finition the author propofes to give to every word in his dictionary, a task evidently attended with extraordinary if not infuperable difficulty. The further particulars of his plan are thus opened in the eighth chap

ter.

"The flatement made in Chap vi. of what is requifite to constitute a full and accurate explanation of a word, is to be understood of its literal fenfe. For that only we propofe to inveftigate and fet forth in the explication. The Philologift is not concerned with the figurative fenfes in which a word may be used, any farther than as attention to, and examination of the propriety or impropriety in the ufe of it, may serve to elucidate its literal or proper fignification. The technical ufe of a word is alfo, no farther than this, in the plan of our undertaking; and we scarce need to advertise the reader, that he is not to expect from us an account of all the words in our language. Proper names of perfons, places, offices, terms appropriated to particular arts, fciences, profeffions, orders, ranks in fociety; in fhort, whatever words regard not human intercourfe at large, or ferve not the purpofe of general communication, will be either wholly omitted, or fo far only confidered as they are connected with the general principles on which we purpose to proceed; and many of thofe words, which might fall properly within our plan, we fhall find ourfelves under the neceffity of omitting, not lefs for want of time and leifure from occupations more immediately incumbent upon us thoroughly to inveftigate, than, alas! for want of ability to explain with that precifion and certainty which we could with, and have attempted in what has been done.

"To our account of a word, and the authorities adduced in fupport of it, we have not unfrequently (indeed we have almost conftantly) fubjoined notes and remarks upon both. This feemed neceffary as well more fully to convey our meaning (for which the concifeness used in a formal definition, though aided by proper examples, is not always fufficient) as in justification of the fenfe given, and to contralt it with what we apprehend to be an erroneous or lefs accurate account." P. 42.

We have not heard what progrefs has been made in this arduous undertaking; or how foon any part of it is likely to be submitted to the public eye.

ART. 54. Anecdotes of the Hufe of Bedford, from the Norman Conqueft to the prefent Period. 8vo. 284 pp. 5. Barr. No date.

This is a very pleafing and interefting volume. The noble family which is the fubject of these anecdores, has been diftinguished by high and important connection, at different periods, with the hiftory of Great Britain. The writer traces back the origin of this line of nobility to Hugh de Ruffel, a Norman Baron, and affociate of William the Conqueror, and prefents many curious anecdotes of thofe numerous defcendants, who were exalted to conditions of rank and important pofts of fervice, by the different fucceeding monarchs. With the bias which ufually exifts in writers of memoirs, the author is not deficient in the arts of panegyric; and he has the good fortune to find but very little room for the exercife of cenfure in the very diftinguished characters of which he treats.

ART.

ART. 55. Interefting Particulars of the Glorious Victory obtained over the Batavian Fleet, on the 11th of October, 1797, by the British Fleet, under the Command of Admiral Duncan. Illuftrated with Four Engravings, by an Officer. 8vo. 38 pp. 1s. 6d. Long

man. 1797.

A mere compilation from the newspapers of the day. The plates are fmall plans of the principal pofitions of the fleets.

ART. 56. A Letter to the Right Honourable Jobu Lord Sheffield, on the Publication of the Memoirs and Letters of the late Edward Gibben, Efq. 8vo. 71 pp. 1s. 6d. Eddowes, Shrewsbury; Longman, London. 1796.

This Letter appeared very foon after the Memoirs mentioned in the title-page, and contains fome fenfible and fpirited animadverfions on the invective of Mr. Gibbon against the University of Oxford ; and on the general character of that author. The following short obfervation is not only true, but affords a clue to a great part of the character of Mr. Gibbon. "Whatever were his notions as to a future ftate, his fummum bonum was an immortality of literary fame." See his Letter to Lord S. on the death of Lady S. vol. i. p. 279. Nothing can be more evident than that a great part of the hiftorian's memorandums, apparently of the most private kind, were written from the first with a view to the effect they would produce, when they should come to be printed.

ART. 57. An Attempt to account for the Infidelity of Edward Gibbon, Efq. founded on his own Memoirs, published by John Lord Shef field, with Reflections on the beft Means of checking the prefent alarming Progrefs of Scepticism and Irreligion: including an Account of the Converfion and Death of the Right Hon. George Lord Lyttleton. By John Evans, M. A. 8vo. 76 pp. 1s. 6d. Longman. 1797.

The prefent writer, anxious only for the credit of Revelation, acquiefces in the account given by Mr. Gibbon, and fays, "the im mediate caufes of his infidelity feem to have been the neglect of his religious education, the difguit he received from the corruptions of Christianity, and the love of eminence by which his mind was heated and inflamed," The methods propofed for checking the progrefs of Scepticifm are, ift. Religious Education. 2nd. Divefting Religion of its corruptions. 3d. Preferving our Minds from an undue Attachment to the World. 4th. Attention to the real Design of Chrif tianity, which is to ferve as a preparative for a bleffed immortality. The ftyle of this tract is temperate, and it is apparently written with the beft defign, but the author's Chriftianity feems to deal too much in generalities."

ART. 58. A Word or Two in Vindication of the University of Oxford, and of Magdalen College in particular, from the Pofthumous Afperfions of Mr. Gibbon. Small 4to. 44 pp. 1s. 6d. Fletcher, Oxford; Rivingtons, London.

We fhould guess this tract, from its external appearance, to be the produce of a private prefs. With refpect to its fubject, which is

fimilar

Similar to that of the two preceding, it comes directly to the point, and defends the Univerfity and the College by the ttatement of facts. It adverts to the actual nature of the exercifes and difcipline in both, and particularly exculpates the much greater part of the profeffors from the charge of neglecting their duties.

ART. 59. Some Account of the early Years of Buonaparte, at the Military School of Brienne; and of his Conduct at the Commencement of the French Revolution. By Mr. C. H. one of his School-fellers. 8vo. Hookham and Co. 1797. 25.

46. PP.

This commander, whofe exploits in Italy have drawn the attention. of Europe upon him, was born, according to the present account, in 1769, at Calvi, a little town in Corlica, of parents originally Italian and noble, but poor. He obtained the prot-&tion of the Count de Marbœuf, governor of Cortica, (whether through the merits of his mother, or otherwife, is uncertain) and by him was placed in the military school of Brienne in Champagne, where his pretent biographer was alfo fent for education. "Different in temper," he fays, "and younger than Buonaparte, 1 formed no particular friendship with him; but living under the fame roof, and sharing the fame exercifes, I remarked him early as fomething extraordinary, perceiving no one among one hundred and fifty youths, who in the leaft refembled him, either in difpofition or in tafte." His peculiarities are defcribed as confiiting in a gloomy fierceness, and an averfion to the common aufements of boys. His perfon is thus defcribed: " Although of a

middle ftature, he is remarkable for the breadth of his shoulders; his eyes, of a deep blue, are finall but animated; his hair brown, his forehead large and prominent, his chin fharp, his face long, and his complexion olive." As there are perhaps a dozen portraits of this perfonage in London, all perfectly unlike each other, this defcription, if it may be trusted, will ferve to atcertain which of them has the best chance of being like. This little narrative appears to have been written originally in French, and tranflated. The writer of it feems to be a warm admirer of the hero he celebrates; and to have an imagination capable of giving its own colour to the objects it contemplates. The refpectable gentleman to whom it is dedicated probably knows how much credit is due to a narrative, which, as anonymous, the public cannot fo well eftimate.

ART. 60. A Narrative of the Sufferings of T. F. Palmer and W: Shirving, during a Voyage to New South Wales, 1794, on board the Surprije Transport. By the Rev. Thomas Fyfe Palmer, late of Queen's College, Cambridge. 8vo. 74- pp. 1s. 6d. Lunn, &c. 1797.

"At the earnest request of Mr. Palmer, the following narrative is laid before the public, to vindicate his own and Mr. Skirving's character from the charge of confpiracy and mutiny on board the Surprife tranfport." This is the ftatement of Mr. Jeremiah Joyce, in an advertitement prefixed. He informs us alío, that Mers. Palmer and Skirving attempted to bring the matter before the Governor of New

South

South Wales, but failing in that attempt, they hoped that their friends might obtain a hearing for them in Westminster Hall; for which purpose the narrative and depofitions were tranfmitted to a barrifter in England, upon a fuppofition that they would be fufficient documents for inftituting a legal procefs. Difappointed in this also, they had recourfe to the prefs. It appears from the narrative, that a principal accufer of Meffrs. Palmer and Skirving was Margarot, whofe fociety they accordingly renounced. Befides containing a vindication of thofe perfons from the charges laid against them, this pamphlet exhibits accufations of the moft ferious nature against the commander of the Surprite tranfport, in which they failed. Whether thefe things have been the fabject of any regular enquiry or not, we are uninformed, but we have no doubt in affirming that they ought to be traced out; fince whatever offences against the law may bring men under fentence of punishment, they certainly ought not to fuffer beyond that, for crimes not proved against them. The narrative has much in it to offend the feelings of every Englishman; and for every poffible reafon it ought to be difproved or confirmed in the most regular and decifive manner.

ART. 61. A Difputation in Logic, arguing the moral and religious Ufes of a Devil. Bock the Firft. By George Hanmer Leycefter, A. M. of Merton College, Oxford. Svo. 45 pp. 1s. 6d. Egerton. 1797. A libertine, in turning over thefe pages, will admire their eccentric wit and drollery, and fill more their feeming profaneness. He fhall be welcome to this entertainment, on condition of his perufing the book attentively from P. 25 to the end, and ruminating upon the contents

of it.

ART. 62. Gale's Cabinet of Knowledge'; or Miscellaneous Recreations. Containing Moral and Philofophical Effays, Propofitions, Natural and Metaphyfical Maxims, and Obfervations on select Subje&s of general Utility; with a Series of eafy, entertaining, and interefting Mechanical, Magnetical, and Magical Experiments. Including the most celebrated Card Deceptions ever exhibited, together with about Seven Hundred ferious, comical, and humourous Queries, Paradoxes, &c. &c. with pertinent and ingenious Anfwers. Being the Effence taken from the Lady's, Gentleman's, and Carnan's Diaries, Martin's Philofophical Magazines, Ozanam's and Hooper's Recreations, c. &c. Illuftrated with Copper -plate Engravings. To which are added, a great Number of Originals. Likewife an Appendix; containing various Propofitions, tending to prove Light and Heat two diftinct Beings; with fome curious Definitions in Optics. Second Edition, confiderably enlarged. 8vo. 334 PP. 45. 6d. Wallis. 1797.

To a title page fo full and particular, little need on our part be added. The compiler has indeed ranfacked all the repofitories of tricks, maxims, and conundrums; and the reader who wishes to aftonish his friends, by flashes of ready-made wit, and feats of deception and legerdemain, will find in Mr. Gale's Cabinet of Knowledge a very ufeful wade-mecum.

ART.

ART. 63. An Essay on Humanity to Animals. By Thomas Young, M. A. Fellow of Trinity-College, Cambridge. 12mo. 3s. Cadell and Davies. 1798.

We highly commend the benevolence of this humane writer, though we think he fometimes refines rather too much. We, however, recommend his publication to all who have the fuperintendence of children, upon whofe tender minds it may have a beneficial effect. The author reprobates birds-nefting, hunting, fhooting, fishing, cock-fighting, &c. in all which we entirely accede to his argument. The conclufion of this volume may be excepted to; but, as he obferves, "a man attentive to mental improvement, will, for the fake of habit, abstain from things in themselves unimportant." A fpirited Ode to Humanity, forms a fuitable and elegant introduction to the author's fubject.

ART. 64. A Defcription of the Town and Fortress of Mantua, together with a true and concife Account of the military Operations and Events attending its Blockade and Siege, with its Surrender to the French. Embellished with Three Engravings. Tranflated from the German. 4to. is. 6d. Vernor and Hood. 1798.

At the prefent difaftrous period, events which involve the lives and fortunes of thousands, follow each other in fuch rapid fucceffion, that before we have leifure to notice what may well deserve attention, another, and yet another momentous circumftance prefents itself. The hiftory of the prefent war cannot exhibit an epoch more critical, or more illuftrious, than the fiege of Mantua; the more particular incidents of which are related in this pamphlet with neatness and precifion; and the engravings, though flight, will be very useful to the reader.

FOREIGN CATALOGUE.

FRANCE.

ART. 65. Ocuvres morales et galantes de Duclos, de l'Académie Frangaile, fuivies de fon voyage en Italie. L'an. V. 1797. Tom. I. XXX. and 414 PP. Tom. II. 232 pp. Tom. III. 349 PP. Tom. IV. 235 PP. 8vo. Paris.

It is evident from the title itfelf of this collection, that it is compofed of perfectly heterogeneous parts, though the author's hiftorical

works