Art. 18. An Examination of Mr. Kenrick's Review of Mr. Johnfon's Edition of Shakespeare. 8vo. Is. 6d. Johnston. That Mr. Kenrick attacked the editor of Shakespeare in such a manner as justly gave offence to every candid reader, is a truth which we be. lieve very few will difpute. For this he has been frequently reprehended by feveral of the learned editor's friends; whofe faint and distant efforts, however, feem to have indicated their fear of coming to close quarters with this furious combatant: but, in the prefent Examiner, we think he hath indeed met with his match, in every refpect.

If Mr. K. hath grofsly treated Mr Johnfon,-in return, our anonymous Author does not fpare Mr. K. but falls on without mercy, retorting on him, as the aggreffor in this fcandalous controverfy, all his virulence and outrage. But what hath Shakespeare to do, in this chimney-fweeper's warfare? Can the difficulties in his immortal writings be folved, and his obscurities illuftrated, no where but in St. Giles's? -For fhame,

gentlemen! If ye are ambitious of being regarded as gentlemen, do not continue to difgrace the name of literature by fuch unlettered behaviour! What will the learned abroad, think ye, conclude, if they should chance to hear of your illiberal altercations,-what, but that the literati of this country, inftead of quafling infpiration at the pure fpring of Helicon, had inebriated themfelves in the filthy kennels of Grubstreet? Art. 19. A Narrative of the extraordinary Effects of a Medicine well known all over Europe, by the Name of Le Lievre's Beaume de Vie; to which is prefixed an Account of its Nature and Operation; wherein all the Objections made to it, by the ignorant and interested, are fully refuted, and its Efficacy, in a Variety of Difeafes, juftified on the most reafonable Principles. With an Addrefs to the Public, from the Proprietors in this Country; and many extraordinary and well-attefted Cases, fince its first Publication here. 8vo. IS. Nicoll, &c.

• Many extraordinary and well-attefted cafes! Let us, by all means, attend to thefe atteftations.-Not one to be found, in all the pamphlet: if by that term is meant, a declaration on oath, or the teftimony of a competent witness, or fome eligible kind of collateral evidence. Nothing of this fort, however, appears in this collection of miraculous cures. Mr. G. of Chifwick, indeed, and Mr. H. of St. Paul's church-yard, with J. L. Efq; of Gray's Inn, and a number of other initial gentlemen, tell us of the wondrous relief they found, in their respective most grievous diforders;-but who are Meffrs. G, H, and L?-Oh! your pardon, Gentlemen, we may hear farther of your extraordinary and Nattefted cafes,' by enquiring of Mr. N. or Mr. B. the venders of the allpowerful Beaume de Vie.- -Doubtlefs the word of an honest tradef man, especially a bookfeller, ought to be taken; and we queftion not but Mr. N's word, or Mr. B.'s, may be as good as their bond: nevertheless, we can by no means reit fatisfied with fuch kind of atteftations.

Art. 20. The Life of Mr. James Quin, Comedian. With the Hif tory of the Stage, from his commencing Actor, to his Retreat to Bath, &c. i 12mo. Is. 6d. Bladon.

Mr. Quin's life does not afford many extraordinary incidents; but

fuch

Tach as it did afford, are made the most of, by this his anonymous Biographer: who has eked out the subject, and made himself amends for its barrennefs, by anecdotes of other theatrical heroes (and fome heroines too) collected from Cibber's and Victor's hiftories of the stage. Art. 21. Quin's Jefts; or the Facetious Man's Pocket-companion. Containing every Species of Wit, Humour, Repartee, Sc. Sc. 12mo. Is. 6d. Bladon.

It is customary, on the demife of any genius, remarkable for wit or humour, for a certain clafs of compilers to publifh The Jefts of the faid departed genius. Accordingly, Mr. Quin's Jefts now make their appearance: ufhered to the favourable notice of the public, by an introduction, in which the Editor affures his readers, that he has inferted nothing grofs or indecent; nothing that might offend the chatteft or moft delicate ear.'-The gentleman was himself, perhaps, too much a wit, to remember every thing contained in his collection. Or, poffibly, his ideas of delicacy and chastity may have been fomewhat over-charged, by feeding too plentifully on the high-feafoned rarities and luscious fragments that fell from the table of this celebrated voluptuary. Art. 22. An impartial View of English Agriculture, from permitting the Exportation of Corn, in the Year 1663, to the prefent Time. 4to. Is. Kearfly.

No fact is more felf-evident (fays this Writer) than that this country is entirely dependent on trade; which, in proportion to its increase, becomes of more importance to the state, and should not be incumbered or reftrained, but on the most mature confideration.-His profeffed defign is to fet before the public, the advantages received from encouraging the exportation of corn, and the imminent danger of flopping a trade, to which we have been beholden for plenty, little lefs than a century.→ The export-corn trade, is, he apprehends, the moft valuable and beneficial trade we at prefent poffefs. It is all neat produce of this country, unalloyed with any foreign commodity.-Our ancestors, he fays, hoped to procure plenty, by prohibiting the exportation of corn but this, by preventing the fale, difcouraged the growth of grain, so that it operated diametrically oppofite to their intention. In the year 1663, an act was paffed for permitting the exportation of corn, but incumbered with a heavy rate thereon. This was, in some measure, alleviated by another act in 1670; by which means, agriculture was promoted, and grain became more plentiful.-But what our Author calls the Magna Charta of English agriculture, was the act of 1 Will. & Mary, by which a Bounty of 5s. for every quarter of wheat exported, is allowed, when that grain does not exceed 48s. per quarter: and in proportion, for other forts of grain. The fuccefs of thefe ftatutes may appear (he fays) from this one circumftance, that although every other neceffary of life is become twice, or thrice, the price of that time, yet corn is on the average not half the price.' For before the exportation was permitted, wheat has often been five pounds a quarter: fo that while no more was grown than for home confumption, one unfavourable season made a scarcity, two, a famine.

In the remainder of this pamphlet, the Author, (who is a Arenuous defender of the neceffity of continuing the bounty, in its utmost latitude) brings a variety of arguments to fhew the inexpediency of stopping the exportation

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exportation of grain at this time: and concludes with obferving, that the exportation has been for many years the support of the farmer; that the poor labourer depends on it for bread; that it brings immense fums annually into the kingdom; that, fo far from being fubject to famine, wẹ have fince been always bleffed with plenty; and laftly, that the expor tation is fo interwoven with the whole fyftem of hufbandry, that an infringement of this privilege may endanger the whole.' P. Art. 23. A candid Examination of a Pamphlet, entitled, An impartial View of English Agriculture, from permitting the Exportation of Corn. 4to. IS. Wilkie.

This is intended as an answer to the laft article; though it is by no means fo candid an examination thereof, as the title would imply. As to an affertion in the Impartial View, that the export corn-trade is the most valuable and beneficial trade we at prefent poffefs; he does not deny it, but alledges, as the true reason thereof, that fuch quantities of corn have been exported with a Bounty, to fupport our rival manufacturers, that they have no longer occafion for any of our manufactures; confequently our artizans want employment, and when employed, cannot earn money fufficient to buy bread for their families.'

The former very high price of grain, brought (in the last article) as a proof of the great benefits now arifing from a bounty upon exportation; is accounted for, by this Writer, from the many inteftine wars which have heretofore raged in this nation, from whence thofe who ploughed and fowed the land, had but little profpect of a joyful reaping time. Thus the land was frequently turned into a waste, for want of useful induftrious hands to manure and improve it.'- A contrary cause, as he next obferves, may produce a contrary effect; and therefore he afcribes the great plenty of corn raifed in this nation for a century paft, rather to the internal peace we have happily enjoyed, than to the bounty upon exportation.

He does not, however, venture to affert that this bounty was not a wife and falutary measure, at the time it was granted; but, as we have how tried it seventy-eight years, he wishes we might try to do without it one year or two, or at leaft limit it to that living price, four and fixpence a bushel, or thirty-fix fhillings a quarter.' As this last propofal feems very rational, we heartily wish it may be taken into confideration, by those who alone have the power to determine the point in difpute. We ourfelves have heard farmers declare, that even four fhillings a bushel for wheat may be esteemed a living price; where then would be the hardfhip of limiting the bounty as ab ve propofed especially if a power of exportation were ftill allowed, after that, but without any bounty, till the price amounted to 48s. per quarter; and then abfolutely to ceafe of Curfe? This we fhould think more equitable, for all fides, than to lay a tax upon the public, by way of bounty, when our own poor cannot Juschale a bufhel of wheat for lefs than fix fhillings :-fór fo far, at prefent, it is extended.

P.

Art. 24. An Historical Account of the Life of Charles the Second, King of Great Britain. After the Manner of Mr. Bayle. Drawn from original Writers and State Papers. By William Harris, D. D. 8vo. 2 Vols. IOS. Millar.

We have given our Readers ample fpecimens of Dr, Harris's hiftorical

compilements,

compilements, from his lives of the firft James, the firft Charles, and Oliver Cromwell. It may therefore, be now fufficient, if we barely apprize our Readers, that he proceeds on the fame plan, animated by the fame zeal for freedom, and perfevering in the fame laboricus method of producing evidence from the various writers who have borne teftimony to the mifrule and tyranny of the Stuarts. He appears likewise, in this, as well as in his former publications, to have been favoured with some original, new materials, communicated by gentlemen, equally defirous with himself, of contributing towards the farther fecurity of our liberties, by increafing our abhorrence of arbitrary fway, from additional proofs of the cruel and wanton manner in which it was exercifed by the Stuart-race, in proportion as their power of tyrannizing extended. Art. 25. Royal Mornings. From the French.

Is. 6d. No Bookfeller's Name.

Small 8vo.

We have here a tranflation of a little fatirical piece, entitled, Matinées Royales. The King of Pruffia is reprefented (by fome anonymous Wit, who is most certainly no friend to that illuftrious prince) as difcourfing to his nephew on the following topics, viz. the origin of his family, the manners of his fubjects, religion juftice, politics, literature, drefs, pleafures, alliances, &c.The following thort fpecimen will clearly fhew our Readers the Author's defign, and give them a tolerable idea of the manner in which it is executed.

Religion is abfolutely neceffary in a ftate. This is a maxim which it would be madness to difpute; and a king must know very little of politics, indeed, that should fuffer his fubjects to make a bad use of it; but then it would not be very wife in a king to have any religion himself. Mark well, my dear nephew, what I here fay to you; there is nothing that tyrannizes more over the head and heart than religion; be cause it neither agrees with our paffions, nor with those great political views which a monarch ought to have. The true religion of a prince is his intereft and his glory. He ought, by his royal ftation, to be difpenfed from having any other. He may, indeed, preferve outwardly a fair occafional appearance, for the fake of amufing those who are about him, or who watch his motions and character.

If he fears God, or, to speak as the priests and women do, if he fears Hell, like Lewis the XIVth, in his old age, he is apt to become timorous, childish, and fit for nothing but to be a Capuchin. If the point is to avail himself of a favourable moment for feizing a province, an army of devils, to defend it, prefent themselves to his imagination; we are, on that fuppofition, weak enough to think it an injustice, and we proportion, in our confcience, the punishment to the crime. Should it be neceffary to make a treaty with other powers, if we remember that we are Chriftians, we are undone, all will be over with us; we should be conftantly bubbles. As to war, it is a trade, in which any the least fcruple would spoil every thing; and, indeed, what man of honour would ever make war, if he had not the right to make rules that should authorife plunder, fire, and carnage?

I do not, however, mean, that one should make a proclamation of impiety and atheism; but it is right to adapt one's thoughts to the rank one occupies. All the popes who had common fenfe, have held no principles of religion but what favoured their aggrandifement. It would be the filliest thing imaginable, if a prince was to confine himself to fuch

Y 4

paltry

paltry trifles as were contrived only for the common people. Befides, the best way for a prince to keep fanaticifm out of his country, is for him to have the most cool indifference for religion. Believe me, dear nephew, that holy mother of ours has her little caprices, like any woman, and is commonly as unconftant. Attach yourself, then, dear nephew, to true philofophy, which is ever confolatory, luminous, courageous, difpaffionate, and inexhauftible as nature. You will then foon fee, that you will not have, in your kingdom, any material difpute about religion; for parties are never formed, but on the weakness of princes, or that of their minifters. There is one important reflexion I would wish you to make; it is this; your ancestors have, in this matter, conducted their operations with the greatest political dexterity; they introduced a reformation which gave them the air of apostles, at the fame time that it was filling their purfe. Such a revolution was, without doubt, the most reasonable that could ever happer, in fuch a point as this; but fince there is now hardly any thing left to be got in that way; and that, in the prefent pofition of things, it would be dangerous to tread in their footiteps; it is therefore even best to stick to toleration. Retain well, dear nephew, the principle I am now to inculcate to you; let it be your rule of government, that men are to worship the divinity in their own way; for, fhould you appear in the leaft neglectful of this indulgence, all would be loft and undone, in your dominions. Have you a mind to know why my kingdom is compofed of fo many fects? I will tell you in certain provinces the calvinifts are in poffeffion of all the offices and pofts; in others, the lutherans have the fame advantage. There are fome, where the catholics are fo predominant, that the king can only fend there one or two proteftant deputies: and of all the ignorant and blind fanatics, I dare aver to you, that the papifts are the most fiery and the most atrocious. The priests in this fenfelefs religion are untameable wild beafts, that preach up a blind submission to their wills, and exercise a complete defpotifm. They are affaffins, robbers, violators of faith, and inexpreffibly ambitious. Mark but Rome! obferve with what a ftupid effrontery the dares arrogate to herself dominion over the princes of the earth! As to the jews, they are little vagrants; poor devils, that at bottom are not fo black as they are painted. Almoft every where rebuffed, hated, and perfecuted, they pay, with tolerable exactness, thofe who endure them, and take their revenge by bubbling all the fimpletons they can light on.'

The whole is written in the fame strain; there are several good strokes in it, but a writer of true genius and humour would poffibly have executed our Author's plan in a more masterly way.

THEATRICAL.

R.

Art. 26. Falstaff's Wedding, a Comedy, &c. The Second Edition. By Mr. Kenrick. 12mo. 6d. Wilkie.

This is reprinted, according to the filt edition, mentioned in our last Month's Catalogue, p. 240.

Art. 27. Falfaff's Wedding, a Comedy; as it is acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane: being a Sequel to the Second Part of King Henry the Fourth. Written in Imitation of Shakefpeare. By W. Kenrick. 8vo. Is. 6d. Davis, &c. The above mentioned comedy, much altered by omitting the hiftorical parts; the king, loids, and commons, being all turned out, with as little

ceremony