guedoc, and Dauphine: With Dissertations on the Subjects of which those are Exemplars. And an Appendix, describing the Roman Baths and Thermæ discovered in 1784, at Badenweiler. By Governor Pownall*, F. R. S. and F. S. A. 4to †.

"The Treasury of Wit; being a methodical Selection of about Twelve Hundred, the best, Apophthegms and Jests; from Books in several Languages. By H. Bennet, M. A.” 2 vols. 12mo.

"A Dissertation on the Origin and Progress of the Scythians or Goths. Being an Introduction to in communicating, in various essays and memoirs, his knowledge and acquirements in Agricultural subjects. The following short extract from a paper found after his death will display his heart and mind in the truest way: May God of his great goodness make me an useful member of society whilst in my power to act; after which, may his continued mercies render my latter days, if not farther useful, such as to be neither irksome and a burthen to myself, nor troublesome to my friends or relatives! Amen. His will be done!" An original Portrait of him, a private plate, and an excellent likeness, drawn and etched by Mr. William Rogers, a respectable young gentleman who had been his pupil, is here presented to my Readers.

* Of whom see vol. VIII. pp. 64, 761.

"This work professes to give a particular account of such monuments of Roman antiquity as are yet remaining in so fine a part of the Roman Empire, so cultivated and improved, but which have remained nondescript, or imperfectly and wrongly described till now, at length, a spirit of literary curiosity has. arisen in the country itself." Gent. Mag. vol. LVII. p. 990.

"No species of literary compilation has, perhaps, been so hackneyed as that of Jest-books; and vile trash they have generally been; but The Treasury of Wit,' coming with the sanction of an avowed Author, and that Author a Clergyman, deserves some consideration. We have observed, in this collection, many jests which we have often met with before; the point and turn of some of which have been rather injured by Mr. Bennet's repetition of them. Our Author's discourse on wit and humour,' considered under the four different heads, Serious Wit, Comic Wit, Serious Humour, Comic Humour, forms, in our opinion, the best part of the volumes; it contains many just and pertinent observations, and displays knowledge, reading, and taste. Mr. Bennet modestly calls it a dull discourse,' but we have not found it so." M. Rev. LXXVI. 445. -It is pity, after this just character of the book, to add-that the name was fictitious; the publick having been indebted for the compilation, to the versatile talents of the very ingenious but eccentric Author of Letters on Literature."

་

the

the ancient and modern History of Europe. By John Pinkerton." 8vo.

"The Speech of Mr. Wilkes in the House of Commons, May 9, 1787, respecting the Impeachment of Warren Hastings*, Esq." Svo.

Respublica or, A Display of the Honours, Ceremonies, and Ensigns of the Commonwealth, under the Protectorship of Oliver Cromwell; together with the Names, Armorial Bearings, Flags, and Pennons of the different Commanders of English, Irish, Scotch, Americans, and French; and an Alphabetical Roll of the Names and Armorial Bearings of upwards of Three Hundred Families of

* "Mr. Wilkes undertook the good-natured, and we hope the just, task of defending the Governor General from the many articles of accusation accumulated against him, by pleading the uniform, successful, and prosperous tenor of his Indian administration, the sentiments entertained of him in the East, and the frequent warm votes of approbation and thankful acknowledgment that he received to the last from his principals. All these, indeed, speak a language totally different from the declamation and acrimony so lavishly displayed in the parliamentary impeachment. It is almost needless to add, that the Speech is conceived in terms characteristic of the Orator's well-known abilities." Monthly Review, vol. LXXVII. p. 320. +"This compilation, which its well-meaning Compiler inscribes to Lord Sydney, with the warmest professions of attachment to the illustrious House of Hanover, and entire devotion to the interest and permanency of this our Commonwealth;'-professions the more necessary in this democratic age, when the independency of Three Estates on each other is so eagerly aimed at on the Continent of America, and the annihilation of one of the Three as furiously contended for on that of Europe.-The Volume contains a very innocent muster-roll of banners, commissions, honours, and summonses to Parliament, under the administration of the Protector, and a full true and particular account of his funeral, in which is let out the secret! that his remains were privately interred in a small paddock near Holbourn, in that very spot over which the obelisk is placed in Red Lion Square, Holborn.' The whole concludes (to be continued, God willing, in a second volume), with an Alphabetical Roll of the Names and Armorial Bearings of most of the present Nobility and ancient Families of these Kingdoms, together with those of Germany, France, Spain, &c." Mr. Gough, in G. Mag. LVII.518,

the

the present Nobility of England, Scotland, and Ireland. By Sir John Prestwich *, Bart." 4to.

* Son of Sir Elias Prestwich, of Holme and Prestwich, in the county of Lancaster, who died March 24, 1785; and a lineal descendant of Thomas Prestwich, Esq. [who was created a Baronet April 25, 1644; though, in the Baronetage of 1741, the title is said to be then extinct; which was owing to the inattentive negligence of the grandfather of the late Baronet, as he clearly demonstrated by wills, &c. &c. Certain it is that the Editor of the Respublica" always claimed the title; and as certain that, for what reason we know not, the claim was not universally allowed. His title, however, to notice as an Author rests on a more certain basis.]-He was the Author of an ingenious "Dissertation on Mineral, Animal, and Vegetable Poisons, 1775," 8vo. and of the above very singular and curious Heraldic volume, in which he repeatedly takes occasion to introduce his title of Baronet; and, after describing three different coats of arms granted to his ancestors, and mentioning the Lordship and manor of Holme, the original noble seat of his family, he adds, "This information is for those that come after me, and is not given through pride, but that they may see and learn to tread in the paths of Virtue, Valour, Honour, and Integrity: for (as Solomon sayeth) seest thou a man diligent at his business, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men." A full account is also given by him of one of his relations, Edmond Prestwich, Esq. a Bard of the 17th century, well known by his translation of the Hippolytus of Seneca, and other poems; and also of the Rev. John Prestwich, a benefactor to Brazen Nose and All Souls Colleges in Oxford, and to the Public Library at Manchester. A second volume of the "Respublica" (which, notwithstanding its title, is replete with Loyalty) was intended by the ingenious Author, had he received the encouragement he expected, or rather had he not been prevented by a continued series of illness, during which he owed the little comfort he enjoyed almost solely to the unremitted and affectionate attentions of Lady Prestwich. died at Dublin, after an illness of two years, Aug. 14, 1795, leaving a MS History of Liverpool,' ready for the press, which was to have been printed by Mr. Gore of that place, but was withheld, by Sir John's direction, on a similar work being announced by Mr. Holt (see p. 20); and the Baronet's long illness prevented his attending to the progress of his own publication. When in South Wales, Sir John Prestwich began also an Historical Account of the place. and the manners of the people; to which his ill state of health alone put a stop. This latter work he intended to have dedicated to Lord Ducie, to whom he was allied; though his Lordship had stopped an annuity allowed him by his brother, the preceding noble Peer of that title.

He

"An

"An Account of the Loss of the Luxborough Galley, by Fire, on her Voyage from Jamaica to London; with the Sufferings of the Crew, in the

* "Mr. Pennant, in his Journey from London to the Isle of Wight, has thus elegantly epitomised this calamitous story: "In Mr. Boys's parlour I observed some small pictures of a ship in distress he related to me the subject, and furnished me with the following melancholy episode:-In 1727, his father was second mate in the Luxborough Galley, a fine ship of thirty-two guns, fitted out by the South Sea Company, under the Assiento contract, and commanded by Capt. Kellaway. Her crew, including two passengers, consisted of thirty-nine. On June 25, in their way from Jamaica to England, the ship took fire by the careless application of a candle to a puncheon of rum. The head was heard to burst off with the explosion of a cannon, and the flames seized her without hopes of remedy: the yawl was hoisted out, and twenty-two men and boys crowded into it; the long boat remained on board on fire. In this situation, without cloaths, provision, or compass, at the distance of a hundred and twenty leagues from the nearest land, they experienced all the miseries of cold, hunger, and thirst. It was proposed to fling into the sea the two boys who had occasioned the misfortune : this was over-ruled. It was then proposed to cast lots, and give all an equal chance of being saved, by lightening the boat, which lay deep in the water: this was opposed, and soon became unnecessary, by the death of five of the people raving mad. Hunger grew now irresistible. Mr. Scrimsour, the surgeon, proposed the eating the bodies of the dead, and drinking their blood: he made the first essay, and turned aside his head and wept. They could only relish the hearts, of which they ate three. They cut the throats of their dead companions as soon as life was departed, and found themselves refreshed and invigorated by this unnatural beverage. By the 12th day the number was reduced to twelve; a raging sea added to their miseries; a dead duck, in a putrid state, came within their reach, and was eaten as the greatest delicacy. On July 7th despair seized them, and they lay down to die. By accident Mr. Boys raised himself, and saw land; on communicating the news to the survivors, they were instantly re-animated, and took to their oars. They perceived some shallops in with the land, and found themselves on the coasts of Newfoundland. They were taken on shore, and treated with the utmost humanity, by Captain Le Cras, of Guernsey, Admiral of the harbour. Mr. Boys, with true piety, kept the day of his deliverance ever after as a fast.-The rest of his life was blessed with prosperity. He had begun his career in his Majesty's service accident flung him into that in which he experienced so great a calamity. He returned again into the Royal Navy, rose to the post of Captain, and hoisted the broad pendant

:

as

year 1727. By William Boys, Second Mate *." 4to. "A Comparative View of the Russian Discoveries with those made by Captains Cook and Clerke: and

as Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels in the Thames, Medway, and Nore. At length he finished his honourable days, as Lieutenant Governor of Greenwich Hospital, March 4, 1774, aged 74. It is remarkable that two of his fellow sufferers lived to a very great age. Mr. Scrimsour, the surgeon, attained that of 80; and George Mould, a seaman, being brought into Greenwich Hospital by the Lieutenant Governor, died there at the age of about 82."

* Descended, paternally, from an ancient and knightly family, who were seated at Bonington, in the parish of Goodnestone, Kent, at the beginning of the 14th century. He married Elizabeth Pearson; and had two sons; of whom William, the eldest, was born at Deal, Sept. 7, 1735; and was for many years an eminent Surgeon at Sandwich. Early in life, he shewed a strong propensity to cultivate Literature and Science; and every moment he could spare from his professional duties was devoted to some useful pursuit. Residing within a mile of Richborough (the ancient Rhutupium), he was soon led to investigate the history of his neighbourhood. He acquired an uncommon facility in decyphering ancient MSS. and inscriptions; and, being fortunately in very easy circumstances, independently of his professional income, was enabled to gratify his taste at no inconsiderable expence; and gradually collected many valuable and curious books, MSS. coins, and other antiquities. He was elected F. S. A. in 1776; and was afterwards an early member of the Linnæan Society. He applied himself also with great zeal and success to the study of Natural History; to Mathematics, Astronomy, and other branches of Philosophy. In 1786 he circulated among his friends proposals to print Collections for a History of Sandwich, with Notices of the other Cinque Ports, and of Richborough.' Disclaiming all views of profit, he proposed to fix such a price on the work as should merely defray the expence of printing and engraving; and so conscientiously did he adhere to this proposal, that, after the distribution of the book, he found himself a considerable loser. A part of the volume appeared in 1788; and a second part, completing this elaborate and valuable work, in 1792; making together a volume in quarto of 877 pages. This was his principal literary production; but, being of a most liberal and communicative disposition, he was at all times ready to assist his friends with hints and observations on any subject which had engaged his attention. Thus, in 1783, he communicated to the Editor of these " Anecdotes" some "Observations on the Antiquities of Reculver;" which are inserted in the " Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica," with Mr. Duncombe's "History of Reculver and Herne." In 1784, appeared, in 25 quarto pages,