bouring poor, which, with the character here given of labouring people in general, do equal honour to the head and heart of the author. We should gladly see some such plan of schools of industry adopted throughout every county in the united kingdoms.

ART. 34.-Observations upon the Composition and Uses of theWater at the New Sulphur Baths, at Dinsdale, near Darlington, in the County of Durham. By John Peacock. pp. 82. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Mawman. 1805.

THIS sulphurated spring, situated on the banks of the Tees, was discovered in 1787, and in 1797 baths were erected on it. A wine quart contains 2 grains carbonat of lime; 25 grains sulphat of line; carbonic acid gas 2 cubic inches; azotic gas 1.50 do. sulphurated hydrogen gas 8.32 cubic inches, which contain 24 grains of sulphur. This quantity of sulphurated bydrogen gas greatly surpasses the waters of Aix-la-Chapelle, but we hope to see it imme- ·· diately analyzed by some chemist, as it must be a powerful agent that may succeed in many cases where the waters of Harrowgate have failed, as in herpetic and cutaneous affections. In the conclusion of this pamphlet there are some rational reflections on scrophulous and herpetic diseases, which the author very justly, allows to be hereditary. A natural remedy for such diseases is the more desirable at present, because cutaneous affections are every day more and more common in consequence of the general use of pernicious lotions for beautifying the skin. Should these observations tend to make known a remedy so necessary and so powerful, (and we hope that they will excite a prompt and decisive examination) they will do considerable honour to the author.

With regard to Mr. Peacock's political reflections, we cannot help hinting that his genius is better adapted to wield the pesite

- than to direct the affairs of state.

Since writing the above, we have been informed of the discovery of two new wells at Harrowgate, which are supposed to approach nearly the strength of the Dinsdale water; they are to be fitted up immediately, as there is frequently a deficiency of water for the baths. This discovery will doubtless be found of very essential service to the restoration of the health of many persons, who have not hitherto been able to procure a sufficient quantity of this medicated

water.

ART. 35.-A Summary of parental and filial Duties, or an ite resting Description of what Parents and Children owe to cuch other, inculcating also the most valuable Requisites for a liberal Education. The whole extracted from the Works of the Sicur de Charron, by J. Taylor, Head Master of the Academy, Dron field, &c. 12mo. Longman. 1805.

THIS valuable little treatise being in its original state unavoidably concealed from the notice of many families particularly inte

rested in the greatest part of its contents, the Editor has been induced to present it to the world in its present form.

Should the perusal of it afford as much pleasure to others as it has done to us, no apology can be necessary for thus recommending it to the more general attention of the public.

ART. 36.-A solemn Protest against the Revival of Scenic Exhibitions and Interludes at the Royalty Theatre, containing Re marks on Pizarro, the Stranger, and John Bull, with a Postscript. To which is prefixed, a Review of the Conduct of the Stage in general, and the Expediency and Lawfulness of Dra matic Entertainments. By the Rev. T. Thirlwall, A.M. Chaplain to Bancroft's Hospital, and Lecturer of St. Dunstan, Stepney. 8vo. 1s. Rivingtons. 1805.

YOU are too warm, Mr. Thirlwall, much too warm: when your passion is abated we will talk with you.

ART. 37.-Children's true Guide to Knowledge and Virtue, or a Collection of early Lessons peculiarly calculated to promote a gradual Improvement in Reading, as well as to lay a valuable Foundation in Moral and Religious Principles, the Plan and Subject Matter being attentively adapted to the use of Schools in general. By J. Taylor, Head Master of the Academy, Dronfield, and Author of the New English Grammar, &c. 8vo. Longman. 1805.

THIS book would be much better calculated for children, if the poetry were omitted.

ART. 38.-Interesting Conversations on Moral and Religious Subjects, interspersed with Narrative. By a Lady. Svo. 5s. Williams and Smith. 1805.

AS these conversations are principally on religious subjects, and are of the saine species with many which have been reviewed by us on former occasions; we refer our readers for our opinion of the present work to the 25th article of our Review for November last.

CRITICAL REVIEW.

Vol. VII.

SERIES THE THIRD.

MARCH, 1806.

No. III.

ART. I-Sir John Froissart's Chronicles of England, France Spain, and the adjoining Countries, from the latter Part of the Reign of Edward II. to the Coronation of Henry IV. Newly translated from the French Editions, with Variations and Additions from many celebrated MSS. By Thomas Johnes. The 2d Edition. δυο. 3 Vols. 17. 16. Longman. 1805.

'JOHN Froissart,' as we are informed by the memoir of his life, published by M. de la Curne de St. Palaye, in the 10th vol. of the Academie des Inscriptions,' a translation of which is judiciously prefixed to the present edition by Mr. Johnes, was Priest, Canon, and Treasurer of the Collegiate Church of Chimay, and was born at Valenciennes in Hainault about 1937. Whatever his situation may have been in early youth, the character which he displayed through life appears to have met with sufficient opportunities of rapidly unfolding itself. It is happily delineated by M. de St. Palaye. in the following passage; and the reader will often recur to it in the course of the history, almost every page of which confirms the justness of his observations.

His infancy announced what he would one day be; he early manifested that eager and inquisitive mind, which during the course of his life never allowed him to remain long attached to the same occu pations, nor to continue long in the same place.

'The different games suitable to that age, of which he gives us a picture equally curious and amusing, kept up in his mind a natural propensity to dissipation, which during his early studies must have tried the patience as well as exercised the severity of his masters.

He loved hunting, music, assemblies, feasts, dancing, dress, good living, wine, and women: these tastes, which almost all showed themselves from twelve years of age, being confirmed by habit, were con⚫ tinued even to his old age, and perhaps never left him. Neither the serious thoughts nor the affections of Froissart being yet sufficiently engaged, his love for history filled up the void which his passion for pleasure left, and became to him an inexhaustible source of amuseinent.' VOL. I. P. ii.

CRIT, REV, Vol. 7. March, 1805.

If Froissart's historical work were wanting in passages to witness the truth of the preceding account, his poems would be found evidence sufficient; for Froissart was (as may indeed well be guessed) a poet also.

He was scarcely twenty years old when he sat down to write his history, at the request of his dear lord and patron, Sir Robert de Namur, knight, Lord of Beaufort'-and as from that period he probably began to collect from his own information and experience, we may mark with some certainty the point of his history where he regularly commences author; for at the beginning he acknowledges himself to be merely a transcriber of, or at best a compiler from the MSS. of Master John le Bel, formerly canon of St. Lambert's at Liege,' as to those events which he does not relate immedi ately from his own observation or from hearsay. We may therefore treat him as an original writer of all that part of his history which comes after the relation of the battle of Poitiers in 1356. The remainder of his life is interesting, as it brings us acquainted with the sources from whence he was enabled to draw so much information, and fixes a higher value on the work, from the authenticity which it communicates to the greatest part of the circumstances which he records.

His residence in England, between the years 1360 and 1366, appears, from his poems, to have been the consequence of an early and ill-requited attachment, the melancholy effects of which he was desirous to dispel by change of scene and of employment. He there obtained an introduction to the court of Edward, and his poetical talents soon rendered him a favourite companion of his royal country-woman, Philippa, who was always distinguished for her natural affection towards her native land of Hainault. The delicate gallantry of those ages, (as M. de St. P. well observes,) admitted of the most familiar intercourse between all ranks and sexes without reproach or slander. It was then believed that love might be confined to a delicate intercourse of gallantry and tenderness; the ladies blushed not in feeling so pure a passion, and the most modest of them made it the ordinary subject of their conversations.' But it must not be imagined that Froissart's whole time was occupied in rondeaus and 'ditties,' for the delight of her grace: on the contrary, the time he now spent at the court of London presented to his ever curious and eager mind, a stock of information with regard to the character and habits of the most illustrious among our gallant countrymen, together with important and authentic details of facts, with which he has not failed to enrich almost every page of his valuable history.

Too restless, and too much occupied with his favorite schemes for acquiring and communicating knowledge, to remain long in one fixed place of residence, he obtained liberty, while yet attached to the service of his royal patroness, to travel through various parts of Europe. It is uncertain at what precise period he travelled on horseback, with his portmanteau behind him, and followed by his greyhound,' to the highlands of Scotland; but in the course of his journey he spent some time at the court of King David, and at the castle of Dalkeith, the hospitable residence of William Earl of Donglas. During the same period we also find him on a journey into North Wales. In 1366 we trace him again in France from Melun sur Seine to Bourdeaux, where he resided at the time when Richard II. was born. From thence he accompanied the Prince of Wales, on his Spanish expedition, as far as Dax, but appears to have been then (to his great mortification) sent back to England, probably with some dispatches for the court. In 1868 he was in Italy, and present at the nuptials of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, with Jolande of Milan. He describes the festivals on the occasion of this marriage at the court of Amadeus the Green, Count of Savoy. He successively visited Bologna, Ferrara, and Rome before he left Italy.

In 1369 he lost his patroness Queen Philippa; and this event prevented his return to England, which he did not visit again before 1395. He retired to the living of Lestines, which he possessed in his own country; but he does not appear to have been remarkably well adapted for the sober and quiet functions of a village pastor, since the only anecdote he gives of his residence here is, that (in a very short space of time) the publicans had 500 francs of his money.

Not long after we find him at court again, in the service of Winceslaus Duke of Brabant, whom he seems to have assisted (for the duke was a poet) in the composition of the romance of Meliador.

In 1884 the good duke died, and Froissart (who was never in want of excellent patrons) immediately afterwards appears in the new character of clerk of the chapel to Guy Count de Blois, who recalled him to the pursuits he had for some short time neglected, and, by engaging him to continue his unfinished history, inspired him with fresh ardour in this favourite occupation. We may suppose that the next three years were spent in composition, and in reducing his former collections to a regular form. In 1388 he sets off again to acquire new lights and information, in countries before unexplored. Through Avignon, Montpellier, Carcassonne, and

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