ed by the woman's feed, the ritual law was done away; and the moral law of Mofes fuperfeded by another of a more pure, fpiritual, and refined nature.'

Having produced feveral proofs, that the Mofaic law was fu-" perfeded by that of Chrift, he obferves, that a plurality of wives muft have ceafed to be lawful, unless it had received a fresh permiffion under the new covenant. But, fays he, that no fuch permiffion was either implied by the practice of any of the facred perfons in the hiftory of Chrift and his apoftles, or expreffly licenced by any direct authority on their part, is clear; nay, he very contrary appears to have been the cafe.'

This author writes with a calmness and candour, becoming the character of one, whose principal aim is the investigation of truth.

Polygamy unfcriptural; or Two Dialogues between Philalethes and, Monogamus, in which fome of the principal Errors of the rev. Mr. M-d-n's Thelyphthora are detected. By John Towers. 8vo. 6d. Hogg.

This writer attacks the author of Thelyphthora with irony, as well as argument, and very properly difplays fome of the pernicious confequences of his licentious fcheme.

MISCELLANEO U S.

The Army and Navy Gentleman's Companion; or, a New and Complete Treatife on the Theory and Practice of Fencing. Displaying the Intricacies of Small Sword Play; and reducing the Art to the moft eafy and familiar Principles by regular progreffive Lefons. Illuftrated by Mathematical Figures, and adorned with elegant Engravings after Paintings from Life, executed in the most masterly Manner, reprefenting every material Attitude of the Art. By J. M'Arthur, of the Royal Navy. 4to. 10s. 6d. in boards. Lavers. Though the art of fencing may be employed to purposes injurious to the peace of fociety, yet, confidered in the light of a manly exercife, it is doubtless worthy of cultivation. It conduces to an agility of mufcular motion, and, like dancing, givesan eafy and graceful manner, accompanied with a martial air. On this account, in fome parts of Europe, and the East Indies, certain perfons, converfant in the art, are appointed to prefide annually, and diftribute premiums to the most skilful practitioners in the various branches of fencing.

It appears that Mr. M'Arthur, the author of this work, received his principal inftructions in the art, from Mr. Herault, fome time affiftant teacher of the Royal Academy at Paris; fince which he has vifited feveral academies and fchools for fencing. His qualifications, as a teacher, therefore, can admit of no doubt. But he informs us that the motive which chiefly induced him to the publication of this treatife, was a defire of facilitating the fudy of fencing, which has hitherto been greatly obftructed by the intricate manner in which the writers on this fubject have generally defcribed the various movements, parades,

and

and thrusts, so neceffary to be communicated in the most simple and easy manner poffible.

The work is divided into three parts; the first of which treats of the guards, and fimple parades and thrufts in general; the fecond, of the various counter parades, counter difengagements, feints, glizades, &c. and the third of affaults and attacks in generál. The laft part contains fome useful obfervations on the time thrust, the most advantageous manner of attacking an ad. verfary, either out of measure, or in measure; with rules of ob fervation on fingle combat with fwords; and the most eligible method of difarming an adverfary in fencing, either with a foil, or a fword.

Mr. M'Arthur obferves, it is to be regretted, that a method is not adopted in the royal navy, of exercifing the fhip's company of frigates, and fuch small veffels of war as are liable to be boarded, with fimple fencing, in the ftyle of broadfword play, commonly called cudgelling, as it would be of the utmost utility in the offenfive and defenfive attacks of boarding.

Mr. McArthur delivers his inftructions in the plainest and most intelligible manner; and must certainly have been at great pains in devising the plan of conftru&ting mathematical figures, for the farther illuftration of the various leffons on the parades. This alone is a confiderable improvement in the art, and adds greatly to the usefulness of the prefent treatife, which is alfo embellished with a variety of engravings, that must have been executed at no small expence to the author.

The Annals of Europe, or Regal Register, &c. &c. 8vo. 55. in boards. Robinson.

This volume comprizes a muliplicity of hiftorical materials, methodically arranged, and concifely compacted together. it delineates the fucceffion of the fovereigns, imperial, regal, and papal, of the various states of Europe, from their foundation to the prefent time; with the principal events in each of their It also contains ta- . reigns, and the time when they happened. bles of the contemporary princes from the year 300; befides an alphabetical arrangement of all their names, fhewing the time of their acceffion and death; with characters of the whole, as drawn by the most approved historians.

The work affords a general detail of all the memorable public events in the hiftory of Europe; but what chiefly renders it useful, is the attention paid to chronology, in which circumstances, fo fatisfactory to an inquifitive reader, it is particularly explicit.

An Account of the Prifons and Hofpitals in Rufa, Sweden, and Denmark. By William Coxe, A. M. 8vo. 15. 6d. Cadell.

The author fets out with defcribing the feveral modes of punishment for criminal offences in Ruffia. By an ordinance made fince the acceffion of Elizabeth, no crime, except high treason, is punished with death. But we are informed that though this re

gulation

gulation be established, according to the ftrict letter of the law, it is not true in fact; for it fometimes happens that the malefactor, convicted of very atrocious crimes, is fentenced to receive fo many strokes of the knout, that he expires either under the infliction, or foon after it.

Mr. Coxe next gives an accurate account of the punishment of the knout, the transportation to Siberia, condemnation to the mines, and the laws relating to debtors; after which he defcribes the prisons and hofpitals at Moscow, Petersburg, and other places. The foundling hofpital at Mofcow is particularly worthy of attention. We are informed, that at prefent it contains three thousand foundlings; and, that when the building is.completed, it will contain eight thousand. Towards the building and endowment of this hofpital, one private merchant, named Dimidoff, has voluntarily expended no lefs a fum than a hundred and forty thousand pounds.

In fubfequent chapters, the author treats of the punishments for criminal offences in Sweden; defcribing the prisons and hofpitals at Stockholm, Upfal, Gotheburg, &c. and also of the pu nishments, prifons, and hospitals of Copenhagen.

Nouvel Abrégé de la Grammaire François. 12mo, Is. Diliy.

6

This grammar, though defigned for English readers, is written entirely in French: this, fays the author, is to put the learner into the neceffity to learn French words and phrases, in looking for the rules of the language.'

But is not this prepofterous? Is it not laying down unintelligible rules; and adding to the difficulty, which naturally attends the acquifition of a foreign language? We fee but one advantage refulting from this plan; and that is, it makes the business of learning French a fort of mystery, and renders it more neceffary to employ a French master.

The author, in illuftrating his rules, takes most of his examples from the Scriptures. This is a matter of no confequence. But when he adds, that the teacher may takę occafion from thefe examples to fay fomething relating to our great concern,' he is advising him to step out of his province, and inftruct his pupils in a branch of knowlege, which probably he is but very indifferently qualified to teach; that is, the true and rational principles of Christianity.

This grammar however is a work of merit, and contains many useful rules and observations, in a method that has its peculiar advantages.

Mr. Magellan's Letter is received; but requires explanation.

Answer (an) to the heroic epiftle Bryant's addrefs to Dr. Prieftley on

Argonautics of Apollonius Rhodius, Burke's (Mr.) fpeech at Bristol, 389