fiaftical authors, fchifms, herefies, inftitutions of monaftical orders, &c. from the nativity of our Lord to the year 1700.

This is a very fuccinct, but at the fame time a very accurate, perfpicuous, and ufeful abridgment of ecclefiaftical history, which will ferve to refresh the memories of fuch as are well versed in ecclefiaftical authors, facilitate the study of thofe who are perufing them, and serve to give a general idea of the subject, and to be occafionally confulted by thofe who have no farther inclination to be acquainted with church-history, than as it is connected with other branches of literature. To fpeak the truth, these are the principal ufes of all abridgments. It is not every man of letters who can afford to have a library fo complete, as to include the capital books on every fcience; and yet the fciences aré all fo clofely connected, that the purfuit of one frequently requires the recollection of, or application to, others; and then it is that works of this kind fupply a date, a fact, or some other circumstance, with ease, if they are methodically written; and if accurately, with certainty; which otherwise it would have coft much more time and pains to have found.

Bes Amufements Militaires. Ouvrage également agréable and infructif, fervant d'introduction aux fciences que forment les guerriers, avec les figures en taille douce. Par M. Dupain, IngenieurGeographe des Camps & Armees du Roi, &c. Chez Guill, Defpré. Paris 1757. 8vo. That is, Military Amusements. A work equally agreeable and inftructive, intended as an introduction. to thofe fciences that are requifite to form young officers. Adorned with plates.

This work, the title of which fafficiently explains its mean ing, is written in dialogue, and gives a brief view of the operations of war. It is executed with facility and fpirit, and is faid to have merited the approbation of fuch as understand the military fcience. It has been thought no small advantage to the French, that they have abundance of books of this kind, by the petufal of which, young gentlemen in the army are brought to tudy their profeffion, to make it the fubject of their conversation; and by compounding theory with practice, acquiring notions that fit them early for confiderable commands.

.

Le Portefeuille trovè de M. de V, où les Tablettes d'une curieux. 2 vols. 12mo. Paris 1757. That is, The PocketBook of Monfieur de Voltaire, or, the Memorandums of a , curious, Collector. Without the bookseller's name.

This Pocket Book, of which we are told there are two other volumes ready for the prefs, is no more than a miscellany of fe

veral fmall pieces, written by Mr. Voltaire, Mr. Fontenelle, and fome other perfons, eminent in the world of letters; which pieces, however, a very few excepted, that their Authors did not care to own, or to publish, are already in the hands of most Readers. Amongst thefe are fome billetdoux of Mr. Voltaire, to the daughter of the celebrated Madam du Noyer, which may, perhaps, force a fale for the reft. Such as have confidered Mr. Voltaire in the light of a poet, a philofopher, an hiftorian, a politician, or a critic, and are from thence inquifitive into his character as a lover, may form fome judgment of him, in this refpect, from thefe epiftles; but at the fame time it is proper to remark, that in a letter of his, which is actually printed, he pofitively afferts, there are not, in these two volumes, above three pieces that were in reality written by him.

L'Efprit de l'Abbé des Fontaines, ou Reflexions fur divers penzes: de Science de Littérature, avec des Jugemens, fur quelquesAuteurs, & fur quelques Ouvrages tant anciens que modernes.. 4 vols. 12mo. 1757. Paris. Du Chefne. i. e. The Spirit of the Abbe des Fontaines, or, Reflections on feveral kinds of Science and Literature; with his Sentiments as to certain Authors, and certain Works, both antient and modern.

. The fatirical genius of this Writer, while he was living, not only created him, as was very natural, many enemies, but was alfo very prejudicial to his writings; upon which numbers thought themselves at liberty to exercise the fame feverity, which, from the, turn of his own wafpifh difpofition, he had also exercited upon numbers. As he is now departed, his merit is more generally allowed. This work, to which the life of the Author is prefixed, contains abundance of curious remarks on arts and scien- . ces, very entertaining and inftructive; his opinions as to the characters of many authors, antient and modern; criticisms upon their works: and lastly, a collection of thoughts upon a great variety of fubjects. This kind of literary mifcellanies' may be very useful, when they are read with the fame freedom of mind with which they are written. There cannot be any' thing more agreeable, than to learn the fentiments of a man of good fenfe, and great reading, upon learned fubjects; but at the fame time, after making a proper allowance for his authority, we ought to weigh his arguments with diligence and impartia- ' lity, and receive his fenfe of things only as it corresponds with truth.

MONTHLY

CATALOG U E,

For FEBRUARY, 1758.

POLITICA L.

Art. 1. An Appeal to the Throne. 8vo. 19. Kincaid.

WE

E are much perplexed to give our Readers an account of this wild rambling performance. In one part, the Author affects the Hipantry of a modern Witling; in another, he mimicks the gravity of a Politician; and towards the conclufion, he apes the cant of a Fanatic: but no where can we discover him to be a man of judgment or ingenuity.

He has indulged his fplen, in drawing the portraits of the three principal figures in the laft Miniftry, which have been caricatured by every Dawber. He has reprefented the first as a glutton; but had he been better acquainted with his character, he would have known, that amidst all the delicacies of a luxurious board, this glutton, as he calls him, would dine upon a joint of mutton, and leave the petits plats for those who we were fond of ragouts. His character of the fecond, is drawn in the tile of Dr. Rock's bills, and may, perhaps, be elleemed witty in the circle of Covent-Garden, where it may poffibly be understood. The third, he defcribes as a Triton at the ftern of a fhip.

Having given this curious fketch of the former Adminiftration he proceeds to take a view of the prefent, for, he says, the total blacknefs of the one, muft not prevent our feeing the spots of the other.

That the love of our country,' fays he, is a commendable and generous paffion, every one must allow. But may not that paffion, like other loves, be carried to a romantic excefs? Some men have avarice to fatisfy in their purfuits, others only vanity; but may not ⚫ he be as erroneous in his fchemes, who only lays them to obtain the trifling token of a fnuff box, or fome fuch bauble, to display as an ⚫ inftance of her favour, as he who aims at his Mistress's whole fortune? • For there is, one should think, at least, an equal degree of care requifite in each, to deferve the different objects they aim at.

• That the late-expedition was a glorious undertaking, no body can difpute: I mean, if the cowardice or folly of thofe to whom the 'execution of it was affigned, had not rendered it abortive: but let us view it with the eye of candour and impartiality; and then, let me afk you, if, in its most confummate perfection, it could have brought any advantage to Britain, farther than that one of glory? • and should that, in her prefent ftate, be the fole object of any of ⚫her undertakings? Why, it is the fame thing, as if a perfon fhould lay out fifty pounds for a diamond ring, when they want fhoes to their feet.

'That

་

• That the nation will never fuffer any thing through the premeditated fault, or natural badness of Mr. -'s heart, I molt ferioufly believe; but that the defire of popularity, or, perhaps, I fhould rather fay, his too fanguine inclinations to demonftrate his patriot affections, may hurry him beyond the bounds of political prudence, I am pretty certain?

But this pretty Fellow, who is pretty certain, that the Minister will exceed the bounds of political prudence, has certainly overshot himfelf. Would it have been no advantage to Britain, farther than that of glory, to have demolished Rochefort; to have burnt and destroyed the docks, magazines, arsenals, and shipping? Would it have been no advantage to have given fuch a confiderable check to the naval power of France ?

Inftead of expecting his answer to thefe queries, we beg leave to afk this Gentleman, what advantage he can propofe to himself as a Writer? Certainly, unlefs he impofes upon himself, he can neither expect profit or glory. If he could not fubdue the Cacoethes, what, in the name of common fenfe, could induce him, among the various branches of Authorship, to choose the political Department? Should that, in the weak and languid flate of his abilities, be the object of his undertakings, why, (to talk in his own manner) it is the fame thing, as if a perfon fhould attempt to climb up a ridge of rocks, when he has not ftrength enough to crawl up a fand-bank.

R-d Art. 2. A Letter to the Right Hon. ******, containing Hints of a Plan for a Militia on a new and better footing, than any hitherto propofed, &c. 8vo. 1s.

Wilkie.

If this Gentleman's plan takes effect, we shall be freed from the reproach of being a mechanical trading nation, for we shall then be a military people indeed!

He divides the people into two claffes-One of which he calls Property men; the other, No property men. He propofes, that two Lifts be made of the perfons in each clafs: That out of the firit, that i, the property lift, the Militia men may be chosen ; and that out of the fecond, that is, No property lift, the Soldiers for the ftanding army, and the Seamen may be elected. He would have the rules prescribed by the Militia-act purfued, as to making lifts, choosing by rotation, balloting, Juftices power, &c. With refpect to the latter, we may here take occafion to obferve, that the power of this Magiftrate is made fo exorbitant by the act, and daily ftretches to an extent to incompatible with the fundamental laws of the land, that it rather requires the care of the Legiflature to check its opprefive progrefs, than to enlarge its influence.

R-d

Art. 3. Confiderations on the Proceedings of a General Court-Martial, upon the Trial of Lieutenant-General Sir John Mor dasent, (as published by Authority) With an Answer to the Expedition against Rochefort fairly ftated. In a Letter to the

N 2

Right

Right Honourable the Author of the Candid Reflections, &e To which is added, An Appendix. Being a Reply to the Monitor of Saturday the 21ft Injtant. By the Author of The Candid Reflections. 8vo. 1s. Hooper, &c.

We are forry to acquaint the Author of this Reply, who affumes fuch airs of importance, that he is indebted for his confequence to the merit of his Answerer.

His Confiderations are as candid and fenfible as his Reflections. He has not diclofed any new matter, and his arguments, which are extremely inconclufive, are but echoes of those trite obfervations which have been so often hackneyed in print, and in Coffee-houses.

When he attempts to be witty, he is low and illiberal. The fol lowing fhort fpecimen will be fufficient to thew the elegance of his illuftrations.

7

How few, fays he, dare think for themfelves? They are con tent with having their opinions ready chewed for them, as we are told of the Negus of Abyffinia, having his royal food chewed by an old woman, and chucked down his throat.'

The learned Reader will readily perceive, that this fentence is not ftrialy grammatical: but without itaying to dwell on fuch inftances of incorrectnefs, we advife thofe who like to have their opinions chewed for them, rather to employ fome other old woman than the Author of thefe Confiderations, that they may at leaft have them chucked down their throats with a neater band.

His file is uncommonly affected, and we are every now and then furprized with a hard word, which it is impotlible, as Martial fays, belle dicere.

Before we conclude, we fhall offer him a word of advice in his own way, which is-That if he has any thoughts of being appointed Meficator General to the public, it will be highly imprudent in him to spit out the next literary morfel before it is half chewed.,

See an account of the Candid Reflections, with the Answer, entitled, The Expedition fairly stated, in our last Review.

Red

Art. 4. The Military Arguments in the Letter to a Right Honourable Author, fully confidered. By an Officer. 8vo. 1 S.

Robinson.

This ingenious Writer tells us, that-In regard to the term of Coup de main, and the interpretation to be given it, it is a difpute for Grammarians, and not for Soldiers.' Here we take leave to dif fer from him in opinion, for we rather think it a difpute for Soldiers, and not for Grammarians. It is an undoubted Axiom, that Ignoratis Terminis, ignoratur & Ars: and his declaring himself indifferent abont the terms of his pretended profeffion, plainly proves him to be a infufficient an Officer as he is an ziutbor.

The