nada by the late Quebec act; and the conduct of the king's officers, as well as of the Romish bishop and clergy, the nobleffe, &c. in that province, before its invasion by General Montgomery: with obfervations on the illegality of fome of Gov. Carlton's proceeding toere: they also contain plans for amending the conftitution of Quebec, and "a propofal for a reconciliation with the revolted provinces of North America, without exempting them from the authority of the British parliament: but this, however well intended, feems to have but little chance of being ever adopted: the future condition of North America must apparently be decided, not by the reafons of fpeculative writers, but by the ultima ratio regum.

Art. 29. Curfory Remarks on Dr. Price's Obfervations on the Nature of civil Liberty. 8vo. 6d. Nicoll.

Thefe Curfory Remarks are too fuperficial and trite for our par ticular notice excepting only one or two of them, which are particularly addressed to ourselves.

The author of the Rights of Great-Britain afferted, &c. charged the colonists with having at the battle of Lexington torn out the eyes of feveral British foldiers: this inhuman operation he termed googing and represented the name and practice as being peculiar to the people of America.-In confidering this charge we found fufficient reafon to doubt the truth of it, and to maintain that both the name and practice were unknown to thofe by whom this barbarity was faid to have been perpetrated: in allufion to this circumstance, as we fuppofe, the Author of the Remarks before us, in his 20th page, hints to the Monthly Reviewers," that if they do not know what googing or gouging is, viz. the tearing a man's eyes out of their fockets with the thumb nails, they may confult the Virginia Laws, in one volume folio, printed by William Rind. by authority of the houfe of burgeffes, where they will find it to be made a capital crime, and to be punished with death-Upon reading this remark, we immediately turned over a collection of Acts of Affembly, paffed in the colony of Virginia," and " printed by order of the lords commiffioners of trade and plantations, by John Basket," and found that it contained no law fimilar to that mentioned by the prefent writer: we were after vards promifed an opportunity of examining Mr. Rind's Collection of Virginia Laws, but have not yet been able to obtain one; and therefore we can decide nothing concerning the reality or occafion of the law in quetion.-If it does exist, we fuppofe it muft, like the Coventry act here, have been produced by Tome fingle inftance of cruelty, no more practifed alterwards than the flitting of nofes has been in England fince the attempt upon Sir John Coventry: be this however as it may, the colonists who fought the king's troops at Lexington were not Virginians, but New England farmers, living many hundred miles from Virginia; and as we have fil the ftronger reason to believe, ignorant both of the name and practice of what has been thus unwarrantably imputed to them. In the fame page the Wri er adds fomething about our "leaving out the exordium of Lord Mansfield's ipeech :" but the paragraph is fo ungrammatically conftructed, that we cannot even conjecture the Writers meaning.

Art

Art. 30. Additions to Common Senfe, addreffed to the Inhabitants of America. 8vo. Almon. 1 s.

A compilation, from the American newspapers, of effays in fupport of the arguments and conclufions of the celebrated pamphlet, entitled Common Sense.

EAST INDIA COMPANY'S AFFAIRS. Art. 31. An Efay on the Rights of the Eaft India Company to the Perpetuity of their Trade. Poffeffions, and Revenues in India; and to the Appointment of their Officers and Servants, without the Interference of Government. In which the Dangers to be apprehended, from the Diffenfions in their Council at Bengal are confidered;" and a fhort Plan propofed for a Divifion of the Profits that may arife from their Trade and Revenues. By the Author of an Effay on the Eaft India Trade, and its Importance to this Kingdom. Svo. Is. T. Payne. 1776.

The importance of the Eaft India trade to this kingdom, with a comparative view of the Dutch, French, and English East India companies, and the privileges and fupport that have been granted to each by its refpective ftate, have been confidered in a former Effay; in which also the right of the company to their poffeffions in India has been briefly ftated. But as their affairs are foon likely to come under the confideration of parliament, and there feems to be a general apprehenfion of fome intended encroachments on their rights and privileges, it becomes neceffary to have them more carefully examined into. The following Effay is intended for this purpose, which, it is hoped, may induce other perfons of greater abilities to affert and support thofe rights, to which the company are conftitutionally entitled, and for which they have paid a valuable confideration to the public.'

The above is the Author's preface; and as it fufficiently intimates his general defign, we fhall only add, that he has executed that defign with fuch perfpicuity and precifion, as cannot fail of giving fatisfaction to thofe who wish to obtain a competent idea of the nature of the company's charter-rights, and the real importance of the COMPANY to the NATION. The Author's plan for fecuring to the company the perpetuity of their rights, and the uninterrupted protection of government, by a fettled divifion of their profits, between the Proprietors and the Public, appears, as far as we can judge, to be equally politic, prudent, and equitable.

POLITICAL.

Art. 32. Obfervations on fome of the probable Effects of Mr. Gilbert's Bill; to which are added Remarks deduced from Dr. Price's Account of the National Debt. By the Rev. Mr. Brand, M. A. Evo. zs. Robfon & Co.

Since the Public became acquainted with the defign of Mr. Gilbert's Poor-bill, much has been faid, and written, concerning our poorlaws; and especially concerning houses of industry, as they are termed. Mr. Brand appears to have beftowed much attention on this fubject, and to have taken pains in ftating the refult of his laudable inquiries concerning it. He is a friend to the fcheme of incorporated diftrias. He offers fome very material obfervations on the projected fyftem

Dd 4

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of regulation; he confiders it in a variety of lights; enters deeply into thofe political diiquifitions, to which the different plans for the maintenance of the poor will naturally lead the curious enquirer; and, at length, ftrikes out, with Dr. Price, into the far extended regions of calculation; whither few readers, we apprehend, will chuse to follow. Perhaps a more clear, more connected, and more familiar difcuffion of the object, and tendency of Mr. Gilbert's plan, would have been more generally attended to; but the Author's peculiar purpose was, to offer fuch arguments and investigations of the fubject, as feem to have escaped other writers;-and for which, indeed, not many writers are fo well qualified.

HERALDRY.

Art. 33. The Complete English Peerage; or, a Genealogical and Hiftorical Account of the Peers and Peerees of this Realm, to the Year 1775 inclufive. Containing a particular and impartial Relation of the most memorable Tranfactions, as well of the Dead as the Living, of thofe who have diftinguished themfelves either by their noble or ignoble Deeds; without exaggerating their Virtue, or palliating their Infamy. By the Rev. Frederic Barlow, M. A. and Author of the Complete English Dictionary. 8vo. 2 Vols. 12 s. Bladon,

Mr. Barlow, apprehending that thofe who have trod in this walk before him, instead of being faithful historians, have been little more than mere panegyrifts,' has chofen a different path. His predeceffors, he fays, by giving, like flattering painters, beauty to their objects which they never poffeffed, have made a work of this kind both new and neceffary.' As unbiaffed Authors, fays he, we [he does not tell us who they are that have been concerned with him in this work] fhall not be afraid to pull afide the ermine, to fhew the corruption which lies hidden behind; and our reverence for truth will embolden us to difclofe the weakness of the head, even when encircled by the diadem.'

In pursuance of this noble and modeft refolution, the reader will, perhaps, be led to expect a kind of Heraldical Atalantis; and he will not be wholly difappointed; for, in fome of the memoirs, we find all the popular anecdotes of amorous intrigues, and idle extravagancies for which fome of the Great Men who are the fubjects of thofe memoirs, have been remarkable. Thus, for inftance, the account of the Duke of Cumberland is eked out with the tales of his Royal Highness's gallantries, particularly with feveral ladies; and even the foolish Letters, which paffed in the courfe of his celebrated correfpondence with Lady G. and which every body has read, and laughed at, are inferted.-How far fuch materials will do credit to the compofitions of Meff, Barlow and Co. no reader, endowed with common fenfe, will hefitate to pronounce.

He was particularly defirous of adding fomething to what has been faid on the advantages of a better and more regular education for the poor; and, efpecially, of inquiring how far fuch incorporaas are favourable or adverfe to the spirit of the conftitution.” ↑ Vid. previous advertisement,

Of

Of the decency obferved by these Gentlemen, in drawing afide the ermine,' we have an inftance in the following illiberal and needless reflection on the prefent D. of D. We avoid printing his Grace's title at length, that we may not be thought to poffefs as little delicacy as our Authors. About two years ago he returned from his travels. If common fame may be credited, he does not promise to add much to the glory of his ancestors, either by his virtues or his talents.' See vol. I. p. 133. This requires no comment, though it certainly deferves a cudgel,

In like manner, thefe difclofers' of other people's weakness' go ftrangely out of their way, to draw afide the ermine of Lady S. B. in their account of the Duke of Richmond.-Our Readers fhall have the passage entire: it is a curious fample of the Writer's judgment: We are forry that our impartiality compels us here to mention the errors of a female, nearly related to him [the D. of R] Lady S. B.'s conduct has been fo publicly canvaffed, that the Writer of this work muft plead his ignorance and difqualification for offering fuch a production to the Public, were he to pass it over in filence. Her conjugal infidelity has been notorious, and her elopement with Lord W. G. made it for fome time the fubject of general converfation: but far be it from the Author of this Peerage to fuppofe the flightest fhade is thereby cast upon the character of her relations, and particularly his Grace, who has conftantly condemned her conduct, and cenfured her behaviour in the strongest terms.'-What pity that these impartial and judicious Hiftorians, could not discover some intriguing female relation-coufin or coufin-german of every other noble family, to retail in the various articles of this Peerage. Such pertinent adjuncts must have enriched their memoirs abundantly, and would, no doubt, be confidered, by every difcerning Reader, as the ftrongeft proof of the Author's qualification for offering Such a production to the Public.'

We must obferve, however, in juftice to this work, that in most of their articles, the Authors have not been fo very bufy in drawing afide the ermine, and that their accounts are more confistent with decency, and the dignity of their fubject, than might be expected after fuch Specimens.As to the engravings, we have obferved nothing amifs in them.-The tranflations of the mottoes will, no doubt, be peculiarly acceptable to the unlearned Reader: and the moderate price of the work will be confidered as a circumftance much in its favour, by the generality of purchasers.

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 34. Travels through the Middle Settlements in North America, in the Years 1759 and 1760. With Obfervations upon the State of the Colonies. By the Rev. Andrew Burnaby, A. M. Vicar of Greenwich. 4to. 3 s. 6d. Payne.

As this Article has been for fome time overlooked, our remarks upon it will be few in number. Mr. Burnaby tells us, that the obfervations which compofe his prefent performance, · were written upon the several spots to which they refer. This may be true of fome, but it cannot be true of all of them. On the contrary, we find many of his descriptions to be fuited, not to the fituation of

things in the years in which his travels were performed, but to thofe of earlier periods; and of thefe defcriptions a confiderable part evidently appears to have been borrowed from older compilations, the errors of which are not unfrequently repeated by Mr. Burnaby : thus, for an example, in his 85th page we are given to understand that there is a mint in Bofton to coin money.' An obfervation which the Author could not have made or written on the spot,' becaule for near an hundred years no mint has exifted in any part of British America, though it is true that in the year 1652 the colony of Maffachusetts Bay began, and for feveral years afterwards continued to coin filver fhillings: a circumftance which feveral older writers have noticed, and thereby misled Mr. Burnaby.

Towards the clofe of this performance the Writer tells us, that America is formed for happiness, but not for empire' that the Colonies are internally weak' that half a dozen frigates would with eafe ravage and lay wafte the whole country from end to end, without a poflibility of their being able to prevent it.' Whether thefe opinions are juft or erroneous, the prefent operations against the Colonies will, eventually, beft determine.

Art. 35. A Philofophical and Political Hiftory of the Settlements and Trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies. Tranflated from the French of the Abbé Raynal, by J. Juftamond, A. M. 5 Vols. 8vo. 11. 5s. Cadell. 1776.

This valuable work having already come under our notice in the original, and being by this time generally known and admired thro Europe, it would now be fuperfluous to enter into a particular difcuffion of its merits. It may fuffice, to inform fuch of our Readers as are still unacquainted with the work, that the manner in which it is executed is as matterly, as the materials of which it is compofed are important, and the periods and countries of which it treats are interefting; and that there are few works in which the different excellencies of hiftorical narrative and philofophical difquifition are fo happily united. Strength of thought, vivacity of diction, and liberality of fentiment, are its leading characteristics, and render it one of the most pleasing hiftorical productions of the prefent age.

Concerning the tranflation, we have the fatisfaction to affure our Readers that it appears to us to be executed with judgment and fidelity, and to preferve the fpirit as well as meaning of the original. We do not fcruple to pronounce the work, in its English dress, correct, elegant, and nervous. The first edition of this tranflation was fold off in a few weeks; and a fecond, revised and corrected, is now published, with good maps, and a copious index.

We have only to express our regret that the Abbé Raynal has followed the example of his countrymen, in not giving his authorities for the principal facts which he relates: an omiffion, which, however fashionable, we cannot but think an essential defect in any historical work.

Art. 36. The Guide to domeftic Happiness. In a Series of Letters. 8vo. is. Buckland. 1776.

Three of thefe Letters, we are given to understand, by the preface, were formerly publifhed (we fuppofe, in fome periodical pa

per)