be useless: but many facts which readily admit of solution, according to the new doctrine, are urged with a pertinacity bordering on prejudice. It is singular, that, in theology as well as philosophy, Dr. Priestley will allow no one to change his opinions except himself.

AGRICULTURE, &c.

ART. 38.-The System followed during the two last Years by the Board of Agriculture further illustrated; with Dissertations on the Growth and Produce of Sheep and Wool, as well Spanish as English. Also, Observations upon, and a new Plan for, the Poor, and Poor Laws. To which are added Remarks on the Modes of Culture and Implements of Husbandry, used in Portugal; and an Inquiry into the Causes of the late Scarcity, and Means proposed to remedy it in future. By John, Lord Somerville. Illustrated with Plates. 410. 11. 1s. Boards.

Miller.

This system, the observations on the English wool, and the superiority of the Rhyeland sheep, have been already before us in different publications; and we have expressed our full approbation not only of the plan of manufacturing English cloths with English wool, but of the great probability of being able to effect it, if the whole system be not entirely destroyed by the gross Leicestershire and Lincolnshire breeds. No observation that we have yet been enabled to make has convinced us that the meat and the wool are not materially injured by thus adding to the bulk and the fat of the animal.

The other parts of this volume are highly useful, particularly the employment of oxen in drawing, as managed in Portugal. It reminds us of an omission in our account of the Agricultural Survey of Lincolnshire, where this subject particularly occurs, and where the slowness of oxen is considered as a drawback upon their other advantages. We intended to have remarked that this is only a partial inconve nience, and by no means to be put in competition with the other circumstances which lead us to the employment of other animals in husbandry, as preferable to oxen. The remarks on the poor's laws are not of peculiar importance.

ART. 39.-The Gentleman and Farmer's Assistant; containing, first, Tables for finding the Content of any Piece of Land, from Dimensions taken in Yards. Second, Tables, showing the Width required for an Acre in any square Piece of Land, from one to five hundred Yards in Length. Third, Tables, showing the Number of Loads that will manure an Acre of Land, by knowing the Distance of the Heaps. Fourth, a Table for measuring Thatcher's Work, from one to sixtyfour Feet long, and from one to twenty-five Feet high. By John Cullyer. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Bound. Scatcherd.

This is a useful work for both gentlemen and farmers; as from it they may with great ease measure their land, determine upon the most profitable method of manuring it, and decide with accuracy upon a variety of expenses incidental to agriculture.

EDUCATION.

ART. 40.-A Rhetorical Grammar: in which the common Improprieties in Reading and Speaking are detected, and the true Sources of elegant Pronunciation are pointed out. With a complete Analysis of the Voice, showing its specific Modifications, and how they may be applied to different Species of Sentences, and the several Figures of Rhetoric. To which are added, Outlines of Composition, or, plain Rules for writing Orations and speaking them in public. The Third Edition, with considerable Alterations and Additions. By John Walker. 8vo. 75. Robinsons. 1801.

The candour and good sense of this respectable author bespeak our applause; and on an examination-for, though it be the third edition, we have again looked it over-we find no reason to resign our prepossession. His arguments and illustrations equally claim our applause; yet we think, with him, that the pupil will follow the example rather than investigate the foundation of the precept. Be it so this will not lessen the merit of the writer; for those who have learnt the learned languages without the rules of grammar would however have found themselves more complete masters with their assistance. The author's account of the great improvements in this edition we shall select.

The present edition is almost a new work. The praxis of sentences, 30 arranged as to lead the pupil from the easiest to the most difficult, seemed better calculated for the lower class of pupils in reading than for students in rhetoric, and therefore this has been omitted. The want of rules for composition, so essential in rhetoric, has been supplied from the best source-Blair's Lectures: and what was deficient even in these has been furnished from professor Ward's Lectures on Oratory:- -so that with the original matter on the clegant pronunciation of words, on accent, emphasis, and inflexion of voice, and the proper pronunciation of the figures of rhetoric, it is presumed the present work is the most perfect of its kind in the language.' P. v.

ART. 41.-Elements of Elocution: in which the Principles of Reading and Speaking are investigated; and such Pauses, Emphasis, and Inflexions of Voice, as are suitable to every Variety of Sentence, are di stinctly pointed out and explained; with Directions for strengthening and modulating the Voice, so as to render it varied, forcible, and barmonious. To which is added, a complete System of the Passions; showing how they affect the Countenance, Tone of Voice, and Gesture of the Body; exemplified by a copious Selection of the most striking Passages of Shakspeare. The whole illustrated by Copper-Plates, explaining the Nature of Accent, Emphasis, Inflexion, and Cadence. The Second Edition, with Alterations and Additions. By John Walker. 8vo. 7s. Boards. Robinsons.

This is a work of the same author, which equally merits our com mendation. We cannot, as a second edition, engage in a very exten sive analysis; yet can safely recommend it to the attention of public

speakers, who will certainly find it a work of value and importance. It is not showy and flowery, but judicious and intrinsically valuable. The alterations in this new edition we shall also add in the author's own words.

When the first edition of this work was published, I considered the human voice as divisible into two inflexions only. Some time after, upon re-considering the subject more maturely, I found there were certain turns of voice which I could not distinctly class with either of these two inflexions. This discovery mortified me exceedingly. I feared my whole labour was lost, and that I had been fatiguing myself with a distinction which existed no where but in my imagination. None but those who have been system-makers can judge of the regret and disappointment which this apprehension occasioned. It did not, however, continue long. The same trial of the voice which assured me of the two opposite inflexions, the rising and falling, soon convinced me that those inflexions which I could not reduce to either of these two were neither more nor less than two combinations of them; and that they were real circumflexes; the one beginning with the rising inflexion, and ending with the falling upon the same syllable; and the other beginning with the falling, and ending with the rising on the same syllable.' P. xi.

POETRY.

ATR. 42.-More Wonders! an Heroic Epistle to M. G. Lewis, Esq. M. P. With a Prescript extraordinary, and an Ode on the Union. By Mauritius Moonshine. 4to. 25. Barker. 1801.

The object of this epistle is to abuse Mr. Lewis, for making hist Tales of Wonder a selection instead of an original work, and to ridicule the use of goblin machinery. This is done in decent rhymes, which no person can object to while he is reading the pamphlet, nor remember when he has laid it down; e. g.

Oft, in youth's idle summer, have I stray'd,
Delighted, thro' the wild wood's leafy shade,
While from some legend's magic clue I caught
All its romantic tenderness of thought;
Oft, fondly glowing with heroic heat,
At Arthur's table took my fancy'd seat;
At Merlin's call, beneath unclouded skies,
Saw bloomy bow'rs, and golden turrets rise;
And, as soft warblings harmonis'd each spray,
Dissolv'd in bliss, all languishingly lay.
Soon riper reason spurn'd the specious dream,
When manhood bade me chuse a nobler theme,
Some theme by wider benefits pursu'd,
Some theme conducive to the public good.
Much as thyself I prize the merry elves,
But wish not fairy-tales to load our shelves;
Nor yet have offer'd, with presumptuous pride,
To push, for Geoffry, Juvenal aside;

Tho' oft my breast has felt a rapt'rous thrill,
Touch'd by the plume of Ludovico's quill;
Tho' oft with Dante I have lov'd to dwell
Mid the dread woes of Ugolino's cell

;

And, o'er the fabled scroll of grief severe,
Heav'd the big sigh, or stream'd the ardent tear.
But when those fatal fantasies pervert

The wayward sense, not meliorate the heart,
When the numb'd soul is steep'd in stupid trance,
And ev'n the Scriptures dwindle to romance;
I curse the madness of a guilty taste,

By thee, with more than vulgar glory, grac'd;
Avert my fondness, from such nauseous whims,
Preferring to Child Waters, David's Hymns.
Like conj'rer's bag, how many a maniac's scull,
Is with newts, toads, and asps, completely full!
Sure that the horrid medley will go down,
He spews his various garbage on the town,
'Till sprightly belles are frighten'd into fits,
And beaux, if blest with any, lose their wits.'

P. 7.

An ode, entitled The Union, is subjoined, in which the anonymous poet, forgetting his dislike to all apparitions, introduces an Irish ghost; the same ode contains the following picture :

• Lo! with maternal fondness Mercy weeps;

Oh catch, oh venerate the holy dew!

One drop from that refulgent sluice

Can wash from Murder's pall the deepest dye,
And more than angel-purity produce.' P. 22.

This image of washing Murder's cloak in one tear from the sluice of Mercy's eye has all the merit of originality.

ART. 43.-The Dawn of Peace, an Ode.-And Amphion, or the Force of Concord, Regulation, and Peace, an Ode. By Thomas Noble. 410. 2s. 6d. Ginger. 1801.

If the author of these odes be a young man, we may hope from him better things. His versification is strong and sonorous.

Now may'st thou, Commerce, spread thy boldest sail,

Dare the dark storm, or court the gale:

Let thy wide arms again, with fond embrace,

Press to thy breast the human race:

Mandates from cruel Avarice disdain

From Slavery's sanguinary train;

But ev'ry wish that Science breathes obey

She taught thee first the wat'ry way;
Her magnet-sceptre to thy hand assign'd,
To blend our separated kind;

Gave thee the polished crystal, to descry

Thy path directed by the sky.

O now, while anxious Luxury awaits,
From ev'ry breeze thy costly freights,

Through distant climes waft Nature's genial plan,

And teach mankind to know-to love-to succour man,

Come, ruddy Labour, lov'd by Freedom, come

Drop thy red faulchion, and thy plough resume;
No longer war requires thy youthful band:
They come-a rude and hardy train-
They hear the uncultur'd earth complain,
They see cold Avarice grasp the dearthy land.
Tremble Monopoly-thy reign is o'er!
A war-taught troop demand their food,
From fields defended by their blood:
Where's their till'd acre-that paternal store?
Barren! it now extends thy desolate domain.
Base Avarice, more cruel than the grave!
The swain opprest becomes thy slave:
No more Contentment enters his low cot-
Sport soothes no more his rugged lot;
For Independence, soul of joy, is flown,
Toil's produce is no more its own!

Each dastard vice his soul imbibes from thee-
Man to be virtuous must be free.

Arise, delightful DAWN of PEACE, arise!

To thee pale Labour lifts his anxious eyes
Thy roseate beams forsaken Art adores ;

And Liberty, her drooping face unveils,

To thy bright morn his anthem Science pours

Gazes on thee, and smiles, and thy glad promise hails '

P. II.

In the second ode, Mr. Noble occasionally introduces the line of fourteen syllables.

ART. 44.-The Genius of France, or the Consular Vision; a Poem. With Notes. 4to. Hatchard.

The plan of this poem will be best explained by copying the argu

ment.

⚫ Bonaparte retires from the splendor of the Tuileries to Malmaison-His midnight slumbers are broken by the sudden appearance of the Genius of France, who wishes to inform himself of the ultimate designs of the consul on his country-He assumes the cha racter of the Genius of Ambition to prevent detection, and conceal his views-The consul, convinced of supernatural agency, and anxious to be informed of his future destiny, exhibits a sketch of his general designs of exalting France-1, by arms and the revolutionary spirit-2, by commerce-3, by the arts and philosophy; but suspecting the errand of the genius, from the earnestness with which he inquires into the particular destiny of France, he determines to answer no question, and preserve an invincible silence: this reduces the Genius to the exercise of his power, in order to carry his point.