and I do not think you are improved from being fo. I do not mean that practice and further experience may not have rendered you more ready, more perfect in the jame ftyle of fpeaking-affuredly they would, certainly have done fo. But I mean, that it is a partial tyle of speaking-it wants enlargement-and without which, you cannot be rated either as an able or a good political speaker. I have often compared you in speaking, to Mr. Wilkes in acting-who, if you examine his public line throughout, has never done any thing from himfef; but in every inflance has derived all his confequence, throve entirely by a happy power which he poffeffes of catching at the weak, erroneous parts of conduct in thofe with whom he is in conteft -and by a masterly expofure and turn of thefe-not by any felf fuperiority or excellence-bas conftantly worked out his own private advantage, has eftablished his political importance In like manner fpeaking in Pt, — your power and weight of parts confist not in the mafs of information and force of argument thrown by you upon the question, or into the debate-but in an art you have of twilling to your purpose, and fhewing the weak fide of argument in those who have spoken before you, giving no proof on your own part either of uncommon reach of thought, or fuperior intelligence of mind. In a word, you feem generally to have gathered your knowledge of the fubject in difcuffion, from thofe who have previoufly delivered their fentiments, and almost always appear to speak upon the debate rather than to it.

With fuch a Houfe of Commons as the prefent, this may fucceed; -was it compofed of such characters, as this country in former days faw fitting there-you could not fail of very foon feeling the infufficiency of this. What I have juft remarked, is peculiarly obfervable in that reply you made to the miniller, which has given rife to this Letter I have the honour to address to you. And unless you correct it-unless you practice-give your abilities a wider range-which can only be done by the directions laid down in the motto I have taken from Lord Bolingbroke-you shortly will be outftript and quite loft in the politi cal race for there is a character that started it is true, at great diftance from you, but is now coming faft up, gains confiderably upon you. He has to force him forward all thofe advantages which you have played away-and befides ample poffions and good name, has to proof, excellent judgment-and though perhaps not the greatest brilliancy, yet a folidity of parts, which while they reflect luftre upon himfelf, give his country every promifing hope.-As your glare of flashy ones wears off-he with that confcious dignity true merit gives, will rife rapid in opinion-will gain the nation's confidence, and win himfelf the general efteem. You must have anticipated me here, and already have repeated Mr. Grenville's name.'

The paffage alluded to from Bolingbroke, in the preceding extract, is this: " They who affect to head an oppofition, or to make any confiderable figure in it, must be equal at leaft to thofe whom they oppofe; I do not fay in parts only, but in application and induftry, and the fruits of both, information, knowledge, and a certain conftant preparedness for all the events that may arife. Every adminiREV. May, 1778.

D d

Bration

ftration is a fyftem of conduct: Oppofition, therefore, fhould be a fyftem of conduct likewife; an oppofite, but not a dependant fyftem.' BOLINGB. on the Spirit of Patriotifm. Art. 24. A Letter to his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh on National Defence; with fome Remarks on Dr. Smith's Chapter on that Subject in his Book entitled, An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. 8vo. I s. 6d. Murray. 1778. The general object of this letter is to difplay the utility of a national militia: Its more immediate defign appears to be, to recommend the establishment of a militia in Scotland. On these topics the writer makes many fenfible obfervations; and, in the course of his remarks endeavours, but we think without fuccefs, to discover fome inconfiftencies in Dr. Smith's reasonings on this fubject. E. Art. 25. An Appeal to the People of England, on the prefent Situation of National Affairs, and to the County of Norfolk, on fome late Tranfactions and Reports. 8vo. 6 d. Bew. 1778.

A warm expoftulation with thofe who acted in oppofition to the measures lately propofed at Norwich, for the fupport of Government, particularly by a fubfcription for recruiting the army. The author writes with zeal, but not without knowledge. He gives a fair view of our prefent critical fituation with refpect to the American quarrel,-allowing a little for fome degree of refentment against the provincials, whom he fuppofes to have long enterained ideas of independency; and he ardently exhorts us to lay afide all party difputes, and like good citizens, to UNITE in the defence of the honour and welfare of Old England.

NOVELS and MEMOIRS.
Art. 25. Memoirs of the Countess D'Anois; written by herself,

before her Retirement.
12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. Noble.
When books that have long been forgotten are revived, it is to
be fuppofed, either that they have extraordinary merit, or are pe-
culiarly feasonable. Neither of these reafons can however be af-
figned, for the revival of thefe memoirs. The great variety of fi-
milar publications, which late years have produced, renders this re-
publication unneceffary; and the tale has nothing either in its cir-
cumftances, or in the manner in which it is related, fufficiently in-
terefting to merit a fecond perufal.
Art. 27. The Hiflory of Eliza Warwick. 12mo. 2 Vols.
65. Bew. 1777.

This is an entertaining tale, related in eafy and agreeable, and. where the occafion requires, in pathetic language: it is calculated to touch the springs of tender fympathy; and, notwithstanding its diftreffing catastrophe, is better adapted to produce a good moral effect, than many of those agreeable stories in which virtue is made at laft triumphant. We bear this teftimony to the merit of Eliza Warwick, not because the writer has refpe&fully folicited mercy, but becaufe juftice requires it.

Art.

E.

E.

Art. 28. The Offspring of Fancy. By a Lady. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. Bew. 1777.

We find too much confufion in the plan, and negligence in the execution of this novel, to allow it any confiderable share of merit, If it ferve to beguile one of thofe tedious hours, which our countrywomen, with fuch invincible patience and perfeverance, devote to the external labours of the head, it is all that can be expected. Art. 29. The Hiftory of Melinda Harley, Yorkshire.

2 s. 6d. fewed. Robinfon. 1777.

12mo.

E.

A very inoffenfive, but a very dull and ill-wri.ten book, which, fhort as it is, the author has been under the neceffity of ekeing out with-a fermon. If this piece of clumfy patch work was put together by a fair fempftrefs, we wish her better fuccefs in the labours of the needle, to which we would advife her for the future to confine her ambition. E. Art. 30. The Unfortunate Union, or the Teft of Virtue; a Story founded on Facts, and calculated to promote the Caufe of Virtue in younger Minds. Written by a Lady. 2 Vols. 12mo. bound. Richardfon and Urquhart. 1778.

65.

There is fomething fo exceedingly difgufting in the exhibition of characters, which have no tints of elegance or virtue, to foften the coarfe lines of vulgar manners, or enliven the dark shades of abandoned libertinifm-there is fomething fo extremely painful, in feeing fuch characters employed in harafling, tormenting, and defaming an innocent and gentle fpirit-that it is furprising fuch reprefentations should be thought capable of affording entertainment, or calcu lated to promote the caufe of virtue in young minds. Characters and fcenes of this kind, make fo capital a figure in the prefent novel, that we cannot think either the variety of incidents and characters which the author has introduced, or her attempt to punith and reform her rakes in the iffue of the tale, a fufficient compenfation for the difagreeable impreffions which the preceding part of the narrative leaves upon the mind. The ftyle of the piece is not, however, of the lowest order. E. Art. 31. Greenwood Farm. Written by a Warrant Officer belonging to the Navy. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. Noble. 1778. It is fortunate for this gentleman, that he does not place his point of honour in the management of the quill, and that having formed no expectations, he is prepared not to be difappointed, let the fate of his work be what it may." The piece is fo extremely defective in incident, fentiment, and language, that we apprehend he will find few readers who will think him entitled to praife as an author, whatever claims he may have upon the public as a naval officer.

Art. 32. The Hiftory of Mifs Maria Barlowe, in a Series of
Letters. 12mo. 6 s.
2 vols. Fielding and Walker. 1777.
This tale is fo perfectly infipid, and related in fuch vulgar lan-
guage, that it cannot, we imagine, afford a moment's gratification
to the most eager devourer of novels. If it can be read at all, it
may however be read with fafety, for its ftupidity renders it per-
fectly inoffenfive. Even the forward Mifs in her teens, who (in this

Dd 2

writer's

66

writer's language) begins to feel "that he wishes not to travel
folus towards the better country," will not be in danger of being
Jet agag to flourish as the little heroine of a romance," by reading the
E.
adventures of Mifs Barlowe.
Art. 33. Munfier Village. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. Robfon,
This Novel is fo much in the manner of the Letters from the
Duchefs of Crui and others that we cannot help hazarding a con-
jecture that it is the production of the fame pen. It abounds with
just reflections, difcovers extenfive reading, and is written in an
agreeable ftyle. The flory is not uninterefting; but its chief value
is. that it is the vehicle of much entertaining information, and of
ufeful moral inftruction.
E.
Art. 34. A Trip to Calais; a Comedy in Three A&s, as origi-
nally written, and intended for Reprefentation, by the late Sa-
muel Foote, Efq. To which is annexed, The Capuchin; as it is
performed at the Theatre Royal in the Hayma ket: Altered from
the Trip to Calais, by the late S. Foote, Efq; and now published
by Mr. Colman. 8vo. 2 s. 6d. Cadell. 1778.

DRAMATIC.

The Trip to Calais having been reviewed in manufcript by the
Lord Chamberlain, received no other animadverfion from his Lord-
ship than the una litura of the white flick, which, like Aaron's rod,
fwallowed up the ferpent, about to fpit forth its venom on the noble
female bigamit, fuppofed to be fhadowed out in the character of
Lady Kitty Crocodile. Thefe fcenes which prevented the reprefen-
tation on the flage, will probably prove the most powerful recom
mendations of the piece in the clofet. They are heightened with.
all that frong colouring, for which this artit had been long remark-
able; and their abfence in the Capuchin is partly fupplied by the
introduction of the reverend perfonage of Dr. Viper, an editor of a
news-paper. Each of thefe comedies contains poignant fatire; but
neither of them are, in our opinion, equal to our Author's Devil
upon Two Sticks Nabob, and fome others of his popular pieces.
Art. 35. The Taylors. A Tragedy for warm Weather: In
Three Acts. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in the Hay-
market. Svo. I S. Cadell. 1778.

Introduced to the stage, and perhaps touched and retouched here
and there by the Haymarket Aristophanes, of facetious memory. The
parody on the death of Alexander, and fome other paffages, breathe
the true fpirit of theatrical burlefque. In fome other inftances it is
indeed more properly a tragedy for warm weather; for it is in those
inftances but a cold performance.

Art. 36. The Maid of Kent, a Comedy: Acted at the Theatre

Royal in Drury Lane. vo. Is. 6d. Robinson. 1778.
This drama has not, it feems, been regularly enrolled in the cata-
logue of theatrical rerformances. It is not, indeed, a capital per-
formance; yet the Maid of Kent, taken altogether, is much fuperior
to many comedies that have been introduced to the Public with all
the fpiendors of theatrical funfhine. Nature and fimplicity, fome-
times nowever falling into puerility, are the characteristics of this
performance. The prologue and epilogue are contemptible.

Art. 37. Songs and Choruffes in the Comic Opera of Belphegor•
Now performing at the Theatre-Royal in Drury lane. 8vo. o d.
Becket.

This poetafter very properly submits, with timidity, his efforts for the public favour to the public decifion; conscious that when its kindness often wifkes to approve, ITS IMPARTIALITY OBLIGES TO CONDEMN.'

POETICA L.

Art. 38. The Haunts of Shakespeare. A Poem by William
Pearce. 4to. I s. o d. Brown. 1778.

This poem is humbly dedicated to Mr. Garrick, of whofe wellknown and well recited ode it is, in many places, an humble imitation. A tranfcript of the beginning and ending of this dedication will convey the trueft idea of the poem, for which reafon we fhall refrain from pointing out more particularly its feveral beauties of fentiment, and graces of language. In this inftance we shall avowedly deviate from our wonted impartiality, and admit the Author's own review of his own performance:

SIR,

c.

To you I have ventured to dedicate the enfuing lines; and, though they may prove deficient in every effential which conftitutes the excellency of POETRY; yet, from the bare confideration of being a compliment to the memory of SHAKESPEARE, they cannot entirely be unacceptable'-'I fhail not make a further apology for a poem, which, perhaps, mav be found undeferving of any." C. Art. 39. John and Sufan; or, the Intermeddler rewarded: A Tale, addreffed to the French King. 4to. 6d. Bath printed, and fold by Wilkie in London. 1778.

John and Sufan quarrelling, neighbour Ralph interferes, and takes part with Sufan; on which Sue and John unite to give him a found drubbing. The idea of the fable is trite, but the thought is here prettily wrought up, in Gay's manner. The application is obvious: Great Britain and America are to join again.ft France :-A confummation devoutly to be wish'd!

Art. 40. An Apology for the Times; a Poem, addreffed to the
King. 4to. 2s. 6d, Rivington. 1778.
White-wash for the court,-black-ball for the oppofition, and the
Americans. Specimen :

The meek American can fast and pray,

Can beg his God to wash his fins away.'

In this manner are the language and imagery which we jully reverence in the facred writings, debafed by modern poetry! The author of the treatife on the Bathos would have faid, "This poet maketh the moft fublime of all Beings, a washer-woman." Art. 41. The Tears of Britannia; a Poem on the much-lamented Death of William Earl of Chatham. By Thomas Haltings. 4to. 1 S. Williams, &c.

Alas, poor Britannia, how wofully doft thou lament thy lofs! Hard, indeed, is thy fate, to be at once deprived of thy Chatham, and thy Wits into the bargain!

L.