tice, Ordinary Professor of Laws in the University of Gottingen, Member of the Academy of Sciences at Berlin, &c. Translated from the German, with Notes, and a Comparative View of the Revenues, Population, Forces, &c. of the respective Territories, from the Statistical Tables lately published at Berlin. By Josiah Dornford †, of Lincoln's Inn, the present occasion, to Frankfort. His knowledge of the Constitution of the Empire, and the method he has adopted in the explanation of it, justly entitle him to the praise he has acquired abroad, if we may judge by the Foreign Reviews; and it is with some satisfaction that we announce the appearance of a Translation of the best Work on so interesting and difficult a subject. -The Translator has prefixed a Preface, in which he complains of the indifference generally discovered by the English to a knowledge of the interior history and political regulations of foreign countries. We have seldom seen so laborious a work in the German language more deserving a Translation, or a Translation executed with more fidelity.—It was originally written by desire of her Majesty, to whom the Translation is dedicated by permission." Gent. Mag. Vol. LX. p. 821. * "The performance before us is a work of Science, composed by a man who has dedicated the greatest part of his life to the subject which he treats; and it is written in the German language, which, however undeservedly, receives but little attention in this country. Although the second and third volumes of this valuable work will, perhaps, soon make their appearance, we were unwilling to delay giving some account of the volume already published, which is entitled to distinction from the mob of translations."'-"In our account of the first volume of this work, we expressed our earnest desire of seeing the continuation. That desire is now gratified, and our expectations are fully answered. The second and third volumes, now before us, accompanied with many valuable additions by the Translator, complete M. Pütter's Developement of the Germanic constitution, and render the English performance considerably more useful than the original, which has long been considered as the best book on the political law of Germany." M. Rev. N. S. II. 265; IV. 142. + This learned and promising young man was son of Josiah Dornford, Esq. a well-known and useful Member of the Corpo ́ration of London, and an active Magistrate for the County of Kent. He was of Trinity College, Oxford; M. A. there 1792; and afterwards LL. D. of the University of Gottingen; and a Barrister at Law. He published the above Translation with a view to acquire a knowledge of the language, history, and political constitution, of Germany. The subject was highly interesting; and he was led on, by one circumstance and another, to com LL. D. of the University of Gottingen, and late of Trinity College, Oxford." In Three Volumes, 8vo. "Prolusiones nonnullæ Academicæ, nomine Universitatis Georgia-Augustæ Gottingensis scriptæ à C. G. Heyne; nunc primùm uno volumine editæ *." 8vo. "Remarks on the late Edition of the Tatler, with Notes, in six Volumes. By Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes+." commit his labours to the press. Shielded by such a name as that of Britain's Queen, he ventured to produce his earliest publication. He was appointed one of the Commissioners in Lord Moira's Army; and in November 1795 Inspector-General of the Army Accompts in the Leeward Islands. To the extensive attainments of a scholar, he added the suavity and elegant manners of a gentleman. His heart, which glowed with benevolence, never felt the influence of one contracted or illiberal sentiment. His urbanity, which distinguished him on every occasion, was the result of an early and uninterrupted attachment to persons whose rank gives lustre to their friendship, and whose virtues dignify it. His genius, which was emulous and inquisitive, whilst it opened to his mind the sources of Science, placed in his hand the palm of Literature. He died at Martinique, at the early age of 34, July 1, 1797. To his country he was an ornament; to his friends his loss was irreparable. * This little volume was edited by Dr. Dornford, " Auspiciis Ernesti-Augusti, Augusti-Frederici, Adolphi-Frederici, M. Britan. Regis Aug. Sobolis faustiss. Juvent. Princip. ;" and in the Preface, dated Nov. 13, 1789, Mr. Heyne pays some handsome compliments to two learned youths; "nostræ olim disciplinæ magnâ suâ cum laude alumnis, nostrarumque æque ac patriarum rerum gnaris; judicii itaque æquitate usuros esse speramus et alios Britannos, si qui fortè sui tantum moris intelligentiam et usum habebunt." These, a note informs us, were "Josias Dornford, qui in Academiâ nostrâ summos in jure honores consequutus est ; et Alexander Craufurd, alumnus olim Pædagogii Ildefensis in montibus Hercyniis, inde Academiæ nostræ Gottingensis." †These excellent Remarks, originally addressed by Lord Hailes to Mr. Nichols, were, by permission of the learned Writer, preserved in the Gentleman's Magazine, for 1790, vol. LX. pp. 679, 793, 902, 992, 1073, 1163.—In 1791, vol. LXI. p. 399, is also a critique, by Lord Hailes, on the famous Miniature of Milton in the possession of Sir Joshua Reynolds, which produced from the pen of our English Raphael a vindication of it in the same volume, p. 605; and a reply from Lord Hailes in p. 886. Dr. Kippis, in a Preface to the "Biographia Britannica," acknowledges frequent and great obligations to Lord Hailes; "Illustrations of Euripides, on the Alcestis*. By R. P. Jodrell, Esq. F. R. S." 8vo. Epigrams, translated into English Verse from the Original Greek, and selected from the Compilation of Rich. Fr. Phil. Brunck, published at Strasburg, A. D. 1773†" «ΘΕΟΦΡΑΣΤΟΥ ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗΡΕΣ ΗΘΙΚΟΙ. and see an accurate and ample account of his Life and Writings in Mr. Chalmers's" Biographical Dictionary," vol. XI. The following Letter to Dr. Lort I print from the original: 66 REVEREND SIR, Edinburgh, Dec. 14, 1765. "Your friend Colonel Rickson informs me, that you are pleased to favour my attempts for illustrating the character of the last age from original papers, and that you are possessed of some MSS. relative to my plan. This has encouraged me to trouble you with these lines, entreating the favor of your correspondence and assistance. You may be assured that my Collections, already pretty large, are not made in the spirit of party; and that as I am often obliged to shew men of different sects and factions in an unfavourable light, so I am always willing to lay hold of the opportunity of shewing them in colours more agreeable to humanity. I have procured a new type, cast by Mr. Wilson of Glasgow, of which I enclose you a specimen: if I live, and have leisure, there will be many volumes published in that type; and in such a Work I shall be proud to acknowledge your benefactions, being, Reverend Sir, your most obedient humble servant, DAVID DALRYMPLE." "To the opinion we formerly gave of Mr. Jodrell's illustrations of two other pieces of Euripides, the Ion and Bacchæ (see vol. VIII. p. 102), we can only add, that the present is an additional proof of the Writer's learning and reading, and an almost complete view of the system of Funerals, if we may so call it, among the Antients." Gent. Mag. vol. LX. p. 547. ↑ Both the design and execution of this little work are commendable. The Translator was a learned and respectable Graduate of New College, Oxford; who had previously distinguished himself by a Translation of the beautiful Greek Monostrophics of the present Bishop of Gloucester (see vol. VIII. p. 158.) 66 + Theophrastus," being intended as a companion to" Catullus" (see p. 49), was printed in a small quarto, on a fine bold type, and without accents. Upon this last particularity Count Reviczky remonstrated with his friend the Chamberlain; who facetiously replied, 'that he would willingly be at the expence of printing a single copy with accents for the Count, if he would be at the pains of finding a person who would first make and afterwards correct them.-It may be observed, that this is the only complete edition of Theophrastus; for Mr. Wilkes has added the two chapters found in the Vatican, and edited separately by John Johannes Wilkes *, Anglus, recensuit. Londini, Typis Johannis Nichols." "Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica, No. LI; containing Collections towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester. By John Nichols, F. S. A. Edinb. and Perth," 2 vols. 4to. John Christopher Amadutius. There are no Notes, nor any Introduction; but, at the conclusion of the volume, an extract from Bruyere informs us what opinion he at least entertained of the original Author. "I enclose you, says the Chamberlain to his Printer, a page for Theophrastus, which is to commence after the 28th Chapter, as I have marked it, and another separate page to conclude the volume. Courage, Sir; I see land."-Of this Volume only 120 copies were printed; and four on vellum, one of which was presented to Count Revicsky, a second to Earl Spencer; one is now in the posse-sion of my friend Mr. Bindley (who bought it at an auction of Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby). The destination of the fourth I do not recollect. There are few men whose character will be more astonishing to posterity than the Editor of this beautiful little volume. Born to the possession of the moderate fortune of a younger brother; educated with no very superior advantages; by the natural force of genius, and an affection for polite literature, we find Mr. Wilkes, at a very early age, the favourite companion of Patrician Wits, and the delight of every gay and fashionable circle. Scarcely arrived at manhood, he was driven, by a fortuitous coincidence of events, into the most tremendous storm of politicks, whence none but a mind firm as his own could ever have emerged. After shewing that he was better skilled in legal lore than the greatest Law Luminaries of the present age, he became an outlaw, and a man of indigence, Yet, even thus depressed, he rose superior to adversity; obtained a reversal of his outlawry; and was rewarded by his grateful fellow-citizens with the highest civic honours. In maturer age, we see him continuing to cultivate the Muses; and uniting the truest otium cum dignitate under the shade of his vine and his fig-tree; and long may he continue to enjoy this rational delight!" Gent. Mag. vol. LX. p. 1013. "The Editor, in his Advertisement, renews an observation which he had before made, that the only merit to which he can aspire, as to this part of his great work, is that of assiduity and good intention. These Collections, he adds, bear the appearance of a common-place book, connected, however, by an index; which, it is hoped, the Reader will consult, before he determines that any parish, which he may wish to examine, is actually deficient. It is his intention, if health and ability continue, to publish, from these and other materials, a much more complete work No. LII. (the concluding Number) of the "Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica *." work of the kind; for assistance in which, he earnestly solicits his literary friends, particularly that of the Nobility, Clergy, and Gentlemen, of the County; and at the same time he handsomely acknowledges that aid which has been already communicated." M. Rev. N. S. V. 165. *"'This Number consists of nine or ten articles, chiefly relative to subjects which have already fallen under notice in the course of the work. In the Account of the Expences of the Funeral of John Dudlie, Esquier, who was buried at Newington the 17th daie of Januarie, 1581,' among other articles, the following is somewhat diverting: To a poore man that made an epitaphe, 10s.' There is a farther article not particularly specified in the list of contents. The Editor terms it, however, A Second Appendix to Mr. Mores' History of Tunstall, Kent; and we ought to add, that herein he discovers candour and honour; for this long letter (constituting fifteen or sixteen pages) is very severe, and as it should seem, with some justice, on one part of his work. The publishing it literally as it was received, (it is added in a note) is the fairest proof of our impartiality.' It is addressed to the Printer by Mr. Banister; it is written with humour and smartness; and it discovers much good sense, while it warmly complains of an invidious libel on the memory of one of his ancestors long since numbered among the dead. Whether the charge adduced against Mr. Mores is just or not, as probably it is in great part at least, the Letter affords very useful hints, which deserve attention from all persons who engage in this branch of Literature.-The Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica is now brought to a conclusion. The work constitutes eight quarto volumes, accompanied by more than three hundred plates; the different articles of which they consist having been carefully paged in such a manner, that they might follow each other with regularity in their suitable classes.-The Publisher expresses grateful acknowledgments for the candour with which the work, he says, has been uniformly received. He reflects with satisfaction how much his undertaking has been facilitated by the communications of Antiquaries whose assistance would confer honour on any publication. One Friend he thinks it would be unpardonable not to mention. On the subject of Topography,' he adds, it is a name of peculiar eminence. Not only the original suggestion of the plan was from Mr. Gough; but the most unremitting and disinterested assistance has been received through the whole progress of this extensive undertaking. To him is the Reader indebted, if any thing agreeable or useful be found in these volumes.'-Though the Editor, however, thinks it proper that, in a work of such magnitude, which has not hitherto been confined to time or price, some pause should be made; he does not relinquish it, without affording the prospect 6 |