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But what occafion for all this grimace in accounting for Dryden's tranfition from what he did or did not profefs to the church of Rome? Dr. Johnfon ought to have been fatisfied with Dryden's own account in his tale of the Hind and the Panther; the rather, as he there feems to have verified by experience Dr. Johnfon's maxim, that he that is of no church can have no religion." He frankly confeffes, that having no fteady principle of religion in his youth, or even in his maturer years, he finally fet up his reft in the church of Rome and indeed if the effentials of religion confit in the trappings of a church, he could not have made a better choice *.

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Dryden was reprehenfible even to infamy for his own vices, and the licentious encouragement he gave in his writings to thofe of others. But he wrote an anti-republican poem called Aljalom and Achitophel; and Dr. Johnfon, a man of high pretenfions to moral character, calls him a wife and an honeft man. Milton was a man of the chafteft manners, both in his converfation and his writings. But he wrote Iconoclastes, and in the fame Dr. Johnfon's esteem was both a knave and a fool.

The church of Rome fubftitutes orthodoxy for every virtue under heaven. And loyalty among the high Royalists canonizes every raf cal and profligate with a full and plenary abfolution. Thefe are, it is true, amongst the vileft and meanest partialities of the defpotic faction; and Dr. Johnson, confcious of his merit in other departments, fhould blufh, and be humbled, to be found in the lift of fuch miferables.'

From the fpecimens exhibited it will be no difficult matter to form an idea of the nature and spirit of the performance under confideration. The Writer feems actuated by a generous concern for the reputation of an injured individual, and by a truly patriotic regard for the general liberties of mankind; which he : thinks, and perhaps not without reafon, have been infidiously attacked by a masked battery directed at the moral character of Milton, one of Liberty's moft zealous and refpectable advocates.

Thefe Remarks, fo far as they immediately relate to Dr. Johnson, are closed with a Differtation on his motives for compofing the fpeech delivered by the late unhappy Dr. Dodd, when he was about to hear the fentence of the law pronounced upon him, in consequence of an indictment for forgery. Though this, certainly, is a fubject which will naturally excite much curious fpeculation, yet its introduction here does not appear fufficiently authorized by propriety, as it feems to bear not the remoteft relation to the point in debate.

*Bp. Burnet fpeaking of Dryden's converfion, fays, "If his grace and his wit improve both proportionably, we shall hardly find that he hath gained much by the change he has made, from having no religion to chufe one of the worit." Reply to Mr. Varillas, p. 139.

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MONTHLY CATALOGUE,

For JUNE, 1780.

POLITICAL.

Art. 14. Propafals for paying great Part of the National Debt, and reducing Taxes, immediately. By Robert Bird, Efq. 8vo. I s. DodЛley. 1780.

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R. Bird begins with fetting forth the great burdens which are borne by the fubject in confequence of the vast accumulation. of the national debt; and fhews, that we are not to estimate the fum raifed on the fubject by the very fmall one which is paid into the Treasury. He first fuppofes, that the expence of collecting the feveral taxes amounts to a fourth part of the fam levied; which we make no doubt is the cafe, at leaft, in the customs, which Mr. B. brings as an example; but we much doubt whether it amounts to fo much in fome others, as the excife, the land-tax, &c. However, granting this, and that the feveral dealers, through whofe hands the commodities pafs to the confumer, retain each a profit of 12 per cent. he fhews, that for every 151. which is paid into the Treasury from the customs, no lefs a fum than 281 1 s. 11 d. is raised on the subject. Mr. Bird, from Sir Matthew Decker, inftances in the case of the thoe-maker, who not only lays the tax, impofed on the leather, on his shoes, but the intereft of the money that he has advanced to pay that tax, and alfo a proportionable part of the money which every tradefman he dealt with for the neceffaries of life had laid on his goods: thefe Sir Matthew enumerates, to the number of twelve different taxes, which the fhoe-maker muft lay on his fhoes, that he may be able to fubfift as well as he did formerly.

Had Mr. Bird but fortunately carried this confideration a little further, and remarked that, in confequence of this cordial agreement of all parties to tax their own commodities, the gentleman raises his rents, the farmer his hay and corn, and even the day-labourer has raised his hire from 8 d. to 12 d. a day within thefe zo years; he would have found that we are, on the whole, notwithstanding the complex operation of the taxes which he speaks of, every one of us pretty much in the fame fituation that we were before, and that it only requires a greater quantity of fpecie to circulate amongst us. We ought, perhaps, to except the poor foldier, and a few other perfons, who fubfiit on falaries, which have been long fince established, and who, by their peculiar fituations or employments, can neither create perquifites to their places, nor cheat their employers, as the excifemen, cuftom-house officers, and fome others who are in this fituation do. Perhaps among these few poor wretches who fuffer on this account (for they are but comparatively few) we ought to include the poor Reviewer, who, notwithstanding he pays his quota to the fhoe-maker, &c. (unless indeed he goes without fhoes) fells his Reviews at the fame price he did thirty years ago.

But, feriously, the only thing to be apprehended in this affair is, that by every man thus increafing the price of his labour, or the profits on his goods, the prices of our exports may be fo increased

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that other nations will underfell us, and by that means deprive us of a market for our manufactures.-But this we well know is not the cafe yet. How foon it may be, God only knows; but it will be then, and then only, that we can poffibly feel the burdens which Mr. Bird fpeaks of until then, they are merely imaginary. Mr. Bird does indeed fay that this evil has actually overtaken us, and that we have already loft the greater part of our foreign trade. He mat give us leave to doubt this, for, in most of our manufactures, men are more wanted than work at prefent-May it ever remain fo!

Mr. Bird's fcheme for paying this en enormous debt depends on a calculation which we much fear can never be verified; or put in prac tice until men are made differently from what they now are, or, we fear, ever will be. He eftimates the whole landed property of Great Britain at 1000 millions, and perfonal property at as much. All this may be very true, for aught that we know, and we hope it is. But, bere comes the rub: every man is to give in a true eftimate of his whole property, and yield up to government a twentieth part of it; which when every one has beneftly done, if there be any truth in arithmetic, and the above eftimation of property, it will amount to 100 millions. The national debt he estimates at 180 millions; 140 millions of this he fuppofes belong to ourselves, and the remaining 40 millions to foreigners: this 140 millions he propofes to pay off at 60 per cent.; at which price he thinks the holders of flock will have a good bargain; and at this rate, 140 millions will be paid off with 84 millions; confequently, 16 millions will be left, at the difpofal of the First Lord of the Treafury, to be applied to the fervices of the enfuing year, or to the payment of unfunded debts. We cannot help remarking, that it is very probable most of the Stockholders will think differently from Mr. Bird, and look on themselves as hardly dealt with, in being obliged to part with their flock for 60 per cent. which many of them bought at 90, and fome at more than par, and have to give up one-twentieth of what may remain afterwards: but we apprehend they may reft fatisfied that this will not fpeedily be required of them.

Art. 15. Strictures on a Pamphlet entitled "Facts to Landhold⚫ers, Stockholders, &o." By à Volunteer. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Faulder. 1780.

This volunteer in the fervice of Administration has confidered the celebrated pamphlet entitled Facts, &c. [See Review for January laf] with great attention, and offers many remarks on that performance, which appear to merit the regard of the Public: we should always bear the other fide.

Art. 16. A Letter from a Gentleman in the English House of Commons, in Vindicarton of his Conduct, with regard to the Aifairs of Ireland. Addreffed to a Member of the Irish Parliament. 8vo. I s. 6d. Bew. 1780.

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By a Gentleman in the English Houfe of Commons,' we are to understand-Mr. Edmund Burke-whofe parliamentary conduct, with regard to the late national advantages fo fuccefsfully contended for by Ireland, is the fubject of this very masterly apology. We have no doubt that this letter is the genuine production of Mr. Burke's elegant

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which at prefent flands as a barrier between them, this focial purpofe has, it feems, been particularly oppofed by Sir J-n H-k-s -whofe printed Reafons against the wished for opening, are made the baus of thefe burlesque verfes.

"Perfonal fatire, like other corrofives, may, as a correfpondent, on this fubject, remarks, have its ufe: and it can never be more properly applied than in the way of recrimination and self defence. The Authors of this ironical compofition (for, it feems, more than one pen has been employed on this occafion) are candid enough to accom pany it with the original performances which gave rife to it, in order that the Public may judge of the one as well as the other: and it is not to be wondered at, that fo rude and ungentlemanlike an attack as the original appears to be, upon a number of families in a neighbourhood, fhould produce a reply of this fort; for whoever takes upon him to print and difperfe invectives against others, becomes a Drawcanfir; and throws down the gauntlet for any that will, to take up. If he is foiled in the confequence, he has nothing to complain of but his own folly. Those who have a relish for farcaftical humour and pointed fatire, we may venture to fay, will meet with as much entertainment as the nature of fuch a fubject would admit of " Art. 22. Minutes of the Proceedings at a Court-Martial, affembled to inquire into the Caufe of the Lofs of his Majesty's late Ship Ardent. Taken by George Jack for, Efq; Judge Advocate of his Majefty's Fleet. Published by Order of the Right Honourable the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty. 410. 25. 6 d. Cadell. 178c.

Military difcipline, having for its object the good of the fervice, overlooks all perfonal confiderations in the attainment of this great end. Among the rigors of the Pruffian difcipline, we are told that a foldier was caned for fneezing, which feems to be an effort of nature little dependent on the will; yet an old Pruffian officer remarked, that the men did not cough fo often as they used to do formerly.

From the circumftances ftated, Captain Boteler will, in all probability, be confoled with milder verdicts, in private judgment, than that which was pronounced by the Court before whom he was arraigned.

Art. 23. Thoughts on the dangerous Tendency of employing Foreigners. Addreffed to the People of England. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Faulder.

Whatever may be thought. of this pamphlet as a literary compofition, the Author appears to be an honest, well-meaning patriot; though he fays nothing about petitions or affociations.

Art. 24. Memoirs of the Town and County of Leicester. Containing the Antiquities of each, and the historical and biographical Relations at large. To which is added, a brief fupplementary Account of the prefent State of Leicestershire. By John Throby.. 12mo. 6 Vol. 12 s. fewed. Leicester, printed for the Author. Sold by Crowder in London.

We shall not detain our Readers long with an account of this publication. The hiftory of a county may be rendered an inftructive. entertaining, and ufeful performance; but it is requifite for this parpole that the Editor fhould have tafte, judgment, and as acquaint

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ance with history and antiquities; befides which, he must be inquifive, laborious and accurate; and it will be farther necessary that he fhould be able to fupport that expence both of time and money which a faithful and ingenious narration of this kind will certainly demand. From looking into thefe volumes it appears to us that Mr. Threfby has greatly failed as to the moft agreeable and beneficial execution of a work of this nature. He expreffes himself with diffidence concerning his performance, and affures the Public of the pains he has employed about it. We are unwilling wholly to condemn it, though we cannot fpeak in its commendation. It feems to us, that his plan is unpleafing and perplexing. He might have been guided much better by confulting publications of this fort concerning o her counties. Perhaps, however, he may have fuggefted fome hints or obfervations that may be ferviceable whenever another History of Leicestershire fhall be undertaken.

Art. 25. Remarks and Conjectures on the Voyage of the Ships Refolution and Difcovery, in Search of a northerly Paffage from Kamchatka to England, after the Death of Capt. James Cook: with Reasons to imagine that thofe Ships have wintered in Siberia, Nova Zembla, or Lapland. To which is added, an Eulogium, or Tribute of Gratitude to the Memory of that celebrated Navigator. Intended as a Prelude or Introduction to a future Publication on the Subject of the North-eaft Paffige. 8vo. 1 s. Bew. 1780.. Letters arrived a few days ago at the India-house, containing cer tain information that this Author is mittaken in every conjecture which he has made concerning the place where thefe ships wintered; for that instead of wintering in Siberia, Nova Zembla, or Lapland, as he had conjectured, they were returning home by the way of China and the Cape of Good Hope, as might reasonably have been expected, without this certain information.

Art. 26. The Grifis. Now or never. Addreffed to the People of England. Concluding with a poetical Invocation to the Genius of England. By a Gloucestershire Freeholder. Rivington.

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4to. I s. 6 d.

This Gloucefterhire freeholder, though a very indifferent writer, expreffes himself like an honest and well-meaning man. His patchwork plan of reformation is a triennial parliament, and change of minifters. A change of minillers, to those who may be immediately. interested in the change, is no doubt defirable; but the people at la ge will furely with fur fomething more fubitantial-annual parliaments, and an equal reprefentation. Art. 27. An Abstract of the Trial of George Stratton, Henry Brooke, Charles Floyer, and George Mackay. Esquires; for depofing the Right Honourable Lord Pigot, late Governor of Fart St. George, in the East Indies. 8vo. I s. 6d. Murray. 1780. This abstract, we are informed, is printed from the notes of a gen-> tleman of Lincoln's Inn; and is intended for public information, as the defendants decline publishing the notes of their fhort-hand writers. Whatever the defendants may propofe to themfelves by omitting such a publication, they are no doubt extremely well fatiffied with the event of the trial. The general circumstances of the

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