34

Lift of Books---with Remarks.

ing and expeding, with great reason, that an equitable and voluntary offer would have come from him. And I cannot help obferving here, that it must be imagined that Mr. H. himself, whatever his inclinations may be now, had as first fome thoughts of refigning the living; for it is well known, that when he came into the country to take poffeffion of it, upon being asked in publick company, whether he was the perfon that was to have the living of A. he answered in the affirmative, but faid," he did not know whether he should keep it."

From the fame letter.

The part that I have taken in this affair, has been no other than a friendly one towards the poor patron, who I hal always think has been most cruelly deceived; he is charged with having acted a very cofe and defigning part, in not difcnfig bis real fentiments; how justly this expreffon may be retorted I cannot pretend to fay, the world will judge. It is well known that your friend, by your recom. mendation, is got into the poffeffion of a very good living, at the expence of the poor patron's entire ruin, which was very strongly, and in the moft moving terms, by your own account, reprefented to you at your first interview with him; how this correfponds with fuch exa'ted characters, I must own is beyond my conception.

I am very confident, that both you and Mr. M. are very well fatisfied, that his motive did not proceed from my offer; his expeñations proceeded from a thorough belief and perfuafion in his own mind, that he had put his all that he had in the world into the hands of a faithfu tulee, though no truft was or could be at that time, fo much as implied.

From the fame letter.

At prefent the cafe lies open to the cenfure of the wor'd, and the only defence that you and your friend feem to make, is, that the patron has not fuck strictly to the truth through the whole of his narrative; whether he has or no, the parties privy to this dark tranfact on best know; thus far it must be acknowledged, and it is notorious that Mr. M. and you were both well acquainted with the diftrefs and fituation that the poor man was in at the time he prefented you to the living, and that his future livelihood and welfare folely depended upon your honour? therefore if nothing was then intended to be done to fave him from ruin, all reafonable people must think, to speak in the most favourab.e terms, that he was but i'l advised,

The following is one fpecimen of the manner in which the Rev. Mr. H. writes English,

He (Kimpton) in the meantime having fuggefted as if Mr. Madan had given him fome intimation or promife, and that he thought himself injured. (I obferve he does not fay I ever did) This immmediately bound up their hands.

X.

9. Thoughts, Effays, and Maxims, chiefly religious and political. By Cha Howard, Efq; of Greystock in Cumberland. Lewis.

This book contains many things that are Arange, and fome that are abfurd. The authot, who fays he knew Churchill only by bis writing, affirms, that his vivacity of imagination, quickness of conception, and readiness and optness at writing poetry, were beyond any poet's that ever exifted; that his writings might he trut, and not immoral, if read with candour; and that the fuperiority of his understanding, and vivacity of his ideas, tempted him to be drunk, that he might fly from himself, and level himself with the ftupidity of other people.

With what facility Churchill wrote, could fcarcely be known from the perufal of what he had written. His writings appeared, indeed, never to have been brought to the teft of judgment, but that the author wrote with facility, could be known only by feeing him write, and that he wrote with greater facility than any other poet, could not be known at all. That a fentiment may be true or false, moral or immoral, in confequence of candour or want of candour in the reader, is frange; and the fuppofition that a confcioufnefs of parts fhould make a man wish to be stupid, and for that purpose get drunk, is certainly abfurd.

In an effay on perfecution, this author fays that in a Roman Catholic it must be wrong, because he afferis that bis chur b is infallible. But the very reafon for which perfecution is here condemned in a Roman Catholic juftifies it. He knows that he is eradicating er ror and planting truth if his church is infalli ble, and to plant truth, and eradicate error, efpecially faving truth, and damnable error, must be right. by whatever means; this au thor, indeed, fays, that all force to support popery, upon a fuppofition that the pope is infallible, is fuperfluous, but his conclufion does not follow. Popery prevails in many countries at this hour, in confequence of that force which drove out the protestant inhabitants by thousands, and has ever fince perfecuted thofe that remain. Force, though it changes no man's opinion, may, and does, prevent a condemned opinion from being im · bibed by others. The papift, who believes the pope to be infallible, finds that others deny bis infallibility; popery, therefore, does not, in confequence of this opinion, propagate it felf.

There is fcarce one fentiment among alt thefe Effays and Maxims that is not either crice or untrue; and the language is difgraced with all the hackney'd phrafes and inaccuracies of that kind of converfation, which, in the fashionable cant, is called small talk. We are feveral times reminded, that facts are ftubborn things, and ill match'd couples are more than once faid to lead a cat and dog life. The author thinks it probable that the myneries of religion are not explained to man, de canfe

Lift of Books with Remarks.

esafe they are above bis comprehenfion; not being aware, that to explain to man what is a bove his comprehenfion, is impoffible. The Author fays, "that he knows an example "which is a real fact." Which implies; that he might know an example that never happened. He asks, “What can be more “abfurd than striving to correct and reform a man of fenfe and good nature Certainly if reformation can, without abfurdity, be attempted at all, it must be upon fuch a fubjea, for what hope is there of reforming a fool or a churl; one who cannot comprehend the force of an argument, or will refift it from a fpirit of malignity and oppofition. It is this gentleman's opinion, "that you never can fo effectually take any principle " from a man by power, force, or any method, "as you do when you take it from their

mind." By which we are given to underfand, that a man's principles fometimes lie in his body, and that this bodily principle, or opinion, may be forcibly taken away.

The following extracts will fufficiently thew the profundity of this author's fentiment, and the accuracy of his language, without a

comment.

“Two wrongs will not make one right.” "A man is more abused (and it requires more refolation, fitmness, and force of mind) to endeavour to eradicate the vulgar ertors and prejudices of his own party, than to en tirely quit it."...

"Why, the profeffion of phyfic fhou'd not be confidered as a gentleman-like profeffion in France, as well as that of the law, as it is in England and other countries, is an abfurdíty and prejudice which all the vivacity and quickness of the lively French nation can fcarce account för?”

"Every fubject who pays willing and dué fabmiffion to the laws and government under which he was horn and lives, may, with great justice, claim the protection of thofe

The chara&ers contained in this book are thofe of the D. of Shrewsbury, the D. of Argyle, the D. of Berwick, the D. of Or mond, and Cardinal Fleury; but in thefe X: characters nothing is communicated that is not generally known.

10. The Temple of Gnidos, tranflated afecond Time from the French of Monf. de Secondat, Baron de Montefquieu. Kearfly.

As the world is well acquainted with the
original, and its mérit univerfally acknow
ledged, nothing more is neceffary, with re-
Spect to the tranflation, than to exhibit a fpe-
cimen; and fuch of our readers as take the
trouble to compare this fecond tranflation
with the firft, can be in no doubt which to
prefer.

A defeription of the Temple of Gnidos.
"Behold the temple of Venus the
whole world has nothing more facred than
This place! You no fooner enter it, than
you feels it were in effect of enchantment;

35

an inexpressible charm has feized yor ipi-
rits; your bofom exults with thofe blifsful
emotions, which even the gods themselves
never experience but under thefe facred
toofi.

Nature and art here feem to vie. Nature
in her happleft mood never produced a scene
more gayly charming. Art can boast no
effort more noble and divine. Every thing
fmiles around you, infpiring delight: yet e-
very thing wears an aspect of majesty, and
demands your admiration.

The paintings are doubtlefs the work of an immortal hand: fo perfectly animated! The birth of Venus is one of the fubjects. She rifes naked from the fea.-What furConntenances of the gods!, what fweet conprize! what ravishment is difplayed in the fuffon in that of the goddess! that amiable bashfulness, the prime grace of beauty!

.

Another fubject is the loves of Mars and
the goddess. But in one part of the piece
you behold the god, with an afpea keen and
terrible, bending forward in his car, and
whirl'd rapidly along by his immortal cour-
Ters covered with foam, Death and dif-
may attend his progrefs. Fame flies around
him, He enters the field; he mixes in-
ftantly in the thiokeft of the fight. You
fcarce diftinguish him in the cloud of duft
which furrounds him.--In another part of
the piece you fee him by the fide of the god.
defs, languishingly reclin❜d on a bed of roles;
his features relaxed into foftnefs and fmiles;
nefs. Hardly would you know him to be the
his eyes (wimming with delight and tender-
god of war. Happy lovers! the pleasures
Tport around them, and even bind them with
but the lovers are folely attentive
garlands;

to each other.

The marriage of Venus and Vulcan is preferved in a feparate apartment. The painter has introduced into the piece the whole celeftial court affembled upon the oc cation. The bridegroom wears the fame fo lémn vifage as ordinary, but with lefs of gloom in it. The bride appeats entirely indifferent amidst the common jáý: She gives as if him her hand, but in a careless manner, fhe was withdrawing it, and bending on him a cold faint regard, infrantly averts her eyes toward the Graces, who ftand near her.

In another piece Jeno performs the cere mony. Venus takes the cup, and fweats e ternal fidelity to Vuican. The gods (mile but Vulcan fiftens greedily to the vow,

Another fcene difcovers the god, aliinpatience, leading, or rather forcing, along his divine bride, towards the nuptial chamber. From her reluctance you wouki almoft miftake her for the daughter of Ceres, fcized by Pluto; could it indeed be possible to mistake Venus.

In a fequel of the ftory, the bridal couch appears ready for her reception. The god Has feized her in his arms, and is lifting her. cowards it. In fruggling to escape, her Joofe robe dies afunder, difcofing her deli

36

Lift of Books---with Remarks:,

cate limbs; but Vulcan inftantly repairs the beautiful diforder, ftill more attentive to conceal, than eager to poffefs the charms of his bride,

At length he prevails, She is laid on the bed of Hymen. He inftantly draws the curtains; and fondly exults with the thought that the is now entirely and for ever his own. He fmiles as the company withdraw; and it is obfervable, that while the goddesses retain their gaiety, the gods wear each a countenance of thoughtfu1ness and dejection: Mars in particular betrays the infelt tortures of jealoufy and defpair.

Such is the temple of the goddess! fuch its ornaments and magnificence ! her favourite temple! where the herfelf has chosen to eftablish her worship; appointed herself the ceremonies; inftituted the festivals; and where the deigns to be at once the Divinity and the Priestess.

X.

11. Popular Confiderations on the Dearnefs of Provifions in general, and particularly of Bread-Corn; occafioned by the late Riots. In a Letter to a Member of Parliament. By a Country Gentleman. d. Rivington,

This is a nonfenfical rhapsody about riots. and feareity, and judgments, and regraters, forestallers, and exporters, which, if it was: poffible to prevent ignorance from prating of what it does not understand, would have been fuperceded by the very excellent tract upon that fubject, of which a large account is published in our Magazine, Vol. xxxvii. p. 596.

X.

12. The Hiftory of Aftronomy, with its Application to Geography, Hiftory, and Chronology; occafionally exemplified by the Globes. By George Coftard, M. A. Vicar of Twickenham, Middlesex. Newbery.

This volume, among other curious particu⚫ lars, contains an account of, The different forts of measures. The points of the compafs and burning winds. The fenfible and rational horizon. The celeftial globe, and by whom first conftru&ted. The tropics and polar circles of the ancients. The modern polar circle, and when introduced. Ancient pofition of the polar circle applied to finding the Thule of the ancients. The Zenith, The zodiack; Nadir, and Almacanters.

why it is fo called; and a paffage in Virgil explained. The manfions of the moon, and heir names. Of the Spheres, &c.

A

The hiftory of Aftronomy from the flood to Thales; among the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Chinese.

The oldeft obfervations on the fixed ftars, as the caufes of wind, rain, &c. Travel ing and failing by the ftars. The names of Chaldean con ellations. The fphere of the Indians and Chinefe. The navigation of the

ancients. The Mariner's compafs; the A-
zimuth compass, &c.

The hiftory of Aftronomy from Thales to
Alexander.

The oldest predictions of eclipfes. The Fli
nlan period. The diurnal paraMax. Venus
the first planet mentioned. Greek and Ro
mandial, and the dial of Alaz. The an-
nual motion of the earth afferted by Philolaus,
and its diurnal motion by Hycetas.

The hiftory and improvements in Aftronomy from Alexander to Ptolomy, by Aratasy Ariftarchus Samius, Archimedes, Hippar chus, and Geminus.

History of Aftronomy from Ptolomy to Ty.
cho Brahe.

Ptolomy's catalogue of the fixed stars, &c.
Of the
The aftronomy of the Arabians.
twylight, &c.

The hiftory of Aftronomy from Tycho
Brahe to the present time.

Kepler, and his difcoveries. Galileo and
telescopes, The fun and planets, found to
turn round their axes. Horrox firft difco-
vered Venus in the fun; the fun's parallax
to be determined from that phenomenon.
Riccioli argues against the annual motion of
the earth, from the fan's ftanding Still, in Jo-
bua; and how that phenomenon may be ex-
plained. A felonography, and the use of it.
À micrometer; the invention of it contended
for by Azout and Gascoigne.

The building of the royal obfervatory at Greenwich. Mr. Roemer obferves the fucceffive propagation of the rays of light, The names of the planets explained. The relative distances of the planets. Eratof thenes measures a great circle of the earth, with its ufe; likewife other measurments fince. The horizontal parallax of Mars, Method of finding the true distances of the planets. Eclipfes of the fun and moon. Eclipfes of Jupiter's fatellites. Ufes of eclipfes in geography and chronology; with other particulars relating to finding the longi. tude of places. Sir Ifaac Newton, and fome particulars relating to his method of philofo phizing. The phenomenon of tides. Tides in the atmosphere. The moon's irregularities. Phenomenon of the harvest moon. The magnitudes and motions of comets, The Mofaic hiftory of the creation and deluge. The figure of the earth and heavenly bodies. The procesfion of the equinox, The earth's annual parallax. The aberrati tion of light, &c. &c.

It is only neceffary to obferve, that this work, which is the firft of the kind, is well executed, difcovers a great deal of reading and erudition, and will be of infinite fervice to every young gentleman who intends to profecute the ftudy of Geography and Aftro nomy. The book is elegantly printed, and the diagrams, which are numerous, and printed in the context, are very neatly cut upon wood, by the printer's own hand.

The

( 37 )

PICTURE.

Sung by Mrs. WEICHSELL, at VAUX-HALL, Set to Mufick by Mr. SAMUEL HOWARD.

Lively.

By virtue illumin'd his actions appear,
His paffions are calm, and his reafon is clear;
An affable fwetnefs attends on his fpeech,
He's willing to learn, though he's able to teach :
He has promis'd to love me, his word I'll believe,
For his heart is too honeft to let him deceive:
Then blame me, ye fair ones, if july you can,
Since the piece I have drawn is exactly the man,

The GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, VOL. XXXVIII.

To the Right Honourable
The EARL of CHESTERFIELD, '
On his late Recovery from a dangerous Illness.

Sed nil dulcius eft, bene quam munita tenere
Edita doctrina Sapientum Templa ferena:
Defpicere unde queas alios, paffimg videre
Errare, atq viam palantes quærere vita.
LUCRET. 1. 2. v. 6.