Art. 17. Impartial Thoughts on a Free Trade to the Kingdom of

Ireland. In a Letter to Lord North. Recommended to the Con. fideration of every British Senator, Merchant, and Manufacturer, in this Kingdom. 8vo. I 8. . Millidge. 1779.

This may probably be the same letter-wriler trying his dexterity on the other side of the queltion ; and it is not easy to decide between them, on the preference of execution.

N,
POLITICA L.
Art. 18. Renovation without Violence yet possible. 8vo. 6 d.

Longman. 1780.
The renovation here recommended to our attention, is that of the
British constitution of government; which constitution the Author
considers as reduced to a state of debility and corruption. His plan
is, to unite into one body of confederate states, the several distinct
parts of the empire, including North America, and the Eaft and
Wett Indies. He seems to be rather warmly attached to his project ;
but, though not a very difpaflionate writer, he offers some striking
observations :-and in times like these, or in any times, every man
Thould be heard, who has any thing to propose for the welfare of the
community. --Solomon hath asserted, (and who shall dispute with
Solomon :) that " in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."
Art. 19. A Letter to the Whigs. 8vo. IS. Almon. 1780.

An honest, teity, plain, old-fashioned disciple of John Locke (for such he profesies himself) here avows his utter abhorrence of the reviving doctrines of passive obedience and non-refilance, with all their odious train of despotic ideas. He earnestly expatiates on the manifold corruptions of the state, and recommends truly patriotic associations, as the only means of working out our political salvation. This zealous Whig seems to express the dictates of a warm heart, in a blunt, unequivocal ftyle, which, to many readers, will be more acceptable than the smoother itrain of more polithed wri. ters, and more refined reasoners. Art. 20. The Republican Form of Prayer, which ought to be

used in all Churches and Chapels, &c. on Friday the 4th of February, being the Day appointed for a General Fait, &c. Witbout

his Majesty's special Command. 8vo. 19 Pages for i s. Bladon, .7. Republican politics in scripture language ; or, the Bible turn’d

American.
Art. 21. Dispassionate Thoughts on the Azerican War; addressed
to the Moderate of all parties. 8vo,

Wilkie. 1780. Truly dispaflionate, and sensible. The advice given by this mo. derate and judicious Writer, is, that we should immediately relinquith the American war, as a scheme not only impracticable, but impolitic; and then to turn our whole national ftrength again it the house of Bourbon : with whom, he thinks, we are able to cope, with every prospect of success. What he urges on this very important Subject, is the more worthy of attention, as he does not seem to be a pariy-man. If he appears to lean any way, it is toward adminiitramion.

Art.

IS.

IS.

Art. 22. The Detector, No. I. to be continued occasionally,

during the present Sesion of Parliament. 8vo. 6d. Becket. 1780.

SPECIMEN. • To prevent these little squalls from gathering into a hurricane, government fhould send some press-gangs to attend these county associations; for many of those who are appointed to the Committee of Correspondence, as well at York as at Middlesex, come within the meaning of the act; and I am of opinion they would appear more respectable in the fubordinate character of a foldier, tban a politician, as they seem to have more spirit than wis. dom, more ardour than discretion, and more folly than judgment,' Art. 23. The Sense of the People : In a Letter to Edmund

Burke, Esq; on his intended Motion in the House of Commons, the 11th Init. Containing fome Observations on the Petitions now fabricating, and the proposed Affociations. Svo. Becket. 1780.

Intended to prove that the fenfe of the associators, &c. is not the sense of the people : a very small proportion of whom (the Author contend) have acquiesced in the resolutions of those who have arbited at the county meetings. This seems to be a hally writer, ani. mated rather by an excels of zeal for the cause of adminiftration, than by knowledge or judgment. Art. 24. The Constitution of England ; in Five Letters: As they

were published in the GAZETTEER in the Month of January, 1778; and now appear to merit a Republication, as they do, in a very clear and malterly Manner, thew the conititutional Right of the colleclive Body of the People to assemble and to declare their general Opinion on Matters of Government. To which is added, an Observation on the Impropriety of Petitions preferred by the conftituent Body to the House of Commons, or to either of the other two Branches of parliamentary Power. By a Freeholder of Middlesex ; but no Petitioner. 8vo. E Johnson. 1780.

These letters contain many good, and some uncommon, observations on the nature of our FREE conftitution: a subject which very few of us attend to, and which till fewer among us understand. Art. 25. Four Letters to the Earl of Carlisle, from William Eden,

Esq; The Third Edition. To which is added, a Fifth Letter. 8vo. 45. sewed. White, &c. 1780.

In our Review for December last, we gave some account, from the first edition, of Mr. Eden's very sensible and elegant correspondence with Lord Carlisle, his brother Commiffioner, on the late unsuccessful business of our overtures to America. We there remarked, among other observations, that there Letters contain ' a serious, accurare, and comprehenfive review of the present political situation of this country; including diftin&t ettimates of our public difficulties, and our national resources : from all which the very ingenious Wria ter * Tees, or thinks he sees, (his own words] much folid ground for hope, and none for despondency.”-We added, that whatever are Mr. Eden's principles (for he is undoub.edly partial to adminis tration) · he writes with a masterly pen---that his mode of argu

nient

M 4

1

ment is candid, and his manner agreeable. We may here, too, oh, serve, that he all along preserves tuch an air of moderation, and decent regard 10 the characters and opinions of respectable men, who entertain different sentiments, both of measures and prospects, as cannot fail of procuring for himself, and for his reasonings, a great de. gree of approbation, and deference, from all parties, where violence does not exclude candour, and prejudice Mut the door against conviction.

In the fifth Letter, added in the presene edition, the Author treats on POPULATION; on certain REVENUE Laws and REGULATIONS, connected with the interells of COMMERCE ; and on Public OECO. NOMY. On all these subjects, he is the messenger of glad tidings, His speculations are of a complexion very opposite to those of Dr. Price, whole estimates, and most alarming deductions, he endeavours to refuie; while he opposes him in a manner becoming the character of a Gentleman, and with that conciliating urbanity, from which men of letters Mould never depart.- Though Mr. Eden is considered as a minitterial advocate, he treats Dr. P. with that politeness and respect which are undoubtedly due not only to the Doctor's abilities, but to his truly patriotic views as a public writer : and he candidly acknowledges himself indebied to his reverend antagonilt for that libera'ity of mind with which,' says Mr. Eden, he has communicated to me the knowledge of some of my own errors, at the same time that he differed from me, as to the principal positions which I had wiihed to establish.'-- This is handsome ; and it will seem not only 11ANDSOME but GENEROUS, if we allow that he has the advantage of the Doctor on the subjects of the Coinage, and of the Poo pulatiun of England. We cannot pretend, here, to enter into the calculations made by thele ingenious writers, with respect to the last mentioned subject, nor to examine the data on which they are founded; but we hope, at least, chat Mr. Eden is right in his are tempt to prove, in opposiion to Dr. P. that this country is not in a decreating are of popula'ion. Art. 26. The Sytem. Occafioned by the Specch of Leonard

Smeis, Elg; late sub-governor to their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Bishop of Osnaburgh, at the Meeting at York, Dec. 30, 1779. 8vo. od. Almon.

A very good whiggih sermon, to which Mr. Smelt's speech * serves for a text. The Author writes with a becoming decency of language, but his sentiments and reasonings are not the less weighty or energetic on this account; nor is the view that he has given of our political fituation the less alarming for the difpaflionate terms in which he expatiates concerning the dangerous inroads that have been made on the British conkitution of government; and which are all resolved into the Sysiem' that (as it is affirmed) hath been adopted by the secret countellors of the crown.'

* See, aiso, · The Yorkshire Question,' in our last month's Catalogue, Art. 13.

POETICAL

1

Po TICA L.
Art. 27. The Ancient English Wake; a Poem. By Mr. Jerning-
ham. 410.

is. 6d. Robson. 1779.
That primitive fimplicity of manners, fo opposite to the artificial
refinements of polished life, and which is supposed to characterize
our unculiivated ancestors, is not easy to delineate. It will there-
fore be thought no slender compliment to the abilities of this inge-
nious Writer to say that, in this part of his present work, he has
displayed the same judgment and taite which have been remarked
in some of his former publications.

Whatever may be the difficulties that the poet encounters, who
attempts to describe manners at a dillance to remote from the pre-
sent, they are, in a great measure, counter balanced by the advan-
ta, es he will gain in the construction of his fable. Unrestrained by
an attention to that propriety of conduct and occurrences which is
expected in modern story, he may give a loose to the reins of fiction,
without danger of exciting either weariness or disgust. Events,
which in themselves are not only romantic but improbable, will fre-
quently, when viewed through the medium of antiquity, assume an
air which is at once both graceful and engaging. That false glare
of colouring, which shocks the eye of the spectator when brought
too near, will, when placed at due distance, acquire a mellowners
which has every effect of juit painting. This observation may, with
peculiar propriety, be appiied to the principal incident in the

poem before us.

As a specimen of the poem, and as a justification of the opinion
we have given of it, we shall subjoin the following extract :

• The hoary paltor near the village-fane
Receiv'd the honour'd chief and all his train :
This holy, meek, disinterested man
Had form'd his ueful life on duty's plan :
Unpractis'd in those arts that teach to rise,
The vacant mitre ne'er allur'd his eyes.
Regardless still of dilipation's call,
He seldom tarried at the festive hall,
Where all around the storied texture hung,
Where pfaltries founded, and where minitrels sung i
But to the humble cot's neglected door
The sacred man the balm of comfort bore :
Still would he listen to the injur'd swain,
For he who liftens mitigates the pain :
There was he feen reclining o'er the bed,
Where the pale maidan bow'd her anguish'd head;
Where, reft of hope, the yielding victim lay,
And like a wreath of snow difTolu'd away:
With feeling foul the pattor oft enquir'd
Where the meek train of Glent grief retir'd,
Shame that declines her forrows to impart,
The drooping spirit, and the broken heart.
He ne'er the friar's gaping wallet fed,
But to the widow sent his loaf of bread:
រ 5.

His

C..t,

IS.

His fce to Rome reluctantly he paid,
And call'd the Pardoner's a pilf’ring trade.
The facred Píalter well he knew to gloss,
And on its page illuminate the Cross :
The written Missal on the altar seen,
Inclos'd in velvet of the richest green,
Display'd initials by his fancy plann'd,
Whore brilliant colours own'd his kilful hand,
This gaily-letter'd book his art devis'd,
The temple's only ornament compriz'd:
The hallow'd service of this modelt fane
(Far from the splendour of a choral train)
Could boait no labour'd chaunt, no solemn rites,
No clouds of incense, and no pomp of lights,
But at the plain and lowly altar llands
The village priest with pure uplifted hands,
Invoking from above, Heav'n's guardian care,

In all the meek fimplicity of pray'r.'
Art. 28. Epistle from the Honourable Charles Fox, Partridge-

Shooting, to the Honourable John Townshend, cruifing. 4to.
Faulder. 1779.

Few poems that we have lately met with have afforded us more pleasure than the little epistle which is now before us.

It is not only terse and elegant, but replete, also, with a kind of pleasantry which is, in fome degree, peculiar to itlelf; a pleasantry unembittered by the gall of party or personal fatire: it is very rarely chat true humour and good humour are so happily blended. The Epistle opens with the following lines :

• While you, dear TOWNSHEND, o'er the billows ride,
MULGRAVE in front, and HANGER by thy fide,
Me it delights the woods and wilds to court,
For rustic feats and unambitious sport.

• At that dim hoor when fading lamps expire,
When the last, ling'ring clubs to bed retire,
I rise!--how should I then thy feelings shock,
Unshav’d, unpowder'd, in my shooting frock!
What frock? thou crieit-i'll tell thee--the old brown ;
Trimm'd to a jacket, with the skirts cut down
Thou laugh'it ; I know, thou do'st; but check that sneer;
What though no fashion'd Sportsman I appear,
Yet hence ihy CHARLE 's voice gains Thriller force ;
Ah! Jack, if Dunning shot, be'd not be hoarse.

• Nor deem ev'n here the cares of state forgot,
I wad with gazettes ev'ry second shot:
ALMON's bold sheets the intervals supply;

And still, methinks, his charges fartheft Ay.' The company and entertainment with which he purposes to celebrate his friend's return, bear such evident marks of taste and good judgment, that we fould elteam curfeives happy in having a card or invitation to be of the party :

· That night, to festive wit and friendship due, That night air, CHARLES's board shall welcome you.

Sallads,