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founders than whitings. We would refer our author to the experiments annexed to the first volume of the tranflation of SpaJanzani's Differtations, for fome farther corrections in his table. On the whole, we think this work may be highly beneficial; and it deferves our recommendation.

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The Charader of Jefus Chrift: a Sermon, by George Skene Keith, M. A. 8vo. IS. Evans.

In the first part of this discourse (for it is divided into two), we think fome points of our Saviour's character injudiciously reprefented, and that there was no reafon for exalting his miracles at fo much expence of those of Mofes and the Jewish prophets; for which conduct, we doubt whether the apology the author makes be fufficient.-We are not always contented with Mr. Keith's style. Inftances occur where it is too turgid; others, where it is too familiar. We are fufpicious that the following paffage aims at the fublime. Having told us, from St. John, that Jefus first groaned and wept, and then cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth, our author adds That all Nature heard through all her works-Heaven heard and was aftonished-Earth heard and rejoiced-Hell heard and trembled -Death heard and fled the grave heard and opened-Lazarus heard and obeyed.' If our conjecture be well founded, we think Mr. Keith's fentiments on the fublime differ from thofe of Longinus.

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We would be understood to have spoken only of the first part of this performance: we think the fecond far lefs exceptionable, and, on the whole, well written; and hope the author's volume of fermons, of which this is a fpecimen, will prove more nearly to refemble the latter than the former part.

An Enquiry into the Defign of the Chriftian Sabbuth. By J. Symons, B. D. The Second Edition. Small 8vo. 1s. 6d. Dilly.

This valuable little tract being much enlarged, entitles it again to be mentioned. It was first noticed in our Review of November, 1779. All we faid then to its advantage is ftill due to its merit; and with pleasure we now obferve, that it is not more enlarged than improved. A proportionable addition to its price being now charged, former purchasers cannot complain.

This performance is inftructive, ferious, and perfuafive; but free from any tincture of gloom or fuperftition. It is written. with fuch ease, fimplicity, and correctnefs, that the most fastidious reader can scarcely fail to be pleased with its flyle, at the fame time that the plaineft must always comprehend it.

We are perfuaded that if the topics of the feveral fections had been expreffed in Italics on the margin of each, their contents would have been better calculated for recollection. But this defect may be well remedied, by that repeated perusal which the book deferves, and we gladly recommend.

We wish to advertife the zealous advocates and promoters of the Sunday fchools, that their establishments may in due time derive material advantage from this publication.

The Footstep to Mrs. Trimmer's Sacred Hiftory, for the Inftruction and Amufement of Little Children. 12mo. Is. 8d. Marshall.

One of the most important, though not the most brilliant, among the literary improvements of the prefent age, is the fuccefsful execution of feveral elementary performances for the use of children, from their earliest introduction to letters, till they become capable of higher inftruction. This province, humble as it may feem, requires more than ordinary talents; and the author of this little work has not undertaken it without the neceflary qualifications.

The principal hiftories of the Old Teftament are prefented with perfpicuity and neatnefs, in fhort ftories, adapted to the comprehenfions and memories of almoft the youngest readers; and through the whole are fcattered, with the utmost plainnefs and brevity, fuch moral and religious fentiments, as are proper to make impreffion on the tendereft minds.

The Advertisement prefixed to the work will give those who are concerned in the early inftruction of the rifing generation, an adequate idea of the author's defign in its publication; and as we think this performance well calculated to answer the putpofe intended, we prefent this fhort preface to the public.

The following pages are, with great diffidence, offered to the world by a lady, who, fenfible of their imperfections, folicits the indulgent perufal of parents and teachers.-Nothing could have induced her to appear in public, but the wish to be ufeful to thofe dear children whom it has been her province to inftruct.

Being convinced, that the Scriptures ought ever to be the rule of our faith, and guide of our actions, the author wished her pupils to become acquainted with facred hiftory, and not finding any book of the kind that fuited her purpose, the felected the following ftories; which it is hoped will both amuse and inftruct. She has made it her study to bring the language down to the confined understanding of a child; and to contract the ftories within the bounds of an eafy leffon.

The writer of these pages thinks fome apology due to Mrs. Trimmer, for making ufe of her name in the title to this publication. The high opinion fhe entertains of Mrs. Trimmer's Sacred Hiftory, made her wish to put it into the hands of her

pupils; but finding it above the understanding of very young children, he has, in this, attempted to form a Foot-step, to lead them to Mrs. Trimmer's more improved work.'.

Strictures on Ecclefiaftical Abuses. Addressed to the Bishops, Clergy, and People of Great Britain. 800. 15. Dilly.

This inflammatory declaimer has advanced upon his eight topics-Ordination-Non Refidence-Prefenting to Livings Bonds of Refignation-Pluralities-Parfonage- Houfes-Ecclefiaftical Sinecures and Indolence of the Clergy-all that common-place invective, and nothing more, which is ufually infpired by an averfion to the payment of tythes, and that zealous fpirit of reformation, which the recovery of ecclefiaftical dues, on the part of fome fortunate incumbent, has not unfrequently produced. We will charitably hope this writer has been influenced by better motives.

That evils exift in the church, as they do, and must do, in all extenfive establishments, cannot be denied; but the present obferver has undoubtedly viewed them through a multiplying medium, which, we are fomewhat inclined to believe, has been held up to his mind's eye, by prejudice or paffion.

A certain want of precifion and elegance in thefe Strictures, furnish reason to imagine the fubject of them has been taken up by a person whofe education has not qualified him for very exact investigation; which, on topics of this nature, cannot be too nice, nor fuccessfully conducted, without coolness and candour,

Effay on the Rewards of Eternity. 4to. Is. Johnfon.

This difcourfe obtained the annual prize, inftituted by Mr. Norris, in the university of Cambridge. As we meet in it with nothing uncommon, we cannot but fuppofe that the productions of the other candidates must have been very deficient in merit. Sermons adapted to the Family and Clofet. By the late Rev. J. Webb. 4s. in Boards. Buckland.

We are informed, in a Preface to thefe Sermons, that the peculiar modefty of Mr. Webb prevented him from publishing any thing during his life. "Tis pity that the judgment of the editor did not co-operate with the author's diffidence, and fupprefs the publication of thefe Sermons after his decease.

The Duties of the Parochial Clergy of the Church of England confidered, in a Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Bangor, in 1784. By John, Lord Bishop of Bangor. 4to. 25. Davis.

This is a fenfible, useful, and unaffected discourse, becoming the character of the refpectable prelate who delivered it. In an Appendix to it are directions concerning the inftruments proper to be brought for obtaining orders, &c.

DRA

DRAMATIC.

The Romp: a Mufical Entertainment, in Two Acts; altered from Love in the City. 8vo. IS. Lowndes.

The merits of this mufical entertainment will not bear the examination of criticifm; and nothing but the comic powers of Mrs. Jordan could have procured it a repetition upon the fage.

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The Gamefters. A Novel. In Three Vols. 12mo. 75. 6d. ferved. Baldwin.

Though we trace our author in the footsteps of fome of her predeceffors, we muft ftill allow her confiderable merit. The characters are not lefs diftinguished by their bold and faithful outlines, than by a warmth of colouring, and spirited attitude. In some refpects they are fuperior to their originals; for they rife to a distorted caricature, though fomewhat removed from real life. The language is animated and easy; frequently elegant: the pathos is well managed, and properly contrafted. We would not, however, be understood too generally: the story has faults in its conduct, and, in some instances, improbability; nor are its merits, even when perfpicuous, always unalloyed; but, while we cannot be blind to its faults, we ought to praife its excellencies; and when the latter are fo numerous they will, in the eye of every candid critic, leffen or obfcure the former.

The Liberal American. A Novel. In a Series of Letters. By a Lady. 2 Vols. 12mo. 6s. Lane.

We often fufpect these profeffional ladies, when the title is not fupported by internal evidence. The only proof in the work before us, is the number of marriages. The author, like Mrs. Centlive, fairly puts all characters to bed.' As to the fentiments, language, and fituations, we can fay little in their favour. It is a dull, infipid narrative, related in uninteresting letters.

POETRY.

Poems and Plays. By William Hayley, Efg. Small 8vo. 6 Vols. 80, 17. 1. Cadell."

.. Having already expreffed the high opinion we entertain of Mr. Hayley's poetical genius, it is unneceffary for us to make any other obfervation on the prefent edition of his works, where the only new piece we meet with is an Ode to the Countess de Genlis, in which the author compliments her, in an elegant frain, on the ingenuity and moral tendency of her writings.

The

The India Guide; or a Journal of a Voyage to the Eaft Indies, in the Year 1780. In a Poetical Epiftle to her Mother, by Mifs Emily Brittle. Small 8vo. Printed at Calcutta.

This work is dedicated to Mr. Anftie, of whofe ingenious Bath Guide it has been evidently intended as an imitation; but, like most of the productions founded in an attempt at fimilitude, falls extremely fhort of the original. It confifts of feveral epiftles, written on board the Eaft-Indiaman, in which miss Brittle failed from the Cape of Good Hope, and from Madras ; defcribing her difagreeable fituation at fea, the characters of the officers and paffengers, the manners of the Dutch at the Cape, with her reception at Madras, and the ftate of fociety in that quarter. In this Epiftle, fhe must not be denied all pretenfions to merit; and the fcenes being exotic, are calculated to afford entertaintainment by their novelty.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Hydrometrical Obfervations and Experiments in the Brewery. 8vo. 25. Robinfon.

We are pleased to see that obfervations of this kind are widely diffused, and that science is extendi her connection with arts ufually accounted practical. These rules and experiments are clear and perfpicuous; perhaps more intelligible to the common brewers than the Statical Eftimates' which we lately reviewed: at the fame time the authors do not effentially differ

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Our prefent author ufes, or at least seems to use, the common hydrometer: Mr. Richardfon employed one fomewhat different. The alteration, in Mr. Baverftock's opinion, is not advantageous, and may, by being frequently employed, become ineffectual. But this must be decided by obfervation.

Another variation in opinion occurs in the method of forming average and ftandard gravities. Mr. Richardfon makes his trials on worts in the copper, and eftimates the quantity to be boiled away Mr. Baverstock thinks this an ufelefs labour, and prefers delaying the examination till the whole is put into the cooler. The latter is more eafy and certain, if we with only to know the actual ftrength; but the former appears to be neceffary, if we wish to bring the wort to a given strength. Each method will probably have its peculiar advocates, and each will be employed according to the intention and defign of the brewer. On the whole, this work is written with clearness and precifion, and deferves commendation.

Flora Cantabrigienfi Supplementum, Auctore Richardo Relban,
A. M. Collegii Regalis Capellano. 8vo. 15. Cadell.
The labours of the induftrious are always rewarded. Our
author has refumed his task; and added confiderably to his
Flora.

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