on the common rules, which are the fame in all of them, beyond the circumftance of their being advertisements in character from schoolmafters. In courfe, it will fuffice to declare, that there is nothing in. this Practical Introduction that will difcredit Mr. Marshall's abilities in his profeffion. Art. 38. A new Dictionary of French Idioms: being a select Collection of feveral thoufand Idiomatical Phrafes, moft ufual in the best French Writers, with the English adapted. Equally neceffary for all who are learning the French Language, whether in a School or by private Application. By A. De Treitorrens, Teacher of the French Language at Mr. Cotton's Academy, at Enfield. 12mo. IS. Harris. 1773. In ftudying any language much more is required than learning merely the words of which it confills. I here are peculiar modes of combining and adapting them, which are termed the idioms, and which are characteristical of the language. Collections of fuch phrafes are of great ufe in facilitating the understanding of Writers, and in acquiring that ftyle which is neceffary to a free and intimate knowledge of any tongue; and this confideration is fufficient to recommend the present little manual of French idioms. Art. 39. The Practical Grammar; or an eafy Way to underfland English. In which the Rules are laid down in a Manner entirely new; and the whole rendered fo easy, familiar, and enter taining, that a Child of only eight Years of Age may be perfectly initiated into a Knowledge of the English Tongue, with the greatest Expedition and Pleasure. To which is added, A Poetical Epitome of Grammar, for the Help of Memory. With a Supplement, containing Examples of bad English, to be turned into goed, with the good oppofite, in order to illuftrate every Rule of Syntax, or the Compofition of Sentences; and a fhort English Grammar on the Plan of the Latin, for the Ufe of fuch as are defigned for the Study of that Language. By Thomas Smetham, Master of the Academy at Southgate, and late Master of the Boarding School at Ponder's End. 12mo. Is. 6d. bound. J. Cooke. 1774. We wish Mr. Smetham had been lefs prolix in fetting out his bill of fare, as fuch tedious encomiums from a Writer's own pen, do not generally convey the moft favourable opinion of an Author. Befide, his book appears to us to have fome merit, and therefore not to need the aid of fuch boafling. He fpeaks highly indeed of our native language, when he fays, In the English are happily united. the emphatical expreffion of the Hebrew, the fublimity of the Greek, the majefty of the Latin, the foftnefs of the Italian, the nobleness of the Spanish, and the politeness of the French. Befides it is not fo confined as the Hebrew, fo irregular as the Greek, fo unequal as the Latin, fo effeminate as the Italian, fo precife as the Spanish, nor fo volatile as the French.' Our language has, without doubt, great excellencies and advantages, but whether it fully anfwers to the above panegyric, let the learned determine." The rules here laid down appear to us, pertinent, ufeful, and eafy; they differ from the methods obferved in other gramma's, and in fome refpects feem to have an advantage over them. But the com Y 2 mitting mitting thefe or other rules to memory, will not be greatly beneficial to a child, unless those who have the care of his education will fee that they are fo understood as to be explained and applied: And for this purpose the examples of bad English to be turned into good, may prove a beneficial exercife. We fhall only obferve farther, that Mr. Smetham has taken confiderable pains in compiling the grammar before us; and that, on the whole, it feems calculated to be of use. POLITICAL, Art. 40. The American Crifis; a Letter addreffed, by Permiffion, to the Earl Gower, Lord Prefident of the Council, &c. &c. &c. on the prefent alarming Disturbances in the Colonies. Wherein various important Points relative to Plantation Affairs are brought into Difcuffion; as well as feveral Perfons adverted to, of the most diftinguished Characters. And an Idea is offered toward a complete Plan for reftoring the Dependance of America upon Great Britain to a State of Perfection. By William Allen, Efq. 8vo. 15. 6d. Cadell. 1774 "Authors, before they write, fhould read"—was once deemed not an unneceffary piece of advice; and we think it may not impertinently be extended to Patrons: who, if they would take due care of their own fame, fhould read the Book before they permit the Dedication. Here is an inftance of the ill confequence of not adhering to this rule. Lord G. certainly did not perufe Mr. Allen's treatife before he granted permiffion for the public mention of his name, as the Patronizer of the performance. His Lordship's nobler fentiments, we well know, are by no means compatible with the arbitrary principles of this hot-headed Author; whofe cavalier manner of attacking his fellow-fubjects of America, reminds us of the fhrewd politician in the news-papers, who propofed that we fhould fell the Colonists, with all their lands, &c. to the French or Spaniards, who he fuppofed would give at least two millions fterling for them; a fum which, as he wifely and well obferved, would go an hundredth part of the way toward a discharge of the national debt. There is an unhappy affectation of fine writing in this pamphlet ; and it contains many illiberal paffages: but any particular attention to them would be doing honour to a performance which will reflect none upon its Author. Art. 41. A Brief Review of the Rife and Progress, Services and Sufferings, of New England, especially the Province of Massachufet's Bay. Humbly fubmitted to the Confideration of both Houfes of Parliament. 8vo. 6d. Buckland. 1774% Contains a very decent, and, to all appearance, a very fair and impartial ftate of facts, that ought to have due attention paid to them. " Art. 42. Colonifing, or a plain Investigation of that Subject; with a Legiflative, Political, and Commercial View of our Colonies. 4to. Is. Brotherton, &c. 1774 We cannot discover any new thoughts or principles in this short performance that may tend to decide the queftion of right between the the mother country and her colonies; or that may add ffrength to the pretenfions of either fide by valid arguments. The Writes indeed is above arguing; he dictates and affirms, where he should reafon and prove; and ftamps the pofitions he lays down with italics and capitals, to ftare his Readers into affent. That these charges may not be retorted, a fpecimen of his matter and manner is fubjoined us, Who then hath maintained or doubted that Taxation and Reprefentation go not together? The fhortnefs of the fentence and the alliteration after Tax and reprefent hath brought it into vogue; but, in truth, it is no more, than one of thofe problems, in the beginning of a Scholar's book, which he, who reads, allows. Touching the fubjects of North America being, or not being reprefented among -Should a more specific reprefentation be thought neceffary to the people, let it take place. But, fuppofing the prefent reprefentation not fufficiently ample to exterior idea, it cannot follow from thence that there is NO fubftantial representation at all. Can it be faid that any individual of the realm, which the Laws defend (and they defend every fubject in every part of it) is NOT reprefented in the (at any time) formally and duly collected body of the people affembled in Parliament here ?-It cannot without an equal degree of folly and treachery. The Laws of England are ftanding Laws for all the fubjects of this Empire, and, as long as Parliament holds the guardianfhip of thofe Laws, it reprefents all the people, whom they rule! They, who affert that there is NO Reprefentation of the Americans in Parliament here, are not aware of what they fay: For, were it fo, our brethren subjects there can never now be reprefented, without à violation of the Conftitution, in its moft tender part-the people. But the fact is, THE SUBJECTS of this Empire, from Minorca to Otaheitee, ARE ALL virtually reprefented, afferted, fupported and defended (among the British People) IN PARLIAMENT. <If we are wife, national virtue will do the work of felf.prefervation on all hands: and, when a more fpecific, or equal mode of election takes place for the people, fenfible and honeft men will remember that when forty-five Members were added to a great Council, the tone of that body was debilitated by its extenfion. How much is the nation indebted to this Alexander, who can fo eafily untie those Gordian knots that have puzzled our Statesmen for fome years paft! Art. 43. America vindicated from the high Charge of Ingratitude and Rebellion: with a Plan of Legiflation, propofed to the Confideration of both Houses, for establishing a permanent and folid Foundation, for a just and conftitutional Union between Great Britain and her Colonies. By a Friend to both Countries. 8vo. 15. Devizes printed, and fold by Ridley, &c. in London. 1774. Written by a warm advocate for the Americans, who proposes that a free conftitution fhould be confirmed to North America fimilar to that of Ireland; that the claim of taxation over it should be renounced; and that their freedom fhould be guarantied against all foreign invaders. He recommends that a Lord Lieutenant fhould reprefent the King there, and refide in a central province; and that a Parliament fhould be formed there, for the general purposes of legiflation Y 3 legislation and taxation, compofed of Deputies from the feveral Provincial Affemblies. Indeed, taking all circumftances into view, it might be happy if mutual harmony could be reftored by uniting thofe feparate governments, firft formed for the regulation of fmall bodies of adventurous fettlers, on fome durable plan, to operate for the reciprocal strength and profperity of the very diftant parts of the British empire. DRAMAT I C. Art. 44. ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ, cum Stan- fewed. Longman. 1773. 10 s. 6d, The Prometheus Captivus of Efchylus is one of the most ftriking monuments of genius that has been tranfmitted to us from antiquity. The inimitable strength, and ardour, fo peculiar to the great father of the drama, never more gloriously appeared than in this tragedy; too much attention, therefore, cannot be paid to it, nor too much light thrown upon it. For, founded on the deepest mysteries of the ancient mythology, it is difficult to draw it from its depth, and reduce it to the plan of a rational and fyftematic moral. This difficulty, on account of the lofs of two other tragedies, with which it was connected to make a whole, is rendered almoft infuperable, and appears too hard a task for the fagacity and abilities even of M. De Gebelin himself, to whofe confideration, however, we recommend it. Dr. Morell's care and diligence in what he has here done, merit our regard, and his blank verfe tranflation, though not impregnated with the fire of Efchylus, may be useful to school-boys; but when lö is defired upon the addreffes of Jupiter not to “ kick and wince,” the good old gentleman feems to have forgot that she was a cow; for fuch are rather the properties of a mare. Art. 45. The South Briton; a Comedy of Five Acts: As it is performed at the Theatre in Smock-Alley, with great Applaufe. Written by a Lady. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Williams. 1774. When we cannot, with a proper regard to truth, pay a compli ment to a lady, we generally think it our duty to be filent, NOVELS and MEMOIRS. Art. 46. The Fortune-Teller. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. Bew. 1774. Thefe little volumes are diftinguished by a vein of good fenfe and morality, which runs through the whole performance, and renders it far from being wanting either in entertainment or improvement. The just and spirited obfervations which the Author makes, and the excellent advice which he gives to the different perfons who feek to know their future destiny, reminds us of Dodley s Toyshop; nor are the generality of his reflections inferior to thofe which are found in that pleasing performance. In a word, our Fortune-teller, at the fame time that he takes advantage of the weakness of those who are It was alfo acted one night, this month, at Covent Garden. fo impatient to pry into futurity, to relieve his own wants, endea vours to render their confidence in the ftars of real and effential fervice to them in the future part of their lives. Art. 47. The School for Husbands. Written by a Lady. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. Bew. 1774 As the ladies are generally acknowledged to be fuperior to our fex in all works of imagination and fancy, we doubt not this is deemed a fufficient reason for placing their names in the title-page of many a dull, lifeless story which contains not one fingle female idea, but has been hammered out of the brainless head of a Grubstreet hireling. We quote not, however, the prefent work as an inftance of this impofition, nor do we doubt, from many of the fcenes which it deferibes, the femality of its Author. The ftory is lively, natural, and affecting; well told, and free from thofe frequent epifodes which are fo often introduced in works of this kind, and which are too much for even the patience of a Reviewer. 12mo. Art. 48. The Orphan Swains; or, London contagious to the Country. A Novel. By a young Libertine Reformed. 2 Vols. 55. Snagg. Thefe Orphan Swains are introduced to the world in two neat, fpruce pocket volumes; but like many other well dreft coxcombs, they are totally void of fenfe or fentiment.-High-flown profe, and grovelling verfe, compofe this ridiculous performance. Art. 49. The Hiftory of Lord Stanton. Vols. IV. and V. 12mo. 6s. Vernor. The account which we gave of the former part of this work in our last Review, will excufe our again entering into its merits; we cannot however help thinking, that thefe additional volumes are inferior to the former; efpecially the 4th, which appears to be fpun out, merely to enlarge the work. } Art. 50. The News-Paper Wedding; or, an Advertisement for a Husband. A Novel, founded on Incidents which arofe in confequence of an Advertisement that appeared in the Daily Advertiser, July 29, 1772, including a Number of original Letters on the Subject of Love and Marriage. 12mo. 2 Vols, 6s. Snagg. 1774. This curious collection chiefly confifts of a number of ridiculous letters, fuppofed to be fent to the publisher in confequence of the above-mentioned advertisement; the whole appears to be a moft un-. meaning catch-penny performance, Art. 51. The Trinket. A Novel. By a Lady. 12mo. 3s. Lowndes. 1774. If Mr. Lowndes has taken the trouble to look over this novel, he muft have thought the Lady very extravagant in this Trinket of hers, as fhe has crowded flory and plot enough in the last twenty pages, to have formed, with the leaft degree of management, another whole volume of this valuable fpecies of writing. COOKERY. Art. 52. The Royal Cook, or the Modern Etiquette of the Table, difplayed with Accuracy, Elegance, and Tafte: Being a full and exact Defcription of the Manner of dreffing and ferving up the Royal Dinners at St. James's, Buckingham Houfe, Kew, and Gunnerbury; with the like Particulars at the Houfes of Glou Y 4 sefter |