rected from the Voyage published by Authority. Svo. 6s. Newberry. 1785.

This is a new edition of a work of which we gave an account in our Review, vol. xv. p. 235. What we have faid of that publication has been confirmed by the authentic voyage publifhed by the Board of Admiralty. The prefent edition, however, is in many places corrected; but it is even now an imperfect account of the dif coveries of the great navigator, and of events which happened in the voyage.

EDUCATION.

Art. 45. An Introduction to Reading and Spelling, written on a new Plan, and defigned for the Ufe of Schools. By the Rev. J. Hewlett. 8vo. 15. Johnfon. 1-86.

Many fpelling-books,' fays Mr. H. in his preface, have been profeffedly written for the eafe of the mafter and the affiftance of the fcholar, but little has been done towards fyftematizing the language in order to exemplify the different varieties of its orthography, more than collecting from a dictionary, tables of words confiting of two, three, four, five, or fix fyllables.' Mr. H. fhews the infufficiency of fuch spelling books, and recommends the methodical plan he has followed, as every way calculated to affift the memory of the scholar. The plan is a good one, but we fear too intricate for a child, to whofe capacity alone fuch books ought to be fuited.

We must differ from Mr. Hewlet when he fays the pronunciation of the English language is the most perfect in the metropolis. Art. 46. A Series of Prints of ancient History, defigned as Orna ments for thofe Apartments in which Children receive the first Rudiments of their Education. In two Parts. Part I. Small 4to. 1od. fewed.

Marshall.

This little volume contains copper-plate engravings of remarkable occurrences in the Affyrian, Perfian, Grecian, and Roman monarchies; which laft is divided into four claffes, viz. the Macedonian, Afiatic, Syrian, and Egyptian kingdoms; and concludes with / the death of Cleopatra. The defign of this publication is the fame with that of A feries of prints of Scripture hiftory,' mentioned with approbation in our Review for November laft, and is intended as a companion to it: the plates here given are equally good, if not better, than the former, and are much fuperior to any we have before feen, in little compilements for the ufe of young readers. Art. 47. A Difeription of a Set of Prints of ancient Hiftory, contained in a Set of eafy Leffons. In two Parts. Part I. Small 4to. 6d. fewed. Marshall.

What we faid in our Review for November concerning the defcription of a fimilar feries of prints, may be applied to the prefent, as, like the former, this little volume explains all the plates in the foregoing publication, and is equally commendable for the ftyle in which the defcriptions are written.

POETRY.

Art. 48. Poetical Effufions of an Epicurean Philofopher, contrasted with thofe of a Chriflian Philofopher, both far advanced in Years. The First being a clofe (though liberal) Tranflation of fome Stan

zas

zas of the late celebrated Voltaire, as published among his Works; and the other of a contrafting Parody of the faid Stanzas by an anonymous Author. Both tranflated from the French. 4to. 1s. Becket. 1786.

Except poor Reviewers, who are, alas! forced to read every thing that any body chufes to write, who will give themselves the trouble of reading a copy of verfes, in which the mere whim of making each page contradict its fellow, fupplies the place of wit, harmony, fenfe, and grammar?

Art. 49. The Patriot Beard, an Heroic Comic Poem. 4to. 25. Graham, No. 134, Drury Lane.

1786.

Grubstreet hath nothing to fear, if we may judge by this fpecimen, from the rivalship of Drury Lane. In harlotry the latter may excel; but, in poetry, Grubftreet must still remain-the Parnaffus of the city.

Art. 50. Poems for young Ladies, Devotional, Moral, and Entertaining. Selected by Dr. Goldsmith. 12mo. 3s. fewed.

Johnson. 1785.

Whether Dr. Goldfmith was, or was not, the felector of these poems, is, we fuppofe, immaterial to the Public. It is of more importance to be fatisfied that the pieces are all of a moral turn, and fit to be put into the hands of young females, with a view to proper inftruction, as well as to rational entertainment. They are collected from the works of Addifon, Young, Moore, Collins, Thomfon, Milton, Dr. Cotton, Goldfmith, Pope, Gray, &c. We have various collections of a fimilar kind and bulk; fuch, for inftance, as the Moral Mifcellany, the Pleafing Inftructor, &c. &c. Many of the poems, and extracts of poems, are the fame in all: and they are equally proper for youth of both fexes. Art. 51. The Progress of War *. A Poem. By an Officer. 4to. 4s. Egerton. 1785.

This poem traces the progrefs of war from Cyrus to Frederic. It is a dull and fuperficial performance. It neither interests nor affects the reader and well might the Author introduce it by complaining of a reluctant mufe.'

DRAMATIC.

Art. 52. A Tranflation of the Scots Paftoral Comedy the Gentle Shepherd, from Allan Ramfay's Original. By W. Ward. 8vo. zs. Robinfons. 1785.

Like many other tranflations, this is very unequal to the original. RAMSAY's is a charming poem.

Art. 53. A School for Grey Beards: or the Mourning Bride. A Comedy, in five Acts. By Mrs. Cowley. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Robinfons. 1786.

This comedy, on the day after its first reprefentation in Drury Lane, laboured under the charge of indecency. Such was the general report; and, when it was confidered that it came from a female pen, criticism rofe to indignation and refentment. This prejudice, in all

By the advertisements it appears that the Author's name is Chriftian.

probability,

probability, operated againft the piece on the fucceffive nights. We, who were not at the theatre on the first night of its performance, think it now incumbent upon us to hold the balance fairly between Mrs. Cowley and her cenfurers.

The lady, in her preface, gives her word, that, whatever her fins were, her play is published with all its imperfections on its head. Taking this to be the fact, the comedy has been perufed with a ftritt and a jealous eye; and as far as relates to the language and dialogue, Mrs. Cowley must be acquitted of the charge of indecency. The expreffion which it feems gave umbrage to delicate ears, has nothing grofs: the bridegroom fays, he will provide a dark chamber for his new-married wife. The wit, if there be any in the phrase, is not of much value: but he must be faftidious indeed, who, on that account, condemns the play as offenfive to modeft ears. How far the performance before us can be received as a proof of true comic genius, may be doubtful; on this head, however, we fhall hazard a few reflections, which, perhaps, Mrs. Cowley will not find unworthy of notice.

In the first place, fhe has not chofen her fubject with taste and judgment. Spanish plots and Spanish manners will not furnish true comedy. The trick of an embarraffed fable and perplexed incidents is worn threadbare. To fee the perfons of the drama merely the fport of chance, of accidents, and of mistakes, may divert in pantomime, but fomething of more value is expected in comedy. We go to the theatre to fee manners as they exift in fociety. When the fcene is laid in Spain or Portugal, a fure difappointment follows: of English characters we can judge, and when thote are not offered, we lofe the opportunity of comparing the copy with the life: in fhort we no longer expect the pleasure arifing from the truth of imitation. We would therefore recommend to Mrs. Cowley, in her future compofitions, to look for characters at home; he may then give a faithful draught of the manners, and that spirit of dialogue which the feems to poffefs will not be wafted on an ungrateful fubject.

Sera

Before we clofe this article, it must be admitted, that the leffon intended for grey beards is not the most delicate for the pen of a lady. To Mrs. Behn, the writer of the last century, Mrs. Cowley fhould owe no obligation. Had the fcene lain in England, perhaps there would not have been fo much of exaggerated character. phina would not then tell her aged husband, that he reprefented the old fhrivelled grey fated TIME;' that he will fit at her balcony, to attract admiration; that he could not be at reft in her bed, if the thought her lover flept quietly: that when gay women marry grey-beards, it is their pious defign to have their own way in every thing;' and that when old men are fifted, they are found to be chaff and all this. borders upon improbability; the infolence is too grofs. In English manners there would be more art, and perhaps lefs virtue; but it would, in that cafe, be a copy from life," and therefore more entertaining.

On the whole, Mrs. Cowley has employed her talents upon an illchofen fubject. In her next piece we hope to fee a felection of better tate; and then her abilities will probably enfure fuccefs.

REV. Jan. 1787.

G

NOVELS.

NOVEL S.

Art. 54. Juliana. By the Author of Francis the Philanthropist. 12mo. 3 Vols. 7s. 6d. fewed. Lane. 1786.

Juliana Monteville, the heroine of this novel, is a young lady of great beauty; and, as the reader may eafily imagine, fhe is deeply in love. The inamorato, Mr. W. Falconer, folicits her hand, but he is rejected by her parents with contempt: they have a spice of hereditary dignity about them, and will marry her to nothing below a lord. In confequence of this rejection, the lover refolves on a voyage to India, in order to divert his melancholy, and, if poffible, to forget the object of his choice. Some time after his departure from England the father of Juliana informs her that Mr. F. died on his paffage to the Eaft, and that the muft look out for another swain *. The lady is pestered with numerous admirers; but her delicacy is fo very great, that the cannot admit a fecond paffion to her breaft: and the hero of the tale, after having experienced the greateft diftreffes and hardships, returns, and (Juliana's father being dead) is made the happiest of men.'

Such is the outline of the ftory. Various episodes are introduced, by which the writer evidently intended to arrest attention; but his labours have a totally different effect. By a multiplicity of incidents and characters the intereft is broken and divided, and the hero and heroine are loft in the crowd.

As to the style of this performance, it is for the most part-fo, fo. We mean not, however, that it has any relation to Touchstone's fo,fo. which he interprets to be good, very excellent good."

Art. 55. Lane's Annual Novelift. A Collection of Moral Tales, Hiftories, and Adventures, felected from the Magazines, and other periodical Publications for the Year. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5S. fewed. Lane. 1786.

We are here presented with feveral pleafing tales. Some of them are even excellent, particularly thofe which are taken from Mr. Hayley's Effay on Old Maids; but how far the Editor is to be juftified in thus ftripping a garden of its flowers, and placing them in his own parterre, we will not pretend to fay.

Art. 56. The Happy Releafe: or the Hiftory of Charles Wharton and Sophia Harley. In a Series of Letters. 12mo. 3 Vols. 7s. 6d. fewed. Noble. 1787.

Contains fome excellent inftructions for feducing females from the bofoms of their parents, or for carrying them off by force, and deferting them at a proper time t. Such kind of productions must no doubt be highly pleafing to the would-be Jupiters of the day; the little Joves without a beard,' as the Satirift has it; and to their per

* And yet you will find bye and bye, perhaps, that he is not dead neither.' Bayes in the Rebearfal.

We do not mean, however, to charge the Author with intentional mischief, or any meaning injurious to morality. It is more probable that his defign was, to guard the unfufpecting female reader against the arts of feduction, by expofing them. It will be happy fhould his book anfwer this good end in but a fingle inftance!

ufal

ufal the performance now before us will probably be chiefly confined. Art. 57. The Adventures of Anthony Varnish; or a Peep at the Manners of Society. By an Adept. 12mo. 3 Vols: 7s. 6d. fewed. Lane.

Made up entirely of scenes in low-life. And it must be acknowledged that the Author, in defcribing them, appears to be perfectly at home. A celebrated novelift has obferved

• In former times this taftelefs, filly town,

Too fondly prais'd Tom Durfey and Tom Brown."

But what would he fay were he now living, and requested to give his opinion of Anthony Varnish? In a word, if Mr. Varnish thinks to pals for a Durfey or a Brown, we can affure him he will be difappointed.

Art. 58. Victoria. The Characters taken from real Life, and calculated to improve the Morals of the female Sex, by impreffing them with a juft Senfe of the Merits of filial Piety. By Susannah Hafwell. 12mo. 2 Vols. gs. fewed. Bew. 1786.

Mifs Victoria, by eloping from her parents with a libertine young Baronet, embitters the latter part of her life; for her lover deceives her by a mock marriage, and afterwards forfakes her, in order to marry a wicked dame of quality, of whom he, at length, in his turn, becomes the dupe; but his treachery occafions the death of Victoria's mother, and of our heroine herfelf. The work is interfperfed with various little hiftories, verfes, &c. It is fo far to be commended, that it exhibits the ill effects of filial disobedience and thoughtless libertinifm, in ftriking colours: the language is neither good nor bad; it is too much in the common style of modern novels to deferve great commendation, though, when ranked in that numerous clafs of productions, the lowest place muft not be affigned to this first-born of a young writer's brain.

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 59. Characters of the Kings and Queens of England, selected from different Hiftories; with Obfervations and Reflections, chiefly adapted to common Life; and particularly intended for the In ftruction of Youth. To which are added, Notes Hiftorical. By J. Holt. Vol. I. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Robinsons. 1786. Our Author introduces this publication by a preface, from which we shall felect the following paffages: The characters of our English kings were collected for a school exercise in a private feminary, to ferve as a specimen of good writing, and to convey fome useful information. Observations were made upon the refpective characters, at the time they were first felected; which have been fomething en larged, and which might be yet greatly and profitably extended. The hiftorical notes were added as facts more likely to engage the attention of young minds, and as proper to treafure up in their me mories, as military operations or political details: thofe fubjects being the principal contents of the abridged hiftories ufually put into the hands of youth.'

The characters are taken from Hume and from Smollett, commencing with that of Alfred, and concluding with Edward the Third. The obfervations are juft, pertinent, and ingenious; and

G 2

the