Glancing at all that Fancy sends, -O ye rude foals, who never gain Your hearts could ne'er the boon revere MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 29. The Antiquities of Richborough and Reculver. Abridged from the Latin of Mr. Archdeacon Battely. 12mo. 35. Johnson. 1774. This fhort account of the ancient ftate of the Ifle of Thanet will afford amufement to thofe who have a tafte for antiquities. The antiquary muft, on this fubject, as well as many others, be fometimes contented with conjecture; but conjecture, to a perfon thoroughly engaged in thefe purfuits, is often highly fatisfactory. Dr. Battely was Chaplain to Archbishop Sancroft, Prebendary of Canterbury, and Archdeacon of the Diocefe; and died in 1708. Dr. Terry, Canon of Chrift Church, Oxford, published his Antiqui tates Rutupina in 1711, and they are now firft tranflated (as we fuppofe) by the Rev. Mr. John Lewis, who has added, a fhort diflertation on the ancient ports of Richborough and Sandwich, which was read before the Society of Antiquaries, Oct. 11, 1744: In which differtation he differs, in fome refpects, from Dr. Battely's account. The original of this work is elegantly compofed in Latin, in the form of a dialogue between the Author and his two learned friends and brother-chaplains, Dr. Henry Maurice and Mr. Henry Wharton: But as the dialogue method rendered the relation rather prolix, it was thought that the tranflation would be more acceptable to an English reader, in a fmaller, though lefs claffic form, as a differtation, or effay. Dr. Battely appears to have been well acquainted with the Greek and Roman Authors, as well as with modern writers in every branch of antiquity: Befide the obfervations which he makes on the ancient Reculver, and on Rutupiæ, or Richborough, he gives fome account of the coins which, in great numbers, have been found here; and alfo a defcription of fibula, ligula, Spoons, a firigil or fleth-faraper, the bafts of clafp knives, &c. difcovered at thefe places, and which were then in his poffeffion. Of fome of thefe antiquities a print is added; befide which, a small chart of the places mentioned in the work is prefixed to the volume. But without farther remarks, we shall only lay before our readers the folution which Dr. Battely propofes of the queftion, how fo many Roman coins came to be left in Britain? Spartian, fays he, relates that Pefcennius Niger ordered the foldiers to carry no gold nor filver coins to war in their purfes, but to lodge them in the public treasury, and afterwards to receive what they had entrusted, that in cafe of misfortunes the enemy might receive no part of the spoil. This, I imagine, was an ancient military difcipline, which had been difufed long before the time of Pefcennius, and, when revived by him, did not long continue; but that it was rather ufual for every foldier, when fetting out for a campaign, or at the eve of a battle, to have the option of carrying his effects with him, or of hiding them in what place he pleased. Afterwards I fuppofe this to have been the practice of the Roman army in our ifland, whenever they were drawn out of their camps, or ftations, to make long and uncertain marches against the enemy; at which time, in hope of returning and recovering their property, they depofited their money in the ground: thus by the treasures of those who were flain in battle we are enriched. The fame may be faid of thofe who, being either befieged or diflodged from their caftles and towns, had no opportunity to remove their money; and this is the reafon that fuch coins are generally found near towns and stations: in fhort, to the fatal events of war, to the ftorming and burning of houfes, towns, and cities, we owe great part of our antiquarian wealth.' We take leave of Dr. Battely, and of his tranflator, with only informing our Readers, that the Author gives the palm of antiquity (as to the Romans) to Richborough, in preference to all other places in Britain. Art. 30. A Dictionary of the Portuguese and English Languages; wherein the Words are explained in their different Meanings, by Examples from the best Portuguese and English Writers; the whole interfperfed with a great Number of Phrafes and Proverbs. By Anthony Vieyra Tranftagnano. 4to. 2 vols. 21. 12s. 6d. Nourse. A work of this kind, in which the Portuguese and English languages are alternately transfufed into each other, in the fame manner as are our French, Italian, and other Dictionaries of Foreign Languages, has long been wanted; efpecially by those who are engaged in the commercial intercourfe fubfifting between the two nations • The intercourfe of the two languages is not limited to Europe. The neceffity of an acquaintance with that of the Portuguese, by the English in the East Indies, and other remote parts of the world, is fufficiently known. Mr. Mr. Vieyra's work will therefore be particularly acceptable to the mercantile part of the public, both in England and Portugal. It will alfo be confidered as an ufeful acquifition to literature in general. The Author is a teacher of languages in this capital; and is a perfon of acknowledged abilities in his profeffion. Art. 31. Old Heads on young Shoulders; or, Youth's pleafing Guide to Knowledge, Wifdom, and Riches. In a feries of engaging, inftructive, and entertaining Hiftories, drawn from real Life; and related in fuch a manner as to amufe the young Readers, and convey ufeful Knowledge in the moft delightful manner. De gned to guard Youth against the Snares that are generally laid for them at their first fetting out in the World, by the artful and wicked of both Sexes; and fhewing the dangerous Effects of giving a Loofe to the Paffions. The whole intended to difplay THE Amiablenefs of Virtue, and the Deformity of Vice, in the moft ftriking Colours. 12mo. 3s. Cooke. 1774. After fo ample an account, who can entertain a doubt of the ele gance, fpirit, or ufe of this publication! It confifts of fhort marratives, under a variety of heads, and we are affured every narrative has been taken from real actions in life, and although none of them were ever published before, yet they will be found strictly confiftent with truth. The Writer's defign is undoubtedly commendable, and his plan in this refpect a very good one. He labours to recommend virtue, and deter from vice and folly, by a reprefentation of occur rences in real life; though unhappily the tales, which are dreffed out by fancy and fiction, will often prove more engaging and interesting to the youthful heart, That the Author is either negligent or defective in point of style, appears from the title page, as well as from other parts of the book; but the relations he gives have all a moral tendency, and may with propriety be put into the hands of young perfons, as likely to impress on their minds a regard to virtue and fobriety. Art. 32. The Friend: or, Effays inftructive and entertaining for Youth of both Sexes; on the most important Subjects. Exemplified with Stories from real Life. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Snagg. 1774 We cannot, with certainty, inform our Readers whether or not all of thefe effays are collected from books; but fome of them we recollect as old acquaintance: the 10th particularly, which is copied verbatim from the Rambler. The Editor ought to have explained this matter, in a preface, or preliminary advertisement; but nothing of that kind is faid, nor any reference made. The effays, however, whether originals or tranfcripts, are pretty, the' not great; the fubjects are important; and the leffons inculcated may be useful to young Readers. Art. 33. New Reflections on the Errors committed in both Sexes, before and after Marriage. By a young Lady. 8vo. Is. Bew. From the many imperfections in the ftyle of this Writer, we conclude that she is a very young Lady indeed! But Mifs in her Teens feems rather too forward to fnatch at the honours of Authorship: fhe would, we think, be as ufefully employed in repairing her dolls, and regulating the economy of her baby-house. Art. 34. An Introduction to Mr. James Anderson's Diplomata Scotia, To which is added Norɛs, taken from various Authors, and original manufcripts. By Thomas Ruddiman, M. A. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Boards. Edinburgh printed, and fold by Richardson and Urquhart, in London, 1773. This is a tranflation of a work compofed by the ingenious Mr. Ruddiman, and by him prefixed as an explanatory introduction to Mr. Anderfon's Diplomata Scotia; a book scarce, of high price, and feldom to be met with. The Editor obferves, that this introduction contains many particulars which may contribute to rectify fome erroneous opinions that have commonly prevailed, in regard to feveral historical facts. It gives an account of the antiquity of writings, value of money, and prices of provifions in Scotland, in ancient times; the knowledge of which, he says, is more than matter of mere curiosity, and therefore, he hopes, his tranflation will not be unacceptable to the public. Mr. Anderfon was writer to the Signet. The firft and principal division of his book, contains a fpecimen of felect charters, granted or ordered by the Kings, or other principal men of Scotland, from the year of the chriftian æra 1094 to 1412, continued in regular order. It was Mr. Anderfon's care to exhibit the fpecimens he collected, formed as like the writing of the originals as was poffible, and to give, on the oppofite fide, copies of the originals expreffed in modern characters. But left it should be faid, that barbarifm ftood in the way of the use of charters being fooner introduced among the Scots, Mr. Ruddiman takes fome pains to prove, that this custom prevailed long before the time of Duncan I. or the year 1994; his argument, however, confifts of probabilities and conjecture, which are not very fatisfactory, nor is the matter indeed of any great importance. His account of the utility of charters, or other inftruments, which may fall under the term diplomata, is very juft; as befide the primary benefit of these ancient writings for determining or fecuring right and property, they have a fecondary ufe for fupporting the truth of history, and correcting its errors; of which laft advantage he relates feveral instances in the Scotish history. As the latter part of Mr. Anderfon's famous work treats of Scotch feals and coins, Mr. Ruddiman proceeds to a careful confideration of thefe particulars. He enquires how ancient the ufe of coin was in Scotland, what was the value of their money, what the shape of their coins, what their value and condition at different periods. He has added tables to fhew how many numeral pounds, fillings, and pennies Scots, were coined out of one pound weight of gold, and out of one real pound weight of filver, at different times, with their intrinfic fineness. From thefe tables, he obferves, it may cafily be underflood, how much, not only the unlearned vulgar, but even learned and fenfible men, have blundered fo egregiously in computing the value of our ancient money; who, when they found it mentioned in old writings, or heard by report, that, for example, a boll of wheat was valued at ten, twelve, fourteen, &c. pennies per boll, a flagon of wine at two pennies, a hen at one halfpenny; im mediately think, that the intrinfic, value of thefe denominations of Rev. Apr. 1774* Y money, money, was the fame as now a-days: alas! cry they, what a great fcarcity of money must have been among us in those days, when things, fo dear now, might have been bought for fo fmall a price. But from what has been above fet forth, it is clear, that things were quite otherwife; and, particularly, that the penny, the fhilling, and the pound, in the time of David I. and for a long time thereafter, was thirty-fix times, in James I's time, eighteen times, in James II's time nine times, in queen Mary's time double the value almost, that the fame denominations are of intrinfic value at this day, or did exceed in that proportion the weight of bullion." To make this more clear to the reader, he has given another table, in which the ancient prices of fome things are reduced to their value in modern money. On the whole, we think, there are feveral entertaining and inftructive obfervations in this performance, which may not only amufe the antiquary, but prove of fome real ufe in regard to history-parti cularly the history of the Scottish coinage. Art. 35. The Winter Medley: Or, Amusement for the FireSide. Containing a curious Collection of entertaining Stories, interefting Novels, remarkable Tales, curious Anecdotes, Essays, Allegories, Vifions, and select Pieces of Poetry, &c. 12mo. 25. Snagg. 1774. Good, wholefome kitchen literature. Art. 36. A Letter to Governor Pownal; fhewing, paft a Poffibility of being refuted, whence the continued high Price of Bread in the Metropolis arises, and pointing out a Remedy. The whole founded upon Truth, and worthy the Attention of the Public. By one in the Secret. 8vo. Is. Pridden. 1774. It is well known that there are fecrets in all profeffions; and the affertion may be hazarded, that thefe fecrets do not relate to the most honourable practices in any profeffion. Every market is governed by its corn-jobbers, and these juntos have their fecrets as well as stockjobbers. The fecrets betrayed in this pamphlet, are the arts made ufe of by the contractors who fupply the government with corn, to keep up the price of wheat at London. The connections of the gentleman to whom the letter is addreffed, and the peculiar attention he has bestowed on the fubject, will enable him to judge of, and profit by, the hints contained in it. SCHOOL BOOKS. Art. 37. A Practical Introduction to Arithmetic; containing Arithmetic of Whole Numbers, with Vulgar, Decimal, and Duodecimal Fractions. To which is added an Appendix of Directions and Examples for Receipts, Promiffory Notes, Bills of Exchange, Bills of Parcels, Bills of Book Debts, and Letters; with various Exercises on the fame. By Charles Marshall, Master of Alderfgate Ward School, and Author of a new Spelling Book, under the Title of, An Introduction to the English Tongue, 12mo. 15. Wilkie, &c. Except two or three books of arithmetic of superior note, the reft, of which there are many, can scarcely be thought objects of literary attention: nor indeed does there appear to be any call for new publications оп |