We shall apply by way of character to this performance, the elogium which the author pays to those whom he has fo happily imitated. Capit me fabularum fuaves indoles, Capit venufta munditie latinitas Laboriofæ ART. VIII. The English reader will be pleased with the spirit, elegance, and genteel compliment in the following morceau, tho' be cannot help regretting that Voltaire had ever fuch an occafion to difplay his talent in panegyric. Vers de M. de Voltaire à M. de Maréchal due de Richelieu, fur la conquête de Mahon. Depuis plus de quarante années Jadis les Amans, les Epoux Trembloient en vous voyant paroitre. Près des Belles & près du Maître, Le grand Homme échappe au vulgaire. Mais lorfqu'aux champs de Fontenoi, Il fert fa Patrie & fon Roi ; Quand fa main des peuples de Genes Des Des murs de Minorque opprimée, Et partageoit le rang fuprême ART. IX. From Rome. De literaria expeditione per pontificiam ditionem ad dimetiendos duos meridiani gradus et corrigendam mappam geographicam, juffu & aufpiciis Benedicti XIV. Pont. Max. Sufcepta a patribus fociet. Jefu, Christophore Maire et Rogerio Jofepho Bofcovich. This Latin treatife, elegantly printed in quarto, is divided into five books or opufcula, fubdivided into chapters. The first, by father Bofcovich, contains an hiftorical and phyfical history of their literary expedition through the papal dominions. The fecond, by father Maine, determines a degree of the meridian from obfervations and calculations. The third, by the fame hand, treats of a geographical map which he has corrected and restored from obfervations and actual furvey. In the fourth, father Bofcovich defcribes the apparatus and instruments used in this expedition; and in the fifth, he inveftigates the form of the earth from the doctrine of gravitation, and the menfuration of a degree in the meridian. The map is a moft elegant and accurate performance, exhibited on three large fheets, and intitled, Nuova Carta geografica dello stato ecclefiaftico, dilineata dal P. Cristoforo Maire, da C. de Gefu, fulle comuni offervazione fue e del P. Ruggiero Guife. Bofcovich da Med1. C1. In this map, which is too large to be inferted in the book, we find a catalogue of all the principal towns and places, with the degrees of latitude and longitude in which they are fituated. Their menfuration of a degree in the meridian, and their inductions drawn from thence, concur with the observations of Maupertuis, Condamine, and Ulloa, to afcertain and confirm. the theory of Sir Ifaac Newton, who fuppofed the earth was an oblate fpheroid, or a sphere compreffed at the poles. This whole work is executed with great diligence and precision; and every difficulty explained and removed by plain geometrical folutions. The performance was begun and executed by the order, and under the aufpices of the prefent Pope BenedicƐt XIV. a distinguished patron of learning, and a pontiff remarkable for his piety, benevolence and moderation. ART. X. Foreign Dramatic Entertainments. Paris. At the Italian comedy at Paris, there has been lately exhibited a dramatic entertaiment in verfe, called L'amant jardinier, ou les amusemens de la campagne; it is written by a gentleman who chufes to keep himself concealed, altho' he has before prefented the public with fome things, which have been well received: the plot of it is as follows. A young lady named Julia diverts herself, while in the country, with appearing at different times in the difguife of an officer, an abbé, and a lawyer. In this last character fhe affumes the name of Lindor; and we find her in the house of a relation, whom preffing business had required for fome time to be VOL. II. abfent; T absent; and where Lucilla with the countefs her mother was come to refide a few days. Here the young lady's lover, by name Clitander, hires himself as a' gardener: Julia whom we fhall often call Lindor, having intimation of his real character from a fervant, diverts herself with puzzling him, either by questioning him in matters which the is certain he cannot answer; or by appointing him tasks in which fhe is fure he muft blunder. Lucilla foon finds out her lover in his difguife; there was no need that fhe fhould fee the object of her paffion twice without knowing him. However, the affures him, that she is both uneasy and angry at his undertaking; the confequence of which might, if difcovered, give them both much uneafinefs. The fuppofed lawyer, who knows the fentiments of their hearts, is refolved if poffible to bring about their happiness, tho' at the fame time the delights in perplexing the gentlemangardener. To this end the feeks an opportunity of converfing in private with the old countefs, who is a noify, litigious, medling coquet, that having buried two husbands, lays herself out for a third. up Lindor, by flattering her weaknesses, after having discovered to her their being relations, fecures to him or rather to herself Her confidence; and goes fo far, as not only to prevail on her to accept of him as a third husband, but also to confent to her daughter's marriage with Clitander; and to fettle matters for this double conjunction, the good woman makes a hafty exit. Night coming on, Clitander feeks, under cover of its shade, an opportunity of converfing with Lucilla in the garden; they are watched by our young lawyer, who refolving to entertain himself at their expence, conceals himself in a corner, where he may overhear their difcourfe, which he interrupts by af-' fecting the voice and language of the countefs, and railing against Lucilla for daring to entertain a gallant in private ; at the fame time he lays hold of Clitander, and infifts upon punifhing him very feverely, unlefs he confents to renounce all thoughts of Lucilla, and to marry herself the pretended móther. However, the fcene is brought to light, by the real countefs appearing with a notary, while Clitander and Lu tilla remain astonished at the fingularity of the adventure, for Lindor had conveyed himself privately away the moment he was apprifed of the countefs's approach: the lovers know not how to account for her being here and there at the fame time; and The herself is prodigiously embarraffed by Clitander's intreating that she will excufe his complying with her defires, in confideration of the mutual paffion which Lucilla and he have long indulged for each other. This perplexing affair is however cleared up by the appearance of the frolickfome lawyer, who wishes the lovers joy, informs them of the measures he has taken for their felicity, and confirms it by producing the contract for their marriage, which the countess immediately figns. But how aftonished is the good lady, when her bufinefs comes upon the carpet, to find the young lawyer write himself Julia. She defires that the mystery may be explained; in confequence of which injunction, Julia, laying afide the name and character of Linder, acknowledges her sex, and rallies the good lady, for having lived to thefe years, without being able to diftinguish a man from a woman. The countess complains of the impofition; and Julia, to confole her, tells her, that she has got a brother, an uncle, and a coufin, all unmarried, one of whom she may be fure to have for a husband: This credulous woman answers in a fort of rage, that were the to marry them all one after another, fhe was not without hopes of feeing the last of them in the grave in lefs than four years. Thus ends the piece, which concludes with a dance of characters, and has been prefented with fuccefs. Monthly CATALOGUE. Art. 11. Memoirs of the noted Buckhorfe. In which, befides a minute Account of his past memorable Exploits, that celebrated Hero is carried into higher Life; containing fome very extrasdinary Events. Interspersed with remarkable Anecdotes of feme Bloods of Fortune and Eminence, Companions of Mr. Buckhorfe. In two Volumes. 12mo. Pr. 6s. Crowder. TH HE feafon is now advancing when that dunghil the town never fails to produce an innumerable quantity of literary muftrooms T 2 |