453 
DRAMATIC PIECES, &c. 
Thofe DRAMATIC PIECES which 
find their way to the ftage, come under 
our infpection eifewhere ; but we muft 
not negleét to meation, with approbation, 
Mrs. Robinfon’s unreprefented tragedy 
of “ The Sicilian: Lovers,” which, 
though in fome parts too {plendid in 
diction, exhibits a very interefting tale, 
in a ftrongly impretlive form. 
If we were to judge from prefent ap- 
pearances, we fhould fay, that wit and 
humour are at a low ebb: we have no- 
thing of this kind to mention, except it 
be a grammatico-metaphyfico- political 
qeud efprit, entitled, ‘ Hermes Unmafked,” 
which, if it fhould not correét the read- 
ers ideas on the theory of language, 
may, at leaft, amufe him; and, if he be 
not too faftidious, may treat him witha 
hearty laugh. 
NOVELS, ROMANCES, &c. 
The tender tales of love and wonder, 
continue to be repeated in every form 
which our novelifts can devife; yet we 
do ‘not find ourfelves irrefiftibly impelled 
to dwell upon the fingular merit of any 
late produétions in this clafs. ‘Thofe 
which appear beft entitled to particular 
attention are, Mrs.Robinfon’s ‘“Angelina,” 
which, though too inflated in ftyle, is an 
elegant and interefting performance ;. 
*¢ Antoinette,” a tale, in which fome 
degree of deficiency in the graces. of 
compofition is compenfated by an inte- 
refting ftory, liberal fentiments, and in- 
ftruétive leffons to the female world; and. 
<‘ Nature’ and Art, 73M 
written with fimplicity, eafe, and ani-. 
Mrs. Inchbald’s 
mation; enlivened with a captivating 
maiveté, and artlefs ftrokes of fatirical 
humour, and fuggefting excellent moral 
inftruction to the rich and the poor. 
Some eccentric and improbable, but 
f{plendid, energetic, and highly impaffion- 
ed works of fiction, have, of late, been 
tranflated from the German; among 
which are * The Ghoft-Seer,” “ The 
sorcerer, -“° The Dagger,” and “ The 
Black Valley.” 
An excellent Tranflation of fome of 
Wieland’s amufing and fatirical Dialogues 
has lately appeared in a feparate volume, 
under the title of “ Dialogues of the 
Gods ;” and a larger number, in a very 
Drama se. Novels «+4 Education, &e. 
[ July 
curious and valuable colleétion of foreizn 
pieces, chiefly German, under the title 
of ** Varieties of Literature.” Other 
interefting foreign productions, chiefly 
politicai, have been tranflated. 
EDUCATION. : 
Among the books lately publifhed, 
which refpeét EDUCATION, the claffical 
{cholar will give the firft place to Mr. 
Salmon’s elaborate and ufeful Etymolo- 
gical Diionary, under the title of 
Stemmata Latiniiatis, intended, and well 
adapted, to difclofe the fources, and un- 
fold the mechaniim, of the Latin tongue. 
Compilations, and original pieces, for the 
inftruétion,and amufement of children, 
and young perfons, have been too nu- 
merous to be particularly detailed. It 
were much to be wifhed, that writers oF 
this clafs would be more attentive to 
corre¢tnefs, both in matter and lan- 
guage. An excellent example has lately 
been fet them, in Dr. Aikin’s “ Evyen- 
ings at Home,” a truly elegant and ufe- 
ful work, which contains, in great va-= 
riety, food for curiofity, leffons for the 
underftanding, and precepts for the 
heart. . ; 
SHAKSPEAREAN MSS. 
Another fet of recent publications hes 
appeared, which could not properly have 
been claffed under any of the precedin 
heads: Mr. Ireland’s Shak{pearian Ma- . 
nufcripts, and the pieces, pro and con, te » 
to which they have given rife. The 
projector of thefe MSS. we now confider 
as dead in law, and we fhall fo far violate 
the maxim, Nil de moriuis nifi bonum, as 
to fpeak the plain truth, by giving the» 
tran{action its proper appellation—a moft | 
laborious, but moft impudent forgery. 
A few partizans, impofed upon by the 
confident affumption of the editor, for a 
while fupported his . pretenfions; but 
Malone wrote, and Vortigern and 
Rowena was a¢ted—and the mafk fell off, 
The publications, and the whole tran{- 
action, will foon be forgotten ; or will 
be only remembered, and preferved, asa 
monument of credulity. 
We here clofe our brief retrofpe& of | 
Britifh Literature, in ‘ fure and cer- 
tain’ expectation, that induftry and ge- 
nius will, after an interval of Aw months, 
provide us a /fecond cow/fe, equally various, 
and plentiful with the prefent, 
DRIGINAL,” 
