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ministerial rogues † to an ignominious death in this world, and eternal damration in the next:

Nor fhall their punishment on earth atone,

In endless torments they fhall ever groan.'
Oh! oh! oh!!!-

Art. 28. Poems, by Mr. Jofeph Holden Pott. 8vo. 1 s. 6d.
Becket. 1779.

This little Mifcellany, confifting of Odes, Elegies, &c. carries with it many marks of a cultivated mind. The Odes, which form the principal part of the collection, are eafy and harmonious; and if they abound not in any great strokes of original genius, they are, at least, not deftitute of those graces which fpring from a true and elegant taste.

At the end of the volume are added Poemata Latina. Of these, none are wholly without merit; but the last, in our opinion, is the best.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

Art. 29. Cool Thoughts on the Confequences to Great Britain of American Independence; on the Expence of Great Britain in the Settlement and Defence of the American Colonies; and on the Value and Importance of the American Colonies and the Weft Indies to the British Empire. 8vo. Is. Wilkie, 1780.

The Author fets out with obferving, that the independence of America has been long fince recommended, by a learned and ingenious author, as beneficial to Great Britain; that the plaufibility of his arguments has made fome profelytes; and that it has even produced a motion in the House of Commons, to that end.' Whether,' fays this writer, the boldness or novelty of the fentiment has been mistaken for truth, I fhall not determine; this, however, is certain, that at the first view of a propofition to dismember from a flate 3,000,000 of its subjects, and the far greater part of its territory, reafon takes the alarm, and creates in the mind ftrong fufpicions that it cannot be well founded.'-To prove that it is ill founded, is the main bufinefs of this temperate and judicious performance. By a candid ftate of facts, and a series of just and pertinent remarks, he fhews the ruinous confequences [to this country] of a plan, by which Great Britain must give up not only the greatest part of its territory, and more than one fourth of its people, but likewife near one half of its commerce, (the trade to Ireland and the East Indies excepted), foreign as well as Colonial. The confequences he deduces are- the decay, if not the ruin of the best fources of wealth and strength in the empire: more especially, as a great part of what we fhall give up, muft fall into the hands of our natural and determined enemies.'

This pamphlet is juftly entitled Cool Thoughts. The Author difcuffes his fubjects in a decent and difpaffionate, though very earnest and ferious ftrain: in which the Americans are not abused as rebels, nor is government traduced with accusations of despotism. The

+ This is a mistake, Master Reviewer! the Author does not fay rogues: he only calls the gentlemen titled traitors,' and 'hellish PRINTER'S DEVIL.

crew.'

• Dean Tucker.

queftion,

queflion, indeed, as to the grounds of our quarrel with the Colonies, is totally avoided: the writer having wholly confined himself to the difcuffion of the fingle point which he had in view, viz. The fatal confequence [to Great Britain] of American independence, should that scheme be firmly established.

Art. 30. Obfervations on American Independency.

Edinburgh.

8vo. 6 d.

This North British publication appears (and to fome it seems a a phe. nomenon) in favour of American Independency; which the writer fuppofes, on commercial principles, to be the most advantageous ground on which we can settle our differences with the revolted Colonies. The Author reafons like a man of fenfe, moderation, and humanity; and he appears to have formed juft notions of the value of that commercial intercourfe which hath fubfifted, or that may, hereafter, fubfift between Great Britain and North America,-fhould the latter become Independent.-We perfectly agree with him in his conclufive reflection, that if there be any truth in the arguments now offered [to prove] that the Independency of America, inttead of being a lofs to the trade, manufactures, and marine of Britain, will rather enlarge and increase them,-what pity is it that this plan of reconciliation had not been agreed to fooner! He takes leave of his Readers in the following terms, after mentioning the neceffity of our taking care to prevent America's falling under the influence or dependence of other nations; If thefe obfervations,' fays he, fhall have any effect to promote that purpose' [of prevention], the Author will deferve the name of a TRUE BRITON; rather than thofe who, through mistaken principles, have loft the natural feelings of humanity, and can hear of burning and defolation without regret, and without properly confidering the confequences of fuch unpolitical barbarity.'

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Art. 31. Letters of Papinian; in which the Conduct, prefent State and Profpects of the American Congress are examined

8vo.

Is 6d. New York printed: London reprinted, for Wilkie,

1779.

According to the account of this writer, the Conduct' of the Congrefs has been altogether Machiavelian, tyrannical, and wickedtheir Prefent State' is defperate-and their Profpects' prefent them only with scenes of wretchednefs and irretrievable ruin. He calculates the lofs already futtained by the Americans, including their public debt to France, at above 80 millions fterling; and concludes with warmly and pathetically exhorting the people to abandon the miferable and hopeless caufe in which they have been fo unhappily engaged; to return to the protection of Great Britain, and thereby procure to themselves the restoration of peace, freedom, and fecurity:' bleffings which (he is very certain) they can never hope to enjoy, while they remain under the deftructive power and mifgovernment of their prefent defpots. Such are the ideas of a very plaufible writer; but we must make allowances for the zeal and prejudices of party. And we muft remember, too, that misreprefentation is fometimes deemed good policy: though HONESTY is faid to be the BEST.

6

MEDICAL.

MEDICA L.

Art. 32. Animadverfiones de Natura Hydropis, ejufque Curatione.. Auctore Francifco Milman, M. D. Coll. Reg. Med. Lond. & Reg. Societ. Lond. Socio. 8vo. 3s. fewed. Dodfley. 1779. The principal view of this Writer appears to be, the answering a query propofed by Sir George Baker, in the fecond volume of the Medical Tranfactions, whether more cures of the dropfy might not be effected, if a greater indulgence, in refpect to drink, were allowed to the patients? Dr. Milman was first led to incline towards the af-. firmative of this question, by the opportunity he had, while abroad, of obferving the fuccefs which attended the ufe of Bacher's tonic pills in France, and the practice of Dr. Collin at Vienna, in both which no restriction in diluent drinks was enjoined. He likewife obferved, that the directions given by Hippocrates, in the cure of this difeafe, correfponded in general with this idea; and he employs a confiderable part of his work in commenting on what the venerable father of phyfic has faid on this fubject, and endeavouring to reconcile fome apparent contradictions in his doctrine. Finally, our Author refers to his own practice, in the Middlefex Hofpital, for additional confirmation of the utility of diluting liquors in dropical cafes, which he allows, with the Hippocratic intention of preparing the body for the operation of medicines; and particularly of promoting the efficacy of diuretics, on which he chiefly depends for the cure of the dropfy. The general method of treatment he lays down, is, to begin with fome fmart hydragogue purgatives, and then to employ diuretics, fuch as the faline mixture, fquills, and decoction of feneka root, together with the following drink; in a quart of barley water, half an ounce of Creme of Tartar is diffolved, and a little fugar and proof fpirit is added. Of this the patient is permitted to drink at pleasure. By this method, a copious difcharge of urine was usually procured in a fhort time; and where the cafe was tolerably favourable, a cure was generally effected. The hiftories of fome cafes, treated in this manner, are fubjoined; and the appearances (on diffection) of those which terminated fatally, are added. On the whole, we cannot but think, that the learned author has done a great deal towards establishing his point, and has fuggefted a confiderable improvement in the treatment of a very obftinate and dangerous diforder.

An Appendix to the work contains an account of the manner of preparing and compofing Bacher's pills. The principal remedy is an extract of black hellebore, prepared in a more troublesome and elaborate manner than is probably neceffary. It is formed into pills by the addition of Myrrh, and powder of Carduus Benedi&us.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 33. Helanyía, five Tragadiarum Græcarum Delectus: Cum Adnotatione Johannis Burton. Editio altera, cui Observationes, Indicemque Græcum longe au&tiorem et emendatiorem, adjecit Thomas Burgess, A. B. e C. C. C. 8vo. 2 Vols. 10s. 6d. Oxford, at the Clarendon Prefs.

The established reputation and known character of Dr. Burton's Pentalogia make any comment that can now be paffed upon it unne

ceffary.

ceffary. Nothing can bear greater teftimony to its merit than the attention which has been bestowed upon the prefent edition. Mr. Burgess feems to have fpared no pains in rendering it, in every refpe, as complete as poffible. The erudition, fidelity, and diligence which are confpicuous in his Obfervationes, entitle him to a confiderable fhare of praife. Though he expreffes himself, on every occafion, with diffidence and modefty, yet, when he thinks it neces fary to combat the opinions of others, he delivers his fentiments with that manly kind of confidence, which is, at once, both liberal and becoming.

To accommodate the purchasers of the first edition, that part of the work which more properly belongs to Mr. B. namely, the Obfervationes, &c. may be had feparately.

Art. 34. A Marine Propofal for the Advancement of private Intereft upon the bonorary Bafis of public Utility; or, A Plan for the Equipment and Employment of a powerful Fleet of private Ships of War, on a more patrio:ic, extenfive, fecure, and profitable Scale, than ever hitherto attempted: in the Benefit of which, every opulent Individual is invited to participate. 8vo. Millan. 1779

15.

To change the Spirit of adventure, which fo ftrongly characterifes the prefent age, from a private vice to a public benefit, is a good thought; but whether the application of it to the scheme here propofed, be practicable or not, TIME, which reveals most things, will perhaps fhew.

Our Projector's general idea, is to raife, by fubfcription, among the great and the opulent, an affociated fleet, confiting of fifty privateers, to cruife in concert, in ten divifions, of five thips each, in various parts of Europe and America. He fettles the difpofition, or ftations, of the feveral divifions of this fleet, in fuch a manner, that he pronounces it hardly poffible for the trade of our enemies to escape, as fuch of their fhips as miffed one divifion, would, almost at a certainty, be intercepted by fome or other of them.'

We have not room for the particulars of this plan, nor for the Author's reafoning on any of them. We hall, therefore, only add, that fomething of the kind here projected, night poffibly be accomplished, were a few active people, of confequence and influence, earneitly to fet about carrying the propofal into execution. We may fee, as this Writer jully obferves, a ftriking inftance of the efficacy of well-appointed fmall fquadrons, in the fuccefs of that commanded by our inveterate enemy Paul Jones' and he adds, the capture and lofs of at least half the privateers that have hitherto been fitted out, and thereby of fome thousands of our ableft feamen, is a fatal demonftration of the grofs error of the ordinary fyftem of privateering, that is, by fingle fhips, without any restriction in point of force." Art. 35. Memoirs of the Life and Death of the Right Honourable the Lord Deputy Wandesforde. Collected from authentic Records and MSS. By his great great Grandfon Thomas Comber, LL. D. Rector of Buckworth and Morborne, Huntingdonshire, and Chaplain to the Countess Dowager of Balcarras. Vol. II. 12mo, 2s. 6d. Cambridge printed. London, fold by Becket, &c. 1778, This book is to be confidered as the fecond volume of a work, the fort of which was published in 1777. The title of that volume is, • A Book

A Book of Inftructions, written by Sir Chriftopher Wandesforde, &c. to his Son, &c.' For fome account of which, we refer our readers to the Monthly Catalogue of our Review for June (in the year above mentioned), p. 483. Dr. Comber has here added to the Book of Inftructions, feveral particulars concerning the life of the Author, which are chiefly compiled from memorandums, written by Mrs. Thornton, his daughter, a woman of excellent understanding, and exemplary piety. We apprehend, we cannot give a better view of the nature of the performance, than by extracting the following paffage from the dedication of the work to the Marquis of Caermarthen.

In thefe memoirs, your Lordship and the public have the faithful portrait of a great man, a great statesman, and (which is far the greatest and noblest character) a great chriftian. Your Lordship fees him delineated through all the ftages of life and fortune.

You fee him from a private fchool repairing to the university, early leaving that feminary of learning, not to fink among dogs and horfes, nor the scarce lefs brutal pack of drunkards and electioneers, but commencing country gentleman, improver of his lands and of his mind, commencing patriot and orator in the fcene, which you, my Lord, adorn, the Houfe of Commons; becoming patriot in oppofition to a moft flagitious favourite, and obtaining by dint of natural cloquence the public bleffings of the Petition of Right; you fee him, my Lord, becoming a courtier at a memorable period, when to have continued in opposition, must have been little better than to have commenced rebel.

Then your Lordship will furvey him discharging the part of a minifter, fucceffively the offices of Mafter of the Rolls, of Lord Juftice, and finally, of Lord Deputy in Ireland, and going thence happily to heaven; not like Lord Strafford, from a scaffold, but from his bed, whofe pillows are stuffed with refolution and patience, the down of content, and the bleffings and congratulations of all who wifhed the profperity of their country, and apparently like a faint afflicted with the foretaste of his Britain's fufferings, from the unnatural union of popery and puritanism. In fhort, my good Lord, as defervedly happy, as any true Englishman in those critically fad times could be!'

The union of puritanism and papery does indeed feem very unnatural; it is probable, the Author, lately deceased, would have found himself reduced to a perplexing dilemma, if he had been required to prove his affertion concerning it; though it is poffible, that parties, in very different fentiments, may fairly and honourably concur in promoting a particular purpose: But on this fubject we shall not contend.

The Lord Deputy Wandesforde appears to have been a man of piety and integrity; and properly recommended as an example, worthy of regard. One inftance of his probity deferves particular notice: He was engaged in the management of a chancery fuit, for fome near relations, in which an eftate of above 2000l. per annum, was depending from the account here given, there could be no doubt of his gaining the caufe before any impartial judges. On the day of trial, he was told by an intimate friend," I know certainly, that a coach with a bribe of Locol. is gone this very morning

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