1 1 1 1 1 : * and fyllable-pages; which I beg leave to call the primer- racies of the art, should confift of such words as are founded In fome explanatory notes fubjoined to the above-quoted section, our author takes notice, and we think very justly, of the absurdity of making lists of words of various founds with ⚫ the fame letters, many of which sounds differ greatly from ⚫ those of the alphabet and fyllable-pages.'-Thus it is common to fee in spelling-books, among the words designed for the earliest lefsons for children, such as these arranged together: leaf, heart, bead, bear, leap, sheath, &c. To remedy this inconvenience, whereby the trouble of the teacher is increased, as well as the memory of the young learner extraordinarily burthened, the dipthong ea being more frequently pronounced as in leaf, Mr. Lowe has first placed such words as retain that found, and in a subsequent part, entitled, Exceptions from the spelling book founds, particularized the several variations.-For instance, ea, in the words hearth, fwear, sounds like a ; in bread, deaf, earl, bead, like e; in bead-stead, instead, like is in appear, fear, near, cleave, like ee: which distinctions he would have the child taught, after having been made perfect in the more common sounds. As our author feems ambitious of introducing a new mode of orthography, or rather, as the title expresses it, of having the credit of fixing the standard of our language, it may not be amiss to take fome notice of what he proposes to this effect. • In spelling, says he, 'I have discarded all the varieties which fome have affected even to plead for; in order to * establish what appeared to be the best: which I will venture to fay, is that which comes nearest to the found, and to the original.-As to the preferables * in spelling---I have (principally) founded my peculiarities on a confideration very reafonable in itself, and much to the credit of our language, 'viz. the giving a quick birth to our conceptions, or the saving ⚫ of time and breath to the uttering of our thoughts. This Mr. Addison (Spect. 135) confidered as fo grea: an excellence in ، * A particular part of this performance is appropriated to diftinguish what our author judges the best method of spelling, and is entitled, Preferables. Hh 4 ' our our language, that on account thereof he is pleased to fay • he esteemd it a peculiar blessing that he was born an Eng•lishman. To verify this observation, he takes notice, that we abound in monosyllables which gives us an opportunity * of delivering our thoughts in few sounds; and that where they are not monofyllables, we often make them fo, as • much as lies in our power, (1) either by the rapidity of pro'nunciation, as in arator, for orator; (2) or by apostrophations, * as drown'd, &c. for drowned; (3) or by abreviations, as • drowns, &c. for drowneth. All these alterations, therefore, on his own principles, one would have thought he should * have approvd-of; but it seems he lookt upon them as liberties ⚫ that tend to the spoiling of the language, infomuch as (1) by the first, we lose the grave and folemn air of the Latin; (2) by the fecond, we tuin a tenth part of our smoothest words ⚫ into fo many clusters of confonants; and (3) by the third, we multiply a letter (s) which was before too frequent in the English tongue, and add to that hissing in our language, • which is so much taken-notice-of by foreigners. However, tho' I revere the authority of that excellent critic, and am captivated with the beautiful manner of his reasoning; I cannot help thinking (notwithstanding what he has faid) and I believe I may appeal to every unprejudiced ear, that (1) • órator is more spiritful and striking than orátor; (2) drosund more strong and fonorous than drowned; (3) and drowns more foft and easy than drowneth: and consequently that these modern innovations, in all like cafes, are to be lonkt upon as improvements rather than blemishes: since besides • the dispatch in the conveyance of our thoughts, they have • superior beauties in other respects also.' In confequence of this way of thinking, our author has made fome bold mutilations, and revived some exuberances, in the method of spelling he would recommend; with regard to the latter, he seems to have had a particular view to etymology: the former he appears to have regulated according to the pronunciation, some, inftances of which are to be feen in the quotations we have given, nor have we room to be more particular. Such as do not concur with our author's decifions, are in vited to communicate their objections to the editor. Now, tho' we do not intend to enter the lifts with the latter as difputants, it is hoped we may be allowed to obferve, that neither is he the first who has attempted to adapt spelling to found, nor Mr. Addison the only writer who has disapproved this scheme of shortening our words, by retrenching the vowels. Swift looked upon it as having a tendency to relapse into the barbarity of those northern nations from whence we are defcended, and whose languages all labour under the same defect. Learned foreigners are almost unanimous in condemning this practice, 25 : as thereby the English tongue is rendered less accessible to them, from its increased harshness: and, as a modern critic has remarked, that 'those are the most elegant speakers who deviate leaft from the written words; might it not better answer the purpose of fixing our language, to attempt an accommodation of pronunciation to orthography, rather than making orthography subservient to pronunciation; which, as Mr. Johnfon * judicioufly takes notice, is to measure by a shadow; to take that for a model or standard, which is changing while • it is applied.' To conclude, tho' this work should not be thought adequate to every thing intended by it, yet we venture to agree with its author, in pronouncing it an incomparably better spelling• book than any that have yet been offered to the nation:" i. e. for the instruction of children. * In the grammar prefixed to his dictionary. L PAMPHLETS on the late EARTHQUAKE at LISBON. XXIX. A Letter from a Portuguese Officer to a Friend in Paris. Giving an Account of the late dreadful Earthquake by which the City of Lisbon was destroyed. Translated from the Portuguese. 8vo. 6d. Cooper. This teems to be gather'd merely from the news-papers. XXX. A particular Account of the late dreadful Earthquake at Lisbon: With the Damage sustained by that fatal Accident. In a Letter from a Gentleman of undoubted Veracity, refiding in Lisbon, to a Merchant in London, who publishes this early Account from a Principle of Benevolence, to fatisfy the Curiofity of the Public. To which is added, an Account of the terrible Earthquake at Port-Royal in Jamaica, in the Year 1692. By a Minifter then resident on the Spot. As also some Thoughts on Earthquakes, confidered both in a philosophical and religious View, &c. &c. 8vo. Is. T. Legg. It is obvious that this letter is also the produce of our home-manufactory. XXXI. The old Remedy new revived: Or, an infallible Method to prevent this City from sharing the Calamities of Lisbon. By a Citizen. 8vo. 6d. Cooke. Tho' this be not, like the two foregoing articles, an author's or bookfeller's jobb, it has not, however, any better claim to our recommendation; as the reader will readily conclude, from the ill-judged title-page, which is quite of a piece with the rest of the work. The author seems to be a pious, but, we hope, mistaken man; for, according to his representation of things, the world we live in, our own country in particular, is a mere hell; and its inhabitants no better than a race of infernals, full full ripe for destruction, by the avenging hand of an angry Deity. Repentance, and consequent forgiveness, is what he means by the familiar expression of, Old remedy, &c. Such extravagant declaimers, and presumptuous dispensers of God's judgments, do not take the right way to mend the lives and manners of wicked people: their passionate denunciations against all, are feldom known to reform any. However, we would by no means be thought to infinuate, that our citizen is not, fundamentally, right, in his theory of divine, exemplary punishments; in support of which the sacred scriptures themselves may be cited: but with what caution, what humble deference to the inscrutable designs and dispensations of heaven, ought we not to express ourselves, on fuch serious, such awful subjects? We, who profess to be guided by the merciful, the meek and charitable spirit of Chriftianity! XXXIII. An Address to the Inhabitants of Great-Britain; occafioned by the late Earthquake at Lisbon. 8vo. 6d. Buckland. The author of this address, likewise, considers the calamity which has so severely befallen the kingdom of Portugal, as the awful visitation of an indignant God, for the wickedness of the inhabitants; and pathetically warns the people of these kingdoms to depart from their fins, left the like judgments befall them. He concludes with a warm application to the merchants, &c. to shew their benevolence towards the unhappy surviving sufferers in the dreadful destruction at Lisbon. XXXIII. Serious Thoughts occafioned by the late Earthquake, &c. 8vo. 6d. Robinson. : : These thoughts are conceived in the same spirit, and published with the fame view with the preceding article: may the well meant endeavours of both be attended with some degree of : public utility! which we may the more reasonably hope for, as the authors have avoided the common-place rant that we could not but disapprove in the Old remedy, &c. aforementioned. XXXIV. A Letter from a Clergyman at London to the remaining disconfolate Inhabitants of Lisbon. 8vo. 6d. Griffiths. : This letter-writer also looks upon the calamity which gave occafion to his epistle, as a punishment from heaven, deservedly inflicted on a finful people; and enumerates the enormities peculiar to the late flourishing capital of Portugal. Among other topics, that horrid tribunal the Inquifition is the object of his feverest animadverfion; and it must be confessed, he has not unseasonably endeavoured to rouse the poor blinded Portuguese, and animate them totally to abolish that pretended holy office as the unchriftian wretches who preside therein impiously dare to Gile it but alas! what can fuch endeavours avail? How will the the worthy author cause his performance to be read in a popish country? XXXV. An Account of the late dreadful Earthquake and Fire which destroyed the City of Lisbon. In a Letter from a Merchant refident there, to his Friend in Lisbon. 8vo. 6d. Payne. This bears the appearance of authenticity, and contains some particulars not previously mentioned in the news-papers. It is dated at Ma Marvilla, Nov. 20, 1755; but the writer's name is not published. XXXVI. A Philosophical Discourse upon Earthquakes, their Causes and Consequences, &c. 8vo. Is. Cooper. This was first published in 1750, on occasion of the two earthquakes felt in London, in that and the preceding year. The author hath now prefixed preliminary differtation relating to the earthquake at Lisbon, Nov. 1. 1755; but it affords nothing remarkable. a XXXVII. A genuine Letter to Mr. Joseph Fowke, from his brother, near Lisbon, dated Nov. 17, 1755. In which is given a very minute and striking defcription of the late earthquake. Folio. 4d. Collyer. Of this article it will be sufficient to say, that it is undoubtedly genuine. RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. : XXXVIII. Christian Piety freed from the many delusions of modern enthusiasts of all denominations. By Philalethes. 8vo. 3d. Oliver. The prefixing such a title to such a piece, is like hanging out a splendid fign to catch the eye of the traveller, and entice him to make trial of the entertainment the place affords. As to the goodness of the house, we, who have made the trial, have only to say, we met with such wretched entertainment within, that we cannot honestly recommend it to our fellowtravellers: in a word, it is the very reverse of what the fign promises. R XXXIX. A Letter to a Kept-Mistress and her Keeper. 8vo. 3d. Carpenter. A religious, but ill-judg'd, declamation against lewdness. XL. An Essay on Inspiration: or, an Attempt to shew that the Pretences of the ancient and modern Zamzummim, to that Ray of Divinity, were, and are, Deceptions. Wherein the fundamental Principles of Barclay, in his Apology for the Quakers, are refuted; the Neceffity of an external Revelation proved, and the Fiction of an internal one exploded. With a Hue and Cry after the Enthusiast; his Perfon |