various feelings, the loves, the griefs, the hopes, the fears in his own breast." And many of them are elegant, fimple, and pleating. Thofe that are written in a more ferious train have much poetical merit; but the humorous and fatirical pieces appear to have been mo congenial to the author's feelings, and turn of mind. Such as are of the deferiptive kind contain faithful and pleating delineations of the fimplicity of manners, and engaging fcenes to be found in a country life. Upon the whole, we think that our rural bard is justly entitled to the patronage and encouragement which have been liberally extended towards him.

In Dr. "Fordyce's Poems," we meet with the fame evidences of good fenfe, and knowledge of mankind, that appear in all his other writings. The fentiments are of an ufeful and moral tendency, and are conveyed in verfe that is correct, eafy, and perfpicuous. But we cannot think that the Dr. is entitled to a very refpectable rank among the fons of Parnaffus. "Young Fancy flown away," he could not expect to arrive at excellence. He informs us, indeed, "that the utmoft to which he pretends is, to exhibit his ideas in a fhape, not too common nor familiar, yet neither forced ner extravagant, with the addition of fome melody to plafe the ear, fome de. fcription to ftrike the fancy, and fome fentiment to affect the heart." And in attaining this object of his modest wishes he hath fully fuc

ceeded.

The "Ode to Superflition, &c." is a bold and fpirited poem, in which the author hath collected feveral hiftorical facts, illuftrating the dominion and tyranny of that demon, and pictured the evils which

fhe hath occafioned, in language that is truly poetical and energetic. The fmaller pieces, likewise, which accompany this Ode, are elegant and pleating, poems.

Thomas's Poetical Epifle to a Curate," difcovers marks of genius and cultivated talle; and will difpofe the public to receive with confiderable prepoffeflions any of the future productions of his Muse. His Apoltrophe to Retirement, more efpecially, will be found highly poetical.

A new edition of Mr. jermingham's "Poems," hath been publifhed this year, in which feveral new pieces have been introduced by him, written in the fame tender ftrain with most of his other productions.

Courtenay's Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral Character of the late Dr. Johnfon," is dìftinguifhed by fome marks and traces of poetic fire; but on the whole, it is a heavy and uninteresting performance. To the merits of Johnfon the author pays a proper refpect and in his peculiarities and weakneffes we concluded that he would have found ample fcope for the exercife of his wit and pleafan ry. But we must confefs ourselves to have been greatly difappointed.

From Peter Pindar's prolific Mufe we have received frequent entertainment during the prefent year, His "Farewell Odes for the year 1786," are, as ufual, exceedingly fevere on the royal Academicians, and contain feveral humorous ftories, and laughable defcriptions. In his "Poetical and Congratulatory Epistle to James Bolwell, efq, on his Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides," he is equally unfparing of his lafhes on the journalist and his friend; and in his "Bozzi and Piozzi, or the British Biographers, a Town

a Town Eclogue," his powers of ridicule have been called forth with uncommon fuccefs.

Among the other poetical productions of the year, fome of which would deferve to be diftinely noticed, if our limits would admit of it, we find a fecond volume of "The Afylum for Fugitive Pieces;" Chriftian's "Progrefs of War;""A Portical Addefs to Ed. ward Gibbon, Eq. occafioned by his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire;" "The Triumph of Benevolence;" Humphrey's Poem on the Izap pines of America," "The rogrefs of Fafhion "The Children of Thefpis;" "The Mirror;" The Patriad ;"The Vale of Innocence;"" An Epitile from Johnfon's Ghost to his Four Friends;"" A Poetical Skerch of the Revolutions in our lanet:" Bufby's "Age of Genius;" Walter's Ode on the Immortality of the Soul;" Mr Weft's "Poems;" andt. Peter's Lodge."

66

Of the Dramatic Publications, we fhall, as ufual, content ourselves with mentioning only the names. In Tragedy, Mr. Jodrell's "Perfian Heroine," "The Captive," by Dr. Delap, and Mr Boyce's "Harold," are the only ones upon the lift. The Comedies have been more numerous of thefe have appeared I'll tell you Wha'," by Mrs. Inchbald; "The School for Grey Beards," by Mrs. Cowley; "The Heirefs," by General Burgoyne; "He would be a Soldier," by Mr. Pilon, and "The Baronefs of Bruchfal," tranflated from the German of Mr. Leffing, the Shakefpear of Germany. The Comic Operas and Farces were, Mr Cobb's "Strangers at Home," "The Peruvian," Mrs. Inchbald's

"Widow's Vow," and "The Fool," by Edward Topham, efq.

Under the head of Miscellaneous Publications, we meet with but a few articles of which it may be experted that we fhould take fome notice. In this number is "The Mifcellane us Companion; by William. Matthews; in 3 vols." The firit of the volumes contains a Sentimental Tour through a part of South Wales, inte mixed with thoughts on education, and thoughts on hunting, in which there appears much good fenfe and benevolence. The fecond volume confits of thoughs, maxims, and differtations on uteful and grave fubjects, which, excepting when the author difcovers his peculiar tenets as a Quaker, will be acceptable and cditying to moft serious readers. The third volume is compofed of fimilar papers, with the addition of three dialogues in the world of fpirits; the rift between Theophilus, Zelotes, and Purgatus; the fecond, between Henry the Fighth, and the dukes of Somerfet and Northumberland; and the third between the apofie Paul and a Proteftant Al rtyr.

The Lucubrations; confifing of Lffays, Reveries, &c. in Profe and Vefe, by the late l'eter of Pomfret," we will venture to recommend, as containing feveral valuable hints of inftruction to readers of every clafs, and much innocent amufement. The poetical talents of the author do not, indeed, dif. play much frength or briliancy, but they are meritorioufly employ. ed in the tervice of virtue, and of religion.

Mrs. Trimmer's "Fabulous Hif tories, defigned for the Inftruction of Children, refpecting their Treat

ment

ment of Animals," are admirably adapted to entertain and improve the minds of young children, and to excite in them a proper compaffion and tenderness towards the brute creation. Sincerely do we wifh, that the excellent principles and moral conclufions conveyed in this little work, could be communicated to readers of every age, and of every clafs in fociety.

To the fame lady are we alfo in debted for "Eafy Leffons for young Children," defigned by her as a Supplement to her little Spell. ing Book for children, which appear to have been judiciously com. pofed by our excellent precep

trefs.

the

"Pogonologia, or a Philofophical and Historical Effay on Beards," tranflated from the French, contains a curious hiftory of capillary honours of the chin," and of the various fashions to which they have been fubjected; in which many anecdotes are introduced, which cannot fail to entertain and divert the reader.

The "Address to the Clergy of every Denomination and Degree, &c." is written on the model of Swift's Advice to Servants, and contains much feverity of fatire, expreffed with no fmall fhare of humour. In fome inftances, however, we highly difapprove of the application of our author's powers of ridicule, as he defcends to obvious and illiberal perfonalities.

Among the Novels and Romances of the year, we must place "The Works of the Chevalier de Florian," and "Tales, Apologues, Anecdotes, &c." felected from the works of different French writers. Both thefe publications have been defervedly esteemed, on account of the beautiful fimplicity and excellent moral tendency of the ftories

they contain, from which may be derived confiderable entertainment and inftruction. Of the English Novels, "The Recefs, or the Tale of other Times," by Mifs Lee, "Caroline of Litchfield," and "The Rambles of Fancy" by the author of the History of the Six Princeffes of Babylon, have met with a very favourable reception from the public. Of the following we have only read the names. "The Rochfords;" "Rajah Khifna;” “Edwin and Anna;" Theodofius and Arabella;" "Elfrida;" "Emily Her bert;" "Henry and Acafto;""The Convent;" "The Tour of Valentine; "Zoraida;" "The History of Charles Frankland;" "The Cacique of Ontario;" "Arpafia;" "The Innocent Rivals ;"" The Kentish Curate;" "The Minor;" and "Olivia.”

We fhall conclude our account of Domestic Literature, with bringing into one short view, the publi cations which have appeared refpecting the flave trade, and the fituation and treatment of the negroes in our West India plantations.

And the first that we fhall mention is Mr. Clark fon's "Effay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African, tranflated from a Latin Differtation which was honoured with the first Prize in the Univerfity of Cambridge, for the Year 1785; with Additions." This ingenious performance is divided by the author into three parts. In the firft, he gives a concife and learned hiftory of flavery, ancient and modern; and defcribes, in animated and pathetic language, the cruelties and barbarities perpetrated at the initigation of the Europeans, in order to collect a fufficient number of wretches to fupply their mar

kets.

kets. In the fecond part, the author offers fatisfactory reafons to prove the iniquity and injuftice of fuch a commerce, from the natural rights of mankind, and the end and intention of government. In the third part of this Effay, he gives an account of the fituation of the unfortunate Africans from the moment of their embarkation for the Weft Indies; of their treatment on board the fhips; of the numbers that perifh in the voyage, and before they are feafoned to their labour; of the hardships they undergo, and the exceffive feverity with which they are treated. Thefe accounts are fucceeded by a rational and manly confutation of the arguments brought by the purchafers of the negroes, in vindication of their conduct. Having, on a former occafion, delivered our free fentiments on the fubject which engages the attention of Mr. Clarkson, we have only to exprefs our warm approbation of his fenfible and difpaffionate performance; and to recommend the frequent perufal of it to thofe who are difpofed to offer any pleas in favour of the barbarous and wicked traffic of the human fpecies. The fame fubject hath again em. ployed the pen of Mr. Ramfay, who hath published "A Letter from Captain J. S. Smith, to Mr. Hill," which confirms the account which that gentleman had formerly given

of the cruelties exercised on the negroes, by the testimony of an eye-witnefs. To this letter Mr. Ramfay hath added a farther vindi cation of himself, from the attacks of his adverfaries, and fome ingenious and judicious remarks on free

negroes.

Mr. Gordon Turnbull, the au thor of "An Apology for NegroSlavery, &c." labours with much ingenuity, in endeavouring to prove, that the practice which he wishes to palliate and defend, is founded in good policy, and is productive of confiderable national benefits. But the principal part of his pamphlet is employed in vindicating the West India planters from the charges of inhumanity, which had been brought against them, in the reprefentations. of Mr. Ramfay and Mr. Clarkson. Thefe, he contend, are founded on ignorance, or malice; and boldly appeals against them to facts, and authentic teftimony. We fhould be happy if we had perfect conviction, that the general condition of the negroes were as eafy, and the univerfal treatment of them as humane, as this apology would reprefent. But that conviction could not alter our ideas of the injuftice and im piety of a practice, which, in its most lenient forms, we must ever reprobate and deteft, as men and as Britons.