Two volumes of sermons, and three essays, have sufficiently established his reputation.' The letters are only five in number; and the author, whoever he be, does not appear to have completed his subject. They are, however, so far as they go, sensible, judicious, and well worthy of the strict attention of parents, and all others who have the care of children. The writer is an advocate for authority-authority early exerted, and may possibly be deemed by some too severe; yet, on the whole, and when considered on all sides, it implies nothing more than what is rational, gentle, and christian. His cautions respecting servants certainly merit attention. He considers religion, by which he means real piety, as a great means of rendering men not fashionable indeed, but truly polite: I can assure you, (he says,) that religion is the great polisher of the common people.'-At the same time be is firm to the cause of truth and virtue: As for your placebo's, (says he,) your prudent, courtly, compliant gentlemen, whose vote in assembly will tell you where they dined the day before, I hold them very cheap indeed.' A vision, the subject of which is pleasure, by Dr. Cotton, very properly concludes the volume. Art. 43. Juvenile Stories and Dialogues, composed chiefly in Words of two Syllables; for the use of Schools and young Readers, Izmo. 1s. 6d. Vernor. 1799. The lan This collection of tales and dialogues may safely be pronounced very pretty and interesting, instructive and beneficial. guage in some of them, as where a little child appears with a silk sash, is rather above the age; in others, where eight or ten years are attained, it is more suitable. The subjects are well chosen from nature, from the improvements of art, and froin different occurrences and dispositions. Could Mr. Hanway have read the Chime ney-sweeper's tale, it might have somewhat abated, in his view, the miseries of that pitiable class: but possibly such abatement, or happy alteration, may be the fruit of his humane attentions: however, the appeal is here made to fact. Art. 44. False Ideas; or Hints to Parents; in three Parts; dedicated with permission to Henry Dunster, Esq. by George Morland. 8vo. Is. 6d. Svinonds. 1799. We feel ourselves somewhat at a loss in what manner to treat the Tyro (for such indeed he stands confessed) who here claims,our attention. The dedication informs us that he had not then completed his seventeenth year: an age surely, whatever advantages it might have, or however it might find the want of them, not quite equal to a topic so important as that of education. Yet, under such a description, the pamphlet presents itself to the public; and when we are told that so interesting a subject as the formation of the youthful mind has never been a topic on which wise men have thought proper to empay their pens;' we must acknowlege that the words have to us a very juvenile sound. We know not that the writer perfectly explains himself, or more nearly approaches the truth, when he adds, the theme has only been treated of in a gene ral Hi. Hi. ral point of view, and the minutia not at all entered into.'-Accord. ingly he expresses a hope, that he has struck into a path which, pursued by others, may work the desired end, and cool reason resume her long lost station in lieu of the pernicious novels and romances with which the town is at this moment glutted.' With such a view, benevolent as it should seem, he proceeds to employ his early pen; claiming no merit in the composition, and conscious, he says, that it is full of errors. The peasant and the farmer are noticed in the first place; and if by the peasant we are to understand the day-labourer, though in that humbler station it is unquestionably right to procure all the advantages which he is able for his children, it may generally be supposed that the farmer has it in his power to advance rather higher; therefore they should not have been classed together. Tradesmen appear next in order; some of whose mistakes on the subject of education are warmly censured. The nobility are then produced to our view; a class with whom this adventurous youth professes himself to have little or no acquaintance; and he therefore acknowleges that he is unqualified to give them that tribute of praise or censure which may be their due: yet he hesitates not to declare his persuasion that they are, in general, by far the most wicked class of beings in existence, an expression which is somewhat softened, by adding that the blame does not probably attach so much to them, as to their predecessors. This little tract is not ill written; many pertinent observations are brought forwards, and good advice is offered, and expressed in a lively manner: but we must observe to this juvenile writer, that he seems to have been rather too eager to appear in print; that the errors which he notices have been often pointed out before; and that his inexperience and immature judgment certainly disqualify him from doing justice to a subject of such high consequence, as that on which he has ventured to stand forth as the INSTRUCTOR OF MANKIND! Art. 45. Eugenio; or the Precepts of Prudentius, a Moral Tale. By J. Bidlake, A. B. Chaplain to the Duke of Clarence, and Master of the Grammar-School, Plymouth. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Boards. Chapman. 1799. This work consists of a succession of dialogues between a tutor and his pupil, replete with moral and religious sentiment, and illustrated by examples and pictures of life, drawn from the city and the country. Eugenio, the pupil, a young man of great warmth and sensibility of temper, pays the debts of Hortensius; and by that generous act confers happiness on a deserving and grateful family. Before this ardour of benevolence has time to cool, he bestows the same favour on an officer, whose imprisonment is the consequence of pride, imprudence, and extravagance. The tutor, Prudentius, applauds the bounty in the former case, and condemns it in the latter. His sentiments on this subject, in an age when charity is supposed not enly to cover a multitude of sins, but to be a substitute for most other virtues, deserve attention. Like the other writings of Mr. B. this volume has a tendency to promote the cause of religion and virtue, and may convey much useful instruction to young readers. Art. Hi. Ban! Art. 46. Biography for Boys, or, Characteristic Histories, calcu lated to impress the youthful Mind with an Admiration of virtuous Principles and a Detestation of vicious ones: by Mrs. Pilkington. 12mo. 25. Vernor. 1799. Art. 47. Biography for Girls, or, Moral and Instructive Examples 1799. , This lady continues her benevolent endeavour to assist and improve the youthful mind. Both sexes attract her attention; and for each she has provided, in these volumes, seasonable and interesting entertainment, with important instruction and admonition. It is hardly probable that these biographic sketches should fail of effecting some beneficial impression on the juvenile heart; and this impression may be lasting, so as to maintain a happy influence in future life. We unite our wishes with these of Mrs. Pilkington for this desirable 'success. Some defects in these volumes might be pointed out; and while we approve and applaud her labours, we regret that a little more attention has not been allotted to style and diction: the language bears too evident marks of haste and negligence. Some writers in this line have employed a phraseology much too high for children: what is intended for them should be clear and plain; it should also be accurate, easy, and pleasant. Art. 48. The History of the City of Glasgow. To which is The engravings furnish a faithful view of the objects represented, and are neatly executed. 1 Hi S.R. Art. 49. The History of the Union of Scotland and England, stating the Circumstances which brought that Event forward to a Conclusion, and the Advantages resulting from it to the Scots. By the Rev. Ebenezer Marshal. 8vo. pp. 270. 5s. Boards. Longman and Rees. 1799. Among the number of illustrious events which distinguished the reign of Queen Anne, not one was more difficult in its accomplish ment, ment, nor more important in its consequences, than the union of Scotland with England. Many of our sovereigns had formed the design, and had entered into a plan, of effectuating this desirable purpose. So early as the time of Edward I. an attempt was made to unite the two countries under one government; and this attempt was continued, though without success, under the subsequent reigns of Henry VIII. James I. (of England) Charles II. and William III.. The author of the volume before us, thinking that no regular and accurate history of this important event has hitherto appeared; and being of opinion that the recent steps which have been taken, for the purpose of an incorporate union between this country and Ireland, rendered such an history at this period peculiarly desirable; has offered to the public the present work. His intentions are certainly good, and we have little objection to the manner in which they have been executed; we differ with him only as to the necessity for such a composition, for we consider the subject as having been discussed by various authors of an older date, and lately by Dr. Coote and Dr. Somerville, with great accuracy of information, and dispassionate candour of statement. In Mr. Marshal's performance we discover nothing that is new, or that entitles it to particular attention on account of the knowlege which it conveys, or the manner in which it is composed ;-the first being taken from other writers without the introduction of any new lights, and the latter being inelegant, and deformed by many Scotticisms. COMMERCIAL. Art. 50. A Practical Book of Customs, with Excise, upon all Our merchants have long been accommodated with books concern. ing customs, &c. of a form similar to Mr. M.'s work: but those Directories, which were so useful in years past, are in a great measure become obsolete, through the amazing extension of our intercourse with almost every part of the globe, the multiplicity of new articles of S.R. of export and import, and the accumulation of our trade and excise laws, &c. From all these sources, new terms are daily added to our language, which are not to be found in Custom-house books. For an explanation of the plan of the present useful work, we must refer the reader to the fourth page of Mr. Mascall's Introduction; and we shall only add our general observation, that his very elaborate performance seems to have justly merited the sanction which it appears to have obtained from the Commissioners of the Customs, as being the best compendium of the kind that has yet been offered to the public. IRELAND. Art. 51. Review of a Publication, entitled, the Speech of the Right Hon. John Foster, Speaker of the House of Commons of Ireland. In a Letter addressed to him by William Smith, Esq. M. P. A New Edition. 8vo. 28. Printed at Dublin; re-printed in London for Wright. 1799. This appears to be one of the ablest of the several replies that have been made to Mr. Foster's celebrated Speech relative to the proposed UNION, &c. Mr. Smith encounters the Speaker's arguments against that measure with perfect candor: but his just regard to the decencies of disputation do not seem, in the least, to have impaired the strength and vigour of his reasoning. The general conclusions, - which he draws from his well digested statements, may be given in his own words; which we shall transcribe from the winding up of his performance: The tendencies of Union, I have, in the foregoing pages, had occasion to discuss. If these were such as you describe, I should heartily join with you to cry, No Union! but, persuaded as I am, that its tendencies would be to baffle all attempts at separation; that by giving vigour to the Empire, it would give security to Ireland; that it might remove some of the risks and difficulties which obstruct sound and moderate religious, or political reform; that it would bring an orderly rank of persons in contact with the mass of our people, and fill up, as it were, the chasms of our incoherent community; that it would, by their example, improve the morals of our lower ranks, initiating them in industry, and communicating to them a taste for the decencies of life; in a word, that it would raise and civilize our barbarous and degraded people, and fit them to enjoy the freedom it conferred; that it would bury, in a complete indentification of interest, whatever jealousies may have subsisted between the kingdoms, would assuage that internal discord of which we have so long been the victims, and permanently enrich and tranquillize our country satisfied as I am, that such would be the effects of Union, I say to my countrymen, Accept the offer, and adhere to the Constitution of 1782 *." Preserve the Constitution which you then acquired; it must be invaluable; for it is that of Britain ; but abo : # Reject the offer, and adhere to the Constitution of 1782." Speaker's Speech, p. 197.' lish |