and time of action. It is to the latter principle, though commonly overlooked, that man chiefly owes his dominion over matter. Hence he is enabled to accumulate preffure during a certain fpace of time, and to discharge it in an almost imperceptible inftant. This momentary preffure, being augmented in the ratio of the times of its production and its explofion, furpaffes the ordinary limits of computation. Another and most important property is, that the time of exertion is fo exceedingly minute as to prevent the force from extending itfelf to the other parts of a folid body, and caufing a general motion. Hence fracture or excifion is effected, which, in most cafes, no continued application of the mechanical powers could produce; hence the explication of a variety of phenomena which occur in common life; and hence the theory of the tools and inftruments by help of which mankind have transformed the face of the universe.

In justice to the author, it must be admitted that he has made fome good remarks on the conftruction of machinery, though these are not fairly deduced from his principles. He difapproves of the joint application of weight and fircke in the cafe of over-fhot wheels, and we are of the fame opinion: but we would recommend a gentle current equal to the ordinary velocity of the wheel. He defcribes an

ingenious contrivance, which he fuccefsfully executed with this view, in a fituation where the water iffued at fuch a great height as would require an over fhot wheel of cumbrous and expenfive dimenfions: he employed two connected wheels placed one above the other; the ftream was received on the upper and discharged on the lower wheel, which turned the mill.

**For our account of Mr. Anftice's tract on wheel-carriages, fee Rev. for July 1791. Catalogue, art. 29.

NOVELS.

Art. 37. The Weird Sifters. 12mo. 3 Vols. 9s. fewed. Lane. 1794. Thefe Weird Sitters are three fine Yorkshire girls, whofe beauty, had they been born in Lancashire, would have procured them the appellation of Lancashire Witches. Their tale is not generally unnatural; unless it be unnatural for innocent damfels, brought up in a cottage, to be the dupes of an intriguing governess; or for young men of gallantry to be captivated by their charms, and to purchafe their favour by encountering dangers for their rescue. Perhaps it may be thought improbable that three different parties, before known to one another, and neceffary to the completion of the story, should accidentally fet out at the fame time on their return from Spain to England, and all happen to embark in the fame fhip;-and the three witches are certainly very fortunate in being able, by their enchantments, in one day, to bind their three lovers in the matrimonial chain.

On the whole, we cannot place this novel very high in the scale of merit. The language is extremely inaccurate.

Art. 38. Edward de Courcy, an ancient Fragment. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. fewed. Lane. 1794.

Notwithstanding the obvious objection which lies against this hiftorical novel, in common with all productions of the fame clafs, that its tendency is rather to confound than to illuftrate history, we feet

ourfelves

ourfelves ftrongly impelled to recommend the prefent fictitious narrative to the attention of our readers. It reprefents, in a ftyle confiderably above that of the ordinary run of novels, the ftate of fociety in England, particularly with refpect to civil and religious liberty, about the beginning of the fifteenth century, at the commencement of the civil war of the White and Red Rofes; and the writer difplays a liberal fpirit, a well-cultivated understanding, and correct tafte.

Though the principal ftory, which is well conceived and related, turns on the tender pallion, the hero is fomething more than a lover; and the tale is diverfified by the introduction of characters and incidents of a different caft, in which the author has been careful not to lofe fight of real history.

POETRY and DRAMATIC.

Art. 39. Britannia; a Poem. In three Cantos; on the late brilliant Naval Succeffes. 4to. pp. 50. 2s. Hookham. 1794. "Rule, Britannia; Britannia, rule the waves!"-" Lord Howe for ever!" are the exulting acclamations of this loyal Briton. Through three long cantos, he has fpread out thefe patriotic fentiments in verles which do not indeed want animation, and which are not wholly deftitute of harmony, but which feldom rife to the degree of excellence that can entitle the writer to much praife as a poet.

The author's indignation against the French is vehement; but does it not carry him rather too far, when it prompts him to fpeak of France as a country given up to all the vengeance of offended Heaven?' and is there not fomething too like prefumption, when we are given to understand that Britannia is appointed to be the inftrument of Divine vengeance, and in faying,

Supremely now the lifts the awful rod

Of retribution an avenging God!'

Art. 40. Investigation: or Monarchy and Republicanifm analyzed, A Poem. 8vo. 15. Chapman. 1794.

From the title of this piece, the reader may be led to expect a profound investigation of political principles, decorated, as far as didactic poetry will admit, with all the graces of imagery and melody. He will find, however, nothing but trite common-place obfervations on the usefulness of monarchy, the mischiefs of republicanifm, and the excellency of the British conftitution, expreffed in rhymes often laboured into obfcurity, but never polished into elegance.

Art. 41. The Calamities of Winter and of War. An Ode. Published with a View of promoting the Subfcription for the Relief of the Poor out of Employ. With a Paraphrafe of Pfalm CXLVIII. 8vo. pp. 16. Printed at Glafgow. 1794.

The purport of thefe verfes might alone recommend them to the charitable: but, befides the merit of an excellent moral defign, they are entitled to the praise of expreffing just and liberal fentiments ia pleafing harmonious verfe.

Art. 42. The Times: A Satirical Rhapfody. By James Jennings. Part I. 4to. pp. 24. Bristol, Bulgin and Co.

for

We hope that Mr. James Jennings has left no honeft and ufeful calling "this idle trade," as Pope terms the rhime-tagging bufinefs:

but,

but, if this ill-ftar'd fatirift has really fo far mistaken his talents, it is to be feared that our friendly hint will be thrown away; perhaps resented; and then we may expect a niche in the jecond part.-Be it fo!-We are not unused to such grateful returns.

Art. 43. Confequences; or, The School for Prejudice. A Comedy, of three Acts. As performed at the Theatres of Worcester, Wolverhampton, and Shrewsbury. By E. J. Eyre, late of Pembroke College, Cambridge. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Longman. 1794.

What degree of applause this play has obtained in the provincial theatres, we have not learned: but we are of opinion that it poffeffes too fmall a fhare of dramatic merit, to entitle it to the approbation of impartial criticifm. The plot is trite, meagre, and incomplete. The characters are not, indeed, wholly deftitute of humour: but the humour feldom rises above a pitiful joke, or a pun. The character of Simple, from which the play takes its firft name, is grounded on the ftory of the fervant who, (being inftructed by his matter to ftudy confequences,) when he is ordered to bring a mug of ale, drinks half of it; and, when he goes for the apothecary, fetches alfo the phyfician, and the coffin-maker. The wit of the piece, except where the writer is fo fortunate as to hit on a neat double entendre, feldom rifes above a pun. Of the writer's talents in this way, the reader may take a specimen or two: A dancing-mafter, a nimble footman.'- Indeed, Mr. Pope, I would not fubfcribe to your opinion, though you were the Pope of Rome. It is ftrange that the ladies fhould be fo commonly pleafed with the gentlemen of the army,-for none but children, would play with popping-guns.' Fellows who prey upon the follies of mankind yet more than those who pray for the follies of mankind.”—‹ The gallows is a poft I fhould never like to depend upon, as you can never live by it.'

We would recommend to Mr. Eyre a ferious perufal of " God's Revenge against Punning;" which he will find in Swift's Mifcellanies.

EDUCATION.

Art. 44. The New Pocket Dictionary of the French and English Languages. Containing all Words of general Ufe, authorized by the beft Writers. By Thomas Nugent, LL.D. The 7th Edit. To which, with the former Additions, are now added in the Dictionary, fome thousand Words; befides a very copious Collection of ufeful Phrafes. By J. S. Charrier, French Mafter to the Royal Academy, Portsmouth. Small thick 4to. 4s. bound. Dilly, &c. 1793. This new edition of Dr. Nugent's very ufeful French Dictionary is augmented by a Supplement of naval and military terms, which, it is reafonably prefumed by the editor, cannot fail of being peculiarly acceptable to both land and fea officers. M. Charrier obferves that, in compiling this additional part of the work, he has taken care to add the different modes of expreffing the terms in French; because France being an extenfive kingdom, fome fea-terms differ in different fituations; as, for inftance, at Toulon, and all that part of France that is fituated in the Mediterranean Sea; fome differ from thofe ufed at Brefl and Rochfort, in the Bay of Biscay.'

LAW,

LAW.

Art. 45. A Treatife of Equity, with the addition of Marginal Refe rences and Notes. By John Fonblanque, Efq. Barrister at Law. Vol. II. 8vo. pp. 580. 9s. Boards. Butterworth. 1794. This work was published in the year 1737, in folio, and Henry Ballow, Efq. of Lincoln's Inn, is generally reputed to have been its author. It is divided into fix books, the first of which treats of the nature of equity, and of agreements in general: of this part of the work, with Mr. Fonblanque's excellent commentary on it, our readers have seen an account in our 13th vol. N. S. p. 85.-The prefent volume contains the remaining five books, in which are confidered, I. The Doctrine of Ufes and Trufts. II. Mortgages and Pledges. III. Laft Wills and Teftaments. IV. Damages and Intereft; and laftly, Evidence; and the notes of the editor on each of these divifions are equally applicable and judicious with thofe introduced by him in his former volume.

Art. 46. The Modern Pleader: containing the feveral Forms of Declarations in all Actions, with Notes; alio a Collection of choice and ufeful Precedents, for Declarations in the fuperior Courts, in the Action of Account, and Common Affumpfit, with those on Promiffory Notes. To which are added a variety of ufeful Notes and Obfervations; the Cafes determined in those Actions, with the Evidence neceffary to fupport each Declaration; a Table of Names of Cafes cited, and a copious Index: The whole made easy and ufeful to Students, and to the Practifers in Town and Country; furnishing the latter with the neceffary Inftructions for their Agents. By John Impey, Inner Temple, Author of the Inftructor Clericalis, in the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas, as also the Office of Sheriff. 8vo. pp. 500. 7s. Boards. Butterworth. 1794. The notes and obfervations contained in this volume fhew confiderable diligence, and will be found ufeful: but the precedents are, in general, fo very common, that they may be purchafed of the law ftationers, and should not therefore have been admitted into a work of this nature. There is alfo another objection to this part of the book; viz. the precedents are repeated fo frequently, with fuch flight variations, that they ferve no other purpofe than that of increafing the fize and price of the publication. We are forry to obferve fo much appearance of book-making.

Art. 47. The Practice of the Court of King's Bench in perfonal Actions, Part II. By William Tidd of the Inner Temple. 8vo. pp. 620. 8s. Boards, Butterworth. 1794.

The first part of this work, which was announced in our 7th vol. N. S. p. 347, treated of proceedings from the commencement of a fuit to the demand of a plea; the prefent volume continues the proceedings from the demand of a plea to final judgment and execution.--The author, in his advertisement, declares it to have been his plan to reduce the practice of the Court of King's Bench to fomething like a methodical fyftem, by pursuing the natural order of the proceedings, and by collecting and digefting every thing that feemed to have any relation to the subject.—In the profecution of this plan, he has oc

cafionally.

cafionally confidered, as parts of one general whole, not only the proceedings in ordinary cares, but fuch as more rarely occur, and were either never before treated, or have hitherto been confidered as detached heads. In particular, the reader will find, in this part of the work, fome account of the practice on motions; the cafes in which the court will t ajide or flay the proceedings; the doctrine of pleas and pleading, and of demurrers, amendments, and jeofailes; the fubject of arbitration; the proceedings on trials at bar or nifi prius; and the Law of damages and costs. This left article Mr. Tidd confidered in a feparate publication, of which an account appeared in our 10th vol. N. S. p. 216.-and he has tranfplanted it almost entirely into his prefent work. To the whole is fubjoined a copious index, by way of anal fis, fhewing at one view the connection and order of the different proceedings The profefiion is much indebted to Mr. Tidd for the variety and accuracy of the information contained in this work; the third part of which will complete the undertaking.

Art. 48. The Practice of the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas. Part II. By Baker John Sellon, Efq. Barritter at Law. 8vo. pp. 400. 5s. Boards. Butterworth. 1794.

We mentioned the first part of this work, which treated of the proceedings from the commencement of the fuit to the defendant's appearance in court, in our 10th vol. N. S. p. 216.-Mr. Sellon goes on to confider the proceedings from the defendant's appearance to execution in all common cafes, referving the difcuffion of the mode of proceeding in particular cales for a future volume.-We think that vir. S. is entitled to much praife for the perfpicuity with which he has explained the practice of the two courts.

Art. 49. An Analysis of the Practice of the Court of Chancery. By Wilmot Parker, Solicitor. 8vo. pp. 160. 3s. Boards. Butterworth.

1794.

An accurate and ufeful epitome of the practice of the court. Art. 50. A concife Treatife on the Courts of Law of the City of London. By Thomas Emerfon, an Attorney of the Court of King's Bench, and one of the Four Attornies of the Lord Mayor's Court. 8vo. pp. 122. 2s. 6d. Nichols. 1794.

Contains a fhort account of the Court of Huftings, the Lord Mayor's Court, and the Sheriff's Courts.-The author afferts that all the former treatifes on the customs and privileges of the city of London, are very deficient in the part which he has undertaken to illuftrate.What does he think of the Privilegia Londini, by Bohun?—a work to which he has been much indebted for the information, inconfiderable as it is, that he communicates, and in which the present subject has met with a full and fatisfactory difcuffion.

Art. 51. The Laws refpecting the ordinary Practice of Impofitions in Money-lending, and the Buying and Selling of Public Offices. 8vo. PP. 42. 2s. 6d. Clarke.

An advertisement informs us that the following collection of cafes once formed a part of a periodical publication, which has been fome time fince difcontinued; and that they have been deemed fufficiently

valuable