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Half-yearly Retrofpect of Domeftic Literature.

bread: a circumftance which, as it can eafily be avoided, argues in the people who fubmit to its inconvenience a degree of folly equal to the favage, whofe experience of intenfe heat to-day renders him forgetful of the bitter cold which may fucceed to-morrow. "The Outlines of a Plan for establishing a united Company of British Manufacturers," are fetched by Mr. JAMES PEACOCK, whofe benevolent object is, fo far as the manufactures are concerned, to form a company which fhall fupply the, induftrious with labour, and the ignorant with inftruction. Mr. ARTHUR YOUNG-not the Rev. Mr. Arthur Young-has called the attention of the public to a circumftance, not very creditable to the congregated followers of the meek and unaffuming Jefus. This circumstance is the want of accommodation in our churches for those poor worshippers to whom the gofpel was, at one time, more peculiarly preached. "A ftranger,' fays Mr. Y." would think that our churches were built, as indeed they are, only for the rich." Thefe latter monopolize the pews, while the poor, lame, perhaps blind, old, or feeble, are difgracefully crowded in the aisles, where many of them muft ftand during the whole of divine fervice! But the afpirations of an humble and an hearty fuppliant are not intercepted in their paffage to the throne of Omnipotence by the prayers of any prouder worshipper. Mr. WADDINGTON, a governor of the royal hofpital of Bridewell, has offered to the attention of his brethren fome Confiderations on the original and proper Objects" of the Inftitution. The aboJition of arts-mafters and apprentices within the walls is preffed with peculiar earneftnefs. Mr. W. expofes the evil confequences which have refulted from the introduction of them, by referring to numerous entries in the court and committee books, the pages of which are filled with complaints against both: he has, moreover, fuggefted a variety of other regulations for the better government of the hofpital, which are highly entitled to public confideration. Mr. MORTON PITT'S " Addrefs to the landed Intereft on the Deficiency of Habitations and Fuel for the Ufe of the Poor," contains many fenfible and benevolent obfervations: it propofes the construction of convenient cottages for labourers, and the provifion of fuel for them at an eafy jate; that they may be allowed to culti

vate a small garden, and poffefs fufficient pafture for a cow. May thefe recommendations, which we make no doubt Mr. PITT has enforced by example in his own caie, be generally attended to! The Engiith planter will receive many useful hints from a fmall volume publifhed by Dr. LABORIE, under the titie of "The Coffee-Planter of St. Domingo," &q. The cultivation of the coffee-tiee has attained great perfection in that island: it is an exotic, which has not been introduced there above fixty years, and which now yields an annual produce of above feventy millions of pounds. Dr.LABORIE's publication is intended for the benefit of fuch colonies as are yet in their infancy with respect to the cultivation of this rich article of commerce; it explains, in a perfpicuous and methodical manner, the most fuccefsful modes of culture. Dr. L. when he treats of the flaves, fpeaks of them rather as beasts than human beings: as "the particulars,” he obferves, of difcipline and punishment would be too disgusting," the doctor is prudently concife on that head; and in mercy to our feelings-morbidly fenfible!-contents himfelf with indirectly mentioning, of rather muttering, fomething about collars, and chains, and whips whofe knots have been dyed in the blood of former victims from among this black cattle. It would be unjust to omit mentioning, that the doctor, both on the fcore of benevolence and intereft, recommends good treatment to flaves, horfes, mules, and oxen.

On the fubject of Political Economy, thus diftinguished, though perhaps unneceffarily, from Finance, we are not aware that any work of merit remains to be enumerated; we proceed, therefore, to that tender topic

POLITICS..

This department, as ufual, contains various works of very different, real, and comparative importance: the greater part are of only temporary confequence; of thefe, therefore, we fhall felect only fuch as, from their intrinfic worth or accidental circumftances, have in fome degree attracted the public notice. The Bishop of LANDAFF'S " Address to the People of Great Britain," defervedly stands at the head of thofe fplendid but tranfitory meteors that are continually fweeping across the varying horizon of politics: the ftyle is mafterly and animated; and, fo far as it tends to excite our countrymen to a firm and united oppofition of any

hoftile

Half-yearly Retrospect of Domestic Literature.

hoftile attempts againft our own fhores, its author deferves well of the public. We must be allowed, however, to diffent from the right reverend prelate, with refpect to the validity of fome of the arguments that he makes ufe of; from the elevation to which his ecclefiaftical dignity and his private fortune raises him, he is, in our opinion, very liable to miftake concerning the effects of an addrefs to the lower orders of fociety; the inconveniences and peculiar hardships of whofe fituation he can know only from philofophical reafoning and very curfory obfervation. The popularity of this work, at leaft, among the higher and the reading claffes, to whom indeed the reafonings are moft applicable, called forth a daring pamphlet of Mr. WAKEFIELD's, intitled, "A Reply to fome Parts of the Bishop of Landaff's Addrefs;" in ftyle this is fuperior to moft of Mr. W.'s former works; there are, however, in it paffages fo liable to be mifinterpreted, that we fhould have pronounced it a very imprudent work, even if the King's attorney general had not thought proper, by a profecution of its publishers, to fupprefs the circulation. Strictures upon Mr. WAKEFIELD had been previously published by Mr. HANBY, in his "Examination of Mr. Wakefield's Reply," &c. and by the_anonymous_author of " a Letter to the Inhabitants of Great Britain, occafioned by Mr. Wakefield's Reply." The Bishop of Landaff's address has alfo been commented upon by Mr. KINGSBURY and Mr. HINCKLEY; but the public notice, in this controverfy, has been but very little diverted from the two principals to the athis on either fide.

Mr. MOWBRAY, in his "Remarks on the Conduct of Oppofition during the prefent Parliament, branches into a variety of collateral fubjects: his affertion, "that every partial alteration which has taken place in particular boroughs (fince the revolution), has contributed to extend the privilege of voting more widely," we helitate not in pronouncing to be notorioully falfe. A confiderable portion of this pamphlet is taken up in commenting on the affairs of Ireland: the fituation of that country impofes filence on us. A few pamphlets have been written in defence of, and in oppofition to, the meafures of government; but the fubject is now become too delicate for any hafty random obfervations, and it is inconfiftent with our plan to be diffufe; it is prudent, therefore, that we should be fi

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lent. The author of " An Appeal to the Head and Heart of every Man and Woman in Great Britain," very gravely at tributes the fine weather on the day of his Majefty's late proceffion to St. Paul's to a particular interpofition of the Almighty, arifing from his approbation of the festival! In the perufal of his filly pamphlet, few readers, after fuch a fpecimen, will be disappointed.

On the interefting fubject of invafion, one of the beft, because the most temperate publication that has come under our notice is," An Addrefs to the People of Great Britain," by GEO. BURGES, B. A. The miniftry, whether prudently or imprudently, has, "moft unequivocally, committed the nation;" and it being too late to recal the confequences of our follies or our crimes, it only now remains to guard against them in the best manner that we can. But though Mr. BURGES recommends patience for the prefent, yet he thinks that a "radical," that is, a "gradual, peaceable, and deliberate reform," cannot long be delayed: and through his mildnefs and love of peace he indulges, in our opinion, the illfounded expectation of the probability of removing the radical corruptions, and inbred difeafes or the body politic, by a fimple appeal to the reason and justice of that rapacious tyrant Human nature.

"French Invafion," &c. is a collection of addreffes on the part of the executive directory of France: the object of the work is to manifeft the real intention of France to invade us, and of course to prepare us for the event. Invasion! it is

A woman's ftory at a winter's fire,
Authoriz'd by her grandame.

very

in

Mr. HUGHES' " Reflections on the Po litics of France and England at the Clofe of the Year 1797," are jejune and puerile: the pompofity of his language is competent to conceal the poverty of his thinking. But every man muft think;" it is not very wonderful, therefore, that a commiffary general, HAVILAND LE MESURIER, efquire, fhould, in thefe turbulent times, have his head full of "Thoughts on a French Invofion." This ingenious gentleman, as would of course be expected, is moft outrageoufly loyal; and as to the aroma, the effential oil of fuch fweet-fcented odoriferous loyalty as his, we all know,

It is of a nature fo fubtle,

That unless it be luted with care,
The odour will fly, tho' the bottle
And its fpirit impregnate the air!
of

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Half-yearly Retrospect of Domestic Literature.

Of fuch genuine and exalted genius is Mr. Commiffary LE MESURIER, that,, in feveral inftances, he has fpurned with becoming indignity at the rules of grammar, and has frequently deviated from the dry and vulgar precifion of hiftorical truth, with a fpirit of manly and laudable independence. Lord AUCKLAND is the reputed author of a pamphlet in two parts, intitled, "Confiderations upon the State of public Affairs at the Beginning of the Year 1798." The ftyle is a ranting imitation of Mr. Burke's philippics against France: what reliance is to be placed on the conjecture or the affertions of a writer, who has the ridiculous hardihood to fay, that "the French are, and have been ever since the revolution, poltroons and daftards?" What babies must have been the innumerable legions whom they have difcomfitted! whom thefe poltroons and daftards have humbled to the very duft? A duodecimo fquib of three and twenty pages, called "Unite or Fall," is faid to be the production of the Earl of CARLISLE; but we give not eafy credit to fuch flanderous reports it is carcely poffible that his lordship, an intelligent statesman, fhould have committed himself fo rafhly as to write fuch a flimfy and unlaboured pamphlet. From thefe bagatelles, we turn to a work of more celebrity. M. DuMOURIEZ, "Table Speculatif de l'Europe," has been tranflated into Englith. The general, in this fpeculative view of Europe, evinces confiderable talents and extensive information: in different chapters, the political fituation is confidered of Auftria, Pruffia, the German empire, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Ruffia, Sweden, Denmark, and England. The project of invading this ifland, DuMOURIEZ thinks, is not to be regarded as chimerical; and, in order "not to conquer, but to force France to return to its conftitutional principle," a new coalition, he fays, ought to be formed by all the powers of Europe. "This confederacy fhould annul every thing that has been achieved at Raftadt; it thould abfolutely oppofe the defcent on England, either by actual interpofition, or by war: it fhould impofe on the belligerent powers a rigorous armiftice, and attack the party that refufes compliance." The tranflation has appeared of a letter from the original of M. MALLET DU PAN, dated Frontiers of Switzerland, March 20, 1798, giving "A fort Account of the Invasion of that Country." It is written very intemperately; but, with MAL

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LET DU PAN's feelings, intemperance is fomewhat excufable. We were not more furprised that private letters from one individual to another, found on board a prize fhip, fhould be published, apparently by authority, than that the fentiments of thofe letters fhould be made ground of accufation against the perfon to whom they were written, and against all thofe whofe names were cafually introduced by the writer. The pamphlet entitled "Copies of Letters, recently written by Mr. Stone at Paris, to Dr. Priestley in America, taken on board a neutral veffel," has, however, in its illiberal and inflammatory preface, afcribed all the fentiments of Mr. STONE to Dr. PRIESTLEY, and not only to Dr. P. but to all his friends, and to the friends of reform generally in Great Britain! It would be an idle wafte of paper to add any remarks on fuch a pofition. Mr. STONE'S fentiments at Paris, neither Dr. PRIESTLEY in America, nor the friends of peace and reform here, had it in their power to controul; and arguing from the known benevolence, of Dr. PRIESTLEY'S character, we believe he will never rejoice that the calamities of a revolution should befal his native country, because his advice to reform the abuses of its civil and ecclefiaftical eftablifhments was not followed. Mr. GIFFORD, a gentleman of fome notoriety, has tranflated CAMILLE JORDAN'S " Addrefs to his Conflituents on the Revolution of the 4th of September, 1797," with the addition of a Preface and Notes. CAMILLE JORDAN, it is very well known, was one of thofe unfortunate members of the legiflative body who were denounced as confpirators for the re-establishment of royalty, and banished from their country. The present addrefs is written in an animated though declamatory ftyle. The tranflation is most likely faithful, and is executed with confiderable fpirit. Mr. GIFFORD has alfo publifhed, “ A fhort Addrefs to the Members of the Royal Affociations on the prefent State of Affairs." He afferts, that he has received from France three lifts of perfons who are to be chofen as directors for England, Scotland, and Ireland: the names of thefe perfons are publifhed at full length. We make no oblervations on this circum-ftance, because we understand that one of the perfons nominated (the Earl of LAUDERDALE) has openly declared his intention of commencing a profecution againft Mr. GIFFORD for a libel. "The

Question

us;

Half-yearly Retrofpect of Domestic Literature.

Queftion as it flood in March 1798," is a pamphlet attributed to Mr. FRANCIS: it has obtained from the, public a merited approbation for the perfpicuity of its ftyle, the acuteness of its reafoning, and the accuracy of its statements. A great deal of found, good fenfe, expreffed in eafy, intelligible and unornamented language, is to be found in a small pubiication, which we earneftly recommend to general perufal, intitled "Peace in our Power upon Terms not Unreasonable," by CHARLES BARING, Efq. Mr. LISTER'S "Oppofition Dangerous," was written when the ghoft of invafion frightened it very properly recommended us to forget all petty political difputes, and heartily unite to lay it. Of a fimilar nature is Anddrefs to the People of Great Britain by Mr. GEORGE BURGES. "Aferious Addrefs" alfo has been fubmitted" to the People of Great Britain," by JAMES JOHNSON, Eiq. a gentleman of minifterial politics, who warmly reprobates the ungenerous artifice which many friends of government adopt, of blending and confounding the two diftinct and often oppofite characters of reformer and revolutionist. PETER PORCUPINE, of no very honourable notoriety, has published a work, in two parts, intitled, "Democratic Principles illuftrated by Example." The name of H. R. YORKE is familiar to many of us: in confequence of a conviction for feditious practices, he was fentenced to a long imprisonment, during which period he appears to have undergone a gradual and complete change in his political principles; he has now published "A Letter to the Reformers," wherein he exhibits a full recantation of his former tenets. Knowing fo little of Mr. YORKE as we do, it would be highly unbecoming to join that general voice of cenfure which, of courie, is directed against him by the party, whofe principles he has deferted: Mr. YORKE may be actuated by the pureft and moft honourable motives; we enter not into the receffes of another man's heart. "The Cafe of the People of England," &c. is written by one of 80,000 incorrigible jacobins," who, notwithstanding, appears to have a fincere refpect for the form and principles of our own conftitution; his pamphlet difplays ability and information. Mr. ANTHONY AUFRERE, as "A Warning, to Britons," has published "from a well-authenticated German publication," a moft horrible, and, we fincerely hope, às every man of feeling must hope, an exaggerated relation of the

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treacherous and inhuman condu&t of the French officers and foldiers towards the pealants of Suabia, during the invafion of Germany in 1796.

We could enumerate the title pages of various other political publications, but the task, perhaps, would be no leis tirefome to our readers than ourselves; particularly as we are not aware of having omitted any, whofe eminence, either in wisdom, or in folly, merits enumeration. On the fubject of American politics, however, two publications deferve attention: the aim of Mr. HARPER'S "Ob fervations on the Dispute between the United States and France," is to criminate the latter and exculpate the former: it is a well-known and melancholy truth, that America is divided into two parties, the one adherent perhaps through gratitude. -to the French, who generously stepped forward to allhem in their ever-memorable ruggle; and the other, yet attached to the once parent-country, who are folicitous to prefervé with it, their prefent alliance. Mr. HARPER is a champion of the latter; he enlarges in a strain of animated, indeed, but not very eloquent invective, on the arrogance and unbounded ambition of the French Republic; he developes her political manoeuvres in refpect to the United States, and confiders the object of her connection with them, to be the revival of ancient animofity between England and America; reflecting, that this revival would evidently be attended with striking and immediate advantages to France, Thefe obfervations, however, of Mr. HARPER, it feems, are to be received with very cautious confent; for a late minifter plenipotentiary from the republic of Ainerica to that of France, Mr. MUNROE, has published "A View of the Conduct of the Executive in the Foreign Affairs of the United States, as connected with the Miffion to the French Republic during the Years 1794-5, and 6," wherein fome of the most important ftatements of Mr. HARPER ́are invalidated; not to say intirely overthrown. Mr. MUNROE'S pamphlet is entitled to the greater refpect perhaps, fince it was not written in reply to Mr. HARPER, but contains an accidental and unintended impeachment of his accuracy; Mr. M. has, moreover, illuftrated his pamphlet, and given it indifputable authority, by the infertion of his own diplomatic inftructions and correfpondence. Few are the works which have come before us on the subjects of

GENEALO

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Half-yearly Retrospect of Domestic Literature.

GENEALOGY AND ANTIQUITIES; but thofe few are excellent in their kind. Mr. D. LYSONS' « Environs of London," is a valuable work, which most of us, probably, have perufed; a younger brother of that gentleman, Mr. S. LYSONS, has published a very interefting "Account of Roman Antiquities difcovered at Woodchefter, in the County of Gloucester; in this fplendid work, Mr. L. has difplayed an uncommon variety of ornamental and cuPious acquirements: though not profeffionally an artift, he has executed, not merely the drawings and admeasurements himself, but, with one or two exceptions, has alfo engraven the plates, and in a style of fuperior delicacy and elegance. The defcriptive portion of this volume difplays much diligence of inveftigation, and is no lefs creditable to Mr. LYSONS, as an antiquary, than the graphic as an artift. The price of the magnificent work is ten guineas in boards. Mr. LANGLEY'S History and Antiquities of the Hundred of Defborough and Deanery of Wycombe," is a work rather of useful reference to the historian, than of general intereft to the public: it is executed with industry and ability; nor is it the fault of Mr. L. that the hundred of Defborough poffeffes but little attraction to the antiquary. We are indebted to an anonymous editor, for the publication of a curious account of the "Venerable and Primitial See of St. Andrews; reliquiæ Divi Andra." This work was written by a true (though unworthy) fone of the church,' (as he modeftly ftyles himfelf), Mr. GEORGE MARTINE, of Clermont, who feems to have held fome office, probably that of fecretary, under Archbishop Sharp. This work is printed from an original manufcript, preferving not only Mr. Martine's ftyle, but his fpelling, both of which have undergone confiderable alterations in MSS. of the univerfity, the Harleian library, and that in the poffeffion of Dr. Adamfon. Whoever is defirous of information relative to the early hiftory of St. Andrews, will not be disappointed in the perufal of this curious volume. In profecution of a defign which the fociety of antiquaries has refolved to execute, of publishing accurate meafures of all the principal ecclefiaftical buildings of England, it has now prefented the public with "Some Account of the Cathedral Church of Exeter, illuftrative of the plans, elevations, and fections of that building." This magnificent work is the first of the feries; it contains eleven Flates, which are executed on a large

fcale and in an elegant manner. The "Collection of fearce and interefling Trals, tending to elucidate detached parts of the History of Great Britain," is felected from the Somers' collections, and arranged in chronological order. This work is doubly valuable, from the fcarcity of the larger work from which it is compiled. We must not omit to mention, that the indefatigable Mr. NICHOLS, has publifhed Illuftrations of the Manners and Expences of Ancient Times in Englend," which he has deduced from the accompts of church-wardens, and other authentic documents.

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. Few works are better calculated to blend inftruction with amufement, than thofe which may be comprehended under the prefent head: fince our laft retrofpect, feveral of unusual merit have been added to our collection of voyages and travels. Among them is Mr. DALLAWAY's “Conftantinople, Ancient and Modern; with Excurfions to the Shores and Islands of the Archipelago, and to the Troad." The object of Mr. D. was not fo much to delineate the prefent manners of the Ottoman empire, as to obtain and communicate "an accurate information of the prefent ftate of those ruins which were once the pride of claffic antiquity, and to inspect those scenes once dignified by the refidence of the most enlightened people of their day." In this tour, of about a thoufand miles, Mr. D. furveyed the eastern coaft of the fea of Marmora, and traverfing Anatolia, purfued the gean fhores on his return, and vifited the illands of Samos, Chio, Mitylene, and Tenedos, examining alfo the now defolate region of the Troad. A very ample account is given of the metropolis of the empire, which is inhabited by a motley crew of Turks, Greeks, Jews, Armenians, and Franks, from every European nation. Among the public edifices of Conftantinople-confitting of 13 libraries, 500 fchools, 130 baths, khans for the accommodation of merchants, bazars for the difplay of their wares, together with coffee-houses, and teriaki-khana, where opium is fold, (a drug now giving way to wine) is the remarkably magnificent mofque of Sultan Ahmed I. How much the influence of internal embellishments over the mind, of gilded tablets, and the "dim religious light" of richly-painted windows, is heightened, in chriftian churches, by the full choir and decent ceremonies, will be felt, fays Mr. DALLAWAY, "in these temples of Mahommed, in which are feen

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