an expiring taper, labouring for exiftence, with interrupted efforts, and broken gleams.Age is often called a fecond childhood; and in truth it seems to be more peculiarly the cafe, with regard to fome veterans of Parnaffus, who are, to the laft, as fond of jingling their poetical bells, as children are of their rattles.-Well! poor fouls, old and young, if it contributes to their happiness, e'en let them jingle on; though they do, now and then strain a few harsh difcords and unpleafing tharps,' as Shakespeare fays:-good nature may allow it to pass for tolerable mufic.

Art. 10. A Poetical Wreath of Laurel and Olive. 4to. I S.

Morley.

"

Sings, as a body may fay, the war, and the peace, and the herces, and the fhepherd-fwains; and prudentiy advises the fons of faction to be quiet hear how pathetically he expoftulates with them:

Why will you thus in mad diverfion firive,

With zeal intemperate to torment yourselves?

This Twifter of wreaths has quite miftaken his talent; he had, perhaps, better lay by his Olive and Laurel, and try his hand at a bundle of oziers :-basket-making is an ufeful employment.But now peace is restored, the poor Mufes must fuffer for it: they will be well teized. As Pope fays, after Horace *,

All those who cannot write, and those who can,
Will rhyme, and fcrawl, and scribble, to a man.

* Scribimus indocti dotique.

Art. 11. Rodendo; or the State fuglers. Canto II. 8vo. I S. Nicoll.

We refer to the brief mention made of the first Canto, in our Review for last month, p. 73. and, for the reafon there given, shall avoid entering into particulars concerning this fecond part: in which the Author perfeveres in the faine spirit he fet out with.

Art. 12. The Winter-Piece: A Poem. Folio. 1s. Bristow.

This Author modeftly acknowleges that Poetry is not his business; and we cannot conceive what bufinefs he had with Poetry. He pleads that it hath been very feldom his practice, and we hope this will be the laft time. 'Tis true, he has not fo far mistaken his talent, as to grow vain of his performances; for he feems to expect but a fmall fhare of fame, from the prefent publication: of which he tells us that he is little folicitous whether it may endure the revolution of years to come, or enjoy but the short immortality of a month.'- -In brief, there is much more merit in the Author's modefty, than in his verses; of which take the following couple as a fpecimen. Old Hyems, he tells us, trembling at the decree iffued by the fovereign goodnefs, in behalf of fuffering nature, which the faid Hyems, or Winter, had used very roughly, thus makes his retreat:

Eurus and Boreas turn their tails and fly,
And bear him backward down the northern sky,
M

REV. Feb. 1763.

The

The circumftance of Euras and Boreas turning their tails and flying, or letting fly, cannot but remind our readers, of the action of the winds in Cotton's Virgil. There are fome other droll paffages in this Poem; but, on the whole, it is too dull to deferve farther notice.

Art. 13. The Oliviad, a Poem.
Mayne, Efq; 4to.

By Thomas Hallie De-la-
Is. 6d. Scott.

Thomas Hallie de-la Mayne, Efq; may ftand in competition for fame with the elegant Mr. George Pooke; to whofe poetical abilities we have frequently had the honour of bearing teftimony.-The WAR, the PLACE, and GEORGE's virtues, (we do not mean the virtues of George Pooke) are here celebrated, in trains that even rival the fweetnefs and fublimity of a Christmas Carol.

*We cannot but remark what an happy effect this fine founding monofyllable has in almost every Court Panegyric. How lucky for our poetical Dfpenfers of Virtue and Fame, that his Majefty was not chriftenid Aminadab!

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 14. The Hiftory of Mifs Harrist Watfon. By Mrs. Woodfin, Author of the Auction. 2 Vols. 12mo. 5s. Lownds.

When a Lady is in the straw, after having, not very favourably, been delivered of the burthen of a nine-months conception, the customary queftion is, "Well, Narfe, how is it with your Lady and the child?" To which Mitrefs Nurfe, willing to put the beft face on a bad matter, anfwers, according to caftom; Thankee, Ma'am, as well as can be expected." In like manner, fhould we be afked after our newly-delivered Authorefs and her literary bantling, we fhould anfwer, "They are as well as can be expected," after being told, that Mrs. Woodfin (whoever he is) was the Writer of the Auction*.

*For an account of this Novel, fee Review, vol. XXI. p. 573.

Art. 15. The Peregrinations of Jeremiah Grant, Efq; a Weft-Indian. 12mo. 3s. Burnet.

The Writer of thefe Peregrinations is an ignorant pretender to wit, humour, and learning; whilft, in reality, he is totally deftitute of the first; for the fecond, he only thews a turn for ribaldry, fuch as would hardly pafs for humour with a bench of Porters at an ale-house door; and for the third, he has not yet learned to spell.

Art. 16. An Hebrew and English Lexicon without Points: In which the Hebrew and Chaldee Words of the Old Teftament are explained in their leading and derived Senfes, the derivative Words are ranged under their refpective Primitives, and the Meanings affigned to each authorised by References to Paffages of Scripture. To this Work is prefixed, a methodical Hebrew Grammar, without

Points,

Paints, adapted to the Ufe of Learners, and of those who have not the Benefit of a Master: As alfo the Hebrew Grammar at one View. By John Parkhurst, M. A. late Fellow of ClareHall, Cambridge. 4to. 16s. bound. Faden.

Mr. Parkhurst being zealously attached to the Hutchinfonian fyftem, againft which we have fo often entered our proteft, a recommendation of a work founded on Hutchinfonian principles, can hardly be expected from us. Thofe, however, who entertain more favourable fentiments of that kind of learning, will not think their money thrown away in the purchase of this laborious production: which, in its way, is by no means an inconfiderable performance.*

Art. 17. A military Treatife on the Difcipline of the marine Forces. By John Macintire, Lieutenant of Marines. 8vo. 5 S.

Davies.

Although this judicious compilation has made its appearance, as the faying is, the day after the fair, we are nevertheless glad to fee fuch a performance in print. The Marines have proved themselves a very ufeful corps; and as there is at leaft a poffibility of our wanting their future fervices, it behoves us not to lofe the advantages that may arife from the experience they have gained, in the courfe of a tedious and bloody war. For the fame reafon, too, it is right to obferve some caution, in reducing a body who have been fo peculiarly and fo fuccefsfully employed. The fpirit of economy, which, at length, has found its way into the adminiftration of our government, is certainly commendable, and may be followed by very great advantages to the Public: we are not forry, however, to obferve, that its operations are not too violent and hafty, in regard to the reduction of our troops. A good hint is afforded us in the Fable of the Sheep, who, by the affittance of their faithful auxiliaries, the dogs, having vanquished the wolves, were over-perfuaded, on the figning of preliminaries for a peace, to difband their gallant mastiffs, as no longer of ufe, and only burdenfome to the ftate. The dogs were difmiffed, the war immediately broke out again, the fheep were attacked before they had time to put themfelves in proper ftate of defence; and-need we repeat the reft?

Art. 18. The Alphabet of Reafon: Being an Ejay toward Conftructing a Plan to facilitate the Art of Swift Writing, commonly called Short Hand; upon rational Principles. 8vo. is. 6d. Becket, &c.

The ingenious Author of this little tract, appears to have confidered his fubject very attentively, and hath proceeded in more rational method, than it may feem, at firft fight, to be capable of. The Authors of the many alphabets heretofore invented, fays he, "have arbitrarily obtruded methods on the Public, unfupported by philofophic principles: trivial or no reasons being given for the establishment of their particular characters; nor why their rules are frequently violated as arbitrarily as they are appointed: it is, therefore, no wonder, that fchemes founded in

M-2

prejudice

prejudice and fancy, fhould prove as mortal as their parents, instead of fecuring a general and lafting reputation." He does juftice, indeed, to the attempt of Mr. Jeake, inferted in Numb. 487. of the Philofophical Tranfactions; which, however, he thinks impracticable. His own Method, it is certain, is the moft fimple, and apparently the best calculated to fix the principles, and anfwer the purpofe af fwift writing of any we remember to have feen. Prefixed to the treatise is a comparative table of the feveral fhort-hand alphabets in ufe; another plate alfo being annexed, for the illuftration of the prefent method.

K-n-k

Art. 19. A Dialogue in the Green-Room, on a Disturbance in the Pit. 8vo. IS. Burnet.

Attempts to juftify a late theatrical riot. But, notwithstanding all we have heard and read on this fubject, we cannot altogether approve of fuch violent proceedings. Surely there are other Methods of adjufting fuch difputes, than by tearing up the benches, and demolishing the chandeliers unless it be a fettled point, that no argument is to be ufed with the manager of a playhouse, but the argumentum baculinum. We rather imagine, that if an audience diflike the entertaiment provided for them, they might say fo, without breaking the fconces; or if they approve not the price, might they not object to that alfo, without, in a literal fenfe, calling the Houfe to account for it? Indeed, fuch behaviour as we have often been witness to, at either theatre, would be deemed fomewhat prepofterous, even in a tavern, or a bagnio; where the guests rarely aflume a right to express their difapprobation of the wine, or the reckoning, by destroying the furniture of the room, or by kicking the landlord down ftairs.

Art. 20. An Appeal to the Public, in behalf of the Manager. 8vo. IS. Wilfon and Fell.

Takes the other fide of the queftion-(fee the foregoing article) and talks fomewhat more to the purpose:--but we must not commend this Appeal to our Readers, as the Author is a dealer in perfonal abuse. Mr. F, who had diftinguifhed himself in the riot at Drury-lane, is here fcurrioufly attacked for being an Irithman. It is very ftrange, that people are thus to be made anfwerable for the place of their birth! -but fo it is, we lee; and therefore we ought to be very careful, for the future, where we fuffer our mothers to lie-in.

Art. 21. An Enquiry into the Origin of the Cherokees. In a Letter to a Member of Parliament. 8vo. 6d. Oxford. Fletcher. A mighty learned attempt to prove the Cherokees to be the defcendents of Methek, a fon of Japhet. This profound Enquirer conceives allo, that the 38th and 39th chapters of Ezekiel contain a prophecy not yet fulfilled, which may be brought to pafs, in God's due time, by the faid Cherokees. This latter prefumption, I mention, fays he, with the profoundest reverence and modefty; he propofes, however, to the Reader's confideration, the following questions. 66 1. Whether the prefent nations of North America may not, in fact, confift of thofe fa

milies,

milies, which are exprefsly mentioned by Ezekiel? zdly, Whether their Prince and Leader, may not one day unite and gather them together, to fet at defiance their prefent European Mafters; to wreft the dominion out of their hands, and in their turn to Spoil the Spoilers, and to plunder the plunderers?" What a pity it is our fagacious Author did not intimate thefe his alarming apprehenfions fooner, that the Government might have entered into fome measures with the three Chiefs lately exhibited in this metropolis, to prevent, if poffible, the important revolution here furmifed!What a fine thing is learning! K-n-k

Art. 22. Eutropii Hiftoriæ Romanæ Breviarium: or Eutropius's Epitome of the Roman Hiftory, with an English Translation, Notes, and Index. By Mr. Thomas. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Bald

win..

The only purpose of such Translations as thefe, where the original and the English are printed on oppofite columns, is, we suppose, to teach boys the knowlege of the original words: the more literal, therefore, the Tranflation is, the better it must be. Mr. Thomas acknowleges, that he has not confined himself to a mere verbal tranflation; confequently his book can have no merit of this kind: but though it prove of little fervice to the Scholar, it may be of use to the Matter, as it is more accurate than Clark's, and contains better Notes.

La Art. 23. An Account of the Spanish Settlements in America. In Four Parts. I. An Account of the Discovery of America, by the celebrated Chriftopher Columbus: With a Defcription of the Spanish infular Colonies in the Weft-Indies. II. Their Settlements on the Continent of North-America. III. Their Settlements in Peru, · Chili, Paraguay, and Rio de la Plata. IV. Their Settlements in Terra Firma. Of the differeut Countries in South-America fill poffeffed by the Indians, &c. With a Defcription of the Canary Islands. Each Part contains an accurate Defcription of the Settlements in it, their Situation, Extent, Climate, Soil, Produce, former and prefent Condition, trading Commodities, Manufactures, the Genius, Difpofition, and Number of their Inha bitants, their Government both civil and ecclefiaftical; together with a concife Account of their chief Cities, Ports, Bays, Rivers, Lakes, Mountains, Minerals, Fortifications, &c. With a very particular Account of the Trade carried on betwixt them and Old Spain. To which is annexed, a fuccinct Account of the Climate, Produce, Trade, Manufactures, &c. of Old Spain. Illuftrated with a Map of America. 8vo. 5s. Edinburgh printed for Donaldson, and fold by Durham, &c. in London.

The full and circumftantial title of this publication, may give it, with fome kind of Readers, the air of a Catchpenny; they would do well, however, to confider, that nothing can be fairer than to exhibit the particulars of what is offered to fale. In favour of the present work alto, it may be added, that ample and explicit as the title-page

may