mufic, which can only be known by those who have made the experiment, is the best apology for the incorrectness of the verfification.

Such difficulty may, indeed, be a good apology for those who might be confined to fuch a fpecies of compofition, and were mafters of any other; but we do not think it a fufficient excufe for an attempt wherein fo little poetical capacity is at all to be difcovered. For inftance, what ear for the harmony of numbers, or what propriety of ftyle could beJong to the Author of the following Chorus ?

On the word of the Lord, we will firmly depend;

For his arm can alone, his chofen race defend.

Art. 20. Nabal: An Oratorio, or facred Drama. The Words adapted, by the Author of Judas Macchabeus, to feveral Compofitions of the late George-Frederick Handel, Efq; 4to. I s. Dod.

There is a great deal of difficulty in knowing how to characterize performances, in which there is fo palpable a mediocrity of style and compofition as in that of Nabal. The ftory of David and Abigail, on which it is founded, is well known; all that we think neceffary to say farther on the fubject of this piece, therefore, is that we are forry to find the Mufes fuch antique Heathens, as to feem determined to have nothing to do with our modern facred Dramas.

Art. 21. Hannah: An Oratorio. Written by Mr. Smart. The Mufic compofed by Mr. Worgan. As performed at the King's Theatre in the Hay-market. 4to. Is. Tonfon.

There are in this piece fome airs fuperior to most we meet with in performances of this kind. They are not of fufficient merit, however, to make us retract the opinion we formed on reading Nabal, concerning the heathenifm of the Muses. The story of this piece is taken from the first and second chapter of the first book of Samuel.

POLITICAL.

Art. 22. The ancient Right of the English Nation to the American Fifbery; and its various Diminutions; examined and flated. With a Map of the Lands, Iflands, Gulphs, Seas, and FishingBanks comprifing the whole. Humbly Infcribed to the fincere Friends of the British Naval Empire. 4to. 3s. Baker.

Confifts of little more than a selection of curious and interesting paffages from the Memorials of the English Commiffaries, illuftrated by fuch other authorities, as tend inconteftibly to prove our Right to the Fishery in question. Having established this Right, the Author concludes thus pathetically My cordial wifhes for the future happy fortunes of my Prince and Country, are accompanied with concern, that after obtaining fo many important victories, whereby the enemy were fo far enfeebled and difarmed, and the fources of her commerce and naval strength brought into our poffeffion, there fhould be prevailing reafons for putting into her hands fo large a portion of this great fountain of maritime power.'.

Y. 3

As

As few, we imagine, are poñefied of the Memorials from whence a great part of this treatife is taken, we earnedly reccomend it to our Readers, as replete with valuable information, and entertaining anecdotes, which the Writer conveys in a methodical, perípicoous,” judicious, and difpaffionate manner.

Art. 23. A Letter to a Noble Member of the Club in AlbemarleAreet, from John Wilkes, Efq; at Paris. 4to. IS Nicoll. A witty and fevere fatire on the Club. The very irgenicas Author has, in a poftfcript to the Letter, given us a burieigos poetical version of Lord Chief Justice Pratt's Letter to the city of Exeter, the humopt of which is not, in our opinion, at all equal to the keen irony of the profe part of this farcaftical performance.

Art. 24. A Letter from J-n Ws, Ejq; in Paris, to a noble Lord in London. Folio. Is. Sumpter.

As ftupid and illiterate, as the foregoing pamphlet, with an almoft fimilar title, is animated and ingenious. Need we inform our Readers, that Mr. Wilkes (whose name and character are made to free with) is equally out of the queftion in both cafes ?

Art. 25. A Letter to the Common Council of the City of London, With Remarks on Lord Chief Justice Pratt's Letter to the City of Exeter. 8vo. Is. Nicoll.

The first part of this nervous and well-written tract, is founded on certain late Refolutions of the Common Council of our great Emporium, thanking their Reprefentatives for their zealous and fpirited endeavours .to affert the Rights and Liberties of the subject, in a late attempt to obtain a parliamentary declaration, "That a general warrant for apprehending and feizing the Authors, Printers, and Publishers of a seditious Libel, together with their papers, is not warranted by Law."For this our Author feverely cenfures the worthy Common Council; infiling, that their taking upon themselves to inftruct the Reprefentatives of theity, is contrary to the conftitation thereof, and an ufurpa tion of the Rights of the Livery. What pretence have you,' says he, other than in common with the Conftituents at large, to prescribe a rule of conduct to the Reprefentatives of the City?

The Reprefentatives are chofen by the Livery-men. In order to be Common Council-men, it is not neceffary that you should be of the Livery: and, in fact, fome of you are not of that body: thus, though you have not even a vote for the election of Members, yet you prefume to inftru&t them.

Admitting, however, that you were all fellow Conftituents with the Livery-men, yet hail a little junto of about two hundred and forty, fuppofing you all affembled, piefume to include the fense of near eight thoufand?

In short, Gentlemen, in which ever view your refolution is confidered, it is an infringement of the rights of the Livery-men, an infult on your Representatives, and a violation of the laws of the kingdom. -A violation the more unpardonable, as your refolution concerns a right,

in which every fubject in the kingdom is equally interefed, and which a fo extremely foreign from the bufinefs of your Corporation in par

ticular.'

This leads the Writer to the Matter of their Refolution; in the inveftigation of which, we conceive, that he argues more like a good Lawyer, than a good Citizen: for, that fuch a distinction may really exift, we will be bold to aver,-tho' we do not, in this place, incline to enlarge on that fubject. At least, we are pretty fure, that the ingenious Writer will allow, in the inftance of his friends of the Common Council, that they are good and worthy Citizens, tho', perhaps, not very able Lawyers.

He then confiders their other Refolution, in "Manifestation of their juft fenfe of the inflexible firmness and integrity of Sir Charles Pratt." On this head, he rallies the good men and true, of the city of London, moft unmercifully; and pleafantly congratulates his country on the erection of a tribunal compofed of heaven-born Lawyers.

He next falls upon the Lord Chief Juftice's Letter to the city of Exeter; in his animadverfions on which, he controverts the Writer's judgment as a Lawyer, queftions his capacity as a Scholar, and boldly charges him, alfo, with having fhewn too little regard to public order and decorum.We could with there were not the leaft appearance of justice in any of the ftrictures contained in this part of the pamphlet ; there being no living character that we more truly revere, than we do that of this upright and worthy Magiftrate: for we firmly believe, that (whatever errors or mistakes, he muit, as a man, be liable to) his intentions are as unimpeachable, as his zeal for Liberty is laudable and fincere.

This acrimonious Epiftle concludes with fome animadverfions on a late decifion concerning Privilege of Parliament; which, the Author endeavours to prove, was erroneous;-and he finally takes leave of his Readers with a friendly caution against Licentiousness: a term which is ever most abundantly repeated by those who are least warmed by the glorious fire of LIBERTY!

In fine, with respect to the letter, there are few tracts which we have wery lately read with more pleasure; but in regard to the Spirit of this performance, there is fcarce any that we have perufed with less fatiffaction for nothing gives us greater concern, than to see men of real abilities employing them in oppofition to thofe who, on any juft occafion, have virtue and public fpirit enough to exert themselves, in order to check the incroachments of Prerogative, and curb the Infolence of Power,

2

Art. 26. Confiderations on the Expediency of a general Bill for apportioning and dividing Waste Lands, in order to an Inclofure thereof, with the Confent of the Lords and Commoners. And a Plan of a Bill for that Purpofe. Humbly fubmitted to the Con fideration of the Legiflature. By R. W. one of his Majefty's Juftices of the Peace for the County of Stafford. Folio. bd, DodЛley.

A law of the kind here propofed, would furely be of general benefit

to the nation: and we think the plan of the Bill here offered, a good foundation, at least, on which to frame fo beneficial a law,

Art. 27. A Letter to the Gentlemen of the Oppofition: Wherein their Principles and their Conduct are confidered in refpect to each other, to their own Welfare, and to the public Good. 4to. Is.

'Wilkie.

A poor fpiritlefs attempt to be farcastic on the Coterie.

EAST-INDIA AFFAIRS.

·Art. 28. A Vindication of Mr. Holwell's Character, from the Afperfions thrown out in an anonymous Pamphlet, published March 6th, 1764, intitled, "Reflections upon the prefent State of our Eaft-India Affairs." By his Friends. In the Course of this Work, many important Facts are laid before the Public, regarding the Eaft-India Company's Affairs in Bengal, from the Year 1752 to 1760, particularly the various Causes which brought on the Ruin of our Settlements there, in 1756. 4to. 3s. 6d. Becket, &c.

The limits to which we are restrained will not allow us to give our Readers an abstract of this very voluminous pamphlet, in which there is a great deal of curious matter. We will only obferve, upon the whole, that, in our judgment, Mr. Holwell's character did not ftand in need of this laboured vindication: and, perhaps, the officious zeal of his friends may be as little acceptable, as the malice of his enemies was injurious.

Art. 29. A Defence of Mr. Vanfittart's Conduct, in concluding the Treaty of Commerce with Mhir Coffim Aly Chawn, fat Mangheer. By a Servant of the Company, long refident in Bengal. 4to. 6d. Becket.

The title-page befpeaks this to be a profeffed apology, and it has the merit of being well penned. It complains of the licentious conduct of the Company's fervants; and infifts, that Mr. Vanfittart formed a judicious plan to reconcile all differences.

Art. 30. The Hiftory of the Adminiftration of the Leader in the India Direction. Shewing, by what great and noble Efforts he has brought the Company's Affairs into their present happy Situation. 4ta. Is. Kearly.

This, we can affure the Reader, is fomething more than a history. It contains many bitter, and, perhaps, invidious reflections, on the conduct and principles of the Hero of the piece.

NOVELS.

Art. 31. The Amours and Adventures of Charles Careless, Efq; Interfperfed with a Variety of curious and entertaining Anecdotes,

criticalTM

critical and moral Reflections, droll and furprizing Scenes, familiar and interefting Defcriptions, and fome humourous and important Characters, drawn from real Life. Written by himfelf. 12mo. 2 Vols. 65. Fletcher.

Exhibits the hiftory of a wild, thoughtless young Fellow, whom the Author conducts through a variety of fcenes; in the conclufion of which The bestows on him that happiness he by no means merited. Hence, the work is deficient in regard to moral; but the Author fhews himself not unacquainted with the world; fo that if he has not reprefented all things as they ought to be, he has fhewn many things as they are: and it must be allowed, that his performance may tolerably anfwer the purpose of -amusement, if not of instruction.

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MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 32. An Introduction to the Knowlege of Medals. By the late
Rev. David Jennings, D. D. Small 8vo. 2s.
Baskerville for T. Field, &c.

Printed by

This is a fenfible and judicious treatife, in which the elements of medallic knowlege are laid down without affectation, or any laboured and useless display of eradition. It contains the History of Medals; their matter, fize, and fhape; the orders into which they are diftin guished; their impreffion and form, and their value and ufe. The Tyro in Antiquities may here find a valuable introduction to that province of knowlege which relates to Medals and Coins, and the profound Antiquary may learn to be more fparing of conjecture, and to investigate upon the principles of reafon and common fenfe.

Art. 33. The Operations of the Allied Army, under the Command of his Serene Highness Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Brunfwic and Luneburg, during the greatest Part of Six Campaigns, beginning in the Year 1757, and ending in 1762. By an Officer who Illuftrated with Maps and ferved in the British Forces.

Plans. 4to. 19s. fewed. Jefferys.

This Journal of the War commences at the time when Prince Ferdinand affumed the command of the allied army, foon after the memorable Convention of Clofter feven; and is continued to the final ceffation of hoftilities, November 15, 1762: the preliminaries of peace having been figned at Fontainbleau on the 3d of the fame month. The Author does not take upon him to enter into political difquifitions, or pretend to have been admitted into the military cabinet, but contents himself with barely relating fuch matters of fact as were before very generally known, although they had not been fo regularly connected, or brought into fo comprehenfive a view, as in the prefent collection. In a word, the detail feems to have been compiled chiefly for the fake of illuftrating the Engravings, most of which we remember to have feen, as feparately published by Mr. Jefferys, during the courfe of the war. This re-publication of them, however, with the additional narrative, may be very acceptable to thofe who have not previously purchased or preferved the plates, which must be useful to refer to, occafionally.

Art.