which the negroe flaves are treated in the West Indies, are a proof of his humanity. He confiders the abolition of flavery as impracticable; or, at least, he fears that it is an event which can only take place at a very distant period of time, and by flow degrees:' and he affures us, that he very fincerely hopes, that Parliament will give the fubject due confideration, and frame a code of laws for the government of the negroes, -as the French have wifely done.'

Art. 22. An Efay on the Slave Trade. 8vo. IS. Nicol. 1788. In this fhort effay, we have a sketch of the hiftory of flavery, drawn from much reading, and attention to the fubject. The Author appears (to ufe his own words, in the compliments which he pays to a preceding writer on the fame topic) to have been guided in this investigation, by philanthropy and historical knowledge.' The refult of his researches and reflections is, that he thinks the abolition of flavery is by no means advisable, with a view to Chriftian duty and benevolence, as it alfo appears impracticable in the light of political intereft.' He adds, I myself hate flavery, yet I wish that of the negroes to be ftill continued, under the eye of government, whofe duty it is to demand accounts of the treatment of flaves during their voyage to the Weft Indies;' and we muft add, that we think this duty indifpenfable, if this horrid commerce must be continued.The effay concludes with fome very proper hints for reftricting the duration of this kind of bondage to a certain number of years; after which he would recompenfe the flave with the bleffing of freedom.

Art. 23. Slavery no Oppreffion; or, fome new Arguments and Opinions against the Idea of African Liberty. Dedicated to the Committee of the Company that trade to Africa. 8vo. Is. Lowndes and Co. in Drury Lane. 1788.

One of this Writer's opinions is, that the profound ignorance' of the negroes keeps them humble and happy ;' and that they cannot poibly have the least relifb, or even conception, of the enjoyment of Liberty. With fuch impreffions on his mind, has this Writer filled his pamphlet, partly with what he may deem new arguments; and partly with the moft illiberal abufe of the benevolent advocates for the difcontinuance of the flave trade. He is, moreover, fo incorrect a writer, that we cannot help thinking him highly reprehenfible for offering fo very defective a production to the eye of the public. Many of the faults, however, with refpect to his language (befide thofe marked in his errata), he will probably place to the account of his printer.

Art. 24. A Differtation on the Manners, Governments, and Spirit of Africa. To which is added, Obfervations on the prefent Applications to Parliament for abolishing Negroe Slavery, &c. By S. Hollingsworth, author of the Prefent State of Nova Scotia and Canada t. 4to. 2s. 6d. Edinburgh, printed for Creech; and fold by Stockdale, &c. in London. 1788.

*The author of a <<

Propofal for the Confideration of those who intereft themselves in the Abolition," &c. See Review for Febru

ary laft, p. 159.

+ See Review, vol. lxxv. p. 282.

Thofe

Those who are defirous of information on the subjects here treated, will meet with confiderable gratification in the perufal of what this judicious and intelligent writer has here communicated to the public. He is a ftrenuous affertor of the abolition principle; but he would have it gradually executed; and he points out, very candidly, the mifchiefs that would certainly enfue from a fudden change in the ftate and fituation of the black flaves. The author writes with a proper degree of afsurance on this fubject, from perfonal experience and obfervation.

EAST INDIES.

Art. 25. Obfervations upon Mr. Sheridan's Pamphlet, intitled, "Comparative Statement of the Two Bills for the better Government of the British Poffeffions in India;" in a Letter from Major Scott to Sir Richard Hill, Bart. one of the Knights of the Shire for the County of Salop. 4to. 3s. Stockdale. 1788.

This answer to Mr. Sheridan does great credit to the abilities of its author.

In our laft, p. 345, we mentioned Mr. Sheridan's Publication with that refpect which we thought due to the diftinguished talents of the writer, and to the fpirit and ingenuity of the performance then under confideration. However, the Major's intimate acquaintance with Indian politics, and the affairs of the Eaft India Company, both abroad and at home, for a confiderable number of years paft, has enabled him to controvert, in a tone of great refpectability, almoft every point contended for in the Comparative Statement; and the fuccefs with which he feems to maintain his ground, affords a notable inftance of the advantage of ample and well-ftudied information in contending even with GENIUS, when its efforts, and its utmost range, are bounded by facts which lie open to the comprehenfion and judgment of the people at large.

Art. 26. A Letter from a Gentleman at Bengal, to his Friend in London; dated Calcutta, Sept. 8, 1787. Received by the Ravenfworth Packet. 8vo. IS. Stockdale. 1788.

Genuine, we fuppofe; and filled with the warmest encomiums on Mr. Haftings; in courfe, his perfecutors are mentioned with proportional difapprobation. The Author obferves, that the prefent difgraceful fituation of Mr. Haftings, is a matter totally incomprehenfible to the Bengal Indians; who, in their way, endeavour to folve the difficulty, by faying, that "he muft, by fome criminal action, unknown to us, have offended God's vicegerent on earth the great King GEORGE. He, [Mr. H.] as well as we, are but his Majefty's poor flaves, whose will is the law, to which we muft bow the neck, and fubmit."

Art. 27. The Speech of John Anstruther, Efq. M. P. at a very numerous Court of Proprietors of India Stock, O&. 24, 1782. 8vo. IS. Stockdale. 1788.

The Editor of this fpeech ftyles it, very juftly, a nervous defence of Mr. Haftings. He introduces it with fome remarks on the fingular fate of Mr. H. whofe actions have been viewed, by the fame men, in lights totally oppofite, at different times; of which he pro

Gg 4

duces

duces fome remarkable inftances. He adds, We have not felected the following speech of Mr. Anftruther with a view to remark that he has been inconfiftent, but because there is business in every line of it; every word is true.'

Art. 28. Proceedings of the Committee, chofen December 10, 1787, by a General Meeting of the Eaft India Company's Military Officers now in England. 8vo. Is. 6d. Debrett. 1788.

In our Review for April, Art. 29, 30, and 31, of the Catalogue, we mentioned three tracts, relative to the subject to which the prefent publication bears fome reference; and we then obferved, that a compromife had happily taken place, in regard to certain circumftances attending the recent appointment of four regiments, in his Majefty's fervice, to be ftationed in India. This new tract details the proceedings of the Company's military officers, now in England, in behalf of themselves, and of their brethren in the Indies, on the fubject of rank; it appearing, that a great part of the officers were to be appointed to the faid four regiments, from the Company's military establishment, whereby the officers remaining in the Company's fervice, of their feveral ranks, would have the feverest of all mortifications, the being fuperfeded by those whom, for a series of years, they have commanded.'

Accordingly, in purfuance of a general meeting of the Company's officers, application was made to the Court of Directors, and to Government, for redress of this impending grievance,-which was, at length, obtained by certain arrangements, the particulars of which are here given; together with copies of the letters, &c. that passed on this occafion, between the Court of Directors, the Minifter, and the Committee of Officers. We have, likewife, a copy of a letter, written by the latter, with a becoming fpirit and propriety, to the Directors, in confequence of an intimation, that his R. H. the Duke of York had recommended a Lieutenant from the Guards, to receive one of the Majorities in the new-raifed regiments, which his Majefty had graciously left to the Company, and which the Directors had before determined to bestow on the fenior of their own Majors.

Alarmed at this interference of his R. H. in a matter which tended fo materially to affect the honour and intereft of the Company's officers, the Committee addreffed the above-mentioned letter to the Court of Directors, praying them not to fuffer a precedent to be established, which might operate, in future, toward the final and total overthrow of all thofe immunities which the honourable Court had lately been inftrumental in procuring for them.-The iffue of this addrefs is not here mentioned; but, if we rightly recollect, the news-papers have informed the Public, that the Duke's application was, with great propriety, withdrawn.

INLAND NAVIGATION.

Art. 29. Obfervations on a "Defign for improving the Navigation of the River Severn, in the Counties of Salop, Stafford, Worcester, and Glocefter." 8vo. Is. Cadell. 1788.

Notwithstanding that the advantages arifing from inland navigation to the trade, manufactures, and agriculture of every country,

are

are now fo generally known and acknowleged, that any attempt to illuftrate them may probably be deemed fuperfluous; yet the laudable defign for remedying the defective state of the Severn navigation, has met with much oppofition from many inhabitants of Shrewfbury, Glocefter, &c. under the ill-founded notion, that a number of land-owners would be injured by floods, occafioned by the adjacent locks and wears. The objections raised against the plan for rendering the Severn navigable [for, in its prefent ftate, it can fcarcely be called a navigable river] are here ftated and answered, as we apprehend, in a very full and irrefragable manner; and the great advantages that will naturally refult from the projected improvement, are rendered fo manifeft, that (as far as we can pretend to judge) conviction muft follow an impartial perufal of the pamphlet. But there are minds, every avenue to which may be stopped by invincible prejudices, or, what may prove equally infurmountable, by mistaken notions of felf-intereft.

We cannot close this article, without laying before our Readers the following curious account of the extent of the feveral canal navigations which have, within these last 50 years, been made in this country, through various parts of it, which never before enjoyed the benefits of water-conveyance: a conveyance by which one horfe will draw as much weight as forty can draw upon land :

The Duke of Bridgewater's Canal

The Canal from the Trent to the Merfey, now called the
Grand Trunk Canal,

The Canal to the Severn, called the Staffordshire and Wor

cefterfhire Canal,

The Coventry Canal,

The Oxford Canal,

The Birmingham,

Do Fazeley,

Miles.

27

100

46 37 87

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal,

The Thames and Severn Canal with the Stroud,

22

17

100

37

12

18'

Art. 30. A Refutation of a Pamphlet, entitled, "The Anfwer of Philip Francis, Efq. to the Charges exhibited against him, General Clavering, and Col. Monfon, by Sir E. Impey, when at the Bar of the House of Commons;" to which is added, a Fac Simile Copy of the Petition of Nundcomar, burnt as a Libel, by the Common Hangman, in confequence of a Motion of Mr.

*The Author obferves, That the communication with Bristol is ftill very imperfect, on account of the defective ftate of the Severn navigation, which has never, in any refpect, been improved, but remains in its natural state, in many places fo fhallow, that in all dry feafons, veffels are long flopped and detained, and trade and commerce thereby much obftructed, -to the great injury of the manufacturer, the merchant, and the public in general.'

Francis.

Francis; with the Proceedings relative to it, in Council at Calcutta. 8vo. Is. 6d. Stockdale. 1788.

In the Review for March, we noticed the pamphlet afcribed to Mr. Francis; and of which the prefent tract is given as a refutation. As we must not pretend to enter into the particulars of this difpute, we shall only observe, in general terms, that the publication before us is well written; and that the Author, in common with all who appear on that fide of the question, is very fevere on Mr. Francis.

POLITICAL.

Art. 31. A Political Index to the Hiftories of Great Britain and Ireland: or, a complete Register of the Hereditary Honours, Public Offices, and Perfons in Office, from the earliest Periods to the prefent Time. By Robert Beatfon Efq. The fecond Edition, corrected and much enlarged. 2 Vols. 8vo. 15s. Boards. Robinfons.

1788.

Our Readers will find a circumftantial account of the firft edition of Captain Beatfon's very useful work, in our 75th vol. p. 64. It is now offered to the public confiderably increafed in fize, and enriched with new articles which feemed wanting in the former.

In his preface, the Author acknowledges the polite and liberal reception which he met with from feveral diftinguifhed perfons, when he lately vifited London for the purpofe of augmenting his compila.. tion. Public and private repofitories were opened to him, by which means he was enabled to trace the defcent of many ancient baronies to different noble families beyond the limits of his former information.

Befide increafing and correcting the articles in the former edition, many new ones are now added; the principal of which are, An alphabetical lift of the peerage of the three kingdoms;--a lift of the Speakers of the House of Commons from the reign of Henry III.-A lift of the emperors, kings, and potentates of the prefent ftates of Europe from the earliest records, and an account of their respective families.

A Supplement, containing an account of the duty and office of the Paymafter-general of the Land-forces, of the Treasurer of the Navy, and of the following officers of the Exchequer, viz. auditor, clerk of the pells, the tellers, the chamberlains, tally cutter, usher, paymasters of Exchequer bills; of the bufinefs tranfacted, and the profits arifing from each of them.

It cannot be expected that we should give a detail of the feveral additions in the old lifts; they are, however, confiderable; and we may without hesitation affure our Readers that in this work they will find almost every information which they may have occafion to look for, refpecting the peerage, and the public offices of the three kingdoms; and with many other particulars, the knowlege of which must greatly contribute to the elucidation of our British and Irish hiftories.

Art. 32. Obfervations relative to the Taxes upon Windows or Lights. A Commutation of these Taxes being alfo fuggefted, and a Tax affeffed from the internal Capacioufnefs, or Tonnage, of Houfes

pointed