this moment, the fubject of a diligent enquiry. We have not room even to hint, in this place, at all the various pursuits, or even fome of the later difcoveries. We fhall mention fome ftriking facts, relating to one fubftance. The phosphoric acid has long puzzled us. It formerly impeded our analysis of the earth of bones: it more lately led the acute Bergman to believe, that he had discovered a new metal, the fiderite; and we are now told, that scheele's acidum perlatum, a new acid, which he fuppofed that he had difcovered in urine, is only a phosphoric acid, combined with a little foflil alkali. Some ingenious chemifts, employed in the founderics at the foot of the Alps, have, in their leisure hours, examined borax ánd its acid, the fedative falt. From their experiments, the latter is very probably a triple falt; with an excefs of acid, containing a fofil alkali, fome calcarious earth, and the phofphoric acid.. We shall finish this little sketch of literary news by the fubject of the prize, propofed by the Academy of Arts, Sciences, and Belles Lettres, at Dijon, for the year 1787. • What is the Influence of the Morality of Governments on that of the People?' This influence is certain, and the philofopher, who can read the history of all the inhabitants of the earth, mult ac knowledge it. He has feen that the principles on which the conduct of governments towards each other, and towards their fubjects, is founded, become the principles of the fubjects themfelves.' 6 By enquiring what the influence of the morality of governments on that of the people is, the Academy does not expect that the influence fhould be demonftrated; but hopes that it will be shown by its effects, that, by confidering the nations, whose character and manners have been improved or injured in a fenfible degree, the relation of the effects to their cause will be difcovered.' Of the two medals for the former effay, on the Theory of the Winds, the Academy has beltowed one on the chevalier de la Condrai: his differtation is now printing; and the fecond is referved for the belt improvement of his discoveries. The names of the candidates who fend effays must be concealed in the ufual forms: only refident academicians are excluded from the conteft. Their works must be fent free of expence to M. Maret, doctor of phyfic, perpetual secretary; or M. Caillet, profefior of poetry, affiftant fecretary, before the first of April, 1787. The medal is a gold one, of 300 livres value (about 131.) bearing, on one fide, the arms and name of M. Poufier, the founder; on the other, the device of the Academy of Dijon. MONTHLY CATALOGUE. POLITICA L. General Obfervations on the Shop-Tax. 8vo. Is. Whieldon. ΤΗ HE author of this pamphlet writes in the character of a farmer. His obfervations are confequently plain and fimple, at the fame time that they are candid. We fufpect, however, that honeft Farmer Steady has fome relation to the counter: for he proposes that the fhop-tax should be converted into an additional tax on houses. A Political Sermon, preached before a R-t H-ble H-e, on the First Day of the prefent Meeting of Pt. 4to. 15. Hook ham. This political preacher has taken his text from Nehemiah v. 14, 15. He recommends the example of that faithful and zealous governor to the imitation of all who are entrusted with any share in the public fervice. Perfons both in and out of office are equally objects of his falutary admonition; and he endeavours to enforce the practice of public virtue with all the apparent zeal and fincerity of a genuine patriot, though not with uncommon eloquence. A Review of fome interefling Periods of Irish. Hiftory, 8vo. IS. Whieldon. 1 The periods of Irifh hiftory confidered by this author are the three following: the legal eftablishment of the Reformation under queen Elizabeth, the maffacre and rebellion in 1641, and the civil war in 1689. The author makes many juft obfervations on the flate of Ireland, and the conduct of the English government at thofe periods. In respect of religious opinions, he appears to be moderate and liberal; but in what relates to politics he difcovers a partiality to Ireland. Prefent Politics of Ireland: confifting of I. The Right Hon. Mr. Hutchinfon's Letter to his Conflituents at Corke. II. Parliamentary Difcuffions of the Irish Arrangements. III. Mr. Laffan's Obfervations on the relative Situation of Great Britain and Ireland. With Notes by an English Editor. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Stockdale. The first article in this tract confifts of a Letter from the Right Hon. Mr. Hutchinson to his Conftituents at Corke, relative to the commercial treaty between Great Britain and Ireland. Mr. Hutchinfon had voted for the introduction of a bill for this purpose into the Irish houfe of commons, and in the prefent letter he juftifies his conduct with great ability; explaining the falutary nature of the bill, and delineating_the advantages which might be expected to refult from it. The fecond article contains Parliamentary Difcuffions of the Irish Arrangements; by meffieurs Conolly, Grattan, and Flood, on one one fide; and by Fitzgibbon, Mafon, Forfter, and Hutchinfon, on the other. The third is the production of Mr. Laffan, and contains Observations on the relative fituation of Great Britain and Ireland. He declares himself of opinion, that commercial regulations between the two kingdoms, on terms of reciprocity, fo far from proving detrimental to the interefts of Ireland, would be attended with great benefit. Letter from a Diftinguished English Commoner to a Peer of Ireland, an the Repeal of a Part of the Penal Laws against the Irish Ca tholics. I 2mo. 6d. Keating. The author of this Letter paints, in ftrong colours, the va rious injuries and hardships which are yet inflicted by the penal laws in Ireland, on the Catholics in that kingdom. Whatever may be the fuccefs of his efforts in favour of the Roman Catholic fubjects, it must be allowed that he afferts their cause with no lefs ability than moderation. Oppofition Politics exemplified. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Stockdale. The editor of the Beauties of Fox, North, and Burke, has now betaken himself to comment, feriously, upon the frivolous effufions of party, which have appeared in the Morning Herald and Gazetteer, during the last twelve months. An author must be a weak advocate for government, who can find no better fubject for animadverfion. A Narrative of the Infurrection which happened in the Zemeedary of Banaris, in Auguft, 1781, and of the Tranfactions of the Governor-general in that Diftrict. 4to. Printed at Calcutta. This Narrative contains a perfpicuous account of the conduct of the governor-general, in the diftrict of Banaris. If the documents adduced in fupport of these transactions are of indubitable authority, we think Mr. Haftings entitled to the warmeft acknowledgments for the activity, the prudence, the vigilance, and ability, with which he discharged his important truft. The Refolutions of the Madras Committee, held at Fort St. George, Sept. 19, 1785. Also, their Petition to the Parliament of Great Britain. 8vo. 15. Stockdale. Thefe Refolutions and Petition are of the fame nature and tendency with those which were lately framed in a meeting at Calcutta. They relate to fome claufes in the Eaft India bill of 1784; the obnoxious parts of which, we believe, have been entirely removed by the late amendments. An Anfwer to the anonymous Remarks on a Letter from Warren Haflings, Efq. 8vo. 15. Stockdale. In our laft Review we obferved, concerning those anonymous Remarks, that they were written with a degree of acuteness not free from the fufpicion of perfonal animofity. The Anfwer is not inferior in point of controverfial poignancy; and repels, with forcible arguments, the attacks of the affailant. The The Letter of Dion Cahus, and its Anfwer, on the Subject of Reform in the Burghs of Scotland. 120. Printed at Aberdeen. This modern Caffius defends the prefent mode of election in the burghs of Scotland, against the meafares now in agitation for procuring a reform in this part of the Scottish polity. The Anfwer, by a burgefs of Aberdeen, is fpirited, and maintains the caufe of freedom with much zeal. Examimation of the Rights and Duties of Jurors; with fome Strictures on the Law of Libels. 8vo. 25. 6d. Wheildon. This author is one of the molt moderate among the writers who have treated of the rights and duties of jurors; oppofing, on one hand, the exertion of any dangerous prerogative in the judges, and, on the other, the claim of a jury to decide concerning the law as well as the fact. He conducts his argument both with ingenuity and learning; but is not likely to fatisfy thofe who are friends to the popular fide of this much agitated question. POETRY. The Prize of Venus, or Killarney Lake. A Poem. Written by Mr. Robinfon. 4to. 25. Debrett. Though this work is dedicated to the duchefs of Rutland; with a modeft hint that her grace might otherwife overlook the beauties' of that celebrated place: yet, in the poem, we fuppofe the author was defirous of having two ftrings to his bow; he requests the protection of lord Kenmure. Shall found for thee; an unknown voice fhall fing Nor fee th' enraptur'd ftranger fland in Before fair Nature deckt in grand array.' gaze The franger, we apprehend, would be equally invisible to thofe heavenly fcenes,' fung or unfung. But it is well known that they have been often attempted both in profe and rhyme and our author, in the very next line, making use of a third addrefs, compliments a friend, in no very intelligible language indeed, for his defcription of them. Thou too, my Griffin, worthy of the fame That Friendship's voice can give, thou whofe fweet lips The fcenery divine.' The idea of scenery dropping from a lip into the ear of a Mufe is certainly very abftrufe, and if we have miftaken its meaning, we hope the author will excufe an involuntary error. Mr. Griffin is requested to look on the ftrains with rapture;' and the tale opens rather indelicately with green Erin' arising from the fea, and fhewing to the 'Iflande Iflands all around. Her blooming bofom, and the champain fight Of Fancy's every beauty.' All the Gods in Jupiter's palace, at the difclosure of fuch charms, become enamoured: he iffues a fummons-But let the author tell it his own way. In fuppliant mood, and interposals close, Th' impartial deity, to avoid offence, Nor raife disturbance in the heavenly court, Summons'd all his vaffal-gods, and from his throne, A deity fo cautious in giving offence as Jupiter is reprefented, fhould certainly have taken another feat; for what fignified his joy and ferenity to the poor gods, if they were blinded and thrown into distraction by the light of his throne? But we fhall purfue this ftrange performance no farther: another more extraordinary claims our attention. The Fane of Britain; an Hiftorical and Critical Poem, in Three Cantos. 4to. 15. 6d. Flexney.. I cannot help feeling, fays the author, fome fatisfaction. when I confider that I have counted but nineteen years;'-It is indeed a wonderful performance for a youth of nineteen !— Had it been written by one of nine, our admiration would have been confiderably abated. • The lion flies, and roaring with fuch force, Torva Mimalloneis implerunt,' &c. of Perfius, finks into lameness and fober fenfe, compared with fuch tumid inanity. Whatever we may think of his youth, he has an exceeding good opinion of himself, and particularly of his voice; which is defcribed in fuch a manner as no voice ever was before, and we hope, for the credit of common fenfe, ever will again. 1 If to my theme th' afpiring verfe prove juft, My voice its polifh faves from Time's fear'd ruft, The fubject, and thy mufe behold in me!' Our |