Art. 51. A Triplet of Inventions, &c. By Thomas Northmore, Esq. M. A. F. A. S. 8vo. Is. Owen. An Attic simplicity of taste, and an English precision of argument, distinguish this writer. In this pamphlet, he suggests, 1st, a plan of a nocturnal telegraph, in which the changes rung on the position of four lamps are to form the various signals. 2. He proposes a pasigraphy by means of numbers, according to which the corresponding words of all languages would be represented by the same numerical figures. 3. He recommends a new anatomical nomenclature, in which the unintelligible Greek technical terms should be exchanged for more adapted and more popular words. This last scheme might, we apprehend, be greatly improved by inquiring at the shambles for the native words already in vulgar use. Art. 52. Hints to Public Speakers; intended for young Barristers, The polite scholar may pronounce the rules and observations in this tract to be too trite and obvious; yet many, even of our eminent speakers in the senate, as well as at the bar, appear to have paid too little regard to the truth of them. If, indeed, these precepts be je june, they are neither prolix nor numerous; and if many be thought minute and trivial, let it be considered that they are addressed to very young students in the art of speaking. Indeed, with due deference to grave rhetoricians, it may be questioned whether this art, inasmuch as it is confined to emphasis, gesture, and tone, by the author of this treatise, be not more suited to school-boys, and to be classed with dancing, &c. than calculated for men whose capacities are more enlarged, and more seriously employed. That practice and habit may conduce much to correct the faults of voice and manner may readily be granted but very little diligence, exercised at the earlier period of life, might have prevented, in a great measure, those aukward gestures and harsh tones which the youngest Barrister would find it now too late to alter or improve. Whatever may be this author's skill in elocution, he appears by no means expert in the art of writing. His style and diction deserve not the praise either of elegance or correctness. The first page of the book will confirm these remarks on his composition. It opens thus: Of speaking-how to make yourself heard without difficulty. The first thing to which a speaker ought to attend when he gets up is to make himself heard not only with ease to himself, but to those who compose his auditory; for if he is not heard without difficulty by them, they will not give themselves the trouble of attending, as they are unwilling to plague themselves about that which requires so much of their attention. Besides the ear being at such great pains to make Gut the words, the mind would thereby be inattentive to the matter delivered.' The incorrect changes of tenses, the repetition of the same words, and the vulgarity of some of the phrases, contained in this passage, passage, must be manifest to every reader of common taste and erudition. To avoid these inconveniencies, (proceeds the author,) you ought to have a clear strong voice,' &c. This mode of precept reminds us of a recipe in an old book on the art of cookery :-how to dress a dolphin, First catch a dolphin," &c. Page 10 presents us with rules for varying the voice ;-of a high or a low tone, a vehement or a soft one, we can readily, with the author, form a clear notion: but we do not easily apprehend the meaning of the terms a swift and a slow tone. Page 23, Mr. Garrick is said to have spoken some fine lines in the character of Lear, with a heartfelt and deplorable tone. Page 71, an important and very difficult precept is introduced. The head, how to manage it.' The author advises that it should not be extravagantly stretched out, as this is a mark of arrogance and haughtiness, &c. It ought continually to be kept up, and as it were modestly erect; a state and position that Nature requires :-but it is not handsome for the head to continue always fixed in one immoveable posture, as if you had no joint in your neck; nor is it on the other hand pleasing for it to be constantly moving and throwing itself about at every turn of expression, an error too commonly practised.' We are induced to apprchend that, on the whole, these few wellmeant bints will contribute little to improve the graces of modern elocution. We do not object to the general truths that may be found in this treatise, but to a total want of investigation of principles, s0 necessary to render rules of weight and authority with inquisitive minds; and to a deficiency, almost universally prevailing in the tract, of those attractions of style and phrases which render precepts perspicuous to the understanding, and amusing to the fancy. Art. 53. Aids to Nature: containing a plain and easy Method of establishing and preserving Health in Childhood, and continuing it through Life, particularly Asthmatics and all Complaints arising from Deformity of Body, and that Deformity cured, or much assisted (though born with it) both in Body and Limbs. By Captain Reynolds, Master of the Prince of Wales's Royal Military Academy at Durham-house, near Chelsea College. To which is prefixed, a Plan of Terms, Rules, &c. of the Academy. 4to. PP. 28. IS. Lane. 1797. If literary accomplishments, even of the most common kind, be sought in the master of a military academy, we fear that this advertisement (as may be judged by the title-page) will not have much success: but, with respect to the important qualifications of teaching boys to hold up their heads, push forwards their chests, turn out their toes, keep back their knees, &c. it is probable that Capt. R. may be thought to vie with any drill serjeant in his majesty's service. FAST SERMONS, March 8, 1797. Art. 54. The solemn Voice of Public Events, considered, &c. A. Maclaine*, D. D. 4to, Is. 6d. Cadell jun. and Davies. * Late of the Hague. By The The celebrity of the preacher's name will sufficiently recommend this discourse to the British public. Art. 55. Ezekiel's Warning to the Jews, applied to the threatened Invasions of Great Britain. Preached at Ash. By N. Nisbett, M. A. 8vo. 6d. Johnson. Piously and loyally adapted to the general purpose of discourses of this kind. The author pleads earnestly in justification of the war, on the part of the allied powers. Art. 56. The Duty of Christians to seek the Peace and Welfare of the Community, preached at Kingston upon Hull. By William Pendered. 8vo. 16. Johnson. Mr. P. merits commendation, as an able preacher of peace and good neighbourhood. We wish that we could have said as much in favour of all our divines, whose fast-sermons we have perused within these three or four years past. Art. 57. The Necessity and Duty of enlightening the Human Race. Delivered in the Church of St. Mary, Whittlesea. By George Burges, B. A. 8vo. IS. Longman. A pulpit declaration of war against war is rather uncommon on these occasions and in these times. The author has prefixed a manly avowal of his singularity, with an exposition of his motives for giving to the public a discourse, wearing a complexion so different from that of our late fast-sermons in general; and accounting for his departure from hallowed precedents,' &c. On this occasion we cannot withhold from Mr. B. the praise of truly patriotic and pious intention: but we fear lest, instead of applause, he should meet with a railing accusation,' from some of those who may be disposed to vindicate the present desolating war, on the ground of Necessity and Justice:" a plea which he by no means acknowleges; for he abominates' all wars originating in any source but that of absolute self-defence.'We have met with worse sentiments in many zealous and loyal dis courses. Art. 58. By the Rev. L. H. Halloran. 8vo. PP. 55. 28. Exeter printed, and sold by M'Kenzie and Son. Our duty to God and our Country, and our patriotic perseverance in opposition to the inveterate enemies of both, (for, as such, Mr. H. strongly paints our hostile Neighbours on the Continent,) are warmly inculcated in this well-written discourse :-to which the author has added a good charity sermon, on the Duties of Compassion and Benevolence. Art. 59. Love to our Country: preached in the Chapel of Mile End, New Town, Stepney. By the Rev. J. Cottingham, Minister of the said Chapel, and late of St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford. 8vo.. IS. Levi. There is nothing in this plain, practical, and pious discourse, at which the smallest offence could be taken by any human being,-not even a French republican:-but there is enough to edify every welldisposed hearer and reader; particularly those whose hearts are not hardened hardened against that most divine virtue, UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE! Art. 60. At St. Patrick's Chapel, Sutton-street, Soho-square. By the Rev. Arthur O'Leary. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Coghlan, &c. Well adapted to a Catholic congregation, and to keep alive a high degree of good warm Christian hatred of the French,-on whom the preacher is very severe, with now and then a stroke of pleasantry, sarcasm, and rough wit, happily fitted to fortify the audience against any attacks of drowsiness which might happen during the delivery of a long discourse. The abilities and peculiar turn of Mr. O'Leary are suffici ently known. SINGLE SERMON S. Art. 61. On the Deliverance of the Kingdom of Ireland from the Invasion lately attempted by the French, preached in the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, Jan. 1, 1797, and in St. Peter's on the 8th of January; and preached in the same Church on January 15th, at the Request of the Parishioners in Vestry assembled, and published at their Desire. By the Rev. Richard Graves, B.D. M. R.I.A. junior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. 8vo. pp. 36. IS. Dilly, London. 1797. On the Christian and truly rational principle, that all events are under the direction of a wise and merciful Providence, the ingenious author of this discourse endeavours to excite in the hearts of his auditors, and of his countrymen at large, the sentiments of religious gratitude for the deliverance of Ireland from the late threatened invasion. When we observe the patriotic and pious sentiments and the animated language of this discourse, in connection with the interesting event which occasioned it, we are not surprised that the preacher was solicited to repeat it several times; and we can have little doubt that it has been received in Ireland from the press with as much applause as it was heard from the pulpit, or that it will find many admirers on this side of the water. The writer has, perhaps, indulged himself farther than was necessary, or strictly just, in criminatory language against the enemy, and against those of his fellow-citizens who may have leaned towards their political principles: but the leading sentiments of the discourse are just; its exhortations to moral reformation, and to vigorous exertions for the relief of distress, for the diffusion of knowlege, and for the encouragement of virtuous manners, are animated; and, with some candid allowances, the sermon may be read with pleasure and profit even by persons of opposite opinions and parties. Art. 62. The Path of the Just like the shining Light: occasioned by the Death of Henry Keene, Esq. Feb. 14, 1797, in the seventyfirst Year of his Age. By James Dore. 8vo. Is. Gurney. Funeral sermons, especially among the Calvinistic dissenters, have such a general similarity; unless something offers itself in the character of the person whose memory is celebrated, which may claim the attention of the public; that it is altogether unnecessary to give any particular account of their contents, or to enter into a minute examin 4 ation ation of their merits. As we learn nothing more from this discourse concerning Mr. Keene, than that he was a very worthy man, and a very pious Christian, we shall content ourselves with characterising this sermon as written in a neat rather than an animated style, and as abounding with sentiments which will render it acceptable to a pretty numerous class of Christians. Art. 63. The Believer waiting for his Change.-A Token of Respect to the Memory of Thomas Lewis, Esq.; who departed this Life on the 4th of Dec. 1796.-Preached in the Chapel of Mile End, New Town, Stepney. By the Rev. J. Cottingham, Minister of the said Chapel, and late of St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford. 8vo. IS. Levi, &c. After a proper improvement of the text, Joв, xiv. 14. the preacher introduces a warm but perfectly decent encomium on his late worthy friend, whose departure gave immediate occasion to this discourse; and who, doubtless, merited all that good report which is here consecrated to his memory.-It appears that Mr. Lewis was a gentleman of the mercantile profession. CORRESPONDENCE. Indagator inquires concerning a book of which he used to hear a good deal twenty years ago, intitled Noctes Nottinghamica, written: by Johnson, author of the Questiones Philosophice, who was a native of Nottingham. He wishes for some information respecting the nature of that work, or to know where it is to be had. We do not recollect any thing concerning it, nor do we find it in our General Index. We suspect that it was merely a Provincial publication. A Hertfordshire correspondent, whose letter has the Baldock post mark, requests us to inform him which are the publications most proper for the perusal of a young man engaged in agricultural employ.' To answer this question fully, and comprehensively, would at present entrench too much on our leisure and our limits: but we would suggest to this inquirer, that he will reap the result of much experience and practical knowlege, by diligently perusing the different works of Dr. James Anderson and Mr. Marshall; particularly the Rural Economy of the different counties published by the latter. A. B. alias A. Z. is before us, and remains with many other fubjects of consideration. The letters of A.N.-O.W.M. from Dublin,-&c. are received, but we have neither time nor room to notice their contents in this Number. Mr. Wansey's Journal was reviewed in our Number for April, D. 424. In the last Review, p. 464. 1. 9. for applications some,' x. aps plication, some c. |
