to whatever reftrictions they please; and confequently, that the fupreme civil magiftrates, on whom the whole power of the fociety is devolved, MAY make (ie. it is LAWFUL for them to make) what laws they please." A moft excellent affertion indeed, for one who would ENDEAVOUR to be an ADVOCATE for CIVIL LIBERTY. Senfible, however, perhaps that the foregoing pofition was fundamentally deftructive of all civil liberty, the doctor tacks to it the following obfervation. "But the question is, what reftrictions and laws are wife, and calculated to promote the public good; for fuch aly are juft, right, and properly speaking lawful." Which fentences when ined together, contain this admirable pofition: that though it be LAWFUL for a fupreme magiftrate to make what laws he PLEASES, yet these LAWTUL LAWS are NOT lawful. Upon the authority therefore of the doctor's own most beautiful mode of ratiocination, I thall conclude my examination of the second part of this PERFORMANCE, with the following obfervation. That tho' the doctor MAY write what NONSENSE ADMIRABLE the impropriety of Mr. Robinson's fentiments, was your little knowledge of the state of the country, at a diftance from the villages in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, which are only fo many little Londons, and where the inhabitants fatten upon the fpoils pillaged from the industrious hands of the diftant husbandman. But give me leave to obferve, who have refided feveral years in a county diftant from the metropolis, that there is not a complaint in Mr. R's performance, which is not as experimentally true as poetically juft. And, for the benefit of the poorer part of my fellow-creatures, permit me to recommend it to the perufal of every poffeffor of landed eftate in the kingdom. If he has but the least reflexion he will be fenfible, that the performance does not do lefs honour to the benevolence, than the abilities of the writer. And may heaven grant, that one part of the community may vigoroufly unite to alleviate the evils fo acutely felt by the other. I am, fir, Your very humble fervant, A Frend to the Poor. HE PLEASES, and the Monthly Re- To the EDITOR of the LONDON Viewers MAY praife the NONSENSE THE DOCTOR WRITES; yet, because what is wISE and calculated to PROMOTE the PUBLIC GOOD may ONLY be praised, therefore the Monthly Reviewers may NOT praise the Doc TOR'S WORKS. ARISTARCHUS. [To be continued.] To the PRINTER, &c. SIR, T was with much concern I faw in your Review for January, the following remark upon Mr. Robinfon's poem, entitled, The Village opprefled, "That he had created a number of misfortunes, for the fake of boring his abilities in lamenting them." That the Monthly Reviewers fhould, as they have done this month, thus miftake truth and propriety of fentiment for fiction, I was not in the leaft furFrifed, as it is only their ufual method of criticifing, to commend as truths the mere chimeras of fancy, and to condemn the vigorous fhoots of imagination as abfurdities. What perhaps led you into the fuppofition of SIR, MAGAZINE. AVING feen fome of the Month Hly Reviewers' blunders noticed in your Magazine, and my curiofity to fee what kind of criticisms they offered to the public being thereby raifed, I fought for their Review for April and the first place I opened in it, prefented me with Art. 37. LEONIDAS; a poem, 2 vol. but I was difappointed in expecting to find a criticifm thereon, inftead of which I was told, " Its first appearance in print was feveral years before the commencement of our review, fo that any remarks on the merits and character of this poem would be foreign to our province.”--On the contrary, I fhould, for my part, have fuppofed that their not having criticized the poem before, fhould have been the very reason why they should do it now; but, I am informed it is rank treafon against these self-elected tyrants in the literary world, to dif pute their will, or their judgment; yet I think they cannot blame me if I do it in this cafe, for, believe me, Mr. Editor, when I turned over one Kk z leaf, that letter figned D. B. addreffed to you as Philanthropos the Biographer in the last October Magazine, to diftinguish you, as I then obferved, from fome other Philanthropos, whom I fuppofed to be author of thofe letters. For I could not then conceive that you, who like another regicide, had murdered the royal martyr, in his moral character efpecially, by afferting, that he was furty, morofe, cruel, vitious, hypocritical, and irreligious, (contrary to the great and glorious character given him by many respectable writers) could be the author of thofe letters in which fo much buma leaf, after reading the above, I met with Art. 42. CRICKET: an heroic Poem: which they fay "is a very decent, claffical poem, does credit to the tafte, fpirit, and good fenfe of the author, and may give pleasure to the critical, as well as the cricketical reader. It was first published thirty years ago." Unluckily thefe gentry had forgotten, when they wrote the above remarks on Cricket, that any remarks on the merits and character of this poem (it having been published fo long before the commencement of their Review) would be foreign to their province. Probably your readers may be tempted to doubt the truth of the nity, tenderness, and compaffion, appear, character given of the Cricket, as it But I find that out of the fame founcomes from fuch confiftent, able, and tain, or rather out of the fame heart, fagacious critics. Muft it not make may proceed bitter and sweet. For in their readers laugh to fee fuch blun- your thoughts on Capital Punishments, derers as thefe fet themselves up as in a series of letters published by Mr. fupreme judges of literature, men Baldwin, philanthropy adorns every who are not able to keep even in one page. I now highly esteem you, track of fentiment for two pages to- Charles out of the queflion, you are the gether, but on every fubject fay man I would with you. Your manSOMETHING; whether to the purpose ner of writing is eafy and agreeable; or not, is mere matter of chance. your remarks juft; your quotations What, think you, Mr. Editor, they much to the purpose. Thefe letters could object to a writer, whom they, are an honour to you; and in my in their laft number, quote as with humble opinion not unworthy the ing to have travelling by water attention of the legislature. I am brought into practice here, as it is in obliged to you for the good opinion Flanders? why these wife men of Go- you have of my judgment; but, betham have found out out, as an ob- lieve me, without a compliment, I jection to the practice, that it would be cannot add one thought to your laudimproper to use a cheap way of tra- able performance. I am, fir, velling, because it would prevent tra- With all due esteem, velling in an expenfive one. Such is the Your obliged humble fervant, wisdom of the Monthly Reviewers! March 9, 1771. M. M. I am, fir, your's, L. M. I TO PHILANTHROPOS, SIR, Should think myself very unmannerly did not I take this moft early opportunity of acknowledging the favour of your letter directed to me in the laft March Magazine. Confcious as I am of my own inability, I cannot think myself equal to the tafk you have affigned me. But, by Mr. Baldwin's leave, I will give you my opinion of your letters on Capital Punishments. With great truth I affure you, I read them with pleasure, as they were published in this Magazine monthly. To fhew you this is no forced compliment, I will ac knowledge myself to be the author of On the Origin of London. HISTORY generally afferts Bru 1ft founder of London. He, coming from Italy into Greece, thence into Africa, thence into Gaul, and thence into Britain, built a city on the Thames: being adduced by the convenience of the fituation: and called it New Troy (thefe are the words of Pontius Virunnius, who wrote fix books concerning Britannic affairs, which he has taken almoft word for word, from Geoffrey of Monmouth) at length Troja Nova was corrupted into Trinovantum. But, when Lud, brother of Caffibelaunus, who fought with Julius Cæfar, became king; he furrounded it with noble walls and towers, and named it Caier Lud, i. e. the city Lud; this was afterwards corrupted into Caier Lunda, and afterwards by fome com. mutation of language, Lundene; afterwards it was called Lundres. Lud was buried near that gate called in the Britannic language Por Lud, and in Saxon Ludgate. On account of this change of the name, there arofe a great quarrel between Lud and his brother Neunius; which contention between them, Gildas the hiftorian and poet hath copiously set forth. So får Ponticus. The derivation of Trenovantum, Joannes Zelandus thus accounts for: Trenovantum, in the Britannic language, Trenovante; in English, new town; in the Britannic language Tré, fignifying town. Cornelius Tacitus hath made mention of London in the 14th book of his hiftory, as hath alfo Ptolemæus an author fomewhat later, following perhaps in his defcription of Britain, Fabius Pictor, or fome other Latin cofmographer; although, unless I am much mistaken, Ptolemæus hath removed the name of London from its right place, for London was a city (not of the Cantic) but of the Mediofaxons and Oftrofaxons. Polydore Virgil wrongly places Trenovantum at that town which we call Northampton, corruptly for Northeavondune." So far Joannes Zelandus; from the Mediofaxons comes the name Middlefex; and from the Oftrofaxons, I fuppofe, Effex: as, in all other cafes, the termination fex generally denotes Sax method, and juft deduction of particulars from generals, this art, is confidered as a science, confifting of certain and indubitable propofitions, from whence these rules are drawn, and are to be used as clues in the labyrinth of cryptography, or the art of writing in cyphers or peculiar characters. This they call the univerfal and infallible key, by which the privacies of arbitrary marks are easily unlocked, and the explication of any. fecret writing, may affuredly be known. With all due deference to the profeffors of decyphering, I do ftrongly diffent from a belief of their infallibi lity, and fhall remain fo till they can explain a few fentences, which fhall have no contraction either in word, fyllable, or letter. And I will go fo far as to inform them in the language, and even the identical author from whence the fame is faithfully copied. My art is equally fimple as its characters, which fhall be only the nine figures, with the addition of a full point or colon. And I will undertake to qualify any two perfons in one hour only, fo that they may by an interview of no longer space of time, establish a correfpondence, which I prefume to call inexplicable, till I receive conviction by their explaining the inclofed fpecimen. What is well worth the attention of many is, that the art may be difpofed into fo many different afpects, as to feclude even the inventor himself. Now fhould it fo happen, that I am full proof against the fcientific battery of our learned decyphers, I am well perfuaded my cryptogrophy is of the utmost importance to thousands. Had a certain high perfonage, and a diftinguished lady been initiated in my art, they would not have been rendered contemptible for their literary intercourfe: the one would have faved his numerical thousands, and the other might have poffed for a wit, as well a celebrated beauty. This art may be reduced to practice, with the two following great advantages; firft, it requires no counter paper to refefer to, by which key, (if ever got at) the characters would become perfectly legible. In the next place, it may be written in an endless variety at pleafure. So that every interview, even for a few minutes, they may adopt a new a new mode for a corresponding Ar cana. And now, gentlemen, learned in the fcience of decyphering, here follows a fpecimen, which, that you may use your univerfal key to advantage, and to affist the unlettered of your easy art, to join iflue in vindicating the bonour and infallibility of your noble fcience; I furnish you with a few grand principles that you may proceed with alacrity. I had propofed to have given you a quotation or two from Homer, but fhall for the prefent content myself with exhibiting a paffage from Virgil and our immortal Milton. HAAAES. T ing explained. 3. . HE progrefs of the polite arts in this country being fo confiderable as to produce at this moment no Jefs than three exhibitions, in each of which the niceft connoiffeur will find the works of English masters rivalling the most celebrated performances of the Italian schools; we flatter ourselves an explanation of the principal terms made ufe of in this elegant fcience will be extremely agreeable to many of our readers. These terms do not exceed fix, and are, Antique, Chiaro Scuro, Contour, Cofiume, Defign and Groupe. ANTIQUE. By this term is underRood fuch paintings and sculptures as were made at that period of time when thole arts were in their greateft per fection among the antient Greeks and Romans; from the age of Alexander the Great, to the irruption of the Goths into Italy, under Alaric in 400, The term ANTIQUE, is more particularly applied to the fculptures of the period before mentioned; fuch as ftatues, baffo relievos, medals, intaglios, or engraved ftones: however, all thofe remains of antiquity are not equally excellent, or good, but, even in thofe that are indifferent, there is a certain degree of beauty, which diftinguishes them from the works of the moderns. But it is the moft perfect of the works of the ancient great mafters, which are to be the objects of our taste and imitation, as they continue ftill to be the objects of our wonder and aftonishment. CHIARO SCURO, is the art of advantageoufly diftributing the lights and fhadows, which ought to appear in a picture; as well for the repofe and fatisfaction of the eye, as for the effect of the whole together. As to the meaning of the word Chiaro, (tranflated clear or tranfparent) it implies not only any thing expofed to a direct light, but alfo all fuch colours as áre in their nature luminous. Scuro (dark or darkness) not only implies all the fhadows directly caufed by the priva tion of light, but likewife all the colours which are naturally browni fuch as, even when they are exposed to the light, maintain an obfurity, and are capable of grouping with the fhades of other objects: of which kind, for inftance, are deep velvets, brown ftuffs, polifhed armour, and the like; which preferve their natural or apparent obfcurity in any light whatever. By the Chiaro Scuro objects receive more relief, truth, and roundness, and it particularly fignifies the great lights, and great fhades, which are collected with fuch industry and judgement, as conceals the artifice. The diftribution of the objects forms the maffes of the Chiaro Scuro, when, by an artful management, they are fo difpofed that all their lights are together on one fide, and their darknefs on the other. CONTOUR, or Outline, is that which terminates and defines a figure, and a great part of the kill of a painter, confifts in managing the Contours judiciously. Cos P COSTUME, is an Italian word, which fignifies cuftom or ufage, and the term implies, that a painter in reprefenting fome hiftorical paffage, action, or event, must not only be exact in deferibing the particular fact, but muft alfo reprefent the scene of action, the country where the action has paffed, whether it was at Rome, or Athens, whether at a river or on the fea fhore, in a palace, or a field, in a fruitful or defart country, obferving to diftinguish by the dreffes, cuftoms, and manners peculiar to each people, whether they are of one country or the other; whether Greeks, Romans, Jews, or Barbarians. DESIGN, implies the reprefentation of one or more human figures or ani. mals, or fome parts or members of either, or a scene taken from nature, a plant, fruit, flower, infect, or piece of drapery, all taken from the life, in order to be inferted in fome part of a picture, and in this fenfe it is called a ftudy. It is alfo taken for the outline of objects, for the meafures and proportions of exterior forms. Defign confifts of feveral parts, of which the principal are, correctness, good taste, elegance, character, variety, and perfpective. GROUPE, is the combination or joining of objects in a picture, for the fatisfaction of the eye, and alfo for its repofe. And although a picture may confift of different groupes, yet, thofe groupes of objects, managed by the Chiaro Scuro, fhould all tend to unity and one only ought to predominate. That fubordination of groupes, creates that union and harmony, which is called the tout enfemble, or the whole together. By a predominant groupe the eye is agreeably fixed, and by means of the repofes caufed by a fpread of lights and fhades, neither the effect of the other groupes, nor the effect of the fubordinate objects are hindered. A comparative View between the Genius of the English and the French Na tions. HE English are as eminent in all in all arts, as men can poffibly be, withal it is very apparent that they are highly fenfible of the fuperiority; and the honours which they liberally fhew to their distinguished countrymen are a convictive proof how much they value themfelves on their merits. There is no country on the face of the globe where they fo far diveft a man of his birth, his rank, and every thing which is not inherent and perfonal. In Germany, the question concerning a ftranger is, is he a nobleman ? In Holland, is he rich? But in England it is ' asked, what fort of a man is he? A noble of the first rank complained to Henry VIII. of the painter Holbein having affronted him, to which the king anfwered, no more of your_complaints against Holbein; of seven ploughmen I can at pleasure make as many lords, but to make one Holbein is beyond my power. Even a minifter of state in England, is a kind of an intermediate being between angel and beast. My lord Chatham is eagerly deified by fome, and as virulently bespattered by others; and yet no where is merit lefs made a crime of than in England. This people, though fo outrageously turbulent on any fufpicion of a scheme against liberty; readily lays fide enmity, fect, and faction when great talents are to be rewarded. Under the fame roof where are interred their kings, lie their geniufes. The remains of an actress, for whom, in France, a laytall would be thought good enough, in England are depofited among the chiefs of the state. Newton whilst living, had extraordinary honours paid him in this nurfery of great men ; and was interred with regal pomb in the stately repofitory of fame among the great and the learned, and even among crowned heads. Accordingly, the nobility of this kingdom, invited by the honours paid to eminent geniufes, have, in all ages interlaced the palm of fciences with their coronets'; and in their daily intercourfe the most abftrufe or important difquifitions are as cuftomary as difputes about a new head-drefs or a ragout, in France. The English are more knowing than other nations, only as being more free; for that fpirit of liberty of which moft republics have not fo much as an idea. prompts the English ardently to apply interefts of nations, to be ever taken up with great objects, and ever doing great things. Their acquirements and their perfpicuity difpet detrimental prepoffeffions, and overthrow all illicit power |