laft Forty-four Years. By Andrew Henderfon, M. A. Author of the Hiftory of the Rebellion. 8vo. 5s. Ridley, &c.

It was natural to expect that Mr. Henderson, who has written fo many hiftories, lives, and memoirs of i luftrious perfonages, (of which we have taken due notice in the course of our Review) would not be the laft of the biographical tribe, to celebrate fo popular a character as that of his late Royal Highnefs. He is, indeed, as well became fo induftrious a compiler, the firft in print, although we have reafon to believe that other pens have been in motion, in order to take the field as early as poffible; but the active North-Briton hat got the ftart of them all.

It was alfo equally natural to expect, that from the pen of a NorthBritish Hiftorian, the character of the Royal HERO would probably meet with as little quarter, as the traducers of his fame have reported He himfelf gave to this Hittorian's vanquished countrymen, on the field of Culloden. But nothing of this kind, no fuch vengeful retaliation, appears in this performance. On the contrary, like a flaunch and thorough Whig, Mr. Henderson is the Duke's warm and zealous panegyrift, as well as his minute and circumftantial hiftoriographer. In his detail, every public a&ion of his Royal Highnefs is the action of a great man; every private deed, the manifeftation of a good one.-All this is very right: we were always equally inclined to think well of the Duke; and we revere his memory as much as Mr H. poffibly can.-We therefore heartily with our Author fuccefs in this his laudable endeavour to tranfmit the fame of his Royal Highness to future ages, unfullied by the breath of calumny, unimpeached by the flanders of Jacobitical defa

mation.

We think it quite unnecessary to give any fpecimens of this history, as our Readers are already fo well acquainted with Mr. Henderfon's talents for compofitions of this kind. It is enough that we have apprized the public, that he continues fteady to thofe principles he fo confpicuously manifefted in his Hiftory of the Rebellion; and that, though a Scotchman by birth, he is a very Englishman, in his affection to the late Duke of Cumberland, King George the Third, and all the Royal Family.

Art. 21. State Worthies; or the Statefmen and Favourites of Eng land, from the Refloration to the Revolution: their Prudence and Politics, Succeffes and Miscarriages, Advancements and Falls. By David Lloyd. Republifned by Charles Whitworth, Efq; 8vo. 2 Vols. 10s. Robfon.

To this edition of a well-known, and, in feveral refpects, valuable compilement, are added, characters of the kings and queens of England, during the above period; with tranflations of the Latin paffages, wherewith, according to the fafhion of the times in which the Author wrote, the work moft plenteously abounds. Mr. Whitworth has alfo added an Appendix, containing fome lives extracted from Winstanley's Worthies; which, as our Editor obferves, though they may not, perhaps, be wrote with the fpirit and conciferefs of Lloyd's, yet may properly accompany his memoirs, in order toward compleating a catalogue, down to the Revolution.

Art. 22.

Art. 22. A Narrative of the Tranfactions in Bengal, from the Year 1760 to 1764; during the Government of Mr. Henry Vanfittart. Published by bimfelf. Large 8vo, 3 Vols. 18s. bound. Newbery.

The original papers contained in thefe volumes are the fame which the friends of Mr. Vanfittart found it neceffary to publifh in 1763*, with fome few additions ;-they are now connected together, by a narrative, which will render them more intelligible to the Reader.'-The book feller hath advertised, that the purchafers of the former books, (in 2 vols) may exchange them for the prefent edition, with an allowance of the price which was paid for them.

* See Rev. Vol. XXXII. p. 318.

Art. 23. Twenty of the Plays of Shakespeare, being the whole Number printed in Quarto, during his Life-time, or before the Reftoration; collated where there were different Copies, and published from the Originals. By George Steevens, Efq; Svo. 4 Vols. 11. 4s. Tonfon, &c.

The public have, for fome months paft, heard fo much of Shakespeare and of the Stamp-act, that we believe they have had enough of both, for the prefent. Of the latter fubject, it is rather hoped than expected, they will never hear more; but the former, undoubtedly, will, with pleasure, be revived, in due season, and remain a favourite object, with all men of true talte, as long as the manly ftrength of our old English poetry fhall be able to maintain its ground against the encroachments and viciffitudes of time, and the fluctuations and corruptions of language.

This edition of fo many of Shakespeare's plays, as are best authenti cated, from the circumstance of their having been originally printed in the author's lifetime, before the folio edition published by the players, in 1623, cannot fail of proving acceptable to the more critical admirers, and the future editors, of this prince of modern poets. Mr. Steevens appears to have mot diligently and fkilfully collated the old quarto impreffions, from which the prefent one is made; but this edition, it is apprehended, will prove lefs agreeable to the generality of readers, than Tibbald's, &c. on account of the old, exploded, barbarous and capricious modes of fpelling and printing, which are here retained; and which, in our opinion, can only ferve to offend the eye, and confufe the attention, of those who do not perufe thefe admirable writings with fo ftrict a regard to critical minutia, as may feem requifite to the more learned and curious reader.-Indeed, we are not much delighted with the restoration of these uncouth peculiarities of the times, which rather tend to obfcure than illuftrate the poet's meaning; for they are lefs the peculiarities of the writer than of the prefs. It is not the genius of Shakespeare, but the unimproved art of his printer, with which we are, in any especial manner, brought acquainted, by thefe literary copies and collations of the earlieft impreffions:-which, nevertheless, as we have already observed, may prove ferviceable to future editors; and, confidered in that light, they ought to be gratefully received by the

R 3

public,

public, who will ultimately reap the advantage arifing from fuch nice and laborious undertakings.

Mr. Steevens hath prefixed to this edition of the twenty plays, a very fenfible preface; and hath also added to them the Sonnets of Shakefpeare, reprinted from a copy published in 1609, by G. Eld, one of the printers of his theatrical pieces. He hath likewife re-published a tragedy of K. Lear, which appeared before that of Shakespeare, on the fame fubject;-from which he thinks it fufficiently apparent, that our immortal bard condescended to borrow the circumftance of Lear's kneeling to his daughter, when the kneels to afk his bleffing.

POLITICAL and COMMERCIAL.

Art. 24. The late Regulations refpecting the British Colonies on the Continent of America, confidered. In a Letter from a Gentleman in Philadelphia to his Friend in London. 8vo. Is. 6d. Almon.

Written in behalf of the Colonies; and faid to be the work of Mr. Dickinson of Philadelphia; of whofe abilities we have formerly made mention. It is now too late to enter into the particulars of any publication on this fubject, which preceded the late parliamentary determinations; and this piece fhould have appeared in our last collection; but it came out too near the end of the month.

Art. 25. Afhort and friendly Caution to the good People of England. 8vo. 6d. Wilkie.

This fhort and friendly Gentleman tilts furiously at the Colonies; and affures the good people of England that they muft all be unavoidably ruined by a repeal of the Stamp act. He alfo cautions them against repofing any confidence in - a man who [he avers] would overturn Heaven to gratify his pride, ambition, and revenge; and who [he adds] is rot infenfible to the luft of titles and of riches, as you [the good people of England] have vainly imagined.'How happy for the great Commoner, that the luft of praise is not in the catalogue of his virtues ; as in that refpect, he must be forely mortified, indeed, by what his good friend, our Author, has here more than infinuated against him!

Art. 26. Good Humour: or, Away with the Colonies. Wherein is occafionally enquired into, Mr. Pitt's Claim to Popularity; and the Principles of virtuous Liberty, as taught in the School of Mr. Wilkes, and other Peripatetics. 8vo. Is. Nicoll.

Another fruitless attempt to ftem the tide which hath run fo irresistibly in favour of the repeal. There is a mixture of the serious and ludicrous in this pamphlet; and the Author tells us, in his preface, that he flatters himself his argument will convince, and his vein of humour pleafe.' People are feldom more egregiously mistaken, than when they flatter

THEMSELVES.

Art. 27.

Art. 27. A fhort History of the Conduct of the prefent Ministry, with regard to the American Stamp-act. 8vo. 6d. Almon.

A most bitter, virulent, ourageous attack on the prefent miniftry; whom the Author charges with having not only been wholly the occafion of the diftreffes of Great Britain and America, fo far as relates to the Stamp-act, but with having wantonly, cruelly, and unneceffarily aggravated those diftreffes, by their negligence, timidity, and incapacity. For the manner in which he proves this charge, we refer to his fhort but furious pamphlet; which is written in the very fpirit of that egregious news-paper politician, who figns himself Anti-Sejanus.

Art. 28. Occafional Thoughts of a Free Briton. 8vo. 6d. Almon.

We frequently meet with writers who are not amenable to the jurifdiction of any court of criticism, because they are not to be understood. This Free-Briton is one of the clafs we are speaking of. We really know not what he means to communicate to the public, in these Occafional Thoughts. He feems, indeed, to have the American taxations in view; but he chiefly talks about King Alfred and King John, and magna charta, and faction, and liberty; and all in fuch a bouncing fuftian ftrain, that we cannot help thinking the impreffion of his pamphlet ought to be bought up by the manufacturers of fquibs and crackers for rejoicing nights: by which they would certainly make a great faving of gun-powder.

Art. 29. A Man of Abilities for the Earl of B-; or, Scotch Politics defeated in America. 8vo. I S. Williams.

The Man of Abilities, here alluded to, is Lord George Se; of whose conduct, from his first appearance in a public capacity, the Author gives a moft fevere and libellous detail. He falls foul, alfo, on the Lords H-x and S-d-h; and treats their characters with a freedom which cannot but highly mortify and exasperate these noblemen and their friends as to the authenticity of his anecdotes, we have nothing to say on that head.

His lordship's father, the late Duke of D―t, is also mentioned with great malevolence. The memory of the late Earl of Egre-nt is likewife plentifully traduced.

Art. 30. What should be done : or, Remarks on the Political State of Things. Addreffed to the prefent Administration, the Members of the Houfe of Commons, and the good People of England. 8vo. rs. Flexney.

This Author feems much difcontented at the daily increase of political writers,'' fmatterers, not qualified to judge of thofe matters, with which they are conftantly disturbing the public tranquility:'-forgetting, like the fat man in the croud, how much he himself contributes towards the inconvenience he complains of.

MEDICA L.

Art. 31. A Treatise on the Crime of Onan; illuftrated with a Variety of Cafes, together with the Method of Cure. By M. Tiffot, M. D. Author of Advice to the People, &c. Translated from the 3d Edition of the Original. 8vo. 3s. 6d. B. Thomas.

Though we cannot fay much in favour of publications on fuch fubjects as that of the prefent treatife, yet it must be acknowledged, that great deference is due to the judgment of fo refpectable a writer as Dr. Tiflot; who in his preface, hath anfwered the objections which are likely to be mot na urally and generally raifed against this treatise.- -There is another English tranflation, under the affumed name of Hume, which merits little regard.

THEATRICAL.

Art. 32. Falstaff's Wedding: a Comedy. Being a Sequel to the fecond Part of the Play of King Henry the Fourth. Written in Imitation of Shakespeare, by Mr. Kentick. 8vo. 6 d.

Wilkie, &c.

I S.

We cannot with more truth, nor with more brevity, characterize this play, than in the words of an undoubted judge of theatrical merit †i who, in a letter to a friend, files it a very good imitation of Shakefpeare, particularly in the character of Falstaff.

† Mr. Garrick; in a letter to R. B. Efq; fee the Author's Pref.

Art. 33. The Dramatic Works of Samuel Foote, Efq; 8vo. 2 Vols. 14 s. bound. Vaillant, &c.

Thefe volumes containing only the Pieces formerly and feparately published by M. Foote, require no farther mention here.

NOVEL S.

Art. 34. The Hiftory of Sir Charles Beaufort. Containing the genuine and interefing Memoirs of a Family of Distinction in the South of England, &c. &c. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. Lownds. Of the many imitations of Richardfon's plans, this is not the meanest, The capacity of the Writer is very confiderable; his invention is copious, his characters are (fome of them) ftriking and new; and many of the fcenes he describes, are extremely interesting. But, on the other

*Perhaps we should rather have faid her; as we think there is fome appearance of femality in feveral parts of this work. We do not, however, mean to difparage the performance by this infinuation; for we muft obferve, to the honour of the lady writers, that the best of our late productions in this way, are faid to be the fruits of their intimacies with the gods of INVENTION and INTRIGUE.

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