object of confequence, folid and permanent as the rock of which it is compofed. Art. 25. Serious Matter for the Confideration of the Members of both Houses of Parliament, during the Chriflmas recefs. Being Propofals for difpofing of Convicts, and for rendering them ufeful to the Community; in a Manner agreeable to the ideas of feveral Magiftrates. By an Independent Man. 8vo. 6 d. Kearsley, &c. Experience has fufficiently demonftrated the fatal effects of confining convicts for limited terms, in hopes of reforming their morals, and then expofing the public to a renewal of their depredations. The prefent plan is to fend young offenders on board prifon-ships, ftationed near the guard-fhips at the Nore; there to be clothed, maintained, and taught the common manual operations of feamanship, and when fit, to be drafted off on board ships going on service. Thofe rejected on board the navy, the Author would fend to the Shetland Inlands, to be kept in fervitude for ftipulated terms; thofe fent to Africa as foldiers, having been reported to defert to the Dutch with their arms and accoutrements. He adds, that he submits every thing neceffary for clearing the plan of legal obftructions, to the wif dom of the Legislature, being confident that it may receive fuch improvements, in a Committee of the House of Commons, as may render it of extenfive benefit: and we trust, that his well-meant and well-timed hints will not be overlooked by those who superintend the internal police of the country. Art. 26. A Letter to Mr. Debret, being an Anfwer to "Lucubrations during a fhort Recefs +" which Pamphlet contains a Plan for altering the Reprefentation of the People. To which is added, dedicated to the Right Hon. Wm. Pitt, a Plan for the immediate Payment of the National Debt; to be inferted in the Bill for amending the Reprefentation, that the whole may form a complete Syftem. 8vo. 1 s. Bladon. 1783. Mr. Sinclair is treated with great illiberality in this production, as well by its being addreffed to his publisher, as in the tart ftile of examining his plan for reforming the representation of the people. The fubject is, indeed, too important, and includes too many confiderations, for the difcuffion of fuch light pens as that of the writer now before us; for while political reafoning on popular rights, dictates an extenfion of the right of election; expediency, on a review of the various diforders incident to popular elections, may dictate rather a contraction of fuch a privilege. There is, perhaps, the lefs reafon to urge the projected reform if we attend to two writers, far more equal to their task than Mr. Debret's correfpondent; the first of whom I contends, that the most able and public-spirited members of the House of Commons, have reprefented thofe boroughs which Some letters introduced, relating to the plan, are addressed to G. P. Towry, Efq; Golden-fquare. + See Rev. Vol. LXVI. p. 383. Letter to the Author of Lucubrations, &c. Rev. Vol. LXVII. P. 303. N 3 are are efteemed to be under the greatest influence; and the latter, that it is dangerous to attempt fpeculative improvements on a conftitution which was not fiift formed on theory, and which time and experience have at length matured, and fuited fo admirably to our circumftances and habits of thinking. Objections of fuch weight call for due deliberation, and no writer, on fubjects of political import, merits attention, who is not fuperior to the bias of party, or littleness of fpirit, that taints fo many of our publications with acrimony and vulgar infults. Art. 27. A Vindication of the Earl of Shelburne, from the unjust and virulent Afperfions in a Pamphlet, intitled, "A Defence of the Earl of Shelburne," and addreffed To Sir George Saville, Bart." In a Letter to Sir George Saville, Bart. 8vo. 1 s. Debrett, &c. 1782. This is a well written, but vague, answer to the ironical invective it applies to; which is afcribed to a fublime and beautiful orator, who, nevertheless, appears to have harangued and fcribbled himself down to the common ftandard.' This Writer, and we wish the circumflance may be attended to, does not elevate himself above the common ftandard, by declaring, "I thank God, that I am fo perfely independent, both in fortune and, difpofition, that I have lived half a century, without ever once feeling either occafion or inclination to ask or receive a favour from any man in power." All this may be true; for, we have other hints of the like kind in the pamphlet. But who is this independent man? A writer from a garret in Grub freet may profefs as much. If, therefore, anonymous writers with us to credit their boafted independence and affluence, the only way to convince the public of the truth of their pretenfions, would be to print on royal paper, with gilt edges, and fell them at half price: and if they dare venture to affix their names, this will be a further proof of their independence. Art: 28. A Reply to the Defence of the Earl of Shelburne, in which the Fallehood, Calumny, and Malavolence of that Pamphlet are expofed, and refuted, 8vo. and refuted, 8vo. Is. Payne, Pallmall. 1783. It is not by fuch loofe, general panegyric as this writer opposes to the infidious defender of the Minifter, that the noble Earl is to be fupported: therefore, until his caufe is undertaken by fome advocate of fuitable abilities, his Lordship must trust to the best of all support, the rectitude of his own conduct, for justification. Art. 29. An Examination into the Principles, Conduct, and Defigns, of the Earl of Shelburne. Taken from a late Speech. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Stockdale. 1783. This Examiner is a virulent affociate of the Corrector t, in the em. ployment of abufing the E. of S. in an indecent commentary on the 1peech referred to: we fay abuse, because whatever may be the real opinion this obfcure defamer entertains of the Minifter, he expresses Dialogue on the A&tual State of Parliament; fee our laf Review. + See Rev. December laft, p. 465. See the Corrector's Remarks in our last month's Review. it in the moft offenfive, illiberal ftyle. In brief, he raves in too outrageous a manner, for any fober reader to be influenced by his coarse declamation. Parties will never be gainers by employing fuch intemperate agents. Art. 30. Confideration of Taxes: Submitted in a Series of Letters to Lord North, his Majesty's late First Lord of the Treafury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. To which are prefixed a Memorial to the Lords Commiffioners of his Majesty's Treafury; and a Letter to Richard Burke, Efq. By J. R. Staub, Notary Public. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Stockdale. 1782. Mr. Staub having generously correfponded, during five years, with Lord North, on the fubjects of taxation and public credit, without · any notice being taken of his letters; thought proper, on the change of the Ministry, to write alfo to Mr. Burke, Joint Secretary to the Treafury, incloning copies of his letters to Lord North, for the confideration of the new commiffioners at that board: but these alfo failing to recommend him to notice, he finished his correfpondence by a memorial to the Lords of the Treafury, ftating his pretenfions to fome reward, as the firft propofer of the tax on bills of exchange and notes of hand, in the above-mentioned letters; and by this final appeal to the Public at large, we are left to infer, that he is equally diffatisfied with all his ftate correfpondents. What Mr. Staub may expect from this publication, is difficult to guess; but from a review of its contents, and of the treatment he has received, we freely declare, that we think few could justly blame him did his refentment, for the contempt fhewn him by two Adminiftrations, even provoke him to withhold his affifiance from all minifters whatever, and leaving the State to take care of itself, to confine his future attention wholly to his own proper concerns, at No. 14, in Sweeting's Alley. AMERICAN. Art. 31. A Reply to Sir Henry Clinton's Narrative. Wherein his numerous Errors are pointed out, and the Conduct of Lord Cornwallis fully vindicated from all Afperfion: including the whole of the Public and Secret Correfpondence between Lord George Germaine, Sir Henry Clinton, and his Lordship; as alfo intercepted Letters from General Washington. 8vo. 2s. Faulder, &c. 1783. In this anonymous reply, Lord Cornwallis is vindicated from the misconception of orders, and difcretionary conduct, ftated in Sir Henry Clinton's narrative; and Sir Henry is charged with holding out delufive promifes of fuccour to his Lordship. It is not always easy, after reading both fides, in fuch complicated tranfactions, clearly to determine where the blame refts; but it is easy to see who is best acquainted with decency; and we cannot avoidremarking, that Sir H. C. relates his story in a plain modeft file, that gives dignity to his narrative: whereas, every page in this reply is debated with fuch illiberal epithets and farcaltic turns of expreffon, as (whatever may be the concealed writer's intentions) are very far from doing any fervice to the caufe he has undertaken. Lord C.'s own defence of himself in our next. For the Narrative, fee our laft Month's Catalogue. Art. 1 Art. 32. The Conflitutions of the feveral Independent States of America; the Declaration of Independence; the Articles of Confederation between the States; the Treaties between his most Christian Majesty and the United States of America. Published by Order of Congress. Philadelphia printed. London reprinted. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Stockdale, &c. 1782. This interefting publication (of the authenticity of which there can be no doubt) contains, take it altogether, a greater portion of unfophifticated wisdom and good fenfe, than is, perhaps, to be met with in any other legislative code that was ever yet framed. It is, in fhort, as the Editor remarks, the book which may be confidered as the Magna Charta of the United American States; which the oppofite parties among them will at all times claim, in fome respect or other, and the knowledge of which is therefore neceffary to fuch perfons as wish to understand the present or future internal American politics. EAST IN DIE S. Art. 33. A Letter to Governor Johnstone, &c. &c. on Indian Affairs. 8vo. I s. Bladon. 1783. A well written letter, ftrongly in favour of continuing Governor Haftings in his appointment, to finish the great work of reftoring Eaftern tranquillity, which he is fo prudently purfuing for the Company's advantage, and the national honour. The Writer infifts much on the contrary principles on which both miniftry and oppofition unite in his recall; and complains of the danger the East India Company is expofed to, as well from the too frequent inftances of parliamentary interpofition, as from the encroaching patronage of the crown. To have our fecrets expofed, he observes, aur plans fufpended, our directors intimidated, and our arrangements thrown into confufion, by reiterated formalities of legislative inveftigation; tend ultimately to damp the fpirit of mercantile enterprife, to difcompofe that orderly mechanifm which is the very foul of extenfive trade, and to clog all the intricate operations of credit.'-All this is very true; but when a confederacy of merchants are fo enterprifing as to engage in wars, treaties, and other acts of fovereignty, it must be expected, that the government from which they derive their powers, and to which they look for protection, will fometimes enquire what they are doing. POETICAL. Art. 34. A Letter in Verfe, from a married Man to his own Wife, written in a Garden. Together with a Poetical Epiftle from an unfortunate young Lady at Portsmouth to her Lover. 4to. I s. - 6 d. Becket. 1782. The letter confifts of emblematical illuftrations, drawn from various productions of the garden, of the Author's domeflic fituations, and feelings. The poetical epifle is, it seems, founded on fome recent fact, which, we fuppofe, is well known at the place from whence it is dated. The following lines will give some idea both of the story on which the poem is founded, and of the manner in which it is executed : He took me from a gracious father's hand, A guile A guileless lamb, of no dark guile afraid, And lipt his hand, nor fear'd the butcher's knife: Wak'd from the fatal dream, convulfive thought Spoke my foul wrongs-but ah, congealing fears In fpeechlefs and unutterable fmart The fecret thorn lay feftering in my heart.' Art. 35. The Triumph of Liberty, and Peace with America. A Poem. 4to. 2 S. Walker. 1782. This was published in May laft, by way of exultation on the prospect of peace; but, through fome accident, it escaped our notice at the time of its appearance.-The Author is to be confidered rather as a prophet than a poet. His work manifefts the goodness of his mind, but does not indicate a fingle ray of poetic infpiration. Art. 36. The Beauties of Administration. A Poem. With an heroic Race to the Palace, between L-d Sh-lb-ne and the Hon. C. J. F-x. 4to. 3 s. Hooper. 1782. In this sketch of the reigning political characters, we meet with fome lively, though common place ideas, expreffed in tolerable verfe. Some lines, indeed, are excellent; and had this diffuse and defultory poem been compreffed within the compafs of one-fourth of its prefent bulk, the Author's reputation would not, perhaps, have fuffered by it. In its prefent itate a want of energy is obfervable through the whole of it. Art. 37. Verfes addressed to Mrs. Siddons. By the Rev. Mr. Whalley, Author of Edwy and Edilda; Fatal Kiss, &c. Cadell. 1782. An elegant compliment to the dramatic excellence of a very admirable actress. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 38. Deformities of Dr. Samuel Johnson. Works. Edinburgh printed. 8vo. 1 s. London. Selected from his Sold by Stockdale, This feems to be the production of fome ingenious but angry Scotchman, who has taken great pains to prove, what all the world knows, that there are many exceptionable paffages in the writings of Dr. Johnson. There are, however, few spots in this literary luminary now pointed out that have not been discovered before. Sa that |