because it is wholly founded on a miftaken opinion, respecting the nature and tendency of the propofition which feems to have occafioned it. B. Art. 24. A Letter to thofe Ladies whofe Hufbands poffefs a Seat in either Houfe of Parliament. 4to. 6d. Almon. 1775. The letter-writer compares the conduct of parliament in taxing the Colonies, to the cafe of a husband depriving his wife of her pin-money, without her confent; and exhorts the ladies to whom his letter is addreffed, to efpoufe the cause of the people of America, and become advocates in their favour, with their husbands. B. POLITICAL. Art. 25. An humble Addrefs to the King, concerning the Dearnefs of Provifions, and Emigration; the Caufes and evil Confequences thereof; and fome Proposals to remedy the fame. 8vo. I S. Wilkie. 1775. The numerous publications on this very important fubject (however inadequate the various schemes of the feveral writers may be, to the defired end) contain much matter of ferious fact, and many detached truths, that merit confideration: but too many of these private ftatesmen, like unfkilful phyficians, prefcribe to the fymptoms, without extending their views to caufes which often lie remote. In the progreffion of national affairs, events often take place that no laws can prevent; and when this is the cafe, the utmost that can be attempted is to regulate their effects with as much uniformity as the cafes will admit. The high prices of the neceffaries of life appear to be of this nature; and therefore when the Author of this well-meant tract, defpairing of relief from the legislative authority, appeals to the executive, in the prerogatives of the King, he is certainly under a delufion, of which, after the attention he has beftowed on this compofition, it may not be eafy to convince him. We have repeatedly hinted our thoughts on this fubject as it came before us, that we might not appear to neglect any writer who intends well to his country; but we cannot enter into long details in every inftance: especially as opinions in politics are as ftiffly maintained as those in religion, and from fimilar caufes. It is to little purpofe that our prefent author enters into a comparison of the variations in price between harveft and harvest; as these will ever take place fubordinate to a general rife produced by a decrease in the value of money, co-operating with an increase of taxation, and the extenfion of luxury. If this Writer has ever directed his thoughts to thefe points, let him paufe a while, and confider whether King, Lords, and Commons united, can counter-act their operation! That he fufpects fomething more than has yet been generally known, appears from his adding it is therefore obvious to fee, that fomething must be miferably wrong within us; and it is to be feared, that the exceffive dearnefs of provifions, is the effect of fome fettled general evils not attended to; and confequently that the disease cannot be radically cured, till thefe caufes are removed. When a people can be reclaimed from luxury to fobriety, which hiftory will not fuffer us to hope, in the natural course of things; and when government grows frugal and difinterefted enough to remit taxation instead inftead of enlarging its demands, of which the annals of monarchy afford few if any inftances, then, and not till then, will such a radical cure take place. All other meafures, as he obferves, are only fo many palliatives, ignorantly or defignedly applied by ftate phyficians.' Among fuch palliatives, the enormous increase of horses, the confumption of the diftillery, and engroffing of farms, may undoubtedly be diftinguished as of great importance: and did not government value a growing revenue more than the morals of the people, and connive at public evils, for the gratification of rich individuals, thefe grievances would also claim fome regard from thofe who would be understood to watch over the welfare of the nation. As to the corn trade, those who read our Review cannot be igno rant of opinions we have fo frequently found occafion to offer. This trade, under prudent regulations against unfair practices, must be left to proceed on the fame principles that actuate all other branches of traffic and it may only be added, that no regulations can take due effect in any article of commerce, unlefs the intereft of individuals is fo far confulted as to incline them to co-operate by fubmitting to them. This Writer, like many others, who view the diftreffes of the poor, and contrast them with the excesses of the rich, recommends a taxation of luxuries, in ease of neceffaries. But alas! no fuch tranffer can ever take place, especially under an extravagant fyftem of management. Neceffaries are of certain confumption, luxuries are variable and not to be relied on as funds; and whether checked or not, would fail in one or other view: but this is too obvious to enter into. Our Author offers a hint that might prove of temporary service in particular exigences, which, as he writes for public good, he will not be forry to fee more extenfively published. Neither can your Majefty want the means of procuring relief to your people, so long as you have fo numerous a fleet entirely at your own command; and your treasury can furnish the money which may be wanted for a time, on condition of its being returned to the Public without any loss. It is therefore, with all humility, fubmitted to your Majefty, whether fome of your floops of war and frigates might not be fitted up occafionally, without any great expence to government, or prejudice to the fhips, to fetch corn from America, and fuch a number of them employed as to furnish a supply to, and deliver their lading at, different ports of Great Britain or Ireland, at fuch rates as would to the full repay the expence of purchase, loading, and delivery, &c. the ftate would not hereby commence merchants, but only act for the public good. The fervice would be no way difhonourable to the officers; and the men, of which perhaps one half of the fhip's complement might be fufficient, would be better trained for fea, than by lying in a port, or cruising in a channel.' Another falutary propofal appears to be to convert the money beftowed on the encouragement of race-horfes by what are called "King's plates, into premiums to be diftributed for the encouragement of our coaft fisheries. But before fuch regulations are attended to, we must first see the officers in adminiftration extend their attention from from indirect schemes, to fecure their power, influence, and emoluments, to the welfare of the people at large. Thofe in power would do well to confider the two concluding paragraphs of this wellmeant address. A riotous difpofition is dangerous, it renders men lefs obfervant of the laws; and when irreverence for them becomes general, it will be difficult, as well as unpleafing to humanity, however neceffary it may be, to reduce them to obedience by fuch means as are requifite in the first place. And must it not be very affecting when men are driven by hunger, or an unreasonable price of provisions, to relieve themselves by taking them by force from thofe who will not, or cannot fell, but upon terms, which, through their poverty, they are unable to comply with? I beg leave to repeat it, muft it not be very affecting to punish men in fuch circumftances? This is indeed an hard neceffity, and leaves men the only alternative, either to perish through want, if they are paffively fubmiffive; or to be put to death by the laws, if they attempt to relieve themselves by the only means in their power; and yet the support of government in fuch cafe will enforce the latter measure. But how unpleafing must that be, even in the idea, to a King of your Majefty's humanity and tenderness? On the other hand, what joy muft it adminifter, to know that your people live in ease and abundance, and in a willing fubjection? Resources, it is prefumed, are not wanting; and it is hoped, nay, we may be confident, that whatever is in your Majefty's power will not be wanting, both to remove the prefent grievances, and to promote an easy plenty of the neceffary articles of life, and to fecure the continuance of the fame, as far as can be, in future, to every part of your dominions. Thus the pre fent and rifing generations will defervedly celebrate your praife, and blefs the name of GEORGE THE THIRD.' Having the fame confidence in his Majesty's personal intentions that our Author profeffes throughout, we cannot conclude this article better than with that petition in our liturgy which prays-" That it may please God to endue the Lords of the Council, and all the Nobility, with grace, wisdom, and understanding." Art. 26. The Speech of the Right Hon. John Wilkes, Efq; LordMayor of the City of London, and Member of Parliament for the County of Middlesex, in the House of Commons, Feb. 22, on his Motion for expunging from the Journals the Resolutions of the last Parliament relative to his being expelled, &c Folio. 6 d. Carpenter. The conduct of the late Houfe of Commons in excluding Mr. Wilkes from his feat as reprefentative of the county of Middlesex, has been formerly fo much agitated, that it was fcarce poffible for the Author of the prefent Speech to offer new matter of importance, relative to that exhaufted fubject.-The Speaker has, however, in concife, fpirited, and correct language, ftated the principal facts, arguments, and authorities against his exclufion. The motion was rejected; but the minority was numerous and refpectable. N. B. DRAMATIC. DRAMATIC. Art. 27. The Modifh Wife; a Comedy, performed with uninfluenced Applaufe at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. To which is prefixed, a fummary View of the Stage, as it has been, is, and ought to be. With Biographical Anecdotes, &c. 8vo. 2 S. Evans, &c. Strand. This comedy, as appears by the preface, is the production of a vagrant Gentleman of the fock; of whofe fortune it has partaken, having been exhibited four nights by Mr. Whitley's itinerants at Chester, and one night in the Haymarket. It is by no means liable to the fashionable ridicule againft fentimental comedy. Sentiment is carefully avoided for the fole purpose of being comical; to which end the Author has adopted a dapper pertnefs of dialogue, and introduced the hacknied humours of a cuckoldy knight, a tarpaulin, and a young lady in breeches, with fuch other characters and incidents as experience had taught him to confider as the grand defiderata of the comic drama. For our parts, we cannot but confefs, that notwithftanding the egotism that prevails in the Summary View of the Stage, prefixed to the Modish Wife, we received more entertainment from the prefatory difcourse, than from the comedy that followed it; whence the Author, as well as ourfelves, may learn, how much eafier it is to be a dramatic cenfor, than an able master of the drama. Art. 28. Cleonice; Princefs of Bithynia: a Tragedy. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. By John Hoole. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Evans. 1775. An operatical tragedy, not founded on Metaftafio. Art. 29. The Philofophic Whim; or Aftronomy a Farce, &c. &c. By the Author of DRAMATIC GENIUS 4to. s. 6d. Kearfly. 1774. Humour does not confift in a hotch-potch of noise and nonsense. POETICAL. Art. 30. Verfes addreffed to the Queen, with a New Year's Gift of Irish Manufacture. By Lord Clare. 4to. 1 s. Dodfley. 1775. This ingenious Nobleman has here employed his mufe to a much more elegant and more adapted purpofe, than in his poem, entitled Faith. The fterility of that fubject defied the powers of Genius; but the spirit of the prefent, the vital charm and beauty of the Amor Patria, and the uncontested merit of the amiable Perfonage to whom the poem is addressed, gave every motive for the exertion of poetical abilities. C. c. L. The following extract from the addrefs will at once fhew the merit and the object of the poem: And O! might poor IERNE hope, In fober Freedom's liberal fcope, • See Review, vol. 50. p. 232. * Paul Hiffernan Where + Where ftarving hinds,. from fens and rocks, Sad tenants of a dreary wafte. Our flocks for happier regions feed, Hence ports fecure from ev'ry wind, Thence POVERTY, with haggard eye, Beholds the British streamers fly; Beholds the merchant doom'd to brave The treacherous fhoal, and adverse wave, + The peasants of Ireland are driven to inhabit mountains and Bogs, in miferable huts, where they never taste animal food, while large tracts of as rich land as any in Europe are covered with oxen and fheep.' Ireland is prohibited from exporting any woollen manufacture, although the might furnish many foreign markets, now fupplied by France, particularly Turkey and Portugal, with certain species of: woollen goods, at lower prices than the French can afford to fell them. This prohibition obliges the Irish to carry on a contraband trade with the French, in raw wool fo neceffary to their manufactures, that their demand for it raifes the price in Ireland beyond the reach of the Irish manufacturer for home confumption.' SVeffels, freighted with goods from America, a few species only excepted, although deftined for the Irish market, and paffing clofe to the Irish coaft, are obliged by law to proceed on, and unload in fome port of Great Britain. Their cargoes, after much rifk, expence, and lofs of time, are there re-fhipped to return, to the place of their deftination, through a paffage more dangerous than that from America to Ireland.' Conftrain'd |