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Art. 12. A fort View of the Families of the Scottish Nobility; their Titles, Marriages, fue, Defcents; the Pofts of Honour and Profit they hold in the Government; their Arms, Mottos, and chief Seats. To which are added, a List of all thofe Peers who have forved in Parliament fince the Union; a Lift of all those who have been made Knights of the Order of the Thifle; an Account of that Order; an Account of the antient Parliament of Scotland; of the Regalia, &c. of that Kingdom; a List of the principal Officers of State in Scotland; a general Scheme of Precedence, Ec. and an Index of the Peers of Scotland, specifying the time of their respective Creations, and Summers to Parliament; the Titles of their eldest Sons, &c. By Mr. Salmon. 12mo. 3s. Owen.

2. A bort View of the Families of the prefent Irish Nobility; their Marriages, fue, Defcents, and immediate Ancestors; the Pafis of Honour and Profit they hold in the Government; their Arms, Mottos, and chief Seats. With an Index, fpecifying the Time of their respective Creations, and Summons to Parliament; their Rank, Precedence, &c. By Mr. Salmon, 12mo. 3s. Owen.

These two volumes, together with the frond edition, just published, of A fort View of the English Nobility, by the fame author, [the first edition of which, was mentioned in our Review, Vol. IV. P. 473] are intended, it feems, to exhibit a complete, though hort, view of the whole Peerage of Great Britain and Ireland, as they stand at prefent.-Such readers as defire to fee a full account of each noble family, down from their original, to the prefent time, will be most likely to meet with fatisfaction, by confulting Collins's Pear age of England, Lotge's Peerage of Ireland, and Crawford's Peerage of Scotland, fo far as it goes, with the addition of the Scotch Compen tum, for later times. But if only a general account be wanted, together with a fomewhat more particular one, of the prefent fate of each family; Mr. Salmon's three volumes may cient for that purpole.

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Art. 13. The Dramatic Works of Mr. Philip Malfinger, compleat. Revijed, corrected, and all the various editions collated, by Mr. Coxeter. With Notes critical and explanatory, by the Editor, &c. 8vo. 4 vols. Il. 4s. Dell.

That many of our readers are ignorant, who or what this Maffinger was, is a circumftance which we may fately take for granted; and which, too, fuperfedes the neceffity of our faying much more concerning either the post or his works. Had he poffeffed more merit, he had been better known Suffice it therefore, if we only add, that he was cotemporary with, or rather fomewhat later than Shakespear; that he wrote many plays, long fince forgotten *; and

We must however except a Comedy, entitled, Ana Way to pay old Debes 5 which has been revived by Mr. Carrick: whofe merit gives portance to every thing in which he thinks fit to engg¤• that

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that this edition of his works, is even unworthy the little repute in which Maflinger may be ftill held, by fome readers.

Art. 14. The Abecedarian, or Philofophic Comment upon the English Alphabet. Setting forth the Abfurdities in the prefent Custom of Spelling, the Superfluity of Letters in Words, and the great Confufion that their ill Names, and double Meanings are of to all Learners. With modeft Propofals for a Reformation of the Alphabet, adapting Special Characters for that Purpose, as being the only Means practicable whereby to render the fame diftinet, uniform, and univerfal. Alfo, a Word to the Reader, fhewing the Indignity of ill Habits in Lecturers, pointing out to them the Beauties and Excellency of graceful and fine Reading. Likewife a Syllableium, or Univerfal Reading Table, for Beginners, calculated after the prefent Ufe, for the Way of all Schools throughout the kingdom. Together with a Difcourfe on the Word, or A-Tau, tetragrammatical, preceding thofe Tables. By John Yeomans, School-mafter in Five-FieldsRow, Chelfea. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Coote.

The author of this work acquaints us, that he is a schoolmafter, at Chellea. If he has published this piece, however, with intent to add to the number of his pupils, we wish he may not be disappointed. But men are not always to be known by their writings. Our author may (for ought that we know to the 'contrary, except from his book) be a very good practical school-mafter, however ridiculous the figure he makes in his theoretical project may seem.

But to give our Readers fome idea of the defign and execution of this very extraordinary work-It is a fcheme to new model, or rather to form entirely anew, the English language: our author's capacity for which great undertaking, he himself affures us of, in the following terms.

The knowlege of founds have been my conftant diligence for feveral years, both at home and in a voyage to the Levant: and I had an uncommon talent to that art; inafmuch as when any one fpoke, my ear ran ftraitway through every accent and fyllable of their tongue; always liftening to Nature's voice in the brute creation, copying the feathered fongfters artlefs notes, the travellies of a drum,, the key of a bell, and even the leaft nick that chafed ' a found; and I have often thought, that had I lived in the days of 'old, when the tools of talk were but jejunely difcovered, in the time of our unbegotten fire, or high-top Babel's prepofterous anarchy, I fhould have made a very confiderable progrefs, both in in⚫ venting the first, and alfo in regulating the later confounded idiom. I am not a foreigner to the prefent manner of founding our letters, ⚫ and the uncertain rules of profody; for I could much facilitate the • art of reading and fpelling, from the judgment I have in the total defects of it, and that with much lefs pains and time (and with ⚫ fewer Nota Benes) than has been expended heretofore: but it too ⚫ much

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much chequers my inclination to think of mending an old thing, when I have fo much the fcientient power to make it anew.'

As to the fcheme or plan itself, it is preceded by a number of apologies We have first a preface, which, he tells us, is alfo a dedication: after this he gives us, what he calls, an Exhibit (a dedication too): then follows, in admirable order, the introduction, &c. Of the Exhibit the above-quoted paflage is a fpecimen. He bespeaks alfo the candour and attention of the reader, in the preface, in the following elegant and florid terms.

I hope, propitious reader, hat you will not overlook this little book with a curfory or flight attention; neither, as ṛ man beholds 'b's natura' face in a glf, that is, when you have read it over, not to lay it down, fhake the head, and then go away, and straight forget what manner of thing it was; or just as beauteous flowers, whofe fenfual effence, whofe roiy teams, lie capfulate and hid, ere-while the radiant day freaks in upon its nature, exfoliates the pleafing portrait, and fheds its fweetnets in the perfect air,'

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In the introduction we learn, that the world is no longer to bear the hard talk of learning the English language, fince our author has fo perfectly established it, that he dare prophetic fay, that it will be a pure and unalterable ftandard to all fucceeding generations, " even to the end of the world,'

By our author's method alfo, we are told, that not only foreigners will be enabled to learn the English tongue, with fpeed and facility; but that we shall alfo, be thereby equally enabled, with the fame cale and certainty, to learn every foreign language. As the work itself is but of a finall price, we fhall not injure the proprietor fo much, as to copy any effential part of his method: but, if any farther proof be wanting of our author's capacity for the tafk he has undertaken, perufe, reader, what he has to fay on the nature of words in the abstract.

Words are not, as fome grofs cars interpret, only a grinding or chafeing of found of types and letters, ftriking the outer ear by the operation of the breath or fpirit; but they are very man or mono, principle and very felf, everlasting, of infinite, dreadunited meaning, the exprefs difpofition of his nature in the heart, • and not in the inked or graven figu. They are fpirit, and they are life; they are death, and they are deftruction: and their types are purely banners to avocate and fummon the mind back to itself, when stolen or frayed away, and to regulate the fenfes in wildom, truth, and holinefs. The word is very God and very Devil, good and evil, virtue and vice; and letters are as hadows to reflect the life. Herewith bless we God, and therewith curse we men, who are formed after the fimilitude of God. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God, &c. We have only ufe for letters now to help and comfort us in this mortal state; for in the immortal, every good man fhall be able to will at will, felf-quicken, felf-move, and alfo felf-comfort; always pure, always in order; at once hearing the moit pleafant and fweeteft love-chord harmony; tafting without forfeit ambrofia, and the all that is good, and delicious. Sufceptible of inbred divi

nity!

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nity! fmelling the most fenfible perfumes; knowing all things, ⚫ intuitive of all things, and all in all with God himself. The plain fignification of word, verd, or green, or verb, is perennial or durableness; being of virtue or worth-ue, or worthe, of the family of vir's and viri's, man's name or the NAM; and nothing but what is virgin virtuous can be manly, or is worthy of that venerable and divine appellation; but differently, is vicious, unnatural, unworthy, ungodly. None, for this caufe, thould open their lips unwordily; foramuch as the very word itfelf is wordly or avarde. And the holy fcripture faith exactly to this effect: Let all who name the name of Chrift depart from iniquity. Nevertheless, should there be no found heard at all from the lips, or corporeal tongue, ⚫ or man's own felf be apprehensive by letters, yet in fecret whisperings the heart pronounces, and the will and fpirit do utter within, amazing languages.'

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Amazing language, indeed! What a will or fpirit that must be

which dictated fuch to our author!

The reader will, doubtlefs, by this time, think we have displayed very fufpicious marks of our author's being non compos; and therefore very incapable to draw up the best plan, that ever was, or ever can be projected, for the improvement and establishment of the English language. According to his own request, therefore, and on his Own terin we confign bim and his proposals to be cancelled, and his name and ben ur to be buried in the duft. K-n-k

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Art. 15. A Scheme for speedily raising a Sum of Money fufficient to defray the Expence of building a Stone Bridge at Black Friers; humbly offered to the Confideration of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, the worshipful the Aldermen, and the Inhabitants of the City of London. With fome Obfervations on Mr. Whif ton's Scheme, foewing, that the Adoption thereof will be a great Burthen to the Citizens. To which is added, a Poftfcript, containing the Propofal of a Common Council-man lately deceafed, for raifing the Sum wanted, by an eafy and voluntary Subfcription of the Mayor, Aldermen, Clergy, Gentry, and Inhabitants of London. By a Liveryman. 8vo. 1s. Pottinger.

POLITICAL.

Art. 16. A Defence of the Letter from the Dutchess of Mb in the Shades, to the Great Man. In Anfwer to the Monitor's two Papers of the 23d and 30th of June, 1759. 8vo. Is. Hooper.

In the first article of our Catalogue for June laft, we cenfured this writer's former production, which likewife fell under the yet more fevere cenfure of the Monitor: who warmly undertook the vindication of our refent miniftry and meafures, against the invidious attacks of this malignant perfonator of a departed old woman. For us, we fhall neither trouble ourfelve or our readers with the parti

culars

culars of this conteft, being fully fatisfied that the wheels of the British administration will continue to run in the tract that is marked out for them, unless interrupted by matters of more confequence than a few factious pamphlet, the fpawn of perfonal malice, or private

intereft,

POETICA L.

Art. 17. Age, an Effay, addreffed to Richard Tyrrell, Efq; Fol. 1s. Cooper.

A moderately poetical, but very paraphraftical, verfification of the 12th chapter of Ecclefiaftes, or rather of its first feven verfes; which, in the language of metaphor, and with fome air even of an Enigma, affectingly pourtray all the bodily decays, all the depre dations of time on the mortal part of man The Paraphrafer is not without a poetical ear in general, though his feeble verfe limps too often, like his fubject indeed, if that confideration may jullify or excuse it, viz.

• Or merited disease bring to the tomb-
Sedate experience denies to fpread..

But for poetry itself, except what neceffarily refults from the pathetic and plaintive original, he leans very plainly and frequently on Pope, to whom he exprefsly refers but once. By the laft diftich of the following citation from this paraphrafe, it fhould have been wrote while Sir Ifaac Newton lived, which being many years fince, must make the Paraphraft, if now living, an old man. This might naturally difpofe him to the fubject, while it apologizes for his languid execution of it; as he obferves the decay of the faculties, correfponding with that of their organs, to be the ordinary confequence of age. Perception's glimm'ring beam no longer dart

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Rapid ideas to th' unconfcious heart,

Imagination's wings fhall ceafe to fly,
Its bafelefs fabrics drop, its phantoms die,
Scarce the lyre vibrate to the languid lay,
And mem'rys pledded pages melt away:
See genius drooping, fcience charm no more,
And feeble arts their former ftrength deplore.
• O'er nobleft wifdom dotage fhall prevail,
• And fecond infancy the man afl:.1.

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Pointless fee Marlbro's fword, Hibernia's wit,
Sunk to a Strulbrug, S-m-rs, once a P--t:
Age fhall bid all our brightest honors fly,

And dim a Newton's, as a Peafant's eye.

This may ferve at the fame time, as a proper fpecimen of our paraphrafer's ftile and verfification: but we confefs we are at a loss to difcover from the fubject itself, or from the author's manner of treating it, any propriety in its being addreffed to the very gallant Richard Tyrrel, Efq; lately commander of the Buckingham, and at prefent of the Foudroyant. His moral purpose is evident enough, both from the fubject and tenour of the poem; but to make the addrefs of

it

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