nave presented many a precious gift. From the fentiments expreffed in this poem, we conclude that this divinity has feldom had a more zealous votary than its author. If his poetical talents be not equal to his ardour in the cause of matrimony, the purity of his fentiments and the utility of his precepts may be well allowed to atone for any defects in a kind of verfe which is fomewhat profaic, but is not deftitute of melody. He juftly celebrates the praife of virtuous love, and offers prudential and moral advice for the attainment and prefervation of conjugal felicity.-On the whole, we think this poem, on account of its moral merit, worth whole rheams of the rhiming traf that is almost daily obtruded on the patience of the good-natured public.

Art. 43. Poetical Chronology of Ancient and English Hiftory*; with Hiftorical and Explanatory Notes. 12mo. PP. 52. Is. 3d. Elmfley. 1794.

Among the various aids which have been provided to facilitate the recollection of hiftorical dates, this is one of the moft judicious and pleafing. The author agreeably enlivers a very dry study by giving the leading heads of chronology in a poetical form; and the verses are much fuperior to thofe doggrel rhymes, which have been often ufed for purposes of this kind. They have fufficient harmony to entice the ear, and may easily be learned on account of their fimplicity. Brief heads of the fcience of chronology are prefixed.

Art. 44. Britain's Glory or a Trip to Portsmouth. A Mufical Entertainment, as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket. 8vo. IS. Barker. 1794.

A jovial failor-like effufion, in commemoration of his Majefty's late vifit to Portsmouth, in confequence of Lord Howe's fignal victory over the French fleet.

Art. 45. The Apparition: a Mufical Dramatic Romance, in Two Acts; as performed with univerfal Applaufe at the Theatre Royal, Hay-market. By J. Crofs, Author of The Purfe,' and British Fortitude,' &c. 8vo. IS. Barker.

We have frequently remarked, in regard to these minor dramas, that, if they afford half an hour's innocent diverfion to a good-humoured audience, they completely anfwer the writer's end.-The title informs us that this Apparition has been seen with univerfal applaufe.'

Art. 46. The Purfe; or Benevolent Tar; a Mufical Drama. In one A&t, as performed at the Theatre Royal, Hay-market. By J. C. Crofs. The Mufic by Mr. Reeve. 8vo. 6d. Scatcherd. Mr. Crofs makes handsome acknowlegements to the actors for the advantage which his dramatic pieces have derived from them in the representation. We have no doubt that his gratitude has been juftly excited; for these after-pieces always fucceed better on the boards than in the closet. Indeed the best of these are not very happily calculated for perusal.

Art. 47. The Captive Monarch. A Tragedy, in Five Acts. By Richard Hey, of the Middle Temple, Elq. LL. D. and Fellow of Said to be the work of the Rev. Dr. Valpy.

Magdalen

Magdalen College, Cambridge.

Hood. 1794.

8vo. Is. 6d. Vernor and

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Something too much of this".. Why must loyal hearts be thus repeatedly harrowed with the exhibition of murdered fovereigns? truth, we cannot but confider fuch application of the drama to political purposes, as a lamentable perversion of its general defign. In one refpect, however, this reprefentation differs from others which have appeared on the fame occafion. The writer has not given an exact picture of recent events, but has mixed fomething of fiction with the real ftory. With regard to the execution, the play is written with that mediocrity which, if it may escape cenfure, cannot command praise.

EDUCATION.

Art. 48. Rudiments of the Latin Tongue; or an eafy Introduction to Latin Grammar: To which is prefixed a fhort Vocabulary, English and Latin. Second Edition, improved. By George Chapman, LL.D. 12mo. pp. 132. IS. Cadell. 1793.

The author of this little work is already known to the public by his treatife on education, which, we find, has pafied through five editions*. The long and diligent attention, which he has bestowed on the inftruction of youth, will naturally fuggeft a favourable opinion of his grammar and fyntax. They indeed bear the evident marks of inveftigation and judgment; and, if carefully ufed and regarded, will no doubt prove very beneficial.-Of the vocabulary, it is obferved that the words are mostly primitive, and expreffive of the most common objects; and the manner in which they are arranged tends at once to affift the memory, and to inform the judgment.'-This account is juft: but a vocabulary of yet greater length seems requifite for that early period which is most proper for floring the mind with the names of things and their more various qualities.

Art. 49. Pocket Dictionary of the Dutch and English Languages. In two Parts. I. English and Dutch. II. Dutch and English. Containing all Words of general Ufe, and authorised by the best modern Writers. Alfo the Terms of Commerce, Navigation, Arts; Sciences, &c. By Baldwin Janfon, Profeffor and Tranflator of the Dutch and French Languages, &c. Small 4to. 6s. Bound.

Vernor. 1793.

This fmall but comprehenfive vocabulary of the Low-Dutch tongue has derived fome affiftance from the Woorden boek der Neder duitfche en Franfche Yaalen of Francis Halma, the beft edition of which appeared at Amfterdam in 1729; and still more from the large LowDutch and English Dictionary of 1791, which has Halma's collection of words for its bafis. The compiler fpeaks in his preface of the great utility of the popular language of the Dutch, which is no doubt an object of curiofity to the etymologift, and of convenience to the failor and the traveller: but, as the French language is fufficient all over the United Provinces for the purpofes of polite intercourfe and of commerce, as their works of tafte are few and unimportant, (even the * See Rev. vol. x, New Series, p.90. a

Rev. OCT, 1794.

poems

poems of Vondel, fo vaunted in this preface, being of fecondary merit,) and as their cultivators of fcience moftly acquire the Latin and the German, it is furely more defirable that the Low-Dutch should fink into a provincial jargon, and gradually difappear, than that it thould be polished into a claffical language. It is already the misfortune of modern Europe to poffefs too many cultivated dialects. The literati, who would keep pace with the progrefs of the general mind, must be acquainted with many of them; and the emergence of every new nation into learning and refinement multiplies the elementary toil of each student. It is therefore important that the fmalleft poffible number of leading languages fhould contain the whole ftock of information and amufement; and that inconfiderable diftricts, fuch as Holland, Denmark, Piedmont, or Wales, fhould not endeavour to immortalize their refpective phrafeology, but contentedly flide into the fpeech of the larger contiguous nations.

The English half of this vocabulary is faulty in mingling the i and j, the u and v, letters as wholly diftinct as any others of the alphabet. The degree of abridgment may be judged by the following lift of words, beginning at kee and proceeding to kek, contained in Halma's work, but omitted here:

Keffen, to bark.

Keffer, fnarler.

Keffter, vixen.

Kei pebble, a flat stone.

Keilen, to make ducks and drakes.
Keizerin, Emprefs.

Keizerdom, empire.

Keizerlijk, imperial.

Keerzijde, reverfe of a medal.

Kekers, fplit peas, &c.

On the whole, however, this is a meritorious, cheap, and, we doubt not, marketable publication.

Art. 50. Fabule in ufum Scholarum felette. Opera et ftudio Georgii Whitaker, A. M. Grammanice Schole Magiftri Alresfordice in Com. Hampt. 12mo. pp. 106. IS. Law. 1793.

School-books are become fo numerous, that we are inclined to say, Surely, among them all, every taste and opinion must be gratified.' The prefent little performance appears to be a well-intended and an ufeful introduction to Latin authors. Mr. Whitaker has added a conftruing and parfing index of the first ten fables, for the affiftance of that early ftage of education which this book immediately regards. The gradual tranfition from fhorter to longer fables, and the brevity and propriety of the morals, feem to recommend it to attention. Several errata are noticed at the end: but a few more might be pointed out: Aves, instead of apes, fab. Ixi. p. 31. is material.-We do not admire the phrafe, in the fame fable, fpeaking of bees, ex earum manibus elapfus, though it may be allowable.

THEOLOGY, POLEMICs, &c. Art. 51. Notes and Annotations on Locke on the Human Understanding, written by Order of the Queen; corresponding in Section and Page with the Edition of 1793. By Thomas Morell, D.D. Rector of Buckland,

Buckland, and F. SS. R. and A. 8vo. PP. 125. 35. Boards.

Sael. 1794.

Dr. Morell is fo well known to the learned world, as the editor of the improved edition of Ainsworth's Latin Dictionary, and the tranflator of Seneca's Epiftles, &c. that his name is a fufficient recommendation of this work. The notes are, evidently, the produce of a clear and penetrating understanding, and will form a valuable appendage to Locke's Effay. They are commonly fhort, but pertinent; and they will be particularly useful to young ftudents in affifting them to understand the meaning of the great Locke, and to examine the accuracy of his obfervations.

Art. 52. The unpurchased Love of God in the Redemption of the World by Jefus Chrift, a great Argument for Chriftian Benevolence, illuftrated in three. Difcourfes: To which are added, Remarks on the Dif courses of the late Caleb Evans, D. D. entitled " Chrift Crucified;" and a Letter to the Rev. David Bogue, of Gosport, on his Sermon entitled "The great Importance of having right Sentiments in Religion." By D. B. Jardine, Minifter at the Unitarian Chapel, Bath. 8vo. pp. 206. 2s. 6d. fewed. Johnson.

The leading object of these difcourfes is to prove that the doctrine of the atonement of Chrift, as it has been commonly received in orthodox churches, is inconfiftent with our natural conceptions of the mora! attributes of God, and is without fupport from fcripture. The firit point is maintained in the three difcourfes; the latter, in the author's reply to Dr. Evans. Some difcuffions are added on the topics of the pre-existence and divinity of Chrift. The letter to Mr. Bogue is a manly and spirited defence of those who profefs what are called free principles in religion, against fome illiberal reflections thrown out in the fermon mentioned in the title.-The whole work appears to have been written under the influence of a fincere love of truth, and of a spirit of Christian benevolence; and it bears marks of ability and judg ment which reflect honour on the writer. Thefe, however, are fubjects which have been of late fo frequently before us, that we may be excufed if, under the preffing demand of temporary publications, we permit this fmall volume of theological controverfy to pass without farther notice than a general commendation.

Art. 53. A Letter addreffed to the Hon. and Rev. Bromley Cadogan, on the Subject of his two Sermons, preached in the Churches of St. Giles, Reading, and St. Luke, Chelfea; and published in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Reading, &c. entitled Liberty and Equality. Svo. IS. Deighton. 1793.

It is on theological and not on political grounds that Mr. Cadogan becomes the object of this writer's animadverfions. The Letter is a serious and not injudicious refutation of Mr. Cadogan's notion concerning Chriftian preaching, that it confifts, "not in faying you muit be this, or do this, but in lifting up Jefus Chrift, and faying, believe on him, and thou shalt be faved." To that clafs of preachers who, in order to exalt their Saviour, depreciate good works, the author of this letter very properly addreffes the apoftolic exhortation, “Add to thy faith, virtue.

Q 2

Art.

Art. 54. Sermons: To which is affixed a fhort Discourse on the Divinity of Chrift. By the Rev. Richard Worthington, M. D. 8vo. PP. 343. 55. Boards. Debrett. 1793.

Several important topics of practical religion and morality are treated in thefe fermons, but with fuch mediocrity of manner as leaves little room either for praise or cenfure! The fentiments are commonly juft, but withal fufficiently trite; and the language, though feldom faulty in point of correctnefs, has a general air of ftiffnefs, and is fometimes obfcure. To many readers, the orthodoxy of the preacher's fyftem may be a recommendation: but they must not expect to fee it fupported by learned criticifm and elaborate arguments; for the author has a violent antipathy to controverfy, and speaks of a polemical divine as a hateful character. He has, indeed, fo far ventured into the field of theological fpeculation, as to give what he calls a short difcourfe, (which, by the way, is much the longest in the volume,) on the divinity of Chrift:-but he makes the reception of this doctrine a mere act of implicit faith; and, instead of attempting to refute the objections of heretics in the ordinary way of argumentation, he is contented to wonder at their ignorance and perverfenefs. He appeals to the general fentiments and common fenfe of mankind:-but this is an appeal which has always been made by the opponents of this doctrine.

Art. 55. Devotional Offices for Public Worship. Collected from various Services, in ufe among Diffenters: To which are added, Two Services, chiefly felected from the Book of Common Prayer. 8vo. 35. Printed at Salisbury; fold in London by Longman. 3794.

The compilers of these offices, doubtlefs, aware of the extreme difficlty of drawing up acceptable forms of public devotion, have very judicioufly, as well as modeftly, availed themfelves of former publications of this kind. They have, notwithstanding, preferved throughout a perfect confiftency of fentiment, and a general uniformity of language. With refpect to fentiments, they have confined themselves to thofe univerfal principles of religion which are common to all Chriftians; cautiously excluding all diftinguishing tenets of fects, under the liberal notion that Chriftians of different perfuafions, whatever be their peculiar views of fome difputable doctrines, may all unite in worshipping the Eternal Father through his fon Jefus Chrift. In language, thefe offices poffefs, in an eminent degree, the firft excellence in devotional compofitions, clearness and fimplicity. Perhaps, in order to attain this end, the compilers have taken too much pains to break the prayers into fhort fentences. The more extended flow of language, which is every where preferved in the Book of Common Prayer, feems the more proper liturgic ftyle, as better fuited to spread a general air of dignified folemnity over the fervice. In this view," as well as in fome other particulars of phrafeology, too much liberty is perhaps taken with the original, in the two fervices which are here compofed from the national liturgy. Thefe fervices are, however, valuable, not only for their intrinfic merit, but because they fhew how eafily the established forms of devotion might be fo altered as to adapt them to universal use in Christian societies.

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