racters are varied and well difcriminated; the language polished and elegant, while a minute knowledge of the human heart, and a pretty extenfive acquaintance with fome branches of science, not generally underflood, may be traced in different parts of it. The eager, tumultuous, enthusiasm of Woodville is well contrafted with the cold felfish paffion of fir Peter Lumm; the innocent artless affection of Mary interests our feelings, and makes us wish the event had been fortunate. The author had evidently the late political contests in his view, and takes every opportunity of pointing out generofity, candour, a nice fense of honour, jealous of the minuteft ftain, as the exclufive characteristics of ancient families, and the oppofite qualities as often connected with the novi homines, the upitarts of the moment, the accidental minions of a fortunate conjuncture. It is a queftion that we should wish to fee difcuffed with coolness; and at the fame time the effects of commerce, of an influx of money, and its attendants, fhould be traced with a cool precifion, and a philofophical accuracy. We have occafionally glanced at it; but it is a queftion more intricate than it will at first appear, and will require much knowledge which the interefted, monied men artfully conceal.-The poetry interfperfed is generally pleafing, and often highly poetical: we regret only that it is fometimes too inartificially, fometimes, perhaps, unnaturally introduced.

MEDICAL.

A Treatise on Air, containing new Experiments and Thoughts on Combuftion; being a full Invefligation of M. Lavoifier's System, c. By R. Bewley, M. D. 8vo. 35. 6d. Evans. 1791. After a careful examination of Dr. Bewley's, alias Dr. Harrington's, fyftem and opinions, we can fafely pronounce them trifling and erroneous. With this decifion we must leave him and if the public decides differently, we will be contented to lose the fhare of its efteem which we have long laboured to acquire. A new Collection of Medical Prescriptions, diftributed into twelve Claffes, and accompanied with Pharmaceutical and Practical Remarks, exhibiting a View of the prefent State of the Materia Medica both at Home and Abroad. By a Member of the Royal College of Phyficians. 12mo. 35. Baldwin. 1791.

This Collection, from the works chiefly of foreign authors, is compiled with great judgment and ability, After a careful examination, we can pronounce it to contain more just observations, and fewer trifles or errors, than any work of this kind; and to be an excellent guide for the younger, or memento for the older practitioners. Of thofe articles in the Materia Medica which CR. R. N. AR. (IV.) March, 1792.. Bb

have

have been introduced within thefe few years, a fhort, comprehen five, and judicious account is added. Its being a compilation alone prevents us from giving a more extenfive view of the work.

As in fome of the copies an extract of hemlock is ordered without any particular information refpecting the extract to be employed, we are requested to inform the public, that Storck's extract is meant, which is about double the strength of the London 'infpiffated juice.'-In the unfold copies a note on this fubject is added at the end. Part of our author's letter, with fome remarks, we have taken the liberty to publish in our Correspondence.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Extras, elegant, inftructive, and entertaining, in Profe; feleted from the best modern Authors, and disposed under proper Heads: intended to affift in introducing young Perfons to an Acquaintance with useful and ornamental Knowledge. Large 8vo. 10. 6d. bound. Rivingtons, &c. 1791.

The prefent, and the two following articles, although they be long to a class of books which do not demand much critical notice, are entitled to a place in our Monthly Catalogue, from their obvious utility, and from the attention which, in our former volumes, we have paid to fimilar publications, when judiciously compiled. This volume confifts of five books. The first contains a variety of moral and religious extracts. The fecond and third books confit of felections on critical and claffical fubjects, and orations and "characters from ancient and modern biftorians. The fourth book contains narratives, dialogues, and other humourous and entertaining pieces. The fifth book confifts of fhort introductions to geography, aftronomy, chronology, natural hiftory, and of chro nological tables of remarkable events, and of the æra, the country, and the writings of learned men.-Thefe extracts are taken from the works of our most valuable and approved authors, and appear well adapted to the defign mentioned in the title-page, They contain, alio, a greater quantity and variety of valuable matter, than we have obferved in any fimilar compilations. This remark has been particularly fuggefted by our noticing the contents of the fifth book, which have been felected with great care and accuracy from fuch authors as have laid down the first principles of those branches of knowledge, in the moft compendious and intelligbile terms,' corrected according to the latest improvements and discoveries. On the whole, this work deferves to be warmly recommended, as an inftructive and pleafing companion to young perfons in the course of a school-education.

Extracts, elegant, inftructive, and entertaining, in Poetry; from the ineft approved Authors, Sc. being fimilar in Defign to Extraits in Proje. Large 8vo. 10s. 6d. bound. Rivingtons, &c. 1791. This volume, with respect to the manner in which it is executed,

7

poffeffes

poffeffes fimilar recommendations with the extracts in profe. Numerous and pleafing felections have been made from the works of our most celebrated writers; and many of those poems, which have received the ftamp of univerfal approbation, are inferted entire. The following account, taken from the preface to the volume, will inform our readers of the nature of its contents. The first book is compofed of pieces on facred and moral fubjects: the fecond of didactic, defcriptive, narrative and pathetic pieces. The third book contains extracts from our best dramatic writers, and particularly Shakspeare; the laft edition of whofe works, by Mr. Malone, has been clofely followed. To the fourth book, which is epic and mifcellaneous, the works of Spenfer, Milton, and Pope, have largely contributed. The fifth book confifts, chiefly, of ludicrous poems, epigrams, fongs, ballads, prologues, epilogues, and various other little pieces, intended for amufement and diverfion,

Epifles, elegant, familiar, and inftructive, felected from the best Writers, ancient as well as modern; intended for the Improvement of young Perfons, and for general Entertainment: being a proper Supplement to Extracts in Profe and in Poetry. Large 8vo. gs. bound. Rivingtons, &c. 1791.

This collection of the letters of eminent men is the most copious that ever has been offered to the public within the compafs of one volume, and at fuch a trifling expence. It contains a variety, which must afford gratification to readers of every taste and defcription, while to young perfons it exhibits admirable models for epiftolary correfpondence. The first book confifts of a felection from Melmoth's Tranflation of the celebrated letters of Cicero and Pliny. The fecond book contains letters written by perfons of our own nation, fome of them at a very early period, and most of them by perfons of great and diftinguished characters. Among others, we meet with feveral taken from the curious collection of fir John Fenn, the correspondence of the Sydney family, the letters of the celebrated Howell, thofe of lady Rachael Ruffel, and the correfpondence of Mr. Locke, Mr. Molyneux, and lord Shaftesbury. The third book is formed from the collections of letters which paffed between Mr. Pope and his friends; from thofe of bishop Rundle to Mrs. Sandys; archbishop Herring to William Duncombe, efq; archbishop Secker, bishop Gibson, the countefs of Hartford, afterwards the duchefs of Somerfet, and lord Barrington, to Dr. Watts; Dr. Warburton to Dr. Doddridge, &c. &c. The fourth and fifth books confiit of the letters of Mr. Shentone, Mr. Weft, Mr. Gray, Mr. Sterne, Dr. Johnson, and their respective friends.

Mem rial of the prefent State of Poland. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Debrett.

1791.

The Ruffian armament was confidered by this nation as abfurd ard impolitic. We have more than once hinted, that it was impoffible the whole scheme should be no more than procuring better terms of peace for the Turks, and fuggested that new commercial views were probably the foundation of the attempt. The Memorial before us, attributed to our ambassador at Warsaw, explains the whole plan: and, after mature confideration, we can venture to pronounce it equally able, fpirited, and enlightened. It would have opened new fources of commercial wealth, and united the Baltic to the Black Sea by a country favourable to this nation and her manufactures. The temper of the Poles did not, however, bear with patience the propofition of ceding Dantzic to Pruffia; and undoubtedly the whole would have been purchafed too dear by a Ruffian war. The reply to the memorial, which accompanies it, is the work of no common hand. The great ob. ject at iffue is, whether by the aid of Poland, we can dispense with the commerce of Ruffia. On this fubject, the facts are not yet fufficiently afcertained. We doubt not but the minifter will still keep this new tract of commerce in his eye there are many methods ftill remaining, by which the duties at Dantzic may be leffened for English commodities, or perhaps baits may be held out for declaring it a free port. Either circumftance muft be highly advantageous for this nation. We cannot conclude without adding, that the notes of the editor are equally weak and virulent. A decided, determined, oppofition to the minifter is confpicuous, and the fource is fufficiently obvious.

An Essay on the Art of Dying, by James Martin, Silk Dyer. Svo. IS. Martin. 1792.

This little Effay is a very ufeful and judicious one. It is intended to direct ladies in their determinations refpecting dying, by fhowing the colours which will beft admit of any variation of hue, and the kinds of filks beft adapted for it, Mr. Martin feems well acquainted with his bufinefs, and the philofophical chemist will find fome hints, incidentally, and feemingly unintentionally, fcattered in this Effay, from which he may derive information. A Narrative of Facts relating to fome Time Keepers conftructed by Mr. T. Muage, for the Discovery of the Longitude at Sea. Svo. 25. Payne and Son. 1792.

The excellency of Mr. Mudge's time-keepers are well known; and, by their means, the longitude is undoubtedly afcertained to every useful purpofe. It is with regret we hear that this very admirable invention is ppofed by Dr. Mafkelyne, the patron of

obfervations

obfervations and aftronomical tables. Each in different fituations would be of service; nor, in the view of a philofopher, ought thefe different attempts to interfere with each other. Of the juftice of the charge we can offer no opinion: Mr. Mudge, however, fpeaks with candour and apparent propriety.

Free Masonry for the Ladies; or, the Grand Secret difclosed. 12mo Is. Bew. 1792.

The ladies, it is faid, are admitted on the continent to the lodges of the mafons, and, with a few exceptions, to the whole fecret. The ladies in this country, we know not why, are lefs trusted. We fuppofe the author can justify to himself the having revealed fo much as he has done in the prefent pamphlet; but, while we refpect the truth, the fincerity, the cordial active benevolence of malons, we feel much difguft at the trifling nonsense of their fuppofed ceremonies. The not eating the kernels of the apple may probably be fimilar to the Pythagorean inftitution, abftine a fabis.

The Roman History, continued from the fecond Century of the Chrif tian Era to the Destruction of the Greek Empire by the Turks. 12mo. 35. 6d. Dilly. 1792.

The author of this compilation feems to have availed himself chiefly of Mr. Gibbon's Decline of the Roman Empire." The abridgement contains an account of the principal events during that period; but will prove lefs interefting to many readers, as the compiler has avoided giving any detail of the theological controverfies, which had no small influence on the public transactions in those times. Mr. Warburton dedicates the volume to viscount Stormont's eldest son, whom he styles the honourable lord David William Murray,' Flattery has fo long prevailed in dedications, that it may now perhaps be confidered as an indifpenfible ingredient; but fuch a mifnomer feems to be a new fpecies in the art of adulation.

The Triumphs of Reason; exemplified in Seven Tales. Second Edition. 12mo. 25. Williams. 1792.

Thefe little tales are written in a perfpicuous, elegant style, and are well calculated to affift the cause of religion and virtue.

A new and diftina View of the memorable Action of the 27th of July 1778. In which the Whole of the Afperfions caft on the Charac zers of the Flag-Officers are shown to be totally unfounded; and the Mifcarriage traced to its true Caufe. By Robert Beatfon, Esq. 8vo. 15. Strahan. 1791.

The naval action, of which this author treats, has already been the fubject of much enquiry and observation; and the accounts of it have, in general, been greatly tinctured with the prejudices of party.