Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

feverity, but not with vulgar abufe, the political character and proceedings of Mr. Fox; contrafting his principles and party manoeuvres, with thofe of the Earl of S. whom the Author defends in reality, both as a man, a patriot, and a Minifter. We shall tranfcribe his concluding paragraph, which stands in no need of a comment:

I have now gone through every part of The Defence that appears worth notice. I have extenuated nothing, nor fet down aught in malice. The charges I have brought against Mr. Fox, are authenticated; and I leave the world to judge, whether he can have the leaft claim to the confidence of the Nation as a Minister, or even to efteem as an honest man.'

Art. 17.

A full and faithful Report of the Debates in both Houfes of Parliament, Feb. 17th and 21ft, on the Articles of Peace. 2s. 6d. Bladon.

Art. 18. The Speech of the Right Hon. William Pitt, in the H. of Commons, Feb. 21, 1783. 8vo. I 3. Debrett, &c. We leave thefe honourable and right honourable, and gracious and moft gracious fpeech-makers to fpeak for themselves. Art. 19. Twenty Minutes Obfervations on a better mode of pro-. viding for the Poor; in which it is rendered probable that they may be effectually relieved, in a Manner more agreeable to the gcneral Feelings of Mankind, at the fame Time that Two MILLIONS Sterling, or more, may be annually faved to the Nation. By Richard Pew, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Edinburgh. 8vo. 18. Bew. 17336

What the Author, in his title-page, holds out to public notice, may feem, at the first glance, very extraordinary, if not vifionary; but, read his pamphlet (it will take up but twenty minutes), and you will be convinced that the Writer is a man of fober obfervation and found fenfe. We have not room to enter into the particulars of his plan, &c. and shall, therefore, content ourfelves with generally recommending what he has to offer to the ferious attention of the Legillatare. The fubject is of the firft magnitude, and of the utmost importance to the national welfare.

Art. 20. The Inadequacy of Parliamentary Representation fully ftated: its pernicious Confequences enlarged on, and the Objections to a Reform answered. Moft earnestly addreffed to every Member of Parliament and Elector in the Kingdom. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Kearsley.

Although this is rather a fuperficial production, it, however, fufficiently thews, that the idea of popular reprefentation is far from being fulfilled in the formation of our Houfe of Commons. The Author's acquaintance with hiftory appears to be but flight; and his inferences from the premises, scarcely deferve a better name than common place obfervations. All that he tells us, has been repeatedly written by far fuperior pens.

Art. 21. A Conftitutional Guide to the People of England; at preJent unreprefented. With a Letter to the Right Honourable W. Pitt, on the Neceflity of his moving for the Repeal of the Septennial Bill, previously to his proceeding on the great Question of a Reform in Parliament. And with a Direction to each Parish or

Town,

Town, to take the Senfe of the Inhabitants in the concifeft Manner, in regard to a Reform in Parliament, and its Duration. 8vo. 15. 6d. Harrison, &c.

Among other whimfical improprieties in fpeech, is that of calling thofe men who have the weakest heads, headstrong! For this character is given to men whofe other weakneffes are increafed by that of over-rating their own abilities. To fuch men the agitation of fubjects of popular importance is a real misfortune; by caufing a commotion in their intellects, which the flender texture of their brain is unable to bear: they teem with ideas, and inftinctively have recourfe to pen, ink, and paper, to difburden themselves for prefent eafe, not forgetting the public good. A fuffering Reviewer may, however, be allowed to complain that one man thould procure relief at the expence of another; which is the cafe, when one is obliged to read whatever another chufes to write. We are taught now, that • by the general confent of all the people, a house of reprefentation was formed to receive the body of the elected for the good and welfare of the whole.' The pamphlet is figned John Williams; and as honest John wishes to have a hand in the reformation pie, we advise him previously to study the history of England, learn fomething of the nature of the ingredients, and get a little knowledge of political cookery.

AMERICA N.

Art. 22. An Anfwer to that Part of the Narrative of LieutenantGeneral Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. which relates to the Conduct of Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis, during the Campaign in North America, in the Year 1781. By Earl Cornwallis. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. Debrett.

From the tendency of Sir Heary Clinton's relation of facts *, the appearance of an exculpatory ftate of tranfactions was naturally to be expected; the claim of which to the public attention, is now, alas! merely on private confiderations, that characters may, if poffible, be fairly eftimated. This anfwer confifts of the chain of correspondence between the two Commanders, during the campaign referred to; which, as Lord Cornwallis has fummed up the whole in his Introduction, is to fhew, that our failure in North Carolina, was not occafioned by our want of force to protect the rifing of our friends, but by their timidity, and unwillingness to take an active and useful part, that the move to Wilmington was rendered neceffary from the diftreffes of the troops, and the fufferings of the numerous fick and wounded, that the march into Virginia was undertaken for urgent reafons, which could not admit of my waiting for the approbation of the Commander in Chief,-that I did not establish the station in Virginia, but only reinforce it,that I occupied the pofts of York and Gloucester by order; and was induced to remain in them by the profpect of relief, uniformly held out to me by the Commander ia Chief, and that, during the confiderable interval between my arrival at Petersburgh, and that of the French fleet in the Chesapeak, my corps was completely at the difpofal of Sir Henry Clinton, either to be withdrawn, or employed in the Upper Chefapeak, or fent back to

[blocks in formation]

the Carolinas, and confequently, that my conduct and opinions were not the caufe of the catastrophe which terminated the unfortu nate campaign of 1781,'

So far from pretending to decide on the complicated circumstances of difference between these noble Commanders, we shall leave them to the judgment of their military Peers, with only this remark; that the viciffitudes attending the joint operation of detached armies, will frequently furnish occafions for ill-humour, that would never have difcompofed their minds had their endeavours been crowned with fuccefs.

Art. 23. A Letter to the Earl of Shelburne, on his Speech July 10, 1782, refpecting the Acknowledgment of American Independence. By Thomas Paine, M. A. of the University of Pennfylvania, and Author of a Pamphlet intitled "Common Senfe," and of "A Letter addreffed to the Abbé Raynal on the Affairs of North America," &c. Philadelphia printed, London reprinted. 8vo. Is. Stockdale.

This noble Lord, during his fhort adminiftration, has met with feveral adverfaries, who, right or wrong, have been very liberal in their coarse freedoms with him; but he never was treated with such just feverity, as he is now, by the American pen of Mr. Paine. We have to regret, that his Lordship not only expofed himself to the keenest animadverfion, but his country alfo; which, on fo inviting an occafion, is combined with him, and treated with the fame indifcriminate afperity.Mr. Paine's Letter to the Abbé Raynal in our

next.

Art. 24. The Claim of the American Loyalifts impartially stated and confidered. Printed by Order of their Agents. 8vo. 1 S.

Wilkie.

Art. 25. The Particular Cafe of the GEORGIA Loyalists: in Addition to the General Cafe and Claim of the American Loyalifts. Bvo. 6d. Wilkie.

Very clear, indeed, is the cafe of the American Loyalifts; and their claim upon the generofity, nay the justice, of the British nation is ir refragable: we will venture to add, that no one who reads the two pamphlets above mentioned will deny this,-unless their prejudices exceed all that we can imagine. INDIE S.

EAST

Art.-26. A Series of Falls, fhewing the prefent political State of India, as far as concerns the Powers at War; and the probable Confequences of a general Pacification in Europe, before we shall have decided our Contests in the Carnatic. Addreffed (for form fake) to the Earl of Shelburne; but recommended to the ferious Confideration of all his Majefty's Minifters, and the Members of both Houses of Parliament. 8vo. 1 s, Stockdale.

There is a fenfible honeft bluntnefs in this correfpondent (for form fake) with the Earl of Shelburne, that difpofes us to place a confidence in his reprefentations. He is a warm advocate for the Eaftern administration of Governor Haftings; and from a knowledge of facts there, argues that no peace made with the French will operate beyond the Cape of Good Hope: but that they will fill purfue their

hoftile

hoftile purposes against us in India, as auxiliaries to Hyder Ally and his confederates: what he urges under this perfuafion, will, we hope, obtain at leaft a perufal from thofe who have the regulation of our Eastern politics.

IRELAND.

Art. 27. A Letter to the Earl of Shelburne, &c. &c. from a noble Earl of the Kingdom of Ireland. Upon the Subject of Final Explanation refpe&ting the Legiative Rights of Ireland. which is annexed, an Extract from the Proceedings of the Irish Houfe of Lords, upon the Subject of the Repeal of the 6th Geo. I. 8vo. 1. 6d. . Robinson.

This letter is from Lord Bellamont, inforcing the neceffity of a final explanation of the legislative rights of Ireland; a fubject yet under the bands of the parliaments of both kingdoms: and there we leave it to be completed, as not chufing to anticipate the merits of unpublished works,

MERCANTILE.

Art. 28. State of a Re Infurance underwritten by Mr. Charles Baring, Merchant, for Sir John Duntze. With the Particulars of an intended Reference in Exeter, collected from the Original Papers, and fubmitted to the Candour of the Public. Exeter printed, by Thorn. 8vo. 60 pages.

Re-infarances are provided againit by an exprefs law; but if, nevertheless, where fair dealing only is intended, it is allowable by custom for underwriters to cover themflves by fuch a tranfaction, good faith ought to be preferved. Should it be deemed an indirect practice, prima facie, it must be injurious to the character of any man to land in the capacity of a fecond infurer, with an intention to avail himself of a fafe bargain; or, eventually upon lofs, to fhelter himfelf under a law, again which he previously fhut his eyes. This being an abstract fate of the general queftion, either both of the above parties ftand in an unfavourable point of view, in a tranfation, the circumftances of which we do not wifh to enter into: - or the fecond infurer will be liable to harsh conftructions for his fineffe. The appeal is made to the Public, and must be decided by the custom of merchants. On the whole, however, we imagine, the affair was negociated with clean hands on both fides.

Art. 49. Sir John Duntze's Reply to Mr. Charles Baring's Whole

State of the Cafe. 8vo. 15 pages. No bookfeller's name.

This is the rejoinder to a pamphlet which we have not yet feen, and which was felf a Reply to the preceding publication. Of that reply (which probably extended no farther than Exeter) we cannot pretend to form an opinion; and therefore we can take no farther Lotice of the prefent publication *.

MILITARY.

Art. 30. The Sentence of the Court-Martial, held at the Horfe Guards, for the trial of the Hon. Lieutenant General Murray, late Governor of Minorca, on the Twenty Nine Articles exhibited

The difpute, too, is grown fo perfonal, that we dismiss it with pleasure.

against

against him. To which are added, the Whole of the Evidence on the Two Articles of which the General was found guilty and likewife upon the Four Articles of complaint of Perfonal Wrong and Grievance. Taken in Short-hand by Jofeph Gurney.

With

an Appendix, containing General Murray's Anfwer to every Article of the Charges; the Correfpondence between General Murray and Sir William Draper; the feveral Councils of War, and the fubfequent Proceedings of the Court Martial relative to the private difpute between General Murray and Sir William Draper, &c. 3s. 6d. M. Gurney, Debrett, &c. 1783. Art. 31. Obfervations on Lieutenant-General Murray's Defence. By Lieutenant-General Sir William Draper, K. B. Debrett, &c.

I s. 6 d.

None of our Readers, we imagine, will move for a new trial-in the Monthly Review

Art. 32. The Trial of the Hon. Cofma Gordon, of the Third regiment of Foot-Guards, for neglect of duty before the Enemy, on the 23d June 1780, near Springfield, in the Jerleys: Containing the whole Proceedings of a general Court Martial, held at the city of New York, on the 22d of August, and continued, by feveral Adjournments, to the 4th September 1782. 8vo. 2 $. Colonel Gordon was honourably acquitted on every part of the charge. For particulars, we refer to the Trial.

Art. 33. The Field of Mars; being an Alphabetical digeftion of the Principal Naval and Military Engagements in Europe, Afia, Africa, and America, particularly of Great Britain and her Allies, from the 6th Century to the prefent Period. Selected from the best Hiflorians and Journalists, and adjusted from the greatest Authority. Interfperled with concife Defcriptions of the Towns and Places, the Subject of each Article. 4to. 2 Vols. 11. 115. 6d. boards. Robinson.

*

Thofe who delight in perufing the "annals of blood," (which is one of Dr. Johnson's definitions of hiftory), will meet with an inexhauftible fond of entertainment in this compilation of the details of battles, fieges, expeditions, invafions, fea fights, &c. &c, which have been given by hiftorians, journalists, Gazette † writers, &c. The alphabetical arrangement has this advantage over the chronological method, that we can immediately turn to any particular event, the account of which may be occafionally wanted. A number of maps and charts are given of the countries in which memorable actions have happened; with fome plans of fieges, and views of battles. To the fecond volume is added, a very brief treatife (only 12 pages) on Fortification, illuftrated with copperplates: this may be fatisfactory to general readers;-as may alfo the Explanation of naval and military, terms; which terminate the whole of this compilement.

N. B. The actions which occurred in the years 1780 and 1781, must be fought for in the Appendix.

• Not in his Dictionary, but in converfation.

†These are too fervilely copied; which has given an unneceffary and useless expanfion to the work. The details in our Gazettes F #taordinary contain a thoufand circumftances that are improper for, and unworthy of, hiftorical prefervation.

DRAMATIC.

« AnteriorContinuar »