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Art. 19. England's Defiance. An irregular Ode. 4to, Is. T. Payne. 1779.

Irregular indeed!

SPECIMEN.

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Unto America, her froward child.'

This is neither verfe, nor profe, nor rhyme, nor measure; but fuch a jumble of all together, as cannot fail of convincing every reader, who knows what poetry ought to be, that the Author of this piece must have conceived a ftrange notion of the fpirit and compo ition of an ode.

MISCELLANEO u s. Art. 20. A Treatise on Silk, Wool, Worsted, Cotton, and Thread, defcribing their Nature, Properties, and Qualities, with Inflructions to clean the Manufactures in the Hofiery Branch, and at the fame Time prefeve their Colour and Beauty; calculated for the Ule of Families. To which are added, Defcriptive Remarks on Frame-work Knitting, knitting with Wires, and Patent Manufacturies. By R. March, Hofier, No. 230, Temple Bar. 8vo. Is. Murray, &c.

Here are fome things which fome of Mr. March's readers may think not unworthy their attention; but, perhaps, the circumftance which he would have them chiefly regard, is, the direction to his hop-" No. 230, Temple Bar."

Art. 21. The Publican's Guide; or, Key to the Diftill Houfe. Containing, I. An Account of Rum, Brandy, and other Spirituous Liquors, in their original State; the most advantageous Method of purchafing each Article, with Inflructions for the Buyer, by which every Retailer will be enabled to reduce his own Liquors, and fell on Terms equal to-and with far more Credit than-the Generality of advertising Merchants. Il. The Discovery of Adulteration in what is called Genuine Rum; the iniquitous Practice of Adulteration in the Distillery; with the Ufe of False Proof, and its Effect on Spirits. III. The Ufe of the Hydrometer, an Inftrument to afcertain the true Strength of Spirits. IV. Tables fhewing the Prices of Liquors, from 5 1. per Tun to 1001. and from one Gallon to a Tun. Alfo the exact Weight of Rectified Spirits of Wine, Brandy, Rum, and Proof Spirit, from One Gallon to Two Hundred. Interfperfed with Anecdotes and Remaks, neceffary to be known by all Dealers in Spirits, and highly interefting to the Public in general. By William Auguftus Smyth. 2 s. 6 d. Harrison. 1779.

8vo.

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The arts by which fpirituous liquors are doctored, and our conftitutions fported with, for the emolument of unprincipled dealers, are here difplayed in general terms; but the information might have

been rendered ftill more fatisfactory, had the preparation termed the Door, been explained particularly. There may however be good reafons against this communication, as pernicious fecrets ought not to be published; and to guard the Public againft interested arts, by extending the ability to practife them, includes fomething like an abfurdity. The tricks of diftillers and vintners have long been complained of, with fome rumours about the private ufes of the lapis infernalis, popularly called the Hell-ftone; but we are not in the fecret, fo can only imagine the name not ill adapted to the parties who ufe it, as well as to thofe who, perhaps by way of preparative, enure themselves to the fwallowing of liquid fire.

Art. 22. The History of Cheshire: Containing King's Vale Royal entire, together with confiderable Extracts from Sir Peter Leycefter's, Antiquities of Chefhire; and the Obfervations of later Writers, particularly Pennant, Grofe, &c. &c. The Whole forming a complete Defcription of that County; with all its Hundreds, Seats of the Nobility, Gentry, and Freeholders; Rivers, Towns, Caftles, and Buildings, ancient and modern. To which is prefixed an Introduction, exhibiting a general View of the State of the Kingdom previous to, and immediately after, the Norman Conqueft. 2 Vols. 8vo. 10 s. 6d. Chefter printed by John Poole and fold by Evans in Paternofter Row.

In the progrefs of the Arts, that of book-making ought not to be overlooked, which has extended from the blind allies in London to every part of the country where a prefs is erected: though the country workmen have not yet attained the proficiency of their masters in the metropolis.

Whatever merit there may be in detached parts of these volumes, they are to be viewed merely in the light of a loofe compilation; for befide the original writers acknowledged in the title page, the long introduction prefixed, is literally and filently copied from the beginning of Hume's Hiftory of England: an author, whom this grateful Compiler afterward fnatches an officious opportunity to depreciate in ftrong terms, derived perhaps from fome other quarter, both as an hiftorian and as a philofopher.

It might have occurred to a perfon offering a new Hiftory of Cheshire, that while he availed himself of every thing valuable in King's old Vale Royal, there was neither merit nor neceffity, in adhering to either his method or language; where either was fufceptible of improvement: the desirable object being, not to have antiquated works revived, but ufed with more recent materials in forming a good connected historical defcription of the county. Indeed we have only to guefs at what this nameless book-maker proposed to do, from what he actually has performed; as he has not declared his intentions in any prefatory addrefs to the reader: but begins abruptly with above fourfcore pages of ancient English history, all taken, as before obferved, without the leaft ceremony, from the first volume of David Hume. Thus much however may be fafely inferred, that the plan was to bring together whatever could (with fmall trouble or expence) be collected, relating to Chefhire, with as little trouble as poffible; not even that of furnishing fome kind of map of the county! It is not doubted, but the very books printed from, are returned

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feturned to the book feller's fhelf for fale, with no more injury than they might receive from the printer's thumbs. To conclude, the whole is a crude hodge podge, from which an adroit London workman, in that branch, might make a far better book, with the usual flender apparatus of a pair of fciffars, a quire or two of brown paper, and a bafon of paste.

Art. 23. The Hiflory and Antiquities of Shrewsbury; from its first Foundation to the prefent Time. Containing, A Recital of Occurrences and remarkable Events, for above 1200 Years. With an Appendix, containing feveral Particulars relative to Caftles, Monafteries, &c. in Shropshire. With Plates. By T. Phillips. 4to. 10s, 6 d. Shrewsbury printed by T. Wood, and fold alfo by G, Robinfon in London. 1779..

Among the various provincial hiftories which this country has produced, none, that we recollect, of any confiderable note, hath yet been given of Shropshire. Mr. Phillips, we hope, hath paved the way for fuitable defcriptions of a county which is, by no means, de ficient in materials for gratifying the curiofity of the naturalift or the antiquary.-The Salopians will, no doubt, be proud of the prefent performance, though neither a very learned, nor a very elegant production, as they have no other hiftory of this town, or their county; and, for the fame reafon, too, it will not be unacceptable to English readers in general.

Art. 24. Theatrical Monopoly; being an Addrefs to the Public on the prefent alarming Coalition of the Managers of the Winter Theatres. 8vo. I s. Fielding and Walker. 1779.

This pamphlet is not inelegantly written; but we think the fubjeft merits a more minute examination than the prefent Writer has afforded it.

Art. 25. Obfervations on the Tragedy of Albina. 8vo. 6 d.

Macklew.

There is fome fhrewdnefs, attended with much apparent acrimony, probably proceeding from perfonal ill-will, in thefe Obfervations.

NOVEL.

Art. 26. Columella; or, the diftreffed Anchoret. A Colloquial Tale. By the Editor of the Spiritual Quixote. 2 Vols. 12mo. 5 s. fewed. Dodsley.

The defign of this colloquial tale is to expofe the folly of thofe who, after having been prepared by a liberal education, and a long and regular courfe of ftudies, for fome learned or ingenious profef fion, retire, in the vigour of life, through mere indolence and love of ease, to spend their days in folitude and inactivity, or even in those meaner occupations which perfons of inferior abilities, and unimproved talents, might difcharge with equal, or, perhaps, with fuperior skill.' That characters of this clafs are reprehenfible is what every one must acknowledge, yet we are far from thinking, in the prefent age at least, that they are common. We mean not that in

dolence and love of eafe make no part of the characteristics of the prefent age; but rather that they take a different form than that under which they appear in the performance before us. So far from fhewing any difpofition to injure fociety by retiring from the world, it feems to be the general study of all ranks to obtrude themselves

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as much as poffible upon the Public, and to diffipate in active idle, nefs, if we may fo exprefs ourselves, that time which ought to have been devoted to their own private concerns. Excepting in the late Mr. Shenstone (who probably might fit for the more amiable part of Columella's picture) and fome few others, we fhall not find many inftances of young perfons entering into life who fly to retirement and folitude as a refuge from the buttle and hurry of the world. And, indeed, in those few inftances of voluntary feclufion that may occafionally be met with, the motive for retirement is in general fo innocent and amiable, and the opportunities it may afford of being ufeful to mankind, are fo many and various, that we are of opinion fuch characters, though they claim not praife, ought at leaft to be exempt from cenfure.

Though we thus differ from our Author, as to the object of his fatire, yet with respect to its execution, it is but juftice to acknow. ledge that it is worthy of the Editor of the Spiritual Quixote. His characters are, in general, drawn with truth and humour, and his wit, if we except a few tale jokes, and a feeble attempt to ridicule Dr. Priestley and his fixed air, is neither unclaffical nor inelegant.

MEDICA L.

Art. 27. First Lines of the Practice of Phyfic, for the Ufe of Students in the University of Edinburgh. By William Cullen, M. D. and P. Vol. IId. 8vo. 6 s. Murray. 1779.

The prefent volume of this very ufeful work is divided into three books, the firft, treating of exanthemata or eruptive fevers; the next, of hemorrhages; and the laft, of profluvia, or Fluxes with pyrexia. The clear and accurate defcriptions of the difeafes, comprehended under thefe divifions, the ingenious reafonings concerning their nature, and the judicious obfervations refpecting their cure, cannot fail of being highly ferviceable to the medical ftudent; who will find in a fmall compafs, all the foundet principles, both in the theory and practice of his art. This volume is, in the main, truly practical. Experience and obfervation are guides from which the Author never ventures to deviate; and theory is only admitted as fupplemental or auxiliary to these. A rare inftance of caution and diffidence accompanying great powers of invention!

rence

The language, though flill not entirely free from inaccuracies, is lefs cenfurable than that of the former volume †. Art. 28. A Treatife on the Hydrocele. By Lawrence Nannoni, Profeffor of Surgery to the Grand Duke of Tuscany's Court, and Fellow of feveral Academies in Europe. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Elmfly,

&c.

The principal purpose of this little treatife, is to compare the feveral methods propofed for the radicul cure of the hydrocele. This is done in a rational manner; but fo briefly, as not to afford any new inftruction to one acquainted with the larger treatises on this fubject, particularly Mr. Pott's. On the whole, he prefers the

For an account of the Spiritual Quixote, fee Review, vol. xlviii. p. 381, May 1-73.

+ For our account of the firft vol. fee Review vol. Ivii. p. 245. operation

operation by incifion. Some cafes are introduced by way of illuftration, which may be read with advantage.

The language is not without inaccuracies, but fuch as are pardon able in a foreigner.

Art. 29. Seventy-four Select Cafes, with the Manner of Cure, and the Preparation of the Remedies, in the following Difeafes. 1. The Schirrus, Cancer, and Ulcers of the Breaft and Womb. 2. Scrophulous Swellings and Ulcers about the Neck and other parts; commonly called the King's Evil. 3. The Specks and Opacity of the Cornea of the Eye, in which Sight hath been restored, by internal Medicines only. 4. Old Ulcers of the Legs, cured in Perfons much advanced in years. The whole being an Appendix to the Treatifes already published on these Subjects. By William Rowley, M. D. 8vo. is. 6d. Newbery. 1779. Dr. Rowley is certainly the luckieft man in the world. Difeafes of the most obftinate and formidable nature fly before him, though he is armed only with weapons well known, and generally ufed by his lefs fortunate brethren. The only things to be wifhed in order to render these cafes as interefting to the faculty, as reputable to the Doctor, are, that they had been lefs fele, more circumftantially related, and better authenticated. As far as they are to be depended upon, they certainly afford great encouragement to the fteady and long continued ufe of medicines of the alterative clafs, in very inveterate disorders.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 30. An Apology for Catholic Faith, Morality, and Loyalty. Addreffed to the Countess Dowager of Huntingdon. Occafioned by a late Publication, intitled, Interefting Facts concerning Popery. By the Rev. Mr. Peckwell. 12mo. 1 s. Coghlan. Of all religious apologifts, the Catholics are perhaps the moft evafiye, the moft addicted to quibbles, and in general, the most difficult to fix to a direct difcuffion of the actual points in conteft. The prefent writer, who figns his name R. B. Coghlan, having taken offence at fome attacks on his religion by one of Lady Huntingdon's miffionaries; and not having thofe more convincing powers of his church at command, by which her adverfaries are ufually filenced, fteps forth in the character of a meek apologift. But according to the arguments he uses, it is impoffible to afcertain what are the real tenets avowed by that church, or where the infallibility of it refides. Some of the Catholic doctrines and ufages are very ingenioully explained away, so as to place all the errors at the door of the Protestants; while others are as effectually got rid of, by leaving them at the doors of particular popes or cardinals, as difclaimed by the reft. He acknowledges, that Catholics look back with a pious horror on the cruel acts of their ancestors; but at the fame time, they declare, that this was never the true fpirit of the Catholic church, nor done by her authority canonically exercised.' He also retorts the charge of perfecution on the early Proteftants; but re

By the manner in which this title-page is written, and printed, a reader might imagine that Mr. Peckwell was the author of this Apology.

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