and language may, in many inftances, be corrected to advantage, as the attentive reader will be able to point out frequent inelegancies, as well as fome grainmatical er

rors.

From Mr. Monk Mafon's pen we receive Comments on the last Edition of Shakspeare's Plays." We are informed by our author, that previous to the publication of Mr. Steevens's edition of our dramatift, he had been for fome time engaged in collecting materials for fuch a work. But finding that many of the amendments and illuftrations which he intended to fuggeft, were anticipated by that editor, he was obliged to relinquifh his favourite defign. Still, however, he thought it was in his power to contribute materially to the elucidation of our inimitable poet, and, therefore, hath fubmitted thefe Comments to the public. In this work Mr. Mafon detects the mistakes of fome former annotators, and explains difficult and corrupt paffages with a fuccefs that proves him to be well verfed in the depths of ancient lore. To thofe who put a value on the endeavours of literary and ingenious men, to exhibit our poet in his original fenfe and form, thefe comments will be an acceptable prefent.

"An Eflay on Punctuation," we recommend to our readers as an elegant and useful treatife; affording a fystem of clear and practical rules on a fubject, which, though a very important one, is too much neglected. The learned reader will be much pleafed with the hiftorical difquifition on the origin and gradual introduction of the points; and with the marks of erudition and Juft critical tafte, which every part of the performance difcovers. The examples by which our author il

luftrates his rules, are well felected; and adapted to keep up, and to intereft the attention of his readers. We have no objection to fubfcribe to the author's conclufion, that his "remarks and examples will enable any one, of a tolerable capacity, to form a competent idea of this important fubject; and to divide his fentences, both in reading and writing, with greater accuracy and precifion than they are ufually divided in the generality of books, wherein the punctuation is arbitrary and capricious, and founded on no general principles."

In Heron's "Letters of Literature," we have the productions of a man, not wanting in abilities, but who, without any taste or judgment, difputes against the general fenfe of mankind, and bewilders himself in the mazes of the wildest abfurcity. He endeavours to excite attention by his fingularity, his felf-conceit, and arrogance. He affects to defpife thofe authors, both ancient and modern, on whom the confent of the world has fixed the highest value, and to raile mean and contemptible names from that oblivion to which they had defervedly been configned. "Terence," fays he, "is only the tranflator of Menander; Salluft, an imitator of Thucydides; Horace is an imitator, and almoft a tranflator, in all his odes; ftyle hath faved Virgil entirely, who hath not the most diftant pretence to any other attribute of a poet." Dryden he defpites, except in his Ode, which, in his opinion, raifes him above Pindar; Addifon is fuperficial, and Pope has no genius. Of Warburton he fays, nomen ipfum ftultitia; of lord Kaims, that he is a woeful book-maker; and of Johnfon, that he was a fafhionable writer, because he used a pedantic jargon of Roman English.

The

The English language he pronounces to be infinitely more barbarous, in all refpects, than it was in the days of Chaucer. Without any knowledge of the original, or an acquaintance with fuch commentators as might have given him information, he is daring enough to criticife on fome parts of the Old Teftament, and determine that to be confumate nonfenfe, on which he is not capable of paffing an opinion. And his criticifms on Aristotle do equal honour to his modefty, and his acquaintance with the Greek language. Thefe Letters of Literature may, from the peculiarities we have mentioned, gain a momentary attention, but they will foon be forgotten for

ever.

"The Obferver" is the production of Mr. Cumberland, a gentleman well known in the literary world; and confifts of a variety of mifcellaneous effays, written in imitation of the Spectator, and other collections of a fimilar kind. But the object to which the author is chiefly attentive, in feveral numbers of the work, is to give "a compreffed and unmixed account" of the literature of the Greeks; "carrying down the history in a chain of annecdotes. from the earlieft poets, to the death of Menander." In the papers relating to this fubject, Mr. Cumberland appears to be, in general, a faithful and correct hiftorian; and will afford his readers entertainment and inftruction. He has likewife, confiderable merit in his other effays, wherein he recommends morality and virtue; or expatiates on literary topics; or difplays his knowledge of life and manners; or exercifes his powers of wit and humour. We do not, however, bestow upon him indifcriminate praife.

His compofitions are marked by many negligencies, vulgarifms, and falfe conftructions, which are deferving of fevere reprehenfion in an author who hath fo frequently expofed himself to the lath of public criticism.

Mr. Gregory, in his "Efkays Hiftorical and Moral", treats on a variety of curious and important fubjects. He offers many fenfible and ufeful remarks on the progrefs of fociety and manners; the influence of phyfical and moral caufes on the human mind; the cha racter of the prefent times; fuperftition; moral prejudices; lan guage; government; the principles of morals; education; fui cide; and on flavery and the flavetrade. He appears to be poffeffed of folid judgment, and extentive philanthropy; and his labours will meet with approbation from the ferious and thinking part of manhind; but his manner is too uniform and cold, to give him a place in the lift of our popular writers.

Perhaps, the prefent is as proper as any place, in which to introduce the mention of "Sulivan's Philo fophical Rhapfodies.' This work is an irregular compofition of just and accurate obfervation, and interefting and lively defcription; but attended with an occasional levity and licentiousness of fentiment that are truly reprehenfible. It is drawn up in the form of unconnected and easy narrative; and contains much information refpecting the customs of fome of the eastern nations, with which our author was perfonally acquainted; and is pleafing, if not novel, in the mifcellaneous reflections on the different nations and inhabitants of modern Europe. But if we are pleafed with the liberality and good fenfe of our author, we do not adU 4

mire

in the accounts which he gives us of the cinnamon-tree and the elephant, many particulars may be met with, that will be gratifying to the curionty of his readers.

Dr. Difney's "Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Arthur Afhley Sykes, D. D." are a tribute of proper refpect to the memory of a learned and very worthy clergyman of the church of England; and contain at the fame time, a concife and accurate review of the different controverfies on fubjects of theology and liberal enquiry, in which he bore a diftinguished part. Dr. Sykes was a ftrenuous and able de. fender of the Chriftian religion; and in the numerous performances which he published feems to have been influenced by a pure love of truth and liberty. In his Polemics, he entered the lifts on the fide of Clarke, Hoadley, and Middleton, and difcovered the abilities of an accurate and able difputant. We cannot, however, but exprefs our wish, that he and the other illuf trious characters with whom he is defervedly ranked, had given the fame unequivocal teftimony to their diffintereffedness and integrity, with the excellent author of thefe Memoirs. Far be it from us to charge them with dishonefty. We do not expect to find the most virtuous and liberal ininds thinking alike on a question that feems to involve in it the leaft degree of fpeculation. But for our own parts, we honeftly confefs, that we cannot reconcile a confcientious oppofition to the diftinguishing doctrines of any church, with the enjoyment of its dignities and emoluments. Dr. Difney hath executed the talk of a biographer with precision and fidelity. While he admires the abilities and learn ing of Dr. Sykes, and paffes the highest encomiums on the fteady

uprightness of his intentions, be expreffes in a liberal and manly way, a difapprobation of fuch of his fentiments as appear to him to be unfcriptural. The readers of this valuable publication will have their attention amply repaid, by the information and inftruction with which it abounds.

An anonymous author has republished Dr. Johnfon's "Life of the Reverend Ifaac Watts, D. D." with notes, containing animadverfions and additions. In thefe notes are introduced fome corrections of Dr. Johnfon's account of the character and the connections of Dr. Watts. But the editor principally labours to fhew, that the Doctor retained to the laft, the fame opinions refpecting the Trinity for which he had contended in his different publications on that subject. We cannot fay that his reafonings on this head, are in the leaft conclufive. The weight of evidence attending Dr. Lardner's affirmation, that he knew the alteration of his fentiments to be real, we confider to be decifive and fatisfactory. The copy of Dr. Watts's folemn addrefs to the great and ever bleffed God, on a review of what he had written in the trinitarian controverfy, it a proof only of that fincerity and becoming love of divine truth, to which the worthy author had an indisputable claim.

In "An Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy, late of Covent Garden theatre, written by herfelf", we meet with a pleafing medley of what is interesting and curious. Her early introduction on the stage, and the notice taken of her by foine of the first people of family and fashion, gave her a perfect knowledge of the characters of many eminent perfons, in the theatrical and political world. And

the

the numerous anecdotes which fhe hath related of them, render thefe volumes a very entertaining publication. Her manner of writing is eafy and natural; her story amufing and affecting. A more chequered fcene than her life we fcarcely ever viewed. She is frank in, difclofing, and we doubt not fhe is fincere in cenfuring the errors and follies into which he had been betrayed by her thoughtlefs, giddy heart. She hath, however, convinced us, by many of her obfervations and reflections, that her qualifications, had he been placed in a proper sphere, and had they been properly directed, would have rendered her a very ufeful as well as amiable character. We pity her misfortunes, while we cannot but condemn her indifcretions; and we confider her whole story as a striking and useful leffon of virtue.

Under the head of Antiquities, the year 1785 prefents to us a valuable and inftructive work, in the seventh volume of "Archæologia; or Miscellaneous Tracts relating to Antiquity, publifhed by the Society of Antiquaries of London." This volume will be found equally ufeful and entertaining with the former ones, for which the public are greatly indebted to the industry and ingenuity of the fociety. The articles amount to forty-five in number, exclufive of the appendix, which confifts of curious extracts from papers communicated to the Society, which it was not thought proper to publish entire. We have received great pleasure and information from the perufal of the whole volume. We were particularly ftruck with the refearches of Mr. Daines Barrington into the practice of archery in England, and into the progrefs of gardening; go

vernor Pownall's obfervations on the fhip temple, an uncommon building now in ruins in Ireland, and an antique cryftal vafe; Mr. Ledwich's differtation on the religion of the Druids; Mr. Hunter's defeription of fome artificial caverns in the neighbourhood of Bombay; Mr. Aftle's differtation on the letters of the Pelafgians, and Mr. Marfden's letter on the language of the people called Gypfies.

Mr. Swinburne, in the year 1783, published a volume of "Travels in the Two Sicilies," the reception of which by the public was fufficiently flattering to encourage the publication of this fecond volume. It is with great pleasure that we have followed our traveller in this continuation of his narrative, and vewed thofe claffic fcenes which are fo happily drawn by his pencil. We have remarked on a former occafion, that Mr. Swinburne appears to advantage as an hiftorian and antiquary, as well as a defcriber of modern objects and manners. The prefent volume will add confiderably to his reputation in both thefe characters. To the landfcape painter it is also a very valuable prefent. The grand and variegat ed profpects which he will meet with in it, will prove a rich addition to his ftore of interefting and striking objects. Our author's prefent enquiries and obfervations relate to Naples and the adjoining iflands; the ancient city of Pæl tum, whofe ruins have lately at tracted the notice of the literary world; and the vestiges of old magnificence in the island of Sicily. This work recommends itfelf to the reader, by juftnefs of fentiment, ufeful information, and entertaining anecdotes. And we do not remember any production of the

Paradife loft; and in very unqualified terms, condemns Pope, Young, Gray, and many other celebrated British Poets", for "dreffing them felves in his borrowed robes, without the finallest acknowledgement." That Milton might have a perfect recollection of fome of his beauties while penning his own immortal poem, will readily be allowed; but that he is indebted for any part of his fame to an unjustifiable ufe of this author, will hardly be fufpected by any perfon who candidly compares their refpective works. How far his charge against Pope is to be received, in its fullest extent, the impartial will be able to determine from the praise which the latter freely beitows upon Crafhaw's epitaph upon Mr. Afhton. If Mr. Phillips had been careful to mark the particular paffages in his author, on which he founded the charges of plagiarifin against the other British poets, their admirers would have confidered themselves obliged, either to vindicate them from the afperfion, or to acknowledge the juftice of it.

In Boyd's "Tranflation of the Inferno of Dante Alighieri," we are presented with the whole of that extraordinary poem, in English verfe. It is not eafy to conceive of the difficulty of preferving the fense and spirit of the father of Italian poetry, in this production. Our tranflator, however, appears, on the whole, to have executed his talk with fidelity and correctness. Not that he is always free from obfcurity; or exprefies all the force and animation of the original. Some few grammatical errors might likewife be pointed out, and a harshness in fome of his verfes and rhymes, which an attentive revifion will enable him to correct. The life of Dante, tranf

lated from Leonardo Bruni, and the "Hiftorical Effay on the State of Affairs in the thirteenth and fourteenth Centuries, with refpect to the Hiftory of Florence," will be found entertaining and interefting to the reader.

Mr. Potter hath published a liberal poetical tranflation of "The Oracle concerning Babylon, and the Song of Exultation, from Isaiah, chap. xiii. and xiv." Our author's well known and establifhed fame, as a poet, will fuffer no diminution from the present performance. A confiderable fhare of the beauty and fpirit of the original is transfufed throughout both thefe pieces. But we do not think it an eafy matter to equal the grandeur and fublimity of the prophet, as he appears in the fimple and unadorned language of our common version.

Mr. Butt's "Ifaiah verfified," is a very unequal production, which, in its beft paffages, hath no very high claim on our commendation. Some of the most interesting parts of the prophecy, the fenfe of which is clear and obvious in the original, lose all their spirit in his hands, and become obfcure and perplexed. Since our author confiders poetry as "the highest energy of human intellect, the last perfection of human language, and the furent embalmer of wifdom for all ages," we hope that, in his future compofitions, he will correct his fondness for pompous and fwelling expreffions; and that he will confider it as one of the chief excellencies of good writing, to be connected and intelligible.

"The Tafk, a Poem in fix Books, by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Efq." is a work abounding in originality of thought, pathetic reprefentations, and poignancy of fatire. We have feldom met