Mémoire inftructif, fur la maniere de rassembler, de préparer, de conferver d'envoyer les diverfes curiofités d' hiftoire naturelle, auquel on a joint un memoire intitulé, &c. That is,

A memorial, containing inftructions as to the proper method of collecting, preparing, preferving, and removing the several curiofities that relate to natural hiftory; to which is added, advice as to the beft way of fending by fea, trees, plants, feeds, &c. Paris, for Guillyn and Damoneville. 1758. 8vo.

The defign of this useful treatise, is to promote natural philofophy, by facilitating the means of procuring, in the greatest practicable perfection, what are the principal objects of its enquiry. It appears, that the Author is already poffeffed of a large collection, and has from thence obtained a very extenfive and practical notion of the subject on which he writes; and as the obfervations he has communicated will be of extraordinary utility to the learned collectors in every nation, we fhall probably fee many tranflations, with additions and improvements, for the common benefit of all lovers of science.

In respect to the memoir that is added, it had been printed before, and is the work of the very ingenious Mr. du Hamel, whose great capacity in every thing of this nature, his excellent treatifes upon agriculture, have long ago made known; and as his knowlege is alike the fruit of experience and of ftudy, every thing of this kind, with which he obliges the public, is naturally received with that deference, as well as confidence, which it deferves.

The elegance of this memoir deferves to be mentioned as well as its utility; for as it is extremely difficult, if not abfolutely impoffible, to exprefs directions in words, fo clearly and circumftantially, as to make them perfectly comprehended; the work is adorned with prints, which are equally neat and exact; and, by comparing the figure with the direction, it is hardly poffible, that the Author's fenfe fhould not be fully understood, or his meaning, even in the minuteft article, be mistaken.

It is no material objection to a memoir of this fort, that perhaps a few inftructions of the like import may be found elsewhere, or are already introduced in fome places into practice. If this fhould happen to be the cafe, they muft, in that state, have been of little use, because no body knew where to look for them. Here they are drawn together, placed in their proper order, expreffed with the greateft precifion, confirmed by rea fon and experience, and illuftrated by copper plates. These will probably invite many to study this fcience, and to form collections,

collections, by fhewing how eafy, as well as how poffible, it is, for a man of learning, to poflefs in his cabinet, fpecimens of thofe curiofities, which nature has bountifully difperfed over the whole globe. It will inform fuch as have already a difpofition to this kind of knowlege, from whence, and in what manner, they may obtain the particular things, most conducive to their views. Laftly, it opens a new field to fuch as are fettled abroad, and would be glad to gratify their friends, or make court to their patrons at home, by prefents of this nature, which they were deterred from fending before, by the many accidents to which they were liable, and against which, by attending to these precautions, they will be now fecured.

Etat de Paris, &c. &c. i. e.

The present state of Paris, containing its diftribution into quar ters: its civil, military, and ecclefiaftic governments; inftitutions for promoting the fciences and liberal arts; the finances, commerce, manufactures, &c. of that great city. 8vo. Paris, 1758. Heriffant.

The usefulness of this work will be obvious to every reader, provided it has been done with a proper degree of accuracy, in refpect to which, the Author tells us, that he defired and received great affiftance, from perfons of all ranks, during the time he was employed in compofing this performance. It must be very convenient to ftrangers, who go to vifit Paris, either upon business, or for the fake of pleasure. It may afford fo much better fatisfaction, to an intelligent reader here, as to all that is to be seen in that great city, than he can derive from the reports of any of our hafty travellers; that it may probably fatisfy his curiofity, and prevent his making a tour thither at a great expence. It will also give an opportunity of comparing this celebrated city, with many of our own, and enable us thereby to judge of the excellencies and defects in either.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For NOVEMBER, 1758.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 1. The bifiery of the marchionefs de Pompadour. 12mo. 2 fmall volumes. 3s 6d. Hooper.

THE

HERE wants nothing but the name of the Author, or a fatiffactory account of the authenticity of his facts, to render this little hiftory worthy the attention of the public: but anonymous fecret Rev. Nov. 1758.

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history

history ought ever to be fufpected; as a man who keeps himself concealed, may, with impunity, recite what ftories he pleases, defying detection if his account is queftioned, or laughing at the credulity of the public, if he is implicitly believed, upon the mere credit of his tale's being told in print. For the reft, the hiftory of la Pompadour is at least entertaining, if it be not in every respect abfolutely true: and yet it may be all very true-for aught we know to the contrary.— The tile of the narrative is extremely unequal; in fome places verbofe, perplexed, and affectedly pretty; in others, it is well polifhed, and truly elegant. The Writer's reflexions too, are often judicious, and fhew a juft knowlege of mankind in general, and a competent one of the prefent times in particular.

Art. 2. The theatre of love. A collection of novels, none of which were ever printed before. 12mo. 3s. Reeve.

More ftupid, or more infignificant tales were never told by any narrative old nurse; and in print we never met with poorer tuff; not even in thefe novel-fcrawling times, when footmen and fervant-maids are the authors, as well as, occafionally, the heroes and heroines of their own molt elegant memoirs. Whether this collection be a kitchen or a parlour production, we know not; but it smells most of the former.

Art. 3. A Grammar of the Latin tongue. After a new and eafy method, adapted to the capacities of children. By Hugh Christie, M.A. Rector of the grammar-School of Montrofe. 12mo. Is. Rivington and Fletcher.

This grammar, to ufe the Author's own words, is defigned to reduce what is commonly called the rudiments and grammar of the Latin tongue into one regular and uniform fyftem, in which fuperfluities are retrenched, and brevity is all along ftudied In regard to the merit of it, we fhall only fay, that it is the plainest and most diftin&t performance, of the kind, we remember to have seen, within fe narrow a compaís.

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Art. 4. The Rudiments of the Latin tongue; in which, the difficulties of all the parts of our Latin grammars are made plain to the capacities of children. By James Barclay, A. M. Rector of the grammar-fchool of Dalkeith. 8vo. 25. Millar, Wilfon, c.

Mr. Barclay's work might, with equal propriety, have been called the Latin Grammar, as the Rudiments of the Latin tongue, for it equally comprehends both. The Author appears to be well acquainted with his fubject, and has treated it in a ftile properly adapted to the capacities of youth. The several parts of grammar are explained in a clear and seafy manner, in English, by way of queftion and anfwer.

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* See alfo the Greek Rudiments, by this Author; Review, vol, XI. f. 392.

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Art. 5. An accurate and authentic account of the taking of CapeBreton, in the year 1745. Together with a computation of the French fishery in that part of the world; both fent over by general Pepperell, who commanded in that expedition, in a letter to his friend captain Henry Stafford, at Exmouth, Devon. From whence will appear the importance of that ifland, and the danger we shall be in of lofing our fuperiority at fea, should it now again be restored to France. 8vo. Is. Staples.

This account of the fiege of Cape Breton in the laft war, and of the importance of that acquifition, being drawn up fo long ago, we are not quite fure but they may have appeared before; especially as this age feldom fuffers any topic to fleep, which in any measure promifes to engage the public attention: events being oftner anticipated, than overlooked. Little need be faid of this pamphlet more than the title expreffes; that it fhews Cape Breton to be a valuable fettlement to its poffeffors.

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Art. 6. An authentic account of the reduction of Louisbourg, in June and July 1758. By a Spectator. 8vo. 1s. Owen. Thefe appear to be the minutes of fome perfon who was prefent at the fiege of Louisbourg, though he tells us, in his addreís to the reader, that he neither was himself an actor in any thing he relates, nor under any influence from dependence or connection with those that were. But he affures us, that, the authenticity of the whole · may be as far relied on, as it is poffible to credit the accounts of fe⚫ veral gentlemen who were prefent at its different parts, and related them regularly as they were tranfacted.' In short, it is a very circumftantial journal; and, we doubt not, but that the particulars may be depended on, as the principal ones entirely agree with those published by authority.

Art. 7. A Journal of the campaign on the coaft of France. · 1758. 8vo. 2s. Townsend.

A well-connected account of the three defcents made by our troops upon the coafts of Brittany and Normandy, in the memorable fummer of 1758, when the British arms, invigorated by British counfels, began to recover their antient reputation and credit, which had been almost totally lost, through the imbecility, or depravity, of former adminiftrations.-The Journalist feems to be a man of capacity. Probably he was an officer in the fervice, and perfonally engaged in the tranfactions he recites. His account is written nervously and clearly, authenticated with copies of the feveral military orders and inftructions, and illuftrated with a fmall plan of the English intrenchments at Cancalle. There is also a copper-plate sketch of the affair at St. Cas bay, where fo many of our brave foldiers were facrificed, by the ill-concerted retreat, which fo unfortunately terminated the third attempt.-May the next be more happily conducted!

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Art. 8. A Journal, containing every tranfaction of confequence of the Guards, as well as of the rest of his majesty's troops in the late Expeditions on the coaft of France, &c. 8vo. 1s. Downing, ftationer in Chancery Lane.

This is a more minute detail of particulars than is contained in the other accounts. It is dedicated to colonel Brudenell, and the dedication is figned Walter Thomas-who, at the end of his pamphlet, writes himself a foldier. This is all that needs be faid of the prefent article.

Art. 9. The Theatre of the prefent war in North-America. By A. Y****, Efq; 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Coote.

'Squire A. Y. has been at the pains of turning over our feveral books of geography, and defcriptions, in order to cull out fome account of thofe places which are the fcenes, or objects, of our prefent contests with France, in that part of the world. The fquire feems to know nothing of the matter, further than he is informed by Harris and Salmon, and fuch like authorities. He has fubjoined fome common-place reflections on the importance of the war: but his chief dependence for the fale of his pamphlet, appears to arife from the confideration of its cheapnefs, which, he hopes, will work powerfully in his favour with many readers.'

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Art. 10. A letter from the honourable Lt G————1 Bto the right honourable Wm P-t, Efq; Se-y of ft-te, together with his M―y's inftructions for the late expedition on the coaft of France. 8vo. 1s. Payne.

General Bligh having publickly difowned and difapproved the above, it merits no further notice.

Art. 11. An Appeal to common sense; or striking remarks on the conduct of Lt G—l B—h, and Core Lord He, in the late expedition on the coaft of France; wherein that unhappy affair is jet in a more obvious light than it has bitherto been. By an old experienced officer. 8vo. 1 s. Coote. Accufes the conductors of the enterprize as the authors of its mifcarriage, thro' their want of judgment and forefigh: but we perceive nothing very ftriking in the Author's remarks, which confift of little more than common-place coffee-house talk.

Art. 12. The Gentleman and Lady of Pleafure's Amusement: in eighty-eight questions, with their anfwers, on love and gallantry. To which is added, the adventures of Sophia; with the hiftory of Frederick and Caroline. 12mo. 3s. Thrush. Purloin'd, as the purloiner indeed borofily confeffes, from two old dull books called the Athenian Oracle and the British Apollo: except the

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