But the Directors are provided with a remedy, in an appeal to the King in council. An appeal! from fix Privy Counsellors, two of whom are in the Cabinet, to the King in Council!-The decifion, that would be given is about as difficult to be gueffed at, as the refult of a Dean and Chapter's deliberations when they affemble to elect a Bifhop. An appeal! to beg his Majefty will explain to four-and-twenty merchants what things are to be understood as relating to trade! It is as ridiculous as if the Privy Council were to apply to the India Houfe for a definition of prerogative.' Accordingly we find the Board of Controul have taken the management of the Nabob of Arcot's debts out of the hands of the Directors; becaufe, though it was but a pecuniary domeftic tranfaction, it was interpreted to be a negociation with one of the native Princes of India; and in a difference between the Directors and one of their officers, colonel Rofs, they have deprived the Directors of all authority over their fervants, and virtually releafed thofe fervants from a dutiful attention to their mafters, by informing the Directors (without the leaft qualification) that they do not recognize any power in them to tranfmit to India either cenfure or approbation of the conduct of any fervant civil or military, exclufive of the controul of this Board.' Thefe preparatory fteps led the way to virtually depofing the Directors; for early in the laft feffion of parliament, a claufe was introduced into the new act, compelling the members of the fecret committee of Directors to take a folemn oath not to difclofe any of the fecret orders of the Commiffioners for India relating to peace, war, or negociation with any of the Indian princes, without authority from the Board. Thus, though it was impoffible to take away the charter at once, after the language that had been used with refpect to Mr. Fox's rejected measures; it has been moft effectually done, gradually, and underhand. The twenty-four Directors being thus reduced to three, a dispatch refpecting fome pecuniary arrangements with the Nabob of Arcot, having been fubmitted to the Board of Controul, as ufual for their approbation; they expunge almoft the whole of it, and then deliver this laconic meffage: As we think it more proper that fuch inftructions, as it is now neceffary to tranfmit upon the fubject, fhould go through the channel of your Secret Committee, we shall fend a draft to them for that purpoje."-In confequence of this affumption, Mr. Smith, one of the Directors, threw up his office, and refigned a ftation in which he found himself deprived of all information which his duty required him to infpect; and from that day to this, continues Mr. Tierney, the Board of Controul have been arbitrary monarchs. The concluding words of the Author to the Directors, fuperfede the need of any farther reflections on this fubject. The attack of Mr. Fox certainly would have taken every privilege and franchise from you, but you would have loft them honourably, and the Company have expired with the reputation of martyrdom. - Better would it have been to have died fo, than to be allowed to live on fuch terms as the prefent. The conqueft obtained by the Board of Controul adds infult to injury, and having taken poffeffion of your citadel and made you prifoners, compels you to walk in the Con 7 queror's queror's train, dreffed out in the pomp of your former dignity, like captives in a Roman triumph! All the parade of your loft confequence remains while you are not able to call one fingle privilege your own. Without knowing what your duty is, you are refponfible to your conftituents for the discharge of it, and though oftenfible rulers of India, you cannot carry one measure into execution. With all the mockery of nominal power, you are deftitute of vigour or efficacy, and you fit with paper crowns upon your heads, to copy difpatches, and lament your fate!' No Art. 17. An Addrefs to Capt. Evelyn Sutton; containing profeffional Remarks on his Conduct as Commander of his Majesty's Ship Ifis, on the 16th of April 1781, on the Evidence given by Witneffes, on his Trial at Portfmouth in December 1783; and on the judicial Conduct of his Court Martial. By a Seaman. 8vo. 2s. Nicoll. The Public have already before them every particular concerning Captain Sutton's trial. The Author of this pamphlet blames the Captain, and fays the members of the court martial muft either have been egregiously ignorant, or confummately wicked.'. We are forry to fee a man, who is endowed with fuch acute faculties as this very intelligent feaman poffeffes, make ufe of fuch intemperate language: N. DISSENTERS APPLICATION TO PARLIAMENT. Art. 18. A Letter to the Deputies of the Proteftant Diffenting Congregations, in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, on their intended Application to Parliament for the Repeal of the Corporation and Teft Acts.. 8vo. Is. Buckland. 1787.. By the deputies here meant, we are to understand the reprefentatives of Diffenting congregations, in and near the metropolis (two members from each), who occafionally meet in confultation, on matters refpecting the general interefts of the body at large. Thefe gentlemen are confidered by the writer of this letter, as having been the principal movers of the late application to Parliament, for a repeal of fo much of the Teft Act as affects the Diffenters, by depriving them of an equal participation, with their brethren of the Eftablished Church, of the civil rights of British fubjects. Accordingly, he addreffes them on their conduct, with refpect to this application,-a meafure which he difapproves, as unwarranted by the general national voice of the Diffenters, and as not being, in his opinion, conducive to the real intereft of the Diffenting caufe. He writes with great appearance of moderation and good temper, and fome of his arguments feem to merit the candid and ferious attention of the gentlemen for whofe confideration they were brought forward. The pamphlet was published before the bufinefs was actually moved in the Houfe of Commons; and it is figned, "A Proteftant Diffenter."→ Whether really one of the flock, or a wolf in sheep's clothing, we know not. Art. 19. Bishop Sherlock's Arguments against a Repeal of the Corporation and Teft Acts; wherein most of the Pleas advanced in a Paper, Ayled, The Cafe of Proteftant Diffenters, &c. are difcuffed. With a Dedication Dedication to the Right Hon. William Pitt. 8vo. Is. 6d. Robinfons. 1787. Revived from the memorable Bangorian controverfy; the tract is ingeniously written, but fallaciously argued. It is now dedicated to Mr. Pitt, to induce him to ftand by the church-that the church may ftand by him *, Art. 20. Bishop Hoadly's Refutation of Bishop Sherlock's Arguments against a Repeal, &c. wherein the Juftice and Reasonableness of fuch a Repeal are clearly evinced. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Dilly. Sherlock, though a more polished writer than Hoadly, was nothing in the hands of the great champion of civil and religious liberty, when engaged with him on polemic ground. Let thofe who question this affertion, give this and the foregoing work a candid perufal, and be convinced. The Editor has added the fentiments of two other eminent divines of the established church (viz. Sykes and Paley), in confirmation of Bishop Hoadly's liberal and truly Christian fenti. ments. Art. 21. The Right of Proteftant Diffenters to a complete Toleration, afferted; or, An hiftorical Review of their Situation under the Laws impofing the Sacramental Teft on Perfons admitted to Offices; and fhewing the Impofition of that Teft to be unjust with respect to the Proteftant Diffenters of England and the Natives of North Britain, as well as inexpedient; with an Anfwer to the Objection urged from the Act of Union with Scotland; and Proofs that the prefent is the proper Time for applying to Parliament for the neceffary Redress. To which is added, a Poftfcript, in Reply to the Arguments of Bishop Sherlock on the Teft Laws. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Johnfon. 1787. The Author takes a wide range, and includes, in this treatise, every thing relative to his fubject.-Confidering the short time + allowed for the writing and publishing a work produced on the fpur of the occafion, we think the Author has acquitted himself with reputation. Whoever wifhes for a complete view of the arguments, particularly those that have been urged in favour of the Diffenters, may be referred to this pamphlet. Art. 22. Obfervations on the Cafe of the Proteftant Diffenters. By a Lay Member of the Church of England. 8vo. 6d. Debrett. The Cafe, above mentioned, was a paper circulated by the Dif fenters and their friends, at the time of their late application to Parliament, and was allowed, on all hands, to be well drawn up. Many candid readers, indeed, pronounced it unanswerable; yet here is an answer to it, and not a contemptible one. Art. 23. Letter to the Rt. Hon. William Pitt, on the Subjects of Toleration and Church Eftablishments; occafioned by his Speech against the Repeal of the Teft and Corporation Acts, on the 28th of March Let the Throne fupport the Church, the Church support the Throne, and God will fupport both.' Dedication. 8vo. Is. 1787. By J. Prieftley, LL. D. F. R. S. &c. &c. 8vo. Johnfon. The Doctor expoftulates very freely with Mr. Pitt for the part he took in oppofition to Mr. Beaufoy's motion; and gives him fome wholefome admonition, as well as much good instruction on the subject; hoping that the mind of the young Minister may ftill be open to conviction, and that, on a future occafion, he will be more zealous to do juftice to the Diffenters, on account of his having been the principal means of denying it to them at prefent.' We apprehend, however, that his paft oppofition to their caufe, is but a forry promife of his being more favourably inclined toward them in future. What weight the good Doctor's words will have with him, remains to be feen.This pamphlet contains alfo (perhaps not very feafonably) a recital of fome farther claims of the Diflenters, on the justice and liberality of government.-Nor does the zealous writer forget the particular advancement of the UNITARIAN intereft. Art. 24. The Subftance of the Speech delivered by Henry Beaufoy, Esq. in the House of Commons, on the 28th of March 1787, on his Motion for the Repeal of the Teft and Corporation Acts; including alfo the Subftance of his Reply. 8vo. IS. Cadell. This fpeech does Mr. Beaufoy much credit. It is introduced by the following prefatory advertisement: The late debate in the Houfe of Commons, was on a fubject fo interefting, not only to the whole body of Proteftant Diffenters in this kingdom, but to all the friends of civil and religious liberty, that nothing could be more natural than a defire to be acquainted with the arguments advanced on the occafion. Accordingly, feveral Gentlemen have been urgent with Mr. Beaufoy, to favour them with the fubftance of what was delivered by him in moving the Queftion, and in the courfe of his Reply. To this requeft he has obligingly acceded, and it is with particular pleasure that the Editor commits the fpeech to the prefs; being perfectly fatisfied that it cannot fail of difplaying, in a clear and ftrong light, the Juftice, the Wisdom, and the good Policy on which the motion was founded. It is hoped, that what was fo ably and energetically urged by the reft of the gentlemen who fpoke in the debate, will, in fome form or other, be laid before the Public: nor need the reasonings be feared that were produced on the oppofite fide of the queftion, from whatever high and eminent quarters they might come. The Cafe of the Proteftant Diffenters requires only to be maturely confidered and thoroughly understood, in order to render their applications for redrefs finally fuccefsful.' POLICE. Art. 25. Confiderations on the Bills for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor, &c. intended to be offered to Parliament this Seffion. By Thomas Gilbert, Efq. 8vo. Is. Wilkie. 1787. Mr. Gilbert has intitled himfelf to the grateful acknowledgments of the Public, for his long and unremitted attention to the great object of reforming the laws for the provifion of the poor : and those gentlemen in all parts of the country, who have turned their thoughts to the fame important fubject, cannot better difcharge their obligations to their country, than by co-operating in the the benevolent defign. A gentleman who figns himfelf Tho. B. Bayley, and dates from the Hope near Manchefter, is now confi dering Mr. Gilbert's plan, in a courfe of letters in the London Chronicle, which, when finifhed, will probably be collected in a feparate publication: and any plan of innovation, and of fuch a national magnitude, cannot be too much difcuffed. Mr. Gilbert obferves that in order to carry into execution the principle of union and incorporation, it is proposed to divide each County into districts. In doing this, it is not meant to confine ourfelvés to hundreds, which may be as much too large in many cafes, as parishes are too fmall. It is not eafy for the legislature to prefcribe what number of parishes fhould be comprised in each of these districts; and to adopt a divifion, like that into hundreds made 800 years ago, and for far other purposes, would be committing the fuccefs of a very important object to mere chance. It is therefore intended, that certain Commiffioners fhould be named in the bill for each county; and that they, as perfons best qualified from their refidence and knowledge of the country, fhould prefcribe what, and what number of parishes fhould be thrown into a diftrict. But, as experience has fhewn that it is poffible to carry this fcheme of incorporation too far, it is meant to confine the number in each diftrict to feven, eight, nine, or ten parishes. It is alfo intended, that all cities and great towns, confifting of more parishes than one, fhall conftitute a district by themfelves; and it is meant to except from this act, the metropolis, incorporated hundreds, and fuch parishes as are governed by fpecial acts of parliament, unless they chufe to be taken into the fcheme.' The Author ftates the fuccefs that has already attended the incorporating the poor of several parishes together, from returns that have been delivered in to the Houfe of Commons; by which it appears that the poor-rates have been confiderably reduced in fuch affociated parishes, while they have as visibly increafed in furrounding parishes, in which the poor are maintained according to the old establishment. He adds, I pretend to nothing but plain, fair reafoning upon unquestionable facts; and I hope I fhall be juflified in the confidence, that what has had a good effect in fome counties may be likely to produce the fame good effects in the whole kingdom, especially when further improved by fuggeftions founded on later experience. The other parts of the general plan, which I have ftated in the Heads of a Bill, &c. are more obvious than this which I have been endeavouring to explain and recommend, concerning the relief and employment of the poor. This is certainly the moft material of all, being the principal movement, to which the others are only fecondary and affiftant: this is pointed at as the most preffing evil; but a general scheme for the regulation of the poor I thall never confider as complete without the others. Should the first bill be fo fuccefsful as to meet the ideas of the best judges, and receive the approbation of Parliament, the others will be taken up in their due order. The whole fcheme, if executed, would require fix acts of parliament. • The |