more to perplex than inftruct.' In doing this, a particular eye has been had to old Walton, where the many anecdotes, &c. related by that pleafing Writer, have been defignedly omitted, and nothing new is given us in their ftead; fo that while we have to complain that the venerable Patriarch is ftripped of his beautiful coat of many colours, very little is left to compenfate for his nakedness, except the bare skeleton of a figure, of which, as of Hamlet, we might fay, This was a Man.'-The printing too (we are forry to mention it) gives no additional credit to the work. Those who shall peruse the first line, quoted from Thomfon, in page 100,

"Soon as the first foul torrent of brooks,"

will lament the defperate halt given to that fmooth Poet, which by the Irish would be termed downright boughing. But nothing can poffibly exceed the injury done to Po in the following line, page 112,

"The Lodden flow, with vendant alders craw'd." Blunders of this nature are almoft fufficient to raise a much lefs irritable Bard, than Pope, from the dead; and as the Greek poet faid of the potter that fung one of his fongs out of tune, all the wares in his fhops are not fufficient to compenfate for it.-In short, we fee nothing in this Treatife, which may not be found at least full as good almoft any where else.

EDUCATION.

Art. 39. Improved Latin Orthography. Phædrus; or Phaidros' Fables in Latin, adapted to the Ufe of Learners, &c. By S. B. A. B. 1s. 6d. Debrett. 1787.

8vo.

This improved method of Latin orthography confifts in fubftituting additional vowels, characters, and marks, to diftinguish the long and fhort vowel. We cannot give a fpecimen of it for want of types. It feems an ingenious thought, though, we apprehend, not a very ufeful one; for, boys accustomed to this whimsical kind of fpelling, will never, or at least with great difficulty, be able to read a book in the common Latin character.

Art. 40. Select Parts of Grey's Memoria Technica: to which is added, Johannes Sleidan de quatuor Imperiis; and the general Divifions of Ancient and Modern Geography, with a Table exhibiting their Correspondence. 12mo. 25. Lowndes.

Thofe parts of knowledge which involve a large field of enquiry, difcourage the young ftudent; the feemingly unbounded profpect that lies before him excites defpair, either that he shall be never able to wander over it, or to recall the memory of the numerous objects which have attracted his attention. By collecting what lies widely fcattered, in the fame or different authors, into a narrow compafs, the profpect that before perplexed the beholder by its greamefs, becomes in fome meafure determinate; and the object, that was too unwieldy for a young understanding to manage, becomes more proportioned to the ability of the pupil. For this end the prefent publication feems well adapted; and its fimplicity and concifenefs render it an useful school-book.

Art.

Art. 41. An Italian and English Pocket Dictionary, in two Parts Italian and English, and English and Italian. Compiled from the best Authorities. By G. Graglia, Teacher of the Italian Language. Small 4to. 5s. bound. Davis. 1787.

M. Graglia's intention was to provide a portable and cheap dictionary of the Italian and English language. The defign is well executed; brevity, the chief excellence of fuch a performance, is peculiarly attended to, without leaving out any thing that is effential. Phrafes, fentences, proverbs, &c. are intentionally omitted; the Italian word is explained by one, and fometimes two, English fynonymes; and in order to facilitate the pronunciation, the Italian words are properly accented.-A Compendium of this kind, with regard to the Italian tongue, was much wanted.

Art. 42. A new Spelling, Pronouncing, and Explanatory Dictionary of the English Language; to which is prefixed an introductory Effay on the Elements of English Pronunciation, Elocution, and Grammar; with an Appendix of Heathen Gods and Goddeffes, &c. By William Scott. Small 4to. 3s. bound. Robinfons. 1786. This performance is an imitation, with a few alterations, of Dr. Kenrick's Pronouncing Dictionary, of which we gave account in the 49th volume of our Review, p. 93. Mr. Scott has taken the liberty to blame all former pronouncing dictionaries, alleging that they are extremely deficient with regard to the pronunciation of words.' He obferves, that the defign of this compendium is, to fupply that defect, and to add, to their other advantages, that of afcertaining, in words of general and elegant ufe, the various founds of the letters, according to the prefent practice of the beft fpeakers.'

The method of marking the fyllables as to their pronunciation, is the fame which Dr. Kenrick ufed, and which we mentioned at large in our account of his Dictionary'; we shall therefore only obferve, that the commodious fize, and fmall price, are not the fmalleft recommendations of the prefent work.

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 43. An Account of the Culture and Ufe of the Mangel Wurzel, or Root of Scarcity. Tranflated from the French of the Abbe de Commerell, Correfponding Member of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences at Metz. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Dilly. 1787.

Art. 44. A Treatise on the Culture, Ufe, and Advantages of the Plant called Scarcity Root. By the Abbé de Commerell, Correfpondent to the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences at Metz, Tranflated from the French, by Mr. Sibille. 8vo. 1 s. Debrett. 1787.

Thefe two publications do not materially differ from each other, more than two tranflations by different hands may be fuppofed to do. Though the name of the tranflator does not appear in the titlepage of the former, the prefixed advertisement is figned John Coakley Lettfom; who informs the reader, that he has found the plant to flourish well in our climate, and preferve its verdure during the last winter.

We have no botanical defcription of the plant given in either of the tranflations; though we are promifed one by Dr. L. We fufpect

that it is a fpecies of Beet, perhaps the Cicla, because the cultivation and produce of the Cicla, as given by Mr. Miller, greatly refembles that of the Mangel Wurzel.

The leaves and the roots are faid to be a wholesome food for man and cattle. The produce is large, as fresh leaves fpeedily fupply the place of those which have been cropt. Sixteen thousand fome hundred plants, which were fet in 2 acres, Lorrain measure, fupported (from the beginning of July to the 15th of November), with their leaves mixed with a third, and fometimes a fourth of other herbage, seven cows, and three calves; and from the zoth of November, the cows and calves were fed with the cut roots, mixed with a fmall portion of chopt hay, or ftraw, during the winter.

Befide the particular directions for fowing, planting, managing, and reaping the Mangel Wurzel, the Author has added fome other obfervations relative to different fubjects of agriculture; among which is a method of weaning calves at twelve days old. This, if practicable, is a circumftance of great confequence in lowering the price of milk, butter, and cheese. Some obfervations are alfo added on the culture of carrots and fpurrey; and a new method is given of making hay from trefoil, lucern, faintfoin, and other grafies of that kind: it appears expenfive; but perhaps the great quantity which this method feems likely to produce, and the good quality of the hay, may amply repay the labour and coft.

Art. 45. A Letter to the Bishop of London. Containing a Charge of Fornication against Edward Lord Thurlow, Lord High Chancellor of England. With his Lordship's de bene e DEFENCE. By Caffandra. 8vo. 2 s. Ridgeway.

Such extraordinary liberties are here taken with the great law lord, that we really know not what to make of Mrs. Caffandra and her publication; and, were we to attempt a review of fo strange a performance, our Readers, perhaps, would fcarce know what to make of us. We fhall, therefore, only add, that we have met with many notable paffages in this Pamphlet; and that, on the whole, we have been much amused by it.

Art. 46. A fhort Rejoinder to the Rev. Mr. Ramsay's Reply: With a Word or two on ime other Publications. By James, Tobin, Efq. 8vo. 15. 6d. Wilkie. 1787.

• Not immediately feeing,' fays Mr. Tobin, the neceffity of a formal and laboured rejoinder to his [Mr. Ramfay's] ill conducted and vindictive attack, and being poffeffed of very little leifure, at the time it appeared, for fuch a difagreeable undertaking, I took the liberty of addreffing a letter to the Authors of the Monthly Review.' -And had it been confiftent with the plan adopted by the Editors of that publication to have inferted my letter at length, it should have terminated my fhare of a very unpromifing controverfy. Some extracts of this letter were given in our Review for Jan. 1785. A fubfequent publication (a Letter from Capt. Smith), containing fome further ftri&tures on Mr. Tobin's Curfory Remarks,' was a feeondary inducement for the prefent performance. We muft ac

*

* See Review for Oct. 1786.

knowledge,

knowledge, that the acrimony of Mr. Ramfay's publications is a powerful ftimulant; and we are not furprised to find that Mr. Tobin has been roufed by it. Thofe paffages of Mr. Ramfay's Reply, which are the objects of Mr. Tobin's prefent attention, are animadverted on in a very able manner; and although our Author's language is animated, yet it is not filled with thofe farcastic retorts, and invective expreffions, which we were forry to obferve, and obliged to cenfure, in Mr. Ramfay's Reply.

Mr. T. adds fome obfervations on An Inquiry into the Effect of putting a Stop to the African Trade*,' &c. and on Captain Smith's Letter. He notices alfo the Efay on the Commerce and Slavery of the buman Species †.

Art. 47. A Narrative of the Life and Death of John Elliot, M. D. Containing an Account of his unhappy Paffion for Mifs Mary Boydell; a Review of his Writings; together with an Apology, written by himself, under the Preffure of expected Condemnation. 4to. 2s. Ridgeway. 1787.

The fhort Life here given of Dr. Elliot, confifts chiefly of virulent abufe of Mifs Boydell; and even the worthy Alderman, her uncle, does not escape. This is followed by an high panegyric on the unfortunate lover. Very long extracts from the Doctor's laft publication are added; and the Narrative concludes with the Apology mentioned in the title-page. With refpect to this laft part of the work, the newspapers have already informed the public, on the authority of affidavits, that Dr. Elliot did not "put pen to paper," during his fhort confinement, after his trial. We have been fincerely concerned for the hapless fate of this ingenious man, with whofe good abilities we were well acquainted for feveral years past.

3

Art. 48. Mrs. Inglefield's Juftification; containing the Proceedings in the Ecclefiaftical Court, July 11th and 17th, 1785, taken in Short Hand, by W. Blanchard; with a Preface and Notes by Mrs. Ann Inglefield. 8vo. s. fewed. Sewell, &c. 1787. Mrs. Inglefield has prefaced this account of the proceedings in the cause inftituted by her husband, with a copious review of the circumftances of the cafe (fee Rev. Vol. 75. p. 388. Art. 38.), in order to clear her injured character, by fhewing on what fallacious grounds Capt. I. brought against her a charge of indecent behaviour, and criminal connection with a Negro fervant.-It is impoffible to read this account of the whole affair, without feeling a ftrong prepoffelfion in favour of the accufed.-Surely the Captain has been too hafty! Art. 49. An Hafy Sketch of a Tour through Part of the Auftrian Netherlands, and great Part of Holland, made in the Year 1785. With an Account of the internal Policy, Government, &c. of the Cities of Bruffels and Amfterdam. By an English Gentleman. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Faulder. 1787.

This gentleman fpeaks fo humbly of himself and his performance, and his motives for publication are fo truly praife-worthy-as will

* See Rev. Vol. Ixxii. P. 437.

+ See Rev. Vol. Ixxv. p. 364. Experiments and Obfervations on Light and Colours,' &c. See Review for June last, p. 524.

be

be feen by the following quotation from his Preface-that we fin cerely wish him the greateft fuccefs:

The diffidence with which I prefent the following fheets to the Public, with the humble title this work affumes, will, I truft, difarm the criticisms and cenfures of the learned world. Confcious of its many defects and inaccuracies, I entreat particularly their candour and indulgence.

But to the Public in general, I have a more powerful, more interefting claim.-An unhappy mother, reduced by unfavourable, unforefeen misfortunes, from a life of affluence and elegance to that of actual want and mifery, aggravated by the additional diftrefs of beholding four helpless children looking up to her for that fupport which the cruelty of fate deprives her of the means of affordingthrough the channel of the following fheets fupplicates affiftance. To the ufe of herself and family, the emoluments arifing from the fale of this trifling work will be appropriated; and in fuch a cafe I have no doubt, but the generofity of a benevolent and humane Public will be excited to patronize a work from which the Author claims no merit, but in the intention.'

Reader! "Go thou, and do likewife." We mean not, in compofing A Sketch of a Tour,' but in affifting the indigent and dife treffed.

As to the Sketches here given, of towns, &c. in the Austrian Netherlands, and in Holland, if we may judge of the whole of our Author's descriptions, from our recollection of thofe places which we have feen, his accounts are very just.

Art. 50. An Account of the Conduct of Mr. Levy, respecting Chriftian Claufs, and other extraordinary Perfonages. By a Friend to Mr. Levy. 12mo. 46 Pages. No Price. Printed for the Writer. 1787.

Mr. Levy was formerly in partnership with Mr. Claufs, a maker of piano forte guitars, on an improved principle, for which, as the inventor, he had a patent. The copartners not agreeing, a feparation, and a chancery fuit, enfued; and Mr. Levy's hard cafe is here published, by (as the Writer profeffes) a friend. The narrative is well drawn up; and if the facts are all truly and impartially stated, as they really appear to be, never man had greater caufe of complaint, than hath the person who had the misfortune to be connected in business with Mr. C. C.

Art. 51. A Guide to the Lottery; or the Laws of Chance laid down in a plain and intelligible Manner, &c. By W. Painter. 8vo. zs. Kearsley. 1787.

Mr. Painter has here given the folutions of feveral problems relative to gaming; most of which are taken from De Moivre's Doctrine of Chances; but that mathematician's demonstrations are omitted. The chances in the laft lottery are peculiarly attended to, and many tables are inferted, by means of which, various questions relative to that lottery may be anfwered by infpection only. The bufinefs of infuring tickets is explained, the advantages taken by office-keepers are pointed out, and methods are laid down for afcertaining the prices of infurance for every day's drawing.

REV. Aug. 1787.

N

Mr.