in this difpute, which he handles rather coarfely, and without any fuch peculiar knowledge of the fubject as could demand his interference.

ART. 63. A Letter to his Excellency Earl Fitzwilliam, Lord Lieutenant, Sc. of Ireland. 8vo. 63 pp. 1s. 6d. White, 1795.

This is properly a publication prior in point of time to thofe here enumerated. "It is a republished letter from William Drennan, who, as he fays, was accufed, tried, and acquitted for having attempted to raise a fpirit of union among the Irish. The author profeffes himfelf, with out fcruple," An united Irishman, a proteftant diffenter, and an advocate for univerfal fuffrage." The letter was written before there was any thought of the recall of his lordship, with a defign to give him good advice.

ART. 64 An Abftra&t of the Habeas Corpus Aa, with Remarks; as alfo an Abftract of the Sufpenfion-A&: fhewing how much of that great Bulwark of English Liberty has been fufpended. Together with the Subftance of the Arguments used in both Houses of Parliament for and against the Sufpenfion-A. 8vo. 46 pp. 1s. Allen and Weft. $795

If the account of the arguments in this great question is here given with tolerable fairness, the conclufions fubjoined are, in no fmall degree, violent against the Sufpenfion-Act. We have not indeed feen many things more violent than the last pages.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 65. An Antiquarian Romance, endeavouring to Mark a Line by which the most ancient People, and the Proceffions of the earliest Inhabitancy of Europe may be inveftigated. Some Remarks on Mr. Whitaker's Criticisms annexed. By Governor Pownall. 8vo. 45. J.

Nichols, 1795.

Under this fingular title Governor Pownall delivers his own hypothefis on the peopling of Europe" the title of Romance," he fays, "need not stagger the reader's faith; for all history might equally have the fame title given to it in thofe parts, where it affumes to go back to, and to ftate the origin and firft ages of nations." P. vi. Afterwards, "In this treatife the facts are collected, are brought into approximation; and, by a kind of experiment, endeavoured to be fitted in a certain order and combination with each other. The Romance is only the bead-roll on which they are ftrong." P. xi. This, therefore, is not one of those romances which amufe the imagination, and excite the movements of different paffions; it is an hypothefis, in which the reader is foon involved in the depths of etymological and conjec tural deductions. The governor feems, with Mr. Pinkerton and Stillingfleet, to be fond of Scandinavian originals, which we fancy

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BRIT, CRIT. VOL. VI. AUGUST, 1795.

will,

will, ere long, be proved altogether untenable: but this is a book which cannot be abridged, and the difcuffion would lead to a vast field.

ART. 66. One Caufe of the prefent fearcity of Corn, pointed out and earneftly recommended to the ferious Confideration of the People; as being at the fame Time a conftant Source of Wretchedness to many Indi viduals. By a Physician. 8vo. 30 pp. 15. Miller, 1795

This phyfician feems to be no great farmer. His, one caufe of the fcarcity is the reftrictions laid by landlords upon tenants, in the mode of cultivation; a precaution fo neceffary, that if it were not very ftrictly attended to, efpecially in fhort leafes, the fpeedy refult would be the having no corn at all. He argues from the knowledge of the farmer how to cultivate: but he feems to forget that the farmer has alfo the knowledge how to exhauft the land, which his selfishnefs will often lead him to practice, unless he is reftrained. This tract does. not feem capable of doing even the smallest good.

ART. 67. Thoughts on the most effectual Mode of relieving the Poor, during the prefent Scarcity. 8vo. 16 pp. 6d. Longman. 1795This benevolent writer recommends a fparing ufe of bread, which caution, however falutary, will now probably become every day lefs urgent.

ART. 68. Obfervations on Mr. Stedman's Hiftory of the American War. By Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. 4to. 34 PP. 25. Debrett.

1794

Sir Henry Clinton appeals to authentic documents, to prove that his conduct in America received, from the time when he took the command to his refignation of it, the moft indifputable proofs of his Majefty's approbation. With refpect to the points of controverfy between this General and Lord Cornwallis, in ftating which Mr. Stedman inclines to favour the latter, they muft wait for the tardy, but certain, award of pofterity. Let each produce fuch documents as he can, time, and time only, can pronounce the irreversible award. Such is the fate of history, and thofe who are the subjects of it.

ART. 69. Letter from an Officer in India to his Correfpondent in England. 4to. 50pp. 35. Debrett. 1794,

This fenfible and well-written letter appears, to our apprehenfion, to ftate very juft claims on the part of the officers in the fervice of the Eaft-India Company, to be admitted to advantages and indul gencies, which may put them more on a par with the officers in his Majefty's fervice than hitherto they have been. It comprises alfo addreffes, fent by thofe officers to his Majefty, and to the Company, expreffed in a very manly yet refpectful ftyle. This writer pleads ftrongly, among other things, in favour of Seapoys, officered by Eu ropeans, in preference to European troops. Of the European he fays, His tent must be carried on an elephant, that by its early

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arrival

arrival he may be as little as poffible expofed to the fun; carts with fpirituous liquors muft follow him, or he faints under the toil and heat; ftraw muft be provided for his bed, or the unexperienced damps will deftroy him; he must be put on no efcorts or foraging parties, the real hardships and greatest dangers of war; yet not all this care will fecure his health, and additional doolies (litters) muft be hired to carry him when fick." Of the native foldier he fays, "The Seapoy marches unencumbered; he feldom, if ever, tastes fpirituous liquors, he can eafily difpenfe with a tent, the fun hurts. him not, the damp he feels not. As foon as he arrives at his ground, and is released from duty, he refreshes himself by bathing; from his knapsack he takes wholefome rice, with a few fpices, and a brafs pot, in which he boils them. After this temperate and hafty meal, he fpreads his little carpet on the ground, his ufual bed, and makes his knapfack his pillow; he fleeps well, either in the fun by day, or in the dews of night; he rifes refreshed and in health. His courage is great, his patience inexhauftible, his obedience implicit, and his confidence in an European officer almoft without bounds." p. 32. It feems to us of importance that attention fhould be paid to reprefentations which are fo well drawn up, and fo refpectfully offered.

ART. 70. An accurate Account of Lord Macartney's Embally to China; carefully abridged from the original Work. With Alterations and Corrections by the Editor, who was alfo an Attendant on the Embassy. 8vo. 144 P. 25. 6d. Vernor, and Hood, 1795.

The Embaffy to China promifed fo much food for the curious, that various publications on the fubject, with more or lefs to intereft readers of all defcriptions, might of courfe, be expected. This abridgment will ferve the purpofe of those who wish to have fome general information on the subject; a full and authentic account of which is in a state of preparation, by the most unexceptionable hands.

ART. 71. Coup-d'œil Politique fur l'avenir de la France. Par M. Dumouries. Mars, 1795. 8vo. 83 pp. Hambourg. Et fe trouve à Londres, chez J. de Boffe.

This, though published at Hamburg, we place here, as written by a Frenchman, and treating folely on French affairs. We have already alluded to a particular part of this tract, in our account of the excel

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lent

lent Reflections on the War, by M. D'Ivernois, (Art. 43. p. 193.) and have referred to this place for an account of the fentiments of Dumouriez, on the juftice and propriety which demand that France fhould relinquith her conquefts. We fhall, therefore, notice that part first, in our account of this publication. In page 38 he expressly treats the subject of the couquefts, and after noticing the injuftice of the argument, that the Rhine and the Meufe are the natural boundaries of France, which he fays the Jacobins ftarted for the fake of perpetuating internal troubles and external war, he argues-1. That the principles of the French abfolutely forbid them from incorporating any people with their nation, except by the free defire of that people, left at liberty to decide for themfelves. 2. That no fuch free defire can yet have been expreffed. 3. That fuch nations, though united, cannot, from effential difference of manners, be truly incorporated. He proceeds, in two more fections, to point out the impoffibility of making peace if the conquests are retained, and to recommend the method he thinks best for giving them up.

Dumouriez ventures, in another part of his tract, to difcufs the queftion," Whether a limited monarchy confifts better with the happinefs of France than a republic?" and decides openly and clearly in the affirmative. His fentiments on democracy are still more decifive.

Democracy," he fays, " is unfit even for the government of a village. Its turbulence prevents its having any firm footing. Happiness and fecurity are banished from it. As it can never have a folid conftitution, the firft ambitious man who becoines the leader of a faction feduces the people, and gives them his own enemies for the victims of their fury. The pretext of public good is his weapon, and it fupports his tyranny, till another faction undeceives the people, who then deftroy their former idol." P. 71. This is a true picture, which the experience of all ages and all countries has proved to be the inevitable result of democratic power. To wean his countrymen from the foolish fear of mere names, Dumouriez gives two examples. "Sparta was a republic, yet had kings: England may be fairly confidered as a republic, yet has kings. It is the very balance of the two powers well established, which, in both thefe examples, makes the folidity of the conftitution, and confequently the happiness and force of the nation." P. 74.

Though this tract is neither profound, nor in all points free from error, it contains many useful things, and certainly offers much good advice to the French nation.

ART. 72. Saint-Flour et Juftine, ou Hiftoire d'une jeune Française au dix-buitieme fiécle; avec un Dialogue fur le Caractère moral des fem mes. Par Mr. de Fed. ze. Tom. I. 310 pp. Tom. II. 283 pp. in 8vo. A Paris.

This is unquestionably one of the best French novels that have for fome time fallen under our notice. The ftory is fufficiently interefting, and carries the reader along imperceptibly to the conclufion. The characters likewife of the two principal perfonages are drawn with a masterly hand. Many of the fituations have alfo the recommendation of novelty, and the descriptions of natural scenes, dispersed through the

whole,

whole, are full of warmth and animation. In fome paffages, however, we must own that the colouring is too ftrong, and the details, as well as the language of paffion, too much in the French ftyle. The tragical catastrophe appeared likewise to us as unnatural, as it was certainly unexpected.

In the difcourfe prefixed to this work, on the moral character of women, confidered both in their natural and social state, are contained, among fome very pertinent remarks, others that are only half true, paradoxical, and often expreffed in an obfcure enigmatical way, according to the fashionable philofophical language of the country. It is evident that the author's obfervations have not only been confined to Paris, but even there to the highest classes of females alone, fo that many of his affertions, which may be true concerning them, would be falfe, if applied to the fex in general; a fault which few writers on this topic have had judgement enough to avoid. In juftification of our opinion we fhall prefent our readers with a paffage or two extracted from this difcourfe. On the subject of modefty Mr. de F. fays: "Les femmes (thofe of fuperior rank in Paris) ont réduit la pratique de la chasteté à un extérieur d'étiquette, au choix de certains mots, à quelques formules fociales, à ce qu'on ne les furprenne pas avec les hommes, à ne point fe vendre pour de l'argent, mais à fe donner pour des bijoux, des emplois, des graces de la cour. Eh, comment les femmes ferai ent-elles chaftes? Nos inftitutions fociales les portent à ne l'être pas. Nous en avons fait une partie de la fociété générale, et la nature ne les a deftinées qu'à la fociété particulière des familles; elles fe mêlent de tout, concourent à tout, entrent dans tout; et le bon fens nous dit, qu'elles doivent vivre ignorées, folitaires, toujours occupées de leurs enfans, de leur maifon, de leur mari."-" La femme veut bien qu'on la croie fage; mais elle veut auffi qu'on efpere qu'elle ceffera de l'être, et qu'un ardent amour, des foins affidus, de nombreux fervices, fur tout un entier dévouement peuvent un jour la toucher et l'entrainer malgré fes principes.-Among Chriftians, our author observes, that marriage is a religious contract which nothing can annul. "D'après le veritable efprit de la religion Chrétienne tout homme libre, qui connoit ung fille, fe marie réellement avec elle; tant qu'ils reftent fidèles l'un à l'autre, ils font époux ; des qu'ils fe quittent, ils font adulteres"!! Of Monogamy he fays, that it fuppofes a degree of perfection in the political establishment of a country, of which, perhaps, no conftitution will admit : « La Monogamie eft fans contredit la loi fociale la plus favorable à la population: voilà pourquoi elle ne faurait fubfifter dans les états defpotiques, et pourquoi elle entraine de fi grands abus dans les monarchies.' We must own that we do not fee how the author's premises will justify the conclusion which he has drawn from them.

ITALY.

ART. 73. Pifaura automorpha, e Coreopfis formofa, piante nuove publicate da Giuseppe Anton. Bonato, Dottor. di Med. publ. bibliotbecar. Ispettore e fopra-intendente all' orto Medico dell' Univers. di Padova; with two plates.

In this, as in feveral other botanical difcoveries understood to have been made of late in Italy, it will be found on examination, that the

author,