liable to be overflowed by water from higher ground; to the nature of its bottom, that forces out, in fprings, the water that runs below the furface; to the climate in which there is too much rain; and to the nature of the foil, which retains too large a quantity a water. Methods are propofed for removing the wetness of land arifing from all thefe caufes.

In book II. the Author treats of tillage.

He divides foils into fuch kinds as require a different management with respect to tillage.

He mentions the different inftruments employed in tillage, and fhews the manner of constructing and using these inftru

ments.

He examines the different ploughs ufed in Scotland, and fhews the advantages and difadvantages of each. He gives a very particular defcription of the Scots plough, of its several parts, their uses, proportions, and pofitions; and he propofes fome alterations for its improvement.

He enquires into the defigns propofed by tillage, and fhews how this work is to be performed, fo as to anfwer these.

He confiders the ufes of ridges, and points out the kinds moft proper. He fhews that all ridges fhould be straight and equal, and that they ought to be broad or narrow, high or flat, according to the nature of the foil.

He also treats particularly of the altering of ridges, their pofition, and the different ways in which they are ploughed.

He defcribes the different kinds of harrows and rollers, and reprefents the advantages of harrowing and rolling.

In book III. he treats of manures.

He enquires into the nature of manures, and the manner of their operation; and fhews, that they operate in all the ways by which vegetation is promoted.

He examines feparately the manures ufed in Scotland. He reprefents the qualities of each, the manner of their operation, and their effects upon foil. Dunghills are alfo particularly treated of, both the ordinary dunghills of the farm, and the compound dunghills made in the fields.

In book IV. he treats of foils.

He divides foils into fuch kinds as require a different management with refpect to the application of manures.

2

He

He examines the different foils in Scotland, confiders the qualities and defects of each; and fhews what manures are moft proper for improving their qualities, and fupplying their defects.

We have the fatisfaction to learn, from the conclufion of his preface, that if this treatise meets with a favourable reception from the public, and is found to be of any use to the Farmer, the worthy Author propofes to publish a fequel to it; in which fome general directions will be given for the management of a farm; with an examen of the different fchemes of Hufbandry in the fucceffion of crops, the culture of particular plants, and the methods of inclofing and planting, fo far as they concern the Farmer. We earnestly hope, the Author will have no reafon to withhold this intended fecond part from the eye of the public.

Debates of the House of Commons from the Year 1667, to the Year 1694. Collected by the Hon. Anchitel Grey, Efq; who was thirty Years Member for the Town of Derby; Chairman of feveral Committees; and decyphered Coleman's Letters, for the Ufe of the Houfe. In ten Volumes. Vols. I. and II. 8vo. 21. 12s. 6d. fewed. Henry, &c.

IN

N a kingdom which boasts the Freedom of its Conftitution, and in which the Reprefentatives of the People fpeak, or at leaft by political fiction, are supposed to speak, the fense of their Conftituents, the Debates of Parliament will naturally attract the public attention; and as every individual proudly imagines himself interested in thofe Debates, curiofity will be eager to collect every fragment of fenatorial controverfy.

When we confider with what a greedy ear our credulous Politicians without doors, liften to speeches which were never made within, we shall not wonder that fo many fpurious Collections have been impofed on the public, as genuine and authentic Debates. Such as have hitherto appeared, are most of them like the fpeeches we meet with in the florid Livy, not made by, but for, the Speakers: and they ferve to remind us of the following anecdote, to the honour of a noble Duke, which we, who are of no party, do not fcruple to relate, though any Writer lefs than a Reviewer, might, perhaps, think it a point of .prudence not to fay any thing to the advantage of a fallen Courtier.

A cer

A certain rifing Genius, whofe riper talents have been bounteoufly rewarded by a Macenas not deemed partial to southern merit, once condefcended, through the channel of a Magazine, to entertain the public with the Debates in Parliament, under the mask of a fictitious affembly; and application being made to his Grace, to fupprefs what many confidered as a licentious practice, he answered with great good fenfe and moderation, Let him alone! let him alone! he makes better fpeeches for us than we make for ourselves."

The reply was as juft as it was liberal: and when we confider the vaft influence which the Members of a reprefentative Body derive from the powers of elocution, we fhall think it ftrange, that out of five hundred men delegated to debate concerning the intereft and welfare of millions, fcarce a dozen are capable of expreffing themfelves with any tolerable degree of ftrength, elegance, and perfpicuity.

We have a recent inftance to what a height of power and popularity a bold and rapid elocution is capable of advancing a Senator; and we have feen a Commoner, who thereby, from bearing a Standard, became the main Pillar of the State. We know another likewife, who, by means of a fpirited and flowing diction, keeps contending parties in fufpenfe, and, while they are dubious to which fide his pliability will incline, he renders himself important to both. In short, the gift of Eloquence, even independent of all other qualifications, will ever have its weight in public affemblies; for, while the bulk of mankind is, what it ever will be, fuperficial, the multitude will always pay more regard to manner than to matter.

In the Debates before us, however, much greater attention is paid to the latter than to the former; a circumftance which, among others, affords undoubted teftimony of their being genuine. Indeed, the Editor appears to have fo fcrupuloufly adhered to the original, that, in many inftances, he has not even ventured to make fuch corrections and additions as might have rendered the work more agreeable in the perufal, without doing prejudice to its authenticity. Nevertheless, uncouth and abrupt as it is in many particulars, it contains a valuable stock of entertainment and information: and may be confidered as a curious Supplement to the Parliamentary Hiftory, as it begins within a few years of the period at which that useful Compilation clofes.

The time comprized within these Debates, is, perhaps, as interefting as any within the compafs of the British Annals. During this period the Reprefentative Body took a new form, and acted on principles very different from their predeceffors.

The

The unhappy confequences attending the civil wars, had taught real Patriots, to be moderate in their oppofition to prerogative; and the deplorable fate of the misguided Charles, had taught the Courtiers, in the fucceeding reign, the art of rendering the Reprefentative Body dependent on the Crown. The famous Andrew Marvell, who died in 1678, was the laft Member who received wages from his Constituents; and the Representatives of the People now began to demand higher wages, and to expect payment from a different quarter.

We find, even in the two volumes under our immediate confideration, many symptoms of jealousy breaking forth on account of this growing dependence: and the difcordance between contending interests, the ftruggles between Prerogative and Privilege, and the glorious oppofition against Popery, and its attendant, arbitrary Power, muft engage the attention, and render this Collection valuable to every spirited and intelligent Briton.

In a work of this nature, which often, in one and the same page, breaks into two or three different fubjects, the Reader cannot expect a fummary of the general contents: we fhall, therefore, confine ourselves to the felecting fuch paffages as are moft interefting, and moft applicable to prefent times and circumftances.

Among the most memorable Debates in these volumes, is the following; which relates to the non-attendance of the Meinbers, who, by a claufe in the Bill of Subfidies, were proposed to be doubly affeffed for their default.

If not

"Mr. Attorney Finch.] Whoever is fo unfortunate as to be in this black lift to be upon record, had better quite be thrown out of the Houfe. What will be the confequence? Suppose they will justify themselves by reasonable cause, will you allow them to deny that which you have voted to be true? heard, they are condemned unreasonably. Will the Lords pafs it without fcanning? And do you let them in to examine what are the weighty affairs of this Houfe, and judge it? You have other ways; you have power to fine them; and that you appoint a day to pay it, upon penalty of expulfion from the House. You may do it, but would not have fuch a claufe ftand on record, to the disgrace of so many families.

"Sir Thomas Lee.] It is no more than an additional penalty to the ftatute of 6 H. 8. for that lofs of wages was as notorious as this additional penalty. Mr. Attorney has told you, that after feffion you have no power to fine them; therefore, this you may take; you have as much judgment in this as the Peers, for they had your affiftance by that ftatute to fine their own Members,

Members, and no man can imagine the Peers thought it our judging them. A Gentleman born petitioned to be discharged his employment, but could not obtain it.-The inconvenience and burthen is now ten years Parliament, but that must not be a pretence for abfence; but when you come to a divifion of eightscore, rarely three hundred, this fhews the world that you take it to be your intereft to have a full House; and this will carry on the weighty affairs of the kingdom, which are not frivolous, and fo the Lords can take no exceptions at your preamble.

Sir Thomas Meres.] The greateft evil in the world is a thin Houfe; the very noise of this clause has sent people up.

"Mr. Vaughan.] Whoever is elected is in as great a truft as a man can be capable of; either by his abfence he indulges his own private affairs, or neglects your fervice; and they deferve a mark not to be chosen for the future; they that absent themselves from your judgment, deferve to have your judgment paffed upon them.

"Sir Henry Herbert.] Meres faid, "He was cold when the Houfe was empty;"" he may be too hot when it is full.Doubts whether in punishing these Members, we punish not ourfelves-Privileges of Parliament are non fo che, as the Italian fays, neither defcribed nor circumfcribed.- Would have the Members fent for in cuftody.

"Sir John Duncombe.] Do you want power to punish, when you can send them to the Tower, and fine them?

The Clause was rejected, 115 to 98."

From this Debate we may judge, that attendance in Parlia ment was formerly held to be, what it certainly is, an indispenfible duty but we fee many inftances in which impunity multiplies omiffions of duty, till cuftom at length feems to tolerate a total neglect. Certain we are, that if the attendance of the reprefentative Body was properly enforced, that fingle provifion alone would do more to fecure the independence of Parliament, than all the laws against bribery and corruption.

Among other symptoms of the jealousy of these times against Courtiers, the following debate concerning the Speaker, is not the leaft remarkable.

"Sir Thomas Littleton.] Many exceptions, were taken against your service, when you was laft called to the chair-Excepts that you are a Privy-counfellor; hardly a precedent, at

leaft