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best nor the worst. We do not think it genuine; but it is certainly compofed with fense and spirit, and contains an ingenious defence of the monarchical form of government.

VI. Traité de la Sphere à l'Ufage de ceux qui veulent joindre cette etude à celle de la Geographie, &c. i. e. A Treatise concerning the Sphere, for the ufe of thofe, who are defirous of joining this branch of knowledge with the study of Geography, to which are added, an Abridgment of Chronology and an Abridgment of Geography. By M. MENTELLE, Profeffor of Hiftory and Geography in the Royal Military School, Member of the Academy of Sciences of Rouen, &c. &c. Paris. 1778. The method obferved in this work is luminous, and the explications are remarkable for their perfpicuity. It is, in a fmall compass, the best elementary book we know on thefe fubjects.

VII. Pharmacopée de Lyon, Ou Expofition Methodique des Medicamens fimples et compofees, &c. i. e. The Difpenfatory of Lyons, containing a Methodical Expofition of fimple and compound Medicines, with an account of their effential qualities, virtues, preparation and ufe, and the Difeafes in which they are adminiftered. By M. VITET, Profeffor of Chemistry and Anatomy, and Member of the Royal Society of Phyficians at Paris. 4to. Lyons and Paris. 1778. This work is in the highest esteem. It has been honoured with the fuffrages of the most eminent phyficians of the prefent age, and, among others, with that of the famous Haller, who called it-egregium opus, per experimenta natum.

VIII. Effai fur la Vie de Seneque le Philofophe, &c. i. e. An Effay on the Life and Writings of Seneca the Philofopher, and on the Reigns of Claudius and Nero; with Notes. 8vo. Paris. 1779 The writings of M. DIDEROT (who is known to be the Author of this effay, though his name be not prefixed to it) have long fince difgufted the modeft votaries of true philofophy, by the tone of arrogance and felf-fufficiency, the obscure and fophiftical spirit of fcepticism, and the froth and fumes of a declamatory eloquence,that form their effential and distinctive character. Accordingly, the Effay, now before us, difcovers palpably the pen from which it comes. The defence of Seneca, the Author fays, appeared to him of fuch confequence, that it has engaged him to break a refolution he had formed ofcommunicating no more of his compofitions to the Public. We fhall not decide how far Seneca and the Public are indebted to him for this breach of promife, nor dare we affirm that he himfelf will gain any thing by the bufinefs, except perhaps a portion of felf-applaufe, which he has already carried to a pitch that scarcely admits of augmentation. We muft advertise out Readers that this Effay is not publifhed feparately: it is fubjoined to a tranflation of the works of Seneca (by one Mr De la Grange) which was printed at Paris last year, and makes REV. Apr. 1779. the

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the seventh volume of that publication. The Effay and thTranflation are accompanied with the Notes of a third perfone age, and an anonymous one, who paffes for the Editor of the whole, and who feems to be a hopeful apprentice to the manufacturers of the New Philofophy. This fkulker appears to be employed chiefly to throw dirt (and that of the most fetid quality) upon fhining reputations which ftand in the way of the Parifian philofophers; and as the yet unpublished Memoirs of the late famous J. J. Rouffeau are fuppofed to contain a great number of fecret anecdotes, that reflect the higheft difhonour on the fe Sages, our Editor loads the memory of the Citizen of Geneva with invectives and reproaches which furpafs, in acrimony and vindictive bitterness and fury, any thing we have seen of the kind. A living dog (fays Solomon) has the advantage over a

dead lion:

As to the ESSAY of M. DIDEROT, it contains, like the other writings of that Author, a glaring mixture of good and bad: of brilliant thoughts and obfcure reafonings-of fentences that dart from the imagination with the energy of lightning, and cloudy periods of metaphyfical rhetoric that convey either no ideas or falfe ones. But the moft reprehenfible part of this performance is the moral fophiftry with which Mr. D. apologizes for the vices of Seneca, which were neither few in number, nor of a kind that deferved indulgence. If it should even be allowed that Suilius, Dion Caffius, Xiphilinus, and St. Evremond, have been chargeable with exaggeration in their cenfures of the character and conduct of Seneca, yet we cannot approve of our Effayift's manner of refuting thefe cenfures, by calling the first a profligate loaded with crimes; the fecond, a madman; the third a wretched Monk; and the laft, an ignorant epicurean. We are ftill lefs edified when we hear the Philofopher of Paris alleviating Seneca's adulterous connexion with Julia the daughter of Germanicus, by telling us for footh, that the Philofopher had his moment of vanity-his day of weakness; and, indeed, we think that the various accufations brought against the ftoic philofopher are answered with the fame corrupt levity. Though it should not be true, that Seneca was an accomplice with Nero, in the aflaffination of his mother Agrippina, though it were even false, that, knowing the defign, he did not do what was in his power to prevent it, yet it is certainly true, that, after the abominable deed was done, he employed all his dexterity and art to excufe it, in a letter which he was base enough to write to the fenate by the Emperor's order; and when the Philofopher of Paris tells us that Seneca took this step to prevent farther enormities from the tumults and confiracies which the nurder of Agrippina was likely to produce, we wonder at his fimplicity; as if any methods of art or prudence could prevent

tumults

tumults and confpiracies when fuch an outrageous monfter as Nero held the helm of government; as if any thing but the extinction of the monster could have given a moment of tranquillity, or real fecurity to the Roman people.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For APRIL, 1779.

POETICAL.

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Art. 11. The Carmen Seculare of Horace, translated into English Verfe. By the Rev. W. Tasker, A. B. Author of the Ode to the Warlike Genius of Britain,-Elegy on Garrick, &c. 4to. I S. Dodfley, Becket, &c. 1779.

HOUGH the learned have, in general, found Sanadon's ar

Carmen Seculare, to be more ingenious than folid, yet it is not wonderful that Sig. Baretti and Monf. Philidor, whofe chief object was to prefent the Public with a new mufical entertainment, should have adopted the idea of Sanadon, which, by comprehending additional matter, gave more fcope to the compofer, and afforded at least a longer, if not more rational, amufement to the auditor: nor is it wonderful, considered in that light, that the Rev. Mr. Tasker fhould inform us that it is Mr. Baretti's edition, without any variation, that is here attempted to be tranflated.' He has, accordingly, followed that edition down to the Epilogus Baretti, as Mr. Talker calls it, but rather (as we are told it should be styled), the Epilogus JOHN

SONIANUS.

It is lamentable, however, to fee genius, run to feed; and as Mr. Tasker certainly has difcovered fome poetical talent in his other lyric pieces, we are forry to find him ever chafing the new-blown bubble of the day," and availing himself of little temporary expedients, which, we fear, will ultimately be attended with as little profit as reputation. As to the prefent verfion, it is not, in our opinion, calculated to afford inftruction or entertainment either to the learned or unlearned reader.

Art. 12. Verfes to the Memory of David Garrick.
A Monody, at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane.
Evans, &c. 1779:

Spoken as

4to.

I S.

Of this elegant and affecting tribute, defervedly paid by the theatre to the memory of the deceased Rofcius, the following lines may ferve as a small specimen :

The GRACE of ACTION-the adapted MIEN

Faithful as Nature to the varied scene;

Th' EXPRESSIVE GLANCE-whofe fubtle comment draws
Entranc'd attention, and a mute applaufe ;-

GESTURE that marks, with force and feeling fraught,
A fenfe in filence, and a will in thought;

HARMONIOUS SPEECH, whofe pure and liquid tone
Gives verfe a mufic, fcarce confefs'd its own;

As light from gems, affumes a brighter ray

And cloathed with orient hues, tranfcends the day!-
PASSION'S wild break-and FROWN that awes the fenfe,
And every CHARM of gentler ELOQUENCE-

All perishable!-like th' electric fire

But ftrike the frame-and as they strike expire;
Incenfe too pare a bodied flame to bear,

Its fragrance charms the fenfe, and blends with air.' Some particular lines and expreffions might, perhaps, afford matter of cavil, and the fubject may, to fome feverer readers, appear rather wire-drawn ; but, on the whole, we may venture to pronouncê this monody, or rather elegy, to be the most polished piece of verfification we remember to have feen fince the Isis of Mr. Mafon. Art. 13. A Monody on the Death of David Garrick, Efq. To which is added, Charity, a Paraphrafe on the Thirteenth Chapter of the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians.-Poems written for the Vafe at Bath Eafton. By William Meyler. 4to. I S. Brown.

The verfes on the death of Mr. Garrick are not the worst, nor the beft, of the various poetic performances that have appeared on the fame fubject. The verfification of St. Paul's encomium on Charity are on a par with the generality of the Bath Eafton poetry.

Art. 14. A Monody to the Memory of David Garrick, Efq. 8vo.

6 d. Harrifon.

A well-meant attempt; but the Author does not completely pof

fefs the art

- at once to give and merit praise.' Art. 15. Ode to the Naval Officers of Great Britain. Written, immediately after the Trial of Admiral Keppel, Feb. 11, 1779. By W. Mafon, M. A. 4to, 6 d. Cadell.

This occafional Pindaric is meant to deliver the political creed of its Author, at whose call the Genius of the Atlantic rifes from the deep, and expoftulates with his fifter fovereign of the wave,' Britannia: counfelling her to withdraw her fleets from América, and to fend them, under the full command of Keppel, against France. The following lines are the most pathetic part of the Atlantic deity's invocation to his kindred goddefs:

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Art. 16. The Patriot Divine to the Female Hiftorian; an Elegiac Epittle. To which is added, The Lady's Reply; or, a modest Plea for the Rights of Widows. 4to. 2 s. Fielding and Walker.

1779.

More * pleafantry, at the expence of the Rev. Dr. Wilfon and the celebrated Female Hiflorian, on the lady's fecond marriage. The epiftle here written for the venerable Divine, is an imitation of Ovid's Oenone to Paris; and is executed with fpirit and elegance. The Lady's Reply is entitled, The Female Hiftorian to the Patriot Divine a Didactic Epifle ;-and is equally ingenious and fatirical, with the elegiac poem which is fuppofed to have occafioned it. But, are not thefe young graceless fons of Apollo (for juvenile blades we muft fuppofe them) taking freedoms with living characters, which ought no more to be allowed in a copy of verfes than in a dramatic exhibition ? Art. 17. The Female Patriot: An Epiftle from C-t M-cy to the Rev. Dr. W-1-n, on her late Marriage. With Critical, Hiftorical, and Philofophical Notes and Illuftrations. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Bew. 1779.

More yet!-Still more poetic impertinence!" Ye vile pack of vagabonds! what do ye mean?"

Art. 18. A Pocket of Profe and Verfe; being a Selection of the Literary Productions of Alexander Kellet, Efq. 8vo. 38. Dilly. 1778.

Mr. Kellet's mifcellany will afford an agreeable amusement to readers who can be fatisfied with a mediocrity of abilities in the Writer. Perhaps the genius of the prefent Author will entitle him to rank as a poet of the second rate. In his profe compofitions he manifefts a confiderable share of good fenfe and literary improvement. Art. 19. Delineation, a Poem. 4to. Is. 6d. Kearfly. 1779,

A rhiming invective against fome well-known political characters among the Great; particularly the gentlemen in oppofition. The Bard feems to have found an old pen of Sir Richard Blackmore's but he fhould have mended it.

Art. 20. Nereus's Prophecy: a Sea-piece, sketched off Ufhant, on the memorable Morning of the 28th of July, 1778. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Bew.

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This invective piece of poetry feems (from fimilitude of style) to come from that violent fon of Oppofition [a Court Reviewer would fay Faction] to whom the Public are indebted for thofe ungracious performances, Royal Perfeverance, Tyranny the worst Taxation, Epiftle to Wm E of M-f-d, Capt. Parolles at Minden, &c. all which we have cenfured, purely from our averfion to literary intemperance, and perfonal invective, which only tend to breed ill-humour, foment discord, inflame malignity, and render bad men callous;—and which were never known to produce REFORMATION -the only end a moral writer ought to have in view.

See the 28th Article of our Catalogue for February, and the 19th in that for March.

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