That a co-operation of the chief continental powers, in the prefent war, is highly defirable, in order to obtain a fecure and permanent peace, cannot, we think, be denied by any rational politician; but, on what principles such a confederacy fhould be formed, and to what immediate objects it should be directed, is lefs eafy to afcertain. Undoubtedly if, without a judicious agreement refpecting thefe objects, an alliance fhould be formed, and continental war commenced in confequence, there is great danger, left an union formed of ill-cemented materials fhould, as on the former occafion, gradually diffolve. To guard against this danger, the author propofes "a full and explicit declaration of the object which the parties to the confederacy are defirous of attaining ;" and, in order to show the bafis on which a future balance of power fhould be founded, he feparately enumerates the ftates which conftitute the dependent and independent proportions of Europe, fetting forth the population, revenue, and army of each; by which it appears, that "France poffeffes a controul over nearly one half of the population and revenue of Europe. No doubt, therefore, can be entertained of the neceffity of an univerfal confederacy to defeat, while defeat is practicable, the half-completed project of her ambition." Before they become a party to fuch a coalition, this author thinks the public fhould be informed of the diftribution which is to be made of the territories of which France may be difpoffeffed; and objecting (we think on good grounds) to the re-establishment of the former fyltem, he propofes to divide that proportion of Europe, now occupied by the arms of France, into three independent kingdoms, by confolidating Belgium and Holland into one independent fovereignty, the inferior states of Germany into another, and the whole country of Italy into a third; as each kingdom," he thinks, "would then poffefs a fufficient degree of internal strength to repel the aggreffion of any other power."

Our limits will not admit of our entering into the details by which this fenfible author explains and justifies this propofal; but we can hardly admit of the neceffity or policy of a public declaration, fo minute as he feems to require, and which would pledge the feveral go vernments to all the particulars of a plan fo difficult in the execution. That fome new divifion of territories would, in the event of a fuccefsful continental war, become neceffary, may be readily granted; but circumstances muft, we think, determine upon the mode and details of fuch a meafure. All that can, in our opinion, be peviou fly and publicly declared is, the fixed determination to reduce the exorbitant power of France, and restore the balance of Europe.

ART. 27. Les Recettes Exterieures. Par Sir Francis D'Ivernois. $vo. 269 pp. De Boffe. 1805.

Of the various, able, and public fpirited works produced by this author, there is not one more replete with important information, or more worthy of general attention, than the tract now before us. In confidering the caufes of the prefent war, we are apt to afcribe it folely to the love of dominion which actuates the prefent ruler of France. Sir F. D'Ivernois, with great probability, alledges that the fyftem of his government, and the neceffity which he is under of

fupport

fupporting his ufurpation by an immenfe armed force, render a ftate of warfare unavoidable; for, as long as he deems it expedient to maintain his army on its prefent establishment, fo long muft a part of his refources be derived from the plunder of his neighbours, and a part of his forces be fubfifted at their expence. This he confiders as a principal caufe of the rupture of the treaty of Amiens. The point therefore which Sir Francis has to prove is, the inadequacy of the ufurper's internal refources to the maintenance of his civil and military establishments, and the deficiency that would thence arife, were it not for the external receipts which are annually brought into the account, and which, though not diftinétly fpecified, undoubtedly confift of contributions directly or indirectly levied upon foreign

countries.

To accompany the author through the whole chain of reasonings, and detail of facts, by which his main pofition is made out, would far exceed our limits. Suffice it to fay, that he evinces here, as in his other writings, an intimate acquaintance with the finances and refources of the French nation, and that, if we do not greatly err, his proofs will be found to be irrefragable, and his arguments conclufive. Some few, however, of the leading topics in this interefting publication, we will briefly notice.

In order to give a general idea of the receipts and expences of the French Government, he ftates in the Introduction, ist, That, in 1804, the grofs produce of all the internal taxes and receipts, of every kind, amounted to 726 millions of francs, of which the receivers retained 175 millions, not only for the charges of receipt, but for various other expences which they had to pay. The remaining 551 millions conftituted what is called the national revenue. This he 'fhows is confidered, by the French financiers themselves, as a decreasing revenue, and not likely, even with the additional taxes propofed, to amount permanently to more than 500 millions.

zdly. He fhows, that the peace-establishment fixed by Bonaparte will require an annual expenditure of 644 millions, without taking the revenue promised to the clergy into the account. Thence he infers, 3dly, That the difference between the national receipts and expenditure, in time of peace, will be 144 millions, if the French entirely lay afide their clergy, and more than 200 millions if ever the 82 millions folemnly promifed to that clergy, when their lands were feized, fhall be paid to them.

Two other matters of facts he confiders as equally important to be eftablished, and, we think, irrefragably proves them.

In the first place, that, " according to the manner in which Bonaparte had formed his peace-establishment, his prefent ftate of war. brings with it, at the utmoft, an increase of only 75 millions in his expenditure.

In the next place, that "the campaign of 1804, having already procured him the double profit of an external receipt, which has amounted to 150 millions, and a faving of 75 millions, by the maintenance of a fourth of his troops at the coft of foreign countries, thefe two external refarces, together with the fale of the remaining national

domains,

graphy is not wanting in it. The author appears to confider his hero as a model of wisdom and virtue, though with refpect to some of his peculiar opinions, he leaves it doubtful whether he fully adopts the fen timents he records or not.

Dr. Priestley was born, according to this account, within eight miles of Leeds, in March, 1733, and he died, February 6, 1804, not having quite completed his feventy-firft year. The last ten years of his life had been paffed in America. On the general fubject of his character we prefer the fentiments of a friend, whom Mr. C. quotes, to his own. They are thefe.

"I fhall be glad to fee a life of Dr. Priestley. Your object is to do good, by giving the public a fair account of the life of a great and ufeful man. As a philofopher, I highly etteem him, and confider him an honour to his country. I have often regrested that he ever meddled with politics, which were foreign to his calling, as an experimental philofopher and chymilt; and itill more fo that he ever meddled with experimental divinity, which I am certain he never properly understood.

"Many of the religious world imagine the Doctor to have been a bad man, because he had a bad creed. But the one is by no means a neceffary confequence of the other. I have known very bad men who had a found creed, and I have certainly known good and useful men, who held, what I thought, a very bad creed. Dr. Priestley, as far as I ever had an opportunity of knowing, was a ftrictly honest upright man and when his outfide was fo fair, and his life fo ufeful, it would be a most infamous ufurpation of the prerogative of God, to judge his heart, or even fufpect his motives." P. 87.

This is making the beft of the matter, that can be done with fairness; though it feems not to us very poffible to justify the violence of his politics, nor that turbulence of his difpofition which made it a real happiness to his country to have him removed to a vast distance, during the uneafy periods which followed the explosion of democratic fanaticifm and wickednefs in France.

ART. 31. Evening Amufements; or, the Beauty of the Heavens difplayed. In which feveral striking Appearances to be obferved on various Evenings in the Heavens, during the Year 1805, are defcribed, and feveral Means are pointed out, by which the Time of Young Perfons may be innocently, agreeably, and profitably employed within Doors. Intended to be continued Annually. By William Frend, Efq. M. A. and Fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge. 12mo. 210 pp. 35. Mawman. 1805. The defign of this work, to encourage the taste for aftronomical ftudies, and facilitate the approaches to the science, is fo truly laudable, that we fee the continuation of it with peculiar pleafure; rejoicing alfo to find the author fo very ufefully employed. The first volume appeared in 1804 (fee Brit. Crit. xxiv. 337) and began to open the fubject to young obfervers; the prefent fuppofes that foundation laid, and proceeds in a fimilar manner to announce the phænomena of the present year. It may be confidered, in fome respects, as an astronomical almanac, proceeding regularly through the months of the year, and not only pointing out the appearances of the heavenly bodies, fixed and planetary, but giving practical directions, by which the inexpe

rienced

rienced obferver may be led to ascertain them for himself. Directions ard alfo given for dividing circles, and performing fuch of the more ealy operations of mathematics, as may be useful in thefe purfuits. We have no doubt that any perfon, by daily following the directions of this calendar, may obtain a competent knowledge of the heavenly bodies, and confequently a fource of very rational amufement throughout life. A few plates are given, representing the principal ftars of a few conftellations.

ART. 32. A Defcription of the Prince of Wales's Ifland, in the Streights of Malacca; with its real and probable Advantages and Sources to recommend it as a Marine Eftablishment. By Sir Home Popham, Knight of the Sovereign Order of Jerufalem, Captain in the Royal Navy, and Fellow of the Royal Society. 8vo. Stockdale. zs. 6d. 1805.

Sir Home Popham, who took great pains to examine the Prince of Wales's Inland, is of opinion, that it poffeffes geographical, military, commercial, and political advantages over every other fituation in India. He is alfo inclined to believe, that nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, would grow there if properly cultivated. This, in cafe of reftitution of the Eastern Islands to the Dutch, at any future period, will effectually counteract the monopoly of that people, and reduce the value of their iflands. The experiment is about to be made, and with every probability of fuccefs. As the island has not yet been fully explored, many trees may grow there which have not yet been fully defcribed; perhaps the Teak Tree, which must be of great im portance to England. Sir H. P.'s pamphlet contains many fagacious obfervations.

ART. 33. Thoughts on the Conduct and Coronation of Bonaparte. 8vo. Symonds. is. 1805.

The author of this pamphlet gives a sketch of the life, character, and coronation of Bonaparte, which is written with confiderable fpirit, and conclades with an animated with for the restoration of the royal family of France.

ART. 34. Pepin, Ufurper of the French Sceptre, crowned in France in the Year 754, by the Pope. In French, from Velly's Hiftory of France, with an English Translation. 12mo. 16s. Kirby. 1805. The editor, conceiving the fituation of Pepin and Bonaparte in many respects to resemble each other, has given this extract from Velly's Hiftory of France. The reafons why the Pope was in both inftances called in to affift, are certainly much the fame. If the crown of France fhall be made hereditary in Bonaparte's family, his will become the fourth royal race of France. Pepin was the first who became King of France, otherwife than by right of birth.

ART,

ART. 35. Pilure of Worthing; to which is added, an Account of Arundel and Shoreham, with other Parts of the furrounding Country. By John Evans, A.M. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Arch. 1805.

This is an entertaining little book, and will be useful alfo to thofe who may have occafion or curiofity to vifit the places defcribed. It would have been more fatisfactory if the author had given fome idea of the expences of incidental refidence at any of thefe places, on different fcales, such as the price of lodgings, what fupplies may be relied on for fish, butchers' meat, &c.

ART. 36. The Manchester Guide, a brief hiftorical Defcription of the Towns of Manchester and Salford, the public Buildings, and the Charitable and Literary Inftitutions; illuftrated by a Map, exhibiting the Improvements and Additions made fince the Year 1770. 8vo. 55. Bickerstaff. 1804.

Manchester is every day increafing fo much in populousness and commercial importance, that a Manchefter Guide, which is at all accurate or perfpicuous, muft be very defirable to its occafional visitors. This feems, in every refpect, to anfwer the purpose, and may be recommended to thofe who may not be able to purchase Dr. Aikin's more elaborate publication.

ART. 37. An Addrefs to Lord Teignmouth, Prefident of the Briti and Foreign Bible Society, occafioned by his Addrefs to the Clergy of the Church of England. By a Country Clergyman. 8vo. 15. Hatchard. 1805.

S.

The pure and fimple principle of extending the confolations of religion, by a liberal diffemination of the Sacred Scriptures, is fo laudable in itself, and fo falutary in its effects, that it is difficult to conceive how it fhould be made liable to cavil or exception from any defcription of perfons. The writer of this Addrefs, however, founds very trong objections to the Bible Society, on the fuppofition that this principle may be grofsly abused, and that fectarists of various denominations may avail themselves of the opportunity thus offered, to diffeminate, under the form of various readings, expofitions, and comments, their own particular prejudices and opinions. But furely he might have waited a little, to fee whether any fuch abuses did actually spring up, or were likely to operate to the difadvantage of true religion. He might have prefumed that the friends of the established church, who are members of that Society, are both too numerous and too vigilant not to difcern, in the first inftances, and not immediately to check the very beginnings of fuch abuse.

With refpect to the writer's argument, that there is a ftanding majority in the committee against the Church of England, if we are rightly informed, it is a rule of the Society that the Prefident, VicePrefidents, and Treasurer, to the number of ten, are always to be confidered ex officio as members of the Committee; which leaves a I i

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXV. APRIL, 1805.

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