of faving his money, and putting their relations and friends into' all the offices of the family.' Mr. Foxton and Mr. Pitman both come in for fome fhare of abufe, but the former is chiefly condemned for encouraging Connoro and his gang,' after they had made great depredations on the irish eftate.

ART. XXIX. A Letter to the Hon. Charles James For: freeing how Appearances may deceive, and Friendship be abused!!! Svo. 27 pages. Price 6d. Wright. 1798.

A PUNY attempt on the part of a dwarf, against a giant.

8vo.

ART. XXX. The Theory of the National Debt, with Obfervations on the Land Tax, and the present Situation of Stockholders. 33 pages. Price bd. Jordan. 1798.

THE author wishes to convince us of what we are all pretty well affured; the magnitude and difadvantages of our national debt. After lamenting the immenfe fums, that have been expended in the fupport of unproductive labour, he adds with a confiderable degree of truth:

If all the foldiers, failors, and other appendages of childish wars, had been employed in facilitating the communication between different counties, by canals, and other works of latting utility, Great Britain would now have been an expanse of garden, extended to the fartheft wilds of Scotland.'

In another place he expreffes himself thus: Such would have been the progrefs of the wealth of England, unburthened by a debt; the number of her monied men would have encreased with the encreafed profperity of the country, till the rate of her intereft and commodities had funk below thofe of any other european ftate; he would confequently have fupplied all Europe with the most valuable and portable articles of commerce; all the manufacturers and labourers neceflary to raise these articles, all the merchants neceffary to circulate them would have refided within her territories; he would have poffeffed the wealth of Europe.'

From this romantic profpect of national profperity our eyes are foon averted, in order to behold a hideous, and we hope an exaggerated picture of a minifter feizing the working capital of a nation, and drying up the fources of public wealth."

One other way remains,' fays the author, the extreme villainy of which will probably be overlooked in the present emer gency, to apply the interest of the national debt to the support of the war. It is evident that by this meafure no other effect would be produced, than diverting a certain quantity of national capital from the fupport of one fet of unproductive labourers to that of another, our foldiers and failors. The national wealth would remain the fame; the mifery of individuals would be incalculable.'

By accufing a premier of fuch an, atrocious attempt, writers like the prefent contribute not a little to the furtherance of his measures, for where is there one of the numerous body of stockholders, who would not fooner confent to have his property deci mated by the state, as has been lately fuggefted, than agree to be

E c 4

thus

thus robbed of the whole? In fhort, the fear of the one might
render the other measure popular.

ART. XXXI. A new Enquiry into the Principles and Policy of
Taxations in the political Syfiem of Great Britain. 8vo. 128 p.
Pr. 25. Wallis. 1798.

THE author of this new enquiry,' after exhibiting a fort view of the origin and establishment of our various taxes, proceeds to confider their principles and policy.

Not yet fatisfied with the various impotts, to which we are already fubjected, and which, as a whole, feem, in his own words, to form a fyftem of financial economy, equally friendly to popular welfare, and productive of the interests and energies of the government,' he himfelf propofes others, fuch as a tax upon places of publick diverfion,' and another on the transfers of ftocks.' He thinks, indeed, that although parliament has pledged it's faith to exempt from taxes the stock and funds, and intereft in the bank,' it may repeal the obnoxious flatute with the fame cafe as the Habeas Corpus act. This, we apprehend, to be very lax morality.

After attending to the voluntary contributions,' in terms of no cominon panegyric, he concludes as follows: Here then is a new and extraordinary meafure devifed, by which the public are likely to be exonerated from taxes to fo large an amount this year, as feven millions! How far this magnanimous project will really be executed, it refts with the fubjects of a free and glorious conftitution to teftify, by exhibiting a line of condu&t which will outftrip the fame of their ancestors in the noble and exalted virtue of patriotism.

The british character already appears in towering majesty, triumphing with proud difdain over the impotent and defperate fanaticifm of an infulting foe; and by its fuperior and refplendent rays, rapidly extinguishing the feeble half-cherished flame of falfe patriotic fire, which has been kindled in the breaths of the inimical rivals of her fame-a fierce but impotent blaze of menacing destruction.'

ART. XXXII. A Defence of the Sunday Schools: Attempted in a Series of Letters addreffed to the Rev. M. Olerenfbaw, in Answer to bis "Sermon on the "Sanctification of the Sabbath, and on the right Use and Abufe of Sunday Schools." By J. Mayer. Izmo. 98 pages. Price 15. Stockport, Clarke; London, Chapman. 1798.

THE fubject of thefe pages has undergone fuch repeated difcuffion, the utility of funday fchools, and the objections which lie againft them, together with the modes on which they may be eligibly conducted, have fo frequently, and, we may add, effectually been canvaffed, that much novelty of remark concerning them is not now to be expected, Mr. Olerenfhaw, in his fermon, reprobates what, according to the levitical prohibition from labour on the fabbath, he calls the profanation of the Lord's day; namely," the teaching in funday schools thofe branches of learning which have no relation to the foul of man, or to the future world; fuch as writing and accompts, &c." He urges many other ob

jections

jections against the "modern mode" of conducting thefe fchools, all which objections are anfwered by Mr. M. in a fenfible and fatisfactory manner. Mr. M. writes like a gentleman, and confequently without the unbecoming afperity of a polemic. We have been pleafed with the perufal of his pamphlet, and coincide with him in opinion, that funday fchools are ufeful proportionately as the plan on which they are conducted is liberal and extended,

L. L.

EDUCATION. SCHOOL BOOKS. BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.

ART. XXXIII. Analyfts of Education, and Plan of a Seminary for young Ladies: with the Form of Morning and Evening Prayers used at Sutton-Houfe. By Mifs Jones. 4to. 44 pages. Longman. 1798.

By fenfible and confiderate parents the choice of a feminary for the education of their children will be regulated by the abilities and integrity of the conductor. But it is not always easy to obtain the neceffary information on this point. With the laudable purpose of removing any difficulty of this kind, as far as refpects herself, mifs Jones fubmits the prefent plan to the public, which, while it enables them to judge of her acquaintance with the fubject of education, will alfo ferve as a bond for her fidelity and care in the difcharge of what the thus fpecifically undertakes. The plan here sketched appears to be fufficiently comprehenfive, and the obfervations arranged under the three general heads of body, mind, and accomplishments, if not novel, are fenfible and judicious. The conclufion treats of the means proper to be used in the government of children, from which we are induced to tranfcribe the following paffage, because the maxim contained in it, though of great importance, is unfortunately but very little attended to in education. The rewards and punishments fhould confift in the fmiles of love, and in the abatements of familiarity. Praise and blame, ufed with judgment, may also prove defirable means, but with as little allufion to the merits of others as poffible. Children should be taught a love of excellence itself, rather than a defire of excelling their companions; for nothing is more amiable than to fee them putting one another in the best light, and yielding the preference. But as emulation may be made useful, it hould rather be excited into imitation of the elder girls by the younger, than promoted into contefts between thofe of the fame age and attainments.' Some little inaccuracies of language, fuch as, (P. 7.) Beer is not injurious, only as it tends to create a diftafte to water,' with a few others, mifs J. may eafily rectify, when she has Occafion for another impreffion of the Analyfis.

A. C.

ART.XXXIV. Eafer Holidays, or Domeftic Converfations, defigned for the Inftruction, and it is hoped for the Amusement of young People. Small 8vo. 336 pages. Price 3s. 6d. bds. Bath, Hazard; London, Vernor and Hood. 1797.

EASTER Holidays, or the domestic Converfations of the Melmoth Family, is defigned by the writer more particularly for the use of boys, between twelve and thirteen years of age: yet the youth

of

of both fexes, it is hoped, may find some amusement in what was written folely with a view of ferving them.'

It is modeftly added, introd. p. iv. Should one fingle youth be amended of any the moft trifling error, by perufing the following fhcets; fhould one parent honour my opinions with ap probation, and think any benefit has been derived from reading the Converfations of the Melmoth Family-I fhall consider myself as amply rewarded.'

Every attempt for the moral or mental improvement of the riling generation is praife-worthy, and if the prefent performance rank not with the productions of a Barbauld, an Aikin, a Percival, or a Day, it may yet be fafely admitted into the juvenile library, as favourable to the caufe of humanity and virtue, while conveying instruction in the pleating garb of amufement.

ART. XXXV. Pity's Gift: A Collection of interefting Tales, to excite the Compaffion of Youth for the Animal Creation. From the Writings of Mr. Pratt. Selected by a Lady. Ornamented with Vignettes. 12mo. Price 26. boards. Longman.

THIS felection from the writings of Mr. Pratt, for the purpose of enforcing on the minds of youth an attention to the duties of humanity, is well calculated to answer the defign of the benevolent compiler.

ART. XXXVI. Tales of the Cottage; or Stories, moral and amufing, for young Perfons. Written on the Plan of that celebrated Work Les Veillées du Chateau, by Madame la Compteffe de Genlis. 18mo. 218 pages. Price zs. Vernor and Hood. 1798.

THE Tales of the Cottage are interefting and appropriate, and calculated to anfwer the purpose of the writer, the improvement and entertainment of youthful readers.'

ART. XXXVII. A Mirror for the Female Sex. Hiftorical Beauties for young Ladies. Intended to lead the Female Mind to the Love and Practice of Moral Goodness. Defigned principally for the Ufe of Ladies' Schools. By Mrs. Pilkington. Small 8vo. 250 pages, with 34 Engravings on Wood. Price 35. in boards. Vernor and Hood. 1798. FOR an account of the prefent production, we will borrow the language of it's author. P. vi.

The following pages, though profeffedly extracted from labours fanctioned by public approbation, are now, for the firit time, applied to one fpecific object of improvement, and meant to operate in a new direction. The idea was fuggefted to my mind by a little very popular work; Dodd's Beauties of Hiftory. Yet as this was evidently written for the edification of his own fex, and mine for that of ours, I fatter myself the Hiftorical Beauties will not be confidered as wholly deftitute of novelty; that its uniform aim is rather to amuse and instruct, than agitate or furprife.'

r. ix. It has been long matter of general and fincere regret, that the exterior of female education is cultivated but too frequently at the expence of qualities more valuable; that a fhowy outfide leaves hardly any tafte for mental excellence; and that reality is every where avowedly facrificed to appearance. The requifites for indulging this fashion

able

able propenfity, give young ladies, efpecially while at fchool, no time for acquiring the leaft idea of general hiftory, as they enjoy no leifure for reading, or digefting what little they may read. To alleviate this inconvenience, and prevent, as much as poffible, its pernicious influence on the feminine mind, these selections from ancient and modern authors, of established reputation and celebrity, are published for their accommodation; that, without intenfe application, or any fuperfluous wafte of time, they may have the advantage of an early acquaintance with fuch extraordinary characters in their own fex, as have either adorned or difgraced the page of biography.'

We recommend, with pleafure, this felection to families and fchools.

ART. XXXVIII. Scripture Hiftories; or, Interefting Narratives extracted
from the Old Testament, for the Instruction and Amusement of Youth.
By Mrs. Pilkington. 12mo. 162 pages.
Price 25. fewed.

Newberry. 1798.

THE motive, as profeffed by the author, of prefenting this little work to the public is, pref. iii, to imprefs the youthful mind with exalted ideas of the divine nature, to incline it to the perufal of the holy fcriptures, and imperceptibly to lead it to the practice of religious The variety of beautiful narratives interfperfed through the Old Teftament cannot fail of interefting the imaginations and affections of youth. Mrs. P. has felected thofe moft generally quoted and admired, connecting them by a domeftic tale: her attempt to familiarize the language of fcripture hiftory appears to us ill-judged; the dignified fimplicity of the original ftyle and manner being perfectly appropriate to the prefent purpose.

ART. XXXIX. Inflructive Rambles in London and the adjacent Villages. Defigned to amufe the Mind and improve the Understanding of Youth. By Elizabeth Helme. 2 vols. 12mo. 360 pages. Price 5s. fewed. Longman.

USEFUL information, connected by a family tale, fitted to engage and improve the minds of youth.

A. G.

ART. XL. The firft Principles of English Grammar, methodically exhibited and explained, upon a Plan entirely new, tending to render the Knowledge of them ufeful in the Study of other Languages. By Nicholas Salmon, Author of an Etymological Dictionary, entitled Stemmata Latinitatis, and of feveral Works upon the English and French Languages. 8vo. 120 pages. Price 2s. bound. Dilly. 1798.

FROM the pen of Mr. Salmon the philologift has on various oceafions been gratified with accuracy and ingenuity of grammatical inveftigation. In the little work now in our hands he deviates confiderably from the ufual plan of english grammars. The genders of nouns, the formation of the plural, and the inflections of verbs, he rapidly glances at in the preface, as things with which children become naturally and readily acquainted' in their mother tongue, and proceeds, in the firft chapter, to an enumeration of, and observations on, the parts of speech. These are

illuftrated