Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

The ninth paragraph on his first plate runs thus: thơ' we

* are obliged to have the ground-plane below the base-line, yet the parts which are in it will be produced by the rules * above it, and as it were beyond it, at a distance in a per* Spective proportion, as those in the ground plane, are diftant • from the bafe-line.

Here observe the first it fignifies the ground-plane, the second it the base-line, the third it has still another meaning, and the fourth it must signify the plane of the picture. The reft of the paragraph is nonfense: he should have faid, at a distance, whose proportion to the real given distance of the original object is regulated by the position of the spectator, 's eye. Then comes a problem, teaching us to find the representation of a given point; in this problem he uses the term, vanishing point, without having first defined it.

In a subsequent paragraph he indeed tells us, that' S * is the * vanishing point of the original line, A B; because the line * A B vanishes in that point. Which is not true, for it is the perspective representation S B, of the line A B, which vanishes in the point S, and were it as true as itis false, it could by no means be called a definition. He might as well have faid, the line A B vanishes in the point S, because S is the vanishing point of the original line A B; or that two and two make four, because four confifts of twice two.

Before we quit this first plate, we must observe the abfurdities in which his wrong choice of a distance for the eye has involved him; and first, The shaded fide of the house, at H. which is a perpendicular plane, at right angles to the plane of the picture, scarce represents more than one fourth of the extent he ought to suppose it. The fame blunder is committed again in the pier at I. whose enlightened side reprefents a plane at right angles to the picture of only one fourth of the extent he supposes it, which is monftrous. The direction of the shadows is false, and the diffant steeple which terminates his view, exhibits a side which it is impoffible should be seen, if S be, as he supposes it, the center of the picture. This is a fault, that a child who had learned perspective a week, could not have committed. And what is more extraordinary, there is not one of the fix plates, which illustrate this work, but abounds in similar absurdities. Strange, that a man who despises knowlege, should take it in his head to be a teacher; or that one who calls himself an artist, should

* Our readers, in general, it is hoped, will excuse our referring, in this manner, to Mr. B's plates, which we cannot copy - These paragraphs are more particularly intended for those who are pofieffed of Mr. B's book.

be at pains to publish a book, which so evidently proves him ignorant in every branch of the art he treats of.

One more extract from this treatise on perspective appears necessary, as it will shew the reader how well Mr. Bardwell has kept the promise he made, that no mathematical knowlege should be necessary to understand his book. There are many instances of his having forgot this: we shall content ourfelves with the fifth paragraph of the explanation belonging to the second plate.

• In order to understand the nature of the generating lines, and angles, (not yet defined)' and the distance of the picture, heing placed above the horizontal line, suppose they were ⚫ turned or lifted upon their axis, the vanishing line DE, till the eye-point O is is directly oppofite to the point of fight, then they would be in a visual plane, which pafles from the • spectator's eye parallel to the ground-plane: the interfection of which plane, with the imaginary plane or picture, is the vanishing line of that plane, or horizontal line.' Indeed Our Author had done well to recommend to his unmathematical readers that dictionary, out of which he picked all these hard words. For till fuch readers are acquainted with the fignification of fuch words, they may fancy their ignorance of mathematical terms, is the obftacle to their understanding Mr. Bardwell. We can, however, affure them, that the learned and unlearned may equally profit by the preceding paragraph: in which we apprehend the latent meaning is beyond the power of mere mathematicians to develop; so that if ever those gentlemen have puzzled Mr. Bardwell, it is not his fault if he is not now even with them.

MONTHLY

CATALOGUE

I.

[blocks in formation]

Fourth Letter to the People of England. 8vo. 2s.

A Collyer.

Having pretty fully, tho' in a narrow compass, spoken of the three preceding pamphlets published by this Incendiary, under the title of, Letters to the People, we shall take up little more of our Reader's time, on the present occafion; but content ourfelves with the following sketch of such patriots as Mr. Letterwriter, from a pamphlet entitled, An Impartial View, &c. See page 41.

Men,' says this brother-politician, who are the tools of a wrong-headed party, and fit for their employ, (who] acknowlege lege they write for a Post, or the Pillory. In short, men who -fcribble for bread, and do not so much regard the contents as the fale of their productions. Men who have done their utmost to be bought, but who have been found not worth the • meanest purchase. Under this portrait the author writes, AND AREYE, MY COUNTRYMEN, TO BE IDLY DUPED BY SUCH 12 AS THESE!

و

II. A Letter to the Gentlemen of the Common-Council. By a Citizen and Watch-maker. 8vo. 6d. Cooper.

1. This is one of the few occafional productions that deserves to ⚫ be remembered, after the occafions which gave rise to them are elapsed. The author is pleased to call himself a Watch-maker; and in one page (24) he condescends to write in that character: but then, as in another (15) he treats of an obftinate, unskilful pilot, and bad steerage, in terms as accurate, he might as well have called himself a Mariner: and if we confider the general drift of his performance, the character of an Apothecary would have fuited him better than any other. For tho he addresses himself gravely to the Common-Council, on the subject matter of their intended Addrels, and treats of the manner in which they ought to make their approaches to the throne, as the principal object of his attention, it is plain, by the sequel, that this is done by way of vehicle only, for the more easy and effectual conveyance of a medicine, which he would have us believe is the only true catholicon for the disorders of the times. In short, this occafional author takes particular care (p. 5) not to be mistaken for one of those gentlemen, who are patriots through their indigence, and whofe declamations are their subsistence; and fo far forgets his watch-making character, even in the only page in which he makes use of it, as to offer the use of his poor abilities to Mr. Fowke, in case his affair should become a matter of national enquiry: which must imply, he has the honour to fit in one of the houses, at leaft: for national enquiries can be made no where elfe; nor, on fuch an occafion, could his abilities be elfewhere ferviceable, What the ingredients are which compose this catholicon of his, it is fit should be unfolded in his own words, which here follow:

• Our patriot writers unanimoufly declare for turning out all • the great officers of state, at present in the administration. This proposal hath too much violence in it; nor is it eafily practicable. It hath an air of party, which would prevent its own good effects, if it were carried into execution. It would pro• bably continue an unseasonable, and therefore destructive oppofition, Nor, for the honour of our country, would I willingly ask, whether, if all these gentlemen were turned out, we have others of more unblemished integrity, and more acknowleged abilities, to fill all their places, However, there are too gentic' men of apparent fuperiority to all others in either party. They have both continued long in offices of greatest truft and power, with unsuspected reputation. They differed last year in their judg

U 3

• judgment of public measures. Their contest was maintained • with a warmth, which might naturally rise from their mutual conviction. Their reconciliation is now become necessary to the welfare, perhaps, to the very being of their country. If their conteft was of virtue, they will easily be reconciled. Great • spirits cannot long maintain little resentments, and if the love of country be their prevailing paffion, it will fubdue all others; for in effect there is but one passion in the heart of man. Their common friends may propose and fettle the terms of their union; but the nation, in these her distresses, calls upon them, • implores, conjures, I had almost said, commands them to unite. • She hath more than enough to gratify their personal ambition; enough to indulge them in obliging and making happy their * mutual friends,

[ocr errors]

• Permit me, Gentlemen, nor is it wholly foreign to the purpose of this Letter, permit me to mention some of those advantages, which, I am perfuaded, will arise from this union. If they are each of them fuperior to every other man, most capable of ferving the public; if they were fingly opposed to each other last winter, who shall be able to form an oppofition against them when united? The measures necessary to retrieve the honour of the nation, will easily then be carried into execution: ⚫ not distressed by midnight debates, which not only fruitlessly confumed fo many valuable hours, but must have rendered the speakers liftless and inattentive to next day's business. If they are not wholly inexcusable, in throwing away the winter in these unprofitable debates, let us remember, that one of these • gentlemen was actuated by the human resentment of being * turned out of his employment; nor can we suppose him less sensibly affected for his friends. The other probably imagined, if he could excuse the measures of the minister, for instance, the Heffian treaty, he might have influence enough over him to direct ⚫ him afterwards to better counsels. But such is the gratitude of ambition, that this gentleman must have been long fince convinced, he was mistaken in his hopes; and that a man so tenacious of governing, as obstinately to hold his power amidst the errors, or let us call them the misfortunes, of his administration; amidst the dangerous resentments of the people, will never admit a partner in his administration. For if we know any thing of this gentleman, fearfulness, and timidity is no part of his character, from whence we may believe he had no • share in the late timid expedients, by which Minorca was loft. But, indeed, what share of power or confidence could he ex*pect, who was at once feared and hated.'

6

Where indications are so strong, labels are unnecessary: then as to the Medicine, itself, it does not become, us to pronounce, whether the palate, the stomach, or the constitution of the patient would bear it; and whether it can be administred or not, even the prescriber himself does not seem to have sufficiently con fidered

[graphic]

sidered. Divide and govern is an old maxim; and it must be owned, this is no bad graft upon it. But party-policy is one thing, and public good another; and the interesting question to the community, is not, Who shall govern us? but whether we can be governed better? And if fo, by what means?

This is merely a new edition of a pamphlet first published in the year 1745.

IV. An Impartial View of the Conduct of the Ministry, &c. In answer to the many invidious attacks of the Pamphleteers, &c. 8vo. Is. Robinfon.

We have here a performance which deferves a more than ordinary attention. Never were attacks of this kind made with more violence; and never did great persons attacked discover more contempt, either for the matter they contain or the confequences they might produce. The candid and confiderate, however, who defired to be informed of the merits of the cafe, by a full and fair hearing of both fides, could not help wishing for fuch a Reply, as might furnish them with the premises they wanted: Such a Reply they thought was due to the public; and if not offered at all, they justly apprehended the rash and censorious would be glad to infer, it was, because none fatisfactory could be offered. Such a Reply is now before them; for tho' it is called an Impartial View, it is, in effect, a Party-Vindication :founded on peculiar informations and instructions, as we are, in more than one place, given to undersland; and from thence it derives its importance.

ah The two great points proposed by the Author to be examined, are thele:

I. Whether the ministers have acted upon principles of true patriotism, and found policy? and in case any miscarriages may have happened, whether they are not to be attributed more to chance, and the want of that unattainable fore-knowlege, not in the power of man to acquire, than any defect in their capacities ? And,

2. Whether feditious spirits, who may have propagated infa/mous reports, to the minilter's prejudice, are to be credited upon their simple evidence, in oppofition to facts, reafor, and their concomitant arguments?

Of the intelligence on which this performance is founded, the

Reader is defired to accept the following specimens.

A

« AnteriorContinuar »