and mifreprefentations, already reached moft of thofe whom he visited. Stephen quickly perceived that his misfortune was known; for the noble mind when unfortunate is too apt to be jealous of its dignity, and fufpicious of infult. Nor is the world inclined to foften this pain of misfortune: and poor Elliot found, by the malicious infinua, tion, the half-concealed whisper, the cauftic allufion, the cutting fneer, and the farcaftic laugh, that every fool thought himself ciewated by his depreffion. His company could be no longer courted by vanity for his riches; nor could it be acceptable for its obfequioufnefs, as he had not yet learned the fawn of adulation. He was now treated with the coldness of an intruder: his obfervations were no longer liftened to with accustomed deference: he met with indifference inflead of admiration, and rude familiarity inftead of refpect. Even among the youth of the other fex, with whom his beauty, gallantry, and amiable manners had procured him a greater and more lafting influence, he found that wealth was not without is attractions. O riches, how do we adore you! O world, how ungenerously doft thou add another fting to the tortured heart, and lay the heavy hand of fcorn on the finking fou!! To be unfortunate is not to be wicked; and the threadbare garb of poverty may hide an heart rich with a gem of honour to which the ftar-decked breaft of peers is poor. Our adventurer could not long bear fuch company as this,' &c. We have quoted this paffage as no unfavourable fpecimen of the work. Such truly wretched productions, in this line of writing, are continually prefenting them felves to our view, that we are glad of the opportunity of beftewing a little praife. We wish, however, that more attention had been paid to the language: it is not at all times fufficiently correct. Nor does the writer always exprefs his own meaning with precifion. Thus when, as above, he tells us, that Elliot was received with the coldnefs of an intruder,' he does not, we fuppofe, mean, that an intruder poffeffes the quality of cold. nefs; but that, as an intruder, he was coldly received by the company. Such marks of inattention in a writer, will always meet with a cold reception from the Public. Art. 17. Agitation: or Memoirs of George Woodford and Lady Emma Melville, 12mo. 3 Vols. 9s., bound. Barker. 178. "Love is all gentleness, all joy, Smooth are his looks, and foft his pace: That thrufts his link full in your face." DORSET. In other words, and in humble profe, the love-fcenes in this performance and it is compofed of nothing elfe-are fo coarfely, fo very inelegantly delineated, that inftead of infpiring a tender and delicate paffion, they can only awaken disgust. Art. 18. The Man of Benevolence. 12mo. pp. 200. 35. Boards. Buckland. 1789. The Man of Benevolence is related to the "Man of Feeling;" and, like him, is ever ready, not only to relieve, when applied to, the diftreffes of his fellow-creatures, but even to go in search of objects for the exercife of his bounty. This little work is at once pa theus thetic and pleasing. The only objection which can be raised against it is, that its incidents bear too clofe a refemblance to thofe of the before mentioned performance. POETRY and DRAMATIC. Art. 19. Panthea, or The Captive Bride: A Tragedy: Founded on a Story in Xenophon. To which is added, an Elegy, facred to the Memory of his Grace Hugh late Duke of Northumberland. 8vo. pp. 110. 2s. Richardfon. 1789. We learn from the dedication of thefe poems, to the Duke of Northumberland, that they are the compofitions of the Rev. Thomas Maurice, A. M. late of University College, Oxford: an author, whofe works we have had occafion to mention with various degrees of commendation *. Panthea may be faid, perhaps, to be correct in its language, but it is feeble in its plan and execution. Like too many of its modern brethren, it wants three great requifites to form a drama: plot, character, and probability. One incident indeed follows another: but we know not how they happen, or to what they lead. We meet with fituations which, though unexpected, do not intereft us; we read fcenes of love, which excite no paffions; and of murder, which produce no diftrefs. Of the fhifts to which an author is fometimes reduced by the unavoidable business of the 5th act of his play, the piece before us affords an unfortunate fpecimen. Panthea had lost her husband in battle, and is determined to deftroy herfelf. But how is this to be effected? Cyrus, Gadates, her friend Ardemia, and a whole tribe of attendants, are furrounding her. A female cannot die in a crowd. Cyrus kindly begins the task of removing her difficulties: Panthea, to thy mournful comrades care I leave thee for a time; but will return, This last line, however, is not true: Cyrus knew he was going to kill herself. Still the attendants are prefent, and are attempting to remove her husband's body. Ardemia prevents this, at the fame time that the difmifles them. Her reasoning is curious: Retire a while; we must not yet attempt it, Leave us together for a few fhort moments.' Ardemia's complaifance would, probably, bave induced her to leave her friend entirely to herfelf, but that could not be: Panthea could no more die without a witness, than in the face of the whole army. The prefence of Ardemia, however, gives no check to her refolution. 'I am no more,' fays he, a tenant of this earth ;' and draws a dagger. Ardemia reafons with her for fome time, but in vain: Panthea ftabs herself. Ardemia now, after enquiring what dæmon urged to this?' thinks of the flaves, and calls them to lament what they might have prevented : Principally in our 62d vol. p. 391. 9 Approach! • Approach! ye forrowing band! The pangs of death As the play now draws to its clofe, all the furviving actors must neceffarily appear on the ftage. Accordingly, in comes Cyrus, with Gadates, and the rest of his officers. Ardemia, perhaps confcious that her conduct requires fome apology, attempts to exculpate herfelf: Cyrus, the frantic deed her hand has dared, By every human means I ftrove to check.' Now, is this the truth? we appeal to our readers. Did the not ftrive, by the beft poffible means in her power, to favour its execution? But no more of this: nor let Mr. Maurice be offended with us, that by pointing out his failures, we endeavour to remind others that a play is, or fhould be, a reprefentation of what happens in nature: and that confequently, when the representation ceases to be natural, it becomes abfurd. Art. 20. La Pucelle; or the Maid of Orleans. From the French of Voltaire. The ift, zd, 3d, 4th, and 5th Cantos. The Second Edition. 4to. 5s. fewed. Williams, &c. 1789. We have already mentioned the first canto of this tranflation, in the 73d vol. of our Review, F. 469. We there obferved, as follows: "The character of Voltaire's Pucelle, its wit, fatirical humour, and wanton gaiery, are well known. We cannot, therefore, fay more in recommendation of this tranflation to one clafs of readers, or in cenfare of it to another, than that it is executed in the true fpirit of the original." The tranflator has, we fee, proceeded in his undertaking, as far as the 5th canto; and we have nothing to add to the opinion which has been already delivered. Art. 21. Orlando Furiofo of Lodovico Ariofio, with an Explanation of equivocal Words, and poetical Figures, and an Elucidation of all the Paffages concerning Hiftory or Fable. By Agostino Ifola, Teacher of the Italian Language in the University of Cambridge. 8vo. 4 Vols. about 400 Pages in each. 11. 4s. fewed. Deigh ton. 1789. A correct and hand fome edition of this celebrated poem. The editor appears to have fpared no pains to render it acceptable to his readers. They will, in turn, we truft, enable him to apply the words of his author: "E ciafcun d'effi noto Al vifo, e ai gefti, rallegrarfi tanto MEDICAL. Canto xlvi. ft. 11. Art. 22. The Edinburgh New Difpenfatory: Containing the Ele ments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; the Materia Medica; and the Pharmaceutical Preparations and Medicinal Compofitions of the new Editions of the London (1788) and Edinburgh (1783) Pharmacopoeias, with explanatory, critical, and practical Obier vations on each, &c. &c. Being an Improvement upon the New Difpenfatory 10 Difpenfatory of Dr. Lewis. The fecond Edition. 8vo. pp. 656. Price 8s. bound. Edinburgh printed, and fold in London by Elliot and Kay. 1789. Our medical readers must know the value of Lewis's Difpenfatory. The many improvements of the science, and the new editions of the national Pharmacopoeia were noticed by Dr. Lewis in each edition of that work which appeared during his life-time. During the period elapfed fince the world was deprived of the labours of that ingenious, learned, and induftrious man, chemiftry (in all its branches) has received much greater improvements than it had done before. Dr. Duncan, the editor of the prefent work, concluded, therefore, that an attempt to collect the latest and most important difcoveries, and incorporate them into Lewis's Difpenfatory, would not be unacceptable to the public. The attempt was carried into execution about two years ago *. This fecond edition includes a complete tranflation of the London and Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, which are, by royal authority, the standards of pharmaceutical practice in Great Britain; and it also contains many additions from the best foreign Pharmacopoeix, viz. from that of Geneva, of 1780; of Sweden, 1779; of Ruffia, 1778; of Brunswic, 1777; and of Denmark, 1772. Art. 23: A Comparative View of the Mortality of the Human Species at all Ages; and of the Difeafes and Cafualties by which they are deftroyed or annoyed. Illuftrated with Charts and Tables. By William Black, M. D. One of the Royal College of Phyficians in London, Member of feveral Literary Societies, &c. 8vo. 69. Boards. Dilly. 1788. Dr. Black begins this work with a brief view of the folar fyftem, which is followed by a more particular defcription of the earth, and the atmosphere that furrounds it. What connection this has with a comparative view of the mortality of the human species at all ages, the author has not informed his readers. He then proceeds with a computation of the prefent number of the human fpecies (which he efti, mates at 800 millions); intermixing mifcellaneous obfervations on population, and the feveral caufes which affect it. The first chapter contains a comparative view of the mortality of the human species in feveral cities and countries of Europe, with general tables of deaths, and tables of mortal difeafes and cafualties in London for the laft feventy-five years. A catalogue of the principal difeafes and cafualties by which the human fpecies are deftroyed, with fhort defcriptions and occafional remarks, form the remainder of this volume, which, although it bears many marks of hafte, is replete with useful information. The author's principal defign is to invefligate the degree of mortality, or rather fatality of the particular difeafes. The fubject is doubtless difficult, and involved in intricacies, to develope which, requires confiderable attention and labour. The inaccuracies of our bills of mortality, and the imperfect manner in which they are kept, increase this difficulty; and the author's hints for improving them, both in town and country, deferve peculiar attention. * See Review, vol. laxvi. p. 535• SLAVE TRADE. Art. 24. Reflections on the prefent State of the Slaves in the Briti Plantations, and the Slave trade from Africa. 8vo. pp. 64. 1 s. 6d. Baldwin. 1789. It has not yet appeared that trading in flaves has the fupport of right, reafon, equity, humanity, or, what includes all, religion. The arguments which have been employed in its favour have not tended fo much to difprove the nefariousness of the practice, as to fhew the impolicy and injuftice of its immediate abolition: and this is the drift of the pamphlet before us. The writer expreffes benevolence and compaffion, and at the fame time pleads, that we ought ftrictly to regard the claims of juftice. And who that impartially confiders the fubject, does not allow that this ought to be attended to? A folicitous care fhould, and no doubt will, be employed, to ofe fuch measures as may be leaft injurious to the parties immediately concerned. At the fame time, it cannot be supposed, that relinquishing unjuft traffic, which has been found very lucrative, hould be productive of no kind of damage for the prefent; though under wife regulations, in a courfe of time, an equitable method may prove equally, if not more profitable, and certainly more pleasant. This anonymous Author urges, that to establish those measures whereby better ufage may be obtained for the flaves, and their minds brought to a happy acquiefcence under their fituation, is the true conftitutional means whereby the trade may be abolished.' One principal meafure, by which he propofes to effect this end, is the inftruction of the Negroes in the knowlege of Christianity, the neglect of which he mentions as our greatest national fhame and difgrace, and fo far as it is a public fault, we may fear, will occafion public calamity +.' He employs feveral pages on this topic, propofing a fcheme for educating fome of the Negro youth for the Chriftian miniftry, and forming the flaves into focieties for Chriftian worship. To this he adds feveral other methods of regulation, which may contribute to bring back the flave-trade to the ground on which it originally refted, as a national measure, and to correct thofe evils (horrid evils! as he allows them to be), which attend fuch a kind of traffic. He gives an affecting account of the miseries of the slave, and defcribes alfo the detriment which would en fue to the trader by an hafty and peremptory abolition: but we do not obferve that he foffciently condemns the trade itfelf, as wicked or unjustifiable. He employs one argument, or at leaft puts it into the mouth of an advo cate for fuch merchandife, which appears indeed a weak one: ⚫ You perhaps will fay, They are bought of thofe who have no right to fell! If men's ideas of right and wrong be governed by what they know, in every country they are not the fame: fo if there were no right in Africa to fell their brethren, they would not be fold. It is true, judging by more enlightened reafon, and the principles of our government, they have no right: but thofe are not yet established in Africa: and when the day is come, in which they fhall have our knowlege of the truth, they will no longer fell their brethren, *P. 63. + P. 39. and |