the principle which Mr. Blackwall has laid down for explaining the heathen mythology, in his letters on that fubject, viz. that the powers producing, and parts compofing, the universe, were their Greater GODS, or the Dii majorum Gentium. This part,. (which confifts of about eighteen or twenty pages) will afford the curious reader an agreeable entertainment; but as the limits affigned to this article will not allow us to defcend to fuch particulars, as would be neceffary to give him a juft idea of what is peculiar in our author's fentiments, we muft content ourselves with the general view we have given of what may be expected from this, as well as the other improvements in this edition. And indeed a fuller detail is the lefs neceffary, as both the character of the writer, and the work itfelf, are already fo well known to the public.

One note, however, we cannot forbear inferting, which we find at the end of the first part, and upon which we shall leave the reader to make his own remarks. It is as follows: A well-known writer, who had long and fcurrilously railed at the author of the D. L. in a number of miferable pamphlets, hath at length thought fit, in a voluminous work, called Chronological Antiquities, to borrow, without any acknowlegement, from this book, all he had to give the public, (which by the engagement of his fubfcription was not a little) concerning the pagan MYSTERIES; and much concerning the HIEROGLYPHICS and origin of idolatry. But this is the common practice of such writers; and is only mentioned here, to fhew the reader to what class they belong.'

It may not be improper to add, that in order to make this edition yet more complete, it has a pretty copious index of the principal fubjects treated of in the work; befides another of the proper names mentioned in it.

a.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE,

1.

E

POETICA L.

Pitre de Mr. de Voltaire, en arrivant dans fa terre près du lac de Geneve, en Mars, 1755. 4to. 6d. Wilfon.

See article XXXII. of this month's Review.

II. The Sailor's Song to the South. A ballad: occafioned by the rumour of war. Fol. 6d. Dodfley.

From this mighty folemn trifle, we shall felect one flanza, as a fpecimen it contains the author's receipt to make thunder.

III. An Ode to Sir John T--r---no, knt. late one of the fheriffs of the city of London. Fol. 6d. Cooper.

The mufe affects to be a little waggish with Sir John; but we shall leave her to frisk and frolic by herself, as we find it fomewhat difficult to guess what she would be at.

IV. An Ode on his Majefty's Return. By Timoleon Brecknock. Fol. 6d. Swan.

Our readers have already had fufficient fpecimens of this gentleman's poetical talent. See Review, Vol. VI. p. 238--239. And Vol. VII. p. 398---399. where we find this is not the first time of his addreffing his majefty on the fame occafion. This gentleman alfo honoured Sir Crifp Gascoigne with a compliment in the fame way, on his conduct in the memorable affair of Elizabeth Canning. See Review, Vol. X. p. 388.. V. Portfmouth. A defcriptive poem, in two books. By Archibald Maxwell. 8vo. Is. Owen.

Mr. Maxwell feems to be a perfon of good fenfe, and good principles; but his poetry is not fo exquifite as we could wish, for the reputation of fo honest a man. We hope the future fongs' he promises, will better entitle him to the laurel. VI. Hymn to Mifs Laurence, in the pump-room at Bath. Fol. 6d. Dodsley.

Some fuccefsful patient at Bath appears to be the author of this fhort poem, which blends his grateful acknowlegements to the waters, and to the fair difpenfer of them from the pump. Having particularized the various names of Bath from the deities formerly worshipped there, and specified the diseases in which the waters are found most prevalent, he winds up his particular address to Mifs Laurence, (whom he had before named rofy finger'd, from the effect of her filling out the hot waters) in the fubfequent lines. The plan of the poem is pretty and claffical, and the execution (upon the whole) agreeable, not to fay excellent. After recording the cures of others, he adds, Nor doft thou not tafte delight, Where thou fitt'ft in duteous plight, For the joy thy hand bestows Back to thee redounding flows, When the cheek of faded hue Thou feeft difplaying rofes new.

Thee

Thee fufpended crutches please,
Signal trophies from Difeafe,
Won to Health victorious. Hail,
Comfort and fupport of frail
Human state! Hail, blooming maid!
Nymph belov'd! without thy aid,
He, who, greeting thee, his lays
Now attunes to notes of praise,
Mute had been, opprefs'd with pain
Of fpafm rheumatic. Hail again,
Prieftefs of Hygeia's fhrine!
Still difpenfe her gift divine,
Still, her votaries lead to HEALTH,
Elfe what profits Marlborough's wealth,
Eliza's form, and Stanbope's wit,
And all the eloquence of Pitt.

*Lady Betty Spencer.

MISCELLANEOUS.

K.

VII. The Negociations of Count d'Avaux, ambaffador from the moft Chriftian king, Lewis XIV. to the ftates-general of the united provinces. Containing, befides the fecret hiftory of the rife and motives of the duke of Monmouth's rebellion, the steps taken by the prince of Orange to afcend the throne of Great-Britain; and the intrigues of the court of France to counter-act his measures during that interesting period. Tranflated from the French. Vol. III. and IV. 12mo. 6s. Wilson and Millar.

In the Review for May, 1754, P. 392, we gave Our readers fome idea of the two firft volumes of this work. All we have now to add, is, that these remaining volumes bring down the Count's negociations to the end of his refidence in Holland, viz. to the time of the prince of Orange's happy landing in England, to deliver us from popery and flavery. At this dif tance of time, and under the great change of circumstances which hath fince happened to us, the Count's papers afford very little to interest, or engage the attention of, the English reader. VIII. The Art of Drawing and Painting in Water-colours. Wherein the principles of drawing are laid down, after a natural and eafy manner, and youth directed in every thing that relates to this useful art, according to the practice of the best masters. To which are annexed, Familiar directions, whereby a stranger in the art of drawing, may be readily taught to delineate any view or profpect with the utmost exactnefs; of colouring any print or drawing in the moft elegant manner; and of taking off medals, &c. inftantly, after a variety of

different ways, never before made public; intermixed with curious receipts for the use of painters, ftatuaries, founders, &c. With inftructions for preparing, mixing, and managing all forts of water-colours ufed in painting, fo as to represent nature in the greatest perfection. A new edition, corrected, and, befides other improvements, illuftrated with copperplates. 12mo. Is. Keith.

IX. The Laugher; or, Art of Jefting, &c. 1s. 6d. Reeve.

A very old collection, revived, of the pooreft jokes, furely, that have been seen in print: but, nevertheless, fuch as may have diverted common readers in Queen Elizabeth's * days, when the most wretched pun paffed for wit, and barbarous frolic for humour.

It appears from the preface, that this collection was extant about the beginning of the 17th century.

X. Tom Brown's complete Jefter; or, The Wit's merry Companion. Being a moft curious collection of excellent jefts, keen repartees, pleasant stories, funny jokes, bons-mots, Imart waggeries, humorous quibbles, comical adventures, Irish bulls, and entertaining humbugs. To which are added, a choice collection of conundrums, entire new and beautiful rebuffes and riddles, biting epigrams, droll epitaphs, merry fongs, amorous paftorals, comic tales, fables, &c. &c. &c. &c. Freed from thofe infipid threadbare jefts, which are in many other compofitions of this kind, moft of thefe being entirely new, and never yet appeared in any other jefter. 12mo. Is. Henderfon.

The most we can fay for this collection is, that it is a better one than the foregoing.

XI. The remarkable Trial of William Turton, efq; for the murder of John Holloway, at the affizes held at Oxford, on Thurfday the 17th day of July, 1755, before the honourable Sir Michael Fofter, one of the juftices of his majesty's court of King's-Bench. Being an exact and impartial account of the evidence given on either fide. Taken down by a gentleman as depofed in court, &c. 4to. 6d. Withers.

XII. An Examination of the Letters faid to be written by Mary queen of Scots, to James earl of Bothwell. Shewing, by intrinfic and extrinfic evidence, that they are forgeries. Alfo an enquiry into the murder of King Henry. By Water Goodall. 8vo. 2 vols. 8s. Edinburgh, printed by Mess. Ruddiman, and fold by Strahan, in Cornhill, London.

This author is one of the moft tremendous critics we have I met with. Reader! if the fubject hath charms enough to tempt thee, and thou art inclined to perufe the two books he hath published, fit down to them, and patience be with thee:

but

but remember, we give thee timely warning,-no flight at chievement lies before thee. Oft have we attempted the fame arduous task, and as often failed to accomplish it: the impervious volumes have repelled our utmost efforts, and will also baffle thine, unless thou haft a much higher degree of perfeverance than we can boast.

MODERATION is a virtue frequently commended by this writer. We fhall cite a paffage, from whence it will appear, how much he is bleft with it himself.

Speaking of Queen Mary's character, he fays, But whatever has been faid, to the difparagement of that princefs, or whoever faid it, fignifies nothing: for MARY queen of Scots fo • far excelled all other fovereign princes, who ever yet appeared on the face of the earth, that, as if she had not been of mortal nature, all the arts and contrivances of her numerous and ⚫ malicious enemies have not availed to fix upon her one crime, fhall I fay, nay, not one fingle foible, either while on the I throne, or in the jail, from her cradle to her grave, unless the want of omniscience or omnipotence fhall be reckoned in ⚫ her a defect. This is the very truth; and this can and shall ⚫ be made manifeft, to the admiration and fatisfaction of all good men, and to the fhame and confufion of all others, who fhall ever, in time coming, dare to gainsay.'

The memory of this unhappy princefs is certainly much obliged to Mr. Goodall for his zeal; but the fame of her fifter-queen owes him small thanks. He places Elizabeth in a very different light; and, indeed, affords but fcurvy treatment to the other characters he has occafion to touch upon, in mentioning those who were eminently concerned in the measures that tended towards the fatal catastrophe of Mary.

With regard to this writer's profeffed defign, it is obvious, that he is not difinterested enough to be depended on as to facts, and therefore his performance merits not a serious refutation. XIII. An Addrefs to the Clergy: occafioned by one containing fome propofals for raifing and establishing a fund, by the aid of parliament, to make a provifion for the widows and children of clergymen. 8vo. 6d. Griffiths.

The former tract of this kind, alluded to in the title page of this, we mentioned in our twelfth volume, p. 383. The author of the prefent addrefs propofes a different fcheme, to answer the fame end; apprehending, that the former propofal is liable to many and great objections; that it would prove a burthen and grievance to particulars, without anfwering any general good end; and that it is not at all calculated to be a provilion for the widows and orphans of the poorer clergy.' In a word, the defign of this new addrefs, to use the expreffions of the worthy writer himself, (for fuch he evidently appears to be) is no other than to point out a method, by which all the clergy may be enabled to live reputably and ⚫ufefully in their feveral stations, and be put into a capacity

of