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This it is, I think, that marks the limit, or that lays the line between liberty and fla. wery. As far as, in any inftance, the operation of any caufe comes in to reftrain the power of felf-government, fo far flavery is introduced: nor do I think that a precifer dea than this of liberty and flavery can be formed.

I cannot help wifhing I could here fix my reader's attention, and engage him to confider carefully the dignity of that bleffing to which we give the name of liberty, according to the reprefentation now made of it. There is not a word in the whole compa's of language which expreffes fo much of what is important and exellent. It is, in every wiew of it, a bleffing truly facred and invaluable.-Without phyfical liberty, man would be a machine acted upon by mechanical springs, having no principle of motion in himfelf or command over events; and, therefore, incapable of all merit and demerit. --Without moral liberty he is a wicked and deteftable being, fubject to the tyranny of bafe lufts, and the fport of every vile appeaite. And without religious and civil liberty he is a poor and abject animal without rights, without property, and without a conscience, bending his neck to the yoke, and crouching to the will of every filly creature who has the infolence to pretend to authority over him.-nothing, therefore, can be of fo much confequence to us as liberty. It is the foundation of all honour, and the chief privilege and glory of our natures.

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ver nothing but public mifery. Through every period, ignorance, defpotism, war, and fuperftition, have by turns plundered mankind of the advantages with which nature prefented them. The annals of mankind, and even of the church, are little elfe but an biftory of melancholy paffages, and which, however things are palliated and gilded over, can scarcely be read by a perfon of humanity without tears and horror. The author of this fenfible effay is a French officer, who laments over the prefent ftate of human nature, and thinks the beft proofs of a people's happiness are agriculture and population.

XXXVI. The Hiftory of Lady Anne Neville, Sifter to the great Earl of Warwick, z vels. 6s. Cadell.

Whether the Duchefs of Kingston will be pleased with the dedication of this hiftory to her, or not, we cannot say. Perhaps the writer thought there was a propriety in it,and confidered the Duchefs and her heroine as alike poffeffing thofe exquifite refined feelings which tend both to the gratification of the paffions, and an union of fouls. If our readers want to know the life of this lady Anne Neville, here it is, even as described by her hiftorian, who yet raifes her above her fex.

She was the eldest daughter of Richard, Earl of Salisbury. At the age of fifteen, the married a Neville, of the Westmoreland family, who was her near relation before. He kept her clofe in his cafile in the North, and guarded her with the watchfulness of a dragon: perhaps he had fome reafon for his fears and jealoufy. Her father foon procu

From what has been faid it is obvious, that all civil government, as far as it can be denominated free, is the creature of the peo-red a divorce on account of their nearness

ple. It originates with them. It is conducted under their direction; and has in view nothing but their happiness. All its different forms are no more than fo many different modes in which they chufe to direct their affairs, and to fecure the quiet enjoyment of their rights. In every free ftate every man is his own legiflator.All taxes are free-gifts for public fervices,-All laws are particular provifions or regulations eftablished by common confent for gaining protection and fafety. And all magiftrates are truffees or deputies for carrying these regulations into execution.

Liberty, therefore, is too imperfectly defined when it is faid to be "a government by laws, and not by men." If the laws are made by one man, or a junto of men in a ftate, and not by common confent, a government by them does not differ from flawery. In this cafe it would be a contradiction in terms to fay that the flate governs itself."

XXXV. An Efay on public Happiness, inveftigating the State of human Nature, under each of its particular Appearances through the feveral Periods of History, to the prefent Times. 2 vols. 10s. Cadell.

After a long and accurate inveftigation, dead of public happiness, we here difco

of confanguinity. Then the appeared again at court, and the old Duke of Gloucester felt the force of her charms. However, just as he was at liberty by his wife's death to make a declaration of his love, her affections were engaged by the Duke of Somerset's brother, and who foon fucceeded both to the title and eftate. Such was our heroine's virtue and tender fenfation, the gave herfelf up to him, knowing he had a wife, and the only reftraint they impofed on themselves, was to conceal their tenderness from the world; this amiable lady at the fame time liftened to Gloucefter's addreffes, and on the eve of the very day appointed for the nuptials with him, fhe gave her lover a meet-' ing; they were detected, and the enraged Gloucester determined to facrifice both with his own hand, but they escaped. She threw herself into the Thames, and was taken up by the captain of a Norman veffel, who carried her to France.

She lived with the Dauphinefs four years, undiscovered, we are told, and virtuous to be fure, under the name of Mifs Saunders. Then he came over with the queen of Henry VI. Her connexion with Somerfet again commenced, who offered to marry her, but

her

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her father rather chofe that the fhould be his mistress. Soon the leaves him, and embraces the Duke of York; but he flaying Somerset in battle, and triumphing in his rival's fall, is alfo forfaken by her, and the flies to the Queen for protection. The Duke of York being fuccefsful, and his mistress not of an obdurate difpofition, he was received again into favour. On his being flain, the retired to a convent to bewail her loft lo. ver. After fome time, when her brother on changing fides had exalted Henry VI. to the throne, she was married to the Marquis of Carnarvon, and thus at laft if our author may be believed," She received the reward of her many virtues, united to a nobleman of the first rank, attrated univerfal admiration, and became the criterion of refinement."

XXXVII. Poetical Amusements at a Villa, near Bath. 2 vols. 6s. Dilly.

Entertaining and inftructive. Many of the poems difplay both genius and the fpirit of poetry; the following is a fpecimen :

The Difference between WIT and HUMOUR.

THE difference (fpite of common rumour) You afk 'twixt real wit and humour ; Whilft I, dildaining pompous diction, High flights, and vain poetic fiction, Which only ferve the fenfe to throud And leave the fubject in a cloud, Attentive ftill to your petition, Answer by way of definition.

Of wit, the true criterion is,
In joft and apt resemblances,
Ideas variously combin'd,

That flash conviction on the mind;
That give to truth a brighter dye,
To fenfe, a double poignancy;
Whofe force of ridicule we fee
In many a lively repartee:
Which vent'ring often t'explore
What to the mind was known before,
Giving to thought a pleafing dress,
Shews what all feel, but can't exprefs.
For as Hogarth, neglecting grace,
By fcratch of pen could fhew a face;
So in wit's finer ftrokes we find
Each varied image of the mind:
Touch'd with the likeness all the while
We feel it's force, and only fmile.

Humour performs the other half,
And leads us to a hearty laugh,
Much fhe attempts, nor ought in vain,
Still miftrefs of the comic vein,
In form and manner fure to please,
And most of all, by truth and eafe:
For as true wit, the wife agree,
Is lively thought, and repartee;
So humour is a combination
Of drollery, and imitation,

XXXVIII. Letters written by the late Rt. Hon. Lady Luxborough, to William Shenflone, Efq; 5. Dodley.

We have no doubt of the authenticity of thefe lettters, but the public are not likely to

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entertain that high opinion of them, which did Mr. Shenftone, as, "written with abun dant eafe, politeness and vivacity." She was very polite to him, but the correspondence is very uninterefting Perhaps the following particulars refpecting her brothers Bolingbroke, may be new to fome of our readers.

"I faw to-day in the London Evening Poff a letter, which reflects upon my brother B-ke, in regard to Mr. P-pe's treachery to him; in which the blame feems to be thrown from him upon my brother. I have not yet feen any one thing more that has been published concerning it, except a preface in a magazine in his favour, the truth of which I could atteft; and have often wondered he could fo long ftifle the abominable ufage he met with from P-pe in printing, his work, which he had intrufted him to review, intending that it should not be published till after his own death. The letters between P- pe and the printer, bargaining for the price, were found by Lord Marchmont, whole bufinefs it was, by P-pe's laft will, to look over his papers jointly with Lord Bo-ke: but as to the fubject of the book, I know nothing of it; nor is that to the purpose as to P-pe's balene's to the best of friends; without whom he had never fhone in the Eflay on Man."

"My own fpirits are much lowered by my brother Bolingbroke's misfortune; which thunderbolt fell upon him quite unexpectedly, by the injuftice or unfkilfulness of French jurifprudence, and the chicane of their lawyers. He has appealed now to their parliament, where, if he does not find redress, it will be to their difgrace; but so much to his detriment, that I dread the thoughts of it. The French judges are partial, even without having the modefty to difguile their partiality; and of the customary law of Paris it is faid proverbially, que les formes emportent le fond. This iniquitous and abfurd judgment, given against my brother, is upon a prefumption that he was married to his late lady before the year 1722, which he was not; though, out of honour and friendship, he did too much to let it be believed in France and his delicacy is thus rewarded by her own daughter and fon-in-law, who owe him great obligations. They take from him 18,500 livres a year in annuities in that country, and condemn him to pay 300,000 livres to the Marquis de Montmorin, his daughter in-law's hufband. Every livre is about one fhilling; fo the fum is very confiderable to any body, much more to a perfon haraffed by attainders, forfeitures, &c. But why do I harafs you with all this account? it is feemingly not the part of a friend to do fo, as your fpirits rather want to be cheared and yet it is a strong proof of friendship; for to whom thould one open one's heart, and fpeak of one's forrows, but to the person whom one thinks capable of

feeling

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feeling for one? and of courfe that must be one we have a friendship for, and on whofe reciprocal friendship we depend.

XXXIX.A Letter to John Sawbridge, Efq; on popular Oppofition to Government, by Tri

bunus. 25. 6d. Wheble.

The principle which this fpirited writer enforces, and which he fays, " needs no proof," is, that the only remedy of the political evils of which Britons now complain, refts in themselves. He maintains that the people in general have a right both to judge of, and pronounce upon the conduct of governors, and the administration of affairsthat the exercife of this right is a confolation, and might prevent fome evils and remedy others.

Tribunus obferves alfo, perhaps we are in thofe circumstances, when it is right to exert those inherent powers which even Judge Blackstone acknowledges reft in the people, and which no time, circumstances, or condition can vacate or destroy.

"The good of fociety is the only object of government-liberty, in all its various forms and characters, is the greatest good: when this is evidently attacked, and threa. tened with deftruction, government itself is in danger; the laws that enforce obedience Jofe their power and obligation for range it would be to fuppofe, that the laws should continue to protect evil governors, when they ceafe to protect aud guard the people's freedom. No argument can be drawn from the abfolute filence of the laws upon this head, against the exercife of these great controuling powers of the people; because no legiflator would make any provifion for a new form of government after the prefent fyftem fhould be destroyed-he is not to fuppofe the poffibility of the cale. Efto perpetua, is the principle, if not the expectation, of all legiflators. But if a provifion were thus to be made, it would be nugatory to all intents and purpofes; for what, Sir, would it fuppofe? that laws for modelling another fyf tem fhould prevail, when thofe for the fupport of the prefent form have loft all influence and power?

But, Sir, let us a little recollect how well the fpirit and letter of the conftitution is meant to preferve the firft principles of liberty by great outlines, and definitive powers, which Lord Bacon ftiles, laws fundamental; whofe facred authority, and vene rable antiquity, no recent ftatutes can abrogate or deftroy. On thefe firm fupporters does the venerable pile of our conftitution ftand. And let us confider, Sir, that these laws fundamental have, in the form of the Great Charter, been recognized above forty times, from the reign of King John down to our third Henry. Were not this the vital permanent fpirit of our government, our boafted conflitution were nothing; the in

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novating hand of modern adminiftration might elfe destroy the whole: it would be in the power of a few unprincipled traitors, in one feffion of parliament, to demolifh what the fage wifdom of our forefathers took ages to erect. Strictly speaking, in thefe laws, and the people's inherent powers, doth the omnipotence of the ftate confift. The boafted omnipotence of parlihment, compared to this, is a fhadow to the fubftance: it partakes of the weakness and inferiority that is common to all derivatives.

Now, Sir, as all evils have, or are fuppofed to have, their remedies, can we imagine that none exifts, in the nature of things, for the worst, and most tremendous of all evils-Slavery? Can we think that the God of nature has left us defenceless on a part where all is at stake; and that no remedy is to be found to obviate, or cure the greatest evil? It cannot be we feel it is not fo, by the facred and inextinguishable love of liberty; and that hatred, contempt, indignation, and refentment we feel against defpots and tyrants. Where then is the remedy but in ourfelves?"

XL. Memoirs of a Demi-rep of Fashion, or the private Hiftory of Mifs Amelia Gunnerfhy, &c. 2 vels. 6. Dix.

Vile trash.

XLI. Rebellion, a Poem, addreffed to J. W. late Lord Mayor of London, Is. 6d. Matthews. An angry invective against poor Wilkes and the livery'd imps.

XLII. Sermons, preached before the Univerfity of Oxford, to which are added, three Charges to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Worcestor, by John Tottie, D. D. 55. Ri vington.

XLIII. Sermons, by the late Reverend Mr. Edward Sander cock. 5s. Nicholl.

XLVI. Twenty Difcourfes, on various Subjects, by William Craig, D. D. of Glasgow, 3 vols. 7s. 6d. Murray.

The above fermons and difcourfes are fenfible, judicious, and pious, the fubjects are well chofen, and the manner of treating them reflects honour on the authors.

XLV. The Hiftory of an old fringed Petticoat, a Fragment, &c. 6d. Blythe.

An humble imitation of Sterne's watchcoat.

An old woman and her daughters are reprefented as quarrelling about mending a tattered petticoat, and the daughters, or American colonies, are all in the wrong. The controversy is now too serious to indulge levity and jefting upon it.

XLVI. Remarks on the different Opinions relative to the American Colonies. 1s. Kearly.

These remarks we are told by the author himself, "fpring from a juuinal heart," and it plainly appears his head is not much older.

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An Effay upon the King's Friends, with an Account of fome Difcoveries made in Italy, and found in a Virgil, concerning the Tories. 1s. Almon.

Reflections on the prefent State of the American War. is. Payne.

Remarks on Dr. Price's Obfervations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, &c. Is. 6d. Kearfly.

The Honour of Parliament, and the Juftice of the Nation vindicated, in a Reply to Obfervations on the Nature of Civil Liberty. 35. 6d. Davis.

Political Empiricism; a Letter to the Rev. John Welley. 6d. Johnfon.

A Reply to the Rev. Mr. Fletcher's Vindication of Mr. Welley's Calm Addrefs, by Caleb Evans, M. A. 68. Dilly.

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Rudd, elucidating feveral Particulars which did not appear at the Trial, &c.

Mrs. M. C. Rudd's genuine Letter to Lord Weymouth, with feveral authentic Anecdotes of the late Meffrs Perreaus. Kearsley.

15.

Memoirs of an unfortunate Queen, interfperfed with Letters, written by herself, to feveral of her illuftrious Relations and Friends. 2s. 6d. Bew.

The Cafe of Nicholas Nugent, Efq; late. Lieutenant in the firft Regiment of FootGuards; with Copies of the Letters which paffed between him and General Craig, Lord Farrington, the Judge Advocate, &c. addreffed to the Officers of the firft Regiment of Foot Guards. 2s. Almon.

NOVEL S.

The Loves of Califto and Emira, or the fatal Legacy, by John Seally. 2s. 6d. Becket. POETRY.

The Prediction of Liberty, by J. Thistlethwayte. 28. Williams.

The Detection of Difcord, or the Whig. Is. 6d. Dixwell.

Odes, by Richard Cumberland, Efq; is: Robfon.

A Parody on Grey's Elegy, by an Oxonian, 1s. Wheble.

RELIGIOUS.

An Effay towards an Interpretation of the Prophecies of Daniel, by Richard Amner. 25. Johnson.

POETICAL ESSAY S.

The NEW DIVINITY.

By JOHN MACLAURIN, Esq;

E, who firft taught the grape to ftrain, And the, delight of gods and men, Have many a founding name: Lyæus, Bacchus charm his ears, Well pleas'd the Cytherea hears, And laughter-loving dame. Them to adorn in every clime, The fculptor's tool, the poet's rhime, Shou'd painter's touch combine: But mighty god of eating, thou Thy power though all mankind allow, Can't call no honour thine. To nameless thee, no temples rife, No vows are paid, no facrifice By holy hands is burn'd: To thee, even at a city feast, Nor fong was ever yet addreft,

Nor grateful thanks return'd.

Ye epicures of claffic wit,
I want an appellation fit

For fuch a god to hear:
Then after each luxurious treat,
To him let fated guests repeat
An univerfal pray❜r.
March 1776.

Folly Triumphant, addreffed to the LADIES. IN days of yore, dame Prudence fed

Her influence o'er this ife; Our females by the hand he led,

And bade the virtues fmile. Long time had Folly ey'd from far,

Th' advantage Prudence gain'd, And threaten'd her defigns to mar,

With thofe o'er whom the reign'd. Oft the revolved this weighty thought,

And oft purlu'd the theme,
Before the to perfection brought

This great and darling scheme.
At length, refolved her point to gain,
And rule the female mind;
She form'd a structure for the brain,
To no one shape confin'd.
Variety, that charming pow'r !

Stamp'd value on the tete;
One while it rofe into a tower,

And next, its width was great.

Defcription now's entirely cramp'd,
Alas! no bounds are known;
To heads which Folly thos has ftamp'd,
And mark'd them for her own.

Y

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POETICAL ESSAYS in MARCH, 1776.

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UCH delicate features, so handsome a face,

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A form fo attracting, fo genteel a grace, Thofe beauties then join'd with a heart that is free,

In love and in friendship will ever agree.
The bloffom of beauty in youth we furvey,
In age it will vanish, grow cold and decay,
Yet the mind well affected, in age will im-
part

[heart. The pleasures which beauty did give to the The fweet look'd carnation its beauty will lofe,

Alike fade the woodbine, and the damask rofe; Still their virtues remain, when the swift [prime. hand of time

Hath wafted their beauty, and cut down their The beauty which first I described, I defire, Ye gods while fhe's beauty I'll doat and admire, And the thoughts of her youth fhall ever engage

The affections of love in the winter of age. Then Love hear my prayer, and grant my request,

Give me this fair gift, and on earth I am bleft; As far as bright beauty can give to this life, And virtue when join'd in poffeffing a wife. Yours, F. Y.

Could my tears the bright angel restore,
Like a fountain they never should ceafe ;
But Emma, alas! is no more,

And I am a ftranger to peace.

Let me copy with fervour devout,

The virtues which glow'd in her heart;
Then foon, when life's fand is run out,
We shall meet again, never to part.

For the LONDON MAGAZINE. [F in Eliza's friendship bleft,

I'

Sorrow nor care fhail break my reft; But Zephyrs waft them on their wings, Beyond the Tiber's fartheft fprings. While I regardlefs who fhall reign, The haughty tyrant of some scant domain, Or by what care and forrow preft, The monarch's foul, eftrang'd to reft, Thou, mufe, who lov'ft the verdant mead, Hither thy fportive fifters lead ; And wreath a crown of flowrets fair, To deck my charmer's beauteous hair, For if the mufe her aid refrain, The poet's labour's loft in vain; Then join the fong ye facred choir, Strike thou, O mufe, the pleafing lyre, Tranfmit to fame in deathless lays, My fair my lov'd Eliza's name.

OXONIENSIS

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To the Memory of an amiable and accomplified The biting froft attendant runs

Lady.

DIEU to the village delights,

A Which lately my fancy enjoy'd ;

No longer the country invites,

To me all its pleatures are void. Adieu thou sweet health-breathing hill, Thou can'ft not my comfort reftore; For ever adieu my dear ville,

My Emma, alas! is no more.
She, fhe was the cure of my pain,
My bleffing, my honour, my pride;
She ne'er gave me caufe to complain,

Till that fatal day when she died.
Her eyes that fo beautiful fhone,
Are clofed forever in fleep;
And mine, fince my Emma is gone,
Have nothing to do but to weep.

With defolating power; Defies the force of fouthern funs,

And binds the floating fhower.

IV.

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