66 Perfians, we prefame not to fay, nor is there occafion at prefent (as above hinted) to "moot" the fubject, the point in queftion being given up, and, without diminishing the number of the Scotch judges, our rulers feem inclined only to augment their falaries, an “in"novation" to which, we prefume, their lordships themselves will not object, though this honeft Ariftippus * thinks they have already very com "fortable provifions," and has therefore pointed fome of the artillery of this Philippic against that augmentation. Among other digreffive but entertaining particulars in this "Letter," we learn, that Dr. Johnfon faid of Lord Thurlow, before he was ennobled, "I "honour Thurlow, Sir-Thurlow is a "fine fellow: he fairly puts his mind "to yours;" that the author "efteems "and loves" his wife, "a true Mont"gomerie, after fifteen years, as on the "day when the gave" him "her hand; "that he has declared himfelf a candi "date for Ayrshire, in the next parlia"ment;" with anecdotes and characters of Metlicurs Pitt, Fox, Burke, Wilkes, Lee, the Czar Peter, and, in fhort, of as many diftinguished perfonages as a late famous Apology. In the "Chronological View" he has difplayed, with great exactnefs, "the origin and progrefs of regal, confular, "and imperial Rome, from Romulus "and Numa to A. D. 752, when the "Roman law was finally extinguished," and has marked, as diftinctly as the fubject will permit, their various stages As a fhort fummary of our author's philanthropic temper and principles, we will add the following: "I can drink, I can laugh, I can converse in perfect good humour with Whigs, with Republicans, with "Diffenters, with Independents, with Qua "kers, with Moravians, with Jews. They "can do me no harm. My mind is made "up. My principles are fixed. But I would "vote with Tories, and pray with a Dean "and Chapter." p. 95. of revolution and reform during this. long period. "The Hiftory of the Re"vival of the Roman Law," toward the middle of the XIIth century, "its "connection with the Feudal and Ca.. "non Law, its Character and Influ "ence in the different Courts and Aca"demies of Europe, together with the "Lives and Writings of its moft emi"nent Profeffors," are referved for a fecond part. The "Illuftrations," which confift of notes on the Hiftory. and Interpretation of the XII Tables, the moft eminent. Civilians among the Romans, the ftate of the Roman Law. during the IId and IIId, the Vth and VIth centuries, are replete with judg ment and erudition. 97. Difcourfes on various Subjects. By Thomas Balguy, D. D. Archdeacon and Preben dary of Winchester, and formerly Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, 8vo. THESE Difcourfes, as they are intended to fupport "the caufe of Reli "gion and Virtue," are very properly dedicated to the King, the great patron of both, among whofe "repeated fa "yours" the author acknowleges his "goodness in naming" him "to a high "ftation in the church [a bishoprick], "and in allowing" him "to decline "it." The volume contains IX Difcourfes, VII Charges, and a Concio ad Clerum. The three first, "on the dif"ferent characters of age and youth," from 1 Cor. xiv. 20, Brethren, be not children in understanding: bowbeit, in malice be ye children, but in underftanding be men; and Ecclef. i. 18, For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth forrow, on the vanity and vexation of our "purfuits after knowledge," were preached before the University of Cainbridge; the IVth, in 1763, on May 29, from 2 Sam. xix. 30, And Mephibofbeth faid unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forafmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house; and the Vth, on the General Faft, Dec. 13, 1776, "on account of the American "war," from Acts vii. 26, Sirs, ye are brethren, why do ye wrong one to another? in the cathedral church of the preacher very appofitely applies the Winchester. In the former of these words of Mephibofheth to the " 44 over flowing of loyalty that prevailed among our ancestors on the return of "their banished fovereign, Yea, let him "take "take all, forafmuch as my lord the king "is come again in peace into his own "place." From which he proceeds "to 66. enquire what foundation there was for that extraordinary joy, and to "make fome reflections on the folly "they were guilty of in expreffing it, "like him in the text, by unlimited con"ceffions." In conclufion, after hinting "at the inconveniences, let us not "i (he fays) forget the benefits arifing "from this change of government; the improvement of arts; the extenfion "of commerce; the fteady adminiftration of justice; the free exercise of religion. Let us not forget that we have a prince on the throne, who "makes it his boaft that he is a NA"TIVE of BRITAIN. May he long "continue to reign in the hearts and "affections of his fubjects! May his "minifters ferve him with fidelity and "prudence! and may fuch fervice be "ever repaid by the confidence and "thanks of an united people!" In his faft fermon the Archdeacon points. out, "as the principal features of our "national character," Diffenfions, Difloyalty, and Irreligion. The VIth, preached at the confecration of Bishop Shipley, in 1769, from Hebrews xiii. 17, Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourselves: for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you, and the VIIth, at that of Bishops Hurd and Moore, in 1775, from 1 Peter ii. 13, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake: whether it be to the king as fupreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praife of them that do well; are both on church authority. And the VIIIth, "on the difficulties which attend the "ftudy of religion," from Ifaiah xlv. 15, Verily thou art a God that hideft thyfelf, O God of Ifrael, the Saviour; and the IXth, "of falvation through faith in Chrift," from Eph. ii. 8, For by grace are ye faved, through faith: and not of yourfelves: it is the gift of God; were both preached at the Archdeacon's vifitation in 1776 and 1782.. -The Charges, which were delivered to the Clergy of his archdeaconry in 1760, 3, 6, 9, 1772, 8, and 81, are "on the "nature and end of the Chriftian Revelation; on Religious Liberty; on the diftinct provinces of Faith and "Reafon; of fubfcription to Articles "of Religion; on the true value of "faith and morals; and on the Sacraments."-The Concio was preached for the degree of D. D. in 1758, from Matt. vii. 16. By their fruits ye fball know them. Thefe important fubjects are treated, in general, with peculiar clearness and precifion, and at the fame time with fuch a liberality of fentiment, and fpirit of candour and moderation, as is highly edifying, and would juftify" ample extracts. Our limits, however, will permit us to add only the clofe of Difcourfe I, addreffed to academicians, and an extract from Charge I, in which he characterises the Hutchinfonian. "As we ought to confult the interefts of fociety in the choice we make of our studies, fo alfo fhould we ufe our utmost caution to prevent the general ill effects of a ftudious and contemplative life; that it may neither render us unfit for the intercourfe of the world, nor obnoxious to the diflike or contempt of those who are engaged in different functions.-Let us ftrive then to adorn the dignity of our profeffion with all the graces of refined and cultivated humanity. Let us temper the feverity of a philofopbic retirement with the innocent chearfulness of an active and focial life. Let us smooth and foften the rigours of virtue by a prudent accommodation to the indifferent manners and customs of the age and country in which we live. Let us remember that we are citizens as well as fcholars; and leave to monks and hermits the fond perfuafion, that they fhall merit heaven by tormenting themselves, and perfecuting their brethren. Be it our task to extend the bounds of fcience, to vindicate minds of the rifing generation to every prithe honour of our holy religion, to form the vate and every focial virtue. While thefe employments are difcharged with fidelity and prudence, they can never expofe us to difgrace and cenfure; nay, they will justly entitle us to protection and favour. And happy it is for us that, living as we do, under the influence of a wife and good government, we have no furer method of obtaining protection than by deferving it."..... "Religion is actually in danger of suffere ing from the neglect of it; of degenerating into enthufiafm and folly. By applying themfelves abruptly to facred learning, with out the neceffary aids of human reafon, men have been engaged in the most vain and fruitless refearches; have learned to pronounce confidently and uncharitably on points not intelligible, or not ufeful, or not capable of any rational determination; and to treat with contempt the most effential profound meditation, they have been able to. parts of religion. After much labour and find, in the word of God, every thing but, what they should find, an authentic rule of faith and manners.-A proper cultivation of 7 the the understanding would have made it impoffible for that whimfical mixture of vain philofophy and unintelligible divinity which has been propagated, of late years, with fo much warmth and vehemence, ever to enter the minds of men.-It is not that this fyltem, abfurdly called Mofaical, contains falfe" and hurtful doctrines,-It is a fufficient misfortune, that it contains nothing; that it leads men to an unhappy waste of time and thought; that it teaches them to corrupt the fimplicity, and debafe the dignity, of reliligion by childish etymologies and trifling. allegories; that it engages them in all the rancour of theological hatred, not in defence, of laws or doctrines, but of empty and unmeaning founds." Confidering Dr. Balguy as a fcholar, and as a minifter of the gofpel, all who know him, either by his life or his writings, muft regret that one whom the King fo juftly delighted to bonour, fhould. have been difabled, by his "infirm "state of health," for that " “high sta-. tion," which, by his acceptance, would rather have received than con-. ferred honour. 98. An authentic Narrative of the Treatment of the English who were taken Prisoners on the Reduction of Bednore, by Tippoo Saib, from the 28th of April, 1983, to the 25th of April, 1784, near Twelve Months Confinement, under a continued Series of unrelent ing Acts of Cruelty. Also, an Account of thole who perifbed during that Period. By Captain Henry Oakes, Adjutant-General to the Army under General Matthews, on that Expedition, a Fellow-Sufferer and Spectator of the borrid Scenes which he defcribes. With an Appendix, by Lieutenant John Charles Sheen, of the Scapoys, on the fame Service. 100. Thoughts on Executive Juftice, with reSpect to our Criminal Laws, particularly on our Circuits. Dedicated to the Fudges of Affixe, and recommended to the Perufal of all Magiftrates, and to all Perfons who are liable to ferve on Grand Juries. By a fincere WellWiber to the Public. fm. 8vo. 101. Appendix to "Thoughts on Executive Justice," &c. Occafioned by a Charge given to the Grand Jury for the County of Surrey, at the Lent Affixes, 1785, by the Hon. Sir Richard Perryn, Kat. one of the Barons of His Majefty's Court of Exchequer. fm. 8vo. "THE principal arguments in the "firft of thefe publications," to adopt the author's own words, "may be col"lected into the fhort compafs of the "following fyllogifms: "I. That fyftem of police is the leaft likely to prevent crimes which holds forth an uncertainty of punishment. "But our prefent fyftem of police, by the uncertainty of punishment. ill-timed lenity of our judges, holds forth an "Therefore our prefent fyftem of police is leaft likely to prevent punishment. "II. That fyftem, &c. is the most merci. ful, which is most likely to prevent the commiffion of capital offences. "But that fyftem, which holds forth a certainty of punishment is the most likely to prevent the commiffion of capital offences. "Therefore that fyftem, &c. is the most merciful. dotes, by way of examples; and the conclu"These are illuftrated by various anec-' fion to be gathered from the whole is, that' tempt, the whole kingdom be overrun with that very police itself mutt fink into con banditti, and the lives and properties of the fober, induftrious, and virtuous part of the. community, be left in the hands of those who are the declared and avowed enemies of 99. Additions to Captain Oakes's Narrative of every principle of law, justice, and even of the Reduction of Bednore. 8vo. common humanity." 8vo. MUCH too fhocking are the cruelties here related for us to abridge, or recapitulate. Enough has been faid of them in vol. LIV. p. 949. May they never be repeated! or (which alone perhaps can prevent, them) may they never be provoked by thofe of whom, as more is given to them, more is required! What occafioned thefe horrid barbarities Capt. Oakes has not told us, but Lieut. Sheen fays, that they were founded on principles of retaliation. The "Additions," publifhed feparately, contain a lift of the officers and privates who fell into the hands of Tippoo Saib, and who furvived the hardThips and cruelties that he inflicted up on them. This pamphlet has met the ideas of most of its readers, and has been generally thought well worthy the attention of thofe who only can remove the griev ance. But Mr. Baron Perryn, in a Charge to the Grand Jury of Surrey, having animadverted on it, and endeavoured to justify the mistaken mercy of the Bench, the author, in an Appendix, has entered fully into all the Baron's arguments, and, in our opinion, has clearly confuted them, fhewing that the frequency of reprieves is an encouragement to offenders, and therefore is really, though it might wear the femblance of mercy, the highest cruelty to all who are thus "encouraged to of "fend;" and that "reprieves and par "dons "dons have brought more to the gal"lows than they ever faved from it.""If all the wild beafts in the Tower "were to break loofe, and twelve fol“diers, armed with loaded muskets, and "having it in their power to deftroy "them, did not, nothing can be clearer "to me, than that they would be anfwerable, before God and man, for "all the mifchief which should happen from their neglect." "by Aftronomers, or recorded by Hiftorians, and of all Eclipfes from A. "D. 1 to A. D. 1900, with an explanatory Preface.-IV. A Chronologi"cal Lift of Councils, in which the "Date, Place, and Subject of every "Council are specified.-V. Chronolo"gical Tables and Charts from B. C. "2300 to A. D. 1784, adapted to a "Scale, and afcertaining the Duration "of the Lives and Reigns of the moft "eminent Perfonages of all Ages."VI. A Lift of Remarkable Events "and Occurrences relating to every "Kingdom and Nation, from the ear"lieft Ages to the prefent Time; with "the Dates of many celeftial Phæno"mena.-VII. Supplemental Tables, "illuftrating the prefent Syftem.—— "VIII. A copious Biographical Index, in which the Dates of the Reigns of "Kings, and of the Lives of remarka"ble Men in all Ages, are inferted, "and concife Characters of both are " occafionally given.” The hiftory of fome reprieves, even of old offenders, or rather of their confequences, in which Patrick Madden is not forgotten, and Kennedy might have been remembered, is really fhocking. A foldier, for burglary and robbery of two old poor men, with every circumftance of terror at midnight, was condemned, but reprieved—a highwayman was thrice condemned, but reprieved" each time-and Patrick has been five times capitally convicted, but is not hanged yet.- "There are so many "chances for us," faid an old offender when convicted, "and fo few againf us, that I never thought of coming " to this. Firft, there are many chances "against being difcovered-fo many "more that we are not taken-and if "taken, not convicted-and if convict "ed, not hanged-that I thought my "felf very fafe, with at least twenty to "one in my favour." In conclufion, the writer draws a friking contrast between the tendency the Beggar's Opera and George Barnwell; and fhews that the imaginary reprieve of Macheath to the real reprieve of a convict at the aflizes must have the fame effect. 102. A Syftem of Chronology. By James Playfair, D. D. Member of the Antiquarian Soziety of Scotland. Imp. folio. 1784. THIS very useful and laborious compilation, which is the completeft Syftem of Chronology that we have feen, contains, "I. An Explanation of the Prin"ciples of this Science, together with "an Account of the most remarkable "Epochs, Eras, and Periods, the ex"act Dates of which are afcertained."II. A Chronological Hiftory, which exhibits a connected View of the "Time, Mode, and Circumstances of "the Origin, Progrefs, Decline, and "Fall of every confiderable Kingdom, from the earlieft Period to the prefent.-I. A Lift of feveral Eclipfes "before the Chriftian ra, obferved This work fully anfwers the defign for which it was compiled, and does great credit to the attention, induftry, and exactness of the compiler. The Biographical Charts are on the plan of Dr. Priestley.-As the character of the prefent King of Pruffia is generally known, we will felect the concluding paragraph of the Chronological History of that kingdom, as a fpecimen of the writer's ftyle: "Such are the outlines of the public life of this extraordinary perfonage, who fupported, for above twenty years, a fuccessful war against the greateft part of Europes who exceeded in his escapes, his enterprifes, and his conquefts, the most splendid exploits of ancient heroes; who, difdaining the trammels of ministerial fervitude, has uniformly conducted the affairs of his state, as he directed the tide of battle, by his own abilities; and whe, not contented with estab lishing, in his own example, a ftandard of military conduct, and with giving a new form to the fyftem of military operations, has improved, by his genius, the arts of peace as well as of war, and raised himself to an elevated rank among poets, legiflators, and philofophers, as well as among heroes." It is obfervable, that Dr. Playfair styles this prince (p. 115) "Frede"rick I1," a fmall mistake, as his father was Frederick II, fon of Frederick I, the first king of Pruffia, and confequently the prefent fovereign is, as he always ftyles himself, Frederick III.-M. de Court (not "de Cour," P. 139, 139,) was the French admiral off Toulon in February 1744.-Admiral Vernon did not take Carthagena (p. 286), but the ports only. But thefe are very flight fpots indeed in a fun of fuch magnitude and fuch luftre, which we cannot behold without admiration, or without being dazzled. 103. A Letter to the Earl of Coventry. By Philip Thickneffe. Containing fome extraordinary Letters of the Noble Lord's to the Author, written in the Years 1780 and 1782. With an Appendix, containing a fill more extraordinary Note of the Noble Lord's, quritten in the Year 1785. OF this letter nothing can be more true than the first fentence: "It has "been faid, and it will be faid again, "that I am a captious man, and fre"quently engaged in difputes." At the fame time it is true, that Mr. Thickneife is a benevolent man, of nice honour, ready to ferve his friends, and generous perhaps to a fault.-The noble botanist here addreffed, being defirous of having fome choice feeds and bulbous roots from the mountain of Montferrat, in Catalonia, applied to Mr. Thickneffe, for his intereft with one of the refidentiary monks, Pere Pascal, who, at his requeft, employed the apothecary of the convent to collect them. But, inftead of feven or ten pounds, expended on this bufinefs, all the return Mr. Thicknese received from his Lordship's liberality was the fubfcription of a guinea to his " Year's "Journey," and of half a guinea to Mrs. Thickneffe's "Sketches," &c. and Lord C. paid a guinea into his bookfeller's hands. "For what?" fays our author. "To re-imburse Pere Pafcal his eighteen pecettoes (thillings) (for postage of letters?, to re"ward the apothecary for traversing, "in the ho autumn of a fultry climate, "a mountain fixteen miles in circum"ference, and for fending two boxes, "completely packed up, filled with "feeds and flower roots of various forts, from Montferrat to Barcelona [forty miles], ard from Barcelona to "Great Britain," This guinea Mr. Thickneffe," aftonished," he says, at the receipt of it, indignantly gave to a poor Spanish prifoner, and now pubLithes this pamphlet partly to defend himfelf and his Spanish friends, whom Lord C. has charged with fending him nothing but "docks and weeds," and partly to raife, from this publication, fomewhat to remit "to the injured "Monk at Montferrat." Had the noble Lord attended Mr. T.'s "aukward "caufe in the House of Lords,” much more had he differed in opinion with Lord Apfley; or had his lady, fon, and family, fubfcribed to his "Year's Jour66 ney; or had his lordship ever asked him to dinner, or fent him a bit of mut ton, &c. all had been well; this pamphlet, he tells us, would not have appeared. Yet, in conclufion, the Earl, it feems, has offered to "enquire into "and adjuft his demands," and to pay him "ten guineas;" and, though the firft offer, being made through the medium of a Scotch hofier," was rejeced with fcorn, the money, if paid "into "the hands of the Spanish fecretary, "for the use of the injured monk and "arraigned apothecary," will be accepted, and this paltry bufinefs" finithed, on which our readers will make their own comments, though, if we have fairly ftated it, they will, as we augur, be more favourable to the ple beian than to the patrician. 104. Tranflation of Huntingford's firft Cola lection of Moneftrophics. 8vo. THIS tranflation is prefaced by a letter to Mr. Huntingford, which, in very modeft and unaffuming language, be fpeaks and merits the candour of the publick. We fhall felect the following as fpecimens of the performance. "ON A ROSE. A few, few years pafs'd by, "TO THE SECOND ARISTOTLE: viz. LORD MONBODDO. "Say, fay no more, y' unletter'd tribe, The name of Knowledge you difgrace; The animal who dare defcribe As equal to the human race. A fam'd Lycan thus exprefs'd His fage remarks your crew to teach: "Does nought avail by man poffefs'd, "By man alone the power of fpeech? "What, but that power, could man advife "To quit his deep-dug mountain cell? "What, but that power, bade cities rife, "Bade Order Error's clouds difpell? "By that mankind the Arts have fought "T'improve, and various works prepare; "The Mules fang; the Sapient taught "To honour Gop with fervent prayer, "That |