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Coinciding with the reigning manners, may yet, if duly studied, add a higher finish to the page of the historian. On this subject, or on any other of original inquiry, Dr. Sayers may exert his talents with success: his style is perspicuous, and bears evident marks of good sense; but we think he wastes time that might be better employed, when he prints such essays as the greater part of those before us.

ART. 30. A short Essay on the Construction and Advantages of Light Artillery acting with Infantry, &c. By Major John Aldington. Svo. 25. Longman. 1804.

Major Aldington seems to have studied the theory of war with considerable attention, and has improved his knowledge by practi cal experience. He strongly recommends that to every battalion or brigade should be attached a certain number of guns, to be placed in intervals of companies, and constructed upon a plan which he describes at some length; the principal thing to be considered in this construction is strength and lightness, so that they may be able to accompany the infantry over all kinds of grounds, in the quickest movements the service could require, and might also be able to perform all the movements and evolutions in concert with them, without being any impediment or obstruction. This we certainly think a desirable improvement; inasmuch as the French, as major Aldington justly observes, owed their success in the last war against the Austrian and Prussian troops (which were equal to them in numbers, skill, and valour) principally to the powerful assistance derived from a numerous train of transportable artillery. Now it is manifest that the best and only way of succeeding against artillery is to oppose it with a sufficient number of guns, or to close with the enemy as soon as possible. And when undisciplined troops have to contend with regular veterans, what manœuvre is so likely to ensure success, as that of destroying their order by breaking their line?

Another innovation which our author wishes strongly to see adopted, is the furnishing of the third or rear rank with loaded spears instead of muskets. These spears to be of a sufficient length to fall three feet, when balanced in the hand, beyond the charged bayonet of the front rank. The shafts to be well loaded at the butt: this is indispensable; as otherwise, the greatest weight lying in the point, they might easily be beaten down or parried. We recollect the use of this weapon to have been recommended by that celebrated military character, marshal Saxe; and think that it might be rendered of infinite utility, for it can be but on very few occa. sions that the third rank can make use of the bayonet.

Upon the whole, although we cannot agree with major Aldington throughout,-as, for instance, upon the inutility and impropriety of rifles,-yet we think that he has done well in giving his opis nions to the world, and recommend them to the notice of military

men.

ART. 31.-A Treatise on Naval Courts Martial. By John Delafons, one of the senior Pursers in his Majesty's Navy. 10s. 6d. Steel. 1805.

We earnestly recommend this treatise to all who are interested in its subject. It is extremely comprehensive, and is written with great judgment and perspicuity. The defects in our naval code are pointed out with clearness and delicacy; and when the author recommends the interposition of the legislature to remove those defects, we are pleased with his modesty, and applaud his judgment.

If it be true, as we have heard, that this old and faithful servant of the public is now quite destitute of employment, we hope and trust that this vigorous and useful effort of his old age will not pass unnoticed by those who have the power to reward it.

ART. 32.-A Father's Gift to his Children : consisting of Original Essays, Tales, Fables, Reflections, &c. By W. Mavo), LL.D.Vicar of Hurley, Berks; and Chaplain to the Earl of Moira. 2 Vols. 8vo. Phillips. 1805.

The zeal and industry of Dr. Mavor are indefatigable: the numerous publications with which he has enriched the library of youth are so well known, that it is necessary only to announce his name, to ensure a speedy sale of whatever productions he may think proper to present to the world.

A Father'sGift to his Children' deservedly adds to the well-earned fame of this useful writer. These little stories, originally written for the author's own children, both amuse and instruct; yet the language, though in general easy and natural, sometimes borders upon a turgidity not comprehensible by the capacities of those for whose use the work is intended. This is a defect which we have frequently lamented in many of Dr. Mavor's productions: and which, as it is very easy, it is much to be wished that he would endeavour, to avoid. We are of the same opinion with Dr. Mavor: that dry lectures are seldom found to leave any lasting impression; but if the moral you wish to inculcate be conveyed through an interesting story or an incidental reflection, the effect is seldom lost. We therefore make no scruple of recommending this entertaining collection to the juvenile class of readers; convinced that they may hereby be allured to a more ardent cultivation of letters, and the study of the liberal sciences.

ART. 33.-Les Promenades de Victorine, ou, Morale de l'Enfance.-The Walls of Victorine, or the Morals of Childhood; designed for the Use of Young Ladies, and proper to form their Minds and Hearts. By Mademoiselle Le Noir. 2nd Edition, corrected and improved. 12m0. 38. 6d. bound. Boosey. 1804.

The pernicious effect of that verbose, affectedly humane, meretrieious, sentimen al morality, which disgraces without exception the whole French literature, cannot be too rigidly guarded against: nor can parents and teachers be sufficiently impressed with the ab

solute necessity of inculcating English morality, and that only, in the minds of youth. Children well taught the principles of justice, will practise real humanity as a necessary consequence.

Miss Le Noir's work on infantile morality consists of twentyfour evenings' conversations of a mother with her daughter, who is only six years old. They are chiefly drawn from English authors; and, with the exception of an excessive maternal fondness, and too frequent expressions of pernicious flattery, may be considered as conveying the principles of English morality. We can therefore justly recommend this work as a more safe vehicle to young ladies of a knowledge of the French language, than any foreign one extant. To render it still more useful, many common colloquial phrases, expressions of adulation, and the repetitions of à dire le vrai, or à dire vrai, should be retrenched; as alike incompatible with good taste, elegance, and true morality,

ART. 34.-A new. Introduction to Reading. 12mo. 2d, or cleven skillings per hundred. Gurney. 1804.

We notice this very little book, which consists of one duodecimo sheet, and whose price is twopence, since even the smallest fishes find their place in the ocean.'* It was compiled at the request of the Sunday School Union, for the use of those highly laudable establishments the Sunday schools in general. We recommend it to those who have the care of the instruction of children.

ART. 35.-A Guide to the Tongues, Ancient and Modern; being short and comprehensive Grammars of the English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, with the Arabic, Chaldaic, and Syriac Languages, each at one View, and so contrived that a Person of moderate Capacity may be made capable in a few Hours to make out Sentences in any one of them. By George Bayley, Teacher of the Mathematics. Folio. Kirby. 1804.

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ART. 36.-Second Report of the Committee for managing the Patriotic Fund, established at Lloyd's Coffee-House, 20th July, 1803. 8vo. 25. Phillips.

Among the many laudable institutions of which this country has so just cause to be proud, none is more deserving of encouragement than the Patriotic Fund. Notwithstanding the calumnies and gross misrepresentations of certain weekly scribblers, who have used every exertion which malevolence or the spirit of faction could dictate, both to undermine the characters of the individuals who compose the committee, and to prejudice the public against

Gibbon.

the utility of this institution, we are happy to find their attempts baffled, and that the fund is daily increasing. We cannot too ardently recommend this establishment to the patronage of those who are not acquainted with its merits; nor can we contribute more grateful satisfaction to such as have honoured it with their encouragement, than to say that the rewards mentioned in this report to have been already conferred, equally attest the judicious manage ment of the committee, and the meritorious services of the objects who have received the well-earned recompence of their bravery.Perhaps it may be useful to present our readers with a statement of the funds of this institution:

Amount of 3 per cent. Cons. Annuities subscribed £21,200 0

• Amount of Subscriptions in Money

• Interest received from Public Funds, viz.

From 3 per Cent. Consols

3 per Cent. reduced

Long Annuities

158,343,5 10

£6804

4500

1700

13,004

£171,347 5 10

Vested in Public Securities, viz.

In 3 per Cent. Consols £130,000 cost 69,366 5

3 per Cent. reduced 100,000
Long Annuities

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1,800 28,275 0

151,253 15 0

£20,093 10 10

•Paid on account of Sums voted in Money, Ho

1 6

norary Rewards, and contingent Expences of 14,921
the Institution

Balance 5,172 9 4

In Subscriptions unpaid but expected £498 7 0
In Cash and Bills in hands of

Messrs. Boldero, Lushington
& Co. Bankers

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4674 2 4

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£5,172 94

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CORRESPONDENCE.

WE were exceedingly flattered by the receipt of a letter from 'A sincere Lover of Truth;' and are only prevented by motives of delicacy from complying with his request, and printing it at length. Whenever the writer of that letter, or any of the society of which he professes himself a member, shall think proper to favour the Critical Review with their assistance, they may be assured that their communications will be gratefully received.

In calling Mr. Elton's Poems pretty, we gave the general, and surely no unpleasing, character of those poems; and it was not to be expected that we should select every line or stanza that was worthy of a higher epithet. In saying that they would be admired by the ladies, we certainly recommended them to a very numerous and elegant class of readers; and our self-love is not a little gratified on finding, from the author's well-written and polite, though complaining letter, that they are in fact admired by the best female critic of the present age.

We have great pleasure in complying with the request contained in Mr. Rough's letter. That gentleman desires us to inform our readers, that the 'four volumes of Wilkes's Letters, published by Longman and Co. which were noticed in our last, were purchased of other relatives of Mr. Wilkes, not of his surviving daughter, and that neither that daughter (who is his wife) nor himself have one sixpence interest directly or indirectly either in Mr. Almon's or Mr. Longman's publications.'

Being convinced of the philanthropic intentions of Dr. Wood of Newcastle, we would cheerfully have paid immediate attention to his Plain Remarks on Fever,' but that pamphlet is not to be procured: Mr. Murray, whom Dr. Wood speaks of as the publisher, knows nothing of it.

Mr. R. of Lincoln's Inn will observe, that one of the books mentioned in his letter is noticed in this present number. Of our predecessor's motives for neglecting his Observations on the Rules of Descent' we know nothing; but that book is now of so old a standing, that it will not be consistent with the plan of the present proprietor to review it.

For the same reason, we fear, we must decline noticing Mr. Pye's Dictionary of Ancient Geography.'

ERRATA in our last Number.

49, line 9 from bottom, for I read It.-P. 154, line 13, for dež suratav read who co155, line 11, for Altho' Hawkesworth read Hawkesworth also.

and 23, for epa and bavara read airpa and Ovara.—P. 168, line 11, ad indignatio.-P. 189, end of line 18, the word part is omitted.

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