3353. on the Longitude; Fir Richard Sexy, anecdotes of, 475 Л THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For JA NU AR Y, 1782. ART. I. Letters on several Subjis. By the Rev. Martin Sherlock, A. M. Chaplain to the Earl of Bristol. fewed. Nichols. 1781. ΤΗ 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. HIS Writer, whom we have fo frequently introduced to the notice of our Readers, begins the Preface to his prefent publication with a compliment on the fweetness and placability of his own temper; and then proceeds to complain, in a fort of mixed ftrain of gaiety and seriousness, of the ill-nature of thofe critics, who have had the prefumption to find fault with him, because their feelings of his very fuperior excellencies were not fo lively and ardent as his own. But, notwithstanding all this glowing felf-complacency, Mr. Sherlock, we find, is a modeft man!" And who tells us fo?"-Why, Mr. Sherlock himself! I am perfuaded (fays he) that my mother was in a good humour when I was made.' Now all the wit of this paffage (for the Author defigned it to be a witty one) will escape the Reader, unless, admonifhed by our good counfel, he turns his eyes on the oppofite page, where this reverend Gentleman, having a great Lady's perfon in admiration-the Apoftle James would tell him, because of advantage-and having complimented her Ladyfhip's bright eyes and rich shape, appeals, with all the fang froid in the world, to his noble patronefs to bear teftimony to his modefly. You know me, Madam, to be a modest man.' And in truth our Author feems to confider himself as privileged to take very uncommon methods to fhew his modefty. perhaps he will avail himself of Mr. Pope's plea for "" great wits:" and may think himself at liberty to start from vulgar rules." Colley Cibber thought the fame; but he used this privilege with more address. VOL. LXVI, 6 B But As As the Author hath drawn the curtain, and introduced his mother in the scene, and that too in a very critical part of the play, we cannot do perfect juftice to his modesty, without remarking, that this arrangement was more for his fake than for ber's; for all the proof of his mother's good-humour' is founded on the sweet and easy temper of her fon. I am perfuaded my mother was in a good humour when I was made, for it is very hard to put me out of temper.' Excellent logician! If this argument were drawn out at full length, logic would be in a better mood, and cut a better figure, than when fhe dafb'd thro' thin and thick With German Crouzaz, and Datch Burgerfdyck. The fon however hath, in one refpect, the advantage of the mother, for fhe was in a good humour when nothing else could be expected and he-now, this is the argumentum à fortiori-when fo many untoward circumftances concurred to put him out of temper;-particularly, the feverity with which he had been treated by the critics.' Mercy on me!' he exclaims, very pathetically, how they have maul'd me!' Lamentable indeed!-But who those ruthless critics are, that have treated our Author with fuch indignant' rage, and in fo favage a mode,' we know not; nor are we concerned to enquire. Whoever they were, we think them most prepofterously employed. Mr. Sherlock might well tax their indignation' with injuftice. It was not his due. 'Who'd crush'-No-we will not put down the next word. We will not, for the fake of the jeft, forfeit our candour, and belie our convictions. Though Mr. Sherlock's wings are of the "pretty, fluttering" kind, yet they will fometimes take a bold and adventurous flight. We have followed them with pleafure: and though, in their airy rounds, they have often offended us with a falfe and fleeting dazzle; yet many of their beauties are fubftantial, and all their flights are not at random. To point out the defects, miftakes, and puerilities, to be found in these two volumes, would carry us beyond the limits of our Review; and fo it would, to point out the beauties and excellencies. We think the latter to be indeed much more perfpicuous, and alfo more numerous than the former; but the Author, too frequently depending on a kind of instinctive taste, decides with an equal want of judgment and modefty, on points which required attention, and by no means warranted affurance. Mr. Sherlock writes in hafte-writes like a gentleman at eafe, and reminds us of what Perflus fays of the Roman nobles, andquicquid denique leis Scribetur in citreis. Mr. Sherlock abounds too much in fuperlatives, when he praises; and pronounces fentence on what he diflikes with an oracular |