Retrospect of Domestic Literaiure—Classical Antiquities, Kee 621 
Marble Tablet, by the parishioners, to 
the memory of Mr. Thomas Wakefield ; 
Mr, Duptcey’s ‘On the Translation of 
the Scriptures into the Languages of Indian 
Asia ;” Mr, Evans’s “* Sermon at Canter- 
bury, on the Importance of Educating the 
Poor ;” and Mr. Francis’s on “ Perfect 
Union with the Established Church of 
England.” 
Last, though not least, we mention 
“ The New TESTAMENT, in an improved 
Version upon the basis of Archbishop New- 
come’s New Translation : with a corrected 
Text, and Notes critical and explanatory. 
Published by a Society for promoting 
Christian Knowledge, and the Practice of 
Virtue, by the Distribution of Books.” 
CLASSICAL ANTIQUITIES. 
Among the works on classical anti- 
quity, few willbe found more interesting 
than “ The Geography and Antiquities of 
Ithaca,” by Mr. Get. “ In an age of in- 
vestigation and research, (he observes) 
like the present, it is remarkable that 
while the Iliad and the scene of its bat- 
tles have excited such particular atten- 
tion, little or no recent information bas 
been offered to the public on the subject 
of Ithaca, the theatre of the principal 
action of the Odyssey, and the kingdom 
of itshero. The object of the following 
sheets (he adds) is to give a short account 
of that interesting island, and to point 
out more particularly those features, 
which may appear to have been described 
in the Poem.” In short, to vindicate the 
poem of Homer from the scepticism of 
those eritics who imagine that the Odys- 
sey is amere poetical composition, un- 
supported by history, and unconnected 
with the localities of any particular situ- 
ation, 
Toward the close of the first chapter, 
Mr, Gell regrets that his observation on 
the latitude of Ithaca, from which he 
hoped to have formed some conclusion 
on the identity of the spot, was made 
with such an ill-defined horizon, that no 
reat dependance can bé placed on it. 
r, Gell had deferred taking it, till the 
very day of his departure; and he men- 
tions the circumstance on this particular 
account, that his observation, though 
different from the position usually as- 
signed to Ithaca, in mafts, agrees pretty 
nearly with that in which it would have 
been placed by a system of triangles from 
known stations on the continent of 
Greece. 
The present condition of the different 
spots celebrated in the Odyssey, will be 
at least gratifying to the classic reader, 
In the second chapter we find descrip- 
tions of the fount of Arethusa, and the 
rock. Korax perfectly corresponding with 
the mention of those places made by 
Homer. A spot also in the neighbour- 
hood, which exhibits vestiges of ancient 
habitations, goes by the name of Amara- 
thia. The grotto of the Nymphs is sup- 
posed still to exist in the cave of Dexia, 
the very existence of which, it is singular 
to say, was denied by Strabo. But the 
most elaborate portion of the volume 
seems bestowed upon the remainder of — 
the city on the hill of Aito, comprising 
the palace of Ulysess, On what is called 
the School of Homer, Mr. Gell observes 
little more, than that it is probable the 
inhabitants of the neighbouring town 
have consecrated it to him in later times. 
It is at present but a naked rock, with 
a few rude steps hewn out of the solid 
mass. The traditions of the Island which 
relate to the poet, he properly considers 
as unworthy of notice. The plates which 
accompany the volume, thirteen in num- 
ber, exhibit the most interesting spots, 
In regard of type and general appear- 
ance, we kave only to say that, with a- 
¥ y , 
sufficient portion of elegance to merit a 
place in any library, however handsome, 
the “Geography and Antiquities of 
Ithaca,” have been published at a price 
which renders the work accessible to 
scholars. 
TOPOGRAPHY, ANTIQUITIES, &c. 
In the “ Topographical Account of the 
Parish of Scampton, in the County of 
Lincoln, and of the Roman Antiquities 
lately discovered there; together with 
Anecdotes of the Family of Bolles,” by 
the Rev. Carey [LLinGwortH; we have 
a valuable, though unpublished contribu- 
tion toward the history of a county, 
which is, and has long been a desidera- 
tum in the general topography of the 
kingdom. A few impressions only have 
been printed, to’ distribute among the 
author's literary friends. Of the plates, 
which are no less than thirteen in num- 
ber, the most curious are those which ex- 
hibit the Roman Antiguities discovered 
among the ruins of an ancient Villa, at 
Scamipton, in the year 1795. 
Another curious work in the topogra- 
phical class, will be found in Mr. Pear- 
son’s “Views of Antiquilies of Shrop- 
shire.” Among the best, we reckon those 
of the chapter-house at Haghmond Ab- 
bey, the leaning tower at Bridgenorth, 
Ludlow Castle, and the old Welsh Bridge 
at Shrewsbury. The descriptions, with 
a little trouble, might perhaps have been 
rendered 
