! Lectiones Theologica de Matrimonio. Auctore uno è P. R. 12/10 By the fame ingenious writer; who has treated the subject of matrimony after the fcholaftic method, without, however, entangling himself in a labyrinth of fubtle but useless queftions. In examining the question often agitated by catholic divines, concerning the minifter of that facrament (marriage), he contents himself. with relating the various arguments adduced by the different contending parties, without declaring for either of them; and concludes the difcuffion in a manner fomewhat pleafant and unexpected: Legentium erit aut unam felegiffe, aut omnes fufpiciofas habere: modo tamen crediderint veritatem apud eas (fententias) latenter hofpitari.' Then truth muft keep a very ftri&t incognito indeed! Beskrivelse over den Opmaalings Methode, &c. or, an Account of the Method of Menfuration employed in levying the geographical Maps of Denmark. By Thomas Bugge, Prof. of Mathematics and Aftronomy at Copenhagen, 132 Pages in Quarto, with three Plates. Copenhagen. (Danish.) In 1768, a regular inftruction was drawn up, a number of land furveyors appointed, and accurate inftruments procured for the above purpose. The first refult of their skillful and inftructive application was a valuable map, entitled, Kortover Siælland og Moen'... which exhibits the Danish islands of Sealand and Moen, with the neighbouring coafts of Schonen, Falfter, Laaland, Langeland, Thorfinge, Fyen, Samfoe, and Jutland; and has been drawn up under the direction of the Royal Danish Society of Sciences. Hiftoria Literaturæ Græcæ in Suecia ab ejus initiis ad Annum 1650. Auctore Erico Michaele Fant. Aman. Reg. Biblioth. Acad. et Eloq. Doct. 4to. Upfale & Lipfiæ. The ftudy of the Greek language began in Sweden as in many other countries, at the Reformation, and efpecially with the tranflation and explication of the New Teftament. The famous queen Chriftina learned and read Greek; but the most eminent Greek fcholars in Sweden, during the period here treated of, were Meurfius, Scheffer, and John Gezelius. Cofmographie Elémentaire divifée en Parties Afronomique & Géographique. Ouvrage dans lequel on a tâché de mettre les Verités les plus intereffantes de la Phyfique célefte, à portée de ceux même qui n'ont au'cune Notion de Mathématiques, &c. Par M. Mentelle, &c. 800. with Cuts and Maps: Paris. This very useful elementary cofmography is intended for an in. troduction to Mr. Mentelle's great and valuable work of geography. The first part of this introduction treats of the mundane fyftem; and the fecond, of general geography. Mes Loisirs, ou Poéfies diverfes. Par M. L. Pons, de Verdun, Avocat au Short and pretty trifles. Les Ellipfes de la Langue Latine, précedées d'une courte Analyze des dif férens Mots appelés Parties d'Oraison. Ouvrage deftiné aux jeunes Humaniftes. Par M. Fargoult, Prof. Emerite de l'Univ. de Paris. 249 Pages in fmall 8vo. Paris. A learned and inftructive performance. L'Apolo L'Apologétique et les Préfcriptions de Tertullien. Nouvelle Edition revue & corrigée d'après les MSS. les Editions & differens Ouvrages de Tertullien, avec la Traduction & les Remarques. Par M. l'Abbé de Gourcy, Vicaire Général du Diocefe de Bourdeaux, &c. Paris. 12m0 Two of the beft treatifes of Tertullian, an ardent, and forcible, but fometimes obfcure, incorrect, barbarous, or tasteless writer, are here published, with many critical corrections of the text, and a very elaborate tranflation, greatly fuperior to the original, in point -of taste and perfpicuity. Lettres de M. de Voltaire à M. l'Abbé Mouffinot fon Tréforier, écrites depuis 1736 jufqu'en 1742. pendant fa Rétraitée à Cirey, chez Madame la Marquise du Châtelet, & dans lesquelles on voit quelques Détails de fa Fortune, de fes Bienfaits; qu'elles fürent alors fes Etudes, fes Querelles avec des Fontaines, &c. Publiées par M. L'Abbé D***, 244 Pages in 8vo. Paris. The contents of thefe pofthumous letters of M. de Voltaire, appear from the title. They are written on familiar domestic concerns; yet often entertaining, and may fometimes prove even inftructive. La Mufica, Poëma por D. Thomas de Yriarte. 166 Pages in 8vo. En Madrid, with Plates. A didactic poem, highly esteemed in Spain, and very elegantly printed. El ingeniofo Don Quixote de la Mancha, compuesto por Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra; nuova Edition, corregida por la Real Academia Efpanola. 4 Vols in Quarto, with many fine Plates. En Madrid., A masterpiece of Spanish typography, and for the beauty of its types, paper, and ink, equal at least, if not fuperior, to the most beautiful editions of Bafkerville's. MONTHLY CATALOGUE. POETRY. An Ode to the Genius of Scandal. 4to. 15. Kearfly. TH HE editor of thisOde informs us,in an advertisement prefixed, that the author intended it folely for the amufement of his intimate acquaintance; but that he, the editor, who was favoured with the poem, thought a more enlarged publication would be beneficial to mankind, and that moreover (for which he fuppofes we fhall certainly take his word) that the spirit and elegance of the compofition, and the philanthropy it breathes, mult recommend it to encomium, and fecure the applaufe it fo juftly merits.' 6 When a trufty efquire promifes and vows fo much for his knight, it may perhaps be thought impertinent in critics to call in question his veracity, or to find any fault with a work fo meritorious. We should otherwife perhaps have been induced to obferve, that we do not find any fuch extraordinary spirit and ele Cc3 gance gance in this compofition, which, in our opinion, has nothing in it very new, ftriking, or poetical; nor do we fee how it ean turn out fo beneficial to mankind, being nothing more than a ftring of common-place thoughts on a hackneyed fubject, which have been repeated by various writers, at all times and in all places, without making mankind a jot the better, or less inclined to fcandal and defamation. After enumerating the ill effects of calumny, our author fagacioufly obferves that These are the triumphs Scandal claims- No! turn your back-you undergo The felf-fame malice you to others fhow.' To which might be added to continue the rhyme, That, thus it is, without your verse we know, There is nothing new in all this, nor indeed in any part of the poem; nor is the manner of expreffing known truths agreeable enough to attract our attention; though the meafure is fuffi ciently varied; for the author has treated us in this fhort Ode with every kind of verfe which the English language affords. He fets out with the folemn lyric. Oh! thou, whofe all-confoling pow'r Can foothe our cares to rest: Whofe touch in Spleen's most vap'rish hour Can calm each female breast; and a few lines after changes the chord, and gives us a fing Long, Teach me, powerful genius! teach Thine own mysterious art, Safe from retaliation's reach, How I may throw detraction's dart.' Here the fourth line does not answer as it should to the fecond; befides that the word retaliation is enormously long, and illadapted to the measure. He endeavours, however, foon to make us amends by a little familiar jigg, and exclaims thus, in dancing rhyme, The first informations Of loft reputations As offerings to thee I'll confign, And the earliest news Of furpriz'd billet-doux Shall conftant be ferv'd at thy fhrine.' Then comes the flow and folemn heroic measure, • Now, Indeed! Now, now indeed, I burn with facred fires 'Tis Scandal's felf that ev'ry thought infpires! And the moment after we begin to be arch and comical: a lady cries out, Each fool of Delia's figure talks, And celebrates her fame; But, for my part, whenc'er fhe walks, And mind ma'am Chloe tofs her head! Then we return to the elegiac ftrain, and the weeping maid, • Befide a mournful willow Ev'ry night forlornly pining, Forlornly is, we believe, quite a new word, and taking pillows are things very feldom to be met with. But left we fhould be too deeply affected with the melting strain, the author relieves us immediately with, Sweet girl, fhe was once most enchantingly gay, Each youth felt her charms, and acknowledg'd their fway.' With about twenty more tit-up-a-tit verfes, that run glibly off with very little meaning. In this manner he goes on, skipping, through all the varieties of verfification, to the end of the poem, which concludes with the following advice to the ladies, in the true odaic meafure. The reader will judge by the above quotations what reliance is to be placed on the editor (not improbably the author alfo) of this poem, who boasts fo much of its wonderful elegance and fpirit; though it appears to us, and we believe will to the public, as a very indifferent compofition. The Cheltenham Guide; or, Memoirs of the B-n-rd Family continued. Small 8vo. 25. fewed. Harrison and Co. What a heap of vile pictures of himself has the ingenious Anfty lived to fee juft looked at, and then thrown by, like old family portraits, amongst the lumber of modern literature! O imitatores, fervum pecus! Of all the aukward pretences to the wit, humour, and poetry of the Bath Guide that have appeared, this is one of the worst. For a fpecimen of this author's ftyle and manner, take the following extract from the first letter of Triftram B-n-r-d, efq. to Rantuin Squash, gent. At prefent we lodge at the fign of the Swan, From the sparkling Champaign, to the blood-colour'd beer; For the first time, next Monday, we go in a party, These are some of the best lines in the whole collection of fine poems, which, if we are to credit the title-page, is already arrived at the honour of a-fifth edition. DRAMATI C. The Critic; or, a Tragedy Rebearfed. A Dramatic Piece in three Ats; as it is Performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. By Richard Brindley Sheridan, Efq. 15. 6d. Becket. This piece has been feen and admired by every body; and the oftener it is feen, and the oftener it is read, the more will it be applauded. Hypercritical remarks on it would therefore be totally unneceffary. There is, indeed, more true wit and humour crouded into this little performance, than has, perhaps, appeared fince the days of Wycherley and Congreve. The impartiality of cool reflection obliges us, at the fame time, to condemn that which we cannot but admire, Ridicule is a dangerous and deftructive weapon, which, Drawcanfir like, deftroys every thing before it, without mercy and without diftinction. Wantonnefs of wit, and exuberance of fancy, have carried the ingenious author of the Critic beyond the limits of reafon, juftice, and impartiality. Not content with lashing the falfe fublime, bom baft, |