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donian bard be attended by his admirers? Some claffes of men are prone to admire what they do not understand; and Mr. Davidfon's rude and uncouth poetry is almoft equally unintelligible, whether he writes in the Scottish or in the English dialect. The rules of grammar, profody, and even of punctuation, are, by him, fet at total dehance.

It was easy to forefee, as we did, that the fuccefs of a favourite rural bard would produce imitators; who might ascribe his good fortune to his ufe of that antiquated and nearly obfolete language ia which most of his pieces have been written: and, hence, we expected an inundation of unreadable poems in the old Scottish dialect, to which nothing but the difregard of the public can put a ftop. Though Mr. David Davidfon (if that be his real name) is not altogether deftitute of talents, yet the low, burlefque ftyle which he affumes, is but an awkward attempt at humour.

Art. 25. Epifle in Verfe to his Moft Serene Highnefs the Duke of Orleans. 410. 2s. 6d. pp. 28. Walter, Piccadilly. 1789. Celebrates the patriotic virtues and munificent works of the Duke of Orleans; reciting his princely acts of public utility, and his laudable zeal for the natural rights and liberties of his countrymen, in correct and harmonious numbers. The poem is illuftrated by notes, and decorated by a print (as a frontispiece) of that great and noble, we might have faid IMPERIAL, ftructure, the PALAIS ROYAL; belonging to the Duke.

Art. 26. Calliope: or the Mufical Mifcellany. A felect Collection of the most approved English, Scots, and Irish Songs. Set to Mufic. 8vo. 6s. Boards. Elliot and Kay.

The Editor, who dates his advertisement from Edinburgh, April 1788, prefumes that no Collection of Songs with the Music, hitherto published in Great Britain or Ireland, of the fame fize and extent, has been afforded at fo low a price as the prefent.' We be lieve this to be true; and when we add, that we have obferved no loofe or indecent compofitions in the volume, we think we have given it no more than its juftly-merited commendation.

MATHEMATICS and MECHANICS. Art. 27. The Solution of the Quadrature. By Bernard Lucas, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire. 4to. pp. 25. Is. 6d. Gardner. 1788. Mr. Lucas having applied to feveral individuals, to know whether his folution was true or falfe, without obtaining the fatisfaction which he wifhed, he has now fubmitted it to the infpection of the public. We fear he will ftill remain diflatisfied.

Art. 28. A new complete Syftem of Weights and Meafures, deduced from an unerring univerial Unit; with confiderable Improvements on the Scale Beam. The whole embellished with à Plate of the Instruments which produce the Unit; and a Set of corre& Tables, adapted to every Branch of Commerce. By Cuthbert Clarke, Lecturer in Experimental Philofophy. 4to. 19 Pages. 15. 6d. Edinburgh printed; and fold, in London, by Elliot and 1789.

Co.

The author of this tract does not feem to know where the difficulty of the fject lies; or, if he does, he fhrinks totally from it by

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only telling us to do the things which he ought to have fhewn the method of doing; if (contrary to our opinion) they can be done, by the means which he propofes, with any tolerable degree of acHis method of deducing his unit, or ftandard meafure, is

curacy. this:

Let two clocks be adjusted to keep true time for one hour. Then let the ball of one of the pendulums be shifted fuch a space lower as will caufe the clock to lofe 14 feconds in one hour: the distance which the ball is let down will be one-third of the ftandard inch.

Mr. Clarke affures us he has made fome hundreds of experiments on this fubject, and always found the refult to be invariably the fame; notwithstanding he fometimes made the experiments with pendulums, the rods of which were 4th of an inch diameter; and at other times, when the rods were not half that fize: the balls being fometimes, 6 pounds weight, and, fometimes, lefs than two. All that we can fay to this is, that we think the experimenter a very lucky man; for we could, were we to undertake it, enumerate, at least, a dozen fources of error in the principle of his method, and almoft as many difficulties that a man would meet with in the execution of it.

It appears, moreover, to us, that the author begins at the wrong end of the bufinefs; for he directs us to determine, firft, the leaft denomination of meafure, and to derive the larger denominations, from it, by multiplication. By the fe means, the error, whatever it may be, which is committed in affigning the unit, will be multiplied in every multiple that he takes of it. But if he had made a greater dimention the unit, as the late Mr. Whitehurst did *, and fubdivided from it, the error which was committed in forming the unit, would have been diminished every fubdivifion; and a large dimenfion (within certain limits) may be laid off at least as accurately as a fmall one; as every one converfant in mechanical operations will, we doubt not, allow.

Mr. Clarke feems as unfortunate in deriving his unit for weights. He directs us to make a cube of pure filver, of the dimension of his unit for meafures of length, and take it for ninety-fix grains; and he fays he has had four fuch cubes made, at different places, none of which were fenfibly deficient in a pair of good fcales. Now we should have deemed filver, of all metals, the most improper for this purpofe; because its expanfion, with the fame, variation of heat, is the greatest: we cannot, therefore, fufficiently admire Mr. Clarke's good fortune in thefe matters.

POLITICA L.

Art. 29. The Conduct of the prefent Parliament confidered, previous to its Diffolution. 8vo. 25. Ridgway. 1789.

This writer impeaches the proceedings of parliament, from the time of the Weftminster fcrutiny, to that of the late Regency Bill, inclufive, with a profeffed view to the approaching General Election. He is an earneft advocate for oppofition; and has written this tract, to mark out, to the good people of this realm, the fenatorial con

*See Review for Nov. 1787, P. 379.

REV. Dec. 1789.

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duct of their reprefentatives in the Houfe of Commons, in order to affit them in examining, and judging, how far the fame deputies are to be trusted again. He particularly investigates the merits of the following measures, viz. The Westminster Scrutiny-The India BillThe Commutation Act-The Irish Propofitions-The Shop TaxThe Commercial Treaty with France-The Impeachment of Mr. Haftings-The Declaratory Bill-and, the Regency Bill. He reprobates the conduct of administration, with respect to all the foregoing topics; and many of his remarks feem to merit the impartial reader's attention; but, we think, his arguments would have loft no weight, had he been more guarded in his language. Of his intemperance in this refpect, we fhall give the following inftance.After having taken a review of the proceedings of the H. of C. against Mr. Haftings and Sir Elijah Impey, he breaks out into the following reflection What opinion fhall we entertain of the conduct of the H. of C. in these profecutions? Are we to confider them as the punishers of guilt, as the avengers of injuftice? Are we to applaud them for redreffing the wrongs of India? Alas! We find them chaftifing avarice, and winking at cruelty, punishing robbery, and 'fparing murder †, purfuing crimes, and overlooking enormities!'

Leaving our readers to their own obfervations on the foregoing paffage, we shall conclude with a friendly caution to a fenfible and fpirited writer:-who, in our opinion, will do well to exprefs himfelf with more moderation, in his future political difcuffions. Art. 30. Secret Influence: or Bute and Pitt Administrations virtually the fame; with a diftinct and comprehenfive View of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, as Prince and Patriot. 2s. 6d. Kerby.

8vo.

Another champion of oppofition; who maintains that the old Scotch influence at court (which we had almost forgotten) fill exits, and directs the ftate helm. He does not, indeed, infift much on Lord Bute's perfonal interference in the affairs of adminiftration, but he talks of Lady Sufan Stewart, Marchionefs of Stafford, as ruling behind the curtain.' As we are not behind the curtain, we can fay nothing to this Palinurus in petticoats; and, therefore, shall add, with refpect to the general defign of this publication, that the author fhews a warm attachment to the politics of Carletonhoufe; while, on the other hand, he expreffes the utmost averfion to thofe of the minifter and his adherents; and even affects a contempt for the abilities of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Could the fenfe of the nation be taken, on this head, we apprehend that the declamatory writer of the prefent pamphlet would find himself,

*His conclufive opinion of them is thus fummed up, at the end of his pamphlet:- In fome, we find precipitation, as in the Irith Propofitions, and the Commercial Treaty; in others, duplicity, as in the India, the Declaratory Bill, and the Impeachments; in others, oppreion, as in the Commutation and Shop Tax; in others, contempt of the conflitution, as in the Weftminster Scrutiny and Regency Bill. It is not easy to fay what merits con compenfate for fuch defects.'

† Alluding to the death of Nundcomar, a Bramin of high rank.

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as the printer of a Dublin news-paper once expressed it, “ in a GREAT minority."

MILITARY.

Art. 31. Authentic Copies of the Proceedings and Refolutions of the Officers in the Eaft India Company's Service in Bengal, Madras, and Bombay, on taking into Confideration the Arrangement of their Rank with his Majesty's Officers, which was fettled in April 1788. 8vo. 1s. 6d. pp. 62. Debrett. 1789.

Thofe of our military readers who may be curious to know the particulars of the proceedings above mentioned, will be gratified by the perufal of this authentic tract, which has been published by direction of the Company's Officers in India.-The equalization of rank between his Majesty's and the Company's Officers, appears, as far as we can pretend to judge, to have been fettled on juft and equitable principles; though we cannot but feel fome concern for Brigadier-General Horne, an officer of merit, in the Company's fervice, who was, by virtue of those arrangements, reduced to the rank of Colonel.

NOVELS.

Art. 32. The Caftles of Athlin and Dunbayne. An Highland Story. 12mo. 3s. fewed. Hookham. 1789.

To those who are delighted with the marvellous, whom wonders, and wonders only, can charm, the prefent production will afford a confiderable degree of amufement. This kind of entertainment, however, can be little relished but by the young and unformed mind. To men who have paffed, or even attained, the meridian of life, a series of events, which feem not to have their foundation in nature, will ever be infipid, if not difguftful. The author of this performance appears to have written on the principle of Mr. Bayes, to elevate and furprise. By means of trap-doors, falfe pannels, fubterranean passages, &c. &c. this purpose is effected: and all this, as was before intimated, will poffibly have its admirers. But though we are not of the number of fuch readers, we muft honeftly confefs, that this little work is to be commended for its moral; as alfo for the good fentiments and reflections which occafionally occur in it.

Art. 33. The ill Effects of a Rafh Vow; in a Series of Letters. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5s. fewed. Lane. 1789.

The lovers of ftultiloquence have here an admirable opportunity of perfecting themselves in that, at prefent, much-admired, and much cultivated art. A performance better fuited to their purpose, will not be eafily found.

Art. 34. Maria Cecilia. From the French. 12mo.

fewed. Lane. 1788.

2 Vols. 55%

The heroine of this novel is defcribed as being the daughter of Achmet III. emperor of the Turks. She is faid to have been ftolen from the palace of her father at a very early age; to have wandered about Europe during the space of feveral years, and to have experienced many changes of fortune. The editor afferts that the narrative, as far as it refpects the hiftory of Maria Cecilia, is founded in truth. It may be fo; but, to us, the whole is romantic and improbable in the highest degree.

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Art. 35. The Clandestine Lovers. In a Series of Letters. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5s. fewed. Noble. 1789.

This is a trifling and flimfy ftory, but the language is tolerably correct and flowing; and if it may afford the writer any kind of fatisfaction, we will fay to him in the words of the poet," Sir, you have a style." But this is far from being fufficient. A printed performance must be poffeffed of fome fmall portion of matter as well as manner; or it will prefently, when we ghed against others, "Ay up and kick the beam."”

It has been remarked by an eminent writer, that there is hardly any kind of literary production from which fomething profitable may not be gleaned. We prefume, he had fcarcely ever looked into a novel. Had he perused that which is now before us, he would, probably, have felected the under-cited paffage in fupport of his opinion; and we have chofen it as containing not an unuseful hint. Mr. Churchill, a young and ingenious barrifter, is reprefented as having, by the force of his pleadings, been the means of gaining a fuit at law for his client, a rich and beautiful woman. On this, the mistress of the faid Mr. Churchill writes to him in the following

terms:

-Mifs Lewis, I am afraid, will endeavour to hunt out another fuit for you. I confess to you I had rather he would apply to fome other barrister. How do I know how far a grateful heart and a handfome face may operate on a man of your fine feelings? I am not forry that the fhould gain her caufe, but I fhould be immoderately vexed if I should happen to lofe my own. Young practifers in the law fhould endeavour to get employed by aged clients. By fuch connections they might expect to acquire a certain degree of gravity which would add dignity to the profeffion! Lawyers, under a certain age, fhould be prohibited from pleading for young female clients! They are in danger of being warped by improper influence. Their arguments fhould be all fuggefted by the head-the heart may have an improper bias.'

Art. 36. The Mals Coquet. By Jane Timbury. 12mo.

5s. fewed. Murray.

1789.

2 Vol. The Male Coquet (a truly defpicable character) is here expofed to ridicule with fome degree of fuccefs. Yet when we call to mind the admirable manner in which he is pourtrayed in a farce by the late Mr. Garrick, the prefent performance muit neceffarily fink in our esteem. But had the flour Achilles never wielded a faulchion, the comparatively feeble Memnon might poffibly have lived and acquired renown.

Art. 37. The Pupil of Adverfity. An Oriental Tale. 12mo. 2 Vols. 55. fewed. Lane. 1788.

Under colour of an Oriental Tale, we are here prefented with a view of fome political manoeuvres which, in this country, have been played off with fuccefs. The portraits of a certain triumvirate, or, in the author's language, cabal, are likewife very faithfully and fkilfully delineated. Thete perforages are diftinguished by the names of Mafond, Zaban, and Tangut. They prefer a charge against Ofmyn, -a man who had formerly been in power among

the

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