were appointed; and the Society, in miniature, was formed, "to relieve and fupport genius and learning in ficknefs, age, and at the termination of life; and to preferve from diftrefs the widows and orphans of thofe who have any claims on the public from literary industry or merit.-The advertisement continuing to draw numbers, and the receipts of the Society exceeding its expenditure, the cafes of claimants were taken into confideration and relieved, and its firft anniversary held on the 18th of May 1790."

From this fmall beginning arofe that now-important, and well-fupported, Society, whofe fubfequent tranfactions, up to the 11th of June 1801, are faithfully recorded in this volume; by which it appears, that the fum of 1680l. 8s. has been paid to different claimants, from the annual fubfcriptions of the Subfcribers of from one to ten guineas; a lift of whofe names are annexed: and that the fame, and other Subfcribers for life, of larger fums, to a permanent fund begun in 1797, have enabled the Society to purchase tock in the public funds (vested in Trustees), the intereft of which alone (except on very extraordinary occafions) is to be employed for the purposes of the Inftitution. The stock fo purchafed amounted to 2500l. three per cents. Anniversary dinners have likewise taken place, fimilar to those of other long-established public charities, which have been attended by Subscribers and Friends to the further promotion and benefit of the Inftitution. On theie occafions, Poetical Addreffes on the Inftitution have been compofed and delivered, and Songs written by Mem. bers diftinguished for their poetical talents. These are inferted in regular order, and form a felect collection of elegant poems. The Addrefs to the Duke of Somerfet, Prefident of the

Society, is by H. J. Pye, Efq. Poet Laureat.

We take the liberty to borrow a few very impreffive verses, comprising the moft forcible appeal to the human heart that language can convey in favour of the Institution, from Lines written and recited by the elder CAPTAIN MORRIS, at the Anniverfary Meeting of the Literary Fund Society, in Freemafons' Hall, April 27th, 1797.

STRANGE! that in Britain's Ifle, for bounty famed, [named, Among the wealthiest lands with envy Where thousands thrive who never learnt to read, [need. The Man of Science fhould be doom'd to Will no kind patron give the fcholar bread? [fed? Muft learning starve, while ignorance is The poor, unlettered groom, of clownish mien, [clean,

Who loves his horfe, and keeps his stable With age enfeebled, fees his fortunes mend, [friend. And his rich mafter prove a grateful The feed, too, jaded with the frequent chace, [grace;

Meets not, when old, ill-ufage and difPleafed in the paftures of his lord to feed, [mead, He roves, luxurious, thro' the painted Till every want, and every fenfe, be o'er, [more.

And, full of years, he sleeps to wake no But who to thee a pitying hand will lend, Thou man of learning, when thou seek'it [feize;

a friend? When hunger preffes, and the bailiffs When bent with age, and waiting with disease? [to fave,

Who but this generous band fhall hatte And raise thee up, when finking to the grave; [nelt fhame, Shall wipe thy tears, fhall fpare thy hoRelieve thy poverty, and hide thy name? MORTIMER.

WE have already had occafion (in the beginning of lait year) to review the Commercial and Notorial

Precedents of the fame Author; a publication which we confidered as of great utility to commercial men; the

fuccefs

fuccefs of which has probably induced him to undertake the work that is the prefent object of our enquiries.

A Commercial Dictionary has long been wanting in this country, as, independantly of the rapid changes which commerce has undergone within thefe laft twenty years, in almost every branch, a great variety of ufeful and interesting matter has been published within that period, but fo difperfed in different productions, that great inconvenience refulted from confulting them, fo as to be applicable to real bufinefs. The author of the works be fore us very truly obferves, that the form and arrangement of a Dictionary are the most commodious, as well as complete. Every article fhould be in. cluded, and no order of reference is fo eafy, or little liable to error, as that alphabetical one followed in a Dictionary.

The introduction confifts of a short hiftory of the Rife and Progrefs of Manufactures and Commerce in this country, from the thirteenth century till the beginning of the eighteenth; from which time there is a regular annual account of the exports, imports, and balance of trade. It might have been derable that this portion of the work had been treated at greater length; but in a book intended for men of bufinefs, who have generally little time to fpare, it is, perhaps, bet to be attentive to brevity. As all Dictionaries are arranged compilations of the accumulated knowledge of mankind, their chief merit mult neceffarily confit in judicious felection and arrangement.Much original matter is not to be expected from any work of this kind. Even in the great Encyclopedia, published under the direction of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, thote parts are the most exceptionable which are

Scottish Poems of the Sixteenth Century. 2 Vols. 12mo.

THESE poems are calculated almost exclufively for the antiquary; as thofe who expect fmooth and harmonious numbers, elegant decorations, and fanciful imagery, will certainly lock in vain. They contain, however, much that will gratify the hiftorian and the fearcher after Scotch antiquities; and

VOL. XLIII. MARCH 1803.

original; as they confift chiefly of Theories and Reafonings, always plaufible and ingenious, but often at variance with Experience, infomuch that the errors which they have been t he principal means of occafioning, have attached a fort of reproach to the oncehonoured name of Encyclopedifts, which is confidered as employing a fect of men who broach dangerous and new theories and fyftems in religion, government, and morality.

To compile judicioufly, avoiding prolixity on the one hand, or obfcure brevity on the other, appears to have been the aim of this author, though he fometimes ventured into new matter, and, in our opinion, not without fuccefs.

The avowed intention of the work, is to explain the Law, Practice, and Cuftom of merchants, in fuch a manner, that in tranfacting any piece of bufinefs, by referring to this Dictionary, the best information may be obtained, fo as to prevent many of those mistakes and errors that often lead to intricate law-fuits, lois, and ruin.

The following are fome of the articles in which a knowledge of law and custom are peculiarly neceflary: Awards, Bank, Bankers, Bankruptcy, Bills of Exchange, Book-keeping, Broker, Chartered Companies, Commercial Treaties, Copartnerjip, Customs, Exchange, Excife, Exports and Imports, Fisheries, Infurance Intereft, Majiers and Servants, Manufactures, Monies, Navigation, Plantations, Public Funds, Shipping. Sleves, Quaran tine, Ujury, Weights and Meafures.

Upon the whole, the work cannot but be found of utility to mercantile men, from whom it has already met with very favourable patronage, being preceded with a molt respectable and very numerous lift of fubfcribers.

the fociety from which it iffues is entitled to the thanks of all who with well to the great interefts of fociety at large. It fates the objects which require the interpofition of individuals to enforce the laws, or to prevent the breach of them. It fhews the neceffity of the affociation in a strong point of view, and concludes by requesting the public to confider whether any human means appear more reasonable than thofe here recommended, viz. the establishment of a fociety, founded on the most comprehenfive bafis, calling together the wifdom, talent, virtue, and experience of extenfive individual co-operation, conducting its meafures with moderation and caution, preferring prevention to punishment, and proposing to carry thofe laws into effect which were exprefsly enacted for the prefervation of civil and religious order, by the fuppreffion of daring, peftilent, and deftructive vice.

A Letter addreffed to the Citizens of London and Weftminster, fuggefting Improvements in the Police congenial with the Principles of Freedom and the Confitution. By T. Coifitts. 8vo.

The author of this letter is certainly a well meaning man; but the improvements in the police, fuggefted by him, we cannot confider otherwife than vifionary and impracticable. Of what we think cannot be adopted, it would be ufelefs to take up the reader's time in explaining; we hall therefore only repeat, that the intention of the writer is all that is deferving of praise in this performance.

The Tochin of focial Life, addreffed to all the Nations of the civilized World; in a Difcovery of the Laws of Nature relative to Human Existence. By John Stewart, the Traveller. 8vo.

This mixture of metaphyficks and politics, contains fomething to difguft, fomething to cenfure, and fomething to commend. As a politician, the author exhibits much threwdnefs and fagacity; and the intonations of his Tocfin are by no means to be neglected. His appeals to the various powers contain obfervations which each might profit by, though the whole may not be entitled to unqualified approbation. His fentiments on religion are fuper ficial and extravagant, and will make no converts; nor do we expect much from the new fyftem of education which he promifes, though we fhall not be forry to fee the publication of it.

The Hiftory of Man, in a favage, and

cultivated State; written in a familiar file, and adapted to the Capacities of Youth. 12mo.

This is the firft volume of an intended feries of natural history, geography, hiftory, biography,, voyages, travels, tales, adventures, &c. for the use of younger readers. It contains a com. pendium of the hiftory of the human fpecies, extracted from numerous trea tifes on that fubject, and divefted of the indelicacies and improprieties fometimes to be found in this species of compofition.

FEBRUARY 25.

Peregrine

Mr. COOKE

Frank Rochdale Mr. H. JOHNSTON
Lord Fitz Balaam Mr. WADDY
Hon. TomShuffleton Mr. LEWIS
Job Thornberry Mr. FAWCETT

Dennis Brulgrud-} Mr. J. JOHNSTONË

dery
Din
Lady Caroline
Braymore

Mrs. Brulgrud

Mary Thornberry

Mr. EMERY
Mrs. H. JOHNSTON

Mrs. DAVENPORT

Mrs. GIBBS.

The

The scene lies in Cornwall; upon the coast of which, Peregrine, who has been many years abfent from his country, and near lofing his life, gains the thore by fwimming from his thip, which is in danger of being wrecked. He reaches the Red Cow, a poor inn, upon Muck luth Heath, and there learns that he is near Penzance; and that an old friend of his, Job Thornberry (a brazier in that town), is ftill living. The voice of distress foon affails his ear; he rushes out, and prefently returns, fupporting Mary, whom he has refcued from robbers: from her he learns, that he has, that morning, abandoned her father's houfe, being forfaken by her lover (Frank Rochdale), he being compelled by his father, Sir Simon, to marry Lady Caroline Braymore, who, with her father, Lord Fitz Balaam, are at the mansion house, to adjust matters for that purpofe; and that he is going to London to feek an afylum. He prevails on her to wait his return from a fhort excur fion; fets out for Penzance, and arrives at the house of Job Thornberry, at a time when the bailiffs (under a commiffion of Bankruptcy) are in poffef fion of his effects. He foon makes himself known to the brazier, as one who, thirty years before, when a boy, had been relieved by him, and recommended to a captain of a fhip at Falmouth; that Fortune having favoured him, he had returned home to reward his benefactor; to which intent he produces a small box, which he had fwam on fhore with, which had the name of "Job Thornberry" written upon it; afferting, that the contents of it belonged to him, as being the profits gained upon ten pounds, which he had received from Job when in diftrefs. The brazier declines his offers of afliftance; obferving, that, his daughter Mary having delerted him, he has no one left to care for. It immediately occurs to Peregrine, that he must be the girl whom he has juft rescued; and he promifes Job, that if he will accept his offer, and confider it as a debt, he will bring him to his daughter. This is confented to; and the brazier's debts, amounting to fix thousand pounds, are paid. Peregrine then conducts Job to his daughter, who is foon forgiven by her father, and by him accompanied to the houfe of Sir Simon Rochdale. Job here, after having in vain

demanded redrefs from Sir Simon for the injury done his daughter, meets with Peregrine, who is come hither to try his influence in behalf of his unhappy family. Lady Caroline Braymore having learnt from Shuffleton, that Frank Rochdale is fecretly attached to another, confents to that gentleman's addreffes, and arrives at Sir Simon's at a time when the endeavours of Thornberry and Peregrine have proved fruitless. She acquaints Sir Simon of her marriage with Shuffleton; but the latter ftill obftinately refufes to redrefs the aggrieved brazier; when Peregrine declares himself to be, and that he can prove he is, elder bro ther to Sir Simon, and heir to the estate of which he has fo long had poffeffion. Intelligence alfo at this time arrives, that the hip, with Peregrine's whole property on board, is fafe in port; and Sir Simon, at length, confents to the union of the lovers.

This piece, which was applauded · throughout, bears all the characteristic marks of Mr. Colman's ftile of writing. The fentiments are elevated, and the humour is strong; though the language in which the former is conveyed, may be thought rather overloaded with ornament, and the latter fometimes defcends to pun and quibble. Some of the fituations are alfo, perhaps, of too grotefque a defcription for legitimate comedy. But the materials of the play are, upon the whole, fo rich, its humour is fo irresistibly laughable, its pathos fo affecting, and its moral object fo good, that we will not faftidiously attempt to impeach the judgment of an audience who feemed hurried away in a torrent of enthufiaftic admiration.

The different performers acquitted themfelves greatly to the credit of their talents; particularly_Meffrs. Cooke, Johnstone, Lewis. Fawcett, Emery, and Blanchard, Mrs. Gibbs, and Mrs. Davenport: Mr. and Mrs. H. Johnfton had but little opportunity of dif playing their talents.--[ Report fays, that the part of Sir Simon Roch tale was intended by the author to have been performed, not by Mr. Binchard, but by another Comedian, who refuted the part, because he confidered it as not the best in the piece. If fo, we muft obferve, that while the Public eagerly throng to reward theatricditalents, they, in return have light to expect that every dramatic piece tha Dd 2

be

be prefented to them to the beft poffible advantage. The performer alluded to may perceive, that Mr. Lewis, the Acting Manager (at least as good a Co. median and as much in favour with the town as him!elf), has accepted, and uses his best exertions to fupport, a part in the piece which is neither the principal nor the most respectable one. In doing fo, Mr. Lewis obliges the Author and the Public, without any degradation of himself, THOUGH a first. rate Comedian.]

Brunton fpoke the Prologue with much animation; and Johnstone was encored in a whimsical Epilogue, written by Mr. Colman, and fet to an old Irith tune,

PROLOGUE.

Written by T. DIBDIN,

So you're all here-Box, Pit, and Gallery, full [BULL. Of British Jurors, come to try JOHN "Who acts JOHN BULL?" methinks I hear you say?

No character's fo nam'd in all the play. "The title then's a trick !"-We fcorn the charge,

JOHN BULL is British Character at large: Tis he; or he-where'er you mark a wight

Revering law, yet refolute for right; Plain, blunt, his heart with feeling, juftice, full; [JOHN BULL. That is a Briton-that's (thank Heaven) And JOHN, till now, we fet it down for certain, [tain; Has always ta'en his feat before the cur And fo he does no matter where your places,

or Bride,

I fee his gen'rous mind in all your faces. Whether he fits by Sweetheart, Friend, [ fire-fide. JOHN BULL's as warm as at his own Look up aloft, and you may fafely fwear He's highly pleas'd, cloíe to his lafs-juft there: [kindly thrown, That hand, which round her wait is Should any He mijlift, would knock him

lay

Now touching this Comedy, Critics may [Play. 'Tis a trumpery, Bartlemy Fair kind of It smells, faith, of Smithfield, we all must allow; [Red Cow.

For it's all about Bull, and the Scene's the Yet not without moral the Author in

dites.; [LISHMEN'S RIGHTS. For he points to the bleffings of ENGLet a Duke wrong a Brazier-the Barrifters all [minster-hall. Know that brafs can do wonders in WeftBut was ever a tale fo improbable told, As Peregrine fwimming with huge lumps of gold? [try to fwim, Should a man who finks cafh, with cath For a pound to a thilling his cafh will fink him.

Let us find fome excufe for this ftrange oversight; [of 'em light: Let's fuppofe that his guineas were most Nay, the guineas for grappling the thore be might thank, [the Bank! 'Tis amazing, of late, how they stick in One circumftance keeps probability's law, [PAS:

A beautiful female commits a FAUX That's Nature-but Critics, who don't praife in hafte,

Will certainly not call the incident chaffe, Now in Art, if not Nature, Tom Shuffleton's found; {were drown'd: He's one of thofe puppies who better of the wort Bond-treet litter-uch whelps none admire;

Chuck 'em all in the Thames-they won't let it on fire.

Now