reft of your claffical trumpery, and apply yourselves incontinently to the British Grammar. Raillery apart, however, though we do not think there is fo little to be acquired by studying the dead languages as our Author would infinuate, we conceive there could not be a more acceptable fervice done to the cause of British literature, than by the publication of a methodical and well-digefted English Grammar. It is nevertheless to be doubted, whether any Perfon hath as yet engaged in fach a Defign, with Resolution and Abilities equal to the talk. As to 'the Author of the prefent work, it must be confeffed he hath laid down a number of very juft rules and obfervations relative to speaking and writing the English language grammatically. They are intermixed, however, with fo many that are erroneous or impertinent, and are rendered fo perplexed and confused by the Author's method, or rather want of method, in arranging them, that we can by no means think this Performance likely to answer the end defired. At the fame time we -hold it neceflary to give fuch young perfons, provincials and foreigners, as may confult this Grammar, a particular caution against placing too much dependence on our Author's rules for pronunciation; by a fervile attention to which, they would only acquire a mixt dialect of vulgar English and broad Scotch. K-n-k

Art. 13. The Modern Part of an Univerfal History. Vol. XXXVIIL Vide Accounts in our laft.

Having compleated their history of the three other Quarters of the globe, our induftrious Compilers are, at length, arrived at America: a wide extended field, but not fruitful of hiftoric materials. All we know of the new world, is its recent conqueft and fettlement by the Europeans; fo that of course the annals of America could only fall under the title of Modern Hiftory, although carried up to the highest antiquity of which we can poffibly attain any certain knowlege: as the fartheft retrofpect will neceffarily be confined within the limits of the three laft centuries.

Our Authors have, indeed, in the prefent volume, given a brief ketch of what they term the Ancient Hiftory of Mexico; but it is all of fuch uncertain authority, as to deferve very little credit, being drawn by the Spaniards from the fabulous traditions of the Mexican Indians; a nation equally deflitute of literary knowlege with the reft of the Americans, although greatly fuperior in other refpects to all the other Inhabitants of that immenfe continent: the Mexicans being, in truth, an amazingly ingenious and civilized people. They were not strangers to fcience, nor to many of the liberal arts; notwithtanding they had no more idea of the nature and ufe of letters than the Peruvians; one of whofe incas, or emperors, being folicited by the Spaniards to turn Chriftian, and being fhewn the Bible, which they told him contained the oracles of truth, he put it to his ear, liftened with great attention, but hearing nothing, threw it with refentment on the ground, and vehemently reproached the Spaniards with having intended to impofe upon him by a moft palpable falfhood.

Our Hiftorians have given in the prefent volume, an account of the voyages and difcoveries of Columbus; together with the entertaining and affecting tory of the conqueit of Mexico and Peru by the Spaniards

under

under the gallant Cortez, the afpiring and avaricious Pizarro, and other famous commanders of that ambitious, rapacious, and cruel nation; whofe treachery and inhumanity to the innocent and unhappy Indians, will be an eternal monument of infamy to the Chriflian name and character.

Art. 14. John English's Travels through Scotland; containing entertaining Account of the Manners and Customs of the Inhabi tants, &c. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Morgan.

Of all the dull and ftupid trafh which, to our unavoidable mortification, hath paffed in review before us, this, furely, is the dulleft and molt ftupid; as it is also the filthieft and meanelt. It is not merely that the Author (if it be not an abufe of the term to ufe it on fo unworthy an occafion) has falfely afperfed a whole nation, fince much better! Writers have fallen into this low and illiberal conduct, and rendered the practice as common as it is fenfelefs; it is not his telling the most im probable and impudent lies, for they can only reflect fcandal on the liar himself; it is not any confideration of this fort that ought fo much to. provoke the candid Reader's refentment, as that fuch vile ribaldry fhould pass through the prefs.-We hope, however, that no Englishman can be charged with offering fo bare-faced an affront to the Public: and, indeed, from fome expreffions in his trumpery, we are led to conclude this fhameless fcribbler a native of fome other foil. Certain it is he can be a credit to none.

1

Such infringers of public decorum, put us in mind of an impudent fellow, who, fome years ago, made it his practice, many fummer evenings together, to poft himself in one of the public fquares at the weft end of the town, where, letting down his breeches, he expofed, in full view of the oppofite houses, where the ladies very frequently appeared at the windows, a fight which could not fail to attract their notice. The ladies, however, foon found a knight who undertook to encounter. this monfter and who luckily aiming a fowling-piece at the hideous object, fent him hobbling to a furgeon, who made him pay handsomely for the trouble of extracting the small-fhot.

As to the prefent dirty offender, we think it would be very proper to have him well wafhed in a horfe-pond.

*

Mr. Birr's travels into Scotland were feverely fatirical upon that country, and he may poffibly have made fome things worse than he found them; yet, as he wrote like a gentleman, we have known even fome North Britons who could readily forgive him his fatire, for the fake of his good-humoured remarks, and fenfible observations.

See Review, vol. XI. p. 342.

Art. 15. An Effay on Oeconomy. The Fourth Edition. By Ed:ward Watkinson, M. D. Rector of Little Chart in Kent. 8vo. 6d. Richardfon..

Having already two or three times mentioned this little useful tract, the former Editions of which were printed at the Author's expence, with the fole view of distributing them among his friends, we find our felves, for

that

that very reafon, in fome measure obliged to acquaint our Readers, that it is now re-printed, with fome additions, and will for the future be fold at the Price, and by the Bookfeller, above-mentioned. We are very glad to find the fubject fo much attended to.

Art. 16. Memoirs of the Chevalier Pierrepoint. 2 Vols. 12mo. 4s. few'd. DodЛley.

A tastelefs and infipid performance, deftitute of action, paffion, and character. It may, nevertheless, go down with your curd-and-whey gentlefolks, (as a certain writer calls a certain fet of readers) or with those who, in our Author's own words, may be able to make a good repast on an indifferent Olla Podrida.

K-n-k

Art. 17. The Statutes at Large, from Magna Charta to the End of the Eleventh Parliament of Great Britain, Anno 1761. Carefully collated and revifed, with References, a Preface, and a new and accurate Index to the whole. By Danby Pickering, of Gray's-Inn, Efq; Reader of the Law Lecture to that ho nourable Society. 8vo. 6s. Cambridge printed, for Bathurft in London.

The learned Editor of this work, thinking it expedient to defer the publication of his preface till the whole be compleated, it is not in our power to gather, from the prefent volume, what improvements may be intended in this octavo edition; we must therefore defer any farther account of it till the publication be finished.

Art. 18. The Humourist. 12mo.

*

K-n-k

3s. Coote.

Confifts of Effays in profe and verfe, not entirely deftitute of wit and humour; but fo ill-written, and fo profufely interlarded with commonplace reflections, trite ftories, and low jefts, that they will afford but very little entertainment, and will frequently give great difguft, to a reader of taste and difcernment. Thefe Effays are dedicated To the most high, mighty, puiffant, omnifcient, cognofcitive, and illuftrious Deciders of common fenfe, the REVIEWERS, of Great Britain and Ireland." An excellent ftroke of humour, doubtless! for which we give the Author due credit, valeat quantum valere poteft. K-n--*

Art. 19. Propofals for enriching the Principality of Wales: Humbly fubmitted to the Confideration of his Countrymen, by Giraldus Cambrenfis. 8vo. Is. 6d. Glocefter printed for the Author, and fold by Dodsley and Millar in London.

A fenfible and judicious pamphlet, apparently written with the moft benevolent and public-fpirited view, viz. that of enriching the principality of Wales by agriculture and commerce. To this end, the Author recommends a method for improving the eftates of that country, for a plenteous increase of the neceffaries of life, and of rendering that part of our ifland rich and populous. As thefe are not the reveries of a

vifionary

vifionary projector, but the practicable scheme of a fhrewd and obferv ing patriot, it is with pleasure we embrace the opportunity of re commending the serious perufal and confideration of this pamphlet, to. every perfon, who may be concerned in the benefits it points out; a fingle publication of this kind promising to be of more real public utility, than a hundred of thofe literary or political fquibs, that engage the attention, or inflame the paffions of the indolent, without having any tendency to the service of mankind. K-n-k

Art. 20. A Poffeript to Dr. Smith's Harmonics, upon the changeable Harpfichord: which, being supplied with all the useful flat and fharp Sounds, and tuned in the best Manner, is made as harmonious as poffible; and yet the Execution of Mufick upon this per-. fect inftrument is, the fame as upon the common Harpsichord. 8vo. 6d. Dod.

This little pamphlet contains an account of an excellent improvement. in the conftruction of the harpsichord; we cannot enter into a particular defcription of it, however, for want of the plate by which it is illuftrated. K-n-k

Art. 21. The Naval Repofitory: Or young Seaman's best Instructor. Containing a most accurate Defcription of a Ship of War; with every Word of Art made ufe of in a maritime Employ.-The Duty: of every Officer on board. The Conftruction of a Ship of War, from the laying of her Keel to the Launch.-A Defcription of the Mafts, Yards, Rigging, &c.-Ceremonies ufed on board a King's Ship, in entertaining a Prince or Grandee.-Of Anchors, Cables, &c. Of ordering Fleets in chacing, engaging, boarding, and Striking.-An approved Method to make Salt Water fresh.-The Distances between the feveral Ports in England, Wales, and France. A compleat Lift of his Majesty's Navy, with their feveral Commanders, and Number of Guns and Men they carry.-The Pay of every Officer and Seaman. With Variety of Anecdotes relative to the fame. By an Officer in the Navy. 8vo. 1s. 6ď. Wilfon and Fell.

Although this publication may not be altogether without its ufe, as a vocabulary to confult occafionally, we conceive a young seaman wilk learn more from one voyage, than he will recollect after repeated perufals of this pamphlet. That our naval Officer may have given a very juft explanation of the feveral fea-terms he hath here enumerated we do not difpute; we must have better authority or better arguments, however, before we can subscribe to every thing he affirms concerning the conftruction, management, and failing of fhips. To mention a particular inftance, he tells us, that "the loofer a fhip is, the better way fhe will make through the water; which is fimilar, fays he, with a man having too strait a waistcoat, and cannot make his way fo fatt as though he was loofely attired, having no room to work or exert itself." Is not this an excellent illuftration? We do not take upon us, nevertheless, to

17

contravert

contravert the fact, though we think it, at beft, highly problematical. This Officer's lifts, alfo, are not fo compleat as one might expect from a gentleman in the service, if indeed that be the cafe of this compiler. K-n-k

Art. 21. Fingal reclaimed. 8vo. 6d. Hinxman. The defign of this little pamphlet is, to prove that the poem, entit led Fingal, is of Irish, and not of Scottish original, as hath been pretended by the Editor *. Among other plaufible pretences, in fupport of his argument, he obferves, that neither Hero nor Bard, throughout the whole poem, ever mentions the name of Scotland, nor defcribes it by any peculiar circumftance; while, on the other hand, they dwell with an evident pleasure on the feveral names of Ireland. To this he adds, that their Mißtreffes and Wives were chiefly Irish; and that the epifodes of the poem are founded on family anecdotes, on the amours of the Irish: things, fays he, which no man could take pleafure in relating, or be even supposed to know, who was not a native. He throws out many fhrewd reflections alfo, tending to convince the Reader of the truth of his opinion. Nay, he proceeds fo far, as to charge the Editor almost with plagiarifm; giving examples of feveral paffages that bear a very ftriking refemblance, indeed, to fome in Homer. He affects to think it cruel alfo, that the Translator hath declined giving the public fome fpecimens of the original, after having fo highly extolled the verfification of it; putting him in mind of his promife, that the public expect to see the faid original lodged in fome of our public Libraries. Although this Author may be right in fome of his remarks, we can by no means approve of that illiberal strain in which he treats Mr. Macpherson, the ingenious Editor of the Poem in question.

See Review, vol. XXVI. p. 41, 140, 157.

K-n-k

+++ The pamphlets from Er have been received, and perufed with pleasure, on account of their judicious compofition; altho' the fubject, being of a private and local nature, may feem to exclude them from a place in a Literary Review. Befide, in all Controverfies, both Parties fhould be heard; but with refpect to the prefent debate, we have only heard one: in fupport of which, indeed, the Evidence is fo very strong, that we think it easy to foresee which way the cause must go, on a fair and full hearing. We with pleasure obferve too, that the Decorum which obtains among well-bred men in perfonal altercations, is by no means violated, altho' the party hath sometimes indulged a vein of fa tire, for which he appears to have received fufficient provocation-Had the feveral pieces which have been published, pro and con, in this Difpute, duly fallen in our way, as they came out, we should not have over looked them.