LIVES OF ANCIENT 
3 ‘ 
pose of confounding and leading astray the 
comprehension of those that are spoken to, 
and (lastly) by bedecking periods with a 
completer coat of varnish than any other 
colourist’s of the age, the declaimer relies on 
a brilliant fluency of sentences, as the sub- 
stitute for depth of knowledge in almost 
every business that comes under considera- 
tion. 
- Jt was long imagined by Britons in ge- 
neral, that one of these two competitors, or 
at least some eloquent person of similar dis- 
position (that is, always ready to deliver his 
opinion in public upon all subjects whatever, 
_ within his cognizance or not) was an. indis- 
_ pensable prop for supporting state-matiers in 
t - their progress through a house of commons, 
_ But the closing period of the lately dissolyed 
one should convince us, that a real man of 
: 
s 
PHILOSOPHERS, &Cy 501 
business, good common sense, and plain elo- 
cution, may be better adapted to the purpose, 
Let us encourage then a sanguine hope, that 
the time has come, and the day at length 
shone forth, when our representatives are fi- 
naily disenchanted from a hold of an Athe- 
nian insanity; and that they will never be 
fascinated more into the delirium of personal 
idolaters, either at the striking up of sounding 
brass, or of a tinkling eymbal.” 
We do not like this work the less for 
the author’s occasional references. to 
himself and his own opinions. Mr. Ma- 
son has the caustic tone of an old man 
and an invalid; but his understanding is 
healthy, and he writes like an able and 
honest man. 
Art. 1X. Lives of the Ancient Philosophers ¢ comprehending a choice Selection of their best 
. 1g 
> Maxims ; written for the Education of a Prince, by the Author of Telemachus. Translated 
| from the French, illustrated with Notes, and preceded by a Life of Fenelon. By Joun 
~ Cormacx. 12mo. 
WE are glad to see a translation of 
this instructive work in our own lan- 
_ guage; young persons will read it, and 
_ mdeed will read'every thing which has 
come from the chaste pen of Fenelon, 
_ with amusement and advantage. 
ie The biographical sketch which Mr. 
WE are by no means disposed to en- 
_ courage the publication of such meagre 
Memoirs, such scraps of biography as 
these; they cannot affect to serve any 
_ purpose of utility. The lives of courte- 
sans, fortune-tellers, adventurers, &c. are 
not likely to improve the morals of the 
rising generation, or to afford them even 
a very rational amusement; they too 
often disseminate a poison, which no an- 
Z.. 
Ric. 
_ Smo. pp, 436. 
Pe: THE same general objections of mea- 
_ Sreness and insufficiency, which we urg- 
 €d against the subject of the preceding 
 @rticle, very obviously apply to the 
_ present; where, within the compass 
OF four hundred apd thirty-six octo- 
2 vols. about 250 pages each. 
Cormack has prefixed to these volumes, 
is chiefly taken from Chevalier’s life of 
Fenelon, and from D’Alembert’s Eloge. 
The few notes which are added by the 
translator, will be found extremely use- 
ful. 
“Arr. X. Eccentric Biography; or, Memoirs of remarkable Female Characters, Antient 
_ «and Modern: including Actresses, Adventurers, Authoresses, Fortune-Tellers, Gipsies, 
Dwarfs, Swindlers, Vagrants; and others who have distinguished themselves by their 
Chastity, Dissipation; [ntrepidity, Learning, Abstinence, Credulity, Sc. Sc. alphabetically 
arranged ; forming a pleasing Mirror of Reflection to the Female Mind. Ornamented with 
Portraits of the most singular Characters in the Work. 
18mo. pp. 348. 
tidote will reach, and obtain a disgrace. 
ful sale from the stimulant nature of the 
narrative, or the licentiousness of the 
language. We have carefully looked 
over some of those lives, where we dread- 
ed to find the narrative unchaste; but 
the compiler deserves praise for having 
admitted no indecent anecdote; and hav. 
ing employed no improper language. 
/ 
tat. XI. Lives of illustrious Seamen 5 to whose Intrepidity and good Conduct the English 
are indebted for the Victories of their Fleets, the Increase of their Dominions, the Extension 
meee 170 at : : : 
. of their Commerce, and their Pre-eminence on the Ocean ; iacluding several Hundred Naval 
Characters, alphabetically arranged. To which is prefixed, a brief History of the Rise and 
Progress of the British Navy, and other important Particulars relative io the Subject. 
decimo pages, are compressed the lives 
of several hundred naval characters, and 
a history of the rise and progress of 
the British navy! If any one wants to 
know when an admiral or a captain was 
born, when promoted, in what actions he 
KkKS . 
