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Chairman of the faid Seffion. Publifhed at the unanimous Requeft of the Magistrates then present, and the Grand Jury. 4to. Is. Marfh.

This charge having been published at the unanimous request of those who heard it, will doubtless be imagined to contain fomething curious, either as to its matter or manner: and, indeed, we may fafely fay, it contains much of both. We need not wonder, therefore, that the folite opinion the auditors entertained of it, should occafion the worshipful Orator to feel their confent co-operating with his own inclinations, to dedicate the first-fruits of Westminster Guildhall to its great Patron, the Earl of Northumberland. This is accordingly done, and with a peculiar good grace, by his Lordship's refpectful friend the Chairman.

With regard to the Charge itfelf, it begins with representing to the Jury the immenfe confequence of the truft repofed in them; and then proceeds to a ipecification of the offences that may come under their confideration. And here it is that the worshipful Orator makes an equal display of his talents, as a Politician, a Physician, a Lawyer, and a Divine.

To hear him expatiate on his firft head, namely, against infidelity, prophaneness, and fabbath-breaking, one is apt to regret, that fo fhining an Ornament on the bench of Juftices, fhould not be removed to a higher feat on the bench of Bishops. Again, when he speaks of the offences committed against the Sacred perfon of Majefty, his crown and dignity, who is there that might not have miltaken his fage and eloquent remonftrances, for thole of a Lord Chief Juftice or High Chancellor. "Turn your thoughts, for a moment, fays he, towards our excellent conftitution; obferve well its dignity, examine how nobly it is calculated for the fupport of Liberty; mark how, by its exquifite frame, our privileges are preferved, our properties fecured, and our happiness eftablifhed; and who will not rejoice that he is an Engliftman!"

As to offences against each other, our accomplished Magiftrate "verily believes, that the fevere blows, that intoxicating liquor Gin, has, within these few years, received from the Legiflature, has," in fhort, prevented people from giving each other fuch fevere blows, as heretofore; in other words, hath prevented murders: nay, he is apt to think, that houfebreakers, highwaymen, and other violaters of the public peace, are not fo cruel as they were formerly, for the fame reaion: for, as he very learnedly obferves, "Gin is a fpecies of liquid fire, that inflames the conttitution, enrages the mind, does not cheer the heart, but makes men ripe for mischief."

On Libellers he is alfo very fevere," as monfters in human shape, that beggar all defcription.".

As to Bawdy-houses, he obferves, "they are the recepticles of those who have till fome fenfe of fhame left, but not enough to preferve their innocence. These houses (continues our Orator) are all fufficiently injurious, and do great mifchief. But thofe I wou'd particularly point out to your attention, are the open, avowed, low and common bawdyhoufes, where vice is rendered CHEAP."

But it is impoffible for us to cull all the choice flowers of rhetoric, or

take notice of every falutary injunction, contained in this notable Charge; to the whole of which, we therefore, refer the curious Reader.

Art. 22. The British Mariner's Guide. Containing compleat and eafy Inftructions for the Discovery of the Longitude at Sea and Land, within a Degree, by Obfervations of the Distance of the Moon from the Sun and Stars, taken with Hadley's Quadrant. To which are added, an Appendix, containing a Variety of interesting Rules and Directions, tending to the Improvement of prac tical Navigation in general; and a Set of correct aftronomical Tables. By Nevil Mafkelyne, A. M. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Fellow of the Royal Society. 5s fewed. Nourfe.

4to.

The importance of finding the Longitude at fea, is fo great to a maritime and commercial nation, that every rational attempt to ascertain it to any tolerable degree of accuracy, undoubtedly deserves encourage. ment. In the method here proposed, four observations are requifite to determine it. The firft, is an altitude of the fun, or fome bright star, for regulating a watch, by which the other obfervations are to be made. The fecond, is the distance of the moon's enlightened limb from the fun or ftar. The third and fourth obfervations are, the altitudes of the moon and the fun, or the ftar, from which the moon's distance is ob served; to be taken by two Obfervers affisting the person who takes the distance of the moon from the fun, or ftar, at the very inftant, or, at the utmost, within a minute of the time he gives notice that he has compleated his obfervation. At the fame inftant, or, at the utmost, within a quarter of a minute, and before the Obfervers attempt to read off the degrees and minutes from their quadrants, fomebody must note the hour, minute, and quarter part of a minute, of the watch regulated as abovementioned.

This method may seem a little troublesome to fuch as have not made ufe of it; but we are informed, that a very little practice will render it eafy and familiar.

With regard to the other problems, rules, and directions, for the im provement of Navigation, contained in the Appendix to this work, we fhall only mention two of the moft curious. The one is, a problem to determine the Longitude at fea or land, from three cotemporary obfervations only; namely, the distance of the moon's limb from a itar, and the apparent altitudes of the moon and ftar, provided the moon be not less than two hours diftant from the meridian. The other, is a concife method of finding the Latitude from two obferved altitudes of the fun, with the interval of time given by a common watch.

As to the tables, they are most of them curious and useful; and as they appear to be pretty generally correct, we cannot help recommending this publication as a work of confiderable merit and utility.

Art. 23. Obfervations on the State of the Highways, and on the Laws for amending and keeping them in Repair; with a Draught of a Bill for comprehending and reducing into One Act of Parlia

ment,

ment, the most effential Parts of all Statutes in Force relating to the Highways, and for making Provifion for the more eafy and effectual Repair of the Highways. By John Hawkins, Efq; one of his Majefty's Juftices of the Peace for the County of Middlefex. 8vo. 2s. fewed. Worral.

The Writer of this treatife appears to be perfectly acquainted with his fubject; he has with great perfpicuity pointed out the defects in the laws now fubfifting, which he has fhewn to be inconfiftent with the general principles of juftice and equity, and inadequate to the ends propofed. It is eafier, however, to point out inconveniences, than to remove them and though we acknowlege that there is great merit in the Author's draught of a bill for reducing all the laws now in force into one, yet we are not fatisfied that it would effectually provide for all the mischiefs to be remedied. Among other objections, we think it much too prolix; and that, in particular, the feveral claufes regulating the number of days Statute-labour, might without any difficulty be comprehended in one. Indeed, in our opinion, it would be most adviseable to annihilate the statute duty entirely; and the draught of the bill, as the Author obferves, may eafily be adapted to that end: but, if thought proper to be continued, it is highly reasonable, that they who wear the roads with coaches, chariots, and chailes, should, as he has judiciously provided, be made contributory. Upon the whole, the draught of the bil bere offered, is a good foundation for improving the laws on this very interesting fubject.

Art. 24. An Oration delivered at Newport, Isle of Wight, November 15, 1*60, to a few Friends of Liberty and their Country. As an Introduction to an annual Meeting on that Day. 8vo. Griffin.

1 S.

If this Orator's judgment had borne any proportion to his zeal, he would never have fuffered this rhapfody to have tranfpired beyond the few friends to whom it was delivered. As warm Lovers of Liberty, we applaud the occafion of this meeting, but fuch orations will never tempt us to be members of the fociety.

3.

THE

SERMONS.

HE folly and guilt of fatyrical flander, before the University of Oxford, February 20. 1763. By John Tottie, D. D. canon of Chriftchurch, archdeacon of Worcester, and chaplain in ordinary to his Majefty. Sandby, &c.

2. On occafion of the Brief for the American Colleges. By Daniel Watson, A. M. Vicar of Leke in Yorkshire. Richardson, &c.

We have here a fenfible discourse on a very benevolent occafion; that of establishing feminaries for encouraging learning in the British colonies an undertaking which every friend to knowledge must wish well to, although it may not be in his power to advance it.

As in one particular we view this fubject in the fame light with Mr. Watson, we will cite a pertinent remark which he has made on the

scheme

fcheme of erecting colleges in America, in his own words. "Expe. rience, fays he, hath informed us, that not only true re igion, but all arts and sciences had their dawning in the Eaft have hitherto travelled weftward, and feem to be ftill in the fame direction. So that fhould. America, in fome very diftant period, become the school of Christian knowlege, afeful arts, and liberal fcience, under the countenance and protection of a powerful and independent ftate: - and in tuch circumlances, should its inhabitants fpeak of this island, as we do of those countries which once were, and now no longer are bleffed and diftinguished with thofe ineftimable improvements of human nature; what could be objected to a difpenfation, tending to vindicate the wifdom and juftice of the Governor of the World, in taking away the light from those who refufe to walk by its direction, and imparting it to nations and people, that have hitherto been in darkness, but are now perhaps more likely to bring forth the fruits thereof.

What Mr. Watson fays may be very true; we know that the feats of knowlege have hifted, and have left places as dark as they once found them: Whether that may be the cafe again, now that the printing-prefs has diffufled learning more univerfally, is a point only to be afcertained by future experience. The ravages of conqueft have effected what we have formerly feen of this nature; what may yet occur muft fpring from other caufes. If ever the feat of learning fhould move to America, and carry the Chriftian religion with it, fuch a revolution must refult from the eternal changes that all worldly affairs naturally undergo. Man will never reft fatisfied with his prefent acquirements; when, therefore, arts, fciences, and religion have been canvaffed, altered, and improved all poffible ways, they may decline bere, though not, as in other places, quite defert us; and be as eagerly cultivated in infant colonies, and by ignorant nations. Thus may the tranfmigration of religion from one country to another be naturally ac counted for, without fuppofing, as many do, the Almighty to fhift about what is efteemed the true faith. from one country to another, eternally thwarted and difappointed in his purposes: and we may venture to predict that whatever fyftem of faith is propagated, and wherever it is established, people will inevitably differ in their opinions, and branch out into what are called fchifms-As mankind never did, it is probable they never can unite in any one theological fyftem.

3. The fuperior happiness of the righteous dead to that of living faints. Occafioned by the deceafe of the Reverend Mr. James Fall, of Watford in Hertfordshire. By John Gill, D. D. Keith, &c.

4. At the aniverfary meeting of the governors of the Magdalen charity, March 22. 1763. By Patrick Delany, D. D. dean of Down. Johnfton.

5. The influerce of religion on human laws: at the affizes at Oxford, March 3, 1763. By John Rotheram, M A. Fellow of Univerfity college, and one of the Preachers at his Majesty's chapel at Whitehall. Sandby.

6. The Scripture Dorine of Obedience to Government,―at Oxford, May-Fair, and Audley-chapel, in the parish of St. George Hanoverfquare. By George Watson, M. A. Robfon, Law.

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For JUNE, 1763.

Conclufion of the Debates of the House of Commons, from the Year 1667 to the Year 1694. Collected by the Honourable Anchitel Grey, Efq; who was thirty Years Member for the Town of Derby; Chairman of feveral Committees; and Decyphered Coleman's Letters for the Ufe of the House. Vols. IX. and X.

HESE concluding volumes comprehend the parliamentary tranfactions of the moft interefting period in the Englifh hiftory. Till this happy era, we could fcarce be faid to have had any fettled conftitution. The prerogatives of the crown, and the privileges of the people, were, both of them, rather founded on ufurpation than right under the government of a weak and neceflitous Prince, the latter were prevalent; under that of an able and ambitious Monarch, the former were predominant and as far as precedent could give a fanction to practice, both might equally juftify the exercife of undue and irregular powers.

The unfortunate Charles, attempted to vindicate his arbitrary mcafures, by this idle and infufficient plea. Had he been guided by his own good fenfe, instead of being governed by the pernicious counfels of interefted and enterprizing advifers, he would have known, that no precedent whatever could warrant the exercise of power which, by experience, is found injurious to the intereft of the people, for whofe benefit alone Kings were entrufted with prerogatives; and of whofe majefty, Kings are but the reprefentatives.

VOL. XXVIII.

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