This inftitution, we understand to be formed and offered to the commercial world by Mr. Wefkett, Author of the Complete Digest of the Laws, Sc. of Insurance, mentioned in our Review, Vol. LXV. p. 203. and we will credit him with being as fufficient for fuch an extenfive task, as any individual can be fuppofed to be.

MILITARY.

Art. 40. A Treatise on Military Finance; containing the Pay, Sabfiftence, Deductions, and Arrears of the Forces on the British - and Irish Eftablishments; and all the Allowances in Camp, Garrifon, and Quarters, &c. With an Inquiry into the Method of Cloathing and Recruiting the Army; and an Extract from the Report of the Commiflioners of Public Accounts, relating to the Office 2 s. bound. Egerton. 1782. of the Paymafler General. izmo. A compendium of this kind muft, we apprehend, be very accept able to military gentlemen, if the particulars are found to be accdrately flated, and correctly printed.

Art. 41. The Elements of Military Arrangement; comprehending the Tactic, Exercife, Manoeuvres, and Difcipline of the British Infantry; with an Appendix, containing the Subftance of the principal Standing Orders and Regulations for the Army. 8vo. 5 s. Boards. Egerton. 1781.

When we obferve that the fubjects above fpecified are treated in a clear, methodical, and concise manner, we apprehend that all the purpofes to be answered by fuch a work are fulfilled. The Dedication to the Earl of Harrington is figned, John Williamson.

AMERICA.

Art. 42. Obfervations en fome Parts of the Anfwer of Ear! By Lieutenant GeneCornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton's Narrative. ral Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. To which is added, an Appendix; containing Extracts of Letters and other Papers, to which Reference-is neceffary. 8vo. 2 s. 6d. Debrett.

After much rejoinder, about the times of fending orders, receiving difpatches, producing and withholding letters, &c. which the parties concerned will understand much better than any of their readers; Sir Henry Clinton repeats that Lord Cornwallis mifconceived his orders and intentions; that it will appear from the correspondence, that his Lordship's difcretionary powers were unlimited from the first moment of his taking charge of a feparate command: and it will, I believe, be admitted, that his lordship acted in molt cafes as if he confidered them as fuch +. Upon this ground, Sir Henry declares, I will frankly own that I ever difapproved of an attempt to conquer Virginia, before the Carolinas were abfolutely restored. However, when I faw that Lord Cornwallis had forced himself upon me in that province, I left him at liberty to act there as he judged beft 1. He clofes thefe obfervations with the following paragraph: I fhall now beg leave to conclude with an opinion, which I prefume is deducible from the foregoing (I trust candid) review of circumstances; which is, that Lord Cornwallis's conduct and opinions, if they were not the immediate caufes, may be adjudged to have at leaft contributed to

bring on the fatal catastrophe which terminated the unfortunate campaign of 1781 §.’

It is to be hoped, an altercation, from which the Public have nothing to hope, will not be any longer continued.

Art. 43. An Addrefs to the People of Great Britain, containing Thoughts entertained during the Christmas Recefs, on the Independence of America. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Milne.

This Writer is a ftrenuous advocate for that British declaration of American independence that has lately taken place; as well on the ground of policy as of neceffity: and as he has employed a great profufion of words to enforce the propriety of it, there is no improbability in fuppofing he may claim the merit of having been inftrumental in its accomplishment. There is an energy in concifenefs, while amplification exhaufts herfelf, and grows feeble by unneceffary" labour. The prefent Writer, in controverting opinions that he continually terms foolish and abfurd, employs as many tedious arguments and illustrations against them, as a zealous Polemic would efteem neceffary to overturn the moft fpecious and crafty attacks of infidelity.

Art. 44. Monitory Hints to the Minifter, on the prefent State of the Nation, the Dismemberment of the Empire, the neceffary Alterations of the Conftitution, &c. In a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Shelburne: with occafional Obfervations, elucidating many Paffages in a Pamphlet lately published, entitled, A Defence of the Earl of Shelburne, &c. 8vo. 2 s. Bew.

This is intended as a counterpart of the Defence of the Earl of Shelburne; rather for the fake of contrasting another character of Mr. Fox, with that given in the pamphlet alluded to, than for any more serious purpofe. If the anecdotes and characters thus given of ftatefmen by writers of oppofite parties, fhould all of them be admitted to have fome foundation on facts; what must be the obvious inference from the whole? The intended objects of political reformation are alfo here exploded by the argument called redu&io ad abfurdam.-When we reflect on the oppofition which has ever been made to every kind of public REFORMATION, we are led to conclude that there are men who are apt to be terrified by the very word, and confider it as fynonymous to RUIN.

EAST INDIES. Art. 45. Hiftorical Fragments of the Mogul Empire; of the Morattoes, and of the English Concerns, in Indoitan, from the Year 1759. 12mo. 5 s. fewed. Nourfe. 1782.

From the above title to this little entertaining portion of hiftory, it might be efteemed an independent publication; but this is by no means the cafe, for, on opening the first page, it appears to appertain to another work; though from diffimilarity of size, and a ftudied obfcurity of expreffion, it required fome fagacity, or a very ready recollection, to difcover what that work might be. We have already pablished fome portion of the military tranfactions of the British nation in Indoftan from the year 1744,' is all the connexion we are fa

$P. 34.

See Vol. LXVII. p. 465.

voured with! Without fopping to confider who might be implied under the wa gar paral, or regal fingular, defignation of we, a work en the fame surged, and of the fame fize, was in vain ftudied for; and at length from the words, we called to mind an ingenious, well cougars - Hiory of the Military Tranfactions of the British Nation in Laoofan,” in two volumes 4:0. of which work this duodecimo is to be considered as an epifodical part. Thefe Fragments are to incince the decline of the Mogul fovereignty, from caufes that took place at the death of the famous Aurengzebe; and in this volume we have as clear and well-connected a general view of his reign, and of the extraordinary enterprizes of Sevagi, the founder of the Morattoe matize, as the authentic materials the accurate Author could have recourie so would feraith; it is from the deficiency of his refources that Mr. Orme gives his collection under the modeft title of Frag

Sevagi, indeed, appears to have been a moft extraordinary perfonage; but as no one at his achievements can give the Reader to clear an idea of his military qualities, as a general review of the whole, we fall extract the character here given of him:

• The name of his family as Bonfolo; which, claiming their deKent from ancient princes of the Rajpoot nation, were exempted (we uspcie in convenience to military exertions) from fome of the ftricter ecievances of the general religion; from which, nevertheless, he never deviated for the fake of indulgences; and affected the deepest reverence to his brames, undertaking no expedition without their serproes; and was as parctual in his private devotions, as affiduous in the ceremeries of public worthip; it should feem from conviction; der whether sɔ er, his practice gained the public respect: and as be delighted in every occation of throwing defiance against Aurengzebe, be frequently Elled timelf, in his correspondence and manifoss, the champion of the Hindoo gods against the fanguinary vielator of their temples; which, with his own example, fharpened the antipathy of his troops again the Mcgel's, whom they deemed it religices reta lation to cedrov.

His private life was fimple, even to parfimony; his manners void of indience or chentation; as a fovereign he was humane, and foliEsses for the well-being of his people, as foon as affured of their becience; for he gathered them as we have feen by degrees. Confiding agerk the Mogul, Viziapore, and Golcondah, the his own territories, all wrefted from their dominions, scient to Cpply the means of maintaining effectual war agent lach rich and nighty powers; but bis genius created the resources which 82 ure has denied. The cavalry of the three Mahomedin fares were always drawn from the northern countries and borders of lecia, with especial regard to the firength and fize, as well of the riders as their bortes; whofe pampered maintenance was of vad expence; but their dock was not to be refifted by any of the native cavalry to the feath of Delhi, and all the conquefts made by

See Rev. Vel, XAIX. p. 299. Vol. LIX. p. 430. Vol. LX.

the

the Mahomedans in this lower region may be imputed to this unequal decifion. Sevagi firft difcerned and provided the equivalent oppofition, by establishing a cavalry, of which the requifites were agility and endurance of fatigue: many must have perished in the probation; but befides the fupplies of purchafe and capture, broods were raised from the most approved. The horse without a faddle was rode by a man without clothes, whofe conftant weapon was a trufty fabre; footmen enured to the fame travel, and bearing all kind of arms trooped with the horse: fpare horses to bring off the booty, and relieve the wearied or wounded. All gathered their daily provifions, as they paffed. No purfuit could reach their march; in conflict their onset fell wherefoever they chofe, and was relinquished even in the inftant of charge. Whole diftricts were in flames before their approach was known, as a terror to others to redeem the ravage. Nor were they fo wanton in bloodshed as reported by affright; but gave no quarter to refistance or interruption: in the towns, they only fought the wealthy inhabitants to carry them off for future ranfom. Such was their war of plunder. In regular campaigns, in which fortreffes were to be reduced, they must have moved with the ufual incumbrances; but Sevagi feems to have befieged none at an inconvenient distance from others of which he was in poffeffion; excepting when he invaded the Carnatic, of which we have acquired no circumstances.

We are not apprized in what manner he fatished and paid his foldiery and their officers; but believe with portions of the cumbrous plunder, grain, land, honour, privileges, exemptions, and very little ready money, for the continual influx of treasure from his predatory excurfions raised the fame of the caves of Rairee to a proverbial fymbol of eastern wealth, as a repofitory from which nothing returned. Nevertheless, nothing neceffary to the fuccefs of his operations was ftinted, and what capture did not furnish, was procured by purchase. He spared no cost to obtain intelligence of all the motions and intentions of his enemy, and even of minuter import; for his detachments always knew the opulent boules of the towns they attacked, and often the very cell in which the treasure they fought was buried: he was still more profufe in corrupting the generals with whom he contended; the Mogul's governors of Surat, his Subahs in the Decan, and even Sultan Mauzum his fon, and the heir of his empire, had more than once accepted the gold of connivance from Sevagi.

• The fame principles of frugality and expence were obferved in the municipal disbursements of his government: for, fuperior himself to magnificence, none of his officers were led to expect more than competence; but nothing was fpared which might contribute to the internal defence of his country. Regular fortifications, well armed and garrifoned, barred the opener approaches; every pafs was commanded by forts, and in the clofer defiles, every fleep and overhanging rock was occupied as a flation to roll down great males of ftone, which made their way to the bottom, and became the most effectual annoyance to the labouring march of cavalry, elephants, and carriages. It is faid that he left 350 of thefe polls in the Concan alone.

Sevagi poffeffed all the qualities of command: every influence, how foever latent, was combined in his fchemes, which generally com. prehended the option of more than one fuccefs; fo that his intention

could

could rarely be afcertained, and when accomplished, did not difcover the extent of its advantages, until developed by fubfequent acquifitions. In perfonal activity he exceeded all generals of whom there is record; for no partizan appropriated to fervices of detachment alone, ever traversed as much ground, as he at the head of armies. He met every emergency of peril, how foever fudden and extreme, with infant difcernment and unfhaken fortitude: the ableft of his officers -acquiefced to the eminent fuperiority of his genius; and the boast of the foldier was to have feen Sevagi charging fword in hand.

• Thus refpected, as the guardian of the nation he had formed, he moved every where amongst them with unfufpicious fecurity, and often alone; whilft his wiles were the continual terror of the princes with whom he was at enmity, even in the midft of their citadels and armies. When foever we shall obtain a history of his life, written in his own country, he will doubtless appear to have poffeffed the higheft refources of ftratagem, joined to undaunted courage; which, although equal to the encounter of any danger, always preferred to furmount it by circumvention; which, if impracticable, no arm exceeded his in open daring. Gallantry muft lament that it fhould once have been ftained by the blood of affaffination.

• Aurengzebe could not fupprefs the emotions of his joy, on hearing of Sevagi's death, nor the juftice due to his character, which he had denied during his life. He was," he faid, "a great captain, and the only one who has had the magnanimity to raise a new kingdom, whilft I have been endeavouring to deflroy the ancient fovereignties of India; my armies have been employed against him for nineteen years, and, nevertheless, his flate has always been increafing."

This flate comprized, on the western fide of India, all the coaft with the back country of the hills, from the river Mirzeou to Verfal; excepting the fmall territory of Goa to the fouth, Bombay, Salcette, and the Portuguese country between Bacein and Daman to the north. Along the other fide of the ridge, all, as far as the mountains continued to the weftward, likewife belonged to Sevagi. The whole, at a general amount, may be esteemed 400 miles in length, and 120 in breadth at the distance of 300 miles from this dominion, he was in poffeffion, towards the eastern fea, of half the Carnatic, which alone equalled most of the Rajahihips of India; all acquired by his own abilities from an origin of little note, and left at his decease a permanent fovereignty, established on communion of manners, customs, obfervances, language, and religion; united in common defence against the tyranny of foreign conquerors, from whom they had recovered the land of their own inheritance.'

Sambagi, his fon and fucceffor, poffeffed all the courage and activity of his extraordinary father, but little of his difcretion and political fagacity; he was imtemperately attached to women, which laid the foundation of his deftruction. Cablis Caun, the minister of his pleafures, betrayed him into the brutal hands of Aurengzebe, in an excurfion concerted for the purpofe of ftealing away the beautiful bride of a young Fiindoo of diftinction. His fad fate is thus affectingly related.'

(Sambagi