laugh religion and virtue out of doors, to make way for ruin and defolation to enter in. The machinery of the piece is not ill imagined; but the poetry merits little praife.

Art. 31. Mimofa; or, the Senfitive Plant: A Poem. Dedicated to Mr. Banks, &c. 4tó. I s. 6 d. Sandwich.

Ability prostituted to indecency. Art. 32. A Parody on the Carmen Seculare of Horace, lately fung before the celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson, and his attendant Literati, at Free Mafon's Hall, in Great Queen Street. 4to. I S. Bew. 1779.

Obftinate dulnefs and fcurrility, unenlivened with the leaft tincture of pleafantry.

Art. 33. Pieces felected from the Italian Poets, by Agoftino Ifola, (Teacher of the Italian Language) and tranflated into English Verfe by fome Gentlemen of the Univerfity of Cambridge. 8vo. 4 s. fewed. Robfon, &c. 1778.

In this felection the Reader will meet with fome beautiful paffages of Petrarch, Taffoni, Ariofto, and Metaftafio, tranflated into Englifh verse. The original is printed in the oppofite page, and may afford him an opportunity of examining the merit of the tranflation. We are afraid the English poetry will not gain by the comparison. The first piece which the Author has inferted in his felection is the description of Endymion fleeping, by Alexander Taffoni. It begins, Dormiva Endimion tra l'erbe e i fiori, Stanco dal faticar del lungo giorno.

"Endymion flept amidst herbs and flowers, wearied with the fatigues of the long day." The English translation has not attained this beautiful fimplicity:

"Tir'd with long toil Endymion day repos'd

Where herbs and flowers an odorous couch compos'd."

In the first fonnet of this collection, Petrarch, fpeaking of the eyes of Laura, fays, with the inimitable fenfibility of Sappho †, Che mi cuscono `l cor in ghiaccio e'n foco!

The tranflation is a weak paraphrase:

"Now chilled with hope forlorn, now burning with defire." There are several of these translations, however, that are not devoid of fpirit, and fome degree of elegance. The flight of Erminia from Taffo, and fome fonnets of Metaftafio, are fuperior to the rest.

Art. 34. Caledonia; a Poem. Small 4to. 2 S. Cadell. This well-meaning Writer laments the hardships and inconveniencies to which the Highlanders are fubjected by the law prohibiting their ancient drefs. These, and fome other grievances, make the fubject of this patriotic attempt at blank verfe. Art. 35. The Nativity of our Saviour: A Prize Poem. By Samuel Hayes, M. A. late Fellow of Trinity College. Cambridge printed. 4to. I S. Dodfley, &c. 1778.

We have been accufed of criticifing works we have never read." The Cambridge Reviewers, whofe province it is to difpofe of the

+ There is the fame thought in the beautiful ode of Sappho pre. ferved in Longinus.

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profits of the Kiflingsbury eftate, in all probability will plead guilty to the fame accufation. Upon no other fuppofition can ite admitted that fuch measured profe as this Christmas-day Sermon could poffibly have been impofed upon them for a Poem.

NOVELS and MEMOIRS

Art. 36. Charles; or, the Hiftory of a young Baronet and a Lady of Quality. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. bound. Bw. 1779

This novel has fuch mediocrity of merit, that to discover and enumerate its faults or its excellencies, would be a talk attended with equal difficulty. If it has any leading character, it is that of infipidity; a quality which the readers of modern novels are tolerably well accustomed to endure.

Art. 37. Memoirs of the late Edw. W--ly M-tague, Efq; with Remarks on the Manners and Customs of the Oriental World; collected and published from original pofthumous Papers. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. fewed. Wallis. 1778.

A genuine account of this extraordinary perfon, and of his real adventures in the Eaftern parts of the globe, would highly gratify the curiofity of the Public; but this appears to be a mere novel.

LA W.

Art. 38. The Trial of Humphry Finnimore, Efq; (reputed to be worth Forty Thousand Pounds) who was tried at the Quarter Seffions holden for the County of Surrey, in the Town-Hall, Southwark, on Thursday the 14th Day of Jan. 1779, and convicted of Felony in ftealing five Turkies, the Property of Thomas Humphries. 8vo. I S. White. 1779

i

It is matter of just regret when any inftance occurs that may tend to leffen our veneration and attachment to the mode of trial by jury. We have before us a melancholy proof how wide of justice, of truth, and even of common humanity, the minds of men may be carried by local prejudices against an unpopular character. We forbear to give a particular account of this difgraceful bufinefs, only because we with that all memory of it may die away as foon as possible.

DRAMATIC.

Art. 39. Who's the Dupe? A Farce; as acted at the TheatreRoyal in Drury-Lane. By Mrs. Cowley, Author of the Runaway, a Comedy. 8vo. Is. Dodfley, Becket, &c.

A very fprightly farce.

1779.

Art. 40. The Cobler of Castlebury: A mufical Entertainment. In Two Acts: As performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent Garden. 8vo. I s. Kearly. 1779.

The Author tells us, that the characters are all low, and whatever bumour the piece is poffeffed of, likewife low.' The whole is indeed fo low, that it feems impoffible to get down to the humour. Art. 41. Illumination; or, the Glazier's Confpiracy. A Prelude. As performed, with univerfal Applaufe, at the Theatre- Royal, Covent Garden. By F. Pilon. 8vo. I s. Kearfly.

A theatrical catch penny, intended to increase the receipt of a be nefit-night. There is, however, fome little fun in the firft interview between the Glazier and Tallow-chandler,

Art. 42. The Chelsea Penfioner; a Comic Opera. In Two Acts. As performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. 8vo. Is. Kearfly.

This is very improperly ftiled a comic opera. It is a fentimental ballad farce!

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 43. Political and Philofophical Speculations on the diftinguishing Characteristics of the prefent Century; and on the State of Legiflation, Military Eftablishments, Finances, and Commerce, in Europe; with occafional Reflections on the probable Effects of American Independency. By Mr. Linguet, late of the Parliament of Paris. Small 8vo. T S. 6 d. Fielding and Co. 1778.

Extracted from the Annales Politiques, Civiles et Literaires du 18ieme Siécle, of which we have, in a late Review, given an account, with a fpecimen of the ingenious Abbé's prefent Speculations.

Art. 44. A Letter to my Lords the Bishops, on Occafion of the preJent Bill for the preventing of Adultery. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Dodiley.

1779.

If this letter did not originate from the noble peer who moved that the offending parties fhould be compelled, instead of being prohibited, to marry, the Writer has at least adopted the fame idea; and with great ability clearly fhewn, that the remedy did not apply to the grievance. The House of Commons thought the fame, and accordingly threw out the bill, after it came down from the Upper House.

The Writer takes occafion, from this attempt of the Bishop of Landaff, to check matrimonial infidelity, to fhew the inefficacy of fuch partial endeavours to ftop the general tide of immorality; and concludes with a home appeal to the profeffional characters and obligations of the heads and guardians of religion and morals. Art. 45. The Tragedies of Efchylus tranflated. By R. Potter. The Second Edition, corrected, with Notes. 2 Vols. 8vo. Cadell. 1779.

Of this tranflation, an account was given, from the first edition, in 4to, in our Review for October laft, p. 286: for the notes, fee Review for December, p. 466. Thefe notes, which were first publifhed feparately (and given gratis to the purchasers of the 4to edition), are now inferted in their respective places, at the foot of the page.

Art. 46. A Chronological and Hiftorical Epitome of the principal Events in English Hiftory. Shewing what Year of each King's Reign correfponds with the Year of Christ, and the Number of Years fince the Conqueft; from Egbert to the Year 1779. Calculated for the Ufe of Hiftorians, Lawyers, &c. To which are added, the Characters of all the Sovereigns from William the Conqueror. Small 12mo. 1 s. 6d. Fielding and Walker.

What will become of Rapin and Hume, and Guthrie and Smollett, now the history of England is reduced to the fize of a Primer! What will become of this hiftory, if the next fchemer fhould put it into a watch cafe! In this whimfical age, a hiftory of England might

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run through feveral editions, if neatly glazed in chronological but. tons for a coat and wailcoat. ›...

N B. Should any author, button maker, or engraver, take the benefit of this hint, and compliment us with a fett, he is defired not to forget the luit.

Art. 47. Thoughts on the prefent State of the Roman Catholics in • England; and on the Expediency of indulging them with a farther Repeal of the Penal Statutes. By a Proteftant. 8vo. 6d. Payne. A fentible advocate for the English Catholics; but when fach apologists plead the good difpofitions of their clients, which, at beft, is but a contingence; it is only adopting the fame mode of reafoning to plead the liberal difpofition of the age, as unwilling to opprefs the Catholics, as Catholics may be to disturb the government. Art. 48. The Cafe and Memoirs of the late Rev. Mr. James Hackman, and of his Acquaintance with the late Mifs Martha Reay, &c. 8vo. I S. Kearily.

This popular pamphlet begins with a fhort account of the life of Mr. Hackman, which, in all probability, may be genuine; but the greater part confifts of a laboured extenuation of the crime for which he was executed, and a vain attempt to exalt to heroifm the cha racter and conduct of a man in whom an unprejudiced fpectator could difcover only thofe ungovernable paffions, against which the criminal laws endeavour to guard the peace of fociety. The Seventh

edition of thefe Memoirs is now before us.

Art. 49. An authentic Copy of the Trial of Sir Hugh Pallifer, ViceAdmiral of the Blue; April 12, 1779, &c. Taken in Short Hand by a Person who attended during the whole Trial. And published by Order of bis* Friends. 8vo. 3 s. fewed. Portsmouth printed, and fold by Wheildon, &c. London.

Several different copies of the proceedings of the court-martial on the trial of Admiral Pallifer, having appeared, as taken down by different perfons, we have refolved to infert their titles (for to review the volumes is impoffible) in the fu ceffive order of their publication.-The above mentioned copy, printed by order of his (we know not whofe) friends had, we believe, the ftart; and we have, accordingly, given it the precedency.

As much hath been faid, and different accounts have been given of the precife terms in which the fentence pronounced on Sir Hugh was expreffed, we fhall tranfcribe them from each of thefe publications, that our Readers may judge of the difference, and of the confidence that we ought to place in the verbal exactnefs of fhort-hand writers. The writer of the trial before us gives the fentence in the following words:-"The Court having inquired into the conduct of Sir Hugh Pallifer, on the 27th and 28th days of July, heard evidence on the fame, are of opinion that the behaviour of the Vice admiral of the Blue was, in many inftances, on thofe days, highly meritorious and exemplary. But that he was blameable for not making the diftreffed fituation of his fhip known to the Admiral, either by the Fox, or otherways. Yet as he is cenfurable in no other part of his con

* Whofe friends?

duct

duct, the Court are of opinion he ought, notwithstanding that, to be acquitted; and he is acquitted accordingly."

Not to dwell on the nonfenfe of the foregoing declaration, we fhall only add, that the Author, or Editor, of this copy of the trial has fubjoined the following piece of information, viz. The Prefident delivered to the Vice-admiral his fword, with this fhort addrefs: Sir, I am directed by the Court to return you your fword." Art. 50. The Trial of Sir Hugh Pallifer, Vice-Admiral of the Blue Squadron, at a Court-martial, &c.--To which is prefixed a Gloffary of the technical Terms and Sea-phrafes ufed in the Course of the Trial. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. Murray.

SENTENCE. "The Court having taken the evidence into confideration," + were of opinion, fo far from the conduct of Sir Hugh Pallifer-being reprehenfible on the 27th and 28th of July, that in many parts thereof it appeared exemplary and highly meritorious; but it did appear to them that he should have taken fome fteps, either by the Fox frigate, or otherwife, to make the disabled ftate of his fhip known to the Admiral. However, all circumstances being duly weighed, they acquit him of the charges adduced against him, and he is hereby acquitted accordingly."

Here the attentive reader will obferve a confiderable degree of variation from the words of the fentence as given in the Portsmouth Copy; but there is a fill greater, a more glaring difference in the two accounts of the Prefident's addrefs to Sir Hugh, on delivering to him his fword: it ftands here, as follows:

"Sir Hugh Pallifer, I feel the highest fatisfaction in being authorized by this Court to return your fword, which you have hitherto worn with fo much profeffional reputation, and which, I truft, will foon be drawn again in the honourable defence of your country."

Now which of thefe two accounts ought we to believe? What fay the Minutes printed by authority of the Admiralty? Here they

are:

Art. 51. Minutes of the Proceedings at a Court Martial, affembled for the Trial of Vice-admiral Sir Hugh Pallifer, Bart. As taken by George Jackfon, Efq, Judge Advocate of his Majefty's Fleet Published by Order of the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty. Folio. 4 s. Cadell.

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the Court". 68

SENTENCE. are of opinion that his" [Sir H. P.'s] conduct and behaviour on thofe days" [July 27 and 28] were in many refpects highly exemplary and meritorious: at the fame time cannot help thinking it was incumbent on him to have made known to his Commander in Chief the difabled ftate of the Formidable, which he might have done by the Fox at the time fhe joined him, or by other means.-Notwithstanding his omiflion in that particular, the Court are of opinion he is not in any other refpect chargeable with mifconduct or misbehaviour on the days aforemen

The words omitted in our tranfcript, where the breaks occur, both in this and the following copy of the fentence, being merely formal, and no way affecting the matter either of cenfure or acquittal, are left out for the fake of brevity.

tioned;