664, 
we J 
The foreign denominations of commo- 
dities which, it will be perceived, are 
annexed to each article in six, and 
sometimes in eight languages, form an 
entirely new feature in a work of this 
nature, and the utility ef such a nomen- 
ature must be obvious to eyery reader. 
Under the heads of Europe, <Asia, 
Aftica, and America, is introduced a 
methedised account of the commerce, 
manufactures, and, in some instances, cf 
the politico-commercial regulations of 
the seyeral governments. 
_apy 94 ot BRPCALION: 
_ Amore Hapartant subject to society 
than that which 1s discussed in Mr. 
Cutrox’s “ Enquiry info the lest System 
of. Pomule Egucation,” can hardly be 
imagined. To afford a complete view 
of the plan on which the work is con- 
ducted, here, would be impossible. Have 
ing laid down a few clear and incontest- 
ible principles for female education, Mr. 
Chiroldemonstrates the serious evils inse- 
parable from boarding schools, with re- 
spect, ist, to the health of the hody; 
Qdly, to the cultivation of the mind; 
and 3dly, to the improvement of the 
heart: endeayouring, at the same time, 
to preve that these evils cannot exist in 
domestic education. In the next place, 
he answers the particular objections 
which have been made against the latter 
system: and lastly, points out the course 
which ought to be pursued to render 
private a reticn easy and truly bene- 
ficial. Such is the outline. For the 
filling up we must refer to the work it- 
self. On the subject of goyernesses, we 
find many, observatians of real. interest, 
Let that profession, he says, he honoured. 
as it deserves, and paid according to its 
digmity and iaportance; and many 
young women, endued with taleats, but 
destitute of fortune, will deyote to it 
their attention, their studies, and their 
time. He likewise submits a plan for a 
seminary destined for the education of 
private governesses. On the subject of 
boarding schools, he gives it as his un- 
shaken opinion, that “ the best of them 
is good for nothing.” - 
ey POETRY. n't 
The first and most unportant article 
which we haye to mention in this depart+ 
ment of our Retrospect, is “ Philemon ; 
or the Progress of Virtue ;” a poem: by 
Wititam Lawrexce Brown, D.D. 
Principal of -Marischal College, Uni, 
versity of Aberdeen: in 9. volumes, 8vo, 
The design, says thé author, ig not to re- 
late an interesting story, diversified with 
IS oe 
Aetrospect of Domestic Literature—Poetry. 
a series of unexpected events, and ad- 
vancing to one grand and important con- 
clusion; but to trace the progress of 
virtuous sentiments, principles, and opi- — 
nions, in the human mind, and to exhibit 
them im _a corresponding course of ac- 
tion. “Ifmy poem had been purely di+ 
dactic, (he continues), I might haye 
adopted a more philosophical plan. But 
this would have been much less praduc-. 
tive of incident, have excluded a consi- 
derable part of poetical embellishment, 
and haye had less eect in interesting 
the reader. I recollect that Mr. Gray, 
while he highly and justly commends Dr. 
Beattie’s Wiwael. regrets that it has too 
little fable, and rather abounds with mo- 
ral reflections. Laying no claiin to any 
portion of Dr. Beattie’s genius, wished, 
at least, to compensate my deficieny, 
by introducing as much incident and ac- 
tion, as the nature of my subject would 
admit. \ Indeed, it was the Minstrel that 
first suggested to me this attempt.” © 
The hero of the poein is a Caledonian, 
who makes choice of the clerical profes 
sion: and to whom an opportunity is 
afforded of contemplating, first, the south- 
ern part of our island, and then the con- 
tinent of Europe. His continental ex- 
cursion,-as Eugenio’s friend and compa- 
nion, commences with Holland, because, 
at the period Philemon is supposed. to. 
have liyed, (during the first seventy 
years of the eighteenth century) Scottish. 
gentlemen used to beyin their foreign, 
travels with that country, whither they, 
repaired for the study of the Roman law. 
Of this country, in i different aspects,. 
physical, moral, and political, Dr. Brown 
has been rather diffuse in his description, 
A long residence in it enabled him to. 
acquire a more accurate knowledge of © 
its peculiar characteristics, than. he pos - 
sessed of any other on the continent. — 
Influenced also by gratitude, for the 
kindness and friendship which he expe- 
rienced from all orders and ranks of 
those among whom he lived, he was also: 
anxious to do justice to a nation which 3 
he conceived to have been much misre- © . 
presented. The virtues of Philemon are 
chieily unfolded in the last book, when 
all his principles are established, all his 
habits formed, and that harmony of opi- 
mion and conduct, which is the result of 
a well regulated mind, pervades the 
whole of private and public life. The 
terrestrial scene is closed by a happy 
un mortality. . 
The first book is entitled Childhood, © 
from which we shall extract a few lines, 
which 
