An Essay on British Liberty; addressed to both Houses of Parlia ment. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Bew.

We have read an effay on a Broomftick, as well worthy the attention of both houfes of parliament, as that before us on British Liberty. The writer, indeed, advances nothing new or particularly worthy notice on the fubject.

An Examination of the Latin Accidence, for the Ufe of young Beginners; in a new Method. I 2mo. Is. Law.

This new method is old enough to have had its utility proved by repeated experience.

Confiderations addrefed to all Perfons of Property in Great Britain, concerning the prefent Difpofition of the Americans towards this Country. 8vo. 6d. Owen.

This writer has put on his confidering-cap to no other purpofe than to tell us, that the Americans are united among themfelves and bear fo ill a difpofition toward this country, that we fhall never be capable to conquer their averfion. He concludes hence that we had better give up the thoughts of reducing them by force, as a thing altogether impracticable.

The Evidence of Chriftianity not weakened by the Frailty of its Minilters.-A Sermon, preached in the Cathedral Church of Bristol, June 29, 1777. By John Camplin, M. A. Precentor of Brif tol. Occafioned by the Execution of William Dodd, LL. D. and published at the Request of the Audience. 8vo. 6d. Rivington.

A difcourfe pertinent enough to the fubject. We will yet venture to say that the immorality of the minifters of the gofpel, however little it may affect the evidence of its truth, is one of the greateft fources of infidelity. The faith of every profeffor of Chriftianity, and particularly of its minifters, fhould be fhewn by their works, as well as their preaching; or their fermonizing will be in vain,

Solitude

Solitude in Imprisonment, with a profitable Labour, and a spare Diet, the most humane and effectual Means of bringing Malefactors, who have forfeited their Lives, or are fubject to Tranfportation, to a right Senfe of their Condition; with Propofals for falutary Prevention, &c. By James Hanway, Efq; 8vo.

.28. Bew.

The good fenfe and humanity, which Mr. Hanway hath difplayed on many occafions, are here directed to an object, which is an opprobrium to a Chriftian country, viz. the fhameful abuse of imprisonment. It is, indeed, the height of abfurdity, to make our prifons and houfes of correction, as they are called, the nurseries, as they are, of vice and wickedness. We have lately had a striking inftance of this, in the defperate behaviour of the Moorfields-rioters, fentenced to imprisonment in Newgate. An example can hardly be brought, in which imprisonment of criminals, after the prefent method, hath been attended with any good confequence either to the prifoner or to the community. It is, therefore, with great propriety, Mr. Hanway's philanthropy is exerted on this occafion; and we hope his reflections will not be thrown away, on those whom it more immediately concerns, to remedy the evils, here pointed out.

The Letters of Valens. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Almon.

A collection of Letters, that appeared fome time in the London Evening Poft: written in the true spirit of that antiminis terial paper.

THEATRICAL ARTICLE.

Since the intimation given in our laft Review of our intention to give an account of fuch new dramatic performances, as are exhibited at the London theatres, without appearing in print; we have been favoured with information that the authors of fome late productions, in that predicament, intend, in a fhort time, to remove the cause of complaint, by their publication. We fhall, therefore, defer a little longer our intended critical commentary on thofe picces. In the mean time, however, we cannot, in common juftice, delay to pass the highest encomiums on Mr. Sheridan's new Comedy, entitled

the

the School for Scandal: which has been repeatedly performed, during the course of the month, at Drury-Lane theatre. To fay that it is received with increafing applause, is to pay rather a compliment to the taste of the town, than to the genius of the author; whofe dramatic talents, fterling wit, and truly comic powers, have totally eclipfed thofe of all his contemporaries in this fpecies of writing.

At the fame theatre hath appeared, this month, a new Comic Opera of two acts, entitled the Quaker, the chief merit of which confifts in the mufic of the airs, compofed by Mr. Dibdin. As to the performers, the acquifition of Mr. Henderson has not only added to the ftrength of the company, but infpired a spirit of emulation, which feemed to have abandoned the ftage, or to have been totally abforbed in the fuperior merit of a late overweening actor. We may be more particular, in the inveftigation of this very promifing young performer's abi lities, hereafter; at prefent, let it fuffice to fay that, for a juft conception of his author and propriety of utterance, the two great requifites in a Comedian, we do not remember ever to have feen his fuperior, in fo great a variety of characters.

At Covent Garden Theatre, Mr. Murphy's new Comedy, Know your own Mind, has just made its appearance, for the prefent feafon. The town, however, does not feem to know its own mind as yet, respecting its dramatic merit; we shall, therefore, poftpone our remarks on it, as we hope to be foon. able to do it ample juftice by feeing it in print.

A fingular, and not the moft decent, phenomenon hath appeared this month, at the fame house, viz. a female Macheath. What hath added to the fingularity of this prepofterous appear ance, is its being accompanied with a pretended moral reformation of the piece. We hope, however, the abfurdity of the proceeding, as well as the poetical facrilege of mutilating and altering the original of this moft excellent drama, is, by this time, obvious both to the managers and the audience.

Another abfurdity, in the reprefentations of this theatre, hath difgufted the town, in the appearance of Mr. Macklin, in the character of Sir John Brute. If puerility and dotage be not abfolutely wedded together, in the connection fubfifting between the manager and this player, we fhall fee fuch errors feldom repeated. if they are, it is high time the town fhould urge a divorce: for furely never was there fo prepofterous a match.

2. R. Spi

THE

LONDON REVIEW,

FOR NOVEMBER, 1777.

Effays Moral and Literary. 8vo. 4s. Dilly.

Among the many frivolous publications, which pafter the age, we are fometimes happy in meeting with an exception, that revives our drooping spirits and reconciles us to the horrid fatigue, of poring over the numerous pages of fterility and dullnefs, which our profeffion, as Reviewers, obliges us to perufe. Of thefe exceptions, to the general rules of modern puerility and ftupidity, the Effays before us afford an entertaining and interefting inftance. They are introduced by the following fhort, but pertinent, preface.

"An unknown writer who fends his lucubrations into the world, and folicits public favour, is exactly in the condition of a new man atpiring to honours among the antient Romans. They who have eftablished their fame, are jealous of an intruder; they who are competitors, are angry at a rival; and the unconcerned fpectators will feldom withdraw their eyes from the contemplation of allowed merit, to examine the pretenfions of doubtful excellence.

"To enlarge the fphere of knowledge, and to ftrike out into new paths of learning, is the lot of few. The world is now fo old, the fame fcene has been fo frequently difplayed, and the researches of industry have penetrated fo deeply into every object, that it is become almost impoffible to produce new difcoveries, to reprefent unobterved VOL. VI.

Sf

appear

appearances, and to throw fresh light on fcience and philofophy *: To publish without improving, it may be faid, is to multiply the labours of learning without enlarging its ufe, and is like increafing the weight without adding to the value of the coin.

"Yet under these difcouragements, and at this late period, a writer may without prefumption hope to felect the scattered flowers of larger plantations, interfperfe a few of his own culture, and place them together fo as to add to their odour, and give fresh luftre to their variegated colours. The attempt at leaft is laudable; and to fail in a praiseworthy undertaking, is not, in the eye of reafon, difgraceful.

The following Effays are the fruits of literary leifure fpert in phi ofophical retirement. The author difclaims the motives of vanity and avarice in their publication. The truth is, he thinks it unjuftifiable diffidence to keep them in useless obfcurity, if there is but a chance or poffibility that they may contribute to the elegant amufement, or to the benefit of others. If the admirer of moral and claf fical beauty fhall adopt one new idea, or correct one error, from the perufal of the fubfequent pages, it will be an ample recompence to their author to reflect, that he has contributed his mite in promoting the cause of virtue and learning."

The fubject of the first Effay is Sentiment in which the writer juftly condemns the fashionable affectation of fentimental delicacy, fo well treated of by Mifs More, in her Effays lately published: a long quotation from which on this fubject is inferted in our laft Review. We fhall, therefore, pafs on to the present writer's fecond tract; which treats of a fubject equally novel affected and modish,

"Of the affectation of the Graces.-It has been remarked by an author of fome humour, that at certain periods there is an epidemical madness which rages through a whole kingdom. In time of war, idcal victories and defeats alternately elevate and deprefs the fpirits of the nation. In peace, the apprehenfion of war, the report of the plague, the fear of popery and the pretender, the dread of a mad-dog, or of a comet, alternately fill every countenance with gloom, every heart with terror, and every tongue with lamentation and complaint.

"The madness which prevails at prefent, is not indeed of the melancholy kind, but it is outrageous and univerfal. It owes its rife to a pofthumous publication of Lord Chesterfield, which is generally read and admired. The Graces are there recommended in fo forcible a manner, that every unlicked cub who can make out the meaning, is induced to affect all the finical airs of a fire gentleman. Clowns, pedants, jockeys, country fquires, and fox hunters, put off the ftern

*Our Author should have confined this remark to moral Philofophy, or the fcience of human life and manners. Experience almoft daily fhews us that in the knowledge of nature in general, we are as yet ignorant of the very rudiments. Rev.