own part, I think myself very safe where I am; though I could with to fee a reformation in fome things; and what church does not stand in need of it? When we indulge ourselves in hot and uncharitable difputes, about doubtful and uneffential points, we are no better than children fighting in great wrath for toys and trifles.' In the prefatory advertisement to this Letter we are affured, that it, is really what the title-page declares it to be; that it was written about feven or eight years ago, in feparate letters from the Author to One of his daughters at a boarding-school; and that her mother de1 firing 'to have thefe methodized, and properly arranged for the ufe of the reft of their children, they were accordingly thrown into their present form. Since that, we are farther informed, several of the Author's friends, particularly fome of his female acquaintance, having feen the performance, induced the Author to fend it to the prefs, in the very laudable perfuafion that the publication would produce the fame good effects upon other readers, as they had, themselves, experienced on perufing the manufcript. Art. 23. The Way to the Temple of True Honour and Fame, by the Paths of Heroic Virtue, exemplified in the Lives of the most eminent Perfons, of both Sexes; on the Plan laid down by Sir William Temple, in his Essay of Heroic Virtue. By W. Cooke, A. B. Fellow of New College Oxford, and Chaplain to the Marquis of Tweedale. 12mo. 4 vols. 12's, bound. Devizes printed; and fold by Davis in London. 1773.. The lives of the ancient gods, heroes, and legiflators, are here given, in chronological fucceflion, from Jupiter, Hercules, Nimrod, &c. down to Marcus Antoninus, and Queen Zenobia. The real history of thefe illuftrious perfonages is ftripped, as much as poffible, of the fabulous circumstances in which they have been enveloped and difguifed by the poets and priests of antiquity, and their characters and conduct are held up, for our emulation and imitation. "The knowledge of paft tranfactions,' fays the Compiler, is not a mere amusement, but a necessary and instructive study-In general, the real fentiments and defigns of those we live among, and converfe with, are induftriously concealed; but in the accounts of former ages, the facts themselves difclofe to us the real views and genuine difpofitions of the actors: and the fame caufes will commonly produce the like effects. By weighing well thefe truths, a fure refource may be obtained in every dangerous conjuncture; and the road which leads to fuccefs and happiness discovered.' In order to please the generality of readers, the Compiler profeffes that he has made it his business to mingle profit with delight, and that he has given the least common and moit entertaining lives that could be felected from history. 'Should thefe,' fays he, meet with a favourable reception from the public, they will pave the way to others, which though of later date, are yet lefs known. And when the plan on which we profefs to proceed is once completed, we fhould hope, that truth and virtue, difengaged from fournefs and aufterity, which are not their natural attendants, may once more gain poffeffion of the breafts of the humane and lovely; and fhame the vicious. tafle for lying and corruptive memoirs in general.', Art. Art. 24. Letters, by John Hughes, Efq; and feveral other emi nent Perfons deceafed. Published from the Original; by John Duncombe, M. A. one of the fix Preachers in Christ Church, Canterbury. Vol. iii. 3 s. fewed. Johnson. We have already given fo ample an account of the two former volumes of this collection of Letters, that a very short article will fuffice for the prefent publication. The Editor has prefixed to this volume an account of the life and writings of Mr. Hughes. To these memoirs is fubjoined the Theatre; No. 15. By Sir Richard Steele; in which paper Sir Richard took occafion to write a very warm encomium on his deceased friend, the author of the Siege of Damafcus; who died the night before the publication of the paper, and but a few hours after that celebrated play was acted, for the first time. The letters here printed are thirty-one in number; and were written by Mr. Hughes, Mr. Say †, Dr. Bentley, Mr. W. Duncombe, Mr. Needler, Sir Richard Steele, Earl Cowper, Archbishop Herring, Mr. Welfted, Mr. Straight, (a very witty divine) Bishop Benfon, Mr. Samuel Richardfon, Lord Corke. Mr. Dyer, and Mr. Hirft ; whose laft letter is dated from the Cape of Good Hope, and contains (we believe) the last account that ever came to Europe, of the unfortunate AURORA, on board of which the ingenious writer perished. To the Letters are added feveral fmall pieces by Mr. Hughes, which were omitted in the collection of his works; and a farther account of Mrs. Bendy, grand daughter to Oliver Cromwell. Of this extraordinary woman, many entertaining particulars are here given, beûde those which were contained in the appendix to the second volume of this collection, and copied into our Review for January 1773, p. 29. Art. 25. An Appeal to the Public, from the Judgment of a certain Manager, with original Letters: and the Drama of one Act, which was refufed Reprefentation. 8vo. 1s. Bew. 1774 A Mr. T. R. as we learn from this publication, having written a farce of one act, entitled The Politician Reformed,' offered it to Mr. Garrick; who civilly expreffed his apprehenfion that it would not fucceed in the reprefentation, as the fubject had been already moft fuccefsfully treated by the author of the Upholsterer. This refufal irritated the difappointed Author; between whom and the manager two or three letters paffed, on this important occafion. Thefe letters are here printed; with fome additions, which only ferve to evince the arrogance, peevishness, and weakness of the appellant: who thus takes his revenge on Mr. Garrick.-It remains now to be feen what he will do with the Public.' Art. 26. The Canterbury Patriot: Or the late Mayor's new Mode of defending Liberty, Property, and the Privilege of the Prefs In a Narrative of a Law Suit commenced against Mr. William Francis, for the Recovery of Money obtained at Gaming. By Thomas Rech. 8vo. Is. Richardfon and Urquhart. Compaffion for a man who has had the vexation of à law fuit, and who appears, from his own account, to have been otherwife unjuftly See Review for January 1773. + See Rev. above referred to, p. 27. Ibid. p. 36. haraffed haraffed and oppreffed, prevents us from treating this publication, merely as a Canterbury Tale; for we do not fee how the Author can expect that the Public in general fhould enter into the merits of fuch a piece of private hiftory. We fuppofe Mr. Roch has been ill treated; but we know not what Mr. F. and his friends, on the other fide, may have to offer. This Pamphlet, however, though not generally interefting to the Public, will have a very good effect, hould it deter any, or even but one perfon, from the pernicious and abfurd practice of gaming, which is now become fo prevalent among us. Art. 27. The improved French Grammar, in which, I. the Pronunciation is treated in a clear and concife Manner, the Difficulties which usually ftrike Terror into the French Scholar, from the Prolixity and Ambiguity of former Methods, are removed, and the eafy and expeditious Attainment of this effential Article is infured. Il. The Principles are laid down in a plain and intelligible Me-thod, free from that infinite Number of ufelefs Obfervations, and Exceptions with which other French Grammars abound, and by which the Learner's Progrefs is impeded. To the whole are added familiar Phrafes, Stories, Dialogues, and Letters; with Exercifes for the Pronunciation, and on the Parts of Speech. On a new Plan. By John Caffelle, Teacher of the French in London. Harris. .1773. 1 S. For a fhort book this title-page is very long, and, what is more extraordinary, it is very true.. Art. 28. A Defcription of England and Wales. Containing a particular. Account of each County, with its Antiquities, Curiofities, Situation, Extent, Climate, Rivers, Lakes, Mineral Waters, Soils, Plants and Minerals, Agriculture, Civil and Ecclefiaftical Divifions, Cities, Towns, Seats, Manufactures, Trade, Sieges, Battles; and the Lives of the illuftrions men each County has produced. Embellished with 240 Copper-plates, of Palaces, Caftles, Cathedrals; the Ruins of Roman and Saxon Buildings; and of Abbeys, Monafteries, and other Religious Houfes. Befide a Variety of Cuts of Urns, Infcriptions, and other Antiquities. Izmo. 10 vols. 11. 10 s. fewed. Newberry and Carnan. As the Authors, who profeffedly treat of the antiquities and natural history of particular, counties, have commonly fwelled their works to fuch an enormous fize and price, as to place them quite out of the reach of all, but opulent, readers; a judicious compendium of whatever tends to give a clear view of the ancient and prefent ftate of our own country, muft doubtless be an acceptable prefent to every man who wishes not to be totally ignorant of the remarkable perfons and things, which even his own neighbourhood may, probably, have contributed to produce. The Work before us promifes to do this; and it appears to be executed with a greater degree of accuracy and precifion, than is ufually to be met with in compilations of this nature. The copper-plates in general, are alfo, to fay the leaft of them, as good as they could be expected to be, in a work fo contracted in respect to fize, and fo limited in point of expence to the purchaser. REV. Mar. 1774. Art. Art. 29. The Circuit of Human Life; a Vifion. In which are allegorically defcribed the Virtues and Vices. Taken from the Tablature of Cebes, a Diftiple of Socrates. For the Inftruction of Youth. 12mo. 1 s. T. Carnan. 1774 The Tablature of Cebes has been long and justly efteemed as one of the most beautiful and valuable remains of antiquity-This imitation of it is by no means destitute of merit, though not free from defects. The form in which this Writer has chofen to recommend wisdom and virtue, is generally acceptable and pleafing, especially to young minds. But human life is fo diverfified; its windings are fo numerous, its opinions, prejudices, propenfities and paffions fo multifarious; that it must be very difficult to prevent confufion, or form an allegory with any confiderable degree of regularity and perfpicuity. The little publication now before us, is, however, certainly adapted to entertain and improve the youthful heart. Happy that youth who is fo influenced and guarded as to direct his early steps in the path that leads to true happiness, and to perfevere in it! LA W. Art. 30. Abftra&t of an AE for Amendment of the Highways, 13th of George III. chap. lxxviii. With the Schedule of Forms, Table of daily Duty, Compofition, and Penalty from 500l. per Ann. to fol. Form of Surveyor's Account, and a Summary of refpective Duties and other Matters. By a Surry Juftice. Folio. 1s. 6d. Payne. 1773. The utility of this Abstract will fufficiently appear from what we have faid of a fimilar publication. See our account of Mr. Scott's Digeft, Review for December laft, p. 498. Art. 31. The Modern Parifb Officer; or the Parish Officer's Complete Duty. Brought down to the prefent Period. Containing all the Statute Laws now in Force, together with the adjudged Cafes relating to every Kind of Parish Bufinefs, placed in alphabe tical Order. A Work effentially necessary for Conftables, Churchwardens, Overfeers of the Poor, Surveyors of the Highways, Juftices of the Peace, Attornies, Headboroughs, Tithingmen, Sidefmen, Veftrymen, Scavengers, &c. who would wish to execute their refpective Offices with Safety and Satisfaction. It is alfo a neceffary Companion for every Inhabitant of a Parish, who may not be a Parish Officer; as it will enable him to judge whether the Parish Duties are properly executed by others, and to defend himfelf against the Ignorance of thofe who are unacquainted with their Duty, as well as the arbitrary Measures of those who too. frequently want to exercise an Authority which they are not warranted to do by Law. By a Gentleman of Lincoln's Inn. 12mo. 3 s. 6d. Kearfley, &c. 1774. Had this Gentleman of Lincoln's inn, or elsewhere, found it prudent to avow this publication by fixing his name to it, he would in all probability, out of respect to himself, have given it a title lefs ver See a particular analyfis of this fine piece of ancient allegory, in the 11th volume of our Review, p. 502, &c, bose, bofe, and more modeftly expreffed: he would in plain terms have declared the purpose of it, and trufted to the merit of the execution, for its recommendation. When our expectations are raised too high, they are feldom anfwered; and even when a writer honeftly fulfils his ample promifes, Fame owes him no reward, he is a forestaller of applaufe, and may be fatisfied if he is allowed to have anticipated no more than was due to him. The Compiler of this book affures the Public, that he has given us the parish officer's complete duty, brought down to the prefent period; and this period is pointed out at the bottom of the title page to be the year 1774 yet if juftices of the peace with to know their duty in an important article, that of regulating the affize and making of bread, they must confult a ftatute, 13 Geo. 3. c. 62, which is not mentioned in the work! If juftices of the peace and parish officers examine it for the licenfing lying in hofpitals, and for their duty refpecting baftards born therein, they will be wholly disappointed; not the leaft notice being taken of the act 13 Geo. 3. c. 82, the law now in force as to these cafes! That these ftatutes were not too recent for this crude publication, may be inferred from the ample notice taken of the laft highway act, 13 Geo. 3. c. 78, which is fubfequent to the bread act. This highway act is indeed almoft given verbatim, for which perhaps two private reafons might be urged, if they were proper for the Compiler to produce: but instead of the last turnpike act, we are prefented with a full detail of the 7 Geo. 3. c. 40. which is now repealed, and fuperfeded by the 13 Geo. 3. c. 84. This laft ftatute furnishes matter for a fhort appendix, but this appendix affords no fufficient reafon or apology for overlooking the act 7 Geo. 3. c. 39. under the title Poor, nor for the premature hafte in hurrying out fo imperfect a publication disguised under fuch oftentatious profeffions. Art. 32. A Difcuffion of Lord Camden's Opinion and Decree in Allen and the Duke of Newcastle. 4to. 2s. Wilkie. 1774. This Publication relates to a cafe of executorship; and if it is of any ufe beyond a juftification of the parties affected by it, that ufe will be feen in difplaying the tricks of an artful attorney, in tranfactions where he was joint executor, and contrived to be fole manager. It is profeffedly published "to fhew the motives which induced the Duke of Newcastle to appeal from Lord Camden's decree." The review of this decree belongs properly to the fuperior court to which his Grace appeals. Art. 33. The Legal Degrees of Marriage ftated and confidered, in a Series of Letters to a Friend. By John Alleyne, Efq; Barrister at Law. 8vo. 1s.^ Harris, &c. 1774. Mr. Alleyne, the writer of thefe Letters; renews the theme formerly difcuffed by Mr. Fry, who juftified all the marriages of kindred, excepting thofe in the immediately afcending and defcending line, and between full brothers and fifters. He is therefore a very fanguine advocate for fome diftreffed client who pines for the fifter of his deceafed wife; and in this caufe warmly undertakes to refute thofe religious prejudices, which, as he expreffes it, “ cannot stand See Review, vol. xv. p. 174. Q2 the |