Subjects. Gathered and garnished by Gridiron Gobble, Gent. Godfon to Mother Goofe. Given in Gimmal under Guidance of J. Barker, Dramatic Repofitory, Ruffel Street, Covent Garden. 12mo. 184 pp. 35. 6d. Barker. 1809.

We have no doubt that this is literally what its title profeffes, "Green room Goffip," collected by fome underling of the theatre; who though he can relish a good joke when ready made, has no better notion of making one himself, than by tricks of alliteration, alphabetical lifts of topics, and fuch mechanical contrivances.

That many of the ftories are comic, and many of the witticifins good, cannot be denied, but too many of the latter were anticipated by that helluo of bon-mots, Joe Miller. Had the compiler' poffeffed any notion of chronological arrangement, a fort of comic hiftory of the stage might have been formed from the fame materials; but he seems to have been equal to nothing, but collecting ftage anecdotes wherever he could find them, and amaffing them in a common place book, which he has literally printed as it flood. One good anecdote, from fuch a flore, may be a fufficient fpecimen.

"Charles Bannifter going into a paftry cook's fhop with Parfons, the latter was very curious in examining an electrical eel, (probably an advertisement for one to be fhown) and enquired of Charles what fort of a pie he thought it would make? who answered a Shocking one." P. 45.

The ftory immediately preceding this, is alfo rather fpoiled in the telling, but is genuine and good. It is of a well known. wit, who, when Mrs. Billington appeared in Love in a Village, being asked whether that was Rofetta, replied, "No, I believe it is Grand Cairo." This, the author has thought it neceffary to explain for his readers; but we do not pay ours fo ill a compliment.

Like other collections of the fame kind, this has fome ftories that ought to have been omitted, fome that are ill told, fome ungrammatically expreffed, but few that may not occafion a laugh, in the Green room. What is fo wittily called an appendix of Grave fubjects is no other than a collection of epitaphs on actors and actreffes. As a fingular accommodation to fuch a mifcellany, this is furnished with an index of names.

ART. 29.

A Dictionary of Anecdotes: chiefly Hiftorical, and illuftrative of Characters and Events, ancient and modern. Drawn from genuine Sources, and fyftematically arranged according to the refpective Subjects. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. 16s,

Simpfon, &c. 1809.

The French have long had a "Dictionary of Anecdotes," but it does not appear that this is at all unfairly borrowed from it. There is not even so much resemblance as might naturally be ex

pected,

pected, where the titles coincide. Thus, under ACTING, we do not fee a fingle article borrowed from ACTEUR, in the French book. Under AMBASSADOR we might ftill more expect them to coincide, but even there we find only the ftory of John Bafilowitz and Jeremy Bowes, whom the French author calls Bofe; and as the fubject of the anecdote is an Englishman, it certainly ought not to be omitted in an English compilation. As far as we have been able to compare the two, the English is the preferable book: but though the compiler tells us, that he has drawn his anecdotes from genuine fources, he has not regularly referred us to those fources, which the French author has done; and which certainly ought not to be omitted. Under the article AVARICE, the com piler is extremely profufe in his anecdotes of the famous Mr. Elwes, nearly the whole of whofe history, as printed by Topham, he incorporates into his book.

We cannot make fuch a book known by felecting fpecimens from it, but we may enliven our own by taking one, which shall be of a literary nature, the fubject being a famous English translator.

"The induftrious Philemon Holland, who was a fchoolmafter and a physician, produced feveral voluminous publications, par ticularly tranflations of Pliny's Natural History, and of Camdens' Britannia, both in folio. On completing the former work be compofed the following lines:

"With one fole pen I writ this book,

A

Made of a grey goofe quill:

pen it was, when I it took,

A I leave it ftill." Vol. i. p. 190.

pen

A fimilar anecdote of Dr. Ferdinando Warner is fubjoined. Of fome perfon who boafted of fuch an inftance of parfimony, the famous Lord Chesterfield observed, not very unjustly, that he had a mind as narrow as the neck of a vinegar cruet."

ART. 30. Scripture Geography in Two Parts, containing a Defcription of the most diftinguifbed Countries and Places noticed in the Holy Scriptures, with a brief Account of the remarkable hiftorical Events connected with the Subject, intended to facilitate the Study of the Holy Bible to Young Perfons, for the Use of Schools and Families; and illuftrated with Maps; by John Toy, private Teacher of Writing, Arithmetic and Geography. Large Octavo. 6s. Scatcherd and Co.

1810.

We confider this book as filling up a defideratum in the class of books published for the inftruction of youth, and therefore warmly recommend it. It is of much importance that geogra phical knowledge fhould accompany that of the facts recorded in the Scriptures, as by this they are rendered more interefting, and receive indeed confiderable illuftration. Thousands read of the children of Ifrael, and their wandering for forty years in the wil.

dernefs,

dernefs, without having the remoteft comprehenfion of the geogra phical fituation of the places defcribed.

The prefent volume is judiciously arranged, and the maps are neatly and perfpicuously executed. We doubt not but it will anfwer the author's purpose, and we think it deserves encourage.

ment.

ART. 31. London; being a complete Guide to the British Capital: containing an accurate and fuccin&t Account of its Origin, Rife, and Progrefs; the Increase and Extent of its Buildings; its Commerce, Curiofities, Exhibitions, Amusements, Public Calamities, Religious and Charitable Foundations, Literary Eftablishments, Learned and Scientific Inftitutions, &c. &c. Interspersed with a Variety of Original Anecdotes, Eccentric Biography, Critical Remarks, faithfully abridged from Mr. Pennant's London, and brought down to the prefent Year. Third Edition. By John Wallis. 12mo. 7s. Sherwood and Co. 1810.

This Book might properly be recommended as well calculated to give a general view of the Metropolis, if the Editor had not stepped out of his way, to make himself a party, as it were, with the mob against the managers of Covent Garden, and if he had not alfo occafionally taken opportunity to infinuate his political prejudices, which are thofe of the partizans of Burdett and Wardle. Now this was certainly travelling out of the record, though it is true, that the title-page profeffes to give a defcription of "Public Calamities," among which the exceffes above alluded to, may be reckoned. But the book, with thefe exceptions, will be found a compendious, ufeful, and entertaining compilation.

ART. 32. Elements of Punctuation: including effential and general Rules for pointing: with numerous, and appropriate Examples. Extracted from the admired Treatife by the late David Steel, Efq. Barrister at Law. 8vo. 15 pp. 8d. Maurice, Fenchurch Street. 1810.

We are not likely to fee a better treatife on punctuation than that which was written by the late Rev. Joseph Robertson, who wrote alfo a Differtation on the Parian Chronicle. His little tract, originally published in 1785, went through several editions, but is now we believe fcarce, and not fo well known as it deferves. The prefent"Elements" may ferve very well as a fubftitute, where that Effay cannot be procured. The thing undertaken to be taught, in fact, is very fimple; and more depends upon well arranging the rules, than upon any great acuteness in difcovering the principles. The prefent little tract is much recommended by its brevity: it reduces the whole fubject to nineteen rules, which in general are plain and clear. In the third rule, we differ both

from

from this author, and alfo from Robertfon. In a lift of fubftantives, ftanding in appofition, when and is introduced, Robertfon omits the comma. This author does the fame with fubftantives in pairs, thus: "Interest and ambition, honour and shame, friend. fhip and enmity, gratitude and revenge, are the prime movers in all public tranfactions." Here we fhould point "Intereft, and ambition, honour, and fhame," &c. becaufe otherwise it must seem that the two united without a comma, are to operate conjointly; whereas they are contraries. Alfo in this inftance," the King, the Queen, the Princeffes, and all the Royal Family," here Robertfon and Steel would omit the comma after Princesses, because and follows. We would not; and we appeal to every reader of taste, whether the voice muft not make a paufe, equal to a comma, after that word. These trifles however are not worth much dispute.

MONTHLY LIST OF PUBLICATIONS.

DIVINITY.

A Concife Manual of the Principies and Duty of a Christian, collected from the Scriptures, and arranged under proper Heads, after the Manner of Gaftrell's Institutes. By the Rev. J. Maule, A. M. Rector of Heath, in Cambridgeshire, and Chaplain of Greenwich Ho'pital. 2s. 6d.

Columbanus Second Letter, with Part I. of an Hiftorical Address on the Calamities occafioned by Foreign Influence in the Nomination of Bishops to Irish Sees. By the Rev. C. O'Connor, D. D. 7s. 6d.

A Scriptural Education the Glory of England, being a Defence of the Lancaftrian Plan of Education, and the Bible Society, in Answer to the late Publications of the Rev. C. Daubeny, Dr. Wordfworth, the Rev. Dr. Spry, &c. By Jofeph Fox. 2s. 6d.

Reflections on Mortality: fuggefted by the General Mourning, a Sermon, preached at Worship Street, Finfbury Square, and at Leather Lane Chapel, Holborn, November 11, 1810, on the Decease of her Royal Highness the Princefs Amelia; with an Account of her Interment, and an Appendix on the Refurrection of the Dead. By John Evans, A. M. 1s. 6d.

Reflections on the Shortnefs of Time, fuggefted by the General Mourning for Her Royal Highness the Princefs Amelia, and delivered in the Octagon Chapel, Bath, Sunday, November 11, 1810. By the Rev. J. Gardiner, D.D. 1s. 6d.

HISTORY.

The Chronicle of the Kings of Britain. Trandated from the Welch Copy attributed to Tyfilio, and illuftrated with copious Notes, and original Differtations on various Subjects. By Peter Roberts, A. M. 4to. 21. 2s.

The Itinerary of Greece, containing Argolis, with Defcriptions of the Routes, Rivers, Antiquities, ancient and modern Towns, Villages, &c. of that Province. Illuftrated with twenty-eight Maps and Plates. By William Gell, Efq. M. A. ́ F. R. S. and S. A. 4to. 21. 12s. 6d.

The Picture of New South Wales, 1810, containing a faithful and correct Account of the State of Agriculture and Trade, &c. being a Continuation of Governor Collins's and other Accounts to the prefent Time. By D. D. Mann, many Years refident in the Colony. 4to. 31. 13s. 6d.

The History of Europe, from the Peace of 1783, to the prefent Time, exhibiting a View of the Commotions in Holland and Brabant, the Wars between Ruffia, Auftria, the Ottoman Porte, and Sweden, &c. &c. By John Bigland. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 4s.

A Slight Sketch of the Campaign in Portugal to December, 1810: with fome Obfervations. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

"Brief Remarks on the Character and Compofition of the Ruffian Army, and an Account of the Campaigns in Poland, in the Years 1806 and 1807. By Sir Robert Wilfon, Knt. 410. 1l. 11s. 6d.

South American Emancipation, or Documents, Hiftorical and Explanatory, fhewing the Defigns which have been in progrefs, and the Exertions which have been made, during the laft twenty-five Years, for the Emancipation of South America. 10s. 6d.

BIOGRAPHY.

The Literary Life and Select Works of Benjamin Stillingfleet, several of which have never before been published. By the Rev. William Cɔxe, M. A, F. R. S. and S. A. 3 vols. 8vo. 21. 2s. Royal 31. 3s. with coloured Plates. Memoirs of the Political and Private Life of James Caulfield, Earl of Charlemont, Knight of St. Patrick, &c. By Francis Hardy, Efq. 4to. 11. 11s. 6d. Royal 21. 12s. 6d.

The Life of Sir Julius Cæfar, Knt. Judge of the High Court of Admiralty, &c. &c. 4to. 31. Ss.

MEDICAL.

A Summary View of Obfervations on the principal Diseases incident to Seamen or Soldiers, whether engaged in active Service or retired from it, carefully abridged and digefted from the latest Editions of the Author's Works, in four Volumes. Defigned chiefly for the Ufe of young profeffional Practitioners in the Navy and Army. By Robert Robertson, M. D. F. R. S. and F. S. A. 8vo. Vol. I. 9s.

Illuftrations of Madness; exhibiting a fingular Cafe of Infanity, and a no lef's remarkable Difference in Medical Opinion: developing the Nature of Af failment, and the Manner of working Events; with a Defcription of the Tortures experienced by Bomb-burfting, Lobster-cracking, and lengthening the Brain. Embellished with a curious Plate. By John Haflam. 5s. 6d.

Elements of Chemistry, by J. Murray, Lecturer on Chemistry, and on, Materia Medica and Pharmacy, Edmburgh, and Author of a System of Chemiftry, and a Syftem of Materia Medica and Pharmacy. 2 vols. 11. 1s. Surgical Obfervations, Part III. on Injuries of the Head and Miscellaneous Subjects. By John Abernethy, F. R. S. &c. 8vo. 7s.

A New Syftem of Chemical Philofophy, Part II. By John Dalton. 10s. 6d.

Practical Obfervations on the Sclerocele, and other Morbid Enlargements of the Tefticle: alfo on the Cause and Cure of the Acute, Spurious, and the Chronic Hydrocele. The whole illuftrated by Cafes. To which are added. Four Cafes of Operation for Aneuryfm, with practical Remarks and Plates. By Thomas Ramfden, Surgeon to the Royal Foundation of Chrift's Hofpital, to the Foundling, and Affiftant Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. 8vo. 75. 6d.

A Differtation on Infanity: illuftrated with Tables, and extracted from between two and three thousand Cafes in Bedlam. By William Black, M. D. 2s. The First Lines of the Practice of Phyfic. By William Cullen, M.D. late Profeffor of the Practice of Phyfic in the University of Edinburgh, including the Definitions of the Nofology, with Supplementary Notes, chiefly felected from recent Authors who had contributed to the Improvement of Medicine. By Peter Reid, M. D. 2 vols. 18s.

A Treatise on Infanity: in which are contained the Principles of a New and more Practical Nofology of Manaical Disorders than has yet been offered to the Public, exemplified by numerous and accurate Hiftorical Relations of Cafes from the Author's Public and Private Practice, with Plates, illuftrative of the Craniology of Maniacs and Idiots. Tranflated from the French of Ph. Pinel, Profeffor of the School of Medicine at Paris, &c. &c. By D. Davis, M. D. Phyfician to the Sheffield General Infirmary. 9s.

On the State of Vaccination in 1810, in a Letter to the Right Hon. R Ryder, Secretary of State. By Charles Maclean, M, D. 2s. 6d.

A Selection of the moft Interefting Cafes that have occurred in the Practice of eminent Physicians, Surgeons, and Accoucheurs; with Practical Remarks :; to which are added, Obfervations on the Progrefs of Medicine to 1810. By a Society of Practical Physicians aud Surgeons, 10s. 6d.

Obfer