may be, he has great hopes that it is rifing into reputation. The time (he thinks) may not be far diftant, when phyfiognomy will be reinftated in her rank among the valuable branches of human knowledge, and be studied with that degree of attention and perfeverance fo effentially connected with the science of man.' To this memoir, is fubjoined an Appendix, containing Obfervations on the temporary Connection of Phyfiognomy with the occult Sciences;-in which, like his philofophic brother, Dr. Ferriar, he notices thofe idle phantafies and delufions which once paffed for knowlege; and, at the end, he gives an abstract of the theofophic doctrine. We cannot close our account of this volume, without congratulating the Manchefter Society on the number of valuable papers here prefented to the public. ART. XVI. A Collection of Papers on Naval Architecture, originally communicated through the Channel of the European Magazine, &c. Part I. 8vo. PP. 90. With Plates. Sold at No. 32, Cornhill. 1791. 2s. 6d. TEXT to the fkilful culture of the earth, on which "we live, NEXT and move, and have our being," nothing is of more national confequence to this island, than the care and improvement of our fhipping, as the fureft means of our defence against foreign invafion, or as the fine quâ, non, of our commercial intercourfe with the other parts of the globe. To keep alive this care, and to increase our attention to a fubject of fo much importance, a moft refpectable fociety has been juft formed, under the patronage of the Duke of Clarence, and feveral of the Nobility, with other perfons of distinction and public fit; whofe peculiar object will be the improvement of naval architecture, in all its branches; extending their inquiries and improvements to vaffels for navigation of every 'kind.' To promote these important intentions, as effectually as poffible, The fociety purpose to encourage every useful invention and difcovery as far as fhall be in their power, both by honorary and peconiary rewards.-They have in view particularly to improve the theories of floating bodies and the refiitance of fluids-to procure draughts and models of different veffels, together with calculations of their capacity, centre of gravity, tonnage, &c.—to make obfervations and experiments themselves, and to point out fuch obfervations and experiments as appear beft calculated to further their de 04 figns, figns, and most deferving thofe premiums which the fociety can be«, flow. But though the Improvement of Naval Architecture in all its. Branches be certainly the principal object of this inftitution, yet the fociety do not by any means intend to confine themfelves merely to the form and fracture of veffels. Every fabordinate and collateral purfuit will claim a fhare of the attention of the fociety in proportion to its merits; and whatever may have any tendency to render navigation more safe, falutary, and even pleafant, will not be negleЯed. • With fuch objects in view, the fociety thought themselves juftified in calling upon the public for their countenance and fupport. That their call has been attended to, will fufficiently appear from the refpectable lift of fubfcribers. And as they have every reafon to expect fupport fill more effectual, it is with confidence that they repeat their folicitations for further affiftance; fuch as may enable them to extend their views,to make experiments on a large fcale,to affift young perfons in the attainment of this most ufc ful art, and even to inftitute an academy for the regular fludy, not only of the art itfelf, but of thofe fciences which ought to form the basis of it. But the fociety do not merely call upon the public for pecu niary affistance: in particular, they folicit the officers of the royal navy and merchant's fervices to examine carefully the hints, propofals, and plans which may at any time be laid before this fociety; and to fuggelt any improvements that may occur, however minute they may appear to them; they being confeffedly the best judges of the advantages to be derived from the facility of manoeuvring hips, of the comparative excellence between one veffel and another in failing, and all other defirable properties.' We cannot quit the prefent fubject, without obferving, that this novel and very laudable inftitution owes its existence to the patriotic difpofition, and extraordinary attention, of a private citizen of London, who, (though engaged in a line of bufinefs totally oppofite to all concerns of this kind,) has been led, by mere accident *, to take fuch ocular notice of, and make fuch obfervations on, the actual state of naval archi • Aure in this country, as naturally occurred to a man of plain underftanding, zealous for the honour and interest of his country, and willing to beftow a portion of that time for the public good, which men of a different defcription would rather have devoted to their own private advantage.-The perfon to whom we here allude, is Mr. Sewell, the publisher of this collection of papers, &c. who is to be confidered as the difinterefted father of an inftitution, for which pofterity may have reafon to regard his name, with that grateful diftinction which will long be paid to the memory of Mr. Shipley, who first fet on foot the Patriotic * See COLLECTION, &C. Pref. p. 4. SOCIETY SOCIETY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND COMMERCE. * Let us not forget to note that Mr. Sewell's attention to the fubject of Naval Architecture was the more feriously excited, by his having learnt the opinion of fome private ship builders, who, in a debate on the failure of one of our naval engagements pronounced that fuch "would ever be the cafe, while that bufinefs (the conftruction of our fhips of war] was not ftudied as a fcience, but carried on more by precedent; that there had not been one improvement in our navy, that did not originate' with the French, who had naval schools and feminaries for the study of it; and that our fhips were not a match for thofe of that nation, either fingly, or in a fleet, &c. &c."--In corroboration of this remark, he briefly notices the principal events of our wars, fince the year 1752; at the beginning of which, he had the mortification to obferve his countrymen confiderably worsted; and he afcribes our advantages, on the whole, rather to the hardiness of our men, than to any fuperiority in our fhips +. This opinion we leave, as Mr. S. modeftly does, to be fupported or contradicled by thofe who have had better opportunities of inveftigating the fubject. In conclufion, it is with pleafure that we fee, by the "Addrefs to the Public, from the Society," (which is diftributed gratis,) that the Society are already enabled to offer VERY CONSIDERABLE premiums for particular improvements in the construction of our fhipping, &c. &c. and alfo to encourage our philofophers, mathematicians, and mechanics, to make fatisfactory experiments, tending to afcertain the laws of refiftance of water to folids of different forms, in all varieties of circumftance. On this head, the reward is not lefs than ONE HUNDRED POUNDS, or a GOLD MEDAL. Other premiums of FIFTY, THIRTY, and TWENTY guineas, according to the importance or difficulty of the particular fubject, or point of inveftigation, are likewife offered, for different difcoveries, inventions, or improvements. * Probably the misfortune which befel Mr. Byng. + He alfo oblerves, that, in our late wars, every French fhip that was taken, was refitted, and made the chafing thip; and that every officer in the fervice coveted the command of her, in preference to thofe built in England.' ART. ART. XVII. The Remonftrance. To which is added, An Ode to my Afs: Alfo, the Magpie and Robin, a Tale; An Apology for Kings; and An Addrefs to my Pamphlet. By Peter Pindar, Efq. 4to. pp. 63. 2s. 6d. Evans. 1791. AFTER fo many years' enjoyment of popular favour, this Hogarth of the Mufes remonftrates with his good friends the public, on their uncharitably fuppofing, and reporting, that he has played the turncoat, and is become a flatterer of the crown:' "How chang'd his note! (they cry) now fpinning rhimes Who lately felt no mercy from his rancour; The itar-bedizen'd fycophants of State, Blue ribbon'd knaves have brib'd his pliant hate; Behold him at St. James's fnug at anchor." In defending himself against this calumny, P. P. brandishes the weapons of wit, fet to their keeneft edge; and cutting away at kings, dukes, and earls, he flices them all, with as little mercy as when, in days of yore, he at once belabour'd The LORD'S ANOINTED and his loufy Cooks!" Thus he turdily repels the charge that has been brought against him: I knuckle not-I owe not to the great A thimble-full of obligation; No lufcious wife have I, their lips to treat, I'm not oblig'd (believe my honeft word) Not pepper-corn acknowledgment I owe 'em ; Nay, like the GoD of Truth, I scarcely know 'em.' As to kings-he joins iffue, to a certain degree, with his back-friends, the reporters: yes, 'tis granted, That through the world fuch royal folly rules, As bids us think thrones advertite for fools; Yet is a King a utenfil much wanted A fcrew, a nail, a bolt, to keep together The fhip's old leaky fides in formy weather; To preferve, however, the appearance of confiftency with fome of his late violent anti-democratic effufions, he adds to this Remonftrance, his Political Confeffion;' in which he again attacks the Crown and-Anchor finners;' and • Reprobates their Revolution dinners,' He then comes down, furiously, on the whole French nation, whom, as he acknowleges, he hates ;-whence, as we conclude, he very naturally, if not generously, grudges them the bleffings of a free government!-but, whatever are the real fources of his enmity, he has abfolutely deluged that kingdom with the most rancorous abufe!-Never, furely, was there fuch a torrent, fince Noah's flood! nor was ever, before, so much wit fo mifapplied, and worfe than thrown away. -Miftake us not, good friend P. P. it is not merely for France that we are pleading,-it is for HUMAN NATURE: -but we must not be too ferious with our pleafant friend; who, perhaps, is all this while only humming John Bull; or, as Sir Archy fays, in the farce, "tacking him in." To the Remonftrance, is added, • An Ode to his old favourite Afs.' This is a very pretty poem, full of benevolent regard to the long-ear'd friend of his youth, and glowing with a fond remembrance of the pleafures and paftimes of his earlier days. Aye! Peter Pindar's afs fhall trot down to pofterity, with his honeft brethren, the afs of Sterne, and the Dapple of Sancho Pança. Another poem, or fable, follows the ode, entitled, The Magpie and Robin.' The wicked Magpie is Mr. Paine, the prince of democratic writers; and if the character of the Robin, ("fweet Robin!") be referred to the poet himself, he will not be offended by the application; though he modeftly appears to evade it, by the last couplet, or moral of the fable: • In Thomas Paine the Magpie doth appear; That I'm poor Robin, is not quite fo clear.' This motley publication contains alfo an Apology for Kings. It is a fatire-royal; and if any thing were yet wanting to convince us that Mafter Pindar is no turncoat, here is proof fufficient: Yet Ghould a miracle the PALACE mend, And high-nos'd SAL'SB'RY to the VIRTUES fead, So help me IMPUDENCE, I'll go to Court! Befides, I dearly love to fee frange things.' We turn next to the author's Addrefs to his Book;' in which we have his profpectus, prophecy, or Pisgah-fight, of the reception which his prefent work would doubtless find in the world-how criticited, be- pratfed, and be-damned, as Party, as Malignity, or Approbation, might chance to hold the fcale. Here the Reviewers come in for a random stroke of the lafhfatiric; and the world is informed that, • Many |
