light the impolitic and unjustifiable conduct of the Dutch, in uniting with the enemies of Great Britain, against a nation which has fo long been the faithful ally of Holland, and the fureft defence of the ftates against the dangerous power of the house of Bourbon. In the Letters now before us, he continues to paint, with the fame force of argument, the pernicious confequences of those measures; not only hazardous to Great Britain, confidering the extent of the war which the has at prefent to maintain, but ultimately, perhaps, deftructive of the independence of the Dutch. Thefe Letters are no lefs diftinguished by the juft and fenfible obfervations with which they abound, than by the author's candour and liberality, fo confpicuous even amidst the indignation which the fubject cannot but frequently fuggeft. Differtation on National Assemblies under the Saxon and Norman Governments. With a Poffcript addreffed to the Dean of Glocefler. By James Ibbetfon, Efq. 4to. 25. Faulder. This treatife is the production of James Ibbetfon, efq. barrifter at law, who inveftigates the conftitution of parliament with great perfpicuity. The Differtation is divided into two fections, the former of which relates to the Saxon, and the latter to the Norman government. Mr. Ibbetson explodes the opinion of those who maintain that the general affemblies, in their original ftate, were compofed entirely of the feudal vaffals. He obferves, that at the establishment of the fiefs in England, as well as in France, the allodial property was extenfively diffufed, and of the freeft and most independent nature; though, in the advanced state of the feudal government, the immediate vaffals of the crown had a decided fuperiority. On taking a fhort view of the Saxon conftitution, Mr. Ibbetfon admits in it a degree of imbecility; but the idea of its total inefficacy he utterly difapproves. From the remarks which the author has made in the course of his enquiry, he concludes that the national affembly of the Saxons aflerted the right of electing its fupreme magiftrate: that it poffeffed the legislative, the judicial, and the fifcal powers; and that the people had a confiderable fhare in the direction of its councils, and the confirmation of its decrees. Mr. Ibbetson obferves that the Norman conquest is the epoch whence we justly date the perfection and the corruption of the feudal establishment; but that the tyranny which fucceeded this period, conduced afterwards to eflential improvements of the conftitution. In this Differtation, the author has greatly elucidated the ranks of the different members of the ancient par liaments, with their legiflative and political authority. A Poftfcript is added, in which Mr. Ibbetson, in fupport of his own obfervations, makes fome remarks, relative to the Gothic conftitution, on the Dean of Gloucefler's Treatife on Civil Go vernment. Plan Plan for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor; for enforcing and amending the Laws refpecting Houfes of Correction, and Vagrants; and for improving the Police of this Country. Together with Bills offered to Parliament for thofe Purposes. By Thomas Gilbert, Efq. 8vo. 25. 6d. Wilkie. The author of this Plan is a member of parliament, who appears to have confidered the fubject with great attention. Mr. Gilbert obferves, that the diftreffed state of the poor, notwithstanding the great amount of the poor-rates, calls for the fpeedy and effectual interpofition of the legiflature. With this view he judicioufly inveftigates the caufes, and points out the remedy, of the above mentioned evil. The caufes he affigns are, idlenefs, profligacy, and a relaxation of the laws; and the remedy he proposes is labour and induftry, enforced by a vigorous and fpirited execution of the acts of parliament, rendered more effectual by a few amendments. To facilitate the accomplishment of this purpofe, Mr. Gilbert has drawn up three bills; the firft of which is for the better relief and employment of the poor; the fecond, to amend, and render more eficctual, the laws in being relative to houfes of correction; and the third, to amend and make more effectual the laws relative to rogues, vagabonds, and other idle and diforderly perfons. To the feveral bills are fubjoined rules, orders, and regulations, well calculated to promote the laudable reformation which the author proposes. The Irenarch: or Juftice of Peace's Manual. 11. Mifcellaneous Reflections upon the Laws, P licy, Manners, &c. III. An Alize Sermon, preached at Leicester, 12 Auguft, 1756. By Ralph Heathcote, D. D. 8vo. 35. T. Payne. A confiderable part of this publication confists of miscellaneous reflections on laws, policy, manners, &c. in a dedication to lord Mansfield. One great object of the author is to oppofe and check that outrageous, indifcriminate, and boundless invective, which has been repeatedly levelled at this illuftrious character; that cruel, injurious, unrelenting malignity, which overlooking or mifreprefenting the great and good in a character, and fastening upon foibles, imperfections, and infirmities, delights to worry down, and tear it to pieces.'-This dedication was first printed in 1774. The Irenarch is a fmall tract on the office of a juflice of the peace, its origin, nature, extent, and limits; and the qualifi sations neceffary to difcharge it laudably. The primary qualifications, which, he fays, are neceffary to make a wife and good magiftrate, are thefe a quick, clear, and found understanding, a perfect knowlege of the world, a competent acquaintance with the laws and conftitution of his coun try, a love of juftice, and a fpirit of moderation. But he obferves, there are feveral fecondary or inferior qualities, which are neceffary to render this magistrate as perfect as he means to represent him. The grand point, therefore, to which all his endowments must be directed, is to decide, according to right, with precision and accuracy. For this purpose he must hear with affability, examine with deliberation, keep within the bounds of his office, be of a compofing, and pacific fpirit, and strictly abftain from every thing, that bears even the moft diftant appearance of profit to himself.-This tract was printed in 1771. In a poftfcript to this piece, he grounds an apology for a fuppofed neglect in juftices to execute the laws as they ought, upon this fuppofition, that manners will always controul and govern laws, and that juftices must therefore be content to execute laws, as they can. This pofition he endeavours to evince by an appeal to the experience of ages, to the teftimonies of legiflators. and ftatefmen, and to the laws against fwearing, drinking, duelling and bribing at elections.-This poftfcript was printed with the dedication in 1774. The obfervations, which the author has advanced on the foregoing fubjects, are illuftrated by notes, and extracts from the most eminent writers, ancient and modern. At the conclufion is fubjoined an Affize-Sermon on the words of Micah, What doth the Lord require of thee,' &c. fhewing, that to do justly and to love mercy includes our civil, and to walk humbly with God, our religious duty; or, in other words, that morality and religion are effential to fociety. By thefe tracts our author appears to be no enthusiast in his views of reformation; but to be actuated by proper notions of human nature, and the principles of calm and deliberate reason. Ethics, rational and theological, with curfory Reflections on the general Principles of Deifm. By John Grofe, F. A. S. Svo. 65. Sewed Faulder. This volume contains about thirty effays on happiness, religion, friendship, truth, wifdom, virtue, vice, and other moral fubjects. The author poffeffes a lively imagination; but writes. in fuch a flowery ftyle, that one of his defcriptions is like a picture, fet off with all the colours of the rain-bow. Two or three fentences from this volume will be sufficient. Envy in its fable garb, with piteous and diftrefling mein, that fain would veil the glittering orb of blifs, with dark tempestuous clouds, is now transformed into a beam of love, that penetrates the remoteft corners of the earth. Pride, that devouring locuft, which preys on intellective reafon,-contaminates the fenfes, debilitates the will, is changed into the admired flower of humility, and tranfplanted into the garden of eternal love,' The reader may probably imagine, that this fentence appears to difadvantage, by being detached from the context. We fhall therefore prefent him with the first paragraph from our author's Ellay on Vice, • At At the earliest period of time, when innocence ornamented humanity, and purity wore an earthly form, extatic blifs reigned with uninterrupted fway, and illuminated every trace of beingDanger was hitherto unknown,-fear had never fhewn its affrighted afpect,-nor diftrefs its armed hoft. Reflection yielded a fucceffion of increafing joys-thought was the feed-time of apparent eafe, and revolving moments as the harvelt of complete fruition. Encircled by the chearing rays of unremitting blifs, nature exhilarated the happy pair with continual delights, and proved, in majestic luftre, its author to be divine.-But fad to relate,-the fatal hour arrived when fpotlefs innocence exchanged its beauteous garb, for that of vice. A midnight gloom pervades the tragic fcene, and fhame veils guilt with awe. Horror ftalks into the maze of life, and fonorous vengeance is in idea heard,-refentment is the expected meffenger of woe, and injured juftice the executioner of man.-What confcious innocence had emboldened to enjoy, guilt with acrimony forbids, and flight proves the fancied refuge of an enfeebled-fallen creature.' - This glittering, gaudy, and fantaftic language can only be agreeable to those, who have no taste for natural fimplicity. A ftrict Conformity between our Prayers and Actions earnestly recommended, in a Sermon preached at Whittingham, Northumberland, Feb. 10, 1779, being the General Faft. By the rev. J. Twentyman. Small 8vo. 6d. A plain, practical difcourfe, on Ifaiah i. 19, 20. • If ye be willing and obedient, &c.' fuited to the capacities of a country congregation. Grace without Enthufiafm. A Sermon preached at the Parish Church of All Saints, Colchester, on Trinity Sunday, 1781. By Nathaniel Forfter, D. D. 200. 6d. Robinfon. A rational and useful difcourfe, in which the author, in oppofition to the Methodists and other enthufiafts, very clearly hews, that the Holy Spirit may be properly faid to affift all Christians, as well in the knowlege, as in the practice of their duty, without any infringement on the freedom of their rational powers, by the plain rule of life, which is laid before them in the gofpel; and that neither the fcriptures, nor the articles or the liturgy of our church, authorize us to fay, that it is neceffary for us to feel, to know, to have experimental conviction of the divine operation on the mind, before we have any ground to hope that we are in a state of falvation. CONTROVERSIA L. Whispers for the Ear of the Author of Thelyphthora, in favour of Reafon and Religion, afperfed through that Work. By E. B. Greene, Ffq. 8vo. 25. 6d. H. Payne. In romance we read of giants, inhabiting enchanted castles, deflowering virgins, and committing depredations on the adjacent coun country. The author of Thelyphthora is one of this class. Under the fpecious pretence of protecting innocent and helpless maidens, he feizes them by dozens, and conveys them to a dungeon, called the Castle of Polygamy; where he shuts them up for life, and configns them to the demons of luft, envy, spleen, vexation, and difcord. Several knights-errant have already encountered the giant, and given him many furious blows. But he still maintains his ground, and defends himself by three brazen walls, which he thinks impregnable. His prefent antagonist is ftyled the knight of the Green armour. On former occafions he has diftinguifhed himself by feats of chivalry in Greece and Latium, where he paraded in a glittering coat of mail, on a fnow-white palfry, richly caparifoned; and, mistaking his friends for his foes, laid many an ancient hero at his feet. This attack upon the giant is only the prelude to a more serious and determined onfet: for hitherto he has only reconnoitred the enemy, brandifhed his flaming fword, and displayed fome manoeuvres of a mysterious nature. In his fecond engagement, he is to meet him on facred ground, with the Bible in one hand, and Thelyphthora in the other;' when the caitiff, we make no doubt, will be completely defeated, the captive damfels restored to liberty, and the enchanted caftle levelled with the ground. POETRY. Poems on various Subjects. Small 8vo. 2s. 6d. Richardson and Urquhart. In this volume of poems, written, as we learn from a copy of verfes inferted amongst them, by a young gentleman lately of the Marifchal College of Aberdeen, there is little to be blamed, and ftill lefs to be commended; they flow on in an eafy ftrain of mediocrity, and neither awaken contempt and refentment, or cominand attention and applause. There are, however, fome parts of it not without poetical merit, particularly the Ode to Senfibility, the Ode to Friendship, and the Ode to Simplicity; the last of which, as a fpecimen of our author's manner, we shall lay before our readers. ODE TO SIMPLICITY. • Thou heart-commanding, modeft power! |