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port to the minifter or his opponents, according to the impulfe or conviction of the moment. As an example of this kind, hè inftances the flying Squadron, as it was called, during the administration of fir Robert Walpole, which, he obferves, answered no purpose whatever of public utility. It is probable indeed, that fuch an independence of parliamentary conduct is more fpecious in theory than eafily reducible to practice. Perhaps the motives of thofe men who almoft continually oppofe government are, in general, fo uniform in their nature, that they are not fo much influenced by the measures of administration, confidered abftractedly, as by private views of ambition or perfonal intereft. Should any fufpicion of this conduct be entertained by an independent member, he will naturally refift its effects, by throwing all his weight into the scale of adminiftration; and the cafes in which this ftep may appear to him expedient being more frequent than otherwife, his judgment, which had for. merly exerted itfelf entirely with independence, will, by habitual concurrence, induce him at last to adopt an attachment to a party. This, we believe, is the natural progress of the human mind in fuch fituations; and it is entirely conformable to the fentiments of the prefent author, who, far from recommending to the electors in Great Britain to adopt neutral principles at the general election, advises them, on the contrary, to give a decided preference to one or other of the two parties, viz. the oppofition or the miniftry. He has not, however, left them without affillance for regulating their conduct in this refpect. The period concerning which he chiefly draws a comparative defcription of the merits of those parties, is at the time of his majesty's late illnefs, when he paints the behaviour of Oppofition in a light, which, to fay the leaft of it, is far from being favourable to difintereftednefs, humanity, or public virtue. He concludes his addrefs to the electors, with declaring a perfect reliance, that they will act with a becoming zeal in the performance of that duty, which, as pious men, they owe to their God; as interested men, they owe to themselves; and, as patriot men, they owe to their country. The pamphlet is written with energy, and contains many just observations, relative, in particular, to the political conduct of the prince of Wales, and those who profefs to attach themselves to his interefts.

The Critical Period; or, Scafonable Truths relative to the General Election in Great Britain and Ireland. 8vo. 15. 6d. Kearsley.

The author of this pamphlet prefents his readers with many political obfervations that are worthy of attention: but he gives too much scope to declamation, where he means to be argumentative; and he treats the fubject in fo defultory and vague a manner, that his remarks are almost as fuitable to any other period, as to that of a general election.

The

DIVINITY, RELIGIOUS, &c. The Grounds and Reasons of the Truth of Chriftianity, by way of Queftion and Answer; defigned for the Ufe of Younger, and left infructed Chriftians. By the late Rev. Mr. Milway. 8vo. 15. 6d. Johnson.

Mr. Milway's plain and judicious explanation of the grounds of Chriftianity is well adapted to the younger and lefs enlightened enquirer. It teaches the doctrine of Chrift with great per fpicuity, and without engaging in polemic controverfy: the author feems, however, to incline to the fyftem of Arius. Obfervations on the Homilies of the Church of England. In a Series of Letters. 8vo. 15. 6d. Johnson.

From the gradual changes which have taken place in language, manners, opinions, and even our ideas of delicacy and decorum, there is no doubt, but many of the authors accufations against the homilies must be well founded. They are confequently no longer read; but why then are they retained? This is an aukward figure, faid a gentleman to his architect, (it was the key-ftone of an arch, ornamented, as was formerly common, with a grotesque face) may it not be altered? Cer rainly, faid the obliging workman; but, whether from rafhnefs, inexperience, or accident, the whole building fell with it. The opinion was prevalent, that the man was rather a knave than a fool; but it has deterred us, from difplacing any fione in an arch. Letters addrefied to the Apologift for the Religion of Nature. 12mo. 25. ferved. Payne and Son.

In our LXVIIth vol. p. 477, we noticed the Apology for the Religion of Nature; but, as we declined engaging in this quef tion, and thought it improper to diffeminate his arguments by an analysis, we cannot engage fully in examination of the Anfwer. It is a work of labour, learning, and ingenuity; but we could have wished the author a better employment than in contending with a fhadow, where the most decifive victory can confer little honour.

A Treatife of Civil Power in Ecclefiaftical Caufes. The Author John Milton. 8vo. 15. Johníon.

A ftroke from the Ceftus of the Entellus of the Puritans!— certain death to any puny controverfialist who comes even with in the wind' of it.

NO V E L S.

The Fair Cambrians, a Novel. 3 Vols. 12mo. 95. Lane. A pleafing interefting ftory, made up, however, of threds and patches from other works of this kind, except in what regards one family, where fome characteristic sketches feem to show that obfervation guided the pen. The character of Stanley and lord Charles Blair, though not uncommon, are diftinguished by. fome peculiar traits. The incidents are trite and common.

8

Integrity;

Entegrity; or, the Hiftory of Sophia Francourt. From the French.. 2 Vols. 1 2mo. 55. Beilby.

This is an entertaining little work, though it is not easy to afcertain its particular merits. We are amufed with the events; but French manners are not fo familiar to the generality of readers as to render the adventures of their novels very interesting. It would have been no great lofs to English literature, if this work had remained in its original language.

Victorina, a Novel. By the Author of Blanfay, Louis and Nina, Ec. Franflated from the French. 2 Vols. 12mo. 55. Lane. We have already faid that customs and manners fo different from our own do not greatly intereft us. In the prefent work, a total want of probability, a hafty denouement, and characters, if we except the lively Marotte, fo good and fo infipid, for uns mixed, unal!ayed goodness is generally uninterefting, that we with this volume had continued in its native language, or that (but we fuppofe it was enjoined as a penance) it had never be come the object of our examination.

The Adventures of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. By James White, Efq. Author of Earl Strongbow, Conway Cafile, &c. 3 Vols. 12m10. gs. Robinfons."

As Mr. White claims the exclufive privilege of finding and publishing old manufcripts, his right is an object of enquiry, and deferves our particular regard. Horace has long fince given his opinion on this fubject Quam fcit quifque libens cenfeba exerceat artem. If Mr. White will publish old manuTeripts, he must fhow that he is able to read what he finds, or to imitate what he might have found. We need not tell him, for he feems to be fufficiently aware of it, that the modern manners glare in every line, that the fentiments and the phrafeology are as nouvelle as the customs, in fpite of ancient armour, tourna ments, and antique cattles-In every page

Old Edward's armour gleams on Cibber's breast.'

If this fhould appear faftidious criticifm, we may ask, what purpose do these antique-modern tales anfwer? They are lefs entertaining (we speak for ourselves), lefs interefting, and lefs inftructive than even the modern ones; for the evident fiction deftroys the intereft, and the mixture of ancient and modern customs, which cannot be difcriminated by general readers, will miflead. The mode also of the narrative, which is the ancient one; the frequent interruptions, by fuppofing the story related at different vifits, which require the conftant return of the fame compliments, render it peculiarly irkfome.

While we have thus given our opinion freely on one fide, we ought to add, that, in many respects, the address of the author, his abilities, and the perfonages introduced, have for a time. obviated all these disadvantages, and forcibly attracted our at- VOL. LXIX. June, 1790.

Cce

tention.

tention. His first volume of Conway Caftle' has fufficiently fhown, that, in a different, story, he could pleafe, intereft, and affect us. We wish him therefore to give up his claim,' just alluded to, and meet us again like a man of this world, and of this time; we are confident, that he would deferve our applaufe.

POETRY.

The Turtle-Doves A Tale. From the French of M. de Florian. 8vo. 15. Payne and Son.

M. de Florian's pleafing tale in an English dress, translated with fpirit, freedom, and accuracy. The Turtle dove would marry, and experiences all the misfortunes which a connection with jilts, prudes, or coquettes, can produce. At last, however, for the author will not condemn without exceptions, he meets a ford and faithful dove.

• The dove look'd round, and saw a bird
His foul by fympathy preferr'd:
Soft like himfelf, in fhape and feature,
A handfome, tender, gentle creature.
Pleas'd with the fight he foon draws near;
She to his questions lends an ear;
He quickly names the amorous plan,
And thus the foft falute began.
It costs him no great pains to find
Reflected in the fair one's mind,
His own mild tone, and native graces,
Their hearts refembled like their faces.
Made for each other's fond delight,
Sweet fympathies their fouls unite.
Love with his fubtle flame play'd round then,
And Hymen with his chaplet crown'd them.
Love's flame burns bright till life's last breath,
And Hymen but diffolves in death.

Rare unions that for ever last,
And blefs the prefent as the past;
-Whofe conftant never failing courfe
Becomes of happinefs the fource..

Convinced, and pleafed by foft careffes,
A heart at length the dove poffeffes.'

Sa Mark's Day; or, King John's Freemen. A Poem: compre
bending an Account of the Crigin and Ceremony of making Fret
Burgeffes at Alnwick, in Northumberland. By a Native of
Alnwick. To which are added, the Bellows; or, Country Jaunt.
Love in an Oven; or, the Parochial Batch. And the Sailor
and the Monkies. 4to. 2s. 6d. Forbes.

Four pleafant stories, told in eafy verfe, of which the hu mour must smooth the brow of the critic, and render him blind to trivial faults. The means of attaining the freedom of Aln.

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wick is one of thofe ludicrous tenures, the marks of an age but little refined.

A Collection of Odes, Songs, and Epigrams, against the Whigs, alias the Blue and Buff; in which are included, Mr. Hewer dine's Political Songs. 8vo. 25. 6d. Bell.

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Each party has its poets, which, if not laurelled, are perhaps of greater utility. An epigram may influence thofe, who cannot judge of an argument, and a lively fong may have greater powers of conviction than an oration. In a literary view, howthe talents of Oppofition feem to rife triumphant.

ever, A Poetical Epifle to John Wolcot, commonly known by the Appellation of Peter Pindar. 410. 2. Riebau.

We never met with a more abfurd performance than this Fpifile. The reader might naturally fuppofe that there never existed a more defective rhyme than what appears in the following terrible charge against Peter, by whom, fays the bard,

— • Aqua pura hauftus oft was giv'n,

To cure a cacoethes of the fkin !'

We can, however, produce a worfe." Some refemblance here occurs; not indeed in found, but in the lines concluding with the fame letter; which is an eminent advantage over

Sir Sapfkull Slanderer be thy title,

Thy hiftory may the world enlighten.'

Thefe are equally incongruous to fight as found; and conftant violations of grammar, fenfe, and metre occur in every page.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Translation of a Speech Spoken by the Count Clermont Tonnere, •Chriftmas-eve laft, on the Subject of admitting Non-Catholics, Comedians, and Jews, to all the Privileges of Citizens, according to the Declaration of Rights. 810. 6d. Stuart.

In the debates in the national affembly refpecting the privileges of citizens, it was contended that no profeffion ought to exclude its members. The king's comedians were mentioned as of a profeffion not held in high refpe&t, when another member exclaimed and the executioner then.' M. Clermont de Tonnere's Speech relates to these two subjects; and he adds fome arguments to lead the affembly to admit the Jews alfo. He defends them from the accufation of ufury, but it is not inconfiftent with a truly tolerating fpirit, in denying them their own judges. He would grant them every thing as individuals and nothing as a fect.'The refolution which followed admitted Non-Catholics without exception, as eligible, referving the determination refpecting the Jews to a future period.

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