Art. 14. An Addrefs to the Freeholders of Middlefex, affembled at Free Mason's Tavern, in Great Queen Street, Dec. 20, 1779. Being the Day appointed for a Meeting of the Freeholders, for the Purpofe of establishing Meetings to maintain and fupport the Freedom of Election. 8vo. 6d. Dixwell, &c.

The Author of this address is a clofe thinker, and a found reafoner. His obfervations on county meetings are offered with a view to render fuch affemblies of real, conftitutional, and permanent effect, for redrefs of national grievances, and even, if occafion require, for a reformation of the conftitution itfelf: the Writer's arguments are con⚫ ceived with folidity, and urged with judgment and temper. Art. 15. The Hiftory of a French Loufe; or the Spy of a new Species, in France and England: containing a Defcription of the most remarkable Perfonages in thofe Kingdoms. Giving a Key to the chief Events of the Year 1779, and thofe which are to happen in 1780. Tranflated from the 4th Edition of the revised and corrected Paris Copy. 8vo. 3s. Becket. 1779.

We gave fome account of the French original (if the French was the original) of this political fatire, in our last month's Catalogue. It is unneceffary to add any thing to what was then faid concerning the character of the work.

Art. 16. Five Letters, &c. 8vo. is. 6d. Dixwell.

When this political mail was firft made up, it contained but three letters; which, as the directions are rather long, we do not here repeat, being able to refer the reader to the Rev. vol. lx. p. 322. where they are mentioned with fome explanation of their contents. A few more are now put into the bag, under the following fuperfcrip

tions:

The fourth is addressed to the monied men of Great Britain and Holland; upon the fubject of opening a policy of fubfcription for the reduction of the French islands in the West Indies. In return for which, the abfolute property of these islands is to be guaranteed to the fubfcribers, upon the faith of an act of parliament And the fifth is addreffed to the nobility and landed intereft of Scotland; upon the subject of appropriating the forfeited eftates of that kingdom to the purpose of maintaining five thousand men as a militia; who, when not embodied, are to be employed in working upon the high roads and other public works of that kingdom. To which is added, fome remarks upon Sir Charles Bunbury's fcheme of fending the convicts to the coast of Africa: and upon the prefent one in dgitation, of ereling work and task houses in the different counties of England. With fome queries addreffed to the Lord Lieutenants of the dif ferent counties, upon the present establishment of the militia.

For the British parliament to grant French iflands de jure, before they are in poffeffion de facto, is a fpecies of anticipation, characterifed in ancient faws, as reckoning chickens before they are hatched; and as felling the bear's fkin, &c. Such formal annunciation of intended conquefts, calculated to infpire preparations for attack, would in greater proportion warn the poffeffors how to defend themselves. But fchemes appear, to the happy inventors, very feafible on paper.

On the fubject of English and Scots militia, and on the employment of convicts, the Writer throws out feveral good detached obfervaRev. Jan. 1780. tions,

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tions, not being altogether fo bold a visionary in domestic policy, as he appears in his foreign fchemes and arrangements, N. Art. 17. Adminiftration Diffected. In which the Grand National Culprits are laid open for the Public Inspection. 8vo. 45. fewed. Barker. 1779.

This Diffection is performed with a keen knife, and a bold hand. The malefactors being cut up, and expofed to public infpection,' the metaphor drops in courfe; and we come, in plain terms, to speak of the book before us, as containing a political review of the prefent circumstances and fituation of this country, fo far as both have been obviously affected by the conduct of government, fince the commencement of the unfortunate war with the American colonies.-The Au thors (for this tract appears, like our Review, as the work of several hands) have entered on the difcuffion of the subject, on a large scale of enquiry extending to almoft every principal branch of adminiftration. Their general conclufion is- That the remedies, which it were to be wished his majefty (feeling for the diftreffes of his people) would inftantaneously apply to our wretched and defponding fitua tion,' are obviously these:

I. A difmiffion of every principal minifter now employed.

II. The appointment of men of GENIUS in lieu of thofe dismissed.
III. The punishment of a Commander at land, and another by sea",
IV. A thorough confidence of the SOVEREIGN in his PEOPLE.'

As it has often been urged, by the adherents of miniftry, when objecting to a change, that we can no where find more able, or better men,' our Authors treat this objection as frivolous and falfe. They contend, that nothing is wanting to extricate us out of our difficulties but GENIUS. In this MASTER QUALITY, the fpirited writers confider our present statesmen and commanders as totally deficient. To prove that genius has, at all times, and in all countries, been found perfectly equal to the great work here cut out for it, our Authors enter into an historical detail of the illuftrious actions of heaven-born leaders and heroes, in the military line efpecially; and they conclude, that genius is ftill to be found, if we will but call it forth. And to direct us in the search of this ineftimable jewel, they point to our prefent race of fenators, among whom may be found men of whom the greatest hopes may reasonably be formed, if we dare to entrust them with our political falvation. In the house of lords they have fingled out, in the following order, lord Lyttel ton [deceased fince our Authors wrote], lord Camden, the duke of Richmond, lord Shelburne, the duke of Grafton, and the marquis of Rockingham. In the lower houfe, our Authors fix upon, firft, Mr. Fox; on whofe fuperior abilities, indeed, the highest expectations may reasonably be raised. To this diftinguished name they have added thofe of Mr. Burke, and colonel Barré; and here they ftop, prefuming it unneceffary to go through the lift of men in the lower affembly, whofe genius and parts are capable of fuccouring their country.' We wonder, however, that the juftly honoured name of Sir George Saville efcaped this mark of diftinction.

• Both fufficiently pointed out in the book.

The

The mention of one or two of the names in the foregoing enume ration, may poffibly raise a smile on the countenances of fome of our Readers; but let them perufe the pages before us, in which we find these feveral names fo refpectfully arranged; let them attend with candour to what the Authors have faid in fupport of the men and the measures they fo ftrenuously recommend, and then we will anfwer for their agreement with us, at leaft, in this opinion, that the book ought not to be over-looked, and confounded, in the general mafs of party-rubbish, which we fee daily caft out of every pamphlet fhop.-Though antiminifterial, it is a very loyal performance.-We fay loyal, because, however the Writers may have indulged themfelves in the bartheft modes of cenfuring his majefty's fervants, they every where mention his MAJESTY himself in the highest and warmeit terms of affection and dutiful refpect. In short, on the fubject of REGAL AUTHORITY, we think they manifeft a spirit fo point blank opposed to the licentioufnefs of the times, that, perhaps, they would rather ftand chargeable with the extremes of Toryifm, than be thought to favour the prefent growing partiality for republican principles, fo vifible among fome of our political fectaries.

Art. 18. Occafional Letters on Taxation; on the Means of raising the Supplies within the Year, to anfwer the Expences of a necelfary War; and on fuch Means as would probably tend to fecure Great Britain and its natural Dependencies the Bleffings of Peace, on a durable System. By an independent Man. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Dodiley. 1780.

Thefe Letters are reprinted from an evening paper; they are 28 in number, and they contain fome judicious obfervations on the exigencies of the times, and the fubject of finance. Much is alfo urged on the expediency and neceffity of a speedy and cordial reunion with America, for which the Writer argues with zeal, but on moderate and liberal principles. He obferves, in his prefatory advertisement, that his early years being spent in America, where he was many years employed as an officer in the navy, of course gives him fome advantages over the generality of his fellow fubjects;' and that if what he has prefumed to fay on the modes of conciliation with that country, and upon naval fubjects*, only furnish one fingle hint which may be wrought to public benefit, he will have a fufficient equivalent for all that pain he experiences in obtruding his indigested thoughts in fo homely a drefs.'

Art. 19. Obfervations on the Anfwer of the King of Great Britain to the Manifefto, &c. of the Court of Verfailles. By an independent Whig. 4to. 1 s. Fielding, &c. 1779.

Declamation against declamation. Our Independent Whig is a vehement advocate for the caufe of the revolted colonies; whofe independency he treats as a matter of establishment, as just as it is certain.-The JUSTIFYING MEMORIAL here controverted, was publifhed in the Morning Poft, and other prints; and this obferver, confi dering it as a document of fome authority, though not bearing the ufual form of a flate-paper, has judged it worthy of critical animadverfion. He

He has feveral important remarks, tending to the benefit of our navy, for which we muft refer to his pamphlet.

G 2

or what,

is very fevere on the British government.-The king himself is not fpared; and yet the Author cenfures our court' for the illiberal calumny' with which, as he fays, it has been pleafed to indulge itfelf against that of Versailles!'-Surely courts may be indulged in taking as much liberty with each other as a private obferver prefumes to take with them!

Art. 20. The Detail and Conduct of the American War, under Generals Gage, Howe, Burgoyne, and Vice Admiral Lord Howe: With a very full and correct State of the Whole of the Evidence, as given before a Committee of the House of Commons; and the celebrated Fugitive Pieces, which are faid to have given rife to that important Enquiry. The Whole exhibiting a circumftantial, connected, and complete Hiftory of the real Causes, Rife, Progrefs, and prefent State of the American Rebellion. The Third Edition. 8vo. Richardfon and Co. 1780.

This is a new and much enlarged and improved edition of a tract mentioned in our Review for July laft, entitled A View of the Evidence relative to the Conduct of the American War, &c. In the prefatory advertisement to the prefent edition, reasons are given for the alteration of the title; with an account of the great additions, and new arrangement' of the work. The whole now forms a regular feries of the tranfactions and progrefs of the American war. The Au thor is rather violent in expreffing his refentment against the revolted Americans, the minority party at home, and fome of our commanders, mentioned in the title-page, particularly the H-w-s; but we cannot fay that his zeal is without knowledge; for he appears to be a very well informed Writer, as well as a judicious compiler.

Art. 21. Subftance of the Speeches made in the Houfe of Commons, on the 15th of December 1779, on Mr. Burke's giving Notice of his Intention to bring in a Bill after the Christmas Recefs, for the Retrenchment of Public Expences, and for the better fecuring the Independence of Parliament. 8vo. 6d. Almon. 1779.

An excellent Preface to a work laudably intended to correct the prefent prodigal conftitution of the civil executive government of this kingdom.' The speakers who followed Mr. Burke, in fupport of his truly patriotic defign, were lord John Cavendish, Mr. Dempfter, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Gilbert.

Art. 22. A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Sandwich, on the prefent Situation of Affairs. By a Sailor. 8vo. 1 S. Wilkie. 1779.

If it be afked, who is this correfpondent of lord Sandwich's?" let the answer be given in the Letter-writer's own words: I am a plain, open-hearted failor, zealous for the glory of my king and country, and ambitious of sheltering my fentiments under your lordfhip's name; whom I revere as the moft induftrious and able friend to both.'

As a fpecimen of the jolly Tar's way of thinking about the 'prefent fituation of affairs,' our Readers will accept the following paf. fage: Well meaning men are often deluded by a bold affertion, and confident declamation. To win their good opinion of the measures generally taken by adminiftration, and to perfuade them that the En

glish are not an entirely ruined people, is my prefent ambition. To Thew them, alfo, that I write the words of truth and fobernefs, and that the prefent oppofition to the neceffary steps taken by his majefty's fervants, in the ftate, for the fafety and honour of their country, proceeds from the moft nefarious profligacy of fentiment, is the plan on which I direct my difcourfe to you!'

Honeft Binacle may, no doubt, be a good feaman, and may be ufefully employed, with his friend Sir H. P. when knotting and fplicing, to repair the damages received in a brush with the French; but what has he to do with pen and ink, except in keeping the ship's journal, or log-book?

Art. 23. On Government. Addreffed to the Public. By Thomas Wycliffe, of Liverpool, 8vo. 4s. Warrington printed,

1779.

This is a new edition of a tract first published, without the Author's name, and mentioned in the 55th vol. of our Review, p. 317. The Writer has now much enlarged his work throughout; and has added two entire new chapters, one on the Supreme Power of a State (which he lodges with the people), and another on the internal Gopernment of Great Britain. In this laft divifion of his work, he propofes a new plan of parliamentary deputation, by which the people would be more equally reprefented than they are at prefent; an objea, no doubt, of the utmost importance to the political welfare of this country. Mr. W.'s plan is illuftrated by an out-line map of England, according to his new divifion of the kingdom, viz. into 69 counties, to be reprefented in parliament by 292 county members, and 197 members for parishes.-On this novel propofal, the Author comments in the following terms:

Should fuch an alteration as this be made, then the reprefentatives chofen by each place would bear fome degree of proportion to its confequence, and the weight that each place ought to have in government; and all the reprefentatives being dependent on their conftituents, under fuch a constitution of government as this, the voice of parliament would be the voice of the people, and would be, in the stricteft fenfe of the word, SELF-GOVERNMENT,

But Mr. W. does not confine the confideration of this fuppofed di vifion of counties entirely to the object of an equal parliamentary representation. He thinks it may be rendered feful to the ftate in other important refpects; but for thefe particulars we must refer to his treatife at large,-in which the reader will meet with many obfervations worthy the attention of those who have a turn for fpeculation on plans of national improvement. Many, however, will confider his project of an universal empire, of which Great Britain is to be the centre, and feat of government, as a moft curious piece of Utopian caftle-building; efpecially as the propofal happens to be made at a time when, in the opinion of many, the empire of Great Britain, instead of being extended on Mr. W.'s vaft and comprehenfive fcale, feems rather to be verging apace towards a mortifying reduction, if not a total fubverfion.