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that this edition of his works, is even unworthy the little repute in which Maffinger may be still 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 modest Proposals for a Reformation of the Alphabet, adapting Special Characters for that Purpose, as being the only Means practicable whereby to render the fame diftinct, 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 fchoolmafter, at Chelsea. 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 feem.

But to give our Readers fome idea of the defign and execution of this very extraordinary work-It is a scheme 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.

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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; inaimuch as when any one fpoke, my ear ran ftraitway through every accent and syllable 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 discovered, in the ⚫ time of our unbegotten fire, or high-top Babel's prepofterous anarchy, I should have made a very confiderable progrefs, both in inventing 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 Scientient power to make it anew.'

As to the scheme 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 befpeaks alfo the candour and attention of the reader, in the preface, in the following elegant and florid terms.

I hope, propitious reader, that you will not overlook this little book with a cursory or flight attention; neither, as a man beholds •his natural face in a glofs, that is, when you have read it over, not to lay it down, shake the head, and then go away, and straight forget what manner of thing it was; or just as beauteous flowers, whofe fenfual effences, whofe rofy fteams, lie capfulate and hid, ere-while the radiant day freaks in upon its nature, exfoliates the pleafing portrait, and sheds its sweetness in the perfect air.'

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In the introduction we learn, that the world is no longer to bear the hard task 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 standard 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 speed and facility; but that we shall alfo, be thereby equally enabled, with the fame eafe and certainty, to learn every foreign language. As the work itself is but of a small 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 task he has undertaken, perufe, reader, what he has to fay on the nature of words in the abstract.

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Words are not, as fome grofs ears 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, everlafting, of infinite, dreadunited meaning, the exprefs difpofition of his nature in the heart, and not in the inked or graven fign. 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 ftrayed away, and to regulate the senses in wisdom, truth, and holinefs. The word is very God and very Devil, good and evil, virtue and vice; and letters are as fhadows to reflect the life. Herewith blefs we God, and therewith curfe we men, who • are formed after the fimilitude of God. In the beginning was the sword, 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 ftate; for in the immortal, every good man shall be able to will at will, felf-quicken, felf-move, and alfo felf-comfort; always pure, always in order; at once hearing the most pleasant and fweeteft love-chord harmony; tafting without furfeit ambrofia, and the all that is good, and delicious. Sufceptible of inbred divi

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⚫nity!

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nity fmelling the moft 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 vene⚫rable and divine appellation; but differently, is vicious, unnatural, unworthy, ungodly. None, for this caufe, fhould open their lips unwordily; forafmuch as the very word itself is worthy or worde. 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 apprehenfive by letters, yet in fecret whisperings the heart pronounces, and the will and fpirit do utter within, amazing languages.'

Amazing language, indeed! What a will or spirit that must be which dictated fuch to our author!

The reader will, doubtless, 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 Engfish language. According to his own request, therefore, and on his own terms, we confign him and his proposals to be cancelled, and his name and honour to be buried in the duft.

Art. 15. A Scheme for fpeedily 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. Whiston's Scheme, fhewing, 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,

POLITICA L.

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Art. 16. A Defence of the Letter from the Dutchess of Min 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 last, 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 prefent miniftry and measures, against the invidious attacks of this malignant perfonator of a departed old woman. For PS, we shall neither trouble ourselves or our readers with the parti

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culars of this conteft, being fully fatisfied that the wheels of the Britifh 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 pamphlets, the fpawn of perfonal malice, or private intereft.

POETICAL.

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

A moderately poetical, but very paraphrafical, verfification of the 12th chapter of Ecclefiaftes, or rather of its first feven verses; which, in the language of metaphor, and with fome air even of an Enigma, affectingly pourtray' all the bodily decays, all the depredations 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 juftify or excufe it, viz.

• Or merited disease bring to the tomb

• Sedate experience denies to spread.

But for poetry itfelf, 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, muft make the Paraphraft, if now living, an old man. This might naturally dipofe aim 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 Rapid ideas to th' unconscious heart,

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Imagination's wings fhall cease to fly,

Its bafelefs fabrics drop, its phantoms die,
• Scarce the lyre vibrate to the languid lay,
• And mem'rys plodded 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 affail.

• 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,

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And dim a Newton's, as a Peasant'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 lofs 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 purpofe is evident enough, both from the subject and tenour of the poem; but to make the address of

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it to Capt. Tyrrel confiftent, or even colourable, there fhould have been one generous effort at least, on his intrepid behaviour in the Weft-Indies, which must have warmed even the frozen age of poetic genius, where there had been any. The author might have juftly affirmed, that his patron preferred being nobly prodigal of his life and ftrength in the fervice, and for the honour, of his country, to a daftardly expectation of having them gradually fapped by the flow approaches of time and weaknefs. But as nothing like a tranfition of this fort, is hinted throughout the effay, we can only afk, What had the brave and manly Tyrrel to do with Age, or decrepit age with Tyrrel? It was not thus the poet, whom the prefent writer habitually regards, addreffed any one of his ethic epiftles to any of his noble friends. The fubject had conftantly fome evident relation to their characters; yet this author's conclufion of his piece, feems intended for a resemblance of Pope's manner, of which it is a very humble and languid imitation.

Art. 18. The Art of preferving. A Poem. Humbly infcribed to the Confectioner in Chief of the B--t-fh C-v-l--y. fol. Is. Burd.

This is a tragi-comic piece, which, in the firft part, fomewhat wittily, but rather indecently, ridicules a late Commander in Germany, for a fuppofed failure in duty. Towards the latter end, the Mufe puts on the bufkin, in which the ftruts but awkwardly.

Art. 19. ATragi-comic Dialogue, between the Ghost of an Al and the Subftance of a Gl; fhewing the difference between a Chop and a Pop. By an Antigallican. 4to. 6. A Moore, near St. Paul's.

Introduces, in an equal and frequently forry doggrel, the ghoft of the late Admiral Byng, to announce to Ld Ge Sle, a fate fimilar to that of him the faid Admiral: the chief difference lying only between fhooting and beheading.

MEDICAL.

Art. 20. The general State of Education in the Univerfities: With a particular View to the philofophic and medical Education: Set forth in an Epistle, infcribed to the Rev. Dr. HALES, Clerk of the Clafet to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, being introductory to Effays on the Blood. By Richard Davies, M. D. late Fellow of Queen's College in Cambridge. 8vo. Is. Cooper.

The Writer of this Epiftle has prudently befpoke the public attention and favour on this occafion, by the very respectable name of the great philofopher and excellent man to whom it is addreffed. Having complained in his Exordium of the public indignities to which the regular profeffion of Medicine is expofed, by the multitude of Quack Advertisements, and even by the royal fanction of fundry

Noftrums

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