We are informed, in the concluding page, that this poem was written in the year 1760 by Dr. Langhorne. An Ode on the late celebrated Handel, on his playing on the Organ. Compofed by Daniel Prat, M. A. formerly Rector of Harrietham, Kent; and formerly Chaplain to his Majesty's Houfbold at Kenfingion. Printed partly on Occafion of the grand Mfical Festival at Canterbury, 1791, being fixed for the 16th, 17th, and 18th of this Month (Auguft), for three Morning Performances in the SermonHouje, (by permiffion of the Reverend the Dean and Chapter), and two Evening Performances in the Theatre, and for the Benefit of the Editor, the Rev. J. Prat, Vicar of Monkton and Birchington. 410. IS. Simmons, Canterbury. 179. In this performance on the fame fubject, the editor makes the most remarkable appearance. The title-page, and that at the conclufion, are equally fingular. Mr. J. Prat having mentioned in the latter propofals for printing by fubfcription an Essay on Epigrammatic Poetry, &c. by Sam. Prat, D. D. proceeds to inform us, to this Effay is fubjoined, under the title of INNOCUI SALES, a Collection of Epigrams, of which feveral are. on felect portions of Scripture. Printed for the Editor, the Rev. J. Pratt, &c.' We have heard of a fcriptural Killegrew, but never before of seriously forming a jeft-book out of the Bible. We entertain not, however, any fufpicion that the defign is otherwife than perfectly innocent. Many Greek compofitions, diftinguished by the name of Epigrams, have no pretenfions to humour; and it is uncandid to fufpect that those will not be equally free from it. In the last place, we are told that there are to be difpofed of near one hundred original manufcript difcourfes by the author of the Ode, all very -carefully corrected by himself, as though prepared for the prefs. Among these are difcourfes on all points of divinity, fupported, as appears by the margin, by the most learned and found divines. Many were preached at the Queen's Chapel. Not having read them all by a great many, I cannot fpeak more pertinently to them. But I perceive feveral different difcourfes on the fame days, as Eafter, Whitfunday, Trinity, &c. They are advertised with fome view of their being printed by a purchaser. • The address, if occasion and post-paid, is to the Rev. J. Prat, &c.' Mr. J. Prat, we think, muft know, that fhould thefe difcourfes find a purchafer, it is infinitely more probable that they will again be delivered from the pulpit in the Queen's Chapel, than from a printing-prefs. Of Mr. Daniel Prat's predicating abilities, we can, however, fay nothing. Of his poetical talents we, on the whole, think favourably. He appears to feel, and expreffes his fentiment fentiment with boldness and animation. The fuppofed-effects of Handel's organ on an uninformed favage is happily conceived. He awhile devours the founds in fix'd amazement, entranc'd, mute, and immoveable:' at length, His wakening foul begins to guess Some God within that frame muft dwell, True Honour, an Ode. Occafioned by the Death of John Howard, Mr. Howard has been defervedly celebrated by many poetical encomiats. The prefent, if not to be placed among the first in the lift, ought not to be numbered among the last. An Addrefs to every Briton on the Slave Trade; being an effectual Plan to abolifb this Difgrace to our Country. 4to. 15. Robinfons. 1791. As hoots the nightly bird amid the woods, Unheard, or heard, defpifed, ev'n fo fing I. These are the first lines in the poem, and we can find nothing in it to induce us to controvert the author's opinion. Rational Religion; or, the Faith of Man: a Poem. In which is introduced a new Discovery in Philofophy, viz. the Cause of Sufpenfion and Motion of the Earth and Planets. 8vo. fon. 1791. 2s. 6d. John Oh, gracious God! do thou my pen direct, And, that it may in fome way mend the age, Or he diffents, and you again from he.) The principal discovery made by this rational religionist, this ⚫ mender of the age,' who calls on all mankind to liften to his inFructions, appears to be, that the notion entertained of a future place of punishment, is abfurd, and injurious to the Almighty. • Hell fire! O God! to all eternity! The thought's too fhocking to belong to thee.' Again: Difgrace not God, then, with this wretched state; Drefs not religion as a vile scare crow Which a good God cannot prepare for man. How greatly are we obliged to this author for his kind endeavours to divest us of thofe apprehenfions and terrors which attend criminal actions, and which fometimes prevent our indulgence in them? By way of requital, we would advife him (though he would probably fcorn to learn his catechifm) to acquire fome little knowledge of grammar before he writes again for the benefit of mankind, and displays the futility of thofe opinions which the wifeft and beft of men have hitherto credited. The Sky-Lark. Being an elegant Collection of the best and newest Songs in the English Language. 8vo. 35. 6d. Bound. Evans. 1791. Perhaps a new collection was wanted; perhaps a few new fongs may have been fuppofed capable of giving a zeft to the ballads of other days: conjectures are endless; but as the editor has left us in the dark respecting the motives of this new compilation, we can only say that it resembles every other that we have seen—sunt bona, &c. Mifcellaneous Poems. By Samuel Rofs. 12mo. 35. 3d. Dublin. The Poems in this collection are chiefly elegiac,and discover a tenderness of fentiment fuitable to that species of compofition. The author has certainly not endeavoured to enhance their merit by any adventitious circumstance; for the paper and print are of fuch a kind as can afford but little encouragement to a purchaser. An Elegy on the Death of James Sutherland, Efq. By Eunoboo. 410. 1s. Jordan. 1791. Thefe lines discover a degree of pathos not unfuitable to the fate of their unfortunate fubject; but they have otherwise no great claim to poetical distinction. Excerpta Poetica ex Ovidio, Propertio, Virgilio, Horatio, Juvenali, &c. in tres Partes divifa. 8vo. 35. 6d. Bound. Dilly. 1790. These selections are made from Ovid, Propertius, Virgil, Horace, Juvenal, and other claffical poets. As the means of only conveying a knowledge of the Latin language, they cannot juftly CRIT. REV. N. AR. (III.) Dec. 1791. Kk be be regarded as preferable to other parts of the fame works; but they have the advantage of furnishing some moral fentences, and are accompanied with fome inftructions refpecting profody. CONTROVERSIAL. A Letter to Jofeph Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. &c, on bis Discourse delivered on Wednesday, April 27, 1791, to the Supporters of the New College at Hackney. By Samuel Turner, A. M. 8vo. 6d. Baldwin. 1791. A pebble fent from a fling at the Goliath of the Diffenters. The nodus' was < vindice dignus ;' but it required a more powerful deity to interpofe. Mr. Turner replies, with some flight pleasantry, to the illiberal reflections of Dr. Priestley in the dif courfe alluded to on the two universities. A brief, but, it is prefumed, a fufficient Anfwer to the Philosophy of Mafons; intended for the Benefit of fuch unlettered Perfons as may have perufed that Work to their Spiritual Injury. By the Rev. H. E. Holder. 8vo. 4d. Bladon. 1791. The Philosophy of the Masons we have already mentioned with reprobation; but this is only the javelin of Priam against the fhield of Achilles. A Confolatory Letter to the Rev. John Clayton. From Fidelia. 8vo. 6d. Johnfon. 1791. Poor Mr. Clayton! May the fair hand of Fidelia footh your pains, and charm your foul to peace.-Fidelia, however, ufes words of oil, but conceals swords: fhe looks like the innocent flower, but-peace or we may offend. G An Addrefs humbly prefented to the reverend, pious, and learned Dr. -s, on Vol. I. Tome I. of his excellent Tranflation of the Holy Bible with Notes. By Abraham Ben-Yizaakeer. 4to. 15. Symonds. 1791. Dr. Geddes, in his tranflation, has offended fome one, whe ther Jew or Gentile is of little importance, who seems to have more zeal than wit, and more of rancour than poetic fire. As we cannot, on this occafion, enter into the merits of the question, we must convict the culprit of DULNESS ONLY. MISCELLANEOUS. Reflections on the Slave Trade; with Remarks on the Policy of its Abolition. In a Letter to a Clergyman in the County of Suffolk. By G. C. P. 800. 15. 6d. Knott. 1791. This able author, who, we think, has before folicited our attention in other works, claims the praise of originality: his ideas were not adopted from others; but the greater part of them have already already occurred in this conteft; and by us, what is prior in point of time, muft be confidered as original. We have often noticed fimilar arguments, many of which are juft and correct; but, on the whole, they do not militate fuccefsfully against thofe of the antagonists, when confidered in their most extenfive views. A Sketch of the Revenue and Finances of Ireland, and of the appropriated Funds, Loans, and Debt of the Nation, from their Com. mencement, &c. Illuftrated with Charts. By R. V. Clarendon. 4to. 19s. 6d. Boards. Lowndes. 1791. This treatise gives an account of the appropriated funds, loans, and debt of the nation, from their commencement; with ab. ftracts of the principal heads of receipt and expenditure for fixty years, and the various fupplies fince the Revolution. The information appears to be accurate, and must have been collected with much industry. The Tufcan Mafter; or, a new and easy Method of acquiring a perfect Knowledge of the Italian Language in a fhort Time. By Dr. M. Guelfi Borzacchini. 12mo. 35. 6d. Dilly. 1791. After a careful attention to this grammar, we think it a very correct and useful one. We have little doubt but that it will fuperfede Veneroni, who is by much too tedious. Our author's labours might indeed have been shortened. Political Dialogues. On the general Principles of Government. Number I. 12mo. 3d. Johnfon. 1791. The political principles which constitute the subject of the prefent Dialogue, relate chiefly to the form of government. That the author has a ftrong predilection for that of a republic, is al ready fufficiently evident, though his fentiments respecting any change in the British conftitution are expreffed with decency and moderation. In the mean time he urges the expediency of a reform in the representation of the commons; a ftep which, probably, he confiders as fubfervient to farther regulations in favour of a republican fyftem. Thoughts on the late Riot at Birmingham. Eva. IS. Sewell, 1791. Our very able and candid author expoftulates with Dr. Priestley on his conduct fince the riots: not one figh for the mifchief that he has occafioned; not one tear for fo extenfive a devaftation ! The tone of complaint, invective, and disappointment, is only heard; and an air of triumph fometimes appears, as if he recalled, with a bitter enthufiafm, the old faying of Tertullian, * the blood of the martyrs is the feed of the church.' We, who have followed him in his devious courfe, know that fome reproof. was neceffary: we are forry to fee that it has been fo fatal, and till not effectual, Kk z The |