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alluring as his theory certainly is, would probably have ftill prevented his becoming a profelyte to it: we fhall foon have occafion to lay thefe facts before our Readers, in the course of our monthly labours.

Those parts of the work which relate to Natural History are much improved and enlarged, as well as the directly chemical parts. The two sciences indeed are in many places fo clofely con nected, that they cannot be entirely feparated: of the fubjects of the mineral kingdom, in particular, no ufeful or perfect arrangement can be made but from their chemical properties; and accordingly the mineralogic fyftems of Kirwan and Bucquet, founded on thofe properties, are introduced very confiftently with the general plan of the work. We cannot fay fo much of M. Daubenton's, which is here difplayed con amore, and which is built upon external configuration, texture, hardness, tranfparency, and other fimilar circumftances, that are rather adventitious than effential to the refpective fubjects, and afford moreover, in many inftances, not very perfect difcriminations. Still lefs do we approve of introducing the claffification of animals, as eftablished by Linné, Daubenton, Briffon, Gouan, and other Naturalifts; for though it is only from the figure, and from the number and difpofition of the different parts, that any methodical arrangements, or difcriminations, of animals can be taken, yet we conceive that fyftems of this kind do not very well accord with a fyftem of chemistry: to us, at leaft, they appear to form rather an heterogeneous affemblage. And befide, when two branches of Natural History (Mineralogy, and Zoology in all its fubdivifions) are fo minutely treated, we can perceive no good reason why the other great branch, Botany, should have been excluded.

But whatever little incongruities there may be in this refpect, the work upon the whole has great merit, and we recommend it as a very valuable fyftem both of the practical and fcientific chemiftry of the prefent time.

Before we conclude, we must take the liberty of observing to the tranflator, that fome literal inaccuracies have efcaped him, which a little attention in revifing the fheets from the prefs might have corrected. There occurs to us at prefent only one that materially affects the fenfe, or can much embarrass the reader: it is in a note of his own, vol. iii. p. 407. Platina' (he fays) when purified from iron by repeated coction in fpirit of falt, folution in aqua regia, and precipitation of the iron by aqua regia, may be fufed with a ftrong heat.' This laft aqua regia is obvjoufly either a mistake of the tranfcriber or compofitor, or one of thofe inadvertencies quas humana parum cavit natura: but what should the word be? We fuppofe Pruffian lixivium.

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MONTHLY CATALOGUE,

For AUGUST, 1788.

POETRY.

Art. 15. An Epifile from Pindar to his pretended Coufin Peter: In which are many curious and original Anecdotes of the Pfeudo Pindar; with an Appendix, containing Peter's celebrated Song of "O the Roast Pork of Old Truro," being one of the earliest of his fatirical Productions. 4to. 2s. 6d. Bew. 1788.

TH

HE ftyle of the old Theban bard is greatly altered, and he has abated much of his fpirit, fince he took to writing in English. -To whatever cause it may be owing, it fomehow happens, that all Peter Pindar's antagonists are out of luck, as the phrafe goes. We fhould be glad, however, for once, to fee him meet with his match.-Pindar (the English Pindar, whofe performance is now before us) has dreffed up fome stories about Peter's having once had an hoftile operation performed on his nofe, when he was an apothecary in Cornwall; of his fiddling; and of his preaching in Jamaica, where he was Chaplain to Governor Trelawney; of his ill fuccefs in pharmacy; and of his being reduced to wear stockings without feet. Some of these anecdotes are illuftrated by fatirical engravings ;-but where is the Mufe of Fun? Peter's Mufe, we mean, "to fet the table in a roar." Such fober lays as thefe will never gain the laugh against "the pleasant fcoundrel,"-as Johnfon once called a member of our corps*, whofe humour the Doctor would have refifted, on a particular occafion, but he was forced to give way to a burst of rifibility, and growling approbation.

Art. 16. Peter provided for without a Penfion. A Poem. With Notes, critical and explanatory. By Carnaby Currycomb, Efq. 4to. 25. Bew. 1788.

Here, indeed, Peter Pindar is match'd, but not in the way fpoken of in the preceding article. The man is married; and the Devil is the match-maker. This was one way of providing for him, without a penfion;' for we hear nothing of the lady's fortune." And who is the lady "No other than the celebrated Mrs. Margaret Nicholfon. There is humour in the courtship. The fair maniac is fhy, at firft, and repulfes her lover with a flap on the chops ;'-but the relents, on Peter's reprefenting to her, that

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from their fo innocent embrace

Young Pindars hall fpring forth, a hopeful race.
Affains born and bred, whofe hands thall forge
Poems and knives to ftab each future George.'

There is energy, invention, and variety in this poem; the author of which may be confidered as the most formidable of Peter's antagonists, though, on the whole, we think him rather too ferious for

* Since deceased. He was well known in Norfolk, by the name of the Philofopher of Maffingham.

the

the occafion. The great point, in this conteft, would be, to carry the laugh against the Cornish poet; for, furely, his opponents give him the greater confequence, by being fo angry with him,-which, however culpable he may appear in the eyes of a good and loyal subject, fhould, if poffible, be avoided.

Art. 17. Poems on feveral Occafions, never before published. By James Woodhoufe. With an Addrefs to the Public. 4to. 3 s. fewed. Sold by the Author, No. 10, Lower Brook-street.

Mr. Woodhouse, who, as we have before remarked *, is not a poet of the very loweft order, is difpleafed at the ridicule which has recently been thrown on his fovereign, and he thus invokes his countrymen in fupport of the royal caufe:

Is there no champion in the lifts of fame,

Who dare ftand forth to guard a fovereign's name?
Who dare take up the glove, return the ftone,
Prefumption has dropp'd down, and pride has thrown?
No hero, mail'd with wealth, with honour cafqu'd,
Who dare disdain difguife; appear unmak'd
With warlike weapons, boldly to oppofe

A King's falfe friends, or hofts of ambush'd foes?'

As Mr. W. poffeffes a refpectable private character, and as it is ever our wish to contribute as much as may be in our power to the relief of indigent merit, we will tranfcribe a page or two of his prefatory addrefs to the Public:

Poffeffed of little, and encumbered with much, my duty forcibly urges me to fome trial, to retrieve my circumftances, and fubfift my family. My prefent attempt appeared the most plaufible for repelling those wants that muft inevitably, without an effort, foon fink myself, and them, to ruin and wretchednefs. It is a little like attempting to make discoveries in an unknown fea, without a compafs, and without a crew; without proper provifion, and without a pilot. My own weak and wavering abilities are but poor directors; fo that I am left to depend on the kind and generous volunteers in fociety who may humbly condefcend to engage in my fervice (fome of whom Providence has already procured me), and the Author of that Providence, the Parent and Governor of the univerfe; who never fails to fupply the place of a pilot to all who implicitly confide in his protection and guidance; and, though I should be wrecked in the expedition, yet will he not fail to conduct me, finally, to an haven of repofe, beyond the reach of all future calamity. My views are virtuous, and my endeavours fhall be upright; and I fhall wait with patience, and hope, for the indulgence and encouragement of all thofe whofe humane hearts that gracious and good Providence hall influence in my favour; and to whom, next to the firft Mover, I fhall look up, as a conftant debtor: ftill endeavouring to deserve their countenance and fupport, by all the means that duty and deference fhall fuggeft. It may be asked why I attempt a business fo foreign to all my former experience. Without inclination nothing effential is ever atchieved: the want of that inclination prevented me

* See Rev. vol. xxxv. 78.
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making

making any great proficiency in my original employment*; and eighteen years of inattention to that employment, in a state of fervitude, have leffened those abilities, as well as diminished that dif tin&tnefs of fight, which are neceffary to complete execution, without making an adequate compenfation for fuch effential facrifices. Being preffed into the fervice, I have procured no penfion; and, though not entirely difabled in body, I have received fome wounds which will not be readily cured. I had conceived myfelf poffeffed of fome attainments in the agricultural art (an art the most congenial to the human conftitution); but the opinion of one, whofe opinion may, perhaps, have fome weight with the world, has precluded me from that refource. A repetition of fervitude ftill remains; but I have given fo little fatisfaction to others, and have found fo fmall comfort and advantage to myfelf, in that condition, that I neither hope, or wish, or feel, much encouragement to make another trial.' Art. 18. Poems on various Subjects, by Charlotte Eliz. Sanders. 12mo. 3s. fewed. Wilkie. 1787.

Mifs Sanders, in her Preface to this collection of poems, faysUrged by the folicitations of many friends, I have ventured to offer to the Public thefe trifling productions of my youthful Mufe. When their errors meet the pervading eye of Criticifm, may they prove too fimple to provoke its frown: or if found entirely uninterefting, may they be permitted to pass uncenfured to the regions of oblivion.'

Thefe performances are in truth fo very fimple, fo entirely uninterefting, that we fhall certainly comply with the lady's request. We will not attempt to arrest them in their progress to the shades.

"The gates are open night and day:

Down hill the path,-a fmooth and eafy way."
VIRG. Eneid. Book 6.

Art. 19. Mifcellaneous Pieces, Original and Collected. By a Clergyman of Northamptonshire, late of Trinity College, Cambridge. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Nicoll. 1787.

This clergyman (who talks of being fometimes affifted in his writings by a friend) is a maker of verses, but not a poet.

Art. 20. The Cock-pit; a Poem. By Charles Fletcher, M D. Author of A Maritime State confidered, &c. 4to. 2 s. fewed. Murray, &c. 1787.

The country Squire who fends for this poem, in confequence of feeing it advertifed in his Evening Poft, will be forely difappointed. Instead of a feaft for his imagination, by a poetic difplay of the bloody conflicts between thofe gallant foldier-birds whom he delights in prompting to flaughter each other, with" barbarous civil war,' he finds himself, presto! on fhip-board, and is carried down into the furgery:-that is the cock-pit here defcribed; and disagreeable, indeed, are the circumftances!

We have, likewife, in this performance, a great variety of other particulars, relative to maritime fituations, befide those that relate more immediately to the cock-pit department; though we fuppofed, at

A fhoemaker, if we remember right.

the

the first glance over Dr. F.'s performance, that his chief object was to imprefs the reader's mind with the peculiar hardships that fall to the fhare of a Navy-furgeon. He had, himself, been three years in that line.

Many useful obfervations are alfo interfperfed, on fuch points as are most likely to ftrike the curious obferver, in the courfe of a voyage. Various fcenes, natural appearances, and incidental fituations, are well defcribed; particularly the diftrefs and danger of a fhip, in a violent ftorm: and, throughout the whole, the poetry, if it has no claim to the praise of elegance, feems not ill adapted to the fabject, and to the rugged element on which, perhaps, the work was compofed. In a word, not wifhing to regard a production of this peculiar caft, with too much critical attention, we have been confiderably entertained, as well as informed, by the perufal of it.-For the Author's "Maritime State confidered, as to the Health of Seamen, &c." fee Rev. Dec. 1787, p. 497.

Art. 21. Euphrofyné, an Ode to Beauty: addreffed to Mrs. Crouch. By Sylvester Otway. 4to. 1s. Faulder, &c. 1788.

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If there is a Poet's Corner' in the great temple of THE SUBLIME, in Moorfields, this writer (fhould he continue in the glorious career in which he fets out) will certainly be entitled to a confpicu ous feat in it. We may apply to him his own motto,

"Can any mortal mixture of earth's mold

Breathe fuch divine enchanting ravishment ?"

COMUS.

Art. 22. Philofophic Venus: an Ethic Epiftle. Addreffed to a young Nobleman. With Notes and Illuftrations. 8vo, 15. Ridgeway. 1788.

This piece of poetic libertinifm was first published in 1775: See Rev. vol. lii. p. 552.

Art. 23. The Lyric Works of Horace, tranflated into English Verse : to which are added, a Number of original Poems. By a Native of America. 8vo. 2 Vols. 5s. fewed. Philadelphia printed; and fold by Dilly in London. 1786.

This article involves us in fome difficulty. To praise the publication before us, would be grofs violation of confcience; and if we honestly express our opinion, and treat this Tranfatlantic verfifier as we really think he deferves, he will be ready to exclaim-" Did I not prophefy that, as an American, I must expect little quarter from the Reviewers of England ?"- Dedication, p. v. - A pl- on all fuch prophecyings! Here, boy! put this book on the lower fhelf there, in the corner, among the refpites, next to the condemn'd hole.

DRAMATIC.

Art. 24. A Quarter of an Hour before Dinner; or Quality Binding. A Dramatic Entertainment of one Act; as performed at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket. 8vo. is. Lowndes. 1788. The unknown author, in his prefatory advertisement, congratulates the Public, on their being able to bear with a fingle Act of plain, common life, that endeavoured to fpeak to the heart, rather

than

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