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Art. 33. The Red Book; or the Government of Francis the first, Emperor of the English, King of the Scotch and Irish, &c. &c. &c. a Dream. By Cassandre Non-Reveur. 8vo. pp. 76. 2s. 6d. Stockdale, junior. 1807.

A very silly pamphlet, in which Malice and Stupidity contend so equally for the masterdom, that we should be extremely sorry were we forced to deliver on oath our opinion of the preponderance

of either.

Those who can relish the following specimen of humour may find much more of the same stamp scat ered through this egregious performance. Sir Francis Burdett (very wittily called Francis Brutulus,) is elected emperor of the English; and one of his first edicts is for altering the names of places in and about the metropolis:

"St. James's Park is in future to be called, under pain of death, Sir Francis's Park; St. James's Square, the Square of St. Guil lotine; Pall-Mall, Despard Street; St. James's Street, Parker Street; Bond Street, the Street of Regeneration; Whitehall, the Street of Reform; Guildhall, Jacobin Hall; Westminster-hull, Sansculottes Hall; Hyde Park, Elysium; and Kensington Gardens, Frescati,'

We have heard that the terrors of the law have been invoked against this publication, but we can hardly believe the fact; it was not worth anger.

Art. 34 A New and Accurate Description of all the Direct and Principal Cross Roads in England and Wales, and Part of the Roads of Scotland: with correct Routes of the Mail Coaches; and a great Variety of new Admeasurements. Also an Account of Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats, and other remarkable Objects near the Road; with some Topographical History. Arranged upon a New and more Convenient Plan: so that the Routes and the Seats relating to them are brought under the Eye in the same Page. A general Index of the Roads to the different Towns, denoting the Counties in which they are situated, their Market Days, and the Inns which supply Post Horses, &c. &c An Index to the Country Seats and Places described. A Table of the Heights of Mountains, and other Eminences, from the Grand Trigonometrical Survey of the Kingdom, under the Direction of Lieut. Col. Madge. An Alphabetical Table of all the Principal Towns ; containing the Rates of Postage; the Times of the Arrival and Departure of the Mails; the Number of Houses; and the Popu lation. The whole greatly augmented and improved by the Assis tance of F. Freeling, Esq. Secretary to the Post-Office, and of the several Surveyors of the Provincial Districts, under the Authority of the Post-Master-General. By Lieut. Col. Paterson, Assistant Quarter-Master-General of His Majesty's Forces. The 14th Edition. 8vo. PP. 525. Ics. 6d. Boards. Longman and Co.

1808.

So long and so well established has been the reputation of this work, that we need not speak of it in terms of commendation; and we mention it now only because it is matter of interesting information

to our tourifying readers, to apprize them of a new and improved edition of it. From the preface, we learn that considerable alterations have taken place in its contents. The proprietor states that the whole is arranged on a new plan; by devoting one column in each page to the descriptions of the roads and distances; and the other, to the seats and topographical history; and this is so contrived that, as the route continues, every object or observation relating to it shall be under the eye in the same page. They will also find, that the book is increased considerably, by new matter as well as by new roads; though, from the enlargement of the page, a very small addition is made to its thickness.

A new and more comprehensive map of the roads has likewise been prepared, corresponding with the descriptions; so that the traveller may trace his route with the greater facility; and at the end of the work is an alphabetical table of all the principal towns, containing the rates of postage, the times of the arrival and departure of the mails; the number of houses; and the population; the two former communicated by the gentlemen of the Post-Office, and the two latter from the report presented to parliament. These, it is presumed, will be of importance to the traveller, both as affording matter of curiosity, and of useful information.'

Acknowlegements are also made to a number of gentlemen, who are specified as having contributed information and corrections; and it is said that, from the assistance which the proprietor has received from all the offices of government, where information could be obtained, this publication may be considered as an official production.' A map of the roads is prefixed, 19 inches by 16 in size.

Art. 35. Crosby's Complete Pocket Gazetteer of England and Wales; or Traveller's Pocket Companion; arranged under the various Descriptions of Local Situation, Public Buildings, Civil Government, Number of Inhabitants, Charitable Institutions, Antiquities and Curiosities, Manufactures and Commerce, Navigation and Canals, Mineral Springs, Singular Customs, Literary Characters, Amusements, Parishes, Churches, &c., Market Days and Fairs, Bankers, Posts, Inns, Coaches, and Waggons, Distances from London, Surrounding Towns, and Gentlemen's Seats, and whatever is worthy of Attention to the Gentleman or Man of Business throughout the Kingdom. With a Preface and Introduction by the Rev. J. Malham. 12mo. pp 600. 5s. Boards. (Fine paper 7s. 6d.) Crosby and Co.

If the reader duly attends to the specification of particulars which this ample title-page sets forth, and especially to the sweeping-clause by which they are terminated, he will form some judgment of the manner in which all these topics must be discussed in a pocket volume ; and not a great-coat pocket volume, but of a size which (bating its thickness) might have been accommodated in the waistcoat pockets of former days. By the aid, however, of double columns in a page, a small type, and contractions for words of frequent occurrence, much information is really comprized in this vade-mecum. As to its accu

racy

racy in all instances, it is in course impossible for us to give an opiA general map of England and Wales, (11 inches by 9,) and another on a similar scale exhibiting the roads, are prefixed.

The Fashionable World Reformed.

By Philokosmos.

Art. 36. Cr. 8vo. 2s. 6d. sewed. Wilson. What an Herculean task is here attempted! We may expostu late with, ridicule, or satirize the fashionable world, but after all we shall effect little by way of reforming it. If, however, sensible observations, and sober advice on the state, on politeness and polite conversation, and on behaviour at public worship, could accomplish this object, Philokosmos would not labour in vain. His purpose is good, but he preaches to a stiff-necked generation.

Art. 37. A Vindication of Mrs. Lee's Conduct towards the Gordons. Written by Herself 4to. 38. Greenland and Norris.

Some talents are displayed in this pamphlet, but we cannot say that much illustration of the affair, or any complete vindication of the writer, appears to us to be produced by it. Rather than have written this sort of defence, we should have advised Mrs. Lee to let the transaction pass into oblivion; and the sooner that such is now its fate, the better.

Art. 38. Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney; with Remarks, by Miss Jane Porter (author of Thaddeus of Warsaw). 12mo. 2 vols. 10s. 6d. Boards. Longman and Co.

Sir Philip Sidney flourished in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and, on account of his various endowments, was frequently styled the "all accomplished." When his Aphorisms, which contained his private thoughts on various subjects, were originally composed, he had no expectation of their being ever published; and they were merely written on any loose fragments of paper that came in his way, and sent to his sister the Countess of Pembroke, who desired to have every copy of his mind. They have long been celebrated for their excellence; and the present editor has deemed them worthy of being once more laid before the public, and of being occasionally illustrated and amplified by her own remarks.

To give our readers an idea of the original work, with the additions of the editor, we shall select a passage or two for their perusal. The first that we shall transcribe is on "REVELLING:"

'Give yourself to be merry, but not boisterous. Let your mirth be ever void of scurrility and biting words, which many deem wit; for a wound given by a word, is often harder to be cured than that which is given by the sword. Use moderate diet; so that after your meat you may find your intellects fresher and not duller; and your body more lively, and not more heavy. Seldom indulge in wine; and yet sometimes do, (but always temperately,) lest, being forced to drink on some fudden occasion, you should become inflamed; all that comes of more than this is bad.'

• Remark.

'Drunkenness is one of the most degrading and, at the same time, is the most mischievous of the sensual vices. In point of deformity,

it is on a par with gluttony, which seeks enjoyment in gorging a vile appetite, and doing its utmost to extinguish that ethereal part which alone gives man pre-eminence over brutes. Drunkenness can have no positive pleasure; at best its feelings are all dormant if active they must produce pain. How can any one of the senses find gratification, when the eye-sight is rendered indistinct, the hearing confused, the very motion feeble and undetermined, and every power of man paralyzed and lost in, weakness and stupidity? The bliss of the drunkard is a visible picture of the expectation of the dying atheist, who hopes no more than to lie down in the grave with the "beasts that perish." It is not requisite to describe the actual pains of the poor besotted' wretch, when his swoln carcase awakes to sensibility. When the cup of any sensual pleasure is drained to the bottom, there is always poison in the dregs. Anacreon himself declares, that "the flowers swim at the top of the bowl!"

On the subject of WOMAN, we find these sentiments:

1. One look (in a clear judgment) from a fair and virtuous woman, is more acceptable than all the kindnesses so prodigally bestowed by a wanton beauty.

2. It is against womanhood to be forward in their own wishes. 3. There is a certain delicacy, which in yielding conquers, and with a pitiful look, makes one find cause to crave help one's self.

4. Silence ought to be without sullenness; modesty without affec tation, and bashfulness without ignorance.

5. Some women are in that degree of well doing, to which the not knowing of evil serveth for a ground of virtue; and they hold their inward powers in better form, with an unspotted simplicity, than many do, who rather cunningly seek to know what goodness is than willingly take to themselves the following of it. But as that sweet and simple breath of heavenly goodness is the easier to be altered, because it has not passed through the trial of worldly wicked. ness, nor feelingly found the evil that evil carries with it; so these innocents, when they come to a point wherein their judgments are to be practised by knowing faultiness by its first tokens, do not know whether the pending circumstance be a thing to be avoided, or em braced, and so are apt easily to fall into the snare.

6. The sex of woman kind is most particularly bound to consider, with regardful eyes, men's judgments on its deeds.'

• Remark.

A clear reputation must be desirable to every honourable mind. Lucretia died to maintain her's; but there the sense of reputation was stronger than that of honour! A truly noble heart would have pre ferred the death that Tarquin threatened; unsullied purity with a slandered name, before contamination with the power of accusation and revenge. Positive rectitude ought to be the first consideration; a fair character, the second; but first and second they should ever be, Virtue demands that where possible they should be substance and shadow, and where it is not, we should die rather than relinquish either; unless the last, as in the case of Lucretia, must be preserved by the sacrifice of the first. For virtue is despotic; life, reputation, every earthly good, must be surrendered at her voice. The law may seem

hard,

hard, but it is the guardian of what it commands; and is the only sure defence of happiness.'

The good sense, the pure morality, and the amiable piety, which this work displays, contribute to render it a very valuable performance. The merit of the Aphorisms has been already sufficiently acknowleged; and the additional remarks of the editor, which are by no means sparingly interspersed, will not suffer in comparison: since they manifest reading, discrimination, thought, and research. Art. 39. Bath Characters: or Sketches from Life. Second Edition, with many Additions; amongst which are a poetical Pump-room Conversation, a new Preface, and an Appendix, containing a Defence of the Work, and a Castigation of its Persecutors. By Peter Paul Pallet. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Wilkie and Robinson. 1808.

Hum'ug and empiricism being fair game for the satirst, he has a right to let slip the dogs" of ridicule, and to drive them from the face of day into their own holes and earths. Bath opens a wide field to the moral castigator; for where profligate, vain, and wealthy fools appear in shoals, koaves of various descriptions will not be wanting, who, by taking advantage of the weakness or humouring the passions of their fellow creatures, will form no unprofitable trade. In Bath, as in the metropolis, the professions of divinity and physic can boast of many respectable members: but it is also possible that all may not be "honourable men;" and if there be any scabby sheep in either fold, it is not amiss to have them stigmatized and hunted down. P. P. P., like another Juvenal, professes to be stimulated by a virtuous indignation against the hypocrisy and quackery which appear in the guise of religion and medical skill, and his aim in these sketches, is to arrest the course of profligacy, to shame the ins lence of vanity and folly, to abash the lofty spirit of dissipation and luxury, and to expose the pernicious bumbugs which are sported in this place of public resort and amusement. The characters which Mr. P. P. P. ties up to the halberds are not slightly brushed by his satirical cat-o'-ninetails, but every stroke is vigorously id in We pretend not to weigh the merit of his satire in the scales of rigid justice but, as some jades seem to have winced, it is fair to suppose that they are galled. Should this be the fact, we wish them nothing worse than that they may be shamed to manliness and virtue.

Art 40

The Grigin and Description of Bognor, or Hothamton; and an Account of some adjacent Villages With a View of the former Place.) By J. B. Davis, M.D &c. Cr. 8vo. 58. Boards. Tipper 1807

When a writer underta' es to construct a volume out of materials fitted for little more than the formation of a tolerably-sized advertisement, a liberal use must be made of epithets and metaphors, and every art of spinning and dila ing must be put in practice. By laying the adjacent villages under contribution, and introducing two of Charlotte Smith's sonnets, with other scraps of poetry, Dr. Davis has had the proud success of filling 124 pages with a description of Bognor, &c. The sea is noticed as an element, as a bath, and as a

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