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MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 16. A Letter to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, &c in refpect to the Collection that was made for the Colleges of New York and Philadelphia. By Sir James Jay, Knight, M. D. Being a Vindication of the Author, occafioned by the groundless Infinuations and very illiberal Behaviour of Mr. Alderman Trecothick, with authentic Evidence. 8vo. 6d. Kearsley. 1773. There are not many men who are capable of vindicating their own characters. We generally fay of ourfelves either too little or too much. Sir James Jay feems to have been injured in his reputation; and he attributes it, with fome appearance of reason, to Mr. Alderman Trecothick-But if we remember rightly, we have had almost all this story before; and Mr. Trecothick has thought it either too true or too unimportant to be taken notice of. We do not think Sir James is likely to do himself any great fervice by this new publication. A fecond blow should not have been given, unless it had been Smarter than the firft.

Sir James would make the Alderman a faint, in the late acceptation of the word, by the author of the Eays on Public Worfhip. We are mistaken if that writer would not place Sir James in the lift, on reading his pamphlet. There is a good deal of that little fhrewdnefs and cunning in it which is one of the marks of his faints. If therefore both thefe Gentlemen fhould be entitled to the above appellation, we would advise them to refer the matter to the author of the effays, and he will determine to a hair the difference between them; and perhaps make us laugh by a delineation of it. Art. 17. A faithful Account of the whole Tranfactions relating to a late Affair of Honour between J. Temple, and W. Whately, Efqrs. &c. &c. 8vo. I s. Snagg.

The Compiler has rabbed the gang; the news-papers had it all before: but if he should ever write any thing worth ftealing, they'll be even with him.

Art. 18. A fhort Inquiry into the Nature of the Titles conferred at Portfmouth. by bis Majefty, August 1773. Shewing the Origin and ancient Privileges of Knights Banneret. 8vo. 6 d. Almon.

From the historical citations here produced, the Writer draws the following brief inference. It feems certainly neceffary, from every cafe that we have feen, that Bannerets fhould at least be created in the field of battle, though not immediately after or before a battle. This objection in the prefent cafe, must be too obvious to trouble the reader with any farther digreffions upon it, and must be unanswerable even by those who do not think an intermediate title of common knighthood requifite. It is impoffible, therefore, that the officers knighted at Portsmouth, though indifputably worthy every title, fhould, as was believed, be Knights Banneret.'

It admits of fome doubt whether the Portsmouth Knights will acknowledge any great obligations to this Writer for his labours in fearching old chronicles and mufty records, to depreciate the value

* Vid. Sir James's letter to the Governors of the College of New York, Rev. vol. xliv. p. 4zz.

of their titles: they may however confole themfelves with the reflec tion, that whatever this ill-natured book worm may say, they are bona fide dignified; and obtained their honours with eafe and fafety, during a noble femblance of naval equipment, fecure from the dangers of actual warfare.

Art. 19. The New Pocket Dictionary of the French and English Languages. Containing all Words of general Ufe, and authorifed by the best Writers. By Thomas Nugent, LL. D. The Second Edition, greatly improved, with the Addition of upwards of 13,000 Words, befide a very ufefal Supplement, containing the Names of the most remarkable Empires, Kingdoms, States, iflands, Provinces, Cities, &c. &c. the Names of ancient and modern Nations; together with the Names of remarkable Men, Women, Surnames of Sovereigns, &c. both in French and English; which will prove of great Ufe to thofe who read or tranflate History, Geography, Mythology, Poetry, &c. and are not to be found in any other French and English Dictionaries now extant. By J. S. Cherier, Teacher of the French Language, Geography, and the Ufe of the Globes. Small 4to. 3 s. 6d. Dilly. 1774

Our opinion of Dr. Nugent's Pocket-Dictionary, may be feen in the 38th volume of our Review, at p. 68.-The numerous additions made to this compendium of the French and English languages, in the prefent edition, feem to entitle it to a fecond notice in our Journal; we therefore briefly acquaint our Readers that although the objections brought by us, to the plan of this dictionary, ftill remain, yet the work muft, in course, be greatly improved by the large additions now made to it: the particulars of which are enumerated in the foregoing transcript of the title-page.

Art. 20. Elays concerning Iron and Steel: The Firft, containing Obfervations on American Sand-Iron: The Second, Obfervations, founded on Experiments, on Common Iron-Ore, with the Method of reducing it first into Pig or Sow-Metal, and then into Bar-iron; on the Sort of Iron proper to be converted into good Steel, and the Method of refining that Bar Steel by Fufion, fo as to render it fit for the more curious Purposes. With an Account of Mr. Reaumur's Method of foftening Caft-Iron; and an Appendix, difcovering a more perfect Method of Charring Pit-Coal, fo as to render it a proper Succedaneum for charred Wood Coal. By Henry Horne. 12mo. 2 s. 6d. fewed. Cadell. 1773.

It appears from the first of these effays, that the American fandiron is a very valuable ore, yielding a large proportion of metal. The greatest part of this effay, however, has been already published in the Philofophical Tranfactions for the year 1763.

The fecond effay, and the appendix, though not altogether unexceptionable as to the chemical philofophy, contain many ufeful remarks, and are worthy the perufal of every artift, who is engaged either in the manufacture of fteel or of fteel inftruments. Art. 21. The History and Antiquities of the ancient Burgh of Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk. By Henry Swinden. 4to. l. 15. Payne,

The value of books of this kind is generally local: This will be deemed of little importance anywhere but at Yarmouth.

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Art. 22. A Companion in a Poft Chaife; or an Amusement for a leifure Hour at Home: containing a careful Selection from the most approved and entertaining Pieces in Verfe and Profe, that have appeared for many Years paft. 8vo. 3s. Salilbury printed, and fold by Crowder in London. 1773.

Such compilements as this, may be easily made by a country printer's devil, in leifure hours, and holiday times; and we have nothing to fay against honeft industry.

Art. 23. The Stranger's Affiftant and Guide to Bath. Containing an Account of, fin fhort, every thing that Strangers can want to know relating to Bath; but the Title-Page is too long to be tranfcribed] 8vo. 1s. Taylor, &c. 1773.

Thefe Bath-directories are frequently republifhed, and, we believe, always with improvements. This is the laft, and, we fuppofe, the belt; there being many ufeful particulars inferted which we do not remember to have feen in the former compilements.

Art. 24. Minutes of the Proceedings before the Lords Committees for Privileges, on the feveral Claims to the Title of Vifcount Valentia, &c. fol. 6s. Robinson. 1772.

Thofe who have had their Curiofity excited by the many paragraphs in the news-papers, relating to this family contest, will find ample gratification in the perufal of thefe Minutes.

MATHEMATIC s.

Art. 25. The Nautical Almanack and Aftronomical Ephemeris. For the Year 1775, Published by Order of the Commiffioners of Longitude. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. Nourfe, &c. 1774

This number only contains the ufual tables, with their explication. POLITICA L.

Art. 26. Confiderations on the Impofition of 4 per Gent, collected on Grenada, and the Southern Charibbee Islands, by virtue of his Majefty's Letters Patent, under Pretence of the PrerogativeRoyal, without Grant of Parliament. 8vo. I s. Almon.

1774.

A duty of 4 per cent. being impofed on all dead commodities, the produce of Grenada, by letters patent dated the 20th of June 1764; and these letters justifying the impofition of this tax, by the precedent of Barbadoes, &c. where the like tax was paid; the Author of this pamphlet alleges that no fuch duty is paid at Tortola, Anegada, Jamaica, Providence, nor at any of the Bahama Inlands: moreover, that it is not payable in any ifland, but by virtue of an act of the reprefentatives of the people, paffed for good and valuable confiderations.

As to Barbadoes, it is related, that excepting 10,000 acres granted by Lord Carlisle, the firft proprietor, who obtained the island from James I. it was peopled by emigrants from England, during the confufions occafioned by the civil wars; who fettled on the vacant land, and cultivated plantations, without any titles or grants, either from the proprietor or the crown. Upon the restoration of regal govern. ment, thefe fettlers applied to the King for protection against the claims of the Carlisle family, making an offer of paying the tax now in question, for the confirmation of their titles; which was accepted, and a compenfation made to the then proprietor. But a provifo of exception

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exception was made as to the 10,000 acres before mentioned, which do not pay the impofition, to the prefent hour.

Having thus invalidated the pleas in the letters patent, which impofe a like tax by royal prerogative, on the island of Grenada, the Author recites the contefts that have arifen on refufals to fubmit to it, and makes fome pertinent and fpirited remarks on the proceed. ings of the courts of law both on the island and at home, in order to keep the decifion of the question out of the hands of a jury. But for thefe we must refer to the pamphlet; where the Writer fays, that fince the caufe of fhip money no point of equal confequence has been brought before any British court of judicature; nor will the liberties of Britain be much lefs affected by the determination.'

POETICAL.

Art. 27. Charity: A poetical Effay. By Charles Peter Layard, A. M. Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge printed, and fold by Beecroft, &c. in London. 1773.

The comparative merit of this production may, we doubt not, have justly entitled the Author to the diftinétion and reward that he obtained for it, yet we do not think it more worthy of a critical confideration than the generality of the preceding compofitions which, for fome years paft, have entered the lifts for the Kiflingbury prize; but which we have very cordially configned to reft, in the peaceful pages: of our catalogues.

Art. 28. Original Poems, Tranflations, and Imitations, from the French, &c. By a Lady. Svo. 2 s. 6 d. fewed. Robinfon.

1773.

Scribere juffit amor feems to be this LADY's motto. Love bids her write, and the appears to be most devotedly prompt and obedient to the behest of his little godthip. Almost every piece in her book is facred to the foft paffion, and her collection will, therefore, be moft acceptable to pining girls and unfledged boys. There is, however, a little piece addreifed to Monf. Helvetius, on his Treatife De L'Eƒprit, which fhews the Writer's good fenfe, and may be regarded as a favourable fpecimen of what may be expected from her, when her mind is freed from the galling chain' which, at prefent, we fuppofe, fhe would much rather " hug" than get rid of.

Art. 29. An Epifle from Mr. Banks, Voyager, Monsterhunter, and Amorofo, to Oberea, Queen of Otaheite, &c. &c. 4to. I S. Swan, &c.

A poetical fungus, fprung from the applauded Epifle from Oberea' fee our last month's Review, p. 503.

BOTANY.

Art. 30. The Vegetable Syftem. By Dr. Hill. Royal Folio, Vol. 23d. 11. 11s. 6d. Printed for the Author. 1773We have frequently announced the fucceffive publications of thefe numerous folios; and we now mention this 23d, which has just made its appearance, merely to acknowledge our mistake, in pronouncing

By the afflignment of the Vice-chancellor of Cambridge, and the other Gentlemen appointed to fit in judgment on the poems annually offered for Mr. Seaton's reward,

the

the work to be compleated at the 18th volume: fee Review for December, 1771, p. 505. We must have been led into this error, by a misapprehenfion of fome of the Doctor's advertisements.

NOVELS and MEMOIR S.

Art. 31. Memoirs of a Gentleman who refided feveral Years in the Eaft Indies during the late Revolutions, and most important Events' in that Part of the world: Containing feveral Anecdotes of a public as well as of a private Nature, never before published. Writ ten by himself. 12mo. 3 s. Donaldson. 1774.

• Never before published! There are two reafons to be given why they ought not to have been published at all. The Gentleman, who declares himself to be a German, is not qualified to write in English, or perhaps in any other language; and his memoirs, whether true or falfe, were not worth writing. The title indeed promiles fome anecdotes of a public and private nature, but the Author is too ignorant to relate any thing that merits reading.

Art. 32. The Kinfman of Mahomet; or, Memoirs of a French Slave, during his eight Years Captivity in Conitantinople. Including many curious Particulars relative to the Religion, Hiftory, Policy, Customs and Manners of the Turks; and interfperfed with a Variety of Adventures in the Seraglios of the Eaft. Written by HIMSELF, and tranflated from the French. 12mo. 6s. Culver. Adulteries, fornications, murders; in a word, almost every fpecies of debauchery and wickedness, are comprehended in thefe exe-crable adventures; which, for the honour of human nature, we hope are wholly fictitious.

MEDICAL.

Art. 33. A Mirror for Inoculators: Or, an Effay; fhewing, by Way of Introduction, how liable Mankind in general are to Deception. Which is afterwards more particularly applied to the Cafe of Inoculation; and the Practice proved to be contrary to Nature, Reafon, and Scripture; to the Liturgy of the Church, and even to that Prayer taught us, by our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. By a Friend to Religion, as by Law established. 8vo. 6 d. Crowder. 1773.

Thefe natural, rational, fcriptural, and canonical arguments, against inoculation, are truly wonderful. A fhort fpecimen will at once fatisfy and entertain our Readers.

This learned and anonymous cafuitt, is abfolutely certain, that INOCULATION is IDOLATRY; and he proves it in the moft clear and concife manner:

Thus, fays he, you fee Satan, with his fly infinuations, has deceived many, and brought them (although he could not our Bleed Mafter) unto idolatry and it will be in vain, for them to allege, that there is no outward adoration performed, nor inward intended, when the Scriptures poffitively affert, that the covetous man is an Idolator; and that we may make a god of our own bellies. But here may be feen the more effential parts of worship, given unto Satan in the fhape of a Doctor; a thorough truft and confidence placed in his skill and abilities, and fuch an oblervance of his commands, as extends to the hardest duties, mortification and felf-denial; which placed

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