"Since then he's been to India's coast, "And many a distant shore; "Long fince I deem'd his fhip was loft, "And thought he liv'd no more. "But now the fhip's return'd once more, "With richest treafures fraught"See, Edward, fee this precious store, "He home for me hath brought. "Then raze thy fears, nor longer pine, "Let hope illume thy breast; "Perchance now ample wealth is mine, "Thy fire will make us blefs'd!" More had the fpoke, but Edward faid"Ceafe, cease thou faultlefs faint! "Enough I've heard, O injur'd maid! Forgive my falfe complaint. "And thou, kind brother of my dear! "I will," the gen'rous captain cried, "But banish ev'ry gloomy care, "Come, fhare with us of this repaft, "And foon as e'er the coming day "And tell your doom, he cried." Young Edward promis'd to obey, By hope infpir'd, with heart clate, The blissful news he told his fire, What paffions feiz'd young Edward's breast, The night elaps'd, Aurora shed He tells his conqueft to the twain, London, D. J. W. Literary Review. General Biography, or Lives, Critical and Hiftorical, of the most eminent Perfons of all Ages, Countries, Conditions and Profeffions, arranged according to alphabetical Order, chiefly compofed by John Aikin, M. D. and the late Reverend William Enfield, L. L. D. Volume the Firft. Robinfon. 11. 4s. Quarto. HIS is an excellent biographical work, indeed the THIS facts are well felected, the ftyle may boaft both of neatnefs and accuracy, and the characters of eminent men are appreciated with impartiality. Such a general work, ably executed, was wanted. The utility of biography is univerfally acknowledged, and we congratulate the public on their being in poffeffion of a work in which inftruction and entertainment are happily combined! Every life has affixed to it the initial of the author's name, by which we may guefs the writer; who is thus rendered accountable for the sketch with which the reader is furnished. This volume juft enters into the fecond letter of the alphabet; nor is it poffible, in the prefent ftage of its progrefs, to afcertain the limits to which it will be extended. Dr. Enfield, however, wishes to guard against prolixity, and, therefore, remarks"Thefe articles we have confidered as rather defigned "for being confulted than read; and we have comVOL. VII. R "prized, "prized, under a few fhort heads of information, all "that we had to fay concerning them. As to the nature of the work, it may also be beft learnt from the Editor's own words" For our mate"rials, it is true we muft, in general, have been in"debted to the researches of former hiftorians and bio"graphers. The acknowledged accuracy and impar"tiality of many of thefe, will juftify a liberal confi"dence in their fatements of facts, especially when "confirmed by mutual agreement. But in melting "down the fubftance of different narrations into one, "in proportioning the feveral parts, in marking out the "characteristic features of the portrait, and in deducing "fuitable leffons and examples of human life, we have “freely exercised our own judgments, and have aspired, "at least, to the rank of original writers." A Miffionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean, performed in the Years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff, commanded by Captain James Wilfon compiled from the Journals of the Officers and Miffionaries, and illuftrated with Maps, Charts, and Views, drawn by Mr. William Wilfon, and engraved by the most eminent Artifts, with a Preliminary Dif courfe on the Geography and Hiftory of the South Sea Iflands; and an appendix, including Details never before published, of the Natural and Civil State of Otaheite, by a Committee appointed for the Purpose by the Directors of the Miffionary Society. Quarto, Chapman. EVER fince the discoveries of the immortal Cooke, the South Sea Iflands have been the object of curiofity to the adventurous European. Voyages have been made thither repeatedly, for the purpose of ascertaining with more accuracy, the foil, climate, manners, and and population of that fingular region of the world. Every thing, therefore, which refpects its hiftory, muft attract the attention of individuals who feel themselves interested in the welfare of mankind. The Miffionaries failed from Blackwall, in the Thames, August 10, 1796, and reached Otaheite, March 5, 1797. Their voyage was, in part, ftormy and boisterous, but met with no accident or interrup tion. Indeed they were obliged to alter their courfe materially; for, intending to pass through the Magel. Janic Streights, they were under the neceffity of giving up their defign, though they had reached the coaft of of South America. They left, therefore, this quarter, and ran across the Atlantic for fome thousands of miles, till they reached the place of their destination. Of the fuccefs of the miffion little can yet be faid with certainty, though every circumstance is here evidently extended and exaggerated, being seen through the medium of that enthufiaftic ardour by which the undertaking was infpired. Many excellent perfons, both in the established church and among the diffenters, have withheld their countenance from it for various reasons; nor do we apprehend that the perufal of this voyage will entirely remove all their fufpicions refpecting it. The cool and impartial spectator of their proceedings muft with that their zeal was more according to knowledge. There is, however, a way opened for other millionaries, who will, no doubt, avail themselves, at fome future period, of the opportunity prefented them for affording the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands more rational and juft views of the Chriftian religion. The fcriptures being once put into the hands of thefe ignorant people, they will, by degrees, exercise their own reason, and ascertain the real defign and tendency of Revelation, which is confined to no fect or party, but intended, by the extent of its promises to benefit, the whole creation of God, In detailing the tranfactions of the Miffionaries in R& thefe |