as which we thought would prove an acceptable prefent, Colonel Gordon cut the buttons from his coat, and deported #hem among the aromatic plants which were drying. In the mean time we again obferved thefe natives at the fame place where we had finit difcovered them. We made every poffible fign in order to allure them to us, and dispatched one of our Hottentots, who spoke to them, and affured them we had no evil intention. After fome time, Colonel Gordon we t to them, while I remained at their huts with the guns, and after much periua tion he induced them to return to their Kraal. They were eleven in number, and were the only natives who inhabited this part of the country. We inquired atter other nations, but they could give ug no account, except of the Nimiquas, whence we had jult come. A Nimiqua woman who lived with them, was the only one of the company who knew any thing of Europeans. Though few in number, they were governed by a chief, whole name was Cout. The mode of living among thefe people was in the highest degree wretched; and they are apparently the dirtieft of all the Hitentot tribes. Their drefs is compofed of the skins of feals and jackals, the left of which they eat. When it happens that Grampus is caft athore, they remove their huts to the place, and fublit upon it as long as any part of it remains; and in this manner it fometimes affords them fuitenance for half a year, though in a great meafure decayed and purified by the fur. They fear their skins with the oil or train; the odour of which is fo power fal, that their approach may be perceived fome time betere they prefent themfelves to the fight. They carry their water in the hells of oftrich eggs, and the bladders of feals, which they fhoot with bows. Their arrows are the fame as thofe of all other Hottentots.” The Life of Frederick the Second, King of Pruffia. To which are added, Obferva tions, authentic Documents, and a Varity of Anecdotes. Tianflated from the French. Two Vols. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Debrett. (Concluded frem Page 332) UR former reviews of this highly entertaining and authentic work have at length introduced to our confideration the last period of "The Life of Frederick the Second, in which the learned Author has treated of his private and literary character, his illnes and his death, and his influence upon the age in which be lived. On the firit topic, the true tafle which it is univerfally known this wonderful nan poleffed in the fine arts, and the enthufiaftic admuation he entertained for the Belles Lettres, are attributed to the elegance and generofity of his Governcis, Madame de Recoule, who, difregarding the injunctions of his auitere and illiterate father, familiarized his mind at an early age to the best works of the French Poets; and enabled him to add, with equal fuccefs," the wreaths of Apollo to the triumphant barcis of Bellona." To a mind devoted to the love of letters, an effeem for thofe who cuaivate them with fuccefs, is almoit unavoidable; and Frederick, long Before his acceffion to the throne of Pruba, televied Voltaire as a friend, where intimac. "could not but be ad vanturcous to every thiking being," and * whofe crit the whole country couldnot for th laucis fufficiently to reward.) The Prince indeed, in his first letter in 1736,laviihed on this Philofopher the moit unqualified flattery; and ufed every fol citation to induce him to leave his native country and repair to Prutha for the remainder of his life, hoping that although the faith of Princes was not then regard ed in the most favourable light, he would not fuffer himself to be prepofielled with general prejudices, but make an exception in favor of his friend. The vanity of Voltaire blazed forth upon the profpect of lo luftrious an intercourfe and intimacy, and a correfpondence fucceeded, in which the literary character of Fraderick was raised to the highest pinnacle of renown by the commendations of Voltaire. After Fredenck had fucceeded to the throne, and the peace of Broflaw had restored to him the leifures of private life, he thought feriously of meriting fill more and more the praifes lavished on him from all quarters, in confequence of his tafte for the Arts and Sciences. At this time Voltaire was covered with glory, by the fuccefs of his Tragedy of Me ope; and Frederick renewed his invi tation to him, in the terms of openncis and familiarity with which one philofopher would unite another. Voltaire ac cepted the invitation; Lui Frederick little imagined that he was entertaining not merely a Poet, but a Negociator fent by the Cabinet of Verfailles to allure him into a breach of the peace, which he had juft figned. "Amidst entertainments, cperas, and fuppers," fays Voltaire in his account of this tranfaction," my fecret negociation was advancing; the King was pleafed to permit me to talk to him concerning all points whatever; and in our difceflions refpecting the merits of the Aid, of Virgil, and Livy, I often introduced queftions relative to France and Austria. Sometimes the converfation took an ani. mated turn; the King warmed, and told me that fo long as our court continued knocking at every door to obtain peace, he certainly would not expofe himfelf by drawing the fword in her defence. I fent him, from my chamber to his apartment, my reflections on a doubled fleet of paper. He replied to my prefumption on the oppofite coluinn. I ftill have the paper wherein I obferved to him, "Do you doubt whether the Houfe of Auftria will not, at the first opportunity, bring demands against you for the reftitution of Silefia" The following was his anfwer on the margin: "My friend ! they'l! be receiv'd: Biribi, According to the mode of Barbari." Prufia." At length the King faid to me, Let France declare war with Engand, and I march." This being all I wanted, I returned inftantly to the Court of France, and rendered an account of my journey: I gave them the fame hopes the King had afforded me at Berlin, and they were not deceived; for in the courfe of the fpring following the King of Pruffia entered into a new treaty with France, and advanced into Bohemia, while the Auftrians were in Alface." Voltaire returned to Paris; but treacherous as this vifit had been, fuch was the afcendancy he had obtained over the King, that Frederick preffed him to 16turn, and become a icfident at his Count. Voltaire pleaded the expence of the journey. Frederick ordered him 16,000 livres for that purpofe. But ftill Voltaire remained undecided; and the King in an aufwer to fome verfes, addreffed to him bʊ D'Arnaud, petulantly compared Voltaire to the fetting, and D'Arnaud to the rifing fun. This determined Voltaire to go to Berlin, and, as he expreffed himself, "teach this King that I am not yet ferting." "This negociation, certainly of a novel fpecies, terminated by a difcourfe into which he entered with me, during one of his moments of vivacity, and whilft he levelled his remarks against his uncle the King of England. The two Kings by no means liked each other: Louis XV. obferved, “George is Frederick's uncle; but George is not the uncle of the King of The Bankrupt Laws. By William Cooke, 2 vols. 8vo. 125. THE fuperior merit which this publication poffeffes over every other upon the fame fubject has been fo extenfively experienced by the profeffion, and is fo well known to the public, that an attempt to describe its particularexcellencics would be vain and ufelefs. The original work contains nineteen chapters, under which a compendious fyftem of the whole law relating to bankrupts is perfpicuously arranged. In the prefent edition the fubject is divided into two volumes; the first containing fifteen chapters, which refpe&tively treat of the Commition, The Petitioning Creditor, The Trading, The A&t of Bankruptcy, The Opening the Commif fon, The Proof of Debts, The Allignees, The Affignment, The Lafi Examination, The heroic compofare with whicha the King refigned his breath on the 17th of Auguft, 1786, is defcribed very cir cumftantially, and the Author contends, with much ingenuity and fome argument, that Frederick's example taught the Courts of Europe, that the true grandeur of a Prince confitts in performing all his duties; in labouring with indelatigable ardour to eftablifh the happines of his fubjeЯs; and to introduce the eye of vigilance and the hand of industry in every branch of adminiftration." of Lincoln's Inn, Efq. Second Editions E. and R. Brooke. The Certificate, The Dividend, The Superfedeas, Of Partners, and of Proceedings a Law and in Equity; and thefe feveral chapters are now fubdivided into fections, which immediately prefent the particular fubje&t required. The fecond volume contans an Appendix of Precedents, with die rections relpecting their use and applica t on. Thefe volumes include many new and important decisions upon the Bankrupt Laws not to be found in any other publication; and they are reported with an achighest credit on the talents and abilities of curacy and judgement which reflect the the Author. We can, indeed, with equal fafety and fatisfaction pronounce, that a more useful work, both in form and fubftance, has not lately ifflued from the prefs. Tracts Tracts by Warburton, and a Warburtenian; not admitted into the Collections of their refpective Works. 8vo. 4s. 6d. Dilly. THOUGH reither pofthumous praife or difpraife can affe&t the dead, we naturally purine them with thofe fentiments which their characters have excited, beyond the grave, and make their very MANES the objects of our hatred and affection. Every generous and just mind, fenfible that the confenting approbation of mankind is the greatest reward of human virtue, as their execration and contempt is the greatest punishment of vice, finds a fatisfaction in doing juftice to the memory of good and great men, and dragging forth into public view the conecaled turpitude of triumphant hypocrites and villains. Xenophon poured forth the praises of Socrates, unjustly put to death. The Duke of Rohan found a fenfible confolation in bewailing, in the most pathetic though profaic train, the death of Henry IV. of France. The Eail of Dorfet, with eager enthufiafm, thewed the merit and the neglect that had been thewn to Milton. Additon followed him in this honourable waik. And, not to multiply inttances, the celebrated author of Werter, Goethe, has lately illuftrated the eminent though little known talents of the Reformer HUTIN. It is in this spirit that the Editor of the Tracts before us addrefs the publie in general, and the reverend and learned Prelate to whom they are dediated in particular; but at the fame time this fpirit of refpect and vencration for the departed worthies whofe memory he etefends is fomewhat heightened, and, as it were, fharpened by a mixture of indignation at the fuccefs of arts never found in the train of the pure and elevated. If the fentiment on which this difpofition to do justice to the dead fhould be thought illufive, yet the effects which it tends to produce must be allowed to be falutary. It fupports confcious rectitude under the difpenfations of tyranny and cabal; it confoles the magnanimous under the inequalities of fortune; it promotes the ends of a juft Providence. The ingenious and good Dr. Jortin, and the learned and elegant Dr. Leland, of Trinity College, Dublin, in the opinion of the Editor, have been injuriously treated and grofly abused by Dr. Hurd, Bishop of Worcester, the anonymous au The Rev. and learned Dr. S. Parr. thor of the Two Tracts of a Warburto nian; in which the Warburtonian, with much petulance, fophiftry, and affected irony, attacks the writings of those men againft certain opinions of Warburton, Bithop of Gloucefter. The Tracts, tho' not defenfible on any grounds of truth, or even moral honefly, ferved a temporary purpose: they contributed to procure a very refpectable and powerful patronage, which led in the iffue to a mitre. Now, however, that the highest ecclefiaftic preferment has been obtained, the prudent and political Bifhep withes to bury deep in the earth the dirty ladder by which he obtained it. No! fays our Editor *, the Bishop fhall not escape so. He therefore in a stream of nervous eloquence, fortified (though it must be owned not polifhed) by a frequent introduction of Greek and Latin phrafeology and aliufion, vindicates the reafoning of Dr. Jor tin and Dr. Leland against the cavils and fneers of Dr. Hurd; tells him, now fternly now laughing, what they were, and what he is ; And in his ear he holla's Mortimer! › The Two Tracts which Dr. Hurd en deavoured to call in and fupprefs are, 1. An Address to the Rev. Dr. Jurtin, entitled, On the Delicacy of Frien/hip: A Seventh Differtation, addreffed to the Author of the Sixth. 2. A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Leland, in which his late Differtation on the Prin ciples of Human Eloquence is criticifed To thefe Tracts there is prefixed a Dedication of them, addreffed by the Editor to a Learned Critic †. The Editor alfo writes A Preface to the Tur Trails of a Warburtonian," which is addrefled to the world at large. In this preface Dr. Parr, among a great variety of obfervations equally poignant and jutt, fays, "If the reader fhould haftily take offence at the fudden re-appearance of two Tracts, upon which the author himfelf ought to look back with fome faint emotions of thame, let him feriously weigh the reafons for which they are a fecond time committed to the prefs. "By the writer of thefe Pamphlets, the characters of two very learned and worthy men were attacked with mott unprovoked and unprecedented virulence. WO! Who is no other than Dr. Hurd, the author of the Traftsy The The attempt to ftifle them is, however, a very obfcure and equivocal mark of repentance in the offender. Public and deliberate was the infult, which he offered to the feelings of thofe whom he affailed, and therefore no compenfation ought to be accepted, which falls short of a dire& and explicit retra&ation "The Letter to Dr. Jortin might, indeed, by an excefs of candour, have been confidered as the refult of youthful ar dour, when the judgement of the writer was not matured; when his opinions of books and men were not fettled; when his imagination was ftrongly impreffed by the impofing fplendour of Warburton's talents, and his vanity gratified by the flattering hope of Warburton's protec tion. Dulcis inexpertis cultura potentis amici. But the interval between the two pam. phlets-an interval of nearly ten years— left, one would have imagined, room enough for the author to correct his partialities, to foften his averfions, and to reflect, again and again, upon all that might be blameable in the motives, and all that had been injurious in the confequences, of his firit intemperate and indecorous publication. "Had his "noble paffion for mischief been content with" the Seventh Differtation addreffed to Dr. Jortin, I fhould have given him all due praife for the glitter of his wit and the gaudiness of his eloquence; and, at the fame time, I fhould have laughed at the pretenfions of the book to reafoning and fact as a mere flam, and not containing one word of truth from the beginning to the end." But when the fame offenfive fpirit of contempt is, for the fame unwarrantable purpofe of degradation, transferred from the writings of Dr. Jortin to thofe of Dr. Les land, I "fee what the man would be at through all his difguifes." I fee a very decifive proof, that the temper of the writer was not meliorated by time, by expe rience, by felf-examination, or felf-refpect. I feel, at the fame time, the most jut and cogent reafons for laying him open to that igaominy, from which cowardice, indeed, may have tempted him to fly, but which he has not hitherto endeavoured to avert by apo ogy or refor mation. The indelicacies of enmity are not always juftified by the zeal of friendship. The immunities (as Johnfon calls them) of invifibility" cannot, in all cates, be employed to file the curiofity of the learned, or to avert the decifion of the impartial. They may, indeed, VOL. XVI. fcreen the name of an author from the detection which he dreads; but they must not be permitted to thelter his publications from the reproach which they deserve. "Jortin and Leland now repofe in the fanctuary of the grave, and are placed beyond the reach of human praise and human cenfure. Be it fo. But there was a time, when enemies, fuch as the unfettered opinions of one, and the fhining talents of both, were fure to provoke, found a momentary gratification even from fuch charges as the Letter-writer ventured to alledge. There was a time, when thofe charges might have clogged their profeffional interefts, and certainly did disturb the tranquillity of their minds. Yet, while they were living, no balm was poured into their wounded fpirits by the hand that pierced them; and, if their characters after death remain unimpaired, by the rude shocks of controverfy, and the fecret mines of flander, their triumph is to be afcribed partly to their own ftrength, and partly to the confcious weakness of their antagonist, rather than to his love of justice, or his love of peace. That antagonist, too, is perhaps ftill alive, and ftill finds his admirers among thofe, who themselves panting after greatness, are careful to utter only Smooth things concerning the faults of the great. But his filence has not yet been reprefented even by his friends as the effect of contrition. His pen has not been employed in any fubfequent publication to commend two writers, against whom he had formerly brandifhed fuch cenfures, as, according to his own eftimation and his own withes, were "aculeate and proper." His example-and this is the worst of all-his example, I fay, is at hand to encourage any future adventurer, who may first be difpofed to attack the best books and the belt men; and afterwards, when the real merits of the dispute, or the real character of his opponents, are known, may contrive to let his mifchievous cavils quietly fink into oblivion, to ikulk, as foftly as he can, from detection and difgrace, nay, to fet up ferious pretentions to candour as a writer, to decency as an ecclefiaftic, and to meckness as a Chriftian." Dr. Leland and Dr. Jertin had been virtually defended in the Dedication. But the Editor in a fubfequent part of his work enters into a more direct and explicit delineation of their characters, which our Readers will find in Vol. XV. p. 101, & feq. of this Magazine. Our learned and ingenious Editor has'al republished two of Warburton's Tracts Hhh very Poems, by Anthony Pafquin. 2 MANY of the Poems of which thefe by a mind imbued in the least with genius, liberality, and candour. When we recollect the zeal with which Dr. Parr has recalled the public attention to Bellendenus in one publication, and to Jortin and Leland in another, we are impreffed with an idea (that we are pleated to understand is jult) of fomewhat as ge nerous in his moral as fublime in his in tellectual nature. vols. Small 8vo. 6s. Strahan. feel the jeft, And who but mut laugh to hear wit with In his features the fatire we all can defcry! his eye: When Hygeia frowrs, his importance is feen; the scene! All bis fubftitutes mangle the parts which they play, volumes are compofed, have been already fubmitted to the tafte and judgment of the public, and have paffed through the analization of criticifm. The Poem entitled "The Children of The fpis" now contains three parts, which occupy the whole of the fecond volume, and are feverally inferibed to Sir Joshua Reynolds, Warren Haftings, Efq. and Lord Thurlow. In an advertisement prefixed to the fecond part, the Author informs his readers, that when he firft undertook. And make us regret fuch a man must decay; to write this work, it was with a thorough Then BARTHOLO hangs by Pandora ful pended, contempt for the opinions of those perfons who have arrogated to themfelves the high and mighty title of Reviewers; and, in a note fubjoined, he gives an inftance of their venality and corruption, which, if true, places them below coutempt. To this accufation, however, we fhall only obferve in the words of SHAKESPEARE, "Let the galled jade And Spleen, when unfetter'd, with drink wince our withers are unwrung. The biect of the Poem is to point out the author's opinious of the merits and demerits of the feveral Actors and Actrelles of the English Stage; and he appears to us to poffefs the most perfect acquaintance with the nature of his fubject. To the character of each Dramatift there is an accompanying note, explaining the rife, progrefs, and fuccefs of their theatrical efforts; and thete notes are intersperfed with anecdotes, many of which are new, Curious, and entertaining. As a fpecimen of the Author's poetical abilities, we fhall felect the following lines on Mr. Parfons. of Wit, fee the harbinger break on the day, Whofe jokes banish Care, and make Milery gay; 'Tis PARSON, who oft the dull moment beguiles, And GREEDY'S vaft pleafantries feem to have ended. When death on poor PARSONS fhall e'er turn the table, Gay Momus in heaven will put on his fable; The eyes of gaunt Envy shall beam with de light on't, make a night on't. The first volume opens with "A Poctic Epiftle from Gabrielle d'Eftrees to Henry the Fourth ;" and it is dedicated to the Hon. Thomas Erskine, because "he has dignified a liberal profettion by his immeafurable ability, and adorned human nature by his exiftence." The basis of the story is borrowed from Poinfonet, but the imagery with which it is decorated, the Author claims as his own. This Poem contains many fine and excellent lines, the offspring of that vivida vis animi which fhould always fwell the bofom of a Poet. We cannot however extend this praife to every part of the work; and we fhall produce the following inftance of an obfcurity in the expreflion which fometimes occurs. The fais Gabrielle, fpeaking of the fafcinating power of her Henry's eyes, warns her The father of Mirth, and the patron of ex against their danger in these words: Smiles: Go |