obtaining that important Object. 8vo. 6d. Bradford, printed. Sold in London by Law. 1788.

These obfervations are made by a fhrewd manufacturer, as we fuppofe, at Bradford, who fubfcribes himself, J. Huftler. He is a ftrenuous advocate for prohibiting the exportation of Wool under any fort of restrictions. A confiderable part of the pamphlet is a re-publication of a tract circulated fome years ago by the woollen manufacturers, for preventing liberty to be granted to export wool. The remainder contains objections to feveral of the claufes in the bill now before Parliament, which our fenfible obferver thinks are too abfurd to be adopted, and which he therefore wishes may be withdrawn, left they occafion the failure of the whole. His plan is, to obtain an act of Parliament to lay an additional duty on the importation of oil ufed in the manufactory, to raise about 6,000l. per This fum to be appropriated for defraying the expence of a fet of riding-officers, ten in number, having each a diftinct diftri&t; who fhould be employed to fee that the prefent laws against fmuggling wool be duly enforced.

annum.

NEGROE SLAVERY.

Art. 18. A Farewell Addrefs to the Rev. Mr. James Ramsay; from James Tobin, Eq. 8vo. 1s. Wilkie, &c. 1788.

When two men have been combating, and one of them gives out, the battle is over. Mr. Tobin intimates that he has had enough of Mr. R.'s unmanly and vindictive lampoons; therefore his conteft with that Gentleman is at an end. Yet, Parthian like, while he quits the field, he turns and aims another arrow at his purfuer. We hope, however, that this will not provoke Mr. Ramfay to continue the war; for we have had enough of it too.

In his Appendix, Mr. T. has copied a Letter from the Society for propagating the Gofpel, dated in 1766, and addreffed to Mr. Benezet, of Philadelphia; which is faid to have been written under the direction of the late Archbishop Secker; and in which the practice of keeping faves is pronounced not unlawful, finding the contrary very plainly implied in the precepts given by the Apoftles, both to mafters and fervants, which laft were then, for the most part, flaves.'

Mr. T. has alfo fubjoined a copy of the French King's Declaration, relative to the fituation of Negroes and Mulattos in his European dominions. It is dated at Versailles, Aug. 9, 1777. By this declaration, the bringing Negroes, as perfonal attendants on their matters, in voyages from the colonies into France, is abfolutely prohibited, great inconvenience having thence arisen with respect to matters of police, &c. as tending to the depravation of regular manners,' and the interruption of good order,' in the kingdom. One reason for this prohibition, among others, deferves our notice, viz. that when fuch negroes return to the colonies, they carry with them fuch a fpirit of independence and refractorinefs, as makes them rather dangerous than ufeful.' This, as Mr. T. remarks, ferves to exhibit, in a very striking light, the fteady and minute regard which our politic neighbours pay to the welfare of their fugar colonies; and we may add, to that of the parent country. Let England take and extend the

hint, and not fuffer our national character to be corrupted by too much intercourfe with the numerous blacks which are found among us; and who form fuch intimacies with the common people particularly, as may in time contribute more than we are aware of, to alter the breed; in which cafe, our pofterity may read of the hardy tars and gallant foldiers of old England, as the modern Italians do of the invincible warriors of ancient Rome.

Art. 19. A Letter to the Right Hon. William Pitt, on the proposed Abolition of the Slave Trade. By the Rev. F. Randolph, M. A. Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Duke of York. 8vo. 15. Cadell. 1788.

Mr. Randolph thinks, with many others, that an immediate abolition of the African trade might poffibly operate in a manner widely different from the end propofed; and that to refrain, and to amend, feems to be all that we ought, at prefent, to aim at. However, he confiders the fubject at large, and takes a view of what has been offered by the principal writers on both fides of the queftion. He inclines ftrongly to the cause of freedom, which he justly confiders as the grand intereft of human nature; and fince a total abolition of negroe-flavery is not likely foon to happen, he proposes a set of very proper regulations for the African trade, and for the better treatment of flaves in the plantations. We are glad to fee fo many hints of this kind thrown out, as they may contribute much toward the forming a code of laws, from which even flavery may, in fome degree, partake of the bleffings of LIBERTY.

Mr. R. earnestly recommends the negroe caufe to the patronage of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, obferving, that no oppofition to him can be expected on this ground, from thofe who, in fuch a caufe, forgetting the Minifter, will unite with Mr. Pitt to render the name of an Englishman as dear as it is formidable to the Indian, and to the Negroe.'

Art. 20. Hints for a specific Plan for an Abolition of the Slave Trade, and for Relief of the Negroes in the West Indies. By the Tranflator of Cicero's Orations against Verres. 8vo. Is. Debrett.

1788.

If the prefent Author had difcuffed this very ferious but very diffi cult fubject more difpaffionately, he would not have been the lefs re, fpectfully attended to; but his warmth will be eafily pardoned, as proceeding from an excefs of zeal in the generous caufe of huma nity. Many of his hints deserve, indeed, the utmost attention; and his tract, whatever may be the inaccuracies or imperfections of his plan, will be a valuable addition to our common ftock of knowledge on the fubject.

** Of Mr. White's Tranflation of the Orations of Cicera againft Verres,' lately published, an account will speedily be given in our Review.

Art. 21. Obfervations on the African Slave Trade, and on the Situation of Negroes in the West Indies; with fome proposed Regulations for a more mild and humane Treatment of them. By a Jamaica Planter. 8vo. is. Law, &c. 1788.

Our Jamaica Planter treats the fubject like a man of fenfe and experience; and his propofed regulations, in regard to the manner in

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which

which the negroe flaves are treated in the Weft Indies, are a proof of his humanity. He confiders the abolition of flavery as impracticable; or, at least, he fears that it is an event which can only take place at a very diftant period of time, and by flow degrees: and he af fures us, that he very fincerely hopes, that Parliament will give the fubject due confideration, and frame a code of laws for the govern. ment of the negroes,-as the French have wifely done.'

6

Art. 22. An Efay on the Slave Trade. 8vo. IS. Nicol. 1788. In this fhort effay, we have a sketch of the history of flavery, drawn from much reading, and attention to the subject. The Author appears (to ufe his own words, in the compliments which he pays to a preceding writer on the fame topic) to have been guided in this investigation, by philanthropy and hiftorical knowledge.' The refult of his refearches and reflections is, that he thinks the abolition of flavery is by no means advifable, with a view to Chriftian duty and benevolence, as it alfo appears impracticable in the light of political intereft.' He adds, I myself hate flavery, yet I with that of the negroes to be ftill continued, under the eye of government, whofe duty it is to demand accounts of the treatment of flaves during their voyage to the West Indies;' and we must add, that we think this duty indifpenfable, if this horrid commerce must be continued.— The effay concludes with fome very proper hints for restricting the duration of this kind of bondage to a certain number of years; after which he would recompenfe the flave with the bleffing of free

dom.

Art. 23. Slavery no Oppreffion; or, fome new Arguments and Opinions against the Idea of African Liberty. Dedicated to the Committee of the Company that trade to Africa. 8vo. 1s. Lowndes and Co. in Drury Lane. 1788.

One of this Writer's opinions is, that the profound ignorance' of the negroes keeps them humble and happy ;' and that they cannot poibly have the leaft relish, or even conception, of the enjoyment of Liberty. With fuch impreffions on his mind, has this Writer filled his pamphlet, partly with what he may deem new arguments;' and partly with the moft illiberal abufe of the benevolent advocates for the difcontinuance of the flave trade. He is, moreover, fo incorrect a writer, that we cannot help thinking him highly reprehenfible for offering fo very defective a production to the eye of the public. Many of the faults, however, with refpect to his language (befide thofe marked in his errata), he will probably place to the account of his printer.

Art. 24. A Differtation on the Manners, Governments, and Spirit of Africa. To which is added, Obfervations on the present Applications to Parliament for abolishing Negroe Slavery, &c. By S. Hollingsworth, author of the Prefent State of Nova Scotia and Canada t. 4to." 2s. 6d. Edinburgh, printed for Creech; and fold by Stockdale, &c. in London. 1788.

*The author of a

Propofal for the Confideration of those who intereft themfelves in the Abolition," &c. See Review for Febru.

ary laft, p. 159.

+ See Review, vol. lxxv. p. 282.

Thofe

Those who are defirous of information on the subjects here treated, will meet with confiderable gratification in the perufal of what this judicious and intelligent writer has here communicated to the public. He is a ftrenuous affertor of the abolition principle; but he would have it gradually executed; and he points out, very candidly, the mifchiefs that would certainly enfue from a fudden change in the ftate and fituation of the black flaves. The author writes with a proper degree of afsurance on this fubject, from perfonal experience and obfervation.

EAST INDIES.

Art. 25. Obfervations upon Mr. Sheridan's Pamphlet, intitled, "Com. parative Statement of the Two Bills for the better Government of the British Poffeffions in India;" in a Letter from Major Scott to Sir Richard Hill, Bart. one of the Knights of the Shire for the County of Salop. 4to. 3s. Stockdale. 1783.

This answer to Mr. Sheridan does great credit to the abilities of its author.

In our laft, p. 345, we mentioned Mr. Sheridan's Publication with that refpect which we thought due to the diftinguished talents of the writer, and to the fpirit and ingenuity of the performance then under confideration. However, the Major's intimate acquaintance with Indian politics, and the affairs of the Eaft India Company, both abroad and at home, for a confiderable number of years paft, has enabled him to controvert, in a tone of great refpectability, almoft every point contended for in the Comparative Statement; and the fuccefs with which he feems to maintain his ground, affords a notable instance of the advantage of ample and well-ftudied information in contending even with GENIUS, when its efforts, and its utmost range, are bounded by facts which lie open to the comprehenfion and judgment of the people at large.

Art. 26. A Letter from a Gentleman at Bengal, to his Friend in London; dated Calcutta, Sept. 8, 1787. Received by the Ravenfworth Packet. 8vo. 15. Stockdale. 1788.

Genuine, we fuppofe; and filled with the warmest encomiums on Mr. Haftings; in courfe, his perfecutors are mentioned with proportional difapprobation. The Author obferves, that the prefent difgraceful fituation of Mr. Haftings, is a matter totally incomprehenfible to the Bengal Indians; who, in their way, endeavour to folve the difficulty, by faying, that "he muft, by fome criminal action, unknown to us, have offended God's vicegerent on earth-the great King GEORGE. He, [Mr. H.] as well as we, are but his Majesty's poor flaves, whofe will is the law, to which we must bow the neck, and fubmit."

Art. 27. The Speech of John Anstruther, Efq. M. P. at a very numerous Court of Proprietors of India Stock, O&t. 24, 1782. 8vo. 15. Stockdale. 1788.

The Editor of this fpeech ftyles it, very juftly, a nervous defence of Mr. Haftings. He introduces it with fome remarks on the fingular fate of Mr. H. whofe actions have been viewed, by the fame men, in lights totally oppofite, at different times; of which he pro

Gg 4

duces

duces fome remarkable inftances. He adds, We have not selected the following fpeech of Mr. Anftruther with a view to remark that he has been inconfiftent, but because there is business in every line of it; every word is true.'

Art. 28. Proceedings of the Committee, chofen December 10, 1787, by a General Meeting of the Eaft India Company's Military Officers now in England. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Debrett. 1788.

In our Review for April, Art. 29, 30, and 31, of the Catalogue, we mentioned three tracts, relative to the fubject to which the prefent publication bears fome reference; and we then observed, that a compromise had happily taken place, in regard to certain circumftances attending the recent appointment of four regiments, in his Majefty's fervice, to be ftationed in India. This new tract details the proceedings of the Company's military officers, now in England, in behalf of themselves, and of their brethren in the Indies, on the fubject of rank; it appearing, that a great part of the officers were to be appointed to the faid four regiments, from the Company's military establishment, whereby the officers remaining in the Company's fervice, of their feveral ranks, would have the feverest of all mortifications, the being fuperfeded by those whom, for a feries of years, they have commanded."

Accordingly, in pursuance of a general meeting of the Company's officers, application was made to the Court of Directors, and to Government, for redrefs of this impending grievance,-which was, at length, obtained by certain arrangements, the particulars of which are here given; together with copies of the letters, &c. that paffed on this occafion, between the Court of Directors, the Minifter, and the Committee of Officers. We have, likewife, a copy of a letter, written by the latter, with a becoming fpirit and propriety, to the Directors, in confequence of an intimation, that his R. H. the Duke of York had recommended a Lieutenant from the Guards, to receive one of the Majorities in the new-raised regiments, which his Majefty had gracioufly left to the Company, and which the Directors had before determined to bestow on the fenior of their own Ma jors.

Alarmed at this interference of his R. H. in a matter which tended fo materially to affect the honour and intereft of the Company's officers, the Committee addreffed the above-mentioned letter to the Court of Directors, praying them not to fuffer a precedent to be eftablished, which might operate, in future, toward the final and total overthrow of all thofe immunities which the honourable Court had lately been inftrumental in procuring for them.-The iffue of this addrefs is not here mentioned; but, if we rightly recollect, the news-papers have informed the Public, that the Duke's application was, with great propriety, withdrawn.

INLAND NAVIGATION. Art. 29. Obfervations on a "Defign for improving the Navigation of the River Severn, in the Counties of Salop, Stafford, Worcester, and Glocefter." 8vo. Is. Cadell. 1788.

Notwithstanding that the advantages arifing from inland navigation to the trade, manufactures, and agriculture of every country,

are