The Melancholy Hours of this lamented youth were, I believe, first published in the Monthly Mirror during the year 1805. They exhibit much feeling, taste, and judgment, and are written with correctness and purity of style.

77. THE ANTIQUARY. Of the intentions of the author of this paper, the best developement will be an extract or two from the first number, which was printed in the Monthly Magazine for February, 1805. "Periodical Essays," remarks the Antiquary, "have been usually confined to subjects, which, like those of Lord Verulam, come home to men's business and bosoms; their chief end has been to promote the regularity of social life; and, though criticism and the arts of clegance have now and then received a momentary mark of their attention, the writers of them have seldom even ventured to trace the slowness and mediocrity of the inventive genius of man. The comparative state of public morals, or domestic history, never formed with them a topic of enquiry; and while the caprices of modern life were taken as abstracted subjects for temporary satire, the progressive improvement or retrogradation of our national manners was entirely forgotten. If, in the series of papers here intended, this defect should be occasionally supplied,

(though interwoven with more solid discussions in the illustration of ancient manners, arts, and history,) the intention of the writer will be fully answered."

"The researches 'which the Antiquary is intended to contain, though chiefly limited to Britain, will occasionally deviate. Classical remains, both political and monumental, will be frequently considered; the narratives of historians compared with the very scenes of action they commemorate (as Polybius scaled the summits of the Alps to trace the march of Hannibal); and some pages will undoubtedly be devoted to the history and illustrious remains of Ancient Egypt. The comparative characters and progress of Architecture, Sculpture, Poetry, and Painting, in our own country, will be given in a systematic form, separated into æras; one or two of our most choice remains of Gothic art will probably Occupy whole papers to themselves; and the uniformity of the work be sometimes varied with sketches of antiquarian biography."

Sixteen numbers of the Antiquary have already been published in the Monthly Magazine, and these certainly contain a considerable fund of curious and entertaining information.

78. HOURS OF LEISURE. Many of these

papers, which are the production of Mr. George Brewer, were first published in the European Magazine, and entitled " Essays after the manner of Goldsmith." They were reprinted, with numerous additions, under the present title, in 1806, forming a duodecimo volume, and including thirty-four essays, and five sketches, termed Characteristics.

The lucubrations of Mr. Brewer are written with much vivacity, and abound in the delineation of character and the description of incident. His attempts at wit are not unfrequently flippant and trite; but the general tendency of his book may be pronounced useful.

79. THE INSPECTOR. The first number of this paper, written under the assumed appellation of Simon Peep, Esq. was published in June, 1807 Not having been able to procure a copy, I cannot, of course, say any thing either of its merits or demerits; but, I believe, it soon ceased to exist.

80. THE DIRECTOR. A weekly literary journal which was commenced in the year 1807, and has now reached two volumes. Each number is divided into four parts; the first containing Essays on the legitimate periodical plan, illus

trative of literature, arts, and manners; the second is entitled Bibliographiana; the third is employed on the Royal Institution and its Lectures; and the fourth is descriptive of the British Gallery of Pictures.

The Director modestly observes, that he considers himself "as a mere guide-post to direct the course of others to moral and intellectual excellence ;" and we must do him the justice to declare that he has brought forward a work of merit. The Essays, our object in introducing the work into this catalogue, convey, in a neat and perspicuous style, no small share of pleasing matter.

81. THE RUMINATOR. For this highly interesting series of moral and sentimental essays, we are indebted to Samuel Egerton Brydges, Esq.* the editor of Censura Literaria, in which miscellany, for February, 1807, the first number of the Ruminator appeared, and has since been continued monthly.

To the man of letters, to the liberal and generous-minded critic, to the genuine poet, and the enlightened antiquary, the Ruminations of our author will be truly acceptable. They breathe a lofty tone of feeling, a noble enthusiasm in behalf of literature and genius; and though, occa• Now Sir Samuel Egerton Brydges.

sionally, too indignantly querulous, they impress the reader with a high, and, I am confident, a just, opinion of the talents and virtues of their author. Very sorry am I to perceive, that the next number of the Censura Literaria will put a final period to the labours of the Ruminator, who, with the best wishes of every disciple of the Muses, has reached his seventy-second paper. I must add, that I am acquainted with no essays which display a more exquisite taste, and excite a higher relish for the productions of genius, than many of the numbers of the Ruminator.

82. THE REASONER. The first number of this paper was published in January, 1808; and in November of the same year, the lucubrations of the Reasoner attained the dignity of a volume. They form a work of some merit; but which, in general, does not rise much above mediocrity.

83. THE MODERATOR. It is only from the first two numbers of the Moderator that I am enabled to judge of its tendency and merits: these have the dates of March 15th, and March 18th, 1809, and are merely introductory; detailing an account of a Disputation on Politics, in a coffee-house, near Whitehall.

Political Moderation, an attempt to subdue