can any collective body of men affemble, and after due deliberation ever fuggeft, that the dividing and inclofing of commonable and wafte lands, can be the means of advancing the neceffaries of life, when every child in rural affairs must be fenfible of the improvement: the general produce being, in numberlefs inftances, doubled, and lands by inclosures are always brought into cultivation, from which, in the commonable state, neither the proprietor nor the public derived any advantage. In fact, every thing may be faid in recommendation of inclofures as public benefits, provided they are equitably and fairly managed, free liberty being given to the plough on proper foils, and not one objection made by which the community can be injured.

"That the fize of farms increases, and the number of farmers diminishes, when inclosures take place, is by no means an eftablished fact; the common council of the city of Oxford may poffibly adduce an instance of the decreafe in the number of farmers in a particular parish, fubfequent to an inclosure; and the writer of this can also produce inftances on the other fide of the queftion, where the number of farmers increafed after an inclofure."

“How, in the name of common fenfe been the condition of this country the laft fummer? deplorable it was, and had it not been for wealthy husbandmen, abfolute famine must have been the confequence. The man who keeps his corn in ftack unthrashed, certainly does it for the purpofe of making an advanced price; but of that there is no certainty, not any more than in the fpeculative dealings of any other profeffion; the cafual and certain damages corn takes by long keeping, and the daily lofs which accrues from the principal lying without intereft, renders it a mark of no great wisdom in those who keep great quantities of corn by them. The man who is able to do it, and does, be his motives avarice, pride, public utility, or any other incentive, I will pronounce him one of the greatest and most useful friends to his country. Should the honest and laudable industry of the farmer have bounds fixed to it, the limitation of property will of course become general, otherwise the great and boasted privileges of the British constitution are only in the mere found of the words. The fame legiflative authority which says to a farmer thus far fhalt thou go and no farther, will doubtlefs turn an eye to the other orders of fociety. The duke, the lord, or fquire, of fifty, fixty, or even ten thousand pounds per annum, are as liable to restrictions as the laborious farmer; and whether their immenfe property was acquired by the induftry, the heroifm, the avarice, or knavery of their ancestors, or their own good fortune in elevating or degrading their country, it will be neceffary to let them know how far they may proceed :—the lawyer how many fkins of parchment he may engrofs;-the phyfician the number of his patients;—and the bishop or rector the value of his income. you, my clean fhaved, well powdered gentlemen, of the Oxford corporation, who can afford by your induftry to contribute to the exigencies of the ftate, for the privilege of wafting fo much of the chief article of life, in decorating the external feat of your wifdom-you, I hope, expect to undergo the limitations you propose to others; and as moft of you have formerly wielded the labouring oar, and rifen to your present opulence and dignity, by the fame means you condemn in your neighbours, let me beg you to confider how you would forcibly like to lofe your own teeth, before you recommend the horrid operation to your brethren."

To fhew the citizens of Oxford the extent of their improvidence, the replyer thus argues

"Were the majority of farmers under the neceffity of difpofing of their crop, to pay their Michaelmas rent, the fituation of the country would be dangerous indeed; inftead of the farmers' barns and rick yards being the repofitory, it would be the dealer's granary; monopoly, exportation, jobbing, and all the train of evils complained of, would then really exift; and pray, my friends, what would then be the cafe as the feafon advanced? I prefume you need not be told, fcarcity, with all its attendant confequences.

"To hear a body of men in a convened affembly refolve, that no individual farmer fhall occupy and cultivate more than 100 acres, or any specific quantity of land, is an attempt to ftrike fuch a blow at the liberties, the induftry, and emulative exertions of mankind, that furely tyranny never before dictated. Had there not been farmers of extenfive bufinefs and property, capable of keep ing a ftore of grain, what would have

And

NEW

An Inquiry into the Corn Laws and Corn Trade of Great Britain, and their Influence on the Profperity of the Kingdom, with Suggef tions for the Improvement of the Corn Laws. By the late Alex. Dirom, Efq. of Muiresk, in the County of Aberdeen. To which is added, a Supplement by Mr William Mackie, of Ormifton, in East Lothian, bringing down the confideration of the fubject to the Prefent time; inveftigating the Caufe of Scarcity; and fuggefting meafures for promoting the Cultivation of the Wafte Lands, and for rendering the Produce equal to the Increafing Confumption of the Kingdom. 128. Creech.

Two Letters to Sir John Sinclair, Baronet, Prefident of the Board of Agriquiture, on the fubject of Draining Wet and Boggy Lands. By James Anderfon, L L. D. F. R. S. F.A.SS. &c. IS. Bell Bradfute.

The Rudiments of Ancient Architecture; containing an historical Account of the Fide Orders, with their Proportions, and Examples of each from Antiques; alfo Extracts from Vitruvius, Pliny, &c. relative to the Buildings of the Ancients. Calculated for the Ufe of those who wish to attain a summary Knowledge of the Science of Architecture, With 4 Ditionary of Terms. Illuftrated with A Differtation on Refpiration. Tranflated Eleven Plates. The fecond Edition, much enlarged. Royal 8vo. 65. Boards. Taylor. Biographical Sketches of eminent Perfons, whofe Portraits form Part of the Duke of Dorfet's Collection at Knole; with a brief Description of the Place. Embellished wilh a Front and Eaft View of Knole. 8vo. 6s. Boards. Stockdale.

from the Latin of Dr Menzies; with notes by Charles Sugrue, Prefident of the Royal Phyfical Society, Edinburgh. 2s. fewed. G. Mudie, Son.

The Waes O' War, or the Upshot of the
History G' Will and Jean. In Four Parts.
Iş. A. Guthrie.

The Hiftory of Scotland,
Times to the Year 1748.
Vol. II. 8vo. 7s. Boards.
Ff2

POETRY.

The Lothario-of Threadneedle-ftreet;
gay
His folly rarely met the public eye,
Or like a fhadow pafs'd unheeded by;
Tradesman and rake were then remov'd as far
As gay St James' is from Temple-bar.

But now the Cit muft breath a purer air,
The Change he vifits-lives in Bedford-fquare;
Infures a fleet-then Bootle's Club attends,
Proud to be notic'd by his titled friends;
And strives to join, by Diftipation's aid,
The Man of Fashion with the man of Trade.
Vain to affociate with fuperior rank,
He quits his Leger-for the Faro Bank;
His dafhing Curricle down Bond-street drives,
Rifking his own-and worse—his horfes' lives;
Till urging Fortune's glowing wheel too faft.
This empty air-blown bubble breakes at laft!
Though Trade may give fuch upftart mufh-
rooms birth,

The Mufe pays homage to her real worth :
This Ifle to Commerce owes its fplendid state,
The fource of all that makes her truly great;
And 'midft her bufy fons enough are found
To raise dejected Mis'ry from the ground.
While Commerce, with a lib'ral heart, bestows
Her wealth to mitigate the poor man's woes,
Seeks out the wretch,his gloomy prifon cheers,
And wipes with pitying hand his widow's
tears,

Th' applauding world will fay (such bounty
giv'n)

The English Merchant is the Steward of

Heaven;

Our Author now that candour would implore
Which your indulgence has beftow'd before;
Still on a gen'rous public he depends,
Give your fupport-he afks no better friends.

EPILOGUE TO THE SAME.
THE dubious title of our Play this night,
Might fill Mamma with joy, or Mifs with
fright-

There, lounging, arm in arm, half-booted
Crops,

With heads fo dark-you'd fwear they were
-black mops.

There muflin petticoats, with mud fo lac'd :
Here fcarlet Spencers, with an inch of waist-
And look like lobfters with their tails cut off."
So Scarlet, all my rouge they seem to fcoff,

Here for a Hufband is the fcene to dafh!
Here for a Town-bred Mifs to-" make a
The plump brisk Widow takes a diff'rent
Splaf."

road,

She cannot walk down Bond-ftreet-fhe's a
load:

Good fixteen stone to carry-but yet strong,
She rolls a wool pack Venus-broad as long.
Yet fhe's a tender paffion for the Stage;
With her, dear Private Acting is the rage;
Shakespeare confeffes beauties not his choice,
Her Romeo, a Lord, might fuit your pocket
Aud Juliet grieves in a fine manly voice.
Looks like a candle funk into the focket.
In tones like these their mutual paffions run,

-Says he, (lifping effeminate voice.
"It is the Eaft, and Juliet is the Sun !
To Heav'n refpectful lenity! Adieu !
And fire-ey'd fury be my conduct now!"
(very boarfe tone.)
"Good Nurfe, I am a child! But do not
speak,

Then the,

Elfe would a Maiden blush bepaint my cheek, For all that thou haft hard me speak this night,

I am an infant wife, fcarce wedded quite."

Accents fofweet what mortal can withstand? The ftage ftruck Peer makes tender of his hand Juliet exclaims, as not confenting quite, "What fatisfaction can't thou have to-night?"

If to get Married this be not the wayWhat grace what charm more potent can have fway?

GO, Zephyr, and whisper the maid,
That I figh at her cruel delay:
Go, tell her the song of the shade
Is filent while fhe is away.

Twas her beauty gave life to the vale,
And fill'd ev'ry fwain with delight;`
'Twas her voice that enliven'd the gale;
'Twas her charms that gave luftre to night.
But fince he is fled from our eye,

The pleasures are gone with the fair: The ftreamlet moves on with a sigh,

And each grot seems a haunt of despair. Oh bring her once more to our plain!

Thou wilt find her where Innocence roves; The graces are all in her train,

And her cot is the feat of the Loves.

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

SLAVE TRADE.

Feb. 28. Mr Wilberforce rofe to make his promifed motion on the abolition of the flave trade. Having ftated that tho' his reafons for having taken up the fubject were motives of humanity, after a ferious and deep reflection, which still preffed him to bring it forward again; and though it was a traffic repugnant to every law, human and divine, ftill he begged the Houfe to confider it in a nother light, as it now became a queftion of policy, from the ftate and afpect of our affairs in the Weft Indies. The mischiefs of that abominable trade were ftill going forward with redoubled aci vity, and he did not prefs this forward out of obftinacy, but from motives of humanity. On the 2d of April 1792, that House had, hẹ fajd, come to a refolution, that the flave trade fhould totally and finally ceafe on the 27th of Jan. 1796. The French had, he faid, by fetting the negroes free, and by arming them, got again into their poffeffion Guadaloupe, Cayenne, and St Lucia : for the last four years, the number amounted to near 150,000, and this fresh importation, of all others, would be the most dangerous in infurrections.-Ile could not help addreffing himself to a certain clafs of men on this occafion, earneftly konjuring them to join him, and not to fhew to the world that they were enemies to human liberty. Having concluded a very pathetic fpeech, he moved, "That leave be given to bring in a bill for the abolition of the flave trade at a limited period."

General Tarleton opposed the motion; he had, he faid, as great an opportunity of learning the fate of this fubject as any honourable gentleman in that Houfe: with refpect to the Weft India Ilands, the prefent was the most improper time of all others for interference. The refolution alluded to by the honourable gen. tleman oppofite, (Mr Wilberforce) had been carried in times of peace, but even the difcuffion of the question was dangerous at prefent; black men were fit teft for the climate, and instead of ftop ping the trade it ought to be encouraged; he concluded by moving the order of the day.

Mr Courtenay, in his ufual ftrain of keen fatire and pointed wit, addreffed himself

to the oppofers of the motion. It had been urged, he said, that the transporting of flaves was a measure of humanity, as their Kings would cut off their heads, and they thought themselves honoured, and were anxious who fhould have his nead cut off firft, in order to honour his King. The measure was spoke of as methodiftical and enthufiatic. The intent of the hon. gentleman who introduced the measure was not of this hue, it was to relieve thousands. Among the fupporters of that abominable traffic were found clergymen, who fupported it from fcripture, and faid, that the Africans were defcended from Cain, who fix thoufand years ago had murdered his brother, and this was a punishment; and to abolifh it, would be like paffing a bill to naturalize the Jews, who muft, by the fcripture, be vagabands. He gave his direct support to the motion.

Mr Pitt faid, that it was impoffible for any one that felt on the subject, as he did, not to with for an immediate abolition of the flave trade. It had been agreed that the interval of four years fhould elapfe before the conclufion of it

four years have elapfed, and it is fill carried on, and it is now by a legislative act propofed to do, what? to pledge. yourfelves whether you will allow any more time. For himself, he had no difficulty in faying, that he had an addi tional motive and an additional with for its being delayed no longer. It had been urged, that by any difcuffion of an im- · mediate abolition, you support the flaves against their masters; this, he maintained, was not the cafe, as it furnished them with the idea that their lot would be improved, so that must give them additional reafons to be fatisfied with their condition. Another argument was, that the flaves there already would be diffatisfied if others were not imported; both these arguments could not be good. Instead of feeling any reafon for delay, from the arguments adduced, it was an additional reat on for his giving his most hearty concurrence to the motion.

Mr Secretary Dundas was of opinion that an unjuft and impolitic trade should be abolithed, and he had long thought fo; but now he was confirmed in an opinion that his hon. friend (Me Wilberforce) was farther from the fubject of his motion than ever. Whatever fpeculation may prefent to the mind, unless it could car

ry