Art. 23. The Birth-Place; or, Thoughts on a Vifit made to it; a Poem in the Manner of Dr. Young. 4to. 1 S. Buckland. 11775 There is a low canting infipidity in this performance, and, what is worse, there is that air of uncharitable fanctity which distinguishes the modern fanatics: I in fafety make my way, And hope ere long, by fovereign grace fecur'd, Surely none but a defpicable bigot could have fuggefted fuch an unmerciful and unchriftian idea! DRAMATIC. Ն. Art. 24. Edward and Eleonora; a Tragedy; acted at the Theatre Royal in Covent-Garden; altered from James Thomson. And new adapted to the Stage, by Thomas Hull. 8vo. I S. Bell. 1775. Thomfon certainly fuppofed he had himself fufficiently" adapted the tragedy of Edward and Eleonora to the ftage," when the ftate of parties, at that period, induced the Lord Chamberlain to prohibit the reprefentation. It is however, at prefent, "new adapted" by Mr. Hull, the reigning laureat of Covent-Garden theatre. All the pathos and poetry of the piece ftill remain the property of Thomfon, but who can question the fuperior ftage-excellence of the new adapter, when we find his profe and verfe equally tinctured with the local dialect of the theatre? In the preface we are informed that a propofed fcene" was not ftudied;" not implying (as an ordinary reader might conclude) the free vein of the Writer, but that the actors did not get the words by heart; a good fudy fignifying, it feems, according to the jargon of the fcenes, a good memory. In like manner, we are told in the prologue, in allufion to another tragedy of Thomfon, "Oft on thefe boards hath Coriolanus bled." Now the boards is alfo a cant-term for the ftage, and when a dramatic performance has confeffedly pleafed in the clofet, it is common for the gentlemen of the fock and bufkin to afk, "How it will do on the boards" Such phrafes demand a gloffary; we have therefore given these fhort interpretations for the benefit of Mr. Hull, as well as for the ufe of thofe gentle Readers who wish to fee, in print, the tragedy of Edward and Eleonora, as "new adapted." Players, like other artifts, are apt to confider the technical terms of their business, as the universal language of mankind. Shakespeare himself, who was a retainer to the theatre, fometimes reduced his moft lofty characters to lowly comedians. The noble Moor, invefted with all the dignities of a Venetian commander, adopts the language of a player at a rehearsal, and fays, "Had it been my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter." But as Mr. Hull's fituation has more than once betrayed him into abfurdity and folecifm, we think it but due candour and juftice to temper thefe ftrictures with an inftance of one beautiful paffage, for 2: which which we think he is indebted to his connexion with the theatre. The new scene not ftudied contains a conference between Selim and Daraxa. Selim was the part deftined to Mr. Barry, the pathetic tones of whofe voice are defervedly popular, alluding to which Daraxa, having diffolved his anger into compaffion, exclaims Oh the delightful break Of tenderness in those melodious notes. "The break of tendernefs" very happily defcribes the melting powers of Mr. Barry's voice, and we doubt not but all thofe of our Readers who have been occafionally charmed with that melody, will agree that the Writer meant a perfonal application of the paffage in question. There is fubjoined to this tragedy a comic tail-piece by R. Sheridan, Efq; much unworthy, in our opinion, of the acknowledged poetical abilities of the Writer, and very, very inferior to the beautiful epilogue to his comedy of the Rivals. Art. 25. The Heroine of the Cave; a Tragedy; as performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Evans. 1775. 'In This tragedy, as the preface informs us, is a pofthumous piece of the late Mr. Henry Jones, author of the Earl of Effex, &c. left in the hands of Mr. Reddish, confifting of three acts, and called, The Cave of Idra; and fince, at the inftance of Mr. Reddish, newmoulded, amplified, and new-chriftened, The Heroine of the Cave, by Dr. Hiffernan, author of an Effay on Dramatic Genius. fine (fays the preface) all the under ground scenes were compofed by the deceased author, and all the above-ground, with the prologue and epilogue, by the living.'-Alas! fay the Reviewers, pity it is, that the living author ever" admitted the under-ground part on a moped audience;" and certain it is, that all the above-ground has not "broke thro' the enfabling uniformity" of the piece, nor feems calculated to preserve the Heroine of the Cave from returning under ground, according to the will of the deceased. Requiefcat in pace. Art. 26. The Elements of Dramatic Criticism; containing an Analyfis of the Stage, &c. By William Cooke, Efq; of the Middle Temple. 8vo. 4 s. Kearly. 1775. Whoever has been at all converfant with the writings of Rapin, Brumoy, Du Bos, and the prefaces of Dryden, will derive little inftruction or entertainment from this critical (we had almott faid tritical) medley of Mr. Cooke, who has at length, with as much care and obfervation, as an avocation from greater pursuits would admit,' here endeavoured to give a wholeness (as he phrafes it) to the disjointed members of criticism. He has not indeed left the elements of the art in a state of chaos, yet they do not mix and incorporate fo kindly as to form an harmonious compofition. His feveral chapters, on the origin and component parts of the drama, abound in that kind of fecond-hand reading and hacknied quotation, which are admirably calculated to Amaze th' unlearn'd, and make the learned smile. Even his obfervations on sentimental comedy are little more than an abstract of the common-place cenfure and raillery of modern prologues and news-papers. Of the latter part of this work, Infruc A a 3 tions tions for fucceeding in the art of acting,' the Author speaks with molt diffidence; yet of that part we are difpofed to judge most favourably. He has not indeed, on any occafion, penetrated much farther than the furface of his fubject, and if his greater pursuits fhould hereafter afford him leifure for thefe trivial avocations, we would humbly reprefent to him, that although fentiment may per haps be out of place on the stage, yet deep reflection, guided by taste, will always prove a powerful recommendation of dramatic cri ticfm iffuing from the prefs. It is not a dictatorial air,' or empty parade of nominal learning that will infure the critic even a temporary palm: but patient inquiry, and ingenious elucidation of the fubject on which he treats, will give the fureft indications of real genius, and a fundamental knowledge of the art.' MATHEMATICS. Art. 27. A new and general Introduction to Practical Aftronomy: With its Application to Geography, in defcribing the Earth. To pography and Hydrography, in defcribing Places on Land and at Sea. Horometry, or the Measurement of Time. The Trial of Time Keepers. The Obliquity of the Ecliptic. The Magnetic Variation, and Variation Charts of the Ocean. Refraction and Pa rallax. The Horizons of the Spheroidal Earth. Surveying the Ceafts, and correcting the Charts. Obfervations of Lunar Eclipfes, and Jupiter's Satellites. The Conftruction of temporary and other Inftruments; with Tables of the Sun and Fixed Stars, and a Variety of interefting Copper-plates. The Whole being defigned, as a Courfe of plain and eafy Inftructions and Operations, preparatory to the Discovery of the Longitude. By Samuel Dunn, Teacher of the Mathematical and Philofophical Sciences, London. Printed for the Author, and fold by him at No. 6, Clement's fan. Evo. 12 s. bound. Payne, &c. The title page prefents a general abstract of the contents of this treatife and our aftronomical readers will eafily apprehend what is to be met with under each of thofe heads, which the author has recited. However, we would not intimate hereby, that this work iş a mere compilation, or a collection of heterogeneous materials, gleaned together, for the fake of making up a book, and only adding to the number of uninteresting and ufelefs publications. Mr. D appears to be an ingenious mechanic, and induftrious obferver: he propo'es feveral improvements in aftronomical and nautical inftruments, already known and ufed; and he furnishes the practical aftronomer with many inftructions and tables; the application of which is exemplified by original obfervations. Our Author's main defign has been, to facilitate the difcovery of the magnetic variation, to afcertain the accuracy of time keepers, and to determine, with ease and exactness, the latitudes and longitudes of places both by fea and land. But in the profecution of these principal objects, he has introduced many pertinent and ufeful remarks on other aftronomical, geographical, and nautical fubjects. A more minute detail of the vaFoua particulars contained in this work, would, we apprehend, be rather tedious than inftructive: we shall therefore refer thofe of our readers, who are defirous of farther information, to the treatife itself. Art. Art, 28. A Royal Road to Geometry; or, An easy and familiar Introduction to the Mathematics. In Two Parts. I. Practical Geometry, with Applications, and a familiar Introduction; for the Ufe of Mechanics, &c. Alfo the Conftruction of the Ellipfis, with fome of its chief Properties demonftrated. II. Elements of Geometry, abridged, containing the whole fubftance of Euclid's Firft Six, the Eleventh and Twelfth Books; with feveral other useful and valuable Theorems; treated in the most brief, easy, and intelligible Manner; for the Ufe of Schools, &c. Being an Attempt to render that most useful and neceffary Science more univerfal, and practically applicable. Interfperfed with Notes, critical, explanatory, and inftructive, by Thomas Malton., To which is annexed, an Appendix on the Theory of Menfuration of Superficies and Solids, as deduced from the Elements. 8vo. Robfon, &c. 10 s. 6d. "In fronte nulla fides:" Were Geometry to be taught, by the rule and compass, there are few books, which we could recommend in preference to the "Royal Road;" but as long as theory and practice, demonftration and illuftration are words, which exprefs very different ideas, we cannot think this either the fhorteft or the fafest way, in which to conduct a pupil into the recefes of Geometry. There is, however, a certain clafs of learners, to whom this Treatife may be of great ufe; and for them it feems to have been originally defigned: we mean those who only need a fuperficial acquaintance with fubjects of this nature; and to whom the practice of Geometry is of greater moment than an accurate knowledge of its theory. The figures are well conftructed and engraved; and thofe of the folid Geometry, especially, are better defigned for the purpose of informing the learner, than any which we have seen. Art. 29. A Differtation on the Geometrical Analysis of the Ancients; with a Collection of Theorems and Problems, without Solutions, for the Exercife of young Students. Printed at Canterbury, and fold in London by Nourfe, &c. 8vo. 2s. 6d. 1774. This Differtation contains feveral juft obfervations on the pleasure and utility of studying Geometry; and the importance of feparating Geometry from Algebra, and accuftoming the learner to Atrict de monftration. The Author fufpects, and not altogether without reafon, that the reputation of the Geometrical Analyfis declines; and is willing to contribute his mite (as he modeftly expreffes himself) to revive a proper tafte for pure Geometry.' He has, with this view, fubjoined fixty propofitions, felected from authors little known by younger ftudents, without their demonftration, and eighteen problems, without their conftruction, for the exercife of fuch perfons. And he informs the public, that letters,' (containing the folutions of any of the theorems or problems. which he has propofed, or other Mathematical communications or inquiries) poft paid, directed for P. Q to be left at Mr. Nourfe's, bookfeller, in the Strand, London, will be carefully tranfmitted on the firit day of each month; and all correfpondents may expect answers during the courfe of that month.' The Author's plan is well calculated to promote Mathematical knowledge in general, and the study of Geometry in particular; and we heartily wish it fuccefs. NOVELS A a 4 R-.s. R--s. M A NOVELS and MEMOIRS. Art. 30. The Capricious Father; or, The Hiftory of Mr. Mutable and his Family. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. Noble. 1775We feldom have met with a novel, in the whole courfe of our labours, in which the characters of dulnefs and infipidity have been more uniformly and perfectly fupported, than in the prefent. The Writer's head feems to have been fo fully poffeffed by the fingle idea of fickleness and caprice, that he has not been able to find room for any other. A capricious father plagues, and is in his turn plagued by, his capricious children, who are capricious in love, and capricious in marriage and thus one poor idea is heavily dragged through two volumes, without incident to engage the attention, fentiment to touch the heart, or elegance of compofition to gratify the taste. The phrafes, dance to a charm-flump'd down on her knees-gulp'd it down-I like to be angry when I choose it-may ferve as fpecimens of the Writer's ftyle. In fhort, if we were to characterise this novel in two words, we could not do it more justly, than by adopting one of the Author's own phrafes, and pronouncing it-immenfely filly. Art. 31. The Libertine Hufband reclaimed; and Virtuous Love rewarded. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. Bew. The writers of novels enjoy fome advantages, which feldom fail of fecuring them a favourable reception with the generality of their readers, if they acquit themfelves with any tolerable degree of propriety. Their profeffed general defign, to afford an amufing relief from the burden of an idle and folitary hour, or to provide a fubfitute for conversation or cards, renders them very acceptable to thofe, who, having but a flender fund of entertainment within themselves, are obliged to depend chiefly upon others for their pleafures. And the theme on which they conftantly dwell, is beyond all others captivating, inchanting, inexhauftible. What though the tale has been told a thousand and a thoufand times; we love to hear it ftill; every repetition of the fweet idea fans the gentle flame that plays about the heart, and calls up the image of fome charming Pyramus, or fome lovely Thibe. Whatever defects, therefore, may be found in the characters, incidents or ftyle of a novel, if the story be tender, and tenderly told, it is fufficient to fecure the Author's reputation: while he has fuch a powerful advocate in the hearts of his fair Readers, he may bid "defiance to the critic's frown. On this ground the author of the prefent novel stands fecure. A fimple narrative, agreeably related, and conveying a good moral, will not want readers and admirers. E. E. Art. 32. Moral Tales. Tranflated from the French of Madame le Prince de Beaumont, 12m0. 2 Vols. 5 s. Nourse, Madame de Beaumont has long, and very defervedly, enjoyed a confiderable degree and reputation among the clafs of readers for whofe amusement and benefit her works are principally defigned. She poffeffes a readiness of invention, which enables her to enrich her novels with a great variety of incidents; and a delicacy of feeling which inftructs her to exhibit them with fuch colouring, and place them in fuch a point of view, as fhall intereft the paffions of her readers. In her characters, which are agreeably diversified, the preferves |