ART. 38. Precious Morfels. 1. Features of fundry great Perfonages, viz. His Majefty George the Third, the late Earl of Bute, and prefent Lord Hawkbury, King Midas marched from home, the bamboozled Mynbeers, His Serene Highness John Bull, Paymaster General, &c. &c. 2. A Tit Bit for Billy Pitt, &c. &c. 3. America faft afleep. The Wouders of the hatred of Liberty, a Raree Show. 8vo. 44pp. Price is. or 8s. per dozen. No Printer's name, or Date.

4.

The ingenios Author of this work, to the clofe of which he affixes the name of William Belcher, informs us in his preface, that he began writing with dedicating his thoughts to religion and his country, than which he could never have done a vainer thing, being fince credibly informed, that religion is in this country regarded no farther than a chance lounge at fathionable places of worship. A piece of information that forcibly diverted his thoughts to other fubjects, and at length to politics." When we present our readers with this extract, it will be perhaps thought that the author's political career, is not likely to be more fuccessful than his theological efforts. Readers of tafte will, however, accept, with due gratitude, this gentleman's offer of his Precious Morfels, the ftyle of which they will eafily guefs from the elegant wit of the title-page. If they read much further, they will find that neglected merit is the author's grand complaint. But alas, the modeft merit which puffs itself, is generally of the fame value with the patriotifm that changes fides, becaufe its views of profit are difappointed. Mr. B. boasts of his Galaxy, published in 1790, which however met with little critical applause,

ART. 39. The Anarchy and Horrors of France displayed, by a member of the Convention. 8vo. 27pp. IS. A. Grant. 1794.

A fhort pamphlet confifting of extracts from Briffot's addreffes to his conftituents, with a preface by the Editor. Briffot's fate is a ftriking example to innovators and fpecious reformers, and his addrefs to his constituents contains a leffon, to which it may be worth their while to attend.

ART. 40. A Comprehensive Reply to Mr. Pitt's Speech, on the opening of Parliament, January 21ft. 1794. Containing an Examination of the Grounds and Object of the prefent War, &c. By the Author of the Errors of the Prefent Adminiftration. 8vo. pp. 113. 25. 6d, Ridgeway and Symonds, 1794.

That this reply was not compofed by an Englishman, we are merally certain, because no Englishman ever wrote, or spoke, in fuch an idiom that it was compofed by a Frenchman, (a very fit object of the Alien Act) we think highly probable; and that any man, except a reviewer, will read it throughout, we believe to be utterly im poflible. It is one of the feebleft efforts in the caufe, that has yet been made.

As we have no hand in the distribution of the secret service money, we cannot affirm that there is any truth in the former part of the

following

following period; but we judge the other part to be true beyond difpute; and the publication before us is no incontiderable proof of it; "as we have ipies and ftimulators to rebellion in France; fo in the greater probability there may be emiffaries from that country, doing the like favour here; it is certain they will, wherever they find op portunity, ftir up fedition among us at prefent, as well by writings, as by every means their fertile invention can difcover. p. 65.

ART. 41. Proceedings in the National Convention of Paris; and other Authentic Documents refpe&ting Religion in France. 8vo. pp. 35* Price 1s. Debret. 1794,

It can as little be doubted, we apprehend, that the French Convention, in general, have been Atheifts, (for it is hard to fay who, or how many of them are remaining;) as that they have been robbers and murderers, beyond all rivalship in ancient or in modern times. Should a doubt remain with any man, this collection of their decrees, Speeches, letters, &c. will ferve to remove it completely. Moft of them have already appeared in the juftly celebrated speech of Lord Mornington.

We do not however, conclude that the French nation at large agree with their tyrants in this refpect. Terror may keep them filent for a time: but whenever it shall become fafe to speak, we trust that a language will be heard generally among them, very different from that which, in the proceedings here printed, raifes our fcorn and contempt, even more than our indignation. Thefe atrocities often pafs fingly without much notice, and are forgotten. To collect them is to preferve a just testimony against their authors.

ART. 42. A Short Expofition of the Important Advantages to be de rived by Great Britain from the War, whatever its ifue and fuccess. By the Author of the Glimpfe through the Glocm. 8vo. pp. 24. Price is. Owen, 1794.

One fhilling is modeftly charged for telling us, in 20 fhort pages, that by "fighting manfully through this campaign" we may obtain the object we contend for, the monopoly of the commerce of the globe." pp. 22, 23. This is the whole fubftance of the book, which as a compofition is fo much inferior even to the Glimpse, that we can fearcely perfuade ourselves they are written by the fame hand; Beauties like the following: occur not rarely, "I have ventured to think for myself; and I have before given, as I do now, the refult for investigation, not as dogmas, or ipfe dixits of politics, bug to quicken mental collifion, ana whereon to chew the cud of reflection."

ART. 43. A Friendly and Conftitutional Address to the People of Great Britain, by Francis Plowden, L. L. D. of Grey's Inn, Conveyancer, Author of Jura Anglorum; the Short Hiftory of the British Empire, during the last twenty Months, &c. 8vo. 54 pp. 1s. Robinson's. This deceased pamphlet, which never had much life, has been forgotten by us longer than our culons warrant, or our withes direst.

Mr.

Mr. Plowden, who defended the conftitution in his Jura Anglorum, ftill thinks it neceffary to keep up the appearance of attachment to it. If his prefent profeilions were fincere we do not fee why he fhould be fo dreadfully offended at the affociations, the fpontaneous movement of the nation to defend the conflitution, and which, in fpite of all the malignity of their adverfaries, cannot be proved to have produced a fingle effect in any degree injurious to it. Mr. Plowden, is in this pamphlet alfo a violent partizan for parliamentary reform, of which he himself thus fpoke in the Jura Anglorum. "If at prefent they do not chufe, or think it expedient and adviseable to make or introduce any changes or alterations into the parliamentary representation of the people, it must be attributed to a very laudable and conftitutional averfion from innovating upon the declaration and fettlement of our rights at the revolution." Jura Angl. p. 423,* When this worthy author began to waver in his faith about parliaments, we wonder what weight of rea fons would have prevented him from changing to the diametrically oppofite opinion.

ART. 44. Scylla more dangerous than Charybdis, by a Friend of Liberty, and of the Conftitution of England. 8vo. 42 pp. Is 6d. Stockdale,

1794.

"It appears to the author of the following short treatise, that the prefervation of our conftitution depends chiefly upon the aid given by good citizens to the executive power, in all cafes where the conftitution is attacked internally, and that jurymen are particularly called upon in cafes of fedition, because as the freedom of Englishmen only admits of the guilty being tried by his peers, it follows, that if ever the time fhould come when juries, deceived by abftract reasonings, shall confider incendiaries and innovators as well-meaning reformers, there will be an end of all free government."

The purport of this pamphlet cannot be better told. It remains for us to fay, that the defign is fenfibly executed, and well illuftrates the very important truth, that more danger to liberty is at present to be apprehended from the democratic part of our conftitution than from any other.

ART. 45. Short Hints on a French Invasion, by John Ranby, Efq. 8vo. 14 pp. 6d. Stockdale, 1794.

This fenfible and well meaning pamphlet,is intended to demonstrate that, although a French invafion be not impoffible, it can never be materially injurious to the country, except through our own cowardice, treachery, and folly.

* See alfo at p. 428. & feqq. many more of that confiftent author's found arguments against what he calls there," the difcontented declaimers of the day," who complain of the inadequate, partial, and corrupt representation of this nation in parliament.'

ART. 46. Some Account of a very Seditious Book, lately found upon Wimbledon Common, by one of his Majefty's Secretaries of State. With a Commentary, by the Right Honourable Gentleman, and Notes by the Editor. 8vo. 38 pp. 1s. Owen, 1794.

A wicked wit is a kind of proverbial affociation, not without its fhare of propriety. Wits are apt to be malignant, fatirical, quick to fpy the faults of others, and very blind to their own. They have this 100 in their favour, that nine tenths of the world delight in cenfure; and had rather be tickled with unjuft fatire, than want food for laughter and reproach. The writer of this little tract belongs undoubtedly to the clafs here defcribed, and this probably is as much praife as he defires. Like other wits he is difcontented with every thing that is, because it is, and cordially hates all those who are in, because they are not out. The vehicle of his fatire is contrived and managed with ingenuity. The fubject of it is as ufual, the dreadful wrongs of the people, occafioned by the miniftry, and Mr. Reeves, who doubtless muft be a formidable monfter. He muft alfo infallibly be a necromancer, fince he perfuaded the people, (as this author defines them) to combine against themselves; and that, by the spell of one advertisement. O horrible!

ART. 47. Thoughts on the Will of the People. 8vo. Dublin, 1794.

This pamphlet, we understand, was printed in Dublin, for the fake of distribution, and might be of fimilar fervice here, now the French cant terms of anarchy," the fovereign people," are openly pafted on our walls.

A man of real virtue in all ages has hated and defpifed the "ardorem civium prava jubentium," the fury of the people's wicked will, just as much as the threatning countenance of any other defpotic tyrant: and they only who wish to be tyrants themselves, or flaves to the worft of all tyrants, an ignorant, irrational tyrant, have ever upheld the contrary doctrine. This little tract, which has been neglected by us longer than we intended, well explains these truths, and therefore deferves our commendation; but we are forry that we cannot direct our readers where to procure it, except by the general defcription Dublin, there being no printer's name. The following paffage however we may at least preferve. To thofe who pretend, that by public will they mean public reafon, the author puts the fair queftion, Why then do you not fay reafon, which is juft as eafy to pronounce? The anfwer is, that it would not produce the required effects; which he illuftrates varioufly, and finally thus:

"The cottager, ignorant and illiterate as he is, would be apt to perceive, that if the reafon of the people were to be the standard of law and government, the state of things would be nearly as diftant from dear equality as it is at prefent-becaufe even he must be fenfible that intellectual ftrength is almoft as unequally diftributed as wealth itfelf; and that thofe who poffefs it in any confiderable degree, are

almoft

almost as limited in number as thofe who at prefent govern the state; and that confequently he and his brethren of the multitude, would be as completely distanced in the political race, as they are at this day. On this plan, therefore, the honeft man would hardly be induced to exert himself he knows not why, and to gain he knows not what.But fpeak to the fame perfon of the public will, he finds every thing in that idea which his heart can defire; he feels that in will there is complete equality; for he is confcious that he would be as obftinate in his determinations, and as imperious in his commands, as the wifeft man in the community. He, of courfe, takes fire at the thought; he rises in his own eftimation, feels himself already an integrant part of the Sovereignty; and glowing alternately with indignation at his vifionary wrongs, and with delight at the no lefs vifionary happiness which prefents itself to his view, he looks forward with impatience to the hour when he is to grafp the bludgeon or the pike in fupport of his indefeasible claims."

ART. 48. Vindicia Britannica, being Strictures on a late Pamphlet by G. Wakefield, A. B. late Fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge, intituled

The Spirit of Chriftianity compared with the Spirit of the Times in Great Britain. By an Undergraduate. 8vo. 66 pp. 1s. 6d. Gardner. 1794.

ART. 49. An Appendix to Vindicia Britannice, in anfwer to the Calumnies of the Analytical Review. 8vo. 17 pp. 6d. Gardner. 1794.

From thefe two fhort publications, it is obvious that our undergraduate, who we understand is only 18, poffeffes talents, which may, if well applied, become ferviceable to his country, and creditable to himfelf; that he is not deficient in ftrong fenfe, nor deflitute of literary attainments; that he has already made fome progrefs toward the forma tion of a ftyle in writing; and that he is capable of making a much greater proficiency. Without involving ourfelves in his difpute with authors or reviewers, we fee no reason why he should fhrink from those literary fkirmishes to which his ardour prompts him. We only recommend it to him to preferve his temper, because it is politic, and to speak of the bible without levity, because it is decorous. We allude to a fentence in p. 24, in which he parodies (not paraphrafes) a fcriptural paffage, Put not your truft in patriots, nor in the fons of reform.” Thefe liberties more mature judgment will teach him to avoid.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 50. An Examination of the Age of Reafon, by Thomas Paine. The Second Edition, Corrected and Enlarged. With an Appendix of Remarks on a Letter from David Andrews. By Gilbert Wakefield, B. A. late Fellow of Jefus College Cambridge. 8vo. pp. 66. 1s. 6d. Kearly. 1794

This is certainly not fuch an answer to Paine's book, as moft Chrifli ans would have wished to fee. Whoever meets with any writing of