the mistress and the tyrant of the world. To leave no doubt of the nature of this decree, fome extracts from it are produced, So far the general interefts of Europe are confidered: the author then adverts to the particular and pointed interference of France with this country, contrafted with our neutrality towards her, and produces fome ever memorable fpecimens of thofe profligate addreffes from Englishmen which all pofterity will contemplate with amazement, After giving, very much at large, the evidences of this moft hoftile correfpondence, Mr. Bowles afferts, that any thing fhort of a revocation of the "obnoxious decrees-a dereliction of the conquered territo"ries—a recal of the French armies-an exprefs renunciation "of all views of aggrandizement and aggreffion, of all right to violate or difturb fubfifting treaties, and of all claims to "interfere, upon any pretence, in the internal concerns of other countries," would ftill have left all Europe at the mercy of French ambition. From these, and other pofitions, relative to negotiation, and fuch other topics as are connected with the queftion, Mr. B. deduces his conclufion, and states it strongly; that the war is, on our part, both in form and fubftance, a war of defence. Some additional notes fubjoined to this pamphlet prove, among other things, the connexion between the plans of reform here, and the plans of a republic, originating in France, The poftfcript afferts the general fecurity of Europe as the great object of the war, and the point chiefly to be confidered in its profecution and termination. The merits of this author's ftyle are too well known to the public to require much exemplification. Of the nature of his arguments fomething will be feen from the analyfis here given; but they will be viewed in a much more advantageous light by thofe who fhall recur to the publication itself. BRITISH BRITISH CATALOGUE. POETRY. ART. 26. Imitations of fome of the Epigrams of Martial. Part I. and Il. 4to. Faulder. 2s. 6d. each. THE HESE Imitations have merit, but they have alfo faults which strongly weigh against that merit. The turn of many among them is licentious, and the original epigrams have been chofen with still lefs regard to decency. Happily the groffness of Roman writers cannot be tolerated in modern languages, but neither ought it to be brought forward to view. To mutilate editions of the originals may not be allowable, except when intended, like the Delphin, chiefly for the eye of youth,But to felect the offenfive parts is not pardonable. The author appears, in feveral of his imitations, a fevere fatirift against the democratic party, particularly in the fecond part. Now and then the imitator lofes the turn of the original, and fubstitutes nothing for it, as in the cafe of the epigram on Chloe and her Seven Hufbands; but in general there is point and fpirit in the imitation. The English writer fometimes takes only a hint from the Roman, and makes that ludicrous, which in the original was ferious. There are fome confiderable errors in the typography of the Latin part. The following has even more liveliness than the original: "I laugh at Poll's perpetual pother, "To make me her's for life; ART. 27. Topfy Turvy: with Anecdotes and Obfervations illuftrative of leading Characters in the prefent Government of France. By the Editor of Salmagundi. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Anderson. Topfy Turvy infinuates, that in the prefent ftate of France all things are inverted, which is illuftrated by a neat vignette prefixed, wherein many men are feen ftanding on their heads, and a principal figure, a Frenchman with a cap of liberty, is fhowing Britannia how becoming that posture would be to the British Lion. He may be supposed to speak these words from the poem: "Behold our republican state "To perfection advancing apace, "Ever fince, where the head ftood of late, The editor of Salmagundi was, we understand, the author of fome of the most humorous poems in that juftly popular collection; in this effort we cannot fay that he has been equally happy. Yet even here we find confiderable merit; the doggrel ityle is in many parts well fupported, H 4 and and the illuftrations of the great characters celebrated in the pcem, as given at large in the notes, are at least amufing; they are founded alfo on as good authority as can be had upon the fubject. The perfonages celebrated are, Pethion, Roberfpierre, Danton, Gorfas, Marat, Merlin, Chabot, Dupont, Carra, Egalite, Talleyrand, and Gregoire. The Rhodomontade fpeech of Kerfaint, on univerfal fraternization, is also parodied at large. Other heroes are brought forward in the additional notes. The Motto from Swift is well hit off; "Man is but a Topsy-turvy animal, his head where his heels should be." ART. 28. Seceffion; or, True Blue feparated from Buff. A Political, It is ill policy in a poet to put the Critics in mind of a great name, by affuming it without fufficient warrant. The name of Churchill, even with the addition of Minor, will here fuggeft comparisons which the author would think odious, and which therefore we fupprefs. In the very 2d page: "Would willing fraternize the human race, By wars of plunder, under guise of peace," Is not, to fay the best of it, in the ftyle of Churchill, and we look in vain for lines that are. Perhaps it would not be amifs if the author were to ftudy that poet before he writes again; at least, under that name. The event of the great feceffion from the whig club, was too extraordinary to pafs uncelebrated, but that this poem will give it immortality, is more than we can promife. ART. 29. A Poetical Epistle to the Honourable Thomas Erskine. 4to. Is. Parfons. With hope of fomething much fuperior to the former strains, we read the fix first lines of this poem. But, alas! the writer has not exerted himself to keep up to the fpirit of his exordium. Yet we cannot but think that the author of thofe lines, and the following, Borne by no vulgar cattle through the throng, muft have genius and ear, and knowledge of verfification fufficient to produce fomething more perfect, if he did but beftow the neceffary application to felect his thoughts and polifh his ftyle throughout. TRAVELS. TRAVELS. ·ART. 30. A Tour through the Theatre of War in the Months of November and December 1792, and January 1793, interfperfed with a Variety of entertaining and military Anecdotes: To which are fubjoined, Interefting Particulars of the Death of Louis the XVIth, by an Eye-witness of the Fact. 35. Owen and Bew, London. Part of the fubftance of this Tour had before appeared in the paper called the Diary. It is written in a sprightly ftyle, and exhibits lively traits of character, and an acquaintance with foreign manners. The author feems defirous of stating the conduct of the French, and their profpects of fuccefs, in a more favourable point of view than perhaps a deliberate and impartial confideration would juftify. If we admit that he corrects fome erroneous accounts, and counteracts thofe falfe impreffions that muft arife from paying attention to only one fide of the queftion, he still muft be allowed to betray too great a predilection for the advocates of the French revolution. Any attempt to moderate fentiments that may be fuppofed to originate from erroneous information, is praife-worthy; and we might -liften with patient attention to the account which this writer gives of the intentions and ftrength of the French: but, in his endeavours to extenuate the murder of Louis, we fee a partiality which overlooks every great and folemn confideration, while it magnifies trivial and falfe arguments to undue importance. It is The author points out fome evils exifting in other countries; but many of them are fuch as no government could remove. furely mischievous to ftate fubjects of difcontent, without fuggefting the remedy, and to attribute to the civil polity what refults from the conftitution of human affairs.-The narration in this work is good, and the anecdotes, in particular, are related with Spirit. LAW. ART. 31. A Treatise upon the Law and Proceedings in Cafes of High Treafon, &c. By a Barrister at Law. 4s. Whieldon and Butterworth. This work is principally compiled from Hale, Hawkins, and Blackftone; and to the ftudent who is acquainted with these writers we can promife but little information from the perufal of this Treatife. The Law of libels feems to have been the author's favourite topic, on the policy of which he ventures fome remarks of his own: his intention is good, but his ftyle is affected and incorrect. The younger practifers may, we think, derive fome ufeful hints from the fourth chapter, to affift them in drawing indictments.-It feems to have efcaped the author's notice, that in confequence of the act of 31 Geo. 3. Cap. 32, no perfon can be fummoned to take the oath of fupremacy; and that Roman Catholics, upon taking the oath enjoined by that act, inftead of the former oaths, may practife as counsellors, attornies, and folicitors. POLITICS. POLITICS. ART. 32. The Duties of Man in Connexion with his Rights, or Rights and Duties infeparable. 2d edit. 12mo. 47 pp. 2d. Rivingtons. The author of this fenfible little tract stands forward to oppose and to detect the evils of fedition, to cultivate the fpirit of contentment, and enforce the principles of order, particularly in the lower claffes of fociety. He reminds his countrymen that they have duties as well as rights; and that on the due difcharge of thofe depends the happi nefs of man; his rights being elfe but the wild ungoverned paf"fions of his nature, let loofe to be the fcourges of his own happi"nefs, and to disturb the peace and happiness of others." P. 4. He compares the fanatics of the last century with the French republicans of this; and on the declaration of renouncing for ever all ambition by conqueft, he obferves "the fhort experience of a year "hath taken off the mafk, and fhown them commencing an offenfive "war, invading the territories of their neighbours, levying contri"butions, extending their conquefts under the pretext of bringing "them liberty, and aiming to eftablish, not a univerfal monarchy, "but-as fome of their leaders have avowed already, one great republic." P. 15. The general Contents are-Religion-Our Duty to the KingObedience to the Laws-Subordination in general-Soldiers Taxes in General-Tithes-Content and Gratitude-praise and Thankf giving. Much important matter in a fmall compass, and at a very low price. ART. 33, Songe d'un Anglais, fidele à fa Patrie et à fon Roi, traduit de l'Auglais. Elmfly. The Dream of an Englishman faithful to his King and his Country. 8vo. 33 pages. Is. Elmily. The original of this very interefting pamphlet was the French, in which language it was published a confiderable time before the appearance of the tranflation; profeffing, however, in the title, by a very common and allowed fpecies of fiction, to be tranflated from the English. It has been attributed, with great appearance of probability, to M. Lally Tolendal, in co-operation with fome perfon very intimately acquainted with the fate of our interior politics. M. Lally is an able and elegant writer; and, if he be indeed the author of this tract, though he has reafons for taking an active interest in our profperity, which every foreigner has not, we are greatly indebted to him for thus admirably pleading our caufe, and unveiling the iniquities which were then practifed against us. The plan is this: An Englishman, who has been abfent a confiderable time from his country, returns to it towards the latter end of the year 1792. Alarmed, as all then were, except a few of remarkable courage, at the ftate of affairs, he makes it his business, within his own district, to trace the machinations of French emiffaries to the utmoft. With a lively in tereft |
