Art. 64. A Statement of Facts, occafional of, and relative to, the Jate Disturbances at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh. By James Fennel. 8vo. IS. Bell. 1788. Mr. Fennel appeared, fome time ago, as a young actor, under a feigned name, at one of our London theatres, and was not wholly unfuccefsful. Removing to Edinburgh, he there, in July laft, performed fome capital characters; but had the misfortune to incur the difpleasure of certain perfons, who, forming a party against him, excited difturbances in the play-houfe; till, at laft, the manager was threatened with unpleasant confequences, which he could only prevent by difcharging Mr. Fennel. The final refult was, that Mr. F. who had too much fpirit to fubmit to fuch treatment as appeared to him both oppreffive and unjuft, hath bidden a final adieu to the ftage; but hath, at the fame time, thought it expedient to publish this narrative of the whole tranfaction; and, as far as we, at this distance, can pretend to judge of his conduct, he appears to have been arbitrarily and cruelly treated. Formerly our players ftyled themselves His Majefty's Servants ;" but it has appeared, from feveral inftances, at different periods of stage-history, that they are the flaves of the Audience. We are forry for it! Does it feem reasonable, or juft, that any clafs of people among us, should forfeit their natural rights and privileges, as FREE BRITONS, merely because they employ their talents in contributing to our rational amufement? 6.6 Art. 65. Obfervations on the three laft Volumes of the Roman Hiftory by Edward Gibbon, Efq. 12mo. 1s. 6d. Stockdale. 1788. This anonymous Obferver criticifes Mr. Gibbon's work with feverity, but not without fome degree of candour. Many of his ftrictures are undoubtedly juft; though a few of them have rather an appearance of illiberality. He charges the celebrated writer with a want of that lucidus ordo which diftinguifies the hiftorian from the mere relator of facts; with a want of perfpicuity of language, and a neglect of grammatical accuracy; with the unneceffary and wanton introduction of indecent and profane paflages; and even with a difplay of ridiculous buffoonery, more worthy of a jeft-book than of ferious hiftory. In fome inftances, thefe charges are pretty well fupported; in others, we think the objections are frivolous and trifling. He allows, however, the genius and abilities of Mr. Gibbon of which, he exprefsly affirms, there can be but one opinion.' Art. 66. The Naval Atalantis: or, a Difplay of the Characters of fuch Flag Officers as were diftinguished during the laft War. By Nauticus Junior. 8vo. 4 s. Boards. Ridgway. 1788. Nauticus Junior is much diffatisfied with the conduct of the noble Lord late at the head of the Admiralty board. He particularly accufes him of partiality in the late promotion of officers; and he has accordingly pourtrayed the characters of thofe who are advanced to the pinnacle of naval ambition. It is wholly impoffible for us to fpeak to the feveral maritime facts which are here brought forward to the public view. Profeflional men can alone determine on them; and yet profeffional men are fcarcely to be trufted; they cannot di 11 veft teft themselves of prejudices: for in the work before us, which pretends to the ftricteft impartiality, we find opinion continually obtruding itself, and fporting with the reputation of those who have unfortunately given offence to the Author; while, on the other hand, he is equally fulfome in commendation of his favourites and friends. In a word, we cannot better characterize the prefent Writer than in the language of Dryden : "Railing and praifing are his ufual themes, And both (to fhew his judgment) in extremes: That every one, with him, is god or devil." A.B. Art. 67. Characteristic Anecdotes, &c. of Frederic II. late King of Pruffia. With Explanatory Notes and Obfervations, by B. H. La Trobe. 8vo. 6s. Boards. Stockdale. 1788. We agree with Mr. La Trobe that the Anecdotes with which he has here prefented the world, are characteristic of the great Prince with whom he has made us intimately acquainted. His readers wil be willing to allow the author of the prefent publication no inconfiderable portion of praife for having related in an agreeable manner the most important and the most interesting circumstances in the life of the King of Pruffia; and for having in his notes given that information which ably illuftrates the nature of the Pruffian government, and thereby difpels the obfcurity in which many of the tranfactions would otherwife be involved. This work is compiled from one of much greater bulk, written originally in the German lan guage; and the selection of Anecdotes contained in it does credit to the judgment of the editor. We have perufed the book with fatiffaction, and most willingly recommend it to the attention of others.. SR. Art. 68. Anecdotes and Characteristics of Frederic the Great, late King of Pruffia: felected and tranflated from eight original Volumes in the German language. By F. A. W. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. Lewed. Richardfon, &c. 1788. It is out of our power to give fo great a degree of praise to the prefent as to the preceding publication, becaule, from its perufal, we have derived neither the fame pleafure, nor equal information, This work, like the former, is a compilation from other books on the fame fubje&t; but lefs judgment is fhewn in the felection, and there is an inferiority in the manner of relating the fayings and the actions of the great Frederic. When we turned over the last page of the former work, we felt a fenfible regret; to read the prefent volumes was a tak. Art. 69. The Speech of M. Necker, Director General of the Finances, at the Meeting of the Affembly of the Notables, held at Versailles, Nov. 6, 1788. To which is added, the King's and the Keeper's Speeches. 8vo. Is. 6d. Debrett. An affembly of the Notables having been called, preparatory to that of the States General, to fettle the formation and mode of affembling the different orders of which it is to be compofed, under the various alterations that have taken place fince their last convocation in 1614; M, Necker explains the points fubmitted to their deliberation, G 3 liberation, with great clearness and precision. From the novelty of a popular aflembly in France, compofed of deputies from the different orders of the nation, reluctantly called together, after an interval of nearly two centuries, in an age when the rights of human nature are so well understood; and efpecially after that government has taken fo recent and active a part in favour of American liberty; we are justified in forming high expectations. N. Art. 70. The Beauties of Rouffeau, felected by a Lady. 12mo. 2 Vols, 5s. fewed. Hookham. 1788. * The lady to whom we are obliged for this agreeable and moral felection, had no occafion, in this inftance, to plead her fex, in order to obtain the indulgence of the public. Her merit entitles her to their approbation and encouragement. She has fhewn much judgment in the felection, and faithfulnefs in the tranflation of the various paffages which compose these volumes. S.R. Art. 71. Vacunalia: Confifting of Effays in Verfe, on various Subjects; with fome Tranflations. By the Rev. Edward Davies, Lecturer of Sodbury. 8vo. 4s. fewed. Robinsons. 1788. As far as natural conceptions, eafy diction, harmonious verfification, and moderate powers of description, can go toward forming the puet, this writer has fome claim to the appellation. His pieces being chiefly of the paftoral kind, great originality will not be expected by thofe who are fenfible of the narrow limits of this fpecies of poetry. Among the pieces contained in this volume, are a tolerably fuccefsful verfification of the Temora of Offian; an Ode to the Mufe, which, in language, is a pretty clofe imitation of Milton's Il Pen ferojo; and an original defcription of the Comforts of a Jail. Mr. Davies, however, is not deftitute of defcriptive powers. E. Art. 72. Report from the Committee appointed to examine the Phyficians who have attended his Majefty, during bis Illness, touching the the prefent State of his Majelty's Health. 8vo. 3s. Stockdale. Another Edition of the fame Report, printed on a smaller Letter, but containing the fame Matter, 8vo. 1s. 6d. Our readers will not expect that we should review this publication. They will be fatisfied if we inform them, that it appears to be an exact copy of the account printed in folio, by authority. Two or three other editions, publifhed by different bookfellers, have appeared; but we had not feen them, at the time when we were obliged to tranfmit this little article to the prefs. With Art. 73. Arabian Letters, from Abdalla, a Native of Arabia, to his Friend at Moca. 12mo. 25. Bladon. 1788. "Rei bonæ vel veftigia delectant" is the Author's motto. the truth of the fentiment we agree, but we cannot difcover what connection it has with the prefent performance, in which we fee little, if any thing, worthy of publication. It is out of our power to felect any part of this thread-bare, worn-out mode of fictitious correfpond * In her preface, fhe informs us that her name is Eliza Robarts. ence, ence, that would prove (to the Author) a letter of recommendation to the public. S.R. Art. 74. A Tour to the Ifle of Love; written by the Author of The Cali hote na, &c. 12mo. 25. Thornton, in Southampton Street. 1788. We are informed, in the preface, that the prefent work was produced by the Author on a most diftreffing occafion, -the death of his friend's wife. The circumftance that rendered this event lefs tolerable, was, that it was fudden and unexpected, and took place but a very few months after their union. Ínftead of its being a melancholy recital of the feelings of the hufband after this misfortune, as we were prepared to expect, it proves au ingenious account of the hopes and the fears which alternately occupied the mind of the lover, and the various stages through which he paffed before he obtained the undivided affections of his mistress. This writer has made an happy ufe of allegory and perfonification, by the affiftance of which figures, he has rendered his work not a little entertaining. The verfes, which are interfperfed in the course of the narrative, are fo fprightly and eafy, as to induce us to wish that the whole had been poetical. We think, in this way of treating it, the fubject would have been capable of receiving embellishments that would, indeed, be improper in its prefent mixed and motley form. For our account of the Caffina, fee Review, vol. Ixxvi. p. 178. Art. 75. Catalogue of Five Hundred celebrated* Authors of Great Britain, now living; the whole arranged in Alphabetical Order; and including a complete Lift of their Publications, with occa.. fional Strictures, and Anecdotes of their Lives. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Faulder. 1788. D.O Had this defign been ably executed, it is probable that the work would have been well received ; but such crude and imperfect sketches as thefe, ought not to have been obtruded on the public. Some of the anecdotes, however, are confiderably fuperior to the majority of those nothings that make up the bulk of the volume: which, moreover, seems to contain as many mistakes as there are articles: and perhaps the omiffions are not fewer in number. Should the Author think of publishing another edition, he ought to take a great deal more pains than he appears to have done in compiling this: efpecially in the grand article of information. NOVELS. Art. 76. The Penitent Proftitute: or, the Hiftory of Mifs Julia Frank; 12mo. In this short narrative, which, whether real or fictitious, is naturally told, there is enough to give any female mind, capable of reafoning to confequences, fufficient caution against the first deviations from moral rectitude: the only misfortune is, that in doing wrong, we oftener act from the impulse of the moment than from reflection; As to celebrity, we must remark, that many of the authors introduced into this work, are people whofe names were searcely ever before heard of. G *By Pollingrove Robinson, Yfg) when when from the latter, the heart must be radically bad. Mifs Julia Frank describes herself as the undutiful daughter of a northern cler gyman, who ran away with an officer; and after the ufual viciftudes in fuch cafes, was reduced to walk the streets of London for fubfiftence. Here he was at length picked up by her own brother; to whom making herfelf known, he took her back; and her parents having died of grief for her conduct, fhe was placed under the protection of a fifter who was comfortably married. Though the fubject of this tale may not be the most delicate to put into a young lady's hand, a novel-reading lady may peruse it with more profit than many of those that exhibit vices in too favourable a point of view. N. Art. 77. The Exile; or Memoirs of the Count de Cronstadt. By Clara Reeve. Imo. 3 Vols. 9 s. fewed. Hookham. 1788. An interefting and well conducted ftory. The fatal effects of indulging the tender paffions, at the expence of reafon, and in oppofition to every worldly confideration and advantage, are fet in a particularly ftriking point of view. The principal incidents appear to be borrowed from a novel of the juftly admired M. D'Arnaud. AB. Art. 78. Sophia; or, the embarraffed Wife, &c. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. fewed. Allen. 1788. Noli me tangere: Touch me not-I fhall be nothing the better for handling. Criticism, too, fhould be otherwife employed. D: Art. 79. The Adventures of a Watch. 12mo. 3s. fewed. Kearsley. 1788. Finding it impoffible to convey to our Readers any idea of this very clumfy piece of workmanship, we take the liberty of prefenting them with the repetition of a well-known anecdote:-A fcribbling French Abbé being asked by Count d'Argenfon, why he had published a certain book which had given offence, attempted to justify himself by the following anfwer,- Monfieur, il faut que je vive. On which the Count immediately obferved,-Je n'en vois pas la neceffité* The Writer of the work before us, having a fimilar queftion put to him, would probably make a fimilar kind of reply. Suppofing this to be really the cafe, we will not be fo cruel as to adopt the rejoinder of the witty Frenchman, but rather fay to him, in the fpirit of Christian charity, Live and mend. Do Art. 8o. The Twin Sifters; or the Effects of Education. A Novel. By a Lady. 12mo. 3 Vols. 9s. fewed. Hookham. 1788. The production of fome young woman fresh from the perufal of Pamela, and Clariffa. There is a good deal of fancy, and many indications of real abilities both in the conduct of the fable and in the drawing of the characters. We are forry to obferve, however, the little attention which is paid to the fentiment and the expreffion. 2. 8. What the devil's become of you? Did you break your neck on your way to town?' fays one of the heroes in his letter to another :A mighty curious question! * See our last Appendix, in D'Alembert's article. • Such |