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Art. 21. The Se'er; or, the American Prophecy. A Poem. 8vo. 2 s. 6 d. Harrison.

1779.

The American Se'er is full brother to Nereus, the old Sea-boy who figures in the preceding Article. Art. 22. The Female Congress; or, the Temple of Cotytto: A Mock Heroic Poem, in Four Cantos. 4to. 2s. 6d. Davies.

1779.

In an advertisement prefixed to this poem, as an apology for the fubject and the manner in which it is treated, are the following paragraphs:

Where the manners happen to be very fcandalous, and the prevailing vices of the age of a very impure die, fatire must often rise difcoloured from its fubject, and feem to border nearly on licentioufnefs. Juvenal, with the best intentions in the world, has let fall many things fhocking enough to a modeft ear. In condemning fatire for its freedom, people are too apt to forget its end, and the perfons to whom it is addreft; and, at the very moment when it is reflecting the image of deformity, they are angry that the figure is indecent, or ungraceful. Satire is not intended for the innocent and fpotlefs, but the vicious and contaminated, to whom pictures of depravity are no novelty; were it always to preserve fuch decorum and chaftity as not to difguft the former, it might want force and poignancy to ftrike the latter; and fo facrifice the reformation of thofe to whom it is neceffary, to the fear of difpleafing those to whom it is unneceffary. Should the chafte virgin at any time meet with expreffions or images in the works of the fatirift, that wound her delicacy, let her recollect, that the painting was not defigned for her inspection, and that it is exhibited only as an object of deteftation and contempt.

The following sheets are the produce of an idle week, stolen from ferious occupations, and were at firft written merely for my own amufement; but all our literary amusements, at least, should be directed to fome useful purpose; and I hope I may be allowed, without vanity, to affert that, in the following lines, I fincerely meant to ferve the cause of virtue and religion, by expofing to ridicule, the parade of profligacy, and more culpable fimulation of godliness."

From thefe extracts the Reader may poffibly expect a more indelicate work than that now before us. It is, however, too truly reprehenfible in that respect; and, from that circumftance alone, were its poetical merit fuperior, muft (like the Times of Churchill) fall into obfcurity. The fable and characters of the Female Congress are not conceived or expreffed in that happy vein of fancy and ridicule, that diftinguishes our most popular pieces of mock-heroic poetry; but the numbers are, in general, above mediocrity, and the Author appears to be a found claffical fcholar.

DRAMATIC.

Art. 23. Coalition, a Farce, founded on Facts, and lately performed, with the Approbation, and under the joint Inspection, of the Managers of the Theatres Royal. 8vo. 1s. Brown. 1779. The managers of the two theatres royal of Drury Lane and CoventGarden are themselves the fubject of this farce. The facts, on which

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Art. 21. The Se'er; or, the American Prophecy. 2 s. 6d. Harrison. 1779.

1

The American Se'er is full brother to Nereus, the figures in the preceding Article.

Art. 22. The Female Congress; or, the Templ Mock Heroic Poem, in Four Cantos. 4to. 1779.

2..

In an advertisement prefixed to this poem, as at fubject and the manner in which it is treated, are t ragraphs:

In co

Where the manners happen to be very fcandalo vailing vices of the age of a very impure die, fatir. difcoloured from its fubject, and feem to border nearly nefs. Juvenal, with the best intentions in the world many things fhocking enough to a modeft ear. tire for its freedom, people are too apt to forget its perfons to whom it is addreft; and, at the very momen reflecting the image of deformity, they are angry that indecent, or ungraceful. Satire is not intended for the fpotless, but the vicious and contaminated, to whom p pravity are no novelty; were it always to preferve fucă ac chaftity as not to difguft the former, it might want force ancy to strike the latter; and fo facrifice the reformation whom it is neceffary, to the fear of difpleafing thofe to unneceffary. Should the chafte virgin at any time preffions or images in the works of the fatirift, that w cacy, let her recollect, that the painting was not defign. fpection, and that it is exhibited only as an object of 2 contempt.

The following sheets are the produce of an idle weeks ferious occupations, and were at firft written merely amufement; but all our literary amusements, at least, rected to fome useful purpose; and I hope I may be allo out vanity, to affert that, in the following lines, I fines. to ferve the cause of virtue and religion, by expofing to ridi parade of profligacy, and more culpable fimulation of godly

From thefe extracts the Reader may poffibly expect a mo cate work than that now before us. It is, however, too tru" henfible in that refpe&t; and, from that circumftance alone. ・・ poetical merit fuperior, muft (like the Times of Churchi.. obfcurity. The fable and characters of the Female Congres conceived or expreffed in that happy vein of fancy and run. diftinguishes our most popular pieces of mock-heroic poetry. numbers are, in general, above mediocrity, and the Author to be a found claffical fcholar.

DRAMATIC. Art. 23. Coalition, a Farce, founded on Facts, and ass formed, with the Approbation, and under the joint i of the Managers of the Theatres Royal. 8vo. 1s. Brow. The managers of the two theatres royal of Drury Lane and Garden are themselves the fubject of this farce. The f....

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In a poftfcript to the pamphlet, the Writer congratulates the Public on a decrease of deaths from the small-pox in the London bills of mortality for last year. This he attributes, with probability, to the great mortality of the preceding year, which had left fewer fubjects to take the difeafe. To whatever caufes it was owing, we are too well aware of the fluctuating state of this article in a lift of deaths, to lay any stress on the event of a fingle year.

MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Art. 25. The Honeft Sentiments of an English Officer on the Army of Great Britain. Vol. I. 8vo. 2 S. 6d. Bew. 17-9. The title of this undertaking is modeft, confidering the object of it; which is no less than to new model our military establishments, both in conftitution, laws, and difcipline. How many volumes the work may extend to, does not appear; what is now published, be ing no more than a part of the firit, in form of a pamphlet: with an intimation, that if it meets with acceptance, the reft will follow, as quick as poffible.

Our good old nurses observe, that a burnt child dreads the fire; and our honeft English officer must certainly fome time or other have fcorched his fingers; for in the laft paragraph of an introduction, addreffed to his friends, he roars out luftily, anticipating the fmart he thinks he is to feel from critical pens, How this may be intended to operate, is of little confequence; but taking his honeft word for his being neither faint nor devil,' we fhall only affume the liberty, on our parts, honeftly to declare him a military fchemer, who not content with ketching the great outline of his intended model, finishes his plan, down to the minuteft parts, unconscious of any dif ficulties in reducing ideal reformation to practice! We fincerely credit the Writer's honefty from the pains he has taken; and he makes many good detached obfervations. When he has collected the opinions of his military friends, and finished his work, it may claim farther confideration.

POLITICA L.

Art. 26. The Speeches of Mr. Wilkes in the Houfe of Commons, during the latt Seffion of Parliament With Notes. by the Editor. Vol. III. Small 8vo. 2 5. 6d. Fielding and Walker. 1779. The character which we gave of the two former volumes of speeches in parliament, by Mr. Wilkes, in our Review for November 1777, p. 337, will fuffice for the prefent addition to the collection; which appears, from frong internal evidence, to come forth on the fame authority, that led us at first to conclude, as we ftill do, that the Orator, the Editor, and the Annotator are one. The fpeeches in the prefent publication, as well as thofe in the former volumes, are all on queftions of great importance; and when perufed with due attention and impartiality, will do honour to the speaker's character, as a fenator, and a politician.

Art. 27. A Brief Examination of the Plan and Conduct of the Northern Expedition in America, in 1777: and of the Surrender of the Army under the Command of General Burgoyne. 8vo. 1 S. Hookham. 1779.

After a brief arraignment of the plan and execution of the above. mentioned expedition, which compofes one half of this pamphlet, the

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