duct of the work under our consideration. It is, beyond all doubt, the chaf d'œuvre of Mr. Godwin. It evinces all that vigour of thought, and penetration of mind, which characterize the "Political Justice," and all that richness of imagination, and knowledge of the human heart which are displayed in his novels, while, at the same time, it is wholly free from those objections which the peculiar opinions of the author have entailed upon his former productions. [To be continued.] Aristotle's Ethics and Politics, Translated from the Greek, by Dr. Gillies. Second Edition. 2 Vols. 8vo. Cadel and Davies. Ir has happened to the illustrious disciple of Plato, to have been more quoted than studied, ard to have legislated, in criticism and philosophy, rather by other men's opinions than his own. For a great period, in modern literature, his name has contributed to put fetters upon the feet of our dramatists. The rigour of critical unities, as Aristotle was imagined to have laid them down, called upon Dr. Johnson to vindicate the freedom or the licentiousness of Shakspeare; and the celebrated preface, with a soberer air, urged triumphantly the same arguments which had sportively dropt from the pen of Farquhar, the comic poet.* But, as Mr. Twining has shewn, the contest, in its "pith and moment," was not with Aristotle. It remained for Dr. Gillies to shew that the same or greater liberties had been taken with him, in matters of the first philosophy; and to prove that he, who had been the supposed asserter of polytheism, maintained with peculiar force “the unity of the first cause, the eternal spring of motion, himself immoveable. This principle, on which heaven and earth depend, is one in number, as well as essence." Mr. Taylor, a translator also of Aristotle, but certainly no rival to Dr. Gillies, has chosen to make their common master assert "the existence of divine natures, the immediate progeny of one first cause, with which they are profoundly united ”– -a doctrine not to be found in any of his writings, but the spurious spawn of the newer Platonists; visionaries whose wild dreams triumphed over the declining reason of the roman philosophy. In this second edition of his translation, Dr. G. has condescended to notice the unweighed censures of Mr. Taylor, and has shewn, by juxta-position, the barbarous inferiority of the latter as a tran *See his familiar letters, along with the dramatie works, which we cannot but imagiue Dr. Johnson had read, because he uses many of the images of Farquhar.-.He, however, never referred to the place; and we believe few readers are acquainted with the very lively justification of dramatic liberty to which we allude. slator. In a supplement to his analysis of the Stagyrite's works, he has eloquently displayed the perfection of his philosophy, in opposition to the clouded and mystical reveries of the long series of romancers, which followed him. The mixture of the concerns of philosophy with those of the popular superstition, in defiance of his maxim and his conduct, combined truth with fiction in a style so fantastic and abstruse, that fable ceased to amuse, and truth to be intelligible. The brief characters of the latter Platonicians are written with masterly discrimination. His translators, the great corruptors of his sense, are properly noticed; and, with the Doctor's reasons for undertaking a translation of the ethics to Nicomachus, the work concludes;-a work, which has given to us infinite delight, and no slender addition to our moral studies: which has compelled us to apply to the preceptor of Alexander, what Milton has said of the doctrines of his tutor, Plato "How charming is divine phliosophy! Not harsh and crabbed as dull fools suppose; A World of Wit, containing Characteristic Anecdotes and Bon-Mots of eminent living Persons. By the Honourable Mr. S-r. 3s. Hurst. 1804. SUCH only as he, who Scorn'd his spirit That could be mov'd to smile at any thing, JUL. CAS. will be so ungrateful as not to allow this little work the merit of no common portion of whim, wit, humour, and pleasantry. Other honourables have made us laugh before, but few have done it with so much credit to themselves, as the present, who is, we understand, the Honourable Mr. Spencer, author of Urania. A Picture from Life; or, the History of Emma Tankerville, and Sir Henry Moreton. By Henry Whitfield, M. A. 2 Vols. 7s. Highley. 1804. (Concluded from the last Number.) OUR author, in the preface to his novel, thus vindicates this branch of literature, and at the same time presents us with the "birth, parentage, and education," of " the novel," that unhappy propagation, which, like nuts, all men abuse, and almost all enjoy. "Among the ancients," says he, "we must suppose this species of writing to have been unknown, their silence being to be considered as a proof of this desideratum. The Greeks, indeed, are characterised, by Juvenal, as bold histo rians; and we know that Livy has recounted incredible and superstitious wonders, and not a few romantic exploits, as Herodotus also has done. The Satyrieon of Petronius Arbiter, whose chief merit, worthy of notice, is his elegance of style, has been handed down to us: I believe this may be called a Romance. "The Fabliaux, descriptive of the early ages of Chivalry, were numerous in both the 11th and 13th centuries. But Giovanni Boccaccio, who has given celebrity to the place of his birth (Certaldo, in Tuscany) and who flourished in the year 1313, may be considered as the father of modern romance; and to that author's Decameron, a varied and elegant ten days entertainment, Shakspeare and other writers are indebted for the bases of some of their best superstructures. "As novel is nearly allied to romance, it may not be improper briefly to notice the virtues and failings of the last mentioned species of literature. The feudal system gave birth to romance. She was beautiful, animated, lovely, often humorous, but generally serious, and was very well informed. At length she became vitiated. Her followers, no longer able or willing to check or redress outrageous grievances beyond the law, began themselves to act the parts of needy out-laws. Thus did these dishonourable and wandering prodigals no longer follow her virgin footsteps. Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, gave romance a death blow; and after that spirited attack, abashed and routed, she drooped her head, absconded, and since that æra has not been seen among men. She, however, who had been an acknowledged favourite for such a number of years, did not die in obscurity without leaving an heir; a Phoenix arose from her ashes. This was her youthful daughter, ycleped the novel! As long as the novelist writes from sound principles, there are hopes; but excessive sensibility, er terrific chimeras, may be the cause of untimely decay. It were pity, that the delicate novel should die from supernatural terrors." Pref. p. 6---9. The persons of this drama are very numerous, but the major part of them " come like shadows" and "so depart." To pass over the suffering Elinor, the heroic Moreton, the villainous Oliver, and the persecuted Lester, characters, in many instances, well sup ported, we must pronounce the greatest share of praise due to those of Pellet, a Buck, and Dr. Anapest, a pedant, which Mr. W. ap pears to have drawn con amore. At p. iii. vol. i. we have a character perfectly original, which we greeted with a smile, and cannot leave unnoticed- -a sentimental mouse, Proceeding with the arrest of a gentleman, we come to this simile, "So does Grimalkin, insatiate as the grave, wily as the Egyptian crocodile, rush on her helpless prey, whom she has espied from afar, capering and gambolling, enjoying thoughts of home and tender family." The sentiments are often good in themselves, and appropriately expressed. The best of these, and the most deserving specimens of our author's language, occur in the 10th chap. of the 1st vol. where he ably combats the detestable opinions of Mr. Jones, "a seditious, dissolute, and blood-thirsty patriot." On the whole we may, with the strictest regard to truth, recommend "A Picture from Life," as the hasty production of a man of letters, observation, and talent, The Spirit of the Public Journals for 1803. Being an impartial Selection of the most exquisite Essays and Jeux D'Esprits, principally Prose, that appear in the Newspapers, and other Publications. With explanatory Notes and Anecdotes of many of the Persons alluded to. Vol. 7. pp. 395, Ridgway. WE have frequently had occasion to notice the former volumes of this interesting work, "the annually increasing sale of which," says the editor," is presumed to be an indisputable acknowledgment of its merit and utility.” In the present volume, many of the serious compositions do honour to the British press, and several of the lighter productions, for wit and whimsicality, are unrivalled, The selection is made with taste and judgment, and very few articles will be found in it that do not possess some claims to preservation. Miscellaneous Poems, in Prose and Verse, By John Parkes. Vernor and Hood, Crown 8vo. pp. 79. As the poems before us are the first productions of their author, and his design in publishing them was merely "to oblige a few friends with printed copies," it would be painful to notice their errors, and invidious to particularize their defects. Our readers, however, must by no means conclude them to be destitute of their appropriate merit. Mr. P. has displayed considerable versatility of talent, and if, in a succeeding volume (which his preface hints at) the "limæ labor" is a little more carefully attended to, he may promise himself no trifling share of notice and applause. Public Characters for 1803-1804. 8vo. pp. 567. Phillips. HAVING ever been among the first to condemn the narrow policy which bids the laurel flourish but on the tomb, we cannot deny having felt warmly interested in the success of a work, the object of which, professedly, is to assert the claims of contemporary genius. Of this curious and valuable production, which has enjoyed an uninterrupted career of popular favour, the 6th volume is now presented to the public. The lives it embraces are by no means of equal interest or merit. Upon the whole, however, it must be considered as a most interesting biographic melange, and admirably calculated, to adopt the language of its editor, "to satisfy curiosity, without gratifying malevolence," In the appendix are enlarged lives of the Bishop of Meath and Miss Seward. Letters of Advice from a Mother to her Son. 8s. Cadell and Da vies. 1803. We are reminded of Lord Chesterfield more by the title of this work than by its contents, which, in the serious and important points of sound morality, unaffected virtue, and well-directed piety, have greatly the superiority over his lordship. Some few errors of judgment, and inaccuracies of language have crept in, most probably, through carelessness, since the fair writers of these letters, which we cordially recommend, cannot reasonably be charged with inability to judge, correctly, or to compose with perspicuity and elegance. The Judge; or, an Estimate of the Importance of the Judicial Character, occasioned by the Death of the late Lord Care, Lord Chancellor of Ireland; a Poem, in Three Cantos. By the Rev. Jerome Alley. 4s. 6d. Vernor and Hood. 1803. THIS is a work of considerable merit, and highly creditable to the poetical powers and good sense of its author. Evening Amusements; or, The Beauty of the Heavens displayed. To be continued Annually. By W. Frend, Esq. M. A. 2s. 6d. Mawman. 1803. THE best encomium that we can pass on this work will be to add the remainder of its title: "In which" (this publication) "several striking appearances to be observed on various evenings in the heavens, during the year 1804, are described; and several means within doors are pointed out, by which the time of young persons may be innocently, agreeably, and profitably employed." Beneficence; or, Verses addressed to the Patrons of the Society for bettering the Condition, and increasing the Comforts of the Poor, By T. A. Warren, B. D. 2s. 6d. Rivingtons. 1803. If we may be allowed a parody in speaking of this we should say; If to its lot some little errors fall, copy Look it its end, and you'll forget them all. of verses, |