Refpecting IRELAND. Art. 13. A Letter to the Right Honourable Lord North, on his Propofitions in favour of Ireland. By Francis Dobbs, Efq; Barrifler at Law. Dublin, printed; London, reprinted. 8vo. 6d. Bladon. 1778. If Ireland does not affume the language and conduct of North America, the fault will not reft with Mr. Dobbs, who seems ready to dye his bar-gown red to obtain a nominal diminutive independency, which could not perhaps be permanent. Art. 14. Seafonable Advice to the People of Ireland, during the prefent Recels of Parliament. Dublin printed, London reprinted. Evo. 6d. Wilkie. 1780. A fenfible, temperate reprefentation, calculated to conciliate the minds of the two nations. Art. 15. Thoughts on a Fund for the Improvement of Credit in Great Britain, and the Eftablishment of a National Bank in Ireland. 8vo. I S. Murray. 1780. N. N. Among the fchemes for national improvement and convenience, that of funding is the most myfterious in its operations; at least to ms authors,-whofe ftudies are rather directed to overturn the unrea fonable credit which our bookfellers with to establish in their dealings with us. We therefore refer this fubject to the mature confideration of the Irish patriots, whom it more immediately concerns:-obferving only, in general terms, that the pamphlet appears to be fenfibly written; and that the thoughts contained in it deferve the mature confideration of all who may be interested in the scheme propofed, on either fide of the water. N. Art. 16. Political Reveries, and Utopian Schemes for the Welfare of Great Britain and Ireland. By an Idle Man. With a Plan for new modelling the British Forces by Sea and Land. Svo. 1s. 6d. Richardfon, in the Strand, 1780, POLITICAL. Where political fchemes, various and extenfive in their objects, are formed, they are properly characterized as of an Utopian nature, Our prefent Idle Man is a bufy writer, and difcuffes many parts of our national policy, both internal and external. He decides against the probability of our reducing the continent of America, and would have our colonies to confift only of iflands, that might be controuled by our fleets. He protests again draining away our men for foreign land fervice, and would raife German troops with British money for all fuch occafions, to diminish the inconveniencies of a halfpay lift. He is for reducing our land forces according to this idea, and for increafing our marines and artillery; properly remarking, that, as an infular power, all our forces ought to be of an amphibious nature. But our Author does not confine himself to these objects; his Reveries extend incidentally to the most effectual mode of aifing taxes; the propriety of an equal land-tax; the fale of churchlands, and thofe in public trufts; the planting oaks for ship-building; a strict application of the finking fund; a general naturalization, &c.; fo that his purchafers have variety enough for their money. Without following fo multifarious an author through all his meanders, we shall conclude with intimating, that while a writer of any abilities indulges his reveries, he may throw out remarks, and tart hints in the course of impracticable plans, that may nevertheless deferve ferious attention. N. Art. 17. The Speech of Leonard Smelt, Efq; delivered by him at the Meeting of the County of York, Dec. 30, 1779, with Notes Variorum. 8vo. 2 S. York printed, and fold by Faulder, in London. The Editor obferves, in his advertisement, that as this fpeech was not taken down in fhort-hand, the prefent copy is not to be confidered as pretending to be an exact copy of every word that was spoken by Mr. Smelt; but as it was put together from the notes taken by feveral gentlemen prefent, the Public may rely on its authenticity in point of argument and of fentiment, as much as on that of any fpeech in parliament that is not immediately published under the Author's own infpection. He adds, it is prefumed that the Public will accordingly rely on "it, till its inaccuracy fhall be proved by another edition, fo authenti"cated."-Another edition, jo authenticated, has been published, and the difference between the two copies is great indeed (fee the next article)! The notes to the present copy will, however, be efteemed by many Readers, as containing a variety of fhrewd political obfer vations. Art. 18. An Account of fome Particulars relative to the Meeting beld at York, on Thursday, the 30th of December, 1779. By Leonard Smelt, Efq. 8vo. 1 s. Becket. The public prints have fufficiently informed us of the odium which this gentleman incurred by freely declaring his fentiments in a generat affembly, profeffedly held to collect the opinions of the county. He complains that his fpeech has been mifreprefented, both in manner and fubftance, and he therefore does himfelf juftice in this publi cation. No one who has ever attended a numerous affembly of this nature, will boaft much of the maturity of their deliberations, or of the liberality of their proceedings. When a particular point is to be carried, any indifcreet individual who ventures to open his mouth against it, is fure to be hooted into filence, and may efleem himself happy if he escapes actual violence, while the favourites of the meeting may procure their eager fanction to any thing they are prepared to offer. But when the profeffed advocates for liberty become arbitrary, which is fometimes the cafe where their predominant humour is oppofed, they act like fome of the early reformers, who no fooner revolted against the errors of the Romish church, and formed little ecclefiaftical establishments themselves, than up started fuch petty POPES as Calvin, who employed thofe faggots, they had juft escaped, against their brethren. It is a mild rebuke to apply the words in the gospel to those who have liberty in their mouths, and tyranny in their hearts -Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of. Mr. Smelt does not, in this authentic copy of his speech, appear to be altogether the abject tool of defpotifm which he has been reprefented to be by his violent commentators on the other fide of the question. Art. N. Art. 19. A Letter to Edmund Burke, Efq; occafioned by his Speech in Parliament, February 11, 1780. 8vo. Is. Bew. An attack on the principles and tendency of Mr. Burke's celebrated fyftem of political economy, which is already under the review of the great council of the nation. N. Art. 20. Obfervations on Mr. Burke's Bill for the better Regu lation of the Independence of Parliament, and economical Reformation of Establishments. By a Lady. Addressed to Lord North. 8vo. 1s. Becket. 1780. There is fufficient internal evidence to verify the declaration in the title-page, that thefe are the obfervations of a lady; and fince the quondam Mrs. M. has fuffered private concerns to withdraw her attention from public affairs, this lady is ready to fucceed her. But the must correct her principles, a little, before she can hope to be installed, in Alfred-house. N. Art. 21. Mr. E--B--'s Anfwer to his own Speech of the 11th of February, with Mr. Fox's Animadverfions thereon. Taken in Short-hand at the C- Tavern, in the Strand, February 2, and now first published by Lovel Tomlinson. 8vo. IS. White. Mr. T. informs his Reader, that he overheard the converfation he has here published, through a partition, while he fat drinking fixpennyworth of punch at a tavern; and that he took it down in hopes of its paying for his punch. Probably he did not then recollect that the Printer and Stationer would ftand between the Publisher and his expected reimbursement. As he profeffes brachygraphy, he may in future find it more profitable to wait for employment in that branch, than to exercise his talents upon fpeculation. N. . Art. 22. Reflexions on a Pamphlet, entitled, "A fhort Hiftory "of Oppofition;" with fome Obfervations on the Views of the Minority, and Reflexions on the prefent State of Affairs. By a Country Gentleman. 8vo. 23 Pages. No rice, nor Bookseller's Name. The Writer does not give this tract as a full anfwer' to the pam. phlet mentioned in the title-page, but only as a curfory animadverfion on fuch parts of it as he deems the most exceptionable.' His defign is to wipe off fome of the afperfions thrown out again!t, and to vindicate the characters of, a fet of men [the gentlemen in oppofition], whofe views, in general, the Author is convinced, have been directed toward the public good! And I must own, fays he, I feel a pleafure in doing this at a time, when it is fo unfashionable a thing to speak well of them, and when their advocates can expect to reap little other reward for their trouble, than the pleafure of being fuch, when almost every pen is employed, and every art which proftituted abilities car. invent is made ufe of, to blacken and misrepresent their characters!'-This may be a well-meant, but it is a very flight and curfory performance. *This pamphlet is dated, December 11, 1779, but the publication did not then take place. Art. Art. 23. The Affociators Vindicated, and the Proteflors Anfwered. 8vo. Is. Johnfon. Contains the fober and judicious remarks of one who appears to be a fteady friend to what we commonly understand by revolution principles. The Author, after defending the county affociations, reminds the freeholders, &c. of Great Britain, of the opportunity that will be afforded them by the next general election, of confulting the security of our national rights, &c. in their choice of fuch men for our reprefentatives in parliament, as have given the fairest proofs of their due regard to the fenfe of the people, as expreffed in the county petitions. And he particularly exhorts them to beware of thofe who prefume to ftile them felves The King's Friends; he confiders the tenets ufually maintained by thefe arrogant gentlemen, &c. From those tenets, he pronounces them to be enemies, not only to the conftitution, but even to the King himself. For his arguments in proof of this point, we refer to his pamphlet. POETICAL. Art. 24. Unanimity. A Poem. Moft refpectfully infcribed to that truly patriotic Nobleman the Duke of Leinster. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Bew. Art. 25. Rebellion and Oppofition; or, the American War. A Poem. 4to. 2 s. 6d. Bladon. It is the property of fome poifons to counteract each other's virulence. It will not be thought ill-judged, then, that the two poems above mentioned are claffed together, that, as bane and antidote, they may accompany each other. Though dictated by very oppofite principles (if, indeed, they are dictated by any principle), they are, notwithstanding, fo much of a complexion, that they ought to be infeparable. Whoever has patience to read the one, cannot poflibly think his time ill employed in a perufal of the other. Qui Bavium non odit, amet tua carmina, Mævi. The former poem is as ftupidly fcurrilous as the latter is gloomily malignant one of the Writers is a minifterial inquifitor, who laments the ill timed lenity of Government in not putting a ftop to the turbulence of the times by death and confifcation,-and then exclaims, O! eternal Jove! Forgive a vengeance dictated by love To this fair ifle-when fcattering wide despair, To thofe fame fubjects whom they rous'd to arms, And I could fee them prove the torture's flings, Rebellion and Oppolition, page 18. The other is a filthy calumniator, lineally defcended from the honeft gentleman in Hudibras, who rode upon a pair of panniers, Full-fraught with that which for good manners Shall here be nameless, mixt with grains, Which he difpens'd among the fwains, And bully upon the croud At random round about beftow'd. For For want, however, of due skill in the management of his noifome materials, he rarely defiles any one but himself.-Here he comes, bufily employed in his vocation of throwing dirt indiscriminately at all who fland in his way: Profeffions minifterial who believes ? } Saint St-ph-n's Chapel's but a den of th-ves; Unanimity, page 20. Would any man imagine the principal object of this foolish ribaldry is as confpicuous for his abilities and learning, as in his private character he is refpectable? But with this Writer it is a fafficient crime, it seems, even to be related to a perfon in office; as it would be with his mild and amiable companion to be in any degree connected with those in Oppofition. With refpect to the literary merit of this par nobile fratrum, our opinion is, in great meafure, included by the fpecimens we have given ; our Readers will eafily perceive that the poetry of these congenial fouls is, at least, equal to their moderation Art. 26. POETICAL EFFUSIONS. To which is added, the War of Inis-thona; a Poem, from Offian: In English Verse. 4to. 2 s. 6d. Hand, Bew, &c. Though ftrict impartiality will not permit us to acknowledge that thefe Effufions are pofitively poetical, yet that they are negatively fo, we will readily own: in thort, they are not unpoetical. There is one pleafant effufion, in the manner of Hall's Crazy Tales of which take the following specimen : Talking of ADAM, makes me wonder, Whether or no Our first Great-grandmother below Ca-t Was |