A Free Enquiry into the enormous Increafe of Attornies. 8vo. 15. Debrett.

Hardly any complaint is more generally acknowleged to be juft, than that which relates to the number of pettyfogging at tornies, who are doubtless a peft of fociety. The author of the prefent pamphlet feems not to exempt from this reproach even the refpectable practitioners of the law; and whilft his cenfure remains fo indifcriminate, we muft own that the extirpation of a body of twenty-four thousand men (the number at which he computes the whole of the profession) would be an Augean talk. In the mean time, as a remedy to this enormous evil, the author proposes that every lawyer should be compelled to teftify upon oath his unequivocal belief, not only of the legal, but of the equitable title of his client. Difcuffions of the Law of Libels as at prefent received. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Cadell.

The two fpeakers in this dialogue, befides examining the authority of the law of libels, and the nature of the evidence by which it is fupported, take a view of the confiderations which in the eye of government entitle it to the imputation of a public injury. They likewife enquire into the criminality of libels, as founded either in truth or falfhood; nor do they omit paying attention to the different modes in which libels may be communicated. The refult of this long and circuitous confabulation is, that the law of libels is both inconfiftent with the principles of our political conftitution, and with itfelf; which, we are informed, will be rendered more evident in a future dife cuffion, when the judicial cognizance of the offence shall become the object of enquiry.

The author of this pamphlet has doubtless chosen the form of dialogue for the convenience of exhibiting different fentiments, but we cannot help being of opinion that it is in other refpects a difadvantageous mode of enquiry in fubjects of this nature, By the multiplicity of replies and rejoinders, the chain of argument, if not interrupted, is at least diminished in its force; and when the object of enquiry ought to be enlightened, it is often involved in greater obfcurity. Dialogue is fuitable only in cafes where the principles of the interlocutors are fixed, and generally known; but it seems calculated rather to conceal error than to evince the truth; and a reader is apt to mistrust the validity of a conclufion which is perhaps founded only in the weakness of an antagonist,

The Rights of Jurie vindicated. 8vo. 25. Johnfon.

We are here prefented with the fpeeches of the dean of St. Afaph's counfel, in the court of King's Bench, Westminster, on the 15th of November, 1784; in fhewing caufe why a new trial fhould be granted, the rule for which had been applied for on the motion of the hon. Thomas Erskine, the preceding

Monday.

1

Monday. These speeches have already appeared in the public prints, and are now re-published, as taken in short-hand by Mr. Blanchard.

An Anfwer to the Second Report of the Eaft India Directors, reSpecting the Sale and Prices of Tea. By Richard Twining. 8vo. ༣ 25. Cadell.

In our Review for January, we gave a full account of the publications relative to tea, as they contained fome facts of which it feemed proper that the public fhould be informed. Though the fubject continues to be agitated between the directors of the Eaft India company and the tea-dealers, we do not find that any additional light is caft upon it by either party. In a letter to Mr. Prefton, fubjoined to this Anfwer, Mr. Twining infifts that he himself, and, he believes, all the old tea-dealers fell the commodity upon terms as advantageous to the public as thofe by which it is fold under the direction of Mr. Preston. But were the prices really the fame, the public might be defirous of being informed, bona fide, whether the quality of the teas is likewife the fame.

Outlines of a ready Plan for protecting London and its Environs from the Depredations of House-breakers, Street, and Highway Robbers. 8vo. 15. Richardfon.

The want of police in the capital is a fubject of general complaint, and has within thefe few years given rife to different fchemes for fupplying the defect. The plan propofed by this author is to employ military patroles; for the regulation of which he fuggefts feveral hints, adapted to fuch a recourse, The Emperor's Claims, being a Defcription of the City of Antwerp and the River Schelde. 8vo. 25. 6d. Stockdale.

The emperor having afforded this author`an occafion to avail himself of the public curiofity, with refpect to the state of the Auftrian Netherlands, the author, in return, has dedicated the work to his Imperial majefty. But as it is uncertain whether the emperor will reward him for this act of gratitude, his chief dependence muft be upon the public. We fhall therefore fo far co-operate with his defign, as to announce, that he delivers a defcription of the city of Antwerp, and the river Schelde; with a concife hiftory of the Auftrian Netherlands; extracts from the treaties on which the Dutch found their right to the blocking up the Schelde; with other particulars relative to an illuftration of the fubject.

POETRY.

Elegy to the Memory of Dr. Samuel Johnfon. By Thomas Hobhoufer Efq. 4to. 6d. Stockdale.

The fubject of this performance is undoubtedly entitled to the condolence of the elegiac Mufe; but we cannot fay the

poem

poem is worthy of the fubject. The lines are indeed fufficiently
harmonious; but the fentiments in general are trite.
The little piece of fcenery with which it opens, notwithstand,
ing the Teutonic rhyme of the firft couplet, and a little tauto
logy in the fecond, as the first line includes what is expreffed
in the following, is not deftitute of defcriptive merit;

The moon, repofing on yon pine-tree tops,
With a foft radiance ilvers all the copfe;
Nor aught is heard above, nor aught below;
No flood to murmur, and no gale to blow;
But dove-wing'd Silence, hovering o'er the fcene,
Sheds a mild grandeur, and a dead ferene.'

The City Quixote, a poetical, political, fatirical, Colloquy, 4to, 25. Kearney.

City wit! which thofe well acquainted with the internal politics of our metropolis, and the parties alluded to, will relish better than reviewers. Gog and Magog are the interlocutors. The following hobbling lines, fpoken by the patriotic Magog, are not deftitute of humour,

I remember the time-when fubftantial good men, I never shall look upon their like again,

With capon-lin❜d bellies, of gigantic fize, Surrounded with beef, and entrench'd behind pies, With the green fat of turtles, greas'd up to the eyes, Their fleek rofy gills, would encircle the table, While each man devour'd, while each man was able. Good-humour then fat, on their rubicund faces, They laugh'd at foup-meagre, and frown'd on the graces, But regal'd, honeft fouls, on fir John Parfons' ftingo, And knew not a fyllable of the French lingo; "Twas loins fuch as theirs, did our heroes create, When Blake rui'd the ocean, and Burleigh the state.? Verfes addreffed to Sir G. O. Paul, Bart. on his benevolent Scheme for the Improvement of the County Prifons. 4to. Is. 6d.

Debrett.

This poem celebrates a humane and worthy baronet, who, following the example of Mr. Howard, has perfonally examined into the abufes of our prifons; and lately published a pamphlet in which he propofed fome plans for their better regulation* For a long time paft we have met few panegyrical poems entitled to much approbation; and mediocrity, like that of several others of the fame kind, lately examined, is the characteristic of this performance.

facies non omnibus una

Nec diverfa tamen.'

Good fenfe and benevolence however pervade the whole; and if there is nothing ftrikingly beautiful, there is nothing to difguft or offend.

* See Crit. Rev. vol. lvii. p. 150.

Con

Conftancy, a poetical Tale, founded on Fac. 4to. 6d. Evans.

We are told, in the advertisement, that the only merit to which this poem lays claim, is that of fimplicity.'-The author's pretenfions are modeft, and we cannot in justice refuse them. The tale, though not very interefting, is managed with addrefs.

Sufan and Ofmund, a Lyric Poem. 4to. s. 6d. Kearsley.

This is another tale, and probably equally founded in fact, but not fo well related. The affected ornaments of ftyle totally deftroy its pathos.

The Emigrant. A Poem. By J. Ireland. 4to. 15. Richardfon.

If juvenility can fuccefsfully plead in extenuation of poet. ical blemishes, and blunt, in fome meafure, the keen edge of criticifm, the author of the following pages may lay claim to no inconfiderable fhare of indulgence; and prefume, not vainly, that his first-born will be fuffered peaceably to make its entree into the world, and live its day in it.' We know not how far this apology may weigh with the reader. We agree with the author that the caufe of morality is not weakened or injured by his launching his coup d'effai upon the perilous fea of publi cation.'-But we can add nothing farther in its favour. The Knight and Friars; an hiftorical Tale. By Richard Paul Jodrell, Ffq. F. R, S. and A. S. S. 410. 25. DodЛley.

This is a humorous ftory, originally related in profe by Thomas Heywood, in his Fuvas, and afterwards copied into Blomefield's Hiftory of Norfolk. It is now well known. Its prefent drefs is very fuitable to it; but as it was rendered into verfe, almost while the author food on one foot,' it is in fome paffages a little obfcure.

DRAMATI C.

Songs, c. in Fontainbleau. A Comic Opera. As performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. By Mr. O'Kerfe. 800. 6d. Cadell.

The flage is Mr. O'Keefe's Parnaffus. Within its boundaries let him pick up laurels, if he can; but let him never attempt to feek poetical fame amongft thofe who write for pofterity.

Liberty Hall; or the Teft of Good Fellowship. A Comic Opera. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-lane. 8vo. 15. Kearsley.

6

There must always be a trifling vehicle for mufic, fince found and fenfe, like beauty with honefty, is to have honey a fauce to fugar. We cannot try this butterfly on any critical ftatute, fo that it will efcape condemnation. The chief attempt at character is in Ap Hugh; but it is only an attempt. In fact,

we have fcarcely a proper reprefentation of a Welshman fince the brave, the generous, and the learned Fluellin. Dr. Druid's follies are thofe of any country; his virtues are fo flight, that we cannot trace their origin. His language only is in the Welsh brogue. The fongs of this trifle are the best parts of it. They are fometimes poetical and pleafing.

MEDICAL.

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Fever. By Caleb Dick infon, M.D. ivo. 35. in Boards. Robinfon.

1

This is a very refpectable college-exercife, for we can hardly give it a fitter denomination. Its faults are indeed numerous; but the fpirit and the independence which have dictated the Inquiry, in a great degree, compenfate for them. The former may be removed by experience and attention, the latter are feldom acquired in advanced life; fince the mind, which has been accustomed to trammels, lofes its native dignity, and is deftined to drudge on in the fame abject slavery.

The outline of fevers is nearly that of Dr. Cullen, from whom he differs in fome particulars; but he combats experience with reafoning, and ftrikes at facts with arguments. Thus he contends for the exiftence of a continent fever, because it may be plaufibly explained; and denies that of critical days, chiefly becaufe, in the repetition of paroxyfms, there is no reason why one fhould terminate the fever rather than another. The proximate caufe of fever is a fubject too extenfive for our difcuffion in this Journal. Dr. Dickinfon is chiefly diffatisfied with Dr. Callen's Syftem, for not explaining more particularly the connection between the debility and fpafm, or fhowing how the reaction is calculated to remove the atony. As the fpafm alfo is an effort of nature, he seems furprised that it should be moderated or repreffed. In its ftead, he fuppofes that the proximate caufe of fevers is debility only, and that to it, all our remedies fhould be applied. This leads to the free and indifcriminate ufe of bark and stimulants, including in the latter class, opium. We have frequently confidered this fubject, and have given our opinion on it. In both theory and practice the author totters on an unstable foundation: opium is not a ftimulant, but in particular circumftances; and bark is probably as frequently injurious in continued fevers, not highly putrid, as useful. The fubject may be brought to a fhort iffue. Has any one, by the ufe of bark and opium, ftopped a fever after it has been once formed, before the ufual period of fourteen or twenty days? It has been afferted, that fome have done fo; but, when their Ateps have been accurately followed, the event has been very different.

After our author has been more accustomed to practice, he will be better able to chufe the oracles, whofe dictates he should follow. Many of his authorities are very fufpicious; fome of them we know to be erroneous. On the subject of scurvy how

ever,