merly been charged. He writes with temper and good fenfe; and his ftrictures on thofe parts of the Diffenters' Cafe, which he apprehends to bear too hard on the Papiits,' deferve the ferious confideration of the gentlemen by whom that cafe was drawn up; fpecially if it be true, as we have heard, that they mean to renew their application to Parliament for a repeal of the obnoxious acts abovementioned. Art. 24. Reflections on the Caths which are tendered to the Subject in this Country. 8vo. 15. Debrett. 1787. The number of legal oaths exacted under the British government, the injustice and abfurdity of enforcing them in cafes relative to fpeculative opinions (that have no connexion with matters of civil government), and all impofitions of religious tels, are here judiciou fly confidered, and reprefented in the most ferious light. Indeed, the evils here pointed out cry aloud for redress, and furely it is a great reproach to this enlightened age, that fuch oppreffions are ftill fuffered to fubfift! Art. 25. Curfory Remarks on the Rev. Dr. Priestley's Letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer: containing Hints, humbly offered in favour of the Etablishment, and oppofed to the Principles contained in that Publication. By a Layman. 8vo. 1s. Denis. Dr. Priestley's letter to Mr. Pitt appeared to us, when we perused it at the time of its publication*, to be a hafty performance, containing fome paffages which the Doctor's cooler judgment might have induced him to alter or reject, had he allowed himself fufficient time for revifal. But he seems to have ftruck boldly, while the iron was hot, as though his only fear was left the metal fhould grow cold on the anvil. This being the cafe, are we to wonder if fome flaws and defects are difcoverable in the workmanship. -- The writer of these remarks controverts feveral points with the Doctor. As a writer, he is by no means equal to his adversary; but, what is no mean praise, he expreffes himself with decency and candour, treating the Doctor throughout with a degree of refpec and decorum, which gives us a favourable idea both of his temper and principles; though, as to the latter, he certainly appears in a queftionable fhape; for while he generally expreffes himself like a good and pious Chriftian, yet at the moment when he profeffes to be a Proteftant of the church of England, in the common acceptation of the word," he adds, "but I frequent not her ceremonies, nor thofe of any other place of religious worship."-We are at fome lofs what to make of this declaration, but we deem it pretty clear, that our Author is not a very violent churchman. For the reft we shall briefly obferve, that he has feveral judicious and pertinent, as well as fome unimportant, obfervations on the Doctor's letter-the particulars of which we cannot enumerate. He concludes with wifhing his reverend and learned correfpondent, "virtue, health, and hap pinefs;" and figns himself, "Yours in brotherly love, a Layman." * See Review for April, p. 348. POETRY POETRY. Art. 26. The Loufiad. An Heroi-Comic Poem. Canto II. With an Engraving by an eminent Artist. By Peter Pindar, Efq. 4to. 2s. 6d. Kearsley. 1787. Bravo! perfevering laughter-loving Peter Pindar! Thy loufe in epic ftrains fhall ever live ;'- By future beauties fhall each tome be preft, And, like their lap-dogs, live a parlour gueft.' Vid. p. 13. For the First Canto, fee Review for Sept. 1785, art. 32. of the Catalogue. Art. 27. An apologetic Poftcript to "Ode upon Ode;" or a Peep at St. James's. By Peter Pindar, Efq. 4to. Is. 6d. Kearsley. 1 1787. Peter apologifes chiefly for continually making kings his theme. Eternally, fays he, Of kings I dream As beggars, every night, we muft fuppofe, Dream of their vermin in their beds; Such things are always running in their heads.' Mafter Peter's apology will not much conciliate matters with those who are offended at the licentioufnefs of his mufe; but what will perhaps better anfwer his purpose, it will add to the entertainment of his admirers. Here we have, among other ftrokes of humour, a itory of the APPLE DUMPLIN and a KING, which can never fail to fet the table in a roar; but it will never procure him a dumplin in the royal kitchen. Art8. More Odes upon Odes; or, a Peep at Peter Pindar; or, Falseod detected; or, What you will. 4to. 2s. 6d. Lowndes. If this antagonist of P. P.'s does not equal him in wit, he exceeds him in grace, "And pays due homage to the best of kings!" He will ftand a much better chance for an apple dumplin at St. James's. A Supplement to the Pharfalia of Lucan. Tranflated from the Latin of Thomas May. By the Rev. Edm. Poulter, M. A. Rector of Crawley, Hants. 4to. Is. 6d. Cadell. 1786. In the year 1630, Thomas May tranflated Lucan, and added an English continuation. But, not fatisfied with the latter, he published at Leyden, in the fame year, a Latin Supplement. It had indeed the good fortune of being well received; and what is ftill more, it it hath had the honour of being incorporated with the most eminent editions of the claffics, particularly thofe of Barbou, the Elzevirs, and Oudendorp. In our opinion, however, May was as unworthy to follow Lucan, as Mr. Poulter to tranflate May. The Latin fupplement (though little known to our claffical readers) may be easily procured; and we will therefore produce no extracts from it. The following fpecimen of Mr. Poulter's translation will, we prefume, fufficiently confirm the fentence we have paffed on it; and if a farther confirmation is required, we refer to the whole work. The fea no longer frown'd; fafe from the waves, Safe from the wiles, the wrath of Egypt's flaves, Lo! Cæfar on the fhore indignant fat, Breathing revenge, with anger fraught fo great, Not Pharos crufh'd his vengeance would affuage, Nor Egypt's felf deftroy'd appeafe his rage. 'Twas not the doubt of war unjustly brought, (Juft was the cause of war) that rack'd his thought; But fhame and indignation urg'd his mind To know fuch caufe of war was given; to find The foft Canopus Cæfar's wrath dar'd try, Deferve his chaftifement, his arms defy; Whofe vengeance Rome herfelf could ill fuftain, Of freedom hazarded, and Pompey flain.' To mere common readers-the translation would be almost as unintelligible as the original. NOVELS. Art. 30. Orlando and Seraphina: a Turkish Story. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5s. fewed. Lane. 1787. When a Turkish story is prefented to us, we naturally look for fomething refpecting the Porte, and the manners and customs of the people. In the performance now before us, however, nothing of the kind is to be met with. It is fimply a tale for the ladies; as plentifully interlarded with obs! and abs! as the prayers of an old puritanic divine. A production, in fhort, in which there is little to cenfure, or to commend. B. "We cannot blame indeed--but we may fleep." Art. 31. The Village of Martindale. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5s. fewed. Lane 1787. Written by the author of Orlando and Seraphina. This gentleman's talent is indifputably the humorous and burlesque; as he has here fufficiently manifested in a very lively and agreeable tale. We therefore hope, that he will not again employ his time in compofing whining and fantastical love ftories; ftories in which there is fcarcely any thing to be met with but Cupids, flames, and darts. Such extravagant language is happily ridiculed by Congreve in one of his plays Lard! he has fo pellered me with flames and ftuff, I fhall not be able to endure the fight of a fire this twelvemonth.' In a word, and to borrow an expreffion from the Rambler, we are inclined to confider fuch performances merely as pages of inanity,' pages which are only fitted for the perufal of mafters and miffes who are freth from fchool, and which will confequently never be commended by us, though they fhould even chance to be correctly written. See the account of Orlando and Seraphina,-the preceding article. Art. Art. 32. The Hiftory of Captain and Mis Rivers. 12mo. 7s. 6d. fewed. Hookham. 1787. 3 Vols. This Author appears to be fo highly delighted with his performance, that we imagine he will scarcely believe us when we tell him that it is greatly wanting in effentials, i. e. in character, style and fentiment;-or fhould he even be convinced of the truth of what we fay, it is not improbable but that, like Horace's enraptured citizen, who fat applauding imaginary actors, he will abuse the yery friends who have kindly routed him from his reverie. 10 Art. 33. Olivia: or, Deferted Bride.12mo. 3 Vols. 7s. 6d. fewed. Lane. . 1787. Hold up your head; hold up your hand; Would it were not our lot to few ye The cruel writ, wherein you ftand Indicted by the name of Chloe. You have purloin'd.' -- es, fair lady, you ftand indicted of purloining much, very much, from the feveral novelifts who have immediately preceded you, and that with fo little tafte and judgment, that we cannot even commend your talent at Selection +. All we can honeftly allow is, that Olivia is much better written than most of the novels of the day; though it fhould at the fame time be obferved, that the ftyle of it is by no means perfectly elegant. Zo Art. 34. The History of Charles Falkland, Efq. and Mifs Louifa Saville. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5s. fewed. Noble. 1787. It was formerly the practice to finish every novel with a wedding. It is now become the fashion to conclude them, generally, with a funeral. The heroes and heroines must all be buried. In the performance now before us (which by the way is nothing more than the old and hacknied story of a violated female and an injured friend) the dead are quite as numerous as in the mock-heroics of Chrononhotonthologos, and Tom Thumb.-But the aim of the writers, we suppose, is to awaken pity; and they not unfrequently fucceed. Art. 35. Exteffive Senfibility; or the Hiftory of Lady St. Laurence. 12mo. 2 Vols. 55. fewed. Robinfons. 1787. The following fheets,' fays the Author of this novel, in his dedication of it to the Lady Fairford, are intended to exhibit a true picture of the depravity of modern manners,'-and it must be acknowledged that fome of this gentleman's characters are delineated with a bold and glowing pencil, and in a manner that fufficiently indicates his acquaintance with the human heart. His moral and * Witnefs his dedication to Mifs Afhby, in which he observes,— A lady of quality, who hath long honoured me with her attention, and who, from the goodness of her heart, which ever prompts her to ferve and to oblige, undertook to have it printed, being previously affured by the bookfeller, that it would pleafe, and infure a good fale,' &c. The incidents in this novel bear, in particular, fo ftrong a refemblance to thofe of Elfrida (fee Review for April laft), that we think it fcarcely poffible fuch refemblance fhould be accidental. + By mrs Bonhôte. Authoress conclufion X below conclufion also being good, the punishment of vice, and the reward of virtue, deferves commendation, in this age particularly, when novels are fo numerous; when fo few have any moral at all, and when even fome not only idly and unprofitably wafte the time, but alfo leave bad impreffions on the heart, of the young, unwary, and inexperienced reader. The Author's ftyle, however, is frequently faulty and inelegant, as will be feen by the following paffages-of which kind, Exceffive Senfibility' affords a confiderable number. But I forgot to whom I am writing, a man of fashion to whom all thefe little minutiae are above bis confideration.' The man must want taste indeed, that can ever tire of looking on her.' If I could once more infpire her with a relifh for the country, of which the ufed to be lavish of her praise, I would yet expect to wean her from thefe follies." My husband had forgot me! my parents dead! and me the cause of haftening them to the grave!' AB. Art. 36. The Platonic Marriage. In a Series of Letters. By Mrs. Cartwright, 12mo. 3 Vols. 75. 6d. fewed. Hookham, &c. 1786. This novel we think fhould have borne a fecond title,-" or the man in love with his grandmother." The ftory is briefly as follows: Mifs Villeroy is reduced, by a train of unfortunate circumftances, from a state of affluence to that of poverty. In the height of her deftrefs, and having an aged father to fupport, fhe commiffions a faithful fervant to difpofe of fome embroidery, the work of her hands. They are at this time at L near Paris. The faid fervant accordingly vifits that city, and fells a waistcoat, with which fhe was entrusted by her miftrefs, to a gentleman who called himfelf Monfieur D-, but whom they afterwards found to be the Duke of A——. His Grace difcovers the retreat of Mifs Villeroy, and relieves her diftreffes. The Duke's kindness, however, occafions reports prejudicial to the Lady's honour. (The Duke of A. is eighty years of age, and Mifs Villeroy is about fixteen). To ftop the tongue of flander, therefore, the parties enter into a connubial engagement-an union of minds; or, as our Author is pleased to term it, a Platonic marriage.' In the mean time, Lord Edward Carteret, grand fon of the Duke of A. finds by accident the portrait of a lady, and, like another Pygmalion, becomes enamoured of the inanimate beauty. He fearches diligently for the enchanting original; and at length dif covers her in the perfon of his grandmother, the Duchefs of A. whom he waits on in confequence of her marriage with his relation. His Lordship is particularly happy in the meeting; and as the growing infirmities of the Duke feem to threaten him with a speedy diffolution, he is in hope of poffeffing the object of his love. The canonical interdiction however, a man is not to marry his grandmother,' awakens all his fears, and he really knows not how to act. But he is foon relieved from his embarraffment;-in a very few months his good and noble relation bids the world good night; a difpenfation 11 |