rect idea of a subject which has been too often the cause of much error and confusion. The Thespian Dictionary; or Dramatic Biography of the Eighteenth Century; containing Sketches of the Lives, Productions, &c. &c. of all the Principal Managers, Dramatists, Composers, Commentators, Actors, and Actresses of the United Kingdom; interspersed with several Original Anecdotes, and forming a concise Histoy of the English Stage. - 12mo. 9s. 6d. Hurst. 1801. "This collection of dramatic biography is in all its details the most perfect and satisfactory which has been hitherto published. Every person worthy of notice in the different branches of the art, announced in the title page, is comprehended in the volume, and the whole is alphabetically arranged, so as to give, on the first inspection, a just idea of the claims of each individual to distinction. It must also be remarked that no characters are introduced but those respecting whom the most authentic information could be obtained. We freqneutly meet with anecdotes which have been generally unknown, and the addenda are not destitute of valuable matter. The editor seems to have been perfectly acquainted with the nature of the object which he had in view, and the care with which he has avoided all family anecdote and green-room scandal, cannot be too highly praised." The portraits of the principal performers, with which the work is decorated, present in general a correct resemblance of the originals. Eccentric Biography; or, Sketches of remarkable Characters, ancient and modern; including Potentates, Statesmen, Divines, Historians, Naval and military Heroes, Philosophers, Lawyers, Impostors, Painters, Players, dramatic Writers, Misers, &c. the whole alphabetically arranged, and forming a pleasing Delineation of the singularity, whim, folly, caprice, &c. &c. of the human Mind. Ornamented with Portraits of the most singular Characters noticed in the Work. 12mo. 328 Pages, 4s. Hurst, 1801. IN selecting and arranging the materials of this pleasant volume, on so small a scale, the editor must have had many difficulties to encounter; but he has certainly succeeded in surmounting them, and completed a work which, with several novel traits, combines the most striking instances of singularity and humour hitherto exhibited, of the human mind, from the carliest periods to the most recent time. The merits of these biographical sketches will, perhaps, be best evinced by a few short extracts. Of that very extraordinary contrast of dissipation and avarice the late Mr. John Elwes, it is observed; after sitting up a whole night at play for thousands, with the most fashionable and profligate men of the age, he would quit the splendid scene, and walk walk out about four in the morning to Smithfield, to meet his own cattle which were coming to market from Haydon Hall, a farm of his in Essex. There would this same man throw aside his habits of dissipation, and, standing in the cold or rain, haggle. with a carcass butcher for a shilling. When his cattle did not arrive at the expected hour, he would walk on in the mire to meet them; and more than once he has travelled on foot the whole way to his farm, without stopping, which was seventeen miles from London, after sitting up the whole of the night. Mr. Elwes generally travelled on horseback, having first taken care to put two or three eggs, boiled hard, into his great-coat pocket, or any scraps of bread he could find; then, mounting one of his hunters, he made the best of his way out of London, into that road where turnpikes were the least numerous. Next, stopping under any hedge, where he saw grass for his horse, and a little water for himself, he would sit down and refresh himself and his animal." The astonishing memory of Magliabechi, librarian to Cosmo, third Grand Duke of Tuscany, has been mentioned by many writers. Those who have not heard of it will read, with surprise, the following anecdote :-" A gentleman, to make trial of the force of his memory, sent him a manuscript that he was going to print. Some time after it was returned, the gentleman came to him with a melancholy face, and pretended it was lost. Magliabechi, being requested to recollect what he remembered of it wrote the whole, without missing a word, or varying the spelling." The editor gives a very curious account of that truly eccentric character Edward Wortley Montague, whose life affords more uncommon incidents than that of almost any other person in our recollection. "From Westminster-school, where he was placed for education, he ran away three several times. He exchanged clothes with a chimney-sweeper, and followed for some time that sooty occupation. He then engaged with a fisherman and cried flounders in Rotherhithe. He afterwards sailed as a cabin-boy to Spain, where he had no sooner arrived, than he ran away from the vessel, and hired himself to a driver of mules. After thus vagabondizing it for some time, he was discovered by the consul, who returned him to his friends in England, by whom he was received with joy equal to that of the Prodigal Son in the gospel. A private tutor was employed to recover those rudiments of learning, which a life of dissipation and vulgarity might have obliterated. He was sent to the West-Indies, where he remained some time, and when he returned to England, acted according to the dignity of his birth, and was chosen a member in two successive parliaments His expences exceeding his income, he became in volved in debt, quitted his native country, and commenced that wandering traveller he continued to the time of his death. Hav ing visited most of the Eastern countries, he contracted a partiality for their manners. He drank little wine, a great deal of coffee; wore a long beard; smoaked much; and even whilst at Venice, he was habited in the Estern stile. He sat cross-legged, in the Turkish 1801.] AND IMPERIAL REGISTER. Turkish fashion, through choice. With the Hebrew, the Arabic, the Chaldaic, and the Persian languages, he was as well acquainted as with his native tongue." Aphorisms for Youth; with Observations and Reflections, religious, moral, critical, and characteristic; some original, but chiefly selected, during an extended course of reading, from the most distinguished English, French, and Italian writers; interspersed with several pieces of original Poetry. 12mo. 55. Lackington and Allen, 1801. THE success with which the labours of the lady, who gives this useful compilation to the world, were attended, in the education of a beloved daughter, upon a similar plan, have induced her to make it public; and we feel no difficulty in strongly recommending it to the adoption of parents, tutors, and governesses, who are desirous of leading the youthful mind to reflection, by pointing out proper objects for its contemplation; teaching it to compare ideas in a just point of view, and thence enabling it, upon the most satisfactory grounds, to form opinions of its own. The aphorisms are principally drawn from the purest and most approved sources; yet several of them, particularly those of a critical and characteristic nature, possess undeniable claims to originality. The poetical pieces, interspersed throughout the volume, are marked with novelty and justness of application; and that they are not destitute of merit will appear from a single article, by no 'means the best,` attached to the 398th aphorism which we copy :"How happy are those whose cultivated minds can, at all times, draw resources from themselves: to such solitude is never irksome, and amusement charms with double zest. For them the spring Distils her dews, and from the silken gem This valuable work uniformly tends to the promotion of true religion, sound morality, and correct taste. ORIGINAL POETRY. L'UNION Vers adressés à Mademoiselle S*****. ENVAIN AIN J'ai combattu, seduisante Julie, Et mes sens triomphant de la froide raison Il nést qu'un seul moyen pour vaincre ces rebelles C'est de joindre (mes veux au plaisir sont fidelles) LE COMTE ERNEST DE ROGGENDORFF, EPIGRAM FROM THE LATIN. ACON AND LEONILLA. LUMINE Acon dextro caruit, Leonilla sinistro; Blande puer, lumen, quod habes, concede sorori, TRANSLATION. ACON'S right eye, his mother's left was gone, T. O. Note. In the third line we would read parenti, instead of sorori, as far preferable, since Venus and Cupid were mother and son. gallant and beautiful epigram is unknown. EPIGRAM The author of this FREELY TRANSLATED FROM MARTIAL. AD cœnam nuper Varus me forte vocavit : Auro, non dapibus oneratur mensa: ministri Tunc ego non oculos, sed ventrem pascere veni: To dine with sumptuous Andrews I made bold. CANZONET. CANZONET. ASK, why a blush o'erspreads the rose, And waves the flower in stately pride? ON THE DEATH OF A BELOVED FEMALE FRIEND. ART can no more: the sage physician foil'd, retires TO THE REDBREAST. HAIL! sweet songster of the grove, With hearty welcome I thee greet, Let thy carols soothe my ear, 1 R. H. S. PUBLIC |