The object of the writer, (who is a female) appeared so laudable, that we wished to find the execution of her work entitled to equal praife; but, (perhaps from over faftidiousness) we have not till now been able to perufe it throughout. It is the hard task of reviewers, on many occafions, to wade through irrelevant matter, and to ftruggle with the difguft which trifling anecdotes, frivolous obfervations, and frequent affectation neceffarily produce. This task we have at laft accomplished, and we make this confeffion with regret, because the author's intentions have our full approbation, and we do not think her scheme impracticable, if the would print a fhort outline of the plan, and cause it to be circu lated amongst perfons of rank, fortune, and known benevolence. It is briefly, as the title of the work implies, to establish a school or fchools for the education of females born in a respectable rank of life, whofe friends cannot afford to educate, or poffibly even to fupport them. The fame inftitution is alfo intended to provide a refuge for widows and fpinfters more advanced in years, but who have not incomes fufficient for their due fupport. These are all frequent cafes in the present state of fociety, and not only lamentable in themfelves, but as the author obferves, injurious to public morals and happiness. They might probably be alleviated, at least, by fuch an establishment as this author fuggefts; which she terms A Proteftant Nunnery," or "Houfe of Refuge;" and, if no measure of that kind is in contemplation, we fear it is because the proposal is contained in a work not calculated to be read.

ART. 25. Mylius's School Dictionary of the English Language, intended for thefe by whom a Dictionary is used as a Series of daily Leffons; in which fuch Words as are Pedantical, Vulgar, Indsli. cate, and Obfolete are omitted; and fuch only are preferved as are purely and fimply English, or are of necessary Use and Application. The Second Edition, to which is prefixed, a New Guide to the English Tongue. By Edward Baldwin, Efq. I 2mo. Goodwin. 1809.

25.

School books fell rapidly, and the prefent has attained a fecond edition before we knew of the firit. The title-page to this makes bold promifes, which it is not eafy to verify or refute, without a more intimate acquaintance with the work than we can undertake to form. Mr. Baldwin's introduction contains useful things; particularly his account of terminations.

ART. 26. Important Studies for the Female Sex, in Reference to modern Manners. Addreffed to a young Lady of Diftinction. By Mrs. Cuckle. 297 PP. 78. Chapple. 1809.

12mo.

The author of this book is a diligent writer for the benefit of youth, and we have before had occafion to praife her efforts. In the introduction to this, fhe fpeaks with diffidence of attempting

to

to tread on the fame ground which has been trodden by "a Trim. mer, a Weft, a More, and a Hamilton." Nevertheless fhe ven. tures, for the fake of her young pupils; and we do not conceive that the will at any time repent having fo ventured. The sub. jects on which the writes are at least momentous and interesting. They are thefe-1. Religious Example, and its Importance. 2. Truth. 3. The Duties of a Daughter. 4. Of a Sifter. 5. On Temper. 6. On Charity. 7. Friendship. 8. Attachment. 9. The Duties of a Wife. 10. Of a Mother. 11. On Seduc. tion. 12. On modern Manners. 13. The Value and proper Use of Time. 14. Death.

Some very pathetic lines to the memory of a most affectionate mother, who loft her life by a scarlet fever, caught from her eldest fon, appear at page 145, and do honour to the writer, probably Mrs. Cockle herself.

ART. 27. Preceptor and his Pupils, Part the fecond; containing the Syntax of all Languages, together with special Rules, Dia. logues, Examinations, and Exercifes on the English; to which are added, a practical Syftem of English Compofition, and a concife Hiftory of the Formation of all Languages. By George Crabb, Mafter of the Commercial and Literary Seminary. 12mo. 218 PP. 4s. Boofey. 1808. ART. 28. Preceptor and his Pupils, Part the third; or, the moft familiar Synonyms in the English Language, critically and etymologically illuftrated. For the Ufe of Schools and Private Students. 12mo. 237 pp. 5s. 6d. Boofey. 1810.

The first part of this work was noticed by us in our thirtieth volume, p. 338.-By what rule of Syntax, the author omits the article the, before the word preceptor, in the titles to these works, we do not perceive that he has difclofed. Nor is it much more eafy to fee what general connection they have, fo as to make them pafs as diftinct parts of one work. They are all of a grammatical kind, but otherwise they seem as unconnected as any works can be. The author, however, thinks otherwife; he profeffes to proceed upon a connected plan. He fays;

Agreeable [agreeably] to the plan laid in the former little volume, the writer has here drawn up the fyntactical rules, in a form that feemed moft calculated for fyftematizing and generalizing the ideas of young people on the fubject of Language. To this end he has, in the first place, deviated from the ufual order of English grammar, by dividing fyntax into two general heads; namely, 1. as it regards fingle words; and 2. as it regards the conftruction of fentences."

In the introduction to the third part alfo he fays;

"Although the preceding parts of this work contain every thing relative to grammar which can lend to its illuftration; yet the author, agreeable [agreeably] to an opinion long preconceived in his mind, has thought proper to annex a third part,

as an accompaniment to the other two, with a view of directing the attention of the enquirer to that most important of all fubjects, the proper ufe of words, the mifconception and misuse of which have ever been a grand fource of human error,"

There is certainly much that is ufeful in thefe volumes, particularly what the author calls, "writing excrcifes," in the fecond volume; where in parallel columns are given the proper and improper form of various sentences. In the third part, there is much good etymology, and diftinctions founded upon it; with the occafional illuftration of familiar dialogues on the various topics of difcuffion. With all the merit which Mr. Crabb's volumes poffefs, we are inclined to think that they will never he fo completely ferviceable as when they are affifted by his oral, and perfonal inftruction.

ELOQUENCE.

ART. 29. The British Cicero; or a Selection of the most admired Speeches in the English Language; arranged under the three dif tina Heads of Popular, Parliamentary, and Judicial Oratory: with Hiftorical Illuftrations. To which is prefixed, an Introduc tion to the Study and Practice of Eloquence. By Thomas Browne, L.L.D. Author of "Viridarium Poeticum," the "Union Dictionary," &c. 8vo. 2 vols. Il. 11s. 6d. Longman and Co. 1808.

This is a very fimilar compilation in its nature to Hazlitt's Eloquence of the British Senate, of which we gave (vol. xxxvi. p. 124.) a more detailed account than we can conveniently allot to this. It differs chiefly in its mode of arrangement, and in admitting popular and forenfic eloquence, which were excluded from the other plan. The popular part, however, is much the shorteft, as it does not occupy more than a fourth of the first volume. The prior of that volume contains the introduction promifed in the title-page; while the remainder, with the whole of the fe. cond, is devoted to Parliamentary eloquence. The oratory of the bar is given in the third volume. Nor does this volume take fo wide historical fcope as Mr. Hazlitt's. "The matter of it comprehends," the author fays, the fpace of about forty years, and is brought down nearly to the time of publication. Should the work meet the approbation of the public, the editor proposes, in a fecond edition, to enlarge it, and continue it to the time of publication."

So very large a part of this work of neceffity confifts of mere compilation, that there is not much in it for criticism to do. We might indeed examine the author's introduction, or the opinions which are given in the hiftorical illuftrations. But rules of eloquence have been two often repeated to attract much attention; and in the other cafe, whatever the author's opinions

BRIT. CRIT, VOL. XXXVII, MARCH, 1811.

may be, he has, wherever we have obferved, been cautious not to exprefs them in a manner offenfive to any party.

The fpecimens of forenfic eloquence, in the third part, do not much exceed twenty in number, and they are not all perhaps fufficiently remarkable to deferve that diftinétion. But this cannot undoubtedly be faid of the fpeech of Sir James Mackintosh at Peltier's trial, (P. 126.) which is certainly one of the moft remarkable of fuch harangues. After all, in fo wide a field, no two felectors would perhaps take the fame materials, for which reafon we fhall forbear to offer our opinion on fpeeches, fome of which are in our recollection, which appear to us preferable to feveral that are here recorded. If the compiler has on the whole done well, as many perfons will certainly think, it is ufelefs, as well as invidious, to fpeculate in what ways he might have done better.

DIVINITY.

ART. 30. Letters on the Truth and Certainty of Natural and Revealed Religion, addreffed to a Student at the University, and intended as an Introduction to Bishop Butler's Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to the Conflitution and Courfe of Nature. By the Rev. Jofeph Wiljon, A. B. 12mo. 236 pp. 4s. 6d. Rivingtons. 1810.

This book is intended as an explanation and analysis of the reafoning in Bishop Butler's Analogy of Natural and Revealed Religion; the acknowledged excellence of which should make any other a valuable appendage to it, which profeffes to clear the ground of thofe difficulties which metaphyfical language and reafonings generally prefent to common minds, efpecially if the undertaking has been fuccefsfully accomplished.

In eftimating the utility of abridgements in general, we may obferve, that among men of thinking habits there are three claffes of readers: the ardent and impetuous, or fuch as are emulous and willing to engage in the moft abftrufe topics of enquiry which fcience can offer, whom no perplexities can deter, no difficulties overwhelm; another clafs are the fuperficial, who, fond of the jargon of fcience, prefer found to fenfe, and, fkimming the furface, lofe the treafures beneath; while among the laft, we may rank fuch as from idlenefs, or diftruft of their own capacities, are unwilling to engage in the obfcurities of metaphyfical fubjects, or afford the patience and attention which fuch purfuits require. Irreconcileable as these characters may appear with each other, yet to each we venture to recommend the use of abridgements, and that not fo much from the wish that the doctrines of the ori. ginal authors, by being more eafily understood, may be more univerfally known, as from a conviction that they are often capable of producing thefe effects. The first clafs of readers may per haps defpife any analyfis which is not the produce of their own

investi.

inveftigation; yet to thofe they may yield fome flight telescopic view of the regions they are about to enter, or afterwards, taken up as an itinerary, afford the traveller fome amufement in the recollection of his paft encounters. The fecond may reap a harvest at which they never laboured, and in the prefent inftance at once enter into the merits of analogical reafoning, here fo fuccefsfully wielded against the enemies of his faith, perhaps to imbibe a thirst for becoming acquainted with the more extended views and arguments of the author in his original dilated form. While the third, without the toil cf refearch, may alfo readily enter into the fpirit of the fubject; and having his attention awakened or directed to fome fixed points in this field of enquiry, be likely to employ his time more worthy his dignity as a man, and more profitable to his ftate as a Chriftian. Such, we think, are the advantages of fynopfes in general, and in a high degree of the one before us. In the execution of the work, the author, keeping fully in view the chain of argument, has faithfully preferved the reafonings of the original, and accomplished the arduous task of reducing to common language, and the level of common capacities, the fublime thoughts of the acuteft genius, which the caufe of Religion ever called forth in its defence.

In fome few places, with refpect to ftyle, the author has not been able to avoid the difficulties which always attend the compreffion of any feries of reafoning, where every fentence is pregnant with evidence and meaning into a narrower compafs: there are too a few faults in the general ftyle, which a fecond revifion, may point out and amend. Such, we think, is a fpecies of enthymem, never intended by the author; an appearance of logical conclufion, where only a continuation of argument is meant, by the frequent recurrence and often infignificant ufe of the particles fince and then. On the whole, we think it a liber defideratus in theological ftudies, and recommend it as capable of yielding pleafure or profit to every clafs of readers.

ART. 31. Extracts from the Religious Works of Monfieur Francois Salignac de la Mothe Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray. Tran flated from the original French, by Mifs Marshall. 8vo. 291 pp. Ios. 6d. Hatchard. 1809.

Of Fenelon, tranfcendent as his merits were, little is known in this country, but from his Telemachus, which is also very imperfectly known, being read chiefly in learning French. His theological works are, for obvious reafons, lefs likely to be read than any others. Yet was his piety as eminent as his talents were diftinguished; and if he was in one inftance too favourable to myftic reveries, he was in general as rational in his piety, as he was humble and fincere. We have no hesitation therefore in saying, that Mifs Marshall has done well in felecting, from his theological