in ministerial barbarity. It has, by an exertion peculiarly ingenious, procured thofe very measures, which it laid us under the hard neceffity of purfaing, to be ftigmatized in parliament as rebellious. It has employed additional fleets and armies for the infamous purpose of compelling us to abandon them: it has plunged us in all the horrors and calamities of civil war: it has caused the treasure and the blood of Britons (formerly fhed and expended for far other ends) to be spilt and wafted in the execrable defign of spreading flavery over British America: it will not, however, accomplish its aim in the worst of contingencies, a choice will fill be left, which it never can prevent us from making.

The peculiar fituation of your island forbids your affiftance. But we have your good wifhes. From the good wishes of the friends of liberty and mankind we shall always derive confolation.'

Art. 13. A plain State of the Argument between Great Britain and ber Colonies. 8vo. 6d. Becket. 1775.

A brief recapitulation of the arguments afually employed by the advocates for parliamentary fupremacy over America.

Art. 14. An Addrefs to the People, on the Subject of the Contest between Great Britain and America. By ***** *********. 8vo. 3 d. Wilkie.

A zealous invective against the Americans, calculated, as the Author fays, for those of his countrymen who have not time to read larger well written tracts, and whofe capacities, unequal to examining deeper difquifitions, are (he adds) more on a level with my own-Adcaptandum vulgus.

Art. 15. Remarks on the different Opinions relative to the American Colonies. 8vo. 1 s. Kearfly. 1775.

A. Nothing.

Art. 16. The Hiftory of an old fringed Petticoat; a Fragment : tranflated from the original MS. Greek of Democritus. With an Epiftle and Dedication to Lord N—. 12mo. 6 d. Blythe, &c. A political allegory, in the style of John Bull; or rather, perhaps, of Sterne's Watch Coat. The Author ingeniously enfolds the prefent difpute between Britain and her Colonies in the fimilitude, (as Bunyan would fay) not of a dream, but of a tale-how an old woman and her daughters quarrelled about mending a tattered fringed petticoat :-it tells against the Americans.

NAVIGATION. Art. 17. The Navigator's Guide to the Oriental or Indian Seas: or, the Defcription and Ufe of a Variation Chart of the Magnetic Needle, defigned for fhewing the Longitude, throughout the principal Parts of the Atlantic, Ethiopic, and Southern Oceans, within a Degree, or fixty Miles. With an introductory Difcourfe, corcerning the Difcovery of the Magnetic Variation, the finding of the Longitude thereby, and feveral ufeful tables. By S. Dunn, Teacher of the Mathematics. Printed for the Author; and fold by H. Gregory, in Leadenhall street; and by other mathematical Inftrument Makers. 8vo. 24 Pages.

It is generally fuppofed, that the meridional direction of the mag netic needle was not known in Europe before the year 1260: and the variation was firft difcovered by Sabaftian Cabot, a Venetian,

5

about

about the year 1260. The inclination, or dip of the needle was first obferved by Robert Norman, in 1576; and the change, to which the variation is fubject, is faid to have been the difcovery of Mr. H. Gillibrand, in 1625; which was afterwards confirmed by the obfervations of Mr. Ed. Wright. In the year 1700, Dr. Halley constructed a chart of the variations, from the northern part of the Weftern Ocean to the southern part of the Southern Ocean, and likewife in the Indian Seas. A fimilar chart was published by Meffrs. Mountain and Dodson, in 1744; and they alfo prepared another for the year 1756; in imitation of which, Monf. Bellin, at Paris, drew his chart on a lefs fcale, and by allowing for the increase of variation, adapted it to the year 1765.

Thefe charts, our Author obferves, were they ever fo accurately made, would be very inconvenient for the difcovery of the longitude at fea, because they are drawn on too fmall a fcale; but, as the variations are deduced from the fhip's reckonings, which are liable to great errors in the longitude, it cannot be expected, that they fhould be fo accurate and perfect as the Navigator might wish.

The Author informs us, that in drawing his chart, he only wanted obfervations of the variation at three or four places near the lands, and the other places on the oceans became regulated by a theory, the principles of which he has not yet thought proper to difclofe. But the refult, he tells us, confirmed the rectitude of his principles; for the longitudes of the islands St. Helena, Afenfion, Trinidada, &c. laid down by their latitudes and obferved variations, agreed very nearly with aftronomical obfervations made at thofe places. He feems to have taken great pains in procuring the neceffary information; having, by leave of the direction, confulted the journals of the commanders and officers of ships in the East India fervice. The defign is unquestionably very useful, and the expence and labour of execution entitle Mr. Dunn to encouragement from the Public.

The Author has fubjoined a brief defcription of the chart, together with the method of ufing it; and in this publication, which is a kind of appendix to his Practical Astronomy, he has given a fuller account of it.

The tables to which the title-page refers, are the following, viz. a table fhewing the angles which every point, quarter-point, half point, and three quarters of a point of the compaís make with the Meridian-a table of refraction from the horizon to the altitude of 42—a table shewing how much the apparent horizon is depreffed, by the elevation of the eye above the furface of the fea-a table of the declination of the fun for a biffextile year-a table fhewing the allowance to be made for the variation of the fun's declination to every 15 degrees of longitude from London, the daily variation being given a table of the declination of fome of the brightest fixed ftars, for the beginning of the year 1780. Several of thefe tables are taken from the Author's volume of Practical Aftronomy

N. B. The price of the variation chart, and the mercator's chart, on three sheets of imperial paper, with the defcription and use of them, is 15

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art, 18. Obfervations on the Cafe of Mifs Butterfield, calculated to fhew the Hardships he has unjustly fuftained, and the Neceffity of profecuting her Right in a Court of Juftice. In a Letter to one of her Friends. 8vo. 1 s. Williams. 1776.

Perfuaded, even to certainty, of the strict juftice of Mifs B.'s acquittal, and of her perfect innocence of the capital crime for which he was tried at the laft Croydon affizes, [fee Review for Sept. laßt, p. 26,] the Author of this fmall pamphlet thus expatiates on the fufferings of this unfortunate young woman. Perfectly innocent of the crime laid to her charge, the is apprehended on a groundless accufation, thrown into prifon, involved in ruinous expences, abandoned to the most excruciating anxiety, expofed to the hazard of an ignominious death, and, at laft, deprived of her whole dependence and fupport! Gracious God!-If an innocent perfon is liable to fuffer fuch hardships as thefe, wITHOUT REDRESS, the boasted equity of our laws is a mere phantom: it would be much safer to live in the deferts of Ethiopia, than in England!'

But the Author does not merely exclaim; he reasons on the cafe, in order to fhew, that as there was no just ground for the accufation*, Mr. Scawen's will, made in prejudice of Mifs B. for whom he had, before, fo liberally and gratefully provided, ought to be fet afide. In the conclusion he obferves, that this cafe is a matter of the highest importance to fociety. For, he adds, if a will, obtained by a grofs impofition, be fuffered to remain in force, it will be a pernicious example in future times; it will encourage every defigning villain to whisper the moft malignant reports into the ears of a dying hufband, a father, or a friend.'

Art. 19. The King fton Cause impartially stated, and fully conWheble. 1776.

8vo.

2 5.

fidered, &c. Notwithstanding this cause has made much noise in the world, and that the circumftances of it have already reached the ears of all who read the news-papers of the times; yet the compiler of this pamphlet obferves, as the cafe has been variously related, and stated in different points of view, as beft fuited the wishes of the different parties, a fair late of the question, with all the arguments used on either fide, feemed till to be wanting; and this he offers to the Public in the prefent compilation. He gives, I. A recapitulation of the facts on which the profecution is founded. II. A fummary of the arII. The fentence of the ecclefiaftical court, in guments pro and cen the Lady's favour, in 1769. IV. The bill of indictment, fince found by the Middlesex grand jury. V. The fpeeches of the lords, relative to the place and manner of trial, Thefe proceedings are illuftrated by Sir W. Blackstone's commentary on the fuit of Matrimonii Ja&titationii, the unlawfulness of bigamy, and the punishment of the of fence. A pamphlet intitled, The Cafe of the Duchess of King fton, was published by the fame bookfeller, in Auguft laft, price is What affinity that piece may bear to the prefent tract, we cannot fay; not having both productions now before us.

See the letter to Mr. Sanxy, mentioned in the Review above referred to, and in the fame page.

Art.

Art. 20. Journal of the RESOLUTION's Voyage, in 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775, on Difcovery to the Southern Hemisphere. Allo a Journal of the ADVENTURE'S Voyage in 1772, 1773, and 1774 With an Account of the Separation of the two Ships, and the most remarkable incidents that befel each: interfperfed with historical and geographical Defcriptions: a Chart, and other Cuts. 8vo. 5 s. Boards. Newbery.

Compiled from journals, kept, we fuppofe, by fome of the people on board both the abovementioned fhips. We forbear to enter on the detail of particulars, as an ample account is expected, and which will come to the hands of the Public, authenticated by Capt. Cooke and Mr. Forfter.

Art. 21. Mrs. M. C. Rudd's Cafe confidered, respecting Robert Perreau; in an Addrefs to Henry Drummond, Efq; and the Gentlemen of the Jury who tried Robert Perreau: with a comparative View of his Trial and his laft folemn Declaration. 8vo. 1 s. Wilkie. Defigned to remove the doubts of those who have been induced by their tenderness, and too good an opinion of human nature, to credit the dying declaration, in which R. P. protefted his innocence. That declaration is here, indeed, plainly fhewn to having been evafive and unfatisfactory,' and to have been entirely overthrown by the most irrefragable evidence against him. But as to the Author's attempt to affert the innocence of the woman, it is not lefs evafive and unfatisfactory than the declaration of Robert Perreau. Art. 22. Memoirs of that celebrated Comedian, and very fingular Genius, Thomas Wefton. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Bladon. 1775. Weston was, indeed, a fingular genius,'-admirable in his profeffion, but contemptible in his life, through his extreme imprudence and profligacy. His theatrical character is not unjustly drawn by this his biographer:

Though Wefton's walk was low comedy, yet even this line was very narrow [we give the Writer's own words]: the particular he excelled in, being that of a dry, vulgar fimpleton, but in this we will venture to affert, that he has not left his equal on the ftage. In his SNEAK, DRUGGER, TESTER, SCRUB, &C he exhibited fo palpable a fimplicity of nature in his perfon, voice, and manner, but more particularly in his face, that, contrary to all other actors we have ever feen, the longer and more intense we looked at him, the more he feemed to confirm us in the opinion that he was not an actor, but the real perfon he reprefented; nay, he at times fupported this delefion in a manner fo peculiarly his own, that in thofe ludicrous diftreffes which low comedy occafionally affords, he feemed to feel so piteous a pufillanimity, that after the bursts of our laughter were over, we confidered within ourselves, whether we should not pity him

in turn.'

The style of Mr. Wefton's biographer is, at least, equal to the dignity of his fubject; and we should have formed a good opinion of his fidelity, as an Hiftorian, had he not, himself, brought it into queftion, by tacking to his narrative a foolish paper, which he gives as Wefton's laft will and teftament.

Art. 23. A Series of Letters, which were interchanged between, Some Governors of the two great Hofpitals of this City and Mr. Gardiner of Richmond. Wherein are contained fundry curious Anecdotes, arifing from his gift of two freehold houses to St. Thomas's, and his tender of 2000l. to St. Bartholomew's, on certain conditions. 8vo. 6d. Keith, &c. 1775.

We cannot underfland what this Mr. G. would be at. Is all right in the cock loft?

Art. 24. An Univerfal Grammar, for the Use of those who are unacquainted with the learned Languages, and are defirous of Speaking or writing English, or any other modern Language, with Accuracy and Precifion. By Richard Wynne, A. M. Rector of St. Alphage, London, and Chaplain to the Earl of Dunmore. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Brotherton, &c. 1775

Notwithstanding the multiplicity of grammars which have been published, an Univerfal Grammar, adapted to the use of young perfons, is ftill wanted. HARRIS's Hermes, though undoubtedly one of the most accurate and perfect works of the prefent age, purfues abftract fpeculations to too great a degree of refinement, and abounds too much with ancient learning, to be a proper book' for general ufe ; and other grammarians have rather confined themselves to the nature and structure of fome one language, than endeavoured to give a clear and philofophical explanation of the principles common to all languages, ancient and modern.

From the title of the prefent work, we expected to find that the Author had undertaken to fupply this defect; but it appears, on examination, that he has done nothing which has not already been repeatedly executed, with at least equal fuccefs.

This work, though introduced to the world under the promifing title of an Univerfal Grammar, is, in reality, nothing more than an English Grammar, in which are interwoven a few remarks on ancient and modern languages; and this written, not upon the national principles which feveral modern Grammarians have adopted, but after the model of the common Greek and Latin Grammars.

The Author retains the ufual improprieties of including the adjeative, which is undoubtedly as diftinct a part of fpeech as any other, under the general head of Nouns; and of making three degrees of comparifon, whereas it is very evident, that what is ufually called the pofitive degree is properly no degree of comparison at all,-adjectives in that form, not being confidered in a comparative light. From too close an adherence to the Latin Grammar, Mr. W. has given rules of fyntax which do not admit of a general application to the English language. The verb, he fays, must be of the fame number and perfon with its nominative cafe:' whereas in the English language, we have no variations of termination to express perfon or number, except the fecond and third perfon fingular of the prefent tenfe. There feems therefore to be no propriety in faying, I, being the first perfon fingular, fing is of the fame number and perfon to agree with it; for fing equally agrees with the firft, fecond, and third perfon plural. A fimilar impropriety may be remarked in the application of the rule- A verb active governs the accufative cafe;

for