perceptible difference between Shallow and Downright; and that Garrick's Captain Flash is far fuperior to Ben Jonfon's Bobadil! After this imperfect analys of Mr. Walwyn's Effay, to which it is impoffible to do entire justice, any more than to the learned controverfy between him and his friend and admirer, Philo-Drama, annexed to his Effay; after looking back with wonder on his definitions and difcoveries, we doubt not but we shall leave the Public loft, like ourfelves, in filent admiration, and remaining, like us, in ardent and anxious expectation of Mr. Walwyn's Jubfequent work on this part of the drama! Art. 32. Free Thoughts on our Militia Laws, by Thomas Pennant, Efq. Addrelled to the Poor Inhabitants of North Wales. 8vo. 6d. White. 1782. To explain, to the apprehenfions of the common people, fuch laws as intimately affect them, is doing a kind office; but this paraphrafe of the Militia laws has a little acrimony in it, tending rather to flimulate that litigious fpirit attributed to the people of Wales, than to inftruct them in a quiet conformity to thofe legal obligations, which are fometimes thought to conflitute one of their most valuable privileges. Art. 33. Confiderations on the Tithe Bill, for Commutation of Tithes, now depending in Parliament. Wherein the Arguments on both Sides of the Question are candidly difcuffed, and a Plan foggeiled that may conciliate both Parties in the Debate. 4to. 15. L Davis. 1-82. Art. 34. Obfervations on a general Commutation of Tithes, for Land, or a Corn Rent, in a Letter addreffed to the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, and the Lord Bishop of St. David's. In which the principal Objections urged against Tithes are confidered, and a Proof of the Inexpediency and Injuftice of a general Commutation is attempted. By a Master of Arts of the University of Cambridge. Evo. I s. Cadell. 1782. The two foregoing pamphlets being both on one fubject, and aiming to prove the ill policy and probable injustice of fubftituting any compenfation for the abolishment of tithes, are claffed together. The argument in each turns on the difficulty of fettling a permanent equivaJent for the actual tithe under all circumftances; and the ill confequences of converting the fpiritus paftor into a worldly-minded. landholder and dealer. In a matter for parliamentary decision, all that needs to be faid is, that the farmer and his pactor being, generally, equally tenacious of what they eleem their right, it may prove a tender point to unfettle long etablished ufages. If the ufage itfelf excites occafional ill blood where barmony ought to prevail, a novelty impoted on them will hardly mend their tempers. Art. 35. Otho and Rutha. A dramatic Tale. By a Lady. Izmo. 2s. 6d. Bew. The Author's defign (as we are informed by an Advertisement) is to inculcate fuch truths as are of eternal and effential importance to human life: 1. That its whole economy is fuperintended and regulated by a wife and beneficent Providence, which renders its most gloomy viciffitudes and adverfe occurrences ultimately productive of the highest felicity, not only to communities, but even to individuals: X 3 2. That 2. That every external advantage which man can either acquire or poffefs is laborious in its attainment, faithlefs in its pretences, and and unfatisfactory in its fruition: 3. That piety and virtue, improved and cultivated, conftitute the fupreme happiness of an intelligent creature.' The defign is commendable; we wish the execution had been more worthy of it. But as juftice to the Public is of more importance than complaifance to a Lady, we are compelled, by the neceflity of duty, to pronounce this work deficient in almost every requifite of a Dramatic Tale. The language is difguftingly tumid; full of folecifms and grammatical inaccuracies. The narrative is infufferably tedious and we are never more inclined to laugh, than when the Author is violently bent on making us weep! Art. 36. Geography for Youth, or a plain and eafy Introduction to the Science of Geography, for the Ufe of young Gentlemen and Ladies: Containing an accurate Description of the feveral Parts of the known World. To which are added, Geographical Questions, and a Table of the Longitude and Latitude of the moft remarkable Places in the terraqueous Globe. Illuftrated by Eight Maps, on which are delineated the new Difcoveries made by Commodore Byron, and the Captains Wallis, Carteret, and Cooke. 12mo. 3 s. bound. Lowndes. 1782. This little treatife, we think, may be ufefully employed by fchoolmafters or private tutors as a guide and affiftant in the lectures they give to youth. Young perfons themselves may alfo hereby attain fome competent knowledge of the fubject, though they will neceffarily require the farther explications and remarks of a judicious inftructor. Art. 37. The Siege of Aubigny. An Hiftorical Tale. Small 8vo. 2 S. Hookham. A little tale of female heroifm, from the hiftory of Henry IV. of France dreffed up à la mode de Paris, for the tranfient amufement of our young country women, who love to read with rapidity; any one of whom would require three or four fuch tomes as this, to fill up the gap between dinner and tea time. Art. 38. Queries to Lord Audley. By Philip Thicknesse, Senior, Svo. Eight Pages. 15. Davis in Picadilly. 1782. In thefe queries, Mr. Thickneffe, father to Lord Audley, fets forth the extraordinary ill treatment he has received, through the cruel and unfeeling behaviour of his fon, towards him. The particulars are here exhibited in a variety of fuch inftances as will not fail to fhock the Reader's humanity.-It muft, however, be remembered that we have here only one fide of the queftion. LA W. Art. 39. Confiderations on the Criminal Proceedings of this Country; On the Danger of Convictions on circumftantial Evidence; on the Cafe of Mr. Donnellan, and on the alarming Confequences of Prejudice in the Administration of Justice. To which are annexed, Cafes of innocent Perfons condemned and executed on circumftantial Evidence; with Remarks. By a Barrister of the Inner Temple. Svo. 3 s. 6d. Boards. Hooper, &c. 1781. As the law at prefent ftands, the perfon who has the misfortune to be accused of a capital crime, has by no means a chance for equal justice.' Such is the alarming polition of this Writer, which he hath attempted to evince from the trial of Mr. Donnellan, and a long ftring of afes of many innocent perfons condemned and executed on circumftantial evidence; and the refult is indeed a mortifying reflection on the fallability of human judgment; but is no more a reflection on the criminal law of England, than a collection of inftances where men have been occafionally mistaken upon the most important fubje&s, would be a fair argument against the admiffion of reasoning and philofophy on any subject The latter might indeed promote univerfal fcepticism and the pains this Waiter has taken to fhew, that in the strongest apparent cafes of guilt, men have afterwards proved to be innocent, would naturally operate to fufpend all decifion in criminal justice, till mathematical demonftration can be had on subjects that are not the objects of mathematical evidence; but, qui nimi: probat, nibil probat. : It will be faid that no man's life is safe, if circumftantial evidence is to be admitted.' It may be answered, No man's life is fafe even though positive proof be required, as long as the hardinefs of deliberate perjury may be allowed to affect it. Moft of the cafes, which the Writer produces, are on direct and positive evidence of this fort; which, as we have before obferved, is lefs to be confidered as a reflection on the laws of England, than on human wickedness. He appears to us to be little acquainted with the general nature of evidence, or he would have difcovered, that a circumftantial proof, arifing from a number of independent facts, though apparently minute, and established by circumstances and by witneffes unconnected with each other, is often a fpecies of evidence fo ftrong and convincing, that a jury, bound to decide upon their oaths, can no more refiit its force, than a man, with his eyes open can avoid feeing an object that is prefented to him in the face of day. This learned Barrister has appropriated feventy-eight pages to the confideration of Mr. Donnellan's cafe, and his reasonings upon it, are ingenious and plaufible. We do not much admire this kind of inquifitio poft mortem. We think however he has made out one point; that if the full benefit of counfel were allowed to prifoners in all capital cafes (which he strongly recommends), many a criminal might efcape, who poffibly deferves hanging more than Mr. Donnellan. POOR LAWS. Art. 40. Obfervations on the Bills for amending and rendering more effectual the Laws relative to Houfes of Correction; for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor, and for amending and rendering more effectual the Laws relative to Rogues, Vagabonds, and Beggars; with a Table annexed, for the Direction of the feveral Officers and Perfons to adjust and pass their Accounts, under the Direction of the Act, in the eafieft and most concise Manner. By T. Gilbert, Efq. M. P. 8vo. 6d. Wilkie. 1782. See the enfuing Article. Art. 41. A Few Words in Behalf of the Poor; Being Remarks upon a Plan propofed by Mr. Gilbert, for improving the Police of this Country. Alfo Remarks upon the Three Bills which are to be offered to Parliament refpecting. 1. The Poor,- 2. Houses of Correctiona X 4 Correction,3. Vagrants. By H. Zouch, a Juftice of the Peace. 4to. 6d. Robinfon. While this important fubject is under the deliberation of Parliament, it were to be wished that magiftrates and others who are led, by their duty and habits of life, to confider it with attention, would communicate their obfervations upon the bills now depending. Mr. Zouch is of opinion, that the innovations propofed by Mr. Gilbert in his celebrated Plan, are liable to much exception; and he has given his reafons to the Public with a fincerity that does him honour, though perhaps with a degree of harshness, that borders upon cynical morofenefs. Every gentleman who devotes his labours to the public good, is highly refpectable in the eyes of the community; and has a right to the utmost candour and fairness of interpretation. We confefs ourfelves highly pleafed with the liberal conduct of Mr. Gilbert, in inviting the affiftance and emendations of others. It appears that the Bills he has brought forward, are already in a state of much greater maturity and improvement, than that in which they were originally offered to Parliament. The Olfervations mentioned on the other fide, comprize an abstract of the improved plan, and are introduced with the following Addrefs to the Reader. Having, the last year, published my thoughts upon these Three Bills, of the greatefl national importance, and having been encouraged by the favourable reception which that fmall pamphlet found, in all parts of the kingdom, to profecute the Plan, I accordingly prefented the Three Bills to the Houfe, which were afterwards read a firit and fecond Time, without the leat oppofition. They have fince allo been very fully examined and difcuffed in Committees, attended by members from every part of the kingdom, from whofe fuggetions, alterations, and additions, now inferted in feveral parts of the Bills, they have received confiderable amendments. Every member who attended the Committee faw the infinite importance of the matter, and moft generously offered his affiftance to adapt the Bills to the circumstances and fituation of every part of this country. Whenever a difference of opinion arofe in the committee, each member expreffed his fentiments with the utmost candour; and, after the general fenfe of the committee was collected, the claufe under confideration was poftponed, in order to have it amended, if the amendments were not very numerous; or, if they were, to have it withdrawn, and a new claufe propofed, which might better anfwer the purposes of the Public, and be molt agreeable to the fentiments and withes of the committee. Thefe amendments, or new claufes, when found neceffary, were afterwards produced, examined, and approved by the committee, and received into the Bill. In this manner, and by thefe means, have the Three Bills gone through the committees, without a single divifion. They have fince been reported to the Houfe, and ordered to be reprinted with the amendments. A larger number than ufual have been printed, in order to circulate them amongst the magiftrates, and others who may be difpofed to confider them, and fuggeft any amendments which may be further neceffary, before they pass the Houfe of Commons. It is therefore propofed to move the Houfe, as foon as poffible after the adjournment for Eafter holidays, to have the Bills recommitted, that the errors and defects which may be difcovered (and of which, from my own more accurate obfervation, I acknowledge there were many) may be corrected; and that thefe Bills, upon which fo much of the Peace, Order, and good Government in the Police of this country depends, may go as perfect to the House of Lords as they can be made.' Art. 42. RELIGIOUS. Sacred Hiftory, felected from the Scriptures, with Annotations and Reflections, fuited to the Comprehenfion of young Minds: particularly calculated to facilitate the Study of the Holy Scriptures in Schools and Families, and to render this important Branch of Education eafy to the Teacher, and pleafing to the Pupil. Vol. I. From the Creation, to the numbering of the Ifraelites before their Departure from Mount Sinai. By Mrs. Trimmer, Author of An Eafy Introduction to the Knowledge of Nature, &c. 12mo. 3 s. Dodfley, &c. 1782. We had the pleafure fome time ago to recomniend a former publication of this Author's in our Review for January, 1781. The prefent volume equally merits the attention of the Public. In the Dedication to the Queen (which is juft, fenfible, and polite), Mrs. T. informs Her Majesty, that this Work was compofed with a view to affift young minds in the acquifition of religious knowledge, by removing the difficulties which prevent their attaining an early acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures: and that the prefumes to hope her defign will excufe her, both to Her Majefty, and the world, for the boldness of her undertaking, and the defects in the execution of it. In the Preface, the obferves that the objections that have been made by fome of our beft authors (Mr. Locke and Dr. Watts in their treatifes on education) to the indifcriminate ufe of the Scriptures, have great weight, for numberlefs paffages both in the Old and New Teftament, abound with incidents and doctrines much beyond the comprehenfion of young perfons; and there is reafon to apprehend, that if the words of Scripture become familiar to their ears, without having proper ideas annexed to them, they will not afterwards be fufficiently affected with that beautiful fimplicity of language, and fublimity of fentiment, which fo peculiarly diftinguish the facted volume. But on the other hand, in this age, when it must be acknowledged there is too great an indifference for religion, it is particu. ly recef fary to point out the flrait path of duty; and how can this be fo effectually done, as by having recourfe to the word of God? As we shall not attempt, by any extracts from this Work, to do juftice to its merit, we leave our Readers therefore to judge for themfelves and we believe they will not think their time lot in peruling it. They will, we doubt not, agree with us, that the dena is good, and that the execution is fuch as cannot fail of promoting rational religion, and virtue amongst the rifing generation. We must not take leave of this production without noticing the fol- . lowing paffage in the Preface. I beg leave to obferve, that it feems to me highly neceflary, that a book |