Clara and Antonia. The time that will be bestowed upon them, if not very usefully employed, will, at leaft, be spent innocently. The Memoirs of Lord Des Lunettes, from the Manner in which they are related, feem, as indeed the title-page imports, to be taken from real life. We are willing, however, to hope that fome part of the picture is overcharged.

Art. 35. Sutton Abbey: A Novel. In a Series of Letters founded on Facts. 12mo. 6s. bound. Richardson and Urquhart. 1779.

The generality of novels, being for the most part compofed of the fame materials, bear fo ftrong a refemblance to each other, that it is difficult to chara&erize them. Their difference is that of the pebbles on the fea fhore; though no two are exactly of the fame figure and dimenfions, yet the naturalift would be puzzled who should undertake to point out their difcriminating peculiarities. In SuttonAbbey we meet with nothing fufficiently excellent or defective to diftinguish it from the common run of fecond rate novels.

Art. 36. The Tutor of Truth. By the Author of the Pupil of Pleasure, &c. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. bound. Richardfon and Urquhart. 1779.

66

The Pupil of Pleasure" having been cenfured for the glowing colours in which the vices of its hero are exhibited, Mr. Courtney Melmoth, who poffeffes that happy verfatility which qualifies him to be in utrumque paratus, here atones for his offence, by delineating a character in all respects the reverfe of the former; and he prefaces the narrative with a laboured attempt to point out a fyftematic relation between the two pieces, and to deduce an instructive moral from the contrafted characters.

Though this piece is, perhaps, more inoffenfive than any of the former productions of this Writer, it must alfo be faid, that it is lefs entertaining. In the humorous characters which are introduced, we discover little of the true comic. The wit of these characters confists almost entirely in the falfe pronunciation or fpelling of words, or in the ufe of vulgar or pedantic language. Some of the characters are exceedingly unnatural. We can conceive a Malvolio fancying his mistress in love with his yellow ftockings and croffed garters; but we cannot fuppofe a lover fo much a fool as to imagine a lady to be his "contracted spouse," without any preliminary advances on either fide. We also find fome difficulty, even in this age of gallantry, in fuppofing it probable that a married woman would entertain fo romantic a paffion, as to follow from one country to another, a youth who, instead of feducing her, has treated her with perfect indifference, and who, 'from principle, has difcouraged every advance towards an illicit amour.

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 37. Remarks on General Burgoyne's State of the Expedition from Canada. 8vo. Is. Wilkie.

In our last month's catalogue we bestowed the commendation on General Burgoyne's fate of the northern expedition, which we thought due to fo elaborate and important a performance. As a lite rary compofition, this remarker has little or nothing to fay to it; nor does he object to the accuracy or authenticity of the fplendid engravings by which the General's defence is illuftrated. The great

point in dispute is, the real innocence or delinquency of the unfortunate commander, with regard to those movements and measures (entirely and confeffedly his own) which were directly, perhaps naturally, attended by the abfolute overthrow of the enterprize, and the total lofs of the army.

We have obferved, in our mention of The State, &c. that Mr. B. tells his story well. He certainly does fo; but this Writer contends, that the General has nevertheless rejected the folid basis of fact, and refted his defence on equivocation; confequently, that the fuperAtructure, however finished and decorated, muft fall, and bury his reputation under its ruins, or ftand only to perpetuate his infamy.'

The whole of Mr. B.'s defence is, therefore, brought to reft folely on this question-Did he, as he ftrenuously urges, fail in his enter- prize, merely in confequence of his disappointed expectation with refpect to the co-operation of General Howe, in order to form a junction of the armies? This remarker fets himself to prove, from authentic correspondence, that Mr. B. actually experienced no fuch difappointment; that the northern colonies had as powerful charms for bim as the fouthern colonies had for Sir W. Howe; and that, in their ftate of mutual repulfion, the latter propofed,' and the former heartily acquiefced in, their carrying on their operations entirely independent of each other."

On this ground both the Generals are totally condemned, we might have faid damned, by their prefent fcrutineer; and the MINISTRY, who well and wifely planned the Canada expedition, are pronounced to ftand' fully and for ever acquitted,' which was, probably, the main object of this close and acute investigation.

Art. 38. The Matrimonial Infolvent Act: or the Particulars of the Act intended to be brought into Parliament this Seffion by a celebrated Commoner, under Promife of the zealous Concurrence of a very great Majority of both Houfes, for the Triennial Diffolution, by thofe who choose it, with or without mutual Confent, of their unprolific and difcordant matrimonial Engagements. Dedicated to the Bishop of Llandaff. 8vo. Is. Millan. 1780. This is the production of a wag, who fo well knows how to keep his countenance, and has digefted his fcheme fo methodically, as to give it a becoming gravity of appearance. In the courfe of his prefatory obfervations and comments on the feveral claufes of his bill, he throws out many fhrewd remarks, fuggefted by the prefent relaxed ftate of matrimonial connections, and by the principle on which his plan is founded, which is briefly conveyed in the following words: Matrimony, moft affuredly, is a co partnership bufinefs, that requires a joint ftock of fidelity, affection, &c. to carry it fuccefsfully on, in which to be deficient is to be infolvent, and a fpecies of infolvency that has a much greater claim to legislative commiferation and indulgence than that which proceeds from pecuniary mishaps. Art. 39. Confiderations Libres fur le Divorce, &c. Free Confiderations on Divorce, fubmitted to the Tribunal of the impartial Public. 8vo. Spilfbury. 1780.

Thefe Confiderations are better entitled to the epithet of licentious than to that of free. They are dedicated to the Ladies of England, and written, if we believe the dedication, by a French woman of con

Y 3

dition,

dition, who, being perfecuted by a cruel and tyrannical husband, feized the first opportunity of breaking her chains, and fled for refuge into the only country of Europe where perfonal liberty is refpected, and its enjoyment fecured to every individual, by the protection of the Laws.' If we may judge by the language, this performance appears indeed to have been written by a native of France, whofe genius, whatever it may be, feems not to have been cultivated by a very liberal education; but we have too much refpect for the fair fex to fuppofe it poffible, that The Confiderations' fhould' come from one of their number, especially as the publication is attended with a meanness, we had almost said fraud, which is extremely difgraceful. The pamphlet contains twenty-fix pages of miferable paper and print; its utmost value fixpence. There is no price men. tioned in the title-page or the advertisement, but the work is fold for' balf a-crown.

Art. 40. Love and Madness. A Story too true. In a Series of Letters between Parties, whofe Names would perhaps be mentioned, were they lefs known or lefs lamented. 8vo. 3s. 6d. fewed. Kearfly. 1780.

Thefe Letters are given as the correfpondence of the late unfortunate Mr. Hackman, with Mifs Ray. Of their authenticity we can fay but little; for though we profefs ourselves critics, we pretend not to be conjurors. The Letters are well written, and, fuppofing them genuine, they must be extremely interefting to every Reader. They are enlivened with a variety of anecdotes, chiefly of a literary kind, Among other mifcellaneous matters, the ftory of that extraordinary. genius, Thomas Chatterton, is introduced at great length, with critical obfervations on his writings; an account of his publication of poems faid to have been written by one Rowley, a Monk, about three hundred years ago; of his other schemes of authorship; and finally, of his unhappy exit, in the eighteenth year of his age. This, if we miflake not, is the most valuable part of the book. Mr. Hackthan figures as the hiftorian of Chatterton.-If this be all borrowed perfonage," as Mr. Walpole expreffes it, it is fo ingenious a fiction, that the Author will be praifed, perhaps, for his abilities, even by thofe who may find themselves inclined to impeach his honefty.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 41. A Letter to the Rev. Mr. Archdeacon Law, on his Defence of Popery, as delivered in his Charge to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Rochester. 4to. 1 s. Davies.

The weapons of irony are here very aukwardly, illiberally, and unsuccessfully employed, in oppofition to the folid fenfe and manly arguments by which Mr. Archdeacon Law fupports the principles of Catholicism and univerfal toleration.

Art. 42. A Letter from the Rev. Sir Harry Trelawny, Bart. A. B. to the Rev. Thomas Alcock, A. M. Vicar of Runcorn and of St. Budeaux, Devon. 8vo. 6d. Buckland. 1780.

From the verfatility of this gentleman's difpofition, it was conjectured that he would by this time have completed his fchifmatical circuit, and become ftationary in the good old easy chair of his own, and his father's, and grandfather's church. But the gay prophets, who laughed at his eccentricity, and the grave ones, who

wept

wept over his apoftacy, have been equally mistaken in their calculations of this expected event. Sir Harry, indeed, "cafts a longinglingering look behind”-on his alma mater! and complains very pathetically of the tender ftruggles between inclination and confcience, But in fpite of early-formed attachments,' and every confideration below that of real conviction, he continues a diffenter, and declares ⚫ as an honest man, that he cannot return to the communion of the eftablished church.' This letter is defigned to justify, and in fome degree explain the grounds and reafons of his refolution with refpect to nonconformity. Sir Harry writes like an honest man; nor is he the fierce prefbyterian that many young converts, when they have left the church, have proved, through mere zeal for, and fond attachment to, a new thing," Sir Harry blames Mr. Robinson for the fame reason for which we had cenfured him before, in our account of his Plan of Lectures on Nonconformity." We hope Mr. Robinfon's good fenfe hath taught him to make a true eftimate of the merit of his performance, and we shall be happy to prefent the public with fome of his confeffions and retractations. Let him follow the example of Sir Harry, who is candid enough to make a very humble apology for the scenes in which he cut fuch a ridiculous figure, when he was connected with the unlettered miffionaries of the tabernacle, and made the tool of enthusiasm and craft. The fervour of inexperienced youth, a fcrupulous mind, and converfation with enthufiaftical dif fenters, confpired to produce all that religious phrenfy, which for many months hurried me into exceffes that I fhall not justify. May all this space be confidered as a parenthefis in the hiftory of my life! And yet we apprehend, that when Sir Harry's life is published, that which he wishes to have included in a parenthefts, will contain the most curious and original anecdotes of the whole hiftory. Art. 43. Sermons on various ufeful and important Subjects, adapted to the Family and Clofet. By George Lambert. 8vo. 4 s. 6d. Bound. York, printed; London, fold by Dilly. 1779. We have here twenty-eight difcourfes, on the following fubjects:Sacred Logic; or the Comfort of Revelation fupported on the Bafis of Reason: God honoured and Sinners pardoned, or Free Grace magnified: The Saviour's Honour and the Saint's Happiness united: The Saint's Treafure, or Help found in God: Strength in Chrift: Jehovah's Immutability; or, à Sinner's Salvation all of God: God the Gracious Remembrancer; or, prefent Declenfions fet in the Light of paft Experience: The Spiritual Banquet; or, Provifion made in God's Houfe for needy Sinners: God's Word the best Companion; or, the Duty of Parents and Children with respect to the Scripture: The Object and Nature of Faith: The Scripture Evidences of Faith: Love to God traced to its Origin: The Faint encouraged, and the Weak fupported; or, Divine Strength perfected in human Weaknefs: Farewell to Life; or, the aged Believer going to Reft, &c.

These fermons are not to be ranked with the elegant and learned; they are fomewhat in what may be called the old ftamp of preaching; but they are pious, ferious, and affectionate;-in the calvinistical ftrain. Though we may not entirely concur in fentiment with this

• Vide Review, laft vol. p. 291.

Writer,

Writer, we read with fome pleasure, the account he gives of the harmony which fubfifts not merely in his own immediate flock, but in the town of Hull; and which,' he fays, I trust, is more than the fhadow of ceremony, or the found of report.'

SCHOOL-BOOK.

Art. 44. A complete Syftem of Practical Arithmetic, and Three Forms as of Book-keeping: The Two first of which are upon a more. ufeful Plan for Retail Trade than any extant, and the last by Double Entry. By William Hedley, Mathematician. 12mo, Newcastle upon Tyne printed, by Saint. Sold by Macgowan in Paternofter-Row, London. 1779.

2 s. 6 d.

We recollect to have heard it repeatedly afferted by a Master Reviewer (not our own), that he "never met with a mathematician who knew any thing of fine language." To the fame purport, though not in fuch direct terms, we recollect an expreffion of the famous John James Rouffeau: his words, as near as we can remember, are, “none but blockheads and geometricians write without epithets." To convince the latter, if he had fortunately been living to be convinced, that there áre mathematicians (for all geometers are mathematicians) who do not write without epithets; and to strike the former gentleman dumb for ever (on this fubject), we bring forward into public view Mr. William Hedley, of Cambo, mathematician; 'who, in the preface to this COMPLETE Syftem of Practical Arithmetic, thus writeth;

• Apologies for fwelling the number of fuch publications are peculiar to the generality of authors, both ancient and modern; and con formable to the prevalence of custom, it will be natural from fo imbibed a fashion, to expect, and even be deemed neceffary, that this treatife fhould be ushered into the world in the fame backney'd ferpentine alleys of its predeceffors.

But from what fource arifeth apologizing inevitable, when confcious the undertaking refts upon the bafis of public weal, unprejudiced by principle or pecuniary expectations?

Such is the motive of my inducement; yet notwithstanding the justness of the perfuafion, I am well aware that it will fink far beneath the fummit of perfection (an elevated precipice the most ambitious cannot attain) in the eyes of the judicious; but particularly fo to thofe whofe misfortune it is to be the poffeffors of a lens incapable of difplaying the objects of their fellow-labourers in any other light but deformity.'

If, after reading this extract, there remain any Reviewers (mafiers Or men, no matter which) who yet doubt that mathematicians use epithets, and can, when occafions require it, write fine language, may they be obliged to read not only Mr. Hedley's preface, but also his Complete Syftem of Practical Arithmetic, and Three Forms of Book-keeping, Wafte Book, Journal, &c. quite through, even to the laft page of his Ledger by Double Entry; where they will find Balance D to Spontaneous Farm for value remaining 1800 1.'

The Complete Syftem of Practical Arithmetic is chiefly made up of the" fhreds and clippings" of other complete fyftems which have been formerly ushered in, in the fame hackney'd ferpentine alleys' with itfelf. We fpeak not this out of any difrefpect to the modern method of making books with fciffars and pafte, inftead of pens and