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parts of hops. A circumftance which we therefore recommend to his farther confideration, as an experimental brewer.

To form a valid eftimate of the merit of this treatise, an actual knowlege of the qualities of the beer brewed according to the principles recommended in it, for a length of time, will be requifite; but as fuch knowlege is not within our experience, our judgment of its merits must be fo far incompetent. But we certainly are justified in prefuming, that about Hull, where he practifes, Richardfon's ale and porter obtain a diftinction beyond thofe liquors brewed under any other name not of his fchool. Figures may demonftrate the truth of any propofition fubject to calculation, and may be indif penfably neceffary to regulate the procefs of good brewing; but they cannot equalife the variations in malt, hops, water, and feafons; nor prove the excellence of beer made after certain principles, without the corroborating evidence of the liquor.

We cannot but think the author's mode of reafoning, and his language, rather too chemically technical throughout, to be eafily apprehended by the clafs of artifts for whofe ufe he writes. At the clofe, he does indeed condefcend to accommodate the use of his faccharometer to common apprehenfions, but it is with declared reluctance; though we are confident it cannot come into common use on any other terms, until brewers in general become natural philofophers and chemifts; and if the author expects any fuch improvement in their education to take place, his faith is much stronger than our's.

Art. 41. An Hiftory of the late important Period; from the Beginning of his Majefty's Illness, to the Settlement of the Executive Government, in the Appointment of a Regent. To which are added, Obfervations on the Conduct of the Two contending Parties, to the Period of his Majefty's Re-appearance in the House of Lords. 8vo. PP. 543. 6s. Boards. Walter, Piccadilly. 1789.

From the title, our readers will be able to give a tolerable guess at the contents of this volume, which ought rather to have been called Materials for an History, &c. It contains the report of the phyficians; the debates in both Houfes of Parliament; a list of the members who voted for and against Mr. Pitt's motion in the Lower House; a lift of the divifion in the House of Lords on the question of the amendment to the refolutions moved by Lord Rawdon; and a copy of the propofed regency bill, &c. To many, this volume may be very acceptable, as it collects together, into one view, the feveral interefting facts and circumftances of this late remarkable epocha, which have been given at different times in newspapers, and other temporary publications; and future historians will, no doubt, find their labours abridged by it.

The author's politics are feen in the general obfervations with which the work concludes:

We do not mean to exprefs a party, but an unbiaffed opinion, when we declare it to be our fentiment, that the minifter, and his colleagues, acted through the whole of this bufinefs in a manner congenial to the conftitution, and fuitable to the dignity of the afflicted monarch, as it was followed by the general applaufe of the nation; while, on the contrary, the Oppofition manifefted a moft indecent REV. Sept, 1789.

T

hurry

hurry to poffefs themfelves of power-conducted themselves with an apparent view to their own personal advantage, and held forth the protection of the future Regent, as a reafon for acting against the sense of a very predominant majority of the people.'

On his Majefty's demeanor in his vifit to St. Paul's, this writer remarks, that there was nothing in it to give faction a hope, or loyalty a fear. We rejoice at finding our lately afflicted Monarch able to appear in the chief temple of his capital, and we have only to lament, that his Majesty's recovery has not been politically, as well as piously improved, by the actual paffing of a regency-bill. Kings, like other men, are always liable to difeafe, though they can do no wrong. Art. 42. Appendix ad Lexicon Græco-Latinum, a Joanne Scapula confructum, et ad alia Lexica Graca, e Codice Manufcripto, olim Afkeviano, in lucem nunc primum vindicata. 8vo. PP. 636. 10s. 6d. Leigh and Sotheby. 1789.

This Appendix will prove very ferviceable to the learned world, and may be confidered as a valuable acquifition, by diligent readers of the Attic poets; from whofe remains the authorities are principally collected.

The manufcript from which this work has been published, was formerly in the poffeffion of Dr. Afkew, who, as the preface informs us, held it in high eftimation; which will readily be credited by those who examine it, and confider that Afkew once had an idea of prefenting the public with an edition of Efchylus, to whofe plays the references are particularly numerous.

The author or compiler of this work is not known, but he feems to have been a man of learning, accuracy, and diligence. To the poffeffors of Scapula, his book will be very useful, as the pages of that Lexicon are marked on the margin of the Appendix. The attentive obferver, however, will here find feveral words, omitted by Stephens, and by all the Greek lexicographers.

The preface, which is in Latin, contains, befide the information that we have given, fome hints to future publishers of Lexicons; and an earnest wish, that the Thefaurus of Stephens may find fome hardy literary champion, who will undertake to revife it, and republifh it:an event rather to be wished than expected.

Before the preface, is a Greek infcriptive dedication to the memory of Afkew, which, by the signatures, feems to come from the publishers, Leigh and Sotheby. This is followed by a collation of the pages in the editions of Efchylus, published by H. Stephens, Stanley, Pauw, and at Glasgow. To the first of which the references to this author are made.

Art. 43. Louifa. A Pruffian Tale. 4to. pp. 32. 25. Hookham. 1789.

A pleafing moral tale; founded, apparently, on the novel entitled Caroline of Lichtfeld. See Rev. vol. lxxvi. p. 265.

Art. 44. The Bufy Body; a Collection of Periodical Effays. By Mr. Oulton. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5s. fewed. Stalker. 1789. This author feems to labour at producing fomething like pleafantry and whim but non cuique datum eft habere nafum.—It is not for every man to have a talent for raillery. We may farther obferve of this

gentleman,

Art. 50. The Guinea Voyage. A Poem, in Three Books, by James Field Stanfield. 4to. pp. 43. 2s. 6d. Philips. 1789. Mr. Stanfield, who gave, fome time fince*, an account, in profe, of the barbarities exercifed in the flave trade, now prefents us with a poetical representation of the fame unpleafing scenes; and, with honeft indignation, declares his abhorrence of these monftrous enormities;

All which he faw, and part of which he was!'

If the bare recital was before terrible, what must the defcription be when our author embellishes the fhocking ftory, when he dwells on every minute circumftance in this tale of cruelty, and obliges us to witness every pang of complicated mifery! For our part, we have perufed his book with feelings not unlike those which poor Trim experienced from reading Yorick's fermon; and were tempted, as we configned Ruffel+" to his fluid grave," to exclaim with the corporal,Thank God-he is dead-he is out of his pain,-and they have done their worft to him.-Oh, Sirs-!"

We will not defire our readers to partake of emotions, fo painfully horrible; we will prefent them, however, with the following extract, after premifing that we dwelt on it with fatisfaction: the more so, indeed, as we were glad to turn from objects of horror, to contemplate plaintive diftrefs, however exceffive.

In the thick gloom of yonder penfive fhade

Is loft Abyeda's wretched form difplay'd,
Abyeda, once among the vocal throng
The theme and mistress of each rural fong:
Once the blithe leader of each festive scene,
That woke the mufic of the joyous green.
Ne'er did fuch nymph before her brightnefs lave
Within Formofa's deep, tranflucent wave.
O'er her smooth form grace threw her waving line,
And beauty wandered in the rich defign.

Unrival'd long had liv'd the happy maid;
And many a hero had her love effay'd.
But youthful Quam'no was the virgin's pride;
Her friend, protector, and her faithful guide.
Faft by her fide he kept his guardian way,

Left treach'rous Whites fhould feize the tempting prey.
The fresh'ning cocoas from their height he bore,
Cluft'ring bananas fpread their juicy ftore,
The spotted ipoils too deck'd her rural bow'r,
When from the chace, in the dear ev'ning hour,
Glowing, the met him with the welcome fmile;
Pleas'd, and yet anxious at the manly toil.

And now through dewy dawn, the rising ray
Lights up the radiance of their bridal-day.
With early nymphs within the busy room,
Amidst the labours of the flying loom

See Review for July 1788.

+ The author's lov'd companion, faithful friend.'
1 Page 29. 1. 5.

Of vivid tints the plied the various thread;
The long-plann'd work to grace the nuptial bed.
With beating fteps refounds the hollow floor;
To rapid ftrokes refponds the clam'rous door.
With breathlefs energy the flies amain,
To meet her Quam'no and the bridal train.
Alas! no Quam'no meets her eager eye-
In rush the spoilers with detefted cry,
Seize with rapacious force the trembling prey;
And to the fhore the hapless maid convey.

When urg'd by rage, or hunger's burning force,
The rav'ning lion winds his furious course,
And through the herd his bloody paffage ploughs;
So Quam'no rushes through the crowd of foes.
Carves his fierce way, entwines the fainting maid:
With vain protection;-lo! a treach'rous blade,
Darted behind him with unerring aim,

Impales him deep; convolv'd the bleeding frame,
Plunges indignant o'er the tainted ground,
Life rolls his torrent through the yawning wound,
O'er his fierce eyes death's hideous fhadows move
With fable veil, and shut out light and love.
Abyeda now upon the lifeless form,

Sinks in defpair beneath the trying storm.
The murd'rous ftroke that mark'd his early tomb,
Involves her intellects in deadly gloom.

Her wounded reafon the fad manfion flies:
Senfe wanders widely, and reflection dies!

Now (fcourges having long their fury spent)
Gloomy and fad, beneath oppreffion bent,
Round her gall'd neck the feft'ring iron winds,
And to the gloomy maft oppreffive binds.
Sad ftrains of feeble melancholy flow;
Half-meaning fragments of recorded woe,
In wild fucceffion break the penfive lay,
Through the drear night and lamentable day.
Her fad affociates lift the melting tones,
And join each cadence with according groans.
But fick'ning nature with the burden reels;
O'er her wan face the deadly jaundice steals;
The fpirits die; the nervelefs limbs unftrung;
With mortal gripe the wounded heart-ftrings wrung;
Fix'd her funk eye-her love-lorn ditty fails,
Life beats tumultuous 'gainft the feeble pales-
Convulfive throbs expel the final breath,

And o'er the fatal clofe fits ghaftly death.?

We should be wanting in juftice to the author, if we difmiffed this article without expreffing our approbation of the zeal which he has fhewn in promoting the interefts of humanity. As a poet alfo, the extract which we have given will prove Mr. S. by no means unde ferving of fome share of the critic's praise.

It is neceffary to add, that we have feen two copies of this poem; one of which is improved by feveral additions and alterations. From this, our remarks are drawn.

Art. 51. The Poetic Works of the Reverend William Smith, D. D. late Dean of Chefter; with fome Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. By Thomas Crane, Minifter of the Parish Church of St. Olave, in Chester, and Chaplain to Earl Verney. Small 8vo. pp. 50. Is. 6d. Longman. 1788.

Dr. Smith has long been known to the world as the tranflator of Longinus, Thucydides, and Xenophon; but we do not apprehend that any great degree of reputation will be added to his name by the prefent pofthumous publication. The memoirs contain no very interefting information; and the poems, which are few in number, though marked with fome features of originality, are scarcely of fufficient value to place the author's buft in the poet's gallery. As a fpecimen, we shall select the following pleafing lines:

On viewing the Deanry-houfe; when he came, July 7, 1767, with intent to pass the rest of his days in it.

Within this pile of mouldering ftones,

The Dean hath laid his wearied bones;
In hope to end his days in quiet,
Exempt from nonfenfe, noife, and riot;
And pafs, nor teaz'd by fool, nor knave,
From this still manfion to his grave;
Such there, like richer men's, his lot,
To be in four days time forgot.'

Dr. Smith was born at Worcester in 1711; was educated at Oxford; was Chaplain to the Earl of Derby, and to the Corporation of Liverpool; and Dean of Chefter: he died in 1787. His character is thus briefly expreffed by his memorialift: He was tall and genteel; his voice was ftrong, clear, and melodious; he spoke Latin fuently, and was complete mafter not only of the Greek but Hebrew language: his mind was fo replete with knowlege, that he was a living library: his manner of addrefs was graceful, engaging, delightful: his fermons were pleafing, informing, convincing: his memory, even in age, was wonderfully retentive; and his converfation was polite, affable, and in the highest degree improving.'

Art. 52. Prudence: a moral, poetical Effay. To which is fubjoined, a Verfion of the Eighth Chapter of Proverbs, 8vo. pp. 32. 15. Scatcherd and Whitaker. 1789.

Great commendation is due to that writer who can produce a moral effay truly poetical; for experience has convinced us of the difficulty of giving to didactic poems the elegance and polish of true poetry. But it is eafy to clothe moral maxims, and fcripture precepts, in rhyme, and to produce fuch couplets as the following:

While spite belies our actions and our thoughts,

Charity hides a multitude of faults.'

If any virtue, any praise there be,

Think of thefe things, and cherish fympathy.'
A little fleep, another flumber feize,

A short indulgence and delicious eafe,

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