of this paffage, and perhaps, when it is really fixed, men of tafte will condemn the affected language of the poet Sherburn, who, in a note which we fhall fubjoin, has probably made the nearest approach to the meaning of Manilius. "Tanaquil Faber, in his notes upon the 6th Book of Lucretius, by way of collation, cites these two verfes of Manilius, that read in the original,

Qualis Erichthonios, &c."

"Which verses he undertakes to correct or amend, but trulier to corrupt, after this manner,

Qualis Erichthonios olim populata colonos

Extulit antiquas per funera peftis Athenas. "He confeffes that he made that alteration, for this reafon, because he never yet faw any that could understand the meaning of funera pacis. But that nimble critic might have forborn the expofing of his own or others ignorance in that point, and have left Manilius his elegancies unblemished by fo rude an interpolation, who ingeniously ufes the expreffion of funera pacis, or peaceful funerals, in oppofition to cruenta funera, or funera belli (thofe occafioned by the fword). For, as Thucydides obferves, the Athenians were at once doubly afided ανθρωπων τε ενδον θνήσκοντων, και γης εξω δηγμένης. Hominibus inter urbem morien tibus, terrâque extra vaftata. Which place his fcholiaft illuftrates by applying this verse of Homer,

Ειδη όμε πολεμος τε δαμα και λοιμος Αχαιες.

Siquidem fimul bellumque domat et peftes Achivos. Now the mortality occafioned by the plague, Manilius here describes by the periphrafis of funera pacis, which had brought upon Athens, unconflicted by an enemy within, a greater deftruction than the bloody effects war had done upon its terri tories without."

We are forry that the regard we owe to truth, and even the partiality we feel towards the attempts of every scholar to promote claffical literature, will not permit us to give a more fa vourable account of Mr. Burton's Manilius. The price indeed is not exorbitant, and the text is tolerably correct, But Manilius cannot be understood by readers of common or even uncommon learning, without frequent illustrations; and we are of opinion, that a collection, more judicious and more useful than that of Mr. B. might be eafily made from the various critics, who have endeavoured to explain the obfcurities and point out the beauties of this neglected writer. Mr. Burton, whatever be his imperfections as a commentator, is poffeffed, probably, of literary attainments, which do honour to him as a man of fortune. But the unmerited contempt and unbecoming petulance with which he repeatedly fpeaks of Dr. Bentley, would justify us in affuming a very loud and severe tone of reprehenfion.

REV. Dec. 1784.

The admirers of that great man have often had occafion to lament, that he was choleric in his temper, and acrimonious in his cenfures. We believe, however, that his mind would not have been in the leaft degree ruffled by the puny witticisms and frivolous cavils of the antagonist whole work we are now examining. To answer many of them feriously would be an unpardonable wafte of time in critics of an inferior fize, and if we may judge from our own feelings, it often "exceeds all power of face" even to read them " gravely."

There is a numerous clafs of readers, to whom the criticisms of Bentley fometimes give offence, often afford entertainment, and never convey inftruction. It is therefore very eafy to account for the violent and implacable antipathy which Mr. Burton has expreffed without referve against this illuftrious critic; but we are totally at a lofs to affign any just reafon, which fhould induce him to ftand forth as the editor of Manilius, whole poem is read, we imagine, by very few fcholars, and fcarcely understood by the most eminent.

We are not infenfible to the defects of Dr. Bentley. We are fometimes provoked at his afperity, and fometimes difgufted with his precipitation. But in extent of learning he has few equals; and no fuperiors, we fincerely believe, in felicity of conjecture. We have read with admiration, and ac-, knowledge with gratitude, his explanations of many difficult paffages in authors the most rare, as well as the common. We kindle with indignation, when his character is hunted down by the rude infults of fciolifts, or abandoned to unjuft reproach by the mean and infidious envy of scholars. We, therefore, thought it our duty to defend him from the groundlefs and fenfelefs attacks of an editor, whofe learning and faga-. city give him no right to trample on the memory of a man who was eminently learned and fagacious. The friend of Dr. Yonge did not act, indeed, a very confiftent part, when he profeffed himself the enemy of Dr. Bentley. Both thefe learned men belonged to the fame college: they profecuted the fame studies: they defended the fame religion; and from the fame honeft motives, they both were the patrons of real merit, and the foes to pert pretence. We mean not, however, to purfue any farther the ungracious and inglorious office of striving with preju dice, and triumphing over weaknefs. Inftead, therefore, of detecting in detail, the harmlefs plagiarifms, or repelling the yet more harmless farcafms, of Mr. B. we proceed to pass this plain and just sentence upon his work. They, who have been hitherto difgufted by the harshness of the diction, and the ruggedness of verfification, which frequently occur in Manilius, will not be invited to renew their application to this poet in confequence of any new charms, with which he has been deco

rated

rated by his prefent editor. They, who have found themselves entangled in his intricate conftruction, and puzzled by his peculiar phrafeology, will be feverely difappointed, if they expe& much affiftance from Mr. Burton, in rectifying the text, where it is corrupt, or in elucidating the fenfe, where it is obfcure.

ART. XIV.

FOREIGN LITERATURE.

DIVINITY.

CESAIAS, &c. i. e. The Prophecies of Ifaiah, tranflated from the Hebrew, with notes, by the Rev. Dr. SEILER. 8vo. Erlang.

In this useful and judicious work the Author has made commendable use of the labours of Lowth, Michaelis, Doederleim, Dathe, and Koppe, whofe fhort ftrictures have thrown more light on the true meaning of this facred writer, than the volu minous commentaries of fuch fanciful interpreters and fyftematic theologifts as Vitringa, &c. &c.

Saneli Jacobi Epiftola Catholica Græcè, in Sectiones Novas divifa, &c. The General Epiftle of St, James, in the original Greek, divided, after a new Method, into Sections, and accompanied with a Latin Tranflation, and Notes. By the Abbé CARPZOW, (who formerly published St. John and St. Jude in the same manner). Helmftadt. 4to.

Sanctorum Jacobi et Judæ Epiftolæ Catholicæ, &c. i. e. The Epiftles of JAMES and JUDE, tranflated into Latin, and accompanied with Notes, by SEBASTIAN SEEMILLER, D. D. Ecclefiaftical Counsellor to the Elector Palatine, and Profeffor of Divinity and Oriental Languages at Ingoldftadt. 8vo. Nuremberg. 1783. Every thing feems to concur in the downfal of that implicit and blind faith that fo long fupported the tawdry, myftical lady, who feated herself on the feven hills, fince even her own fervants are daily employing, more and more, their labours in the explication of the fcriptures, which muft terminate in the difcovery of her nakedness and turpitude.

Mufæum Duifburgenfe, conftru&tum à Joh. Petro Berg. A collection of Critical and Theological Diflertations, published at Duisburgh. By J. P. BERG, Profeffor of Divinity, Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, and Oriental Languages, in that University. Vol. I. 8vo. Hague and Duifburg. 1784. A collection of this kind was formerly published periodically, under the title of MUSEUM HAGANUM, by the very learned and worthy Profeffor BARKEY, Minifter of the German Church at the Hague. When the advanced years of this candid, liberal, and judicious divine obliged him to difcontinue his valuable labours in this branch of literature, a fimilar plan was formed by Profeffor Berg, in confequence of which, we have the first volume now before us.

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LAW

LAW and MORALS.

Effai fur les Revolutions du Droit François, pour fervir d'Introduction à l'Etude du Droit. An Effay concerning the Revolutions that have happened in French Jurifprudence, defigned as an Introduction to the Study of the Law. By M. BERNARDI, Advocate in the Parliament of Provence. 8vo. Amfterdam and Avignon. 1784. This Author is already known by a Treatife concerning the criminal Jurifprudence of the French Nation, which is, undoubtedly, the leaft free from corruption and cruelty of any upon earth.

Dekker, the King's Printer at Berlin, has published, in 8vo, the famous Difcourfe concerning the beft Form of Government that was read in the Public Affembly of the Academy, January 1784, on his Prussian Majefty's Anniverfary, by M. HERTZBERG, Minifter of State, and Member of the Academy. The French title of the piece (for it is compofed in that language) is, Sur la Forme des Gouvernemens, et quelle en eft la meilleure. No author was ever in the wrong, with more fagacity, knowledge, parts, and (indeed, we believe) good intention, than this able and refpectable minifter.

Des Moeurs, de la Puiffance, du Courage, et des Loix, confiderés relativement à l'Education d'un Prince; i. e. Morals, Power, Courage, and Laws, confidered in their Relation to the Education of a Prince. 8vo. Bruffels. 1784. Good intentions, good fenfe, and just ideas of the real dignity of a prince, and the true felicity of a people, render this publication recommendable. Nothing very new, either in matter or manner, will here attract that clafs of readers who are always in quest of what is brilliant or fingular; but the virtuous citizen will with pleasure perufe thofe useful truths, though often repeated, which have an immediate relation to the happiness of mankind; the wife fovereign and the good fubject will feed upon them as that daily bread which never pails upon the un-vitiated tafte, and that plain nourishment which never fails to produce found health. The difh before us (if we may be allowed to continue this figure) feems to have been dreffed for the table of a prince destined for pure monarchy, but its materials are univerfally wholesome, and it may feed every man who is invefted with characters of fovereignty, from the Sophi of Perfia to the Doge of Venice,

Les Coutumes confiderées comme Loix de la Nation, &c. i. e. Customs confidered, as Laws of the French Nation. both in its ancient and its prefent State. By M. P. G. M. 8vo. Paris. 1783. Whoever this writer, who would and who would not be known, may be, his book is a valuable present to the law-antiquaries in France, as it contains curious and judicious refearches into what we would call the common or custom-law of the ancient inhabitants of that kingdom, and fhews the impro

priety of recurring always to the Roman law for the interpretation of French jurifprudence with refpect to ancient tenures, rights, and conventions. Going back to the earliest periods of French hiftory, he inveftigates the origin of ancient customs, which, according to him, are not derived from the invasion, conquefts, and dominion of the Romans, but from marriage, paternity, and the conceffions and establishments which naturally arife from them. He alfo undertakes to prove, that the Vifigoths and Franks, instead of being strangers in Gaul, were the defcendants of the Saliens, who inhabited the northern, and the Goths, who inhabited the fouthern part of that country; nay, he goes ftill farther, and confiders the ancient inhabitants of Germany as Gallic colonies from Salian or Gothic cities, which remained metropolitan till the eftablishment of the French monarchy. This is a mafterly performance in its kind, and we do not think the kind uninterefting, even to an English reader, who defires to view jurifprudence and civilization in their cradle, and in their leading-ftrings.

De la Monarchie Françoife, ou de fes Loix; Concerning the French Monarchy, or its Laws. By M. P. CHABRIT, Counfellor in the Supreme Court of Bouillon, and Advocate in the Parliament of Paris. Volume I. 8vo. Bouillon and Paris. 1784. Here is a writer, whom the labours of the Boulainvilliers, the Montefquieus, and other learned and able predeceffors in this line, have not difcouraged from going over the fame ground, and tracing from its origin the progrefs of legiflation. This volume treats of the laws of the first and fecond race, and is thus confined to the barbarous period of the French monarchy. It denotes a masterly hand.

Loix Penales; i.e. Concerning Penal Laws. By M. DU FRICHE DE VALAZE. 8vo. 420 Pages. Alençon. 1784. This publication has a very uncommon degree of merit. Judgment, method, humanity, an extensive knowledge of mankind, and a warm and generous zeal for public felicity, render it fingularly commendable. If it be peculiarly neceffary to the Author's country, where the penal laws are barbarous, and the adminiftration of justice more defective and inhuman, than in any other civilized nation, it is also worthy of the attention of government in every European ftate. It has its defects; but they are few in number, and eafily to be corrected.

Vie du Maréchal Duc de Villars; The Life of the Duke De VILLARS, Member of the Council of Regency, Minifter of State, Marthal General of the Camps and Armies of France, and Member of the French Academy; written by himself, and published by M. ANQUETIL, correfponding Member of the Royal Academy of Infcriptions and Belles Lettres. 4 Volumes in 12mo, enriched with Plans of Battles. Paris. 1784. The Duke

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