Page images
PDF
EPUB

The Speech of Sir Hercules Langrishe. Svo. Is. North. This Speech was delivered the 28th of April laft, on the motion for a parliamentary reform in the Irish house of comIt is replete with ftrong argument against that project, and places the abilities of fir Hercules Langrishe in a very confpicuous point of view.

mons.

The Irish Proteft to the Minifterial Manifefto contained in the Addrefs of the British Parliament to the King. Svo. Debrett.

is. 6d. This pamphlet contains the addrefs of the British parliament to the king, with remarks on the addrefs, and a copy of Mr. Pitt's bill. The author treats the fubject with the warmth of a political partizan; but it is only difpaffionate enquiry that can ultimately guide the fentiments of both nations in respect of a treaty fo important to their mutual interefts.

Letters concerning the Trade and Manufactures of Ireland. 8vo. 800. 25. Stockdale.

In thefe Letters fir Lucius O'Brien minutely investigates the iron trade, refpecting which he differs, in the most important particulars, from lord Sheffield. According to fir Lucius, the apprehenfion of any rivalship from the Irish, in the iron manufacture at least, is rendered entirely ground lefs by local cir cumftances; and it may be queftioned whether, with regard to other articles of trade likewife, the pernicious confequences, fo much dreaded by the manufacturers of both countries, are not in a great measure chimerical. This pamphlet also contains a Letter from Mr. William Gibbons of Bristol to Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bart. and his Anfwer. To thefe are fubjoined, the Refolutions of England and Ireland relative to a Commercial Intercourfe between the two Kingdoms.

Mr. Burke's Speech on the Motion made for Papers relative to the Directors, for charging the Nabob of Arcot's private Debts to Eu ropeans, on the Revenues of the Carnatic. 8vo. 35. Dodfley. This Speech is relative to a letter written by the court of directors, and altered by the board of India controul, of the 15th of October 1784, directing a certain annual referve to be made from the revenues of the nabob of Arcot, for the liqui dation of his debts to private individuals, and to the EnglishEaft India company. This meafure was difapproved by the court of directors, as placing credits of a private and a public nature upon the fame footing, or rather giving the former a preference. It afterwards became the fubject of reprehenfion in both houses of parliament, where a motion was made for papers that might lead to a farther enquiry. In the prefent peech, which was delivered on this occafion, Mr. Burke, as ufual, gives full fcope to his imagination. He difcovers great rhetorical vehemence, and, apparently, much force of reason ing. But when his arguments are examined, they are void o

fufficient foundation. Particulars are magnified, or misrepre fented; and, after all the declamation of the orator, the whole appears to be only a plaufible delufion.

An Addrefs to the Loyal Part of the British Empire and the Friends of Monarchy throughout the Globe. By John Cruden, Efq. 8vo. No Publisher's Name or Price.

It appears that the American loyalifts in the fouthern provinces took refuge in Florida, under the promife of protection from the British government; but no ftipulation being made in their favour at the conclufion of the war, they were ordered to quit their new fettlement by the Spaniards, to whom that province was ceded. In this ditrefsful fituation they have empowered Mr. Cruden, one of their number, to negociate a lottery, in which the prizes confift of dollars, to procure them fome temporary relief. It is certainly to be regretted, that men who have an equal claim to the humanity of Britain with the other loyalifts, fhould not be included in the provifion which the legislature has allotted for the fubfiftence of our unfortunate tranfatlantic adherents. But we hope, from the generofity and juftice of the nation, that real fufferers will not be long permitted to experience neglect.

Some Obfervations on the Militia, with a Sketch of a Plan for the Reform of it. 8vo. Is. Egerton.

The plan propofed by this author for leffening the expence of the militia, relates chiefly to a reduction of the numbers called out to the annual exercife. As an inconvenience arifes from the service of a whole battalion terminating at the fame time, he fuggefts that each battallion fhould be divided into five equal parts, and that thefe fubdivifions fhould be enrolled for different periods of fervice, from one to five years. He likewife propofes various other regulations refpecting the militia; but fome of them feem unneceffary, and others afford but little profpect of any certain advantage.

The Oriental Chronicles of the Times. 8vo. 25. 6d. Debrett. We here meet with the laft change of the ministry, the e'ection of a new parliament, and fome other public incidents, related in the eastern ftyle. The production is not void of ingenuity, but is fo partial to the party which forms the oppofition, that it only can be read with pleasure by themselves, and their interefted adherents.

The Claims of the British Seamen to a more equal Diftribution of Prize-Money, inconteftibly afferted. 8vo. IS. More.

It cannot be denied, that the inequality in the distribution of prize-money, in the naval fervice, is a grievance which ought to be remedied. This mutilated veteran, as he ftyles himself, ftrongly recommends the correction of this flagrant enormity; but it is to be feared that his utmost efforts will

X 3

prove

prove ineffectual, without the earnest co-operation of men in power.

Hiftory of the Weftminster Election, 4to. 10s, 6d. Debrett.

The incidents attending an election are generally of a fugitive nature; but the compiler or compilers of this mifcellany are determined to rescue, if poffible, the late Westminster election from oblivion, For this purpose they have preserved every occafional fally of wit, every pointed altercation, and even every caricature which was exhibited during the transaction.

A Fragment of the Hiftory of that Illuftrious Perfonage, John Bull, Efq. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Bew,

This is written in imitation of the Hiftory of John Bull by Dr. Arbuthnot; and, though it poffèffes not the humour or delicate turn of thought, fo confpicuous in that celebrated author, it is far from being deftitute of merit. Under the character of Paddy, the genius of the Irish nation is likewife not unhappily defcribed.

Defultory Reflections on Police: with an Effay on the Means of pre venting Crimes and amending Criminals. By William Blizard, F.S. A. 8vo. 25. Dilly.

In thefe Reflections, Mr. Blizard makes many judicious remarks on the police, particularly of the capital, which is univerfally acknowledged to be extremely defective. For remedying this great evil, he fuggefts feveral improvements; fuch as, laying an additional duty on low public houses, so destructive to the common people; paying more attention to the religion and morals of the inhabitants of the great hofpitals; difcouraging vagrants; promoting induftry, &c. Much has been faid of an intended plan of reformation, the neceffity of which becomes every day more urgent and indifpenfible. In the digefting of fuch a plan, we hope that due attention will be paid to all the useful hints thrown out by Mr. Blizard and others on this important fubject.

DIVINITY.

Prayers and Meditations compofed by Samuel Johnson, LL. D. and published from his Manufcripts, by George Strahan, M. Ą. 800. 35. 6d. in Boards. Cadell.

He who has been accustomed to view a ftately edifice with admiration, and, after having long confidered folidity and ftrength as characteristic of its structure, fuddenly discovers in it fome flriking weakness, experiences a kind of mortification not unlike that lately felt by the literary world on the first ap pearance of the publication before us. What shall we say, however, to confole our disappointment? what, but that it feems the decree of nature, that ftrength and weakness, folidity and want of substance muft, in all created beings, fubmit to alliance and vicinity? where is the oak without fome feeble

branch,

branch, or the rock of marble without one corner crumbling into duft?-Let those who see Johnson's intellectual character to difadvantage through the medium of this book, recollect his weight and magnitude as a philologift, his profoundnefs and difcernment as an eftimator of human life and manners, his fascination as a biographer, and his luftre as a poet. Let them not forget that Achilles, with his vulnerable heel, was ftill the mightiest of the Greeks.

Whether the title of this publication be the author's, or the editor's, does not appear; but we cannot perceive the propriety of calling any part of its contents meditations. There are refolutions, recollections, confeffions, and prayers; which all feem infufficient to juftify this part of the title. We acknowledge our curiofity to have been excited by the word meditations; as we thought an imagination like Johnfon's, naturally vivid and glowing, when lifted up to things above by the devotion of his heart, could fcarcely have failed to produce fome very interesting effufions. But whilft we regret the want of what the title had made it not unreasonable to expect, we must not deny that, amidst the too frequent indications of infirmity and fuperftition, we have had the fatisfaction of obferving feveral amiable marks of the fincerity, affection, and humility of the author's mind. If, upon the whole, this work fhall bring no new acceffion to the fame of the writer, it may, nevertheless, be confidered as a literary curiofity; and be thought, perhaps, by fome perfons, to add another chapter to the fcience of human nature.

Mr. Strahan's Preface is well written.-If that gentleman had been at liberty to fupprefs the prefent publication, perhaps we should not now have been lamenting the weakness of his friend.

Confiderations on the Nature and Oeconomy of Beafts and Cattle; a Sermon preached at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch. By William Jones, M. A. F.R.S. 4to. 15. Robinfon.

The enlarged and pious fpirit of this learned difcourse re commends it as ufeful and inftructive, whilst the lively and ingenious manner in which it is written, make the perufal of it much more interefting and agreeable than we generally find compofitions of this kind. The beginning of it is perhaps too abftracted for a mixed congregation.

Mr. Jones makes two grand divifions of the brute-creation, according to the idea fuggefted in the law of Mofes. The moral representation of their characteristic qualities is original and fpirited our readers will not be difpleafed to fee the paffage alluded to.

The law of Mofes, in the eleventh chapter of Leviticus, divides the brute-creation into two grand parties, from the fashion of their feet, and their manner of feeding; that is, from the parting of the hoof and the chewing of the cud; which pro

X 4

perties

perties are indications of their general characters, as wild of tame. For the dividing of the hoof and the chewing of the cud are peculiar to thofe cattle which are serviceable to man's life, as fheep, oxen, goats, deer, and their feveral kinds. These are fhod by the Creator for a peaceable and inoffenfive progress through life; as the Scripture exhorts us to be fhod in like manner with the preparation of the gofpel of peace. They live temperately upon herbage, the diet of ftudents and faints; and after the taking of their food, chew it deliberately over again for better digeftion; in which act they have all the appearance a brute can affume of penfiveness or meditation; which is metaphorically called rumination, with reference to this property of certain animals.

Such are thefe but when we compare the beasts of the field and the foreft, they, inftead of the harmless hoof, have feet which are fwift to fhed blood, fharp claws to feize upon their prey, and teeth to devour it; fuch as lions, tygers, leopards, wolves, foxes, and fmaller vermin.

• Where one of the Mofaic marks is found, and the other is wanting, fuch creatures are of a middle nature between the wild and the tame; as the fwine, the hare, and fome others, Thofe that part the hoof afford us wholefome nourishment: thofe that are fhed with any kind of hoof may be made useful to man; as the camel, the horfe, the afs, the mule, all of which are fit to travel and carry burthens. But when the foot is divided into many parts and armed with claws, there is but small hope of the manners; fuch creatures being in general either murderers, or hunters, or thieves; the malefactors and felons of the brute creation though among the wild there are all the poffible gradations of ferocity, and evil temper.

:

Who can review the creatures of God, as they arrange themselves under the two great denominations of wild and tame, without wondering at their different difpofitions and ways of life! Sheep and oxen lead a fociable as well as a peaceable life they are formed into flocks and herds; and as they live honeftly they walk openly in the day. The time of darknefs is to them, as to the virtuous and fober amongst men, a time of reft. But the beaft of prey goeth about in folitude: the time of darkness is to him the time of action; then he vifits the folds of sheep and ftalls of oxen, thirfting for their blood; as the thief and the murderer vifits the habitations of men for an opportunity of robbing and deftroying, under the concealment of the night. When the fun arifeth the beaft of prey retires to the covert of the foreft; and while the cattle are Spreading themselves over a thousand hills in fearch of pasture, the tyrant of the defart is laying himself down in his den, to fleep off the fumes of his bloody meal. The ways of men are not lefs different than the ways of beafts; aud here we may fee them reprefented as in a glafs; for, as the quietness of the pafture, in which the cattle fpend their day, is to the howlings of

« PreviousContinue »