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. izmo. 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 bleffings, the consciousness of a well-fpent life. On the other hand, we have the example of one Mills, a farmer, likewife; who, neglecting his bufinefs, 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 againft cruelty to poor dumb animals; as we, for want of understanding their language, perhaps ignorantly ftyle them. This species 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 fucceis attend all her laudable exertions! 6 Mrs. Trimmer obferves in her dedication, that in confequence of a hint from the Monthly Reviewers *, fhe 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 ufeful to a very important part of the rifing generation,' fhe 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 amusement 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 ufeful defign, in the neighbourhood of her refidence; never fparing her time, her influence [refpe&table characters have always influence], and even her perfonal affiftauce, 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 8th Regiment. In a Series of Letters * We fuppofe this refers to what was faid, relative to her Fabu fous Hiftories, in the Review for March last, p. 199. wrote wrote on the Spot. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Edinburgh printed; and fold by Robinfons in London. 1786. Mr. Aucell tells us, in a prefatory Advertisement, that these 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 especially 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 verifi eation, we cannot but fmile, and exprefs a wifh 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 thort) hiftory and defcription of Gibraltar, Memoirs of General Elliot, &c. &c. alfo a portrait of the Governor, and fix other plates and maps. Upon the whole, however, as fuch imperfections as those above mentioned, may be overlooked in a work, whofe chief objects are faithfol narrative and minute defcription, we will venture to recommend this performance to those 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. Ixxi. p. 148. Art. 60. Confiderations on Lotteries, and Propofals for their better Regulation. Addreffed to the Right Hon. William Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer. 4to. IS. Kearfley. 1786. The design 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 abolish every species 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. Iffuing policies as above to return goods; but approves of fome mode of infurance in order to enable large ticket-holders to fecure their property.' The plan he propofes is, to return tickets or shares 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 feems 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? Art. 01. The Cafe of Mr. Sutherland, late Judge of the ViceAdmiralty Court of Minorca. 4to. 1s. Kearfley. 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. Robinfons. 1786. As we have in our own language, Sacred Dramas, executed with much judgment and taste, 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 ufe of the Bible in the mother tongue being prohibited, a clofe adherence to the original narrative may be easily difpenfed with. In many inftances thefe pieces depart too widely from the Scripture ftory, both in incident and language, to be agreeable to thofe who are already well acquainted with the fimple, tender, and interefting tales of Ruth and Naomi, and Joseph and his brethren. As the production of fo celebrated a pen as Madame Genlis, these Dramas will doubtlefs, however, engage fome attention. The Tranflator has executed his talk with ability, and has very properly taken fuch liberties with the original, as were neceflary to adapt it to the ear and tafte of an English reader. Art. 63. A Journey from Birmingham to London. By W. Hutton, F. S. A. Sco. Izmo. 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. Art. 64. A Chinese Fragment; containing an Enquiry into the prefent State of Religion in England. With Notes by the Editor. 8vo. 5s. Faulder. 1786. This Author appears to write under a ftrong 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 tafte of this corrupted age. He is very fevere in his reflections on the clergy; and expofes their indolence, their levity, their ignorance, and worldly-mindedness, 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 pot here and there on ground fo ex tenlive. tenfive. Some objects may be deformed. But all feems yellow to the jaundic'd eye! Art. 65. A Defcriptive Journey through the interior Parts of Germany and France, including Paris: with interesting and amufing Anecdotes. By a young English Peer, of the highest Rank, jult returned from his Travels. 8vo. 2s. Kearsley. 1786. This noble youth, of the highest rank, but without name or title, comes to us in fuch a questionable thape,' [like King Solomon in the puppet-fhew, in all his glory,' without a head] that-we will have nothing to fay to him. THEOLOGY, &c. Art. 66. A Plan of Coalition and Alliance with the Unitarian Church, on Principles of mutual Moderation and Policy; fubmitted to the ferious Confideration of his Brethren of the established Church, in confequence of a moft alarming Discovery in a late Pamphlet, entitled, The Importance and Extent of Free Enquiry in Matters of Religion.' By a Clergyman of the Church of England. 8vo. Is. Robfon. 1786. Dr. Priestley, in the fermon referred to in this pamphlet, has faid, that the foundation is gradually laying for a future change in the public aspect of things-that what is now doing by the friends of reformation is, as it were, laying gunpowder, grain by grain, under the old building of error and fuperftition, which a fingle Spark may hereafter inflame, fo as to produce an inftantaneous explosion, in confequence of which, that edifice, which has been the work of ages, may be overturned in a moment, and that fo effectually, that the fame foundation can never be built again ;-and that we may be certain, that Unitarian Chriftians will continue to encrease, to the extermination of unbelievers on the one hand, and Trinitarians on the other, and thus a permanent and lasting uniformity will be brought about at laft.' The prefent writer, understanding all this literally, as a threatening of extermination by intolerance and perfecution, is dreadfully alarmed [if not in jeft, and cries out O horrible! O horrible! moft horrible." Remember, remember, The fifth of November, and, to parry the threatened ftroke, proposes (as it should feem, very Jeriously to throw a fop to Cerberus, by offering the Unitarians one tenth part of all the churches in England with their temporalties, and making Dr. P. the Unitarian Bishop. For our part, we are fo well perfuaded, that however formidable the Doctor may be with his pen, he has no inclination to take up the fword, and we have fuch confidence in the cause of truth and religion, that we have not caught the fmallest portion of our Author's panic at the most alarming difcovery which he apprehends he has made. We are heartily inclined to with, that every important fubject, in religion as well as philofophy, may be fairly and fully difcuffed, without bias from terfor or intereft; for it is a maxim which cannot be too often repeated, Magna eft veritas et pravalebit. But But we are not fure that our Author is not, all this while, playing the droll with us, for there is much appearance of waggery in various parts of his pamphlet, while an air of the greatest folemnity prevails in the reft of it. If we have understood him feriously, where he means to be ironical, he will, no doubt, enjoy his joke, and exult over the dulnefs of those unfufpecting readers, and critics too, whom he has fo ingeniously taken in. Irony, however, as we have often remarked, is a delicate weapon; and when we fee it handled unfkilfully, it never fails to remind us of a story (in the Spectator, if we are not mistaken) of a reader who had a difagreeable tone; Pray, Sir! faid one of his hearers, do you read, or do you fing? If you fing, you fing very ill! Art. 67. The Life and Character of Thomas Letchworth, a Minifter of the Gofpel among the People called Quakers. By William Matthews. 12mo. 1s. 6d. Dilly. 1786. We did not know that it was ufual with the Quakers to mention fuch perfons who are Speakers among them by the title of Minifters of the Gospel, but here one of that number is prefented under this character; very defervedly fo indeed, for he appears, according to this account, the fidelity of which we cannot diftruft, an excellent and valuable man, qualified to do good, and earnest in labouring for it. It would be eafy to make extracts from this little volume, which would be acceptable and useful, but this is not confiftent with our confined limits. Art. 68. Advice to Youth; or, the Advantages of early Piety. For the Ufe of Schools, Apprentices, &c. The 3d Edition, corrected and improved. By John Fawcett. 12mo. 1s. 6d. Johnfon, &c. 1786. Our opinion, and recommendation, of this well-intended performance was given in the 60th volume of our Review, p. 243. CORRESPONDENCE. ** We have received a letter from the learned M. CORNELIUS VANDEN BOSèн, on occasion of his Prize-differtation on Human Liberty, mentioned in the Appendix to our 71ft Volume. He is dif fatisfied with our having faid, that Dr. Maclaine had proved, in his Differtation on the fame fubject, that the words can or cannot are improperly and unphilofophically applied to volitions, or determinations of the will. Our Correfpondent is of a different opinion, and whether his doctrine be right or wrong, he maintains it acutely, in the letter with which he has honoured us, and which fhews that he is well acquainted with this metaphyfical fubject. We cannot, however, infert this letter in our Review without going out of our line, and without expofing ourselves to the difagreeable neceffity of contefting with every Reader, who may find fault with our opinion of the works that come under our notice. We are, indeed, fometimes obliged to contend a little with the Authors whofe productions we review, and this cuts out for us work enough, in all confcience. M. Vander Bofch will be pleafed to confider, that we are not one of the principal parties concerned in this metaphyfical business. He muft therefore feek out Dr. Maclaine, and decide the matter with him. We are |