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that they will renounce their French connection? Has France declared, that fhe will confent to their renouncing that connection, or has the declared that the has no demands to make after the acknowledgement of independence? I believe it is no fecret, that France has fignified what would be the lowest of her demands in fuch a cafe, and that they are fufficiently humiliating.

If we are not, therefore, ready to give up all, muft we not, in defence of what we may refufe to give up, be neceffarily drawn into expence and exertions fimilar to thofe in which we are now engaged? and would we not afterwards have more difficulty than now, in defending ourfelves against thefe new pretenfions, when America, by the declaration of independence, had become firmly united against us, by the forfeiture and deltruction of all our friends in that country? And are we not more able now to maintain the conteft, when in poffeffion of fuch important parts of North America, and with fuch numbers of the inhabitants, either already engaged in our caufe, or withing to fupport it, befides the reafonable profpect we have, of a much greater acceffion of the inhabitants of that continent, fo foon as we shall convince them, by vigorous exertions, that we are heartily in earneft, and that we are unalterably determined, to make good our point?

That the object is attainable," continues Mr Pulteney, "I am also moft fully convinced; but not unless the adminiftration of public affairs is directed by men of fortitude and exertion equal to the great occafion; by men, who, like Lord Chathan, are capable of felecting, and refolute in employing, the moft proper officers by fea and land; by men, who are not to be depreffed or elated by every little change of fortune; whofe minds are not only capable of taking in the whole views of this great object, and of deciding with wifdom and difpatch upon every occurrence, but of profecuting with vigour, perfeverance, and industry, fuch plans, as, after full information, are found to be most fit, and with fuch frugality and economy of the pu blic money as may enable us to perfift in the conteft as long as fhall be necessary.

Till the late offers of conciliation were made to America, a great part of this kingdom were averfe to the war. The minifters themfelves carried it on with languoi and reluctance, and the officers

of our fleets and armies performed their duty without that ardent zeal which can alone infure fuccefs. The generous temper of an Englishman could not be induced to act with full vigour in fupport of pretenfions which certainly would have tended to reduce our fellow-fubjects to a ftate unworthy of freemen. On the other hand, America was in general united, and few were our friends there at the bottom of their hearts.-The conteft is now entirely changed. The offers of G. Britain have been fuch as became a brave and generous nation, and have left nothing in point of freedom to be wifhed for by our fellow-fubjects. The rejection of thefe offers by the congrefs has difpelied every doubt, in the minds of impartial men, with refpect to the juftice of the war; and the unnatural object of reducing the power of G. Britain, avowed in the treaty, made by the artful American deputies with the government of France, has roufed the indignation of every generous Briton; at the fame time that the great body of the people in America have now feen the true object of those who had till then profeffed the freedom of America as the fole motive of their conduct. It now appears, that, in fact, they had another and more favourite motive, namely, their private ambition. The feverities they have of late been obliged to exercise upon the people of America, are evident proofs, that now they govern by a faction, and not with the confent of the body of the people, who plainly fee, that their sufferings are difregarded, whilft they serve as the means of exalting and supporting in authority a few men, who, by artful pretences, have raifed themselves into power and confequence.

In confidering this queftion therefore, How far the object is attainable? we are not to suppose, that we have now to contend with the united power of America, but only with a part of that people; a part indeed who are in poffeffion of the executive power, and have arms in their hands; but who are not fupported by the majority of the people, either with refpect to property or numbers.

France is no doubt to be added to the fcale against us; but I do not conceive it poffible, that either Holland of Spain are to be numbered in this contest amongft our enemies; becaufe, if it is propofed on our part to remove, as I think we ought, almost every obstruction to the American

American trade with the rest of the world, Beither of thefe powers can have any pofEble motive of intereft for supporting American independence, but directly the contrary, fince it is evidently against the intereft of both these powers to add America to the fcale of France.

Neither can I fuppofe, that, in the prefest fate of the conteft, which certainly , Whether America fhall be thrown into the scale of the most ambitious power Europe? we can want alliances. At alevents, if Spain fhould take part with France, we could not fail, in such a cafe, to derive the most effectual affiftance from thofe maritime powers in the North, whole evident intereft it would be, to prevent the balance of naval power from preponderating in favour of France and Spain.

If the object be worth contending for, and can hardly be purchased at too high a price; if it be intimately connected with our existence as an independent nation; and if it be attainable, notwithtanding all that has hitherto befallen us, the next queftion is with respect to the means to be employed.

I will not take upon me to enter into an examination of the proper military operations, either by fea or land; which will require to be difcuffed by an abler hand; all that I fhall fay upon that fubjet is, that, without the most unprejudiced and unremitting attention in the choice of our commanders in chief by ea and land, and without the most determined firmness to inquire into, and to punish, mifconduct of every kind, accompanied with a noble eagerness to reward diftinguifhed merit, it will be in vain, after fo long a peace, to expect those animated exertions which in former times have fo often diftinguished the British nation.

But fuppofing every proper measure to be adopted, both in the civil and military line, as well as with refpect to foreign aliances, another most interesting and important queftion remains: Whether the refources of this nation are still fuficient to fupport a war against America, united with France and Spain? and whether there is any probability of rai fing the annual fupplies for the length of time that may become neceffary? That it will not be fufficient, to raise thefe fupplies for a year or two, is but too evident; we must be prepared to hold out for many years, and must decidedly take

our arrangements upon that footing; otherwife we may expect, that our enemies will continue to perfevere in the conteft, from the flattering hope of our being foon exhausted,"

After fome fenfible and obvious remarks upon the fubject of our finances, and the inconveniencies of having recourfe to money-lenders to fupport the public expences, Mr Pulteney tells us, that it becomes the spirit of a free country, in an hour of imminent danger, to lay afide for a time the practice of borrowing, and to call upon the individuals of the kingdom for a direct aid equal to the public occafions. This aid, he thinks, may be given, by every perfon's paying a certain rate or portion of his real capital or income; and if the money were raifed in this manner, it would fall much lighter, he fays, than in the mode of borrowing.

In order to judge whether it is practicable to raife, in time of war, the neceffary fupplies within the year, he endeavours to form fome calculation of the na tional wealth, and mentions one or two modes by which this computation may be made. He then fays, that one and a half per cent. of every man's capital, to be paid by inftalments, in the courfe of two years, would be fully adequate to the purpose of fupporting, with the ordinary fupplies, a vigorous war of two years at leaft. M.

EDINBURGH.

Obfervations concerning the public law and the conftitutional hiftory of Scotland: With occafional remarks concerning Englifa antiquity. By Gilbert Stuart, LL. D. 8vo. Creech.5 s. 3 d. boards. -This book is divided into fix chapters, and fome of these are fubdivided into fections. Annexed are Proofs, Illuftrations, and Controversy. The chapters treat of 1. the Feudal Law; 2. the Feudal Army; 3 the Revenue of the Sovereign; 4. Jurifdiction and Courts; 5. the National Council; and 6. the Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland."During the middle times, the laws and customs of Scotland are imperfectly underfood; and, on this account, the tyftem of its jurifprudence is involved in uncertainty, and without that stability of principles which When we know

ought to diffinguish it.

our public law, and our conftitution, in
their first rudeness, and in their progreffive
conditions of refinement, we fall be able to
dispel this uncertainty, and to arrive at fin-
To contribute to a pur-
picity and science.
pofe to valuable is the intention of this

F 2

wo b

work. An infinite multitude of materials and records must be collected, and a thoufand painful researches must be made, before our jurifprudence is to ripen to perfection. The mine abounds in riches; but they are hid in the ground, and must be fought for with ingenuity and toil. Though the labyrinth deceives with its windings, though dangers threaten on every fide, it is not fit that we fhould lofe our courage. It ought not to be any longer a reproach to the Scottish nation, that they are yet in a great measure to explore the principles and antiquities of their legiflation and government. While I take the liberty, therefore, to propose these important branches of inquiry to our lawyers, and men of letters, I cannot but urge even the difficulties which attend them, as incitements to activity and pride. They are exactly in that state of imperfection and neglect, where the most ample fcope is afforded for the exertion of abilities, and for difcovery. To go to fubjects which human wit has exhaufted, is to court an inferior merit. It is to folace in an elegant idlenefs. It is to give up the praife of in vention for tricks of rhetorick and trap. pings of language." Pref.

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Vindicia Dominica: A defence of (1) the Reformation ftandards of the church of Scotland, concerning the administration of the Lord's fupper; and (2) the one Son thip of Jefus Chrift: in which fome doctrines of the faid ftandards upon these important fubjects, are explained and vindicated. By Mr Adam Gib, Minifter of the [Antiburgher] Affociate congregation in Edinburgh. 6 d. Gray. In the fecond part the Rev. author fays, "To the defence of the TRUE Sonship of Jefus Christ (39. 442; 40. 37], as by eternal generation, there is a prefent neceflity for adding a defence of the ONE NESS of his Sonship, in opposition to a re; vived error upon that fubject, as if a twofold Sonflip belonged to him."

ry.

Two diflertations on Popish perfecution and breach of faith. Edit. 2. To which is now added, A contrail between the Popish oath of allegiance and the principles of Popeby D Grint, D. D. 3 s. fewed. bell, Dickson, and PH -Thefe Differtations were to published in 1771. In an advertilement picfixed to this edition the liberal fentiments of the author are thus expreféd. "That the legislature of Britain has repealed part of thote penal laws, which the neceflity of the times, and the example of the church of Rome, had rendered indifpenfible, cannot furely be difagreeable to any fenfible and well-informed Proteftant. Or, Father, must not every Proteftant of that haracter, with from his foul, that every pe hal ftatute petending to fetter the mind, fare repealed in all lands; that every thing

inimical to religious freedom and true Chi ftianity were effaced from the civil ande clefiaftical laws of all nations; and that peaceable Chriftian might, in every count find himself among men and brethren? this a fruitless with? Is the thing impo to be atchieved? Where then is our Chri anity, or where our liberality of fentimet fo much boafled of? The task feems far fro infurmountable. - Papifts in England m now acquire property, enjoy it, and con it to their heirs, as freely and fully as Majefty's Proteftant fubjects. They m now inftruct their own youth, and prea their own doctrines, in peace. It is to be ped, that, in gratitude for these privileg they will abstain from perverting the you the weak, and unwary amongst us, by fo pulously confining their paftoral care to individuals of their own religion. T gratitude ought to be warm and fincere, government, for the privileges granted, exacted only the oaths of individuals, ftead of a folemn renunciation of the gerous tenets from the universal head of th church. I am afraid, that a petition f British Papifts, on this head, to their fpi tual father, would have met with lefs fuce than their late petition to the king and par ament.-With this oath [40. 323.] the aut will conclude his advertisement, contrasti it with the principles of the church of Ron The contraft will evidently show, what difference there either is, or ought tol between the fentiments of British Papists a the principles of Popery. How melancho the reflection, that, in the eighteenth ce tury, thefe principles fhould 'still remain object of horror to every benevolent min and the difgrace of that religion? Wh fignify feeble palliatives, fophiftical and f tile explanations? If thefe tenets, in ar fenfe that can fonably be given them, not cffential to Popery, (and woe to that ligion they ate effential to), why do not R man-Catholics, with united voice, folemn reprobate them in a general council of the church, and confign them to eternal ob vion? Why not make that facrifice to the own interefls, at least in Proteftant cou tries, and to the peace and harmony of t Chriftian world ?

A fhort view of the ftatutes at prefent force in Scotland against Popery [40.513], t nature of the bill propofed to be brought to parliament for repealing these statutes, a fome remarks fhowing the propriety and n ceffity of oppofing fuch repeat; with a f hints on the conftitutional and prudent mo of oppofition. 48 pp. Difributed gratis "a number of gentlemen in Edinburg friends to religion in the world in general, the Proteftant intereft in thefe lands in p ticular, loyal fobjects of their fovereign, fi

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cere lovers of their country and its dearest rights."— On the mode of oppofition they recommend petitioning the King, and remonstrating to parliament. Communities, corporations, bodies-politic, and focieties of every kind, are the most ordinary and proper addreffers and remonftrants. Our ecclefiaftical affemblies, as the natural guardians of the Proteftant religion, hold the first place. The truly aftonishing conduct of the late general affembly [40. 270.], when this matter was propofed to them, had indeed a dreadful apect. Few but friends of a faction were members of the laft affembly: none but friends of Protestantism and Prefbytery should be members of the next." The following note is here added. "The fifteen fynods in the church may be ranked in three divifions. Bravely and explicitly against the repeal, 9. viz. Dumfries, Galloway, Glasgow and Air, Perth and Stirling, Fife, Angus and Mearns, Maray, Rofs, Glenelg.- Neuter, or rather both for and against, 1. viz. Lothian and Tweeddale-Silent, caring for none of these things, s. viz. Merse and Teviotdale, Aberdeen, Sutherland and Caithness, Argyle, Orkacy. Matth. x. 32. 33. xii. 30.”

Elays on the trade, commerce, manufac tures, and fisheries, of Scotland. By David Loch, Merchant, and General Infpector of the Fisheries, in Scotland. Vol. 2. [40.556.]. 6d. fewed. The Author, and Bookfellers.

EXTRACT.

"On Tuesday, May 14. 1778, at five a. I weighed anchor from M'Kinnon bay, de wind at S. E. with fmall rain. By certain figns in the atmosphere, I forefaw a form was brooding; and as it would be effentially ferviceable to mariners to have this kind of prefcience, that is, a knowledge of the wind and weather, in which confifts the of effential part of feamanship, I thall endeavour to communicate it for their benefit; declaring, that the obfervations I am now a bout to make, are the result of thirty-four years experience; and which, I affirm, on my honour, never failed to produce the effect mentioned. I have often attempted to impart my knowledge on this important point, called by failors prefence of mind; but which is, in fact, fkill, founded on a feries of obfervations on the appearance of the atmosphere, with the effects it has produced as to the different changes of the wind and weather; and the stronger it is to blow from any point of the compafs, the more visible and true are the prognofticating figns: but however anxious I may have been to communicate this to my brother-feamen, my at tempts have hitherto been fruftrated, inafmuch as I could never convey my ideas intelligibly to another, un'efs the phenomena Had been prefent with the perfon. In hopes,

however, of being understood by those who plough the watry ocean, I have refumed the effay, convinced that their lives and properties, in the time of a storm, depend on their being acquainted with this matter, and for want of which, the world, in general, attri bute the catastrophe to neglect or inattention.

To proceed then: About midnight the weather cleared; the aurora borealis [36. 281.], commonly called by failors ftreamers, appeared on the N. W. point of the horizon; at one in the morning, they were in our zenith, and extended to the fouth-caft, covering almoft the whole hemifphere; the weather very clear, and the wind at S. W. with fine foft breezes; from which phenomena, I told the watch on deck what was to happen.

The crew affured me it was impotlible, from appearances, to come to pafs, and that I was certainly mistaken when I affirmed that the wind would blow from the foutheast quarter, which they were inclined to believe, would proceed from the north-west, if at all. In a few hours, however, my prediction began to be verified; the wind having already veered with the fun to that point, as it always does, in fimilar cafes. I went to bed, and at five in the morning, when I turned out, to get under way, the crew, with astonishment, faid, I had foretold what had actually happened; upon which an old man faid, in a low voice, not thinking to be heard, "That man is not canny; he has certainly the fecond fight."From a fecond obfervation I then made, I could difcover that it would first rain, and then blow gently for fome hours from the fouth-eaft; next clear up, and blow very hard from the fouth-weft: I told them this, and it actually came to pafs accordingly; whereupon the whole crew believed I had the fecond fight.

This knowledge, as I faid before, is the refult of upwards of thirty years experience, and is founded principally on the following obfervation: Contrary to the common prac tice of people on land, who look to the point from which the wind blows for the force and confequence of the gale, I turn my back to the wind, and remark the sky on that very point the wind biows to. If it lours, and stands fast, the gale will increafe and continue proportionably; and the more ic rifes above the horizon, the stronger and more violent will be the gale; nor will it cease tilf that kee sky begins to vanith or give way. When this clears up, the gale is over; the clouds fetch way, and difperfe. But if the clouds ftand fat, and feem, as it were, to pent up the wind, the gale will affuredly continue, and its tempeftuoufnefs may be aicertained, according to their height above the horizon.”,

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POETICAL ESSAYS.

To ADMINISTRATION:

To those who rule and do not rule the roast.

OD bless you, now you all are met,

G Ye are an beneft noily fet,

Fit to conduct a kingdom truly,
And to receive your penfions duly;
You, I mean, who iffue forth,
Obedient to the blafts of NoRTH;
Who fpread your canvas to the air,
And fail ye know not how or where:
Oh, happy Placeman! it is thy lot
To fteer as fuits the drowsy Pilot,
Whether he drives you on a rock,
And fends you down to h-ll like smoke,
Or leads you fafely into port ; -
For, fink or fwim, you've fomething
But for the rogues who still oppose,
They've nought that they can win or lofe,
They therefore wish-such their condition
The bark may go to quick perdition;
Or if, perchance, it strikes the shore,
They hope for plunder-and no more.

for't.

Arife first-Placemen! I'll address you,

Fear not-your JENKINSON won't prefs you;
For, if you will be volunteers,

He'll only make you ferve three years;
Since, if the ftate don't better thrive,
It cannot furely hold out five;

Then, fhould the world go to d-mn-tion,
You're free to trade in corporation.

But, paffing from thefe common gibes,
not bribes.
I'll range you by your tribes-
DICK RIGBY is about him laying,
With much more noise-than those he's pay-
[ing;
Whilft his rotundity of face
Betrays the goodness of his place.

Next JENKINSON, who War controuls,

Beats Mars himself-whene'er he scouls,
And with grim vifage two feet long,
Bends forward o'er the noify throng;
Like fome difaftrous form on high,
Which Jove fufpends in midnight sky,
When he has pafs'd to Fate his word
To give whole nations to the word.

Pale SAWNEY rears his forehead narrow,
Like fome lank fwain on Banks of Yanow,
And blows his melancholy reed,

The mufic of the bonny Tweed;

But, though he's paid whene'er he whines,
You'd fwear the varlet never dines.

'Midst friends with much lefs heads than

bellies,

Appears, as leader, WELBORE ELLIS;
Accuftom'd to whip in the pack
When minifters begin to tack;
And manfully to foften measures,

That they, in peace, may have their pleasures,
When in blind alleys they are hunting,
Or urging the great works of punting.

Whilt BURKE and BARRE ftrain their
The mild Sir GREY is taking notes; [throats,
And, wife as owl, is feen compofing
For the good Premier, who is doing;

Vol. 41.

Whilft to each patriot's loudeft roar

NORTH answers with a well-tim'd fnore ;
Till by fome fhriller trebles vext,

He defcants on the good Knight's text,
And fills the House with fuch a bellow,
You'd think in fire he had no fellow.
But Indecifion by him stands,

With Measures dropping through her hands ;
And poor BRITANNIA, weeping near,
Is leaning on her broken fpear.

Now, having pafs'd the enemy's line,
I'll tack about, nor fight decline,
Not Keppel-like, be quite fo kind
As let them form whilst I've the wind.
I'll of the foe advantage take;
Sir Satire! come into my wake;
For I'll take care that no falfe light
Shall give them time to fly by night.
Bear down, brave boys! 'Twon't serve my
To wait them bandfomely till morn.

[turn

But, hey-day, what have we got now?
Another fquadron on our bow!

Than ballaft much more fail they carry,
Led on by Adm'rals BURKE and BARRE:
In fpite of all their blasts, to action.
To windward chafe—and bring the Faction,
The wind they'll always have!—No matter,
Let's hit the rogues 'twixt wind and water.
'Tis but an ill-provided crew,

Their fhips are only trimm'd for fhew;
They've met enough of storms to rot 'em,
The worm has got into their bottom.
Run out the guns!-We're under way!-
You'll hear our feats fome other day.

EPITAPH on Dr GOLDSMITH. "His fhade may rest in peace; his tomb is to be inferibed by the author of the Rambler, which is more honourable to the Bard than if his afhes had been deposited in the cemetery of kings."

Watkinfon's Philofophical Survey of the South
of Ireland, p. 437.

OLIVARII GOLDSMITH,
Poeta, Phylici, Hiftorici,
Qui nullum fere fcribendi genus
Non tetigit,

Nullum quod tetigit non ornavit;
Sive rifus effent movendi,
Sive lacrymæ,

Affectuum potens, at lenis, dominator;
Ingenio fublimis, vividus, verfatilis;
Oratione grandis, nitidus, venuftus;
Hoc monumento memoriam coluit
Sodalium amor,
Amicorum fides,
Lectorum veneratio.
... in Hibernia natus,
Eblanæ literis inftitutus,
Londini obiit MDCCLXXIV.

• Dr Johnson has honoured the publisher with a copy, though the Epitaph is not yet finished, the identical Spot where Goldsmith was born not being yet afcertained.

Lord

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