Elizas, ready, whenever the occafion calls, to terminate an unfortumate attachment by a voluntary exit, heroically exclaiming, Sic, fic juvat ire fub umbras. E. Art. 32. The Tales of an Evening, followed by the Honeft Breton. Tranflated from the French of M. Marmontel. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. fewed. Bew. 1792. The name of Marmontel is a fufficient recommendation to these volumes, provided only that their authenticity be fatisfactorily established. The tranflator's account of them is as follows: M. Marmontel is one of the avowed editors of the French Mercury as will appear on confulting the title-page of that weekly production; and has engaged to furnish for the firft Number of every month, a Tale, or part of one, according to their length. He has done fo, fince January 1790, and from that time to the prefent, has completed the charming ftories that compofe thefe two volumes. His name is affixed in the Mercury to each of them.' We confefs that we have not perufed thefe pieces with that degree of pleasure with which we read the author's former tales; they appear to us to want much of the vivacity and gaiety which have ren. dered Marmontel's tales fo popular. Many of these are, however, interesting and pathetic, and adapted to imprefs the mind with good moral fentiments. E. Art. 33. Laura Valmont. Written by a Lady. 12mo. fewed. Dilly. This lady thus introduces herself to the notice of her readers: The experience of every hour tends to convince us how much truth and good fenfe are conveyed in that Arabian proverb, which afferts, that an idle perfon is the devil's play-fellow. The fear of encountering fo very dangerous a play-mate, firft induced me to engage myself in fcribbling the following ftory.' Yet her escape may be at least doubtful, by her own confeflion, while employed on fo frivolous and imperfect a performance, which, I am confcious, cannot afford the leaft improvement, and I fear but little if any amufement.' The volume comprizes two ftories, that may have their due effect on young ladies of fenfibility and fentiment. N 2s. 6d. Art. 34. The Duchefs of York: an English Story. 12mo. 65. fewed. Lane. 1791. The appearance of a new Duchefs of York was not to be overlooked by writers who watch to catch public events as they rife; and the title has been deemed fufficient to carry off a kind of novel. formed on the clandeftine marriage of James Duke of York with the daughter of the Earl of Clarendon. It has of late become a policy to elude, as may be supposed, critical strictures, by an appeal to the humanity of the reader; and by pleading perfonal circumstances as the motive for having recourfe to the pen. When fuch a plea is offered in a female character, we fcarcely know how to receive it, until repetition familiarizes us to • November 1791. 2 Vols. it; it; and then we cannot but recollect, that the public opinion of literary merit has no connection with, and will very feldom be influenced in favour of, the private motives of the writer. This being the cafe, it may fuffice to repeat our well-founded aversion to blending truth with fiction, fo as to mislead the ignorant, by confounding the diftinctions between them: but this expedient has been adopted, because invention feems to be, in a great measure, exhausted. To this remark, which is made with no invidious intention, we need only add, that the ftory is decently told, and might have appeared to better advantage, had it been more correctly printed. N. PP. 188. Art. 35. The Expedition of Little Pickle; or the Pretty PlotterSmall 8vo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Symonds. 1792. From the title and the fize, we expected that Little Pickle had a reference to a public character currently known by that appellation: but in this fuppofition we were deceived. Little Pickle is a fprightly young lady, and her story is a common novel. The plot is indeed childish enough: but, all circumftances being at the writer's command, it fucceeds to admiration, and is conducted with fome degree of humour. N. Art. 36. The Blind Child, or Anecdotes of the Wyndham Family. Written for the Ufe of Young People. By a Lady. 12mo. pp. 178. 2s. fewed. Newbery. 1791. This is a fentimental work, framed on domeftic occurrences, in the manner of Salzmann's Elements of Morality, as tranflated by Mifs Wolftonecraft*; and is calculated, as the writer informs us, to diftinguish true fenfibility from the modern affectation of nervous weakness. Giving all due credit to the upright intentions of this and other writers in the fame benevolent line, to inftil moral fentiments by apt incidents and examples, we apprehend that they may be, in fome measure, undermining their own intentions, and undefignedly injuring the cause of morality, by giving their pupils a tafte for novel-reading. They prefent youth with amuling ftories that lead to profitable inferences; and their readers put up with the inferences for the fake of the ftories. When they come to chufe their own reading, they will know where to find an ample, fupply of amusement to diffipate their ideas, unadulterated with what they may regard as dry reflections.-This, however, is a pretty book, notwithstanding the gravity of the remark which it has occafioned. N. Art. 37. Memoirs of a Scots Heirefs. Addreffed to the Right Honourable Lady Catharine ****. By the Author of Conftance, 12mo. 3 Vols. 9s. fewed. Hookham. 1791. This will be an agreeable novel to the generality of readers; the ftory being full of bufinefs, and conducted through many ftrange viciffitudes. In this author's former production †, we remarked her knowlege of human nature in pourtraying characters, but did not conceive them fufficiently exerted in the narrative; in the prefent, we *See Rev. Enlarged, vol. v. p. 101, and vol. vii. p. 114. + Rev. vol. lxxiv. p. 305. have not only characters well defcribed, but thofe characters are active throughout. The fituations and conduct of the parties are diverfified but we have to add, which indeed is a fault common to the generality of thefe compofitions, that they are, in many refpects, improbable, and unnatural. N. Art. 38. Eugenia and Adelaide. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5s. fewed. Dilly. 1791. The trifling diftinctions obfervable in thefe compofitions of love and the vicisitudes of its fuccefs, often prevent us from difcriminating the merits of one from another; fo that they might be bundled up by the dozen, under a general defcription. All that the prefent inftance demands, is an acknowlegement that it is not one of the worst. N. MEDICINE. Art. 39. An Analyfis of the Medicinal Waters of Tunbridge Wells. 8vo. pp. 31. 1s. Murray. 1792. This analyfis was undertaken in confequence of one of the springs at Tunbridge Wells having been covered; and the question to be decided was, whether this circumftance had, in any respect, altered the qualities of the water? It is determined, that the only advantage derived to the fpring from the cover, is cleanliness; and that the water undergoes no alteration, fo long as fuch covering does not entirely exclude the external air.-The cover, however, having been removed, in compliance with the general opinion, renders the queftion of no importance: but as the author had entered into an inquiry concerning the component parts of thefe fprings, he was induced to lay before the public the refults of his investigation. The contents of a wine gallon of thefe waters are thus stated; Cubic inches. 4 Of Aërial acid, 5. Art. 40. Reflections on Dr. Smith's Practice in Difeafes of Debility. fhewing the Propriety of arranging them by their Effects on the Conftitution; and therefore confiftently with the Method of Cure. Propofing a Plan of Treatment no lefs congenial with the Salutary Laws of our Economy, and a rational Theory, than in Sanction deficient of Authority and Experience. By a Difciple of Nature. 4to. pp. 71. 3s. 6d. Wayland. 1791. After employing a number of pages in various and defultory reflections,-fome of which, however, are judicious, and forcibly expreffed, this difciple of nature ends (Oh most lame and impotent conclusion !) A a 3 conclufion!) by recommending, as a fecret, an infallible medicine in difeafes of debility, Dr. Smith's tonic remedy; though he must know that Dr. Smith's remedies were varied according to the varieties of the diforders in which he was confulted; and that his practice and prefcriptions were open to any one who chose to examine them. How the writer can reconcile this kind of impofition to his confcience, we know not; unless he reforts to the excufe which was pleaded by the apothecary who fold poifon to Romeo. SCHOOL-BOOKS. Art. 41. A Syftem of French Accidence and Syntax, intended as an Illuftration, Correction, and Improvement of the Principles laid down by Chambaud on those Subjects, in his Grammar. By the Rev Mr. Holder of Barbadoes. Third Edition; with Notes by G. Satis. 8vo. pp. 420. 4s. bound. Dilly. 1791. 2 Art. 42. Claffical Exercises upon the Rules laid down in Holder's Chambaud's French Grammar. By G. Satis. 8vo. pp. 104. 15. 6d. bound. Dilly. 1792. Art. 43. Claffical Exercifes upon the Rules of the French Syntax, with References to Holder's Chambaud's Grammar. By G. Satis. 8vo. pp. 200. 2s. 6d. bound. Dilly. 1792. Art. 44. The Guide to Satis's Claffical Exercifes on the Rules of French Syntax By G. Satis. 8vo. pp. 122. 1s. 6d. bound. Dilly. 1792. Thefe four books fall properly under one article: we have therefore claffed them together. The firft of them has already obtained a tribute of commendation in our Review for March 1783, vol. lxviii. p. 281. to which we refer the reader. The third edition receives farther notes from Mr. Satis, who had himself been engaged in a purfuit of the like kind before Mr. Holder's Syftem made is appearance. To this work, the three, which follow, entirely relate: they are intended to affift the scholar in its ufe, and to enable him to employ it in the most intelligible and beneficial manner. Mr. Satis mult have bestowed confiderable attention, as well as much time, on these little volumes; in which he offers exercifes adapted to the different parts of the grammars, and accompanies them with farther references to the proper word in the dictionary, by which Jaft we find he means Nugent's Pocket-dictionary, the fifth and fixth editions. The two books of clathical exercifes are in other refpe&s the fame, but this great diftinction runs throughout, viz. that the larger of the two contains every minute reference, whereas the fmaller has only thofe of a more general kind; and they are published in this manner, that the preceptor and the fcholar may make choice of that which feems most likely to facilitate and promote their purpofe. It is probable that if the learner has refolution to purfue attentively the plan here laid down, he will find it beneficial, and indeed entertaining, even though at first it should prove fomewhat irkfome. The other book, called the Guide, gives moft, or all, of the different paffages beforementioned, in their more perfect form, French and English; and whereas the Exercises finish with nouns of number, the fentences here collected proceed to verbs and adverbs. adverbs. Mr. Satis informs the public, that, fhould his plan be approved, be will immediately publish the other part, and carry on the exercises throughout verbs, adverbs, prepofitions, and conjunctions. He is anxious left any reader should mistake or not underftand his fcheme, and recommends fuch perfons to call on him at No. 6. Clifford's Inn, on Tuesdays, Thurfdays, or Saturdays, between fix and eight o'clock in the evening, for farther explanation. -He alfo invites and entreats those who are unacquainted with the French language, to point out his errors, or to afford him any remarks which may affift the improvement of his work. Hi...s. POLITICS and POLICE. Art. 45. An Address from the General Committee of Roman Catholics, brett. 1792. Reports having been circulated, that the late application of the Roman Catholics in Ireland, for relief, extends to unlimited and total emancipation, it is here declared, in refolutions from their General Committee, that the whole of their late applications to the Legislature, and their intended Petition, extend no farther than to the following objects: admiffion to the profeffion and practice of the law; capacity to ferve in country magiftracies; a right to be fummoned and to ferve on grand and petty juries; and the right of voting, in counties only, for Proteftant members of parliament; in fuch a manner, however, as that a Roman Catholic freeholder fhould not vote unless he either rented and cultivated a farm of twenty pounds per annum, in addition to his freehold of forty fhillings, or poffeffed a freehold to the annual amount of twenty pounds. For the full refutation of the evil reports and calumnies which have been circulated against them, this Addrefs is published by order and in the name of the General Committee. To the charge, that the Committee, and all the Roman Catholics, who stood forth on this occafion, are unlettered, poor, mechanical, members of their perfuafion; it is replied, that the names and characters of the perfons who have figned Refolutions in favour of the General Committee, are of the first refpe&tability, in every clafs and every line which the law has left open to them. In reply to the reprefentation, that they have no ftake in the profperity of their country, and nothing to hazard in the evil of public calamity; it is afferted, that the property of those who have figned refolutions in their fa vour, cannot be estimated at less than ten millions fterling. The accufation, that they are turbulent and feditious, and have formed regular plans for the intimidation of parliament, is denied, and their opponents (among whom are bodies of addreffers, represented to be the Roman Catholic landed intereft, with Lord Kenmare at their head,) are required to convict them of a fingle unconftitutional proceeding: A a 4 • We |