1 TOPOGRAPHY. The environs of London, certainly more neglected than their locality could be expected to permit, have at length found, in Mr. Daniel Lyfons, a diligent and curious inveftigator.* But of this work alfo we have to wait for the completion. Mr. Ireland's views on the Thames, as a book of rational amusement, received at the fame time,† as they deferved, our commendations. POLITICS. On the important, and at prefent much agitated queftions of politics, we have announced feveral works of merit. But here we are almoft prevented by delicacy from bringing forward any names, left we should be thought to do it with a spirit of party, or of partiality. Suffice it to fay that to us, Mr. Ar. Young's tract on the example of France, the letters of Alfred,$ Mr. Bowles's real grounds of the prefent war, and the three letters addreffed to Mr. Fox,** have appeared to poffels more excellence of various kinds, than any others we have noticed within the fame period; others may feel differently, according to their political fentiments, whom we by no means undertake to blame, though we cannot but retain our own opinions. But on Profeffor Brown's tract on the Natural Equality of Men,†† we cannot hefitate to pronounce the moft decifive commendation; as calculated to be of fingular ufe to all defcriptions and parties; by placing in the cleareft light, the most important queftion, and the most commonly mifreprefented, of all thofe that belong to these difcuffions: the queftion which forms, indeed, the rational bafis of all political union. In this tract the vices of all extremes are cenfured with equal freedom, and truth is placed, where fhe has ever delighted to refide, at equal diftance from exaggeration on the one hand and on the other; from tyrannical maxims, and from the doctrines of anarchy. The papers of the Affociation at the Crown and Anchor, were commended alfo without fcruple,* as juftified by the general fentiments of the nation, as having proved useful, and as illustrated by a preface of very mafterly execution. These things we fee no reason to refrain from faying, leaving those, who, for any cause, may diffent from our opinion to maintain their own with whatever ftrength of argument they can. LAW. This In this walk of literature we have yet had little to confider, or at leaft, we have not brought forward much. The reafon is, that articles of this kind are in general too technical for copious defcription, and may be moft conveniently noticed in a concife manner. tafk we fhail by no means neglect, nor fhall we fuffer any fuch work of importance to pafs by us, without obtaining the most scientific opinion we can gain upon it. The Vinerian Lectures of Profeffor Woodefon, we noticed at large, nor can we refrain, in this place, from repeating our congratulations to congratulations to the ftudents of British law, on fo eftimable an acceffion to the means of information. POETRY. We haften to Belles-Lettres, as to the fubject most generally delightful. In this branch of them we have chiefly had occafion to notice the efforts of the female sex. Lady Burrel, lady Manners,§ and Mrs. Smith, have all proved that elegance may have strong charms in the cultivated state of a language, and that, without rifing to the highest flights of poetry, much may be done which a critic cannot but commend. Some dramatic efforts alfo, not devoid of original merit,have been curforily noticed by us, which will be found under that article in our catalogues; a drama of high rank, in point of excellence,would demand a fuller examination. Our old acquaintance Robert Burns, a true poet, by creation of nature, we have cheerfully greeted on + No. I. p. 34. No. II. p. 146. * No. IV. p. 435.. No. IV. p. 403• his his republication*, and we may fafely promife that we fhall be always happy to announce his name. ENGLISH CLASSICS REPUBLISHED. The improved and excellent edition of the favourite bard of Britons, by Mr. Steevens,† tempted us into a confiderable extent of remarks, the result of which was, that the editor had done his duty well, and the poet obtained new ornaments to his immortal crown. Of Mr. Ritfon's English Anthology we spoke with fome hefitation, as not perceiving the full drift of the editor's defign. On this we cannot yet pronounce; but that an elegant book will be added by it, to the elegancies that have lately proceeded from our prefs, will not admit of any doubt. TRANSLATIONS OF CLASSIC AUTHORS. Mr. Boscawen's verfion of the odes of Horace,§ detained us very pleafingly to ourselves, and we hope not otherwise to our readers, during two confiderable articles. It will probably live in the notice of his countrymen, when what we have faid of it fhall be difmiffed from memory. Mr. Murphy's tranflation of 'Tacitus, long anxiously expected, was received, as does not always happen in fuch cafes, without difappointment; and we are pleased to say that there is now a tranflation of that author, worthy, in the main, of his celebrity and merits, MATHEMATICS. Among the lefs popular sciences the mathematics ought to take the lead; and here we have to congratulate our country on the publication of two works of fuch importance as the new edition of Archimedes,** as iffued from the Clarenden prefs; and the elements of Conic Sections by Mr. Robertjon of Chrift Church Oxford:†† and we have the more pleasure in announcing these works as produced by that Univerfity, because they feem *No. IV. p. 393. † No. I. p. 54 and No. JI. p. 127. § No. III. p. 329 and IV. 423. to to refute a notion, too commonly taken up, that the mathematics are neglected there. MEDICINE, &c. In this line we have nothing very important to recal to mind, except the Tranfactions of a Society comprising fome of the first names in this country,* and appearing to be equal in value to the expectations which thofe names muft raife. Of the other publications on the fubjects of the healing art, it may fuffice to fay, that those of Mr. Earle,† Mr. Abernethy, and Mr. Bifchoff §, feem the most important. CHEMISTRY. The compilation and tranflation of papers from Crell's Chemical Journal, is the only work of this kind which has yet fallen under our infpection: and it is evident that the judicious continuation of it, is a defirable object to that science. NATURAL HISTORY. A tranflation of Buffon's hiftory of birds** may certainly be confidered as an acquifition of fome confequence to English Naturalifts. For though the author's inclination to materialifm, his attachment to various fanciful notions, and his fuperficial flourishes on little or nothing, much lower the value of his works, they contain facts which the ftudent in these matters must have within their reach, and which may not be equally convenient to all English ftudents in their original form. BOTANY. Profeffor Marlyn's manual of the language of Botany, as tending to make perfect, what hastt hitherto been involved in much confufion, the English appellations of plants, is an effort worthy of his laudable zeal for that science in which he is fo eminently proficient. MISCELLANEOUS. The Afiatic refearches of which we allowed ourselves, to announce the fecond volume,* are of an excellence too well known to require any additional tribute of applaufe in this place; we have recapitulated their contents, and in fo doing have given an information of which multitudes will doubtlefs be eager to avail themfelves, by recurring to the publication itself. The curiofities of literature, by Mr. D'Ifraeli, † is a work of amusement of the best kind; and the Military Mifcellany, by the Honourable Colin Lindsay,‡ is of yet more importance to military students, than the former to the lovers of literature. This brief recapitulation of the chief articles noticed in one divifion of our work, forming, for that period, a fort of Hiftory of British literature, will be continued in our fubfequent volumes. As we do not undertake to mention all, even of those who might in fome degree deferve it, we hope we fhall not injure thofe authors whom we may omit. This at least we can affure the public, that if we were confcious of being guided in it by any thing but our unbiaffed and candid judgment, we would defift for ever from the undertaking, and would withhold even this firft fketch from their infpection. * No. II. p. 117. and III. p. 254• P. 324. |