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The situation of this town is well known as pleasing and romantic, on two chalk hills, sloping to the river Wye, which is navigable to the Thames. Of a few arches in the castle there are indeed little coarse wooden prints; but the scenes of an old play might well have been omitted. The palace at Guildford forms another object, which is followed by the churches, hospital, and grammar-school. There is also a biography of eminent persons educated at Guildford. We need not dwell on the account of the markets, nor of the earls of Guildford. What are called miscellaneous matters at the end consist chiefly of old regulations of little consequence; and the whole may be called a tasteless compilation by some common-place antiquary. The short account of places in the neighbourhood is unsatisfactory and uninteresting; and there are several confused pages of additions. In short, the present is the dearest, and, at the same time, the most miserable guide we ever met with.

ART. 27.-Willis's Survey of St. Asaph, considerably enlarged and brought down to the present Time; with the Addition of the Names of the Canons and Vicars Choral of the Cathedral; and the Incumbents of the different Parishes in the Diocese, from the earliest Dates, with Memoirs of some of them. Also a Second Appendix, containing an Historical Account of the different Archbishoprics, Bishoprics, Religious Houses, Colleges, Dignities, London Churches, &c. referred to in the Body of the Work. With the Life of the Author prefixed. By Edwardy Edwards, A. M. Sc. 2 Vols. 8vo. 18s. Boards. Baynes. 1802.

This re-publication is of a very local and uninteresting nature. The life of Browne Willis, the author, is chiefly from a paper communicated to the Antiquary Society by Dr. Ducarel in 1760, the year of Mr. Willis's death. Catalogues of rectors and vicars would neither instruct nor amuse our readers; and the whole may be called one of those odd antiquarian books which rather disgrace than illustrate the national literature.

EDUCATION.

ART. 28-A Method entirely new of learning French; in which the Principles of that Tongue are set forth with such Order and Perspi cuity as to promote the speedy Attainment of that universal Language. By J. Guisy. 12mo. 35. Bound. Symonds.

Mr. Guisy talks a great deal in his preface about the want of a proper French grammar, and the excellency of his own; but we can discover nothing in the latter except an abridgement of the gram. mar of Chambaud, and an imitation of his book of Exercises.

ART. 29.-The French and English Idioms compared; wherein the Idiomatical Difficulties of the French are introduced in a Sentence, and elucidated in a Manner entirely new. By W. A. Bellenger. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Boards. Dulau. 1801.

This exemplification of the two idioms will be of use to younger students in either language.

ART. 30.-The Way to speak well, made easy for Youth; by the chief
Words of the English Tongue classed in Sentences, according to the
Number of their Syllables: with a short Dictionary at the End of each
Book, containing four separate Divisions of Substantives, Adjectives,
Verbs, and Particles.
8vo. 35. Bound. Cadell and Davies.

1801.

This volume is composed of two extreme ends, without any middle. The former part is too puerile for a child who has quitted his readings mistress, and the latter is a vocabulary of words in the English, French, Italian, and German languages.

ART. 31.-The Child's First Book improved. 8vo. Without the Preface, 6d. With the Preface, 1s. No Publisher's Name.

As the title imports, this is a child's first book. It begins with the alphabet, and concludes with the spelling of one syllable. ART. 32.-Surveys of Nature: a Sequel to Mrs. Trimmer's Introduc tion; being familiar Descriptions of some popular Subjects in Natural Philosophy, adapted to the Capacities of Children. By Harriet Ventum, Author of Selina, &c. 12mo. 25. Half Bound. Badcock.

1802.

The author of these Surveys having found, in her business of teaching, that Mrs. Trimmer's introduction was principally serviceable to her younger pupils, has enlarged and extended it for the use of the elder ones. From the method of its execution, it appears well calculated to answer her purpose.

ART. 33.-A Series of Geographical Questions; for the Use of Young Persons. 8vo. Is. 6d. Johnson.

ART. 34-An Introduction to the Use of the Globes, with Questions for Examination annexed. Designed principally for the Use of Schools. Second Edition, with Corrections and Additions. 12mo. 4s. Bound. Johnson. 1801.

We can, with great satisfaction, recommend these two little treatises to the teachers of youth. The questions contained in the former are very important to young persons learning geography, and may all be answered by them, if they attend properly to the latter, together with their globes, and some proper descriptions of

countries.

ART. 35.-Tabula Linguarum. Being Being a Set of Tables, exhibiting at Sight the Declension of Nouns and Conjugation of Verbs; with other Grammatical Requisites essential to the Reading and Speaking of the following Languages, &c. In Eight Parts. Part I. containing the Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Norman. 5s. sewed. Hurst.

12mo.

A part of the title-page here omitted contains the names of almost all the languages in the world. From the title on the back, we learn that the author's name is Clarke, and, from circumstances, infer that the work was printed at Bristol. The preface shows a considerable general acquaintance with many different languages, and is dated at Mount-Pleasant Academy, near Liverpool; whence, and from other indications, we judge that this work was printed eight or nine years

ago, but, falling dead-born from the press, has been furbished up with a few new leaves. The rules are generally taken from good authors, though sometimes antiquated; nor could we avoid smiling when we found the etymologies of Isidorus recommended to the student of modern Spanish and Portuguese. Yet the book is, upon the whole, tolerably decent; and the chief objection arises from the wild universality of the plan. The last leaf might well have been spared.

POETRY.

ART. 36.-The Lamentation, a Poem: In two Parts. To which are added, other miscellaneous Pieces, in Blank Verse and Rhyme. 8vo. 6s. Boards. White. 1801..

The rhymes contained in this volume are not worse than what we usually meet with: but when the author attempts blank, verse, we discover the nakedness of the land......The Lamentation is lamentable. Witness the following method of paying the piper.'

• Beneath the shade of a majestic oak,
Whose branches seem'd to reach the azure sky,
I here beheld an aged rev'rend swain,
Lolling with ease upon a wicker chair,
And sweetly playing on an oaten pipe,
Whilst those around him testified their joy
By joining in a merry rustic dance.
Maidens and youths the social ring compos'd,
Of diff'rent ages, but of equal charms;
And like the clusters of the favour'd vine,
Which dext'rous management has brought to bear,
The strong similitude which spread through all
Bespoke them children from one parent-stock.
Smiles of content and love illum'd each cheek,
Smiles which were not the produce of deceit,
But which were also living in the breast.
The glow of health and temperance adorn'd
Each lovely face, and added charms to youth.
They seem'd to dance because their minds were gay,
And not for fashion's sake; and each possess'd
A native, simple, elegance and grace,
Which far surpass'd the studied forms of art.

Thus they beguil'd the hours of time away;

And when they ceas'd, each maid, in turn, approach'd
The good old man, and thank'd him with a kiss.

This was the only recompence he claim'd,

And, when bestow'd, he felt his labour paid;
For to a soul, unbiass'd by those views
Which flow from the contaminated source
Of interest, what incense is so sweet,

What off'ring pregnant with such heartfelt joys,
As that which tender gratitude presents,
Warm'd by the feelings of respect and love?

Ye trifling, despicable, worldly minds,
Who know not what such blest emotions mean,
Whose senseless bosoms never were disturb'd
By such soft tumults, and who ne'er have prov'd
The pure delights of sentiment refin'd,
To you I need not labour to explain

What souls like yours can never comprehend.
But those whose dispositions still are sound,
Whose breasts are still susceptible of worth,

Whose hearts still glow with nature's honest warmth,
Will readily conceive what I would paint;

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ART. 37.-Miscellanies, in Verse and Prose, English and Latin, by the late Anthony Champion, of the Middle Temple, Esq. Published from the original Manuscripts by William Henry Lord Lyttelton. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Boards. White. 1801.

Anthony Champion, esq. author of these Miscellanies, was the son of Peter Champion, a gentleman of an ancient and respectable family, seated at St. Columb in Cornwall, who acquired à considerable fortune as a merchant at Leghorn: he was born February the 5th, 1724-5, at Croydon in Surrey, and received his first instruction in the Greek and Latin languages at Cheam School in that county; from whence in 1739 he was removed to Eton, and in February 1742 became a member of the university of Oxford; having been placed at St. Mary Hall, under the care of the Rev. Walter Harte, a celebrated tutor, selected at a later period by the earl of Chesterfield to finish his son Mr. Stanhope's education in classical literature. After having passed two years at Oxford, he was entered as a student of law at the Middle Temple, where he continued to reside to the day of his decease; and was a bencher of that society, to which he bequeathed one thousand pounds. He served in two parliaments; having been elected in 1754 for the borough of St. Germans, and in 1761 for Liskard, in Cornwall: but the same great modesty and reserve restrained him from displaying the powers of his very discerning and enlightened mind in that illustrious assembly, which prevented him also from communicating to the world those effusions of his rich and luxuriant vein of poetry, that are now submitted to the judgement of the public.

He died the 22d of February in the present year,' 1801, 'beloved and lamented by all who were acquainted with the brightness of his genius, his taste for the finer arts, his various and extensive learning, and the still more valuable qualities of his warm and benevolent heart.' P. iii.

These poems are the trifles with which a man of polite learning sometimes amused himself. They are polished verses upon occasional subjects. The following is a fair specimen.

• Elegy on the Death of the Rev. Francis Coventry, Jan. 1750.

As erst o'er Damon's mournful bier

The heaving sigh, the stealing tear,

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My sleepless hours beguil❜d;
Sweet Anna saw my tender grief,
And in kind pity brought relief:
She kiss'd me, and I smil'd.

My fancy next ambition charm'd;
Adieu each softer care...alarm'd
The fair enchantress came;
One kiss infus'd a gentler fire;
I felt the noble flame expire,
And curs'd the phantom fame.

• Transfix'd with envy's poison'd dart,
When late my inly fest'ring heart
Consum'd in silent pain;

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Like wounded Edward's generous bride,
Sweet Anne her balmy lips applied,
And drew forth all the bane.

Strange to relate! the tigress rage
Her magic kisses can assuage,

And in soft fetters bind:

Nor e'er did music's powerful strain,
Nor proud philosophy attain
Such empire o'er the mind.

• Come then, and, to secure my bliss,
Sweet Anne, in one perpetual kiss
Breathe in the healing balm...
Cease, rather cease, too fond desire...
Ah! treacherous kisses, you inspire
More passions than you calm.?

P. 44.

ART. 38.-The Pleasures of Retirement, in three Cantos. With other Poems, by John Jefferys. 8vo. 35. Boards. Longman and Rees.

The title of this poem sufficiently indicates its nature. A few lines will show its degree of merit.

• Why does the soldier, from his home afar,
Tempt the rude dangers of the sanguine war?
Why does the merchant send his vessels o'er
The seas of Europe to the Indian shore?

Watch the rich fleet, which bears with fortune's smiles

Peruvian treasures to the British isles?

Why does the miser for his darling wealth,
His life endanger, and destroy his health?
In hopes his labours and his toil engage
A calm retirement for declining age.
For this, the British tar, alert and brave,
The storm despises, and defies the wave.
He knows his country for her sons prepares,
To bless the aged, and relieve their cares:

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