De l'avenir, cher KEITH, jugeons par le paffé, Par un même deftin il ne penfera plus; Non, rien n'eft plus certain, foyons-en convaincus, Elle eft en tout femblable à la flamme élancée. TRANSLATED. Judge, my dear Keith, the future by the paft, The nineteenth Epiftle contains an apology for Kings, and is written with much spirit and ease: as is alfo the twentieth and laft, which is an address from the Poet to his Mufe. To these are added, an Effay on the Art of War: but, as we have already extended this article to a confiderable length, we muft here beg leave to difmifs the work, with only a word or two more concerning the real and the supposed Author. As to this point alfo, we conceive no great fagacity is required to trace frequently the hand of Mr. Voltaire, both in the ftile and fentiment. We are apt to conclude, therefore, that this extraordinary Genius, having fome imperfect copies of the royal Author's poems in his poffeffion, has fi nished them in his own tafte; and that it is to him the world is indebted for the prefent publication. K-n-k MONTHLY MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For JUNE, POLITICA L. 1760. Art. 1. Obfervations on the State of Bankrupts, under the prefent Laws. In a Letter to a Member of Parliament. 8vo. Is. Cooper. TH HIS Obfervator propofes, that Bankrupts be fo difcharged 'from their debts, as to be reinflated again useful Members to themfelves and Society.-This,' fays he, may be done by one very easy and effectual way, viz. by a fhort Act, declaring "That "all Bankrupts, who have juftly conformed to their feveral Statutes, "before the day of making fuch A&t be, within months, "entitled to their Certificates; and that all perfons who have already proved their respective debts under the faid Commiffions, be en"titled to a proportionable fhare of the feveral Dividends to be "thereafter made, notwithstanding any former waving of the fame "by him, or otherwife." Our Author's propofal extends not only to difcharging their per fons, but also their future effects: For,' fays he, as they have nothing of their own, and must fet out again on Credit only, what Relation or Friend, or other man whatever, would truft them with money and effects, if fuch given or lent property was liable to be feized for former debts?' This Propofition, indeed, carries with it the appearance of justice and humanity, as there certainly are many rigid, hard-hearted, indifcriminating Creditors, who perfecute Bankrupts to utter ruin, whofe only crime, perhaps, is to have been unfuccefsful: but, on the other hand, there are many fraudulent Banktupts, who might, by collufion with fome friend, break purposely, perhaps to the ruin of fome honeft and worthy Creditor, under the affurance of being fet up again in better circumftances, when they know that their future effects will not be liable. As laws, therefore, cannot be adapted to every particular, and as some must remain liable to fuffer by fraud or oppreffion, it is more reasonable, that the chance fhould fall on the Bankrupt, who has made himself fubject to the demands of his Creditor, than on the Creditor, who has a right to the property he trufted him with. Befides, by the Laws now in being, if a Bankrupt pays 15 s. in the pound, his future effects are discharged. It is certain, however, that the Laws relating to Bankruptcy ftill require farther regulations, both for the benefit of the Bankrupt and of the Creditor. R-d Art. 2. A State of the Trade carried on with the French, on the Island of Hifpaniola, by the Merchants of North-America, under Colour of Flags of Truce. Occafioned by fome Captures of the faid Flags, lately made by his Majesty's Ships, under the Command of Admiral Cotes. By a Merchant of London. 8vo. 6d. Owen. This Merchant undertakes to fhew, That, on a moderate computation, not fo little as 400000 1. fterling's worth of commodities of British manufacture, or the produce of our colonies, have, during this war, been fent to the French iflands from North-America ; which must bring back into this kingdom, the enormous profit of 3,200,000l. In fhort,' he adds, we may with truth affirm, that Hifpaniola, thus circumftanced, is equally valuable to the British nation, in the hands of the French, with any of our own islands, and much more fo than Guadaloupe. The trade,' he continues, has been carried on with at least the implied consent and approbation of the Government: for it cannot be fuppofed, that his Majefty's Governors in North-America, who granted Flags of Truce to private Merchants, to carry French Prifoners to Hifpaniola, and bring back others in return, at their own expence, were ignorant that in fo doing they had a view to their own private advantage. Nor could they be ignorant how that advantage arofe; when the Flags returned to the Ports from whence they first proceeded, and there made regular Entries, at the feveral custom-houses, of the refpective cargoes of foreign fugars with which they were loaded. Thefe circumitances,' he concludes, prove to demonftration, that the perfons who have been concerned in that trade, have not thought it illegal, or any ways contrary to the interest of Government: but, on the other hand, they looked on thefe Flags as licences to carry on fuch a trade with the enemy; a trade that is fo apparently the intereft of thefe kingdoms to encourage by all poffible means.' Upon the whole, we are of opinion, that though it must be of great and immediate benefit to thefe kingdoms, to buy the French commodities at a low rate, yet it may be a question, whether we may not ultimately be lofers, by fupplying our enemies with provifions, cloathing, and other neceffaries of life, from North-America: and this Merchant feems rather to affert the contrary, than prove it. R-d Art. 3. Short Animadverfions on the Difference now fet up between Gin and Rum, and our Mother Country and Colonies. 4to. 4d. Henderfon. As this fubje& has of late been fo publicly canvaffed, and as we do not find any thing very new in the pamphlet before us, it will be fufficient to inform our Readers, that the Author is an Advocate for the Colonies, and confequently an enemy to the Distillers. In this time of triumph and exultation,' fays he, it may be hazardous to ⚫ animadvert on their proceedings, or to offer any arguments to oppofe or interrupt the completion of their defigns.-And if the paffing their Bill is a money meafare, it is to be feared, that all facts and reafonings, however true, and clear, which can be urged to oppole it, will be deemed idle and nonfenfica!! One may perceive from this extract, that our Author's zeal is greater than his difcretion; otherwife, as he has thought proper to arraign the principles of a certain body, he would at leaft have been more guarded in his exprefhons. He might have known likewife, that thofe reflections cut keineft, which have the fmootheft edge. R-dArt. Art. 4. Confiderations occafioned by an Act of this prefent Seffion of Parliament, to prevent the exceffive Ufe of Spirituous Liquors, by laying an additional Duty thereon, and to encourage the Exportation of British made Spirits. 8vo. 1 s. DodЛley. Though this pamphlet is on the fame beaten fubject with the foregoing, yet the defign of it is new. The Author itates the inconve niences and uncertainty of fome of the provifions in the late Bill, and confiders the remedies heretofore applied in fimilar cafes.—If a method, he observes, could be hit upon to make the nominal duty yield an equal actual payment, it would not only remove uncertainty; but likewife all the difference between the Duty and Drawback, with all inconveniences upon the Exportation, would ceafe.-As to the inconveniences, he adds, likely to arife from the Drawbacks allowed upon exportation, they may be remove 1, without interfering with any other point, in a very fimple and efficacious manner, by following the example of an Act of the twelfth year of the late King, with regard to frauds committed in the exportation of Malt; of which he gives an abridgment. R-d Art. 5. A Scheme for the general good of the Nation, by a just and comfortable Provifion for the disbanded Soldiers, and their Families, after the Toils and Fatigues of the Wor; and for the effectual, Security of our Commerce and Poffeffions abroad, and the perpetual Terror of the common Enemy of our Peace. Submitted to the public' Verdict. By Stratioticus. 8vo. 6d. Hooper. This Writer propofes, that the regiments now in North-America, which are to be broke on a peace, fhall be difmiffed without returning home; and that they, as well as foldier, difbanded elsewhere, who are willing, fhall receive fuch afiftance and encouragement from the Government, as is neceffary to eftablifh them there, and to form a colony; in which, at the fame time that they apply theinfelves to agriculture, planting, and other arts of peace, they fhall be full fubject to military command, wear regimentals, and be ready at all times to take the field against an enemy. He does not, indeed, fix on the particular spot where he would have fuch a colony fettled; and, perhaps, if we retain all Canada at the peace, the eltablishment of a military colony, fuppofing the Author's fcheme practicable, will be thought unneceffary; unless on the back of our fouthern fettlements, where they will find few inducements to fettle at all, whatever quantity of land may be afigned to individuals. Nevertheless, the hints here offered, may not be without their ufe, in the provifion to be made for the disbanded foldiery, which will doubtlefs be one of the first objects of minifterial attention, at the conclufion of the war. R-d Art. 6. A Chronicle of the War between the Felicianites, the Gallianites, and their Allies; and the Downful of George the Son of the Lion. Together with the Book of his Lamentations. 8vo.. Is. Lewis, Robfon, &c. The vileft imitation of the oriental ftile which we remember to have ever seen. The Author has neither invention, language, nor understanding. Art. 7. A fecond Letter to a Right Honourable Patriot, on the glorious Victory obtained over the Breft Fleet, 1759. And an hiftorical Account of that at La Hogue, 1692, &c. &c. By Mr. Grove of Richmond. 8vo. Is. Burd. This is fuch another strange performance as the first Letter, mentioned in our last vol. p. 536. It is introduced with an outrageous invective against the Reviewers, for not having tafte enough to admire Mr. Grove's writings. POETICA L. Art. 8. QUEBEC: A poetical Essay, in Imitation of the Miltonic Stile: Being a regular Narrative of the Proceedings and capital Tranfactions performed by the British Forces under the Command of Vice-Admiral SAUNDERS, and Major-General WOLFE, in the glorious Expedition against Canada, in the Year 1759. The Performance of a Volunteer on board his Majefty's Ship Somerset, during the Paffage home from Quebec. The whole embellished with entertaining and explanatory Notes. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Whitridge. This great, and, all circumftances confidered, perhaps we may add, this unparalleled conqueft, is, without all doubt, a fubject that might very adequately employ a more confummate and accomplished Poet than our ingenious and worthy Volunteer. But as he appears unaffectedly fenfible of this, and acknowleges his obligations for fome lines to Milton, Addifon, and Thomson, in his fhort and modeft Preface, we think his candid Readers will dwell with pleasure on fuch more than pardonable parts of this poem, as muft delight every loyal Briton; while they make a confiderable allowance, from the Author's avocations, and certain difadvantages, for what inelegance and afperity they may find in others. And as this Gentleman is ingenuous enough to fuppofe, that the cenfure of juft and impartial criticifin may be even inftructive, we fhall take the liberty of noting, for his reconfideration, a few expreffions, as a fample of a more confiderable number, which will admit of improvement. O much-lov'd Wolfe, whofe fpacious foul contain'd-155Spacious is generally applied to a material and menfurable, very rarely indeed to an abftracted and fpiritual, fubject. Our Author meant ca pacious, ample, or fublime, perhaps. Upon the hoftile beach fearless thou fprangft-151. The laft word here, is even too harsh and uncouth for profe. Poffibly it seemed ftrong, nervous, and fomewhat defcriptive of the very action, to our Poet; but it fprings into afperity, and is inelegant. O for a while ye arduous Britons check It |