MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For APRIL, 1765. POLITICA L. Art. 1. The Political Balance. In which the Principles and Conduct of the two Parties are weighed. 8vo. I s. Becket. A LTHOUGH this masterly Writer was well aware, as he intimates, at his out-fet, that he was going to tread on the very ground which Horace has defcribed, Per ignes And that where so much must be said of persons and tranfactions so very recent, it would not be poffible to avoid the imputation of flattery, and of fatire: yet he fteps on, with bold and manly confidence, till arriving at the top of Conftitution-hill, he there fixes his ftation, as a proper eminence from whence to take a distinct view of the conduct of both parties. Whether the vicinity of the court may not, however, have af fected his optics, we cannot venture to pronounce: but it fo happens that he has thrown all the merit, all the praise of well doing, into the minifterial scale, which preponderates accordingly; while the oppofite, or oppofition-feale, being filled only with the air-bubbles of faction and falfe patriotifm, very naturally flies up, and kicks the beam. A writer in favour of the Ins, will always be confidered by the Outs, and their partizans, as under ministerial influence; therefore, whether our Author be really fo biaffed or not, every thing he fays, every argu ment he urges, will be regarded with fufpicion. Though he should have borrowed the balance from JUSTICE herfelf, ftill the hand that holds it will be diftrufted, or the weights deemed fraudulent; even if TRUTH had given them her ftamp. This political Balancer, however zealous for the prefent administra tion, preferves the appearance at least of the utmost regard to freedom of enquiry into matters of government: not a Pym nor a Hampden could feem more attached to the natural rights of the people, in this respect. It is (fays he) of the very effence of a free government, that the citizens of it should be awake and attentive to the fituation of the state; that they should examine the conduct, compare the characters, and if poffible penetrate the defigns of the feveral parties of which it is compofed. This employment of their thoughts is a manly and an ufeful one; it is to liberty what confcioufnefs is to the mind, the act in which fhe moft fenfibly perceives her own existence and powers. It has that utility in the political which the elaftic power of the air has in the natural fyftem; if it be constantly exercifed, it preferves the whole mafs untainted, and molt effectually prevents or checks the weak or corrupt tendencies of the feveral parts.' All this looks fair, candid, and open; and gives the Author very much the appearance of one of thofe bold champions who defire nothing but a clear ftage and no favour. He proceeds: X 2 If ever this attention was particularly required, it is now. The ftate is divided into two parties; the profeffed purposes of the feveral chiefs of these are as contrary as their principles and characters.'-This feems, by the way, to have been rather the state of things fome months ago, than at prefent; for as to the patriots who fo lately figured in the oppofition, we wot not what is become of them.-The party is here, nevertheless, confider'd as ftill exifting; and fo, indeed, it probably was, at the time when the Author began to write this ingenious and elaborate review of its proceedings, commencing with the operations of the fummer-campaign, in 1763. The two parties (continues he) are to be confider'd with refpect to their prin iples of government, to their fyftem of foreign policy, and to their domeftic administration. The characters of the leaders of them, so far as they influence their plans, must be marked; the tenor of their condu& muit be recollected. These are the grounds of that comparison which we should draw; on these the judgment of the public will be formed: thefe are the purposes of this pamphlet.' Accordingly he fets out with a brief ftate of the fituation in which they were at the beginning of the above-mentioned period, as well as of the means by which they had been brought into that fituation. In this, however, he employs but a few fhort paragraphs, ere he arrives at the close of the feffion of parliament 1763, when the care of the pub. lic bufinefs in the house of commons devolved upon Mr. Grenville: the hero of this performance.-From this period, the Author dates the political falvation of thefe kingdoms: the balance is now held forth; and the great atchievements of the new, fteady, conftitutional statesman, are weighed with the proceedings of the oppofition-party. That the latter are found wanting, greatly wanting indeed, we have already intimated; and fhall now only refer to the particulars here exhibited, in the words of Milton, as exultingly applied by our Author, in his motto: For proof look up, And read thy lot in yn celeftial fign, Where thou art weigh'd, and shewn bow light, how weak. We fhall only add, that those who are defirous of feeing a clear and comprehenfive account of the proceedings of administration, fince Mr. Grenville took the lead, in that important department which he now fills; and of the feveral fruitless efforts of the anti-minifterial party; may The principal objects of attack and defence, here brought into view, are, the point of privilege, in Wilkes's cafe; the cyder-bill; and the general warrants; in all which, the conduct of the miniftry is reprefented in the most advantageous light; while that of the oppofition is exploded as malignant, felf-interested, and abfurd.-The wiidom of administration is fet forth, in refpect of the following measures:-The ridding us of German connections, with all their train of fubfidies, guaranties, extras, quotes, and dedomagements; the regulation of the colonies; the improvement of the finances; the bill for reftraining the privilege of franking poft-letters; with fome other important particulars: nor is the King's generous contribution of 700,000l. over-looked. This, indeed, was fuch a folid proof of his Majesty's paternal tenderness and love for may here meet with ample gratification. How far all the very fenfible Writer's representations are confiftent with ftrict impartiality and truth, we cannot pretend to determine. If they are fallacious, it is to be hoped there will not be wanting men, who have opportunities of information, to fet the public right, and prevent their being impofed on by the artifice, or plaufibility of those who are the more dangerous for their abilities. If, on the other hand, our Author is found to have given a juft and fair view of the particulars which he undertook to lay before the public, let him not be denied the praife that is due to his ingenuity, his fpirit, and fidelity to his caufe; nor (if fuch there be) let those who have honeftly and fkilfully exerted themfelves in the fervice of their country and their king, be deprived of the plaudit fo emphatically beftowed on a fimilar occafion-Well done! thou good and faithful fervant ! Art. 2. The Mutual Intereft of Great Britain and the American Colonies confidered, with refpect to an Act paffed laft Seffions of Parliament, for laying a Duty on Merchandize, &c. With fome Remarks on a Pamphlet entitled, Objections to the Taxation. of the American Colonies, &c. confidered. In a Letter to a Member of Parliament. 4to. 6d. Nicoll. In our laft month's catalogue, we mentioned the pamphlet entitled Objections, &c. on which the prefent Writer hath animadverted, with plain good fenfe, and a becoming zeal for the liberties of his fellowfubjects of North-America. He is not an elegant writer; but, which is of more importance to his fubject, he appears, as far as we can judge from so small a tract, to be well acquainted with the mutual intereft and natural connection between this country and her colonies. As for his remarks on the act alluded to in his title-page, they are fuch as we dare not venture to decide upon; for if he is right, the act in queftion is certainly wrong, and abfurd in the highest degree. Art. 3. Thoughts on a Question of Importance propofed to the Public, Whether it is probable that the immenfe Extent of Territory acquired by this Nation at the late Peace, will operate towards the Profperity or the Ruin of the Ifland of Great Britain? 8vo. 1s. Dixwell. The Author feems to determine this Queftion against us; but he fpeaks modeftly, as every man of fenfe will, on a fubject of fo much difficulty and confequence. He confeffes, that although he has thought a good deal upon it, in the moft cool and difpaffionate manner, yet his own opinion is ftill in a great measure undetermined. He has, however, examined the queftion, to the utmost of his abilities, with the his people, as ought never to be forgotten. It was fuch a donation as I believe (fays our Author) exceeds the generosity of all the kings who ever fat, before him, on the English throne.' Nevertheless, while we give unto CÆSAR the praise that is CESAR's due; let us never fuffer minifiers, or their agents, to lull us into a fecurity that may be fatal: for fince government is the deareft commodity purchated with the people's money, caveat emptor fhould ever be the people's maxim, X 3 laudable laudable view of exciting the public attention to a point of fuch vaft importance. His fears for his country are great; but he hopes, if they are groundless, it will be made apparent that they are fo: if otherwise, he wishes that the best means were pointed out for retarding our ruin as much as poffible. He is not a first rate writer, nor does he pretend to any skill in mercantile affairs; but he is a thinking, rational man; and what he offers to the confideration of the public, being folely intended for their advantage, moft certainly deferves their ferious confideration. Art. 4. Some Remarks upon a Plan of a Bill propofed to Parliament, for amending the Highways by Affement, infead of Six Days Labour. By R. Whitworth, Efq; one of his Majefty's Juftices of the Peace, for the County of Stafford. Folio. 2s. 6d. DodЛley. That the ftatute-labour on the roads has hitherto proved of very little fervice to the public, is a fact fo well known, and fo generally complained of, that it feems high time indeed to fall upon fome new scheme; that of an affeffment inftead of the fix days no labour (for fuch hath ufually proved to be the cafe) seems most likely to answer the end. The late bill for this purpofe (which the houfe hath put off to a long day) was in itself, as the judicious Author of thefe Remarks obferves, certainly a right thing,' but the manner in which it is to be done,' does not feem to him to be thoroughly digefted.'. He has, therefore, entered on a particular examination of the plan, claufe by clause, and pointed out many very confiderable defects in it; with a view that when the fame bill fhall be propofed, next feffions, it may be differently modelled, and better digefted. With the fame view, alfo, he has drawn up, and added to thefe Remarks, a new plan of a bill to be propofed to parliament, founded on the fame idea of an affeffment inftead of fix day's labour; which does not feem liable to fo many, or so important objections as the late plan. Art. 5. The State of the Nation, with a preliminary Defence of the Budget. 4to. 1s. Almon. This important eftimate of the prefent political ftate of the nation. feems to come from the author of the celebrated Budget; and is divided into two parts. The first part contains the defence of the Budget, against the Remarks on that performance: fee Review for January laft, p. 68, The fecond part contains the ftate of the nation, with regard to its income, expenditure, and unfunded debt; and to the whole is added a poftfcript, relating to the loan of 1,500,000l. which was opened to the public on the 13th of March-Notwithitanding the acrimony with which the Author ftill purfues the miniftry, we cannot but recommend his production to the notice of our political Readers, on account of the many calculations and eftimates it contains, and which appear to be drawn from the most authentic and only proper fources. Whether the Remarker may not ftill, as before, bring out different conclufions from the fame premifes, and ftill protract the difpute, time will fhew. Art. 6. Art. 6. A Detection of gross Impasitions on the Parliament, with refpect to two Acts paffed the laft Seffions. In a Letter to R. B. Efq; By J. Gee, Gainsborough. 8vo. 6 d. Lincoln, printed by W. Wood, fold by Baldwin in London. Mr. Gee appears to be a warm but fenfible man, fomewhat heated by his apprehenfions that his country will greatly fuffer in respect of the culture of hemp and flax, by fome late measures taken to encourage the importation of thefe materials from our colonies; particularly the act for allowing a bounty on American hemp, &c. which he confiders as a most impolitic measure, tending to ruin ourselves, for the fake of enriching the Americans. He paffes great encomiums on the Irish, for the wifdom of their proceedings for the encouragement of their linnen trade and recommends to us an imitation of their policy. In brief, he feems to be well acquainted with his fubject; and as that fubject is a matter of very great confequence to this kingdom, his tract ought to be duly confidered, efpecially by thofe who are most immediately concerned. Art. 7. The real North-Briton Extraordinary, relative to the EastIndia Affairs; which was expected with much Eagerness by the Public on the 7th of April 1763; but for particular Reafons was thought proper at that Time to be fuppreffed. By a Popular Gentleman, now abroad. Folio. 6d. Moran. Written by Mr. Wilkes, at the time above-mentioned, in defence of Mr. Rous. There is no doubt of its authenticity; but the publication feems to have followed the occafion at too great a diftance. This paper is alfo inferted in the third volume of the original North-Briton; which was never publifbed, although we have feen it in print, Art. 8. A Letter from Sir Gregory Gazette, to his Friend in the Country, 8vo. 6d. Towers. Under the affumed name of Sir Gregory Gazette, we have heard, that a perfon of real diftinction is here concealed. Be that as it may, the fubject of this letter is of fome importance to the public, though it is fuch as we should feldom expect to fee the pen of a Sir or a Lord any body, employed in difcuffing, viz. the injury fuftained by the public, from the trade carried on by a fet of monopolizers called Carcafebutchers, Thefe wholefale dealers in beef and mutton appear to our Author in a very bad light. • The carcafe-butcher (fays he) is a tax upon the neceffaries of life, a toll upon the market, a caufer of artificial famine, and a ufurer.'-In another place he pleasantly remarks, that⚫ to fuffer a fet of fellows to form a line of circumvallation round the metropolis, and to permit them, like the arch-felon, Cacus, to drag backward by the tail the fat beaft, or the drove that is fit for food, into his den, till he has made an arbitrary gain upon them, is contrary to justice, and to common fenfe, and would be, in fact, establishing foreHalling by authority.' Art. 9. A Letter to a Member of Parliament. Propofing Amendments to the Laws against Foreftallers, Ingroffers, and Regrators; X 4 and |