chain which links Ireland, in a flate of dependency, to this empire. Men feetling in forests, and reclaiming the wilds of nature, with very little affiftance but their own indufry might veft their liberties and laws on their own power: but Ireland (that is Irif Protestants) muft reft its plea to power on political violence. He fhews that from the hege of Limerick, for he does not chufe to carry his retrofpect of Irish affairs farther back, to the year 1783, the dependency of Ireland on England has been uniformly claimed by the datter, and acknowledged by the former kingdom. But thefe pleas of right and cuftom, as Mr. Williams feems to be aware, avail nothing when an appeal is made to arms. The claims of the Irith being urged by an armed force, it is trifling to reafon on the principles of Ethics. Mr. Williams is clearly of opinion that the dignity and spirit of government, whether by the fupreme legislature here, or by the authority of the fecondary Parliament of Ireland, fhould infift on the Volunteers laying down their arms. The English Parliament fhould require a recognition of their fubordination and dependence on this realm, previous to any commercial arrangement. "We have nurfed them in our bofom (fays our author) and feci them with our blood; we are not reduced, I hope, to that low eftate as to bear infults from them." Mr. Williams, without any rancour, and merely from the force of truth and conviction makes several very fevere ftrictures on the conduct of the prefent Minifter, in an open manner. Our author's fentiments are juft and manly: but it is now, per haps, too late for the English nation to take his advice. Art. 19. Thoughts on the Commercial Arrangements with * London, That many great advantages will arife to the manufacturers and merchants of Great Britain from the fyftein of trade propofed with Ireland, if it fhould be realized, is fhewn by the author of this pamphlet in fuch a plain, unaffuming, and difpaffionate manner as carries conviction to every unprejudiced mind. We fear with him that by these “ regulations we have rendered Ireland a depot, to which fmugglers may at pleafure refort for foreign goods of every defcription; and, if by accident the manufacturers of Ireland should be found unequal to the fupply of this country, the deficiency will be made good by the commodities of France. If Ireland, fays our author, "is fo very anxious to enjoy the benefits of Great-Britain, let her alfo partake of its inconveniencies; if the must have a fhare in our trade, let her alfo bear a propor tion of the debt incurred to fupport that trade; and if the wants a part of our wealth, let her alio contribute to our taxes. And let her do all this, not by a mockery of a navy which he never intends to furnish; and which, if provided, could be of no fervice in the manner in which it is to be conftituted, and the contingencies on which it is to depend: but let her afford us a real substantial efficient aid; one adequate to the conceffions we are to make-one fit for Ireland to give, and worthy of Great-Britain to receive." "I K 4 -ART. Art. 20. To guard against Mifreprefentation. An authentic ftatement faithfully extracted from the report of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed by his Majefty for the confideration of all matters relating to the intended fyftem of commerce between Great Britain and Ireland. To which are added, observations refulting from the facts as stated by the Committee. Addreffed to the merchants and manufacturers of Great Britain. Debrett, 8vo. 18. 1785. From the reports of the committee concerning different branches of our manufactures, and from the obfervations of the author of the ftatement, it appears, that the, propofed fyftem of trade with Ire land includes infinite advantages, in the most material articles of commerce, to that kingdom, over Great Britain. Art. 21. General Remarks on the British Fisheries. By a North Briton. Octavo, is. Murray, 1784. Thefe remarks are of great importance, and if rightly improved, might be made fubfervient to the public good. From them we learn that a very great fum is drained from the capital of the nation annually for the article of fifh; that the moft enormous abuses are practifed by the monopolizers of fifh for the purpose of keeping up the price of their commodity; and that, by prudent regulations, all ranks of British fubjects might eat fish, and the public interest, in various ways be promoted, The author fhews from authentic documents that a sum of 270,5181. has been drawn from the port of London, for fish imported in foreign veffelsfrom February 3, 1783, to January 1, 1784. He informs us, that the London fifhmongers artfully have their fifl brought alive in well-boats to Gravefend; where they lie to fupply the owners from town, in fuch a fparing proportion only, as the price thefe monopolizing dealers determine to keep their fish at may require.-Even the boats that come to London with mackarel, herrings, and fprats, when too many arrive at one time to fuit the pur pofes of the fishermen, they are known to fettle among themselves what boats fhall proceed to market, and how many hall return to feat From thofe that are thus countermanded, the fish are openly thrown over-board all the while they are palling down the river. Among the measures recommended for reducing the price of fish, and improving the British Fisheries, the author of the remarks re commends the eftablishment of fish markets, whereby a concert among the London fifhmongers would be broken, and the fisheries encouraged; the abolition of feudal flavery which yet prevails to a great extent in the northern parts of Scotland and the adjacent ifles; and the employment of Dutchmen to teach our people the oeconomy of catching, curing, and falting the fish. Art. 22. Political Letters, written in March, and April, 1784, by a late Member of Parliament. 1s. Bladon, 1785. The letter writer is a great enemy to fecret influence, and illuf trates its destructive tendency by a retrospect of former reigns. But he justly obferves, "that it matters not whether the King de-. livers himself up to the will of his minifters, or is over-awed by the miniter's power. Secret influence reigns there, where no counfels are are admitted but thofe of a few felected perfons:-Such was the government in the hands of the coalition, which they mean to revive, if they can again force themfelves into office. This purpofe was avowed on the twenty-third of December, in the debate on the refolution moved by Mr. Baker." Our author fhews very clearly, that fuch exclufive cabinets as were contended for by the coalition, are utterly repugnant to the British conftitution; and that peers have a right, and that it is their duty to offer advice, on critical emergencies, to the Sovereign. -But all this is fo obviously true, that it requires not any illuf tration, and nothing but the impudence of faction could ever have controverted it. ART. 23. The claims of British Seamen, to a more equal diftribution of prize money, incontestably afferted. With` a plan for its more equal diftribution. Moft earnestly recommended to the attentive perufal of every maritime man; whether officer, or common failor, in his Majesty's or the mercantile navy, a fubject of the British Empire. By a mutilated veteran. London. Octavo is. T.More, 1785. The hardships, and the injuftice which feamen labour under in the fervice of Great Britain are very great and numerous, There is nothing in the whole naval fervice more iniquitous than the montrous inequality in the distribution of prize-money: an enormity which this veteran endeavours to correct by propofing a more equal mode of diftribution, and earnestly recommending it, with many compliments to the Lords of the Admiralty. But no efforts whatever of a poor failor can effect a reform, which muit be oppofed by men of high rank and great political connections. ART. 24. An answer to a short Effay on the modes of defence beft adapted to the fituation and circumstances of this ifland. Octavo zs. Almon, 1785. The author of this anfwer generally admits the facts, and the general maxims of war on which the author of the fhort effay reafons, but, by fome diftinctions or other, and fuppofitions of what might be poffibly undertaken and accomplished by an enemy, endeavours to evade his conclufions. The arguments contained in the answer, however they may puzzle and keep up a difpute, do not, to an ordinary capacity, and a mind not converfant in military affairs, carry fo much weight and conviction with them as thofe that are urged in the fhort effay. Some of them appear abfurd and trifling, As an argument of alarm, it is faid, that the "British forces, have (not reduced) but attacked Vigo, and befieged Cadiz. and Toulon." The writer of the answer objects to the author of the effay that he writes chart de païs for carte du pays. The matters in difpute between thefe writers we refer to the gentlemen of the military profeffion. Thus much, however, we may be permitted to fay, that in the pamphlet under review there appears to us to be not a little of both petulance and puerility. MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 25. The Pittiad; or a Poetico-Political History of William the fecond, in five cantos, by Timothy Twilting, Efq. Hiftoriographer to the Pitt Adminiftration. Dedicated to the Reverend George Prettyman, D. D. 4to. 38. Jarvis, 1785. There is a kind.of uniform character that runs through what the author calls the Poetico-Political performances of the prefent day, that would almoft tempt us to believe that they are all the production of one pen. It may at firft fight indeed appear rather incredi ble, that a fingle genius fhould be io unboundedly prolific. For ourfelves, however, we have got over this objection, and entertain fo high an opinion of this gentleman behind the curtain, of this, if we may be permitted the metaphor, Hans in Kelder, that we are perfectly fatisfied that what was impracticable to any other man he has actually performed. To adapt his own poetry to our fentiments, which may be done without any great injury either to the found or the fenie, "You must not think to gull us, I fwear by my great father's pate Aut Cafar, Sir, aut Diabolus." We have frequently felt no fmall degree of pleafure in bringing together the fcattered performances of the fame genius, and form ing from them a collected opinion of his abilities. We are therefore willing to afford the fame pleasure to our readers, though our memory enables us to do it very imperfectly. Some of the performances of our author are as follow. The State Coath in the mire. The Political Squabble, by Nicholas Neither Side. The Times, or liberty and Roaft Beef. Chriftmas Tale, for the Entertainment of the young Miniftry. The Fourth Satire of Perfeus, or a broken head for the Reviewers. Puddicombe's Odes. Cadwallerian Elegies. The Death of Sir Barnard Turner, Knight, The Encomium, or Uranior, Prince of Wales. Billy Brafs. War of the Wigs. A Folitical Pfalm for the Service of the Year, 1785. The Stone Coffin, or a New Way of making Love. The Haf tiniad. The Strolliad. The Breinfleiad. The Bee, the Lion, and the Afs, &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. The Art. 26. Probationary Odes, by the various Candidates for the Office of Poet Laureat to his Majefty, in the Room of William Whitehead, Efq. deceafed. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Ridgway, 1785. There is in this performance a knack of low humour and a certain caricature of mimicry, that for a moment deceives us into an opinion of the abilities of the author. And indeed, however a cynic might decide upon the point, after mature deliberation, it must at least be granted that the author very fuccefsfully exerts the talent of making us laugh, and if as has been very confidently affert ed, every time that we laugh adds fomething to our health, and the period of our exiflence, he deferves to be acknowledged as a benefactor of the human race. We fhall extract at random a fpecimen of this fort in order to convey to our readers an idea of the merits of ་ of this compilation. The paffage then which we have opened is the beginning of the probationary ode of Mr. Pepper Arden, his Majeity's Attorney-General. INDITE, my Mufe!-indite !-fubpana'd is thy lyre! The praifes to record, which rules of Court require! 'Tis thou, Ch Clio! Mufe divine, And best of all the Council Nine, Muft plead my cause! Great HATFIELD'S CECIL, bids me fing,The tallet, fittest man, to walk before the King!' Art. 27. Poetical Works of David Garrick, Efq. now first collected into two Volumes, with explanatory Notes. 12mo. 78. Kearsley, 1785. The merit of Mr. Garrick's prologues and epilogues. and the reft of his extemporary poetry is well known. The editor of the prefent compilation appears to have been tolerably induftrious and accurate in the collection of his materials. We muft, however, obierve, that in a lift of Mr. Garrick's dramatic works prefixed to the publication, the comedy of Bon Ton, which has univerfally been afcribed to this author, and is a performance of theatrical notoriety, is totally omitted. The reputation of this immortal and incomparable actor, will probably receive little addition from any of the pieces contained in thefe volumes. They may, however, furnish the man of the world with a fpecies of idle amulement, and the bookfeller with a fum of money in aid of his daily difburfe ART 28. The Obfequies of Demetrius Poliorcetes: A poem, By Anne Francis, author of a poetical tranflation of the Song of Solomon. 4to. Is. 6d. Dodfley, London; Berry and Chafe, Norwich, 1785. Some fancy. tolerable numbers, much imitation, and want of judgement conftitute the character of this irregular (fhall we call it) lyric performance. The author has throughout had Dryden's inimitable ode in view, and the comparison the reader is hence led to draw is not at all favourable to this poem. The imitation, and want of judgement of the writer will be confirmed by her defcription of the death of Demetrius. "He comes! he comes! grim Death severe ! "The monarch meets the dart, "It rankles in his heart: "He droops, he falls! "He groans, he cries, "He rolls his eyes "In torturing pain; "For aid he calls, "In vain in vain! in vain! "Life's powers decay; "He finks away; "He dies! he dies! he dies! "In afhes here your vanquish'd monarch see! "'Tis all he is, and all the proud shall be.” |