probable Effects upon the Territorial Poffeffions, the Commercial Interefts, Naval Strength, Manufactures, Population, Refources, Landed Intereft, and Public Funds of Great Britain; and a Com. parative Review of the Strength, Refources. and Public Credit, of the late Belligerent Powers, at the Conclufion of the Peace. 8vo. 1 s. Wilkie, &c. When a political writer undertakes to condemn any public meafures, nothing short of the abfolute ruin of the nation is to follow from them! We have, however, had the attending confolation of others, who have equally fed our hopes with views of profperity; and between one and the other, we have made fhift to go on as we have done ever fince political meafures have been fubject to general dif cuffion; that is, fluctuating between better and worfe. We hope ftill to do at least as well; for, notwithstanding this peace is big with ruinous confequences, our Author, in his comparison between the circumftances of the contending powers, gives us a glimmering of comfort, by affuring us, that France could not have raised the current fupplies for another campaign fo eafily as great Britain could have raifed fifty or fixty millions fterling, which, if even fo much was necessary, would not have been difficult, while taxes were to be found to fecure payment of the intereft, with which we are amply provided. And if either the Firft Lord of the Treafury, or the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who were concerned in making this peace, will avow that this is not the cafe, the AUTHOR here pledges himfelf to the Public to refute fuch avowal.' Though we do not clearly perceive the nature of this pledge, given by the Lord knows who, we believe he will agree with us, that it is poffible we might even yet efcape ruin, if fo able a financier were affociated in the memorable coalition. Art. 49. The important Debate of Monday, March 24, in the House of Commons, on an Addrefs to his Majefty, befeeching him to form an Administration. 15. Bladon. No explanation neceffary. Art. 50. Obfervations on Minifterial Anarchy: most respectfully addreffed to the Confideration of the Independent Part of the Conftitution, with a View to future Prevention, as well as pretent Redrefs. 4to. 1 s. Southern. It is not eafy to pafs over in abfolute filence the ingenuity that could ftring together fixteen pages of rhapfodical, ill-conftructed fentences, without exprefling one clear idea! Art. 51. The Coalition; or, an Effay on the prefent State of Parties. 8vo. 1s. Faulder. 1783. A few natural but fevere remarks on a late minifterial compromife, that has occafioned no little aftonishment in the political circle. Yet it may be questioned, how far prudence is concerned in reprobating fuch a connexion, at a time when every one was alarmed at the minifterial interregnum, and every voice called aloud for fome refponfible adminiftrators of public affairs! The former animosity of the prefent contracting parties, with the example they exhibit of Christian forgiveness, may operate to check the eccentricities of each; and to keep them mutually in the only proper line of condu& that can filence the obfervations of wonderers. Art. Art. 52. The Reports of the Commissioners appointed to examine, take, and flate, the Public Accounts of the Kingdom; prefented to his Majefty, and to both Houfes of Parliament: with the Appendixes complete. By William Mollefon, Secretary to the Commiffioners. Vol. I. 40. 11. I s. Cadell. 1783. When affairs appear to go wrong, either in regard to a political fate, or a private individual, prudence dictates an examination into circumftances with a view to ceconomy, wherever there may be opportunity for favings. Our refpectable brother Reviewers have paid great attention to this important work, and have acquitted themfelves to general fatisfaction. Their Reports, feven in number, have been fufficiently retailed in the public papers; and are employed on the following fubjects: I. Balances in the Hands of the Receivers General of the Land-tax. II. Accountants who receive Public Money from the Subject, to be paid into the Exchequer. III. Balances in the Hands of the Treasurers of the Navy. IV. Balances in the Hands of Paymasters General of the Forces, out of Office. V. Balances in the Hands of Paymasters General of the Forces, in Office. VI. Salaries, Fees, and Gratuities, received by Officers and Clerks in the Pay-Offices of the Navy and Army, and in the Receipt of the Exchequer. VII. Accounts of the Extraordinary Services of the Army, incurred, and not provided for by Parliament. The publication of the Reports made during the prefent feffion, is to follow, with a general Index to the whole. Art. 53. The Chronicle of the Kingdom of Caffiterides, under the Reign of the Houfe of Lunen. A Fragment. Tranflated from an ancient Manufcript. 8vo. 1 5. Wilkie. 1783. It is easy to conceive, on reading this title, that fome prefent temporary event may be couched under the guife of an ancient chronicle; but as the only end of attempting the Itory of the American war in the file of Jewish history must have been humour, we have only to with the Author had laboured for a better purpose: he might then, probably, if fuccefsful, have reaped fome advantage; at prefent, he has laboured in vain. Art. 54. Sequel to an Effay on the Origin and Progress of Govern ment *. dvo. 6 d. Cadell. 1783. Confifts of defultory thoughts (but not without a confiderable fhare of vivacity and good fenfe) on the pernicious tendency of a Tory-Administration, and its unfuitablenefs, in every point of effential confequence, to the conflitution of England. The Writer not only reafons fpeculatively on the principles of that conflitution, but fupports and confirms his argument by an appeal to clear and indif putable facts. Some of his allufions are happy enough; but there are others that are far-fetched and inapplicable, not to fay low and vulgar. The city of Troas was overthrown by mice; and England and its conftitution (fays he) have been undermined, and more than See Review for November laft, p. 385. once once nearly fhaken to ruin by Tories. There is no wit in this com parifon-at leaft in plain profe; though it might be admitted very properly in a burlefque poem, where objects, the most heterogeneous in quality, and the moft diftant in fituation, may be affociated; and where the affociation is always thought the happiest, when thofe that are the farthest afunder are united by fome unexpected tie of fimilitude. The Writer traces out the origin of reprefentation, confiders its defects, and offers fome hints for improvement. He calls on men of all ranks to attempt the great work of reformation; and flatters himself, that this important object will not be neglected by those who have the greateft influence in the government. One folid foundation of hope is formed (fays he) by the concurrence of perfons in high rank, even in Adminiftration, who have pledged themselves to the people for that purpofe.' When this pamphlet was published, Lord North was not in the Minidry. We shall foon fee whether coalition and converfion be⋅fynonimous terms. Art. 55. The Writer informs us, that he is not an author by profeffion.Whether this declaration proceeds from pride or modelty, we profefs to be ignorant. The pamphlet, however, appears to be the production of no common pen. We have in it much accurate information, and much plaufible reafoning. The Author treats, first, of the DURATION of parliament-annual-and triennial; and, fecondly, OF REPRESENTATION-of counties-and of cities and boroughs. With respect to the former, he obferves, that originally there exifted no law to limit the duration of parliament; and that, confequently, an appeal to the early periods of the conflitution can avail nothing in the prefent argument. The utmost that can be urged is, the obligation that the King was under to order parliament to meet every year. But what parliament ? a new one? No. It was the old parliament that was to be fummoned-unless the King diffolved it by virtue of his prerogative. If, fays this Writer, the freeholders and free. men have a right to an annual election, the King has no right to dif folve the parliament, because the diffolution would take place, at the end of the annual feffion, as a thing of courfe. If the claim to fuch right is juft, the prerogative to diffolve whenever the crown fees fit, is an ufurpation. If the prerogative is just, the claim to fuch right is an attempt at ufurpation.' There are those who drop the claim of right, and only argue on the ground of expedience Such are many of the great advocates for triennial parliaments. The Author meets them on their own ground; and fhews the impolicy and danger of frequent elections. He confiders them as a fource of popular confufion and licentioufnels, and ought to be discountenanced by all who with for the peace and order of fociety. At prefent, he obferves, we experience the great inconveniencies of popular elections; that the evil would certainly be increafed with its frequency; and that members, efpecially, who are follicitous to introduce a change as to the duration of parliament, neither con fult falt their own intereft and quiet, nor the peace and profperity of the community at large. The prefent ftate of reprefentation, like every human fyftem, muft be imperfect and defective. But that which hath been rendered venerable by time, fhould be touched with a very delicate hand. The rash removal of one imaginary grievance may open a way for the introduction of numberlefs real ones. The Author thinks it more fafe to permit the former than run the hazard of the latter. He ftrengthens his opinion on this fubject by a declaration of Lord Chatham's, in his celebrated fpeech in the Houfe of Lords [January 22, 1770], on the Marquis of Rockingham's motion, for appoint ing a day to take into confideration the ftate of the nation. One expreffion is very remarkable. Speaking of the Cornish boroughs (fo generally fuppofed to be the rotten parts of the conftitution, as being mere faleable things to the best bidder), that great statefmen confeffed, that, like fome natural infirmities in the body, they must be borne with patience, because they cannot be removed without danger. The limb, fays he, is mortified, but amputation might be death.' Jenius (who is alfo appealed to by this writer), appeared to have entertained the fame fufpicions of the hazard that we should run, by any attempts to produce a change in the flate of reprefentation, either by additions or diminutions. Bat however threwdly and ingeniocfly this writer reafons, yet from his own conceffions we gather, that matters are bad; and all we learn is, that an attempt to mend will probably make them worse. LAW. Art. 56. The Trial of Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, Wife of John Williams, Efq; of the City of Exeter, at the Arches Court of Canterbury, Doctors Commons, for committing Adultery with John Peyton, Efq; Capt. of the Bever Sloop. 4to. 2s. 6d. Biadon. Art. 57. Another Edition of the above Trial. Svo. 15. Peate, Art. 58. The Trial of Mrs. Hankey, (formerly Eliz. Thomfon) Wife of John Hankey, Efq; Son of Sir Thomas Hankey, Knight, for Adultery. 8vo. I S. Axtell, &c. 1783. The lefs faid, the better:-on fuch subjects. RELIGIOUS. Art. 59. The great Duty and Delight of Contentment. By E. Harwood, D. D. 12mo. 18. Robinion. 172. The Author's deplorable fituation under a late fevere ftroke of the palfy, hath very naturally directed his thoughts to this fubje&t. We wish his reflections may promote his own comfort, and adminifter to the fup port of others under affliction. But for Chriftians-we fay for Chriftiani, fome better examples were needed than thofe which are brought from the schools of Paganifm. We would not depreciate the virtues of heathens; nor fpeak fcornfully of the maxims of the philofophers; but on a fubje&, such as that of contentment, where the Gofpel propofes the best, and indeed only proper motives to give it stability, and illuftrates it by the most powerful and recommending examples, we should naturally, from a Chriftian, divine have expected fomething Said very confidently by the Author to be at prefent in India. more edifying and more evangelical than the trite faws of ethnic fages,, and pedantic and hacknied quotations from Cicero, and Juvenal, and Horace, and Seneca, and Euripides, and Marcus Antoninus, and Epictetus. We think a text of Scripture hath as much elegance in a difcourfe on contentment, as a school-boy's mottto to his Saturday's theme. We do not fay that the Author hath wholly neglected the motives of Christianity: but they are but flightly touched on; and the GREAT EXAMPLE of the virtue he recommends is not once hinted at. O Socrates! O Ariftippus! what were ye, in contentment and refignation, to the man of forrows, who repreffed the fervor of the impatient difciple by this gentle expoftulation, "The cup which my father hath given me to drink, fhall I not drink it ?”—“Father! not my will, but thine be done." Ye little ftars, hide your diminish'd rays. Art. 60. Le Ciel ouvert à tout l'Univers: et l'Enfer aneanli. Par Adr. Louis. (i. e.) Heaven opened to all, and Hell annihilated. By Adr. Louis. 8vo. Dodsley, &c. 1782. A ftring of vehement exclamations, againft impofture and priestcraft, fuperftition and enthufiafm, nonfenfe and abfurdity. All, unquestionably, bad things, and proofs, fufficiently humiliating, of human folly and depravity.-But can philofophy devife no better way of driving them out of the world, than hooting and spurning at them? Is it not poflible to find out fome more likely method of making men wife, than by calling them fools? "A Correfpondent," who dates his letter" Holborne, March 29th." and who complains of our long delay, with respect to a late tract on "the Lord's Supper," not yet mentioned in our Review,-is referred to the Note relative to Lindsay's Catechift, &c. in answer to the inquiry of" A conftant Reader." The fame answer must be given to our prefent Correfpondent; as our feeming negligence has been really. owing to the very fame caufe:—which we hope will speedily and entirely ceafe. If X. Y. P. Q. will favour us with a fight of the publications mentioned in his letter, they fhall be duly noticed. Our Collector profeffes that he cannot meet with them; but we fufpect that he is rather thy of extending his north-eaft walk fo far as Upper Morefields and the Foundery. §§§ In answer to us, we can only fay, that we do not recollect any other publication by the "learned Lady who made the poetical tranflation of the Song of Solomon, from the original Hebrew," which was noticed in the 66th volume of our Review; nor have we yet heard that the 2d volume of Lavater's Effai fur la Phyfiognomie has made its appearance. We believe it is yet unpublithed. C +++ An account of MUIRHEAD'S "Differtations on the Federal Transactions between God and his Church," will appear in due time. Erratum in our Review for January laft, viz. p. 6, 1. 11. for tion. r. origination. |