I defirous of any eftablishment of their own, nor of any thing but com mon juftice. All the violences of Dr. Price and others, the revolution and constitutional focieties, and every fanguine approbation of the republican part of the French Revolution, are rejected as diametrically oppofite to the general fentiments of diffenters. If this be true, what inveterate enemies have they had in their own turbulent members, who have endeavoured to alarm and to compel, inftead of wishing to conciliate! We have no doubt that if the temper here afcribed to the diffenters were generally manifefted by them, and fully understood to belong to them, the church and they might cordially embrace, and every cause of complaint on either fide be totally removed. How earnestly this is to be wifhed we cannot too ftrongly exprefs! At the fame time we cannot feel as eafily convinced by mere affertion, as the unarguing churchman in the book, who in a very few minutes is almoft perfuaded to be a diffenter: and foon after, is on tip-toe to join them. NOVEL. ART. 33. The German Gil Blas, or the adventures of Peter Claus, Tranflated from the German of Baron Kuiegge. 3 vol. 12mo. 95. Kearsley. The very name of Gil Blas, and a new Gil Blas, immediately and anxioufly interested our curiofity; but, as was lately faid upon a more folemn occafion, we foon found that he was not of our family: beu quan tum mutatus ab illo. To fay the truth, it is a poor imitation of the great original. Like our acquaintance Gil Blas, this illegitimate adventurer commences his career from a mean and humble ftation, paffes like him through many hair-breadth fcapes to greatnefs and to wealth; like him is the favourite of a prince, then fuddenly difgraced, and finally, though not with equal claims, fpends the remainder of his days in ease and honourable retirement. After this concife but just analysis, we must leave our readers to look for that agreeable and inftructive variety of incident, of humour, and of character, which the British Critic was not acute enough to find. ART. 34. MEDICINE. A Pofologic Companion to the London Pharmacopeia. The College of Phyficians, in forming their difpenfary, content themselves with giving proper directions for felecting and preparing the fimples and making fuch compound medicines as they require to be kept in readiness; and have long left off giving an account of the virtues and qualities, or of the dofes of the articles employed. Thefe, the phyficians, whofe fole province they conceive it to be to prefcribe and order medicines for the fick, are fuppofed to be acquainted with. In the laft edition of the London Pharmacopoeia, this averfe nefs to giving unneceffary information, may by fome be thought to be carried to a degree of faftidioufnefs; as the college feem to have rejected rejected many of the old titles to their compofitions, merely on account of their being too communicative; the terms cathartic, aftringent, emetic, formerly affixed to their electaries, powders, tinctures &c. being as rigidly banished from their vocabulary, as if the qualities themselves no longer existed. The apothecary and young practitioner are, therefore, under no fmall obligation to the editor, who has furnished them with this concife and convenient companion; which not only gives neceffary inftruction relative to the dofes or quantities of the medicines, that may fafely be exhibited, but frequently points out their qualities and ufes. Under this laff head we would recommend to the editor, in a future edition, to be more regular and uniform, which he may be, without materially increafing the bulk of the volume, by adopting the concife method used by Linnæus in his Materia Medica. Having faid thus much in praise of the general design of the work, we shall point out a few of its defects. The dofe of the acidum vitriolicum dilutum is properly limited to x. xxv. or 1. drops, but the editor adds, " It has been given " from c. to cc. drops in violent colliquative fweats." The latter quantity, even when diluted with half a pint of water, would excoriate the throat, and be productive of dreadful mischief. "Camphora gr. ij. viij. xxv. It has been given as far as 3 fs. in "the day." We know no inftances where camphor has been given in fo liberal å manner; in much smaller quantities it has occafioned convulfions, even in maniacal patients; and Dr. Alexander was very near falling a facrifice to his experiments with it, although the quantity fwallowed by him did not exceed a drachm. "Opium," the editor fays, may be given from a quarter of a grain to three grains, and "thence as the urgency of the cafe requires it, ad libitum." This is certainly too loose a direction for adminiftering a drug of fuch great efficacy. There are a few other inaccuracies of lefs importance, but in general the dofes are very well afcertained. cr POLITICS. ART. 35. Remarks on the Hon. Thomas Erfkine's Defence of Thomas Paine, and on his Affertion, that the Monarchy of Great Britain is Elective. 8vo. 25. pp. 6d. Bell. General remarks on the ground of defence which Mr. E. affumed to defend his client; fhowing that the liberty of the prefs is not at all endangered. The daily abuses refulting from newspapers and print-fhops are properly condemned. It plainly appears, that Mr. P. had conceived the defign of publishing his libel on our conftitution fo long ago as the year 1780. The authority of the great Blackstone is opposed to Mr. E's mere affertion in favour of elective monarchy; that able lawyer declares, that this doctrine was never afferted but by the infamous regicides in the laft century. ART. 36. A Short View of the Rife and Progrefs of Freedom in Moder Europe, as connected with the Caufes which led to the French Revolu tion; To which is added, A Refutation of certain erroneous and inflammatory Doctrines newly propagated, for the dangerous Purposes of misleading the People, and fubverting the established Order of Society; with a Vindication of the English Conftitution, Proofs of its Existence, Excellence, and Energy, in Answer to the Calumnies of Thomas Paine, addreffed to the Affociated Friends of the British Conftitution, by Thomas Hearn, M. D. late Phyfician to the British Factory, at Cadiz. 8vo. 132 pp. 2s. 6d. Richardfon. Dr. Hearn, having spent many years of his life under arbitrary governments, had feen a practical contraft to the security, the peace, and the happiness which his countrymen enjoyed at home; we may then well imagine the concern he felt on returning to England, to find them infected with principles which disturbed their comforts, and endangered their peace. He briefly refers to the principal periods favourable to the liberties of the people, and the various obftacles which they have met with, by the union of princes and nobles; the institution of the inquifition, and military establishments, on the one hand; and the emancipation of the Netherlands and Switzerland, and the powers.of the English parliament, on the other. We have obferved, that it is a fashion at the prefent day, from which this writer is not free, to aggravate the evils of abfolute monarchies, and to magnify the advantages of democratical government, beyond the truth. " The author conceives" the immediate and efficient caufe of the prefent convulfions, to be the strong and irresistible influence, which popular opinion, comprehending in its idea the general ftate of "information of the community at large, muft ever have upon the " fteadinefs, energy and duration of fuch government." P. 5. The caufes which he affigns as producing the French revolution, are, the taste for letters cultivated by Louis XIV; the rapacity of the farmers-general under Louis XV, and the mistaken interference in the American war. This writer is neither clear nor confiftent; in general he feems favourable to order and fubordination; but he is an enthusiastic admirer of extreme liberty, and the plans of reform, and afcribes thofe benefits to them which are only to be derived from higher fources. The compliments paid to the abilities and virtues of Mr. Paine, are too great to be confiftent with truth, and too covert to be underftood, if intended as irony. After a candid and impartial perufal of this pamphlet, we do not fee that "the penetrating and impartial eye of human reafon” has any fort of advantage over the pious Chriftian." P. 2. The philofophy, which is not founded on revelation, fubftitutes the confidence of affertion for the modefty of truth. ART. ART. 37. Thoughts on the present state of French Politics, and the neceffity and policy of diminishing France for her internal Peace, and to Secure the Tranquillity of Europe. By William Playfair. To which is added, that inestimable Treatise on the Defence of England, by the late General Lloyd. (Dedicated to General Clerke). Illuftrated with a Map of France, fhewing its former Boundaries, and the fubdivifions which are neceffary to be made in that Country. And a Chart of the oppofite Coafts of France, England, Flanders, and a Part of Holland, 8vo. 5s. Stockdale. The principle of Mr. Playfair's pamphlet is, that as France has compelled all Europe to go to war for the prefervation of the very existence of the feveral nations, it is right that the expences of the whole fhould be paid by the aggreffor. The mode of payment propofed confifts chiefly in detaching parts of the French territory for the benefit of the contending powers; the particulars of which plan are best seen by an infpection of the Map. The author undertakes even to prove, that this will be better for France itself; but at all events, that it is juft and neceffary; that country being naturally more ftrong than is confiftent with the balance of power in Europe. When we confider the idea of difmembering a great kingdom by force, on whatever plea, the queftion ftrikes us as of magnitude to require, if it be thought of at all, the moft ferious and patient difcuffion. Mr. Playfair's pamphlet, therefore, cannot be expected to exhauft fuch a fubject; and though it contains, as ufual, many original thoughts, and useful hints, it bears very evident marks of hatte. Of five divifions, ftated in the 30th page, only the three firft are touched at all. It may be confidered as a curious piece of fpeculation, and contains several points of information which will in vain be fought for elsewhere. General Lloyd's treatife on the mode of defending England if invaded, is already known and valued. His propofal for ftrengthening the line of infantry, by adding a fourth rank of men armed with pikes, feems to deferve more attention than, as far as our knowledge goes, it has yet obtained. ART. 38. Better Profpects to the Merchants and Manufactures of Great Britain. By William Playfair. Dedicated to the Members of the House of Commons. 8vo. Is. 6d. Stockdale. The better profpects here held out depend upon the fuppofition of a great emigration from France to America, after the troubles; on the value and certainty of American trade to us, above all other trade and on the probability that we fhall gain the French West Indian Islands, or at leaft their trade. The advantage of putting a ftop to the fpeculation on affignats, which drained us of our cafh, is ftrongly and juftly ftated; and it is alfo very powerfully argued, that the war could not be the cause of the late failures. ART. 39. Abridgment. Principles of Government adapted to general Inftruction and use. By the Rev. R. Nares, A. M. Author of a Tract entitled, Principles of Government, deduced from Reafon, &c. from which this is abridged. With a new Introduction. 8vo. is. or two Guineas per hundred. Stockdale. The peculiar circumftances of the present times, in which, as fedition was circulated by gift, or in the cheapest forms, it became neceffary to fend forth the antidote in the fame manner, have given rife to a new fpecies of publication in the popular abridgments of more scientific works. The original tract from which this is taken was thought, by many perfons, to contain found principles, delivered with clear method, and in perfpicuous language. The abridgment gives a diftinct view of the doctrines, omitting all the longer arguments; and contains little that is different, except the mode of expreffion. The introduction only is new, and that is chiefly employed in explaining, for the fake of unlearned readers, what is meant by principles; and why it was thought neceffary, at this juncture, to publish the true principles of government. ART. 40. Duties of Man, or civil Order, public Safety; being plain Thoughts of a plain Mind on Things as they are, and what the wellbeing of the Community now requires of every good Citizen. By One of the People. Svo. 195 pages. 2s. 6d. Richardfon. The only duty of man here infifted on is that which relates to his civil capacity; and this, as peculiarly applicable to the prefent times. In an advertisement, the author thus opens his defign: "The direct "object of this publication is to mitigate or aid in appeafing that "faftidious and reftive, humour which fometimes accompanies the "moft unexceptionable measures of government. The great mass "of men, as well as individuals, when crofs or peevish, may be "foothed into good nature, or won by kind ufage. It is this liberal, "candid, and commanding principle of unanimity [which] these pages are meant to inculcate. They are meffengers of courtesy to "all, and of difrefpect to none: they fue for peace, and their errand "fhould make them welcome: they come to promote harmony, by "allaying difcord; to prevent difcontent, by exciting complacency; and to strengthen the fastenings of general fafety, by fhewing that "it is every man's intereft, as well as his duty, to be quiet. This "is their only aim, which, however imperfectly profecuted, augurs fo "well to the beft bleffings of fociety, that he cannot be a good citizen who does not wifh it fuccefs." 66 We cannot but approve of the benevolence of this defign, whilst we defpair of the fuccefs of its execution. It is impoffible to please all men, whilst they act on different principles, or take different views of a fubject. The author of this work must be fenfible, however peaceably difpofed, that he cannot please those who condemn the late affociations as illegal and unconftitutional, who indifcriminately applaud the Revolution in France, and who reprobate in the ftrongest terms |