: we have now an opportunity of announcing the integrity and zeal with which he has endeavoured to open the eyes of his deluded affociates, and to prevent the complicated ruin which mut eventually accrue from an inftitution founded and continued on an infufficient and inequitable plan; but we are forry to find that he has laboured in vain, and that the majority of the fociety to which he belongs, are determined to ruin themfelves, or at leaft their fucceffors, in spite of him. Reformers actuated by the best views and motives have little encouragement to perfevere; and we have only to fay to Mr. Dale, "Come out from amongst them and be feparate." What opinion can be reafonably formed of thofe who contentedly receive 241. per annum instead of 15 1., and much less, after the clearest and fulleft evidence of the inability of the inftitution to make fuch a payment at prefent, much lefs to continue it for the future? Many of the papers collected together in this publication relate immediately to difputes that have been agitated at different meetings of the Laudable Society of Annuitants; but fome of them contain information of a more general nature and ufe. The examination I amination of the ftate of the fociety contained in it, with the various methods employed in the investigation, will ferve to illuftrate and eftablish the doctrine of annuities, as it has been largely and accurately stated by the beft writer on this fubject. POETICAL. R-s. Art. 21. The DIABOLIAD; a Poem. Dedicated to the worlt Man in his Majefty's Dominions. 410. I s. 6 d. Kearily. 1777. In this poignant fatire, the force and rage of Churchill seem united with the fpirit and pleafantry of the unknown Bard to whom we owe the Epifle to Sir W. Chambers, &c. The plan of the Diaboliad is this: The Devil, grown old, was anxious to prepare At length he fummon'd forth his chofen band, As foon as his Majefty's most gracious fpeech is concluded, his ready minifters wing their way, and arriving at this upper world of ours, they light on St. Paul's dome; from whence they repair to the court end of the town: fome take their fav'rite way To thofe fam'd manfions where the fons of play Ev'n S-1-n feels ambition fire his breaft, Now prowling onward to the noisome caves From the rank pleasures of an harlot's arms. Then, with the mortal crowd, they bend their flight * Dr. Price. Introduced Introduced by Mercury, the Sir Clement Cottrell of the lower regions, the eager competitors (after a fet fpeech from the throne) feverally fland forth, and urge their pretenfions to the fucceffion: and in thefe appropriated displays of their refpective qualifications, the curious reader is to look for the zeft and fpirit and energy of the performance.-The candidates confift of celebrated characters, well known at the gaming-table, or in the drawing-room and never were culprits more feverely cut up.-The conteft for the infernal crown is warmly maintained; and the choice falls on fome hoary finner of distinction †,- -one more fupremely diabolical than the rest; but whofe identity is not fo very obvious as that of every one of the unfuccefsful claimants. Art. 22. The DIABO-LADY; or, a Match in Hell: A Poem. 4to. s. 6d. Fielding and Walker. An unequal imitation of the foregoing fatire. The thought on which the piece is founded, is thus expreffed: now feated on the infernal throne, Thought it not good the Devil fhould be alone; Fit confort, could be found, to match his life. Accordingly, brims of quality, ftage brims, and others of like fame, are introduced, as candidates for the honour of fharing the bed and throne of his infernal majefty; but there is nothing worthy of a farther extract. Art. 23. The Triumphs of Fashion; a Poem; containing fome Now on thefe lines your kindeft influence fhed, If this Satirift expects to be the Poet in fashion, he will probably be disappointed. Art. 24. Ad C. W. Bampfylde, Arm. Epiflola Poetica Familiaris, in qua conținentur Tabula Quinque ab Eo excogitata, quæ Perfonas repræfentant Poematis cujufdam Anglicani cui Titulus, An Election Ball. Auctore C. Anftey, Arm. 4to. 5 s. DodЛley. Mr. Bampfylde, of Heftercombe in Somerfethire, a gentleman diftinguished by his tale for the Arts, particularly Drawing, made defigns for feveral of the perfons and incidents in Mr. Anftey's humourous poem, called, An Election Ball ‡. For the purpose of introducing thefe droll etchings to the Public, this Latin epiftle feems principally to have been written; and we must own that the Author has preferved the fame comic vein and happy facility of diction which diftinguith his other pieces. The defigns are worthy of Hogarth. Art. 25. Hagley a Defcriptive Poem. 4to. 2s. 6d. Dodfley. The Author does not feem to poffefs any confiderable talent for defcription. Epithets are the colours in poetical pictures; and bis + Perhaps fome profligate Peer, of a neighbouring kingdom. Vid. Review, vol. liv. p. 339. A By the Rev. Tho. Maurice. are are too general and unappropriated. The following foreft piece will fhew this: Here oaks of mighty growth the plain embrown, Or darker firs luxuriant shoot in air. In this defcription there is hardly any thing peculiarly characteristic, By T. PL below Here you will fay, we have a poem affez pitturesque, as the French critics exprefs it; defcription fufficiently appropriated and minute : This red with cinquefoil, that grown green with rye; Here woodlands darken, there brown fallows lye. The corn-rick round, the harmlefs dewlapp'd ox, Your fame lies gasping, splinter'd is your peace. By night on Philomela's jugging throat. 'Slaunt flopes, thro' groves, nigh grottoes, form'd by Fane. No-this will not do. The defcriptive poet muft remember that he is addreffing himself to the ear and the imagination, as well as to the eye; and whatever is low or ill modulated must be difguftful. The painter's purpofe is anfwered if he gives the figure of his object properly difpofed; but the poet muft defcribe his by fomething peculiarly characteristic, and at the fame time avoid every thing that is low or mean in expreffion. In the above paffages are the following faults. Roundness is not peculiar to a corn-rick, neither is the dewlap to the ox. The cow's ditended dugs is two low an expreffion-Thomfon, with more dignity, calls her the "full udder'd mother." Bleating has nothing to do in the profpe&t of flocks. Gafping fame and Splinter'd peace are low; fo is jugging throat. The last line is rendered extremely dif guitful to the ear, by an injudicions alliteration. The poem is, otherwife, not delitute of imagination or fpirit; and the Author, if we mistake not, has received our approbation of his more fuccessful. attempts. Art. 27. Bedukah; er, the Self Devoted; an Indian Paftoral. By the Author of St. Thomas's Mountt. 4to. 2s. 6d. Dodley. The fubject is an Indian wife voluntarily committing herself to the flames with her deceafed husband. This demoniacal custom ftill prevails among the Gentoos; of which, however, the Author fays, What heroifm can with this compare?' † A fhort review of the poetical defcription of St. Thomas's Mount was given in our soth vol. Number for April, 1774. X Not Mrr Penrose. L The flory is not well told, and the poetry is but middling. We know not why this piece is called a paftoral: that fpecies of poely abhors fuch dreadful bufinefs. COMMERCIAL. L. Art. 28. A Regifler of the Trade of the Port of London; specifying the Articles imported and exported, arranged under the refpective Countries; with a Lift of the Ships entered inwards, and cleared outwards. No. I. for January, February, and March, 1776. To be continued. By Sir Charles Whitworth, Member of Parliament. 8vo. 2 s. Flexney, &c. Encouraged by the favourable reception given to The State of the Trade of Great Britain, lately published by Sir Charles Whitworth, he has now formed the defign of laying before the public as accurate accounts as can be procured, of the articles or fubject matter of the exports and imports of the port of London; the proportion of which, to the whole trade of the kingdom,' has [he thinks] been calculated at three-fourths.' Whether, by the kingdom,' he means Great Britain, is not clear; but, we imagine, he confines his eftimate to England. That a collective view of this kind may be useful to the public, is admitted; but we agree with a writer in one of the morning prints, that if Sir Charles would add Tables of each article, in order to fhew the total quantity, imported and exported in the whole year, fuch addition would render his book exceedingly valuable. SCHOOL BOOK.. Art. 29. An Introduction to Reading and Spelling. In four Parts. 1. The Principles. II. Leffons in Profe and Verfe. III. Selec Claffes of Words. IV. Monofyllables ranged by their Sounds. To which is prefixed, a Plan of the Work, with fome Directions to Teachers. By William Scott, Teacher of Englith and Writing in Edinburgh. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Edinburgh printed, and fold in London by Richardfon, &c. 1776. An ufeful companion to a very important clafs of inftructorsthofe who teach children to read and fpell. If the directions prefixed to this fmall volume were properly regarded, they would prevent the nurture of bad habits in early life, which maturer age and more elaborate precepts are fearce fufficient to correct. The leffons are numerous and felected with judgment. SERMONS preached December 13, 1776, being the Day appointed for a PUBLIC FAST; continued: See our laft Month's Review, p. 79. XVII. The Prevalence of Religion and Virtue in a State, the only Aurance of national Profperity.-At Beenham, Berks. By the Rev. T. Stevens, D. D. Vicar of Beenham. 4to. Is. Crowder. The Author brings a heavy charge of the most abandoned and depraved wickedness and irreligion against our age and nation; in which, we hope, he has done us great injuftice. He expreffes his See Review for Nov. 1776, p. 334. fears, |