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capable of filent waiting, or, in other words, that perfect abstraction, not only from external objects, but from his own thoughts. The greater part of this pamphlet confifts of anfwers to Mr. Barclay's objections, in his Apology, to the holy communion and to baptifm. He reafons with the clofenefs of a-Quaker, and his anfiers are generally fatisfactory.

NO VEL S.

Norman Tales, from the French of M. le Grand. Izmo. 35. Egertons.

Thefe Tales are extracted from the two volumes of M. le Grand, intitled Tales of the twelfth and thirteenth Centuries, noticed in our LXIId volume, p. 76. The change of the title is faid to be owing to their having been proved to be exclusively Norman.

Radzivil, a Romance, tranflated from the Rufs of M. Wocklow. 3 Vols. 12mo. 75. 6d. Lane.

M. Wocklow is faid to have written this novel, in imitation of fome English works of a fimilar nature; but he has diverfified it with uncommon fcenes and unusual adventures, in coun tries and among inhabitants little known, on the east of Poland. We found it very interesting, though, to a mere English reader, it will often appear improbable.

In the journey, on the heath of Welfar, we trace the author in Count Fathom; but he has added as much to the interest of the adventure, as he has detracted from the more terrible circumstances. In the adventures in the Pays Vaud, where we furvey the gradual decline from the noble high-fpirited foldier to the plain laborious and industrious hufbandman, the pencil has traced the changes with great delicacy, and it proves a very interesting part of the work. We are forry that the fub ject of the third volume could not have been interwoven with the rest: we were fo happy with Julia and Mansfeld, in their plain habiliments, that we found the adventitious foly, though well told, hang heavy on our hands.

Loufa, or the Reward of an Affectionate Daughter. 2 vols. 12710. 55. Hookham.

We have feldom feen letters more trifling and uninteresting, except a few defcriptive of places in Holland and Germany. The story and the characters are equally trifling and infipid.

Delia, a pathetic and intereft ng Tale. 4 Volumes. 12mo. 125. Lane.

Though as an artful contexture of events, within the reach of probability, we cannot highly commend thefe volumes; yet we perceive fome traits of genius and acquired knowledge in them, which shows the author to be unhackneyed in his pro

fellion,

feffion, and to be, in reality, above it. At the fame time, we ought to remark, that the conduct of the work is not very par ticularly defective; and the author's pathetic fcenes are welf worked up, and heightened by a judicious choice of incidents. But why will novel-wrivers delight to harrow up the foul? Why was not lord Archer killed by the robbers? Or, if we muit have a pathetic conclution, why was it anticipated by lady Harriot's die.m?

MISCELLANEOUS.

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Letters on the Politics of France. By a Gentleman at Paris. 8vo. 15. Debrett.

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Thefe Letters are evidently written by a perfon of much litical obfervation, and, indeed, we are inclined to fufpect, by one who has acted in the capacity of a state finan. They contain an artful apology for the late measures of the French court; with respect to which the author appears not to be uninterested.

The Death and Diffection, Funeral Proceffion, and Will of Mrs, Regency. 8vo. 15. 6d. Walter.

A whimsical medley of verfe and profe, not deftitute of wit and humour. Its object is to rally the oppofition, on account of the difappointment they received by his majesty's recovery, and the confequent mifcarriage of the Regency Bill.

The Second Report and Addrefs of the Philanthropic Society, inftited September, 1788, for the Prevention of Crimes. Evo. 15.

Robin.ons.

We are well pleafed to hear that this Society profpers; and, as its plans open to our view, we perceive that it deferves more attention. It was propofed as a means of preventing crimes, but by teaching morals, it aims at reforming by example. The fchcol of morality, when its duties are taught with plainnefs and fimplicity, appears to be a judicious and well conducted plan; and, we trust, will be found effeḍtially useful. In this manner, the Philanthropic Society purpofe to form able, induf trious, exemplary citizens, not from the class which would be otherwife of no utility, but from that which would be positively detrimental; the limb, washe

Enfe recidendam, me pars fincera trahatur." They are yet in want of fupport, indeed of liberal affiftance; but they hope that, at fome future period, by the industry of the objects of the inftitution, it will be fufficiently maintained.

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Thoughts on the diftinct Provinces of Revelation and Philofophy: 4to. 25 Faulder..

The author of thefe Thoughts fcruples not to express his pity and contempt of all the fages of antiquity, as a tribe

whofe

whofe fpeculations are degrading to the dignity of human na ture. We regard with very different fentiments those venerable characters, and fhall never believe that revelation can suffer any detriment from true philofophy, exercifed in the inveftigation of truth, and the developement of reason...

Efays on important Subjects. By D. Turner, M. A. 2 Vols. 6s. ferved. Buckland.

The leading principle of thefe Effays has a great affinity to that of the Thoughts, in the article immediately preceding. The author feems to maintain, that our belief in God depends on revelation; and that our faith in divine revelation depends on our belief in God. Did reafon indeed countenance fuch a mode of argument, it might justly be regarded, according to the foregoing writer, with pity and contempt; but it spurns at the imputation of a fentiment founded upon no principle, and from which no conclufion can be drawn.

An Oration delivered on the Secular Anniversary of the Revolution. By W. Sharp, jun. 8vo. 15. Johnfon.

This Oration is the produce of William Sharp, junior, prefident of a Society devoted to Public Freedom, at Newport, in the Ifle of Wight. It contains many just observations, and fome, likewife, which must be regarded as invidious, respect. ing the reign of our prefent gracious fovereign, who, the author wrongfully infinuates, is lefs favourable to public liberty than the two lift kings. This is fo evidently repugnant to fact and experience, that to refute it by any argument would be unnecellary.

The Speeches of W. Wilberforce, Efq. on the Abolition of the Slave Trade, in thr Houfe of Commons, May 12, 1789. 800. 16. Stockdale.

The Speech of Mr. Wilberforce, we prefume, is already known to the generality of our readers. Along with it are publifhed, in the prefent pamphler, the fpeeches of Meffrs. Fox, Pitt, Gafcoigne, Grenville, Burke, Dempfter, &c. to all which are subjoined Mr. Wilberforce's twelve propofitions. The English Art of Cookery, according to the prefent Practice; being a complete Guide to all Houfe-Keepers, on a Plan entirely new. 8vo. 75. bound. Robinfons.

This appears to be a work of great merit: but as the competitors for the palm in the art of cookery are a numerous body, and we are not fufficient adepts to decide on their different pretenfions, we fhall only inform our readers, upon the authority of Mr. Richard Briggs, the author of the prefent fyf tem, that he has been many years cook at the Globe-tavern, Fleet-ftreet, the White Hart tavern, Holborn; and is now at the Temple Coffee-houfe, where we have tasted, with pleasure, feveral excellent difhes of his compofition.

*

THE

CRITICAL REVIEW.

For FEBRUARY, 1790.

Archæologia: or, Mifcellaneous Tracts relating to Antiquity. Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London. Vol. IX. 410. 19s. feed. White and Son.

10

To our former articles on these volumes we must refer for the general plan of the Society of Antiquaries, and our opinion of the execution of the different articles. If, occafionally, the refpectable members of this Society dwell on trifling circumstances, or expatiate too far on fubjects little interesting to national antiquities, the progrefs of cuftoms, manners, or focial intercourfe, the firft great objects of the antiquary; yet, we must own, that, at times, each subject is indebted to their labours.Let us however follow, as ufual, their steps with

care.

Art. I. Obfervations on the Time of the Death and Place of Burial of Queen Catharine Parr. By the Rev. Treadway Nash, D. D. F. A. S.- Mr. Granger had given an account of the burial of queen Catharine Parr, at the chapel of Sudley in Gloucestershire, from a manufcript in the Herald's College. This was copied in Mr. Rutter's New County History, and induced fome of the neighbouring inhabitants to examine the ground, in order to discover the spot in which she was interred. They were directed by a block of alabaster, to which a monument feemed to have been formerly affixed, and very near the furface they found a body wrapped in cerecloth, and, apparently, on this cloth was an infcription pointing out the object of their search. They were terrified by the look of the face, and covered it again with little precaution; fo that, two years afterwards, when the grave was opened, the face was disfigured and almost destroyed. The hand only was feen, on opening the cerecloth, and it seemed to be small and delicate: the coffin inclofing the body was only five feet four inches long. Some short account of the chapel and the unfortunate queen are fubjoined; but the laft is the most interefting. It is well known that she was first married to Edward Burghe, and afterwards to lord Latimer. After his death fhe wedded the furly and implacable tyrant Henry VIII.; and, as the venVOL. LXIX. Feb. 1790. tured

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tured to difpute with him on religious fubjects, had nearly experienced the fate of Anne Boleyne. She was at laft freed from this bondage, and became the wife of her former lover, lord Seymour her fhort life was embittered by his severity and difappointed ambition; and fhe died after being married eighteen months, in child-bed, not without fufpicion of poifon. Her prayer, ufed in time of war, we shall tranfcribe, as we think, with the author, that it is excellent.

Our cause being juft, and being enforced to enter into war and battle, we most humbly befeech thee, O Lord God of Hofts, fo to turn the hearts of our enemies to the defire of peace, that no Chriftian blood be fpilt; or elfe, grant, O Lord, that with fmall effusion of blood, and to the little hurt of innocents, we may, to thy glory, obtain victory, and that, the wars being foon ended, we may all with one heart and mind, knit together in concord and unity, laud and praise thee, O Lord.'

Art. II. An Account of the Discovery of the Corpfe of one of the Abbots of Gloucester. In a Letter from Mr. John Cooke, Surgeon of that City, to Charles Marth, Efq. F. R. and A. S. S.-It was the body of John Wigmore, who died in March, 1337 peace to his manes! But we fee nothing to notice, except that in porous ground a body will remain uncorrupted for fome centuries; a fact we learnt as well from the grave digger's fpeech in Hamlet.

Art. III. An Historical Difquifition on the Game of Chefs, addreffed to Count de Bruhl, F. A. S. by the Honourable Daines Barrington. Count de Bruhl introduces Mr. Barrington's differtation on chefs, by mentioning two remarkable chefs-players in France. M. de Grofmenil, who died about 1730, generally beat M. de Legal, now above eighty; and this gentleman is reckoned only fecond to Philidor. The late fir Abraham Janfen is faid to have been the best English player after Philidor, to whom Philidor could not give more, for the pawn, than the move. The hiftorical Difquifition on the Game of Chefs, by Mr. Barrington, contains, as ufual in that gentleman's works, much recondite learning of the hiftorical kind, with little accuracy of reafoning or judgment. He thinks, for inftance, that the Chinese invented chefs, chiefly because they poffefs fome additional pieces which differ from ours in their form and powers; the reason why they fhould be confidered as innovators, not inventors. Yet this circumftance, for this reafon, is afterwards faid not to be conclufive; and no other is adduced, except the great antiquity of chefs in China, which is common to that country and India. We have more than once remarked, that Mr. Barrington's opinions are

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