the title-page to the fubject at large, is in the pamphlet wholly re-ferred to the data and evidences produced on the favourable fide of the question, against the difcouraging conclufions of Dr. Price. The performance appears indeed to be nothing more than a flimfy attempt to gain time on a question that calls for clofe confideration and precision in every one who undertakes to difcufs it. No writer ever made a more convenient ufe of the conjunction F, or made a better use of his opportunities to bewilder his readers among doubts and fuggeftions, to distract their attention. Before the fubject is difmiffed, it may be worth while to try, whether the particle if may not be converted to fome ufe on the agreeable fide of the question of population. IF then, as Dr. Price and his coadjutor admit, that in the counties of York, Lancaster, Chester, Cumberland, fuch places as Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, the vicinity of London, &c. the increased population has been the aftonishment of every traveller; how does it appear, that the depopulation of the rest of the kingdom, has been fo doubly aftonishing, as to absorb all this acknowledged increase, fo as to determine the ag'gregate amount of population on the unfavourable fide? Were this true, vaft diftricts must fomewhere evidently lie uncultivated and deferted; with their farm-houses and villages, in the fituation described by the fanciful Goldfmith, in ruins, over-run with brambles and grafs! But we may fafely afk, where fuch fcenes of defolation are to be found? for though to juftify both the politician and the poet, they ought to be fufficiently vifible; yet-be it remembered, they are not as yet pointed out. The vast number of chapels of eafe erected in the north of England, this Author begs leave to remark, ought to have been concealed; as they have occafioned a confufion in the parish registers, by which births have been doubly entered. But if they have been four, or even ten times doubled, what becomes of the chapels? Were they needlessly erected? A previous acknowledgment fays no; for the increafed population there has been the astonishment of every traveller! Nor is it afferted that they are now converted into barns and ftables. If they were, even that might prove fomething; but it is time to leave this uncertain Writer to the confideration of Meffrs. Wales and Howlett, if they deem him worth attention. N. Art. 19. A Speech which was fpoken in the Houfe of Affembly at St. Christopher, on a Motion made, November 6th 1781, for prefenting an Addrefs to his Majefty relative to the Proceedings of Admiral Rodney and General Vaughan at St. Euftatius; and the prefent dangerous Situation of the Weft India Inlands. 8vo. I s. Debrett. 1782. A fpirited remonstrance against the indifcriminate confifcation of private property at St. Euftatius; alleging that the plea for fuch confifcation, on account of its having been a ftorehouse for the supply of our enemies, came with a very ill grace, when the ftores fold there by the captors, were conveyed, under protection against our cruizers, directly into the ports of our enemies. If Admiral R. be not fairly exculpated from the charges exprefsly brought against him by this P. 18, 19. 27. + P. 27. Weft Weft Indian legiflator, moft readers of this Speech may conclude that he deferves the treatment which he here receives. N. Art. 20. Confiderations on the prefent State of the Wool Trade, the Laws made concerning that Article, and how far the fame are confiftent with true Policy, and the real Intereft of the State. By a Gentleman refident on his Eftate in Lincolnshire. 8vo. I S.. Elmfley. 1781. The prefent Writer afcribes the low price of wool to the increase of that article, owing to the great number of inclofures that have taken place all over the kingdom; and from the diminution in the confumption owing to the alterations of fashion, which has introduced linen and cotton among thofe ranks who formerly wore woollen ftuffs. From a review of the ftatute-book, he finds that the exportation of wool was never prohibited till the time of the Restoration; and yet that the woollen manufacture had established itfelf under the allowance of exportation. He therefore contends for the liberty of fending wool to a foreign market; becaufe whenever the manufacturer is able to give an adequate price for his material, the prohibition of exportation becomes nugatory. N. Art. 21. An Addrefs to the independent Members of both Houfes of Parliament. Svo. I s. Faulder. 1782. The particular description of independent members to whom our Author addreffes himself, is given in the following words,-those who, however they may difapprove of Minifters, or their meafures, fill the dread of a change, introducing anarchy and confusion into the fate, deters them from declaring their diflike to thofe in power.' The Addreffer takes a candid view of the prefent very critical fitu-, ation of our public affairs, and without declaring himself in favour of Opposition, feems to think not only that a change of Administration is neceffary, but that the change cannot be for the worse.' He, therefore, conjures the moderate, or rather cautious Lords and Gentlemen, whom he addreffes, to take an active part,' to declare their real fentiments, to chufe their fide, to exert, ere it is too late, the hidden though important powers they poffefs, and apply them to the great purpoles of national prefervation.' This Writer is temperate, and appears to be intelligent. Art. 22. Facts and their Confequences, fubmitted to the Confideration of the Public at large; but more particularly to that of the Finance Minifter, and of thofe who are, or mean to become, Creditors of the State. By John Earl of Stair. 8vo. I S. Stockdale, 1782. In our Review, Vol. LIV. No. for April 1766, we commended to the notice of our Readers, a former inftance of the laudable attention paid by this patriotic nobleman, to the political welfare of his country. In his prefent inveftigation of our national circunftances, particularly with regard to the article of finance, his Lordship confines himself to the intereft and annual burdens brought on, and to' be brought on the State, fince the commencement of the detefted American war.'-As to the principal, what, or how enormous that State of the National Debt, National Income, and National Expenditure.' may may be, his Lordship pronounces it lofs of time to calculate, fince, he obferves, no man is wild enough to expect ever to fee a thilling of it paid.' The noble Author's ftatement, on this ground, of our public account, and his deductions from it, are fufficient to ftrike with terror the boldest advocate for the prefent measures of government. In fhort, from the reprefentation here given, the fituation of those who are, as he expresses it, creditors to the State,' feems defperate indeed! His conclufion is, that nothing remains in our power, but among evils, to chufe the leafl. Prelled in front by foreign enemies, to whom we have nothing of nearly equal force to oppofe, goaded. behind by domestic indigence, and the well-grounded apprehenfions of public bankruptcy, and its fure confequences, anarchy and civil commotion, no peace, fhort of abfolute ruin, can be pronounced a bad one: all but this, is either phrer zy, folly, or flattery.' AFFAIRS OF IRELAND. 1781. The Author of this masterly pamphlet inveftigates the above mentioned three great national questions [which have been, for fome time paft, eagerly agitated in Ireland, both in Parliament and in print], and determines them, in a manner very fuitable to the meafures of Government, and perfectly agreeable to its friends; but which may fail of exactly meeting the withes of the general body of the people, and the views of gentlemen in oppofition on the other fide of the water. The Writer (faid to be Counsellor Sheridan) is undoubtedly to be confidered as a court-writer; but whatever may be his attachments, or his caufe, he is certainly a very able champion. He reafons clofely, controverts liberally, and writes corretily. The Reader who wishes to gain, or revive, a competent knowledge of the subjects difcuffed in thefe differtations, will find great fatisfaction in perusing them. He will fee what a wide difference there is between the cool obfervations of a well-informed and difpaffionate reafoner, and the inflammatory harangues of a hot headed declaimer.-His general conclufions are, that the Mutiny Bill hath not that dangerous tendency which fome have attributed to it; nor is the limitation of it fo highly requifite;-that the repeal or modification of Poyning's Law, would not be of any very effential benefit to Ireland; and, Laftly, that a Declaration of Right would tend more to create a jealoufy in England, than effectually to establish the independency of the Irish Parliament. EAST IN DIE S. N. Art. 24. A Short Hiftorical Narrative of the Rife and rapid Advancement of the Mahratta State, to the prefent Strength and Confequence it has acquired in the Eaft. Written originally in Perfian; and tranflated into English by an Officer in the East India Company's Service. 8vo. 2 s. 6 d. Cadell. 1782. This narrative of provincial intrigues and flaughter, obfcured by local terms, though a fhort gloffary is added, being fubordinate to the general history of the empire of Indoftan, will not be very inREV. Feb. 1782. telligible L " telligible to thofe who have not a previous knowledge of the latter. It was originally written, as we are informed in the Preface, by a Mahometan native of Indoslan; retained by Mr. Kerr, the tranflator, as a teacher of the Perfian language; and commences about two hundred years back, with the origin of the Mahratta State, which now takes fo active a part in the disturbance of India. N. Art. 25. Extract of an Original Letter from Calcutta, relative to the Administration of Jullice by Sir Elijah Impey. 8vo. is. 6d. Debrett. 1781. After ftating the manifeft defects in the conftitution of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal, and the inconfiftences in the prefent adminiftration of juftice there, the intelligent writer recommends trial by juries, in civil as well as in criminal cafes; to avoid the mockery of appeals to England, which are almoft impracticable, against the decifions of the Judges. As the Supreme Court was infituted profeffedly by way of experiment, and as its effects have now been fully experienced; data cannot be wanting, if the powers at home are equal to the regulation of powers at fuch a distance, to harmonize a plan of jurifprudence to provincial circumftances, fo as to protect the many against the few, inftead of strengthening the hands of oppreffion. POETICAL. N. Poem. Art. 26. Honoria: or the Day of All Souls *, a To the tenderness and fenfibility of Mr. Jerningham's Mufe we have had frequent opportunities of bearing teftimony. She will lofe no credit by the pieces which form this collection: as a fhort fpecimen of it, take the following, intitled Senfibility. Celestial fpring! to Nature's favourites given, Fed by the dews that bathe the flow'rs of heaven: The filent drop that calms our own diftrefs; The gush of rapture at a friend's fuccefs; Thine the foft fhow'rs down Beauty's breaft that fleal, When Genius whifpers to the liftening foul; C.t.t. Art. 27. Ode to the Genius of the Lakes in the North of Eng28. Richardfon and Urquhart. land. 4to. This Ode, though by no means a finished performance, contains fcme pleafing images, and fome harmonious lines; witness the following: The fcene of this poem is fuppofed to be in the great church of St. Ambrofe at Milan, the 2d of November, on which day the most folemn office is performed for the repofe of the dead. See See, from the hills toft onward to the plains, Streams white with foam down rocky channels leap, But there, at once, they all in quiet fleep. So, many a train of busy cares, A foft oblivion find; With gentleft lapfe life's mingled waters glide, And fair reflected fkies ftill gild the placid tide., Towards the conclufion the Author pays a compliment to his native country (for fuch we prefume it is) as being the birth-place of many very diftinguished men; a catalogue of whom is to be met with in a note at the end of the poem. Art. 28. The Cheltenham Guide; or, Memoirs of the B-n-r-d Family continued. In a Series of poetical Epistles. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Harrifon. 1781. J Thefe Memoirs are pretended to be written by the brother of our humourous friend Simkin B-n-r-d; but Simkin, we prefume, will difclaim him. In the opinion of our learned affociate MARTINUS, who is an excellent genealogist, the Cheltenham Guide is not even a diftant relation. Art. 29. Condolence: An Elegiac Epiftle from Lieut. General A. Poem., C.t.t. Tranflated from the Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter, and faithfully adapted to the Times. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Kirby. 1781. Too contemptible for criticism! Art. 31. Elegy on the Death of Lord Richard Cavendish. 4to. I s. Dodiley. 1781. A juft, and not inelegant, compliment to the memory of a very accomplished and respected nobleman. DRAMATIC. Art. 32. The Marriage Act: A Farce. In Two Acts. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. 8vo. Is. Kearley. 1781. Whoever will take the trouble of turning to the Spectator, No. 511, will fee how much more agreeably the fubject is there treated in an effay, than it is here handled in a clumfy bailad farce. C. Art. 33. The Divorce, a Farce, as it was performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. 8vo. 1 s. Kearsley. 1781. Though this farce turns on a moft unnatural idea, that of a premeditated innocent divorce between a fond and fashionable couple, with an intention to surprise the world by a fecond marriage, yet. there is much address fhewn in the conduct and characters of the |