man. But we hear that a great law critic has the work under confideration, in confequence of a complaint against it in the House of Commons.

Art. 17. A Letter to Philip Francis, Efq; from the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, Chairman, Right Hon. C. J. Fox, R. B. Sheridan,, &c. Members of the Committee for managing the Impeachment of Mr. Haftings. With Remarks. 8vo. 1s. Murray. 1788. This Letter originally appeared in the Morning Herald. The remarks with which it is accompanied, and which conftitute the greatest part of the pamphlet, are the production of a well-informed perfon; but they abound with many perfonal reflections on Mr. Francis, and alfo on most of the members of the Committee, which feem too illiberal to fall from the pen of a man, who appears by his affertions to have a feat in the House of Commons. Private vices, and the follies and extravagancies of the domeftic life of individuals, have no relation to the impeachment of Mr. Haftings; nor can the Public be interested in them.

Art. 18. Minutes of the Evidence before a Committee of the whole House of Commons, against Warren Haflings, Efq. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Boards. Debrett. 1788.

Of this comprehenfive collection it will be unneceffary for us to undertake a review. Separate publications of diftin&t parts of it have, at different times, appeared in our Catalogues. See the Numbers for March and May 1787.

EAST INDIA AFFAIRS.

Art. 19. Letters Patent, establishing a Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal, bearing Date March 26, 1774. 8vo. I s. 6d. Debrett. 1788.

At a time when the affairs of India in general, and of the courts of judicature there in particular, engrofs fo much of the public attention, the reprinting this patent may be the means of acquainting thofe who wish for information, with particulars concerning the Supreme Court, which they might not poffibly have otherwife obtained. Art. 20. A concife View of the Charges against Sir Elijah Impey; with Reflections on his Conduct while Chief Justice, in India. Svo. 2 s. Debrett. 1788.

This tract was recalled within a few days after its publication; Sir Elijah Impey having complained of it at the bar of the House of Commons, as tending to injure him in his defence, by its appearance while the profecution was depending.

Art. 21. The Indian Vocabulary. To which is prefixed the Forms of Impeachments. 12mo. 3 s. 6d. Boards. Stockdale. 1788. The numerous publications concerning Eaft India affairs neceffarily contain many Indian words, which it is impoffible to tranflate into any other language, especially thofe which relate to particular cuftoms of the natives, the names of public officers, the terms of art, the proceffes in the courts, &c. Without the affiftance of a vocabu❤ lary, or gloffary, thefe publications are frequently, to a mere Eng 1h reader, almoft unintelligible. The Editor fays, he has availed himself of the affistance of gentlemen the most eminent as well for

15

their

their talents as for their information on the fubject. He acknowleges that he has been able, with all thefe advantages, only to exhibit a partial and imperfect view of the language, fince he only gives the meaning or interpretation of certain words, and has not proceeded on the principles of grammar. Amid an almost infinite variety of fpelling, the Editor hath chofen that mode which appears to him the most likely to convey the defigned found to an English ear: thus, he writes Ameer, and not, as the French do, Emir; lo Fakeer for Faquir; Vizeer for Vizir, &c. These are great liberties with a language. Why not give the words as they are originally fpelt in the Moorifh, Perfic, Hindoftanic, &c. P

On the whole, this Vocabulary will be useful to the readers of fuch publications as relate to the affairs of the Eaft India Company, &c. and which contain Eaft India terms; and the Editor merits the thanks of the Public for his collection: but, in our opinion, much yet remains to be done; and we doubt not but that the industrious Compiler will be able to enrich his next impreffion with many words, in addition to thofe which he hath now given to the Public; and that he will infert, in their proper places, the different fpellings of the fame word.

With respect to the brief account of impeachments, prefixed to this Vocabulary, we have only to afk, what bufinefs it hath here ?-It could not be intended to

"Raife the volume's price a fhilling;"

because it confifts of only eleven pages.

SLAVE TRADE.

Art. 22. A Propofal for the Confideration of those who intereft themfelves in the Abolition or Prefervation of the Slave Trade. With fome Obfervations addreffed to the Members of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. By a Clergyman. 8vo. 6d. Wolverhampton printed and fold, and by Lowndes in London. 1788.

In the Advertisement to this performance the Author fays, The intention of the following sheets is, to convey the outlines of a plan which the Writer, for want of leifure, and fome neceffary information, cannot prefent as complete.' He divides his plan into two parts, the object of the first of which is, to render the flaves as easy and as happy as the condition of fervitude can admit; and of the fecond, to strike,' as he expreffes it, at the root of all those evils which introduce flavery, by fpreading knowledge, civilization, true religion, and morality, among the nations which give proof of their prefent barbarity, by the number of captives whom they fend

forth.'

He would not totally abolish the flave trade, but reform it; and for effecting this purpofe, after ufing fome good arguments, which fhew the impolicy of the abolishment, he propofes his fcheme of reformation, which is to make regulations for the better government of the flaves; and to inftruct them in the duties of religion and morality. The fecond part of his plan is, to fend back old flaves from the West Indies to Africa, who, having acquired a competent knowledge

of Chriftianity during the time of their flavery, might inftruct the favages of Africa, and profelyte them to the Chriftian religion.

Art. 23. Thoughts on the African Slave Trade. By John Newton, Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth. 8vo. 1s. Buckland. 1788.

It appears from this pamphlet, that Mr. Newton formerly refided eighteen months on the coaft of Guinea, for the purpose of purchafing and collecting flaves, to fell to the veffels that arrived from Europe. He was afterward a mate of a Liverpool fhip in that trade, and laftly made three voyages in the capacity of captain.

From the experience of nine years, during his employment in these several stations, Mr. Newton is doubtlefs qualified to give a circumftantial detail of all that part of the flave trade which refpects the purchafing Negroes in Guinea, and the conveying them to the Weft Indies. The accounts he gives are fimilar to thofe of former writers, so that we deem it unneceflary to lay the circumstances before our Readers. He does not enter into any particulars concerning the abolishing of the trade, though he reprobates this commerce in general terms; and forgets not to congratulate himself, that through the mercy of God, he was arrested by a fudden illness, which obliged him to relinquish the disagreeable Service.

To give weight to his affertions, he fays that he offers nothing in writing which he could not cheerfully, if requifite, confirm on oath.'

Art. 24. A Letter to James Tobin, Efq; late Member of his Majesty's Council in the Ifland of Nevis. From James Ramsay, A. M. Vicar of Tefton. 8vo. 6d. Philips. 1787.

All perfonal abuse and scandal; in the difgrace of which, the Rer viewers are drawn in for a share. The Vicar of Tefton fays they have fided with his opponent, whom he fets down as a Reviewer too. Indeed, Mr. Ramfay, you are much mistaken; we know nothing of Mr. Tobin, or of yourself, further than as you are both known by your writings; of which, with refpect to the prefent fubject (and especially the prefent pamphlet), we are fo heartily tired, that we with never to hear any more of you, -unless it shall appear that you have learned to write in a ftyle lefs disgusting to men of cultivated minds and manners. -For fhame, Gentlemen, can't you difcufs your ebon fubject, without begriming each other, till you look as fable as the poor Africans about whom you are contending?-You really reduce yourfelves to the fituation in which we once faw a Duftman, who was worsted in a fcuffle with a black, and well rolled in the kennel; when the combat was over, Mungo exulting, cried out, "White man Neger too!"

Art. 25. A general Review of the African Slave Trade, demonftrating its Injustice and Impolicy: With Hints towards a Bill for its Abolifhment. 8vo. 6d. Faulder. 1788.

Contains the ufual general arguments for abolishing the flave trade. The Author chiefly confines himself to the trade only, and recommends what he judges the most proper means of propagating flaves in the Weft India islands, inftead of importing them from Africa. The hints toward a bill for the abolishment of the trade to Africa are fuch as refult from the idea he feems to poffefs; we

fay

fay feems, for it is by no means clear. In the former part of his work he inveighs against flavery, and in the latter, he propofes regulations for the better management of the Negroes.

Art. 26. Instructions for the Treatment of Negroes, &c. &c. 12mo. Is. Shepperson and Reynolds. 1788.

The Author of thefe Inftructions has been, and perhaps now is, a proprietor of a confiderable estate in Barbadoes. The fubftance of the pamphlet is a series of letters written to the manager or fteward of the plantation, in a correfpondence which began twenty years. ago, and fully evinces the Author to be a fenfible, benevolent, and good man, His treatment of the Africans who come under his care is, in general, as mild as that which European masters ufually afford their fervants. He fhews that an African, fold as a flave, is not always an object unpitied, defpifed, and treated with unfeeling wantonnefs. He confines his obfervations to the practice of the masters in Barbadoes only. Why do not the other islands pursue the fame Jucrative method? It is furely lucrative, for, by an inventory taken on the ift of January, it appears, there were, on the Author's two plantations, 304 Negroes; that in the courfe of the preceding year thirteen were born, and only two died, which were infants. Art. 27. Confiderations on the Emancipation of Negroes, and on the Abolition of the Slave-trade. By a Weft-India Planter. 8vo. Is. 6d. Johnfon. 1788.

Our Weft-India Planter enters the field of controversy against an hot of opponents; and he feems able to make a refpectable ftand against them all, while they engage on political ground on this ground, we are perfuaded, he is invincible. As negroe flavery has been fo long established, and is now fo interwoven with our commercial fyftem and circumftances of finance, any attempt, he apprehends, at this day, either to annihilate it entirely, or so restrain it as to prevent any further acceffion of flaves to the colonies, though it might be morally right, must be politically wrong, abfurd, and impracticable, the most precious interefts of this country being implicated in the measure. To prove all this, is the great purpose of his Confiderations ;' and, if he fails in his proofs, it will not be from the want of a competent knowledge of his fubject, or of ability to defend it; but from fome other caufe, beyond the reach of our ken.' He difcuffes every point with great candour and moderation, and a due deference to the principles and motives of those who have fo zealously interested themselves on the other fide of the question; and he appears to be heartily inclined to concur with them in every prudent measure to effect a reform in the negroe fyftem, and to diminish the rigours of flavery. Much, he thinks, may be done that way; and he points out the means. But as we must not enlarge, we shall only add our impartial recommendation of his tract to the serious attention of the public. The fubject is of the utmost confequence, and we ought, before it be too late, to invite and encourage information concerning it, from every quarter whence it can poffibly be obtained.

Art. 28. Confiderations on the Negroe Caufe. Addreffed to the Right Hon. Lord Mansfield. By Samuel Ettwick, A. M. LL. D. Mem

ber

ber of Parliament for Weftbury. The third Edition. 8vo. 23. Dodiley. 1788..

The first edition of this tract appeared without the Author's name, 1772; and was noticed in our Review, Vol. XLVII. p. 152. The work was occafioned by the famous cafe of Somerfet the negroe, which, in that year, was argued in the King's Bench. Mr. Eftwick's great object was to prove, that the property of the flave remains with the mafter, though removed into a land of liberty. His • Confiderations' are now much enlarged, by notes and references to the law books published by Mr. Hargrave, &c. and his performance is deemed a capital one on that fide of the queftion which this able writer has efpoufed. It abounds with many arguments which apply to the grand queftion, now fo generally agitated, relative to the flave-trade. Of thefe, many appear to be new, and fuch as deferve to be answered by the advocates for the abolition of this very important, though odious fpecies of commerce.

MANUFACTURES and COMMERCE.

Art. 29. A Letter to the Duke of Grafton, on the Bill now depending in Parliament for preventing the Exportation of live Sheep, Wool, &c. 8vo. Is. Rivingtons. 1787.

S.

The fenfible Writer of this Letter points out fome claufes in the Bill that would prove highly oppreffive to individuals; and he wishes they may be left out, or fo modified as to render them lefs obnoxious. He does not, however, object to the principle of the bill. The time feems not yet to be arrived, when our countrymen fhall know all the benefits that refult from freedom. In this road we are beginning to travel, and we truft it will not be long till the hurtful tendency of thofe reftri&tive laws, which fo perpetually bind up the hands of the farmer, trader, and manufacturer, will be fully perceived. We muft, in the mean while, bear with fome degree of patience the well-meant, though ill-judging, efforts of thofe who wish to promote the good of their country, to the beft of their knowledge. Art. 30. A Letter to a Member of Parliament, ftating the Neceflity of an Amendment of the Laws relating to the Woollen Manufactory, fo far as refpects the Wages of Spinners. 8vo. 1 s. Rivingtons. 1787.

States a particular grievance to which the Writer thinks the fpinners in Suffolk are fubjected, by a prevailing practice of deducting a part of the established price of fpinning-and proposes that Juftices of Peace fhould be impowered to correct this abufe.

If ever the mag rate can with propriety interpofe in regulating the affairs of private individuals, we will readily admit that it should be in protecting the poor against the exactions of the rich; but stronger arguments than any we have yet heard, are required to convince us, that in a free country like this, fuch interference can ever fail to be attended with much greater evils than those they were defigned to correct. It would be eafy to point out many reasons why we fhould think fo in the prefent cafe; but as it is not our province to enter on thefe difcuffions, we can only recommend caution to thofe who think of making innovations of this fort.