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tereft he attends the firft debates on the meeting of parliament; with his mind full of which he returns home fatigued, and dreams that he is called to the privy council; where, after he has given all the information he is mafter of, the king dictates to him a manifefto, which forms the body of the tract. The manifefto fets forth at large the fair conduct of the king towards France, and the bad faith of that country towards us; feveral particulars of which are set forth in a clearer and ftronger light, than in any other publication we have feen. The whole is well written, and deferved the attention it excited at the time.

ART. 34. General View of the actual Force and Refources of France in January 1793: To which is added, A Table, fhewing the Depreciation of Affignats, arifing from their Increafe in Quantity. By William Playfair. 2d edit. 8vo. 54 pages. IS. 6d. Stockdale.

Plain good-fenfe, and a practical knowledge of bufinefs, will command attention in important matters; and in all his publications Mr. Playfair has ftrongly difplayed thofe qualities. He neither is, nor affects to be, a fine writer; but he is, nevertheless, an able adviser. Yet we muft not confine his talents to mere plain fenfe; his views are generally original, and frequently bold; and these are proofs of genius. If a more literary education would have diminished his mercantile knowledge, and confined his views, we cannot wish to fee his periods more refined. He afferts here that, notwithstanding the gafconade of France, " there never was a time when she could "fend fewer men into the field, for any continuance of time, and "Supply them with neceffaries, than at prefent." That the armed

men may act, it is effentially neceffary that there should remain a "ftill greater number unarmed. The whole nation," say they, "is "a camp, and precifely for that reason, there is not one regiment of "well-accoutred foldiers." He gives the hiftory of their affignats with great precifion and diftinétnefs; and explains the reasons why they were not more rapidly depreciated before the war with us. The value of the affignats is a molt important point in confidering the refources of France, and on that fubject the chief part of this pamphlet is employed. An hypothetical table of their depreciation, in proportion to their multiplication, is fubjoined to the fecond edition. When we hear that the convention has ordered the coinage of twelve hundred millions we cannot but wish to know how far this theory is realized. The refult of Mr. Playfair's reasonings and calcula tions is, that the refources of France muft quickly be exhaufted. The concluding fentence is worthy of a man who had studied eloquence, inftead of calculations:

"Such is the brilliant career which the conftant augmentation of "the quantity of affignats prepares for that paper, which has, during "three years, fupported French vanity, French anarchy, and French "infamy. The vanity will have a fall with the affignats, the anarchy "will outlive them a long time, but the infamy will be eternal."

DIVINITY.

ART. 35 Elementary Difcourfes defigned for the Ufe of a young Perfor after Confirmation, &c. By Jofeph Holden Pott, Prebendary of Lincoln and Archdeacon of St. Alban's. 12mo. 99 pp. 15. 6d. Rivingtons.

This manual of inftruction is one of those that may be recommended, with the greatest propriety, not only to the class of perfons for which it is defigned, but to all who wish to poffefs a clear and comprehenfive view of the firft principles of our religion. The firft difcourfe contains a diflinct though fummary account of the chief doctrines of Chriflianity; the fecond consists of a meditation on the life of Chrift, as the true pattern of Chriftian excellence; the third gives an account of the nature and defign of the facraments; and the fourth confiders and refutes the pretences ufually made for declining to partake of the holy communion. On all thefe important fubjects the author writes with perfpicuity, with fteady adherence to the doctrines of the church, and an evident zeal, feconded by a no less evident ability, to communicate useful inftructions.

ART. 36. Religion and Loyalty, a Sermon, by Charles Sturges, M. A. Vicar of St. Mary's, Reading, Berks, and of Ealing, Middlefex; published at the Request of feveral refpectable Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Mary's, Reading. 3d, or 2s. 6d. per dozen, Smart and Cowflade, Reading; Norbury, New Brentford,

Mr. Sturges delivered this Sermon at the serious crifis when a too-well founded apprehenfion prevailed of fome fatal effects from the effervefence of thofe pernicious principles of anarchy and fedition, fo induftriously propagated in this country by the advocates for a fanciful and chimerical liberty. It is a judicious difcourfe on Matt. xxii. 21. tending to prove, from our Saviour's example and precepts, that loyalty and allegiance to government are religious obligations and enforcing at the fame time the importance of those duties which we owe to God. The author exhorts his readers to approve themselves good Chriftians, by behaving as good and peaceable fubjects, ready to extend every reasonable Chriftian indulgence, toleration, and liberty of confcience, to all Chriftian brethren of every denomination, but fill anxious to preferve and fecure their own happy establishment. The difcourfe was well-timed, and probably contributed, where it was circulated, to difperfe the lowering storm, and to increase the returning tide of loyalty, religion, and common-fenfe. ART. 37. A Sermon applicable to the prefent Times, and defigned as an Antidote to thofe dangerous Doctrines now in Circulation, tending to the Deftruction of all Order and Government. Preached in the Parish Church of North Bradley, in the County of Wilts; and published at the Request of the Parishioners. By the Rev. Charles Daubeny, LL. B. Vicar of the faid Parif. 8vo. 6d. Rivingtons, London; and the Bookfellers in Bath, Briftol, &c.

The late alarm has given the established clergy of this kingdom an opportunity of fhowing that they are wanting neither in firmness,

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ability,

ability, nor information: the arguments they have opposed to the declamations of the mistaken or ill-defigning, have proved that they are provided with found reafoning to guard their flocks againft popular fophiftry: and the knowledge of hiftory, which their difcourfes manifeft, demonftrates that their days have not been fspent in idleness, or ufelefs pursuits.

The fermon now before us is one of thofe that contribute to justify these reflections. Mr. D. fearless of any contemptuous cenfures, or of being told, that had he lived fome years earlier he would have been deemed guilty of high treason, has ventured, in compliance with the fuggeftions of reafon, and the dictates of revelation, to affirm that the Sovereign of the Universe is the fountain of power.

From his text, "Beware of falfe prophets, which come to you in "fheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye fhall "know them by their fruits," (Matt. vii. 15.) he takes occafion to ftate, that the preachers of fedition and anarchy have ever at firft affumed an engaging appearance, by profeffing themfelves the friends of the people, but that where they have fucceeded in gaining over these to their party, their fruits have always proved alike the diffolu"tion of government follows close upon the contempt of it." With much strong remark Mr. D. obferves on many of the democratic doctrines; referring to the scriptures, as the true antidote to all the poison.

ART. 38. A Difcourfe, preached on Sunday, December 30, 1792, at the Parish Church of Kenton, c. By the Rev. R. Polwhele, (Author of Difcourfes on different Subjects, &c. &c.) In 2 vols. 8vo. 6d. Cadell and Dilly.

The writer of this Sermon is well known to fame. His Sermons and Tranflations have already paffed the ordeal unhurt, approved, and honoured. "The prefent difcourfe was very haftily drawn up, "without the flightest view to publication;" and is now publifhed only in compliance with the request of his parishioners. The text is taken from Ifaiah lxi. 1. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, &c. This the author explains in its literal import, and then fhows how applicable it is to chriftianity. He thence comes to the French Revolution; his account of which is ftriking in itself, and peculiarly adapted to the moment of his preaching. It is written in a style of spirited declamation; and throughout, has much of the vigour of genius, with fome of its inequalities. On the whole, we cannot but regret, that such a man, and fuch a writer, remains only a curate.

FOREIGN

CATALOGUE.

FRANCE.

ART 39. Lettres fur l'Italie, en 1785. Seconde édition. à Paris 1792. WE E had before feveral defcriptions of Italy, written by perfons of acknowledged merit and abilities. In regard to facts, the account of that country by Lalande may be recommended as the most circumftantial

ftantial and exact; to which we may add the Voyage Pittorefque de Naples & de Sicile, with the Travels of our own countryman Swinburne, which have lately been tranflated into French by Keralio.

But for moral and philofophical obfervations on the different forms of government, which prevail in that country, and the manners of its inhabitants, for ftrong defcriptions, and the feelings of a man of genius, expreffed in a ftyle abounding with imagery, thefe Letters deferve our particular attention. The author communicates in them, to his family and his friends, the impressions which the objects made on him, as they paffed before his eyes, in a manner peculiar to himself, which, though it may perhaps fometimes be too poetical, is in general not ill fuited to the subject, and the epiftolary style. In a word, we may venture to say, that the taste and information which are exhibited in these Letters, are not lefs calculated to inftruct the artist, than they are to give fatisfaction to men of letters, and of the world.

Journal Encyclopedique.

ART. 40. Memoires de la Minorité de Louis XV. par J. B. MASSILLON, Evêque de Clermont, Membre du Confeil de Confcience fous la Régence de PHILIPS D'ORLEANS, & l'un des Quarante de l'Académie Françoife. en 8vo. à Paris. 3 liv. 18 s. br.

In the year 1730 Louis XV. empioyed the celebrated Maffillon to draw up for him an account of the affairs of the regency, not, as it is to be prefumed, without the advice of the Cardinal de Fleuri, though it is remarkable, that he does not beftow on him any particu-' lar commendation.

Thefe memoirs are rendered important by a variety of facts and details refpecting the court, which are not to be found elsewhere, as well as by the fincerity and impartiality, which appear to characterize them throughout. The ftyle is eafy and fimple, more adapted to epiftolary correfpondence than to hiftory, and therefore better fuited to the purpose of the author, who composed them rather for the inftruction of the prince, by whom he had been confulted, than for the public and pofterity. One of the falutary maxims, which he is particularly folicitous to inculcate by frequent repetition, is, that if kings do not, at the proper age, really take the direction of the reins of government into their own hands, they will always deferve to be confidered as minors. If therefore Louis XV. continued to be so, it is evident that it was not for want of proper admonition.

To thefe Memoirs the editor has prefixed an account of the life and writings of Maffillon, of which the only good parts are such as he has quoted from that great orator.

Mercure François.

ART. 41. Memoires du Comte de Maurepas, Miniftre de la Marine,&c. Treifième édition, avec onze Caricatures du tems, gravées en tailledouce. 3 vol en 8vo. à Paris. ro liv. br.

The whole character of the Comte de M. difcovers itself in these Memoirs: particularly the frivolouínefs and tafte for little things which were his diftinguishing qualities. They contain extracts from fifty

two

two volumes, drawn up by himself and his fecretary Salé, chiefly during the course of his miniftry. Who would have expected that in these 52 volumes, compofed by a man who should have been occupied on more important objects, nothing fhould be found, (if we except only two letters, in the beginning of the third volume, on the external commerce of the kingdom, and the improvements of which it is fufceptible) but, trifling intrigues, and stories relating to the court, collected (to use the words of Greffet)

"Par un de ces oififs errants

Qui chaque jour fur leur pupitre
Rapportent tous les vers courans,
Et qui, dans le changeant empire,
Des amours & de la fatyre,
Acteurs, fpectateurs tour-à-tour,
Poffedent toujours, à merveille,
L'hiftoirette de la veille

Avec l'étiquette du jour ?

To the Memoirs the editors have added Remarks by M. late the Abbé, Soulavie, which we fhould fcarcely have noticed, if the author's pretenfions to a more than ordinary fhare of literary merit had not made it neceffaty for us, whofe duty it is to affign to every writer his due rank and station, with respect to the reft, to point out his infufficiency. Among other affertions, equally ungrounded, he fays, that it is chiefly to their ignorance that the French clergy owe their ruin.

We fhall not, however, fcruple to declare fuch perfons as the late Bishop of Autun, the Archbishops of Aix and Thouloufe, the Bishop of Rhodes, the Abbé Montefquiou, and others, to be at leaft equal in point of learning and judgment to M. Soulavie, though he may not, perhaps, be difpofed to fubfcribe to our opinion.

Ibid.

ART. 42. Les devoirs de l'Homme, ouvrage traduit du Latin de MIT. CICERON, avec des notes & la vie de l'Auteur, par EMMANUEL BROSSELARD, homme de loi, c. 8vo. 400 pages. 4 liv. br.

Paris.

Of all the works, whofe object it is to inform mankind of the duties impofed on them by nature and fociety, that of which M. Broffelard has here given as a translation, has always been confidered as the first in rank. Pliny, in a letter to the Emperor Trajan, fays, that he ought not only to read, but to learn it by heart; an eulogium applicable to a very small number of books, but unqueftionably fo in a high degree to this of Cicero.

The tranflator has, to the merit of exactnefs and precifion, added that of elegance and fimplicity of language. If his ftyle, however, fhould not be found to come up to that of the original in point of harmony, it is, perhaps, more the fault of the French language than that of the tranflator himself. As a fpecimen, which is at the fame time defcriptive of the prefent fituation of the country, we shall fubjoin the following paffage from the end of the fecond book: * Quant

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