various feelings, the loves, the griefs, the hopes, the fears in his own breaft." And many of them are elegant, fimple, and pleating. Thofe that are written in a more ferious frain have much poetical merit; but the humorous and fatirical pieces appear to have been most congenial to the author's feelings, and turn of mind. Such as are of the defcriptive kind contain faithful and pleafig delineations of the fimplicity of manners, and engaging fcenes to be found in a country life. Upon the whole, we think that our rural bard is justly entitled to the patronage and encouragement which have been liberally extended towards him.

66

In Dr. "Fordyce's Poems," we meet with the fame evidences of good fenfe, and knowledge of man. kind, that appear in all his other writings. The fentiments are of an useful and moral tendency, and are conveyed in verfe that is correct, cafy, and perfpicuous. But we cannot think that the Dr. is entitled to a very refpectable rank among the fons of Parnaffus. Young Fancy flown away," he could not expect to arrive at excellence. He informs us, indeed, that the utmost to which he pretends is, to exhibit his ideas in a fhape, not too common nor fami liar, yet neither forced ner extra vagant, with the addition of fome melody to pl afe the ear, fome de. fcription to ftrike the fancy, and fome fentiment to affect the heart." And in attaining this object of his modest wifles he hath fully fucceeded.

The Ode to Superftition, &c." is a bold and fpirited poem, in which the author hath collected feveral historical facts, illu rating the dominion and tyranny of that demon, and pictured the evils which

fhe hath occafioned, in language that is truly poetical and energetic, The fmaller pieces, likewife, which accompany this Ode, are elegant and pleafing poems.

Thomas's Poetical Epistle to a Curate," difcovers marks of genius and cultivated taste; and will difpofe the public to receive with confiderable prepoffeflions any of the future productions of his Mufe. His Apostrophe to Retirement, more efpecially, will be found highly po tical.

A new edition of Mr. Jermingham's " Poems," hath been publifhed this year, in which feveral new pieces have been introduced by him, written in the fame tender ftrain with most of his other productions.

Courtenay's "Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral Character of the late Dr. Johnfon," is dif tinguifhed by fome marks and traces of poetic fire; but on the whole, it is a heavy and uninterefting performance. To the merits of Johnfon the author pays a proper refpect; and in his peculiarities and weakneffes we concluded that he would have found ample fcope for the exercife of his wit and pleasant. ry. But we must confefs ourselves to have been greatly difappointed.

From Peter Pindar's prolific Mufe we have received frequent entertainment during the prefent year, His "Farewell Odes for the year 1786," are, as ufual, exceedingly fevere on the royal Academicians, and contain feveral humorous ftories, and laughable defcriptions, In his "Poetical and Congratulatory Epistle to James Bofwell, efq. on his Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides," he is equally unfparing of his lashes on the journalist and his friend; and in his "Bozzi and Piozzi, or the British Biographers,

a Town

a Town Eclogue," his powers of ridicule have been called forth with uncommon fuccefs.

Among the other poetical productions of the year, fome of which would deferve to be diftinctly noticed, if our limits would admit of it, we find a fecond volume of "The Afylum for Fugitive Pieces;" Chriftian's "Progrefs of War;" "A Portical Addels to Edward Gibbon, Efq. occationed by his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire;" "The Triumph of Benevolence;" Humphrey's Poem on the Happinefs of America;""The Progrefs of Fashion ;"The Chi.dren of Thefpis;" "The Mirror;" The Patriad;" "The Vale of Innocence;""An Epifle from Johafon's Ghoft to his Four Friends;" "A Poetical Sketch of the Revolutions in our Planet," Bufby's Age of Genius;" Walter's" Ode on the Immortality of the Soul;" Mr Welt's "Poems;" and St. Peter's Lodge."

Of the Dramatic Publications, we fhall, as ufual, content ourselves with mentioning only the names. In Tragedy, Mr. Jodrell's "Perfian Heroine," "The Captives," by Dr. Delap, and Mr. Boyce's "Harold," are the only ones upon the lift. The Comedies have been more numerous : of thefe have appeared

I'll tell you What," by Mrs. Inchbald; The School for Grey Beards," by Mrs. Cowley; "The Heirefs," by General Burgoyne; "He would be a Soldier," by Mr. Pilon, and "The Baronefs of Bruchfal," tranflated from the German of Mr. Leffing, the Shakespear of Germany. The Comic Operas and Farces were, Mr Cobb's "Strangers at Home," "The Peruvian," Mrs. Inchbald's

"Widow's Vow," and "The Fool," by Edward Topham, efq.

Under the head of Miscellaneous Publications, we meet with but a few articles of which it may be expected that we should take fome notice. In this number is "The Mifcellaneous Companion; by William Matthews; in 3 vols." The first of thefe volumes contains a Sentimental Tour through a part of South Wales, intermixed with thoughts on education, and thoughts on hunting, in which there appears much good fenfe and benevolence. The fecond volume confifts of thoughts, maxims, and differtations on ufeful and grave fubjects, which, excepting when the author difcovers his peculiar tenets as a Quaker, will be acceptable and edifying to moft ferious readers. The third volume is compofed of fimilar papers, with the addition of three dialogues in the world of fpirits; the first between Theophilus, Zelotes, and Purgatus; the fecond, between Henry the Eighth, and the dukes of Somerfet and Northumberland; and the third between the apostle Paul and a Proteftant Martyr.

The "Lucubrations; confifting of Effays, Reveries, &c. in Profe and Verfe, by the late Peter of Pomfret," we will venture to recommend, as containing feveral valuable hints of inftruction to readers of every class, and much innocent amufement. The poetical talents of the author do not, indeed, difplay much firength or brilliancy, but they are meritoriously employed in the fervice of virtue, and of religion.

Mrs. Trimmer's "Fabulous Hiftories, defigned for the Inftruction of Children, respecting their Treat

ment

ment of Animals," are admirably adapted to entertain and improve the minds of young children, and to excite in them a proper compaffion and tenderness towards the brute creation. Sincerely do we wifh, that the excellent principles and moral conclufions conveyed in this little work, could be communicated to readers of every age, and of every clafs in fociety.

"

To the fame lady are we alfo in debted for Eafy Leffons for young Children," defigned by her as a Supplement to her little Spelling Book for children, which appear to have been judiciously compofed by our excellent preceptrefs.

"Pogonologia, or a Philofophical and Historical Effay on Beards," tranflated from the French, contains a curious hiftory of "the capillary honours of the chin," and of the various fashions to which they have been fubjected; in which many anecdotes are introduced, which cannot fail to entertain and divert the reader.

they contain, from which may be derived confiderable entertainment and inftruction. Of the English Novels, "The Recefs, or the Tale of other Times," by Mifs Lee, "Caroline of Litchfield," and "The Rambles of Fancy" by the author of the Hiftory of the Six Princeffes of Babylon, have met with a very favourable reception from the public. Of the following we have only read the names. "The Rochfords;""Rajah Khifna;" "Edwin and Anna;" "Theodofius and Arabella;""Elfrida;" "Emily Herbert;" "Henry and Acafto;" The Convent;" "The Tour of Valentine; "Zoraida;" "The History of Charles Frankland;" "The Cacique of Ontario;" "Arpafia ;" "The Innocent Rivals;" "The Kentish Curate;""The Minor;" and "Olivia."

We shall conclude our account of Domestic Literature, with bringing into one fhort view, the pubii. cations which have appeared refpecting the flave trade, and the fituation and treatment of the negroes in our West India plantations.

And the first that we shall mention is Mr. Clarkson's "Effay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African, tranflated from a Latin Differtation which was honoured with the first Prize in the Univer fity of Cambridge, for the Year 1785; with Additions." This ingenious performance is divided by the author into three parts. In the firft, he gives a concife and learned hiftory of flavery, ancient and modern; and defcribes, in animated and pathetic language, the cruelties and barbarities perpetrated at the inftigation of the Europeans, in order to collect a fufficient number of wretches to fupply their mar

kets.

kets. In the fecord part, the author offers fatisfactory reafons to prove the iniquity and injuftice of fuch a commerce, from the natural rights of mankind, and the end and intention of government. In the third part of this Effay, he gives an account of the fituation of the unfortunate Africans from the moment of their embarkation for the West Indies; of their treatment on board the fhips; of the numbers that perish in the voyage, and before they are feasoned to their la bour; of the hardships they undergo, and the exceffive feverity with which they are treated. Thefe accounts are fucceeded by a rational and manly confutation of the arguments brought by the purchafers of the negroes, in vindication of their conduct. Having, on a former occafion, delivered our free fentiments on the fubject which engages the attention of Mr. Clarkson, we have only to express our warm approbation of his fenfible and difparfionate performance; and to recommend the frequent perufal of it to thofe who are difpofed to offer any pleas in favour of the barbarous and wicked traffic of the human fpecies. The fame fubject hath again em. ployed the pen of Mr. Ramfay, who hath published "A Letter from Captain J. S. Smith, to Mr. Hill," which confirms the account which that gentleman had formerly given

of the cruelties exercised on the negroes, by the teftimony of an eye-witnefs. To this letter Mr. Ramfay hath added a farther vindication of himself, from the attacks of his adverfaries, and fome ingenious and judicious remarks on free

negroes.

Mr. Gordon Turnbull, the author of "An Apology for NegroSlavery, &c." labours with much ingenuity, in endeavouring to prove, that the practice which he wishes to palliate and defend, is founded in good policy, and is productive of confiderable national benefits. But the principal part of his pamphlet is employed in vindicating the West India planters from the charges of inhumanity, which had been brought against them, in the reprefentations of Mr. Ramfay and Mr. Clarkson. Thefe, he contend, are founded on ignorance, or malice; and boldly appeals against them to facts, and authentic teftimony. We fhould be happy if we had perfect conviction, that the general condition of the negroes were as eafy, and the univerfal treatment of them as humane, as this apology would reprefent. But that conviction could not alter our ideas of the injustice and impiety of a practice, which, in its most lenient forms, we must ever reprobate and deteft, as men and as Britons.

FO.

FOREIGN

IN giving our fort and imperfect

account of Foreign Literature, we have another opportunity of announcing to the public, two of the literary productions of Catherine the Second, emprefs of the Ruflias. Of thefe the fubjects only have been tranfmitted to us, which are, "The Nobility of the Ruffian Empire," and "The Citizens." From thefe fubjects it is most probable, that they are intended for a part of the materials for a Ruffian hiftory, which are collecting under the aufpices of her imperial majefty. And from the zealous, minute attention which this princefs pays to every circum ftance that can contribute to the diffufion of knowledge among her fubjects, we may expect to find confiderable light thrown, by thefe difquifitions, on the political character and importance of thofe different claffes in her empire. The examnple of that princefs in turning her attention to objects of literature and fcience, hath been followed by feveral among her courtiers, and by fome of her own fex. The princefs Dafchkaw, a lady of the bedchamber, and adorned with the order of St. Catherine, hath entered fo warmly into the spirit and views of her miftrefs, that he hath been appointed principal or directrefs of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh. And it doth not appear, from the information we

have received, that the hath been

preferred to this fituation as an honorary diftinétion, or a compliment to the fex of her royal patronefs, but as the juft reward of literary merit. This princefs devotes particular attention, at prefent, to the production of a grand Etymologica and Critical Dictionary of the Ruffian language, of which a part hath al-eady been prefented to the world. Among other things, he hath lately gratified the Academy with "A Definition of Virtue," which is fpoken of with the higheft applaufe, and is intended to form an article in their Literary Communications.Mouf. Pallas, an eminent member of the Imperial Academy at Peterf burgh, hath alfo announced, in

An Advertisement addretied to the Public," a vaft and arduous de.. fign, conceived by the empress of Roffis, and undertaken by her order; which is, the publication of an Univerfal and Comparative Glory of all Languages." This grand plan, for facilitating the progrefs of fcience, is already begur, by enquiries into the numerous languages and idioms of the Ruffian empire. Dr. Hedwig, hath alfo publifhed, at Petersburgh, an admirable botanical treatife on the "Theory of the Generation and Fructification of the Plants belonging to the Clafs Cryptogamia of Linnæus, entirely founded on the

Obfer