this fuperb and luxuriant country in its leaft frequented parts.' Of the fubjects above mentioned three good plates are given.

But the account of Malham forms the fmaller part of the vo Jume: the Appendix is much larger, and confifts of three numbers, 1. Roads through Craven, 2. Height of mountains above the level of the fea; these two are very hort. 3. (which employs far the greateft number of pages), containing a pedigree of the Lambert family, and Memoirs of John Lambert, Efq; Major-general of the parliamentary forces, &c. How confiderable this man was during the violent contentions of the laft century, is well known to those who are acquainted with Englifh hiftory; and could judgment be divefted of prejudice, there is no doubt but all parties would unite in allowing him real worth and merit, whatever they might think of his party attachments. His abilities were certainly confpicuous; his birth and fortune were alfo refpectable. He was of Calton-Hall, in Craven, and his furviving fon, who married a daughter of Thomas Lifter, Efq; of Arnoldsbigging, dying in 1701, was interred in the church of Kirkby-Malham-dale. These circumstances naturally led our Author to the relation which is here given, He could not enter into particulars concerning the General, without enumerating many events of the civil war, in which he took so active a part. Several skirmishes and battles, in Yorkfhire, and other counties, are accordingly related. On the furrender of Oxford, Mr. Lambert,' fays this Writer, had the diflinguifbed honour of being appointed governor thereof. I call it a diftinguished honour, because it is the ftrongest evidence that his mind and character were esteemed equally liberal and heroic. One of the articles agreed to was for the preservation of the privileges, property, libraries, and public buildings of the univerfity: And furely (remarks Whitlocke), no action or agreement, either of war or peace, was ever more punctually obferved than this was; of which (continues he) I can give my perfonal teftimony." Another writer (Wood), not to be sufpected of partiality on that fide, fpeaks in a like manner concerning the public library, which, he adds, in feveral refpects had fuffered while it was poffeffed by the royal party.'

power.

Mr. Hurtley is a warm friend to liberty, civil and religious, and confequently very averfe to mere flate policy and arbitrary He therefore fometimes attacks and cenfures, justly and defervedly, the celebrated Mr. Hume, whofe agreeable, and in many refpe&s well-written hiftory, too evidently difcovers perverfe and partial principles. Mr. Lambert had nothing to do with the King's trial and execution; and he broke with Oliver Cromwell when the queftion about the regal title came to be agitated his oppofition to which deprived him of his offices and employments. It had been expected that at the Restoration

he

he would not have been excluded from the benefit of the royal aflurances of general pardon and oblivion. However, he was condemned to confifcation and exile; and he is faid to have fuftained, for near thirty years, this painful lot in the ifle of Guernsey, to which he was banished, with a manly and philofophic refignation. Fortunately for himself,' fays our Author, he was a man of learning and genius-fond of reading and science-endowed by nature with a firm and religious mind, a fine tafte, and, even in the midst of war's alarms, was a friend and amateur of the polite arts.' Mr. Hurtley used fome diligence to gain information concerning the employments to which Mr. Lambert was devoted in that long ftate of folitude: the chief particulars which could be attained are, that he was confined in Caftle-Cornet, and fometimes permitted to walk in the ifland, when he was principally engaged in gathering of plants: that he had a great taste and talent for botany, and was confidered as an excellent phyfician by the people, who reforted conftantly to the caftle for his advice; and that he gave a number of useful receipts to a gentlewoman of the country, who is remembered by many perfons now living, &c.

There are other curious particulars in this Appendix; but we must not enlarge.

ART. XX. Letters by a Farmer: Originally published in the Belfast Evening Poft: With feveral Alterations and Additions. 8vo. Belfaft. 1787. No Price.

HE well-informed Writer of these Letters, with warm

THE fentiments of beneficence, and glowing with the genuine

amor patria, exerts his utmost abilities to induce gentlemen of rank and fortune to use their influence in forwarding certain regulations, which he thinks would greatly tend to augment the manufactures, and improve the agriculture, of his native country. Though we have lived too long in the world, and have had too many opportunities of obferving the conduct of men of rank in fimilar cafes, to expect that the patriotic plans of this refpectable Writer will be carried into full effect; yet he has too much reason on his fide, not to give us room to hope that fomething may be done in confequence of thefe Letters, that wilt prove beneficial to fociety. Should no other benefit be derived from them, this publication will at leaft ferve to open the eyes of perfons of ordinary rank, with regard to many particulars that it imports them much to know.

The points on which this fenfible Farmer chiefly infifte, are: That the manufactures and agriculture of his native district are both checked in the progrefs of their advancement, by a practice, which, we are told, very univerfally prevails there, that of letting

fmall

fmall farms to the manufacturers, in confequence of which, neither agriculture nor manufactures can obtain that fhare of attention which is neceffary to carry them to full perfection :-That this evil would be greatly checked, were gentle and judicious measures adopted for inducing the manufacturers to live in towns or villages, where they could exercife their bufinefs without interruption from other avocations, and to leave the country to be chiefly occupied, and the fields cultivated, by farmers, properly fo called:-That the knowledge of the best methods of cultivating the ground would be much promoted by establishing focieties for encouraging agriculture, by means of premiums, and other excitements, in every county, or in fmaller districts, if it could be brought about; and that great benefits would refult from the introducing into general ufe the culture of certain plants that are as yet but little known in the part of the country where he lives.'

If

On each of these topics this judicious Farmer writes with great perfpicuity and force, candidly ftating all the objections that have occurred to the measures he has propofed, and answering them with a degree of moderation that feenis to respect even the prejudices of thofe for whofe conviction he labours. We are fatisfied that his general principles are well founded; but we are apprehenfive, that among the people themselves for whom he writes this will fcarcely be admitted. We have our doubts as to the univerfal efficacy of premiums for introducing new practices among an ignorant people; for as it is, in general, the young or the volatile part of the community, who think of ftarting for thefe premiums; and as fuch perfons often fail in their attempts, from precipitancy or heedlefinefs, or, if they fucceed, it is at an extraordinary expence; it often happens that judicious perfons are rather deterred, by thefe premature efforts, from adopting the practice, than encouraged to pursue it. however, premiums can in any cafe be of ufe, the plan which this Writer propofes is as likely to anfwer the purpofe as any other. We are difpofed to think, that had our Author exerted his influence to promote the inftitution of fmall focieties of farmers themselves, under proper regulations, whose business at their meetings fhould be, to enquire into the best means of improving the practice of agriculture, the minds of the leaft intelligent members of thefe focieties would be gradually enlightened by the remarks of thofe who are poffeffed of greater knowledge; and a defire to excel might thus be imperceptibly introduced. We have known inftances, where very good effects have refulted from focieties of this fort, where no premiums were given. Our Author himself would be an exceeding valuable member of an affociation of this kind; and had the obfervations he has here delivered, on the culture of turnips, cabbages, carrots, beans, and pease, been gradually unfolded in fuch a fociety of farmers, it would have given rife to the obviating of many

many little difficulties that the ignorance or prejudices of his neighbours would have fuggefted. His remarks on the culture of these plants, though they will afford little information to the farmers in this ifland, difcover much acutenefs, and may be of great ufe to those to whom they are addreffed. His experiments, in particular, are related with an accuracy and fcrupulous fidelity, that is highly praife-worthy. We therefore warmly recommend this treatise to the attention of the country-gentlemen in Ireland, and moft heartily join with its Author in the following truly patriotic prayer:

As far,' fays he, as appears confiftent with the national fafety and profperity, I moft fincerely wish all distinctions on account of religious opinions may for ever ceafe; and may universal benevolence, and that true fpirit of patriotifm, which defires to improve and perfect the agriculture, as well as the arts and manufactures, of this nation, influence, guide, and direct the nobility and gentry, to the eftablishment of commercial and agricultural focieties; or to the adoption of fuch measures, as to their fuperior wisdom and penetration may appear best calculated to promote these important ends.'

MONTHLY

CATALOGUE,

For JANUARY, 1788.

POLITICAL.

Art. 21. Political Obfervations on the Prefent State of Europe, relative to the recent Affairs in Holland, the present Commotions in France, and the Difputes between the Emprefs of Ruffia and the Turks; in which is impartially pourtrayed, the Characters of several Royal Heads of Europe. 8vo. Is. 6d. Baldwin. 1787.

OMETHING about Holland, France, England, Ruffia, Germany, the captivating Catherine, the cautious Jofeph, and all that, 1 Bayes would have it. The Author fays, My firft object, however, will be to take notice of the happy event that has lately taken place in refpect to the affairs of Holland. The part more particularly, that has occupied the attention of France; the civil commotions that at this moment rack the joints of that monarchial fabric, and the principle that Great Britain at fo dangerous a period fhould fupport, fo as to preferve, or rather augment, her own respectability in the fcale of nations; restoring her to her former grandeur, honor, and commercial profperity which at this moment, however ponderous her encumbrances are, in confequence of a long, and unfortunate difpute with her American colonies, and for which fhe is peculiarly indebted to her at prefent appellated Gallic friends; it is in her power to augment fo far beyond any former period of commercial profperity, as to enfure a fuccefsful iffue out of all her difficulties.'

The whole pamphlet is written in a ftyle fimilar to the foregoing involved, perplexed, and obfcure paragraph; and confifts, chiefly, of an imperfect account of the ftate of affairs in different parts of Europe.

The

The characters which is impartially pourtrayed,' furnish us with an invective against the French Queen; an account of the occultnefs in the Emperor's actions that cannot be fathomed; and the ambition of the Empress of Ruffia.'

Art. 22. A Letter to the Minority in the House of Commons who voted on the 24th of April 1787, in favour of a Motion for a Repeal of the Shop-tax. 8vo. I S. Debrett. 1787.

This fhop-keeper, for fo the Letter before us is figned, expreffes his gratitude to the Members of the Houfe of Commons who voted for a repeal of the fhop-tax; and advances many arguments to prove that the tax is partial and oppreffive :- An impoft on the perfonal effects and profits of the fhop-keeper, which it is utterly impoffible for him to raise upon the confumer.' If this is found to be really the cafe, fuch a tax ought undoubtedly to be repealed.

Art. 23. A Second Letter from Mr. Pigott *, near Geneva, to the Right Hon. William Pitt, on the Neceffity and Advantage of a Taxation on the Public Funds. 4to. 6d. Ridgway. 1767 t: Mr. Pigott, who reproaches the Minifter with the inattention fhewn to his former epiftle, now proposes a reduction of ten per cent. at once upon the whole capital ftock of the nation; and then a deduction of two per cent. from the annual intereft of the remainder, for fifteen or twenty years, toward payment of the national debt, and to establish our public credit: remarking, alfo, the great numbers of English refugees in France and other parts, most of whom he afferts to be driven away by the power of taxes, and violence of measures' (extravagance and fraud are overlooked), he recommends a tax on mortgages as fuperior to all other taxes,' which, he adds, ⚫ would produce an immenfe revenue.' Private œconomy and prudence at home, would produce more public good than any speculations formed at Pent, near Geneva.

EAST INDIES.

Art. 24. A Vindication of the Conduct of the English Forces, employed in the late War, under the Command of Brigadier-general Mathews, against the Nabob Tippoo Sultaun. 8vo. 1s. Debrett. 1787.

The

This vindication relates to the forces which ferved under General Mathews. These troops had the misfortune of being obliged to furrender to Tippoo Saib, who, regardless of the capitulation, treated them in the most treacherous and unmerciful manner. General, and many of his Officers, were cruelly and bafely murdered, and the reft of the army were thrown into prifon, where they experienced almost every fpecies of hardship that tyranny and inhumanity could invent. To add, if poffible, to this dreadful calamity, even the reputation and honour of the sufferers was attacked at home, and reports were fpread, afferting, that General M. and his troops merited (in a great degree) their wretched fate, by the enormities. which they had committed, and the cruelties they had exercifed on the fubjects of Tippoo, before he had it in his power to put a stop to

For the firft, fee Rev. vol. lxxvi. p. 438.

+ For 1787.