[For NOVEMBER, 1785.] MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 15. The Cafe of Chriftopher Atkinson, Efq; ftated at large; together with a complete Account of all his Commiffion Tranfactions with the Honourable Commiffioners, for victualling his Majefty's Navy. 4to. 3s. Almon. MR. R. ATKINSON, the opulent plunderer of a diftreffed nation, was left in poffeffion, by the law and the judges of this country, of his ill gotten wealth together with his life, being punished only by a flight fine, imprisonment, and the pillory: while the neceflitous. robber or thief of a few fhillings daily atones for his crime by death. Clearer evidence of guilt certainly never appeared against any culprit then what was brought, on his trial, against Mr. Atkinfon. The obfcurity and perplexity into which in this ftatement of his cafe endeavours to involve it, his comments and excufes, his barefaced affertions, and his claims not only to innocence but a high degree of merit, ferve only to render his character and conduct the more odious. The publication of this defence fuggefts two reflections. First, It is a fingular felicity to live in a country in which a condemned perfon may fafely appeal to the candour of his countrymen against the decifion of his judges. The innocent, by this tribunal will always, fooner or later, be acquitted. Secondly, we fee how much better a good name is than riches, and how infufficient the former alone are to procure the latter. It is the esteem, the applaufe, the attention, of our fellow-men that bestow the great charm of wealth. If thefe can be obtained by virtuous conduct, virtue is therefore preferable to riches. Art. 16. A Supplement to the Cafe of Christopher Atkinson, Efq; ftated at large. 4to. 3d. Almon, 1785. A fruitless attempt by additional calculations, to vindicate the conduct of Mr. Atkinson! Art. 17. Mercator's Letter on the Cafe at Large of Chriftopher Atkinfon, Efq; 8vo. 3d. Kearfley. This letter was firft published in the Morning Chronicle. The author fets out, and concludes with afferting that Mr. Atkinson's fufferings are as unjust as they are fevere" It appears to us that these are neither unjuft nor fevere. But Mercator's letter is artfully compofed. Art. 18. Obfervations on the Cafe of Chriftopher Atkinson, t celebrated Corn-Agent, as pretended to be flated by himself; in which his Pretenfions to immaculate Innocence, and unfullied Honour are candidly inveftigated; HIS CHARGES of Ignorance and Misconception in the learned Judges and Special Jury, by whom he was convicted of the united Crimes of Fraud and wilful and corrupt Perjury, fhewn to be confiftent with all his other Fallacies Ba 4 Fallacies and Deceptions; and the memorable Judgment of the Court of King's Bench upon him vindicated from all his foul and indecent Afperfions. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Egerton, 1785 The author of thefe obfervations, which are very juft, writes in a very fprightly and elegant manner on a fubject unworthy of his .pen. He concludes with this advice, We now take our leave of "Mr. Atkinson, with a fincere with that the prefent publication may have the effect of doing away the grofs mifreprefentations contained in his printed cafe, as pretended to be stated by himself; nor can we help alfo expreffing to him our hope, that, as his fame and character have long been loft beyond the poffibility of redemption, he will for the future, by the uniform tenor of an exemplary private conduct endeavour to efface the remembrance of thofe foul tranfactions in his public one, for which the violated laws of his country have fo justly doomed him to fhame and infamy.' This wretched man, Atkinfon, hooted and ruined here, ought to remove with his effects to the North American Provinces, where the injuries he did to this country will be confidered as meritorious actions, and where he will meet with a kind reception. Art. 19. A Refutation of the Cafe of Christopher Atkinson, Efq. Almon, 1785. The author of this refutation, after a great deal of fair reasoning concludes thus. In a work of ftudied length and embarraffment, like the cafe of Mr. Atkinson, the patience is more exercifed than the judgment; and it is perhaps matter of furprize, that fo little novelty of defence has been urged in the bulk of it. The fame exculpatory topics are repeated, which were used at the trial, amplified indeed with a degree of imprudence, that difplays their weaknefs. Refources of more variety might have been expected from the fertility of Mr. Atkinson's faculties. To refute thefe topics, it has been fhewn that an agreement of a peculiar nature fubfifted between the Board of Victualling and Mr. Atkinfon, and that the construction of fix Commiffioners on the tenor of that agreement and the conduct under it completely .coincide. That the act of a feventh finally ratified thofe opinions, however he might have been impofed upon by the miftatements of Mr. Atkinfon.. A cloud of numerical deceptions induftriously thrown round the defence as well as the practice of Mr. Atkinfon, has been difperfed. The difpofition manifefted at the framing his affidavit, the arts of obtaining evidence, and the total inadequacy of the teftimony, meant to repel the whole ufage of the corn trade, have been expofed. To afcribe motives for Mr. Atkinfon's flight, for the burning of the books, for his carly artifices on the market, and his late invention of the balance bill, and a diftinction between purchases and fupplies, fall be left for the public, on the refult of this refutation of his cafe. But if it has been demonftrated that the various counts in the indictment are clearly fupported, by a series of fraudulent acts, neither altered nor explained away by Mr. Atkinfon's appeal, the inference must be, that the Jury clearly understood the guilt their verdict found found. If the Commiffioner's affidavits have been rescued form calumny it will follow, that their operation had only its natural importance and effect.". This refutation of Mr. Atkinfon is completely fatisfactory, but to any perfon who will read the Judge's fpeech on fumming up the evidence, and pronouncing fentence, it will appear neceffaryIn re non dubis, utitur argumentis non neceffariis. Art. 20. The Cafe of Major John Savage. In which is given an account of his Employment under Government, during Lord North's Adminiftration, in the Recruiting Service in Germany: the Rifks he ran, and the treacherous Artifices by which he was duped; his Suit against Lord North, and his Failure in that Suit for want of legal Evidence, fufficiently full to bring the Matter of charge home to his Lordfhip. The whole defigned to give fome faint Idea of what the Major, in return for his Services to the Public, has fuffered, in his Liberty, his Property, his Family and his Perfon. London, printed for the Author. 8vo. 2s. W. Nicholls, and G. Harlow, 1785. Major Savage is not an elegant writer; but his plain tale fufficiently proves that perfons in power often break through with impunity the feeble and vulgar bonds of juftice and humanity-Sunt fuperis fua jura. The Major "ftill hopes to be reimburfed in his expences, and to be recompenfed for his fervices;" we wish he may, but our hopes are perhaps not fo fanguine as his. 66 In a poftfcript we are informed that the author purposes foon to publish a pamphlet, containing fome interefting facts refpecting the war in America, and an examination of the conduct of Lord North with regard to that unfortunate war. Art. 21. New Annals of Gallantry; containing a complete Collection of all the genuine Letters which have pailed between Capt. Inglefield and Mrs. Inglefield; Signed with their respective Names, relative to a Charge brought by the Former against the Latter for partiality to her Black Servant. To which are added the Black's Affidavits pro and con and Mrs. Inglefield's alfo, upon this extraordinary Bufinefs. Likewife the Letters of Mr. Mills Man-midwife of Greenwich, relative to his conduct fince the Sufpicion of this ftrange Connexion. Svo. Is. 6d. Randall. This pamphlet is a collection from the General Advertiser, the public is therefore already well acquainted with the contents. The compofition can hardly be confidered as an object of criticism, and as to the merits of the cafe, they cannot be decided in our Court. In whatever way the caufe may terminate we must pity Capt. Inglefield, who feems to have too feeling a heart cafily to brook the being thus made the object of public attention. Art. 22. Conftance: a Novel. The first Literary attempt of a young Lady. In Four Volumes. 12mo. 128. fewed. Hookman. There is a good deal of fancy and much adventure in these volumes; and they are certainly written in a ftyle that has its merit. But they abound with inequalities fo prominent that the fatisfaction of the reader is perpetually interrupted. The details too of circum stances stances and characters are fo minute, that they are tedious and often infipid. Art. 23 The Hiftory of the Honourable Edward Mortimer. By a Lady 12mo. Dilly. This performance does not rife above the ordinary level of the productions of the kind. It has, however, a virtuous tendency; and in a corrupt age, it is fome praise in a novelist to abstain from pictures and fentiments that are hostile to a virtuous fenfibility. If these volumes can afford little entertainment, they can atchieve no harm. They abound with infipidity and innocence. Art. 24. The Vale of Innocence: a Vifion. Verfes to an Infant Daughter. And Sonnets on feveral Subjects. By the Rev. J. Black. 4to. Is. J. Johnfon, 1785. The partiality of friends may have perfuaded Mr. B. to look upon himfelf as a poet; this opinion we doubt will not receive the fanction of the public voice. Nothing can be eafier than to dress obvious and common thoughts in rhyme; but there enter into the compofition of a poet infinitely more qualifications than our author feems to poffefs. He does not even poffefs the talent of smooth verfification, which falls to the fhare of almo every rhymfter of the prefent day. The following fonnet to George Dempfter, Efq; is no unfavourable fpecimen of the publication. • Britannia oft indignant has beheld The boasted champions of fair Freedom's caufe, And, while they promis'd millions to defend, Make British Subjects their ignoble flaves. Round thee, O DEMPSTER, Freedom's fteady friend, No bawling mob of mifled wretches raves; But, while their hearts with gratitude o'erflow, For thy unwearied patriotic zeal Thy fellow fubjects ftrive their fenfe to fhow As would, on Freedom's Sons, impose the flightest chains.’ Though we cannot confider Mr. B. as a poet, he appears to be a worthy man, whofe labours, fuch as they are, are confecrated to virtue and to friendship. Art. 25. A Treatife on Strong Beer, Ale, &c. fully explaining the Art of Brewing, in the best Manner; interfperfed with Obfervations, introductory to National Benefit; and thewing the Abfurdity of perverting the Antient British Customs. By T. Pool, Butler to the Right Honourable Lady Jane and Sir Willoughby Afton, Bart. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Debrett, 1783. This butler, not improbably under the infpiration of his favoured liquors, in ungrammatical and fçarcely intelligible language, depreciates all foreign liquors, customs, and manners, and now in verfe, all of his own brewing, for we know not where he could borrow it, fets forth with ruftic buffoonery the praises of beer and ale. The rules he lays down for brewing may be very good for ought we know to the contrary. Art. "Art. 25. The Omen; or Memoirs of Sir Henry Melville and Mifs Julia Eastbrooke. A Novel. 2 Vols. 12mo. 58. Lowndes, 1785. What Pope has faid of women may with more juftice be applied to novels; "Moft novels have no character at all," except we dignify a certain fo foifhness with the name of character. Of" The Omen" we can only fay that it is not good, neither abfolutely bad: it may ferve to while away an hour or two, which perhaps would not be fo well employed by circulating library readers, Art. 26. Remarks on the Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, in a Letter to James Bofwell, Efq; 8vo. 1s. Debrett. This is an attack upon Mr. Boswell's new performance, but of so innocent a nature, that we are almost inclined to believe that Mr. Bofwell patronizes the performance. If he does not, no emolument will be the refult to the water-gruel author of it or his too eredulous bookfeller; for it contains neither ftricture nor remark upon Mr. Bolwell's Journal worth one-penny fterling. Art. 27. Letters to a Young Planter; or, Obfervations on the Management of a Sugar Plantation, To which is added the Planter's Kalendar. Written on the Ifland of Grenada, by an Old Planter. London. Svo. 1s. 6d. J. Strachan. 1785. As far as we are able to judge, this appears to be a judicious and ufeful performance. It contains eight letters. In the two first, the different foils of the West India Ilands are treated of, and the two methods ("the clofe and the thin") of planting the fugar cane confidered. In the 3d and 4th letters the difeafes to which the cane is Hiable are mentioned, and methods of cure propofed. The 5th letter contains rules for manufacturing fugar and rum, the productions of this valuable plant. What are called in the Weft Indies, "ground provifions," plaintains, yams, Indian and Guinea corn, eddus, caffada, potatoes, ochra and pigeon-pea trees are the fubject of the 6th. The 7th and 8th contain directions for the management and treatment of flaves. What he fays on these various matters is plain and fenfible. The following hints for the treatment of flaves, as they feem equally dictated by good fenfe and humanity, we fhall infert as a fpecimen of the work. The flaves fhould not only have a fufficient allowance of wholefome food, but their gardens fhould be inspected weekly by the manager, to fee that they are properly cultivated; and the negroes who neglect this must be punished. On the other hand, thofe who are induftrious and well difpofed people fhould be rewarded and encouraged, It is the manager's duty, likewife, to fee that they are comfortably lodged, which will often prevent those diftempers to which they are fubject. "The negroes ought never to be deprived of any of their ufual privileges, which I wish I could fay is not too often the practice; fuch as, the time commonly allotted them for reft or recreation. The hour of labour fhould never be stretched, unless there is an abfolute neceffity, and then not without compenfation or reward. In croptime, night-work cannot be avoided, but it should be fo equally par 3.526 titioned |