Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

"All human perfection is relative: let us cherish, therefore, the principle on which our paft improvements have been effected, and to which even the prefent ftate of our civil and religious liberties is fo truly owing. Let us encourage, let us eftcem, every one who, like our Author, ventures, with a manly freedom, to controvert the general opinions and cuftoms of a mifguided or mistaken world. Right or wrong, indeed, he has not only a claim to be heard, but it is the intereft, as it should be the pride, of a free people to give him a candid hearing. The worft of flavery is the fubjection of the mind. The man who dares not think, is the most abject flave in nature; and he who dares not publish his fentiments with decency and freedom, is the vileft flave of society.

"It has been reported, that this performance has been difcountenanced, where a ftatue fhould have been erected to the honour of its Author, even in his native country, Geneva. differThe Proteftant Republics owe their exiftence to a very ent kind of policy; and it may be fafely affirmed, that a fociety must be in a tottering fituation, indeed, whofe pillars reft on fuch rotten foundations as those our Author endeavours to expofe. Be this as it may; it is to be hoped, that England will be the laft country in the world, wherein the friends of truth and liberty will be reftrained from thus exercifing their talents for the fervice and improvement of mankind.”

We have only to add, that the two volumes now published, contain but half the work; the third and fourth, we are told, are now in the prefs, and will speedily make their appearance,

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For SEPTEMBER, 1762.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 1. A new Guide to Eloquence: Being a Treatife of the proper Diftinctions to be obferved between Words reckoned fynonimous; or their different Significations, and the Choice which fhould be made of them, in order to express ourselves juftly. The fynonimous Words claffed alphabetically, upon the Plan of a French

a French Work of the fame Nature, by the Abbot Girard. 8vo. Is. Pritchard.

THIS

HIS publication is part of a work which, we are told, is to be continued, if found acceptable to the public. We are forry, therefore, to find so useful a defign likely to be frustrated for want of competent abilities in the Undertaker. What is here published is tranflated from the French, on which account the alphabetical order of the words is already broken; and yet we do not find that this pamphlet is published merely as a fpecimen. Our Readers will readily conceive, that a work of this kind, calculated to adjust and determine the nicest punctilios of language, cannot admit of transla tion: the utility, however, of fuch an original work, in every language, is fufficiently displayed in the Abbe Girard's excellent preface, which is tranflated, and prefixed to this performance.

After having explained the nature and defign of his work, in treating of words ufually esteemed fynonimous, and fhewn the neceffity of making a choice adapted to every occafion in writing and dif courfe, this ingenious Writer proceeds to enforce what he advances by the following beautiful illuftration.

"I will not abfolutely deny, that there are fome occafions on which fuch a very nice choice as this may be difpenfed with; but furely there are innumerable more in common difcourfe; where fuch words cannot tolerably pass one for another; efpecially if the fpeaker pretends to any fcholarship, or knowlege of compofition. To illuftrate this doctrine by a comparifon.-If a Lady wants merely a yellow ribband for her head-drefs, it is no great matter whether the chufes the hue of the daffodil or the jonquil; but if the means to fhew a rich and elegant variety in that colour of her attire, she must undoubtedly chufe it, fet off with different tints and fhades; and in how few circumftances, ether of composition or conversation, do we find ourselves, in which we ought not to use the fame various degrees or fhades, as we may call them, of diction!"

While we recommend, however, the execution of this design to fome abler hand, we must obferve, that it is impoffible to make such a work compleat; the meaning of words is not fo permanent but that the lights and fhades of the more delicate modes of expreffion are perpetually changing.

Art. 2. A Difcourfe on the Cultivation of waste and barren Lands. Tranflated from the French of the Marquis de Turbilly, for the Benefit of the Farmers of Great Britain and Ireland, where thefe uncultivated Lands too much abound. Part I. 2s. 6d. fewed. Dodfley.

Having already given an account of the original of this work among our foreign articles*, we fhall here only obferve, that the tran

Under the title of Memoire fur les defrichemens, vol. XXIII. p. 507.

See Review,

flation,

flation, which is infcribed to the Hon. Thomas Cholmondeley, Efq; of Vale Royal in Cheshire, and is faid to be the performance of a Chefhire Farmer, bears genuine marks of its having been executed by a perfon fkilled in matters of hufbandry, and is not unfaithful to the original. The Tranflator hath alfo prefixed a sketch of fome of the principal implements requifite for the purpofes laid down in this ufeful and commendable tract.

Art. 3. Thefaurus Græca Poefes; frue Lexicon Græco-Pro fodiacum; verfus, et fynonyma, (tam ad explicationem vocabulorum, quam ad compofitionem poeticam pertinentia) epitheta, phrafes, defcriptiones, &c. (ad modum Latini gradús ad Parnaffum) complectens. Opus, in ftudiofa, juventutis gratiam et utilitatem, ex optimis quibufque Poetarum Græcorum monumentis, que adhuc prodierunt, nunc primum conftruétum. Cui prafigitur, de Poeft, feu Profodia Græcorum Tractatus. Autore T. Morell, S. T. P. 4to. 11. Is. in boards. Pote.

In our Review for September, 1757, we gave an account of that part of this work which was published as a fpecimen. The whole is now compleated; and we shall only add, that the learned Author has executed his laborious task with great judgment and accuracy It is but juftice to add, that the work is handfomely and correctly printed, fo that we hope it will meet with that favourable reception from the public which it so justly deserves.

Art. 4. The Female Pilgrim; or, the Travels of Hephzibah, under the Similitude of a Dream. Illuftrated with Copperplates. 8vo. 7s. bound. Johnson.

An unequal imitation of the celebrated Pilgrim's Progress, which is, perhaps, inimitable.

Art. 5. An Efay on Oeconomy. The third Edition. By Edward Watkinfon, M. D. Rector of Little Chart in Kent. 8vo. Printed for the Author, by Meff. Oliver in Bartholomew Clofe.

Dr. Watkinfon having corrected and enlarged the prefent edition, from no pecuniary motives, is entitled to the thanks of the public, for his truly benevolent defign. See Review for May last, page 387. Vide alfo the Note on the Cover of our Review for June.

Art. 6. The Hiftory of Caraufius: Or, an Examination of what has been advanced upon that Subject by Genebrier and Stukeley. In which the many Errors and Inaccuracies of both Writers are pointed out and corrected. With an Appendix, containing Obfervations on their Method of explaining Medals. 4to. 3s.

Becket and De Hondt.

This elaborate difquifition is introduced with the following advertifement.

"The fcience of Antiquities has been involved in the systematic fatality of the age. Every refearch after truth has degenerated into contet for an hypothefis. Of all inquirers after it, Antiquarians, to whofe difcoveries fome deference is prefumed to be due, fhould quarrel leaft. Much lefs fhould they fubftitute fancy and invention to that fiction and obfcurity they labour to banish.

"Every one knows what degree of credit is due to our monkish Hiftorians, who, though they furnish us with many new facts, do not give us many more true ones. The caufe under confideration has not been at all ferved by them. Caraufius has been acknowleged as a lawful, or even as a good, Prince, by no party fince the Roman legion, and fome mercenaries whom he attached to his interefts upon principles like his own, and the inhabitants of our ifle, whom he awed into fubmiffion. But ample amends have been made him in this century; when a war, as inveterate as that himself waged with Rome, has been carried on between learned Writers, not fo much about his actions and character, as about the proofs of them. 'Tis true, in the examination of the latter, the former have been brought into view, I wish I could fay, canvailed. This is the defign of the prefent work. There may be fome vanity in fucceeding in it. However, there is no refentment or partiality in undertaking it."

We fhall only add, that the work appears to be learnedly and critically conducted; and may afford much fatisfaction to those who have a taste for the fubject..

Art. 7. Colonia Anglicane Infrate: Or, the Acqueft of Dominion, and the Plantation of Colonies made by the English in America; with the Rights of the Colonifts examined, ftated, and illuftrated. Part I. Containing, I. The Plan of the whole Vork, including the Propofition, afferting the Rights of the Colonifts, intended to be established. II. A brief Hiftory of the Wars, Revolutions, and Events which gave Rife to all the marine Difcoveries, and foreign Acquifitions made by the modern Europeans. III. A Survey of the Knowlege and Opinions which the Europeans had of the Earth in Times preceding thefe Discoveries; with other Matters relating to this Subject. IV. The Particulars of the Progress made by the Portuguefe, from their beginning thefe Difcoveries to the Death of King John II. and an Account of the Grants made to the King of Portugal of the Countries that were or might be difcovered, by the Bulls of feveral Popes, with one of them fet forth at large. 4to. 8s. in boards. Baker.

This fpecimen promifes a work formed on a very extenfive plan, and executed, fo far as this first part extends, with great erudition, tho' not written in a pleasing ftyle. The learned Author informs us,

by

by a previous Advertisement, that" although he has collected many materials neceffary for his proceeding in this work, the state of his health and affairs renders the time of his intended progrefs in it uncertain."

Art. 8. A rational Account how Capt. Weller's converfing at a Distance, affects the Fancy and animai Spirits. Publifhed by the Author, from Experience in fome Pofitions. 8vo. 6d. Briftow.

What is here called a rational Account, is a more incoherent compofition than we ever remember to have feen; except a former pamphlet by the fame hand, which is referred to in this; and which is to be found in Review, vol. V. page 521, intitled, The Experiments fed by a Captain of a Man of War, &c.

POLITICAL.

Art. 9. Invincible Reafons for the Earl of Bute's immediate -Refignation of the Miniftry. In a Letter to a Nobleman. 8vo. IS. Mariner.

A wretched attempt at Irony. The Author is by no means qualified to handle the keen weapons of ridicule, or to display the talents of a Rhetorician, in the management of that beautiful figure, under which he affects to convey his thoughts to the public. He adopts many of thofe common place reflections that have been fo frequently made on the conduct of Mr Pitt and his Partizans; and is fo extremely grof, in treating of thofe allufions and inuendos which he fuppofes faction hath thrown out against the most refpectable personages, that we imagine the latter will think themselves little obliged to this their obfcure and incompetent advocate. They might, indeed, with no little propriety cry out to fuch Defenders, Pol, me occidiftis

amici.

Art. 10. The Favourite. A political Epiftle. Humbly addreffed to all Monarchs, Favourites, and Ministers in the known IVorld. By an ancient Briton. 8vo. Is. Burd.

What fund of politics the Author of this political Epistle may be poffeffed of we know not; certain it is, he has obliged us with very little knowlege of this kind in his pamphlet. The whole is, indeed, nothing more than a rambling declamation against viciousovereigns and their Favourites; or, to use this very familiar Writer's own phrafes, Pimps, Stallions, and af.ally Procurers, that are exclusively

countenanced by the wrong-head of My For what good Į urpofe this publication was calculated, we cannot pretend to fay; nor is it clear to us whom or what the Author aims at. The following, however, is the conclufion he draws from, what he calls, the anecdotes contained in his performance.

« ÖncekiDevam »