works. The defign of the original author, in that preface, was to evince the dignity and importance of a philofophical en quiry into the works of nature. This he performed with that extenfive knowlege and ability for which he was diftinguished; and we think that the prefent tranflation is executed in a manner correfpondent to the fubject. Remarks on the extraordinary Conduct of the Knight of the Ten Stars, and his Italian Squire. 8vo. IS. Wilkie. In regard to the original caufe which has given rife to this difpute, we cannot fay any thing with certainty; but fo far we are fafe to pronounce, that if Mr. Bowle, who lately published a valuable edition of Don Quixote in the Spanish language, has received any juft provocation from Mr. Baretti, or others, he has, in thefe Remarks, retaliated with much indignant feverity on the character and writings of his opponents. A Letter to a refpectable Proprietor of the Navigation from the Trent to the Merfey. By Jofiah Wedgwood, F.R.S. 4to. 15. Becket. It appears that fome perfon, under the fignature of An Old Proprietor, had, in a printed account of certain tranfactions, relative to the management of the company's affairs, impeached the conduct of the committee, and particularly of Mr. Wedgwood. The charge was partly refpecting the navigation, and partly related to printed ftatements of Facts refpecting fome Differences which have arifen between the Duke of Bridgewater, and the Proprietors of the Navigation from the Trent to the Merfey. These statements the Old Proprietor afcribed entirely to Mr. Wedgwood, though they were iffued under the fanction of the committee. The object of the prefent Letter, dated April 30, 1785, is to refute the charges above mentioned: and we mutt candidly acknowlege that, fo far as we can judge from Mr. Wedgwood's representation only, he appears to have, in the moft fatisfactory manner, repelled the accufations of the Old Proprietor. We may at least affirm, that he has defended the proceedings of the committee with fuch force of argument, and fuch evidence of integrity, as fully evinces his title to the refpectable character which he univerfally holds in fociety. A Collection of Gaelic Proverbs, and Familiar Phrafes. By Donald Mac Intofb. 12mo. 25. Printed at Edinburgh. This collection is accompanied with an English translation, for the purpofe, it feems, of facilitating the ftudy of the language. Subjoined to it is The Way to Wealth,' by Dr. Franklyn, tranflated into Gaelic by Donald Mac Intosh. For any thing we know, both the tranflations may be executed with fidelity; but we are forry that our inacquaintance with the Gaelic will not permit our bearing teftimony to the abilities of honest Donald, as a tranflator. A New A New French Spelling Book, with the English to every Word; or, a Syftem of Reading, on a Plan fo entirely new as not to bear the leaft Refemblance to any Thing of the Kind hitherto attempted. By Mr. Du Mitand. 8vo. 15. Crowder. In little things there is often much labour, and it is repaid with little praife. This old apophthegm, repeated in different languages, and through fucceffive ages, has never been more exactly verified than in the work before us. Its accuracy is confiderable; for the words are not only divided with care, but the pronunciation is taught with an exactnefs, which can only arife from a nice ear, and an intimate knowlege of the power of English letters. Let not the author, however, be too fanguine he cannot reap immortal fame,' for his materials are tranfitory. He may, and we hope he will, attain a temporary credit, and the emolument which he feems, comparatively, to undervalue. On the other hand, the reader must not expect, what the limited power of letters will not afford; that he can learn the French pronunciation without the affiftance of a mafter. Mr. Mitand, by the happy aid of profody, has out-stripped his predeceffors; but there are ftill difficulties infeparable from the nature of the fubject, which no rules can teach.' Mifcellaneous Thoughts. 8vo. 4s. Marshall. Thefe Thoughts feem to have been the fuggeftion of a parent to his children. We meet with no ftudied phrases to attract attention, no round period to conceal inanity in found. What is trifling appears in open day. But there is a candour, good fenfe, and benevolence, which rife higher than ingenuity; there is a confolation under misfortune, fuperior to the vaunted precepts of the Stoic. The work confifts of Effays, Dialogues, Epiftles, and Meditations, on the most interesting subjects, and we fincerely wish it fuccefs. Letters between an illuftrious Perfonage and a Lady of Honour at B. Small 8vo. 25. fewed. Walter. A frivolous but inoffenfive production, founded upon the late frequent excurfions of the P of W. to Brighthelm ftone. London Unmasked; or the New Town Spy. 8va. 24. Adlard. The various modes of diffipation in London afford an ample field for defcription; and of this luxuriant fubject the author now before us appears to have industriously availed himself. He conducts his readers into almoft every fcene of public refort, the manners of which he delineates in colours apparently faithful. If vice and folly, to be hated, need only to be feen, he may lay claim to the merit of at least attempting a reformation of the public manners; for in the mirror which he holds up, it must be acknowledged that they are reflected in all their native deformity. The The Hiftory of the Wars in Scotland, from the Battle of the Grampian Hills, in the Year 85, to the Battle of Culloden, in the Year 1746. By John Lawrie, A. M. 12mo. 35. Printed at Edinburgh. In Scotland, as in most other countries, war forms the principal fubject of its hiftory, through many fucceffive ages: nor can we refufe to the people of that nation the honourable acknowledgment, that in maintaining their independency against every invading power, they have not only displayed an invincible fpirit of freedom, but, on many occafions, the most heroic exertions of valour. That the mountainous parts of the country could never be totally fubdued even by the Romans, is not perhaps matter of furprize; but that in the maritime districts of the kingdom, the inhabitants fhould always fucceffively oppose the Danes, who fubjected to their dominion the fouthern part of the island, is a circumftance which affords ftrong proof of the courage and activity of the Scottish nation. In this work, the battles are related in chronological order; beginning with that of the Grampian Hills, in the year 85, and ending with the battle of Culloden, in 1746. The materials appear to be carefully collected, and are recited in a perfpicuous ftyle.-Should this Hiftory prove fuccessful, the author intimates a defign of publishing an account of the battles of England, from the landing of Julius Cæfar in Britain, to the end of the laft war; and the work, we are informed, is almost ready for the prefs. Omai's Letter to the Earl of * * *. 8vo. 15. Bell. A compofition fit only for the readers, if fach there be, in the island of Ulietca. Annotations on the Trial of Mrs. Harriot Errington, Wife of George Errington, Efq. for Adultery. 8vo. Lyfter. When we inform our readers that this pamphlet contains no information but what appeared upon the trial, they will readily conclude that it is nothing elfe than a catch-penny. The comments are obfcene and difgutting, without any pretenfions to wit or humour. THE CRITICAL REVIEW. For DECEMBER, 1785. The Satires of Juvenal, tranflated into English Verse, aith, a Correct Copy of the original Latin on the oppofite Page: cleared of all the most exceptionable Paffages, and illuftrated with Marginal Notes from the best Commentators. Alfo Dr. Brewfter's Perfius: with the Original on the oppofite Page, and Notes from Cafaubon, to illuftrate the Defign and Method, as well as the Senfe, of his several Satines, By E. Owen, M. A. Two Vols. 12mo. 75. Lowndes. THE author afferts, in his Preface, that if he excels not his rambling predeceffors in fidelity, fometimes perhaps in eafe and spirit (not excepting the great and mafculine but flovenly Dryden himself), writing, as he does, under great advantages in an improved state of talle, of claffical knowlege, and of English verfification; he will freely acknowlege himfelf to be justly chargeable with great prefumption.' To the justice of this obfervation we have nothing to object, but we cannot pay an equal compliment to the policy, perhaps the modefty of it. Every fubfequent writer may undoubtedly benefit by the labours of his predeceffors in the fame line; but by fuch a declaration he voluntarily, if not oftentatiously, difclaims the advantages of his fituation. He challenges cenfure instead of conciliating favour. If he fucceeds, he leffens his own merit by proclaiming the facility of his undertaking; and if he fails from the fame caufe, aggravates his defects. Mr. Owen, however, proceeds to foften his pretenfions, which a thorough conviction of fuperior talents only could entirely justify, by affuting the reader that He means not by this to challenge the fevere eye of rigid criticifm. On the contrary, he has many explanations to make, many indulgences to request. Juvenal is a very unequal writer. In fome whole fatires, and in fome parts of his belt fatires (i. e. as his tranflator conVol. LX. Dec. 1785. ceives, D'd ceives, the third, fourth, fixth, feventh, eighth, tenth, thirteenth, and fourteenth,) he feems, as Mr. Pope fpeaks of Shakspeare," to have grown immortal in his own defpite ;" in plain language, to have written carelefly. And if the translator has confulted his own ease a little upon these occafions, he has erred in good company; his great mafter's. For, though no tranflator can equal this author in his beauties, this is no reason why a falfe glare fhould be thrown over his imperfections. In this, perhaps, the tranflator errs from lazinefs: but in the two following particulars, he errs rather from choice. Triplets, which are confidered, perhaps juftly, as blemishes in modern poetry, are fometimes to be found in this work. The reafon is, they are fometimes ufeful in tranflation to prevent diffufion.' This vindication is by no means happily conceived or expreffed. To take the author literally, he fometimes errs through choice, and fometimes through negligence.' But if triplets are useful,' and certainly in a long performance they are at least allowable, there is no error,' and confequently no apology is requifite for their introduction. But the plea of la zinefs' is not fo excufeable. If Mr. Owen tranflates carelefsly,' he overthrows his claim to fidelity. The original being carelessly written, is nothing to the purpose. It is the limner's duty to reprefent a defective feature, as well as to delineate the more pleafing lineaments of those whofe likeness he is engaged to copy. He, as well as the translator, will feldom be cenfured for foftening a harshness; but totally to neglect it, is equally blameable in either. A fimilitude is expected no lefs by the admirers of the one than the friends of the other. We fhall turn from the Preface, where the author's ideas are not in general developed with fo much precifion as we could wish, to the tranflation itself. In the Fourth Satire Juvenal gives us a ludicrous anecdote of Domitian. He introduces it by invoking the heroic muse; affures us that res vera agitur,' and preferves a tumid dignity of ftyle through the whole ftory, to make the burlefque more confpicuous. Cum jam femianimum laceraret Flavius orbem Incidit Adriaci fpacium admirabile rhombi, Ante domum Veneris, quam Dorica fuftinet Ancon, . When |