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therein, let their quotations from the log-board, their allowance for variation, leeway, currents, fwells, indraughts, &c. nay, even their computations be compared; and from that comparifon, by agreement of perfons appointed, let fuch a latitude and longitude, as fhall feen moft reafonable, be fixed for the fhip's place, at that time, and entered in a book kept for that purpofe (which might be calied, not the captains, lieutenants, . but the fhips journal), with the particulars of all the allow ances made in the calculation thereof, and the most material oc. currences; efpecially obfervations of the variation, made as often as may be, particularly near or upon the fhore; of the latitudes, ⚫ and longitudes of places, made alfo on fhore; and of the direction and velocity of currents, &c.

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When a fhip comes into po.t, let the difference of longitule between the place failed from, and the port arrived at, according to every particular man's account, as well as by the thip's journal, be entered therein.

Where feveral fhips fail together, fuppofe the admiral, or commodore, was to fummon all the captains as often as weather, &c. will permit, and in this meeting that all the particular thips journals were produced and compared; in order therefrom, to form a fleet's journal, in the fame minner as before

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Suppofe again, that thefe fhips and fleets journals, and all other accounts relating to this fubject that fhould come to hand by this, or any other more convenient and practicable method that may be hit upon, were examined at proper periods, by perfons appointed for that purpofe; might not more accurate charts be made from them, than any extant? might not the variation, currents, &c. be fo far accounted for in most parts of the world, as to render the bufinefs of navigation much lefs uncertain and hazardous than at prefent; and would not fuch a knowledge of the variation as has been obferved before, even practically deter'mine the longitude at sea ?'

We cannot conclude this article, without wishing that the ingenious Mr. Mountaine (the other gentleman, Mr. Dodfon, being fince dead), may meet with better fuccefs in this edition, than in the laft; as it will not only be an encouragement to learning and affiduity, prove that our mariners know how to value a ufeful invention.

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Art.

B

4. The genuine Remains in Verfe and Profe, of Mr Samuel Butler, Author of Hudibras. Published from the original Manufcripts, formerly in the poffeffion of William Longueville, Efq; With Notes by R. Thyer, Keeper of the Public Library at Manchefter. 8vo. 2 vols. 10s. Tonion.

There is no doubt but the pieces here published, are the authentic productions of the fame pen to which we owe the celebrated riulibras. Mr. Thyer has fufficiently eftablished this point, both in his propofal for printing these pieces by fubfcription, and in his preface to the prefent edition.

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172

We have frequently feen a little volume, of which feveral editions have been printed, entitled, The Pofthumous Works of Mr. Samuel Butler. But most of the pieces contained in that collection, we have reafon to conclude, were not of Mr. Butler's writing; and accordingly, very few of them are to be found in Mr. Thyer's edition. The firit of thefe volumes, confifts chiefly of poetical pieces; in most of which, this author's peculiar burlefque humour, is a fuficient proof, were fuch evidence wanting, of their authenticity. Some of them however, are in fuch miferable doggrel, and on the whole, fuch worthle's productions, that it is to be feared the author's fame will be no gainer by their public appearance. It has been well faid, that

Peets lefe blf the praife they would have got,

Were it but known what they dijereet y blet.

He therefore, who publishes a deceafed author's blotted papers, or which may be much the fame thing, fuch writings as he himself never thought proper to fubmit to public infpection, may occafion irreparable injury to that author's memory. Mr. Thyer indeed, tells us, that fome of thele remains were finished with the utmost accuracy, and fairly tranfcribed for the prefs: pity that none but fuch had been printed; for, we fear, they are highly difgraced by keeping bad company.

In tru h, even in his admired Hudibras, the author, frequently jangles his poetical bells, in a firange difcordant manner: though we do not remember that he has any where, in that poem, finned fo grievously againit both rhime and metre, and we may add, even grammar, as in fome of thefe pieces. In fhort he feems, as his learned editor himself hints, to have been often guilty of what he has jocularly charged upon others, where he fays,

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- Those who write in rhime ftill make

The one verfe for the other's fake;

For one for fenfe, and one for rhyme,

I think's fufcient at one time.

HUD.

The profe pieces however, of which the fecond volume chiefly confifts, and which are intitled characters *, are more worthy of their author, and of the public. For though there is a tiresome fameness in the manner of drawing his characters, yet they are in general nervoufy and frikingly expreffed, and fhew the writer's great acquaintance both with men and books †. In a word, with all his faults, he was a true genius: and had he lived and wrote in these mere polifhed times, in which accuracy of compofition, and neatness of expreffion are more attended to than they were in Buder's days, his droli humour, his extenfive reading, and his uncommon fpirit, would doubtless have rendered him the delight and ornament of

the age.

* The writing of Characters, as Mr. Thyer obferves, was a fpecies of wit, much in fashion in the beginning of the laft century.

At the end of the fecond volume, are about fiity pages of Thoughts upon vari ous Subj.s; mot of which contain very fenfible and friking obfervations on many topics. Some of thefe are illuftrated by the editor's notes; of which, a competent number are difperfed through the whole of thefe remains.

Art.

Art. 5. A Catalogue of the Harleian Collection of Manufcripts, purchased by Authority of Parliament, for the uje of the Public; and preferved in the British Museum. Published by Order of the Truflees. Folio. 2 vol. 21. 10s. in fheets. Davis and Reymers.

This prodigious Catalogue was drawn up, as the prefixed advertifement informs us, at different times, and by diffrent perfons. It was begun in 1708, by Mr. Wanley, Librarian to Robert and Edward, fucceffively Earls of Oxford; and it appears from several entries in various parts of his manufcript work, that he was employed in this laborious compofition till his death, in 1726. About the year 1733, the learned Mr. Cafley, keeper of the Cottonian library took up this useful work, where Mr. Wanley left off; and he laboured in this mine of literary curiofities for the space of three years. In June 1741, died Edward Earl of Oxford, the great enlarger of this collection; and foon after, his Lordship's Truitees ordered the catalogue to be taken up a third time, by Mr. Hooker, the prefent deputy-keeper of the records in the tower; who, in less than two years compleated it as far as N° 7355: and what remained has been lately added by the librarians belonging to this particular department of the British Mufeum. Here, then, at a vaft expence of time and toil, is compleated, a kind of Review Catalogue, or what the French call a Catalogue Rajonné, of SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED and EIGHTEEN manufcripts, relating chiefly to the history and antiquities of Great Britain. Many of them are indeed of a private nature, and of no value to the public; others are of a religious kind; not a few relate to heraldry; and fome are of the poetical claís: but Envy herself must own, that amidst fuch a prodigious mais of writings, a great number of really curious and truly important papers are here treasured up.-Such as were, indeed, worthy the noble collectors, and deferving the munificence of a parliamentary purchase. These manufcripts are now become the property of the public, and are always ready for any perfon's infpection, conformably to the rules and regulations lately published: See Review for February last, p. 187. We could with pleasure, have entered on a more particular account of this noble catalogue; but are powerfully withheld, by a circumftance that will as effectually deter moft others, from any deep research into these volumes: we mean, the want of an Index. Without this affiftance, the Catalogue is of little ufe, as a perfon might hunt in vain, for any particular manufcript, through thefe two large volumes, perhaps as long as the learned compilers were in compleating their arduous taik. Almoft equally terrifying too, would be that of the Reviewer, who fhould be hardy enough to undertake the perufal of the whole: but that, we are perfuaded, none of our readers are fo unreasonable as to expect; especially, while we are deftitute of the neceffary clue, to guide us to what is most worthy their notice. This material deficiency, however, we have the pleasure to inform the public, will be fupplied, as we learn from the advertisement prefixed to the first volume of this catalogue; and which we have already quoted. The words of the advertise

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ment are thefe: It were to be wished that he prefent publication, could have been accompanied by an index; but as that will neceffarily require a confiderable time, the Trustees judged it proper, f not to deprive the public of fo ufeful and defirable a work, until the index could be compiled; which, together with a preface, will ⚫ be printed with all convenient expedition. And when it appears, our readers may expect to be further informed concerning the Harleian manufcripts.

Art. 6. The Hiftory of the Spanish Armada, which had been preparing three Years for the Invasion and Conquest of England, and which, in the Year 1588, came upon the Englifb Coaft to effect it. Containing the trueft and maft particular LISTS ever yet published, of its Ships, Land Forces, Marinors, Guns, &c. and alfo of the Land Forces raifed, as well as the Ships fitted out by Queen Elizabeth, &c.-Concluding, with a fummary Account of the Defeat of that mighty Armament, &c. &c. To which is prefixed a Map of the Beacons then erected in Kent, 4to. 2s. 6d.-Dodsley.

Though the circumstances of the ever memorable Spanish Invafion, are fully narrated by the English hiftorians, yet the author of this collection infits that the be of their accounts are chargeable with errors and omiffions, which are corrected and fupplied in this traft: the principal defign of which is to fhew; 1. The difpofition of the people of England, in that alarming crifis. I. The meafu es that were concerted for the defence of the realm. II. The fpirit and vigor to afenably exerted by the loyal nobility, gentry, and commonly, for patting thefe meafures in execution; and the fuccess with which it was intended.'- As to the Lifts, which conftitute the chief merit of this publication, they seem to be very ful, and probably they are correct.

Art. 7. The Invasion, a Farce. 8vo. 1s. Davis and Reymers,

Ridicules the fear of an invafion (of late fo prevalent in this country), with foine pleafintry. As a farce, it might, with a little improvement, be rendered fit for the finge: but having made its appearance in print, it is now too late for the author to think of geting it acted, although he feems, by his preface not to have given over all hopes of that kind.

Art. 8. A ferfonable Antidote against the Poison of popular Genfare, being the fubftance of a Letter from a noble Lord to a Member of Parliament, relative to the Cafe of a certain Right Honourable General. 8vo. 6d. Burd.

A weak atttempt to apologize for the fuppofed misbehaviour of the General, in the day of action. It does not become us to anticipate the opinion of the pubic in an affair which will thortly be determine ) in a courge of legal examination All that we can fay at pre

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fent, is, that the General's apologift is a very incompetent advoc te, and
that his arguments betray the caufe he means to defend.
The prin-
cipal circumstance he urges in excufe of the General is, that the
difagreement between and the Commander in Chief, may have
induced the latter to have offered him unmerited infult; and that a
juft fenfe of the dignity of the nation, may have been the occafion
of the former's forbearing to do, what, in his opinion, was detri-
mental to it.

This, in the judgment of every man of common fense, must appear to be a very forry justification. We all know that an inferior officer has no right to forbear doing, what he is ordered to perform. We all know, lisewife, that the hour of action is not a time to affert the dignity of the nation, against any one--but the Enemy.

R--d Art. 9. The Conduct of a noble Lord fcrutinized. By a Volunteer, who was near his Perfon from the 28th of July, to the 2d of Augufl, 1759. 8vo. 1s. Fuller.

The intent on of this pamphlet, is directly contrary to that of the foregoing one. As that justifies, this arraigns, the conduct of the noble Commander It must be allowed, however, that the accufer is ftill more impotent than the vindicator. The charge against the General, is flated without any perfpicuity, or precifion: the writer's reafoning on the fuppofed facts is without force, and his file is with

out energy.

Inflances of public mifconduct in eminent perfonages, always afford room for numerous publications, both for and against the delinquents and in fuch cafes, they who appear earlicit, are fometimes leaft to be depended on. However, the pamphlet before us is fo incoherent, and inconclufive, that it can occafion no prepoffeffion, either in favour, or to the prejudice of the commander. it is a harmless compofition, which will neither provoke fpleen, nor raife indignation. R-d

Art. 10. A Letter to a late noble Commander of the British Forces in Germany. 8vo. Is. Griffiths.

Pathetically expoftulates with the late Commander of our Forces in Germany, on his behaviour at the glorious battle of Thornhaufn, fought on the 1ft of Auguft laft. But though the language of this pamphlet is fpirited, there is no fcurrility in it: though the author is keen, he is candid; and writes like a gentleman. Nor does his pamphlet confift entirely of declamation; for, en pajjant, he takes proper notice of, and thoroughly refutes, certain lame apologies which have appeared in the unfortunate Commander's defence.

Art. 11. New Military Inftructions for the Militia. Containing, 1. Directions for the Officer and Soldier. 2. The new Manual Exercife, with an Explanation of every Motion. 3. Platoon Exercife with Evolutions. 8vo. 6d. Fuller.

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