ART. 18. An Ode to the Livery of London, on their Petition to big From whatever cause it may happen, it is undeniably true, that this author's publications ceafe to be received with that curiofity which was directed to his earlier works. We, for our parts, are lefs fickle than the popular gale, and continue to allow him the praise of a confiderable portion both of wit and humour; exclaiming, as we have often done, against the indecencies and ribaldry from which few of his productions are exempt. Peter exhibits a remarkable proof, that the knack of faying bold things, in a quaint manner, is admired and tolerated only for a time. ART. 19. A Poem on the Authors of the Baviad and Pursuits of Literature, two late Productions. Rivingtons. 4to. 2s. 1797. We should fuppofe this poem to come from the pen of fome author among those who are yet fmarting from the lath of one or other of the fatirifts here reprobated. It commences very inaufpiciously : "Two rhymers from the loins of Envy sprung, Who fpread, with liberal hand, their load of dung." This neceffarily brings to mind the homely proverb of the Pot and the Kettle; however, to do the author juftice, as we proceed, we certainly meet with fome eafy and elegant lines; and the apostrophe, in particular, which vindicates the caufe of the poor emigrant priests, does the highest honour to the writer's fenfibility. But if the object of this production be to leffen the impreffion, or contract the circulation of the Baviad, or of the Pursuits of Literature, it will prove a vain and very inconfiderate undertaking. ART. 20. Ode to General Kofciufto. By H. F. Cary, A. M. Author of an Ode to General Elliot, Sonnets, c. 4to. 18. Cadell and Davies. 1797• A fpirited and elegant effufion. ART. 21. The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray, confifting of Odes, Mifcellanies, &c. &c.-Les Poefies de Mr. Thomas Gray, traduites en Français. Par Mr. D. B. 12mo. 159 PP. Le Bouffonier. 1797. There is, in the ftructure and polish of Gray's Odes, a degree of refinement and idiomatical precifion, which render them, in our apprehenfion, peculiarly difficult to tranflate. Thefe difficulties have not, however, appeared fufficient to deter the prefent tranflator, with whose initials alone we are favoured, from risking an attempt. The transla tion is made into that fpecies of profe, which is employed by the author of Telemachus, and fome writers of romance; and which differs only from poetry by the want of rhyme. This must not, how ever, be understood to have refulted from the translator's choice, so much as from the apprehenfion of failure in the more arduous enterprife of a poetical verfion. "J'avoue," fays Mr. D. B. “ que fi j'en euffe eu le talent, j'euffe préferé de rendre en beaux vers François, la belle poefie de Gray, plutôt que de la traduire en profe; mais on fait, que les vers ne fuffrent point de mediocrité." In one inftance only has verfe been attempted; and as our readers may be curious to fee the celebrated Epitaph in a Country Church-Yard in a French dress, we hall annex it as a fpecimen of the tranflator's talents. "EPITAPHE, Ici repofe en paix dans le fein de la terre Des grands, de la Fortune, un jeune homme ignoré; Douè d'un cœur fenfible et d'une â ne fincere, This verfion wants unquestionably the terfeness, and expreffes not, in all refpects, the fentiment of the original; but it is not deftitute, on the other hand, of beauties, which (allowance being made for the difficulties of tranflation) will commend it even to the admirers of Gray. Of the tranflation at large, we entertain a refpectful opinion, and have found it, in general, faithful, without facrifice of fpirit and animation: but, we apprehend, that it will be lefs warmiy received by thofe, who are acquainted with the exquifite beauties of this elegant poet, than by foreigners, who may want fuch a guide to the fenfe of the original. DRAMATIC. ART. 22. The Fatal Sifters; or, the Castle of the Foreft: a Dramatic Romance, of Five Acts. With a Variety of Poetic Effays. By Edmund John Eyre, of the Theatres-Royal, Bath and Bristol; late of Pembroke College, Cambridge; and Author of the Maid of Normandy; or, Death of the Queen of France, a Tragedy;-Confequences; or, the School for Prejudice, a Comedy; the Dreamer awake; or, Pugilift match'd, c. c. c. 8vo. 142 pp. 45. Longman. 1797. The volume before us is ushered into the world, under the most flattering circumftances of princely patronage, and a refpectable fubfcription. We cannot, however, conceal our apprehenfions, that the author will be lefs fuccefsful in his fuit to the critics. Mr. Eyre is not deftitute of talents, but his powers are neither fufficiently energetic, nor his tafte fufficiently correct, to fucceed in compofitions which require an equal exercife of genius and judgment. His drama has G. 2 merit; merit; but his Mufe is ever in purfuit of fome witty antithefis in the burlefque character of Francifco, and fome laboured blunder in that of O'Leary. His fmaller pieces are much below the standard of true poetry; they want that chafte imagery which delights the fancy, and that delicate expreffion which fafcinates the heart. A digreffion to the memory of the author's father, will ferve as a fpecimen of his talents for this fpecies of writing; and we are much mistaken, if the reader will not find more gratitude than poetry, in this tribute of filial refpect. My Mufe, now loft in melancholy gloom, That grateful Science own'd his foft'ring care- P. 128, We cannot, upon the whole, affign to thefe poems any rank which would command respect, or reward ambition: Mr. Eyre has affigned for his writing the double motives of fame and hunger, "fama et fames" the latter, however, is very rarely appeafed by any fruits of Parnaffus, efpecially fuch as can be gathered in the dreary region of Moderate Foetry. ART. 23. The Honeft Thieves: a Farce. In Two Acts. Altered from the Committee. By J. Knight. First acted, at the Theatre Royal, Covent-Garden, May 3, 1797. 12mo. 47 pp. Cawthorne. 1797. The humour of this piece confifts chiefly in the blunders of honeft Teague, which are abundantly numerous, and fufficiently laughable. When he is off the ftage, there is little to be found but infipidity. NOVELS. ART. 24. The Beggar Girl and her Benefactors. In Seven Volumes. By Mrs. Bennett, Author of Welch Heirefs, Ec. c. 12mo. 11. 4s. 6d. Lane. 1797. The Beggar Girl has excited a confiderable share of attention among readers of a certain clafs; but to us it appears a work distinguished by no great force of invention, or novelty of incident. The three first volumes are beft written, and moft interefting; but the heroine, like like other heroines, is expofed to various "hair-breadth scapes," difficulties, and dangers, from all which the is delivered in the usual way. The catastrophe alfo is much like other catastrophes. The Beggar Girl is ultimately difcovered to her parents, by a mark in fome part of her perfon, and proves to be the daughter of the gentleman who first discovered and protected her. Why the author fhould be induced to protract the work to fo outrageous a length, we cannot imagine, unless the popularity of Mad. d'Arblay's works might operate as an incentive to purfue a fimilar plan. The book is dedicated to the Dutchess of York, in a ftrain of eulogium, no lefs animated than juft; and, we doubt not, that it will be fufficiently encouraged by the public, to juftify the author's perfeverance in a branch of literature, to which her talents are certainly well fuited. ART. 25. The Children of the Abbey, a Tale, in Four Volumes. By Regina Maria Roche. 16s. Lane. 1797. This is a very entertaining and well-written production, and one which we can fafely recommend to our female readers, with the fingle exception, that the character of Adela, though very well drawn, is fomewhat too romantic. Yet, by many readers, this will, perhaps, be thought the very effence of its merit, and the best part of our commendation. ART. 26. The Little Family, written for the Amusement and Infruction of young Perfons. By Charlotte Sanders. Two Volumes. 55. Dilly. 1797. We have been very much pleafed with thefe little volumes; they are conceived and written with much good fenfe and fpirit, and will make a proper and useful prefent to thofe for whofe benefit the work was written, ART. 27. Henry Somerville, a Tale. By the Author of Harilebourn Cafile. Two Volumes. 65. Bell. 1797. This alfo is an entertaining and well-written novel. The character of Henry is well fupported, and the incidents are ingenioully contrived, which finally unite him to his miftrefs. MEDICINE. ART. 28. An Efay concerning the outward and falutary Application of Oils on the Human Body. By the Rev. William Martin Trinder, M.D. Svo. 31 PP. 18. T. N. Longman, Paternotter-Row. This is an attempt to introduce the ufe of oil, and other unctuous applications to the kin. It was the practice of the ancients, particularly the Greeks and Romans, to anoint their bodies after ufing the baths, and the Athletæ rubbed ceromata, oil thickened with wax, and mixed with agglutinating and aromatic fubftances, over their bodies, prior to their entering on the arena. The intention was, probably, to prevent prevent inordinate perfpiration, and, confequently, too quick an ex-. hauftion of their strength. That it had this effect, and contributed to invigorate the combatants, we have no doubt; and that it may be falutary, under certain circumftances, even in these more northern climates, is also very probable." After hard labour," the author fays, "or exceffive fatigue, the outward ufe of oil is wonderfully reftorative and refreshing: this is not only teftified by the practice of the ancient Athlete, but by fome mowers at Hendon, this fummer, who, before the application, were nearly exhaufted by exceffive labour at task,work, but afterwards followed it up with eafe and pleafure. Oily applications, with friction, the author thinks might be ferviceable in fome kinds of palfy, in cold phlegmatic habits, in general debility, &c. The author ftrongly recommends the union of the medical with the clerical character. If clergyinen who refide in the country, would apply to the study of phyfic, they might be the inftruments of much good to their parishioners, and, at the fame time, ameliorate their own conditions. The author appears to write with zeal, and has collected much ingenious matter on the fubject. It may per haps forward the views of the author, to add, that he has adopted the practice he recommends, and is both the minifter and phyfician to his parishioners. ART. 29. A short Addrefs to the Profeffors of Surgery, throughout his Majefty's Dominions, on the Bill lately brought into Parliament, for erecting the Corporation of Surgeons, in London, into a College. By a Member of the Corporation. 8vo. 29 PP. is. Sewel, Cornhill. 1797. This is a candid examination of the principal arguments urged against the bill in queftion; and the author appears to have cleared the promoters of it from the imputation of endeavouring to obtain, for themselves, any additional powers, or of abridging the privileges of their brethren: as the Prefident, Vice-Presidents, Cenfors, and Counsellors, of the intended College, were to have been confined to the fame powers now enjoyed by the Mafter, Wardens, and Court of Affiftants of the company. No valid reaton feems, however, to be given, why the number of governors or officers of the College should be limited to twenty-one initead of twenty-four, ftated to be the number of the officers of the company, as the furgeons belonging to the company are much more numerous than they were in the year 1745, when they feparated from the Barbers' Company, and their prefent conftitution was formed. In vind.cating the fale of the Hall, and the purchase of the houfe in Lincoln's-inn Fields, which has been cenfured as illegal, and highly injurious to the company, the author omits the principal reafons for adopting that method; which was, as we are informed, the decayed ftate of the Hall, and the large fum of money that would have been required to put it into fubftantial repair, which, the building being only held on leafe, and charged with a high ground-rent, would have made it extremely expenfive to the company for the remainder of the term. Their prefent building, on the contrary, being a freehold, and the taxes very moderate, compared to what they paid in the Old Bailey, the exchange will be found to be |