gentlemen; Hipponax, therefore, very properly places the scene of his Spring in London, and fings of Squires Who quit the ruftic fcenes for fcenes far brighter; And the tir'd poft-horfe drags the load to town." He fatirizes the factitious life which our people of fashion, and the apes of our people of fashion, lead in the metropolis, in a few ftanzas which have fome merit, and he offers the following mock congratulation: Happy the land where women, ever young, For joys ftill varying ne'er lack taste or leisure, And work like horses in the geers of pleasure.' Moo-y Art. 32. The Pardoner's Tale, from Chaucer. By the Rev. William Lipscomb, Rector of Welbury, in Yorkshire, and Chaplain to the Earl of Darlington. 8vo. IS, Cadell 1792. As this publication is part of a plan for rendering into modern verfe fuch parts of Chaucer's tales, as have not hitherto appeared in that form, we fhall poftpone the more particular examination of the merit of this performance till the whole is completed; and fhall only at prefent remark, in general, that Mr. Lipfcomb feems poffeffed of powers of verfification which very well qualify him for the undertaking. Art. 33. Ingratitude: or, Naval Merit degraded. A Poem. 4to. pp. 32. zs. Printed at Colchester; and fold by Scatcherd and Whitaker, &c. London. The burthen of this fong will eafily be inferred from the following lines prefixed as a motto under the above title: 1 In war, when Hawke and Rodney on the main, Thus Shock, when mastiffs growl, will never fail, Where till the danger's paft, he fnug does lie; Barking aloud, "Where are they?—Here am I." The above fimilitude between our peaceable naval warriors and the lap-dog Shock, is better conceived than expreffed; and in the poem itself, there is more evidence of feeling what we are very forry any of our naval protectors fhould feel, than of exalted poetry or refined fatire :-but to write poetry with harmony and corre&nefs, requires a mind at eafe, to indulge the play of imagination: minds actually under the agitations defcribed by our beft poets, would would be unable to difplay their emotions fo pathetically as is done for them by those who only affume the characters and fituations. N. Art. 34 Two Poems or Songs, one on Abdul Achmet, the late Grand Sultan; the other on Sir Jeremiah Tickle, Bart. called the Hatter's Tale. 8vo. pp. 24. 1s. Deighton. 1791. Thefe feem to be effufions of the private refentment of fomebody against fomebody for ftealing his papers: but from the fpecimen here afforded of them, we fufpe&t the theft to have been kindly intended, in order to put a stop, if poffible, to an inundation of nonfenfe. Be the cafe as it may, the whole matter before us is fo ora. cular, that we neither can nor wish to comprehend the ftory. We have done what few befide us ever will do, we have read it. N. E. The detached publication of the fongs in a dramatic piece is of ufe to fuch of the auditors as wish to recollect and fing them afterward. The occafions on which they are introduced, and the mufic in which the words are conveyed, give to fuch compofitions their full effect; abstract thefe concomitants, and they are fubjected to a trial, from which even the judges will ftep forward as counfel to difmifs them. If they ftand acquitted on the ftage, it is enough. We understand that Mr. Pearce of the Admiralty is the author of this farce. 25. N. Art. 37. The Fugitives: a Comedy. By William Roberts, Efq. Mr. R. fpeaks of his performance with modefty, as the amusing employment of fome leifure hours, and written without any view of its being extended beyond the narrow limits of domestic entertainment; and, not having offered it for reprefentation, we conclude that he is not blind to its defects. Mooy. Art. 38. Poems on feveral Occafions. By the Rev. Jofeph Good. 8vo. pp. 62. 15. 63. Baldwin. If the author of this publication be fincere in profeffing to affume no merit from his poetical performances, he will be the lefs mortiREV. DEC. 1792. I i fied fied if he should find, as we ftrongly fufpect, that the public will allow him no high degree of praife. LAW. E. Art. 39. Debates in both Houses of Parliament on the Bill introduced by the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, for removing Doubts refpecting the Functions of Juries, in Cafes of Libel: With the Queftions addreffed by the House of Lords to the Judges thereon, and their Anfwers. To which is fubjoined, the Statute. 8vo. pp. 160. 2s. 6d. Johnfon. 1792. This account of what paffed in the two Houfes of Parliament on the fubject of libels, appears to be chiefly taken from the newspapers. Though we could have wished to have had a more correct and full report of the debates on a question of fo much importance to the freedom of the prefs, the prefent publication is not without its value, as it purfues, in an unbroken feries, that which would otherwife have been confused in a number of loose and fugitive papers. T. Art. 40. Brief Deductions from First Principles applying to the Matter of Libel: Being an Appendix to " A fecond Letter to the Right Hon. Charles-James Fox," on that Subject. By J. Bowles, Esq. of the Inner Temple, Barriller at Law. 8vo. 6d. Whieldon, and Co. 1792. Instead of brief deductions from firft principles,' we ought, in this title-page, to read "brief deductions from Mr. Bowles's principles," &c.-They contain, in neat and concife terms, the fubftance of Mr. B.'s former pamphlets on the fubject of libel: See Review, New Series, vols. vi. and viii. Art. 41. The Rights of Juries defended. Together with Authorities of Law in Support of thofe Rights; and the Objections to Mr. Fox's Libel Bill refuted. By Charles Earl Stanhope, Fellow of the Royal Society, and of the Society of Arts, and Member of the American Philofophical Society at Philadelphia. 8vo. pp. 164. 35. 6d. Elmfley. 1792. We believe that the greater part of the arguments and illuftrations that occur in this animated defence of the rights of juries, was delivered by the noble Earl in the debate concerning the law of libels in the Houfe of Peers. Some pointed obfervations are added on the very remarkable proteit of the Peers who diffented from the majority that voted in favour of Mr. Fox's bill. The conclusion of this pamphlet breathes a very high fpirit of freedom, for which we fincerely give the noble author full credit: At fome period or other of our hiftory, every thing valuable, every thing important, in our form of government, has been either annihilated or rendered ufelefs; and every rampart against tyranny, every defence of our rights, and all the out. works of the conftitution, have fuffered a temporary overthrow, by the violent efforts, or artful defigns, of the enemies of public freedom. One citadel, however, has withitood the fiege. One important fort has alone fuccefsfully refifted the attacks that have been made upon it; it has refifted for ages: it has neither been deftroyed by 12 fap, T. fap, nor taken by ftorm.-If, therefore, we are ftill a free nation; if this kingdom is the richest and the most profperous country that at this moment exifts in Europe; we owe it to that strong-hold, and fortress of the people, to that impregnable GIBRALTAR of the English conftitution, the TRIAL BY JURY. This is that invaluable bulwark of liberty, which Parliament has lately protected, and will, I truft, ever continue to protect: at least, I fhall confider it as one of my moft effential duties, to defend it fteadily to the laft hour of my life.' T. Art. 42. Letter to Charles Earl Stanhope on his late Pamphlet refpecting Juries. 8vo. pp. 31. Is. Owen. Lord Stanhope has found a very angry, though we think not a very formidable, opponent in the author of this letter; who, it feems, is preparing a tract on the rights of juries, which he intended dedicating to Lord Stanhope:-but, in his advertisement prefixed to the prefent pamphlet, he obferves, with a fneer, that as much of Lord Stanhope's publication may, perhaps, efcape out of the mind of the public before that tract is ready for the prefs, it has been thought more expedient to publish the dedication by itfelf, in the name of a letter to his Lordship, while the fubject matter of the book it treats of remains fresh in the recollection of the reader.'The writer treats the noble Earl with great fcurrility, and imputes principles and conduct to him which are dangerous to his country. T Art. 43. A Loyal Subject's Remonftrance to the Right Hon. Lord Thurlow, upon the Report of his Intention to relign the Great Seal. 8vo. 6d. Debrett. The publication of this wife fubject's reafons against Lord Thurlow's refigning the Great Seal, was unfortunately delayed till the event, which the writer deprecates with fo much earneftnefs, had taken place:-ibi omnis effufus labor. We wish him a more speedy delivery, when he next undergoes the pain of geftation for the good of the public. BOTANY. Art. 44. A short and eafy Introduction to Scientific and Philofophic Botany. By Samuel Saunders. Small 8vo. Pp. 107. 2s. 6d. fewed. White. 1792. T. This work is certainly all that it profeffes to be, and muft undoubtedly be confidered as an elegant little manual. Of all the works that we remember to have feen, in any language, on any fubject, none can in the leaft be compared with Linné's Philofophia Botanica. The fyftematic arrangement, the comprehenfiveneis, the true tyle of definition, and the correctnefs of idea, throughout the whole, place it in the very first rank of merit. Had Linné written no other work, his name had been, nevertheless, immortal. We cannot, therefore, wonder at feeing so many attempts to transfufe its fpirit into our language. Mr. Lee led the way: Mr. Rofe, and others, followed; and, though last, not least in merit, as far as refpects agreeable manner, Mr. Saunders offers his mite. It must be imagined, however, with regard to all fhort and easy introductions, whether in botany, or in other fciences, that what they they gain in brevity, they lofe in information; and what they gain in cafe, they lofe in complete and correct knowlege. The principles of all fciences are neceffarily a dry fubject:-and he who would gain a full knowlege of them, muft have a mind proof against the wearinefs of fuch purfuits. The mind of man was made active for this very purpose, that it might furmount all difficulties which may obstruct us in our attempts to discover our great Creator in all his works, and to afcertain the beft methods of relieving and comforting our fellow-creatures. Mr. Saunders's work is dedicated to Dr. Smith, the possessor of the Linnéan museum. NATURAL HISTORY. Good Art. 45. Synopfis of British Birds. By John Walcott, Efq. 4to. 2 Vols. 21. 12s. 6d. Boards. White, Matthews, &c. Some years ago, the public received from this author a very fimple, but correct, and fomewhat elegant, attempt to delineate the British plants. A few numbers only appeared; and the defign, we know not for what reafon, was laid afide. It was a very fufficient and extremely cheap publication -It reprefented the objects principally by outline, and was calculated to have furnished knowlege to the pooreft ftudent.-We wish that Mr. Walcott had carried on that work, instead of turning his thoughts to the one before us on Ornithology. He tells us, that he has copied his figures from nature, and that the particular merit, to which this work is entitled, lies in the figures being faithful copies from nature, and that it adds a little to our knowlege of the manners of birds.-See the preface. Truth obliges us to be of a diametrically oppofite opinion; if attitude, as expreffed by the figures, is to be fuppofed a part of the manners. Good Sir, beat a pan, or found your whistle; your birds are all asleep. We took your magpie for a water-wagtail;—and we were in pain left your land-rail and Sparrow should tumble forward on their heads. There are plates of every bird mentioned in the work. A great number of them feem to be drawn from tuffed fpecimens; whence they derive that heavy, fleepy appearance, of which we have fo much reafon to complain. The publication is cheap enough, and there is fome fimilarity in the figures, not unfrequently a riking one: but elegance is not entirely to be facrificed to pecuniary convenience: if the work be defigned principally for ordinary pockets, why are the common fubjects fo miferably reprefented, as the robin-red-breaft, the fparrow, &c. Neither do we fee what knowlege of the manners of birds, (ake the word manners in what fenfe you will,) we fo particularly learn from this publication. It may have its use, but it has no chance of exhaufting the fubject. It is not a coloured work. POLITICS and POLICE. Art. 46. The Speech of the Right Hon Charles James Fox; containing the Declaration of his Principles, refpecting the prefent Cri D: |