The same humane spirit and good sense pervade the whole book. Attention to the following caution, in halting after a charge, may make the complaint of rupture less common among the dragoons. On this occasion the men's bodies should lean back more than usual, and the fork, or seat, be pressed close to the centre of the saddle. Rupture is very frequently the consequence of a man's body leaning forward at the moment of a halt.'

Captain Neville slightly hints at the weakness of those commanding officers of cavalry, who, unmindful that the horse-exercise is their principal object, are only anxious to excel as foot: but when it is considered that this perverseness is carried to a ridiculous height, and that nothing can be more preposterous, we think it ought to be severely censured.

In the foot drill,-which, though it ought not to be made the grand object in a corps of cavalry, must still be performed with attention, the author recommends thirty inches as the length of the pace in marching: but, as the ordinary pace of the infantry is only twenty-eight, and the light dragoons are generally men of short stature, we doubt the propriety of giving them a longer step.

Captain N. advises wheeling by divisions of threes, in executing the different horse manoeuvres, instead of the established method of divisions of fours; and he advances several good reasons for his opinion.

In reviewing a little military treatise, it may seem hypercritical to point out trifling particularities of expression: but, as it is our duty to guard the purity and correctness of the English language, we would just observe that the author generally uses the corruption 'tis, for it is.

We might give extracts from this useful work: but we rather wish to recommend an attentive perusal of the whole, as a very ap propriate publication, to those of our readers who are interested in cavalry discipline.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Suth.....d

Art. 59. A Letter to the Lord Bishop of Worcester, occasioned by his Strictures on Archbishop Secker and Bishop Lowth, in his Life of Bishop Warburton, now prefixed to the Quarto Edition of that Prelate's Works. By a Member of the University of Oxford. 8vo. IS. Rivingtons. 1796.

As the picturesque gardener, in the formation of moral scenery, gives elevation to particular spots by sinking or lowering the ground all around them, so the biographer often attempts to exalt and to augment the fame of his favourite character, by diminishing the reputation of his contemporaries and competitors. This, however, is not ingenuous; and it seems to indicate abilities and attainments not above the common, (to use the Bp. of Worcester's not very elegant expression,) when such a practice is adopted. In writing the Life of Warburton, this was besides altogether unnecessary. His orb of literature shone too bright to render it expedient to draw a veil over those of Archbishop Secker and Bp. Lowth. It was with much concern, therefore, that we read the degrading mention made of these learned prelates, in the biographical preface of Dr. Hurd, (Bp. of Worcester,). to his splendid edition of Dr. Warburton's works; and we cannot but approve

approve the gentlemanly and judicious strictures contained in the letter before us :-the author of which preserves all respect for the character of the right rev. biographer, makes a proper allowance for the effusions of friendship in a work of this kind, and even honours the generous enthusiasm of the Bishop's sentiments in behalf of Dr. Warburton. At the same time, he evinces the most laudable zeal in the cause of the two great men to whom, he conceives, with the learned world in general, the Bp. of Worcester has not done justice. Of Bp. Lowth the right rev. biographer thus spoke:

"His reputation as a writer was raised chiefly on his Hebrew literature as displayed in those two works, his Latin Lectures on Hebrew Poetry and his English Version of the Prophet Isaiah. The former is well and elegantly composed, but in a vein of criticism not above the common; the latter, I think, is chiefly valuable, as it shews how little is to be expected from Dr. Kennicott's work, and from a new Translation of the Bible for public use."

Archbishop Secker was damned with similar faint praise.

"Dr. Secker was a wise man, an edifying preacher, and an exemplary bishop. But the course of his life and studies had not qualified him to decide on such a work as that of the Divine Legation, Even in the narrow walk of literature he most affected, that of criticising the Hebrew text, it does not appear that he attained to any great distinction. His chief merit lay in explaining clearly and po pularly in his sermons, the principles delivered by his friend Bishop Butler in his famous book of The Analogy, and in shewing the im portant use of them to Religion."

The letter-writer ably replies to and refutes these statements: he proves that Lowth was above the common, and that Secker moved in somewhat more than a narrow walk of literature, and was possessed of learning enough to decide on that most superlative of all works-the Divine Legation. We hope that the learned and amiable inhabitant of Hartlebury Castle will listen to these admonitions, and subscribe, by his corrections in a future edition, to the justice of a remark made by Solomon-Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

The letter thus concludes:

Think not, my Lord, that the writer of this Letter has the smallest enmity either towards your Lordship or Bishop Warburton, If I know any thing of my own heart, it is incapable of entertaining any such sentiment. On the contrary, I have a high regard for the talents and the virtues of both. I have read a great part of the writings of both with admiration and delight: I wish them to be read by all who are capable of reading them, and to go down with all their merited applause to future ages.

But then I equally wish that such men as Secker and Lowth may be permitted to enjoy, unenvied and unmolested, that share of fame, which is justly their due, and to transmit it unimpaired to the latest posterity.

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There is room enough in the world for you all, and there is want enough of all your united abilities, to defend and support that divine religion, of which you are all such distinguished ornaments. It is unworthy of men so confessedly eminent, to cherish idle con

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tentions

tentions with each other for superiority of talents or of learning. Such petty disputes do them much discredit in the eyes of the world, and greatly lessen that influence which they otherwise would have on the public mind. They should therefore have the magnanimity," to bear a brother near the throne *," to sacrifice all little private piques, jealousies, and resentments, to the advancement of their common cause, and to suppress every unfriendly sentiment towards a competitor, that may tend to lower the credit and the utility of writings, which are evidently calculated to promote the most important inte rests of mankind.' Mo-y.

Art. 60. An Apology for the Believers in the Shakspeare Papers, which were exhibited in Norfolk-street. 8vo. 6s. Boards. Egerton.

1797.

Whether or not the persons, who declared their belief of the genuineness of the papers lately exhibited as the MSS. of Shakspeare, had reasonable grounds for their conviction, will probably (now that the papers are agreed on all sides to be a forgery) be thought by the public in general a very frivolous inquiry. It is obvious, however, that the discussion of the point may be so managed as to include all that is important (if any thing in such a matter can be deemed im portant) in the controversy set on foot by Mr. Malone; and that a variety of topics relative to the orthography, language, manners, and petty history, of the time, may be brought under consideration by its means. We doubt, nevertheless, whether any person, besides George Chalmers, Esq. of the Treasury, the avowed author of the performance before us, could or would have written on the subject a closely printed octavo volume of more than 600 pages; and we think it equally questionable whether any but the believers themselves, or others actually engaged in the controversy, will read the volume fairly through. Yet it is filled with matter of fact which many reckon curious; and it exhibits in some parts no small shrewdness of argument: the matter of fact, indeed, often strangely introduced, and the argument often strained and sophistical;-and the whole written in that quaint, patch-work, pedantic style which characterizes the writer's productions. The method of the work is, properly enough, that of a running commentary on Mr. Malone's Inquiry; and in a considerable number of instances Mr. Chalmers convicts that gentleman of too general and too positive assertions, and even of absolute errors. Yet there is frequently more of parade than of cogency in his arguments; and he too often practises the artifice of fixing the reader's attention on some mistake in particulars, where the general

assertion remains unshaken.

We mean not to occupy more space with a controversy which has already, as we think, attracted much more of the public attention than it deserves. If any of our readers wish to engage farther in it, they may take up this apology with a full assurance that they will not lay it down again with an unsated appetite.

Ai. Art. 61. Passages selected from distinguished Personages, on the great Literary Trial of Vortigern and Rowena, a Comi-tragedy; "whe

* Pope.'

ther

ther it be or be not-from the immortal Pen of Shakspeare," Vol. II. 12mo. pp. 104. 2s. 6d. sewed. Ridgway. The reader will find an account of the 1st vol. of this olio of satire and pleasantry, in our xviiith vol. p. 233. The author continues his imitations with a nearly equal degree of success; though, on the whole, we should deem the 1st vol. the best executed. His partiality for quibbling remains unabated; as the following examples will testify:

Sir P-p-r A-d—n.

"Marrie, Sir, I picked not up my common lawe as a pigeon dothe his pease, i' th' common fielde,----so will I throwe away an opinion hastilie for no man! As everie case in pointe hathe of necessitie two sides, so hathe your libelle constitutional its texte, and contexte ; out of which we sometimes make a third---to witte---your mar-texte! But I do demean myselfe to parlie thus: because it appertaineth unto me, as Master of the Rolles to our trustie Sov'raine Lorde the Kinge, to see that on the proper side his royal breade be gliblie butter'd!"

Sir G-df-y W- -r.

"An you should see Sir Godbolde's pette Ewe pass the mountaine, doe his Worshippe a goode turne, honest Shepherde, and make reporte of her right speedilie! -The poor Knight hathe lamentablie lost in her, four quarters of as prettie muttone as ever sheepishlie looked tuppe i' th' face! We doe marvel what the murrain could aile her, unless she was stricken with the gad-flie, and argyle on our Southerne Downes, could not decentlie contain herselfe!--Marry, I doe fear at best she will return to us too full of unlawful lambe, to be fit foode for any but FoxES to devoure!"

Duke of M―nch-r.

"I viewed him on the margin of the Thames, plyeing a pair of oares, as if he had to earn a scantie livelihoode by buffetting the foamie tide! Whether his Grace will thus bequalifie himselfe the better for affaires of state, I wotte not: but, certes, he must be well prepared for the worste of times; because, by the dexterous use of his scull, he maie contrive at least to keep his owne heade above the water!"

The author has prefixed a demurrer, in the Court of Criticism, protesting against judgment being entered up, in the cause Ireland v. Shakspeare, until all the suffrages are collected.

G. 2. Art. 62. A Peep into the Synagogue; or a Letter to the Jews. 8vo.

IS. Matthews.

A rude and illiberal attack on the religious ceremonies, and the manners, of the modern Jews. There are, probably, many things reprehensible, both within and without the Jewish Synagogue, as well as within and without the Christian Temple: but they ought to be reproved by the gentle voice of candour, and not by the rude tongue of vulgar abuse. Art. 63. The Cheap Repository, for Moral and Religious Publications. 12mo. 2 Vols. Marshall.

Every enlightened friend of mankind must see the importance of communicating to the poor and ignorant the means of instruction,

and

E.

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and must rejoice to find that a Society is instituted and liberally supported, for the purpose of circulating, at a very cheap rate, small tracts, of various kinds, but all tending to impress on the minds of the common people the sentiments of piety and virtue. We cannot more satisfactorily concur with the laudable views of the conductors of this institution, the original idea of which is commonly ascribed to the ingenious and benevolent Hannah More, than by copying a part of the Report signed by the Treasurer, Henry Thornton, Esq. M. P. This Institution was opened in March, 1795. Its object is to furnish the People at large with useful Reading, at so low a price as to be within reach of the poorest purchaser. Most of the Tracts are made entertaining, with a view to supplant the corrupt and vicious little books and ballads which have been hung out at windows in the most alluring forms, or hawked through Town and Country, and have been found so highly mischievous to the Community, as to require every attention to counteract them.

The Sale of the Repository Tracts has been exceedingly great, about two millions having been printed within the year, besides great numbers in Ireland. The success of the plan has been much extended, not only by the zeal of individuals, but also by the active cooperation of those very respectable Societies which have been formed in various Towns for this purpose. These Societies have not only exerted their influence by circulating the Tracts in their own families, in their schools, and among their dependants, but also by encouraging Booksellers to supply themselves with them; by inspecting Retailers and Hawkers; giving them a few in the first instance, and directing them in the purchase; also by recommending the Tracts to the occupier of a stall at a fair, and by sending them to hospitals, workhouses, and prisons. The Tracts have also been li berally distributed among soldiers and sailors through the influ ence of their Commanders. All that seems wanting, is a little further attention of individuals to supplant the vicious Tracts of the Hawkers by substituting these, which is now doing with success in many instances since these are made so cheap.

The Conductors of the Cheap Repository have resolved to publish the future Tracts on two different sorts of paper; the one of a superior kind for Gentry, who wish to have them bound up together in a better form than could hitherto be done; the other of a kind very inferior, but so much cheaper as to remove an objection made by Shopkeepers and Hawkers, that they do not yield a profit equal to that which they gain by their ordinary books and ballads. The Price of the inferior Edition of penny Tracts will be to Gentry rod. for the Quire containing 24 Tracts; and the others proportionably cheap. The usual further allowance will be made to Shopkeepers and Hawkers.

Two different Editions of the Ballads will be also printed, one in the form of a little book for binding, the other in a very cheap manner in sheets.

The Tracts of the last year may be had bound up in one volume, and many of the ballads which came out in sheets are now printed together in a penny book and bound up with them. The price of this 1st Volume is 3s. 6d. half bound and lettered..