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Art. 21. Mona Antiqua Reftaurata. An archæological Difcourfe on the Antiquities, natural and historical, of the Isle of Anglesey, the ansient Seat of the British Druids. In two Effays. With an Appendix, containing a comparative Table of Primitive Words, and the Derivatives of them in feveral of the Tongues of Europe; with Remarks upon them. Together with fome Letters and three Catalogues added thereunto. By Henry Rowlands, Vicar of Llandidan, in the Isle of Anglesey. The fecond Edition, corrected and improved. 4to. 18s. Knox.

In the advertisement which accompanied the propofals for printing, by fubfcription, this edition of the Antiquities of Anglefey, it is obferved, that the Mona Antiqua is celebrated by Tacitus, as being the refidence of the Druids, who were the priests; and, at one time, the legiflators, not only of this country, but of France and Germany, indeed of all Europe, and great part of Afia: and that the Romans, who, wherever they conquered, were enemies to all ancient conftitutions, were unable to abolish the draidical monuments which are to this day to be found in this ifland.

Mr. Rowlands, the Author of this work, (it is farther observed) was affifted by Mr. Llhwyd and other great mafters of the Celtic learning who lived about half a century ago, and who, from very plain deductions, fimilarities, and relations of names and things, laid a foundation for mott important enquiries into the etymology and original of the languages that now pafs under the names of Greek and Latin, and we may even venture to fay Hebrew. Perhaps, upon an investi gation into the remains we have of the Phoenician language, it may appear to be no other than a dialect of the Celtic. The work before us produces great and irrefragable authorities for this opinion, and it is to be lamented that the learned world did not properly fupport Rowlands, Lhwyd, and many other writers who applied themselves to this ftudy. Somner, Spelman, Hickes, and Wanley, were profeffed champions for the originality of the Saxon language: and they had great patrons among our leading nobility and men of learning, who did not fufficiently confider the radical properties of words. This work, befides the general principles of archaeology, eftablishes a rational fcheme of enquiry, which, upon analogical reafoning, may be found applicable to many other places of greater importance than Anglefey. We have here, befides names and words, a moft accurate account of laws, conftitutions, and cuftoms; coins and medals; erections, monuments, and ruins; edifices and infcriptions; with various obfervations and reflections, which throw a moft amazing luftre upon what has been hitherto deemed the darkness of antiquity.

In all literary difquifitions the credit of this work has always remained unimpeached; because when the author goes upon facts, they are fuch as cannot be difproved; nor indeed does he prefume to make fuch arbitrary wild deductions from his facts as are too common with antiquaries even of good note. What he advances commonly speaks for itself; and his reafoning, if not quite conclufive, muft always be pleafing to one who has no object of enquiry but truth.'

Thus far the advertisement annexed to the proposals; to which we

hall

hall now add the following particulars, from another advertisement, by the Editor *, as it ftands prefixed to the book:

As this book, notwithstanding the inaccuracies of the first edition †, met with a favourable reception from the world; we thought it a duty incumbent upon us, not only to clear it of typographical errors, but alfo to render it ftill more worthy of public regard by the following improvements; viz.

1. By revifing and correcting the language throughout, fo far as was confiftent with the refolution of preferving the book the fame.

2. By rectifying the mistakes which our author had committed in relation both to facts and infcriptions, and adding explanatory notes, where they were thought neceffary.

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3. By inferting a new and correct map of the island, inftead of that ridiculous, imaginary one, that difgraced the former edition.

4. By continuing the catalogues of members of parliament, &c. to the prefent time. And by feveral other important additions.

For most of these improvements the public is indebted to the late ingenious Mr. Lewis Morris ; whofe work, entitled Celtic Remoins, whenever it is published, will exhibit a noble and curious fpecimen of his great abilities and knowledge of antiquity.'

Dr. Owen, of Crutched Friers, London.

+ The first edition, printed at Dublin A. D. 1723, for want of fome proper perfon to revife the fheets, came out very incorrect. The author died before it was published.

Superintendant of his Majefty's mines, and author of the Survey of the Coaft of Wales.

Art. 22. A Complaint on the Part of the Hon. Thomas Hervey, concerning an undue Proceeding against him at Court: fet forth in a Letter to her Royal Highness the Princess of Brunswick. 8vo. 6d. Printed for the Author.

Accufes the great lady to whom this letter is addreffed, of injuftice and cruelty, with regard to fome reprefentations made to his Majefty, in confequence of which Mr. Hervey was deprived of his penfions. The Author also complains moft grievously to her Royal Highnefs, of his own lady's ill-behaviour: but with what propriety he addreffes this remonftrance to the princess of Brunswick, we know not. If Mr. Hervey has been injured in his circumstances, and even cuckolded into the bargain, what is all that to her R. H. or, indeed, to the public? Art. 23. A Letter to the Proprietors of Eaft-India Stock. 4to. 6d. Wilkie.

The Author extols the fuccefsful conduct of Lord Clive, in the EaftIndies; and pleads for an immediate increase of the company's dividend, from 6 to 10 per cent. but if his judgment, in regard to the subject on which he writes, be no clearer than his ftyle, we apprehend his advice will not be much attended to.

Art. 24. A Letter to the Proprietors of Eaft-India Stock, from John Johnstone, Efq; late one of the Council at Calcutta. 8vo. IS. Nicoll.

Relates to the adminiftration of the company's affairs in Bengal. This tract is given gratis to the proprietors; whole attention it seems highly to merit.

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Art. 25

Art. 25. An Account of Eaft-Florida. With Remarks on its future importance to Trade and Commerce. 8vo. 2s. Woodfall.

Mr. William Stork, the Author of this account, appears, from his dedicat on, and his introductory difcourfe, to have acquired, by actual refidence in the country he defcribes, a perfonal knowlege thereof, fufficient to enable him to give his readers a juft and fatisfactory idea of this fettlement. According to his reprefentation, Eeft-Florida is a country, in all refpects greatly fuperior to the western province of the fame name; and may, when duly fettled, deferve to be numbered among our most valuable colonies.

To the Marquis of Rockingham. Art. 26. Remarks on the Life of Reginald Pole. By Edward Stone, Clerk, A. M. and late Fellow of Wadham-College, Oxford. The 2d. Edit. revifed, corrected, and enlarged. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Oxford, printed by Jackfon; and fold by Fletcher. Sold alfo by J. Fletcher in London.

Thefe Remarks appeared firit in a London daily news-paper, entitled The Public Ledger; in a feries of letters: and they. are now collected into a volume, with improvements, by the Author. Mr. Stone is a fenfible writer, and might have been more regarded, as the champion and defender of the proteftant reformation from popery, in oppofition to Mr. Phillips, had it not been for the larger and more elaborate performances of Mr. Ridley and Dr. Neve: of both which we have given fome account, in our late Reviews.

POETICAL.

Art. 27. Poems on various Occafions. By Robert Scott. Small 8vo. 2s. 6d. Burnet.

Mr. Scott has no right to be difpleafed with us, if we declare that we felect the following as one of the best poems in his collection: viz.

The COBLER.

Why should the mufe in high ambitious verse
Sing the ftern warrior, and the bloody plain ?

Why not the praise of industry rehearse,

Its heart-felt pleasure, and laborious pain?

In a fmali corner of yon narrow lane

An humble habitation may you see;

Its lonely window boasts no chrystal pane :

O free from taxes may it ever be !

Afk you who dwells within ? why then step in and fee,

There lives a lowly wight, unknown to fame,

Of doubtless merit, howe'er obfcure;

That artist fly, whom we a Cobler name,

For ever chearful, and for ever poor.

Far from the precincts of his peaceful door.
Vexatious riches fly, and waiting forrow;

To day is his; that he enjoys fecure;

And to the care of heaven commits to-morrow:

Nor aught has he to lend, nor aught can think to borrow.

This line is fo printed in Mr. Scott's book; and its lameness may not be the Author's fault.

He

He with the dawning of the early morn,
What time the loud-pip'd cock unceasing crows,
Brifk as the hunter at the founding horn,
Starts up in hafte, and to his cell he goes:
Mid the keen piercing air his visage glows.
Is there no brandy then at my command ?
Ah! fpare, ye biting frofts, his helpless toes;
Nor mar the ufeful labours of his hand,
Elfe must my naked feet unwilling print the fand.
He rubs his hands a while, and down he fits;
The thread is twin'd; the wax along it flies;
Then to the last the patient fhoe he fits,
And the fharp awl right cunningly he plies.
Meanwhile he liftens to the tuneful cries
Of falt, of cabbage, or of fish to fell;
Or elfe fome merry fong doth he devise,
Which ftories quaint of ancient times doth tell;
Or whistles as he works, pleas'd and contented well.
Ye reftlefs imps, that run about the street,
Run without fear; 'tis needless to give o'er:
Mifs to the fire may freely fet her feet;
Mother may fcold; and what can she do more?
Whate'er is loft, the cobler can restore;

Be it a heel, or fhould a feam be flit,

Or fhould a hole, burnt out, appear before,
There is an art, which even that hole can fit:
Cobling's that worthy art: I fing the praise of it.

'Tis night; I fee his dimly-glim'ring lamp;
Like a faint ftar which through the fog doth fhine,
Its fickly flames opprefs'd with vapour's damp,
Its beams fcarce reaching this abode of mine:
By it he fits, nor yet doth he repine―――
What doft thou mean, thou rash mischievous boy?
Lay down that ftone; that wicked wit of thine,
Be gone with speed, and fomewhere else employ
Let honeft industry in peace itself enjoy.

But now the labour of the day is done;
Nor without half-pence is his leathern purfe :
O fweet reward of toil! how fairly won!
However little, got without a curfe.
So home he hies him, freely to disburse
The earnings of the day in ale fo brown;

He thanks kind heaven that made his lot no worse;
Then takes his drink, and lays him foftly down;
Nor wants a loving wife, his honeft joys to crown.

We would advise the Author, if he follicits the mufe any more, to confine his petitions entirely to fuch moderate favours as thefe. น. Art. 28. Happiness, a poetical EfJay. By Mr. Meen, of Ema

nuel College, Cambridge. 4to. Is. Johnfon.

On perusing the first part of this poem we found Mr. Meen fo very unentertaining, fo very trite and fpiritlefs, that we determined to advise him to write no more;-but the latter part entirely altered our opinion

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of

of his fpirit and abilities for he concludes his Effay on Happiness with a lively defcription of an amour he had with one of that goddess's handmaids The scene where this happened is described; and first we find fome pendant willows remarkable for their gratitude :

The pendant willow wav'd it's head,

Imbrown'd with foliage, and ruftled thanks

To the foft zephyr's breeze.

Next the Author tells us (what has the merit of the surprising or extraordinary) that he could not fee the murmurs of the sea :

The fea's remotest murmurs charm'd unfein

My ravish'd ear

Then he proceeds to a building; his defcription of which may be called the double-refined, or the myfterious:

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The ample pile look'd folitude

That quicken'd dread within.

Though urg'd by strong impulfe,' he is a long time, he says, before he enters; this being effected,

on each fide,

To right and left, two ifles perplex'd' and dark,
Winded with ferpent maze.

Now which way to turn? for to make the reader acquainted with that circumftance is abfolutely neceffary:

Turn'd

I to the left

Which, as it happened, was very lucky, for in this dark walk to the left

a fair virgin-form

Advanc'd flow-moving

This damfel, it feems, was very pretty, and her drefs was chofen ta advantage, for fo gloomy a place,

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The manner in which the pick'd up our poet is not unpleasant :
Here as I pafs'd delighted, with foft touch

My pliant hand fhe rais'd, and filent led
With eafy grace, ftrait to that other isle

My step nought-ling'ring-for methought we pafs'd
Through pure expanfe of joy.-

However, this joy was a little abated by fome apprehenfions
Whither might tend this friendly guidance, or

What iffue clofe the fcene.

What the iffue was, or whether it is yet come to light, remains à myflery.

L.

Art. 29. The Library; an Epifle from a Bookfeller to a Gentleman, his Cuftomer, defiring him to discharge his Bill. 4to. 1 s.

Marfh.

If the gentleman who is here defired to discharge his bill, has been at the pains of reading his bookseller's rhymes, he ought to have a receipt in full for his trouble. We seem to live in an age when the retailers of every kind of ware afpire to be the original manufacturers, and particularly in literature.Bookfellers turn authors; actors become poets; and fidlers write operas.

1. Art. 30.

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