Art. 51. A Narrative of an extraordinary Escape out of the Hands of the Indians in the Gulph of St. Lawrence; interspersed with a Defcription of the Coast, and Remarks on the Cuftoms and Manners of the Savages there: Alfo a providential Escape after a Shipwreck in coming from the Island of St. John in faid Gulph; with an Account of the Fisheries round that Ifland. Likewife a Plan for reconciling the Differences between Great Britain and her Colonies. By Gamaliel Smethurft, late Member of the Affembly, &c. in the Province of Nova Scotia, Comptroller of his Majesty's Cuf-` toms, &c. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Bew. 1774. We find nothing very extraordinary or providential in either of the Author's efcapes.-His difficulties, however fevere they may have felt to himself, appear to have been fuch as ufually attend travelling and navigating in a northern climate during the winter. His plan for reconciling the differences, &c. is favourable to the claims of America, but not likely to be adopted. B. Art. 52. The Hiftory of Chefs, together with fhort and plain Inftructions by which any One may eafily play at it without the Help of a Teacher. By R. Lambe, Vicar of Norham upon Tweed. 8vo. 2 s. 6d. fewed. Dilly. 1774. "Clean girls, backgammon, and the vicar!" O fhade of Amnon Pym! Spirit of Obadiah Strong Faith! How would ye be grieved with this untoward and finful generation! What! (would ye fay) fhall the priests, the minifters of the Lord's houfe, join themfelves unto the abomination of Zidon, fhall they defile their hands with the implements of the wicked one? And thou, vicar of Norham, paftor of the new covenant, that teachest the game of Chefs! Scarlet Babylonian! Incurable Abaddon! Get thee from amongst us!' But, to fuch a degree has philofophy triumphed over true puritanism, these pious remonftrances would now fall to the ground. It can be no wonder, then, if we Reviewers, whom fome hold to be Heretics, and others, with lefs charity, call Infidels,-it cannot be ftrange if we look upon this honeft VICAR and his book with as little prejudice as we should fit down to play with him at the game he describes. If any game can derive respect or dignity from high antiquity, or from high example, the game of chefs may plead peculiar privileges; for it has been an amufement, or rather a fchool of military inftruction, at least so far as the difpofition of armies is concerned, for princes and commanders, from the firft eras of fociety. Here, however, we can only be expected to obferve that Mr. Lambe has traced the hiftory of the game with much learned inquiry; and the directions he has given for playing it are eafy and obvious. L. Art. 53. Valuable Secrets concerning Arts and Trades; or approved Directions, from the beft Artifts, &c. Containing upwards of One Thousand Receipts. 12mo. 3 s, fewed. Hay. 1775. The prefent work, fays the preface, is a faithful compilation of various fecrets and difcoveries in the refined arts and trades: difcove ries noway unworthy an Englishman's attention, as they fpring from the first artists in France, Italy, and Germany.' Again, the following approved receipts are faithfully tranflated from the French, by a celebrated foreigner; and feveral eminent artifis here have given great affistance,' &c. Puff! Perhaps it would have been more advantageous to this work if the celebrated foreigner (without a name) had been otherwise employed, and had left the tranflation of these rare fecrets to an Englifhman. As it is, there are many things in the book, which the mere English reader will not be able to understand. The language is, moreover, every where wretchedly vulgar, as well as incorrect. The first receipt on which we happened to caft our eyes, prefented us with a direction to take a difcretionable quantity of rye-bran ;' and the next tells us to melt the materials for compofing a metal of a gold colour' into a crucible +.-Here, Boy! take it away. Art. 54. The Mirror of Human Nature, wherein are exhibited analytical Definitions of the natural and moral Faculties, Affections and Paffions, whence all Actions originate, with Maxims for the Regulation thereof. To which is fubjoined a fyftematical view of Human Knowledge. Izmo. 1 S. Bew. 1775. Below the notice of the learned, and calculated to mislead the un- learned. Admiration fhews itself, fays the Author, by fixing a perfon for a time like a ftatue.' He fhould have faid, Aftonifhment, &c.' But of his errors there is no end. L. Art. 55. A fhort chronological Abstract of the Rife of the Reformation and Proteftant Succeffion: to which are added a few Theological, Hiftorical, Claffical and Poetical Amufements for young Gentlemen. 8vo. I S. Leacroft. 1774. Great Jove! how little trouble fhould we know, The above lines are among the poetical amufements at the end of this pamphlet, and from woeful experience we feel their truth. Ha Jove done this favour to the Author, we fhould never have feen his book. SCHOOL BOOK'S. Art. 56. A new Geographical Grammar; containing a comprehen- L. We have once before, on a fimilar occafion, remarked, that whoever N. It is unneceffary for us to fay any thing more of this little publication than what is contained in the author's fhort and modeft advertifement. No honour can be derived from the publication of a book, which every School-mafter is able to write in a winter's evening. But, without the praife of uncommon talents, which are fome. times made mifchievous, it is very easy to have the pleasure of being ufeful. Those who are engaged in the difficult bufinefs of education, will hardly be unfavourable to the humblelt attempt to facilitate their task as they must know, by experience, that young beginners are puzzled with the contracted manner in which the nouns and verbs are commonly printed, they will perhaps allow, that this may be found a plain and useful introduction to almost any of the Latin grammars, not one of which it is intended to preclude. When the learner is perfect in the formation of thefe nouns and verbs, he may lay them afide, and begin his new grammar with courage.' H. Art. 58. A plain Grammar of the Hebrew Language, adapted to the Ufe of Schools, with biblical Examples. By the Rev. W. H. Barker, A. B. Master of the Grammar School, Carmarthen. 8vo. 15. 6d. Carmarthen; Printed for the Author. This grammar was drawn up by the author for the ufe of his pupils, and it comes recommended to us under the fanction of experience, which he fays has convinced him of its utility. The rules and obfervations are selected from fuch writers as feem beft deferving of attention, particularly the learned Mr. Parkhurst; many fuperfluities are ftruck out, and whatever was thought effentially neceffary supplied. Divefted of maforetic trammels, the naked ftructure of the language only is regarded, and fuch a method adopted, as may facilitate the study of the Hebrew, even to fuch as are strangers to the principles of all grammar.'It is very properly added the gay and diffipated, the ftudy of language and the labour of the To gramarian may feem futile; but to the ferious and reflecting they ap-H. pear far otherwife.' Art. 59. A fhort Introduction to Latin Grammar, for the Use of Holt School. By J. Smith. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Norwich; Printed by Chafe. We have abounded of late years with publications of this kind. Almost every school-mafter, who is attentive to his employment, has fomewhat peculiar to his own method, which he finds, or thinks he finds, more eafy to himself and his fcholars; but it does not always happen that fuch peculiarities prove more eafy or beneficial to other perfons: and yet it may be of ufe to have a variety of methods pointed out, from attending to which, a tutor may poffibly reap fome advantage. SERMON S. I. Before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in the Abbey Church This discourse is nearly of the fame kind with those which have appeared of late years on the fame fubject; though with rather a ftronger mixture of toryifm than hath been found in fome of the compofitions of the Right Reverend Bench. The Bishop delivers it as a general obfervation, that the doctrines of the independents are ill calculated to render us good fubjects. But we apprehend, that the independents of the prefent times are in no degree diftinguished, by their political fentiments, from the reit of the Diffenters; and that very few, if any of them, are republicans. His Lordship of Worcester afferts likewife, that the memorable Act of Toleration hath removed the unhappy ground of divisions with regard to religion; reconciling the most perfect freedom in religious opinions, with the ancient and venerable form of our establishment. This affertion, we confefs, hath furprised us. We should have thought that the good Bishop must have heard of the late applications of the protesting Diffenting clergy to parliament; and even have feen the cafe prefented by them to the members of both Houses, But it is impoffible to fay, how far perfons of an elevated rank in life may be ignorant of the condition and concerns of those who are placed in ftations fo much below them. K. II. Preached before the Univerfity of Cambridge, November 5 1774. To which are added, Two others on the Nature of Malevolent Sentiments, preached before the fame Audience in the fame Year. By John Hey, B. D. Fellow of Sidney Suffex College, and one of the Preachers at his Majefty's Chapel at Whitehall. 8vo. 1 s. Beecloft, &c. The firft of these fhort difcourfes is a plea for liberty. Every confiftent Proteftant will unite with the Preacher, in wifhing full liberty of conscience to all men, as far as the peace and welfare of public ? communities can poffibly allow it. Mr. Hey's argument is directed, principally, in favour of the Roman Catholics. He may poffibly have the Quebec-Bill in his eye: but his reasoning, though valid, fo far as it goes, does not, we apprehend, at all reach to the objections which are made against that resolution of the British Senate.-The other two Sermons are more philofophical: they are intended as an anfwer to those who may object to the implanting of the unkind affections, as they are termed, in human nature. Thefe affections may be confidered as locks and bars to guard the habitation from hoftile hofile attacks. The natural paffions under due regulation are no doubt beneficial, though utterly unjustifiable in their excefs. In their proper exertions they arife from good principles; but, by indulgence, foon degenerate into vice. Emulation, for instance, is, in a proper degree, a useful affection, but if it amounts to envy, it becomes vicious, and ought to be controlled: and it appears to us, therefore, that envy, which is generally spoken of in a bad fenfe, is rather to be confidered as the over-growth and abuse of a good natural principle, than as itself a natural affection. This thought, perhaps, may be applied to fome other parts of these fermons ; but we have only room to fay, farther, concerning them, that they are fenfible, ingenious, and well written difcourfes. III. A Sermon on Christmas-Day, almoft Fourteen Hundred Years old, of that famous Father of the Greek Church, St. Chryfoftom ; never before published in our Language. To which is prefixed the Life of the Author. By the Revd. William Scott, A. M. late Scholar of Eton, and i'rinity College, Cambridge.' 8vo. I S. Crowder, &c. 1775 Two of St. Chryfoftom's fermons, in his commentary on St. V. At the Funeral of Mr. Abraham Donn, Teacher of Writing, This is faid to be printed from a MS. prefented by the Author to Mr. George Donn, father to the deceased. H. H. |