an effect in raising the price. By the public, provisions are drawn out of the market in innumerable little channels: but Government at once opens a sluice.-The author recommends, as a remote remedy, for the evil of scarcity, the bringing of waste lands into cultivation; taking it as a point demonstrated that our agriculture is not equal to our population; and for immediate resources, he advises importationthe abolition of the assize-taking steps to stop prosecutions against dealers in corn, and to quiet popular prejudices against them-enforcing the act of last session, respecting stale bread-and to stop the distilleries, and the making of starch and hair powder. He concludes with protesting against the measure of a maximum. Art. 49. A Temperate Discussion of the Causes which have led to the present high Price of Bread. Addressed to the Plain Sense of the People. vo. IS. Wright. Temper and good sense certainly discover themselves in this pamphlet ; the author of which assumes, in a great measure, the principles laid down in the Inquiry just mentioned. He contends that the high price of wheat and bread is not the effect of monopoly and combination;-nor of the speculations of the farmer, the corn-dealer, or the miller;-nor the consequence of the war;-though these things may have had their weight in the scale. He observes that the late crop has been remarkably uneven; and that, (in addition to the circumstance of a harvest on the whole perhaps defective,) the failure of the turnip crops having left more land open for wheat, and the fineness of the sowing season having caused more wheat to be sown, (which for the present has somewhat interrupted the threshing of corn for market,) the dearness of the moment has thus been augmented. This cause, however, cannot be of long duration, and will tend to produce a more abundant harvest for the next year.-The quantity of seed corn, we are here informed, is estimated at not less thau six or seven weeks consumption. Art. 50. Corn Trade. An Examination of certain Commercial Principles in their Application to Agriculture and the Corn Trade, as laid down in the Fourth Boek of Mr. (Dr.) Adam Smith's Treatise on the Wealth of Nations. With Proposals for Revival of the Statutes against Forestalling, &c. 8vo. IS Stockdale. Dr. Adam Smith's principles of free trade, and his arguments in their support, are admitted by this examiner to be just and good, as they generally relate to articles of trade and commerce: but he contends that an exception ought to be made with respect to bread corn, and that the dealers in it ought to have the arm of regulation and control held over them. To his reasoning we have given our best attention: but it has been insufficient to make us converts to his doctrine. We are of opinion that the country would not be benefited by the legislative interference which he recommends. Evils of one kind will to a certain degree generate evils of another: but, in seasons of real scarcity, the very circumstance of feeding the market, which he objects to the jobber, is an advantage. Then the interest of the public is as much concerned in withholding from as in supplying the markets. Art: Art. 51. Patriotic Competition against Self-interested Combination, recommended; by a [an] Union between the Nobility, the Landed, and Independent Interest, the Clergy, and Consumer; with a View of reducing Commodities from their Money, or Market, Price, to their Real, or Labour, Price. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Ridgway. The national debt and taxes, war, the abuse of the paper system, the manœuvres of trade, and an insufficient supply of grain, are here considered as the sources of our existing evils. The remedies suggested are of a two fold nature: such as must flow from the legis lature, and such as depend on the exertions of individuals. To the latter, the attention of the public is here more particularly directed. Noblemen, gentlemen, clergy, and persons in the higher classes of society, are exhorted to associate for the purpose of forming--county banks; to enable the county to purchase articles of provision by wholesale and by importation, with the view of retailing them to com sumers, through the medium of public shops, &c. We may be cxcused from detailing the particulars of this plan; which, in our opinion, is too wild and indigested to attract much attention in the present distressed state of the kingdom. Art. 52. Debrett. 2s. 6s. In reviewing the scarcity pamphlets, (which, regardless of the scarcity of paper, have issued in such abundance from the press,) we have been obliged to content ourselves with little more than taking a rapid glance at their contents, without diverging into separate discussion; but the publication now before us would almost tempt us to deviate from the practice which we have pursued, did not our time and limits forbid. On the state of the poor*, and on the impolicy of our legal system and general conduct respecting them, much might be said in addition to Mr. Brewer's just and humane observations. Our union of opinion, however, is but partial. We do not admire his reasoning against Dr. Adam Smith, nor his insinuation that the English corn-dealer may shake hands with the Dutch spice-merchant.' Declamations against monopoly, forestalling, engrossing, &c. may be well meant: but, being of an inflammatory nature, they are likely to produce more harm than good. We were surprized that Mr. B. after his condemnations of monopolists, should speak in favour of a particular monopoly +; and, with a total forgetfulness of the universal spirit of trade, attri bute that to pure benevolence which must to a considerable extent have been prompted, as all trading combinations are, by motives of gain. As to his project of a system of excise extending to the farmer and corn dealer, with a regular board of commissioners and subordinate officers, we shall only observe that we are not yet converts to the plan. The general solicitude scess to extend to making provisions for the poor, while we are inattentive to the more essential point of leading them to be provident for themselves. The London Flour Company. Art Art. 53. A short Enquiry into the Nature of Monopoly and Fore stalling. A Third Edition, with considerable Additions. By Edward Morris, Esq. Barrister at Law. 8vo. Is. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1800. A former edition of this well-written and able pamphlet was noticed by us in vol. 20. p.115. N. S.; and considering the narrow views which still operate on the minds of sensible men respecting the corn-trade, its republication with additions is very seasonable. Mr. Morris is a Smithian, and well defends the principle (now combated by some) laid down by the author of "The Wealth of Nations", respecting the good policy of allowing the freedom of trade. He maintains that the interests of the corn-dealer and of the public are inseparable; and that advance of price is the best way of enforcing public economy. He denies that there can be a combination, to any serious extent, for raising the price of grain; and he is of opinion that the supply of the public is judiciously regulated by corn-dealers, and at the least expence. To reserve corn at one time, in order to distribute it at another; or to take corn from any one market, in order to convey it to another; occasions no national evil; the corn is equally consumed, though the mouths which consume it are not the same: so far from having any prejudicial effect, if the scarcity in the market to which it is conveyed be greater than in that from which it was taken, the public are greatly relieved. Our object ought to be, not that corn or any other article of provision should be plentiful at any particular time or any particular place, but that it should be found plentiful, if possible, but at all events in equal distribution, throughout the different periods of the year, and over every part of the kingdom.' This is the true light in which the subject ought to be contemplated. To a supply from abroad, we must add judicious manage ment at home. PHILOSOPHY. Art: 54. Elements of the Chemical and Natural History of Mineral ker, &c. We have taken notice of the original of this work in page 565 of our 28th vol. The translation appears on perusal to be very aceurate, and to retain all the clearness and perspicuity which characte rise this excellent elementary book. No superfluous notes have been added to it, but only a few simple explanations, where they were absolutely requisite. Works like this ought always to be given in their original shape; they cannot but lose some of their merit, if they are either abridged or extended. Art. 55. On the Origin of Government, and the Excellence of the British Constitution, preached at the Assizes holden for the County of Southampton, 5th March, 18co, before Sir Soulden Laurence, Knt. and Arthur Palmer, Esq. By Daniel Lancaster, A. B. Curate of South Stoneham. 8vo. IS. Cadell jun. and Davies. 5 Submission Submission to government justly appointed, and to righteous and reasonable laws, is the dictate of nature and religion; and this, we conceive, is that for which this writer pleads. He applauds the Revolution in 1688, deprecates Jacobinism, commends the present Administration, and very properly exhorts us to the conscientious discharge of the duties of our respective professions ;' since, he observes, good laws without good morals will soon lose their influence; and the best government under a relaxation of manners is hastening to decay.' The discourse is well written. Art. 56. The proper Improvement of Divine Chastening, recommended to National Attention. Preached at Clapham, 12th March, 1800, by T. Urwick. 8vo. 18. Cadell jun. and Davies. We think that this must be acknowleged to be a plain, serious, and useful discourse, whether the reader approves all the sentiments which it contains, or is inclined to dispute some of the author's remarks. Without at present entering into a particular discussion of any such points, we would join in recommending that repentance, reformation, and proper improvement of our great national calamities, which are calmly and affectionately urged by this respectable preacher. Art. 57. The Superiority of Religious Duties to Worldly Considerations. Preached at the Unitarian Chapel in Essex-Street, London. April 20, 1800. By John Disney, D. D. F. A. S. 8vo. 6d. Johnson. This discourse is pointed against a parent-vice of the present age, from which many others derive their being. When moral and religious principle is daily sacrificed for the mean considerations of vanity, pride, and worldly interest, it is the duty of the Christian preacher to expostulate with his fellow-creatures, on the extreme folly as well as wickedness of such a conduct. Dr. D. has performed this duty with seriousness, and has shewn the wisdom of making every sublunary object subservient to our obedience to the will of God. Art. 58. Preached in the Chapels of Princes-Street, Westminster, on February 16th, and Essex-Street, Strand, on February 23d, 1800, by Joshua Toulmin, D. D. 8vo. Is. Johnson. An excellent Discourse, tending to correct a prevalent and mischievous mistake. The subject is, "The Lord of hosts is his name." Jer. xxxii. 18.-This title, so appropriate to Jehovah, is sometimes considered as meaning, the God of armies or of battles,' intimating that he favours these hosts with a peculiar care;' and 'thus men are led to conceive (says this writer) that in the title of the "Lord of hosts" there is a sanction to political hostility and blood-shed.'-It is by no means surprizing that Voltaire should have availed himself of this misapprehension, to point his arrows against Divine revelation: but it might have been expected that Christian ministers, instead of countenancing, would apply themselves to rectify the error. Dr. Toulmin observes that the English word Host corresponds to three different words in the Hebrew; two of which appear to signify camps, or bodies of men equipped for the field, and disposed in mili tary tary order. The third word, which is used in the text, viz. Sabaoth and is the only term of the three connected with the name of God, and used as expressive of his character, seldom signifieth military bodies of men, and is of wide and extensive import :-it includes and chiefly intends the heavenly bodies; the sun, the moon, and the stars. This explication is supported by several just remarks; and Dr. T. hence draws the inference that this name of God has been greatly mistaken and abused, when it has been supposed to teach us to look up to him as the patron of war:- it is consolation to reflect, that like other evils, this is under the controul of the supreme Lord of heaven and earth; and will be over-ruled, by his commanding influence, to do good: but it is not from his delight in it, nor his agency in it, that the Almighty derives his name, The Lord of Hosts. This title proceeds from his being the Creator and Sovereign of all things in heaven and earth.' There was a peculiar propriety in the title on another account; as the God of the Jews, the only true God, formed all those bodies, the host of heaven, which the nations around adored and worshipped as their deities. Here the author finds an argument highly favourable to the divinity of the Old Testament; and he proceeds to observe; what a glorious and magnificent conception doth this subject lead us to form of the Great Jehovah.-They who interpret this title to signify "the God of battle," or the Lord of military force, will, on consideration perceive, that they give a low, and certainly very contracted idea of the first and greatest Being: not at all correspondent to the design, with which we see, the terms are used in the Scriptures. There, the name denotes a supreme creating power, a supreme allcommanding Providence.' The sermon concludes with a direction to unite with the consideration of this glorious and awful name, the character under which the gospel particularly delights to represent the Divine Being, namely as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as our Father in heaven.' The candid and attentive reader will not be surprized that this sermon is published in consequence of earnest request. Art. 59. Preached at the Parish-Church in Beverley, March 12, 1800, being the Day appointed for a General Fast. By the Rev. Robert Rigby, Vicar. 8vo. 6d. Scatcherd. This is one among the best discourses that we have perused on such an occasion: not that it is remarkable for flights of oratory, beauty of language, or depth of reasoning, (though it is by no means defective in these respects,) but on account of the plain, serious, and sensible manner in which it exposes vice, and urges reformation, as the most likely and effectual means of removing public calamities, and of restoring national peace and prosperity. The author, having been requested by several who heard the sermon, to furnish them with a copy of it, has been induced to make it public. General complaints, Should not this word be rather written Tzabaoth, to distinguish it from Sabbath, which to the mere English reader it may appear greatly to resemble? |