ART. XV.-Mathematical Synopsis, or Table of Diameters, Circumferences, Areas of great Circles, Superficies and Solid contents of Nine and Thirty select Generative Spheres, which (per Synedoche) will do for all others; with the proportions they bear to similar Cubes. By J. SNART. Southwark, J. Robins and Sons. A chart. 1816.

THIS Table shews wherein the Peripheries, Superfices, and Solids approximate to, agree with, or recede from each other, and how much; also, how many times one is involved in the other, both under and over (the concurring number) six; with similar co-incidents respecting Circumferences and Superficies; and contains some rules for discovering this essential datum never before supplied.

EDUCATION.

ART. XVI.-Scientific Swimming, being a Series of Practical Instructions on an original and progressive Plan, by which the Art of Swimming may be readily attained, with every advantage of power in the water; accompanied with twelve copper plate engravings. By J. FROST. London, Darton and Co. Svo. 1816. Pp. 49.

It was the instruction of Milton, who was perhaps the best writer of any age or country on the subject of education, that youth should be prepared to fill every situation both of peace and war. In a scheme so comprehensive, the art of swimming would be necessarily included, and the work before us is offered to the public, not as a speculative theory, but as the result of long and successful practice. We recommend it to the attention of parents and guardians, to whom it is particularly addressed.

ART. XVII.-A Letter of Advice to his Grand-Children, Matthew, Gabriel, Anne, and Frances Hale, by Sir MATTHEW HALE, Lord Chief Justice, in the reign of Charles II.; now first published. London, Taylor and Hessey, 12mo. 1816. Pp. 182.

THIS little work is peculiarly interesting on account of the venerable character of the writer; who having filled the highest judicial situation in this country, devoted the short intervals of his leisure to the domestic affections and duties. It is well known that this learned judge was one of

the most distinguished ornaments of his profession; but the public are not so generally informed that his grand-children having lost their immediate parents, were placed under his protection; and his relative functions in such circumstances occasioned the present letter. His piety and moral excellence were rendered more conspicuous, by the profligacy of the court in which he lived.

ART. XVIII.-A Practical Treatise on Day-Schools, exhibiting their defects, and suggesting hints for their improvement, with simple and rational plans of teaching the usual branches of Education; and a Table for the arrangement of Business, &c. By a SCHOOL-MASTER. London, Darton and Co. 18mo. 1816. Pp. 134.

THIS is the production of a gentleman, who has an establishment for education, and the plan he has himself pursued in the conduct of it, is laid down in this little work. In the course of it, he points out the studies proper for the generality of youth, the time required to complete them, and the principles on which teaching should be conducted.

NOVELS.

ART. XIX. She would be a Heroine. By SOPHIA GRIFFITHS. Three vols. 8vo. London, Baldwin and Co. 1816. Pp. 233, 266, 269.

ONE of the fugitive productions of the day, and we care not how rapid the flight. The story is founded on an inaccurate view of the female character, which is exposed to little danger of falling into those masculine absurdities here described. We would recommend to the fair authoress to be satisfied with the management of the distaff, and resign the pen to other hands.

ART. XX.-Owen Castle, or Which is the Heroine? By MARY ANN SULLIVAN. Three vols. 8vo. London, Simpkin and Marshall, 1816. Pp. 292, 264, 244.

THIS work has neither genius or taste to recommend it, and if the authoress possess either, she has accommodated herself to those who are destitute of both.

ART. XXI.-Edgar; a National Tale. By MISS APPLETON, author of Private Education, &c. Three vols. 8vo. London, Colburn, 1816. Pp. 275, 274, 276.

THIS lady, disgusted with the term novel, determined to call her work a National Tale, after some speculations on the title Epicast, which she, on the better advice of her friends, reluctantly declined to give it. She now refers it to the public to decide whether her work may be considered of a higher rank than that of a novel. Miss Edgworth's publications are sufficient to secure the term Novel from contempt; and had Miss Appleton studied the productions of that accomplished mistress of the art, we should not have had these three volumes, which she is disposed to place, as she expresses herself, between poetry and prose. The lady ought to be apprized that poetry and prose have their distinct beauties and stations, and that they never appear to so much disadvantage as when an unnatural and compulsory union is attempted between them, as in the present work.

POETRY.

ART. XXII.-Lines on the Departure of a great Poet from this country. London, J. Booth, 8vo. 1816. Pp. 14. AN abusive effusion on the emigration of Lord Byron, published on an occasion when a generous mind would least of all have been disposed to be prodigal of censure. The poetry has no merit to compensate for our disgust at the purpose of the writer.

ART. XXIII.-The Battle of Waterloo; a Poem in Two Cantos By JOHN HASKINS. London, Black and Son, Svo. 1816. Pp. 63.

ONE among the many sent into the world on the subject of this gallant victory. The incidents are acknowledged to be principally derived from "Paul's Letters to his Kinfolk." It is a first attempt, and we see no ground to discourage the author in making a second; but we recommend to him not to adventure hastily.

ART. XXIV.-Buonaparte; a Poem. Cork; Odell and Laurent. London, J. Hunter, 8vo. 1816. Pp. 63.

A sufficient view of the poem and its merits may be af forded by the citation of four lines.

"Hear you that shout, forlorn D'Artois !
How from the heart it seems to burst?
So different from those Vives le Roi,
Your former idle hopes that nursed."

ART. XXV.-Freedom, with other Poems. By GEORGE THOMAS. London, Ruffy and Evans, 8vo. Pp. 116.

BESIDES the principal_Poem devoted to Freedom, there are others intituled, the Sailor, the Ramble, Friendship, the Winter's Night, the Reflection, Mariana, and the Unfortunate's Tomb.

In these Poems there is more attempt at harmony than meaning; but the author is seldom successful in either.

POLITICAL ECONOMY.

ART. XXVI.-An Important Examination of the Insolvent Debtor's Bill, with suggestions for its substantial improve ment, and for the removal of gross frauds and abuses prac◄ tised under the existing law. By A. R. WARRAND. Sherwood and Co London, 1816. Pp. 50.

So many petitions have been crouded on the table of the House of Commons, connected with the Bill which is the subject of this publication, that the matter deserves, both absolutely and relatively, much serious consideration. Notwithstanding the boasted humanity of the laws of England, until within the last twenty-five years, Parliament has rarely interposed for the relief of the Debtor; and with some indecency and pernicious consequence, the period of the King's life was hopefully looked forward to, as the termination of his confinement.

Almost every expedient of human wisdom is a balance of good and evil; and in this case, while we are solicitous that the honest creditor should not be deprived of the just reward of his industry, we are anxious that a few irritated tradesmen should not mischievously contravene the deliberate act of a British Legislature.

A principal part of this pamphlet is applied to a com

parison between the Insolvent Act and the Bankrupt Laws, in which the author endeavours to shew, in many respects, the superior benefits of the former. As the latter are likely to undergo an early revision under the auspices of a distinguished professor, we are not disposed to follow Mr. Warrand into this division of his subject. The remarks on the Bill, from page 19 to 23, deserve the especial attention of those by whom its fate is to be determined.

Two or three alterations are recommended in the present measure, so that the approbation of Mr. Warrand is not unqualified and indiscriminate. The Bill is admitted to have deterred the trader from resorting to his former remedy of arrest, under the apprehension that, by so doing, he should lose both his debt and costs. The law thus disarms the creditor of his power to threaten the debtor with its fury, and enables the debtor to threaten, in his turn, with ruinous expenses who may have a just claim upon him. To remedy this abuse, it is proposed that any defendant who shall, either before or after his surrender, file what is termed a sham plea, bring a writ of error for the purpose of delay, or plead the general issue, without being able to shew that he had a defence to the action, shall not be discharged as to such demand, until he shall have suffered an imprisonment of two years.

The Bill imposes imprisonment for three months, in order that the debtor may undergo some punishment for not discharging his engagements. Mr. Warrand justly observes, that the very idea of confinement is rendered ridiculous, by allowing the prisoner the liberty of the rules, when he may have a sufficient amount of his creditor's property in hand to enable him to purchase this indulgence. In that situation he continues still lavishly to squander the remaining property in his possession, and he has neither the appearance nor the feelings of a prisoner; and it is therefore suggested, that the man who surrenders his person to obtain the benefit of the Insolvent Act, should have locks to secure him, and walls to inclose him during a three months imprisonment, and should not be allowed to enjoy " the comfort and sensations of a country lodging at a great expense, to be defrayed, not by himself, but by his creditors."