Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

Art. XVIII. An Account of the latter Days of Richard Vickris Pryor: to which is prefixed a Brief Sketch of his Life and Character. Second Edition, foolscap 8vo. pp. 59. price 1s. Bristol, Mills and Co. Dárton and Co; Cadell and Co. Hatchard, Williams and Co. 1808. WE are afraid this sketch is too slight, and too little adorned with incident, to obtain a very wide circulation. As a description, however, of the effects real Christianity produced on an accomplished and amiable young man, of its influence in softening the temper, parifying the affections, elevating the standard of moral worth, abasing self-estimation, and exciting gratitude, piety, and joy, it may be recommended both to serious and thoughtless readers; some of whom it may fairly be expected to interest, delight, and improve. We have the satisfaction to add, that the value of the narrations and reflections is enhanced by the style. The subject of the memoir died August 2, 1807, in his 28th year. This second edition is published for the benefit of the Bristol Asylum for the Blind.

Art. XIX. Adam and Margaret: or, The Cruel Father punished for his unnatural Conduct to his innocent Daughter. A Narrative of real Incidents. With some Reflections, and a Proposal for cultivating a Department of Literature to be entitled Private Biography. By Alexander Molleson. 8vo. pp. 40. price 1s. 6d. Glasgow, Molleson; Constable and Co. London. 1809.

MR. Molleson's benevolent views deserve the warmest praise, and his pamphlet is not without claims to approbation. The principal object seems to be, to shew the pernicious influence of free-masonry and the conviviality it involves, on the temper and habits of the individual; in proof of which a stronger case can hardly be adduced, than that described in this melancholy narrative. The recommendation to individuals to record anecdotes and histories within their knowledge in private life, in order to form a greater body of facts, than we possess, as a basis for moral reasoning, is certainly worthy of attention.

Art. XX. National Reform. A Sermon, preached at Masbro' near Rotherham, Feb. 8, 1809, being the Day appointed for a National Fast. By Edward Williams, D. D. 8vo. pp. 31. price 1s. Maxwell and Co.

Burditt. 1809.

TH

HE just and important sentiments inculcated in this spirited sermon, intitle it to warmer commendation than is commonly due to simi'ar publications. The respectable preacher adopts for his text the words of Jeremiah, v. 3-9. Hence he observes, that God requires sincerity in a nation professing to know him; that providential inflictions should produce pious grief and humble submission; when these are slighted, the provocation is great, and the danger alarming; the aggravation of national evils is the greater, when striking depravity pervades all ranks; such a nation has every reason to expect divine vengeance, without a speedy reform— including a removal of abuses, an acknowledgement of God, and the right improvement of religious privileges. These subjects are unfolded at considerable length, with much ability and great seriousness.

Art. XXI. Grammatical Questions, adapted to the Grammar of L.
Murray with No es. 12mo pp. 90. price 2s Lackington 1809.
THE Master, says Quintilian (in the Motto to this small volume)

ought not only to teach, but often to interrogate his pupils, and make trial of their comprehensions'. This maxim will never be disputed by an experienced tutor ; and it evinces the utility of publications, which, like the present, are adapted to assist so necessary a practice. Mr. C. Bradley, of Wallingford (who subscribes the dedication to Dr. Valpy) has execu ed his work in a very judicious and instructive manner; and has intitled himself to the thanks, both of Mr. Murray, and of the multitudes who teach or who learn, our language, by means of his justly celebrated Grammar. Mr. B. however properly observes, that in giving preference to Mr. M.'s excellent compilation, he thought it adviseable not to intermix those questions which refer to less important remarks, with those which relate to rules and observations of primary importance. By this arrangement, the work may be introduced where the grammars of Ash and Lowth are used'. Preface, p. vii.

The Notes are mostly of considerable value. They include explanations of all the Latin and Greek terms, which have been adopted by English Grammarians We regret that so useful a work should in any degree be injured by errors of the pen or the press. A very striking instance occurs at p. 6, where number is repeatedly misprinted for person. We hope that the author will most carefully remove such blemishes from another edition, to which, and many subsequent impressions, we doubt not his work will attain.

Art. XXII. The Mother's Catechism; or First Principles of Know-
ledge and Instruction for very young Children. By William Mavor,
LL. D. 24to. pp. 72. price 1s. Lackington and Co. 1809.

Art. XXIII. The Catechism of General Knowledge, or a Brief Introduc-
tion to the Arts and Sciences, for the Use of Schools and Families.
By William Mavor, LL. D. same size and price. Lackington and
Co. 1809..

Art. XXIV. The Catechism of Health; containing simple and easy
Rules and Directions for the Management of Children, and Observa-
tions on the Conduct of Health in General. By William Mavor.
LL. D. same size and price. Lackington and Co. 1809

T is our misfortune once more to differ entirely from Dr. Mavor, respecting the fabrication of Children's books; with all possible deference to his superior judgement and long experience of what is saleable, we must nevertheless prefer our own opinion of what is useful. We strongly suspect, that, in the present instance, the public at large will determine with us on the last point, and consequently on the first; and that this project, which has occupied Dr. M.'s reflective mind for no less than ten years, and probably so distracted his attention as to render some of his numerous performances even worse than they would otherwise have been-that this favourite and fondling project will afford the world no benefit, and the author no pelf.

We shall avoid all particular exceptions, (for which there is ample scope,) because we think the radical absurdity of the whole plan so gross as to VOL. V. 3 E

[ocr errors]

supersede any remark beyond what is necessary to expose it. Our readers must give us credit for quoting fairly, when we lay before them a list of the subjects on which the first catechism proposes to instruct very young children', that is, so young as not to be able to read! Religion, Social and Civil Duties, Letters, Printing, Numbers, Coins, Paper Currency, Weights and Measures, the Earth, its motion "round the sun every twenty four hours, or what we call a day!" the Planets, distance of the Sun and Moon, the dimensions, divisions, towns, population, &c. of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Countries and chief Towns of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, notation of time, division of the year, the metals, manufacture of glass, looking-glass, cloth, silk, hats, painter's colours, bread, &c.

If the poor little unfortunate should, contrary to all probability, escape a total destruction of spirits and intelleet, it is then to be initiated into the second book, or Brief Introduction to the Arts and Scientes! but it is quite needless to add, that this consists of the elementary principles, the abstract definitions, or the grim skeletons, of the various branches of human knowledge; for we are confident that not one of our readers will take the trouble even to examine the first book, except, perhaps, as an edifying spectacle of human folly. A person destitute of feeling, however, and ignorant of parental emotions, might possibly be diverted to hear a little creature in its white frock and red shoes striving, with a face of utter stupidity, to articulate such answers, to such questions, as we now extract.

Q. What are the chief divisions of simple bodies?

A. All simple bodies, or those which are considered as such, may be reduced into six classes : oxygen, simple substances, metals, earths, caloric, and light.

Q. What is oxygen

A. It is a principle existing in the air, of which it forms the respirable part, and it is likewise necessary to combustion.

Q. What are simple substances?

A. Such as are capable of combustion or burning, and they are only five; sulphur, phosphorus, carbon, hydrogen, and azot. e. Will you

tell me what are metals ?

A. The metallic substances at present known are twenty-three in number; gold, platina, silver, mercury, copper, iron, tin, lead, nickel, zinc, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, arsenic, cobalt, manganese, tungsten, molybdenum, uranium, titanium, cromium, columbium, and tantalium. Of these, the ten first are malleable, or capable of being extended under the stroke of a hammer; the next four are brittle and easily fused; and the rest are brittle, but fused with difficulty.

Q. What are earths?

A. Earths are insipid substances, nearly insoluble, often dry, and some. times soft to the touch; they are barytes, strontian, lime, magnesia, alumina, yttria, glucina, zirconia, and silica.

Botany, including the sexual system, Algebra, Trigonometry, &c. &c. are all to be extorted from the lips of the little animal, whose mind

*

Meaning Dr. M. and the nurse, or other old woman.

is thus to become the victim of the most preposterous scheme ever dreamed of beyond the precincts of St. Luke's

We will only spend a few words on the third of these preternatural embryos, these wretched abortions of book-making. It is called the Catechism of Health; and contains many observations that may be use ful for Mothers to learn, but scarcely one that any child should be troubled with getting by heart, or even reading, till it has past the age so strangely prescribed by Dr. Mavor. What child in England can derive benefit from lectures on the management and education of youth, on fevers, and on vaccination, or from such a question and answer as these ?——

Q. Would it not therefore be wise and humane in governments to take care that instruction, as to the best manner of rearing children, should be widely disseminated, and that rewards should be proposed to encourage and assist the poor?

A. The strength of every country depends on its population; and nothing can be more politic and benevolent than the plan proposed.'

We will conclude these remarks, with observing, that the first bu siness in education is, not to load, but to rear and strengthen the fa culties; that every child, who is unable to read, will be much better em. ployed, in learning its letters and spelling words and sentences of which it knows the meaning, than in oppressing its memory with what it cannot comprehend; that children, who can read and understand, should be engaging in a more complete and regular course of study on a few of the multifarious subjects huddled together in this miniature chaos; and that no age or state of mind is assignable, at which these Catechisms would not be either too abstruse and difficult, or too scanty and superficial.

Art. XXV A Serious Admonition to a professed Christian, who has violated his Marriage Vow by living in Adultery, and the sinful and destructive Tendency of evil Communications. pp. 28. price 1s. Wilson. 1.809.

FROM the nonsense of this title, a correct judgement will easily

be formed of the writer's talents. What is serious' in the pamphlet is so debased by a ludicrous dulness and coarseness, that we deem it wholly unsuitable to the author's professed design. His real design, no doubt, is to catch a penny from the public curiosity, which has been so strongly attracted, by recent investigations, to the depravity of a certain illustrious personage."

66

It is not going out of our way, as vigilant censors of contemporary literature, to state, that we have every reason to believe the same writer is responsible for a work advertized on the last page of this pamphlet; and intitled, " Observations on Seduction, by Mary Smith, late a Penitent of the Magdalen Hospital," (reviewed E. R. Vol. IV. p. 276.) From the most careful inquiries we have been able to make, we feel a decided conviction that no such person, as Mary Smith, fate penitent of the Magdalen Hospital", is concerned either in the composition or the profit of that wretched publication. Had we been aware of this, when reviewing the work, the exercise of our clemency toward the author would have been spared. It is our duty, however, to mention it now, (especially as a second edition of the work is advertised,) in order to warn the public against encouraging fraud, and to admonish the contriver against

a repetition of nefarious artifices which may subject him to a severer punishment than the mere exposure of his name. We understand that a pamphlet, called The Fashionable World Reformed, by Philokosmos', is the work of the same artizan, on which we think any other criticism superfluous.

The

Art. XXVI. A View of the Gold and Silver Coins of all Nations, exhibited in above four hundred Copper-plate Engravings correctly executed by an eminent Artist; to which is added a Regular Index, the Name, Assay, Weight, and Value of each; also Sir Isaac Newton's Tables of Foreign Gold and Silver Coins. By Js. Ede, Goldsmith, 12mo. square. p p 74. plates 33. price 10s. 6d Richardson. 1809, The professed object of this publication is to secure the purcha sers of gold and silver coins from fraud, and to enable them to ascertain the genuineness, as well as the assay, weight, and value of such as may be offered them As far as the letter-press goes, it may probably be found serviceable for this purpose; though it would have been far more so, had the coins been enumerated in any kind of regular succession or arrangement, instead of being promiscuously described as chance happened to throw them together in Mr. Ede's shop window. But as to the copper-plate part, it is more calculated to mislead than instruct. The partial delineations, here given, are not only ill executed, but grossly inaccurate. That they are ill executed, will ap pear on a mere inspection; to prove that they are grossly inaccurate, let two or three instances out of a great number suffice. In pl 3. the legend of the Spanish peso appears vfraoue vnum, instead of vtraque vnum. In pl. 17, on the half ecu of Louis XIV, the legend appears thus,. Lud. XIII D G Reiervrex, instead of Lud. XIIH D. G. Fr et Nav. Rex. In pl. 22, the testhalf of Holland is inscribed soncordia resiabun crescun, instead of concordia res parvæ crescunt. What is supposed to be a Dantzic ducat, in pl. 28, is a Danish one; and, in plate 18, the rupees with Persian characters are represented upside down. That the representations are only partial, is evident from only one side of each coin being given; nor can we admit Mr. Ede's apology, that to have given both would only have increased the price of the book without adding to its uility, most of them having nothing more on the reverse than the armorial bearings which form no part of my object.' for, in the first place, he does not appear to know which is the obverse and which the reverse of a coin, having sometimes represented one and sometimes the other; next, a great number of his coins shew nothing but armorial bearings, and lastly, it is obvious that, to detect a counterfeit, it is necessary to examine both sides. We have bestowed more words on this vade mecum of money-changers than it deserves: and will conclude with reminding Mr. Ede of the good old maxim, that if any thing be worth doing at all, it is worth doing well.

[ocr errors]

Art. XXVII. The Lash; a Satire, without Notes. 8vo. pp. 48. price 2s. 6d. Bone and Hone. 1809.

ASATTRE on living characters and

present times

may do

very

well

' without notes ;' but we question whether it can succeed, also, without novelty, without vigour, and without wit.

« AnteriorContinuar »