POET R Y.

The Grave; by Robert Blair: to which is added Gray's Elegy in a Country Church Yard. A new Edition, with Notes, Moral, Critical, and Explanatory. 8vo. Is. Fielding..

The firft of thefe poems was highly celebrated in Heron's Letters: foon after which, we apprehend, the prefent edition was published. It poffeffes great merit; and though the fentiments are commonly trite, they are generally delivered in a novel and energetic manner, that impreffes them feelingly on the mind. The notes are trifling and infipid. On Mr. Blair's fyling the yew a

cheerlefs unfocial plant'

we are told, what every parith apprentice knows as well as the annotator, that many church-yards have yew-trees planted in them. Though we do not object to the epithets here applied to the yew, as from the general location of that tree we annex a melancholy idea to it; yet it is probable that the custom of planting them in church-yards was originally intended to convey very different fenfations; and that they were confidered, from their perpetual verdure, as pleafing einblems of the immortality of the foul. The notes are, in general, of equal, but not fuperior importance, to that we have quoted.

The Vindication of Fame; an Ode, in Honour of John Howard, Ef. 4to. Is. Dilly.

The Triumph of Benevolence; a Poem. Occafioned by the National Defign of erecting a Monument to John Howard, Efq. A New Edition, corrected and enlarged. To which are added, Stanzas on the Death of Jonas Hanway, Efq. 4to. is. 6d. Cadell.

We apprehend the firft of thefe poems to be a juvenile performance. It is written with animation and fpirit; but a confufion of metaphors, and incorrectnefs of expreffion, are likewife frequently vifible.-The others, which are published for the benefit of the Howardian Fund, have already been mentioned with approbation...

*

Poetical Effufions of an Epicurean Philofopher contrafed with those of a Chriftian Philofopher. 4to. 15. Becket.

The reader who could be pleafed with thefe infipid Effufions, would certainly be no Epicurean in any intellectual refinement. Poems for Young Ladies, Selected by Dr. Goldfmith. 12mo. 35. fewed. Johnfon.

Several collections of this kind have already been published by different compilers, and many of the fame poems, and extracts of poems, may be found in all of them. They are generally felected, thofe now before us as well as the others, from the works of the most eminent English poets. They are calculated both for inftruction and rational entertainment, and are equally adapted to either sex.

See Crit. Rev. vol. lxii. p. 312.

The

The Progrefs of War. A Poem. 4to. 45. Egerton. This poem recites the progrefs of war from Cyrus to Frederic. It is totally an inanimate production; alike deftitute of the ardor of the foldier and the enthufiafm of the bard.

DRAMATIC.

Richard Coeur de Lion. A Comic Opera, as performed at the TheatreRoyal, Covent-Garden. By L. Macnally, Efq. 8vo. is. Cadell.

This piece is diftinguished by the fame name as that we noticed in a late Number. It approaches more nearly to the opera of M. Sedaine. The friend of Richard is in his proper fphere; and we do not lose the interesting appearance of the queen. The plot is more artiefs, the events more natural, and the principal incident is relieved by rural fcenes, properly adapted to a mufical performance. We fpeak from the mature deliberations of the closet, abftracted from the fplendor of the fcene, and the vortex of fashion.

The First Floor; a Farce. In Two Acts. As it is now acting at the Theatre-Royal, in Drury-Lane. 8vo. Is Dilly. The incidents of this piece are fuppofed to happen in the first floor' of a lodging-houfe, to which a father brings his daughter, to preferve her from a lover, of whom he did not approve. The lodgings were thofe of his fon, who was turned out of them for no uncommon fault, a little deficiency in the regular payment of his rent, and were almoft, on the moment of the father's arrival, taken by the gentleman whom he had endeavoured to avoid. This produces a pleafant feries of mistakes, which are heightened by the landlady's attachment to her vain and fimple fhopman, and his fondness for a fervant in the house. The difficulties were at laft increased so much, that we trembled for the author, left he should not be able properly to explain them. The denouement was rather abrupt, and put us in mind of Bayes' method of getting off his dead men, or of the fortunate interference of an enchanter in a pantomime.

The dialogue is full of fpirit, wit, and equivoque. It is the thunder and lightning of the Rehearfal, repeatedly flashing, but with too quick fucceffion to make the proper impreffion. Some of the wit, as well as fome of the fituations, were too evidently artificial: the pun lay in ambush for a found,' or the actor must have been blind indeed to have mistaken. These are exuberances which might have been curtailed, and the farce would yet have remained one of the most witty and pleasant petits pieces in our language. The Prologue is very happily adapted to the uncertain tendency of the title.

Ward's Tranflation of Ramfay's Gentle Shepherd. 8vo. 25. Robinfons.

In great attempts 'tis glorious even to fall.'

Let Mr. Ward confole himself with this reflexion, when we pronounce, as we muft, that his paftoral comedy is greatly inferior to the beautiful original.

DIVINITY.

Confirmation. A Sermon preached at the Vifitation of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London, in the Church of Thaxteds in Effex, on Wednesday, May 26, 1786. By the Rev. John Howlett. 4to. 13. Richardfon.

17.

This is a very fenfible and judicious difcourfe from Acts viit. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghoft.' The author fupports the propriety of the rite, as it is a commemoration of the impofition of hands by the apostles; as it is a folemn and public refolution, likely to affect a generous young mind. He fupports the manner in which it is performed, the period chofen for it, from these views of its propriety and its utility. On the whole, this is a fenfible, practical, and judicious fermon, well calculated for the younger part of Mr. Howlett's audience, and suitable to the occafion, on which, he tells us, he was called on by authority to preach.' We were furprised, that in defence of confirmation he had not urged what has been by many confidered as its foundation. In our baptifm, our godfathers and godmothers engage for us; we promife by a proxy; and it is both natural and reafonable that there fhould be a period when the obligation becomes perfonal. At our confirmation we take thefe promifes on ourselves; and we are taught in our Catechifm, that there is a time when we come to age,' that we are bound to perform' what has been already promised for us. The period, the folemnity of the rite, the prayer, and the impofition of hands, are all well adapted to this change; and our author's method of defending them is equally adapted to this other view, in his opinion, pers haps, too obvious to be infifted on.

The Sacra Privata, or, Private Meditations and Prayers of Bishop Wilfon; accommodated to general Ufe. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Dilly.

The editor of this little volume has feparated it from bishop Wilfon's works, to make it better known, and more generally ufeful. It is to repeat what has been often faid, when we obferve, that Dr. Wilfon's Sacred Meditations and Prayers are diftinguished by a fervent spirit of devotion. The Sacra Privata, in this form, will be of great utility; and as these prayers are defigned for general ufe, what relates only to the clergy is omitted.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Melody of Speaking delineated; or, Elocution taught like Mufic, by vifible Signs, adapted to Tones, Inflections, and Variations of Voice in Reading and Speaking; with Directions for Modulation, and expreffing the Paffions. By J. Walker. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Robinfonss By feveral ingenious productions, as well as by teaching pupils, Mr. Walker has approved himself an able grammarian in the English language; and is no lefs diftinguifhed for his accurate acquaintance with its ftructure, than for a peculiar happiness in pronouncing it with elegance and propriety. The laster of thefe departments is the fubject of the prefent treatife

in

in which he distinctly points out, and illuftrates, by well chofen examples, the different inflections of the voice either in reading or fpeaking. His remark, that a circumflex may confift of a falling and rifing flide, equally with a rifing and falling one, which is the only kind in the Greek and Latin languages, is particularly worthy of notice; as is likewife his very just divifion of emphasis into the emphafis of paffion and of fenfe. The excellent rules which he delivers for modulation evince him to be endowed both with a critical judgment and a fine ear. We acknowlege, that to ourselves they are fufficiently obvious; though we think, at the fame time, that the praxis of them would have been facilitated to learners by printing in Italics, at least the words which pertain to one fpecies of emphasis. With regard to this circumitance, however, our opinion is by no means decided: we are even inclined to admit, the force of the reasons which have influenced Mr. Walker's conduct; and it is a queftion, whether the most precife notation of the accents or emphafis could, to many learners, convey explicitly the proper inflection of the voice. The ear, not the eye, is the fittest organ of perception in this cafe. On which account, we would earnestly recommend the oral affiftance of this ingenious author, to all thofe who wish to attain the too much neglected, though highly ornamental accomplishment, of elegant and proper elocution.

A Plan for rendering the Poor independent on Public Contribution. By the Rev. John Acland. 8vo. 15. Rivington.

Tua res agitur,' is the motto of this publication. It never was better applied; and as, in our opinion, no fyftem that we have feen bids fairer to ferve the great purpose it treats of, we recommend it to the attention of our readers.

A Series of Prints of Ancient Hiftory, defigned as Ornaments for thofe Apartments in which Children receive the firft Rudiments of their Education. 24to. 10d. ferved. Marshall.

A Defcription of a Set of Prints of Ancient Hiftory; contained in a Set of eafy Leons. 24to. 10d. ferved. Marfhall.

The fubjects of these prints are well chofen, and the prints are neatly executed. The language of the defcriptions is clear, natural, and unaffected, without puzzling the young mind with an intricate feries of events, or chronological dates. Confilia: or, Thoughts upon feveral Subjects. By Samuel Birch. The Second Edition. Small 8vo. 25. 6d. Cadell.

We reviewed the former edition of this work in our Fiftyninth Volume, p. 317. To this fecond edition Mr. Birch has added his name, and the work is fomewhat enlarged. We formerly complained that we found his obfervations too short, and that they might have attracted more attention, if ornament had not been fo fparingly employed. The firft objection is now leffened, but the latter remains. We read, however, the for

mer

mer edition with great pleasure; and the quick fucceffion of another, fhows that it has been received with attention by the public. We are always happy to be able to confirm its award and our pleasure is increafed by finding that, amidst profligacy and diffipation, the cause of virtue and religion is not difcountenanced.

A Spelling Book, defigned to render the Acquifition of the Rudiments of our native Language eafy and pleasant. By Mrs. Teachwell, 12mo. IS. Marthail.

This is a very ufeful little book, well arranged, and properly referring to the different leffons of our author which are explained by it. We with every fuccefs to the benevolent designs of Mrs. Teachwell, who, in a humble sphere, has contrived to render the first paths of learning more acceffible and more easy.

Every Man his own Proctor. 8vo. 25. 6d. Cadell. Containing inftructions in what manner to obtain probate of wills and letters of adminiftration, without the affistance of a proctor. This production is well calculated for the ufe of those who have bufinefs in the ecclefiaftical courts.

Sawney Mackinto's Travels through Ireland. 12mo. 1s. 6d

Adlard.

The very dregs of itinerary narrative.

The Paper-maker's and Stationer's Affiftant. By John Paine, Junior. 12mo. 6d. Symonds.

We are here prefented with a list of all the different papers, their tables, rates, and fizes, with the feveral duties, faid to be, and we doubt not, exactly calculated. This Affiftant will be ufeful to manufacturers and dealers in paper; and, likewise, in respect of taxation, to revenue officers.

Rane Comica Evangelizantes; or, the Comic Frog turned Methodift. 8vo. 15. Macklew.

Whatever cenfure may be due to the conduct of particular fectaries, the facred page of Scripture ought always to be preferved religiously inviolate from ridicule. Profane licentioufnefs is a fymptom of folly, not of wit. We muft, therefore, inform this author, that if his capacity leads him to imitate Voltaire only in indecent farcafms against the doctrines of Christianity, he may become, what he deferves, an object of univerfal contempt.

The Maniacs, a tragi-comical Tale. 4to. 15. Ridgway. The production of fome contemptible fcribler, as void of decency as of abilities.

A Candid Enquiry into the Cafe of the Prince of Wales. According to the calculation of this author, the king is debtor to his royal highnefs in the fum of 594,000l. for which, it is infinuated, an action fhould be raised against his m---y.

ERRATUM. Dr. Geddes' Profpectus of the Bible should be 7s. 6d. instead of 16. 15.