cumftance, that this young prince narrowly escaped being fnatched from his horse by means of an iron hook fastened to the end of a rope; king Stephen is faid to have rescued him at the hazard of his own life. [Rapin.] In the reign of Henry VII. Arthur Prince of Wales refided here in splendour and magnificence, on his marriage with Katherine of Arragon. The court for the Marches rendered it very confiderable in the reigns of Henry VIII. and Queen Elizabeth. This court, first, as it seems, established for beneficial purposes, in process of time became not only needlefs, but burdenfome and oppreffive: it was wholly abolished in the first year of William and Mary; which gave, we are told, a fatal wound to the grandeur of the caftle.

Milton's mask of Comus is known to have been first reprefented in this fortrefs, during the prefidency of the Earl of Bridgwater, 1634, and took its rife, Mr. Warton fays, from a little incident in that family. Dr. Warburton's emphatical remark on Comus, here recited, and perhaps not generally known, is worthy of notice ;-" This poem contains all the majesty of fentiment that ennobles tragedy, and all the fweetness of defcription that charms in the mafk."

In one of the towers of Ludlow castle, Butler is faid to have written his well known poem of Hudibras: it is here observed that, if this witty poet was reduced to the diftrefs which is fometimes represented, it was more the confequence of his own pride, than of any inattention in others.

This edifice, however eminent and princely it might once be, is now ruinous and deserted; although the public are still burdened with the expence of a governor.

The appendix to this tract gives a catalogue of the presidents of the council for the Marches in Wales, commencing with William Smith, bishop of Lincoln, in prince Arthur's time, and concluding with Charles Earl of Macclesfield. To this lift are added fome monumental infcriptions, and original letters relative to the business tranfacted at this place.

Befides a fouth-west view of the castle in its present ftate, we find allo the sketch of a leaden urn, lately discovered in a garden at Leominster, with an infcription informing the reader that it contains the Harte of Sir Henry Sidney, (fome years prefident of the council,) and that he died in the year 1585.-It is recorded that the celebrated Sir Philip Sidney, fon of Sir Henry, died in the fame year, in confequence of the wound which he received at the battle of Zutphen. Art. 54. An Hiftorical, Geographical, Commercial, and Philofophical View of the American United States, and of the European Settlements in America and the West Indies. By W. Winterbotham. 4 Vols. 11. 163. Boards. Ridgway, &c. 1795. The public is certainly much indebted to Mr. Winterbotham for having, in the tedious hours of imprisonment, laudably exerted himfelf in compiling this work. Like RALEIGH, who produced his va luable hiftory of the old world while he was confined as a ftate prifoner in the Tower of London, this hiftorian of the new world writes in a fimilarly unfortunate fituation;-may he finally meet with a better requital than that which his great predeceffor experienced!

8vo.

Mr.

Mr. W. has availed himself, in this publication, of the labours of most of the hiftorians who have written on the subject of America, and has brought into one comprehenfive view the refult of their inquiries and obfervations. Where he had not the vanity to conceive himfelf capable of correcting their language, he has adopted their expreffions; fo that, in a long narrative, he has often, as he modeftly expreffes himself, no other claim to merit than what 'arifes from felection, and a few connecting fentences.

The general utility of this work, with the judgment and diligence difcovered by the editor, will, we doubt not, enfure it that encouragement to which it is entitled.

Art. 55. The Beauties of Literature, or Elegant Extracts in Profe. 12mo. pp. 238. 3s. 6d. ftitched. Riebau. 1794.

Numerous as publications of this kind are, we still find those which are likely to prove both acceptable and useful; and in this rank we muft place the little performance before us. The felections are from writings antient and modern: among the former, we have the names of Plutarch, Livy, Xenophon, Cicero, &c. among the latter, Addifon, Sterne, Johnfon, Hurd, Gregory, Harris, Blair, &c. and a good extract from Swedenborg, on neighbourly love. The first part of the compilement contains differtations on fubjects moral and religious; the fecond is historical; the third confifts of allegories and tales. Art. 56. Lucifer's Lectures; or the Infernal Tribune; Advice from

Hell, &c. &c. 8vo. pp. 60. 6d. Downes, &c.

An imitation, if not a mere tranfcript, of the "Sure Guide to Hell" fee Rev. vol. ii. No. for March 1750, p. 370. The king, minifters, clergy, ladies, and the public at large, all come in for their share of advice from his Satannic majefty. That part which feems to have moft merit is Advice to Parents,' for which we refer to the pamphlet, p. 45, 46.

Art. 57. An Efay on the reigning Vices and Follies of Mankind, and the Caufes of Natural Danger and Calamity, deduced from historical Evidence: to which are added, Succinct Obfervations on the Happiness and Tranquillity that would ultimately refult from a due Regard to the Principles of Virtue and Religion. By Thomas Carpenter. 8vo. 15. Allen and Weft. 1795.

Although entitled an effay, this pamphlet is, in effect, a fermon, without a text, on the general topics of luxury and corruption. The author, or preacher, exhibits, in a declamatory way, the confequences of vice on the state of mankind through the feveral ages of the world, and concludes with an exhortation to the practice of virtue. Such general difcourfes cannot be expected to produce much effect on fociety, nor to require, in a literary review, more than general notice. Art. 58. The wonderful Love of God to Men: or Heaven opened on Earth. 8vo. pp. 190. 5s. bound. Vernor and Hood. 1794This book being altogether unlike any other which we have ever feen - although, in the long courfe of our labours, we have seen A tract which we have not feen for many years.

many

many firange publications-we can refer it to no known clafs of books, and must therefore denominate it, and suffer it to remain, a non-defcript. It cannot properly be called a treatife of myftical theology; fince, though it abounds with theological terms, and with fomething like, theological ideas, and is throughout myfterious, a great part of it belongs, we fuppofe, to phyfics; for it treats of fires, airs, electes, waters, earths, ether, and auroras: yet it is not an inftitute of natural philofophy, for it communicates nothing, as far as we are able to difcover, which has the refemblance of information or instruction, concerning any thing in heaven or earth.

Art. 59 A Prize Declamation, spoken in Trinity College Chapel, May 28, 1794, on the following Subject: "R. Cromwell, if he had poffeffed his Father's Abilities, might have retained the Protectorate." To which is added a Speech delivered December 18, being the Day of public Commemoration, to prove That the Reign of Anne has been improperly called the Augustan Age of English Genius." By C. V. Le Grice. 8vo. pp. 43. 15. Robinfons: 1795:

This declamation is a juvenile performance. Affaming very queftionable, if not falfe grounds, the author lightly fkims over a fubject, thoroughly to inveftigate which would require a profound knowlege of mankind, and very perfevering attention. To treat the queftion properly, it will be neceffary to trace the effects of Richard's real character, from the time at which his father affumed the protectorate; and we fhall then find that Oliver, owing to the defect of energy in the mind of his fon, was obliged to devolve on Lambert and his other officers, in order to retain their allegiance, a large fhare of that authority which otherwife he would have conferred on his fon. Hence their influence was neceffarily increased, and their expertnefs in political manœuvres completed; whereas, had Richard Cromwell been an able fecond to his father, he would have enjoyed the principal office of trust and power; and, obtaining the fame afcendency over the minds of the army, the officers, and the parliament, which his father poffeffed, he would, without the fmalleft fhew or idea of oppofition, have peaceably fucceeded the protector: inheriting all his power, without the perfonal odium attached to it, and with all the advantages of fucceffion by inheritance. To fuppofe, as the author has done, that Richard, at his father's death, had for the first time difplayed the fuperior abilities of Oliver, was fuppofing a miracle, an impoffibility.

In the commemoration fpeech, Mr. Le Grice appears to much greater advantage; and we think that he has, in a great measure, proved his point: though at the fame time we must enter our protest against degrading Pope to a level with Akenfide, Gray, Burns, Collins, and the reft of those whom the author has introduced as rivals to that admirable poet.

Art. 60. An accurate Account of Lord Macartney's Embaffy to China; carefully abridged from the original Work with Alterations and Corrections by the Editor, who was alfo an Attendant on the Em

REV. DEC. 1795.

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bally.

baffy. Embellished with a striking Likeness of the prefent Emperor, &c. Izmo. 2s. 6d. Boards. Vernor and Hood.

Abridged from Mr. Anderfon's book, of which we gave an account if our Review for May laft. This is one of the prettiest catchpenny publications that has lately courted the attention of those who are impatiently expecting more fatisfactory details.

Art. 61. A call to Recollection, Refolution, and Exertion, with a View to the prefent State and effential Interests of this Country. By one of its faithful Friends. 12mo. 4d. or 3s. 6d. per Dozen. Rivingtons.

Recollection and refolution, on important occafions, and wifely regulated, are highly requifite; and it is peculiarly proper to recommend them earneftly at any time when a regard to truth and virtue appear to be on the decline. In refpect to the little pamphlet before us, it is well written, apparently with the best defign, and contains much important advice and admonition,-so far we certainly and heartily with it fuccefs;-if there be alfo in it any party-fpirit, mifreprefentation, or mistaken principle, we with that it might be rectified-as the means of rendering the publication more effectually and extenfively bene

'ficial.

Art. 62. Sentiments on Eloquence. In a Letter addreffed to

Efq. of Gray's Inn. By a Gentleman of Shropshire. 8vo. IS. Longman.

This flight effufion, on a trite fubject, (the first and last attempt of a very young man in the character of an author,') will probably excite no great attention beyond the circle in which it appeared. The performance itself is, indeed, very young; yet, as the writer's judgment will grow older as his years may increase, we would not with him to refolve that this first shall be his last attempt' at authorship. When he has read more, and thought deeper, his obfervations will, in course, be more worthy of the approbation of difcerning readers. -His profeffion, we understand, is a branch of the law.

Art. 63. A Voyage to New South Wales, with a Defcription of the Country, and the Manners and Cuftoms of the Natives in the Vicinity of Botany Bay, &c. By George Barrington, now Superintendant of the Convicts at Paramatta. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Symonds. 1795.

We confefs that we took up this performance with prejudice and fufpicion, arifing from the name which appears in the title page as being that of the author. Not that we fuppofed the celebrated Mr. George Barrington to be incapable of writing a very readable book: but the well-known character and exploits of the man at once brought to our minds fuch a recollection of paft impofture and depredation on the public, that it was impoffible for us to read a line of such a production without caution and distrust. Our fufpicions, indeed, were not all placed to the account of the writer. We diftrufted the pretenfons of the oftenfible author, being well aware that there are methods of picking pockets unknown, perhaps, even to Mr. B.-eminent as he has been for kill in the profeffion. We had doubts whether fome in

genious

genious band had not made free with Mr. B. himself; or, at least, with a name of fo much celebrity and promife.-On perufing, however, a few pages of the work, our fufpicions abated; and, before we arrived at its conclufion, not a doubt remained of its authenticity. It certainly carries with it a fufficiency of internal evidence that it is really the performance of that ingenious adventurer; and it appears to contain a faithful and not unentertaining account of the incidents that occur. red in the voyage,—of the laudable means by which he gained the good-will of the commanding officers of the fhip,-of the uncommon regard that was (defervedly, indeed,) paid to him by the Governor, on his arrival at Port Jackson,-and of his appointment to the confiderable office of fuperintendant of the convicts at Paramatta†, one of the new towns in that settlement.

Befides what relates to the writer's perfonal ftory, we have here a well-written account [a few pardonable flips of the pen excepted,] of the state of this very fingular colony; with an amufing sketch of the country, its foil, produce, native inhabitants, natural hiftory, &c. Nor are fuch particulars, as travellers ufually note, totally overlooked with regard to the various places at which the fhip touched in the courfe of the paffage from England, viz. Teneriffe, the Cape of Good Hope, &c. at which the author had every opportunity (ufually allowed to paffengers, not convicts,) of landing, and viewing those places and countries, &c.

Art. 64. The Youth's Mentor, by Precept and Example, in Profe and Verfe. 8vo. pp. 81. IS. Parfons. $795.

The present work is a new edition of one which was called " for Short Memories."

Helps

We are very willing to believe that the compiler of thefe maxims intended well; on which account we fhall forbear criticism, leaving our readers to form their own judgment from the following extracts: GOSPEL. The facred writings are ftiled the gospel, because they contain glad tidings of falvation for all men.

The gofpel was, doubtlefs, preached over all the world by the Apoftles, and their fucceffors, as appears by three hundred and eighteen bishops being at the council of Nice, out of all the chief provinces in the world.'

JUSTIFICATION OF MAN. We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift by faith, and not for our works or defervings. Wherefore, that we are juftified by faith only, is a moft wholefome doctrine, and very full of comfort; as more largely is expreffed in the homily of juftifi cation.'

TRINITY. The doctrine of the Trinity, confirmed by the experience of every real Chriftian. If the love of God the Father, the grace of God the Saviour, and the teftimony of God the Holy

He had been, particularly, so fortunate in affifting to quell a confpiracy of the convicts, that he was confidered, in fome measure, as the preferver of the ship.

+ About 400 convicts were stationed at Paramatta :-enough to exerçife the utmoft vigilance of a fuperintendant!

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