By thee in filk was first confin'd Thus by thy noble deeds we languish, Why haft thou to our dwelling ftroll'd, But, his bright eye once clos'd upon our We fink for ever to eternal night. An IMPARTIAL REVIEW of NEW PUBLICATIONS. ARTICLE I. LETTERS of the Marchioness of Pompadour from 1753 to 1762, 2 vols, 12mo. Owen. Whether the article before us is really genuine or otherwife, we cannot, with certainty, affirm; yet, in our opinion, it bears very strong evidences of authenticity; there is a levity of manner, with a ftrength of thinking peculiarly French through the whole, and the abundance of anecdotes which it gives in detached sketches, feems to indicate a fuperior knowledge of fecrets, together with a fituation too much taken up, for any, but epiftolary compositions. Madam Pompadour's family name was Poiffon; her father was a butcher at Paris, but a man of confiderable wealth, who gave her a moft finished education. Her accomplishments both perfonal and acquired, attracted the admiration of many, and among the reft, of Mr. Normand d'Etioles, a farmer general, who married her; being thus railed to a ftate of splendour, she foon drew the king's notice, and governed him abfolutely for a period of twenty years. She died in 1764, and the editor of her letters tells us, in his preface, that the copy was lately purchafed from the executors of her fecretary at Amfterdam, but refts the authenticity entirely on the merit of the work. Having faid thus much, we shall oblige our readers with an extract, and doubt not their concurring in our opinion, no lefs of the marchionefs's great good fenfe, than of her agreeable vivacity, notwithstanding the generality of fuch as are unacquainted with the manners of France, may be furprized to find a lady fo deeply immersed in the political intrigues of a mighty empire, LETTER XXIII, To the countess of Brienne.* July, 1756. MY dear friend, we are all in joy; you must partake it. The attempt upon Minorca was firft counted rafh: now it has fucceeded, it is conferued a prefage of new fucceffes, and a thing entirely natural. The marquis de la Galiffoniere has fcattered the LETTER XXIV. To the duke of Bouflers, 1755. "THE accounts from Saxony have grieved the king, and made me fhed tears. You write to me that the court of Vienna is provoked: I well believe it. The dauphines is inconfolable. Is it fo then that chriftian and civilized princes make war upon each other? That king of Pruffia, whom cur Voltaire has called, I don't know why, the Solomon of the north, who writes in fo hus mane a tile, and acts in fuch a crue! one, has then forced the archives of Drefden, in fpite of the queen who defended in perian *Lady to the count of that name, of the house of Lorrain, and mafter of the bars, ir entrance, and has dragged that princefs chapel, to hear Te Deum fung for the hecic exploit! Is it in this age of politeness d philofophy, that a king, who would fs for a great man, could offer an affront so afulting, and fo unavailing, to a woman, to queen, who had nothing but tears and difrefs to defend her? We all here tremble for er health: the great foul of a princess of e houfe of Auftria muft fuffer much amid ach indignities and humiliations. We finerely deplore the fate of that illuftrious oufe; but I hope our tears fhall not be baren, and that they will produce an illuftrious engeance: of this you may affure all our iends, &c." LETTER XLIII. To the duke of Bellifler "IN truth your projectors are admiable fellows; there is nothing impoffible for hem, they find means for every thing; and doubt not but, if the king had a mind for' he porcelain-tower of Nankin, or for the iamond-vineyard of the great Mogul, thofe entlemen would find the thing perfectly afy, and lay down a plan for tranfporting hem to Paris. The memorial in queftion sa masterpiece of impertinence, and can ave had no birth but in the brain of the in mabitant of a mad-house. It is a good joke to fee a man propofe seriously that, to clear he debts of a state, nothing more would be equifite but for the king to turn bankrupt very fifteen years. Did the king commit ne bankruptcy pursuant to this fyftem, I verily believe it would be put out of his power to commit a second. It were as good to propofe going to rob on the highway every teen years. The fellow can neither have Lonefty nor anderstanding. I recollect another project, which was addreffed to me from Holland last year, and which I took at first for a paltry fneer upon the diftress of the kingdom: but I learned afterwards that it was the offspring of a madman who was dying for want at Amfterdam. He pretended to fupply the king with two hundred annual millions by a fingle tax, and without trampling down the people. It was the simplest thing in the world. The business was only to publish an edict obliging every subject to repeat every day a rofary, in default of which each fhould pay five-pence for each omiflion. As the French are not devotees, faid the author, they will be almoft daily in forfeit; which will produce immenfe fums. He ended by afking a place for his pains, and a place was offered to him in Bicêtre*. The great point is to find money, and not to form projects. Every new controuler-general promiles wonders; but he finds himself embarraffed at the very first step of performance; and we are obliged to get rid of him in order to replace him by another, to whom a third perhaps as quickly fucceeds. The finances are in dreadful diforder; the people, ftarving, murmur, and go abroad to feek a better country. Our credit is funk; the English are fuccefsful, and we are without refource and without hope. I do not believe that the war of the fucceffion was more fatal than this. What shall be done to fave France ? We would need peace: but how to obtain it, and how continue the war? The king's good heart fuffers cruelly in these public calamities; could there be no way, my lord-duke, to relieve him by relieving his people? I should be glad to see you: I have a thousand things to fay to you, &c." II. A new Introduction to the Study and Knowledge of the New Teftament. By E. Harwood, D. D. Vol. 2. 8vo, 6s. Becket.. The truly ridiculous attempt made fome time fince, by the author of this work, to give the public a neto translation of the New Teftament, may perhaps prepossess fome perfons against the prefent performance. But we must do him the justice to confefs, that though the reader will fometimes meet with paffages which are more the offspring of fancy than of judgment, it is upon the whole an ufeful and learned work, and for which therefore he is entitled to the, thanks and encouragement of the public. A. III. The leading Sentiments of the Quakers examined as they are ftated in Mr. Robert Barclay's Apology, with an answer to what Mr. Phipps has advanced for the Defence of them in bis Obfervations upon an Epifle to the au-. thor of a Letter to Dr. Formey. Newton of Norwich, 8vo. 3s. Dilly. By S. As men and citizens there certainly is not a more faultlefs, perhaps not a more exemplary body of men in this kingdom, than the people called Quakers. But in refpect to their religious opinions, fome of them are without doubt very exceptionable, not to fay ridiculous. And it would be very abfurd, if the admiration of their focial virtues fhould reftrain divines from a refutation of their re ligious errors. The author of the prefent work feems to have as much inclination to: do juftice to the former, as he has ability for: the accomplishment of the latter. The good-temper and candour which are apparent in his work do honour to his heart, and the good fenfe and judgment he has shown reflect a credit on his own understanding. A. IV. The Hiftory of Lady Barton: A Novel in a Series of Letters. By Mrs. Griffith, 3 vols. 12mo. 7s. 6d. Davies. The hint of this novel feems taken in our opinion from the princefs of Cleves, a celebrated ftory, in which the heroine falls in love, after he is married to the prince of Cleves, with the duke of Nemours. Lady Barton indeed, does not, like the princess, An hospital for lunatics, &c. at Paris, make make a confidant of her husband, but the feems, like her, to think, that the attach ments of the heart are the refult of destiny: both hiftories have a melancholy catastrophe; Lady Barton dies of a broken heart, occafioned by the machinations of a villain on the one hand, and the conflict of her own mind on the other. The language of this work is in general elegant, but the plot is very poorly contrived; and we are furprized, that fo fenfible a writer, as Mrs. Griffiths is known to be, where he takes time with her productions, fhould introduce Gallicifms lo conftantly throughout the prefent article, after condemning them in her preface with remarkable feverity. V. The Works of William Browne. 3 vols. 12mo. Davies. William Browne, was a poet of great reputation in the reign of James I. and much etteemed by the learned on account of his extraordinary abilities. His works are here collected in a very neat edition, and confifts of Britannia's Paftorals, with notes by the Rev. Mr. Thompson. The Shepherd's Pipe, The Inner Temple Mafque, and other poems. The editor has alfo given the au thor's life, and does not exceed the bounds of truth, when he makes the most honour able mention of his productions. VI. Love Letters which paffed between his Rs the Duke of C and the Hon. Mrs. Hwithin a few Weeks previous to their Marriage: Wherein the whole Progress of that important Amour is delineared. 8vo. Is. Swain. A contemptible catchpenny calculated only for the perufal of ignorance or credulity. VII. An Effay on Education: A Poem in trvo Parts. 4to. 2s. 6d. There is much good fenfe, more good-nature, and not a little good verfification in the article before us, notwithstanding some reflections thrown out upon the Scotch nation, highly inconfiftent with the dignity of a liberal mind. VIII, The unfortunate Lovers: Or the gewuine Difirefs of Damon and Celia. 2 vols. 8vo. 6s. This is indeed a tale of genuine diftress, in which the author, a Mr. William Renwick, now a journeyman apothecary at Workingham, tells the ftory of his own and his wife's misfortunes. During the late war he was a furgeon's mate in a marching regiment, and had a promife of being provided by Sir John Huffey Delaval, whofe intereft he efpoufed at an election for Berwick, of which town Mrs. Renwick is a native. Sir John, however, paid fo little regard to his word, that he even refufed to adminifter the fmalleft affiftance to the author, when he was reduced to an ab folute want of bread, though his miferies were aggravated by the birth of a fon, and the fituation of a wife whom he paffionately loved. In this exigence he published this work before us by fubfcription, and we hope the world will prove more kind to his neceffitics, than Sir John Huffey Delaval appears to have been by the prefent narrative, clpecially as The unfortunate Lovers feem perfons, not only of real merit, but of much virtue. IX. Travels into North America, E. 1 vols. 8vo. 18s. Lowndes. - This valuable work is a tranflation by John Reinhold Forster, F. A. S. from profeffor Peter Kalm, who was fent from Stockholm on purpose by the academy, to report, not only upon the natural hiftory of North America, but upon its trade, manufacture, and population. The profeffor appears to have difcharged his commiffion with great credit to himself; he gives a circumftantial account of the country, the manners of the people, the state of their agriculture, the condition of their commerce, and enters with ability into the nature, no less of their civil, than of their ecclefiaftical policy. Upon the whole, this is a very entertaining, as well as a very instructive article, and is of confe quence well worth the attention of the public. X. Travels through that Part of North America, formerly called Levifiana. By Mr. Bollu, Captain of the French Marines. Tranjlated from the French by J. R. Fereter, 2 vols. Svo. 10s. Davies. Monf. Boflù, who refided in Louisiana for many years, feems well qualified for the work he has undertaken; it is executed in an epiftolary ftile, and is addrefied to a French nobleman. The translator's view in giving it an English drefs is truly laudable, to acquaint the British nation with the real ftate of a country lately ceded to their dominion, and to point out the immenfe advan tages arifing from a proper ufe of fo extenfive, to delightful a territory. XI. The Tarif, or Book of Rates and Duties on Goods paffing through the Sound, et Elfineur in Denmark &c. &c. By John Atkinson, 2vo. is. 6d. Though this article can be but partially ufeful, ftill as its utility is confiderable to the merchants trading to the Sound, we recom mend it very cordially to the peruial of the mercantile reader. XII. Authentick Papers concerning India Affairs which have bren ander the Directs of a great Alembly, 8vo. 2s. Richardion. Nothing more is neceffary to lay of this article, than that the papers are anqueftion ably important. XIII. A Synopsis of Quedrupeds, 8vo. 105, White. When the world is informed that the pro fent work is the performance of the ingeniout writer to whom jeience is indebted for the Britifh Zoology, there will be no need of recommending it warmly to the lovers of natural history IV. A fhert Effay upon Republican Gosachit. In a Letter to a Friend, 8vo. 68. b. his letter is addreffed to a friend, and - but a friend can read it with any degree tience. It has no recommendation but revity, and after this caution, the reader buys it, has full permiffion from us tow away his money upon the article. V. Obfervations on the prefent State of Faf India Company, and on the Meafures furfed for injuring its Permanent), and nting its Commerce, 25, 8vo. Nourfe. he fubject of this pamphlet is very imnt, and though we cannot fay many things of the author's ftile, no little ee of attention is due to his arguments. VI. Short Meditations on fel. Portions cripture, defigned to affift the ferim; Chrif in the Improvement of the Lord's Day, crier Seafons of Devotion and Leisure. Daniel Turner, M. A. 12mo. 28. 6d. nfon. Daniel Turner, M. A. is, we believe, ery good kind of man, and wishes finly to ferve the caufe of religion. But meditations we fear are not calculated to wer fo falutary an end, and therefore we l not pay any extraordinary compliment his meditations. XVII. The Man of Honour, or the Hif of Harry Waters, Efq; vol. 12mo. 6d. Noble. This man of honour does not behave like man of common bonefty; he promises to e us pleasure for our money, but does not p bis qvord, and is as arrant a fharper in s refpect, as if with the Field-lane pickpoc, he had actually purloined our watch or handkerchief. XVIII Free Thoughts on the Subject of a ther Reformation of the Church of Eng d: In fix Numbers. To which are added, Remarks of the Editor. By the Author a fhort and fafe Expedient for terminatthe prefent Debates about Subfcription. lifhed by Benj. Dawfon, LL. D. 8vo. 2s. Wilkie. Good fenfe and humanity are equally conicuous in these free thoughts, and the pubation at the prefent period, when a rel al of the thirty-nine articles is meditated, S makes it peculiarly feafonable. XIX. Sermons to Doctors in Divinity. Being the Second Volume of Sermons to Affes, 12mo. 35. Robinfon and Roberts. Though there are many exceptionable paffages in thefe fermons, particularly violations of politenefs and candour, yet the fpirit and justice which they contain upon the whole, muft render them not only inftructive but entertaining, and fecure the applaufe of every difpaffionate reader. XVIII. Free Thoughts on Seduction, Alultery, and Dinorce, with Remarks on the Gallatry of Princes, particularly those of the Bloed Royal of England. Occafioned by the late Intrigue between bis Royal Highnes the Duke of Cumberland and Henrietti Wife to the Right Homearable Richard Lurd Grofvenor. ifo Remarks on the Trial at Luty le tween bis Lordship and Lis Royal Highnes in Confequence of that illicit Amour. By a Civilian, 8vo. 5s. 3d. Bell. A very good title the foregoing one cer tainly is, for the bookfeller's purpofe, and as the Civilian feems a man of fenfe, we have no objection to his making the moft of temporary prejudices. XXI. An Interpretation of the Old Tefament, Vol. 3. By Thomas Spooner, Minifter of the Gospel. 8vo. 55. Dilly. Few things are more dangerous to true religion than the reveries of interpreters, and we know not of many interpreters more extravagant than Mr Spooner; who, though a man of fenfe, is continually hunting after types, and, like a miferable punter, torturing his imagination to make a clofe re ation between objects, which are evidently made contemptible in a state of affinity. XXII. The Songs, Choruffes, and ferious Dialogue of the Mafque called the Inflitution of the Garter, or Arthur's Round Table restored, 8vo. 63. Becket. The fongs, choruffes, and dialogue, here prefented to the public, being contrived folely as a vehicle for the exhibition of the inftallation at Drury lane houfe, they cannot be confidered as regular objects of criticifm; and what is faid in this refpect for Drury-lane is equally applicable to XXIII. The Fairy Prince, Price 6d. fold alfo by Becket for the other theatre. THE MONTHLY CHRONOLOGER. SATURDAY, Oct. 27. IXTEEN gentlemen (faid to be recommended by Col. Luttrell) appointed in the commiffion of the peace for the Tower royalty and Tower hamlets, took the facrament Nov. 1471. at St. Leonard's church, Shoreditch, to qualify them to take the oaths ufual on the occafion, to enable them to act in the commiffion of the peace. There are more gentle men in the laft commiflion of the peace for the two liberties belonging to the Tower, than ever were known in one commiflion before.. 4 F WED WEDNESDAY, 30. Was held a very numerous general court of the proprietors of Eaft-India ftock, at their houfe in Leadenhall-ftreet, on fpecial affairs. The directors took the chair at twelve o'clock, and the chairman acquainted the court, "That the purpofe of that court being at the requeft of ten proprietors, he asked if it was their pleafure their letter should be read." The court affenting to this propofal, the letter was read, figned by Sir George Colebrooke, Sir Lawrence Dundas, and eight more. See farther account, p. 559. The following letter appeared in the public papers. Whitehall, Nov. 1. In order to prevent any unneceffary alarm amongst the merchants, and others of the city of London, trading to and interested in Jamaica, from any imperfect or falfe reports that may fpread relative to an earthquake, which happened at that ifland on the 3d of September; I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the merchants in general, that it does not appear, by any advices which government has reccived of that event, that any confiderable damage has been done, or that any lives have been loft, except a few negroes killed by the fall of chimnies at Kingston and Port-Royal. JOHN POWNALL. WEDNESDAY, 6. Last night, on the clofe of the ballot at the Eaft-India houfe for the determination of the following question, viz. "That it is the opinion of this court, that the court of directors, in recommending to the proprietors the continuance of the prefent dividend on their capital ftock, have acted confiftently with the duty they owe the company; and this court do accordingly approve the refolutions they came to up.on that fubject, and refolve, that the thanks of this court be returned to them for their conduct in that important matter." For the queftion, 335 Againft it, 30 THURSDAY, 7. The D. of C. is gone to France with Mrs. Horton, a widow (and fifter to Col. Luttrell) whom he has married. He has left a letter to a great perfonage, informing him of the event, and that he will not return to England till the Kwill receive and acknowledge her as the D-s of C. Between one and two o'clock this noon, William Hunter, one of the do ticks belonging to his royal highn duke of Gloucefter, arrived from Leg which place he left on the 25th paft, an account that his royal highness v clared by his phyficians to be out of from the very alarming illness, with he had been attacked. SATURDAY, 9. This day the new lord-mayor, an panied by the old lord-mayor, the fheriffs, feveral of the aldermen, th: lic companies, city officers, &c. &c. wa proceffion, with drums beating and com Aying, from Guildhall to the Three-C where they took their respective From thence they proceeded to Weilm where, after walking round the ha obferving the ufual ceremonials practi the occafion, they returned again by to Guildhall, where an elegant enterta was provided, which many of the nose and great lords and officers of ftate, home with their prefence. To the honour of the fheriffs we are ed that every poffible method was taken preferve good order during the feveral cent nies of this day. This night's Gazette contains his m order in council, fignifying, that as i mation has been received, that the p hath broken out, and now rages at Ma and other parts of Ruffia, his majefty ** therefore order, that all fhips, veffels, fons, goods, and merchandizes, that arrive, in any port of this kingdom, er a ifles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sas or Man, from Archangel, Petersburgh, M va, Riga, or from any other port or plac the dominions of Ruffia, do make their rantine for forty days (under the restric mentioned in the faid order) which is a commence and be computed from the each fhip or veffel fhall come to anche the place appointed for performing quaranti and not before, TUESDAY, 12. Several lords of his majesty's most honey able privy council, and the judges, met the Exchequer Chamber, Weftminfterand nominated three gentlemen out t each county, as proper perfons employs to ferve the office of theriff for the year Yuing. We hear his majefty has been pleafed to offer to the duke of Cumberland a continu tion of his bounty to him on condition of his refiding in the electorate of Hanover, and not returning to England without leave; as a further inducement for his royal bi nefs's compliance, 'tis faid, his majefly wid inveft the duke with certain privileges & Herrenhaufen, fuperior to any which the great officers of that electorate are at prefent poffelfed of. |