The prefent production has, we underfland, afforded confiderable entertainment on the ftage; as a literary compofition, it is not of a fpecies to yield much fatisfaction in the perufal; it is too farcical, too much beneath the dignity of the Comic Mufe; in fhort, the character that we gave of the Strangers at Home,' another comic opera, written by the fame author, will fait this piece, much better than Baron Baton's coat fits the taylor, in the prefent performance: Such a ftrange tifiue of improbable adventures, equivoques, miftakes, and difguifes, that it is not eafy for the reader to gather up the thread of the ftory, &c. &c.' Vide M. Rev. vol. 74, P. 304. The Dramatic Works of Mr. Edward Moore, &c. 1788. 12mo. Art. 43. Those who wish to have the plays of Mr. Moore, without his other works, may now be gratified, as we have here a neat and cheap edition of his lively and entertaining comedies, The Foundling and Gil Blas, and his deeply affecting tragedy of The Gamefter. A fhort account of Mr. Moore is added, with his portrait; and the plays are embellished with engravings from fome of the fcenes. POETRY. Art. 44. Elegy on the Death of his Grace the Duke of Rutland. By Dr. Delap. 4to. IS. Stockdale. 1788.. Compliments to the memory of dead kings, dead ftatesmen, and dead lords, are a harmless fpecies of poetry, and fhould, from the nature of their fubjects, be exempted from criticifm. If the poet's grief be real [which may poffibly happen to be the cafe], it ought to be refpected; and who can even pronounce, that it is not real? Let then the prefent elegiac bard enjoy his forrows, uninterrupted by the cold ftrictures of unfympathizing Reviewers -who feldom join heartily in thefe general groans.' Art. 45. The English Orator: Books the Second and Third. By the Rev. Richard Polwhele, Tranflator of Theocritus, &c. 4to. 5s. fewed. Cadell, &c. 1787. We have already given it as our general idea of this work, that the author's plan might have been better executed in the form of a profe effay, than in a poem. But Mr. Polwhele has perhaps the peculiar felicity of writing verfe more eafily than profe; and he has an undoubted right to amufe and inftru&t the public in his own way. Many juft obfervations and lively defcriptions occur in the courfe of this didactic poem, which may be read with peculiar advantage by young adventurers in the fchool of eloqueuce. Thefe books treat of the eloquence of the bar and the fenate. Art. 46. Reflections on the Common Englife Verfion of the Scriptures, and the Neceflity of its being revited by Authority. A Poem. 4to. IS. White. 1788. This is indeed a very fingular title for a Poem, and we should as foon have expected to fee one on the neceffity of a revifion of the ftatute book, or of a new edition of the art of cookery. The fubject appears to us properly to belong to profe, and not to verfe, as it is altogether incapable of poetic illuftration. Nevertheless, the author's defign was commendable: he flattered himself that this mode of of expreffing his fentiments would, from the novelty of it, ftand a fair chance of engaging attention. So it might; but we apprehend it has not merit and importance fufficient to contribute much to the end which the writer had in view. Though he appears to be a man of fenfe, and to have an ear for verfe, yet his poem will probably obtain but a tranfient notice, and juftify men in faying of it, as of a thoufand other little publications, Art. 47. Learning has bubbles as the water has, Charlotte to Werter: A Poetical Epiftle. By Anne Francis. 4to. Is. 6d. Becket. Some of the most pathetic incidents in the Sorrows of Werter, are here expreffed in eafy and harmonious verfe. The admirers of the original work will perufe this imitation with pleafure. To the fame hand the public are indebted for a poetical tranflation of the Song of Solomon, and the Obfequies of Demetrius Poliorcetes; of which accounts have been given in our Review. Art. 48. The Controverfiad, an Epifle to a Learned Friend;,exhibiting a Sketch of the prefent Controverly between Dr. Priestley and his Opponents; with fome Allufion to the Controverfial Attacks on the Rev. C. W. Hawkins and his Wife; by Father O'Leary, and others. 8vo. Is. 6d. Stalker. 1788. The weapon of fatire is here drawn in defence of Dr. Prieft ey; but we are much mistaken if the Dr. will feel himself overburthened with obligation to an auxiliary, who, though a wit, does not feem to have formed a correct idea of the difference between fmartness and abuse. The latter never does credit to any party. Art. 49. The Humours of Brighthelmftone. By J. Weft. 4to. Scatchard and Co. 1788. IS. Tolerably defcriptive, but light and frivolous. The style of Anfty's Bath Guide is feebly imitated; but, on the whole, the verfes are not ill calculated to invite the young and gay to a fummer excurfion to a place which, Mr. Weft affures them, The pleasures of Margate, and old Tunbridge Wells.” MISCELLANEOU S. Art. 50. A Letter to a Friend, with a Poem called The Ghost of Werter. By Lady 4to. Is. 6d. Hookham. Lady Wallace has here given to the public, in the form of a letter to a female friend, fome very fevere ftrictures on the celebrated novel of Werter. Charlotte is juftly charged with the worst improprieties of conduct-indelicacy, nay downright indecency, with respect to her LovER,-and infidelity to her husband, -as far as the adultery of the mind can go. This fubject naturally leads the fair Critic into a variety of excellent obfervations on the defects of female education, with the confequent proneness of the fex [in the higher ranks] to thoughtleffnefs and diffipation. As to the poem entitled The Ghoft, &c. its defign is to make the poor fuicide, Werter, expoftulate with, and reproach, his once too much lov'd Charlotte, for having criminally indulged herself, while fhe was practifing on him, with fatal effect, the arts of feduction. Many lines, in this plaintive poem, are animated, and impaffioned; but others are fo incorrect, and even inelegant, that, on the whole, we cannot highly compliment Lady W. on her poetry. Certainly her beft talent, if we are to judge from the fpecimen before us, as a writer, is profe-compofition. Art. 51. Tales and Fables, Nabob and Agib, &c. 4to. Hookham. 2s. 6d. Most of these moralities are imitated from the French of Dorat, who has diftinguished himself by feveral ingenious performances. The Imitator's poetry is tolerably eafy, though inferior to that of Gay and Moore. The following fable will ferve as a fpecimen of the Author's abilities, as well as of thofe of his Tranflator: THE OSTRICH. An oftrich thus was heard to cry: "Place, place:- Make room to see me fly:" Impatient waited the event. Obferve my words," he thus went on, Come, have a care!" As thus he faid, Who, over-rating much their fkill, Exclaim, "we fly," though ftanding ftill.' Art. 52. The Flowers of Ancient Hiftory; comprehending, on a new Plan, the most remarkable and interefting Events, as well as Characters of Antiquity. 12mo. 35. fewed. Kearfley. 1787. Art. 5.3. The Flowers of Modern Hiftory; comprehending, on a new Plan, the most remarkable Revolutions and Events, as well as the moft eminent and illuftrious Characters, of modern Times; with a View of the Progrefs of Society and Manners, Arts and Sciences, from the Irruption of the Goths and Vandals, and other Northern Nations, upon the Roman Empire, to the Conclufion of the American War. Defigned for the Improvement and Entertainment of Youth. By the Rev. John Adams, A. M. 12mo. 3 s. fewed. Kearsley. 1788. The gardens from which these literary nofegays are culled are "Wilds, where weeds and flowers promifcuous fhoot ;" but they are of fuch great extent and richness, that many fine flowers yet remain ungathered-perhaps unobferved. Were Mr. Adams to take a farther range, and form another bouquet or two, it is to be hoped that the public would not let him go unrewarded for his toil : but we would advise him to be careful not to bind up weeds with his flowers; 13 flowers; which may easily happen, if he does not allow himself We think we have obferved fome marks of ample time for selection. hurry in what has already been done. 1788. Art. 54. Addrefs on Readings and Mufic, at Free Mafons' Hall. By Mr. Lacy. 4to. Is. 6d. Becket. Elocution and mufic, brought forward on the fame evening, formed, most probably, fuch an union, as rendered the entertainments at Free Mafons' Hall a feast for Mr. Lacy's audience. We are forry to find that he is now flopt in his career. When we read his firft words, Such a lofs as he has fuftained!' we imagined that he meant an allufion to the property which he once poffeffed. We remember him, not many years ago, owner of half the patent of Drury-lane theatre, and, befides his beautiful villa on the banks of the Thames, poffeffed of an estate in Oxfordshire. That he enjoys this property no longer, we cannot but regret, when we are told, that he ftill retains a worthy and amiable character. The lofs which Mr. Lacy fo pathetically laments, is, to a mind like his, of a more tender kind than lands and tenements: his forrow upon the occafion does honour to the affections of a fincere and generous hufband. Under the preffure of grief, he is not able to proceed in that course of reading, which, we are told, was highly acceptable to a number of audiences. He, therefore, now propofes to publifh, in fucceffive numbers, the pieces which he felected for his lectures, together with the mufic, which gave variety to the entertainment. The prefent publication announces his defign, and invites thofe who are inclined to honour him with their patronage, to fubfcribe five fhillings for the firft number. In a country where merit in diftrefs is feldom fuffered to folicit in vain, we have no doubt but Mr. Lacy's propofal will meet with the warm encouragement of a generous public. Why has he not a benefit on that stage, which once was his own? Art. 55. An Addrefs to the Public, by the Hon. Lady Hill; fetting forth the Confequences of the late Sir John Hill's Acquaintance with the Earl of Bute. 4to. 2s. 6d. Bell. 1788. We are truly concerned to find, by this publication, that the late ingenious Dr. Hill died deeply in debt; and, confequently, left his widow [the fifter of Lord Ranelagh] in very embarraffed circumstances. She here charges Lord B. with having occafioned the ruin of her husband, by drawing him out of the pleafant and profitable employments in which he was before engaged (viz. the ftudy of botany, and the very fuccefsful compofition of his famous advertised medicines), and prompting him to the immenfe task of writing the Vegetable Syftem, in twenty fix volumes folio! Lady Hill fays, that Lord B. declared to her husband, that, as the expence of this great work had been confidered, Sir John Hill might reft affured, his circumftances fhould not be injured by the undertaking. But mark the event! She declares that the execution of this prodigious plan, was the deftruction of the indefatigable author; for that what he received from my Lord, for three books, for the King, the Princess of Wales, and himself, three times a year, which were the periods of its publication, together with all that were fold, REV. April, 1788. Bb bore bore no proportion to the expence; fo that he became overwhelmed in debt.' Lord B. The adds, after repeated inftances, and much preffing, farther engaged Sir John to undertake another volume, after publishing the twenty-fix; for which he actually prepared materials, at the expence of between two and three hundred pounds; but, unfortunately, HE DIED, before this additional volume was completed! And now comes the worst part of the charge against Lord B. who, it is here affirmed, after having promifed his endeavour to obtain a penfion for the widow, foon turned his back upon her, grew deaf to complaints and folicitations, and even refused to indemnify her for the expences which had been incurred by the accumulation of materials for the intended additional volume, above mentioned, of the Vegetable System. Such treatment as Lady H. here complains of, added to the neceffities and urgency of her fituation, made her, at length, fo defperate, thar fhe was induced to threaten Lord B. with law, to compel him to the fulfilment of his honorary engagements: but our readers will readily conclude what must be the event of fuch threats, and what would be the iffue of fo unequal a conteft. In fine, after having, in the warmest language, given vent to her chagrin and refentment, we fee, with an unfeigned commiferation, the unfortunate Lady reduced to addrefs the generous public-fare friends of the unhappy.We fincerely pity her diftreffes; and are equally mortified to behold, in the inftance before us, to what lamentable fituations learning, ability, and even induftry itself, may be reduced! Art. 56. A Critique on the Poetical Effays of the Rev. William Atkinfon, M. A. Fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge. To which is added an Appendix, containing Trim's Letters to Mr. Atkinson, accompanied with a Narrative, and illuftrated with Notes and Obfervations. Small Octavo. 2s. 6d. Debrett. 1787. Trim, who is certainly an arch wag, gives the author of Poetical Elays a pretty fevere caftigation for the inconfiftency between the freedom of his fongs and the fanctity of his preaching, which, it feems, is of the methodistical caft. We are no judges of the perfonal grounds of thefe ftrictures; but the fatire is written with much ingenuity and fmartnefs, and, at the fame time, breathes a fpirit of honeft indignation against inconfiftency of character. But we must fay, that Trim would, in our opinion, have acted more generously, if he had confronted his own real name against that of the gentleman whom he has thought proper to bring before the bar of the public. We are however given to underftand, by a private letter, that the gentleman is not backward to acknowledge his Critique; and that we are indebted for it to the Rev. Mr. Edw. Baldwyn, late Fellow of Jefus College, Oxon. It is dated from Bradford, Yorkshire. Art. 57. An Hifiorical and Defcriptive Guide to Scarborough, and its |