In the execution of his plan, the writer has in many parts ere deavoured to imitate the manner of Sterne, and has failed in that dangerous experiment: a certain congeniality of mind has enabled him to follow the steps of Tom Brown with more fuccefs. He is fond of pun, point and antithefis: every opportunity of being witty is feized, even at the expence of propriety. He tells us "that the "churches may be faid to be clofely attended; for wherever we find one, we find it pent up by the houses, as if with defign to fqueeze "it into a narrower compafs." He informs us, that King William never flept in London but on his wedding-night, and adds, "But "if Q. Mary was that fine woman fhe is here reprefented, it is " doubtful whether he Дept at all." Speaking of Richard the fecond's monument, he fays, "One would think the duft without "as facred as the duft within, for neither are difturbed." His reflexion on Edward the Third's fword (feven feet long) is, "perhaps "this terrible weapon never killed a inan; if it did, I fhould be in"clined to think it was the man who carried it." He immediately adds, "Edward the Third with his great beard, and his Queen "Phillipa, with her great hips, lie together." These are a few of the flowers which are thickly ftrewed in the work before us.

The account of "St. James's" will be no unfavourable specimen of the author's manner.

ST. JAMES's. We pride ourselves on, vifiting the abode of Kings. This place has more the appearance of a prifon than a palace. It is ancient, low, extenfive, dark, and abounds with irregular chimnies. My chief view was to fee the head of a family which has long had my best wishes. The pleasure grounds, which form the Park, are extremely delightful, and well furnished with live stock.

In the first room I entered, were placed in order, a great number of arms. I feem, fays I, to be arrived upon peaceable ground, for these arms appear out of use, by the dust upon them. They are cleaned, Sir, once in two years." Then I fuppofe the two years are nearly expired? A fmile was the answer.

I paffed through two or three other apartments, when a gentleman approached me▬▬▬▬ "Sir, it is not customary for any perfon to appear in the King's Court with his hat on." I beg pardon, Sir; I was fo attentive to the objects before me, I had forgot I had

one.

In the grand couneil room, I was indulged, like other children, with the chair of ftate. The chandeliers and girandoles were of filver; rather heavy, and not very elegant; and though the furniture was rich, not too rich for a fovereign prince.

In one of the apartments, I was regaled, though a stranger, with a fricaffee and a jelly. The good lady while fpreading the napkin on the table, which had twenty holes, uttered, with half a mile and half a figh, Poor George!

The napkin, however, was clean, which is more than can be faid of every thing under that fpacious roof. If fome frugal boufewife fhould afk, why the holes were not mended? the may be anfwered, people are not apt to mend at St. James's.

The

The kind treatment I met with indicates, that civility is found in thofe royal abodes; and if any perfon fhould exclaim against the extravagance of the Court, let his mouth be ftopt with a napkin.

6

Moving up St. James's-ftreet, my curiofity was excited by see ing a dozen fedan chairs ftanding together, and the chairman wait.ing. I concluded it must be the rendence of a nobleman, and the lady of the manfion then held her evening rout. Upon enquiry, I was told," It was the Prince of 's 's gaming-houfe." And fo in this houfe, then, he learns to conduct the kings. there another where he learns to conduct the people?'

Pray, is We cannot, upon the whole bestow commendation on this flimzy performance; and fhall take our leave of Mr. Hutton in his own way, and in his own words, had he " continued to crack his pipe, "his joke, and his bottle" in peace. "and at last quitted the stage, "when life, itfelf, the greatest of all jokes was cracked," without writing "A Journey from Birmingham to London," he would not have added to the mafs of publications, without contributing to the information of mankind.

Art. 21. The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D. With occafional Remarks on his Writings; an Authentic Copy of his Will; a Catalogue of his Works, and a Fac Simile of his Hand Writing. To which is added, Johnfoniana; or a Selection of Dr. Johnfon's Bon-Mots, Obfervations, &c. most of which were never before publifhed. 12mo. price. Kearfley, 1785.

A mean production intended to fatisfy the avidity of the public for fome account of this extraordinary man. As the little original matter it contains has been already retailed in all the newspapers and magazines, an extract of the performance would probably afford little entertainment to any of our readers. We fhould per haps have been difpofed to treat it with severity; but the moft faftidious critic can derive little triumph from chaftifing the modeft author, who is contented to let his productions ferve for the frontifpiece to a jest book.

Art. 22. The Confeffions of a Coquet. A Novel. In a Series of Letters. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Lane, 1785.

"A tranflation," the editor fays; or an imitation of the French novelists-the confeffions of a coquet are the confeflions of two prostitutes, who after a feries of fentimental voluptuoufnefs, are married, and become virtuous. We must allow that confidering the materials, the author has contrived to tell his story in very decent language, which is far more than is reasonable to expect from the confeffions of demireps.

Art. 23. The Power of Oratory. An Ode. Is. Shepperfon and Reynolds, 1785.

This ode is founded on Plutarch's relation of the extraordinary effects of Cicero's oration for Ligarius on the mind of Cæfar, and has been fet to mufic by Dr. Hayes, profeffor of mufic at Oxford. With a few blemishes, we think it poffeffes fome beauties, and taken for all in all, is far fuperior to fome fpecimens of this kind of compofition which have been honoured with more public and general Art.

notice.

U 2

Art. 24. The False Friends. A Novel. In a Series of Letters. By the Author of the Ring.

In our Review for Nov. 1783, we expreffed our fentiments concerning the merit of a former work written by the author of these volumes. The degree of praise bestowed upon the Ring, we fee no reafon for witholding from the novel before us. The cause of morality is promoted by the fentiments it inculcates. The characters are naturally, though faintly drawn. They are, indeed, too numerous; and, being not placed in a light fufficiently strong, are not exhibited with proper difcrimination. An attempt to make a married couple un happy, and to confine feveral other pairs with the bonds of wedlock, is the whole plot of the novel. They, however, whofe delicacy of taste in compofition has not rendered them faftidious, may perufe thefe volumes without diffatisfaction; and to the generality of circulating-library readers we recommend them as in fome degree entertaining and inftructive.

Art. 25. Memoirs of Sir Simeon Supple, Member for Rotborough. 12mo. Is. 6d. Kearfley, 1785.

- Poetical imitation is in all cafes contemptible, and our author, as in duty bound, has taken care that the last should be the worst. A reader of greater penetration than ourselves may perhaps be able to difcover Mr. Antley in the following lines.

When I came to the Inn, I difbanded my train,

After promifing foon to attend them again.

Then I call'd for the hoft, Mifter Muckle Mac Nim,
And defir'd him to fend for a barber, to trim.

Now alone, my dear Coz, I furvey'd well my ftation,
And fell into filent, and deep cogitation.

But e'er I had fat fome five minutes, or more,
I was rouz'd by a loud triple rap at the door!
And into my room a ftrange vifitor bounc'd,
I started!-and Alderman Suds was announc'd-
The Alderman bow'd, and I drew him a seat,
And we talk'd of political things tete-a-tete,
But the thinnest of Aldermen, made fince the floods!
Dear Coufin, I'm certain, is Alderman Suds.
So hollow his voice, and fo meagre his look,

I grin'd like a griffin whenever he spoke!
But I nearly had paid for this rude titillation;
For, whilft he was fcanning the debt of the nation,
He pull'd out a razor, without more ado,
And was going to give it an edge on his fhoe
By laughing I've fign'd my death warrant, thought I,
'Tis too late to retract!-I am deftin'd to die!
But I quickly found out that my tremors were vain,
As foon as the Alderman came to explain;
For knowing his kill at a razor, Mac Nim,
As an excellent Barber! had offer'd me him!

Now, TRADE is the fountain of wealth, I have heard,
So the worshipful Alderman took off my beard!-

And

And e'er he departed he beg'd I'd perfuade

The 66

HOUSE to adopt the promotion of trade."
Says I-" Mr. Alderman Suds may depend,
"I fhall always promote that defirable end.
"Let Minifters tremble!-my keen-biting fpeeches
"Shall fuck the foul blood of corruption, like leches.
"Moreover, I'll fpare for no figure, or trope,
"To procure a repeal of the duty on SOAP!"

My fpeech was well-tim'd, like all fpeeches of note,
And procur'd both the Alderman's int'reft and vote.

Have courage gentle reader. If the above paffage be the best in the whole performance, truft me you will however find several others that indifputably flowed from the fame incomparable pen.

Art. 26. The Book of Seven Chapters. Containing a new Syftem of National Policy. With a Poftfcript on Parliamentary Elocution, and an Utopian Scheme for the Confideration of the Rev. Mr. Wyvill. 12mo. Baldwin.

This performance is defultory and not unentertaining. But the author has no profoundnefs in his views, and has a very limited know ledge of the political world. He runs, however, over a great variety of topics, and is not deftitute of vivacity. In his manner he is polite, and in his ftile he is easy.

Art. 27. Anotations on the Trial of Mrs. Harriot Errington, Wife of George Errington, Efq; for Adultery. Containing Satyrical, Historical, Whimfical, Humorous, and critical Notes and Comments interfperfed with a Variety of Obfervations, Anecdotes, and Explanations, including a Differtation on Feather Beds, Carpets, Grafs-plats, Hay-lofts, and Bathing Machines; with practical Remarks on the Nature and Utility of thefe Conveniencies, Addreffed to Capt. Smith, Capt. Buckley, Capt. Roberts, Capt. Southby, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Walker, Mr. Trayte the Syringe Merchant, Mr. Clarke, the Stocking Merchant, Mr. Daniel, and others. 8vo. Lifter.

This performance is an evident catch penny. The author is ob fcene but not witty. It contains no information but what appeared upon the trial of Mrs. Errington; and the comments it exhibits are stupid and difgufting in the greatest degree.

Art. 28. The fopiad a Poem. Being a Critique on the Merits of the following Performers, at the Theatre Royal, Smock-Alley; viz. D--gg--s, W--lder--, &c. &c. Dublin, 1784-5. There have been many poems in imitation of the famous Rofciad, but paffibus haud equis. This poem is not deficient in fmoothness and harmony, but has no humour. As to the criticifins, we can only judge of fome of them, the names of W-ld-r, F-tt-r-l, and many others being unknown to us. The author is a bitter enemy to Douglas, and the tragedies of Jephfon. Take the following fpecimen of his taste and manner.

FIRST D-GG-S, a ftedfast vet'ran of the Stage,

And only relict of its Golden Age,

A due attention claims by ev'ry tie,

Whilft recollection heaves an heart-felt figh.

[ 3.

Oh !

Oh! could I, D-GG-s, bring back that happy day,
When you alone could call me to the play.
When Hamlet, Douglas, or the Brute Sir John
Would fill with wonder the delighted town!"
But now, alas! thofe halcyon days are fled;
No more hall Douglas raife his drooping head!
Ill-fated HOME! the Mufe laments thy lot;
So early notic'd, and fo foon forgot!

Fondly thou hop'dft thy Douglas might acquire
Without one fpark of true poetic fire

On critic grounds a well-establish'd name,
Secure beyond the reach of giddy Fame!
Prefumptuous hope!Uniting, ALL agree,
No praife, in future, fhall be giv'n to thee!
No garlands e'er fhall mark thy lonely tomb,
No laurel'd trophies round thy reliques bloom!
Coldly correct, defpis'd, thofe Dramas lie,
Which ev'n with J-PH-N's trash in dulnefs vie.
D-GG-S gave them weight, now that fupport is gone,
Too weak to ftand on merit of their own,

Their names unnotic'd, or forgot, they glide,
Neglected, down Oblivion's fatal tide!

D-GG-S gave them weight; Oh! cou'd I fay he gives.'
Kemble and Ryder feem to be his principal favourites.

Art. 29. A Letter from Omai to the Right Hon. the Earl of * * *. 8vo. Is. Bell, London.

To thofe, who have not been bred at Uldea, this may appear the dulleft of all dull attempts at wit, that ever yet was printed: endeavoured to be fupported by an affectation of language, and by phrafes and words hot from the mint of the brain; fuch as fufe in commendation; bagpipical drawl, Gentlemanized Alderman, &c. which, if they do not reduce it to abfolute nonsense; place it in the neighbouring clafs, fit only to raise the wide-mouth'd, vulgar horfelaugh and paper, thus abufed, can be of no fervice, except to the pastry-cook and trunk-maker, to whofe ufe we moft cordially recom

mend it.

Art. 30. Letters between an illuftrious Perfonage and a Lady of Honour, at B **** Small 8vo. 2s. Printed at the Logographic Prefs. J. Walter, Stockdale, Scatchard, Whitaker, Richardfon and Wilfon.

A platonic correfpondence between the P of W-- and a Lady at Brighthelmftone. We prefume the author thought the title would fell the book; perhaps it may, for great is the cullability of gentle readers. As to the letters themselves, there is neither much good nor harm in them. The fentimental Margaritta's profe in feveral places would make tolerable blank-verfe. Does the author. mean that "I aired (took an airing) last night to L-———————" should pafs for English?

Art. 31. Principles of Naval Architecture. With Propofals for Improving the Form of Ships. To which are added, fome Obfervations on the Structure of Carriages for the Purposes of