But the author chiefly relies on the opinion of Jurifts refpecting the nature and interpretation of oaths; and, ftating (rightly) that the oath in queftion is promiffory, he points out the cafes in which fuch oaths are confidered as having loft their force. These are," when a material change of circumftances has rendered the object to be attained no longer defirable;"-" when the oath itfelf is remitted, or commuted by the perfon in whofe favour it was made;" or, "when it is abrogated by perfons who have proper authority for that purpose." Thefe rules are ingenioufly applied to the cafe in difpute. We fhall not, on the prefent eccafion at leaft, examine the validity of the doctrines relied on (though it has always appeared to us, that, carried to their utmost extent, fome of them would afford a pretext for violating almost any oath or promife) but we muft obferve, that the application of them to the prefent cafe muft ultimately depend on the queftion, "whether all the privileges claimed for the Catholics (moft improperly and infidiously called emancipation) can be granted, confiftently with the future quiet and complete fafety of the Proteftant Establishment?" On this point but little is faid by the author of the tract before us; and yet, till the affirmative fhall be proved, every argument against the objection prefented by the coronation oath, is a begging of this important queftion. We could fay much on this interefting (we had almost faid this awful) fubject; but as it seems at prefent likely to fleep, at least for a time, we shall not attempt to anticipate difcuffions which may perhaps be remote. It cannot, however, be improper to exprefs our firm and confident truft, that no delufive hopes of reconciling to our church establishment thofe who have been invariably and inveterately its enemies, no fpecious profeffions of candour towards all religions (which are too often a mask for indifference towards all) will induce our legiflators to throw down the fences which have hitherto conftituted our fecurity, without fubftituting others equally effectual; that prefent fafety will not alone be regarded, but that their views will be extended to the probable events of future periods; that thofe whofe principles admir a foreign jurifdiction in ecclefiaftical affairs, yet complain they are deprived of political power, will fix the limits where ecclefiaftical juritdiction ends, and civil authority begins. But until we are convinced; that a blind devotion to their own church, the love of fpiritual power, and the zeal for making profely tes, which have hitherto diftinguished, no longer animate the Catholics, we fhall be much alarmed to fee them rendered eligible to offices of extenfive influence in the concerns of the church as well as the stage. A very long Supplement is added, in which the writer goes into an elaborate, and certainly an ingenious Reply, to the arguments of Mr. Reeves. That gentleman is fully competent to the defence of his own opini ns and, after all, the whole queftion upon the coronation oath depends, in our conception, on the more general confiderations which we have stated. ART. ART. 38. The Cafe of the Catholics confidered, and an Expedient pro pofed for the final Settlement of it. With an Appendix, containing Remarks upon Mr. Reeves's Pamphlets 8vo. 24 PP. Is. Symonds. 1801. The principle with which this writer fets out may, we think, be granted. It is, that "a difference of doctrine, whether in point of forms or effentials, from the articles held out as the standard of faith by the national religion, is no crime; and unlefs, in overt act, it tends to produce offences againft good morals, fhould not be difcouraged more than the real, not imaginary, danger the establishment may be in from its prevalence, requires." In applying this principle, he afferts, that the Diffenter is ftripped of almost every civil right." If he means the Diffenters (whether Popish or Proteftant) in Ireland, we deny the fact. Instead of being stripped, the Diffenters have been invefted with almost every civil right; and the Catholic in particular is excluded only from fitting in Parliament, and filling a few of the principal offices of ftate. In England, it is true, the fituation of the Catholics is fomewhat lefs favourable; but Protestant Diffenters are, in fome refpects, more privileged than members of the Established Church. He admits, however, that the Establishment " ought, in fome manner, to feel the advantage of being the approved fyftem of the majority of the community." Conformably to this principle, he propofes (as a healing expedient") that "in the reprentation of the people only a limited part fhould confift of Diffenters, and that in the Houfe of Lords alfo their number should bear a proportion to their general amount." As to civil employments, he requires that the Chancellor, as keeper of the King's confcience, fhould be a Proteftant; but he would have one feat in each court of juftice open to Catholic talents and induftry." One objection to this fcheme, that it will not make the Catholics more contented," he endeavours, to obviate; but he feems not aware, that the chief complaint with the advocates of the Irish Catholics is not any actual difadvantage, much lefs oppreflion, which they feel, but the invidious diftinction made between their fellow fubjects and them. This is not wholly removed by the plan this author fuggefts; which (or, at leaft, that part of it which relates to members of the Houfe of Commons) would, we think, be attended with infuperable difficulties in the execution. If indeed the principle, that the reprefentatives of each religious perfuafion should bear a relative proportion to the number of people profeffing it, were once admitted, the Irish Catholics (whofe number fo far exceeds that of the Proteftants) would ftill be furnished with a strong pretext for complaint. This tract, however (whatever we may think of the author's opinions, or of the fcheme propofed by him) is temperately, and, upon the whole, not ill-written. He too bestows an Appendix on Mr. Reeves's tract, but does not go far into the topic difcuffed by that writer. ART. 39. A Short View of the Political Situation of the Northern Powers; founded on Obfervations made during a Tour through Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, in the laft Seven Months of the Year 1800. With Conjectures on the probable Ifjue of the approaching Conteft. By William Hunter, Efq. of the Inner Temple. 8vo. 115 PP. Stockdale. 1801. 2s. 6d. The object of this writer is to fhow not only the injuftice of the northern powers in the hoftile measures lately adopted by them towards this country, but that those measures were likely, from the first, to be attended with far greater detriment to themfelves than to us. After briefly recapitulating the chief events of the two laft campaigns on the continent of Europe, the author adverts to the sudden change in the difpofition of the Emperor Paul towards England, and accounts for it, in fome degree, by the capricious violence of his character, flating fome inftances of his abfurd and tyrannical conduct, which, as his life has fince paid the forfeit, we will not repeat. He then takes a view of the refources of the northern powers, in order, as he ftates," to afcertain, in fome measure, to what extent they can injure us, and the total hopeleffness on their part of ultimate fuccefs." Thefe fatements, which feem to be the refult of judicious and attentive oblervation, explain how much the Ruffian empire (the chief trength of the league) depends for its commerce and revenue on its intercourfe with Great Britain, and how little their naval force is likely to injure us. A very curious account of the launching of the Blagodat (the largest ship in the Ruffian navy) is given in a note; which fhows their lamentable deficiency in naval architecture. From Ruffia the traveller and writer proceeds to Sweden, the wretched state of whofe financial refources he paints in ftrong, but, we believe, not exaggerated terms. He next examines the fituation of Denmark, which, though moré opulent than Sweden, he fhows to be unable to fupport the expences and risk of a war." Even their capital," fays the author, is not fo fecure from attack as is generally imagined; and the enterprising spirit and fuperior skill of our failors will, poffibly, be able to accomplish what, at this moment, is little dreamt of." Whoever confiders that this fentence was published long before the celebrated battle of Copenhagen, and, as we believe, before our fleet had failed for the Baltic, muft admit that it proceeds from a writer of judg ment and information. The conduct and means of the King of Pruffia are alfo adverted to, and fome general and fpirited obfervations on the ftate of the war, and the conduct to be observed by Great Britain, conclude this fenfible and well-defigned tract; which, though the profeffed fubject of it is become rather lefs interefting, by a fortunate change of affairs, may ftill be read with pleafure and advantage. ART. ART. 40. The dark Cloud in the political Hemifphere broken, and a bright Beam of Confolation iJuing therefrom, in Favor of his Majefty's Minifters and depreffed Stockholders, with a few Words of Advice to Growlers and the diffatisfied of every Defcription; also a Method prefcribed, founded on Reafon and Experience, for removing their Difcontent, and rendering their Minds eafy under the prefent State of Public Affairs. Refpectfully addreffed to the Right Honourable William Pitt, First Lord Commiffioner of his Majefty's Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, &c. &c. &c. By an Old Naval Officer. 8vo. 25 pp. Scott. 1801. Having filled with the title of this little pamphlet as much space as is ufually allotted to the whole account of fuch publications, the Old Naval Officer muft excufe us if we fay little more of his work than that it appears to be written with the beft intentions;" but if, as we have no reafon to doubt, the writer is fkilful in his military profeffion, tam Marte quam Mercurio, &c. will hardly apply to him. We can, however, fincerely applaud his piety, as well as his patriotifm; although the long Prayer, with which his tract concludes, is not, in our opinion, calculated for general ufe. ART. 41. The Difmiffal of his Majefty's Minifters confidered as abfolutely neceffary to avert the Ruin of the Nation. By T. Jones, Efq. in his celebrated Speech on a Motion for that Purpofe in the House of Commons, on Thursday, December 4, 1800; wherein he attributes the prefent deplorable State of the People to the Incapacity of Minifters, &c. &c. &c. 8vo. 26 pp. IS. Jordan. * Our opinion refpecting a former Speech publifhed in the name of this gentleman, will apply with equal or greater strength to the performance now before us. We deem the publishers of both fortunate, in not being called to account for fuch daring libels on the understanding of a Member of Parliament. In this celebrated Speech may be feen the fame deficiency of argument as in the former publication, with perhaps a ftill greater incoherence of declamation and coarfenefs, not to fay vulgarity, of expreffion. After a few general statements and remarks (moft of which appear to us neither very candid or very rational) the Hon. Gentleman is reprefented as enumerating the treaties made by Great Britain with the feveral powers who were her allies, and, as a contrast to thefe treaties, thofe which the fame powers afterwards entered into with the enemy. The inference, we prefume, is, that Minifters ought to have foreseen, not only all the chances of war which occafioned thefe tergiverfations, but alfo, to their utinoft extent, the wretched policy, the unprincipled profligacy (and, in one inftance, the capricious refentment) by which they were dictated; nay, more, they ought to have rejected the affiftance of the greatest part of Europe, while it promoted the common caufe, merely because such affittance might be withdrawn hereafter. * See Brit. Crit, vol. xvi, p. 330. The The next topic of this Speech is, the fuccefs of the war." On our naval fucceffes (which it was impouble to deny) fcarcely three lines are beftowed; and a series of victories unparalleled, even in the history of this country, and which have almoft annihilated the naval force of our enemies, feems not to be confidered as forming the leaft counterpoife to thofe failures by land, which this Speech exaggerates with triumph and ridicule. But the Union with Ireland excites in the highest degree the grief and indignation of this fpeech-maker. Against this measure he whines out his bitt rent complaints; againft this he points all the thunder of his eloquence. On this fubject, we have no doubt, the hero of this harangue, the Firft Conful, and all his myrmidons, perfectly fympathize with the feelings here expreffed. The language of this Speech is of the same character as that of the former which appeared under the fame name, and belongs to the figure of fpeech called xxxapa, Anglicè balderdash. Where the writer, who often quotes (though he mifapplies) paffages from claffical authors, acquired fuch a ftyle of his own, we will not ftay to inquire. On a comparison of his two Speeches, we are enabled to decide on their relative merits, by a rule which Dr. Johnfon is faid to have adopted in judging of two rival poems. The Speech now under examination is the fhorter of the two, and therefore we pronounce it the better. ART. 42. The Subftance of a Speech, made by Sir James Pulteney, Bart. in the House of Commons, Thursday, Feb. 19, 1801, on a Motion for an Enquiry into the Caufe of the Failure of the Expedition to Ferrol, 8vo. 39 PP. IS. Stockdale. 1801. The complete examination of this Speech is not, we conceive, within the province of criticifm. Its merits, in the most material point, can be appreciated only by thofe who are able to afcertain the truth of all the facts alledged, and the juftnefs of all the reprefentations contained in it. Admitting the former to be accurately stated, and the latter juft, this Speech appears to us to contain a clear and fatisfactory juftification of the Hon. General whofe conduct was brought into quetion. His defence is fupported by an ample detail of circumftances, which feem to confirm and establish it. It should be observed to his credit, that the Hon. General very candidly and fully justifies the Minifters under, whofe orders he acted. It now is fufficiently known, that the expedition against Ferrol, though undertaken on ftrong grounds, formed only a fmall part of the plan for the campaign, and that it was inexpedient to hazard fuch a lofs as might interfere with its more important and ultimate object. ART. 43. Letters on the real Caufes and probable Confequences of the prefent War with Ruffia. Svo. 99 PP. 2S. Cadell and Davies. 1801. The death of the late Emperor of Ruffia, and confequent fufpenfion of hoftilities with that empire, have diminished the intereft which a publication of this kind was calculated to excite. We recollect having perufed fome of thefe Letters in the daily paper in which they |