Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

Art. 46. The Lord Thanet's Case considered, as to the Question "Whether the Judgment be Specific or Arbitrary?" With the fullest Reports of the Cases on the Subject. By W. Firth, of Lincoln's Inn, Esq. Barrister at Law. 8vo. 18. Butterworth. The subject of this tract has occasioned much discussion, and has produced (as we understand) a difference of opinion among the great aw-officers by whom the prosecution, in which it originated, was instituted. A criminal information was filed by the Attorney-Ge neral against the Earl of Thanet, Mr. Fergusson, and three other gentlemen, for a riot and assault, at common-law, committed by them at Maidstone, in the Court held under a special commission. This information consisted of five counts; in the first three the defendants were charged with a riot and assault in open Court, and in the last two with a riot only.-The Jury returned a general ver dict of guilt against Lord Thanet and Mr. Fergusson, and acquitted the other gentlemen.-When judgment was prayed against the defendants in the Court of King's Bench, the Chief Justice expressed a doubt whether the punishment to be named was specific, or discre tionary in the Court: and he requested the assistance of the Bar ca the question. The counsel not being then prepared to argue the point of law, it was ordered to stand over to a future day. In the interval, the Attorney-General entered a Noli Prosequi as to the first three counts, on which the question arose, and which thus never received a decision; and he prayed judgment on those counts which charged the defendants only with a riot in Court.

Mr. Firth contends that, on the whole record of conviction, the judgment of the Court was discretionary; and that the offence charged in the information did not subject the defendants to the cific judgment of the loss of the right hand, the forfeiture during life of their lands and tenements, the confiscation of their goods and chattels, and imprisonment for life, or during the king's pleasure.The author argues against this latter most severe punishment being incurred, on account of the omission of the precise word “ strike” in the information filed against the defendants; so that they never could be said to be guilty of the offence of striking in the King's superior Courts of Justice, to which offence that particular judgment belongs.The words in the information, charging the defendants with an as,sault, are "beat, bruise, wound, and ill-treat;" which, though apparently synonimous to " strike," do not convey the precise meaning of that word; and even if they did, they would not, as Mr. F. asserts, (with great appearance of reason,) justify the omission, nor supply the place, of that term; which, he contends, is as necessary in such a prosecution, it being the very gist of the offence, as the word mur dravit in an indictment of murder, burglariter in burglary, rapuis in rape at common law, mayhemiavit in mayhem, or (which is nearer the present case) strike in a prosecution for striking in a church, on the tatute of Edward VI.-The cases here collected appear to support the author's position, since all of them, in which this specific judg ment was passed, contain the word in question.

The pamphlet is written with good sense, and with considerable information on the subject which it undertakes to illustrate,

Árt.

Art. 47. An Enquiry into the Question, Whether the Brother of the paternal Grand-Mother shall succeed to the Inheritance of the Son, in preference to the Brother of the paternal Great-Grand-Mother? The Affirmative having been advanced by Mr. Justice Manwoode; acceeded to by Mr. Justice Harper, Mr. Justice Mounson, and the Lord Dyer; and adopted by Lord Bacon, Lord Hale, and the Lord Chief-Baron Gilbert: and the Negative maintained by Mr. Robinson (the late Chief-Justice of Gibraltar) and Mr. Justice Blackstone. By Charles Watkins, Esq. of the Middle Temple, Author of an Essay on the Law of Descents, &c. &c. 8vo. pp. 40. 2s. Butterworth.

After the history of this question which is conveyed by the titlepage, and of the authorities by which it is supported and resisted, it is necessary for us only to observe that Mr. Watkins, in the present pamphlet, and in his former publication of Gilbert's Tenures, (see our 21st vol. N. S. p. 114.) has considered the subject in the same point of view in which it had been previously placed by the learned Commentator on the Laws of England.

Art. 48. A Treatise on Copyholds. By Charles Watkins, Esq. of the Middle Temple, Author of the Essay on the Law of Descents, &c. Vol. II. 8vo. pp. 290. 6s. 6d. Boards. Butterworth. 1799.

We noticed the first volume of this work in our 24th vol. N. S. p. 452, to which article we would refer our Readers, as it contains an account of the author's plan, and our opinion of its execution.-We need only observe on the present occasion, that those subjects which are introduced into the second volume, and which complete Mr. Watkins's design, are discussed with the same ability which we have mentioned with pleasure, and in terms of praise, in all this writer's publications.

CLASSICS, EDUCATION, &c. Art. 49. Saggio di Novelle e Favole: Moral Tale and Fables, in Italian, by G. Polidori, Teacher of that Language. Small 18mo. embellished with neat Engravings. London, 1798. Printed for the Author, No. 42, Broad-street, Carnaby-market.

This little book seems well calculated to allure young students in the Italian language, by simple and interesting stories, within their comprehension. It is with propriety dedicated to the governesses of an eminent boarding-school, of which the author is one of the language-masters.-We have lately had occasion to speak of Signior Polidori as a tragic writer, of no mean abilities. See Rev. March last, p. 352.

Art. 50. Petit Parnasse François, &c. i. e. The Little French Parnassus; being a Collection of the most beautiful Examples of French Poetry in every Species of Versification; for the Use of Students in that Language. By M. des Carrières. Pocket 4to. 5s. bound. Law. 1797.

We do not recollect to have before seen so well chosen a collection of French poems printed in England, as is here offered to our accept

113

ance.

ance.

No lover of French poetry can open this miscellany without meeting with something that will seize his attention. Though most of the pieces are short, yet there are some of considerable length; such as Art Poetique, the Lutrin of Boileau, the Henriade of Voltaire, and the Ver-Vert of Gresset; each of which has frequently been deemed of sufficient length to be published alone as the contents of a whole volume, or at least a pamphlet, at a price equal to that of the volume before us; which contains nearly forty thousand

verses.

Art. 51. An Etymological Chart, exhibiting, at one View, just Definitions of all the Parts of Speech; the Modifications and Inflections of such as are variable, &c. The Whole carefully compiled from the best Writers on English and Universal Grammar, but peculiarly adapted to Lindley Murray's English Grammar. By Adam Taylor. A large Sheet. 6d. Darton and Harvey.

Of Mr. Lindley Murray's English Grammar, we have spoken with approbation more than once. To that work, this neat etymological chart is adapted by a similarity of classification: it forms, indeed, an epitome or compendium of it, and may conveniently assist the recollection of young persons who have learned their English by that authority,

Art. 52. A Complete Introduction to the Knowledge of the German Language. Containing the Substance of the most approved German Grammars, particularly Adelung, and arranged on a Pian perfectly new and easy. By George Crabb. 12mo. PP. 327. 6s. Boards. Printed at York: sold by Johnson, &c. London.

1 1799.

The author of this grammar has excited great expectations from it, both in the title-page and in the preface: but we cannot think that it will promote the accurate knowlege of the German language. Throughout the book, we observe indications either of great haste, or of a very incompetent acquaintance with the subject; as will ap. pear from a few examples. The genitives of Friederich and Mars are said to be Friederichens and Marsens, whereas the former ought to be Friederichs, and the latter des Mars. See Adelung's Grammar, Berlin, 1795, p. 161. sect. 260. We are surprised that Mr. Crabb, knowing that Adelung is considered by his countrymen as their prin cipal grammarian, and professing particularly to pursue his plan, could have overlooked such explicit rules concerning the declension of nouns proper, as are contained in sect. 253-272. of that author's grammar. At p. 46. in the declension of zwey, Mr. C. has given the three genders of that numeral: but those genders, the student ought certainly to be told by his guide, are almost fallen into disuse, (consult Adelung, sect. 329.) and, if uttered by a polite speaker, would expose him to the reproach of affectation. At the same page, the word zworem exhibits two errors of the press, which is but too frequently incorrect. The translation of nouns, though but a secondary consideration in a grammar, should at least not be such as to mislead the learner; but this would be unavoidable in the following mistranslations; Ballen, a ball to play with, (for a bale); Fladen, a css

tarda

tard, (for a bun); Hacke, an axe, (for a hoe), &c. &c. By what author, or in what province, the terms Heil and Kalmink are used, we should be glad to learn, having never heard of any such words in the German language.-We might considerably increase this catalogue of errors, if it would answer any useful purpose.

[ocr errors]

The syntax, and the exercises elucidating it, occupy the major part of this volume, and have more claim to praise than the grammar, though they are very exceptionable. At p. 125. the author says:

In the following cases, the Germans use the dative at the end of the sentence: Example. The book was John's; Das buch war dem Johann. No one, offering himself as a guide to the knowlege of the German language, ought to have thus arranged the words of a very easy sentence; which, according to the laws of grammar, must be changed into: Es war Johann's buck. (Consult Adelung, sect. 371. fin.) In the same page, we read the words he sherved rendered by er zeucht, instead of er zeigte; an error obviously not chargeable to the press, and too gross for a teacher of the language.-When the English say, there is, (il y a,) the German grammar substitutes other phrases, as es grebt, es ist, &c.: nothing is more common:-but Mr. Crabb, p. 157. telis the beginner to translate the sentence, Is there any one who is always wise? thus: Ist bier-- weis. Here tavo not slight mistakes are committed in one line.-Virtuous, in several places of the exercises, as for example p. 139. is rendered by tugendsam, instead of tugendhaft: the former term has long been banished, as finical, from all good prose writings, as well as from conversation.

Through the whole of this book, indeed, we have met with so many words, turns, constructions, and spellings, which are erJoneous, provincial, affected, antiquated, or totally foreign to the German tongue, that we suspect that Mr. Crabb was either not suf ficiently read in the best German authors, or never had an opportu nity of conversing with natives of Germany who had a competent knowlege of their own language. He tells us, in the title-page, that he has selected the substance of the most approved German grammars' but, though that method has been successfully adopted in grammars of the dead languages, the propriety of it may justly be doubted in modern idioms, the standard of which is unsettled, and is claimed by each succeeding age.-Even if the present elementary book could fulfil the expectations which we have a right to form re specting any new grammar, and especially one which holds out such promises, the errata in the German words are so numerous as to make it unfit for the use of beginners. At p. 127. we have counted four. teen errors of the press; and we doubt whether a dozen pages can be found in the whole book, that are exempt from such mistakes. A list of nearly seventy errors, in the first 110 pages, is prefixed by the author.

Art. 53. Practical Accidence of the French Tongue; or Introduction to the French Syntax; on a more extensive and easy Plan than any extant; shewing the Connection and Difference there is between the English and French Grammars: wherein Learners are brought to do, and consequently to understand, what it is customary to make them get by heart, and which will prove peculiarly useful to

[ocr errors]

Gover

1

[ocr errors]

Governesses. By Bridel Arleville, M. A. &c. &c. 12mo. 38. bound. Sael, Boosey, &c.

We cannot applaud the execution of the design so vauntingly set forth in the title page of this grammar. It appears to us to be recommended by no useful novelty; and to be a very perplexed performance throughout. A new hypothesis in grammar is the effort of no mean mind; and rashly to attempt one betrays a cloudy intellect. We refer, in this observation, to page 45, where the author talks of pronouns interrogative and indefinite.

Art. 54. The Little Emigrant; a Tale. Interspersed with Moral Anecdotes and Instructive Conversations. For the Perusal of Youth. By Miss Peacock. 12mo. 3s. bound. Sold by the Author, 259, Oxford-street; and by Carpenter, &c.

Though it be not always an easy task for grey-beards, as we are, to read with a relish books suited to the nursery, yet we are sorry to withhold any praise that is due to respectable authors of this kind. The publication before us affords many useful lessons for youth; and it is not without instructive passages in science. In the twentysecond chapter, the forward ignorance of a young lady, a pretender to science, is justly and pointedly described. Altogether, we recom mend this little volume to our young friends.

Art. 55. A short Introduction to English Grammar. In two separate Volumes. By Blanch Merey. 12mo. 3s. 6d. bound. Law. 1799. The first of these volumes is intended for the young scholar, and bears the price of one fhilling; the second, which rises to half-acrown, is designed for the instructress. We fear that Mrs. Mercy has had too much reason for the regret which she expresses, when she. says, I have frequently been witness to children's tailing through three different grammars, without even knowing how to make the verb agree with the nominative case.'-The remedy here proposed for the evil is, to give the pupil little to learn by heart, but much to put in practice. This is done in the first volume, which explains the parts of speech, with their variations, and adds suitable exercises for the scholar The other volume, which is modestly offered only to such as have not yet formed any particular plan for themselves, is designed to assist the understanding, and the ready application of such rules and observations as had been before exhibited. The only way (it is remarked) of teaching any thing effectually, is, by asking them repeated questions.'

Werks of this nature multiply, perhaps, too rapidly; yet we think that the present performance, if used with attention and thought, is likely to prove beneficial. It is designed for the use of young ladies.

Art. 56 The English Reader: or Pieces in Prose and Poetry, &c. &c. By Lindley Murray, Author of an English Grammar. 120. 35. 6d. bound. Longman.

This selection reflects much credit on the taste of the compiler; and the arrangement of the various pieces is judicious.-The differ ent authors, from whom these extracts are taken, enforce vir tue by the graces of their composition. The preliminary rules for

enunciation

« PreviousContinue »