ductory Preface to explain particular Parts. And a Table of the Totals of Services and Grants, and of the Acts of Parliament paffid each Year for the Ways and Means: Likewife an Index to the fundry Services. By Sir Charles Whitworth, Chairman of the Committee of Supply and Ways and Means. folio, 55. Robfon.

The title of this article is the jufteft criticifm which we can give of the execution, Hereafter in the courfe of our political articles we fhall, poffibly, lay fome of the particular fupplies before the readers of the London Magazine.

X. A Juftification of the Conduct of the Miniftry relative to Falkland's Inland; in a Letter to both Houses of Parliament. Svó. 15. Organ.

This letter-writer is no bad reafoner, tho' he takes the unpopular fide; he builds his argument upon two principles, the fatisfaction required by our national honour, and the weight of national expence incurred in the late military preparations. Reftitution and apology he thinks entirely fufficient for the firft; with respect to the latter, he infilis that as the money laid out was laid out entirely among ourselves, it must confequently be fill in the kingdom, and therefore, as it

is a matter of indifference to the ftate in whofe hands our wealth is lodged, fo it remains at home, we cannot reasonably think ourfelves injured by merely changing the poffeffors among our own fellow-fubjects.

XI. Lettres d'une Angloise à une de fes Amies. Evo. 3s. 6d. Robinfon and Roberts. The letters here written by an English lady to one of her friends, have not much to boaft beyond the merit of mediocrity; they are not good enough to entertain much; nor bad enough to difguft exceedingly; indeed the writer appears more defirous to think fafhionably than juft, and therefore the fashionable only will difcover the excellence of her productions.

XII. Analects in Verfe and Profe, chiefly dramatical, fatyrical, and paftoral. 12mo. 2 vols. 5s. Shatwell.

A Mr. George Savile Carey, who poffeffes a kind of hereditary genius for the humbler walks of literature, the detached ode, the inoffenfive tale, or the harmlefs fable, is the author of the analects before us; they are a fpecies of poetical water gruel, and will ex cite like the foregoing article no great degree of refentment, if they raife no confiderable fhare of admiration.

XIII. Prepofals to the Legislature for numbering the People. 8vo. Is. Nicol.

Though this pamphlet is written by the very ingenious author of the Farmer's Letters,, we confefs it appears to us rather more plausible than practicable, and more likely to create a controverfy among politicians, than to produce any real advantages to focicty.

XIV. The Satirift, a Poem, 4to, 2s. Robfon.

When fcurrilities of the groffeft kind are hourly iffuing from the prefs, the proper use of fatire should be strongly inculcated; the author before us feems very well qualified for the task, and we heartily recommend his ingenious performance to the general perufal of the public.

XV. A compendious View of the Grounds of the Teutonic Philofophy, &c. 12mo. I vol. 4s. Bathurst.

A defpicable rhapfody by fome enthufiaftic follower of Jacob Behmen, commonly di tinguished by the appellation of the Teutonic philofopher.

XVI. Critical Obfervations on the Buildings and Improvements of London. 4to. 2s. 6d. DodЛley,

Thefe obfervations are by no means favourable to the practice of the prefent times; yet they are not the lefs juft upon that ac count, and therefore thofe who join the power of reforming any abufe they condemn to the inclination, will find them very well entitled to an attentive perufal.

XVIII. Proceedings of a General Court Martial held at Penfacola in West Florida, March 16, 1768, 8vo. 3s. 6d. Johnston.

Thefe proceedings contain the trial of Major Farmer, who was accused of very hei nous offences, and very unjustly, we may conclude, as the accufers produce no evidence whatever of his delinquency. The major was acquitted by the Court Martial, and the fentence of that court was confirmed by his majesty, notwithstanding which he is degraded as an officer, and deftroyed in his military reputation.

XIX. The Book of Nature, a Poem. 4to. 1s. Carnan.

There is much piety though but little poetical merit in this piece, and therefore we fancy that even in this age it may poffibly find a well meaning purchafer among thofe who pay a lefs attention to literature than to fanctity.

To the AUTHOR of the LONDON MAGAZINE.

SIR,

T

O preferve a piece of antiquity from the rage of modern tafte, I have fent you a view of the old Priory of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. Dugdale, Weaver, Chauncy and Cambden say no more of it than, that it was founded by King Edward the Second. John Blomville, Adam Roufe, and John Cobham, for White or Ceftertian Fryars, Carmelites; dedicated to our alone Saviour and the Blefled Virgin. Diffolved May 9, anne 1526, Henry VIII. then valued at 41. 9s. 4d.

This Priory is in the poffeffion of John Radcliffe, Efq; and being now rebuilding, I beg you will fecure it from oblivion, ty giving an engraving of the inclosed view, in your valuable Magazine, which will oblige Your old correfpondent, HERTFORDIENSIS.

Nov. 14, 1770.

The following Poem is the Offspring of a Lady; it is very much admired, and therefore worthy of a Place in The London Magazine.

ODE to OBERON.

Addressed to Lady Carlifle by Mrs. Gr-lle.
FT

OFF've implor'd the Gods in vain,

And pray'd till I've been weary,
For once I'll try my wish to gain,
Of Oberon the Fairy.

Sweet airy being, wanton fpright,

Who liv'ft in woods unfeen,
And oft by Cynthia's filver light,
Trips gaily o'er the green.

If e'er thy pitying heart was mov'd
As antient ftories tell,

And for the Athenian maid who lov'd
Thou fought'ft a wond'rous spell.
O deign once more t'exert thy power,
Haply fome herb or tree,
Sovereign as juice from western flower
Conceals a balm for me.

I ask no kind return in love,
No tempting charm to pleafe,

Far from the heart fuch gifts remove,
That fighs for peace and ease.

Nor cafe, nor peace, the heart can know,
Which, like the needle true,
Turns at the touch of joy, or woe,
But turning trembles too.

For as diftrefs the foul can wound,

'Tis pain in each degree,

Blifs goes but to a certain bound,
Beyond is agony.

Then take this treacherous fenfe of mine,
Which dooms me ftill to fmart,
Which pleasure can to pain refine,
To pain new pangs impart.

O hafte to fhed your fovereign balm,
My fhatter'd nerves new string;
And for my gueft ferenely calm
The nymph Indifference bring.
At her approach fee Hope, fee Fear,
See Expectation fly!

With Difappointment in the rear,
That blaits the purpos'd joy.

The tears which pity taught to flow,

My eyes hall then difown;

The heart that throbb'd for others woe,
Shall then fcarce feel its own.

The wounds that now each moment bleed,
For ever then shall close;

And tranquil days fhall ftill fucceed,
To nights of calm repose.

Feb. 1771.

O, Fairy Elf, but grant me this,

This one kind comfort fend, And fo may never-fading blit, Thy flow'ry paths attend.

So may the glow-worm's glimmering light
Thy tiny footsteps lead

To fome new region of delight

Unknown to mortal tread.

And be thy acorn goblet fill'd
With heav'as ambrofial dew,
From sweetest fresheft flow'rs diftill'¿
That shed fresh fweets for you.

And what of life remains for me
I'll pass in fober ease;
Half-pleas'd, contented will I be,
Content, but half, to pleafe.

Tranflation of SCARRON'S EPIGRAM.
Confeffor th'other day,

A was overheard to fay,

"When a finner is inclin'd
To eafe his troubled mind,
He haftens to me straight
His offences to relate;
And after the relation
I give him confolation.
But miferable I

Know not where to apply
Having finn'd. In the end
For want of fuch a friend
I my mind must confole
With-a copious bowl."

PROLOGUE to the Comedy of the WEST

C new;

A fine Weft-Indian ftarted full in view:

Hot as the foil, the clime, which gave him birth,

You'll run him on a burning feent to earth; Yet don't devour him in his hiding place, Bag him, he'll ferve you for another chace; . For fure that country has no feeble claim, Which fweils your commerce, and fupports your fame.

And in this humble fketch we hope you'll find Some emanations of a noble mind;

Some little touches, which, tho' void of art,
May find perhaps their way into the heart.
Another hero your excufe implores,

Sent by your fifter kingdom to your shores ;'
Doom'd by religion's too fevere command,
To fight for bread against his native land:
A brave, unthinking, animated rogue,
With here and there a touch upon the brogue,
Laugh, but defpife him not, for on his lip
His errors lie; his heart can never trip.

Others

Others there are-but may we not prevail
To let the gentry tell their own plain tale?
Shall they come in? They'll pleafe you, if
they can;

If not, condemn the bard-but fpare the man.
For fpeak, think, act, or write in angry times,
A wish to pleafe is made the worst of crimes;
Dire Slander now with black envenom'd dart,
Stands ever arin'd to ftab you to the heart,
Roufe, Britons, roufe, for honour of your
ifle,

Your old good humour; and be feen to smile.
You fay we write not like our fathers-true,
Nor were our fathers half fo ftrict as you,
Damn'd not cach error of the poet's pen,
But judging man, remember'd they were men.
Aw'd into filence by the times abuse,
Sleeps many a wife, and many a witty mufe;
We that for mere experiment come out,
Are but the light arm'd rangers on the scout:
High on Parnaffus' lofty fummit ftands
The immortal camp; there lie the chofen
bands!

But give fair quarter to us puny elves,
The giants then will fally forth themselves;
With wit's fharp weapons vindicate the age,
And drive ev'n Arthur's magic from the stage.

EPILOGUE. Written by D. G. Efqi
Spoken by Mrs. ABINGTON.

N. B. The lines marked thus are to be fpoken in a catechife tone.

ONFESS, good folks, has not Mifs Ruf

C port shewn,

[one? Strange whims for feventeen hundred feventyWhat, pawn her jewels !—there's a precious plan!

To extricate from want a brave old man;
And fall in love with poverty and honour;
A girl of fortune, fashion!--Fie upon her.
But do not think we females of the stage
So dead to the refinements of the age,
That we agree with cur old-fashion'd poet;
I am point blank against him, and I'll fhew it:
And that my tongue may more politely run,
Make me a lady - Lady Blabington.
Now, with a rank and title to be free,
I'll make a catechilm--and you shall fee
What is the veritable baume de vie:
As I change place, I ftand for that, or this,
My lady queftions firft- then anfwers Mifs.
(She speaks as my Lady.).
Come, tell me, child, what were our modes
and dress,
[Queen Befs?'
In thofe ftrange times of that old fright
And now for Mifs

(She changes place, and speaks for Mi(s)

"When Befs was England's queen, Ladies were difmal beings, feldom feen; They rofe betimes, and breakf.fied as foon On beef and beer, then ftudied Greek till noon;

(Speaks as Mifs.)

run o'er,

"Then the night after as the night before,
"And the night after that,encore! encore!"
(She comes forward.)

Thus with our cards we buffle off all forrow.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow!
We deal apace, from youth unto our prime,
To the left moment of our tabby time;
And all our yefterdays, from rout and drum,
Have lighted fools with empty pockets home.
Thus do our lives with rapture roll away,
Not with the nonfenfe of our author's play,
This is true life- true fpirit-give it praife;
Don'tfnarl and figh for good Queen Bets's days:
For all you look fo four, and behd the brow,
You all rejoice with me, you're living now.
Advice to the Ladies.

HE counfels of a friend, Belinda, hear,

Too roughly kind to pleafe a lady's ear: Difdain the flatteries of a lover's pen, And hear fuch truths as feldom come from men;

Nor think I praife you ill, when thus I fhew What female vanity might fear to know.