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 first of thefe volumes, confifts chiefly of poetical pieces; in moft of which, this author's peculiar burlefque humour, is a fufficient proof, were fuch evidence wanting, of their authenticity. Some of them however, are in fuch miferable doggrel, and on the whole, fuch worthlefs 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 Poets lofe half the praise they would have got, Were it but known what they discreetly blot. 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 thefe remains were finished with the utmost accuracy, and fairly tranfcribed for the prefs: pity that none but such had been printed; for, we fear, they are highly disgraced by keeping bad company. In truth, even in his admired Hudibras, the author, frequently jangles his poetical bells, in a strange discordant manner: though we do not remember that he has any where, in that poem, finned fo grievoufly against both rhime and netre, 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 says, Thofe who write in rhime ftill make 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 famenefs in the manner of drawing his characters, yet they are in general nervously and ftrikingly 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 polished times, in which accuracy of compofition, and neatness of expreffion are more attended to than they were in Butler's days, his droll 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 last century. † At the end of the fecond volume, are about fifty pages of Thoughts upon varieus Subjects; most of which contain very fenfible and ftriking obfervations on many topics. Some of these are illuftrated by the editor's notes; of which, a compeent 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 ufe of the Public; and preferved in the British Museum. Published by Order of the Trustees. Folio. 2 vol. 21. ros. in fheets. Davis and Reymers. This prodigious Catalogue was drawn up, as the prefixed advertifement informs us, at different times, and by different 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 Truftees 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 lefs 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 Museum. Here, then, at a vaft expence of time and toil, is compleated, a kind of Review Catalogue, or what the French call a Catalogue Raisonné, of SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED and EIGHTEEN manufcripts, relating chiefly to the hiftory 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 clafs: but Envy herself must own, that amidst fuch a prodigious mafs 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 manuscripts 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 laft, 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 task. 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 moft 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 N 3 ment ment are thefe: It were to be wished that the prefent publication, ⚫ could have been accompanied by an index; but as that will neceffarily require a confiderable time, the Trustees judged it proper, not to deprive the public of fo useful 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 Invafion and Conqueft of England, and which, in the Year 1588, came upon the English Coaft to effect it. Containing the truest and most particular LISTS ever yet published, of its Ships, Land Forces, Mariners, Guns, &c. and alfo of the Land Forces raifed, as quell 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 Beacon's then erected in Kent. 4to. 2s. 6d.-Dodsley. Though the circumftances of the ever memorable Spanish Invafion, are fully narrated by the English hiftorians, yet the author of this collection infills that the best of their accounts are chargeable with errors and omiffions, which are corrected and fupplied in this tract: the principal defign of which is to fhew; I. The difpofition of the people of England, in that alarming crifis. II. The meafuses that were concerted for the defence of the realm. III. The fpirit and vigor fo feasonably exerted by the loyal nobility, gentry, and commonalty, for putting these measures in execution; and the fuccefs with which it was intended.' As to the Lifts, which conftitute the chief merit of this publication, they seem to be very full, and probably they are correct. Art. 7. The Invafion, a Farce. 8vo. 18, Davis and Reymers, Ridicules the fear of an invafion (of late fo prevalent in this country), with fome pleafintry. As a farce, it might, with a little improvement, be rendered fit for the flage; but having made its ap-, pearance 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 feafonable Antidote against the Poifon of popular Cenfure, 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 public in an affair which will fhortly be determined in a course of legal examination. All that we can fay at pre fent fent, is, that the General's apologift is a very incompetent advocate, and that his arguments betray the caufe he means to defend. The principal circumftance he urges in excufe of the General' is, that the dilagreement between him 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 detrimental to it. This, in the judgment of every man of common fenfe, must appear to be a very forry juftification. 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. 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 August, 1759. 8vo. 1s. Fuller. The intention of this pamphlet, is directly contrary to that of the foregoing one. As that juftifies, 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 without energy. Inftances 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 earliest, are fomes times least to be depended on. However, the pamphlet before us is so 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. 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 Thornhaufen, fought on the 1st 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 passant, 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. ; Art. 12. A fhort View of the Families of the Scottish Nobility; their Titles, Marriages, Ifue, Defcents; the Pots of Honour and Profit they hold in the Government; their Arms, Mattos, and chief Seats. To which are added, a List of all thofe Peers who have ferved in Parliament fince the Union; a List of all those who have been made Knights of the Order of the Thistle; an Account of that Order; an Account of the antient Parliament of Scotland; of the Regalia, &c. of that Kingdom; a Lift of the principal Officers of State in Scotland a genera! Scheme of Precedence, &c. and an Index of the Peers of Scotland, Specifying the time of their respective Creations, and Summons to Parliament; the Titles of their eldest Sons, &c. By Mr. Salmon. Owen. 12mo. 35. 2. A fhort View of the Families of the prefent Irish Nobility; their Marriages, Iflue, Defcents, and immediate Ancestors ; the Pofts of Honour and Profit they hold in the Government; their Arms, Mottos, and chief Seats. With an Index, specifying the Time of their respective Creations, and Summons to Parliament; their Rank, Precedence, &c. By Mr. Salmon. 12mo. 3s. Owen. Thefe two volumes, together with the second edition, just published, of A Short 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 fhort, view of the whole Peerage of Great Britain and Ireland, as they ftand 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 Peerage of England, Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, and Crawford's Peerage of Scotland, fo far as it goes, with the addition of the Scotch Compentium, for later times.-But if only a general account be wanted, together with a fomewhat more particular one, of the prefent State of each family; Mr. Salmon's three volumes may be very sufficient for that purpole. Art. 13. The Dramatic Works of Mr. Philip Malfinger, com pleat. Revifed, corrected, and all the various editions collated, by Mr. Coxeter. With Notes critical and explanatory, by the Editor, &c, 8vo. 4 vols. 11. 4s. Dell. That many of our readers are ignorant, who or what this Maffinger was, is a circumftance which we may fafely take for granted; and which, too, fuperfedes the neceflity of our faying much more concerning either the poet 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, A new Way to pay old Debts 3 which has been revived by Mr. Garrick; whofe merit gives importance to every thing in which he thinks fit to engage, 5 that |