cility of judgment and illiberality of temper. The Hints to the Legislature on Evangelical Preaching, by a Barrister, display considerable vigour of mind, and occasionally powers of reasoning, far above mediocrity. But the title merits reprehension, and the whole tenour of both the tracts, is, in regard to their spirit and tendency, highly antichristian. We are ourselves decidedly hostile to the doctrines which the Barrister combats, but we deprecate every atteinpt, either direct or by implication, to call in the interference of the civil magistrate in what relates merely to religious belief. We were no less grieved by this violation of Christian temper, than we were surprised by the ignorance which in the second part he betrays of the history and the institutions of the Dissenters in the metropolis, whom he has thought fit to implicate in indiscriminate censure. We cannot conclude this part of our retrospect, without expressing our approbation of Dr. Carpenter's judicious and truly useful Introduction to the Geography of the New Testament, and recommending it to the perusal and the study of our readers. Books on EDUCATION have been, as usual, numerous in the course of the last year; but none of them are entitled to distinct notice in this retrospect. On the subject of PHILOLOGY, Dr. Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language holds a more than common rank. Our CLASSICAL department in the present volume, exhibits no very distinguishing feature, although it contains some works of sterling value. Its principal articles are republications of editions of ancient authors, from the labours of foreign editors. It is, however, enriched by some translations which are likely to rank among the standard works of that class in our language. We would particularly specify, Capt. Elton's elegant and faithful version of the Ascrean Bard, and Mr. Hodgson's spirited and nervous translation of the Roman Satirist. Nor may we well omit to mention Mr. Deare's and Mr. Stawell's versions of the Georgics of Virgil. The latter writer has enhanced the value of his labours, by the excellent illustrative notes on Agriculture, which he has subjoined to his work. Mr. Hort has presented the rising generation, of both sexes, with a pleasing and most acceptable guide to the knowledge of ancient Classical Mythology, in his new Pantheon; a work which will convey to them the information of most consequence, at their age, to acquire, without danger of offending against delicacy, or tainting the purity of their minds. POETRY. In our last volume, we delivered our opinion that poetical taste and talent did not appear to be on the decline amongst us. The publications in this department, which our present volume exhibits, will amply justify us in the judgment we had formed. The press has indeed, as an former occasions, teemed with the crude, the feeble, and the silly effusions of would-be poets, who, without its wings, dare to emulate the eagle flight of genius; but these have commonly met their reward in the neglect or the contempt of the reading public. While, however, the public voice has consigned to oblivion what had no claims to support, it has, with an equal regard to taste and sound judgment, held up to patronage the productions of genuine talent. The Marmion of Mr. Scott is, beyond comparison, the most important, the richest poetical treasure of the year. The critic cannot indeed be indifferent to the defects which are, in many parts, visible in the structure of the tale, and in the mechanical execution or language of the poem; but its beauties are so numerous, and so brilliant, so frequently flash upon us, with dazzling lustre and enchanting force, that we almost forget the improbability of incident, and the quaintness of expression, which we should otherwise reprobate, in the exquisite interest which, as we proceed, chains and rivets our attention to the passing scene. It is indeed inferior to the Lay of the Last Minstrel, in the more tender tone of feeling and interest which that exquisite poem awakens; but, on the other hand, it contains passages of a different character, of animated eloquence, to which the other can furnish no equal. From this balance of merits and defects Mr. Scott may not perhaps have added to his reputation by its publication; but if, as we are satisfied is the case, he have even kept the ground he before occupied, he has no reason to feel uneasy. Mr. Bland's Tales, in a different school of poetry, are productions of real merit, and give a promising earnest of future eminence. After the success, and the popular reception of Beattie's pleasing poem of the Minstrel, it might well have been deemed a hazardous attempt to finish what be had left incomplete. This task has, however, been well and successfully commenced. The third book, which has made its appearance, is stamped with unequivocal marks of genius, and is executed with such a happy accordance with the style and spirit of the original, that we cannot but ardently wish to see the completion of the plan by this anonymous author. Mr. Anstey has rendered a proper tribute of respect to his father, by the publication of a collected edition of his works. The Bath Guide will be read as long as a taste for chaste humour and genuine poetry has existence amongst us. Cowper's translations of Milton's Latin and Italian Poems, form an important addition to our libraries. Such a translator, and such an author, are mutually worthy of each other. : Among the smaller productions of the year, we may mention a new volume of miscellaneous pieces, by Mrs. Opie, in her usual interesting style and another small collection of poems, by Miss Betham, which we have noticed with approbation. The lovers of romance will be gratified by Mr. Rose's version of Partenopex of Blois, which he has executed in a manner highly creditable to himself, and to which he has subjoined a very pleasing original poem, founded on the well known catastrophe of William the Second, in New Forest.-In our DRAMATIC department, the most prominent article is Mr. Douce's Illustrations of Shakspeare. A work from so able and competent a critic on our great bard, could not fail to awaken high expectation; and we are confident that his execution of the task he had laid down for himself, has gratified the well formed hopes of his friends and the public. NOVELS. Novels have as usual deluged the shops of the booksellers, and the circulating libraries of the kingdom; and as much sickening absurdity is found in their composition as in any former year. Some works in this class, however, maintain a different character. Besides the republica. tion of the old romance of Palmerin, stamped with the high approbation of the criticising curate of the renowned Don Quixote, some native productions are in this place entitled to honourable mention. Miss Hamilton's Cottagers of Glenbournie, though, on account of the extent to which she has introduced the vulgar dialect of Scotland, it can never be generally popular in the South, is a work that will be perused with much interest, as exhibiting a lively, and we believe, a faithful picture of manMiss Owenson's Woman, or Ida of Athens, presents us also with some very lively and pleasing sketches of scenery and manners of a different kind, interwoven with an interesting tale. The Ring and the Well, and the Wild Irish Boy, by anonymous authors, hold a very respectable rank in their class. ners. NATURAL HISTORY. The publications on subjects of Natural History, noticed in our present volume, though not very numerous, contain among them some works of sterling value. Mr. Donovan's History of British Fishes will long remain a very honourable example of active research and acute discrimination. The figures and descriptions of new species of plants from Guiana, by Mr. Rudge, confer on him a substantial claim to the regard of all who are fellow labourers with him in the investigation of this interesting department of natural knowledge. Dr. Smith, in performing the laborious office of editor to the Flora Græca of the late Dr. Sibthorp, is erecting a splendid monument to the memory of his deceased friend, and procuring for himself a new title, in addition to the many that he already possesses, to the public esteem. Mr. D. Turner's elaborate History of the Fuci is gradually advancing towards completion, and sustains, undiminished, the high character acquired at its outset. Finally, the Linnean Society has published a new volume of its transactions, worthy of the associated Naturalists of Britain, and peculiarly honourable to its illustrious president, and the already well known names of Montague, Marsham, and Kirby. An anonymous translator has also done good service, by rendering the classical work of Dr. Sprengel, on Cryptogamous vegetables, accessible to the English student of this difficult branch of General Botany. SCIENCE AND EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY. Under this department, we lament that we have not been able, in the present volume, to continue our notice of Dr. Rees's Cyclopædia, the work which ranks highest in this division, and which has been carried on with undiminished labour and ability, and with increased activity and expedition. We purpose to resume our review of it in our next. We have, however, devoted some of our pages to a most useful and well executed work of a similar kind, but much more contracted plan, which has been brought forward under the able direction of Mr. W. Nicholson. Some valuable papers will be found in the Philosophical Transactions of the last year. Our AGRICULTURAL publications contain nothing peculiarly remarkable; nor in our MISCELLANEOUS chapter, the receptacle of works whose mixed nature, or non-descript character, exclude them from a lawful place in any of the regular departments, shall we select for notice more than one, whose importance entitles it to this distinction. 'This is Mr. Scott's edition of Dryden's works. Agreeably to the just sentiment of Sir William Jones our northern bard has by this act raised a Monument worthy of his name and reputation to the memory of the great master of English poetry. The retrospective glance which we have thus taken of the literary productions of the last year has afforded us sincere gratification. The history of literature is the history of the human mind; and the books which any period produces form the best, and generally speaking constitute a tolerably just, and accurate, scale for estimating the degree of talent, of mental cultivation, and of real knowledge, by which it is distinguished. The works to the review of which the present volume has been devoted, yield us the satisfactory assurance, that our national literary career is progressive; and we shall submit them to the consideration of our readers, with this pleasing reflection, that, although the whole continent of Europe has been convulsed by political occurrences of vast magnitude, and, in many instances, of calamitous result, and the public mind at home has been engaged and agitated by the contagious influence and interesting aspect of the circumstances of other nations, the love and the pursuit of knowledge have continued undiminished, and the efforts to enlarge the powers of the human understanding, and to extend its sphere of operation and of enjoyment, have been unremitting, and to an almost unprecedented degree, successful and triumphant. February 20, 1809. THE EDITOR. TABLE OF CONTENTS, With the Prices of the various Works in Boards, unless CHAPTER I.-Voyages and Travels. 1 Description of Mount Caucasus, by C. Wilkinson, 2 vols. 8vo. 15s. Taylor 2 Travels in Asia, &c. by Abr. Parsons, 4to. 11. 5s. Longman and Co. 3 Travels in Turkey, by Thos. Macgill, 2 vols. 12mo. 9s. Murray 4 Journal of Captains Lewis and Clarke's Voyage fof Discovery up the Missouri, 5 Travels in America, by Thomas Ashe, Esq. 3 vols. 12mo. 11. 1s. Phillips 6 Voyage to Demerary, &c. by H. Bolingbroke, Esq. 4to. 11. 7s. Phillips 7 Characteristical Views of Spain and Italy, by John Andrews, 8vo. 9s. Chapple 56 8 Tour through Spain and Part of Portugal, 2 vols. 12mo. 10s. 6d. Phillips 1 Introduction to Pinkerton's Abridgment of his Geography, by John Williams 12mo. 4s. bound, Longman and Co. 2 Familiar Introduction to Geography, by J. Bidlake, 12mo. 2s. Murray 4 Exercises on the Globes, by Wm. Butler, 12mo. 6s. bound, Harris CHAPTER III.-Foreign Topography and Antiquities. 1 Geography and Antiquities of Ithaca, by W. Gell, Esq. 4to. 2. 12s. 6d. CHAPTER IV.-British Topography and Antiquities. 1 Topographical Dictionary of England, by N. Carlisle, Esq. 2 vols. 4to. 51. 5s. 79 |