Art. 20. Poems on feveral Occafions. By J. Robinson. 3 s. od. Davies, &c. 1773. 12mo. Mr. J. Robinfon is now Somebody fee our account of Poems by Nobody; Rev. vol. xlii. p. 144. This is a new edition of molt, if not all, of the faid fatherless poems: but what pieces belonging to the former publication are here inferted, what new ones are added, or what improvements are made, does not appear from the preface, or table of contents, in which no more notice is taken of Mr. Nobody than if he had never exifted; nor can we, from memory, pretend to fupply the deficiency. In general we may obferve, however, that there are fome things in the collection now before us, which induce us to think rather more favourably of Somebody than of Nobody; and we muft candidly acknowledge that if this facetious fon of Thefpis is not always a delicate, he is frequently a diverting writer. His verses on the death of a beautiful young Lady have received fome emendations, which render them lefs liable to the cenfure we paffed on them, in the article referred to above. Art. 21. A Mob in the Pit; or, Lines addreffed to the Duchefs Is. Bladon. 1773 of A -H. 4to. Idle abuse of the Duchefs, for afferting, in a manner with which this rhymfter is offended, her right to her box at the playhoufe. This is one of the mott frivolous and impudent catch penny things which hath appeared in the course of the late pamphlet-feafon. Art. 22. The Eaft India Culprits; a Poem. In Imitation of Swift's "Legion Club." By an Officer who was prefent at the Battle of Plafiey. 4to. 1s. 6d. Kearly. 1773 Imitations of Swift-Imitations of Richardfon-Imitations of Sterne; and other eminent originals: they generally ferve to remind us of the verfification of an old proverb, in an old ballad: "So many men do talk of Robin Hood, Who never yet fhot arrow with his bow." Art. 23. Good Friday; a Poem. 4to. Is. Bath printed, and 1773 fold by Dodfley in London. This poem feems to have been written by a pious and good man, whom Nature, however, did not defign for a poet, DRAMATIC. Art. 24. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. A Tragedy. By Wil-, liam Shakespeare. Collated with the old and modern Editions. 8vo. 3 s. fewed. Owen, &c. 1773. In our Review for March 1771, we gave an account of this Editor's impreffion of King Lear; to which we now refer, for our opinion of the merit of this undertaking.-We fuppofe the Editor is a man of fortune. If every man of fortune would always amufe himfelf as innocently, it would be happy for the public; and the printing business would flourish amazingly. Art. 25. The Chances, with Alterations. 8vo. Is. 6 d. Becket. 1773. The public is indebted, probably, to Mr. Garrick for the alterations of this play. They are not many; but they are all for the better; and render it a decent as well as fprightly entertainment. POLITICA Lega POLITICAL. Art. 26. A short Introduction to an Inquiry into the prefent State of the Bodies Elective of the People's Part of the Legislature. 4to. 6d. Evans. 1773. It is a difadvantage to a publication to have an intricate and illexprefied title. This little pamphlet is written with temper and good fenfe; and we wish there was a probability that the truths it exhibits may be properly attended to before the enfuing general election. Art. 27. An exact Collection of the Debates and Proceedings in Parliament, in 1694 and 1695; upon the Inquiry into Briberies and corrupt Practices in the Army, the City of London, and more particularly the Eaft India Company: for which feveral of the Members, with the Directors of the Company, were committed to the Tower; alfo the Speaker of the Houfe of Commons, with the Lord Prefident of his Majefty's Council, were impeached of high Crimes and Misdemeanours. 4to. 2 s. Parker in Cornhill. 1773. As no preface is put to this exhibition of corruption at the time referred to, it may be prefumed the fhameful facts are revived as a kind of mirror for the prefent times; we fhall only remark in general, that this century has been a period of great improvements. Art. 28. The Right Intereft and Duty of the State, as concerned in the Affairs of the Eaft Indies. By Thomas Pownal, Efq; Member of Parliament. 8vo. I S. Bladon. 1773 Mr. Pownal, by clear and cogent reafoning, fupported by pofitive facts, convincingly proves, that all foreign landed property, the fovereignty of which is acquired by the fubjects of any ftate, becomes the political property of that ftate; is neceffarily held under it, and is to be regulated and protected by it, according to the nature of the eftablishment: under which general principle, the territorial acquifitions of the East India Company, muit be understood to be compre hended. Art. 29. A Letter to the Right Honourable Lord North, &c. &c. &c. on the prefent Proceedings concerning the East India Company. 8vo. 1s. DodЛley. 1773. This is a very fenfible letter, from which, however, little is to be collected beyond a reprefentation of the bad political conftitution of the Eaft India company; bad in its original formation as a company of private traders, and much worse now, confidering the great extent of fovereign power acquired in their remote fettlements. The nominal power, indeed, refides at home with the directors and proprietors, where all is confufion and difcord; but the real power remaias in India, where it is moft rapaciously and cruelly exercifed by the deputies, or fervants of the company. How the whole fyftem can be better regulated, the Writer promifes to confider, if the continuation of his correfpondence is likely to prove beneficial to the Public. Art. Art. 30. Lord Clive's Speech in the Houfe of Commons, 30th March 1772, on the Motion made for Leave to bring in a Bill for the better Regulation of the Affairs of the Eaft India Company, and of their Servants in India, &c. 4to. I S. Walter. 1773. The affembly, before whom this exculpatory oration was delivered, were the proper judges of it in their legillative capacity; but when it was laid before the public, every individual acquired a right to form his own fentiments on the merits of the cafe, fo far as they come within his knowledge. This knowledge, indeed, will be very limited in general, until a fufficiency of collateral evidences are exhibited. Meanwhile it may be collected in general from this speech, that our newly-acquired Indian dominion has, by all parties, Lord Clive excepted, been treated (to adopt his Lordship's words, P. 57) rather as a South-Sea bubble, than as any thing folid and fubftantial: they thought of nothing but the prefent time, regardless of the future; they faid, let us get what we can to-day, let the morrow take care for itself; they thought of nothing but the immediate divifion of the loaves and fishes.' Now, indeed, legiflative attention is turned to gathering up the fragments that remain. But though retrofpection feems intended, reflitution is not thought of, and is fatally rendered impracticable. A plunders B abroad, C thinks it may be worth while to call him to account at home, without inquiring after the fufferer; while bystanders applaud the juice of the proceedings-it was easy to fee from the beginning what the late mighty bustle would end in! GEOGRAPHY. Art. 31. A new Introduction to the Knowledge and Ufe of Maps; rendered easy and familiar to any Capacity. Teaching those who are totally unacquainted with Maps and Geography, an ample Knowledge of both in a few Hours; without the Affiftance of a Mafter. To which is added, a clear, concife, and philofophic Explanation of that fine Effect of Nature in the Flux and Reflux of the Sea, Trade Winds, Longitude and Latitude, Magnetic Needle, Atmosphere, &c. With most of the Phenomena of the heavenly Bodies, as they appear in different Countries. Rendered facile without the Difficulties of mathematical Learning. Intended as a rational Entertainment and Improvement for young Gentlemen and Ladies in general. Illustrated with accurate Maps and Plates, and alfo Notes, philofophical, geographical, and astronomical. 12mo. 35. Crowder, &c. 1773. The above long bill of fare releases the Reviewers from the neceffity of fpecifying particularly the contents of this little volume; the defign of which is, indeed, a very good one: for, as the Writer obferves, maps, though very common, are frequently but little underftood. His view is to acquaint the reader fully with their intention, and in an easy manner to render them ufeful and agreeable; and it must be confeffed that the materials which are here thrown together may be very ferviceable to perfons who are but little acquainted with geography. But the compiler appears not to poffefs any confiderable fkill in language and compofition, which is a great difadvantage to his performance. The fection which treats of the Tropics and Equator, begins in this manner: What we mean by the Tropics, are those which inhabit that part of the earth, which is fituated 23 degrees on either the North or South fide the Equator, or middle of the world.' We may give the Writer credit for this paffage, as the effect of his own ingenuity; for we fuppofe no geographer before ever gave fuch a definition of the Tropics. In his defcription of England we are told, There are also several capital rivers, which take their rife in Staffordshire and Yorkshire; thofe rivers all unite together in one, and is called, The Humber, &c." In another place, fpeaking of the Meridian, it is faid, This fcience would be rendered much easier, was all Geographers to agree and fix upon one general Meridian, &c.' In his general account of different countries, we read concerning Terra Firma: The religion of the nation is idolatry, and the government, in a great mealure, Subject to the King of Spain.' And again, fpeaking of Ethiopia, it is added, The government is fubject to an Emperor, who is called Prefter John. We apprehend there is fome mistake of the printer in the following paffage: You will fee by the map of Europe, that Prague and Bohemia, in Germany, are near 15 degrees eastward of London; it must be remembered that 15 degrees is equal to one hour in time; therefore Prague, Bohemia, and all Germany, will have the fun in their meridian (which will be noon) four hours before us.' Notwithstanding thefe and other faults and inaccuracies, the book may be perufed with advantage by thofe for whom it is deigned. The account which we have here of the longitude and latitude, and of time pieces, is eafy and agrecable; the explications of the nature and different parts of maps, together with the general view of the earth and its different countries, are, in general, perfpicuous and useful; the chapter on the tides is borrowed from ir Ifaac Newton; to which are added fome fections on the Atmosphere, the Magnet, the depths of the Sea, &c. NOVEL S. Art. 32. The Self Deceived; or, the Hiftory of Lord Byron. 12m0. 2 Vols. 5 s. Noble. 1773. A tender epistolary tale, though written by a bloody-minded Author, who before he renders his hero happy in a fecond marriage, makes him put his first wife, with her gallant, to the fword; he then brings a furious ravisher to deftroy the lover of his fecond fpoufe, in order to leave the coat clear for him; and finally difmifies the faid ravifher with a stump arm. A novelift may kill and maim as many of his perfonages as he chufes, upon paper, with im punity; but the names of his heroes ought to be as fictitious as their adventures; without endeavouring to enfnare the public attention by undue liberties of appellation. Art. 33. The History of Lord Aimworth and the Honourable Charles Hartford, Efq; in a Series of Letters. 12mo. 3 Vols. 9 s. Kofon. 1773. All improbability and abfurdity! Art. Art. 34. Woodbury; or, the Memoirs of William Marchmont, Efq; and Mifs Walbrook. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. Bell. 1773. Surely the youthful part of the fair fex have as keen a relish for novels, as they have for green apples, green gooseberries, or other fuch kind of crude trash, otherwise it would not be found worth while to cultivate thefe literary weeds, which fpring up, fo plenteously, every month, even under the fcythe of criticifm! If fuch is the cafe, the ladies must be gratified; but we would advise them to be leaft free with thofe that are of a pernicious tendency. As to the above-mentioned performance, though fomewhat infipid, it is, at leaft, innocent. Art. 35. The Sentimental Spy. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. 1773. Lowndes. Contains the adventures of a footman; and it is not improbable that a footman is the Author. Art. 36. Memoirs of the celebrated Mifs Ann Cy; containing a fuccinct Narrative of the most remarkable Incidents of that Lady's Life; with many curious Anecdotes, never before made public. 12mo. 2 Vols. 56. Rofon. 1773. It would have been ftrange if a character fo notorious as that which is here celebrated, had efcaped the vigilance of our dirty fabricators of fcandalous memoirs. As to the veracity of the adventures here incoherently jumbled together, we can only fay that there was foundation to build upon, and that the ructure is worthy of the architect. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 37. A Letter to Eg, occafioned by a late Mifrepresentation of the Circumstances of a Proficution commmenced A. D. 1763, by the Proctors of the University of Oxford, against W. C, B. A. Fellow of All-Souls College: With brief Reflections on academical Difcipline. By Richard Scrope, D. D. late Fellow of Magdalen College in Oxford. 4to. I S. Salisbury, printed; London, fold by T. Payne. 1773. The prefervation of order, and for this purpofe the neceffity of difcipline, in our feats of learning, mut be acknowledged by all thinking perfons to be of great importance to their honour and fucdels; but it is pity that affairs of the nature mentioned in this pamphlet, especially after they have been for fome years legally determined, fhould be revived. It appears that Mr. C, whoever he is, was at length compelled to answer, and to fubmit to the punishment which the ftatutes inflict; after which, one would naturally fuppofe, altercations fhould have ceafed. Mr. Scrope, however, appears, from his own account, to have reafon to complain, that the tranfactions referred to have been recently reprefented to his great difadvantage; and therefore, after a private letter had failed of any erect, he reforted to a public vindication of his conduct. He declares, that he wishes to fpeak, as well as think, candidly of those, whose behaviour towards him, he has found himself obliged This lady is equally celebrated for her finging and her amours. REV. May 1773 Ff to |