A perfon must be little acquainted with the method in which the ftudies of royal pupils are conducted, not to be able to judge, how far fuch a work as this may properly be faid to be the peformance of the Dauphin: he must be less acquainted with the manners of a court and of courtiers, not to know with what address an artful prelate, writing to the Pope, would acquit himself, and in how favourable a light he would endeavour to place the abilities of his pupil; and leaft of all must he be acquainted with the character of Mr. Boffuet, not to know what fort of a history to expect, when he was the fountain-head from which it was to flow. The ingenious writer of the Letters concerning mythology, hath ftrongly marked the character of this prelate, and, in a very agreeable manner, contrafted it with another, archbishop Fenelon's, in almost every respect its oppofite: with this we fhall difmifs the prefent article. 66 Boffuet," he fays, "was a prelate of vaft parts, learned, eloquent, artful, and afpiring. By thefe qualities he rofe to the first dignities in the Galican church; while another of finer fancy, and better heart, humble, holy, and fincere, was cenfured at Rome, and disgraced at the French court. Both were entrusted with the edcuation of princes, and acquitted themselves of those duties in a very different manner. The one endeavoured to make his royal pupil noble, virtuous, and juft, a father to his people, and a friend to mankind, by the maxims of bis inimitable TELEMAQUE. The other, in his difcourfes upon univerfal hiftory, is perpetually turning his princes eyes from mankind to the CHURCH, as the facred object of his care, from whofe everlasting stem whoever separates is loft; and for whofe interefts, in the extirpation of herefy, and aggrandizement of her minilters, he is like his father, Lewis XIV. to exert all the power he has received from God ." Vid. Let. concerning Mythol. 16th letter; and Difc. far l'hift, univerf part ii. § 12. Art. 26. The School for Wives, in a Series of Letters. Izmo. 3s. Dodfley. To treat this little production with any degree of severity would be unpardonable, as it is the performance of a lady; and, if we may be permitted to judge from the prevailing fpirit and tendency of the piece, a lady of moft amiable difpofition and character. A critical reader would perhaps be inclined to cenfure the style in which the letters are wrote, as formal and stiff; deftitute of that ease, which we always expect from a female pen, and efpecially in compofitions of this kind; and not fufficiently diverfified for the variety of characters that are introduced. The open and unartful manner, in which the fable itself is conducted, will likewife be judged an imperfection. But, if without the fpirit of criticism, and with a difpofition in favour of virtue, the female reader can overlook these defects, and refign herself to the conduct of our amiable inftructor; who, not from the love of fame, but a much nobler principle, is here difpenfing the wifeft and most important maxims; the may hope, if not delighted with the elegancy of her entertainment, to be improved by it. In every attempt to communicate the fage inftructions of virtue and wisdom, and efpe cially cially to the gay and unthinking part of mankind, for whom this fpecies of writing feems principally intended, we could wish to fee the utile and the dulce, the improving and the entertaining agreeably interwoven at the fame time, where a performance difcovers internal marks, that it was the principal intention of its author to promote virtue and good manners, and is in fome good measure calculated to answer this worthy purpofe; we do not think ourfelves at liberty to speak of it in that pert and flippant manner, which those, who value themselves for their critical skill, fometimes do. Art. 27. The Lady's Compleat Letter-Writer; being a Collection of Letters written by Ladies, not only on the more important, religious, moral, and focial Duties, but on Subjects of every other Kind that ufually intereft the Fair S. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Lownds. Collected from former compilations of the fame kind, from Richardfon's letter-writing novels, and from our best periodical papers. This book may afford both amufement and inftruction to the young ladies of the prefent age, who have greatly the advantage of their grandmothers, in regard to models for epiftolary writing. In the last age, the poor pedantic academy of compliments, or fuch like trafh, contained the belt forms and rules for managing every kind of correspondence; but in thefe more cultivated times, the cafe is greatly altered: However, after all; a knowlege of true politeness, and the manners by which perfons, in what is called genteel life, are diftinguished, can only be attained by mingling, and freely converfing, with fuch persons, upon an equal footing. Art. 28. Every Woman her own Broker; or, a new Guide to the Alley: Tiluftrated with Examples in real Life. Containing proper and neceffary Instructions for every Woman, and plainly pointing out the Method of making the most of her own Charms, without the Affiftance of Female Brokers, Tally-Women, &c. Gi. Izmo. 35. Cooke. Need we inform the reader, that this work has no relation to the tranfactions of Change Alley? The title fufficiently intimates its defignation to a different quarter of the town. The ladies of a certain ftamp are much obliged to this writer for his kind hints; but the pimps and bawds will not thank him for endeavouring to fpirit up the faid ladies to the laudable refolution of trading wholly on their own account; and not to fuffer the brokers of Drury Lane and Covent Garden to run away with the greatest part of the produce of their labour and industry. Get all you can, and keep what you get, is the moral of this precious performance. Art. 29. Critical Obfervations on the tragic Opera of Orion; in a Courfe of Letters to a Country Gentleman: In which the Poetry, Mufic, Tranfletion, Performers, and Decorations of that Piece, are impartially examined; with a Word or two on Artaxerxes. Svo. IS. Fourdrinier. The The literary compofition of thefe Italian operas that have been exhibited on the English theatre was always beneath the dignity of criticism; and tho' the opera of Orion approaches fomewhat nearer to common fenie, it is fufficiently ridiculous to fave its credit as an opera. This letter writer has made fome filly obfervations about it, and about it, and ftems in all refpects unqualified for the office of a critic. He tells us, that the moral of this ojera is good; — would he not find a moral in a puppet-shew? that this is not the first time an English ear has been deligoted with the concord of Sweet Sounds; -how wonderful! — that M. Bettarelli's great abilities depend en a paltry penfion; — more attonithing fil! But let us not be too rafh in our judgment, for this author tells us, that "to be capable of judging right in an affair of this nature, there needs a clear head, that can patiently apply various antecedent incidents to pofterior caufes." If there be any fenfe in this jargon, it means, that we should apply what is before us to what is behind us. We take the hint, and shall make the application accordingly. Art. 30. The Univerfal Director; or, the Nobleman and Gentleman's true Guide to the Mafters and Profeffors of the liberal and polite Arts and Sciences; and of the mechanic Arts, Manufa&tures, and Trades, eftablished in London and Westminster, and their Environs. By Mr. Mortimer. 8vo. 5s. Coote. The plan of this work is certainly a good one; and if the defign be not fully completed in this first edition, in which are many defects, there is no doubt that it will, in the future impreffions, be carried as far towards perfection, as the fluctuating nature of fuch a compilement will admit. Mr. Mortimer, to whom the public are alfo obliged for the book entitled Every man kis gan broker †, has divided his work into three parts; the fi.ft of which contains, in alphabetical order, the names and places of abode of the most eminent artifis in painting, architecture, fculpte, drawing, modelling, engraving, &c. To thefe are annexed, the mafters and profeffors in mufic, medicine, furgery, &c. The fecond part contains the principal mechanic artits and manufacturers; and the third confifts of feparate lifts of the merchants, bankers, agents, attornies, brokers, and notaries; with the most eminent warehousemen, and hopkeepers in London and Westminster. + See Review, vol. xxiv. p. 442. Art. 31. The dramatic History of Mafter Edward, Mifs Ann, Waller. An imitation of Triftram Shandy, attempted in low humour, with tolerable fuccefs. The perfons meant by Mafter Edward and Mifs Ann, are Mr. Shuter the comedian, and Mils Nancy Dawfon the hornpipe dancer. The copper-plates are many in number, and most of them very droll ones. he Remainder of the Catalogue, with the Sermons, in our next.) 3 THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For MA A Y, 1763. Debates of the House of Commons, from the Year 1667 to the Year. 1694. Collected by the Hon. Anchitel Grey, Efq; Vols. VII. and VIII. THE (Article continued from Page 267.) HE volumes now under our confideration, contain many curious particulars with relation to a part of the English hiftory, which, perhaps, will ever remain fomewhat dark and obfcure-We mean, the account of the Popish Plot, which diftracted the furious Partizans of thofe days, and has fince divided fuch as take blind zeal and prejudice for their guide. They who have taken the pains to examine the evidence with refpect to this myfterious affair, will probably entertain no doubt that a confpiracy was formed by the Papifts, though, perhaps, they will not give credit to all the circumftances related by the defperate and profligate Informers, who turned Evidence on be half of the Crown. These Informers, however, did not render very acceptable service to his Majefty and it is well known, that he was extremely anxious to have fuppreffed the intelligence he received in relation to this confpiracy. He was violently offended with the Secretary, who, contrary to his defire and command, communicated the affair to the Houfe of Commons. Charles, who was not deficient in point of fagacity, well knew, that the Houfe, under the mafk of affected zeal for the fecurity of his perfon, would fift this affair to the bottom, and difcover many VOL. XXVIII. fecret Z fecret and scandalous intrigues carried on, by himself and his Miniftry, with the popifh party: to which he was ever, in his heart, most favourably inclined. Nevertheless, his partiality to the Papifts, does not feem to have arifen from any religious motive; for with regard to religion. and morality, no man, perhaps, was ever more loofe and indifferent. But he had been taught, during his refidence abroad, that fpiritual fubjection was the beft preparative to make way for the invafion of civil liberty and Charles, who knew not how to govern like a Britifh King, was ambitious to tyrannize like an Eastern Sultan. Indeed, fuch is the pride and folly of mortals, that the defire of power is as boundlefs, as the capacity of employing it rightly, is limited and this infatiate appetite for arbitrary fway, makes vain Sovereigns continually struggle to render millions dependent and wretched, which, when they have unhappily effected, their inhuman triumph does not add one jot to their own fe licity. It must be remembered, however, to the honour of Charles, that he fhewed fome humanity in difcountenancing the evidence. against his Queen, who was accufed of being concerned in the confpiracy. When we confider what httle affection he bore to her perfon, and that, in all probability, he would gladly have been released from fo un-endearing a companion, we muit give him fome little credit for having fheltered her innocence, when he had fo plaufible a pretext of copying the cruel example of his arbitrary predeceffor, the eighth Henry. Of all the Informers who gave evidence in relation to the plot, Oates appears to have been the moit daring and intrepid; and the countenance which the Commons afforded him, increased the natural audacity of his difpofition to fuch a degree, that he loft the respect due to that aflembly, as may appear from the following account of his behaviour at the bar of the Houfe. "Mr. Oates at the bar, gave a large narrative of the beginning and proceeding of the plot, fince penned by himself and printed. Then, he complained, that he was under feveral difcouragements; as, for inftance, from the Earl of Danby. Mr. Oates, being in the Privy-Garden, the Earl of Danby, paffing by, faid,There goes one of the Saviours of England; but I hope to fee him hanged within a month.' Then he informed the Houfe, That five years ago he had fome knowlege of the plot, by one Everard, a prifoner in the Tower; where he was kept four years and a half, for endeavouring to difcover the plot. That Mr. Edward Sackville, a Member of the Houfe, did revile him, being the King's evidence, and fwore, “God damn him, it was no plot, and they were fohs of whores who |