Lectures concerning Hiflory, read during the year 1775, in Trinity-College, Dublin, by Michael Kearney, D. D. 4to. 2s 6d. Murray. These lectures are in number four; having been read by the leeturer, one at the beginning of each term, before the university of Dublin, in conformity to the duty of his office. In thefe lectures, Dr. Kearney traces the Roman government from its origin through its feveral changes of form, to its diffolution under military defpotifm, the abyfs, fays he, of monarchy, ariftocracy, and democracy. The conclufion he deduces from this fucceffive view of the various revolutions of the Roman flate, is, that fuch revolutions were the natural refult of thofe events, which fucceed each other in the regular progress of fociety a conclufion which he fupports with much ingenuity and plaufibility of argument. There is reafon to hope, from this fpecimen of the lecturer's abilities, that the prosecution of the plan he appears to have laid down, will prove no less useful to the university, than reputable to himself. Thoughts on general and partial Inoculations. Containing a Tranflation of Two Treatifes written when the Author was at Petersburg, and published there, by Command of her Imperial Majesty, in the Ruffian Language, Alfo, Outlines of Two Plans: one, for the general Inoculation of the Poor in fmall Towns and Villages. The other, for the general Inoculation of the Poor in London, and other large and populous Places. By the Honourable Baron Thomas Dimfdale, Firft Physician and Actual Counfellor of State to her Imperial Majefty the Emprefs of all the Ruffias, and F.R.S. 8vo. Is. 6d. Carnan. Thefe tracts on inoculation are addreffed to the legislature of Great Britain, as relating to a fubject extremely interefting to the commu nity. Baron Dimfdale, indeed, fenfibly obferves, that "To preferve the lives and health of the inferior part of mankind, has been an object carefully attended to in all civilized and well regu Jated flates, not only from motives of compaffion, but becaufe it has been plainly demonftrated that it is the intereft of the wealthy in every nation to encourage population, and provide for the wants of the poor. "One would indeed, on the first thought prefume, that the unavoidable neceffities of the indigent would be voluntarily relieved out of the abundance of their opulent neighbours; but the number of laws that have been made for the provifion of the poor, are proofs of the futility of this expectation, and the neceffity of compulfion. Among the many objects, continues he, that have been provided for, it feems matter of aftonishment that no one has ever pointed out the small-pox as a diftemper, whofe deftructive confequences might be in a great measure prevented by the interpofition of legiflature, legiflature, and the affiftance that would be certainly afforded from private charity. "It is now above fifty years fince inoculation was introduced into this country, and like other new inftitutions was then oppofed; but at prefent, though it may be impoffible to define the numbers that are yearly inoculated, it is certain that most of the wealthy approve and avail themselves of the practice: yet we view the bills of mortality with unconcern, though they demonftrate that the number of deaths from this disease is confiderably increased; and with the affecting circumftance, that they are probably of the younger part of the people." That this increafe of the mortality from this diftemper is owing to the indifcreet use of inoculation appears, from what is here advanced on the subject, to be more than probable. The public are therefore, greatly indebted to this eminent practitioner, for his attention to fo alarming a circumflance by haftening the prefent publication; efpecially at a time when a project is on foot for inoculating the poor of London at their own houses; a project which he conceives to be fraught with dangerous confequences to the community, and not likely to answer any good purpofe if carried into execution. Subftance of a Speech in Parliament, upon the State of the Nation and the prefent Civil War with America. Upon Monday, April 1, 1776. By David Hartley, Efq; IS. Almon. It has been hinted, by certain Reviewers, who apparently read nothing but the titles of books, that "it feems from the title that this is not Mr. Hartley's genuine fpeech. If by this is meant, that it was not written before it was fpoken, or taken down in fhort hand during its delivery, very poffibly it is not genuine. But if the fum and fub ftance of a fpeech, more correctly expreffed in print than, in the nature of things it could be, in fpeaking, conftitute (as we think it should) its authenticity, we will take upon us to fay this fpcech is genuine. We muft declare, alfo, farther, that it contains a forcible and well-digefted abftract of the beft arguments, made ufe of, by the minority, to obtain favour of administration on the fide of the Americans. How far they are cogent, it is not our business to enquire; tantas componere lites non nobis eft. We fhall only exprefs our concern that the cloven foot of party appears, in the advocates on both files the queftion, fo plainly beneath the graceful and dignifying robe of patriotifin, that, however fpecious their argument, or ftrenuous their power of perfuafion, they can impofe only on the diftant multitude, who place a confidence in their integrity, which few, if any, popular pleaders in this unnatural debate deferve. We make no comment on this fpeech being delivered, the firft of April, because our fenators by no means confine themselves to one day of the year, in making fools of the nation. K. Shenfione: Shenftone or, the Force of Benevolence. A Poem. 4to. 25. Newbery. A panegyric on the late Mr. Shenstone of the Leafowes; whofe benevolence is here celebrated for his forgiveness of a robber, to whom he gave his purfe, promised pardon, and afterwards affifted in his diftrefs. A fimilar tale is told in Fielding's Tom Jones, probably founded on the fame incident, if it be, as our poet declares it, founded in truth. This ftory with fome reflections on the virtue of generofity in general; and on that of Mr. Shenftone in particular, form the fubject of the piece. It is written in rhime, and the verification is by no means contemptible; though it bears the marks of great hafle or youth. Indeed the writer calls it, in his preface, his infant labour and deprecates, though a little boldly, the cenfure of the ungentle critic. From Critics fo gentle as we are, therefore, he runs no danger; for, though we do not altogether fubfcribe to his opinion, that “to Turite well is the moft arduous task in the world,' we do agree with him, that though to write to pleafe every one be impoffible, to please the better-tempered part of mankind is not fo impracticable."-Our infant-labourer is quite in the right of it; for, be it rembered, in his favour, that good-tempered people are easily pleafed.-This poem is embellished with three fmall plates prettily executed. The Exhibition of Fancy. A Vifion. 4to. Is. Kearly. If this exhibition-fancier be no great poet, he appears to us at least to be fomething of a prophet. Addreffing himself by permission, to the prefident of the Royal Academy, he fays, "The following trifle is, I confefs, unworthy your acceptance, and will more than probably die as foon as born."-He feems not only to be a prophet alfo but a philofopher, adding, "if it does, I have not built any great expectations on it."-Patient and prudent! One of our critical colleagues, however, objects that, if he were on the coroner's inqueft on this occafion, he fhould doubt whether this trifle, as its father calls it, was really born alive; or whether it be not one of those abortions, which the poet fays, drop dead-born from the press, Like the laft gazette or the new address. We have recommended to him the examination of its lungs, and then perhaps he may determine.In the mean time we cannot conclude, from its prefent inanimate state, with what degree of vivacity it might have made its appearance in the world. From the permiffion fo pompously printed at the head of the dedication, we may conclude, nevertheless, that Sir Joshua Reynolds mult either have an abundant fhare of good-nature, or but a very bad tafte for poetry. Happy, indeed, would our bard, as he says, have been, could he have paid a tribute to his patron that would be coeval with his works: but, fays he, let no one blame me for want of ability."-Neither do we blame thee, for thou art not worth our cenfure.- Go and in no more. The C The First Canto of the Revolution: An Epic Poem. Baccare Frontem Cingite, ne vati noceat mala Lingua futuro. By Charles Craw VIRGIL. IS ADVERTISEMENT. The firft of twelve cantos, which the author propofes to write on this fubject, is here offered to the public. He did not publish them all at once, because he thought that fo voluminous a work would fcarcely invite the attention of many readers. The generality are too indolent to engage in the labor of inveftigating a production fo extenfive. On the other hand, he thought that if the first canto met with applause, they would be be- . guiled to attend to the fucceeding eleven.` 66 ARGUMENT TO THE FIRST CANTO. The poem opens at the acceffion of James the Second to the throne of Great-Britain. Singular character of my Lord Shaftesbury, who had oppofed his acceffion, particularly delineated.-Character of James touched on.-His devotedness to theological hatred.-The palace of theological hatred, where malice, felf-conceit, folly, ignorance, credulity, &c. attend as minifters, is defcribed in allegory. -James, Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate fon of Charles the Second, (but who pretended that he was legitimate, and confequently had afpired to the regal power) invades England with an intent to dethrone his kinsman James the Second." SPECIMEN. I fing the hero, whofe aufpicious arms The guardian, father of her facred laws; Whence the fam'd line of Brunswick fills her throne, I woo nor thee, thou goddefs, heav'nly bright ! Nor thee, who gav'ft thine aid of later years Voltaire ;-come! o'erfhadow me with thy wings, Attentive It may not be unneceffary to obferve, that the author mentions the word England for the fake merely of accuracy and truth, and not to indulge any invidious paflion for national reflections. He means to avoid fuch reflections through his work.-England, it is very well known, fubmitted herself to the government of William, upon his landing, while Ireland and Scotland fome time after opposed him, Attentive kings may tremble while they read, Place honey round the cup to guile his fears, Left our readers fhould fuppofe our author to have happily charac terifed this piece in the laft diflich, we must acquaint them that if contains five hundred and nine lines, all as good as the above. If they find themselves therefore beguiled by the honey of thefe, they may proceed to gulp down the wormwood of the reft. Indeed, the fingularity of this writer's tafte in addreffing his invocation to the mufe of Voltaire, in preference to thofe of Milton, Virgil and Homer, will not, we apprehend, be apt to prejudice the minds of poetical readers much in his favour. Be this as it may, having done our duty by introducing this patriotic poet as early as poffible to the acquaintance of the public, we take our leave; left (as we understand he is a child of the Sun, we fhould unluckily burn our fingers. The genus irritabile vatum are irafcible enough, when under the fimple influence of the muse; how furious must be when under the enthufiafm of poetry and patrioufin combined! W. The Haunch of Venifon. A Poetical Epifle to Lord Clare. By the late Dr. Goldfmith. 15. 6d. Kearfly. A humorous trifle, for the manufcript of which the Author's countryman, the publifher, having given the capital confideration of nothing at all, at all, he has confcientioufly charged the public eighteen-pence for each printed copy. Our readers are welcome to it for much lefs. Thanks, my Lord, for your ven'fon; for finer, or fatter, So |