In point of compofition this pamplet is unequal. Some parts of it are very masterly; but there are other places which are careless. In the Poftfcript, the Author criticizes Lord Stair with a good deaf of acrimony, but not without justice. Art. 13. State of the Public Debts, and of the Annual Intereft and Benefits paid for them, as they will ftand on the 5th of January 1783. Likewise, as they will stand (if the War continues) on the 15th of January 1784. To which the Attention of the Public is humbly requested, before they decide as to Peace or War. Together with fome Thoughts on the Extent to which the State may be benefited by Economy; and a few Reflections on the Conduct and Merit of the Parties contending for Power. By John Earl of 'Stair. 8vo. Is. Stockdale. -It is a matter of commendation that men of rank should attend to public affairs; and afford occafionally their information to the Public. They thus evince themselves to be good citizens, and rife far fuperior to those of their station who manifeft a stupid indifference to political concerns; or are employed in selfish and degrading diffipations. It follows not, however, that the writings of fuch men fhould be uniformly instructive. That the calculations exhibited by the Earl of Stair are all right, is a pofition which we cannot affirm. But they are fufficiently authentic to awaken a very ferious alarm with regard to the national debts, and to the mifconduct and enormities of thofe minifters, who have madly perfifted in a war, the most unjust in its rife, and the most criminal in its profecution, that ever infulted the dignity and the virtue of a great people. His praise of public economy proceeds from his heart, and cannot be founded too loudly in the ears of ftatefmen. His pamphlet, though far from being perfect, deserves to be attended to from the importance of its fubjects. In his ftyle, his Lordship afpires beyond fimplicity, and degenerates into bombaft. We mult alfo reprobate his ceremonious affectation of humility; for that virtue but ill agrees with the petulant contempt which he too profufely scatters against those, who, in the opinion of many, may be greatly fuperior to him in the gifts of the mind. Art. 14. A Collection of State Papers, relative to the first Acknowledgment of the Sovereignty of the United States of America, and the Reception of their Minifter Plenipotentiary, by their High Mightineffes the States General of the United Netherlands. T. which is prefixed, the political Character of John Adams, Ambaffador Plenipotentiary from the States of North America to their High Mightineffes the States General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, By an American. Likewife an Effay on Canon and Feudal Law. By John Adams, Efq. 8vo. 2 s. Fielding, &c. 1782. The character of Mr. Adams, with which this performance is introduced, may be just for aught that we know. It extols in the higheft degree his abilities and probity. As to the State Papers they are curious; but we are forry that they appear without any fanction from Mr. Adams. With regard to the Effay on the Canon and Feudal Laws, it attracted our notice in a peculiar manner. We were happy to have an opportunity of knowing the fentiments of fo confiderable a man as Mr. Adams on topics fo interesting and important. But But we were miferably disappointed in the perufal of the tract; and it is our opinion that it is not genuine. This opinion we hazard, from a confideration of the celebrity of Mr. Adams, and from the frivolity of the piece. The author is unacquainted with the fubjects he treats; and he discovers neither acuteness of mind, nor vigour of expreffion. Art. 15. Remarks upon the Report of a Peace, in confequence of Mr. Secretary Townshend's Letter to the Lord Mayor of London, Bank Directors, &c. By the Author of the Defence of the Earl of Shelburne. 8vo. I S. Stockdale. This pamphlet is not equal to The Defence of Lord Shelburne.' It is more paffionate and declamatory. Yet there feems to be fufficient reasons for its ftrain of argument, in the fuppofed duplicity of the noble Lord whofe conduct it cenfures. The Author employs the strongest language of reproach, and exhaufts every epithet of disgrace and contempt, while he characterizes the fceptical genius and the political fecundity of the Earl of Shelburne. He appears to have opportunities of good intelligence and information; and while he employs them to give an alarm to his fellow citizens, he affirms, that he is impelled by public and honourable motives. We have not any authority to difpute his affertions; and while we respect his patriotism, we could only with, that he had been somewhat more temperate and more decent in his manner. Art. 16. A ferious Addrefs to the Electors of Great Britain, on the Subject of Short Parliaments, and an equal Representation. 8vo. 6d. Debrett. There is a fund of good fenfe in this publication which will recommend it to virtuous citizens. The Author expofes with vigour the danger of long Parliaments, and exhibits a great, and, we believe, a real concern for the interefts of the country and the conftitution. Art. 17. A Word at Parting, to the Earl of Shelburne. 8vo. I S. Debrett. In this pamphlet there is no information which has not appeared in better performances. The blows which it aims against Lord Shelburne, had previously been ftruck with greater violence. The piece, however, is put together with fome degree of vivacity. Art. 18. Sketch of a Conference with the Earl of Shelburne. 8vo. 6 d. Denham. This pamphlet contains an account of the converfation which paffed between the Earl of Shelburne, and the gentlemen of the deputation from the Committee of the Proteftant Affociation of London, Weftminfter, and the Borough of Southwark. It displays the grofs illiberality of the Proteftant Affociation, and exhibits an atrocious refentment against the Papifts. In a country which prides itself in its philofophy, and which boafts of being free, it is altogether horrid that any idea of intoleration and perfecution fhould be prevalent. Art. 19. Thoughts on the prefent War. With an impartial Review of Lord North's Administration, in conducting the American, French, Spanish, and Dutch War, and in the Management of Contracts, Taxes, the Public Money, &c. 8vo. I s. 6d. Dilly. 1782. Thefe thoughts, which are published as the fentiments of a clergy man in a remote part of the kingdom, during Lord Rockingham's fhort administration, are the refult of found fenfe, contain many ferious truths, and, which is not their leaft recommendation, are expreffed without acrimony. Nevertheless, the feafon of ill fuccefs is the natural feafon for difcontent, when immediate confolation is fought in accufation and reproach; but to eftimate measures by events, and to reprefent national tranfactions for a series of years, as uniformly and glaringly abfurd, upon their not being crowned with fuccefs, is a mode of judgment better calculated as a fpur to emulation in the bustle of the field, than to fhew the reach of fagacity in an individual, writing from the calm recefs of a clofet. It is eafy to reafon upon caufes, after receiving the leffon of experience, and when it is too late to profit by acquired knowledge. But thofe, of whom there are many, who claim the penetration of predicting late events, from the very beginning of the American conteft, muft, to establish this claim, be hardy enough to justify all our military operations in America as the utmost exertions of the national wisdom and ftrength, by generals of the moft vigilant courage, and, above all, of frict fidelity to their facred trufts! Our Author, however, is not fo warmly the panegyrift of our Commanders, as the accufer of the unfuccefsful Minifter; and writing at the dawn of a new influence in our Cabinet, fays, very properly if the beft had been done, we fhould have had caufe for defpair; but if things have been improperly managed, there are hopes of better times, whenever they shall be conducted in a different manner. Every true Briton will rejcice when fuch times arrive, without thinking the worfe of them on account of the Minifter then in the administration of affairs: and lucky will be the Minifter, whofe zealous exertions for the public welfare, are favoured by circumstances and opportunities; and who has no enemies to contend with, but where he might expect to find them! Art. 20. An Addrefs to the Landholders, Merchants, and other principal Inhabitants of England, on the Expediency of entering into Subfcriptions for augmenting the British Navy, 4to. s. 6d. Bladon. 1782. This Writer inforces the legality and expediency of county fubfcriptions for building fhips of war, in the most earnest manner; but there feem to be obftructions to this mode of augmenting the royal navy, ftronger than any of thofe argumentative obftacles he undertakes to remove: for not only do other counties refufe, evade, or at leaft tacitly decline, the railing fuch voluntary aids; but even the county, fo highly extolled for fetting this public-fpirited example, hath found the fulfilment of fuch an undertaking rather more arduous, than the fpontaneity of the offer indicated. Art. 21. Thoughts on the Naval Strength of the British Empire. Part. II. 8vo. 1 S. Cadell. 1782. This ingenious young Senator published, about fix months ago, the first part of his Thoughts relative to the natural advantages poffeffed by Great Britain for the acquifition of Naval Power. It has fince, he fays (Pref. Advert. p. 1.), been fuggefted, that it might not be an improper fubject of investigation, to enquire how far the See Review, June, p. 469. obftacles Obstacles which are commonly urged against any further increase of Our navy, namely, the fuppofed difficulty of procuring more fhips and more feamen, are well founded.'-Accordingly, our Author inveftigates this important queftion, propofes fome expedients, and fuggefts feveral plans, particularly one which we are much pleafed with, for abolishing the hateful and tyrannical mode of manning the King's fhips by impreffing the failors :-inftead of this method, he recommends a new fcheme, to which, at prefent, we fee no objection.His fcheme, alfo, for building 50 men of war, at the expence of the English counties (including a contribution for Wales and Scotland), feems worthy the attention of the Public. Befide these particular topics, he offers fome general reflections relative, on the one hand, to a continuance of the American war; and, on the other, to the emancipation of our Colonies; which manifest the good fenfe and extenfive views of the Author. And the Public is certainly much obliged to Mr. Sinclair *, as well as to his attentive countryman, the Earl of Stair, for his patriotic researches. Art 22. Political Memoirs; or, a View of fome of the first Operations of the War, after the French Notification, as they were regarded by Foreigners + in a series of Papers, with Notes and Reflections. To which is prefixed, an Introduction, containing Thoughts on an immediate Peace. Part I. 8vo. 2 s. Stock dale. 1782. The main defign of this publication is to excite and animate us to a continuance of the war. The zealous Writer is of opinion that we are ftill very able to carry it on, and that we have ample encouragement to perfift, from a fair profpect of fuccefs,-provided we conduct the bufinefs with more wisdom and vigour than we have hitherto fhewn in the management of it. The alternative, he apprehends, is either war or fubmiffion. An immediate peace, on the terms commonly spoken of as the bafis of the peace, he confiders as pregnanc with indelible difgrace, and certain ruin to this country. To prove this, he has great variety of reafoning, in common with all the other advocates who have stood forth on the fame fide of the question, in Parliament or on paper: and he has likewife, perhaps, fome remarks that have generally occurred. The Author is a fenfible man, though not a very elegant writer: argument, however, rather than elegance, we fuppofe was his object.-The fubjects of this first part of his Memoirs, are, The refitting of the French fleet, and its failing from Brest, under the command of D'ORVILLIERS, after DE GRASSE and LA MOTHE PIQUET had followed RowLEY to the Weft IndiesD'ORVILLIERS's junction with the Spanish fleet-the fending out of the grand fleet under Sir CHARLES HARDY-Mr. ARBUTHNOT'S ftop at Torbay Mr. DARBY's excurfion. On these measures and manoeuvres the Author feems to have made fome very pertinent and well-founded obfervations. See Review, June, p. 469. The Author informs us, that he has converfed much abroad, on the fubjects here difcuffed. Art. 23. An honeft Man's Reasons for fupporting the present Miniftry. 8vo. 15. Fielding. 1782. The principal reafonings, contained in this well-written pamphlet, chiefly refpect Mr. Fox; and may be regarded as the Author's reasons for not fupporting that gentleman.' Our Honeft Man' reprobates the laft [Lord North's] miniftry, in the strongest terms. Lord Shelburne is the Minister of his choice; but, of the importance and value of his fupport, farther than what may refult from the fervices of his good pen, we cannot pretend to form any judgment: he gives his readers, however, to understand that he is a reprefentative.' 6 INLAND NAVIGATION. Art. 24. Confiderations on the Idea of uniting the Rivers Thames and Severn, through Cirencester, with fome Obfervations on other intended Canals. 4to. I s. Milne, Holborn. 1782. In these confiderations, the Author earnestly recommends, and ftrenuously enforces, the scheme of a junction between the Thames and the Severn, in the line of communication above mentioned. He clearly fhews its beneficial tendency in a national view, and answers objections, &c. &c.-He occafionally introduces just encomiums on inland navigations in general; and, among other striking advantages attending them, he points out that fingular one to the Public, of their creating a new species of property, where no property exifted before: A navigation,' fays he, is an addition to the hive, an accumulation of labour ftill productive of more.' With respect to the particular canal here recommended, its utility feems to be irrefragably demonftrated, and, confequently, the plan is proved to be highly worthy the attention and encouragement of the Legislature, The very fenfible Writer likewife fhews, that the junction of the rivers Thames and Severn promises a fufficient reward to those who will ftep forward, and make the neceffary exertions for its completion.' POETICA L. Art. 25. Velina; a poetical Fragment. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Longman. 1782. A monarch rambling near a fhaggy dell, hears a young man uttering the most bitter lamentations. On enquiring into the caufe of his diftrefs, he finds that in fact he is one of the happiest beings upon earth; and that it was merely for the purpose of giving a zeft to his real enjoyments, that he found it neceffary to indulge in imaginary affiction. For, fays he, If right I deem, the finest joy Seeft thou thefe nodding trees, this moffy ftone, The |