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at the fame time call out himself for the exertion of penal laws. against the diffenters!

We have dwelt too long, perhaps, on this article, and therefore fhall take no farther notice of the introduction to this velume, nor of the fevere cudgelling which he bestows on Mr. Soame Jenyns, than just to hint to this doughty champion, that poffibly fome methodist may hereafter remind him, that the articles of the church of England, to which he, no doubt, confcientiously adheres, give fome intimation that the heathen morality, which he so highly extols, is of the nature of fin. H.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For JANUARY, 1778.

POETICAL.

Art. 14. The Saints, a Satire. 4to. 2 S.

T

Bew. 1778..

HE Methoditts are the principal objects of this bitter pers formance; the writer of which appears, indeed, to have been infpired by the most intolerant abhorrence of all fanatacifm: the following picture of a celebrated leader of our modern enthufiafts, may ferve as a fpecimen of his manner:

- Detected Simon !-to juft fcorn confign'd,
Incurable in body as in mind;

By vice, 'ere manhood reach'd its prime decay'd,
Pale, meagre looks prepar'd him for his trade.
In fpoils corporeal, now no more he deals;

For those full many a fleshly thorn he feels.
Sweet Saint! he traffics now in fouls alone;

Long may his power o'er Falsehood's dupes be known!
Fled from the pert chican'ry of the bar,

May no more frauds divulg'd his purpose mar;

But fimony and prieftcraft till his purse,
Who takes advowsons and loft fouls to nurfe!
Not gifted now (as once) to please the fair,
He turns his powers to preaching and to pray'r,
Carries on commerce in a decent way,
And gulls thofe harlots whom he us'd to pay.
Full well he knows the myfl'ries of his art,
That whining cant can win the guilty heart;
That the true teft of doctrines well laid down
Is an affenting groan, and hulf a crown.
That fhallow minds to empty rant incline,
The paffive dupes of fanctify'd defign,

Like fhips unballafted, which chance muft fave,
The fport of ev'ry wind and ev'ry wave.'-

The author is no lefs virulent in his profe notes, which are very

numerous, than in his poetical text.

Art.

Art. 15. The Ciceroniad, a Poem, infcribed to William Earl of Mansfield, with a Dedication to his Lordship. 4to, 2s. Bew.

1777.

We have heard of the Epic Mufe, the Tragic Mufe, the Comic Mufe, the Plaintive Mufe, and the Frisky Mufe; but never, till now, were we made acquainted with the Rolling Mufe. You ftare, gentle Reader; but you fhall, likewise, be introduced to the newly defcended goddess.

'O! Truth, affift me, whilft I roll along

Thy name immortal in no vulgar fong.”—

Long had fierce Difcord fhook the wrangling throng,
Each day more loud the tempeft roll'd along.'-

• Grammar no more the well-turn'd periods roll,
Unclaffic jargon ftupifies each foul.'-

'Tis done-thy influence rushes on my foul,
And, aw'd by thee, my numbers tamely roll.'-

The plan of the Ciceroniad is, briefly, this: Tully is fent from the fhades, to determine the different pretenfions of our bar-orators to the prize allotted to fuperiority of merit in their profeffion. The pleaders, accordingly, affemble, and affert their respective claims;` which gives the poet an opportunity of fketching their characters: and some of them are feverely fatirifed. The palm is beltowed on Lord Mansfield; who, upright judge as he is, it is hoped, will duly weigh the value of this compliment, fhould Du-g or The profecute the author for a libel.

The great mafter of Roman eloquence is chiefly diftinguished from the British orators, by the graceful waving of his hands :

All watch'd each motion of the god-like man,
Who wav'd his hands, and graceful thus began.'

*

Tully wav'd his hands,

While expectation hush'd the lift'ning bands;

All watch'd each motion of the god-like man,

P. 14.

Who war'd his bands, and graceful thus began.'-P. 33. Unfavourable as thefe fpecimens may appear, there are many good verfes interfperfed in this very unequal performance.

Art. 16. Northern Tour; or Poctical Epiftles. 4to. 2s.

Wilkie.

It really gives us pain, where we fee proofs of goodness of heart in a writer, to cenfure his performance with feverity, or to treat his unfortunate efforts with contempt. But, in a work of critical difcrimination, where the PUBLIC depend on the judgment and veracity of the Reporter, TENDERNESS must give way to TRUTH. In the name of truth, then, be it known to this honeft rhyming traveller, that while we applaud his moral reflections and good fentiments, we muft condemn his poetry. For, although he is fometimes not unhappy in his verfification, he is, for the most part, fo piteously profaic, that, indeed, he finks beneath all gravity of condemnation. Yet, as

he

he feems, by his manner of writing, to be a worthy and amiable man, we could not bear to hold his work up to that ridicule with which lefs feeling critics may be tempted to treat it. Art. 17. Poems on various Subjects and Occafions. By Mrs. Savage. Izmo. 2 Vols. 6s. bound. Parker. 1777.

Mrs. Savage affures her readers, that thefe amufements of a leifure hour, are offered to the world, in compliance with real folicitations of her friends.' If the lady's importunate friends were at the expence of the impreffion, the may have no reason to complain,-unless the fhould be diffatisfied with the reception which collections of this kind generally meet with from perfons who, not being friends of the writer, are lefs Jolicitous about the writings: efpecially when nothing is found in them that rifes above mediocrity.

Art. 18. Religion, a Poem. By the Rev. Chriftopher Wells, Curate of St. Olave's, Southwark, and Afternoon-Preacher at

Bermondfey. 40. 15. Bathurst. 1777•

This young writer, more orthodox in divinity than poetry. will do well to confider, attentively, the diflinction which critics make between blank verfe and measured profe.

Art. 19. England's Glory, a Poem to the King. 4to. 2 S. Fielding and Walker.

Advanced from his annual broad fide, on a fingle fheet, to an handfome quarto of thirty eight pages, we did not, at first-fight, recognize our old friend the Bellman of St. James's; but the mument we heard his voice, the fly old bard stood confefs'd, notwithftanding his difguife!

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With just applaufe bright MANSFIELD he is crown'd,

In whom the noblest qualities abound.'

-Thus minifters of exquifite report,

Illuminate and ftrengthen GEORGE's court.'

Good morrow, my worthy matters and mittreffes all!

Art. 20. The Windfor Stag; a Poem, founded on Fact. 4to. Is. 6d. DodЛley. 1777.

The fact on which this poem is faid to be founded, is thus related, in a note;

In the reign of George II. a flag of Windfor Foreft leaped over the park pales to get at a favourite cow. The owner by chance found him out, and defired a neighbouring huntfman to kill him. The huntsman brought his hounds; but how much was he surprised when be came to the appointed place, to see the stag lie down at the heifer's feet, and die!

The novelty of the accident foon fpread about; and coming to the ears of the late Duke of Cumberland, he defired a nobleman of his acquaintance to write a copy of verfes on it. This he, in Latin, concifely performed; and the verfes were prefented to the king. The fubject, however, feeming adapted for a longer performance, induced Lord Apfley to defire the prefent Author † would write the following poem.'

• Vide our account of Mr. Wells's Address to the Genius of Amevica, Rev. vol. liv. p. 421.

↑ An Eronian of fixteen: his first attempt with the mufes.'

3

The

The poetic embellishments of this fingular tale, will not abfolutely difgrace a youth of fixteen,' although it will be remembered that Mr. Pope, at the fame age, was the author of much better verfes. Art. 21. Sir Martyn; a Poem in the Manner of Spencer. By William Julius Mickle. 4to. 2s. 6d. Flexney. 1777. Having already expreffed our approbation of this poem, we have only to inform our readers, that it was first published in 1767, under the title of The Concubine (fee Rev. vol, xxxvi. p. 352.), and that the Author, apprehending that the former title conveyed an improper idea of the defign and fpirit of the poem, has changed it for that of the hero of the piece, Sir Martyn. The argument, given by the Author in his preface to this edition, is as follows:

After an invocation to the Genius of Spencer, and the propoftion of the fubject, the knight's firit attachment to his concubine, his levity, his love of pleafure, and diffipation, with the influence over him, which the on this affumes, are defcribed. The effects of this influence are next exemplified, in the different parts of his relative character,-in his domestic elegance of park, garden, and house,-in his unhappiness as a lover, a parent, and a man of letters, behaviour as a mafter to his tenants, as a friend, and a bro ther, and in his feelings in his hours of retirement, as a man of birth, and a patriot. The piece clofes with an allegorical, ca

E.

taitrophe. Art. 22. The Oeconomy of Beauty. In a Series of FABLES; addreffed to the Ladies. By Dr. Cofens, Minifter of Teddington, Middlefex; and Chaplain to the Earl of Denbigh. 4to. 10s. 6d. Boards. Walter, 1777.

For the defign, with fpecimens of the execution, of thefe fables, we must refer our Readers to the account given (in the 47th volume of our Review, p. 282.) of the first Book. The fecond Book being now added, the quantity, as well as the price of the work, is nearly doubled. The name of the Author, who is rather celebrated as a preacher than as a poet, is likewife now first added. Dr. Cofens is, undoubtedly, a man of wit; but, in his versification, he comes fhort of the cafv. natural flow of Gay and Moore.

Art. 23. The Park. 8vo. 6d. Goldney.

Confifts of what the Author deems satirical remarks on the company frequenting the Mall; but 'twas pity that the poor man should have fo mif-fpent his time, for who will buy fuch verfes as

Well, fays Mifs Vainwith, ftrange things one fees,

That black-ey'd girl's as well known as the trees ?"

The ballad-printer in Stonecutter fireet would have given him three half crowns for as many dial ditties, which he might have produced with perhaps lefs than half the trouble that this miferable pamphlet may have coft him.

Art. 24. The Paflor. Addreffed to the Rev. John Wesley. By John Hough, of the Inner-Temple. In which the character of that fallacious Cafuit is accurately delineated. 4to. I S. Wil

liams.

Of all the numerous opponents of Mr. Welley, Mr. John Hough appears to be the mott harmlefs. A titmouse attacking a RAVEN.

PHILOSOPHICAL.

Art. 25. Defcription of a Glass Apparatus, for making Mineral Waters, like thofe of Pyrmont, &c.; together with the Defcription of fome new Eudiometers, &c. In a Letter to the Rev. Dr. Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. By J. H. De Magellan, F. R. S. 8vo. 2 s. Johnfon. 1777.

In the first part of this tract, Mr. Magellan defcribes feveral improvements which he has made in Mr. Parker's apparatus; by means of which water may very quickly be faturated with fixed air. His procefs fcarce requires more than a quarter of an hour; and the product is double of that which could be made in the fimple or common apparatus now in use.

The Author next defcribes fome new Eudiometers, or inftruments invented by him to afcertain, with the greatest accuracy, the falubrity of the air. Three different conftructions for the attaining this very interesting defideratum are here circumftantially defcribed. They are all ingeniously contrived, and are conftructed with as much fimplicity as the fubject, probably, is capable of; at least where great accuracy is required; but they are too complex to admit of any defcription without a view of the plate. B..y.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIA L. Art. 26. A Father's Advice to his Daughters. Small 8vo. 6d. Buckland, &c.

Offers good counfel to young females, I. As to their choice of a husband, that he be a truly pious man,'-' governed by the principles of grace, &c. &c. II. As to their behaviour in the married ftate. The good father appears to be a perfon of plain fenfe, and great piety. It is to be feared, therefore, that none but pious young people (it fuch are to be found), who have the leaft need of his advice, will look into this little volume.-A degree of genius in the writer, with a pleafing perfuafive ftyle, are requifite in thefe days of improved tafte, to command an extenfive circulation,-in regard, especially, to preceptive compofitions.

Art. 27. Difcourfes on practical Subjects. By Job Orton. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. bound. Shrewsbury printed. London fold by Buckland, &c. 1776.

Thefe difcourfes bear the fame character with others already pubJished by this Author, and of which we have given fome account. The worthy writer being debarred by ill health, from the pulpit, retains his defire of usefulness, and endeavours to contribute to this end by preaching from the prefs. Thofe who are difpofed to attend candidly and attentively to him will, we doubt not, find themselves improved. It feems, fays he, in the preface, agreeable to the wife plan of Providence, and to the ftate and circumstances of men, that difcourfes of different kinds and ftrains fhould be addreffed to them; and all may through his bleffing contribute to the general edification and happiness.-The plain language and familiar phrafes to be found in fome of these difcourfes, are not indeed fuited to the general tafte of the age, or the particular talte of fome readers of practical books. But it appears to me extremely evident, that we have carried our refinement of public difcourfes too far, fo that they are above the capacities,

and

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