animated spirit of devotion, equally free from vifionary fancies and enthufiafm. This little work is calculated to give birth to the most falutary reflections in young minds, and to warm the heart, without raising the fancy too high. The philofophy alfo is in general correct. The only error of importance that we have remarked is the opinion that fome infects feed on mineral substances. Remarkable Extracts and Obfervations on the Slave-Trade; with Some Confiderations on the Confumption of West India Produce. 82mo. id. Darton. 1792. In other words, horrid ftories, ad captandum vulguspenny. - for a A Vindication of the Ufe of Sugar, and other Products of the Weft India Ilands. In answer to a Pamphlet entitled,‹ Remarkable Extraits, c. 8vo. 6d. Boofey. 1792. The dearnefs of fugar, probably in part owing to the selfish fpeculations of monopolifts, has occafioned it to be omitted from among the luxuries of many perfons, who have in this way obvi ated in some measure the defign. It is, however, affifted by thofe who confider the use of sugar as adding to the miseries of the African flaves. This laft argument our author endeavours to invalidate with an earnestnefs which, notwithstanding his affertions, may be fupposed to arife from at leaft fome collateral connections. We cannot, however, highly compliment him on his fuccefs in fhowing, that the disuse of sugar would be so injurious to the flaves, to the commerce of this country, and the health of our countrymen. We may indeed, for his confolation, hint, that its ufe will not be very materially or permanently leffened. Many will return to it; and from the increasing population, as well as export, in confequence of the confufion in the French colonies, the lofs of the ་ fturdy moralifts' will be scarcely felt. The importation of the maple fugar from America, and of fugar from Bengal, will be a blow to the West Indies much more fevere. Memoirs of Mrs. Billington, from her Birth: containing a Variety of Matter, ludicrous, theatrical, musical, and With Copies of feveral Original Letters, now in the Poffeffion of the Publifber, uritten by Mrs. Billington, to her Mother the late Mrs. Weichfel; Sve. 25. Ridgway. 1792. You make us ftrange E'en to the difpofition that we owe, When now, we think, you can behold fuch scenes, While our's are blanched with-horror, Can fuch things be! In truth, Mr. Ridgway, you have dashed the cup with poifon; the gilded fpectacle is become a charnel houfe, houfe, and the goddefs of the grove, on the motion of the wand, lofes all her allurements. Original Anecdotes of the late Duke of Kingston and Miss Chudleigh, alias Mrs. Harvey, alias Countess of Bristol, alias Duchess of Kington, interfperfed with the Memoirs of jeveral of the Nobility and Gentry now living. Written in a Series of Letters to a Gentleman. By Thomas Whitehead, many Years Servant to the Duke of Kingfton, and now Mufician at Bath. 12mo. 35. 6d. don. 1792. Bla Private follies and frailties improperly held up to public view; the whole, however, feems to be authentic; and we are forry, for the credit of human nature, that we must give this opinion. Subftance of the Report of the Court of Directors of the Sierra Leone Company to the General Court held at London, on Wednesday Q&ober 19, 1791. 8vo. 13. Phillips. Any method of gradually abolishing the traffic in flaves, while the planters are enabled, by an attention to the health of the negroes and their children, or by the introduction of the plough and other useful machines, to cultivate their eftates by the affiftance which they at prefent poffefs, must be in every view desireable. In this great undertaking, the establishment of a colony at Sierra Leone is a step of importance: it is, however, but an inconfiderable one, and ought undoubtedly to be pursued with vigour and judgment. In the prefent report, we fee no deficiency of either; but as the whole of the plan is not before us, we cannot form any decifive opinion. Much must depend on the cordial union of the black and white fettlers; and this is connected with temperance, moderation, and a conciliating behaviour in the governors. When the fcene is more extenfive the danger will begin. A particular Account of the Commencement and Progress of the Infurrection of the Negroes in St. Domingo, which began in Auguft, 1791: Being a Tranflation of the Speech made to the National Aflembly, the 3d of November, 1791. 8vo. 6d. Sewell. 1792. While we have guarded our readers against too readily believing the exaggerated accounts of the cruelty of the planters, we should equally guard them against admitting the dreadful ftories recited in this pamphlet. Yet much mifchief must have been done; and this publication is highly seasonable. The wanton experiment made by the affected humanity and refined philofophy of the prefent times has been fucceeded by fcenes of horror and devastation in the French colony. If we regard the fafety of our friends, of our nearest relatives in the Weft Indies, we should be cautious of fimilar attempts, or even of thofe violent, unguarded, speeches, which the prefs may convey, and which may be the firft spark of a dread a dreadful conflagration. Never perhaps did fo much evil result from good motives, wantonly and injudiciously conducted. A Letter to every Housekeeper in London, on Behalf of Parochial Induftry Schools. From a Citizen of the World. 8vo. 6d. Rivingtons. 1792. The author of this pamphlet warmly recommends to the inhabitants of the capital the inftitution of parochial industry-schools, for the benefit of those children who have no other opportunity of receiving any inftruction in the feveral duties of life. The propofal is highly political as well as benevolent, and is certainly entitled to due attention. A Letter from a Gentleman in Lancashire to his Friend in the Eaft Indies, on the Subject of the prefent War with Tippoo Sultan, 8.00. 6d. Richardson. 1792. Ironical remarks on the falfe intelligence from India, and on the conjectures relative to the unfavourable iffue of the prefent war. CORRESPONDENCE. WE congratulate Amicus on the extent of his knowledge: not five new ideas in the work mentioned! To us, and we have read it attentively more than once, very many of the opinions were new; and if he will look at the correfponding accounts of our Brother Journalists, he will find our praife was tame and moderate, in comparison of theirs.-But we need no longer wonder; the Exeter Coffee-houfe feems to have been the fource of his critical knowledge, and of his information respecting both works. We have taken fome pains to enquire into the fact he has ftated, and can add, from good authority, that it is not true. Copies were indeed fold at the price he mentions, but they were a few remaining ones of the Second edition. The publifher never lamented purchafing the copy; and the author did not ftop the fale.-We would advife Amicus, in his next Tour to the Land's End, to be more cautious from whom he receives his information. We give him this advice in ferious and friendly terms; for we are convinced that he meant ferve us, as well as the credit of our Journal. T. C. is right. The fuppofed effects of Handel's organ, mentioned with applause in our laft volume, p. 417, are copied from Dryden-Nemo omnibus horis fapit-and fo the unfettled account between John Dryden, Cr. with D. Pratt, Reviewers and Co. debtors,' is at last we hope adjusted. ERRAT A. In our last Number, P. 80. 1. 24. for experience, r. expedience. THE CRITICAL REVIEW. For MARCH, 1792.. The Iliad and Odyfey of Homer, tranflated into English blank Verfe, by William Cowper, Efq. 2 Vols. 4to. 21. 12s. 6d. Boards. Johnfon. 1791. HOW far this long-expected tranflation of the firft of poets has gratified the fanguine expectations formed by many of Mr. Cowper's admirers, we know not. Ours, we confefs, were extremely moderate; and we have not been disappointed. Let it be understood that our diftruft did not originate from any doubt of Mr. Cowper's learning, tafte, or poetical abilities. fi Pergama dextrâ Defendi poffent, etiam hac defenfa fuiffent. It proceeded from the nature of the defign itfelf: we never could conceive that a close translation of Homer would do justice to the original, fatisfy the claffical reader, or give the unlearned one a competent idea of its genuine poetical merit. The idioms of a dead and modern language vary fo much, that any literal verfion of a claffic Bard, instead of difplaying the spirit and meaning of the original, will frequently exhibit the appearance of an intended burlefque. Let any perion try the experiment on an ode of Pindar or Horace, and he will be thoroughly convinced of the veracity of our affertion. Too ftrict an adherence to the original compofition will produce the fame effect as an ill-constructed mirror does on the human face: the fame features will be reflected, but enlarged, diminished, or diftorted. In the following paflages, Mr. Cowper's fidelity is unimpeachable: the learned reader must acknowledge the likeness, but he cannot deny that it is an unpleafing one. Ye are unjust, ye Gods, and envious paft CRIT, REV. N, AR. (IV.) March, 1792. S . So, So, when the golden-treffed Ceres, urged The mortal man, my confort.' Does fuch language as this correfpond with our ideas of a dia leav; of the beautiful, the divine Calypfo? Again, will fidelity excufe the following filthy image ? from his gullet gufh'd the wine With human morfels mingled, many a blast Sonorous iffuing from his glutted maw.' Odyf. ix. 535. Or this very extraordinary one? fwift flew the dart To his right buttock, flipp'd beneath the bone, Mars informs Jupiter that had not his feet fole him from battle,' he might have been overwhelmed beneath a heap of carcafes : and if at last I lived, had halted crippled by the fword.' This seems rather the language of a Chelsea penfioner than of the god of battle; and the answer of the fire of gods and men has as little pretenfion to fublimity. • Bafe and side-shifting traitor! vex not me. Whom even I, reprove her as I may, Scarce rule by mere commands; I therefore judge But foft. Thou art my fon whom I begat, II. v. 1055. To be poetical without rhyme, Mr. Cowper fays, is an argument of a found and claffical conftitution in any language.' We agree with him: but does he take fuch lines as we have quoted for poetry? or that fuch as thefe fupport the dignity of the epopeia? • Nor |