tapes, are much better adapted for expedition. When a base is measured on floping ground, it must be reduced to the corref ponding horizontal line, if horizontal angles at its extremities are taken with a theodolite." To the theory the author has added a great variety of well-chofen examples, fuch as may frequently occur in Practice, the folutions of which he has ftated with great perfpicuity; firft describing very particularly the conftruc. tion of the figure, and then proceeding to the calculations. We confider this as a very valuable part of the work. Some good remarks are added upon terrestrial refractions, with the demonftration of the rule for finding the quantity of horizontal refraction at any time, according to the me thod which has been very fuccefsfully practifed in the Trigonometrical Survey, now carrying on by order of the Board of Ordnance. To which is added, the manner of furveying a country, by a feries of connected triangles; with the addition of fuch problems as are ufually wanted in actual furveys. When the compaffes are used, Mr. D. obferves, that "The most convenient are about 3 inches in diameter, and may be carried in the pocket. They are eafily fitted to the top of a stick, or staff, which must be stuck upright in the ground, that the needle may play freely." Menfuration is the laft article treated of in this volume. Plane rectilinear figures are first confidered, in which the theory is mixed with the practice; and in the examples, the author keeps utility always in view. After this he proceeds to the menfuration of a circle, and its different parts, and then goes on to irregular curves, in which he explains the method of finding the areas by equidiftant ordinates. In the measurement of folid bodies, the author's attention feems to have been principally directed to those which are likely to be useful to the engineer. The inveftigations of the rules are delivered with great clearnefs, depending upon the propofitions of common Geometry only: and that the reader may be under no difficulty in the conception of the figures, the author recommends the use of models for all the folids, having plane fides, cut in ftiff pafte-board, and folded up. The work concludes with a well-chofen collection of Problems in practical Geometry, Trigonometry, and Mensuration; with the addition of tables of Logarithms of all numbers, from 1 to 10,000; together with the Sines and Tangents to every minute of the Quadrant. Thus Thus have we endeavoured to make the reader acquainted with the nature of the work before us; a work, which, notwithstanding the few abatements that we have found ourfelves obliged to make, we confider as a valuable acquifition to the public. Both in arrangement and execution, it is very far fuperior to any treatise of the kind which has fallen within our notice. We wish, however, that the work had not been printed in fo expenfive a manner. The price may be no objection to those for whofe ufe it is more immediately intended; but we know that it may be, to many who may wish to poffefs the work. Science is greatly diffused, and often well understood by many among the lower clafs of the people; on which account, we recommend all fuch works to be fo executed, that their price may not prevent a very general circulation. The prefent is only a first volume, and we are not yet informed whether it has been continued. BRITISH CATALOGUE. POETRY. ART. 13. The Bath Cafe and Subfcription: a Poetical Epije, addreffed to Colonel ******, M. P. From his Friend in Bath, relative to the Improvement of that elegant City, by converting the beautiful Fields, at the Back of Marlborough Buildings, inte Building or Garden Ground, by the Freemen of Bath. 4to. 2s. 6d. Cadell and Co. 1806. Much of the fpirit of Anftey appears in this little fport of the Mufe; and though the author has now and then indulged himself in an incorrect rhyme, we have no doubt, from the merit of the reft, that these are licences, and not the faults of ignorance. The metre is very various: firft Lyric, of different forms and dimenfions; and finally, the appropriate verfe of Mr. Simkin B-d, in which an imaginary auction is described with much fpirit: "How I wish, for your fake, that renown'd auctioneer, Whofe winning addrefs, elocution, and grace, 3 Methinks Methinks I behold him, with all due decorum, To fee fuch an elegant circle around, 'Tho' no wonder fo many good bidders are found For this unexampled, unparallel'd ground.'” P. 13. To readers in general the locality of the poem may be fome objection; but at Bath it has an undeniable claim to notice. ART. 14. Triftia; or the Sorrows of Peter. Elegies to the King, Lords Grenville, Petty, Erskine, the Bishop of London, Messrs. Fox, Sheridan, &c. &c. By P. Pindar, Efq: I 2mo. 55. Peter, confeffedly in poverty, rails and utters fome of his gibes. at us, as if we had contributed to impair his fortunes. Alas! Peter does not recollect the very true obfervation, that "no man was ever written down, but by himself." Had not Peter ceased to be entertaining, in vain might we have railed, in vain have pointed out his real faults; while the public could laugh, the public would read, and all the critics in the world could not prevent it. The truth is, Peter took up a bad trade originally; and fuccefs in it, according to his own adage, led him to ruin. His ftyle, at firft, had novelty in it. No man had till then been fo impudent; and curiofity was excited to fe how far his impu dence would carry him. But when the fame kind of burlesque came to be repeated without end; when every perfon, eminent for worth or ftation, had been abused again and again, the public grew weary; and the trash would no longer fell. It is convenient to unfuccessful authors to accufe reviewers, but this is the real history of the cafe. As, however, we can feel for the "forrows" even of P. Pindar, we will give him a found and ufeful piece of advice. Let him difmifs all that with which the public is fo fickened; all that he confiders as his own peculiar ftyle; all addreffes to the King, or his minifters, to lords, bifhops, privy counfellors, knights, orators, &c. &c. and confine himself to that genuine poetry, which never will become ftale, and for which he is not altogether deftitute of talent. A few paftoral fongs, in the prefent volume, approach more nearly than any thing else to the ftyle we recommend, though they are not in general equal to what he has formerly produced. We will tranfcribe fuch a specimen as we can find. Z z BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXVIII. DEC. 1806. A SONG A SONG TO A COQUETTE. "Dear Phillis! thou know'ft not thy charms, "Thou know'st thou haft wit at thy will; "Not fafely a fwain can pass by, "O learn from the MINSTREL of night Tho' he fills every car with delight, He fings amid filence and fhade." P. 148. The elegy on Jeffica, immediately preceding this, might have been cited, as ftill better, could the author have concluded it without a lafh against virtue. These are the best confolations we can give to Peter in return for his "Triftia.” ART. 15. Mifcellaneous Poetical Tranflations; to which is added, a Latin Profe Efay, by the Rev. Francis Howes, A. M. 45. 6d. Mawman. 1806. 12mo. The author tells us in a preface which contains fome fenfible, if not profound, remarks on tranflations, that fome of thefe pieces have been published before in a humbler form. Many are trifling, but fome are elegant, nor are the tranflations of Anacreon at all contemptible. Of the author's powers, however, the reader may kimfelf judge from the following fpecimen : AN ALCAIC ODE, WRITTEN BY GRAY ON VISITING O TU SEVERI, &c. "HAIL! Genius of these shades fevere ! Whatever name delight thine ear; For fure fome fpirit, o'er this ground Breathing a holy calm around, Well pleas'd with Nature's rugged grandeur, roves About these hallow'd streams and aged groves. "Mid "'Mid ragged cliffs and rocks that frown, Than when beneath the eitron dome he stands, "Oh hail! and, if with honour due, "But if ftern Fate's decree denies Joys worthy of the wife and good; "Father! at leaft in life's decline There give me in fome calm retreat, like this, To wait refign'd the dawn of heavenly blifs!" P. 86. ART. 16. Poems by Mrs. G. Servell, Relia of the late Rev. George Sewell, Rector of Byfleet, Surrey. Vol. II. 75. Longman. 1805. We have spoken of this writer's claims to praife in a former Number, where we commended the first volume, which he was induced to publish by fubfcription. The met of this is not infe rior, and the additional claim of benevolence is here again con. firmed by a numerous lift of moft refpectable fubfcribers. The following is very elegant, but there are many others equal, at least, if not fuperior. "THE FAREWELL. "Oh thou whofe ardent foul afpires When rapturous novelty fhall fade, Oh ne'er let mifts of folly fhade The light that wifdom borrowed there. Z z 2 Fuli |