1

The reft of this performance is by no means unequal to the foregoing fpecimen. The author extends his remarks to the town-houses of our nobility; and concludes, by controverting the opinions of those who regard London as already overbuilt. We are quite uninformed as to the author, and cannot help acknowledging our impatience to be acquainted with the name of one, to whom we think ourselves equally indebted for inftruction and entertainment.

t

MONTHLY CATALOGUE.

HISTORICAL.

13. New Lights thrown upon the History of Mary Queen of Eng land, eldest Daughter of Henry VIII. Addreffed to David Hume, Efq. Tranflated from the French. 8vo. 25. Wilkie.

TH

HE following fheets were printed at Amfterdam in 1766, and lately received from Paris: but whether yet imported by any bookfeller, is unknown to the tranflator."

As it contains some strictures on our celebrated historian, and indeed on all Proteftants that have written the history of the period here treated of, it is thought proper to make it more publicly known, that thofe accufed of partiality may, if they judge it worth their labour, vindicate themfelves from the imputation.

The apparent defign of the author is to remove, or at least extenuate, the charge of cruelty, fo univerfally afcribed to queen Mary, and to fix an odium upon the princess Elizabeth, whofe memory all true Englishmen and good Proteftants have fo much reafon to revere and hold facred.

The authenticity of the extracts from the difpatches and letters of the Imperial and French ambaffadors, now published, cannot be doubted of, as he refers to dates and volumes: but it is not improbable the fame fource might furnish other extracts fufficient to counterbalance what he has produced.

The caufe of Proteftantism, and the high reputation of queen Elizabeth, ftand in no need of falfhood, and mifreprefentation of facts, for its fupport.

There are many circumstances brought to light in this performance, that are unnoticed by other hiftorians, and particularly what relates to bishop Gardner, who is here painted in colours very different from what he appears in other writers.'

The reader will perceive by the ingenuous turn of the foregoing Preface, that this work was not tranflated with any partial views, or an idle attempt to deftroy fuch opinions as have been long established on the faith of hiftory, concerning the character of queen Mary and her adherents, by an induction of obfcure and unfupported particulars. The manner of this wri ter bears no refemblance to the folemn foppery of the author of the Hiftoric Doubts, &c. or the incoherent Reveries of Peck, in

his

his pretended difcovery concerning a fon of Richard III. Much, however, that has been afferted in the courfe of our author's remarks, may hereafter be difputed by those who fhall have fuure poffeffion of the originals to which he refers. It would therefore prove of little confequence to us, to turn over the printed volumes which contain the dispatches of M. de Noailles, unless we had accefs at the fame time to the MS. collection of the correfpondence between Charles V. then refiding at Bruffels, and the embaffadors he fent to England a little before the death of Edward VI. to which our author is indebted for the most curious. parts of his performance.

We do not hesitate to recommend this interefting and welltdated pamphlet to the perufal of our readers; and hope when Mr. Hume fhall be difpofed to attempt a revifal of that part of his hiftory to which these anecdotes belong, that he will take the pains to enquire into the value of the credentials which have furnished our 'French writer with his accounts. • Such evidence (fays he) as these afford, are the only foundations upon which a hiftorian, who would give a history free from fafhood and ambiguity, can fafely depend.'

14: A Collection of the Protefts of the House of Lords in Ireland, from 1634 to 1770. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

Almon.

We need only obferve, that we believe these Proteft's to be authentic; and the editor affures us, that they begin with the firft upon record. We conceive, however, this compilation to be a matter of greater curiofity than utility.

POLITIC

S.

15. A Juflification of the Conduct of the Miniftry, relative to Falkland's-Ifland. 8vo. 15. Organ.

We will not join the hue and cry with prejudice and faction, against the late convention with Spain; we doubt not that it may be defended to the fatisfaction of the fenfible and impartial. But the ministry are certainly not obliged to this weak advocate ; his impotent attempt may hurt their caufe with the fuperficial, and the feditious, who find new proofs of the obliquity of public measures in the ignorance and prefumption of thofe who espouse them.

This pamphlet is a rhapsody of impertinent and oftentatious egotifm, languid prolixity, and vile adulation. It's most important matter confifts of two affertions, viz. that Falkland's İfland is little, cold, and barren; and that our title to it is difputable. Both these particulars we are apt to believe; though the author has not convinced us of either; for he never attempts to evince what he afferts. He is a perfect Ariftotle in launching the dogma.

The delicacy of his encomium may be inferred from what he tells his lords and gentlemen, the members of either house. that they are men of tried virtue and abilities, men who would do bonour to any ftate, and to any age. If we credited this man's rant, we should imagine that we were living in the days of Alfred.

M 3

As

As political writings, to be popular, muft have fome fhow of argument, and fome plaufibility of compliment, we advise this champion of government to drop his prefent fpeculations, and if he will publifh again, let him turn his thoughts to theology, write in defence of tranfubftantiation, and wave his grofs incenfe round the papal throne.

16. Papers relative to the late Negotiation with Spain; and the taking of Falkland Island from the English. 8vo. 35. Almon.

This publication we fuppofe to be authentic, but beg leave to refign the examination of it to those who constantly review all minifterial writings in the daily papers.

17. Prop fals to the Legislature for numbering the People. By the Auber of the Tours through England, c. 8vo, Is. Nicoll

This writer is no weak advocate for the scheme which he has propofed; but the fubject of his pamphlet is better fuited to the abilities and train of thinking peculiar to minifters of state, than to the critical examination of literary Reviewers.

18. The Key to Abfurdities; containing the Author's private Thoughts on Jome late Proceedings. 8vo. 1's. Davenhill.

The abfurdities this gentleman propofes to unlock are those of the nominal patriots; but we apprehend his attempts will add one more to the abfurdities of the times, if we confider that his ftile, language, and arguments, are neither elegant, grammatical, or new.

19. Trial of J. Almon, for felling Junius's Letter 8vo. 1s. Miller.

This is not the authentic trial of Almon, and cannot therefore, in every circumftance be depended upon. The fcurrility of its contents will deftroy its weight with every friend to public decorum. The fpeech of the attorney-general at the opening of this trial, does honour to his penetration, and eloquence; and the low, difingenuous afperfions thrown out against him in this pamphlet by his obfcure enemies, will only be read with pleafure by thofe who always wage an impotent wat with confpicuous merit. When a Junius, armed with the powers of genius, endeavours to embroil the ftate, our hatred of the incendiary is mixed with admiration, and regret. But the effects which a factious, acrimonious, and dull writer produces in every liberal, unprejudiced mind, are, deteftation and contempt.

20. Liberty vindicated against Slavery. 8vo. ts. Wilkie.

This pamphlet, if we credit the title-page, was first pub lifhed in the year 1646. It is marked with the fimplicity of ftile, and the enthufiafm of that period, which, however, are eafily imitated. It inveighs against long imprisonment, and the oppreffive fees, and tyranny of goalers; enormous civil evils, from which England, with all its boafted freedom, is not yet exempted.

This treatife is worthy of the attention of the public, and even of the legislature. Its warmth is fupported by argument, and many excellent acts of parliament.

This author fhows, that goaler's fees were appointed by the Star-chamber, and should have been abolished with that iniquitous court; and that long imprisonments are strongly and repeated prohibited by Magna Charta.

He exemplifies, by many inftances, the cruel treatment inAlicted upon prifoners, particularly by a detail of the fufferings of colonel John Lilburne, in Newgate, and in the Tower, who maintained the caufe of liberty with undaunted courage, and unfhaken conftancy in the reign of Charles I.

We should wish to find nothing exceptionable in a writer who is a rational and conftitutional advocate for the privileges, and welfare of mankind. The feverities exercifed upon prifones, efpecially poor debtors, in whom misfortune is often confounded with criminality, are a fcandal to human nature, and inconfiftent with the fpirit of a free government. Their hardships might, and ought to be mitigated; though, perhaps, the would be too much relaxed by recurring to the letter of Magna Charta. We cannot think, with our author, that it was wrong to fuperfede fome parts of that ground-work of liberty by fucceeding acts of parliament. The English, when Magna Charta was confirmed, though rough, were fimple, and had but few wants; our defires are now multiplied, and a multiplicity of defires produces various rapacity. He knows little of our present character, or is intoxicated with the enthusiasm of freedom, who does not fee, that property must now be fecured by feverer statutes than those which were paffed in the reign of Henry III. 21. Selim's Letters, expofing the Malpractices of the Office of Ordnance, &c. with a Preface and Conclufion. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Miller.

The Letters before us made their first appearance in an Evening paper. We are informed they were written by a perfon whofe name is couched in an anagram, and that his having been difmiffed from an office, has thus raifed his ire against the gentlemen of the Board of Ordnance. We will not pretend to enter into the merits of his piece, as it must depend entirely upon facts, with which we acknowledge ourselves unacquainted: but virulence and abuse, joined to perfonal pique and refentment, feem to form the great bafis of this production.

22. A Dialogue between a Lawyer and a Country-gentleman upcr the Subject of the Game-Laws. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Wilkie.

To this Dialogue is prefixed a Letter to Serjeant Glynn, in which the author, with a freedom and spirit worthy of an Englifhman, inveighs against the multiplicity, the inconfiftency, and feverity of the game-laws, and wishes that the reprefentative of Middlefex whom he is addreffing, would exert his love of li berty, and his abilities in the houfe of commons to have them repealed, or corrected.

In this Dialogue the lawyer gives his friend, the country-gentleman, a fhort, but diftinét history of the game-laws, explains thofe clauses in them of which most people may be fuppofed to be totally ignorant; fhows them often to be vague, and uncertain, and in general abfurd and oppreffive.

MA

A claufe

A clause of an act paffed in the 10th year of George III. will show the complexion of these laws.

By this act it is declared, that if any perfon fhall wilfully, upon any pretence whatsoever, take, kill, or destroy any hare, phealant, partridge, &c. in the night, between one hour after fun-fetting, and one hour before fun-rifing, or ufe any gun, dog, fnare, net, or any other engine for taking, killing, or deftroying any hare, pheafant, partridge, &c. in the night as aforefaid, and fhall be convicted thereof upon the oath of one or more credible witnefs, or witneffes, before one, or more juftice, or juftices of the peace; every fuch perfon' fhall, for the first offence, be committed to the common goal, or house of correction, there to remain without bail or main-prize, for any time not exceeding fix, nor lefs than three calendar months; and for the fecond, and other offences, to be committed as aforesaid, for not less than fix, and not more than twelve calendar months, and within three days from the time of committment, either for the first, or any other offence, to be once publicly whipped between the hours of twelve and one of the clock in the day.'

The laws of a well-regulated community, especially the penal ftatutes, fhould be founded upon reason; in which cafe every man of common sense would have a monitor within his own breast to warn him against violating them. But how is a fimple countryman to understand the caprice of the game-laws, or prevent the barbarous confequences of a falfe and malignant accufation?

Three tables are affixed to this fenfible and useful pamphlet ; one, of the laws relative to hares; another, of the laws relative to partridges; and a third, of those which relate to pheasants. Each of thefe tables fhows the feveral offences; the acts creating the penalties; the perfons to whom fuch penalties are given; and the manner of recovering them. This Dialogue, and the Tables annexed, deferve well to be recommended to the gentlemen of the law, whofe practice, when it relates to the game-acts, they will greatly facilitate. And their contents are of importance to the countryman, to whom their fimplicity and perfpicuity are excellently adapted. They will guard him against the tyranny of a Nimrod, and the partiality of a juftice of peace.

POETRY.

23. Quintus Horatius Flaccus. Birminghamia Typis Jobannis Baskerville. 4to. 17. 15. Payne.

There is perhaps no art, which, fince its infant flate, has received lefs improvement than that of typography. It is not pleafing to confider how little a long and uninterrupted fucceffion of printers have contributed to the means by which learning is dif fufed; and that more enlightened and peaceful times have scarce been able to add any thing to the labours of those who lived in ages of obfcurity and tumult. The books of Caxton, Pynfon, and Wynkin de Worde, appear to be as well executed in all re,

fpects