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Introduction to the Obfervations made by the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the District of Quebec, upon the oral and written Teftimony adduced upon the Investigation into the paft Adminiftration of Juftice. 8vo. 15. 6d. Stockdale.

In confequence of fome difputes, an investigation into the adminiftration of justice at Quebec took place; and the obfervatins made by the judges of the court of common pleas conftiture their defence. This Introduction is a kind of history of the legal and civil proceedings at Quebec fince its first conquest, preparatory to the more full defence; but it is not fo generally interesting as to induce us to extend our account of it.

Hints, &c. fubmitted to the ferious Attention of the Clergy, Nobility, and Gentry, newly Affociated. By a Layman. The Fourth Edition, revifed, with Additions. Sve. 25. White and Son. This excellent little tract we have already noticed at fome length. The new edition before us is corrected in one or two inconfiderable paffages, and the arguments and observations which the author thinks have been mistaken or misrepresented are more fully elucidated.

Obfervations on the Prefent State of the Royal Academy: with Characters of Living Painters. By an old Artift. 4to. 25, Walter.

Sir Jófhua Reynolds is reinftated in the academic chair, and our author's Obfervations are too late. He appears, however, to be actuated by no little prejudice against the prefident, and repeats the ftories of defpotifm, abfolute power, and ambition, circulated against every prefident of every literary fociety, after the era of fir Ifaac Newton. The difpute is reprefented as arifing from fir Joshua's pushing Mr. Bonomi forward as affociate and academician, in order to appoint him profeffor of per, fpective, though fcarcely qualified for the office, and at least inferior to Mr. Edwards his competitor. The obferver must, however, know, that the ftory has been told differently: we cannot decide, and, as we have said, decifion is now unnceffary. The Speech and Propofition of the Right Hon. Henry Flood, in the Houfe of Commons of Great Britain, Thursday, March 4th, 1790, on a Reform of the Reprefentation in Parliament. Sve 15. Debrett.

Mr. Flood attempts to revive the idea of a parliamentary reform, which has now for fome time been fuffered to remain unmolested, except indeed by the tranfient motions of certain democratical reprefentatives. His propofition is, that one hun dred members should be added to the house of commons, and that they should be elected by a numerous and new body of refponfible electors; namely the refident householders in every county. The fubject is of fo great importance, and accompanied with fuch difficulties, that it requires to be investigated

with the most attentive and the most mature deliberation. Whatever may be the expediency of a parliamentary reform, we cannnot but concur in opinion that the prefent juncture would be an improper time for carrying it into effect. Mr. Flood's motion, therefore, feems to have been very properly withdrawn; though he should not, according to the advice of an honourable member (fir J. Johnftone), poftpone it for a century. The Speech is fenfible and argumentative.

A Chew of Tobacco, for certain Gentlemen in Livery. By a Member of Parliament. 8vo. 6d. Stockdale.

The chief objection which has been made to the extenfion of the excife-laws is, that they deprive the perfons fubjected to them of the privelege of trial by juries. But the author of the little production now before us remarks, that this is a fpecious of grievance by no means peculiar to the excife. It exists in innumerable other departments of civil polity: fuch as in the laws relating to inns and alehoules, the vagrant laws, the high-way and turnpike laws, and, in fhort, in all cafes where there is a neceffity for immmediate and fummary jurifdiction. It is, however, no fmail extenuation of the rigour of thofe obnoxious laws, that they are enforced only for the purpofe of preventing fraud or licentioufnefs, and that it is impoffible to fuperfede them without occafioning the utmost inconvenience to the public, as well as an enormous detalcation of the revenue. The author may perhaps be accufed of treating the fubject with a degree of levity; but we must acknowledge that his remarks are not deftitute of foundation.

The Contraft; or, the oppofite Confequences of good and evil Has bits, exhibited in the lowest Ranks of rural Life. For the Benefit of intelligent Servants, and the bft Proficients in Sunday Schools. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Beards. Longman.

This narrative appears to be the joint production of two perfons, who have a much greater tile to literary me it than their modefty permits them to claim. The profeft deign they have in view, is to recommend just principles of action in the lowest ranks of life in country villages. his they endeavour to effect, not by mears of precept, or moral obfervation, but the more powerful influence of example; exhib ring, feparately, the confequences of virtuous and vicious condut, in the hillory of different perfons. The narative abounds with incidents and characters, described in the liveli ft manner, and judiciously connected with the purposes both of instruction and entertainment. It is, in fact, interefting in a degree greatly fuperior to what might be expected from the obfcure fituation of the heroes and heroines of country vill ges; and, though avowedly in-. tended for the benefit only of the lower ranks in life, we should not hesitate to consider it, in point of ingenuity and natural defcription,

defcription, as worthy likewife the perufal of those in more confpicuous fituations.

Reflections on the Infamy of Smuggling. To which is added, an Appendix; containing a Plan for rendering Part of the Public Revenue more productive. By Edward Hankin, M. A. 8vo. Is. Stockdale.

While we allow the criminality of fmuggling, we may indulge a fmile at the great care Mr. Hankin takes to reafon on this difficult fubject from certain premises:

God, having formed man for fociety, has fo conftituted him, that, in the focial ftate alone, he can attain the perfection of his rational nature:-here is the fource of his most important duties; here he cultivates thofe affections by which he refembles the Deity; and here is that scene of action where he is to approve himself worthy the rewards of a future state.'

But notwithstanding this care, an acute fmuggler might turn his arguments, and even his calculations, against him. We fhall not engage in this attempt, for smuggling has already produced an extenfion of the excife laws, and we would not affift any practice which might give occafion for their farther progiefs.

The Life of the late John Howard, Efq. with a Review of his Travels. 8vo. 2. 6d. Ridgway.

The Review of Mr. Howard's travels forms the principal part of this narrative, and contains a general account of the prifons in the different countries which he vifited. The particulars related of his life are rendered interesting from his great philanthropy, and a few of them, indeed, are uncommon. To confirm Mr. Howard's ideas of the effects of folitary imprisonment, there is annexed to the narrative a letter which appeared in one of the morning papers, on the cafe of Saville, tried at Chelmsford for murder.

Anecdotes of the Life and Character of John Howard, Efq. 8vo. 25. Hookham.

This pamphlet correfponds with the other on the fame fubjet, in regard to the greater part of the biographical anecdotes; but the account in this one is more particular, and it is written with a degree of enthufiafm in favour of the great philanthropist. Instead of the review of Mr. Howard's travels, these Anecdotes are accompanied with a print of him.

Obfervations on the Petition of the City of London in favour of the Tobacconists. 8vo. 15. Stockdale.

The author of this pamphlet examines the Petition with much attention, and his Obfervations on the fubject are pertinent. He first endeavours to fhow that the oftenfible motive of the petitioners is not founded in truth; in the next place, that the principle on which they profefs to act, is very imperfectly

understood

understood by them; and lastly, that the prayer of their petition is inconfiftent both with their avowed motive and principle. Thefe feveral propofitions are elucidated with just and appofite remarks, as well as maintained by ftrong arguments; and we think that no candid reader, however much a friend to the caufe of the tobacconists, will refufe to acknowledge that their petition bears too evident marks of difingenuity, inconfiftency, and mistaken opinions, refpecting the comparative effect of the excife laws.

Report of the Commiffioners appointed to enquire into the State and Condition of the Woods, Forefts, and Land Revenues of the Crown, &. 8vo. 15. Debrett.

It appears from this Report that the commiffioners have given unwearied attention to the object of their appointment, and have already made confiderable progrefs. Hitherto they have fold fingle rents at thirty years purchafe, and given a preference to the proprietors of the ettates out of which they were payable; but being apprehenfive that if any fhould remain unfold at the clofe of their commiffion, it would still be neceffary to have receivers, at a confiderable expence, for collecting many trifling fums, which might be again neglected, and perhaps loft, they judged it expedient to fell the remaining rents of whole counties or diftricts collectively, at twenty-fix years purchase, which is the best price they could obtain, and is higher than the rate at which, by the act, they are empowered to fell. If the whole fhall be fold on thofe terms, they shall be enabled to increase the purchase of stock to 400,cool. capital.

The Journal of the Proceedings on board his Majefty's Ship the Guardian, commanded by Lieutenant Riou, bound to Botany Bay, From the 22d of December, 1789, to the 15th of January, 1790. 8vo. 15. Ridgway.

The dreadful fituation to which the Guardian was reduced, and the magnanimous conduct of lieutenant Riou are now generally known to the public. It is authenticated, that on the twenty-third of December last, in latitude 43° 31′ fouth, the fhip ftruck on an ifland of ice; and that on the twenty-fifth all hopes of her prefervation being abandoned, lieutenant Riou gave his confent, that as many of the officers and others as thought proper fhould take to their boats. But it pleafing Almighty God to affift his endeavours with the remaining part of the crew, the fhip arrived fafe in Table-Bay on the twenty-first of Febru ary. The Journal of this diftrefsful period feems to be faithfully detailed, and cannot but excite fympathetic emotions in the breast of every humane reader.

The Life of the late John Elwes, Efq; Member in three fucceffive Parliaments for Berkshire. By Edward Topham, Efq. Sve. 35. Ridgway.

This biographical production, witten by Mr. Topham, has been already detailed periodically in one of the morning papers;

but

but from the very extraordinary character which it celebrates, we may venture to affirm, that the whole, as collected in the narrative now before us, cannot fail of proving highly acceptable to the public. Mr. Elwes, whofe family name was Meg. got, was the fon of an eminent brewer, and inherited a moderate fortune; bur by a degree of penuriousness that never perhaps was furpaffed, he left at his death, to two natural fons, eftates amounting to about five hundred thousand pounds. Though avarice, in the utmost extent, was his predominant paffion, and that to which he rigidly facrificed all the comforts of life; yet he flowed, on particular occafions, fuch generofity of conduct, and regard to liberality of principle, as almost excites admiration. The author's information refpecting this fingular perfonage, appears to be extenfive, and we doubt not, perfectly authentic. Some of the anecdotes are truly laugha ble. We fall only add, that a print of Mr. Elwes, and which we can fay from our perfonal knowledge ftrongly resembles him, is prefixed to the narrative.

A Letter addreffed to the IIon. Court of Directors of the Eaft-India Company, containing Preposals for printing a Hiftory of the Revolutions of the Empire of Indoftan, from the earliest Ages to the Prefent. Sve. 15. 6d. Richardfon.

This Letter contains propofals for printing a history of the empire of Indoftan, from the earliest ages to the present. The author affirms, that nothing dictated by party confiderations fhall be admitted into the propofed hiftory; but that he endea vour to obtain the truth by a diligent investigation of the most authentic publications on the fubject, and by collecting the dif paffionate opinions of the candid, the moderate, and the difcerning, on either fide of the quellion. Such are the affurances given by the author of the propofals, who fubfcribes himself Thomas Maurice, and indeed to render the work useful, the ftrict obfervance of them would be indifpenfible. The Defence of Innes Monro, Efq. against a Charge of Plagiarifm from the Works of Dr. William Thomfom. 8vo. 15. Ridgway.

A plague on fuch backing'-ir may be truly faid 'non de fenforibus illis'-In fact, this Defence contains all the letters which have appeared in the newspapers on this fubject; and as Mr. Murray has the laft word, it is not difficult to divine the fource of this pamphlet. Our opinion we have formerly given. The Chriftian's Spelling-Book, intended for the Ufe of Schools and Private Families; specially for Sunday Schools. By J. Blay↳ mires. 8vo. 15. Knott.

A little work for the ufe chiefly of Sunday-fchools:-reading is not, however, fo difficult a task as to require endless difcuffions on the proper method of dividing fyllables, or of affixing the different founds of letters. Our author's ear is fo refined, and fo muncally exact, that we cannot always understand his ditin ions. To us many of these different founds appear to be

the fame.

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