the fire of argument." This fire is indeed kept up with more impetuofity than steady courage; though fome of the thot are well aimed, and feem to take effect.

So far as we are to be guided by the Mofaical law, the diftinction made by Mr. Fry, and infifted on by the prefent Writer, between uncovering the nakedness, and spreading a skirt over a woman, and covering the nakedness, appears quite juft, however indelicate, as Mr. Alleyne well remarks, the expreffions are: indeed, we fhould owe an apology to the fair fex, for referring to them in this grofs manner, did the advocates on both fides confine their reasoning, on this delicate fubject, to the actual and intrinfic merits of the cafe, without calling in the law and practice of a people, few of whofe inftitutions are confiftent with, or worthy of regard, under the prefent improvements of human knowledge. As an evidence of our own refpe&t for decency, we shall fupprefs fome additional hints that might be urged to fupport this diftinction; and content ourfelves with obferving, after the writers on this fubject, that by the help of it, many of the Levitical prohibitions vanish: and that the regular practice of the Jews contradicts the popular construction of them. This confideration leads Mr. Alleyne to make fome pertinent obfervations on the canon law; and with respect to marrying with a fifter of a former wife (to justify which is the principal object of these letters) to lay great flrefs on the act Mary, feff. 2. c.r, that pronounced the validity of the marriage between Henry VIII. and Catharine of Arragon, the widow of his brother Arthur. But without impeaching the avowed principles on which that act was framed, the authority of it would certainly have been ftronger, had its declared object been more extenfive, and had it not been calculated folely to fanétify the power under which it paffed; a power which there were manifold reasons to with had never been reftored. It is clear it never would have passed, had Elizabeth immediately, fucceeded Edward VI. Still must it be allowed, as our Author remarks, that "it is a folemn, public, notorious, legislative declaration, of the purity of a marriage folemnized between a man and his own brother's widow." It should feem therefore, according to plain reason, that this legiflative declaration would extend to, and fupport, all marriages in like circumftances. Mr. Alleyne, however, advises an application to parliament, to have the degrees of marriage afcertained by an exprefs law; a meafure which would, in every refpect, be more agreeable to British proteftants, than the authority by which such cases are now decided.

NAVIGATION.

Art. 34. The Seaman's ufeful Friend and pleafant Companion. 8vo. Price only 1 s. 6d. Printed at Chichester, and fold in London by Richardson, &c.

1774

The Author has anticipated any recommendation which we might be difpofed to give him, by being very free and full in the praise of his own performance. But this felf-commendation we attribute to other motives than thofe of vanity and oftentation. We have already - had occafion to remark a peculiarity in his manner of writing, and we then fuggefted what appeared to us a just account of it. See Rev. for Jan. 1773, p. 72. We wilh, however, for his own fake, that our Author may not be too liberal in communicating" the knowledge

knowledge with which the Almighty has bleffed him." In this small treatife we have," befides other ferviceable things," tables of the fun's declination for four years, from 1773 to 1776 inclufive; a method of finding the declination till the year 1800; rules for working an obfervation either of the fun or ftars, "more plain and easy than have yet been given;" a lift of fome of the "biggeft" ftars, with their right afcenfion and declination; directions to the feaman for finding and knowing any ftar, for correcting the dead reckoning by an obfervation, for discovering the variation by a common wooden dish compass, for touching the compafs and for making the Land's-End or the Lizard with fafety. The whole is written in a very plain manner, and may be of ufe to thofe navigators that have not access to more complete and more coftly publications.

MATHEMATICS. Art. 35. Science Improved; or, the true Theory of the Universe. Comprehending a rational Syftem of the most useful as well as entertaining Parts of natural and experimental Philofophy, embellished with Copper-plates on a new-invented moveable Conftruction, &c. By Thomas Harrington. 4to. 7 s. 6 d. fewed. Printed for the Author, and fold by Crowder, &c.

A compilation, in which the leading principles of the celeftial philofophy are familiarly explained and applied to the purposes of religion and virtue. There is a freedom and eafe in our Author's manner of writing, which will render this performance agreeable to thofe juvenile readers, for whofe information and use it is principally intended; and his intention, in this abftract of philofophical Icience, is truly laudable; but we are forry to obferve, that he has paid little regard to order in the diftribution of his materials, and that fome of his defcriptions are obfcure and imperfect.

In a work of this kind, defigned for the inftruction and amusement of youth, it is of great moment to give a clear and accurate account of every fubject that occurs. As an inftance of the Writer's obfcurity, we refer to his examination of the paragraph in which he defcribes the places of the planets, toward the clofe of fection 16: ⚫ what we have now been speaking of is called the geocentrick places of the planets, that is feen from, or having the earth for its center. The beliocentrick places of the planets, means, was it poffible for an eye to be placed in the fun, it would see our earth as a planet, and give the places of all the planets as they would appear from this fituation of the obferver."This is a fpecies of definition, conftructed by no rules of logic or of grammar,

Our Author has ftated the number of miles in a degree of latitude, every where, at 60, without taking any notice of the true measurement of meridional degrees. He has likewife fet down the distances of the planets from the fun, together with their diameters and magnitudes, according to former estimates, without any of the alterations and amendments determined by the late tranfits.

His account of eclipfes is very unfatisfactory and imperfect and, as the annexed figure for explaining them by no means anfwers the purpose of a real orrery, and tends to mislead a reader unacquainted with this fubject, he mould have been particularly cautious to prevent mistakes, and to remove a difficulty that muft arife in the very

younge⭑

youngest mind, with refpect to the period of their return. Every youth, who attends merely to Mr. Harrington's plate and defcription, muft conclude, that eclipfes, both of the fun and moon, will neceffarily happen in every month.

We fubmit thefe remarks to our Author's confideration; more especially as this volume is foon to be fucceeded by another, in purfuance of the fame plan.

Art. 36. A Treatise on the Longitude, &c. By R. Waddington, 4to. zs. 6d. Nourse. 1773.

This treatife may be confidered as a kind of second supplement to the Author's Practical Method for finding the Longitude and Latitude of a Ship at Sea, published in 1763. (See Rev. for October in the fame year, p. 308.) The first fupplement was published in 1764: fee Rev. Jan. 1764, p. 78. This new treatife contains inftructions and tables for the ufe of the fextant and octant in celeftial obfervations; and particularly in those that immediately relate to the longitude. Mr. W. is well acquainted, both from theory and experience, with this fubject; and the prefent pamphlet is a valuable addition to what he has already offered to the public. Toward the conclufion he has given an abstract of the dimensions of the folar fyftem, deduced from the obfervations of the last tranfit, together with fome general definitions.

HERALDRY.

Art. 37. The complete English Peerage; or, a genealogical and biftorical Account of the Peers and Peeresses of this Realm. By the Rev. Frederic Barlow, M. A. 8vo. 2 Vols. 12 s. 6d. Boards. Eva s. 1773

Though we are already furnished with various hiftories of the Englifh peerage, yet the many changes that have lately happened from new creations, and the extinction of old titles, furnish a plaufible excufe for a fresh publication of this nature.

"

Former writers in this walk, instead of being faithful biftorians, have too often (as Mr. B. obferves) deviated into mere panegyrifts. The Authors of the work before us boast of their own unbiaffed integrity in the following terms: We fhall not be afraid to pull afide the ermine, to fhew the corruption [which] lies hidden behind; and our reverence for truth will embolden us to disclose the weakness of the bead, even when encircled by the diadem.

This is, indeed, a bold declaration: but we find it made good, in a variety of inftances, in the courfe of the work; in which the characters of many of the prefent nobility, whether favourable or otherwise, are drawn with great freedom, and an air of impartiality.

The arms are neatly and accurately engraved, and [which is peculiar to the prefent work] the mottos are all tranflated and explained. Good engravings are also given of his Majesty, and of all the dif ferent orders of peers, in their parliamentary robes.

On the whole, this account of the English peerage feems to deferve the public approbation, equally with other abridgments of the like nature; and the more fo, as the ftate of the feveral noble families iş brought down to the time of its publication.

POETICAL

POETICAL.

Art. 38. Nuptial Elegies. 4to. 2 s. Kearsley, 1774. These elegies bear strong marks of the domeftic virtues; and, if there were any credit due to poetry, we should venture to pronounce their Author a good husband, and a good father. They are four in number. The firft has the ftartling title of Fruition, but is by no means immodeft; the second, which is by far the best, is entitled the Disappointment of Paffion: from this are selected the following stanzas; Ye golden joys that fir'd my raptur'd breaft,

When Sylvia's eyes the mutual pleasure caught;
When to her lov'd and loving bofom preft,
We mingled every foul-diffolving thought:
Where are ye fled ?-Ah! never to return,

Though my true heart its priftine paffion warms;
Though in my veins the fame fierce ardours burn,
Nor leffen'd are my Sylvia's powerful charms;
Still in her eyes the pointed lightnings play,
Still on her cheeks the living rofes blow;
In fprightly youth's unfaded prime fill gay,
And ftill unmatch'd her bofom's unfoil'd fnow:

But cold, alas! to love's engaging arts,

Each glowing fpark extinguifh'd in her breast,
No more our meeting mutual fires imparts,

Our days are lifelefs, and our nights unbleft.
Lefs curs'd the fwain whom Hatred's baleful power
Has drove injurious from Affection's seat ;
Infulted Love will fuffer but his hour,

And, aided by Revenge, at laft retreat :
Far happier he, who droops beneath the frown
Of fcornful Beauty's well-affected pride,
Hope may befriend, and Time his wishes crown,
To me revenge and hope are both denied:
For love, like youth, its tender moments paft,
No force, no art, no accidents restore;
Age and indifference will for ever last,

While vainly we their frigid powers deplore.

The two laft elegies are entitled the Triumph of Reafon and the Winter of Love, and contain many good stanzas.

Art. 39. Fables by Mr. John Gay, with an Italian Tranflation

by Gian Francefco Giorgetti. 8vo. 6s. Davies. 1773. Signor Giorgetti, an ingenious Venetian, has tranflated thefe ceJebrated fables into Italian verfe; and he has executed the work with fpirit, perfpicuity, and elegance. A precifion equal to that of the original, could hardly have been hoped for, had his language allowed it; and, perhaps, his greateft fault is too diffufe a tyle. Forty-two of the fables are here given with the original on the oppofire page; and we know not a more ufeful book for the Italian Scholar

Art.

Art. 40. Julia, a poetical Romance. By the Editor of the Effay on the Character, Manners, and Genius of Women. 8vo. 4 s. fewed. Robinson. 1773.

A verfification of Rouffeau's celebrated Nouvelle Heloife.

LETTER IV.
EMILIUS to JULIA.

The poft!" with what impatience did I ftand!
How I rejoic'd to fee the well known hand!
"My Julia's hand!" the feal I trembling broke,
While from mine eyes a thousand feelings fpoke:
The lovely fymbols to my lips 1 preft-

Fancy was fired-thy name can make me bleft!
The precious lines I greedily ran o'er,

Or rather feem'd each letter to devour.

To many readers fuch poetry as this may be very delightful; and it would be cruel to deprive them of their pleasure by criticism.

Art. 41. The Juvenaliad; a Satire. 4to.

I S. Bell. An honeft but, we fear, ineffectual attempt to expofe general vices imputed to feigned names. The verfification is, in general, tolerable, but fpoiled by many bad lines.

Art. 42. The Gracious Warning; or, a Monody on the Death of the late pious and learned Jofeph Nicoll Scott, M. D. With his very remarkable Dream concerning it: To which are added, fome Lines on the late Rev. Mr. Edward Hitchin, B. D. By G.Wright. 4to. 6 d. Otridge, &c. 1774.

and would not have

Dr. Scott was an ingenious and learned man been vain of fuch encomiums as are bestowed upon him in these verses.

Art. 43. An Elegiac Epifle from Lucy Cooper in the Shades, ta Sally Harris, the ravished Pomona. 4to. 1 s. Williams. 1774.

Rochester revived.

Art. 44. Faith; a Poem. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Becket. 1774.

How this profound fubject came to fall into infantine rhyme, it would be difficult to conceive, had not the Author informed us that part of it was originally interwoven with another poem, and afterwards detached from it. The publication, however, is quite as unconfequential as the measure in which it is conveyed. An attempt to overturn the Epicurean doctrine by oppofing to it that of the Trinity, was certainly a very ftrange fuggeftion

Tempus eget

nec defenforibus ISTIS

The verfes, indeed, are in general fpirited and good; though there is fometimes a fad falling off-For instance,

Scoffs at those who dare proclaim

A Man God in human frame.

In the latter of thefe lines there is at least an uncouthness and redundancy, if it be not abfolute nonfenfe.