fresh confideration on it, would be in the highest degree ridiculous. There is not a line in this pretended defence of revolution-prínciples but what falfifies the title. N. NATURAL HISTORY, &c. Art. 18. A Modern Syftem of Natural Hiftory. Containing accurate Descriptions, and faithful Hiftories of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals together with their Properties, and various Ufes in Medicine, Mechanics, &c. Illuftrated with Copper plates. By the Rev. Samuel Ward, Vicar of Cotterstock cum Glapthorpe, Northamptonshire; and others. Small 12mo. 12 Vols. at is. 6d. per Vol. fewed. The whole Set, bound, 11. 4s. Newbery. We mentioned the first four volumes of this pretty compendium, containing the quadruped animals, in our Review for September laft. The defign is now completed. The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th volumes contain the birds. In the 9th, 10th, and 11th we have the fiber, reptiles, and infects. The 12th profeffes to give us the waters, earths, fiffils, minerals, and vegetables; the last-mentioned class occupies but nine pages, under the title Botany; and contains only a general explanation of the Linnæan fyftem. We thus particularize the feveral divifions of the work, as the diftinct parts are fold feparately.-The numerous engravings are well executed; and the performance, in general (whatever may be its defects) is happily adapted for the rational entertainment, and real inftruction of young readers: to say nothing of the thousands, and tens of thoufands, of adults who may perufe it with advantage. Art. 19. Elements of Natural Hiflory. By Thomas Martyn, B. D. Profeffor of Botany in the Univerfity of Cambridge. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Cambridge printed; fold by White, London. 1775. This work is defigned as a fynopfis of natural history, after the fyftem of Linnæus. The generic characters are in general taken from him; but the enumeration of the fpecies is judiciously enlarged and corrected from Buffon, Pennant, and other naturalists. The title page is evidently meant to refer to a much larger work than the prefent, which contains the class of Mammalia alone. A. Art. 20. A Botanical Arrangement of all the Vegetables growing in Great Britain, &c. according to the Syftem of the celebrated Linnaus, &c. The Whole illuftrated by Copper-plates, and a copious Gloffary, &c. By William Withering, M. D. 8vo. 2 Vols. 14 s. Cadell. 1776. In this laudable attempt to facilitate the knowledge of botany to the English ftudent, who is unacquainted with the learned languages, the Author has adopted the generic defcriptions given in the Genera Plantarum of Linnæus; and has tranflated the characters of the pe cies from his Syftema Naturæ ; fubjoining, however additional, defcriptions to almost every one of the species. These additions are diftinguished from the preceding, by being printed in Italic; and are either taken from his own obfervation, or from writers of good authority. In an English botanical fyftem, the Author has found himself unDder a neceflity of inventing and employing fome new English generic F 1 names; adding the common English name to the fpecies, as well as Originally published in the Edinburgh Weekly Magazine, in a series Art. 22. Letters from General Washington to several of his Friends, We cannot look upon thefe Letters as genuine; but we must pro- : NOVEL. Art. 23. Delicate Crimes. In a Series of Letters. 2 Vols. 5s. Hooper. 1777: 12mo. Another tranflation, from the French, of a work which had before appeared in the English language, under the title of The Fatal Effeas of Inconftancy: fee Review, vol. li. p. 238. The prefent Editor profeffes, in his pretixed advertisement, his entire ignorance of the former tranflation, before the sheets of this fecond performance had paffed through the prefs. With refpect to the comparative merit of the two tranflators, he modeftly fubmits it to the decifion of the candid Public,'-which we likewife fhall do, as not having feen the original work. The difference, however, between the two verfions, is very confiderable throughout; and perhaps, in different paffages, Ii 2 paffages, each of the tranflators may, alternately, claim the preference. The following short extract, taken at random, may serve as a fpecimen of both the publications: Fatal Effects, Sc. During your refidence in Italy, you may, with great eafe to yourself, gather in the ufeful harvest which that rich country yields, which once produced a race of heroes, was formerly the cradle of Arts, and is now become the feat of modern politics. You need not kifs the Pope's flipper I could hardly pardon you fuch a fuperftition; but you may inform yourself of his ftate and powers. You should also learn the manners of the people; I mean of thofe that are called the best company. There is a pe culiar fpecies of thefe, in every country; and it is from them alone, that perfons of your rank are to learn all that is worth knowing. You may laugh at the Monfignori there, and gallant with their wives Ufe your freedom in this latter article, as much as you will, but let paffion be out of the question. To know them only, is fufficient both for your purpose and your fafe-guard. This is a more effential study than one is apt at first to imagine. The characteristic fpirit of every nation is generally more ftrongly marked in that charming fex, who are always the most interefting part of it.' Delicate Crimes. Since you are now in Italy, gather (but not with too much labour) thofe ufeful harvests, which that brilliant climate fo copioufly furnishes; once the country of heroes, it became the cradle of the Arts, and is ftill the feat of politics. Don't kiss the Pope's flipper; it is what I fhall never forgive you; but get at the root of his power. Learn the manners of the people; above all, thofe of the good company. Every nation has a file of life peculiar to itself; and in becoming acquainted with that, people of our order learn all they ought to know. Laugh at the Monfignori, and endeavour to debauch their wives; lie with as many of them as you can; to love them is not your end, but to understand them: it is a more effential ftudy than many imagine. The flower of a nation's wit, is in fome fort confined to that charming fex, which is always its molt interelling moiety." Duke de CLERMONT to the Viscount de This Duke de Clermont feems to have been the CHESTERFIELD of France. There is a degree of delicacy in the rendering of fome expreffions in the elder of the above-quoted translations, which feems to give a colour to the report that it is the work of a Lady, well known in the world of English literature. The other verfion is faid to be the performance of a Gentleman; who, in respect to the fru dom of fome of the letters, in the original, muft, in virtue of his fex, have a confiderable advantage over his female competitor. * Mrs. G. well known by the part fhe bore in the matrimonial correfpondence between Henry and Frances. PORTICA Li POETICAL. Art. 24. The Country Juftice; a Poem. By one of his Majesty's Juftices of the Peace for the County of Somerfet. Part III. 4to. Is. Becket. 1777 Of the ftyle and fpirit of this work, plainly intended (as the Author profeffes) to cultivate HUMANITY in the provincial adminiftration of juice, we have already spoken +. The fame mildness and benevolence breathes through this third part. A kind of tender fublimity diftinguishes and recommends the following paffage : Oh, MERCY, thron'd on his eternal breast, Who breath'd the favage waters into reft; By each foft pleasure that thy bosom smote, When first creation ftarted from his thought; By each warm tear that melted o'er thine eye, When on his works was written, THESE MUST DIE; If fecret flaughter yet, nor cruel war Have from thefe mortal regions forc'd thee far, Still to our follies, to our frailties blind, Oh, ftretch thy healing wings o'er human kind! For other touches of a fimilar nature on the article of Prisons, on Filiation, &c. we refer our Readers to the poem itself. C. Art. 25. The Poems and Miscellaneous Compofitions of PAUL WHITEHEAD. With explanatory Notes on his Writings, and his Life written by Capt. Edward Thompfon. 4to. 10 s. 6d. Boards. Kearfly. 1777. The poetical writings of the late ingenious Mr. Paul Whitehead are fo well, fo univerfally known, that any recommendation of them, from us, would be fuperfluous. The Editor has prefixed an account of the life of this eminent fatirift, written at confiderable length; but the hiftory of all poets is little more than that of their works. The fons of the Mufes are generally an indolent race, retiring from fociety, and from bufinefs; and therefore their lives are feldom productive of fuch incidents as would make any friking appearance in the annals of biography. In gleaning the fmaller, mifcellaneous poems of Mr. Whitehead, the Editor has cafually picked up one or two little pieces, which were written and published by Mr. William Whitehead, the prefent Laureat : but this mistake has been candidly acknowledged in the advertisements of the publication, in the feveral news-papers. Art. 26. The Duchess of Devonshire's Cow; a Poem. 4to. 6d. Bew. Celebrates, in a few forry verfes, the benevolence extended by the Duchefs to the owner of a starved cow. Poets are never more at bome, than when they praise the munificence and generofity of the great. + See Review for May, 1775, p. 406. The pieces are- Verfes to the Memory of Mrs. Pritchard," and the famous Ranelagh fong-"Ye belles, and ye flirts, and ye pert little things," &c. Ii 3 Art. 1 S. Art. 27. The Duke of Devonshire's Bull to the Duchefs of Devonfhire's Cow; a Poetical Epiltle. 4to. Fielding and Co. A laugh at the cow-poet.-If the libidinous Reader looks here for obfcenity, he will be difappointed. Art. 28. The Old Serpent's Reply to the Electrical Eel*. 4to. 2 S. Smith. A fruitless attempt to catch the Eel of Wit by the tail. Art. 29. John the Painter's Ghost: How he appeared on the Night of his Execution to Lord Temple, &c. 4to. Williams. Is. 6d. John the Painter's ghoft rifes to the tune of William and Margaret, and takes his revenge on Lord Tt. and the rest of the courtiers, by telling them their own. Art. 30. An Elegy on the Death of the Right Hon. Sir Charles Saunders, Knight of the Bath, Admiral of the White Squadron of his Majesty's Fleet. By the Rev. Robert English, M. A. Chaplain to the Twelfth Regiment of Foot; and to the Right Hon. Edward Lord Hawke. 4to. I S. Becket. 1777. Admiral Saunders was fo refpectable a man, that it would have been trange if the Naval Mufe, in particular, had seen him depart without offering fome tribute of praife to a character of fuch uncommon worth.-Mr. English has here, very laudably, attempted to do justice to the abilities of Sir Charles, as a commander, and to his virtues as a man. The following valedictory lines, from the conclufion of the Elegy, may be felected as a specimen : Go, Happy Shade, where pure enjoyments flow! Brunswick he lov'd, and his aufpicious line; Where glows the brilliant Zone, where freeze the Poles, For a further fpecimen of the poetic talents of our Nautical Bard, fee our account of the fecond edition of his Naval Review, a poem : Review, vol. li. p. 165. • For the Electrical Eel, fee Review for April, p. 313. + Lord Temple, charged with employing one Baldwin, a painter, to trick John into that confeffion which hanged him. Art. |