patient thinking on this performance, had as good never look into it, fince otherwise, in all probability, they would foon lofe the thread of the Writer's arguments, and reap nothing but error for their trouble.'

'It is, however, very plain, that agriculture is the most natural fource of riches which fhews the propriety of part, at leaft, of his advice, that— a landed nation fhould favour the exportation of the immediate fruits of the earth, by the importation of manufactures, which the can turn to advantage, from foreigners. Herein lies the whole mystery of commerce. Let us but act in this manner, (fays he) and we need not be under any apprehenfions of becoming tributary to other nations.'

B

It is almost impoffible to give any abftract of a work, that is in itself but an abstract of demonftrations and principles; which are traced through the numerous objects of the oeconomical science, with a very benevolent view; though not without an apparent negligence of ftile,' as the Author himself acknowledges. P Art. 27. The Defcription and Ufe of the Globes, in Question and Anfwer: with an Explanation of the Terms. To which is added, an Appendix, concerning the Properties of the Four Elements, Fire, Air, Water, Earth; and thofe of the Atmosphere: also, a brief Account of Eclipfes and their Caufes. The whole compiled and digefted in fuch a Manner as to render it both intelligible and inftructive. By Jeremiah D'Avenant, Philomath. Small 8vo. 3s. Flexney.

The prefent fubject, as the Author acknowledges, has been often before canvaffed; but as this is compiled for novelty, by queflion and anfwer,' he hopes it will meet with the approbation from the public,' which (he fays) will be no small article in his future happiness.

The ufual problems are here introduced: but we meet with little new, till we come to the appendix; which might, perhaps, as well have been omitted, as it is wrote in a ftyle not the most intelligible or inftructive :→→ but let the Reader judge. Nevertheless, all these things take part of fire, and that is the caufe, that amongst fome ftones, as great rocks, they are more nearer to the nature of the earth than to the other elements:" p. 171.At p. 174, he tells us what is ufually understood from the word atmosphere :'- and at p. 180, he talks about the phæno. menas of the heavenly bodies, and the judicials relating to an eclipfe. Art. 28. A Key to the New Teftament. Giving an Account of the feveral Books, their Contents, their Authors, and of the Times, Places and Occafions, on which they were respectively written. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Davis and Reymers.

A clear introductory illustration of the feveral books of the New Teftament, fhewing the defign of their writers, the nature of their contents, and whatever elfe is previously neceffary to their being read with understanding, is a work [as the Author obferves in his preface] that, if well executed, muft prove the best of commentaries, and frequently fupercede the want of all other. Like an intelligent guide, it directs the reader right at his firft fetting out, and thereby faves him the trouble of much after-inquiry: or, like a map of a country, through which he is to travel; if confulted beforehand, it gives him a general view of his journey, and prevents his being afterwards loft and bewildered."

The

The contents of the following little work are acknowledged to be. chiefly extracted from two eminent writers, who have particularly dif tinguished themfelves in this branch of facred criticism, and have lately thrown great light upon the fubject: viz. Profeffor Michaelis, of the univerfity of Gottingen, in his Introductory Lectures to the N. Teft.' and the Rev. Dr. Lardner, in his Hiftory of the Apostles and Evangelifts, Writers of the New Teft.'-The Editor has not, however, confined himself merely to those two learned writers, but has enriched his work from other Authors; particularly Dr. Owen, who, in his Observations on the Four Gospels,' has opened a new fource of information, and farted many new hints, which had efcaped former enquirers.

In fettling the date of St. Matthew's Gospel, Dr. Owen differs in opinion from moft other writers, fuppofing it to have been written about A. D. 38, whereas Michaelis fixes the date of it about A. D. 61, and Dr. Lardner thinks it was not wrote till about A. D. 64.-In the preent work, the Author makes one capital objection to the early date, fixed as above by Dr. Owen; and that is, the great clearness with which the comprehenfive defign of the Chriftian difpenfation, as extending to the whole Gentile world, is unfolded in this Gofpel [of St. Matthew] Whereas it is well known, that for a while our Lord's difciples laboured under Jewish prejudices; and that they did not fully understand all his difcourfes at the time they were spoken. They could not clearly difcern the extenfive defign of the gospel scheme, till after St. Peter had been at the houfe of Cornelius, and there received Gentile converts into the church without circumcifion +; nor indeed till after the gospel had been preached abroad in foreign countries by St. Paul and other apoftles. Now if we turn to St. Matthew's Gospel, we every where find the enlarged views of his divine Mafter represented in too clear a manner to admit a doubt, that the writer was ignorant of their full tendency and meaning. Thus he fhews that the apostles were to teach all nations. He reprefents the fpirituality and freedom of the Gofpel§ and that our Saviour was defigned to be a bleffing to the Gentiles .'- There is also an expreflion used once or twice, intimating that fome confiderable space of time had elapfed between the event and the time when this Gofpel was written. See particularly Chap. xxviii. ver. 8. and ver. 15.'-' Whoever weighs all these circumftances [our Author thinks] will rather be inclined to fix the date of this Gofpel about the year 61, with Michaelis, than in 38, with Dr. Owen,'

The above being the moft original paffage in the book, we have given it as a fpecimen of a compilation that may be of great use to such readers as have not an opportunity of confulting the larger works referred to, upon this fubject.

In the introduction, faid to be communicated by a friend, we have a fhort account of the several sects and herefies that prevailed in the time of Chrift and his apoftles; and which are alluded to, either in the Gofpels, or the Epiftles.-The fame friend alfo gave the key to the prophe

* Vide John xvi. 7-14, and other paffages.

+ Acts, Chap. x. this event is placed by chronologers about the Ch. xxviii. 19. § Ch. xv. 10, 20,

year 39. Ch. iii. 9.

Ch. ii.

cies contained in the Revelation, (extracted from Bp. Newton's Differtations) with which this little, ufeful, book is concluded. P. Art. 29. Solomon in all his Glory: or, the Mafter-Mafon. Being a true Guide to the inmoft Receffes of Free-mafonry, ancient and modern. Containing a minute Account of the Proceedings from an Enter'd Apprentice, to a Paft Mafter, with the different Signs, Words, and Gripes. Illuftrated with elegant Copperplates, exhibiting the different Lodges, Free-Mafon's Cyphers, &c. By T. W. an Officer in the Army, and late Master of the Swan-Tavern Lodge, in the Strand. Translated from the French Original published at Berlin; and burnt by Order of the K. of Pruffia, at the Interceffion of the Free-Mafons. 8vo, 2s. Robinfon and Roberts.

Were all fact which this title-page afferts, and were the Reviewer free-mafons, it could not be expected that they would acknowledge the authenticity of the account here given; on the other hand, fuppofing them not to be in the fecret, they are, confequently, incompetent judges of the merit of fuch a performance. Solomon in all his Glory muft therefore be difmiffed without farther notice.

POETICA L.

Art. 30. An Ode to the late Thomas Edwards, Efq; Written in
the Year 1751, by Dr. Akenfide. Folio. 6d. Dodsley.
Mr. Edwards is here celebrated, on account of his Conons of Criti-
tifm; and Dr. Warburton is lafhed as an officious intruder on the fame
of Shakespeare and Pope. It were abfurd to offer to our Readers any
fpecimen of this ingenious Writer's poetry, from fo inconfiderable a
piece as the prefent little poem; when his nobler works, the justly ad-
mired Pleafures of Imagination, and his beautiful Odes, are fo well
known; we fhall therefore difmifs this article, with briefly mentioning
the note, p. 5. in which the Rev. Editor of Pope's Works is charged
with having zealously cultivated the friendship of Theobald, Concanen,
and the rest of that tribe who were confederated against Mr. Pope. It
is added, that Mr. W. afterwards fpoke in high terms of the favour he
received by being admitted to their meetings; and that he treated Mr.
Pope very contemptuously, in his correfpondence with Concanen.
How far this charge can be fupported by facts; and how far thofe facts,
when proved, will affect the bishop's reputation, as the friend and vin-
dicator of Mr. Pope's fame, we leave to the difcuffion of his lordship's
friends: for HE, it is well-known, never reads these things.
Art. 31. Humanity, a Poem, infcribed to George Boden, Efquire.
By G. C. 4to. IS. Marth.

A few rhapfodical declamations on the fufferings of the English at Calcutta, on Capt. Glafs, and on the death of the Duke of Cumberland, are here ftrung together with very little art, elegance, or force of expreffion.

น.
Art. 32. The Perils of Poetry; an Epifle to a Friend. By J. H.
Scott, Fellow of Trinity-College, Cambridge. 4to.
Griffin.

The grievous lamentations of a dad, difappointed Author.

I S.

Art. 33.

Art. 33. A Specimen of a Book, entitled, Ane compendious Booke of Godly and Spiritual Sangs, collectit out of sundrie Partes of the Scripture, with fundrie of other Ballates changed out of prophaine Sangs, for avoiding of Sin and Harlotrie,' &c. 8vo. Is. Edinburgh printed, and fold by Nicoll in London.

We can learn no other intelligence of this northern curiofity, than what is fet forth in the title-page of this fpecimen thereof: which farther declareth, that it is printed from an edition augmented with ‘fundrie gude and godly ballates, not contained in the first edition.' Moreover, that it was printed at Edinburgh by Andro Hart': but in what year is not faid. From the ftyle, as well as the fubjects, these Sangs appear to have been compofed about the time of the reformation from popery; and farely pelted in them is the puer Hure of Babylon. The following droll ftanzas, on the celibacy of the priests, may ferve as a fpecimen :

God fend every priest ane wife

And every nunne a man,

That they may live that haly life
As firft the kirk began.

San&t Peter, quhom nane can reprufe
His life in marriage led,

All gude priefts, whom God did lufe,

Their maryit wyfes had.

Greit caufis then I grant had they,

Fra wyfes to refraine,

Bot greiter caufes have they may
Now wyfis to wed againe.

For then fuld noght fa many hure

Be up and down this land;
Nor zit fa many beggars puer,

In kirk and mercat ftand.

And not fa meikill baftard feid
Throw out this country fawin;

Nor gude men uncouth fry fuld feed,
And all the fuith* were knawin.

• truth.

Art. 34. Characters: an Epistle, infcribed to the Earl of Carlife.
By Francis Gentleman. 4to. Is. 6d. Becket.

There is an energy both in the fentiments and verfification of this
little poem, which is intended as a fatire on fome of the prevailing
foibles and vices of the age. The following sketches of Doraftus and
Nebulofus will give the Reader fome idea of the Author's manner;
See Friendship's felf (O virtue moft fublime!)
Shrunk to a name, and dark'ning to a crime!
Full to the view, lo! weak Doraftus ftands,
Each new acquaintance all his foul commands;
To each he tells his fecret joy, or grief,
Each joins his laugh, or kindly prays relief;
Within the cabinet of faithful breafts,

His truft, weak man, he thinks fecurely refts;

So

very humble, and so very free,

He feems the effence of humility

He knows no diftance that should step between,
And striving to be affable, is mean;

Worthy, or worthlefs, claim an equal place;
All who approach engage his ready grace;
Happy that he so many Friends can call,
The unfufpecting Dupe, or Jeft of all.

Friendship, like love, fhould be with caution plac'd,
Conftant, when fix'd, and in its nature chaste;

To one, and one alone, it can be true,
Worthless, when made the weathercock of two.
View fpirit o'er the bounds of reason stride,
And fwell itself into gigantic pride;
How grand the figure, how auguft the port,
Of Nebulofus new advanc'd at court!
His tongue no word, his eye no look affords,
To aught that fits not in the House of Lords;
If he must speak, what manifeft regret,
To wafte his breath upon a Baronet !
His mighty felf the everlafting theme,
Grandeur his waking with, and nightly dream
His huge importance leaves the world behind,
And rules at large his folitary mind;
At diftant Majefty he looks with pain,
And curfes fate he was not born to reign.

Thus all the fmiles of fortune he enjoys,

One empty with unfatisfied deftroys;

Juft punishment by Providence ordain'd,

For wealth and honours thus by Pride prophan'd.

By an advertisement fubjoined to this poem, we are promised a collection of royal fables by the fame Author; intended, we fuppofe, for the use of the Prince of Wales.

L. Art. 35. The Works of Virgil, Englished by Robert Andrews 8vo. 7s. 6d. Printed by Bafkerville, for the Author. Sold at Mr. Sheinton's, a Grocer, in Great-Ruffel-Street.

A Polish ambaffador at the Porte had his horfes fhod with filver, upon which the grand vifier obferved, that his excellency's horfes fhoes might be of filver, but his brains were certainly of lead, when, though the reprefentative of a needy people, he came with the emblems of fuperfluous wealth.' Our Tranflator, or rather Englisher, is under the fame predicament. His types are filver, but his pen is lead; and the mufe has certainly treated him, or, at leaft, ought to treat him, as Damotas, in the language of his tranflation, fays he was ferved by Galatea :

Pears at my pate arch GALEA Softly flings.

In the original,

Malo me Galatea petit, lafciva puella.

น.

Art. 36. The Curate, a Poem, infcribed to all the Curates in England and Wales. By E. Lloyd. 4to.

and Urquhart.

2s. 6d.

Richardfon

The language of this poem is fometimes too humble, and the images