confequences, muft ever aftonish the confiderate part of mankind. Tranflations of feveral other works of an historical nature have made their appearance, fuch as The Hiftory of the Revolution in Ruffia, which placed the late Catherine on the throne. This production unfolds a scene of iniquity. But we forbear to indulge any remarks. The principal actress has been fummoned to a tribunal where her actions will receive the diftributions of Eternal Juftice. The Marquis de Bouille, M. Neckar, and M. Pages, have each of them written recently on the French Revolution, and their remarks are worthy of attention. The Campaign of General Buonaparte in Italy is interefting. We have alfo to mention under this article, A Hiftory of the New World, by a Spanish writer, Don Juan Baptifta Munoz. One volume only of this original work is yet published. When the whole is finished we shall be able to give our Readers a decided judgment concerning it. The fubject is highly important. And the accefs which the author has to original records, must enable him to throw light on many tranfactions which are now either difgraceful to the hu manity of the Spanish nation, or which are involved in the gloom of obfcurity.-With refpect to our Historical department, we fhall only add, that there are other productions of the kind, but none whofe nature and extent entitle them to our particular attention. We now descend into the troubled region of POLITICS. For fome years paft, at least in this European quarter of the world, it has refembled Winter, Sullen and fad, with all his rifing train, On the fubject of Politics, Mr. Burke's pamphlets refpecting a Peace with France, hold a diftinguished rank, on account of the eloquence with which they are fraught. It is however to be wished that he had written with better temper. The evils of Republicanism might have been expofed with more effect, without this unhallowed frenzy. F 2 frenzy. The Reader in perufing the productions of an irritated politician, is too apt to deem his reafonings the ebullitions of rage, and not the cooler dictates of wifdom. We reverence the genius of Burke, and are therefore forry to fee it degraded by a ftrain which is unworthy of its divine energies. Gifford's Letters to Erskine, Wyvill's Correfpondence with Pitt; Keith's comprehenfive View of the prefent State of Great Britain; The eccentric Rokeby's Addrefs to the County of Kent; Bate's curfory View of Civil Government; Defence of the Kingly Office; an edition of the late Sir William Jones's Dialogue on Government, and a Letter to the Leaders of the House of Commons, are the pieces of most notoriety in the political world. They poffefs, as may be fuppofed, various merit, and the intelligent politician will form a juft opinion of their contents. We would recommend, as to politics in general, more attention to argument and lefs to declamation. With the interefts of nations no one should trifle. The excellence of the British Conftitution need only be ftated with perfpicuity, in order to ensure our warm and hearty approbation. VOYAGES AND TRAVELS are of a more entertaining nature than the article which we have juft quitted. Sir George Staunton's Embassy to China is a work of confiderable merit. It affords a vaft fund of information respecting a part of the world with which few were particularly acquainted. The veil is now in fome measure lifted up from off this immense territory. We behold an empire fwarming with inhabitants, yet diftinguished for almost every thing that is valuable in man. Ample materials therefore are here prefented for the investigation of the philofopher. A cheap edition of this work has been published. The tranflation of Baron de Wimpfen's Voyage to St. Domingo is inftructive, and to his honour abounds with fentiments of humanity towards the flaves. Crefpel's Travels Travels into North America, are affecting by the defcription of the fufferings occafioned by fhipwreck, and Southey's Letters, written during a short Refidence in Spain and Portugal, are ftored with curious and interefting matter. Several tranflations of the Spanish and Portuguese poetry are interfperfed, apparently fraught with the fpirit of the originals. Such pieces must be acceptable to every lover of poetry. BIOGRAPHY next claims our attention, and no individual is infenfible to its charms. Here we have to enumerate Malone's Life of Sir Joshua Reynolds, prefixed to the edition of his works published by that Gentleman, which affords fome interefting information; Holiday's Life of the great Earl of Mansfield; Memoirs of Lord Lovat, bebeaded on Tower-hill, written by himfelf; Tifot's Life of Zimmerman; Memoirs of Charette; Biogra. phical Anecdotes of the Founders of the French Republic, and M'Cormick's Memoirs of Burke. The laft work is curious, and contains articles of information which elucidate the political hiftory of the prefent reign. Whence they were obtained we know not, but their authenticity will no doubt be fcrutinized by the friends of Mr. Burke. The eye glancing over the preceding lift, will be de tained by the names of Reynolds, Mansfield, and Burke, three luminaries which fhone in their feveral profeffions with a refplendent luftre. Every thing concerning fuch characters will excite curiofity. We are anxious to learn by what means they attained to that eminence from which they attracted the notice and admiration of mankind! NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. Under this branch of literature we fhall only notice Nicholfon's Journal of Natural Philofophy, which from the known talents of its author, bids fair for extenfive ufefulness. It promises to be a repofitory for a fpecies of knowledge particularly ferviceable to the interefts of mankind. An acquaintance with the powers of Nature has been already appropriated to the extenfion of trade and commerce, whole connection with the profperity of Britain need not be here delineated. THE ARTS. The fplendid edition of Milton, by Boydell, is ac complished. This is worthy of the higheft praife. The writer of this article is now perufing afresh that great poet's immortal work, and is more than ever convinced that its defcriptions afford exquifite materials for the pencil. It is pleafing to obferve, that though Paradife Loft was neglected during the author's life-time, yet pofterity has rendered it ample juftice. Mr. Charnock has given to the Public his Profpectus of a Hiftory of Marine Architecture, which we truft will meet with every encouragement. The British nation, elevated above other countries by her naval confequence, will furely countenance a work deftined to record her naval victories, POETRY. Here we with pleafure mention the English Lyrics; Charlotte Smith's Elegiac Sonnets; Jackson's Reign of Liberty; Bidlake's Country Parfon; Hurdis's Lectures on Poetry, and Poems by Mr. Fawcett, the celebrated orator of the Old Jewry. Of Mrs. Smith's Sonnets, we have to remark, that however beautiful, they are melancholy in the extreme. It is painful to observe that perfons of fuch genius fhould drink fo deep of the cup of adverfity. But we truft fhe will fuftain her diftrefs with a becoming dignity. To the above lift we add, The Invincible land, by Mr. Stockdale, and The Warning Voice, both intended to ferve the fame caufe, and poffeffed of merit. We are therefore forry to obferve that on this account any differences fhould fubfift between their respective authors. Peter Pindar's Ode to to the Livery of London, is diftinguished by confiderable fhrewdnefs and wit. We must at the fame time confels that we think it inferior to his other productions. This incomparable writer is often unequal to himself. Of the Pursuits of Literature, the opinions are very various. With fome pretenfions to elegance and learning, its fatire is too indifcriminate to produce any confiderable effect. We with his cenfures on many characters had been authenticated by facts. THE DRAMA affords a variety of productions. Mr. Lewis, the author of that pernicious novel the Monk, has produced a fpirited tranflation of Schiller's tragedy of Cabal and Love, under the title of The Minifter. Mr. Boaden alfo has brought forward the Italian Monk, fuppofed to be an imitation of Mrs. Radcliff's laft production. There are other dramatical pieces though none particularly deferving of diftinct enumeration. Mrs. Inchbald's Wives as they Were, is a judicious performance, and does credit to the fair writer's talents. The stage, regulated by the rules of good fenfe and decorum, might ferve to correct the manners of a licentious age. Much was done at the commencement of this century for its amendment by Jeremy Collier. Much, however, yet remains to be done, and will, we truft, be ever long accomplished. Mr. Holcroft's performances poffets no fmall merit, We are forry to fee them borne down by the rancorous fpirit of party. Before the refpe&table audience of a British theatre, merit alone fhould be adjudged. NOVELS. This is a fpecies of compofition variously estimated by mankind. Some perfons flee them as deadlieft poitonwhilft others devote days and nights to their perutal. We are of opinion, that the truth lies between thele two extremes. A good novel is not without its utility. Fictitious characters fhould always recommend virtue and |