Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

ment in which they have no reprefentatives?

In anfwer to the firft queftion, It is admitted they are intitled to all the privileges of British fubjects.

In anfwer to the fecond, If the members of the Houfe of Commons are, as the objector surely means to fignify, the reprefentatives only of those by whom they are elected, it is not the privilege of all British fubjects, that they are not taxable but by their reprefentatives. This is the privilege of those only who are in a certain way qualified. It is not above one in twenty of the people of England, or above one in a hundred of the people of Scotland, who have a voice in the election of members of parliament. But if the members reprefent alfo thofe who are not their electors, and have no power, no influence whatever, in electing them, it will be impoffible to affign a good reafon why they may not be deBominated the representatives of all the fubjects in America, as well as in Britain.

This leads directly to the third quetion: If, as has been computed, there be at leaft between fix and seven milhons of people in G. Britain, who are taxed by a parliament in which they are not reprefented, it can be deemed neither unreafonable nor unconftitutional that there fhould be about two millions ia America in the fame fituation.

It would be uncandid not to admit, that there is fome difference in the cafes. The members of the Houfe of Commons in almost every tax they lay on their Brifubjects, tax themselves in proport. The cafe is different in regard to their fellow-fubjects in America. But this is an inequality that neceffarily refults from the difference of fituation, and , befides, more than counterbalanced by fome motives and difficulties that will effectually prevent the legiflature from going the fame lengths in taxing the American fubjects which it may fafely go a taxing Britons.

[ocr errors]

But it is notorious, that the former ve declared against every method that Las yet been devifed for removing this apital objection, the only one of confequence in the caufe. The fimpleft method would doubtlefs be, to allow them certain number of reprefentatives in the Houfe of Commons. Against this proefal they have always loudly and vehesectly exclaimed [xxxvi. 689.1.

Do

they favour, what has also been fuggefted in this controversy, that a particular and moderate rate fhould be fixed, according to which the taxes laid on them fhould uniformly bear a certain proportion to thofe imposed on Great Britain ? To this they have given no better reception than to the other [xxxviii. 146.. Yet this would effectually remove the grand difficulty, that the parliament, by loading the Americans, would ease themselves. In this cafe, on the contrary, no burden could be brought on them, but when a proportionably greater is laid on the Britifh subject. Have they then propofed any method themselves for removing this obftacle, this great ftumbling-block? Nothing that I know of, but a total immunity, or, what is equivalent, to be left to do as they pleafe. This, and only this, will content them.

The fum-total of all their proposals to their British fellow-fubjects, before they formally renounced their allegiance, was neither more nor less than this. "We will do your king the honour to acknowledge him for our king; we will never refufe to pay him that compliment, provided no more than compliment is understood by it. Judicial proceedings fhall be in his name, and his name (which will ferve as well as any other name) fhall ftand at the head of our proclamations. Nay, he shall nominate to certain offices amongst us, provided it be in our power to feed or starve the officers, or at leaft to permit them to act, or tie up their hands, as we happen to like or dislike their conduct. Though we are not fatisfied with the reasonablenefs of the thing, we fhall, for the prefent, fubmit to the restraints laid on our trade by the act of navigation, provided we have none of your military to guard the execution of that act; and provided further, that when any of our merchants are accufed of fmuggling, their caufe be tried by a jury of fmugglers; or if any of our people be charged with fedition and riot, they be tried by a jury of the mob; for this, we think, is in the true fpirit of trial by jury, which is, that a man be tried by his peers. We do not mean, however, that this privilege shall extend in the fame manner to your cuftom-houfe officers, and other dependents of the crown; who, if they fhould be fent hither, and be accufed of any. crime, fhall be tried by a jury too, not indeed of cuflomhouse-officers, but of E a

our

our liberty-men; that is, our rioters and contraband traders, with their patrons and abettors." And who can doubt that they are fit depofitaries of the lives and properties of revenue-officers and foldiers? "We will not be fo dif. respectful (however little we value it) as to decline participating in all the privileges of British fubjects, inheritance, fucceffion, offices, honours and digni ties amongst you, equally with the natives of Great Britain. Further, we will allow your nation the honour, not only of being at the principal charge in fupporting the internal government of our provinces, but also of protecting us at your own expence, defenfively and offenfively, against all our enemies, real or imaginary, by fea and land, whenever we fhall think proper to raite a clamour; and we will in return agree to give you"- How much?" Juft whatever we pleafe, and, if we pleafe, nothing at all."A moft extraordinary covenant, wherein all the obligations are on one fide, and everything is difcretionary on the other."

[ocr errors]

LONDON.

Religion, Morality, Controversy, &c. Sermons preached at Lincoln's inn, be tween the years 1765 and 1776 with a large difcourfe on Chrift's driving the mer chants out of the temple; in which the nature and end of that famous tranfaction is explained. By Richard Hurd, D. D. Lord Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry. 5 s. boards. Cadell. These fermons are not of the popular kind; they are more addreffed to the understanding than to the heart and the affections. Thofe who expect to have their tafte for novelty gratified, or to fee points of curious fpeculation difcuffed with critical accuracy and precifion, will be difappointed in the perufal of them: for the preacher has too juft an idea of the end of his office, and the decorum of his profeffional character, to make, from the pulpit, an oftentatious difplay of critical acutenefs, eloquence, or erudition. But thofe who are defirous of having their underftandings enlightened, and who, confidering religion as a reasonable service, as their brightcft ornament in profperity, and their firmeft fupport in adverfity, with to be confirmed and established in their belief of the great principles of it, will be pleafed with the many judicious and pertinent obfervations which his Lordship has made, upon fubjects that relate to their highest interests. M. The duty of fecret prayer, proved, open

Is. 6d.

ed, and enforced. By John Kello. Bell. Aldgate. Four fermons, plain, pious, and practical, written with becoming moderation, on Calviniftic principles. M.

Four fermons on the Good Samaritan, and the nature of Chrift's kingdom. By the late Rev. Thomas Pyle. 6d. Robinson — Excellent fermons. C.

But

The nature, neceffity, and advantage of the religious obfervation of the Lord's day, illuftrated and enforced, in a fermon, preached for the encouragement of a fociety uniting for the fuppreffion of the profanation of the Lord's day. By C. de Coctlogon, M. A. 6d. Matthews.—There is an air of piety and devotion in the difcourfes of Mr de Coetlogon, and other divines belong ing to the Lock, which is laudable. would a prudent or a modeft preacher, tho roughly fenfible of his own ignorance and imperfections, exprefs himself in this lan guage? "May I be enabled to preach with the Holy Ghoft fent down from above; which we hope to deliver, be accompanied with the demonftration of the Spirit, and with the power of God." Is this piety, or is it prefumption? C.

and may

the words of truth and fobernefs,

A fhort effay on Revelations i. 1o. fhew ing the Lord's day means the real and per petual fabbath. By Henry Dawson, Minifter of the Gofpel. 2 d. Brown—An at tempt to prove, that the feventh day of the week, and not the first, is “the unchange. able fabbath of Jefus Chrift." - No appear ance of critical learning in this produc tion. C.

The preceptor; or, Counsellor of Human Life, for the ufe of British youth. Con taining felect pieces in natural and moral philofophy, hiftory, and eloquence; the lives of Sir Ifaac Newton, Rollin, Demoftbenes, and Milton; alfo fhort sketches of the birth and death of fome of the moft il luftrious men in all ages. Compiled by John Ryland, A. M. 3 s. fewed. Dilly

Though we have feen more judicious collections, yet we think young perions may draw confiderable advantage from an atten. tive perufal of this. M.

Letters on female education, addressed to a married lady. By Mrs Cartwright. 2s. Dilly. - Thefe letters have as much origi nality in them as we generally find in compofitions of this nature. At least they dif cover the indications of a rational underftanding, and a good heart. C.

[ocr errors]

Lettre de Monf. Defenfans à Madame Montagu. I S. Elmfley. This little piece contains a fpirited defence of M. Fcnelon, Archbishop of Cambray, against the obloquy of Lord Chesterfield, who, in one of his letters, accuses him as an hypocrite in

religica

religion and morals, and a pander, or, in the groffness of his own phrafe, a pimp for Lewis XIV. from a letter of his to Madame de Maintenon, upon her having required his advice and affistance with regard to fome dities the had propofed for his confideren, relative to the King, after their clande marriage. M. Defenfans has fufficiently fhewn the disingenuousness of his Lordship's arguments, and the futility of his reafenings upon this subject; and has afo, throughout the letter, manifested an honest warmth and virtuous refentment against so unwarrantable and unprovoked a candal, charged upon the memory of a mas, who lived in reputation, died in chaneter, and will ever furvive in fame. C. A letter from Monf. Defenfans to Mrs Montagu. Tranflated by Mrs Griffith. I s. Cadet Not a mere literal tranflation, hat rather a paraphrafe on the French let ter, the ftyle of which is improved, the metaphors corrected, and the fentiments brought farth and explained to advantage. C. Letters on the worship of Chrift, addreffed to the Rev. George Horne, D. D. Predent of St Mary, Magdalen college, Ox. ford [xxxviii. 445.] By Theofebes. Johnfon. One of the greatest difficulties sttending the Unitarian scheme is, to explain thofe paffages of the New Teftament which fem to favour the worship of Chrift; and to determine, from them, whether no religious adoration at all is to be paid him, or whether we are authorifed to render him a bordinate worship. As this is a matter on which the Trinitarians much affect to triumph, we have expreffed our wish that it were more diftinctly treated of by the oppofers of the fupreme divinity of our Lord. Such a diftact confideration of the fubject is prefentby the able writer before us, in anfwer ta fermon preached by Dr Horne betore the university of Oxford, May 14. 1775, in which he has collected and difplayed, with peliar concifenefs and energy, the arguBruts from fcripture, and a few of the early Fathers, in favour of the religious adoration of our bleffed Saviour. M.

I S.

A fhort fcriptural explication of the faith and doctrine of the church of England, as chablifhed in her thirty-nine articles and aceds: abstracted from the writings of Rogers, Welchman, Beveridge, &c. By the author of the Chriftian's Memorandum-book, t. 9 d. Lewis.

Hiftory, Law, Politics, &c. The hiftory of the reign of Philip II. King of Spain. By Robert Watson, LL. D. In two vols. 4to. l. 16 s. in boards. Cadell. The reign of Philip 11. may challenge the whole feries of human annals for the decable bigotry, the unrelenting cruelty, and

the enthufiaftic profecution of impolitic and unfuccefsful measures, with which it was dif tinguished. Uniting in his character a fuperftitious veneration of the Papal power, to an infatiable ambition, and a heart apparently devoid of every fentiment of humanity, he carried with him to the throne a difpofition, not only to be actuated by the moft contemptible weakness, but to perpetrate the most atrocious crimes in the purfuit of his favourite objects.―This inglorious period of the Spanish history has of late been frequently compared with the present fituation of Britain, in respect of the dispute with her colonies; but in truth never were two cafes more diffimilar and oppofite in their nature to each other. The revolt of the Netherlands was originally produced by a flagrant violation of the religious liberty of the fubjects; and was not, at first, immediately connected with any principle of civil concern. Every temporal right of the inhabitants was doubtless afterwards infringed, but in open defiance, as well of the laws and conftitution of the states, as of the most obvious dictates of humanity and political wifdom. The tyrannical and oppreffive government exercifed by Spain at this period over the people in the Netherlands, is, in fact, without example in the hiftory of any other country; much lefs had it the smallest fimilarity to any epoch of the British adminiftration fince the acceffion of King Wil liam.-This work commences with the birth of Philip II. which happened, at Valladolid, May 21. 1527; and the author justly imputes feveral of the striking features which characterised that monarch, to the education he had received under the bigotted ecclefiaftics of thofe times. At an early age, he was remarkable for the extraordinary referve of his temper, and behaviour, which he every where manifefted in his vifit to the Low Countries, as well as during his refidence in England after his marriage with Q. Mary. Dr Watfon has, in general, made the most judicious ufe of the contradictory hiftorians of this period; and while he discovers that liberal attachment to the caufe of freedom, which ought to animate every writer, he neither juftifies the extravagancies into which its abettors were precipitated, nor uncandidly cenfures all the meafuers of its opponents with indifcriminating severity. C.

A concife hiftory of England, from the earliest times to the death of Geo. II. By John Welley, A. M. 4 vols. 115. fewed. Hawes. One motive for this publication, according to the preface, appears to be, that there may be one Chriftian hiftory of what is ftill called (though by a strong figure) a Chrifiian country. The compiler truly tells us, that his hiftory is chiefly extracted from Goldfmith, Rapin, and Smollet; though he might

almoft

almost have confined his acknowledgement to the first of these authors. Each of thefe writers have fallen into the error (though perhaps it may contribute to the fale of their work) of enlarging on fome particular events which tend to intereft the paffions of their readers, fuch as the trial and death of Mary Queen of Scots, of Charles I. the flight of Charles II. &c. of which, in an abridgement, fo particular an account was not to have been expected. Mr Welley has thought proper to employ upwards of fifty pages in an enquiry, whether or not Mary of Scotland was guilty of the murder of her husband. He is much more fevere on Q. Elifabeth. on this occafion, than Dr Goldsmith has been. As to this performance being a Christian hiftory, we cannot think it much entitled to the character; for we do not find religious obfervations fo frequently interwoven with the narration, as might be expected from a man of good fenfe and warm piety. Here and there a reflection is thruft in, as it were, just to warrant the account he has in this refpect given of his book. Thus, at the clofe of the reign of Richard II. after saying, that Richard was rather of an amiable character, it is added, "How then came he to be fo unfortunate? God putteth down one, and fetteth up another." M.

The beauties of biography, containing the lives of the moft illuftrious perfons who have flourished in G. Britain, France, Italy, and other parts of Europe, as poets, hiftorians, divines, philofophers, foldiers, or politicians. Extracted from the Biographia Britannica, Bayle's dictionary, and other valuable works, for the inftruction of youth of both fexes, and calculated to inspire them with a love of virtue, and create a spirit of emulation. 2 vols. 6 s. Kearfly.-We cannot but be of opinion, that the pages of this work which are filled up with the gallantries of Rochefter, and with trifling anecdotes of theatrical characters, might have been enriched with materials much better" adapted to the inftruction of youth of both fexes," and better "calculated to inspire them with the love of virtue." M.

-

Hiftorical memoirs of the author of the Henriade. With fome original pieces. To which are added, genuine letters of M. de Voltaire. Taken from his own minutes. Tranflated from the French. 35. 6 d. Kear Лед. What a wonderful old man is this Monf. de Voltaire !-fuppofing him the author of these memoirs; and we fee little reafon to call the fact in question. At the age of eighty-three, he writes with the vigour and vivacity of twenty-one; and talks of himfelf, his writings, and his fortunes, with an air of cafe and gaiety, which one would rather expect from a frank young man, relating his juvenile frolics and amuftments.

The Spirit of this man will never die,-whatever himself (fceptic as he is) may think of the matter; and whatever becomes of the little tough frame in which it is encafed. But Mr Voltaire (if it is Mr Voltaire who holds the pencil) has not, here, given us a finished picture of himself. It is but a sketch that is drawn, a mere outline; but it will ftrike the beholder, who has any knowledge of the original, with immediate conviction of the true refemblance. There are, how ever, a thousand particularities which every one will naturally look for in a perfect por trait of this extraordinary perfon, but which, in the prefent performance, will be fought for in vain. M.

A brief defcription of the cities of London and Westminster, &c. To which are added, fome proper cautions to the merchants, trademen, &c. By Sir John Fielding, one of his Majefty's Justices of the Peace, &c. 35. Wilkie. A vile peace of Bibliopolim. Sir John Fielding has publicly disavowed it in the news-papers. M.

For

Lectures on the conftitution and laws of England: with a commentary on Magna Charta, and illuftrations of many of the Englifh ftatutes. By the late Francis Stoughton Sullivan, LL. D. Royal Professor of Common Law in the univerfity of Dublin. Edit. 2. To which authorities are added, and a difcourfe is prefixed, concerning the laws and government of England. By Gilbert Stuart, LL. D. 15 s. boards Johnson. The great object of Dr Sullivan is, to advance law to the dignity of a science, by deduciug it from principles founded in human nature. this purpofe he traces the prefent conftitution of Britain from a remote antiquity: he delineates the military character which produ ced and continued that formidable fabric the feudal government: he marks the confequences that refulted from the mixture, first of the Saxon laws with thofe of the Britons, and next of the Norman laws with those of the Saxons: he defcribes the causes that concurred towards engrafting our prefent free conftitution on the Gothic ariftocracy, namely, the gradual transition of laud from infeudation to propriety, and of military tenures to thofe of focage; the degradation of the ba rons, who poffeffled powers inconfiftent with liberty; and the exaltation of the commons to that degree of influence which they ought to hold in every free ftate. The lectures are concluded with an account of the confticotion and jurifdiction of the courts of justice, and a masterly commentary on Magna Charta. In treading this long, thorny, and intricate path, the author difplays much dif cernment, erudition, and good fenfe, with a most commendable attachment to liberty. His work exhibits not an infipid and formal concatenation of decisions, and ftatutes, and

opinions

opinions of lawyers. He every where connects history with law, and effects with their cafes, prefenting a picture equally amufing and inftructive to the reader - The chief pupales of this difcourfe are, to illuftrate one of the most curious and material points in the hiftory of the English conftitution, the quity of the power of the people in the perfons of their reprefentatives, the commas; to fhow, that in times the moft tyranal, the people never despaired of their liby; and that the marks of oppreffion which ftain and pollute our history, are to afribed to the administration of our printts, and not to any defpotifm in the conftitation of our governmcat. He oppofes, of confequence, the fentiments and the principies which are fo ftrongly inculcated in the bitory of Mr Hume; and, if we are not decrived, the caftigation of this diftinguished biria was one great view which the wriproposed to himself. It is but common alice to lay of this tract, that it has great merit The author difcovers much know. edge of antiquity, and communicates much l information. Notwithstanding the brevity which was neceffary to his prefatory diertation, he has been able to strike out me new lights, and it every where abounds wah pertinent obfervations. The language afrong and uncommon beauties. It is at the fame time forcible and elegant, flowing and exact. C.

Mild punishments found policy; or, Obfervations on the laws relative to debtors and fries, &c. By William Smith, M. D. 1 s. 6d. Ir-A very fuperficial writer. C.

America.

A letter to Lord Chatham, concerning the prefent war of Great Britain against America. Gentleman of the Inner Temple. Is. -A fpirited, but very inaccurate Whitt, warm for liberty, and for the claims ¿America: but has nothing very new, or el M.

Reflections on the state of parties, on the anal debt, the neceffity and expediency the prefent war with America. 1 s. 6 d. Davies-A most unbounded panegyrift government, and a moft malignant alper fer of the Americans. M. An appeal to the unprejudiced; or, A adiation of the meaferes of government, th refpect to America. Is. Rivington. Avenue advocate for adminiftration. M. Dr Price's notions of the nature of civil li1. fhewn to be contradictory to reafon d ferpture. [By Mr Gray.] 2s. Becket. Late as this pamphlet has made its apence, the plain yet forcible manner in ach it is written, muft greatly contribute dute a change of fentiment in thofe bave hitherto favoured the opinion of Price. C.

Sermons on the general faft, Dec. 13. 1776.

Before the Houfe of Lords, by Richard [Hurd], Lord Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry. I S. Cadell. Liberal, candid, and every way worthy of the author. M.

Before the Houfe of Commons, [from Kings viii. 59.] by John Butler, LL. D. 15. Cadell.-Judicious, fenfible, and difpaffionate; exhibits a clear and candid view of the temper and spirit, the vices and virtues of the times; the fources of the unhappy commotions now fubfifting in the remote parts of the empire; the charitable light in which we ought to behold our erring and infatuated brethren; and the conduct which, on every confideration, we ought to purfue, as real Chriftians, as true friends to the best interefts of our country, and in the humble hope of obtaining, by the favour of Heaven, the restoration of peace and union to the British empire. M.

Before the univerfity of Oxford, by Myles Cooper, LL. D. 1s. Rivington.The author confiders the propriety of a public and folemn act of humiliation, the neceffity of a national repentance, the moral and religious ftate of this kingdom, the principles and artifices of thofe who firft excited and afterwards fomented the rebellion in the colonics, and, lastly, the duty of individuals, as good men and good fubjects. On these topics, efpecially on the rite and progress of rebellion, the author expreffes himself with warmth and fpirit, always in defence of administra tion; yet fometimes with a zeal which carries him to the extremities of Toryifm. "When mens principles are wrong, their practices will feldom be right. When they fuppofe thofe powers to be derived folely from the people, which are "ordained of God," and their heads are filled with ideas of original compacts which never existed, and which are always explained fo as to aufwer their prefent occafions; no wonder that they confound the duties of rulers and fubjects, and are perpetually prompted to dietite, where it is their business to obey. When once they conceive the governed to be fupe rior to the governors, and that they may iet up their pretended natural rights in oppofition to the pofitive laws of the ftate; they will naturally proceed to despise dominion, and Speak evil of dignities, and to open a door for anarchy, confufion, and every evil work, to enter." Can this paffage be reconciled with the principles of the Revolution, and the liberties of Englishmen? C.

Preached at Gray's-Inn chapel, before the Hon. Society, &c. by Henry Stebbing, D. D. 15. Flexney. Although Dr Stebbing has thrown out fome very fevere reflections on the revolted provincials, he expresses himself with a feriouinefs becoming the importance

and

« ElőzőTovább »