We are not fatisfied that this is really a tranflation from the French. However, be that as it may, it does not breath much spirit, or convey much information. The anecdotes it contains, are well known; and the whole is nothing more than a lifeless ridicule of the French Generals who have commanded in the prefent war. Art. 6. Reasons for an Act of Parliament to make it Death to impofe upon a Lord Chancellor; and Transportation, knowingly, to make bad Briefs for Council in a Caufe in Chancery. In a Letter to the People of England. 8vo. pamphlet. Dublin, printed for the Author. This pamphlet contains a relation of fome villainous practises, which were used in two caufes, wherein the writer was concerned; the one in England, the other in Ireland. The circumstances seem very extraordinary, and, in fome inftances, almoft incredible: but if the author tells his own ftory with truth and impartiality, he has undoubtedly, been a facrifice to the vileft injuftice and oppreffion. We cannot, however, approve of his recommendation to make it death to impofe on a Lord Chancellor. Our capital punishments are too much multiplied already and the author's feverity may serve as a proof, that if men were left to the gratification of private revenge, there is scarce an injury which they would not deem worthy of death. In the conclufion, the writer tells us, that as he has made the "practice of the court of Chancery his study, not by choice, or de fignedly to live by, but by accident, and has looked into all the offices of the court, he fhall fubmit his thoughts to the public, how all abufes in Chancery may be for the future removed; which (he tells us) fhall be the fubject of another letter to the people.' As this ingenious writer propofes to fhew us, how all abuses in Chancery may be for the future removed, there certainly will be no occafion for making it death, to impofe on a Lord Chancellor: fo that his propofal is a Felo de fe. Upon the whole, we are induced to think, that if Mr. Bradfhaw (for that, it seems, is the writer's name) had studied law lefs, he would not have been fo great a fufferer by it. As a fmattering in fcience, makes men pedantic, so a smattering in law, renders them litigious. Art. 7. Some Obfervations on the late A of Infolvency, paffed in the 32d Year of King George II. 4to. Is. Mears. It was apprehended, fays this obfervator, that this a& would have had this title, An act for the abfolute discharge of the persons of prifoners confined for debt, as well on mefne process, as on executions, upon delivering up all their effects for their creditor's • benefit,' and then, he obferves, it would have had the effect of a bankruptcy. But, he adds, we find it to be only a recital, or recapitulation of former acts, with this addition in its title, To oblige debtors who fhall continue in execution in prifon beyond a certain time, and for fams not exceeding what are mentioned in the act, to make discovery of, and to deliver upon oath their effects for ⚫ their creditor's benefit.' So that, he obferves, after a prifoner has got a difcharge from executions, yet, if he is charged with any mefne procefs, he muft ufe the common expenfive way of getting discharged by fuperfedeas; and he is apprehenfive, that fome artful people will confefs judgment immediately to fome friend, in fums for which no valuable confideration was ever given, in order to charge the pri foner in execution, and fwallow up great part of his effects. It is certain that this act requires amendment in many particulars. The restriction to the fum of 100/. feems to be against reason. It is true, as the writer takes notice, that for a col. a man may become a bankrupt, and if bufinefs was to be done in a fummary way for debts above that fum, the fees of the great-feal, &c. would be greatly leffened. But, (as our author remarks, and others before him have obferved) even in cafes of bankruptcy, no valid reafon can be given, why debtors under that fum fhould not be intitled to the relief which thofe acts afford. Art. 8. Some farther Remarks on Naval Affairs, in which is a fair and impartial Enquiry into the Right which Englishmen have by the Treaty of 1674, of taking Enemy's Property, found aboard Neutral Ships. 8vo. IS. Davis. This writer pathetically bewails the dishonour which has befallen the flate, by reafon of the abuses committed by our privateers, and propofes feveral regulations to be obferved in granting Letters of Marque for the future. He likewife, recommends feveral fenfible expedients for the improvement of the royal navy. Among other things, he condemns the practice of raifing men to command according to feniority, and obferves very justly that, tried and experienced virtue, ought always to have the preference of prefumptive virtue.' He alfo exclaims against the practife of removing captains from one ship to another; and of preffing men from on board his Majefty's fhips without any urgent neceffity: for it is impoffible, he adds, at that rate, that any captain fhould make himself acquainted with his men, or his men with him, which on many occafions, he obferves, is of infinite confequence.' Towards the conclufion, he takes occafion to fhew the advantages of a naval war over a continental one. And as to our American colonies, he thinks, that at the fame expence we put ourselves to in fending European forces there, we could raife and maintain four times the number of American ones, who are better skilled in that manner of bush-fighting than our own. With refpect to our right of taking enemy's property on board neutral ships, he does not feem to have advanced any thing new. Art. 9. A Propofal effectually to fupply the Royal Navy with Sea-men, at all times, without Preffing. By a young Gentleman. 8vo. Is. Lewis. This is a project for regiftring feamen, much in the fame manner as it is done in fome other countries. The fcheme is, however, attended 1 attended with many difficulties. In a time of war, when it is required that a fufficient number of failors be kept on foot, who will alfo, in one fhip or other, find conftant employment, our author's defign, with fome amendments, might anfwer the purpose: but in a time of peace, when a much lefs number of them will be wanted, they muft, notwithstanding their ferving regularly in their turns, remain out of employment a great part of their time. Who is to maintain them during that interval? For maintained, and even recruited they must be; fince, if their number be permitted to decrease, we shall not have hands effectually to supply the navy, at all times, without preffing. Our Young Gentleman does not seem to have confidered this. We would advife him, therefore, to add another article to his propofal, or, to get fome abler hand to provide for the maintenance of our fea-men in time of peace. POETICA L. Art. 10. Ode occafioned by the Success of Admiral Boscawen. By a Gentleman of the University of Oxford. 4to. 6d. Baldwin. Of Verfes, the prefent age is in no want. Monthly, weekly, and daily, the prefs teems with them; but here we meet with a rarity. Verfes written by a POET. SPECIMEN. Hark! the hoarfe guns in thundering vollies found, See, how they hurl fad defolation round, And sweep whole ranks, whole fquadrons, at a breath! Nor lefs, proud Gallia, where thy navies play, Nor tears, nor prayers, nor vows, avail to stay And found'ring plunges in the op'ning main. While Britain's flaughter-dealing fons pursue. 'Wake then, O, 'wake to glory, 'wake to fame, Art. 11. Hymns, &c. compofed on various Subjects: with a preface, containing a brief account of the author's experience, and the the great things that God hath done for his foul. By J. Hart. 12mo. I s. 6d. Waller. Mr. J. Hart is the fpiritual twin-brother of Mr. Cornelius Cayley, of whom we gave an account in the appendix to our nineteenth voJume. Which of the two may now be the best faint, we cannot pretend to discover; but it feems very clear that Mr. H. has been by far the greatest finner. Indeed we hardly ever read or heard of such a profligate as he declares himself to have been:-but these, it seems, are the Chafen Veffe's. Art. 12. Hymns and Spiritual Songs, adapted to the various II. Of those who are By James Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell is juft fuch another genius as Mr Hart; but a greater dealer in Fire and Brimstone. For example, in his Hymn on the miferies of the damned, he affures us, that in Hell The Glutton with luxurious meat, Art. 13. The Great Day. A Defcriptive Piece. abroad. 8vo. Is. Dod. Written We do not readily conceive for what reason the Author of this performance has thought proper to acquaint the public with its having been written abroad, unless he propofed to recommend it thereby to the difcerning Reader. For us, it is confeffed, we cannot fee any merit it derives from this circumftance; nor that any advantage can arife from the knowlege of it, except that of preventing a contention, in future ages, between Great Britain and other nations, about the birth-place of this furprizing production of human genius. The Gothic barbarifm, and monkish jingle, of rhime, has been fome time exploded, by the enterprizing Bards of the prefent age, as a restraint to which true genius ought not to be fubjected. Some respect has, indeed, hitherto been paid to numbers, but our Author, ftill more impatient of reftraint, and lefs fervile than his cotemporaries, has nobly dared to put a finishing stroke to all restrictions of poetical genius, at once, by cafting off the fhackles both of rhime and numbers together. Judge, Readers, for yourselves, from the following stanza, of the merits of the Great Day, a Poem, written abroad. Lo! as from the top Of fome vast hill Wide and immenfurable, I furvey Of all that ever have drawn mortal breath The From that dated hour, Of his new creatures, And gave the word, Be fruitful. To fuch degree man's teeming race The numerous inhabitants were fain And make themselves new fettlements. As countries grew populous, But hardly make the earth Confefs her treasures. Those who defire a more intimate acquaintance with this Poem, are referred to the work itself; containing twenty fuch ftanzas as the above-quoted. Art. 14. An Ode to the Right Hon. the Marchioness of Granby, in the Year 1758. 4to. Is. Newbery. A very high, tho' not a very fublime, performance. It abundantly be praises the Marquis of Granby; who, in return, we are afraid, will not be very ready to re-pay his Panegyrift in his own coin: but, perhaps, any other may be more acceptable. be more acceptable. How much, in more fubftantial payment, our Bard may deserve, the Reader is left to determine from the following specimen. STANZA I With awful port and carriage grand, Still Wonder, her finger her ruby lip preffing As flow, in order juft-the Heroes march'd along! Bb But |