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fhould rather arife out of the incidents, and offer themselves fpontaneously to the reader, than be dwelt upon by the writer. In the for- . mer cafe we are surprised into just notions, which we embrace with eagerness as our own. In the latter we are either tired of the impertinence of being told what we knew before, or grow tired of the history, which we confider only as a vehicle for dull morality. In the notes historical, or, as they might be called, chronological, the events are, for the most part, judicioufly felected, but not always related with accuracy. Subjoined to this volume, which the preface informs us will be the laft, is an useful little table of kings and queens from Alfred to his prefent majefty.

For our review of the fecond volume of this performance fee Vol. X. p. 467.

ART. 15. The Generous Attachment; a Novel. In a Series of Letters. 12mo. 4 vols. 10s. fewed. Bew. London, 1787.

This is an infipid, ill-planned, and ftill worse-conducted novel. The ftory is not only greatly defective in point of probability, but extremely uninterefting, both in fituation and incident. The author likewife, we cannot help obferving, appears to be little acquainted with human nature; and, what argues a greater degree of ignorance, even with the ordinary affairs of life.

ART. 16. The Hiftory of Captain and Miss Rivers. 12mo. 3 vols. 98. fewed. London, 1789.

This novel, without any pretenfions to uncommon merit, proves fufficiently entertaining to keep the reader's attention awake to the end of the narrative. The characters are, in general, fupported with confiftency, and the incidents and fentiments are natural. We must, however, obferve that, in defcribing the customs of the countries to which the different perfons are conveyed, the author has, in some inftances, been guilty of a little misreprefentation.

ART. 17. The Funeral Proceffion of Mrs. Regency. To which is added the Sermon, with the Laft Will and Teftament. 8vo. 1s. Couch and Laking. London, 1789.

Though this jeu d'efprit is not deftitute of pleafantry, yet, like moft party productions on either fide, it abounds much more with abufe than wit. Above all, we were much hurt that Lord North's natural infirmities fhould be brought into ridicule. If nothing worfe could be faid of that unfortunate character, common humanity would induce us to pity him. If we confider his misfortunes as an immediate vifitation from heaven, it does not become us to aggravate a punishment we fuppofe Providence to have taken into his own hands.

*See the account of hackney coaches, p. 331; by which it would appear that, till the year 1780, the duty was only 10s. per annum.

ART.

ART. 18. Poems, by Sufanna. 4to. 1s. 6d, Dilly. London, 1789.

The editor of these Poems confeffes that, after repeated follicitations, he obtained them from the authorefs, and has published them without her knowledge or confent.

The only apology we can make for him is, that his acquaintance with this young votrefs of Parnaffus might render him fo far enthu fiaftic in favour of her verfes, as to fuppofe the world would be equally interested in them." Without doubt, for a girl of fourteen, they have no inconfiderable merit. While, therefore, we are willing to fhew the utmoft tendernefs to the editor's rifing charge, we advise him to stay a few years longer before he offers any more of her poems to the public. Indeed, it is but candid to believe he need only afk her confent before he again takes fuch liberties with her innocent little amusements.

ART. 19. A Letter from a Gentleman on board an Indiaman to his Friend in London, giving an Account of the Island of Joanna, in the Year 1784. 8vo. Is. Stockdale. London, 1789.

Joanna is one of the Comora iflands, and is fituated in 12° fouth. latitude, and in 44° 15' longitude, eaft of Greenwich. It has been. defcribed by feveral authors, among the latest of whom are Major Rooke and the Abbé Raynal. There feems reason, however, to think that both these authors have delineated it, in a great measure, from their imagination; for the accounts they have given are contradicted, in many particulars, by the prefent author; whofe narrative, fo far as we can judge from intrinfic evidence, appears to be faithful and accurate. We may add, that it is likewife much more circumftantial than that of the preceding writers.

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ART. 20. A Letter to James Tobin, Efq: late Member of his Majesty's Council in the Island of Nevis, from James Ramfay, A. M. 8vo. 6d. Phillips. London, 1788.

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This Letter is the production of one of the earliest and most zealous champions for the abolition of flavery; between whom and Mr.Tobin a controverfy had arifen on the fubject. The latter having attacked Mr. Ramfay in a manner rather illiberal, and certainly too warm for difpaffionate inquiry, the laft-named gentleman, who is now no more, had been induced again to enter the lifts, in defence of the principles which he had maintained; and he fupports them with his ufual ability.

ART. 21. A Letter to Sir William Auguftus Brown, Bart. on a late Affair of Honour with Colonel Lenox; and the Correspondence with the Hon. Colonel Phipps. By Theophilus Swift, Efq. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Ridgeway. London, 1789.

In this Letter Mr. Swift endeavours to exculpate himself from two imputations relative to his conduct in the affair between the Duke of York and Colonel Lenox. One of thefe imputations is, that he discovered a fanguinary disposition; and the other, that he betrayed an unjustifiable defign in urging the colonel to a private combat, unattended

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unattended by any feconds. That Mr. Swift, notwithstanding all the arguments he advances, has vindicated himself from either of thofe charges, in a fatisfactory manner, we cannot fincerely affirm. with, however, that he may vindicate himself of both at the bar of his own conscience, for which he profeffes the moft tender and attentive regard.

ART. 22. An Addrefs to his Majesty on his happy Recovery; with a Short Review of his Reign; fome Remarks on the late Proceffion to St. Paul's, and the reported Voyage to Hanover; with the Characters of a pious King, a patriot Prince, and an imperious Minifter. 8vo. 2s. Kearsley. London, 1789.

In an address to his majefty on the late happy occafion of his recovery, we might expect that the author would at least have abstained from all studied malignity and reproach. But dutiful and loyal congratulation is not the object of this writer. In terms the moft unbecoming, he expoftulates with, and even infults, his fovereign, for events, in refpect of which he muft, in juftice, as a monarch, be held entirely innocent. The pamphlet is, in general, an indifcriminate invective against all the adminiftrations in the prefent reign.

ART. 23. Afhort Review of the recent Affair of Honour between his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York and Lieutenant-Colonel Lenox; with free and impartial Strictures and Comments upon the Circumftances attending it. By the Captain of a Company in one of the Regiments of Guards. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Bell. London, 1789.

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The author of this Review vindicates the conduct of LieutenantColonel Lenox through the whole of the transaction with the Duke of York; concerning which his obfervations are no less distinguished by candour than by freedom, good-fense, and impartiality.

ART. 24. A Sketch of the Life and Character of the late Dr. Monfey, Phyfician to the Royal Hofpital at Chelsea; with Anecdotes of Perfons of the first Rank in Church and State. 8vo. 2s. 6d. No Bookfeller's Name. London, 1789.

Dr. Monfey is generally known to have been a whimsical, eccentric character, with much benevolence, good fenfe, an inexhaustible fund of anecdote, and a difpofition particularly inclined to expofe affectation, vice, and folly, wherever he met with them. The biographical sketch now before us comprifes feveral inftances faithfully defcriptive of his life and manners, and cannot fail of affording

entertainment.

ART. 25. Letters to a Prince from a Man of Kent. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Richardfon. London, 1789.

These Letters were written during the late debates on the regency, and are virtually, though not nominally, addreffed to the Prince of Wales. The author writes with all the freedom of an ingenuous

patriot,

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patriot, but at the fame time with refpect; and his obfervations are fuch, as, had the delegation of the royal authority been carried into effect, would have justly merited the prince's most attentive regard.

ART. 26. Advice to the Servants of the Crown in the House of Commons of Ireland; containing advice to a Lord Lieutenant's Secretary. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Debrett. London, 1789.

These advices are written in the ironical manner of Dean Swift, from whom the author feems to have taken the hint of his production. He discovers an acquaintance with the arts of political life; and has feasoned his inftructions, if not with attic falt, at least with a moderate share of inoffenfive, however fuccefsful, fatire.

ART. 27. Confiderations on the Pruffian Treaty. To which is added, An authentic Copy of the Treaty of Alliance between his Majefly the King of Great Britain and his Majefty the King of Pruffia; figned at Berlin the 13th of August, 1788. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Debrett. London, 1789.

The intention of these Confiderations, which have already appeared in fome of the daily papers, is to reprefent the late treaty with Pruffia as dangerous to Great-Britain. But the author, in endeavouring to maintain this point, founds his arguments not so much upon the fituation of the different powers of Europe at the time, as upon an apprehenfion of contingent events, which are far from being likely to happen.

ART. 28. Obfervations on a Letter to the moft Infolent Man alive. 4to, Walter. London, 1789.

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Petulance, rancour, and fcurrility, were the characteristics of the Letter to the most Infolent Man alive; the author of which had facrificed truth, decency, and candour, to the violence of political prejudices. An invective fo ill-founded might have been suffered to expire without refutation; but where an antidote may be thought proper, the Obfervations before us are not without pretenfions to that quality.

ART. 29. Free Thoughts on his Majefty's Recovery and Refumption of the Royal Powers. 8vo. 1s. Ed. Kearfley. London, 1789. Never did an author fet off with greater profeffions, or a more plaufible appearance of impartiality. Yet in a few pages we difcover the old leaven; and as it must be the wifh of all moderate people that the animofities of thofe days should fubfide for ever, we will not revive them by any other examination of the work before us.

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DIVINITY.

ART. 30. A Thanksgiving Sermon on the King's Recovery. By Thomas Rokilly, A. B. Vicar of Awlifcombe. 4to. 1s. Robinfons. London, 1789.

There is much animation in this little difcourfe. Its defign is chiefly to fhew the many advantages we enjoy from the nature of our conftitution, and to imprefs us with an idea of the peculiar happinefs of the late event. In contrasting our fituation with other nations the author ufes the following language:

Let us contraft our fituation with that of fome neighbouring nations, and we fhall foon perceive the fuperior happiness of our lot, and be convinced that we cannot be too grateful to heaven for the great and manifold bleffings we enjoy. In thefe behold the truly wretched inhabitants crushed by the iron-hand of defpotifm. BeI hold them either funk in a torpid apathy, or doomed to the moft excruciating tortures for a manly oppofition to tyrannic power, and a just vindication of their natural rights. For them in vain wave the fields with corn, or are clothed with verdure or fertility. The voice of mirth and feftivity is feldom if ever heard in their habitations. Alas! what room can there be for joy in the breafts of those whose lives and properties are perpetually expofed to the invafion of unlimited power, and cannot boast one moment's fecurity ?'

The prefent profpe&t bids fair to emancipate the most confiderable ftate in Europe from bondage; and let us hope others will follow its example.

ART. r. 31. A Sermon, preached at the Cathedral of Gloucefter, on Sunday March 8th, 1789, by the Rev. Edward Wilson, Canon of Windsor, and Prebendary of Gloucester. 4to. Is. Raikes, Gloucester; Gardner, London. 1789.

The reverend author treats his fubject with confiderable ability; and, being unavoidably led to confider the character of the king, he does it with a fobriety and delicacy becoming a Chriftian minifter.

ART. 32. A Thanksgiving Sermon, preached at the Epifcopal Chapel at Lydgate, in Saddleworth, on Thursday the 23d Day of April, 1789, by the Rev. Thomas Seddon, A. M. 4to. 1s. Rivingtons. London, 1789.

We must begin here with a dedication, in which our author accufes Mr. Wilberforce of thinking like himself:

The fentiments it contains, the author perfuades himself, differ not from yours, delivered and spiritedly fupported in the Houfe of Commons; and though maintained by inferior abilities, in inferior language, he is fure your criticifm will not deal feverely with its errors, defpifing the Intention with which it was written, condemning the deed

The dedication being fhort we contrived to get through it. We made feveral fuch attempts with the fermon, but in vain.

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