Union. The word was not even underftood. How fhould it, in a country where the people were confidered as non-entities in the eye of the law Poffeffed of no rights, of no privileges, of no franchises, the lives of the people were at the mercy of their Chief, and little more ceremony ufed in paffing fentence upon them than upon brute beafts. Men were hanged for amufement, because the young Laird was to be entertained with an execution. Liberty could not be the object of a country where fuch laws existed. The Conftitution of Scotland was abfolutely foedal: a fpecies of government which muft neceffarily occafion tumult and confufion as long as it exifts, from the object of it being double; the dominion of the Crown, and aristocracy over the people. Till one of the ruling powers overcame the other, all was confufion; when either got abfolutely the better of the other, the Conftitution was at an end. Loyalty ought to be the principle of this fingular government, because the Crown is that link of the chain that keeps the whole together. But the contradictory parts of this ill-advifed fyftem are ftronger than the cement, and each body of the ftate is conftantly tending to a feparation from the reft. It is therefore difficult to fay, what is the principle that urges a foedal ftate to action; but that which actuated, more than any other, the individuals of Scotland to action, was, THE LOVE OF FAMILY, of that Family or Clan to which the individual belonged. My Clan and my Chief, is the crie de guerre of a Scotchman. To the intereft or advantage of his Chief, all other confiderations gave way. Obedience to him is the first of all duties. His orders fuperfede not only the law of the Sovereign, but even fome of the laws of God. Your true Highlander thinks it meritorious to rob and plunder for his Chief, or to affift him in the rape of a beauty or of an heirefs. Not a Clan, but every individual of it, would have joined heart and hand to feize the Countess of Sutherland for their young Laird. Murdering a foe of the Clans was, till lately, called, putting him out of the way. If done openly, the action was highly meritorious and honourable; if fecretly, it was a crime that much might be faid in excufe for *. The immenfe difference between fuch principles and those of the people of England, muft ftrike every one. No steps were taken to meliorate the principles derived from the Conftitution of Scotland, till after the rebellion 1745, when the A&t paffed for abolishing he *It would not be fair to ftate the bad, without marking the good qualities of the people of Scotland. If their attachment to their Clan and Chief leads them into fome errors; to speak more accurately, if on fome occafions they mistake right and wrong, they make. no exceptions in their own favour; they are ready to facrifice their own lives, as well as other people's, to the good of their Clan. This principle of attachment is nearly the fame as the Spartans of old were actuated by, and there is a very striking resemblance throughout, between the characters of a modern Highlander and an ancient Spartan. The fame hofpitality and bravery; the fame contempt of danger, toil, and poverty; the fame perfeverance and fteadiness, the fame pride, the fame fincerity and conftancy of friendship, which nothing can get the better of, but the love of Sparta, or of the Clan. Le & reditary reditary jurifdiction. The effect of this A&t has been confiderable, and the extravagant avarice of feveral Chieftains, has fince done yet more towards demolishing the attachment and affection of their vaffals. The abolition of hereditary jurifdictions has confounded the object of the Conftitution of Scotland, and the folly of the Nobility, or Chieftains, has nearly effaced the principle of the Conftitution. But it is not fufficient to have deftroyed a falfe object, and overturned a narrow principle, without others are fubftituted in their ftead. Surely means might be found to give the fame object and principle to Scotland, as England has fo long found the benefit of. Liberty is a plant that generally thrives belt in a cold climate and barren foil. If corruption fhould break its mounds, and overflow the plains, think where fhall freedom fly for refuge in her distress, but to thofe mountains which luxury abhors, and corruption fickens at the very fight of." As a remedy for the imperfect union of the two kingdoms, the Author would have an union of the principles of government and laws; the first step to which he deems to be purging the Upper Houfe of Parliament of its heterogeneous parts, the elected Peers of Scotland, and the tranflated Bishops. The methods he propofes for thefe wholesome ends, are worthy of attention, but for these we must refer the curious reader to the pamphlet. Art. 19. State of Alterations which may be propofed in the Laws for regulating the Election of Members of Parliament for Shires in Scotland. By Sir John Sinclair, Bart. 8vo. Is. Cadell. 1787. Sir John Sinclair confiders this important fubject under three dif tinct heads; what the laws refpecting the election of members for counties in Scotland were originally; what they now are; and what they ought to be in future. The difcuffion is indeed embarraffed by the peculiarity of the provincial terms fuperiority, life-rent, wadset, old extent, valued rent, and infeftment, which however familiar in Scotland, found very quaint and obfcure to an English ear, though the Author affifts us with definitions. The fubject is as local as the terms, and will fcarcely engage the clofe attention of any beyond the natives, excepting perhaps the gentlemen of the law; to whom it may be left as a peculiar concern; remarking only, that the writer feems to have no objection to the modern practice of fubdividing or carving out the fuperiority votes: for he thinks, they have been of late, perhaps, too harshly treated. At leaft while the burgage tenures of England remain unimpeached, the fuperiority votes of Scotland, even according to the most recent improvements in that fpecies of political manufacture, can never want countenance and example.' Very true; but they may ftill want juftification; not only becaufe, according to the popular phrafe, two blacks will not make a white, but because the objects compared are diffimilar. Sir John Sinclair, propofing to introduce this fubject to Parliament early in the next feflion, has very properly drawn up this fhort flate of the principal points which are likely to become the topics of difcuffion, in the hope of receiving afliftance: candidly inviting gentlemen who pay attention to the subject to favour him with their fentiments in the interim. TRADE, TRADE, &c. Art. 20. The British Merchant, for 1787. Addreffed to the Chamber of Manufacturers. Part I. On the Commercial Policy of any Treaty with France; and in particular, of the prefent Treaty. With an Appendix, containing, the French Tariffs of Duties inward in 1664 and 1669. And a Table of the Alterations in our own Duties, affected by the VIIth Article of the prefent Treaty. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Debrett. This is a fubject of which we think we have already had enough for the prefent feafon, unless new light could be thrown upon it; and it may be thought rather too late to go on prognofticating the confequences of an intercourfe that has undergone fo much public and private difcuffion, and is now in full operation. The voice of the nation will decide upon the policy of the measure according to its feelings, and we need liften to no other monitor. This writer ranks among the moft confirmed enemies to the commercial treaty ; and were it expedient to argue any longer about it, neither his statements of facts, nor his reafoning on them, appear cogent enough to clofe the fubject. To glance at a few obvious inftances: in computing the value of our Newfoundland fishery, which he calculates to produce 450,000l. he adds to the fum, 35,000l. as received by the British underwriter and factor, for infurance and commiflion! With equal propriety he might have fwelled the account with the price of the hips, and feamen's wages; all which enter into the price charged upon the fish, and are only the channels of its home circulation. If fuch error or art extends to the fubordinate details, his general affertions and reafoning are not to be relied on with fafety. His objection to the commutation-tax, is, that the common people purchase finer teas at their accustomed prices t. In confidering the probable injury to the Portugal wine trade, he expreffes his apprehenfions of the introduction of a cheap, ftrong wine from Languedoc, which partaking of the properties both of claret and port, is perhaps more whole fome than either.' But the trade in Portugal wine is not only to be fapported, rather than we fhould be applied with a more wholefome liquor; but the duties on foreign wines are to be kept high, left a reduction fhould check our own manufactory of liquors which are fold for wines! But I know not why our home brewery of port, claret, and white wines, fhould be injured. It would require ftronger reafons than I have yet heard, to convince me, that cyder, elder berries, and floe fluice, or cyder, black frap, and Alicante wines, for port and claret; and for white wines, dried grapes fermented with water, or our own perries, are more unwholefome than the genuine juice of the fresh grape, which, as well as others, has always an addition of a little brandy. The fubititution of thefe compofitions is indeed a fraud on the purchafer; but it is an innocent fraud, that keeps in this kingdom annually, at leaft between one and two hundred thousand pounds §.' If our Author wilfully, and to his certain knowledge, ever drinks a glafs of genuine wine, or keeps a bottle of fuch wine in his houfe; his * Page 30. P. 40. 1 P. 39. § P. 100. patriotifm Ee 3 patriotifm is not worth a bottle of the fophiftications he wishes to impofe on his countrymen; and to the worst compofitions of which he ought to be condemned all the days of his life. Art. 21. An Addrefs to the Manufacturers and Traders of Great Britain, ftating the Evils arifing from the prefent ruinous Plan of monopolizing and cheap dealing, &c. By a Traveller. 12mo. 6d. Otridge. 1787. The Author points out the mischievous confequences of an endeavour to fell goods under the common market-price, but his language is extraordinary: for example, when he defcribes the country fhopkeeper failing, he fays, On a fudden the lowering tempeft threatens round the horizon. The fweeping ftorm comes howling on the wings of the wind. Nature trembles to the centre. The pride of the foreft bends before the blaft. The knotty oak, reft of its branches, remains a monument of the tempeft's rage, &c. &c.' Our traveller feems to have ftrangely overfhot his mark. How often have we recommended Authors to fuit their words to their subject well *. Our Author's plan for remedying the evils complained of, feems to convey a good hint to the Public; and his poftfcript, on the prefent ftate of parish workhouses, with his fcheme for the better employment of the poor, merits attention. Art. 22. MECHANICS. A Differtation on the Conftruction of Locks. By Jofeph Mr. Bramah obferves that all dependence on the fecurity of locks now in ufe, even those which are conftructed on the best principles, is fallacious. In order to demonftrate his propofition, he ftates the common principles which are applied in the art of lock-making; and by defcribing their operation in inftruments differently confructed, and poffefling different degrees of excellence, he proves that the best conftructed locks are liable to be fecretly opened, either by picklocks or falfe keys made by a skilful workman. He then proceeds to the fpecification of a lock which he propofes to the Public, as a perfect fecurity against every poffible effort of art and ingenuity. The contrivance is fo truly ingenious, that our artist's lock can only be opened with its own key: but we cannot give a defcription of it without the plates. The fecret confifts in making the wards moveable, and by adapting the lock to the key, and not, as is ufual, the key to the lock. Those who are verfed in mechanics will receive much pleasure from the perufal of the pamphlet; but more from a fight of the lock: for which they are referred to No. 14, the west end of Piccadilly. NATURAL HISTORY. Art. 23. An Efay on the Method of ftudying Natural History: being an Oration delivered to the Societas Nature Studioforum at Edinburgh, in the Year 1782. By Richard Kentish, M. D. F. A. S. Edin. Prefident of the Society, and Member of feveral literary Societies. 8vo. 25. Elmfley. 1787. Dr. Kentish here enumerates the feveral writers on natural history, * "Suit your words to your mufic well," SWIFT. and Wal and recommends fome of the best authors as proper guides for the ftudent. He begins with mineralogy, and ends with zoology: the very reverse of that writer who is acknowleged to be the greatest naturalift the world ever faw. Among other fyftems of mineralogy, Dr. Kentish mentions that of Linnè, which, he fays, is defective in many particulars; but he does not fay what the defects are. lerius too, a writer of acknowledged merit, is cenfured, because he has not availed himself of the aid of chemistry.' Wallerius was one of the greatest chemifts of his age. Bergman fucceeded to his vacant chair, as Profeffor of Chemistry at Upfal, and was his pupil. Of Cronstedt's fyftem, Dr. Kentifh fays, In 1758, an anonymous publication appeared, of which Linnæus fays, "Vox Swabii, manus Cronstedti." He was right in fuppofing the work to be Cronstedt's, whatever aid Swab afforded is unknown.' The paffage of Linnè evidently implies that Swab avas the author, and Cronstedt only the publisher, or editor: which was in fact the cafe. Swab was fuperintendant of the copper-mine at Fahlun, in Dalecarlia, where he made a valuable collection of minerals, which he prefented to the Univerfity of Upfal: Cronstedt fucceeded him at Fahlun, and among other manufcripts, found the fyftem of mineralogy, defcribing the fore-mentioned collection, which he, confcious that it was not his own, published without a name; whence Linnè in his review of that work, fays, Ut utar verbis Ifaaci mutatis, " Vox Swabii, manus Cronftedti." And he adds, in the next fentence, that he had heard Swab deliver the doctrines contained in that work, while Cronstedt was but a boy. In the remaining part of this publication, Dr. Kentish enumerates and defcribes the feveral fyftems of botany and zoology of which thofe of Linnè are preferred. Art. 24. An Efay on Sea-bathing, and the internal Use of Sea Water. By Richard Kentish, M. D. F. A. S. Edin. &c. 8vo. I s. 6d. Murray. Dr. Kentish, in the introduction to this treatife, gives a concife hiftory of bathing, pointing out its antiquity, and fhewing the general estimation in which the practice has been held, by writers on the fubject, in various countries, and in different ages. The Author lays down fome general practical rules to be observed by patients, under a courfe of fea-bathing; and gives a lift of dif eafes in which it may be ufeful. The directions for bathers are judicious; but we must object to the ufe of the cold bath, in any form, as a remedy for the rheumatism, gout, and fome other diseases which are found in Dr. Kentifh's lift. Though the Doctor's general propofition, that bathing is of no fervice, but, on the contrary, hurtful, unless it be fucceeded by a pleasant fenfation of glowing warmth, is doubtlefs a juft remark; yet we cannot join in the Author's opinion concerning the cause of this falutary fymptom. He fays, The body, on its immerfion in the cold water, fuddenly lofes a portion of heat, particularly of the heat of the furface; and as long as the parts continue expofed to this degree of cold, a continued abftraction of heat is the confequence: but the inftant the body is out of the water, or in fuch E e 4 circum |