the common law of this realm.' Cafes are produced to fubftantiate the charge. The fourth is relative to a caufe concerning a difputed account, in which Sir Elijah Impey is charged with having, in the undue execution of his office, committed various outrages, indecencies, and profanations the most abominable to the feelings of the Gentoo natives of India, and the most scandalous to any civilized nation. The fifth Article charges Sir Elijah with accepting the office of judge of one of the courts of the Eaft India Company, and receiving, as fuch, a falary of 8000l. per annum; when by the A&t for eftablishing the fupreme Court he was prohibited from accepting any place of office from the Company, and from receiving any falary in lieu of fervices done for the Company. The fixth Charge concerns the affairs of the Princeffes of Oude; in which Sir Elijah neglecting the office of Chief Justice, travelled round the country in the character of a folicitor, collecting affidavits for fupporting Mr. Hastings in feizing the properties of these unfortunate Princeffes. Such is the out-line of thefe Articles of impeachment: were we to enter into the particulars of each, we should much exceed our bounds, and probably even then our abridgment would not give that fufficient information concerning these intricate affairs which may be obtained by the perufal of the publication before us. IMPEACHMENT of Mr. HASTINGS. Art. 47. Minutes of Warren Haftings, and Philip Francis, Efquires. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Stockdale. 1788. These Minutes are selected from the reports of the Secret Committee, and contain the fubftance of the tranfactions in Council at Bengal, relative to the differences between Mr. Haftings and Mr. Francis; and, though not published with that intention, fome readers, no doubt, will infer, that they afford a fufficient juftification of the House of Commons, for not fuffering Mr. Francis to be a Member of the Committee for managing the impeachment of Mr. Haftings. Art. 48. The Anfwer of Warren Haftings Efq; to the Articles * exhibited by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgeffes in Parliament affembled, in the Name of themselves and of all the Commons of Great Britain, in maintenance of their Impeachment against him for High Crimes and Mifdemeanors, fuppofed to have been by him committed. Delivered at the Bar of the Houfe of Peers, Wednes day, Nov. 28th, 1787. 8vo. 4s. Boards. Stockdale. 1788. It is impoffible for us to give an abridgment of thefe Anfwers to the numerous articles of impeachment exhibited against Mr. H. We fhall therefore only inform our readers, that they appear to be drawn up with great judgment and caution. Mr. Haftings replies to each article feparately; and concludes with a general exculpation of himfelf from the charges which have been brought against him. As to the fufficiency of his defence, we prefume not to offer our opinion: the Members of the great tribunal, appointed to examine the facts, * For an account of which fee Review for August last, page 155 and and determine the cause, are the only proper judges of the validity of the impeachment, or the veracity of the Governor's answers. MISCELLANEO U S. Art. 49. Extrait de la Requête addreffée au Roi par M. de Calonne, Miniftre d'Etat. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Robson, &c. 1787. Abridgment of the Memorial addreffed to the King of France, by M. de Calonne, Minifter of State. Tranflated from the French by W. Walter. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Robfon, &c. 1787. In our Review for November laft, page 362, we made mention of M. de Calonne's Requete, or memorial at large, touching his unfortunate fituation in being profcribed by the King and Parliament on the charge of crimes which he declares to be imaginary; the fuggeftions of the enemies of his master and of himself. This however is a matter to which it is impoffible for Reviewers, or indeed for Englishmen of any defcription whatever, to speak with certainty and precifion. The bufinefs is complex and involved in an uncommon degree. With refpect to the abridgment of this memorial-a memorial which, from its extraordinary spirit, the Briton or American might be proud to own-the publisher obferves, I thought that many perfons who either cannot or will not fpare the time to read publications of fuch confiderable length (the memorial being a quarto volume of 212 pages), would be happy to have extracts of the most interefting parts, properly connected, and feparated from the calculations, &c. the more fo as the extracts offered to the public have the advantage of being literally felected from the most striking paffages of the Author. In this opinion we readily concur.. Art. 50. Authentic Adventures of the celebrated Countess Valois de la Motte, from her Birth to her Escape from Prison: including the whole Tranfaction with Cardinal de Rohan, relative to the Diamond Necklace. Tranflated from the French. 12mo. 2S. Kearfley. 1787. The Countefs de la Motte, who may be placed with the honourable Mrs. Greeve as a fwindler, but who certainly furpaffes the Englishwoman in cunning and addrefs, has excited the attention of the public in an uncommon degree. This lady has endeavoured to enforce a belief that fhe is defcended from a natural fon of Henry II. of France, of the race of Valois, and fhe has therefore added Valois to her family name. This claim to a royal though illegitimate original, our Author labours to invalidate, and from his arguments we conclude him to be right, if it was worth while to be right in such a point of inquiry, In thefe adventures, in which, by the way, there is much of extravagance and feeming romance, the intriguing spirit of Madame de la Motte is particularly fhewn. No new light, however, is thrown on the affair of the necklace, and, perhaps, till the Countess has published her narrative of that transaction, and which * A woman who pretended to be related to a noble family, and who, for divers capital frauds by her committed, was, if we remember right, fentenced to tranfportation for life, the he has promifed to do, no decifion can properly be made. The truth, and nothing but the truth, is now, with fome impatience, expected from her. She has escaped the power and malice of her enemies, and has therefore no longer occafion to prevaricate. In the work before us, the Count de Caglioftro, who has been charged by our he roine as a principal in this inimitable juggle, is reprefented as perfectly pure and immaculate. Art. 51. The Contraft: or the oppofite Confequences of good and evil Habits, exhibited in the lowest Ranks of rural Life, for the Benefit of intelligent Servants, and the beft Proficients in Sunday Schools. 12m0: 3 s. 6d. Boards. Cadell, &c. 1787. Many very important moral inftructions are here conveyed through the medium of a natural and interesting story, in a manner well adapted to the understandings of thofe for whofe benefit it is defigned. We heartily recommend it, as worthy of a place in the catalogue of useful books. Art. 52. A Short Account of the late Dr. John Parfons, Profeffor of Anatomy at Oxford; Dr. Richard Huck Saunders, of London ; Dr. Charles Collignon, Profeffor of Anatomy at Cambridge; and Sir Alexander Dick, of Preftonfield. From the Edinburgh Medical Commentaries, Vol. X. p. 322, &c. 8vo. 1s. Murray. 1787. This pamphlet contains a fhort biographical account of each of thefe four Phyficians: we pretend not to determine on the authenticity of the particulars here given; nor have we the leaft reafon to doubt the fidelity with which they are executed. Art. 53. Political Mifcellanies. Part I. By the Authors of the Rolliad and Probationary Odes. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. fewed. Ridgway. 1787. We must credit the title-page; for the authenticity of the pieces here collected, as we fee at the bottom of it, the name of the bookfeller through whofe hands the celebrated Rolliad, and the Probationary Odes, were prefented to the public. Some of the articles are anti-ministerial election fquibs, thrown out during the late conteft for Weftminster; others are kindred jeux d'efprits, which appeared, at different times, within a few years paft; but the chief, and the best pieces, in our opinion, are the " Probationary Ode extraordinary, by the Rev. W. Mafon *, M. A." and "the Statesmen, an Eclogue;" in which the Marquis of Lanfdowne and Mr. Pitt are the characters introduced. The whole of this affemblage of fugitive wit, is ftill capable of affording entertainment, notwithstanding the lapfe of time fince the jefts here repeated first fet the tables at the Shakespeare and the King's Arms in a roar. Art. 54. A Reply to Philip Thicknesse's Letter. Published by the Au-. thor of the Medical Cautions +. 8vo. No Price nor Bookfeller. 1787. Some private quarrels have given rife to this production, the greateft part of which can only be intelligible to perfons acquainted with the parties, and the particulars of their difputes. The pamphlet contains much severe perfonal abuse, whether defervedly or unde * After all, this freedom with the names of respectable characters, ought not to be deemed allowable. ↑ Dr. Mackittrick Adair; fee Review for Aug. 1787. p. 171. fervedly servedly bestowed we know not, nor do we perceive in what respect the public can be interested in it. POETRY. Art. 55. The Critics, a Poem. By Juvenis. 4to. 2s. Richardfon. 1787. The Author rails at critics: this, without feeing his verses, our experienced readers will think a bad fign*. Good writers, not being afraid of good judges, never revile them; but rather wish to obtain their fuffrages. Certainly the opinion of one difcerning reader, i. e. a Critic, is worth that of fifty who want learning, or taste to difcriminate between the beauties and defects of an Author. This Poet feems to have formed other ideas; for inftance: 'CRITICS the name the subtle murd'rers bear; At that curs'd name, the mufe can fcarce forbear But why all this furious rage?' Wherefore is the young Gentleman in fuch a terrible taking? The Critics, he may reft fatisfied, will not be his worst enemiest. He has moft to fear from himself : of which this little article affords a ftriking proof. Art. 56. The Story of Le Fevre, from the works of Mr. Sterne, Put into Verfe by Jane Timbury. 8vo. 1s. Jamefon. 1787. If the original Author of the truly affecting ftory of Le Fevre could return from his grave, and read what has been done by this putter of that admirable compofition into verfe, the degradation which his work has fuffered, would certainly make the "parfon fwear" worse than did Uncle Toby, when he refolved that the poor fick Lieutenant fhould "not die ;"-perhaps as bad as Dr. Slop did, when he cut his thumb. Art. 57. Female Virtues: A Poem. 4to. 2 s. Cadell. 1787. The praises of modefty, truth, induftry, cheerfulness, and other female virtues, are fung in ftrains, which, if not highly poetical, are natural and pleasing. The piece merits the attention of thofe for whofe amusement and instruction it was written. Art. 58. The Fane of the Druids. Murray. 1787. A Poem. 4to. 2s. 6d. The particulars which are preferved concerning the Druids, are well fuited, both from their nature, and from the obfcurity which time has thrown over them, to furnish a theme for poetical defcription. This writer has happily seized the idea of exhibiting, in the drefs of poetry, the tenets, rites, and customs, of this ancient race, as far as any veftiges of them remain. The defcription is wrought up in the form of an interefting tale; the writer has thrown over the narrative a lively colouring of fancy, and has expreffed his conceptions He It was not thus that Mr. Pope began his poetical career. courted the acquaintance of men who were older, more experienced, and more learned, than himself; men who were juftly honoured with "the Critic's NOBLE name;" and he profited by their observations and remarks. But Pope was the Poet of GOOD SENSE. Such wits their nuisance manfully expose, And then pronounce juft judges learning's foes; If foes to learning, they'd be friends to you.' YouNG, in eafy and harmonious verfe. In his notes he has collected the principal facts refpecting his fubject, and difcuffed feveral doubtful points, with much ingenuity. Art. 59. Poems, by J. Donaldfon, Author of the Elements of Beauty. 4to. 2s. 6d. Murray. 1786. These small pieces, though not deftitute of harmony, have too little fentiment or imagery to leave any impreffion on the fancy, or the heart. The following is a fair specimen : ESTIMATE of PLEASURE. • Pleasures moving human mind, The whole confifts of 24 pages, loosely printed. Art. 60. Minor Poems; or Poetical Pieces, never before published. Collected by L. Ker, M. B. 4to. Is. Law. 1787. SPECIMEN. The DEATH of the Gops. An Ode written in imitation of Pindar. 'I made the Mufes fick By a new fong.' You have likewife turned the ftomachs of your Reviewers, Sir-And yet it is well known that they are obliged to swallow many a nauseous draught. But to proceed Not invoking their aid And their hearts were afraid! They are dead, they are gone, And I'll follow my blow; The Gods all anon From Jupiter down to his Godfhip below. Your poetical gods Shall no longer survive ; At least it is odd's That they presently die, If I am alive, From the combat victorious return'd; The hero is Ker, Who alone made the war, See their names and their titles are burn'd.* Alas! |