designs, apparently impracticable, without being intimidated by the hatred of a powerful faction, or by the clamours of a superstitious multitude. The threatening wariness of Fabius, and the impetuous bravery of Scipio, were qualities he could assume with equal dexterity and success, for the safety and glory of his empire.

દર

"To his genius, therefore, and not to his fortune, we must ascribe those striking and permanent advantages which he gained over the foreign and domes tie foes of his country.

"A love of fame instigated him to all his great exploits. And his behaviour after the battle of Pultowa, and critical situation on the total defeat of his army at Narva, enabled him to convince the world, by two most remarkable examples, that he merited the rare praise of sustaining prosperity with moderation, adversity with firmness.

"Yet the solemn voice of truth constrains us to declare, that in an attentive examination of the character of Peter, there were several qualities wanting to throw a lustre and beauty on the whole appearance. His intemperance, a více most unbecoming the dignity of a monarch, often proved fatal to those who approached his person, or were subject to his power. With equal truth, it may be also observed, his sordid parsimony sunk him into the disgraceful character of a miser. Humanity must also deplore, that in the coolness of his temper he could exercise his revenge. Unhappily, too much regulated in his administration by the cruel maxims and bloody examples of the fourth Ivan, his reign is sullied by the execution of many innocent victims; while, to eradicate treason, he often employed the axe where his best instrument would have been forgiveness.

"The effects of the hasty ebullitions of his temper, however formidable they were, still only reached a small number of his subjects, while the millions of an immense empire lived in happy obscurity to enjoy the fruits of his multifarious labours; and ages yet unborn shall applaud the deliverer of Russia, whose untutored wisdom could burst the chains of ignorance, and breathe into his subjects that happy spirit of union and improvement which gradually led them to the love and cultivation of every civilized virtue."

We have in the former part of our review, expressed our sentiments of the merits of this work; but we cannot dismiss it without remarking that the author has no less distinguished himself as a candid critic than an able historian. The writers from whom he differs, he uniformly treats with respect; he advances his own opinions with modesty, and enforces them by strong authorities. He says in his preface, "Should the public opinion prove auspicious to my present attempt, I may feel emboldened to add the last link to a chain of revolutions, which at first contributed to check, but afterwards so greatly to extend the prosperity and renown of the em pire." We earnestly recommend to him to pursue his design; the revolution of the second Catharine would prove a most copious and interesting subject for the pen of the historian, and we feel no hesitation in saying, from the specimen which he has here given of his

assiduity, judgment, and taste, that his talents would be employed to great advantage.

We have noticed some inaccuracies and errors, but they are chiefly those,

"Quas aut incuria fudit,

Aut humana parùm cavet natura:"

and if we have some instances of a phraseology too glittering and redundant, we are never disgusted with the laboured periods of the pedant, or the affected jargon and puzzling quaintness of the writer, who, however excellent his matter, founds his reputation for style, on the oddity of his expression, and the singular construction of his sentences.

A Bibliographical Dictionary, containing a chronological Account, alphabetically arranged, of the most curious, scarce, useful, and important Books, in all Departments of Literature, which have been published in Latin, Greek, Coptic, Hebrew, Samaritan, Syriac, Chaldee, Æthiopic, Arabic, Persian, Armenian, &c. from the Infancy of Printing to the Beginning of the nineteenth Century, with biographical Anecdotes of Authors, Printers, and Publishers; a distinct Notution of the Editiones principes et Optima, and the Price of each Article, (where it could be ascertained) from the best London Catalogues, and public Sales of the most valuable Libraries, both at Home and abroad; including the whole of the fourth Edition of Dr. Harwood's View of the Classics, with innumerable Additions and Amendments. To which are added, an Essay on Bibliography, with a general and particular Account of different Authors on that Subject, in Latin, French, Italian, German, and English-a Description of their Works, first, improved and best Editions, with critical Judgments on the whole. Extracted from the best bibliographical and typographical Autho rities; and an Account of the best Translation of each Greek and Latin Classic. Vol. I. II, III. Small 8vo. Baynes, Pater Noster-Row. 1802.

"To furnish the student and scholar with a portable and useful alphabetical manual, which may assist them in the choice of books, condensing the most important information of numerous bibliographical works, is the editor's intention. If he have succeeded in any tolerable degree, it is what he ardently wished, and for which he earnestly laboured."

"In the compilation of this work, besides innumerable collections from sale catalogues, the best bibliographical authorities have been consulted and followed. The biographical anecdotes are taken chiefly from the Nouveau Dictionaire Historique, seventh edition, Lyons, 1789, and the critical judgments from too many quarters to be dinstinctly specified.

"Those who have the smallest acquaintance with the difficulty of compiling such a work as the present, will not be surprised to meet with several mistakes, and will not be hasty in censuring. In so many thousand of dates, places and prices, these are unavoidable. The chief of those already noticed are the following, which the candid reader will find no difficulty to excuse, and not much trouble to correct."

Such is the editor's account of, and apology for, a work which will be found to blend many excellencies, with frequent and glaring defects. The editions of the Analecta and Anthologia, by Jacobs and De Bosch, with the very valuable one of Epictetus, by Schweigheuser, and many others, are totally unnoticed. The fragments of Alcæus, are said to be printed in the Corpus Poetarum of Mattaire, a work appropriated to Latin authors. The dates, and the number of volumes in which particular works are said to be contained, are frequently incorrect, and the account (promised in the title-page) of the best English translation of each Greek and Latin classic, has been strangely neglected.

The work however will, notwithstanding, be found useful and interesting. We have only to recommend to the editor greater care

in conducting the succeeding volumes.

By J. Keith, of
Roach.

The Volunteer's Guide in two Parts, with Plates. the Loyat North Britons. pp. 38. 12mo. In his advertisement, the author of this skilful pamphlet well observes that, "The offers of these gentlemen (the volunteers) have caused the measure of arming the people at large to be laid aside; the responsibility they have undertaken is therefore great, and they have certainly subjected themselves to the charge of having deceived government, and left their country exposed to destruction, unless by expertness in military discipline, they become speedily qualified to oppose, in the field of battle, a regular and well disciplined enemy."

The first part is the soldier's assistant to the manual and platoon exercise; and the second, the volunteer officer's guide, through a review of twelve manœuvres. The latter division was much wanted; and we may safely recommend both as likely to prove very useful to the numerous novices in the profession of arms.

John and Dame, or the Loyal Cottagers. By Mr. Pratt, Price 4d. Phillips, St. Paul's Church Yard. 1803.

THIS little poem is not only intimately connected with, but in a manner supplemental to the last volume of the 'Gleanings,' an ac

Given in a list of errata.

count of which was given in the review department of our last Mirror. It would therefore be unjust to pass it by without observ ing that although it was avowedly written as a spontaneous free-will offering of the author's muse to his country, consequently is in some measure local, that locality is, from his manner of treating the subject, of the highest interest and import.

At the same time there is interwoven with the whole so much pleasing sentiment and scenery, and such grouping of persons and objects, as render the whole, notwithstanding a few inaccuracies, a praiseworthy effusion of patriotism and poetry.

A Vindication of the Genuineness of the ancient British Poems of
Aneurin, Taliesin, Llywarch Hêu, und Merdhin, with Specimens
of the Poems. By Sharon Turner, F. A. S: 8vo.
Longman and Rees.

pp. 284.

THE authenticity of the poems in question, having been publicly impeached, and their advocates accused of gross credulity, Mr. Turner has here, with the candour and moderation we heartily wish were preserved in all literary controversies, stated the reasons which have induced him to adopt, and quote them, in his AngloSaxon history, as genuine.

After anticipating the enquiry "why these works have not been made known to the world before our time?" in a few preliminary observations, in which he assures us that the Welsh have poems, romances, chronicles, grammars, treatises on music, agriculture and astronomy, theological, ethical and medical works of different authors, from the time of the bards, to our own; and endeavours to account for their being as little known in England, or in Europe, as the compositions of the Chinese; he proceeds to state the proposition on which the present essay is grounded, viz. "that there are poems now existing in the Welsh or ancient British language, which were written by Aneurin, Taliesin, Llywarch Hều and Merdhint, who flourished between the years 500 and 600."

In deducing the proofs in favour of their authenticity, from the external and the internal evidence, Mr. Turner has gone into a vari

By Mr. Pinkerton, in his preface to Babour, and in a review (not distinguished, says Mr. T. by the urbanity of its style, or the correctness of its criticism) of my Anglo-Saxon history, published in the Critical Review for January 1800. Likewise by Mr. Malcolm Laing, in a note to his dissertation on Ossian's Poems, &c. &c. Rev.

+ The poems which have been ascribed to these authors, occupy the first one hun dred and fifty-three pages of the Welsh Archajology, and are entitled "The Cynt veirdd," or the most ancient poets.

K K-VOL. XVI;

1

ety of interesting matter, and treated the subject in a style which reflects the highest credit on his science and erudition.

As the Welsh poetical triads are a species of composition, probably wholly unknown to many of our readers; we shall take the liberty of transcribing the following specimen, which, says Mr. T. must be allowed to contain many valuable observations, expressed with singular brevity.

"The three foundations of genius: the gift of God, human exertion, and the events of life."

"The three first requisites of genius: an eye to see nature, a heart to feel it, and a resolution that dares follow it."

"The three things indispensible to genius: understanding, meditation, and perseverance."

"The three things that ennoble genius: vigour, discretion, and knowledge. "The three tokens of genius: extraordinary understanding, extraordinary conduct, and extraordinary exertion."

"The three things that improve genius: proper exertion, frequent exertion, and succesful exertion."

"The three things that support genius: prosperity, social acquaintance, and applause."

"The three things that will ensure praise: amiable manners, scientific learning, and pure morals.”

“The three qualifications of poetry: endowment of genius, judgment from experience, and felicity of thought."

"The three pillars of judgment: bold design, frequent practice, and frequent mistakes."

"The three pillars of learning: seeing much, suffering much, and studying much."

"The three pillars of happiness: to suffer contentedly, to hope that it is coming, to believe that it will arrive."

"The three ornaments of thought: perspicuity, correctness, and novelty." "The three embellishments of a song: fine invention, happy subject, and a masterly harmonious composition."

"The three properties of a song: correct fancy, correct order, and correct metre."

"The three ends of a song: to improve the understanding, to amend the heart, and to soothe the reflection."

"The three things which constitute a poet: Genius, knowledge, impulse." "The three honours of a poet: strength of imagination, profundity of learn. ing, and purity of morals."

Surely this one specimen will be more than sufficient to prevent our readers from contemplating them, as, "proclamations of absur