The Author injudiciously employs above three parts of his pamphlet, in ftating the law of nature and nations, which has been clearly explained by former Writers on this fubject, and about which there can be no doubt remaining. The only doubt, if any exifts, is, whether by the treaty in 1674, between England and Holland, the contracting parties have not agreed to wave the benefit of the law of naFor ture and nations; which agreement would certainly be binding. it is a maxim in law, that Pactum vincit legem.

Upon this head our Author beftows fcarce two pages, and those not properly directed to the point in difpute.

The argument he lays moft ftrefs upon, is one of Monf. Vattel's pofitions, That the meaning of the parties at the time the treaties are made, is the rule by which they are to be interpreted." True: the meaning of the parties is to be the rule of interpretation, where the expreffion of the treaty is dubious; but the claufe of the treaty, granting the neutral power liberty to carry the enemy's property, is as pofitive and explicit as words can make it: and we are afraid, that if there was no better juftification of the captures we have made, than recurring to the meaning of the parties at the time of making the treaty, it would be difficult to fupport the equity of our national conduct.

But fortunately for us, among other pleas in our behalf, the clause in queftion ftands in contradiction to other fubfifting treaties; and what is more material, the Dutch not having perfo med the obligations on their part, cannot claim the benefit of any ftipulations in their favour. By their non-performance, the treaty is actually diffolved, and we are at liberty to refume the original right we derive from the law of nature and nations.

Upon the whole, we are of opinion, that this is a crude inconclufive treatise, and it is with reluctance we oblerve, that reafoning is not our Author's talent.

Art. 8. The Way to Wealth and Glory: or taxes odious only in name. Moft humbly addressed to both houses of parliament. 8vo. 6d. Buckland.

This writer of paradoxes points out a way to wealth and glory, which probably very few of his readers will be tempted to travel. If we believe him, the way to wealth and glory, is to part with our money as faft as we can. People of ordinary understandinga might think this rather the way to beggary and contempt: yet if the Author has but good-nature equal to his ingenuity, there will never more be a beggar in the world; for he has found out-What think you? The PHILOSOPHER'S STONE! Nay, don't be furprized, Reader, -You fhall have his own word for it.

Taxes, fays this miraculous discoverer, are the perpetual motion. and the treasury, the bag that fills as it empties, the purfe that will never be exhausted. Money, thus in motion for the use of the ftate, is like the rivers running into the fea, that can never be drained; and laftly, taxes are the PHILOSOPHER'S STONE, that has been fo long

fought

fought for in all ages, that turns all it touches into gold, durable gold; that will multiply the wealth and raife the glory of England to its meridian of fplendour, and continue its influence to the latest pofterity, if we have wildom enough to keep it.' This wonderful writer need not, in our opinion, be afraid of our parting with this precious ftone, but how long it will keep us no man but himself can determine, he being the only one, as we believe, who is acquainted with its aurific virtue.

Art. 9. Populoufnefs with Oeconomy, the wealth and strength of a kingdom. Moft humbly addressed to both houses of parliament, in behalf of the poor. 8vo. 6d. Buckland.

We are, probably, indebted for this piece to the Author of the foregoing treatife; who feems difpofed to play at cross purposes with his readers. In that, he intimates, that the wealth and glory of a kingdom depends on the payment of liberal taxes: in this he tells us, that the wealth and frength (which laft word, when applied to a kingdom, is but another term for glory) of a kingdom, confifts in populoufnefs with œconomy.

Nevertheless, it must be confeffed. that this little treatife contains many reflections, which, though not altogether new, are extremely juft. The writer takes notice, that our laws for the relief of the poor, are, in fome refpects, perhaps, improper: he obferves, that the reftraining or confining them to the parifh they belong to, tends to cramp industry, and often obliges the labourer to live upon parish allowance, when he might otherwife provide for himself and family in a comfortable manner.

He very reasonably exclaims against our partial and indiscreet charities; but he excepts hofpitals for incurables, lunaticks, fmall-pox, and infirmaries, from the weight of his cenfure: and he concludes in the following humble and devout firain- If what has been offered is for the public good, may God of his infinite mercy add a bleffing to it, and convey it to the hearts of thofe in power; and if the leaft evil can come of it, that it may be treated with contempt and fink into oblivion, is the prayer and wifh of a friend to mankind.'

A writer of fuch good intentions cannot be a proper object of con tempt: and however the ftrange fallies of his pen may now and then force us to fmile, we cannot but applaud his zeal, and the apparent goodness of his heart.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 10. The Guardian, a Comedy of two Acts. As it is perform ed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-lane. 8vo. 1s. Newbery.

This piece is faid to be taken from the Pupille of Monf. Fagan, which is allowed to be the most compleat petite piece of the French theatre. A deferving young lady, of large fortune, rejects one of the handsome, giddy young fops of the age; and makes choice of her

guardian,

guardian, a fober, modeft gentleman, on the wrong fide of forty, for her husband. This is the but. efs of the little comedy now before us; which we judge, on the whole, to be one of the most decent performances of its kind. The reader will not, indeed, find any ex• traordinary pleafantry in the perufal, though it affords much entertainment in the representation.

Art. 11. Â fuccinct Account of the Perfon, the Way of Living, and of the Court of the King of Pruffia. Tranflated from a curious manufcript in French, found in the cabinet of the late Field Marfbal Keith. 8vo. 6d. Reafon,

This bears no marks of being what it pretends to be, a curiofity found in the cabinet of the late Marfhal Keith. It rather appears to be collected from former printed accounts; particularly Mr. Hanway's; fee Review, vol. VIII. p. 492. The compiler has made a pleasant blunder, p. 9. where he tells us, that his Pruffian Majesty's mufic concert confifts chiefly of wind inftruments, namely, three eunuchs, a counter-tenor voice, and Madamoiselle Aftra, an Italian,' What a genius!

Art. 12. The Life and Actions of Frederic III. King of Pruffia, &c. &c. Embellished with maps, plans, &c. 8vo. 6 s.

Wilkie.

A poor compilation, from the common materials which have been fo much hacknied in the magazines and news-papers.

Art. 13. The English Pericles; or, Four Qualifications neceffary to make a true Statesman, exemplified in the character and conduct of Mr. Secretary Pitt. 8vo. Is. Woodfall.

The four qualifications here inftanced, are Knowlege of Bufinels, El gance, Love of one's Country, and Contempt of Riches. Flattery

avaunt!

Art. 14. Obfervations on the Account given of the Catalogue of royal and noble Authors, &c. 8vo. 6d. Woodgate.

Some friend of Mr. Walpole has here fmartly replied to the objec tions raised by certain critics, against the catalogue of Noble Authors, &c. The Obfervator fhews great zeal for his friend, and equal refentment against the offending critics; whom, it must be owned, he has, in the main, juftly, tho' severely, chaltized.

Art. 15. A Letter to Tobias Smollet, M. D. occafioned by his criticifm on a late tranflation of Tibullus, by Dr. Grainger, 8vo, 6 d. Kinnersley.

Dr. Grainger has here (for the most part) fully obviated the cen fares of his antagonist, who feems to have attacked the Dr's. tranflation, under the influence of malice and private pique. Dr. Smollet's furious reply has appeared; and, upon the whole, we muft fay, that, on REV. March 1759.

T

one

one fide at least, a more illiberal, and, at the fame time, a more infignificant controversy never infulted the public attention!

Art. 16. A genuine Account of the late fecret Expedition to Martinico and Guardeloupe, under Commodore Moore and General Hopfon. Written at Guardeloupe, by a Sea-officer, who went out with Commodore Hughes. 8vo. 6d. Griffiths.

Contains little more than was before communicated to the public by the Gazette-writer; whose account is here added, to swell our officer's fcanty letter up to a fix-penny fize. As to the authenticity of the account, we have undoubted affurance that the public is not impofed upon in that refpect, though the letter feems to have been only intended for private information; and it certainly was not worth printing, in the prefent form at leaft: it would have made a confpicuous article in a news-paper, or a magazine.

Art. 17. The genuine legal Sentence pronounced by the High Court of Judicature of Portugal, upon the Confpirators against the Life of his most faithful Majefly; with the juft motives for the fame literally tranflated from the original Portuguese. 4to. IS. E. Owen.

Genuine.

Art. 18. The Proceedings on the Trials of the Confpirators against the Life of the King of Portugal; with their feveral confeffions. 4to. Is. Cooper.

Not genuine.

Art. 19. An authentick Letter from Mr. Hughes, a gentleman refiding at Lisbon, to his friends in London; containing feveral curious and interesting particulars, in relation to the late confpiracy against the King of Portugal, &c. 8vo. 6d. Wilkie.

As the Punter faid of the bad wine, This is not Madeira, but Made-here-a. Correct the title of this pamphlet thus;- A Letter 'from Mr. Hughes, a gentleman refiding in the Old Baily, &c.'

Art. 20. A full, clear, and authorifed Account of the Confpiracy in Portugal, &c. &c. 8vo. Is 6d. Stevens.

The purport of what is faid of Mr. Hughes's Letter, may be ap plied to this anonymous account.

Art. 21. A Letter from a Gentleman in the Country, to a Member of Parliament in Town; containing remarks upon a book lately published, intitled, The Conduct and Treatment of John Crock

fbanks

Shanks, Efq; late Commander of his Majesty's Ship the Lark. 8vo. 6d. No publifher's name.

This letter contains a friendly review of Mr. Crookfhanks's pamphlet, and is defigned to flew how unfairly the Captain has been dealt by; in which (as far as mere literary men may be allowed to judge) we cannot but concur with the Letter-writer, on the fuppofition that all facts have been juftly flated, both in the Captain's narrative, and in the remarks of his prefent Advocate. Were the government to reinstate this officer, and put him upon fome bold fervice, we are inclined to think the public might reap fome advantage from the experiment.

Art. 22. The Scourge of Pleafure. 8vo. 1s. Fleming.
A bawdy catch penny.

Art. 23. Plain Reafons for removing a certain great Man from
his Majefty's Prefence and Councils for ever. Addreffed to the
People of England. By O. M. Haber dafner. 8vo.
Cooper.

Is.

An ironical compliment to Mr. Pitt; in which the Author has fometimes hit, and fometimes miffed the true temper of that moft delicate figure in rhetoric. For inftance, one of the mock-articles of impeachment which he brings against the great perfon, is, that he is an honeft man. This propofition is no better than a flat abfurdity, an open contradiction to the common fenfe of mankind, and abfolutely incapable of receiving any witty or humorous illuftration. The ingenious writer appears to have fometimes forgot the diftinction between irony and paradox. In other parts of his work, however, he comes nearer the mark of perfection in this kind of writing as for inflance, where he objects, that the great man barraffes the army beyond example. Here the true meaning is delicately implied under the covert expreffion; and the author approaches fomewhat toward that great mafter of irony, the exquifite SWIFT,

Neither muft it be forgotten, that his pamphlet contains a great deal of just and ftriking fatire on other characters, and on those exploded measures and manners, which have produced confequences extremely different from the happy events that have diftinguished Mr. P's administration.

Art. 24. The Bracelet, or the fortunate Discovery. Being the biftory of Mifs Polly ****. Tranflated, with fome alterations, from a French work, entitled, Memoires de Cecile. 12mo. 2 vols. 6s. Noble.

The moll we can do, with respect to thofe numerous novels, that iffue continually from the prefs, is to give rather a character than an Becount of each. To do even this, however, we find no eafy task;