Art. 28. The Distracted Lover; a Poem; supposed to have been addressed to an unfortunate Lady, a few Hours before her meiancholy Death. 410. Is. 6d. W. Davis, &c.

Mr. Hackman, before the fatal act for which he fuffered, wrote ('tis faid) many letters to Miss Ray, which the returned unopened, or answered in a manner unfavourable to his passion. The following epistle is supposed to have been the last addressed by him to that unfortunate lady, and represents the conflicting paffions which agitated his mind previous to the melancholy elancholy deed.' AUTHOR'S Advertisement prefixed. The Author of this Epistle makes the late unhappy Mr. H. fay many very good things; and the poetry has uncommon merit. The poem is introduced by a preface, written in a sensible and moral ftrain; to which the noble and the opulent, the gay and the dissipated, would do well to pay some attention:-if they can find time.

Art. 29. Reviewers Reviewed; a familiar Epistle to those Par

tial sons of Momus. 4to. 2 s. Bew. 1779.

Who are those partial fons of Momus? Oh! the "Reviewers Reviewed." Pshaw! that is not half so clever as the copper plate part of the title page: the owl, the purse, the devil, the spectacles, &c. &c. The owl is a very fine sagacious looking fellow, indeed: and when we are in want of a theological coadjutor, we will fend for him.

This unreasonable satirist, who, in The Watch, an ode; in Royal Perseverance, a poem; in The Genius of America to General Carlton, a poem; in Tyranny the worst Taxation; in Capt. Parolles at Minden; in An Epistle to Lord Md; and in The Favourite, a character, &c.) abuses King, Lords, and Commons, thinks it extraordinary that Reviewers should prefume to censure him!-But he may have reason:

Why baulk an Author's appetite and fale?" We should be forry to baulk the appetite of a brother scrib, by obstructing the sale of his works; and we are happy in the perfuafion that, in fact, we have not rendered such disservice to the present Writer. Every body knows that scandal and scurrility are the moff marketable of all literary commodities: and certain it is, that we have always given a faithful report of his merits, by letting the lovers of Billingfgate poetry know, that in this Gentleman's productions they would not fail to meet with plenty of the most delicious morceaux ;and this have we generoufly done, without charging the ungrateful grumbler a shilling for advertisements!-But fome people are of fuch perverse dispositions, that they will not let you serve or oblige them with impunity:-like the galley-flaves who threw ftones at Don Quixote, in return for his gallantry and benevolence in setting them at liberty.

Art. 30. Momus; or, the Fall of Britain: A Poem. 4to. Is.

Cadell. 1779.

:

The infernal deities, a pack of malignant rascals as they are, meet in council, to plot the deftruction of poor Old England. After some dehate, it is at last fettled, that this goodly event is to be accomplished by the united efforts of Mummon and Momus, The office of god Mammon will be readily suppoied; that of his compeer is to

laugh religion and virtue out of doors, to make way for ruin and desolation to enter in. -The machinery of the piece is not ill imagined; but the poetry merits little praise.

Art. 31. Mimosa; or, the Senfitive Plant: A Poem. Dedicated to Mr. Banks, &c. 4tó. Is. 6d. Sandwich.

Ability prostituted to indecency.

Art. 32. A Parody on the Carmen Seculare of Horace, lately fung before the celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson, and his attendant Literati, at Free Mason's Hall, in Great Queen street. 4to. I S. Bew. 1779.

Obstinate dulness and scurrility, unenlivened with the leaft tincture of pleafantry.

Art. 33. Pieces selected from the Italian Poets, by Agostino Isola, (Teacher of the Italian Language) and translated into English Verse by some Gentlemen of the University of Cambridge. 8vo. 4 s. fewed. Robson, &c. 1778.

In this selection the Reader will meet with some beautiful-passages of Petrarch, Tassoni, Ariosto, and Metaftafio, tranflated into English verse. The original is printed in the opposite page, and may afford him an opportunity of examining the merit of the tranflation. We are afraid the English poetry will not gain by the comparison. The first piece which the Author has inferted in his selection is the description of Endymion fleeping, by Alexander Tassoni. It begins,

Dormiva Endimion tra l'erbe e i fiori, :

Stanco dal faticar del lungo giorno.

"Endymion slept amidst herbs and flowers, wearied with the fatigues of the long day." The English tranflation has not attained this beautiful fimplicity:

"Tir'd with long toil Endymion day repos'd

Where herbs and flowers an odorous couch compos'd." In the first sonnet of this collection, Petrarch, speaking of the eyes of Laura, says, with the inimitable sensibility of Sappho †, Che mi cuscono `'I cor in ghiaccio e'n foco!

The tranflation is a weak paraphrafe :

८८

Now chilled with hope forlorn, now burning with defire." There are several of these translations, however, that are not devoid of fspirit, and fome degree of elegance. The flight of Erminia from Taffo, and some sonnets of Metastafio, are superior to the rest. Art. 34. Caledonia; a Poem. Small 4to. 2 S. Cadell. This well-meaning Writer laments the hardships and inconveniencies to which the Highlanders are subjected by the law prohibiting their ancient dress. These, and some other grievances, make the subject of this patriotic attempt at blank verse.

Art. 35. The Nativity of our Saviour: A Prize Poem. By Samuel Hayes, M. A. late Fellow of Trinity College. Cambridge printed. 4to. IS. Dodsley, &c. 1778.

We have been accused of criticifing works we have never read. The Cambridge Reviewers, whose province it is to dispose of the

+ There is the same thought in the beautiful ode of Sappho pre. served in Longinus.

:

:

profits of the Kiflingsbury estate, in all probability will plead quilty to the fame accufation. Upon no other supposition can it be admitted that such measured prose as this Christmas-day Sermon could possibly have been imposed upon them for a Poem.

NOVELS and MEMOIRS

Art. 36. Charles; or, the History of a young Baronet and a Lady

of Quality. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. bound. Bw. 177 This novel has such mediocrity of merit, that to discover and enumerate its faults or its excellencies, would be a talk attended with equal difficulty. If it has any leading character, it is that of infipidity; a quality which the readers of modern novels are tolerably well accustomed to endure.

Art. 37. Memoirs of the late Edw. W--ly M-tague, Efq; with Remarks on the Manners and Customs of the Oriental World; collected and published from original posthumous Papers. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. sewed. Wallis, 1778.

A genuine account of this extraordinary perfon, and of his real adventures in the Eastern parts of the globe, would highly gratify the curiosity of the Public; but this appears to be a mere novel.

LA

W.

Art. 38. The Trial of Humphry Finnimore, Efq; (reputed to be worth Forty Thousand Pounds) who was tried at the Quarter Seffions holden for the County of Surrey, in the Town-Hall, Southwark, on Thursday the 14th Day of Jan. 1779, and convicted of Felony in stealing five Turkies, the Property of Thomas Humphries. 8vo. IS. White. 1779.

It is matter of just regret when any instance occurs that may tend to lessen our veneration and attachment to the mode of trial by jury. We have before us a melancholy proof how wide of justice, of truth, and even of common humanity, the minds of men may be carried by local prejudices against an unpopular character. We forbear to give a particular account of this disgraceful business, only because we with that all memory of it may die away as soon as possible.

DRAMATIC.

Art. 39. Who's the Dupe? A Farce; as acted at the TheatreRoyal in Drury-Lane. By Mrs. Cowley, Author of the Runaway, a Comedy. 8vo. Is. Dodsley, Becket, &c. 1779.

A very sprightly farce.

Art. 40. The Cobler of Castlebury: A musical Entertainment. In Two Acts: As performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. 8vo. IS. Kearfly. 1779.

The Author tells us, that the characters are all low, and whatever humour the piece is possessed of, likewise low.' The whole is indeed so low, that it seems impossible to get down to the humour. Art. 41. Illumination; or, the Glazier's Conspiracy. A Prelude. As performed, with univerfal Applause, at the Theatre-Royal, Covent Garden. By F. Pilon. 8vo. Is. Kearfly.

A theatrical catchpenny, intended to increase the receipt of a benefit-night. There is, however, fome little fun in the first interview between the Glazier and Tallow-chandler.

Art. 42. The Chelsea Penfioner; a Comic Opera. In Two Acts. As performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. 8vo. Kearfly.

I S.

This is very improperly stiled a comic opera. It is a fentimental ballad farce!

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 43. Political and Philosophical Speculations on the distinguishing Characteristics of the present Century; and on the State of Legiflation, Military Establishments, Finances, and Commerce, in Europe; with occafional Reflections on the probable Effects of American Independency. By Mr. Linguet, late of the Parliament of Paris. Small 8vo. IS. 6 d. Fielding and Co. 1778.

Extracted from the Annales Politiques, Civiles et Literaires du 18ieme Siécle, of which we have, in a late Review, given an account, with a specimen of the ingenious Abbé's present Speculations.

Art. 44. A Letter to my Lords the Bishops, on Occafion of the preSent Bill for the preventing of Adultery. 8vo. Is. 6d. Dodsley. 1779.

If this letter did not originate from the noble peer who moved that the offending parties should be compelled, instead of being prohibited, to marry, the Writer has at least adopted the same idea; and with great ability clearly shewn, that the remedy did not apply to the grievance. The House of Commons thought the same, and accordingly threw out the bill, after it came down from the Upper House.

The Writer takes occasion, from this attempt of the Bishop of Landaff, to check matrimonial infidelity, to shew the inefficacy of fuch partial endeavours to stop the general tide of immorality; and concludes with a home appeal to the professional characters and obligations of the heads and guardians of religion and morals.

Art. 45. The Tragedies of Æschylus translated. By R. Potter. The Second Edition, corrected, with Notes. 2 Vols. 8vo. Cadell. 1779.

Of this tranflation, an account was given, from the first edition, in 4to, in our Review for October last, p. 286: for the notes, see Review for December, p. 466. These notes, which were first published separately (and given gratis to the purchasers of the 4to edition), are now inserted in their respective places, at the foot of the page.

Art. 46. A Chronological and Historical Epitome of the principal Events in English History. Shewing what Year of each King's Reign corresponds with the Year of Christ, and the Number of Years fince the Conquest; from Egbert to the Year 1779. Calculated for the Use of Historians, Lawyers, &c. To which are added, the Characters of all the Sovereigns from William the Conqueror. Small 12mo. 13. 6d. Fielding and Walker.

What will become of Rapin and Hume, and Guthrie and Smollett, now the history of England is reduced to the size of a Primer! What will become of this history, if the next fchemer should put it into a watch cafe! In this whimsical age, a history of England might

Dd 4

run

run through feveral editions, if neatly glazed in chronological buttons for a coat and waistcoat.....

N B. Should any author, button-maker, or engraver, take the benefit of this hint, and compliment us with a sett, he is defired not to forget the fuit.

Art. 47. Thoughts on the present State of the Roman Catholics in England; and on the Expediency of indulging them with a farther Repeal of the Penal Statutes. By a Protestant. 8vo. 6d. Payne. A fenfible advocate for the English Catholics; but when fach apologists plead the good dispositions of their clients, which, at best, is but a contingence'; it is only adopting the same mode of reasoning to plead the liberal disposition of the age, as unwilling to oppress the Catholics, as Catholics may be to disturb the government..

Art. 48. The Cafe and Memoirs of the late Rev. Mr. James Hackman, and of his Acquaintance with the late Miss Martha Reay, &c. 8vo. IS. Kearfly.

This popular pamphlet begins with a short account of the life of Mr. Hackman, which, in all probability, may be genuine; but the greater part confifts of a laboured extenuation of the crime for which he was executed, and a vain attempt to exalt to heroism the cha racter and conduct of a man in whom an unprejudiced spectator could discover only those ungovernable passions, against which the criminal laws endeavour to guard the peace of fociety. The seventh edition of these Memoirs is now before us.

Art. 49. An authentic Copy of the Trial of Sir Hugh Pallifer, ViceAdmiral of the Blue; April 12, 1779, &c. Taken in Short Hand by a Person who attended during the whole Trial. And published by Order of bis* Friends. 8vo. 3 s. fewed. Portsmouth printed, and fold by Wheildon, &c. London.

Several different copies of the proceedings of the court-martial on the trial of Admiral Palliser, having appeared, as taken down by different perfons, we have resolved to infert their titles (for to review the volumes is impossible) in the fu cessive order of their publication. -The above mentioned copy, printed by order of his (we know not whose) friends had, we believe, the start; and we have, accordingly, given it the precedency.

As much hath been said, and different accounts have been given of the precise terms in which the fentence pronounced on Sir Hugh was expressed, we shall transcribe them from each of these publications, that our Readers may judge of the difference, and of the confidence that we ought to place in the verbal exactness of short-hand writers. The writer of the trial before us gives the fentence in the following words:-" The Court having inquired into the conduct of Sir Hugh Pallifer, on the 27th and 28th days of July, heard evidence on the fame, are of opinion that the behaviour of the Vice admiral of the Blue was, in many instances, on those days, highly meritorious and exemplary. But that he was blameable for not making the diftreffed situation of his ship known to the Admiral, either by the Fox, or otherways. Yet as he is cenfurable in no other part of his con

* Whose friends?

duct,