At the fame time, as there can be no general rule without exception, we are ready to admit, that, in the hiftory of the boroughs, there was one innovation attended with the moft pernicious confe quences to the character, the induftry, the commerce, and the general profperity of the country. It was that unequivocal teftimony of an arbitrary reign, the act of parliament 1469, which entirely altered the conftitutions of the boroughs; erected the standard of de fpotifm, where liberty had fo long refided; and which covered the face of the country with the darkness and torpitude of flavery, in place of the light and fpirit of freedom. But, on the other hand, the whole tenor of our hiftory affords invincible proof, that every attempt we have made to establish and secure our liberties was a wide ftep towards the greatest political happiness and importance, and the most extended commercial intercourse with the world. It has been faid, that reform, by introducing diffipation and tumult among the people, would relax the industry, and hurt the manufactures and commerce, of the country. Instead of a differtation or argument on this fubject, let us appeal to facts which are inconteftable, and which afford the most irrefragable proof that a diminu. tion of industry, and injury to commerce, are not the confequences of an extenfive communication of freedom. Has the acquifition of liberty been fatal to the profperity of Holland? Has it introduced diffipation and destroyed industry among the Dutch? Or has it produced, from fens and barren fands, a populous nation, who have aftonished the world by their induftry, their commercial enterprize, their fuccefs in trade, as well as their bravery in war? There is not, in Europe, a ftate in which the rights of election are more widely diffused among the people than England. Is there any nation that can claim a fuperiority over England in industry, in manufactures, in commerce, or in arms? This exalted and illuftrious fituation fhe owes, in a great measure, to that activity of genius, and that bold. nefs of fpirit, which are the spontaneous and luxuriant growth of the foil of liberty.' But, granting that the antiquity of inftitutions were a fufficient proof of their juftice and expediency, the argument in favour of reform would be invincible even on this ground; for it is certain, that, in the history of mankind, liberty was prior to flavery; and, in the hiftory of the Scottish boroughs, the energy and dignity of popular government preceded the languor and depreffion of tyranny. The origin and legiflative capacities of the royal boroughs are to be referred to a very early period." This point," fays our author, "has been illustrated and confirmed by a writer *, diftinguished in the republic of letters by the depth of his research, the acuteness of his genius, and the uncommon energy of his language. To that eminent and ingenious author, more than to any modern writer, the friends of liberty are deeply indebted. He has refuted many of the tenets adopted by men of no contemptible name, who, either from error or fyftem, had contended for the ancient flavery of the boroughs. * Dr. Gilbert Stuart. Dr. 1 Dr. Stuart himself, a paffionate lover of liberty, has traced its eftablifhments to a very remote antiquity, combating with invincible force the adorers of prerogative and the champions of tyranny." After a fhort hiftorical deduction of the government of the boroughs, of the invafion of their liberties, firft by the nobles and afterwards by the crown, and of their prefent condition of deplorable fervitude, the author makes an appeal for redress to the wisdom and juftice of the legislature. Upon the whole, this fenfible, fpirited, and elegant pamphlet does great credit to the author, and is a proof of the beneficial effects which the fpirit of liberty has already operated in Scotland. ART. 16. The genuine Review of the Political State of an unhappy Country, as originally written, before it was mutilated by a Right Reverend Prelate. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Ridgeway. London, 1787. This is the fourth or fifth reply to the "Short Review of the Political State of Great Britain at the clofe of 1786." The writer pretends that this was the genuine manufcript from which that celebrated pamphlet, altered and mutilated by a modern prelate (Dr. Prettyman), took its origin. Unfortunately for himself, and happily for the public, his artifice is too grofs, and his abilities too fhallow, to impofe on any perfon who is poffeffed of common understanding. The alterations which he has made of the Short Review, and the additions which he has made to it, remind us of the perfevering labours of Martinus Scriblerus, who darned his filk stockings with worsted till they became a pair of worsted stockings, One fentence will ferve as a fpecimen, et ex una difcite omnes. "Barataria (GreatBritain) produces fuch characters as the following: a hypocritical king, an avaricious queen, an unexperienced minifter, a profligate and arbitrary chancellor, two ideot fecretaries, a drunken viceroy, and a lying bishop: from fuch characters, may Providence ever defend the favourite ifle of freedom!" And from fuch authors, may Apollo ever defend the republic of letters! ART. 17. Alarming Progrefs of French Politics. 8vo. Is. Jamefon. This pamphlet fhould rather have been ftyled, "The alarming Progrefs of English Folly." The fault, or misfortune, of the author of this effay is, not that his ideas are wrong, but that he has no ideas at all. In confequence of the French commercial treaty, fays he, "lettres de cachet will cease to be an abomination. and the Baftile may become a very pretty appendix to the court of inquifition already eftablished among us. Britannia, ruftic virago, hitherto untamed, shall be frenchified into vulgar ufe, [i. e. the virago fhall become a firumpet]; and, who knows, may have, at fome future period, the good fortune to fucceed as maid of honour [a ftrumpet a maid of honour!], the graceful Swollenbelly burg-hen, the next century, grovelling at the feet of a grand monarque, may prefent, in return for ribbons and French lace, her liberty and bill of rights," &c. If English liberty is to be exchanged for French ribbons and lace, we may fafely infer that the commercial treaty is not founded on principles of reciprocity. ART. ART: 18. The Speech of Mr. Sheridan relative to the Begums of Oude. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Richardfon. London, 1787. We heard this fpeech when it was delivered in the House of Commons, and were witneffes to the effects which it produced. As an exhibition of talents, of eloquence, both of the tragic and comic kind, and of theatrical enunciation, its merit was of the higheft order, and has produced effects feldom to be paralleled in modern times. At the fame time when we heard it, we conjectured, that, whatever impreffion it made on the public ear, it was by no means fit for the public eye. This conjecture every publication of it has confirmed. The fophiftical arguments on which it was founded are wifely withheld from the public; and even the declamatory parts, though abounding with glowing figures, are unclaffical and incorrect. All Sheridan's works act better than they read. Monuments remain, and will remain for ever, of the eloquence of Greece and Rome; but Mr. Burke is the only orator of the House of Commons whose speeches will defcend to pofterity. ART. 19. The Speech of Major Scott relative to the Begums of Oude. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Debrett. London, 1787. Although Major Scott fometimes Speaks unadvisedly with his lips, the knowledge of the fubject, the good fenfe, and the folid arguments, which this fpeech contains, will recommend it to every reader, and diminish, if not destroy, the influence of the former. If Mr. Haftings, like Lord Clive, had poffeffed an advocate in the House of Commons who united talents for public speaking with a profound knowledge of law, his impeachment, like Lord Clive's, would have been checked in the beginning. ART. 20. An Appeal to the People of England and Scotland in Behalf of Warren Haflings, Efq. 8vo. is. 6d. Debrett. London, 1787. There is much good obfervation and folid argument in this pamphlet, which defends the conduct of Mr. Haftings. Facts are strong things; and, as containing fuch, this performance will operate its effect on the impartial reader. Eloquence is neceffary to fupport a bad cause, but a good one may be defended by the logic of common fense, and the rhetoric of unftudied expreffion. ART. 21. An Appeal from the hafty to the deliberative Judgment of the People of England relative to the State of our Fellow-Countrymen in India. 8vo, Is. 6d. Debrett. London, 1787. This pamphlet ftrongly enforces the Bengal petition lately before the House of Commons. It contains a ftatement of the manifold fervices rendered by our countrymen in India, and urges the ftrong claim they poffefs to the protection and approbation of their country. The author places the fufferings and the merits of British subjects in India in a striking point of view. There is much constitutional knowledge and found argument difplayed in this tract, notwithstanding the afperity of language which is fometimes employed towards individuals, ART. ART. 22. An Abstract of the Bill for manning the Royal Navy with Vo lunteers; with a full Defence of its Principles and Operation: being the Subftance of Six Letters addressed to William Pultney, Efq. and of Ten Letters to the Right Hon. William Pitt. With Additions; in which, the Rights of British Seamen are firenuously defended, and all the Objections made to the Bill, both in and out of Parliament, are fairly ftated and fully refuted. Alfo, a Letter addreffed to the Gentlemen of the Faculty; with Copies of Anfavers thereto. By John Stevenson. 8vo. 1s. Nicoll. London, 1787. Whatever may be the fate of the bill which is the object of this pamphlet, the truly patriotic zeal manifefted by Mr. Stevenfon, in endeavouring to forward fo laudable a measure, is justly entitled to approbation. That the impreffing of seamen is an exercise of power difgraceful to the fpirit of a free nation, no doubt can be entertained; and we are equally convinced that the practice, by its injurious influence on the depreffing paffions, has likewife a direct tendency to destroy both the health and ftrength of that valuable class of the community. MEDICA L. ART. 23. Phyfiological Conjectures concerning certain Functions of the Human Economy in the Fatus and the Adult. By James Rymer. 8vo. 15. Evans. London, 1787. In matters of science, doubt and fcepticism afford indication of a certain degree of knowledge. This remark is particularly applicable to Mr. Rymer's conjectures. He appears to have been attentive to phyfiological inquiries; and, with refpect to fome points, it may be difficult to fatisfy his understanding upon principles fully established; at least, to discuss the fubjects which he propofes, would greatly exceed the bounds of a Review. The fame is not the cafe with his opinion relative to a mixture of vegetable acid, as lemon juice, water, fugar, and ardent fpirit, which he believes to be a beverage most fa lutary in any ftate of the ftomach. The proportion of Mr. Rymer's univerfally medicinal punch is, the juice of one large lemon, one ounce of fugar, fix ounces of water, and one ounce of ardent spirit. However grateful this compofition may be to the ftomach of the author, yet, whether it would not prove flatulent to many, might very justly have been mentioned as the subject of an additional conjecture. ART. 24. A Hiftory of the Practice of trepanning the Skull, and the After-Treatment; with Obfervations upon a new Method of Cure, illuftrated by a Cafe. By Robert Mynors, Surgeon. Small 8vo. 2s. 6d. Birmingham printed. Robinsons, London, 1787. Mr. Mynors traces the hiftory of trepanning from Hippocrates to the prefent time; fhewing that it has been the practice, in all ages, to encourage the fuppuration of the dura mater and the reft of the wound. In this method of treatment, however, we cannot acquiefce, from a conviction that to cut off any portion of the fcalp, or de stroy ftroy the leaft part of the pericranium, more than what is unavoid- Make a fimple incifion of the foft parts, with a knife, in the cen- With refpect to the propriety of employing the process of adhe five inflammation, in the cure of a wounded fcalp, we readily agree with Mr. Mynors; and we cannot hesitate to admit his claim to this improvement in furgery. MISCELLANEOUS. ART. 25. The memoirs of Price having been caught at with avidity, has in- 1 1 ENG. REV. Vol. IX. May 1787, B b ART. |