The difference between these two estimates is fo inconfiderable, that either of them will answer our purpose, and shew, if not exactly, yet very nearly, the weight of the old Saxon pound. But of the two I fhould prefer the laft, because it was fo much nearer the Saxon times; and eftimating the weight of the feveral pounds, was not an incidental point, as in the former cafe, but the very bufinefs of the writer; and because (which Mr. Folkes did not feem to fufpect) the Troy pound had been established in our mints; and the old Tower pound quite difufed, fome years before that estimate of Henry the Eighth was taken. at both these computations are fo near each other, that ey were sertainly taken from the fame pound, and have in proportion a much greater agreement, than the coins which were ftruck out of it.' It is no wonder indeed, that the Saxons were very far from Being exact in the weight of their coins, when the Romans themselves, in much more elegant and polite ages, were almost as careless in this particular. The inaccuracy of the Romans, the Saxons, and even of the English moneyers in later times, with regard to this matter, is fully displayed by our Author; which fhews, fays he, how precarious thofe conclufions must be, which determine the weight of the pound from the weight of any particular coin. How many different Saxon pounds would be produced from fuch calculations? How ridiculous would it be to expect an exact agreement in the weight of their money, when their Anglo-Norman fucceffors, and even the Romans themselves, were fo careless in this refpect. The bufinefs of making exact calculations, was a point very little practifed or understood in thofe ages. We fee this in our most public acts; where the wisdom and juftice of the nation were concerned, they did not give themfelves the trouble of carrying the rules of proportion to any critical exactness. In the famous Statute of 51, Henry III. made to regulate the the affize of bread, where an exact proportion between the price of wheat and the weight of bread was moft probably intended; it is, however, very feldom obferved. The Statute fays, That when a quarter of wheat is fold for a iii fhillings and vi pence, then a wastel bread of a farthing fhall weigh two part thereof, 450 like grains. The weight of the Rochel, or Englifh ounce, as taken from the marc above mentioned, will be found 451 76 Troy grains, if the correfponding marc of Troyes is fuppofed exactly to coincide with the English Troy weight: and the prefent weight of the Colonia ounce, as fated by John Gasp. Eisenschmid, from his own experiments, in his tra&t De Ponderibus et Menfuris is 550 Paris grains and a quarter, which make, when reduced, 451: 38 Troy grains. Folkes's Table of English Silver Coins, p. 4, 5. pounds pounds two fhillings.' But, according to the proportion which the ftatute fets out with, the weight of this bread ought to have been one pound, eighteen fhillings and ten pence. We meet with feveral mistakes of this fort in that ftatute, which is the first public act now remaining, that was made after the cities and boroughs were reprefented in parliament. These new members fhewed a proper regard to the interests of their constituents by this new law. For it was highly requifite, that in fuch large and populous districts, as many of them reprefented, the weight of bread should be adjusted by law. [To be continued.] K-S. MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For JANUARY, 1768. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 12. The School: being a Series of Letters between a young Lady and her Mother. Part the Second. 12mo. 3s. Flexney. IN 'N our Review for Auguft, 1766*, we recommended the firft vol. of thefe Letters; and the character then given of Mrs. Maefe's performance, may fuffice for the prefent continuation. Whether or not the propofes a farther extension of her plan, is not intimated at the close of this fecond volume. *Vid. Art. 15. of the Catalogue. Art. 13. Thoughts, Effays, and Maxims, chiefly religious and political. By Charles Howard Efq; of Greystock in Cumberland. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Lewis. The Author informs us, in the prefatory advertisement, that these Effays, &c. were never intended for the prefs; that they were only the amufement of his leifure hours, during his refidence at Paris; and that they are published at the defire of his friends.-People may fometimes be faid to act moft unadvisedly when they follow the advice of others: and we are fincerely of opinion that thofe to whom the public may be indebted for thefe fuperficia! fcraps of literature, were not friends to the Author's reputation. The world is by no means in want of literary trifles. The Bookfellers fhops and the falls of Moorfields abound with them; and we much fear that Mr. Howard's Mifcellanies will only ferve to add to their number, instead of proving of any fervice or inflruction to mankind' for though we apprehend he has fufficiently manifefted a good heart, and an improved manner of thinking, in the His words are, if they prove of any fervice or inftruction to mankind, the Author will be fatished,' &c. The critical reader, however, will not be fatisfied with fuch English as prove of inftruction.—In fhort this performance of Mr. H. (who feems to be a man of fashion) may ferve as a proper companion to the Travels of Lord Baltimore. See Review for October laft, p. 312. obfervations 2 obfervations here offered to the world, yet, in our judgment, he is not fufficiently qualified for a public writer. He who is capable of faying that the Duke of Shrefbury did not trim, or ftand fhilly-fhally; and that by a cool examination of the Duke of Berwick's actions which are Stubborn things; it will appear that this behaviour was fenfible,' &c. may with good reafon fit down to improve himself, at his leifure hours,' but ought by no means to fet up, as a mafter, for the improve ment of others. Art. 14. A True and Genuine Narrative of Mr. and Mrs. Tenducci. In a Letter to a Friend at Bath; giving a full Account, from their Marriage in Ireland, to the present Time. 8vo. Is. 6d. Pridden. We always understood Signior Tenducci, the celebrated Italian operafinger, to be an eunuch; yet here is an authentic account of his being married, in 1766, to a lady who had fallen in love with him for his fine finging and agreeable behaviour: and, what may feem yet more ftrange, it appears that her affection for fo peculiar a husband hath not fuffered any diminution, from her better acquaintance with him, after more than a year's cohabitation.—Mrs. Tenducci herself is the writer of this narrative; in which the gives a circumstantial detail of the fevere perfecution which she and her husband have met with from her enraged parents, &c. who have done every thing in their power, both by legal ánd arbitrary means, to diffolve an union which they could not, indeed, be fuppofed to behold with any degree of complacency. Her ftory, however, is an affecting one; the perfonal hardships fhe herself has undergone, through the refentment of her family, are fhocking to humanity; and poor Tenducci, alfo, on the whole, appears to have gained nothing but trouble and diftrefs, by this his moft unaccountable con nection. Art. 15. An exact Copy of an epiftolary Correfpondence between the 8vo. 6d. Pearch. The Rev. Mr. S. Brewer having been repeatedly called upon to give his teftimony, with refpect to what he knew of the proceedings between Mr. Madan and Mr. Haweis, on the one part, and the patron on the other, relating to the living of Aldwincle; the prefent pamphlet now makes its appearance, for the gratification of the public: whether it will also prove to the fatisfaction of Meff. M. and H. and their friends, is much to be doubted. Time, however, will fhew, when their advertifed Defence fhall come forth, how far their characters will or will not be affected by the weight that Mr. Brewer has thrown into the fcale of poor Kimpton.. Art. 16. A Supplement; or the Second Part of an Epistolary Correfpondence relative to the Living of Aldwincle. Containing feveral important Letters, now forced to be made public to vindicate injured Characters, and to undeceive the Friends of Religion. 8vo. 1 S. Wilkie. We have here a feries of letters which paffed between Mr. Madan and Mr. Y. and Mr. Haweis and Mr. Y; the latter acting as attorney for Mr. Kimpton. Mr. Y.'s letters feem to bear very hard upon the reverend / reverend gentlemen; but not so hard as do the Editor's arch, ironical comments on the letters of both parties. There is alfo a copy of Mr. Fuller's expoftulatory letter to Mr. H. dated Mar. 20, 1766; and of a very affecting letter from the unhappy Kimpton to a friend in London, dated Dec. 15, 1767; in which he relates the extreme diftrefs to which he and his family were then reduced; and which he juftly pleads in excufe for the delay of his answer to Mrs. Monk's pamphlet: fee Review for last November, p. 390. Art. 17. Strictures upon Modern Simony, and the Crime of Simon Magus; or, an Enquiry into Mr. Madan's Account of Simony, in his late Anfwer to the Faithful Narrative, &c. &c. 8vo. I S. Vernor and Chater. There was little occafion for this pamphlet; Mr. Madan having been fufficiently corrected, with regard to his explication of our ecclefiaftical laws concerning fimony, by the ingenious author of Aldwincle, or a Candid Examination *, &c. This, indeed, the prefent Writer acknowledges; apologizing, at the fame time, for the publication of his remarks: part of which, he fays, were in the prefs, when Aldvincle came out; otherwife they would not have appeared at all. He takes the fame fide of the argument with the candid examiner; and very fenfibly endeavours to fhew the fallacy of Mr. Madan's reafoning upon the ecclefiaftical laws, and the error of his confcience concerning the fantity of ecclefiaftical preferments; but we think he has deviated too far from the fubject immediately before him, in his numerous obfervations on the kingdom of the clergy, comparing it with the kingdom of Chrift:'-in the courfe of which he fhews too much of the narrow fpirit of a rigid diffenter from the eftablished church, which he treats with a feverity that even borders on indecency. See Review for laft month, p. 455. Art. 18. The Dramatic Time-piece: or perpetual Monitor. Being a Calculation of the Length of Time every At takes in the performing, in all the Acting-plays at the Theatres Royal, as minuted from repeated Obfervations, during the Courfe of many Years Practice. As alfo the Time of Night when Half price will be taken, and the certain Period when any Play will be over. By J. Brownfmith, Prompter to the Theatre-Royal in the Haymarket. 8vo. I s. Almon, &c. Mr. Brownfmith is of opinion that the utility of this piece is manifold.' Recourfe, fays he, being had to this book, any gentleman, &c. who may have carriages or fervants in waiting, or appointments to attend at any particular hour, may, at all times, (within a few minutes) be affured of the time, as punctually as if minuted by their watches, only by allowing for incidental entertainments, between the acts, fuch as fongs, dances, &c.' He alfo obferves, that by duly attending to this book, gentlemen may prevent their cattle from getting cold,: by waiting too long at the doors of playhouses, in bad weather, and that it will likewife be a means of their fervants ftaying at home, till within a very little time of their attendance, inftead of affembling in public houfes, or houles of ill fame, to the destruction of their morals, properties, and conftitutions. And, farther, that it may be of fervice to those whom business may prevent from attending a play till after the third act, 8 act, or what is called the latter account.-Thus, we fee, that a compilement which, from a curfory perufal of the title, might feem of no confequence to any body, may prove useful to many perfons, inhabitants of the great city, and its environs; to whom the play-houfes are objects of no fmall importance. Art. 19. The Complete English Brewer, or the whole Art and Myftery of Brewing, in all its various Branches. By George Watkins, who has practifed brewing in all its Branches, upwards of Thirty Years. 12mo. 3s. Cooke. We have no faith in this Mr. Watkins, because he fets out with a bouncing fib, in his very title-page. He fays he has practifed brewing, in all its branches, 'upwards of thirty years. Now, is not the portermanufactory a branch of the brewery? Mr. Watkins will not deny this, for he profeffes to teach the art of porter-b ewing; on which he has three diftinct chapters: but, unfortunately for his reputation in point of veracity, in one of thefe three chapters, he confeffes himself indebted for the information he has communicated to his readers, concerning the ingredients used in porter-brewing, to his having had fome talk with a gentleman once concerned in this trade, but who now, adds he, having left it off with a fair fortune, is above deceiving me, &c.' This is, indeed, an unlucky flip of Mr. Watkins's pen ;—but we shall bestow no farther animadverfion on a man who, as we much fufpect, carries forgery and fiction in his very name. Art. 20. A bort Examination of the Laws late'g made for the Amendment and Prefervation of the public Highways and TurnpikeRoads; clearly showing that the various Rejlraints and Penalties laid upon the Farmers refpecting their Carriages, muft ever enbance the Neceffaries of Life, without having the least tendency to amend and preferve the public Rouds of this Kingdom. 8vo, Is. White. This Examination contains many fhrewd and apparently valid objec tions to the prefent reformation of our highway laws; and fhews that in the infiances quoted, they must prove really oppreffive to that most useful clafs of people, the small farmers; whofe importance to the nation, in comparison with the opulent renters of large farms, is here placed in a striking view. One undoubtedly good object in view of the legif. lature, was, as is expreffed in the late Ratute, to reduce into one a&, the feveral highway laws; neverthe efs, fome parliamentary alterations have already taken place with respect to this act; and it is to be apprehended, that it will foon be branched out by explanations and amendments, fo as to defeat the clearness and brevity aimed at by the late reduction. N. Art. 21. A concife Account of the most remarkable Antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stonehenge, and the Barrows round it, fituate upon Salisbury Plain: with Views, Plan, and Elevation of the whole Structure, both as it appears now, and when in its original State, according to Inigo Jones, Dr. Stukely, &c. with their Opinions concerning it. Compiled for the Uje of those whofe Curiofity may lead them to fee this famous Monument of Antiquity, REV. Jan. 1768. F |