ART. 36. A Letter to a Member of Parliament. 8vo. 48 pp. 15. 61. Debrett. 1803. At the prefent interefting crifis, every tract, the author of which profeffes to fuggeft measures of internal defence, undoubtedly has a claim to confideration. Yet we meet with but little novelty, or indeed utility, in the fentiments of the writer before us. He begins by accufing our government of "an actual breach of treaty, juftified on very flender grounds." This furely is no very great encouragement to thofe general exertions which he afterwards recommends. He intimates alfo (what we conceive to be rather mifchievous than falutary) a very ftrong opinion of the impolicy of the late war, and the fuppofed omiffions in framing the late treaty of peace. From most of his opinions alfo refpecting Ireland, and efpecially his cenfure of the Union, we totally diffent; but it would be idle at prefent to engage in fuch a difcuffion. We perfectly agree with him in the fentiment, that at this period it peculiarly "behoves every member of the commonwealth to contribute his mite of action or of thought towards the general good." Moft of his fuggeftions are, however, too loofe and general to be of much utility; and that of fending our Princes of the blood to feize on and rule over the provinces in America belonging to Spain, and even to Portugal (our own ally) appears wild and romantic. The recommendation to cultivate a clofe connection with the American States is more to the purpose; but this object cannot have efcaped the notice of government. The best of his propofed measures for internal defence, that of arming the people at large, is marred by the refriction propofed, that none of them fhall be obliged to act out of their refpective counties. The fame measure in fubftance (but without fuch a restriction) our readers need not be told, has fince been enacted by Parliament. ART. 37: Reflections on the Caufe of the War, and on the Conduct of bis Majefty's Minifters. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Hatchard. 1803. This is a very manly and fatisfactory publication, manly in its fpirit and fatisfactory in its argument. It perfpicuously details the provocations our minifters received; and extols, as we do, their dignified conduct, which was diftinguished by forbearance without conceffion. There is not one fingle caufe of the twelve which are here expatiated upon from his Majelly's Declaration, and which this writer ventures to call apoftolical reafons, which would not, individually confidered, have juftified avowed and immediate hoftility. But, collectively examined, they prefent fuch a body of deliberate and infolent offence as muit roufe, within the breaft of every Englishman, the frongest feelings of indignation, and the dignified defire of redrefs. This is a very able pamphlet, and we earnestly recommend it to univerfal attention. We recognize a vigour which we have before admired, and a spirit of parrictifm with which we are proud to claim fellowship. With refpe&t to what is faid of Hanover, we lament that the prophecy was untrue; but we admit the inference in its fullest extent. The new conftitution of Germany may be confidered as a mere piece of parchment, an empty farce, a preconcerted fraud. ART. ART. 38. The Day of Alarm; being a progreffive View of the Spirit and Defigns of the leading Men in France before and during the War, and principally fince the Peace, exhibiting the Plans and Maxims adopted in their Councils refpecting Foreign States. With Animadverfions upon the Allegations of French Writers against the Government and People of Great Britain: and Hiftorical Strictures on the Conduct of the French in their Intercourfe with other Nations. 8vo. 178 pp. Hatchard. 1803. From the general fcope and tenor of this tract, it appears to have been written, and probably was published, before the difcuffions with France, which produced the prefent war, were generally known. But the author, like most reflecting men, feems to have confidered the continuance of the late peace as very precarious. His object profeffedly is, to caution both the government and people against the infidious defigns of France, and to prepare the minds of men for that renewal of hoftilities which, fooner or later, he juftly confidered as unavoidable. His work developes the ambitious defigns of France in all ages, and efpecially fince the Revolution; juftifies the general policy of the British Government; and strongly reprobates the measures pursued by the Corfican ufurper, and the language held by him, both as to Great Britain and the rest of Europe, fince the Treaty of Amiens. His arguments are just, and his fentiments patriotic; but they are expreffed fo much in detail, that we fear the prolixity of this work will, in fome degree at least, fruftrate the good intentions of the writer. Many of his fpeculations have alfo been rendered fuperfluous, by the events which have fince occurred. Yet to those who are not very converfant with political writings, and whom the prolixity of this author does not difcourage, many of his reflections will be fatisfactory and useful. INVASION. ART. 39. Unanimity recommended. By W. Burdon, A. M. 8vo. 26 pp. 6d. Mitchell, Newcastle upon Tyne; Oftell, AvemariaLane, London. 1803. Mr. Burdon has hitherto been known to us only as an affailant of the Purfuits of Literature, an enemy to the late war and late ministry, an admirer of Buonaparte, and a friend to all the liberality and rage of liberty which have fpread depravity and flavery over fo large a part of the continent. At this moment, a volume of Effays by him, "entitled "Materials for Thinking," in which Buonaparte is panegyrized through nearly 50 pages, remains on our fhelves, from our unwillingnefs to plunge into a mafs fo contrafted to our fentiments, and fo difgutting to our feelings. The prefent war, and the causes of it, have opened the eyes even of this prejudiced obferver; and he confeffes, that his former fa See our volumes, xvi. p. 691; xvii, 667; and xx. 445. vourite, vourite, the French Conful, has either changed his character, or difcovered it to be marked by the most "rapacious ambition," which we think he had before discovered in every step of his political life. Mr. Burdon, however, is now convinced of his true character; and, though he ftrenuously defends his own confiftency, he labours, in this tra, which therefore we notice before his larger work, to promote, extend, and confirm that UNANIMITY which fimilar convictions have rendered fo general in the country. As there are perfons, perhaps, on whom the opinion of fuch a writer will make more impreffion, than that of any author habitually loyal, we fhall cite a few paffages from this tract. Let the defpot of France be taught moderation, or let Frenchmen throw off the yoke of his tyranny!" P. 18. "Whatever fpeculative, or even practical differences of opinion, may exist among men of different parties, on many great conftitutional points, on the question of reform... of eftablishments... of toleration... and various other fubjects, which will always divide the opinions of men, in governments which have been long established; it is to be hoped that these will all be laid afide for the prefent, that nothing may disturb our unanimity, or pally our efforts, against the common enemy of our repofe and liberty. Let us have no divided efforts, no partial contribution, no hanging back in the day of baule.” P. 19. "The confequences of defeat must be dreadful to all of us, whether we are to contend abroad or at home. In the first inftance, it must be bumiliation and fubmiffion to the terms of France; in the last, it must be entire fubjugation. Qur conftitution which has produced many practical bleflings, mult be overturned to make room for French fooleries; tor dumb councils, and nominal orators, for confuls and pro-confuls, for prefects and prætors, for all the infulting mockery of LIBERTY, and the effentials of SLAVERY. Thefe may fuit a people who are not worthy to be free, but they will never fit eafy on the necks of Britons." P. 25. We cannot fay that we approve of every fentiment delivered in this tract, fome indeed are, in our opinion, both falfe and mifchievous; but its general tendency is good, and therefore we have thus noticed it. But, in the clofe, we would fuggeft to Mr. Burdon, that if qur Conftitution, with the defects he may fancy in it, produces more practical and useful liberty than any other that has yet exifted, he, as well as we, fhould be very jealous of thofe fpeculations, which, though they feem to promife amendment, might on trial produce deftruction. ART. 40. A few Words-Refift, or be ruined. 8vo. 18 pp. 6d. Hatchard, &c. 1803. A well-intended, not ill-argued, but not very well written tract, on the circumstances of the prefent time. The author is of opinion, that we should not ftand merely on the defenfive; but attack France wherever she is vulnerable. This advice feems to be wife: but not that in the last fentence-" let even our altars be forfaken, until we accomplish an honourable fecurity." We are not ashamed to be num I bered bered with thofe who are perfuaded, that when once our altars are for faken there will be no more fecurity. ART. 41. A Warning Voice; or, the frightful Examples and awful Experience of other Nations, fubmitted to the ferious Confideration of the People of Great Bruam and Heland: with a true but shirt Hiflory of Buonaparte. By George Briton. 12mo. 3d. Hatchard. 1803 Whether this is a fictitious name or not, we neither know nor care, it is fuggefted by the true fpirit of a Briton; and we recommend it for circulation to thofe patriotic individuals who, on the prefent emer gence, have fpared no pains or coft to elevate the fpirits, and enlighteń the understandings of their countrymen. ART. 42. Strike or Die: Alfred's First Letter to the Good People of England. 12mo. 3d. Hatchard. 1803. This publication is of a fimilar tendency and merit with that which precedes; and is a collection of known facts, in which the atrocities of the French, in various parts of Europe, have been more particularly confpicuous. May our countrymen take warning by the numerous and awful examples which these pages exhibit, and adopt, univerfally, Alfred's motto, strike or die! MISCELLANIES. ART. 43. The Pic Nic. In Two Volumes. 12mo. 225 and 267 pp. 10s. 6d. Hughes, Wigmore-Street; Faulder, &c. 1803. Much rational amufement and information are contained in thefe very neat volumes, which comprise fourteen numbers of a weekly paper, continued thus far, and then fucceeded by another, called the Cabinet. For this change we undertake not to account; the Paper here republished seems to have had fufficient merit to be fopported and continued under the fame name; but it has been otherwife decided by the perfons concerned. The Pic Nic is now prefaced by an account of the Society called by that name, and a refutation of the calumnies vented in the public papers against it. The former of thefe, being fhort, we fhall infert, to make the truth more generally known. In the early part of the year 1801, Col. Henry Greville propofed, with the affiftance of M. Texier, to give a little theatrical fête to a felect party of his acquaintance. It was, indeed, intended to be a very confined exhibition; but the applications for admiffion were fo numerous, that the expence became an object of serious confideration. To leffen this inconvenience, it was propofed that the fupper fhould be Pro Nic, that is, each perfon invited was to fend a dish. According to this regulation the fête took place; and every perfon prefent acknowledged the fatisfaction of paffing an evening of fuch ra tional amufement, and divested of the monotony of a rout. In short, fo much cheerfulness was feen, and fo much honett pleasure enjoyed, at at this entertainment, that it was propofed to renew it in the following winter, on the plan of a regular establishment, which was to be limited to a certain number of fubfcribers, among perfons of the first fashion, to meet once a fortnight, to enjoy the amufements of acting, mufic, and dancing, and to conclude with a fupper, and catches and glees." P. iv. This is the chief part of the account; and it is added, that the whole was included between the hours of nine and twelve, and that cards and dice were totally excluded. This Faper, which originated among the fubfcribers to the amusements, contains many humorous and pleafing Effays, and many pieces of poetry poffeffing merit, in various ftyles. From the latter, we felect the following well-drawn character of Dr. Johnfon. "Herculean ftrength, and a Stentorian voice, Of wit a fund, of words a countless choice: When will this nation fee his like again?" Vol. i. p. 73. We might mention feveral other poetical excurfions; fuch as the Verfes to the Invifible Gil, p. 114; the Epigrams, p. 210; the lively Song to Hope, vol. ii. p. 47; the Printer's Cauldron, p. 148; and many more. Of the profe Effays, many alfo might be pointed out, and particularly thofe that are political; in which are the foundeft opinions we have feen, on the conduct of France and England immediately before the prefent war. But we cannot further expatiate; and muft refer our readers to the book, which deferves their notice. ART. 44. The Hiftory of the Maroons, from their Origin to the Eftablifhment of their Chief Tribe at Sierra Leone, including the Expedi tion to Cuba, for the Purpose of procuring Spanish Chaffeurs, and the State of the land of Jamaica, for the last Ten Years, with a fuccine? Hiftory of the Island previous to that Period. In Two Volumes. 8vo. 16s. Longman and Rees. 1803. That a body of flaves, not exceeding four hundred in number, fhould for a long and protracted period keep the whole Island of Jamaica in alarm, and feveral thoufand of difciplined troops at bay, feems an event out of the ordinary courfe of human experience. Yet this was literally the fact; nor did this ferocious band yield to far fuperior forces, till they had put great numbers of their oppofers to the fword, and were threatened with a new, and to them the only formidable, mode of warfare; namely, that of being hunted from their rocks |