PREFACE. WE cannot commence a fecond volume of the London Magazine enlarged and improved, without returning thanks to the numerous purchafers of the work for their very kind and generous encouragement, which gives us the moft unequivocal proof of their approbation of the undertaking, as well as of the means which we have adopted to effect it. If we have, after the approved example of others, increased the price of our mifcellany, we have endeavoured more than to redouble its value, and have added proportionably more to our own expences, than to thofe of the purchafers; and we hope to be always able to lay before our readers a complete regifter of the hiftory, philofophy, politicks, and literature of our times. We are happy We are happy to find that the plate of Mr. Sherwin, given with the appendix to our first volume, was afproved, and hope that Mr. Walker's view of Meffina, accompanying our prefent number, will meet with a reception equally favourable. The principal fubjects, and original papers of our first volume, are recalled to the memory of our readers by the following brief recapitulation: In the magazine for JULY, our readers will find a plan of the work: the parliamentary history: a narrative of the origin and progrefs of philofophy: an account of Mr. Herfchel's planet: demonftrations of fome properties relating to triangles: the life of Ariofto: a defcription of the funerals of the Ancient Britons; and the burial place of the Scipios, with other mifcellaneous papers reviews of Gilpin on the Wye: Beattie's differtations: Ferguson's republic: Jones's Moallakat: Colman's tranflation of Horace's Epiftle to the Pifos, and others: account of new plays, and chronology of events. AUGUST. New method of constructing magic fquares on the roots of quadratic equations: conclufion of the hiftory of philofophy: on the organ of hearing in fish, and a defcription of the Monoculus Polyphemus Linnæi, from the philofophical tranfactions: critique on Dyer's Grongar Hill: on ecclefiaftical affairs in Scotland: life of Archbishop Chichele: laft paper of the Hypochondriack: Memoirs of Colonel Deveaux: reviews of Hoole's Orlando Furiofo: Kirwan's Experiments: Rooke's travels: answer to Potter's remarks on Johnfon's Poets: obfervations on the nature and cure of the Hydrophobia: cure of the dropfy: ftate of the theatre. SEPTEMBER. Remarkable aftronomical phenomenon: machine for raifing water from a deep well: obfervations on the plague: on dedications: life of the Great Haller: Sir William Hamilton's account of the earthquakes in Sicily original letter of Dr. Ifaac Schomberg: ftory of Mr. Levet, with Dr. Johnfon's elegy on his death: reviews of Fatal Curiofity, as altered by Colman: Levi's History of the Jews: philofophical tranfactions: Spencer's life of the Founder of All-Soul's College: account of folutions of fubftances in air, by Dr. Elliot: character of Mr. Bewley, the philofopher of Maffingham: account of the first aeroftatical ball, or air-balloon, which was launched at Paris: cut of it, in the air: critique on Mrs. Siddons: clofe of the fummer, and opening of the winter theatres: preliminaries of peace with the United Provinces: Emprefs of Ruffia's manifefto. OCTOBER. Remarks on Shakspeare's character of Cordelia: conclufion of Sir William Hamilton's account of the earthquakes: on the difadvantages of LOND. MAG. Jan. 1784. B keep keeping company with good men: defence of a paffage in Gray's Metaphyfical Poem: life of the great critic Bentley: Sir Torbern Bergman, Profeffor of Upfal, on the economy of the univerfe, tranflated from the Swedish: reviews of L'Ami des Enfans: Berkenhout on the bite of a mad dog: Bright's praxis: Magellan's glafs apparatus: meafures taken to perfect the theory of the motions. of the Georgium Sidus: obfervations on the lunar eclipfe, September 10, 1783. Account of an infect in a broken tooth by Dr. Elliot: theatrical ftrictures: flate papers. NOVEMBER. Origin of fictitious hiftory and novel writing: continuation of Bentley's life: three original letters of King Charles I. On the advantages of keeping company with bad men; and other mifcellaneous papers : hymn to thanksgiving: epigrams from the Greek: reviews of Blair's lectures: tranfactions of fociety of arts: philofophical tranfactions: original letters on the death of Euler: account of the various meteors which have been feen during the laft and prefent centuries: parallel between Henderson and Kemble : letters on the fubject of Irith reprefentation: ftate papers. DECEMBER. Account of two ancient oil mills dug out of the excavations of Stabia and Pompeia, in Italian and English: critique on Sbozzo del Commércio di Amfterdam, a foreign journal: Duke of Richmond's letter on Irish parliaments: account of the meteors feen in the prefent century, and particularly that which appeared on the eighteenth of Auguft 1783: Dr. Mafkelyne's plan for obferving meteors: account of the principle on which aeroftatical experiments are performed: air-balloon intelligence: original letter defcribing a comet feen at York: news of Volcano in the moon: defcription of the poi fon tree, which infects the air and earth in the ifland of Java, fo that neither animal nor vegetable can live within twelve miles of the fpot in which it grows, with an account of the manner in which the poifon is procured from it by condemned criminals, and various experiments tried with the gum: memoirs of Mrs. Anne Williams: correction of a fragment of Alceus: life of Bentley, continued: hints for the management of political tropes: reviews of Pringle's difcourfes: life of Fox: Blair's lectures: tranfactions of the fociety of arts: Andrew's remarks on French and English ladies: theatrical remarks: philofophical poftfcript: aerial voyage of Mefirs Charles and Robert: account of a new pair of wings. APPENDIX. Important debates in both Houfes of Parliament: letters of Earl of Effingham, Dr. Price, and Dr. Jebb, on Irish reprefentation: Governour Haftings's letter to the Eaft India Company: narrative of the King of Pruffia's difpute: American papers, prefenting a fuccinct account of the proceedings of the Colonies, fince the cellation of hoftilities: theatrical regifter. Belides thefe and other important papers, each number preferves an impartial and concife view of parliamentary bufinefs: a felection of original and fugitive poetical pieces: a collection of mathematical queitions and anfwers, well calculated to amufe the lovers of fcience: original theatrical criticif.ns, and new remarks on performers; with a chronology of important events, a tranfcript of ftate papers, neceffary to form a complete hiftory of the times. Such are the contents of the firit volume of this work; and we shall endeavour to profecute the plans which were formerly laid before the public with increafing afliduity and vigour during the enfuing year. THE LONDON MAGAZINE, Το ENLARGED AND IMPROVED, PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY. O a large proportion of our readers, whofe curiofity is anticipated by the daily perufal of the whole mafs of undigefted materials, from which great part of our information muit neceffarily be drawn, this department of our work, we are fenible, muft appear uninterelling. The lapfe of a few years, we doubt not, will give it that weight in their eitimation, to which, at prefent, it may not feem entitled; and to thofe who, from want of leifure, or a fituation remote from the great theatre of public tranfactions, are excluded from more copious or more early intelligence, and yet with to know fomething of the conduct of ftatefmen and itate affairs, fuch an epitome must be eminently ufeful. Confidered as an impartial regifter of parliamentary proceedings and the politics of the time, for the benefit of polterity; and we, with that laudable vanity which ought in fome degree to actuate all who afpiring to entertain or inform the public, are willing to flatter ourselves that our labours will defcend to pofterity; as elucidating events and unfolding characters, by exhibiting the arguments on which every public meafure was defended or oppofed, recording the opinions of leading men, and fhewing how they differed from one another, and frequently how each differed from himself, as he happened to be minifter or patriot, its utility and importance are too obvious to be infifted on. Animated by thefe confiderations, and the liberal fupport of a difcerning public, we proceed with confidence and alacrity in the plan we have prefcribed ourfelves. In the profecution of it, we fhall meet with fpecimens of cloquence if not the chafteft, the most argumentative and powerful, the moft animated and glowing. We fhall fee men, on the fole strength of talents for parliamentary debate, rifing from humble stations to the higheft offices of the ftate, in oppofition to wealth, to influence, and to power; and we shall fee thefe men but too often facrificing every confideration of the public weal to their private views of ambition, infomuch that that we might almost be justified in adopting for a motto, Per noftra tempora, quicunque rempublicam agitavere, koneftis nominibus, bonum publicum fimulantes, pro fua quijque potentia certabant. TH THE fpeech from the throne which clefed the laft feffion was as blunt, reserved, and concife, as that which opened it was diffufe, pompous, and affectedly communicative. It contained little elfe than a promife of calling the two Houses together again at an early period, and an intimation of bringing forward the affairs of India as the firft objects of parliamentary attention. The principal events during the recefs were the conclufion of definitive treaties of peace with France, Spain, and the United States of America; and the ratification of preliminary articles with the United Provinces. The commercial treaty with America was broken off. The people of the United States, B 2 as in other countries, fhort-fighted, crdel, revengeful, into whofe hands it was evident the government had devolved, were very remote from such a fpirit of conciliation as might promife any commercial preference to the mother country. Ireland, instead of wifely availing herfelf of thofe liberties and privileges, which had been as liberally and magnanimously granted as they were refolutely afferted, was occupied in confidering what claims yet remained to be made. The volunteers, an active body of men, collected and kept together by the pomp and circumftance of arms fo well fuited to the difpofitions of a people emerging from a itate of abject barbarity to freedom, having with firmnefs and temperance effected the emancipation of their country from the control of external power, conceived no attempt too arduous for their prowefs or their wifdom, and finding nothing further that could reafonably be demanded of Britain, turned their minds to internal, and chiefly to a parliamentary reformation, with a zeal and unanimity that threatened deftruction to whatever fhould oppofe them. A peace with the Mahrattas, which many thought infecure, and the death of Heider Ali, one of thofe extraordinary characters, who may be confidered as the rods of Heaven and the fcourges of mankind, though events abundantly fortunate for our empire in the Eaft, could not cure the radical defects in the company's government, nor reftore unanimity to their fervants both civil and military, diftracted by their greedinefs and emulation for ra pine and plunder. From the duration of the war, the accumulation of taxes on many articles, and the confequent temptation to elude paying them, the practice of fmuggling had grown to fuch a height, and was practifed in fo openand daring a manner, as to threaten the total ruin of many branches of the revenue, and the fubverfion of all order and civil authority in collecting others. The coalition, far from betraying any fymptons of defection or difunion, as its enemies had fondly predicted, feemed to fettle more firmly on its bafis, and to gather ftability from time. Such was the ftate of things at the opening of the fourth feffion of the prefent parliament, of which we have already given an account. All good men were unanimous in withing that the contefts of party might at length fubfide, that minitters might apply their power, with lenity and wifdom, to heal the wounds of their bleeding and exhausted country; and that thofe whom they had fupplanted might affift their endeavours, and correct their errors. How far these withes were gratified or difappointed we are about to fee. Nov. 12. The Earl of Mansfield, attended by the Earl of Scarborough, Vifcount Hampden, and feveral other Lords and Bifhops, went in proceffion to St. James's with the addrefs of the Houfe of Peers. In the House of Commons, the Hon. Keith Elphinstone took the oaths and his feat for Dunbartonshire. Ordered all papers relating to the recall of Sir Elijah Impey, Chief-Juftice of the fupreme court of judicature at Calcutta. Lord George A. H. Cavendish moved a congratulatory meffage to her Majefty on the birth of another Princess, and her Majefty's happy recovery, which was ordered. The felect committee for inquiring into the adminiftration of juftice in Bengal was revived. The addrefs to his Majefty was then read, and agreed to. Nov. 13. The House went in proceffion to St. James's, and prefented the addrefs. Nov. 14. In the Houfe of Peers, the Earl of Mansfield reported his Majefty's anfwer to their addrefs. Lord Powis reported that her Majefty had been waited upon with the congratulatory meffage of that Houfe, on the birth of a Princefs, &c. as had been ordered on the 11th, and her Majefty 's answer. In the Houfe of Commons, the Speaker reported his Majesty's anfwer to their addrefs, as did Lord John Cavendijh her Majefty's anfwer to their meflage of congratulation. Mr. Fox prefented copies of the definitive treaties, Nov. 17. Nov. 17. In the Houfe of Peers, the Duke of Portland prefented copies of the definitive treaties. In the House of Commons Mr. Fox gave notice of his intended motion relative to India. Sir Thomas Davenport, in the absence of the Attorney-General, moved for a copy of the record of the conviction of Chriftopher Atkinson, Efq. a member of that Houfe, in the court of King'sBench, of wilful and corrupt perjury, and intimated his intention to follow up the motion with the moft rigorous proceedings against the convict. The annual eftimates, and a variety of other accounts and papers, were moved for. Nov. 18. The Houfe of Lords heard counfel on the appeal of Mitchell and Gray againft Lord Rodney and General Vaughan. Lord Thurlow moved the following question to the judges; "Is the plaintiff entitled to recover from this fpecial verdict," and it was ordered "that they deliver their opinions on the 24th." The Houfe of Commons ordered, "that C. Atkinfon Efq. do attend in his place on the 24th.” A petition was prefented from the juftices of the county of Gloucefter, ftating, that from the delay in fending away the convicts fentenced to tranfportation, the crowds in the gaol had occafioned the gaol diftemper, which had carried off feveral of the prifoners, and had alfo spread into the coun try. A total change in the fyftem of EaftIndia government was a meafure which all men, except thofe who were particularly interested in the fubfiftence of the prefent form, had agreed to be highly neceffary; and we, who have but little confidence in the patriotifm of ftatefmen, are inclined to think, that, independent of a struggle for power, much of the prefent conteft is whofe friends and needy dependents thall be fent to fatten on the gleanings of oriental reform. Mr. Fox's bill, in whatever light we view it, whether as a bold but neceffary experiment on the fuccefs of which depended the falvation of our territorial and commercial acquifitions in the Eaft; or as the daring and concerted fcheme of a prevailing faction, to fecure to themfelves a perpetuity of power, by feizing and appropriating the, whole patronage and influence of the greatest and moft powerful corporate body in the world, and by that means to enslave alike the monarch and the people, was one of the most important ever debated. Nor was it more remarkable for boldness of defign and the magnitude of its object, than for the abilities, the eloquence, and the vigour, which carried it through the Houfe of Commons against the united efforts of oppo-. fition and the Company. The jealoufy of the Lords, and the fecret difapprobation of the crown overthrew it, when the genius that planned it, and the tide of oratory that vanquished every objection could fupport it no farther. Mr. Fox grounded his motion on the extreme diftrefs and embarrassment of the Company's affairs, which were in fuch a state as threatened to involve their own interefts and the credit of the nation in one common ruin, unless upheld by the timely interpofition of government. For the proof of this he referred to the proceedings of the Houfe for the last two years, and to the reports of the fecret and felect committees. Both thefe committees had agreed in afcribing the difficulties that oppreffed the Company to difobedience of the orders of the Court of Directors, and to the rapacity of their fervants in India. In obedience to a vote of that Houfe, the Court of Directors had made an order for the recall of Mr. Haltings, which the Court of Proprietors refcinded. The Directors obeyed the fenfe of their constituents, and made up their difpatches accordingly. The Secretary of State, when thefe difpatches came to be reviewed by him, finding them fo oppofite to the fenfe of the Houfe of Commons, by virtue of the power vefted in him, would not fuffer them to be fent out to India. The whole continent of India had been made acquainted with the refolution of the Houfe for the recall of the Governour-General, and the refolution of the |