pafte. We have marked many paffages, where the fciffars were not dexterously used, or where the pafte was applied fo late, that a paragraph or two was loft in the process; but we can felect a specimen only of different kinds, and, to avoid the fufpicion of improper feverity, we fhall take them in the order in which they occur.

Even fo early as in page fecond, we are told of the tyranny of Phalaris of Agrigentum, of a legion of tyrants who fucceeded him. In the following paragraph, we find that the Sicilian Greeks 'did not long enjoy the tweets of this delightful fituation'-What! the fweets of flavery? But this may be ironical-no, the period is 100 years, and the next event was the conqueft of the island by the Carthaginians. Why was not the compiler's room swept before the book was sent to the prefs?

In a note of page tenth, we are told that fir William Hamilton vifited Calabria during the earthquake: in another ncte in the fame page, deprefing the boggy ground is faid to fqueeze the water out. In page thirteenth, Vefuvius is faid to form a broad, unbroken traft in the air, to the utmost verge of the horizon.' We think the tract must be broken, and what forms the horizon mult undoubtedly reach its verge. In the fame page, a wave, rolling on the land, is faid to have 'dashed the unfortunate prince, with 2473 of his fubjects, into the ocean this can only mean the ocean behind the land.

This knight of the fciffars has not only cut to pieces modern travellers, but modern and ancient hiftorians.-The paffages themfelves are pafted fometimes in good order; fome times they are thrown together without much design: yet, if Brydone, Swinburne, and Watson, with fome other authors' works, contain any thing very good, this work must be also excellent; for the compiler has endeavoured to 'cull the choicefl:' and his motto may very properly be, e pluribus

unum,

Emmeline; or, the Orphan of the Caftle. By Charlotte Smith. 4 vols. 12mo. 125. Cadell.

A

S we have lately been able to fix a new era in novel-writ ing, we are happy at being able to point out another example of this new fpecies, which reflects fo much credit on its author. We might, perhaps, be cenfured as too easy flatterers, if we faid, that this novel equals Cecilia; yet we think it may ftand next to Mifs Burney's works, with fo little inferiority, that to mistake the palm of excellence, would neither fhow a confiderable want of taste or of skill. Mrs. Smith is not equal to Mifs Burney in elegance of language: fhe is not, perhaps, entirely equal to her in the mellownefs of defcription, or in the highly worked pathos of diftrefs. Our prefent author does not fink into the class of middle life, and produce fcenes of that

kind, fo nicely difcriminated, or pourtray characters fo minutely diverfified. We fpeak only by comparifon, for there are no inftances, in which the language of Emmeline is incorrect; in a few only it does not feem to be polished with fufficient labour: the defcriptions are neither faint nor imperfect; and, though our author fcarcely fteps out of higher life, the characters are well drawn in the lighter fketches of lower fcenes. The characters which fhe introduces in the active bufinefs of the novel are not difcriminated with lefs propriety, or fupported with lefs fkill, than thofe of any novellift we are acquainted with. Lord Montreville, Fitz Edward, Delamere, Crofts, and Godolphin, are excellent copies from nature; nor is it cafy to say that they for a moment quit the ftyle or the fentiments fuitable to them. The ladies are equally diftinguifhed; and Emmeline, Mrs. Stafford, Augufta Delamere, and Lady Adelina, with characters equally amiable and foft, cannot be ever confounded with each other. The characters which display the greatest skill are thofe of Lord Montreville and Adelina.

The story is well imagined, and the incidents fo well conducted, that every one haftens on the event. The fcenes are often drawn with great beauty: Mrs. Smith excels in landscape painting; and the moral of every part is excellent.

While we have given this cheartul tribute of praise to an au thor, whom we know only by her publications, and have hinted at faults, we must add, that in one or two instances, the feems to have aimed at perfons. We hope that he has not looked at home, in the misfortunes of Mrs. Stafford. We have fometimes thought, that the work hung heavy on our hands; yet, on trial, we know not what fhould have been omitted. Each little, feemingly unimportant incident, developes the character in queftion, or elucidates it. Even the little artless fcenery of the introduction contributes to explain the cata trophe. If we were to mention the parts which feemed the molt interefting, they would be, the introductory parts: the fcenes at Eaft Cliff, in the Isle of Wight: the adventure on the banks of the lake of Geneva: and the difcovery of Godolphin on board the packet.

We will not mutilate thefe pleafing volumes by taking one line from the story: Mrs. Smith will excufe us for tranfcribing one of the fonnets. It was referved for her, and one other author, to fhow, that a fpecies of poetry, the most artificial, might be rendered natural and pleafing in our language, by tafte and judgment, Even fetters may be made to hang with grace, and add to beauty, though our fair author does not always put on the chains which fo ftrictly bind the Italian fonneteer.

I love thee, mournful fober fuited night,
When the faint moon, yet lingering in her wand
And veil'd in clouds, with pale uncertain light
Hangs o'er the waters of the restless main.

In deep depreffion funk, the enfeebled mind
Will to the deaf, cold elements complain,
And tell the embofom'd grief, however vain,
To fullen furges, and the viewlefs wind.
Tho' no repofe on thy dark breast I find,
I ftill enjoy thee-chearlefs as thou art;
For in thy quiet gloom, the exhaufted heart,
Is calm, tho' wretched; hopeless, yet refign'd.
While, to the winds and waves, its forrows giv❜n,
May reach-tho' loft on earth-the ear of heav'n !'

The Hiftory of the Revolution of South Carolina, from a Britif Province to an independent State. By David Ramfay, M. D. 2 Vols. 800. 145. in Boards. Robinfons.

THE

event.

HE late unfortunate war in America is more memorable for its termination than for the fteps which led to that More than one general hiftory, however, of its progrefs has already been published; and these feem fufficient to gratify the curiofity of thofe who are defirous of information on the fubject. After a narrative of the military tranfactions in the different parts of North America, the attention of a reader can be but weakly folicited to thofe in a particular province, and that too, excepting the revolutions in the fate of Charleftown, not the moft diftinguished for the variety or importance of the operations which took place during the continuance of the war. But the author of the prefent work, actuated by a provincial partiality, has fubmitted to the public a particular account of the occurrences in South-Carolina alone. So far, indeed, as concerns information, he seems to be well qualified for fuch a tafk; having been an ocular witnefs to many of the events which he records. But, as an active agent in the American army, and, during one year, a member of the continental congrefs, we cannot likewise confider him in the light of a perfectly unbiaffed hiftorian.

Dr. Ramfay commences his work with a fhort view of the province of South-Carolina, and of the events introductory to open hoftilities. He thus defcribes the fituation of the colonies at that period:

Every thing in the colonies contributed to nourish a spirit of liberty and independence. They were planted under the, aufpices of the English conftitution in its purity and vigour. Many of their inhabitants had imbibed a large portion of that fpirit which brought one tyrant to the block, and expelled another from his dominions. They were communities of feparate independent individuals, for the moft part employed in cultivating a fruitful foil, and under no general influence, but

of

of their own feelings and opinions; they were not led by powerful families, or by great officers in church or state. Luxury had made but very little progrefs among their contented unafpiring farmers. The large extent of territory gave each man an opportunity of fishing, fowling, and hunting, without injury to his neighbour. Every inhabitant was or eafily might be a freeholder. Settled on lands of his own he was both farmer and landlord. Having no fuperior to whom he was obliged to look up, and producing all the neceffaries of life from his own grounds, he foon became independent. His mind was equally free from all the restraints of fuperftition. No ecclefiaftical establishments invaded the rights of conscience, or fettered the free-born mind. At liberty to act and think, as his inclination prompted, he difdained the ideas of dependence and fubjection.'

From the conclufion of this extract, it is evident that the feeds both of ecclefiaftical and civil anarchy were plentifully fowed in the colonies. A toleration in religion is a proof of the wisdom, as well as moderation of a government; but the total exemption from an ecclefiaftical establishment affords an unfavourable opinion of the principles and morals of a people, and tends rather to the encouragement of licentiousness than the maintenance of genuine liberty.

The author afterwards proceeds to relate the hiftory of the revolt, and the formation of a regular conftitution among the difaffected inhabitants of the provinces. The following account of the mutual rancour, which broke forth between the two parties after the commencement of hoftilities, is, we doubt not, related with fidelity, and correfponds with the usual unhappy effects of inteftine commotions.

The diftinction of Whig and Tory took its rife in the year 1775. Both parties in the interior country were then embodied, and were obliged to imprefs provifions for their respective fupport. The advocates for Congrefs prevailing, they paid for articles confumed in their camps; but as no funds were provided for difcharging the expences incurred by the royalifts, all that was confumed by them was confidered as a robbery. This laid the foundation of a piratical war betwen Whigs and Tories, which eventually was productive of great distress, and deluged the country with blood. In the interval between the infurrection of 1775, and the year 1780, the Whigs were occafionally plundered by parties who had attempted infurrections. in favour of royal government. But all that was done prior to the furrender of Charleston was trifling when compared to what followed. After that event political hatred raged with uncom mon fury, and the calamities of civil war defolated the state. The ties of nature were in feveral inftances diffolved, and that

reciprocal good-will and confidence, which hold mankind to gether in fociety, was in a great degree extinguished. Coun trymen, neighbours, friends and brothers, took different fides, and ranged themselves under the oppofing ftandards of the contending factions. In every little precinct, more especially in the interior parts of the ftate, king's-men and congrefs-men were names of diftinction. The paffions on both fides were kept in perpetual agitation, and wrought up to a degree of fury which rendered individuals regardless, not only of the laws of war, but of the principles of humanity. While the British had the afcendency, their partizans gave full fcope to their interested and malicious paffions. People of the worst characters emerged from their hiding-places in fwamps-called themfelves king's-men-and began to appropriate to their own use whatsoever came in their way. Every act of cruelty and injuftice was fanctiñed, provided the actor called himfelf a friend to the king, and the fufferer was denominated a rebel. Of those who were well-difpofed to the claims of America, there were few to be found who had not their houfes and plantations repeatedly rifled. Under the fanction of fubduing rebellion, private revenge was gratified. Many houfes were burned, and many people inhumanly murdered. Numbers for a long time were obliged, either entirely to abandon their homes, or to fleep in the woods and fwamps. Rapine, outrage and murder, became fo common, as to interrupt the free intercourse between one place and another. That fecurity and protection, which individuals expect by entering into civil fociety, ceafed almoft totally. Matters remained in this fituation for the greatest part of a year after the furrender of Charleston.'

In drawing the characters of fome individuals, we think the author difcovers a degree of prejudice; but he seems, in general, to give a fair reprefentation of public tranfactions, and the narrative is written in a clear and unaffected style.

An Addrefs to the Deifts: or, an Inquiry into the Character of the Author of the Book of Revelation. 8vo. 25. Rivingtons.

T

HIS very able and intelligent author marches fearlessly to the trenches of the Deift, and challenges him to contend on ground which has been diftrufted as dangerous, or avoided as fallacious. He is contented to draw his proofs of Chriftianity from a book which many (and, indeed, we have been of the number), touch with a timid hand, and look on with distant awe:

The following queftion therefore is well worth the difcuf fion, and his (the Deift's) moft ferious confideration; viz. Whether the book of Revelation is (what it claims to be) the work of divine infpiration; or (what the Deift would have it to be) the offspring of enthusiasm or impofture?

Now