requiring conftant vigilance and regular exertion. The fame circumfpection must be obferved (by us) as a nation, which we practise as individuals; and as we know that in the one cafe, nothing is atchieved without labour and expence, fo neither in the other, ought we to expect fuccefs without fimilar facrifices." P. 20. Page 23 deferves alfo to be extracted, if our limits would permit it.

ART. 36. Two Sermons preached to a respectable Congregation at Horn Church in the County of Efex. The Firft on the Thanksgiving Day, The Second on the Faft Day, March 7, 1798. By the Rev. W. H. Reynell, M. A. Vicar. 8vo. 24 pp. London. 1798.

Dec. 19, 1797:

Zeal for good principles, and other laudable qualities, are difplayed in thefe difcourfes; but, bad as the times are, we truft the picture is here in fome places overcharged. This we do not confider as good po licy, though we doubt not that it proceeds from very good intention.

POLITICS.

ART. 37. Confiderations on the prefent Times, addreffed to the Parish of Middleham, with the Warning of the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland. By R. B. Nickolls, L. L. B. Dean. 8vo. 16 pp. 6d. Chefterfield, printed; to be had of Rivingtons. 1798.

We are glad to embrace an opportunity of noticing the Warning of the General Affembly of Scotland; because we have feldom feen a compofition of more manly eloquence, more generous patriotifm, or more found piety. It was published by that affembly, and "ordered to be read by the minifters of that Church, from their refpective pulpits, on the day appointed for a general Faft."-It opens thus.

"In the arduous conteft in which we are at prefent engaged, we have not as yet met with any national difaßter; but while the other ftates of Europe, intimidated by the progrefs of the French arms, are bending under the yoke, we have hitherto been able to protect our commerce, and to ward off the hoftilities which have been directed against our fhores. While, brethren, you celebrate the gallantry of our feamen, the vigilance and activity of our naval administration, the skill and alertnefs of our commanders; while you honour, with daily expreffions of your good will, the illuftrious heroes who led to victory, and pay every tribute to the memory of the brave and faithful men who fe in the caule of their country,-amidst the acknowledgments due to human exertions, look up to HIM whom the wind and the feas obey. Recollect the circumstances which render the time and the measure of a naval victory completely dependent upon the will of Heaven. In the train of fuccefs which has attended us round the globe, mark the continued interpofition of Providence for our defence; and, after the example of the noble Admirals, who, in the prefence of their Sovereign, prefented upon the Altar of God, the colours which have been won in the great naval engagements of this war,

let

let all ranks of men unite in saying, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be the glory."

"The fucceffion of naval victories, which, we truft, brethren, you recollect with pious gratitude, has filled our enemies with rage. They are indignant that there is one nation in Europe, over which, in the unexampled career of their fortune, they have never gained any advantage; which has perfevered in oppofing its influence to the wild progrefs of their ambition, and has had the magnanimity to extend its views to the independence of Europe, and the liberties of ma kind, They are indignant that there is one free government which repudiates their falfe maxims; one eftablished conflitution which expofes the chimerical nature of their fyftem; one happy country, where the complete fecurity, which the fubject derives from the legal adminiftration of justice, forms a ftriking contrast to the precarious tenure by which every man holds his life, his property, and his place in Society, under the unlimited defpotifm which has been engrafted upon their doctrines of liberty and equality. They have declared, that the French Republic and the British Government cannot fubfift together, They are collecting on their coafts a great army, which, with a view both to infult and to intimidate us, they call," the Army of England;" and, having rejected the equitable terms which we offered, without propofing in their turn any plan of pacification, they boast that they will fend this army to dictate in London the terms upon which they will condefcend to give us peace." P. 11.

What reader, with a British foul, will proceed thus far without de firing to perufe the reft? It confifts of a concife but strong statement of the defigns and atrocities of the French; a commendation of our laudable exertions; and very found religious admonition. The In troductory Confiderations prefixed by Dean Nickolls, dwell chiefly upon prophetic marks and characters of the times. They are written with clearnefs and vigour.

ART. 38. Thoughts concerning the proper conflitutional Principles, in Points of Finance and perfonal Service, that ought to be adopted in Future, for the Support of the British Navy and Army. Addreffed to the Grand Juries of England, and to the landed and funded Intereft of Great Britain. By a Freeholder of the County of York. 8vo. 52 PP. 25. Robinfons. 1797.

Under the head of finance, the author throws out fome general hints, concerning the disadvantages of our prefent fyftem of funding in time of war: and he points out the fteps proper to be taken in order to a fyftematic correction of these disadvantages, p. 7. The grand step is, that each individual, or collective body, who hold property, either in land, mortgage, government, or Eaft India funds, should be taxed ad valorem of their refpective property." P. 8.

Under the head of perfonal fervice, he endeavours to prove, that a conftitutional power ought to be vetted in government, to call upon cach district of the empire for proportional quota of men for the navy or army." P. 7. This fcheme was lately tried; and a most expensive one it proved to be.

A plan

A plan is then offered for recruiting and manning the navy; and another plan for recruiting the army. Some good fuggeftions are here presented to politicians and to statesmen.

ART. 39. Thoughts on the French Invasion of England, by General Dumouriez, tranflated from the French, illuftrated with a Chart of Great Britain and Ireland, with the Coafts of Spain, Portugal, and France; exhibiting all the Channels, Harbours, Bays, and Islands; with the exact Bearings and Diflances between any two Places. Fourth Edition. 4to. Is. 6d. Stockdale. 1798.

The part of Dumourier's pamphlet which relates to the threatened invafion of this country, is tranflated in this publication, by itself. It is very well done, and the chart is convenient for reference.

ART. 40. O'Connor's Letters to Earl Camden, as published in the Courier of Monday, January 29. 12mo. 6d. Johnfon. 1798.

We are cautious of making remarks on this pamphlet, from the delicate fituation of the author; and fhall only intimate, that it contains rather an attack upon Lord Camden, than a vindication of the writer's perfonal conduct.

ART. 41. A Letter from Citizen Gregoire, Bishop of Blois, to Don Jofeph de Ance, Archbishop of Burgos, Chief Judge of the Inquifition in Spain, upon the Neceffity and Advantage of fuppreffing that Tribunal. From the French. 12mo. 6d. Darton and Harvey. 1798.

This is a letter fufficiently temperate, and by no means contemptible in point of arguments, on a fubject, with refpect to the final object of which, however we may differ in other matters, we readily coincide with the author.

ART. 42. Facts in Reply to the fcurrilous Afperfions on the Memory of the late Frederic, King of Pruffia. 8vo. 6d. Jordan. 1798.

The writer vindicates the conduct of the late King of Pruffia, as it refpects the French directory, and this country. It is impoffible to decide whether the title "Facts" is juftly prefixed. If ft, the Monarch's conduct would, in Change-Alley, be termed confiftent and proper; but in a great Prince we look for magnanimity, and other qualities than thofe which the language of the counting-houfe dignifies into praise.

ART. 43. Thoughts on Mr. Fox's Seceffon for Six Months, and Return for a Day. By a Suffolk Freeholder. 8vo. 15. Bickerstaff, Corner of Effex-Street, Strand. 1798.

In writing to two leading members of oppofition, this Suffolk Freeholder has been accuftomed to tell his mind, not only with great freedom, but with a degree of point, which must render his epiftles not quite agreeable to the perfons addreffed. His former publications were noticed in Brit. Crit. vol. iii, 201; vi, 439; and

vii,

vii, 442. The prefent Letter begins by difcuffing the two questions, why did Mr. Fox defert his poft? and, why did he return to it, for one day-neither of which are anfwered in a favourable manner. It concludes by a sketch of the public fervices of the fame ftatefman. We fhall not cite any paffages from this Letter, but content ourselves with faying, that it is fimilar in style and manner to those by which it was preceded.

ART. 44. Matter of Fact for the Multitude. By a true Patriot; though neither a Member of the Corresponding Society, the Whig Club, nor any affiliated Society of Sedition in Europe. 8vo. 38 pp. 6d. Wright, Piccadilly. 1798.

The facts contained in this pamphlet are numerous, perhaps more fo than neceffity required. Some of them, however, are new to us. We did not know that Mr. O'Connor was, as here represented, the avowed and registered editor of a Dublin Newfpaper, called the Prefs, from which fuch paragraphs are cited, in a note on p. 30, as make it very aftonishing to us, that feveral of our English politicians fhould publicly and folemnly have declared, that their fentiments entirely coincided with his. One of thefe paragraphs wishes final, complete, and fpeedy fuccefs to the green colour, the avowed colour of rebellion in Ireland. The whole tract is written with animation, and with the honeft zeal of a Briton, anxious for the fate of his country. The probable effects of a peace, as contemplated by the enemies of the ftate, "Should fome unfortunate are well given from another Irish paper. event put off your delivery, by England purchafing an immediate peace, fhould not defpond.: Peace will be only temporary; it may be proyou ductive of fome political comforts, as we may then openly praife and ftudy the glorious truths France is capable of proclaiming. Communication with that country will be revived, and liberty will gain new ftrength, and knowledge will be more univerfal; confequently defpotifm will die, and Irishmen will go to the funeral !"

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 45. Reflections on the late Augmentations of the English Peerage; to which are added, a fhort Account of the Peers in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and a Catalogue of all the Knights created in that illuftrious Reign. 8vo. p. 3, 6. Robfon. 1798.

This pamphlet is undoubtedly written by an eminent master of English historical and biographical learning, with as much correctness as the fubject can poffibly admit. The political reflections are both wife and conftitutional, and may be prailed for found opinion and powerful argument. The ftyle alfo is eafy and elegant-the motive of this publication is very far removed from the low democratical cant we are often compelled to read on fimilar fubjects; and the only objections we have to make are those which follow:-The first relates to what the author fays, in p. 16, on the Order of the Garter. The Honour of the Garter, it fhould be observed, has for nearly two cen

turies

turies paft been confined almoft intirely to the peerage, and, after fo long cuftom, would be difcredited if frequently otherwife beftowed. Only two commoners, Sir Robert Walpole and Lord North, (the latter heir to an earldom) have, we think, been X. G. in this century. It ought to be held at leaft as important as the peerage: even the author tells us it was originally the reward of heroes," and in the fame breath inconfiftently advifes that it fhould be given to persons who, he is inclined to believe, poffefs little if any merit at all. Page 22. The affertion (qualified by "I believe") that only eight peerages have become extinct during the prefent administration, is very erroneous—the number is at least double.

ART. 46. Biographical Anecdotes of the Founders of the French Republic, and of other eminent Characters, who have diftinguished themfelves in the Progrefs of the Revolution. 12mo. 432 PP. 55. Phillips, Johnfon, &c. 1797.

The compiler of thefe anecdotes has been more folicitous to prefent a great number of sketches than to fill up and finifh his delineations with skill or accuracy. Many of the lives contained in this volume are abridged, or copied, without examination, from French works; fuch as The Five Men," "The Campaigns of Pichegru," &c. and the chief aim of the author, appears to be the general commendation of every individual who affifted in deftroying the ancient government of France, and establishing the prefent order of things. The degrees of praife are regularly comparative. The first revolutionifts are extolled by comparison with the court, and the prefent rulers are elevated above all their predeceffors. The moft unqualified cenfures are lavishly bestowed on the royal family and nobility, and frequently in terms no lefs offenfive to decency, than repugnant to truth. The whole compilation betrays evident marks of hatte, mifinformation, and prejudice. The author, with a degree of negligence highly culpable, advances ftatements contrary to fact, falfifies dates, and even contradicts himself. For example, he afferts (p. 66) that La Fayette was merely a partizan in the petite guerre of America, and afterwards (p. 384) that La Fayette's military and political fervices fupported the American Revolution; and that to his efforts may be referred the eftablishment of American independence. He fays that Mefdames (the King's aunts who left France in February 1791) were the first of the royal family who took the alarm and emigrated. It is hardly neceffary to inform the reader, that the Count d'Artois, the Prince de Condé, and the Prince de Conti, quitted the kingdom in July 1789.He afferts that Robefpierre firft brought the term ariftocrat into common ufe, by an application of it in the National Affembly on the 19th of November, 1790.-The flightest recollection on the fubject muft be fufficient to convince the reader, that, during the whole progrefs of the Revolution, the word ariftocrat was in conftant ufe, particularly in the year 1789, and at the Confederation in July, 1790. With as little attention to truth, the author fays that Dumouriez is in the forty-first year of his age: Dumouriez, according to his own account, was born the 25th of January, 1739. It would be an endless tafk to recapitulate