MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For APRIL, 1759.

POLITICA L.

Art. 1. A Plea for the Poor; in which, 1. Their inexpressible hardships and jufferings are verified from undeniable facts. 2. Their maintenance is evidently fhewn to be an intolerable burthen upon the Public. 3. Methods are propofed for making beggars, vagrants, and vagabonds, useful to their country, and providing for the impotent and difabled. 4. A fummary is given of the feveral fchemes of Judge Hale, Sir Jofiah Child, Mr. Fielding, and others, for that purpofe. Humbly fubmitted to the confideration of Parliament. By a Merchant of the city of London. 8vo. Is. Townsend.

T

HE first and fecond divifions of matter in the title-page need no proof at all. The third, which promifes to propofe methods for making beggars, &c. ufeful to their country, the Author has, poffibly, forgotten; for, upon the ftrictest fearch, we cannot find any means propofed for that defirable end. Indeed he gives us directions for private alms-giving, and tells us fomething of the practice in the time of King Alfred, and Queen Elizabeth; but he feems fenfible himself, that the policy of thofe times would not be effectual now.

As to the fourth divifion, the Writer has kept his word, and has prefented us with a fummary of the fchemes mentioned in the title-page. So that, upon the whole, the Author has told us what has been done -what has been proposed to be done-and concludes, that fomething farther ought to be done; but what, he has not ventured to propose.

Art. 2. Obfervations on a pamphlet entitled, The genuine and legal Sentence pronounced by the High Court of Judicature of Portugal upon the Confpirators against the Life of his Moft Faithful Majefly, with the just motives for the fame. By William Shirley, late of Lisbon, Merchant. 8vo. 1s. Cooper.

The intent of thefe Obfervations is to prove, that the constitution of Portugal has been violated by the fentence in question, and that the proceedings against the delinquents contain novelties in practice, both with regard to the procefs itself, and the confequent pn

nishments.

The Writer makes an objection to one article of the title-page, which is that of calling it legal; for furely, fays he, no process ought to be deemed fuch, that partially and exprefly violates fundamental laws; or that receives a fanction fingly from the crown, for the extending punishments and forfeitures beyond the limits of established crdinances, and the precedents of former practice.

Towards

Towards the latter end he produces inftances of former treasonable confpiracies to affaffinate kings in Portugal, with the punishments inflicted on the confpirators. Notwithstanding, fays he, the late High Commiffionary were pleased to declare in their fentence, that no adequate punishment had been provided by the laws for fuch offences, upon the fuppofition that past ages had not conceived that such a crime could be committed.

But with our Obfervator's leave, we must remark, that the inftances he cites are not ftrictly applicable to the cafe in point. For they relate to confpiracies in meditation only, and not, like the late attempt on the Portuguese king, carried into execution by fuch overt acts,

Upon the whole, thefe Obfervations do little more than tell us, that in the fentence published here, the facts are not supported by evidence; which is obvious to every one who has eyes to read.

The feverity of the fentence every humane and wife man muft condemn. The difference between our happy conftitution, and that of Portugal, ought to infpire us with thankfulness and content: but we are apt to think, that our grateful fenfe of this political bleffing, will not be much enlarged by our Author's feeble and languid illuftration.

Art. 3. A Letter to the Dutch Merchants in England. 8vo. 6d. Cooper.

This little treatise appears to be published with a good intent, and to be written with good fenfe and propriety. The Writer endeavours to fhew, that it is not only against principles of juftice, but contrary to the intereft of Holland, to come to a rupture with Great Britain, on account of the difference now fubfifting between the two ftates. He affirms, that the object of contest is of a private, not a national, nature. He intimates, that a few merchants in Holland, not coptent to enjoy the sweets of commerce in its natural latitude, have, by their avaricious conduct, occafioned the prefent difputes, and are attempting to involve that induftrions commonwealth in a destructive war against their antient ally. He very judicioufly obferves, with regard to merchants, that however amiable they are in uniting the bonds of universal fociety, notwithstanding the feparation of countries, climates, manners, religions, and governments; however useful they are in foftening the natural wants and miferies of mankind, or in controuling the fatal confequences that flow from the ambition of Princes, and in extending over the world the connections of humanity; yet as they form a kind of feparate republic of themfelves, independant of the several governments under which they live; their connection in one relation often jars with their duties in another; fince they make a link of that chain, in which the enemies of their country are not lefs united. With regard to commerce itself, fays he, confidered as a general and complicated fyftem, they are partial judges of it, from a view only of the particular mercantile part in which they have been Burfed. He concludes with exhortations to the Dutch merchants here,

to

N.

to undeceive their mistaken and mifguided friends in Holland, who are unacquainted with the true merits of the prefent difpute.

We will add, that if the Dutch are not totally under the influence of prepoffeffion and party, the impartial juftice of the British Privy Council is fufficient to determine their conduct, and engage their friendship, upon principles of honour and gratitude, did not equity and felf-intereft bind them to terms of amity.

Art. 4. The Law and Equity of the late Appointment of a Warden of Winchester confidered. 8vo. 6d. Hooper.

From the Perplexity of this Writer's arguments, from the obfcurity of his expreffion, and from the extreme incorrectness of the press, it is a task of more than ordinary attention to discover any meaning at all in this little piece. The fubject has been much agitated, and is indeed of too private a nature to he generally interefting. All that we can gather from the learned treatife before us is, that it is very bad policy to truft a power without appeal in any one man; and, if we believe the Author, that the appointment of the Warden of Winchefter, was contrary to the principles of equity. The latter propofition is by no means fully proved; and the former, though just in general, admits of rules of exception, and the cafe in point feems to be within thofe rules: for though it may be impolitic and injurious to grant a power without appeal, where life, liberty, or property are at ftake, yet in matters which merely concern worldly preferments, or honourable promotions, it would be highly inconvenient to admit of appeals.

In the whole courfe of our reading, we do not remember to have feen any thing printed fo fcandalously incorrect. There are but eighteen pages, and thofe few crowded with errors, we would hope, of the prefs; but they especially abound in the Latin fragments, of which scarce one, however fhort, is correct: as will appear from the following inftances. Page 3. Noм explicit Reipublica RET Finis fit Litium. Page 6. Qui hæret in Litera, hæret in CORTIÆ. P. S. Omne MEJUS TIENET in fe MINAS. Page 13. Argumentum ab inconvenienti PLURICUUM valet in Lege-Perfectio RATRONIS-Lex non SCRIPTE. Candour inclines us to fuppofe many of these errors to be typographical; but the Author's pretenfions to literature appear to have fo flight a foundation, that, perhaps, in juftice to the Printer, we ought to place fome of them to his own account.

Art. 5. A Defence of the Conduct of the Warden of Winchester College, in accepting that wardenship. 8vo. 1 s. Dodfley.

In this pamphlet, Dr. Golding endeavours to clear himself from fome imputations caft on him by the anonymous Author of a letter to Dr. Lowth. He labours particularly to obviate the charge against him of having approved of the conduct of the Fellows of New Col

See Review, vol. XIX. p. 307.

lege

lege, in the election of Dr. Purnell to the wardenship of Winchester as regular and ftatutable-of having declared that he should look on fuch a ftep in the Visitor (as he hath fince taken) as an unwarrantable ftretch of power; and moreover, that he would not accept of a preferment from him, thus circumstanced, if it should be tendered to him. From these accufations he seems to have exculpated himself with great skill, and, as far as we can judge, with much appearance of truth. In the other parts of this pamphlet the Author explains the claufe of the ftatute in queftion, in which he difplays no fmall critical learning. He likewife examines the intent of the founder; but as this conteft is chiefly perfonal, we refer the curious Reader to the pamphlet itself. Let it fuffice to fay, that the Doctor appears to be master of great moderation in argument, perfpicuity of fentiment, and power of expreffion.

Art. 6. A Second Letter from Wiltshire to the Monitor, on the vindication of his conftitutional principles. 8vo. 6d. Hooper.

This Wiltshire Tory tilts violently at the Patriot Minifter, through the fides of the Patriot Monitor. According to our Pamphleteer's view of the prefent fituation of our public affairs, it fhould seem that they are not in fo promising a way, as fome may flatter themselves; and that the war in Germany will be deftructive to our interests, at all events:-it will probably, too, prove extremely prejudicial to the interefts of France; and if fo, what kind of game are the two nations playing and who are to be the winners ?

See Review for March, p. 268.

Art. 7. The Mystery revealed; or, Truth brought to Light: being a difcovery of fome facts in relation to the conduct of the late My. By a Patriot. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Withy.

Here we, too, have a mystery to reveal, and a truth to bring to light; for this pamphlet is itself an errant impofition on the Public. Monflrum horrendum is the motto to this pretended revelation; and monftrum horrendum say we, when we reflect on the ars meretricia of thefe literary midwives: the prefent publication being no other than a vamp'd-up title-page to an old pamphlet first published in 1757; and mentioned in our Catalogue for May, in the fame year, under the title of, The Conduct of the Ministry, &c.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 8. The juvenile Adventures of Mifs Kitty Fr. Vol. II. 12mo. 3s. few'd. Smith.

In our Laft, p. 276, we mentioned, with juft indignation, the firft part of this worthless performance. This fecond volume is as foolish, as falfe, and prepofterous, though not fo obfcene, as the former.

Art

Art. 9. Abaffai. An Eastern Novel. Tranflated from the French. 2 Vols. 12mo. 6s. Coote.

An affectation of fentimental refinement, unnatural reprefentations of the paffions, and high-founding pretences to virtue and heroifm, may ferve to characterize this work, in common with most other Eaftern tales. If to these we add a ftrange variety of incredible incidents, and a quaint laconifm of expreffion, kept up throughout the whole; the reader may form a pretty juft idea of the entertainment he is like to meet with in the perufal of this novel.

Art. 10. The Mother: or, the Happy Diftrefs. A Novel. 2 Vols. 12mo. 6s. Baldwin.

After having almoft exhaufted our patience in the perufal of this performance, we ftumbled, toward the latter end of the last volume, on the following paffage. The reader is not here to expect, that we are to dwell upon dry, tedious fcenes of courtship, which he will find in every tiresome novel.'

The author might, nevertheless, have done well, had he confidered that there are other fcenes, befides those of courtship, that may very justly be called dry and tedious: and though it should not be permitted us, after the above proteft's being thus entered, to call this a tiresome novel; the truth obliges us to confefs, we were heartily tired before we reached the end of it. At the fame time, however, to do justice to all parties, be it candidly owned, that we have occafionally met with fome others, fo very little interesting, that we could not bear to read them through at all.

By the Author Millar.

Art. 11. The Hiftory of the Countess of Dellwyn. of David Simple. 2 Vols. 12mo. 6s. The known talents of the ingenious author of David Simple will, we doubt not, fo far recommend the prefent work, to those who have a tafte for this fpecies of writing, as to render the fuffrage of reviewers much less neceffary than it is to many other performances of the like kind; yet, as not only the execution of the whole, but many parts of the history have particularly pleafed us, in the perufal, we hall break through our ufual cuftom, to give the reader a specimen of our very fenfible novellift's defcription of the buftle of high life, and the futility of publick amufements.

• Lady Dellwyn had now accustomed herself to make a fair rid dance of that burthen, her time, by a continual round of amusement; which fhe contrived fo artfully, as to imagine fhe was conftantly employed in fome neceffary bufinefs; and fhe was always in as violent a hurry, as if fome grand ftate affair had waited for her difpatch' The late laureat, in the apology for his life, gives a very humourous defcription of his brother manager, Mr. Wilkes, and calls him the buftle-mafter general; a term which gives no inadequate idea of several perfonages on the great theatre of the world.

• There