Reirofpecdt of Domeftte Literature.—Philology and Criticifm. 649 
Pailippics of a demagogue. In confe- 
guence of their vulgarity and coarfenefs, 
the Anti-jacobin Review gives offence to 
thenoderate, the well-meaning, and the 
well-mannered of both parties. About 
two years ago, there ftarted up a Review 
in Edinburgh, which alfo acquired an un- 
enviable notoriety by its arrogant and dic. 
tatorial tone of criticifm, and by its: uan- 
fparing feverity and bitternefs of Jan- 
guage. he fupporters of this journal 
are not, like the fupporters of the Anti- 
jacobin, excited to intemperance by any 
foft-red antipathics againft certain poli. 
tical or religious dogmata. * They feem 
to delight in faying fevere and ill-natared 
things, and the feelings of an author are 
wounded by. them with the molt frigid: 
and callous indifference. : One might al- 
mott imagine, that Peter Pindar caft a pro- 
phetic eye on thefe gentiemen when hethus 
deprecated the chaftifement of reviewers; 
«¢ T never faid, like murderers in their dens, 
Ye fecret met, in cloud-capp’d garret high, 
With hatchets, fcalping-knives in fhape of 
pens, 
Tobid, like Mohocks, haplefs authors die 5 
Nor faid (in your Reviews, together ftrung) 
The limbs of butcher’d writers, cheek by 
jowl, 
Lock’d like the legs of flies on cohwebs hung, 
Before the hungry fpider’sdreary holes,” &c. 
The ftyle which thefe gentlemen have 
Jopted ef reviewing is alfo extremely 
different from any we have been accuftom- 
ed to. They open their commiffion with 
aftonifhing folemnity ; claiming a right, 
which to difpute is worfe than death, of 
deciding peremptorily on every fabject, 
by an affurance that their own knowledge 
of it is complete. After this preparatory 
pomp and difplay of learning, they enter 
upon an elaborate differtation, often for- 
getful of the author himfelf, with whofe 
Opinions, as to the. fubje&t on which he 
treats, the reader certainly, and perbaps 
the reviewer, is oftentimes entirely igno- 
rant. . There is fomething fufficieotly im- 
poling in this cftentatious tirade, but it is 
better adapted for the exordium of a pro- 
fefled difquifition than for a critique, 
‘The Edinburgh Review, however, occa- 
fionsly difplays a great deal of talent and 
knowledge, as well as a great deal of in- 
fuiferable arrogance and iupercilioufnels ; 
the tone and temper of it would probably 
be materially foftened if the writers lived 
in London, rather than in Edinburgh.— 
Barrack foldiers are more formidable than 
thofe who are quartered in cities, and 
MonTHuy Mac. No. 117. 
every day mix with the inhabitants. The 
palpable partiality uniformly fhewn, by the 
Edinburgh reviewers towards Scotch au- 
thors, is an evidence that they are not 
above the influence of perfonal feelings, , 
“¢ The Origin and Progre/s of Writing, 
as well Hieroglyphic as Elementary 4 +il- 
luftrated by Hugravings taken from 
Marbles, Manufcripts, and Charters, an- 
cient and modern. Secoud Edition, with 
Additions. By Tuomas Aste, -E/g. 
FLR.S. FLAS. and Keeper of ihe Records 
in the Lower of London.” 
This {plendid volume contains a great 
deal of. very curious and far-foughe. in- 
formation ; it difplays varied erudition, 
and extenfive refearch. _To fketch even 
in the moft rapid and fuperficial manner 
the origin and progrefs of writing and 
printing, as retraced by Mr. Afile, would 
lead us much too far; it.may, neverthe- 
lefs be permitted us to tran{cribe from 
his introduétory chapter the plan of the 
work. ‘ The firft and fecond chapters 
are founded on principles of philofophy, 
fupported by faéts, deduced from the hit 
tories of different: nations, The third 
chapter treats of the antiquity of writ- 
ing, and has recourse to the mait ancient 
hiftorians, both facred and prophane; the 
latter of which are fo involved in fabley 
that it was extremely difficult to feparate 
the ore from the drofs. However, the 
moft refpeétable authors have been con+ 
fulted, from whom has been felected fuch 
evidence as appeared.to be moit rational, 
and to deferve the moft credit. Several 
particulars concerning the civilization of 
ancient nations, occur in thecourle of this 
chapter,, which may appear interefting, 
not only-to the hiftorian and antiquary,; 
but alfo to the philofopher. 
“‘ Tn the fourth chapter it appears, that 
all alphabets are not derived trom one ; 
but that: mof of thofe now uled, are de. 
rived from the Phenic:aa. This chapter 
contains a general account of fuch as are 
fuppofed tonave aren from that fouree 5, 
which furnifhes many important facis re. 
lative to the hiflory, population, and the 
progrefs of arts and {ciences, in the mott 
‘ celebrated nations. 
‘© The fifth chapter contains the hiftory 
of writing in different ages and countries, 
proved from ancient inficriptions, manu- 
{cripts,.and other authentic. iocuments, of. 
whica engraved {pecimens are given, and: 
feveral rules are laid.down, which may. 
enable our readers to judge of their age 
and authenticity. This chapter neceflarily 
4Q. contains 
