aftablished with regard to fome of them, as biography, orthography, economy; and we fhould find androgynous, heterogeneous, &c. pronounced with the g foft, because every body gives it this found in geography, geometry, and tragedy. This principle feems not to be recognized by our author, nor indeed have we been always able to difcover by what motive he was influenced in his choice. Thus, for inftance, while he is an advocate for adopting the pronunciation of the army and the bar in profeffional words, as cognizance and grenadier, he cannot see the propriety (with Mr. Walker) of giving two accents to amen, • unless we are to adopt the pronunciation of a parish clerk.' Why will he not admit the clerk to the droits du corps as well as the gentlemen already mentioned? On the whole, he feems to coincide most frequently in opinion with Mr. Sheridan, whofe fcheme of the vowels he has alfo adopted. We shall just add, that the number of words collected here is confiderable, and affords a proof of the unfettled and fluctuating ftate of our pronunciation, fufficient to check the ardour of thofe, who would establish it as a standard for english orthography.

3 vols.

ART. XXXII. Cours de Lectures, &c.-A Series of Leffons for Children of three, four, and five Years old. By the Abbé Gaultier. 24mo. About 590 pages. Price 6s. 6d. Elmfley and Bremner. 1798.

WHO but muft envy the rare felicity of Mrs. Barbauld, whofe genius, after difplaying it's powers of delighting the moft elevated minds, turned with equal fuccefs to the gratification and improvement of dawning intellect? The latter efforts of hers are doubly meritorious, not only for their internal excellence, but alfo for having been the firft in the natural walk of infantile inftruction. Among her numerous fucceffors the abbé Gaultier is not the least diftinguished, who, as far back as the year 1788, published at Paris her Leffons for Children from two to three years old, in french. The prefent little volumes may be confidered as a continuation of these, and are partly imitated and partly tranflated from the english. The author has paid particular attention to the purity of the ftyle, and to a gradation of leffons, fuited to the capacity of the learners; while at the fame time he begins to initiate them into the elements of grammar, by two dialogues on fome of the parts of fpeech, illuftrating the process of a game for this purpofe, equally pleafant and efficacious. We are forry our limits will not permit us to dwell longer on Mr. Gaultier's labours, which, though humble, we efteem as of the first utility, and are confident, that in this fentiment we fhall be joined by all the virtuous and wife. In tenui labor; at non tenuis gloria.

ART. XXXIII. English Grammar, adapted to the different Claffes of Learners. With an Appendix, containing Rules and Obfervations, for affifting the more advanced Students to write with Perfpicuity and Accuracy. By Lindley Murray. The fourth edition, corrected and improved. 8vo. 292 pages. Price 3s. bound, York, Wilfon; London, Darton and Harvey. 1798.

SINCE the last time that we had occasion to take notice of this valuable grammar, the difcerning approbation of the public has demanded two new editions of it; in each of which it has received confiderable alterations and improvements, particularly in the profody. It was originally a book, that had few fuperiours in the fame department; in it's prefent improved ftate it cannot of confequence have many rivals.

ART. XXXIV. Moral Amufement; or a Selection of Tales, Hiftories, and interefting Anecdotes; intended to amufe and infruct young Minds. 18mo. 175 pages. Price 1s. 6d. Vernor and Hood. 1798.

A PRODUCTION tolerably well calculated to answer the purpose, for which it is defigned.

A. C.

TACTICS.

ART. XXXV. The Light-lorfe Drill: defcribing the feveral Evolutions in a pregreffive Series, from the firft Rudiments, to the Manawares of the Squadron: (illuftrated with Copper-plates) Defigned for the Ufe if the Privates and Officers of the Volunteer Corps of Great Britain. 4to. 17 pages, 10 plates. Price 7s. Eggerton. 1798.

THIS work is particularly neceffary, and may be generally ferviceable during the prefent times. We transcribe the introduction, which will furnish hints, for the private gentleman, as well as the foldier.

P. V. It has been hinted in the preface, that this work is confidered as preparatory to the inftructions ably given in other books, and not to teach that which is taught elfewhere. Yet a few introductory remarks on the fubject of riding, may not be here mifplaced.

Gentlemen, who are much accustomed to riding on the road, or in hunting, are too apt to imagine, that if they can fit faft, and their horfe cannot run away with them, all elfe is matter of mere form and appearance. They are, however, defired to observe, that a regular feat is of importance, not only to the individual, but to the whole rank; which must inevitably be crooked if one tingle man in it fits with his back round, or head forward. Toes turned out annoy the next man and horfe dreadfully: and the fpurs must frequently, by jofling, be driven into the horfe's fides.

A foldier must fit with the small of his back hollow, and body inclining a little backwards. The infide of the thighs should be turned towards the faddle, the legs hanging eafily with the feet parallel to the horfe's fides, and the heels a little lower than the toes-the bill of the foot only in the ftirrup.

This pofition is far from being ftiff, for the arms and legs fhould hang eafily, and the body be pliant, yielding to the motion of the horic. It is far from being irkfome; for a man accu tomed to it, can fit much longer without fatigue, than one who lounges in any pofture he may fancy the eafieft: and it is the only

* See Anal. Rev. vol. xx111, p. 646.

fafe

fafe feat. It fhould be much used even out of the ranks; and though gentlemen may not choose to appear in general on the road, fitting perfectly "en militaire," they will find great advantage in practifing to throw themselves fuddenly into it from other attitudes: becaufe it ought to become the natural, unthought of, effort upon every fudden emergency-such as, the fudden halt-the start-or the itumble.

• The hand fhould always feel the mouth of the horse, with more or lefs preffure, according to the refiftance it meets with; the wrift yielding, like a fishing-rod, to the motion of the horse's neck, while he carries his head well.

Every gentleman will recollect, that one hand only can be employed in managing the horfe; the other being occupied with the fword. With the left hand, therefore, and the legs, he is to be guided, halted in an inftant, reined back, or paffaged. The halt and reining back must be effected by the body leaning more backward than in the common feat. The former must be sudden, with the hand a little raifed, to throw the weight of the horse on the haunches; the latter must be gradual, and at intervals (with the hand not raised)* eafing the horfe's mouth at every two or three steps. When the horse attempts to rear (and then only) the body must be forward, and the bridle hand pushed forward on his neck, that he may not feel the bit. If the body is not pliant, the rearing of the horfe throws the rider back, hanging on the horfe's mouth, and pulling him over, or a fudden halt or ftumble throws him on the neck. Perhaps this balance and pliancy of body is beft acquired by very cool ftanding leaps.

When the horfe is obedient to the leg, he muft never feel the fpur: when the fpur is neceflary, it must be applied with preffure, not with kicks.

• The horses must be taught to ftand steady, to rein back, and paffage eafily, before they can be of any ufe in the ranks.

With refpect to ATTENTION, we must fuppofe that the zeal which induces a volunteer to give up a portion of his time to the service of his country, will prevent his indulging a careleffness which renders a man worse than ufelefs. The attention is fometimes relieved, by command "to fit at eafe;" at other times it must never relax for an inftant. There is always one, and one only point, to

* Colonel Tyndale, in his "Treatife on Military Equitation," obferves incidentally, that a horfe, when reining back, indifputably carries his weight on his haunches. It is true he does fo; but the lefs he does it the better.

The advantage of a horfe's carrying his weight on his haunches in moving forward, does not apply when moving backward. There is no danger of his falling on his knees, or giving his fore-legs or fhoulders a fhock, as in moving forwards or halting: nor is the fpring and action of his haunches and hind-legs wanted. In reining back, they frequently fink on their hocks, or rife with their fore-legs in the air. The object is to get their hind-legs out of the way, making them push the ground (as it were) before them with their fore-feet.'

which the eyes must be directed; and gentlemen may be affured, that a spectator (of even very moderate military knowledge) can always decide by looking at the borfe only, without feeing the rider's face, whether his eyes are roving. In halts, march, wheel, or charge, every one must be always ftudying whether he is an inch too forward or backward; and alive to receive the expected word of command. One inftant of inattention disorders the rank. They muft remember, that inftructions are to be given by the officer only, and no fpeaking can be allowed in the ranks. Every man is anfwerable for his own faults only. If those, by whom he dreffes, are too forward or backward, ftill he must dress by them; the fault lies with them, and he does his duty.

It may feem almoft fuperfluous to mention the neceffity of punctuality to the time of meeting. If every man does not make a point with himfelf, to be on the spot before the time appointed, (allowing for accidental impediments, which, though he cannot forefee, he fhould always expect) fome will be waited for, or left out.'

The author's motto, is at once fanciful and military: ' Hoc Ageattention!'

0.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Sm.

ART. XXXVII. Reflections on the present Condition of the Female Sex; with Suggeftions for it's Improvement. By Prifcilla Wakefield. 8vo. 195 P. Pr. 35. fewed. Johnfon. 1798.

THE Concern lately manifefted for the improvement of the female fex bears teftimony to the progrefs of civilization; as does the refpectable talents and laudable exertions of individuals of that fex, for the accomplishment of fo defirable a purpofe, to their capacity for intellectual advancement. The reflections before us, diftinguifhed by a vein of good fenfe and moderation, do credit to the heart and understanding of the writer. An infertion of the table of contents will, perhaps, give to our readers the best general view of the fubjects treated by Mrs. Wakefield.

Chap. 1. Introductory Obfervations, fhewing the claim which fociety has on women to employ their time ufefully; pointing out the characteristic perfection of the mental qualifications of both fexes, and the neceffity which there is for the talents of women being directed towards procuring an independent fupport; with an attempt to mark the line which bounds their exertions.-Chap. 11. From the connexion between the mind and the body, is deduced the neceffity of a more hardy mode of rearing female children. The caufe of an incapacity for fuckling named, and the mifchiefs attending the practice of hired nurfes to the mother, the child, and the nurse, described; with a recommendation of more air and exercise being allowed to girls. Remarks on rifing, and the propriety of temperance in the rearing of children enforced.-Chap. 111. Remarks on the duties of a married and a fingle life. Maternal tuition, when practicable, recommended; with a fketch of the qualifications of a governefs. Plan fuggefted for a female college, and felect day-schools propofed. Ranks in fociety difcriminated. The neceffity of women being educated for the exer

cife of lucrative employments fhewn, and the abfurdity of a woman honourably earning a fupport, being excluded from fociety, expofed.Chap. IV. On the duties, ftudies, and amufements of women of the firft clafs in fociety.-Chap. v. On the duties, ftudies, and amusements of women of the fecond clafs in fociety.-Chap. y1. Lucrative employments for the first and fecond claffes fuggefted, recommending as agreeable means of procuring a refpectable fupport. Literature. Paintings; hiftoric, portrait, and miniature. Engraving. Statuary. Modelling. Mufic. Landscape gardening. With ftrictures on a theatrical life.-Chap. VII. On the duties, attainments, and employments of women of the third clafs. Cenfuring the giving of greater rewards to men than women, for fimilar exertions of time, labour, and ingenuity; and the neceffity there is for ladies of rank encouraging their own fex. Recommending the teaching girls; the ferving of retail fhops; the undertaking for the female fex; turnery, and farming, as eligible means of fupport: with an extract from fir F. M. Eden, of an account of a female farmer.-Chap. v111. Obfervations on the condition of the fourth clafs of women, fuggefting a difcrimination in diftributing charity, and an encouragement of marriage, as means for its improvement: with remarks on fchools of induftry, and the houses of the poor."

The following plan, fuggefted in chap. iii, for the establishment of a female college, appears to us particularly important and judicious.

P. 49. The difficulty of meeting with perfons properly qualified to be the preceptors and guides of the uncorrupted minds of youth, is allowed to be great, and fuggefts the advantages which might arife, from the establishmen of inftitutions for the exprefs purpose of educating young women, of fmall expectations, for the office. These inftitutions fhould be fufficiently endowed, to provide mnafters in every ufeful fcience, and to furnish a well-chofen library, confifting of the moft approved authors, with globes, and other fuitable apparatus for inftruction, and after a certain number of years, women only fhould be nominated to the charge of inftruction. The effect of fuch femiparies would be a conftant fucceffion of female teachers properly prepared for their deftination, not only by a regular courfe of ftudy, but alfo by a thorough initiation into the philofophical principles of education, founded upon the opinions of the moft eminent writers upon the fubject. Another beneficial confequence would be, the affording a refpectable fubfiftence to great numbers of young women, who are reduced to mifery through want of employment, by enabling them to teach thofe fciences, which are exclufively taught by mafters, an evil that calls loudly for red refs. Surely it can never be denied, that the inftruetion of girls in every department of knowledge or art, is a fair field for the exertion of female talents. Is it compatible with propriety or decency, that the perfons of girls advancing towards maturity, fhould be expofed to the wanton eye of a dancing-mafter? Are not the fafcinating tones of mufic as dangerous as the graces of dancing, in exciting the tender emotions? Women only, therefore, fhould be permitted to inftruct the fex in these feductive arts. It ought to be their privilege to do fo in every other. Nature has impofed no invincible barrier to their acquifition and communication of languages, arithmetic, writing, drawing, geography, or any fcience which is proper for girls to learn.

Some