General W. Then comes (p. 11.) ufhered in by a few words written en the cover, the briet and folitary letter from the General, dated 25th of July, 1798; which (except an obfcure mention of fome of the Doctor's literary parfoits, and thanks to him for having fent a fober and honeft gardener) fpeaks of nothing else, than the unjust, ambitious, and intoxicated conduct of France towards the United States; her threats against the of the fate of Venice, and other Iralian States; the juft and univerfal indignation of America on this occafion; and the General's refolution to head its armies for defenc. Except two very fhort extracts (p. 8. this is the whole correfpon fence on the part of the General.

The Doctor then continues his fermon, by a few trite " reflections fuggefted by the above:" and now we have, in fixteen pages, the Doctor's anfwer to the General; in which a great deal is faid about Great Britain and France, and a work entitled "Recreations in Agriculture, &c." but hardly a word about Scarcity.

In the fecond and last letter. extended to forty-two pages, after devoting four of thefe to himfeif and his book, which he was then publishing in numbers, the Doctor comes to the matter of Scarcity of Grain in 1800.

This he attributes, ift, to the depreffion of agriculture below trade and manufactures. Under this head, tithes and poor-rates are vehemently reprobated; but nothing is propofed in the way of amendment or fubftitution. The late modifications of the bounty on exporting corn, are faid to be a virtual abolition of that bounty, to the great prejudice of the growth of corn. The conversion of arable land into pafture is maintained to be a general effect of these three caufes. At p. 55, another difcouragement to agriculture is introduced; the want of long leafes; and the unwillingness of landlords to grant them, is accounted for. The depreffion of that class of men, called country gentlemen and yeomen, is lamented, with a mixture of truth and exaggeration; and the income-tax is represented as likely to produce their utter extinction.

We have, inadvertently, extended too far our notice of this longwinded declamation; and must conclude (over-looking fourteen pages of notes) by admoniting agricultural writers, from the higheft to the lowest, to abstain from that competition with novel-writers, into which their whole corps feems to have entered, for the palm of proLixity.

POLITICS.

ART. 32. A candid Appeal to the Nation upon the prefent Crifis, and the recent Change of Minifters. 8vo. 24 pp. Is. Lackington, Allen, and Co. 1801.

The object of this writer is, to fhow that the new administration have accepted their employments from the noft honourable motives, and are well-entitled to public conädence. He firft briefly but for,

cibly

cibly, ftates the question which is understood to have occafioned the refignation of the late Minifters, and the objections to the measure urged by them, arifing both from the inexpediency and danger of the measure itself, and from his Majefty's Coronation Oath. Here, while he anfwers the arguments of fome advocates for the Catholic claims, and particularly thofe of Mr. Butler, he juftly reprobates that indifference to all religions, which affumes the fpecious garb of liberality and indulgence for all. He then adverts, with affectionate energy and feeling, to the alarning illnefs of our Sovereign, which retarded the new arrangements, and, devoutly rejoicing that it has ceafed, reprefents the arduous task which the prefent Minifter has undertaken; and reafonably argues, that "the man who facrifices the most respectable fituation in the ftate, and quits the chair which he filled with every man's confent and good opinion, and in which he repofed with dig nity, comfort, and reputation, if he be neither a madman, nor a fool, must be a patriot."

The following fpirited paragraph (which is near the conclufion) will fhow that this fhort tract, though manifeftly a hafty sketch, is the production of no ordinary writer.

"Every man feels the diftreffes of the time; every man can fee the ravages of that torrent, which has overwhelmed the nations; but the ways of Providence are paft finding out, and terrible as the dispensation is, it must be met with fortitude; complaint cannot cure it, cowardice cannot escape it. Not ten years are patt fince our country was the envy of the world; a people, that fets the favour of Heaven at defiance, has by the favour of Heaven held fo triumphant a career of victory, as to terrify the nations, and arm the whole ftrength of Europe against us.-Behold, I conjure you, brave and generous Britons, your fingle fpot of earth, the feat of arts and feiences, the afylum of the ftranger and the perfecuted, now left a folitary fragment amidst the wreck of empires, the laft furviving beacon, that gives light and hope to the beholder, when all befides is univerfal darkness and despair. Can you conceive it is not now the time to join in its defence? Can you refufe to fecond their exertions, who throw themselves on your candor, and, confiding in your fupport, obey the call of their King to rally round his throne? Let no idle rumours deceive you that they are minifters pro tempore-water-galls to a rainbow, that the next gleam of funfhine will call up again to ftretch its lofty arch across the vault of heaven. No, they have no other master but their King, no other duties, but thofe, which they are truly purposed to fulfil towards him and towards their country. New in their ftations, and unpractifed in the labours they fucceed to, if before they can fet to work to fave the bottom they have embarked upon, they must refolutely turn up all hands to beat off thofe, who, regardless of their diffrefs, and infenfible to every manly feeling, are only watchful to make plunder of the wreck, be it fol I truit that, for the honour of the country, there will be found few for the attack, and many for the defence." P. 21.

The remarks on Mr. Butler's publication are neat, and not illnatured. But we are very far from approving the fneering manner in which the writer speaks of Mr. Reeves, who, rewarded as he has been

for

for his exertions in the public caufe, would have betrayed that cause, had he fuffered any perfonal obligations to warp his judgment, on fo important a fubject as the Catholic Question.

ART. 33. George Buchanan's Dialogue, concerning the Rights of the Crown of Scotland. Tranflated into English; with Two Differtations fr fixed: One Archæological, inquiring into the pretended Id wity of the Getes and Scythians, of the Getes and Goths, and of the Goths and Scots; and the other Hiftorical, vindicating the Character of Buchanan as an Hiflorian; and containing fome Specimens of his Poetry, in English Verfe. By Robert Macfarlan, A. M. 8vo. 205 pp. Cadell and Davies.

The merits of Buchanan's well known Dialogue it is not neceffary here to difcufs. It undoubtedly difplays acuteness of investigation, and lays down fome well-founded principles of government. That author is far from defpifing Kings, or, like fome of our modern reformers, confidering their office as pernicious or ufelefs. But, on the other hand, his doctrine, that they fhould be made perfonally refponfible for the errors of their government, and indeed for all offences, and brought to trial before the people, or before judges appointed by the people, is pregnant with mischief, and seems to have fupplied a pretext to the regicides of fubfequent periods, both in England and France. It is not, we hope, neceffary to combat fuch a doctrine in this age and country. But in the time of Buchanan, the excellent principle of the British Conftitution, which at once fecures the inviolability of the Sovereign, and the liberties of the people (namely, that "the King can do no wrong") feems not to have been known. The tranflation of this Dialogue is fpirited and perfpicuous; but as the chief princi ple of the Dialogue ítfelf is of a dangerous tendency, and is certainly adverfe to the Constitution as now established, we cannot confider this as a well-timed publication.

The Vindication of Buchanan immediately prefixed, is chiefly ap plied to his charges againit the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots; who, the reader hardly need be told, has been ably (and fome think fuccefsfully) defended by feveral modern writers. Mr. Macfarlan contends for the authenticity of the Letters imputed to that Princefs; but also infifts that, feiting afide that proof, the whole tenor of her conduct gave ground for the fevereft imputations. An apology is alfa offered for fome fabulous (tories adopted by Buchanan in the early parts of his hiftory. Little need be remarked on the Archaeological Differtation prefixed to the whole; as it is upon a fubject of curiofity rather than real importance, An inquiry into the origin of nations, conducted upon enlarged principles, and illuftrating their manners and history, may afford much amufement, and fome ufe. But Mr. M. has confined himself almost entirely to the questions, whether the Geres and Goths, and whether the Getes and Scythians, were the fame people? And whether the Scots are of Gothic or Celtic origm? In oppofition to Mr. Pinkerton, he contends against the identity of thofe ancient nations, and maintains, according to the general opinion, the

Celtic

Celtic origin of the Scots. His authorities are ample, and the argu ments deduced from them appear to us to be just.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 34. The Controverfy between Mrs. Hannah More and the Curate of Blagdon, relative to the Conduct of her Teacher of the Sunday School in that Parish; with the original Letters and explanatory Notes. By Thomas Bere, M. A. Rector of Butcombe, near Briftol. 8vo. 3s. Jordan. 1801.

There is a fallacy in the title-page of this fingular production. The reader will be induced to confider the Curate of Blagdon and Mr. Bere as two diftinct perfons, whereas they are one and the fame. Whoever fhall perufe the pamplet will, perhaps, at first fight, be inpreffed with the inftances produced in the Letters, of the fchoolmaster's fanaticifm, and the depofitions of the witneffes produced to prove them. He may alfo poffibly think, that Mrs. More did not interpofe foon enough to check his indifcretions; but, on the other hand, he will confider that this is Mr. Bere's own ftory; and that he muft in juftice fufpend his decifion till he hears the other fide of the question. It may alfo be obferved, that Mr. Bere's witneffes are feveral of them old women, who cannot write their names; and that frong objections have been made to the character of the principal witness. (See p. 57.) It appears again, from Sir Abraham Elton's Letter, (XXIX. p. 81) that thefe depofitions were pofitively contradicted and impeached, by the counter-evidence of very credible witneffes in favour of the fchoolmaster, to which very little attention feems to have been paid by the Blagdon tribunal, and which they did not even condefcend to take down in writing; so that, in fact, the man was condemned on ex parte evidence.

On our part, it is a matter of juftice to add, that it is a fact well known, and confirmed by the teftimony of all the clergymen refident in the parishes where Mrs. More has established schools, that she invariably places them under the direction and controul of the officiating ministers; that fhe does nothing without their approbation; that the guards her fchools with the greatest vigilance againft the appearance of enthufiafm; that, where they have continued for any length of time, the Methodists have loft all their influence, and have been induced to leave the place; and, finally, that they have always increased the congregations, as well as the number of communicants, in the pa. rish churches where they have been encouraged.

It is therefore highly probable, that the fame good effects were produced, and the fame difcreet management obferved, at Blagdon.

We should probably have never heard a word of the schoolmaster's enthufiafm from Mr. Bere, if he had not conceived himfelf to have been perfonally ill treated by him. See Letter II. pp. 16, 17.

But the most complete and decifive answer to this pamphlet is this plain and undeniable fact; that Dr. Croffman, the rector; the Bifhop

of

of Bath and Wells, the diocefan; and Dr. Mofs, the chancellor, though they at first entertained a favourable opinion of Mr. Eere, and of his conduct with respect to the schoolmaster and fchool at Blagdon yer afterwards, upon the fullett investigation of the question, and the moft folemn and mature deliberation, they entirely changed their opinion, and all concurred in removing him from the curacy.

ART. 35. Etiologia; or, an Anfaver to the Queftion, When does the Nineteenth Century Commence? 8vo. 43 PP. 15. Johnson.

1800.

Whether this pamphlet has, or has not, had much influence in fettling the great difpute on the topic mentioned in its title, we know not; but it seems to us to place it, in many inftances, in a very good light. We fhould object chiefly, if we objected at all, that more is faid about it, not perhaps than, to fome minds, the fubject might demand, but rather than clearness allowed; fince a subject is liable to be obfeured by being handled too minutely. One obfervation feems to us to place the whole in a very plain light. It is this: that the difficulty belonging to the Queftion, has arifen folely from the inaccuracy of our idiom, in ufing the cardinal number for the ordinal. We fay the year eighteen hundred, or 1,800, when we mean, and fhould fay, the eighteen-hundredth year. Tranilate this into any language of more fcrupulous conftruction, and all doubt is removed. Thus in Latin, "Anno Millefimo octingenteffimo," literally, "the one thoufandth and eight hundredth year," (which would be the language of every fcholar, from the invention of the date till now) immediately makes it clear, that the hundredth year was not then completed.

The title fhould be Eteologia, if taken from tras.

ART. 36. A Propofal on Behalf of the Married Poor. Svo.

Is. 6d. Arch. 1801.

After curforily going through the fyftem of our poor-laws, touching on its principal defects, and reprefenting in frong, and we fear juit terms, the diitress to which indultrious married labourers are liable, this author propofes" a commiffion of fix refpectable perfons, in every parish or district, who contribute largest to the affeffed taxes, three of them to form a quorum, for the care and relief of the poor who have families therein;" and he fuggefts, that " it be useful to arm them with fome power and controul, at lealt by way of appeal, over the overfeers and fuch parish officers, who may have the direction and management of the poor, in order to attain the most beneficial effects from the mode of relief propofed."

Thefe infpe&tors, he propofes, fhould act as a permanent board "for apportioning relief to be administered at the houses of the poor have ing children, and allowing to every labourer and poor artizan, whose wages do not exceed 15s, per week, if within twenty miles of the metropolis, is, per week, at leaft, for every child born in lawful wedlock,

and