This is an humorous fatire on the little arts, the low policy, and various inftances of mifmanagement, practifed in the lower orders, not of academies but of boarding-fchools. It may rank next to, though not quite on an equal footing with, Swift's admirable Directions to fervants.

Art. 20. The Tutor's Guide: Being a complete Syftem of Arithmetic, with various Branches in the Mathematics. By Charles Vyfe, Teacher of the Mathematics, and Master of the Academy in Portland-Street. 12mo. 35. Robinfon and Roberts, 1770. Arithmetic, and the inferior branches of the mathematics, which are the proper fubjects of a school-book, have of late years been fo thoroughly ftudied, and are in general fo well understood, that we can expect little novelty and variety in publications of this kind :it is a plain and beaten tract, in which none can err, who have any fhare of genius and application.-This however is no reafon, why thofe who have the care of youth, and to whom reputation is an advantage, fhould not recommend to the approbation of the public that plan of education, which they have adopted and purfued.

The best method of conveying inftruction is derived from experience; and though the Author of the Tutor's Guide does not pretend to boast of new discoveries, it must be allowed, that he has felected a great variety of neceffary and useful rules for obtaining a thorough knowledge in thofe fciences, which depend upon arithmetic and his book will be found particularly useful in this refpect, that it contains a very confiderable number of queftions to exemplify the rules he has laid down, and to exercise the attention of the learner.Many of them, it may be thought, furpass the capacity of young fcholars; but this circumftance is no just objection against the book itfelf: it rather recommends the work to an after-review, when the understanding is enlarged and ripened.-The plan and execution of Mr. Vyfe's performance do honour to his judgment and application, and entitle it to the general notice of those who are entrusted with the education of youth.

The Author will, we hope, teach, and not learn his scholars, that a fraction is not always lefs than an unit †.

Art. 21. Selim's Letters, expofing the Mal-practices of the Office of Ordnance; with the Particulars of the Enquiry of the BOARD of Ordnance, and their Determination on the Charge exhibited against Thomas Hartwell. With a Preface and Conclufion. Svo. 2 s. 6 d. fewed. Miller. 1771.

Thefe letters were first published in the London Evening Post. They contain an heavy accufation against the Gentlemen of the Ordnance, particularly Sir Charles Frederic and Mr. Hartwell; whom the Author charges with great embezzlement of his Majesty's ftores. Selim has fhewn a warm zeal in the profecution of this ill looking affair; and if it proceeds merely from an honest regard for the public, it is certainly very laudable. But we must obferve, that the extreme virulence of his language, and the monstrous torrent of perfonal abufe which he has poured upon the above-named Gentlemen, will be apt to raise a fufpicion in the mind of a candid Reader, witli Page 2., compared with page 168. refpe&

Page 2, of preface.

refpect to our Author's motives, and the principles on which he has proceeded: and, indeed, he fomewhere lets fall an expreffion, intimating that his father had, on fome occafion, been betrayed by Sir Charles. If, therefore, it should have appeared to the Board before which Selim had, very lately, brought the cause to an hearing, with refpect to Mr. Hartley, that there was any degree of perfonal or family pique in the cafe, it is not much to be wondered at if they did regard this profecution as in fome measure malicious; and accordingly difmiffed the culprit with only a moderate reprehenfion. Be this, however, as it may, Selim, affures the public that he will not fuffer matters to reft here; but that he is determined to carry his complaint into the houfe of Commons: to which, we must fuppofe, the Gentlemen accufed can, if they know themselves to be innocent, have no objection. Their characters are publicly impeached; and they will no doubt, be glad to have them publicly cleared. If, however, they are found guilty, it will probably fet on foot an enquiry, the confequences of which may be highly advantageous to the nation, which, we are afraid (from many anecdotes that we have heard) hath long, too long, been fhamefully plundered by her fervants, in moft, if not all, the public offices,-to the amount, it is to be feared, of MANY thoufand pounds a-year! And should these abuses be, in any confiderable measure, remedied, in consequence of Selim's activity, fpirit, and perfeverance, his country will certainly be much obliged to him, whatever may have been his principal motive for purfuing the inquiry, or however indifcreetly and intemperately he may have conducted himself in the courfe of it.

Art. 22. Proceedings of a General Court-Martial, held at Penfacola in West Florida, March 16, April 20, 1768. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. Johnston. 1770.

The accufations brought against Major Farmer, though fome of them of the most atrocious nature, do not feem to have had any real foundation, and are fupported by no evidence. His profecutors appear to have acted against him from perfonal refentment, and formed the wicked defign of depriving him of his reputation, his fortune, and his life. In this they were defeated by the court-martial before which he was tried, and by his Majefty's juftice in confirming the fentence of that court. But though he has recovered his honour and his liberty, we are forry to obferve, that his accufers have been the inftruments of depriving him of his rank, and his military cha- ́ racter.

Art. 23. A Treatife on the Hair, fhewing its Generation, Means of its Prefervation, Caufes of its Decay, how to recover it when loft, what occafions its different Colours: with the probable Means to alter it from one Colour to another; its moft proper Management in different Climates, and in all the Stages and Circumstances of life. Alfo a Defcription of the most fashionable methods of dreffing Ladies and Gentlemen's Hair both natural and artificial. Addreffed to the Ladies of Great Britain. By

*The Author fpeaks of Mr. Hartley as the friend of Sir Charles; and pofitively connects thefe Gentlemen together as companions in guilt.

David Ritchie, Hairdreffer, Perfumer, &c. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Solá at the Author's Shop in Rupert-ftreet, and by Wilkie in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1770.

This hair-doctor, in imitation of many of his brethren of the. faculty, has written a treatife to recommend his own noftrums. Art. 24. The Youth's Geographical Grammar; containing geographical Definitions, Problems on the Terreftrial Globe, the Situations, Dimenfions, Boundaries, Divifions, Capes, Rivers,. Harbours, Mountains, Idlands, Climates, Productions, and Manufactures, of all the Countries in the known World; with an Account of the Religion profefled, and Form of Government esta blished in each of them. To which is added, I. An alphabetical. Index of Kingdoms, States, and the most confiderable Islands ; mentioning the Situation, Religion, Government and chief Town of each. II. An alphabetical Index of Cities, Towns, &c. with an Account of the Provinces, Kingdoms, and Quarters of the World in which they are. By Stephen Addington. Small 8vo. 4 s. bound. Buckland. 1770.

A judicious compendium, drawn up by the Author for the inftruction of his own pupils, and may be useful in schools.

Art. 25. A Letter to the Members of the Provident and other. Societies, established with a View to fecure a Provifion in Old Age,-on the Impropriety and Infufficiency of their prefent Plans.. 8vo. Is. Brotherton, &c.

The obfervations contained in this letter, appear to deserve the moft ferious attention of the feveral focieties alluded to in the title. The Author not only fhews the defects of the feveral plans on which.. thefe focieties are formed, but endeavours to point out proper remedies, by calculations and tables: from the accuracy of which the merit of his letter will, chiefly, be determined.

*

Art. 26. Analects in Verfe and Profe, chiefly dramatical, fatirical, and paftoral. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. fewed. Shatwell.

"The harmless efforts of a harmless mufe!"

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 27. Sermons on Regeneration: Wherein the Nature, Neceffity, and Evidences of it are confidered, and practically improved. By Jofeph Barber. 12mo. 2 s. bound. Buckland. 1770.

Thefe difcourfes are written in the ftrain of what is now confidered as old divinity, and to thofe who are partial to that scheme they will no doubt be acceptable. Truth is, and must be, always the fame; but there are fubje&ts on which it is difficult to determine where it lies, though fome perfons are very pofitive that they have difcovered it. There is great difference in men's reafonings and apprehenfions; and the modes of thinking as well as of expreffion, upon all topics, vary in a courfe of years, while at the fame time wife and good men do not, when they come to be rightly understood, fo greatly diffent from each other, upon important points, as is often imagined. But in regard to fubjects which admit of debate, as to

There is no mention of the Author's name in the title, but we : find the dedication fubícribed George Savile Carey,

the

the meaning of words and phrafes, and points of doctrine, on which the most confiderable perfons have had different ideas, it becomes every one to deliver his thoughts with fome diffidence and caution, however fupported by any established fyftem, or generally received opinion.

In relation to the fermons before us, fo far as they are any way calculated to ferve the cause of truth, or folid piety and virtue, we can with them fuccefs: but fhould they in any meafure tend to promote enthusiasm and self-conceit, ftrife and uncharitableness, we muft take the oppofite fide. Some parts of them are ferious and practical, others fpeculative and difputable, and therefore not greatly tending to edification. Poffibly if the Author was carefully to enquire into the true and original meaning of fome words, phrafes, or texts, or to confider them in their connection, he might fee reafon fometimes to alter his fentiments upon them, or acknowledge at leaft the fenfe to be doubtful.

Art. 28. A Treatife on the Faith and Hope of the Gospel. In two Parts. 12mo. 25. Nicoll. 1770.

This treatife is of the fame ftamp with the book juft mentioned. We have been at fome lofs to determine whether the Writer is an Hutchinfonian, or Sandemanian, Methodist, or Moravian. But we' think (as we do of the former) that he has really a good end in view. He complains that the faith and hope of the Gospel have been confounded together by many writers, as if they were but one thingthat fome have reprefented faith as if it were a perfon with eyes and hands-that others have reprefented the faith of the Gofpel as confifting of feveral different acts of faith-which has occafioned great difputes and confufion; all owing, as he apprehends, to not. understanding the meaning of the word faith in its different acceptations in the Scriptures. Our Author is defirous of removing this confufion, and fetting the truth before us with perfpicuity: but notwithstanding his good intentions, and though he often repeats the fame thing, that he may, we fuppofe, the better drive it into us, yet he writes fo much about it, and about it, that the Reader may fometimes be long in difcovering his meaning, and when he does obtain it, be doubtful, after all, whether it is the truths

Faith, we are told, is a perfuafion or affent of the mind, arifing from teftimony or evidence. What we believe is the perfuafion of our mind; and that which perfuades or convinces our minds, is evidence of fome kind. To believe a thing means to affent and give credit to it as true.-The faith, belief or believing of the Gofpel is a perfuafion of mind that the Gospel is true; yea the very truth of God. It is the believing of God's faithful teftimony concerning his fon Jefus Chrift, and upon God's authority, and at God's command believing in Jefus Chrift and his righteoufnefs. The af furance of faith is a firm, full, affured perfuafion and conviction of mind of the truth of the Gofpel.-It is being fully fatisfied in the mind of the truth of the Gospel. To believe the Gofpel is to be perfuaded or convinced that the Gofpel is true.'

Who can ever forget or be doubtful concerning the meaning of a word, thus peremptorily and powerfully inculcated upon us? But after all his plain account of faith, which is greatly enlarged upon,

One

when we come to be told how it is to be attained, we find that no inftructions, and no endeavours of men can poffibly effect it: man may teach another Latin, Greek, or Hebrew, arts and fciences, trade or business: one man may teach another to make a profeffion of faith, as children are taught to fay a catechism: but no man in all the world can teach another to know the Lord, the juft God, and the Saviour.' This faith, according to the Writer, is produced inftantaneously, it comes not with obfervation, but in a way, and manner, and at a time, unexpected, according to the purpose of the moft High.' If this faith is thus effential, and if it be thus predetermined concerning all perfons whether they shall have it or not, one confequence feems to arife, viz. that as there is no neceffity for our taking any care or thought about it, neither was there any occafion for this honeft man's taking fo much pains to inform us of its nature, and declare its importance. In the courfe of his enquiries we meet with a few criticisms, or different verfions of the original Greek text, concerning one or two of which translations, though pretty positively affumed, it may be justly questioned whether they they are at all valid.

Art. 29. A compendious View of the Grounds of the Teutonic PhiloJophy: With Confiderations by Way of Enquiry into the Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of Jacob Behmen, commonly called the Teutonic Philofopher. Alfo feveral Extracts from his Writings; and fome Words ufed by him explained. By a Gentleman retired from Bufinefs. 12mo. 4 s. bound. Bathurst, &c. 1770.

The Editor of this work pleads fo ftrongly, in his preface, in behalf of moderation and candour: he fays fo much, and fome things fo fenfibly, concerning the imperfection of human knowledge, the mistakes to which all are liable, and the poffibility that others, whom we cenfure, may have made advancements and improvements beyond ourselves; that (though even here we obferved an enthusiastic tincture) we were yet inclined to hope that we should find something more intelligible and rational than is generally to be expected from the works of Jacob Behmen; but, alas! when we came to look farther into the book, all was myfticifm and rhapfody: and we might add folly, though we feel fome kind of reluctance in being fevere upon a man who fo greatly intercedes for candour, as the Publisher of this work does in the preface we have mentioned. But if this book does contain good fenfe, reafon, religion, or truth, we must acknowledge it is far beyond our ability to discover it; for who can comprehend fuch fentiments or expreffions as thefe: when speaking of what is called eternal nature, it is faid, God brings forth the air, which blows up the love-fire effence, and together with it conftitutes the fixth form of eternal nature. The fire effence being placed between two dangerous enemies, the darknefs on the one hand, and the water on the other :-therefore that the fire of his eternal furnace might never be in danger of being extinguished, the great Creator of all things brought forth the air effence to blow up the fire, that it might not go out-The air fpirit does not only moderate the wrath fire, but it alfo blows up the love-fire effence. This love-fire has its root in the meek water, from whence it springs, as the fierce