"of a fucceffor long kept out fend him to linger in the fame jail "which his temporary paffions might tempt him to prepare for

"others.

"That it is that which leaving to the rich no other fecurity for "his palace, than what the peafant has for his cottage, has united "his caufe to that of the latter-the caufe of the powerful to that "of the helpless--the cause of the man of extenlive influence and "connections, to that of him who is without friends.

"It is the throne above all, it is this jealous power, that makes "the people fure that its reprefentatives never will be any thing 66 more than its reprefentatives; and it is the ever-fubfiting Car "thage which vouches to it for the duration of their virtue.'

The good fenfe of this performance is fuperior to its ftile, which abounds in foreign, idioms.

Art. 44. The Christmas Tale; a Poetical Addrefs and Remonftrance to the young Miniftry. 1s. 6d. Faulder.

There are fome tolerable lines in this Addrefs and Remonftrance, but we do not think the author will receive the order of knighthood when he goes up to prefent it.

Art. 45. An Addrefs to the Majority of the House of Commons. 19. Flexney.

This author wishes to plead forcibly against the coalition party, but he does not carry conviction. Such a weak defence does more hurt than downright oppofition.

Art. 46. A New Whig Catechifm, to be learned by heart before the 13th of the prefent January: when a Confirmation will be held at St. James's Place, by the Patriarch of Whiggifm, who will then examine fuch as may prefent themfelves to be ini tiated in the Mysteries of the Coalition. 6d. Debrett,

As the 13th of January is past, and indeed paft without our hav ing learnt that it was a day for the confirmation of whig finners, we did not attend the patriarchal difpenfation of the gofpel according to Charles. The catechifm, however, is a good one, and although we do not intend to commit it to memory literally, we have fome reafon to think that it will be long ere the memory of its doctrines fhall be wiped away.

Art. 47. The American and British Chronicle of War and Politics: Being an accurate and comprehenfive Register of the moft memorable Occurrences in the last ten Years of his Majefty's Reign; in which will be found eighteen hundred® interefting Events, during the War between Great Britain and America, France, Spain, and Holland, from May 10, 1773, to July 16, 1783. The whole carefully collected from authentic Records, and carefully arranged in chronological Order. 8vo. 2s. 6d. No bookfellers Name.

This performance is an ufeful and patient effort of industry; any farther praife would be mifapplied upon it, the author does not afpire to the merit of ingenuity, to labour is his province; and in the prefent cafe he had only occafion for the use of his fingers and

his eyes.

Art. 48. The proper Limits of the Government's Interference with the Affairs of the Eaft-India Company, attempted to be affigned. With fome few Reflections extorted by, and on the distracted State of the Times. By John Earl of Stair. 8vo. IS. 1784.

Stockdale.

Lord Stair, having referred the reader to his account already published, of the prefent miferable ftate of the British finances, fhews in an ironical manner, the extreme folly and abfurdity of mi nifters bringing farther diftrefs on the nation, by encountering the difficulties of the Eaft-India company; alfo, his Lordfhip proceeds to confider the reafons offered in vindication of Mr. Fox's Eafte India bill. The principal of these are bankruptcy, and the want of bamanity in the Company's fervants. As to the pretext of bankruptcy, he fhews clearly that it is but a flimfy difguife, and firewdly obferves, that minifters are not fo eager to obtain the administration of the affairs of a bankrupt on the fubject of humanity.

Our noble author fays, the next plea is humanity, and a wifh to restore in India a better and a jufter fyftem of government, lefs rapacious, and lefs oppreffive to the natives. This is certainly a fair and generous object; but how do the means correfpond with the end, or what folid proof have we that exceffes do exift, or, at leaft, have been carried to the fingular and unnatural extent each parliamentary declaimer is pleased to affign to them? Having forced the Company to bear a fhare in all the foolish wars Britain involved herself in, money must be found. The fmooth fwindling methods of funding, without giving the creditors adequate fecurities for either principal or intereft, are not practicable in China. Self-prefervation enforced the neceffity of violence, more obnoxious in the beginning, but, perhaps, in the end, lefs ruinous than the foft, fly deceits of Europe. Those violent measures, palliated by the neceffity of felf-prefervation, excepted, what remains but an ex parte charge, in Reports to the Houfe of Commons, curious and voluminous indeed, but without confrontation of the accufed, or any other neceffary preliminary to condemnation, fought by private equity, or required by public juftice? We have only an inform mafs of matter, where difappointment, vanity, and malevolence, are too often prompted by management and defign to accufe, and every accufation is held forth as compleat evidence of guilt. Indeed, fome accounts fcattered through the vaft abyfs of caftern manners and customs, make by much the most useful and entertaining part of this exceedingly tedious farago; though in this part it falls far fhort in beauty of ftyle and compofition, and probably does not much exceed in veracity, the Arabian Nights Entertain

ments.'

This is no bad criticism on the Reports in general, of the Secret and Select Committees: and we congratulate Lord Stair on the proof he has given of an happy talent for reviewing. He fays many fevere, but just things of the late cabinet. He promises to fupport the prefent miniftry fo long as they hall continue to merit. his fupport. He approves of thofe friends to the conftitution who lately interpofed with their advice to their fovereign: he rejoices

that

that his Majefty listened to their advice, and hopes he will never lofe fight of his own honour and dignity.

The frequent pamphlets of this noble author, are, among a thoufand others, eminent proofs of the importance of the prefs. There is not a doubt but this venerable nobleman more effentially ferves the caufe he efpoufes, by his writings, than he would by his attendance in the Houfe of Peers.

Art. 49. A Letter to the People of Scotland on the prefent State of the Nation. By James Bofweil, Efq; 8vo. Is. Dilly.

The fcope of this ingenious and well written letter, is, to rouze the Scots to a due fenfe of the dangers which Great Britain has efcaped by the failure of Mr. Fox's Eaft-India bill; to awaken their gratitude to the illuftrious perfonages, through whofe interpofition that bill was rejected; and to excite their approbation of the choice of thofe minifters which our gracious fovereign has been pleafed to fubftitute in the room of thofe who had aimed at fubverting the conftitution of this country.

Mr. Bofwell reafons in a perfpicuous, forcible, and lively manner

A keen debate, fays this writer, on King William's answer took place in the Houfe of Commons, which had, in effect, questioned his Majesty's undoubted prerogative in refufing his affent. It was moved, "That an humble addrefs be made to the King for a farther "anfwer." But there was principle and decency enough amongft, them to reject it. In truth, to difpute the King's free right of a negative upon any bill, is tantamount to infifting that he is a cypher in the conftitution. And I admire the ftrong blunt fpeech of Mr. Brewer 66 All agree, that the King hath a negative voice to bills: "No body hath a greater reverence to Parliaments than myself; "but the bill rejected was liable to exceptions. I gave my vote to "make the Prince of Orange King; but will never give my vote to "unking him." Let Mr. Brewer of 1693 be oppofed to Mr. Baker of 1783, and the conftitutional palm detur digniori.'

It is in this manner that Mr. Bofwell mixes his appeals to history and the principles of the constitution, with pleasantry and good hu→

mour.

Art. 50. Letters addreffed to the Volunteers of Ireland on the Subject of a Parliamentary Reform. By John Jebb, M. D. F. R. S. 8vo. 6d. Stockdale.

After

Dr. Jebb, after stating the reasons why he thinks the addition of a certain number of county members would be of no avail in ba lancing the corrupt reprefentation of the boroughs, and why he thinks that measure as inexpedient, as it appears to him partial and unjuft, begs leave, "without the imputation of prefumption, to ex. prefs his unreserved opinion on this momentous fubject." paffing refolutions, fays he, expreffive of the rights of the people to review the whole fyftem of delegation, let a Committee from yourselves be appointed to draw the outline of a plan which you fhall judge to be effectual, the most extenfive and liberal the times will bear. Let this plan be proposed to the House of Commons, and let your prefent affembly be adjourned to a reasonable time be yond the period, in which the plan may be conceived to be offered

for

for affent to the other branches of the legislature. The intervening conduct of parliament will fuggeft the proper measures to be adopted at fuch adjourned meeting.-Petition feems to acknowledge a power in the Houfe of Commons of rejecting your fuit."--He goes on to confirm and explain thefe opinions.

The author writes with modefty, and a strong fenfe of the rights of mankind. The plan, however which he here rather hints than delineates, is violent, and full of danger.

DIVINIT Y.

Art. 51. A Letter to Dr. Priestley; occafioned by his History of the Corruptions of Chriftianity; wherein his Socinian Errors are fully confuted by Arguments drawn from the Holy Scriptures. By Edward Sheppard, A. B. Rector of Bettiscomb, Dorset. 8vo. Is. 6d. Bath; printed and fold by S. Hazard, Cheap Street.

Mr. Sheppard thinks that Socinianifm is nothing else but Deifin in difguife. In the overflowing of his zeal, he quotes the words of St. John," that many falfe prophets fhall arife, and that antichrift fhall go out to interrupt the advancement of the true religion.' He then adds " your writings, fir, are an evident fulfillment of thofe prophecies." He arraigns the Doctor warmly, for the little weight he allows to fuch paffages of fcripture as do not fuit his own purposes, and he has a good title to do fo, as he himself, every where pays the utmoft refpect to the authority of facred writ.

Mr. Sheppard comes at length, to the main topic of his letter, which is, to prove that Dr. Priestley's fentiments concerning the fall of man, the atonement, and the trinity, are diametrically oppofite to the fpirit of the facred fcriptures. In this undertaking he does not reject the aid of reasoning, but he makes it but a fecondary aid; and prudently appeals to arms he seems more capable of wielding, namely texts of fcripture. He calls Dr. Priestley an animal rationale and nothing elfe, and thinks that may be the reason why he has fo grofly perverted the holy writings. For the natural man, he obferves, underftandeth not the things of the fpirit of God, neither can be know them, because they are fpiritually difcerned

The Scriptures of the Old, as well as New Teftament, have fo many truths afferted in them, which do not square with your reafon (the God you worship) that I am not surprised to find you defire to leffen their authority and weaken their influence: but know, Sir, all your attempts are as vain as thofe of Julian, Cebrus, or Porphiry, of old time; or Hobbs, Mandeville, Bolingbroke, Hume or Vol. taire, of later date. You may poffibly be difpleafed, that I rank you with Infidels: my reafon for fo doing is, because I look upon you to be as great an enemy to true Christianity as they. Under the fpecious pretext of defending rational religion, you are fecretly fapping the foundation of the Chriftian. But all your arrows, however fubtle the poison with which they are tipped, will fall blunted and useless to the ground. The writings of the antient Infidels would fcarce have been known-they would have been configned to that oblivion they deserved, had not the mafterly answers been preferved for the inftruction of future ages: and your theological writings, though vanity may prompt you to think them immortal, will foon be forgotten. They may please men of corrupt minds, but

the wife and good will never look into them a fecond time. You appear to be fo totally a ftranger to all divine influence, and fo far led away by the delufive reafonings of depraved nature, that I cannot but lament your fad condition, and tremble for your future one, if God fhould be pleafed to take you out of the world in your prefent fentiments. That very book which you pretend to own as the revealed will of God, will judge you at the laft'day; and instead of being a defender, you will appear to men and angels to be a fubverter of the Chriftian faith."

This anfwer to Dr. Priestley is written with greater zeal than judgment: and, in fome instances, of which the extract we have now given is one, it is fo extremely injudicious, that were not our author rector of Bettifcomb, we should be apt to fufpect him of disguised infidelity..

Art. 52. A Practical Expofition of the Lord's Prayer; confidered as defigned for Inftruction as well as Ufe; as a Rule of Duty, as well as a Form of Prayer. By Jofeph Brockwell, M. A. Vicar of West Merfea, Effex. 8vo. is. Waiter.

Right conceptions of the attributes, or perfections of God, are neceffary to infpire thofe longing defires after conformity to his image and his will, in which the glory and happinefs of men confifts. The petitions in the Lord's prayer follow each other in such an order that they naturally rife out of one another. The objects of contemplation and of defire held out in one petition, prepare the understanding and the heart to go on to the next. The author of this Expofition therefore did well in confidering this form of prayer as defigned for inftruction as well as ufe. Although he has not feen the very beautiful, and divine order of the petitions with the eyes a Dr. Heylin, who has written on that fubject in his lectures to the scholars of Westminster; he has nevertheless drawn from it many practical instructions.

Art. 53. A Friendly Dialogue between a Common Unitarian Chriftian, and an Athanafian; occafioned by the Former's Beha viour during fome Part of the Public Service, or, an Attempt to reftore Scripture Forms of Worship. 12mo. 3d. Johnson.

The Athanafian in this dialogue makes but a poor figure. He hardly ventures to defend his opinions, his adverfary of course, obtains an eafy victory.

The author expreffes a hope that "there are amongst us many rational chriftians, who will distribute fuch little tracts, in order to help forward the glorious work of another reformation, which, though the times are favourable in many refpects, is very much obfructed by irreligion, on one fide, and fuperftition and enthusiasm on the other".

MEDICA L.

Art. 54. A Treatise on the Natural Small Pox, with fome Remarks and Obfervations on Innoculation. By Charles Roe, Member of the Corporation of Surgeons. 25. Dixwell.

This has the appearance of a tranflation from an Edinburgh Thefs; at any rate, there is nothing in it that has not been faid an hundred times over. The author aims principally at arrangement and method, and is not without perfpicuity.

Art.