trigues of his numerous kinsmen who afpired to the throne. When every rival was removed that could either difturb his quiet, or offend his fufpicion, the monarch funk into an indolent security, and his voluptuous court was governed by the feeble administration of women and eunuchs. But in the ninth year of his reign Darius was roufed from his le thargy by the revolt of Egypt and Lydia. The defection of the latter threatened to tear from his dominion the valuable provinces of Afia Minor; a confequence which he determined to prevent by em. ploying the bravery of Pharnabazus, and the policy of the crafty Tiffaphernes, to govern refpectively the northern and fouthern diftricts of that rich and fertile peninsula. The abilities of these generals. not only quelled the rebellion of Lydia, but extended the arms of their mafter towards the fhores of the Ægean, as well as of the Hellefpont and Propontis; in direct oppofition to the treaty which forty years before had been ratified between the Athenians, then in the height of their profperity, and the unwarlike Artaxerxes. But the recent misfortunes of that ambitious people flattered the Perfian commanders with the hope of reftoring the whole Afiatic coaft to the great king, as well as of taking exemplary punishment on the proud city, which had refifted the power, difmembered the empire, and tarnished the glory of Perfia.

The terror of fuch a formidable combination might have reduced the Athenians to defpair; and our furprise that this confequence fhould not immediately follow, will be increafed by the follow ing reflection: Not to mention the immortal trophies of Alexander, or the extenfive ravages of Zingis Khan, Tamerlane, and the Tartar princes of their race; the Spaniards, the Portuguese, and other nations of modern Europe, have, with a handful of men, marched victorious over the effeminate or barbarous coafts of the eastern and western world. The hardy difcipline of Europe cafily prevailed over the unwarlike foftnefs of India, and the favage ignorance of America. But the rapid fuccefs of all thefe conquerors was owing to their military knowledge and experience. By the fuperiority of their arms and of their difcipline, the Romans fubdued the nations of the earth. But the Athenians afford the only example of a people, who, by the virtues of the mind alone, ac VOL. XLVIII.

quired an extenfive dominion over men equally improved with themselves in the arts of war and government. They poffeffed, or were believed to poffefs, superior courage and capacity to the nations around them; and this opinion, which should seem not entirely deftitute of foun dation, enabled them to maintain, by very feeble garrifons, an abfolute autho rity in the islands of the Ægean, as well as in the cities of the Afiatic coaft. Their difafters and difgrace in Sicily deftroyed at once the real and the ideal fupports of their power; the lofs of one third of their citizens made it impoffible to supply, with fresh recruits, the exhaufted strength of their garrifons in foreign parts; the terror of their fleet was no more; and their multiplied defeats before the walls of Syracufe had converted into contempt that admiration in which Athens had been long held by Greeks and Barbarians.

But in free governments there are many latent refources which public calamities alone can bring to light; and adverfity, which, to individuals endowed with inborn vigour of mind, is the great school of virtue and of heroism, furnishes also to the enthufiafm of popular affemblies the nobleft field for the difplay of natio nal honour and magnanimity. Had the measures of the Athenians depended on one man, or even on a few, it is proba ble that the selfifh timidity of a prince, and the cautious prudence of a council, would have funk under the weight of misfortunes, too heavy for the unfupported ftrength of ordinary minds. But the firft fpark of generous ardour, which the love of virtue, of glory, and the republic, or even the meaner motives of ambition and vanity, excited in the af fembled multitude, was diffused and increafed by the natural contagion of fympathy; the patriotic flame was communicated to every breast; and the focial warmth, reflected from fuch a variety of objects, became too intenfe to be refifted by the coldness of caution, and the damps of despair."

It is not from particular paffages that we can form an idea of the principal merit of this valuable work, which, we doubt not, will ferve in future as an Hiftory of Ancient Greece, not only for England, but for Europe. The connection of the feveral parts, the ftrong light which they reflect on each other, and the juft arrangement of the whole, prove

M

Dr

Dr Gillies's performance to be the ripened fruits of much time and labour. Amidft the vaft variety of objects civil and military, laws, arts, literature, and philofophy, which enter into the plan of this hiftory, each article is treated with fuch perfpicuity and fullness, that, when we confider it apart, we are apt to imagine it the favourite topic of the writer. The ftyle varies with the fubject; perfpicuous and flowing in narrative, ornamented in description, lofty on great occafions, and affecting in fcenes of diftrefs. Confcious that diction is valuable only as a tranfcript of thought, Dr Gillies has not feared to expofe himself to the frivolous imputation of inequality of ftyle. A fi milar motive appears to have encouraged him to revive the ancient practice of compofing fpeeches for his generals and ftatesmen; a circumstance which, as eloquence once formed a powerful engine both of war and government, renders his work a more faithful picture, than it could otherwise have been, of the times and manners which he defcribes. In quitting the beaten track purfued by the moft approved English and French hiftorians, (for thofe of other nations ftill follow the example of antiquity), Dr Gillies feems fully aware, that much circumfpection was neceffary, and that the boldnefs of the defign could only be juftified by the vigour of execution, His fpeeches, therefore, are feasonably introduced, compofed with uncommon elegance, and, for the most part, distinguished by a preg pant brevity. Gent. Mag.

The Increase of Manufactures, Commerce, and Finance, with the extenfion of Civil Liberty, propofed in Regulations for the Intereft of Money. 4to. 6 s. boards.

Robinfon.

THE

according to the different degrees of ha>> zard attending fuch loans. But that we may not do injuftice to a plan from which the projector expects great public benefit, we fhall give it in his own words.

"When money is lent on undoubted fecurity, the borrower pays, firft, the intereft of the money borrowed; and, 2dly, for the trouble of transacting the loan. As to the intereft of the loan, it is always, in all cafes, exactly proportioned to the extent of the fum borrowed. But it is not so with respect to the trouble of tranfacting the bufinefs of the loan: for, in borrowing one hundred pounds for the space of only one year, there is almoft as much trouble as in borrowing ten thousand pounds for ten years. Hence the lending of fmall fums is lefs advantageous than that of lending great ones.

In granting loans on doubtful security, there is, befides the two above-mentioned expences, a third, not indeed certain, but contingent; namely, the expence of a rifk of lofs which may attend it.

The true principle, then, of a fair loan, without adhering either to law or cus ftom, would be, as in the following inftance:

Capital fum lent,

Intereft at five per cent. Expence of transaction, Infurance mutually agreed upon, two and an half per cent.

£.

1000

s. d. Ο

£. 1075 15

In order that the three different fums

may follow the true proportion, they Thould be feparately charged, as in the above inftance, the intereft always being regulated by the fum and the time; the expence of transacting the business being neither regulated by the fum nor the time, (for it would be nearly the fame were it only half the fum), but by what it is judged it really may coft, or by what it has been found by experience to coft. And the infurance being regulated by the risk that it is fuppofed will be run, ac cording to the beft information that can be had, relative to the circumftances of the borrower.

As fmall loans do not afford fufficient profit for the time and trouble that would be required to examine with fufficient minutenefs into the circumftances of the borrower; for that, as well as feveral o

ther

ther reasons, the risk incurred is greater than in larger tranfactions, and ought to be paid for accordingly. It is reafon able, therefore, that an higher intereft fhould be paid for fmall loans than for large ones.

It very fortunately happens, that thofe who borrow small fums, and but for a fhort time, can in fact afford to give higher intereft than the borrower of a large fum*.

In confidering loans, therefore, regard ought to be had to their extent and a mount, as well as to the credit of the borrower.

These things being premised, it is fug gefted, that a fund might with great adantage be established, for the purpose of fupplying individuals with fums of money, in a lawful manner, upon fuch principles, and upon a plan, which, from the bafis on which it should be founded, might turn out to be very different in its advantages from any of those that have hitherto been instituted.

The first regulation, in an inftitution of this fort, would require to be,

That no loan fhould ever be granted which did not appear to be for the advantage of the borrower, whatever other circumftances might warrant the expediency of granting it

That, as the minds of men are often too apt to be biaffed by circumstances, there fhould be a limit fet to the highest rate of intereft that may be taken, which must be regulated by the extent of the loan; that is to fay, the power of granting ufurious loans not to be left to the directors of fuch a bank.

The value of loans to a small amount is often fo great, that it can scarcely be faid to bear any parallel to be drawn between it and larger loans; for instance, suppose a labouring man has an opportunity of getting employment, but is in want of five fhillings to purchase tools to work with; that his employer will not furnish him with them becaufe It is a thing he is not accustomed to do. In fuch a cafe (and fuch really often exift), could the man get five shillings to borrow, he might be able to repay the money with advantage both to himfelf and the lender, in a few days; for, if he were to pay cent. per cent. it would be no great object to him, and it would still be his interest to do it, rather than to want the loan, It would be difficult to specify a cafe in which 1000/. for a year could be applied to fuch proportional advantage.

† A loan ought never to be confidered as

The extent of the loan fhould be esti¬ mated by the intereft which it produces during the whole time of the existence of the loan. Thus sool. for two years, fhould be reckoned the fame as 1000 l. for

one year.

That the principal management be in the hands of men who have no intereft in exacting too high a premium of infurance, nor of increasing the expence of the negotiation.

That men of character fhould be employed to inquire into the particular circumftances of borrowers, under the best regulations that can be devised, for coming at the true ftate of their affairs.

That a certain time elapfe between the asking a loan and the granting of it, unlefs it be under fuch particular circumftances as may be excepted from the geperal regulations.

That, in order to avoid making any kind of monopoly of the lending of money, where the fecurity is fo good as not to require much premium of insurance, this bank be never allowed to lend money without a premium, nor unless that premium amounts to two-fifths of the intereft.

That, in order also to render the insti❤ tution quite competent to the equalizing the monied affairs of the kingdom, and without refpect, in this inftance, to pu blic revenue, any perfon may be allowed to take, for the loan of money on uncertain fecurity, two-fifths premium of insurance more than what, at the time of fuch loan being granted, is given for the loan of money on mortgage t. This laft general licence for taking premia not to extend to loans above a certain amount.

Registers of all transactions to be fo kept, that the circumstances attending them may be known at any time afterwards.

Probably the regulation of the inftitution might with advantage be fubjected, in fome degree, to the yearly inspection of a committee of the House of Commons; and, at all events, as there would be a good deal of difcretionary power vetted in the managers, it ought to have every poffible check, which frequent and mi ufurious, fo long as it is for the advantage of the borrower, and there is no more intereft taken than pays for the rifk incurred.

A public regifter, for the intereft on mortgage, might be instituted, as it would vary as money was more or less plentiful. M 2

nute

nute inspection into the exercise of such an office might afford.

To attempt laying down regulations now for a company of this fort, would be abfurd, as it could not be done with any kind of propriety by an individual, and as it would also be very ufelefs, the whole Intention being fimply to fuggeft the outlines, and demonftrate the expediency of the plan.

The intention of fuch a plan is public good; and as fuch it ought to be promoted, as far as the nature of things will allow, in obtaining that end.

A high rate of intereft will be taken, because it is only meant to be applied to cafes where a high rate can be afforded, and where, on account of the rifk run, it is required. As every man who bas either property, induftry, or character, ought to have fome degree of credit, however limited, this plan ought to ex. tend to debtors in prifon, when circumftances are fuch as to warrant it in any degree. This would, if it proved to an fwer, be a noble purpose."

. The chief difficulty attending the execution of a fcheme of this fort, would probably confift in finding expedients by which the lenders thould be able to gain fuch information refpecting the real fitua tion of the borrowers, as fhould fecure the former from ruinous loffes. The premium allowed in the plan is certainly much too small to be an equivalent for the hazards which would be run; and a larger premium would perhaps fuperfede the utility of the inftitution, and introduce all the mifchiefs of ufurious contracts. M.

The India Guide: or, A Fournal of a voyage to the East Indies in the year 1780. In a poetical Epistle to her mother. By Mifs Emily Brittle. 12mo. Printed at Calcutta in 1785.

the peculiarities of her reception, and of the fociety at Madras. Some extracts we hope will not be unacceptable.

Thofe intrufive familiarities fo repug nant to decorum, and thofe vulgar freedoms of an unpolished society, by which female delicacy is fo often wounded during a fix months confinement on a voyage to the Eaft-Indies, are thus described by our author; and the perufal of which we particularly recommend to fuch female adventurers as are defirous of making their fortunes in a matrimonial way in the Eaft Indies.

Cape Town, July 25. 1785. IF you, my dear Mother, had e'er been at fea,

On a trip to the Indies you ne'er had fent me; If half what I fuffer'd I e'er had fuppos'd, The voyage in itself I'd have flatly oppos'd. What tho' 'tis too late to repent I left home, 'Tis not fo to grieve that I ventur'd to roam : Nor would I yield up my confent e'er again, To plough diftant feas in purfuit of a Swain! With toffing and tumbling my bones were fo fore,

Such an up and down motion I ne'er felt before;

Many days had elaps'd e'er I first got a no

tion

For the space of fix weeks not an eye could I clofe,

As mountains on mountains alternately rofe; Each roll with fresh tremors my bofom impreft,

As a prelude, alas! to the mansions of reft. Ah! fondest of Parents! ah! could you but peep

At your frolick fome Brittle thus tofs'd on the deep!

In tears of affection you'd Heaven implore To waft her again to her dear native shore!

A flave to my fears, I am often difmay'd By the phantoms of fancy in terror array'd; If a wave ftrikes the fide, and the ship gives a fhock,

Dallas, Efq; of the Bengal eftablishment, and dedicated by him to Mr Anftey. There is a novelty in the fcenery, as well as in the delineation of manners our author defcribes, which amply atones for his deficiency in ftrength, vivacity, and correctnefs. Mifs Brittle, in her paffage on board an Indiaman from the Cape of Good Hope, and from Madras to Bengal, paints her terrors and difagreeable fituation at fea, the characters of the officers and paffengers, the manners of the Dutch at the Cape, and

Into calms tho' Fair Zephyr all faintingly dies, 'Tis Boreas indignantly bids the gale rife, Strait blackens the North! and with boifte

rous will

He vengefully baffles the mariner's skill;
The towering mast is no longer in view,
A whirlpool of horror envelops the crew!

If Morpheus around me encircles his arms,
His embraces are shorten'd by vifion'd a-
In wild perturbation he says,

larms!

friend,

My fair The veffel has founder'd, and hope's at -an end!" Affrighted