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On her white bofom, which with eafy fwell,
Rofe foft, yet firm, her graceful treffes fell:
O'er her fair face, Health's rofy hues were spread;
In her moift eyes, Love's purple lightnings play'd:
She lowly bending the fair Queen addrefs'd,

And in few words her humble fuit exprefs'd.'

The fair Queen might find out who this Nymph was, by fomething that is not expreffed; but we fhould have been long puzzled for her name, if the poet had not informed us in the margin that the Nymph was called PUBERTY. The Abbefs of Quedlinburgh, whom Sterne hath celebrated for her dexterity in drawing of whiskers for the entertainment of the chafte fifterhood, would have hit off the Nymph's likeness with more skill and exactness.

He was justly accounted a forry painter, who having drawn a picture, by which he defigned to reprefent the king of beafts, found it neceffary to explain whom it was intended for, and wrote underneath -This is a lion, left it should be mistaken for a lefs noble animal.

DRAMATIC.

B-h

Art. 51. Richard Coeur de Lion. An Hiftorical Romance. From the French of M. Sedaine. As performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. 8vo. Is. 6d. Debrett. 1786.

This Opera (for fo it might have been entitled) is not very delightful to read; but it has maintained, by virtue of stage embellishments, and good performance, a tolerable footing on 'The boards." It is founded on the ftory of King Richard's imprisonment in the dominions of the Duke of Auftria, on his return from the Holy War; of the romantic difcovery of the place of his confinement, by means of a fong, repeated under the caftle walls; and of his confequent deliverance: which is, here, effected by a party of Richard's friends furprising the Governor, and ftorming the caftle.

NOVEL S.

Art. 52. Appearance is against them. 12mo. 3 Vols. 7s. 6d. fewed. Jones. 1786.

The main incident in this novel is borrowed, but without acknowledgment, from L'Ecoffaife, a well-known comedy of Voltaire's. The ftory, which is an interefting one, is confiderably heightened by the prefent writer, but his language is poor and weak. At the opening of the performance, indeed, where the Author defcribes the feelings of a perfon once in affluence, but reduced to nearly a dependent ftate, we difcovered a prettiness of thought and expreffion, and which really promifed well. We were accordingly prepared to hail the coming good'-but, alas! as our Author obferves, appearances are often deceitful; and when we expected to embrace a Juno, we met with nothing but a cloud. A.B. Art. 53. Emily Herbert; or Perfidy punished. 12mo. 3 Vols. 7s. 6d. fewed. Jones. 1786.

This Novel comes from the fame pen as the preceding "Appearance," &c. and like that performance is entitled to very little praife. The ftyle is pert and flippant, and the story improbable. In the character of Lady Stanley too, the Author has drawn a monster of iniquity; he is continually talking with rapture of her malignant and vindictive spirit, and even priding herfelf on its fuccefs. But it

fhould

fhould be remembered, that the revengeful character will never make its purposes known to any one. Iago would always be confidered as an honest man. In a word, when fuch a character is fhewn, it fhould always be done by action, and action only; nothing can be more unnatural than to make it defcribe itself. A.B Art. 54. Albina; a Novel, in a Series of Letters. 12m0. 2 Vols. s. fewed. Lane.

It has been faid of an ill-written poem

"This is not poetry, but profe run mad.”

Though the prefent performance has nothing to do with poetry, we ftill pronounce it to be " profe run mad." But our Readers fhall judge for themfelves:

I have been unwell, but, thanks to kind Fortune, am recovered to the full vigour and life of twenty-one-Oh! charming age! I will enjoy it, tho' 'tis paft; and live o'er thofe dear delicious days, long as health and fpirits grant permit.

This over, the haftily retired, followed by that dearest of women, Lady Clifford, who beheld with confcious dread, contending paflions work her Lord and guests.

Apropos, Mifs Bingley requefted my company in a prowl round the park the other evening, which I agreed to unwillingly, ber jpi rits being elated at fome periods beyond bounds.'

As to the ftory, it is the ufual one for a Novel;

"Tom loves Mary paffing well;

But Mary fhe loves Harry, &c. &c."

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Art. 55. Theodofius and Arabella. A Novel. In a Series of Letters, by the late Mrs. Hampden Pye. 12mo. 2 Vols. 55. fewed. Lane,

This is fo poor and trifling a performance, that it has only one circumftance to recommend it, which is, that it is very short. É Art. 56. Arpafia; or the Wanderer. By the Author of the

Nabob. 12mo. 3 Volumes. 7s. 6d. fewed. Lane. 1786. The artifices of villany to betray and harafs innocence proving abortive, and virtue at length becoming triumphant, is always a pleafing fubject. A moderate artift, who employs his pencil upon a fcheme which fo well accords with the best feelings of the human heart, cannot fail of being, in fome degree, fuccessful. The novel before us turns chiefly upon this topic, and, though not abounding with reflection, or remarkable for elegance of language, is a busy, and not uninterefting tale. Art. 57. Rajah Kijna: an Indian Tale. Debrett. 1786.

3 Vols. 9s. fewed.

A wild rhapfody, that tells of Indian gods and goddeffes, of incantations high, and powerful fpells; of giants valt, and fiery monfters; of royal loves, and groves of paradife, and beds of rofes, and

of a thousand wondrous things, in words of fwelling found, and dark import. On the myftic fcroll we will infcribe, as its motto,

"Away! intruding common fenfe *!"

then hurl it down into Tartarian night.

The first line of a stupid Ode to Stupidity, inferted in the work.

E.

E.

MISCEL

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 58. The Two Farmers; an exemplary Tale; defigned to recommend the Practice of Benevolence towards Mankind, and all other living Creatures; and the religious Obfervance of the Sabbath Day. By Mrs. Trimmer. 12mo. Longman. 1786.

In our Number for September, we recommended to the Public Mrs. Trimmer's little work, entitled The Servant's Friend; of which the present tale is a continuation.-Thomas Simpkins marries his fellow-fervant, turns farmer, and by his good conduct, becomes rich and happy; and ends his days with that greateft of bleflings, the confciousness of a well-fpent life. On the other hand, we have the example of one Mills, a farmer, likewife; who, neglecting his businefs, and minding only horfe-racing, cock-fighting, &c. forms a ftriking contrast to the character of Simpkins: and reminds us of Hogarth's Induftry and Idlenefs.-Mills going out, one Sunday, on a drinking party, gets a fall from his horfe, and breaks his thigh: a fever enfues, and being of a bad habit of body, a miferable end is put to his ill-fpent life.

The fentiments contained in this little piece are fuch as we wish to fee more univerfally inculcated, efpecially what is here fo well faid against cruelty to poor dumb animals; as we, for want of understanding their language, perhaps ignorantly ftyle them. This fpecies of inhumanity we have always been forry to fee fo generally prevalent, and fo little noticed, or checked, by those whofe office it is to reprove, admonish, and inftruct the people. We rejoice, however, that this benevolent lady hath employed her ufeful pen on the fubject-may fuccefs attend all her laudable exertions!

Mrs. Trimmer obferves in her dedication, that in confequence of a hint from the Monthly Reviewers, he refolved to write a short tract, for the poor, that might anfwer the purpose of her "Fabulous Hiftories." In purfuance of this idea, and from a fincere defire of being useful to a very important part of the rifing generation,' the has exhibited the virtues of Mr. and Mrs. Simpkins in another point of view, in hopes that their history will prove an agreeable vehicle for conveying to Sunday Scholars, under the idea of amufement for their leisure hours, fome leffons which may prove beneficial to them in the future part of their lives.'-The attention of this worthy lady to the fcheme of Sunday Schools is highly laudable; and it is with pleasure that we learn how extenfively fhe has contributed, in every way that a private individual can contribute, to the encouragement of that useful defign, in the neighbourhood of her refidence: never fparing her time, her influence [refpectable characters have always influence], and even her perfonal affiftance, and attendance for the promotion of that good undertaking.

Art. 59. A Journal of the late and important Blockade and Siege of Gibraltar, from the 12th of September 1779, to the 3d Day of February 1783. Containing a minute Detail of the Tranfactions, Naval, Military, &c. with entertaining Anecdotes, &c. By Samuel Ancel, Clerk to the 58th Regiment. In a Series of Letters

We fuppofe this refers to what was faid, relative to her Fabulous Hiftories, in the Review for March laft, p. 199.

wrote

G. E.G.

wrote on the Spot. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Edinburgh printed; and fold by Robinfons in London. 1786.

Mr. Ancell tells us, in a prefatory Advertisement, that there Letters were not intended for the prefs, nor neither would they have been prefented to the Public, but from repeated folicitation.-Importunity prevailed.-The recital of the various occurrences and momentous events, as they were wrote and felt amidst all the rage of war, hurry, and confufion, made their appearance at Liverpool, in 1784, and experienced a fuccefsful and rapid fale, notwithstanding their want of that elegance of diction, which works of labour and ftudy are embellished with. This teftimony of public approbation has induced the Author (the first writer, and who has not borrowed or copied from other publications) to continue them in their original ftyle, and to fubmit this edition to the candour of his readers, who, it is hoped, will overlook any inaccuracies they may meet with, efpecially when they confider, that a foldier's bufinefs is difcipline, and not literary fame.'

Though the above apology may, by fome, be deemed fufficient, yet we think the Author, when once prevailed upon to publish this Journal, might have taken the trouble to correct the inaccuracies here hinted at, as they certainly are not few in number, and efpecially as his book has gone through more than one edition; for though in private letters to a friend, elegance, or extreme correctnefs, might not be thought of much confequence, yet when a written performance is given to the Public, it is the indifpenfible duty of the author to make it as perfect as poffible.-To thofe who have, or had, any connections at Gibraltar, thefe Letters will, notwithstanding, be acceptable; as we cannot doubt their authenticity, and as they bear evident marks of attention with refpect to all the circumftances of the fiege; but when we read Mr. Ancell's numerous attempts at verfification, we cannot but fmile, and express a wish that he had not mifemployed his time and talents in fruitless endeavours to coax the Mufe, with whom he feems by no means to be a favourite.

We have at the end a fhort (very fhort) hiftory and defcription of Gibraltar, Memoirs of General Elliot, &c. &c. also a portrait of the Governor, and fix other plates and maps.

Upon the whole, however, as fuch imperfections as thofe above mentioned, may be overlooked in a work, whose chief objects are faithful narrative and minute defcription, we will venture to recommend this performance to thofe who may be, in one refpect or another, moft interefted about the late attempt for the reduction of this important fortress. For an account of a former narrative of this memorable fiege, by another hand, fee Rev. vol. lxxi. p. 148. 9.8.9 Art. 60. Confiderations on Lotteries, and Proposals for their bet ter Regulation. Addreffed to the Right Hon. William Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer. 4to. 15. Kearsley. 1786. The defign of this publication is to recommend a plan for fecuring to Government all the advantages propofed by a Lottery, and at the fame time repreffing and checking the evils attendant on them. The Author would abolith every fpecies of under lottery, viz. ft. Gaming on numbers to return money;-2d. Iffuing policies on State tickets, promifing a lefs benefit than that granted by Parliament; and,

3d. Iffing policies as above to return goods; but approves of some mode of infurance in order to enable large ticket-holders to fecure their property.' The plan he propofes is, to return tickets or fhares of numbers undrawn, for tickets or fhares infured.' Though the Author fpeaks highly in praife of this mode, and points out the advantages that would accrue from it to Government, yet it seems to us objectionable; for may it not fometimes happen, that the tickets undrawn will not be fufficient to anfwer all the tickets and fhares infured? RArt. 61. The Cafe of Mr. Sutherland, late Judge of the ViceAdmiralty Court of Minorca. 4to. 15. Kearsley.

In this memorial, addreffed to the King, the Author charges the Miniftry with neglect, and infult, in reward of paft fervices: no uncommon cafe! Governments are not remarkable for gratitude. Art. 62. Sacred Dramas; written in French, by Madame la Comteffe de Genlis; tranflated into English by Thomas Holcroft. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Robinsons. 1786.

As we have in our own language, Sacred Dramas, executed with much judgment and tafte, and adorned with all the graces of fimple and elegant verfe, there was the lefs neceffity for tranfplanting an exotic of this kind, especially from a country where, the use of the Bible in the mother tongue being prohibited, a clofe adherence to the original narrative may be easily dispensed with. In many instances these pieces depart too widely from the Scripture ftory, both in incident and language, to be agreeable to those who are already well acquainted with the fimple, tender, and interefting tales of Ruth and Naomi, and Jofeph and his brethren. As the production of fo celebrated a pen as Madame Genlis, thefe Dramas will doubtless, however, engage fome attention. The Tranflator has executed his talk with ability, and has very properly taken fuch liberties with the original, as were neceffary to adapt it to the ear and taste of an English reader. E Art. 63. A Journey from Birmingham to London. By W. Hutton, F. S. A. Sco. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Baldwin.

We hope the Author's journey turned out more to his advantage than this performance will turn out to his reputation. If not, he had better have continued at home. B-d-k Art. 64. A Chinese Fragment; containing an Enquiry into the prefent State of Religion in England. With Notes by the Editor. 8vo. 55. Faulder. 1786.

This Author appears to write under a strong conviction of the importance of religion in general, and particularly of those principles which are commonly denominated orthodox. He is a zealous oppofer of infidelity under every difguife, and is averfe to all accommodation to the heretical taste of this corrupted age. He is very fevere in his reflections on the clergy; and expofes their indolence, their levity, their ignorance, and worldly-mindednefs, in the most aggravated light.

We are apprehenfive that the Writer is more governed by a splenetic and bigotted difpofition, than by judgment, truth, or candour. We hope that matters are not quite fo bad as he hath reprefented them. There may be a dark spot here and there on ground fo ex

tenfive.

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