" "the fpirit natural to a minority, who from the fame quarter, not from the "compliments of bithops, or prefents "from maids of honour." We know the Diffenters are a minority; and we know too, from their explicit declarations, how much they afpire to be a majority. We underland Mr. H. is the fucceffor of the late Mr. Robinfon in his meeting near Cambridge. 190. A Charge by John Clayton; a Sermon by Benjamin Davies, D. D.; with an Introductory Addrefs, by Thomas Towle, B.D. All delivered on Wednesday, July 29, 1791, at the public Separation of the Rev. James Knight to the Paftoral Office in the Church of aubich the late Rev. John Rogers was Paftor. WE have here the whole procefs of a Calvinistic ordination. The text of the fermon is Philip. ii. 1, 2. Mr. R. was paftor of a congregation in Southwark 45 years, and died, in his 74th year, Sept. 2, 1799. 191. A British Freebalder's Addrefs to his Countrymen on Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man." 192. Plan fubmitted to the Publick by the Society for the Improvement of British Wool. THE directors have it now in their power to communicate to the publick a more particular account of their plan of directing their attention to the particular breeds of theep, for the hilly parts, the lowlands, the iflands, and foreign countries. Among various experiments on theep take the following, for cloathing them with common, unbleached, or green linen, done over with Lord Dondonald's tar; by which the bad effects of wet, more prejudicial to them than cold, will be prevented. The covering of each does not exceed 74. and will, with proper attention, probably last two or three years. This plan is figned "John Sinclair, Chairman." 193.1 Wool encouraged without Exportation; or, Practical Obfervatioms in Wool and the 11 len Manufature. In Two Parts. Part Icontaining Strictures on Appendix, No 4, to a Report made by a Committee of the Higbe land Society on the Subject of Shetland Fool. Part II. containing a brief Hiflory of Wool, and the Nature of the Woollen Minufacture as conneed with it. By a Wiltshire Clothier, F. A. S. 8vo. THIS Wiltshire Clothier and F.A.S. has united to twenty-five years experience on his fubject no inconfiderable flock of reading. Both together have furnished him with a fund of useful obfervations. He controverts those of Dr. Anderfon on the manufacture of wool in England, and contends that he was mifled by Rapin as to the price of that article in 1337. Our author argues against the exportation of it, that on every 20 thillings worth fent abroad, there is above 60 fhillings worth of labour taken from the community. Whether the exportation, of raw as well as manufactured wool would, or would not, be a public benefit to the kingdom, writes like a perfon well acquainted remains fill undecided. Mr. Wanfey with his fubject; and to his hiftory of wool and the woollen manufacture, adds many valuable and useful facts. which Dr. A. appears to know little of, Such a writer deferves the title of ed in the Archaologia, where Mr. W. F.A.S.; and if fuch effays were inferthas already appeared, they would im prove it: whereas Dr. A. is too mifcellaneous and hacknied a writer.-Mr. W. throws out fome judicious remarks on the use of machines in the cotton and woollen manufactures. In order to determine on the expediency of exportation towards encouraging the growth of wool, three very material points are to be confidered. Firft, Is it probable that, by exportation, a greater quantity of wool will be produced? Second, Will more employment be found for our own labourers, and of courfe more benefit accrue to the publick, from the exportation of wool? Third, Does the exportation of wool tend at all to the advantage of our rivals in trade, and confequently injure our own manufacturers? The well-in formed and judicious writer of the work before us feems to have weighed the fe feveral particulars with mature deliberation, and to have proved, inconteftably, that it will be more politic to prohibit than to allow the exportation of wool as a raw material. To demonftrate his opinion, he observes, p. 26, "The 1038 Review of New Publications. "The manufacturers of this island are the The ma In the markets at home the woolgrower will find fufficient encourage. ment; exportation, therefore, is needlefs. It is more than needlefs; it is productive of certain lofs to the community: for, fays the writer, "It should be remembered, that while the clothier or manufacturer is working round his profit of 20 s. the various people he employs make, on the fame wool, at least an hundred fhillings profit; two-thirds of which are laid out in purchafing the produce of the land, to the great advantage of the Jandholder. A good trade, fully encouraged at home, becomes the beft poffible encouragement to the wool-grower, who, generally fpeaking, is alfo a farmer. The fubject is much mifreprefented by those who affert that a foreign market, in our present state of improvement, would benefit the woolgrower. It should be always taken into the fame argument, that on every 20s. worth of wool fent abroad, there is above 60s. worth of labour taken from the community, who, in lieu of that deprivation, must subsist on fomething, and that must ultimately fall on the landholder." p. 27. "A pack of English combing-wool is worth about 12d. per lb.; but when made into fagathies, or fine camblets, will employ 202 perfons for a week, who will earn upon that pack of wool 431. ros. If into stockings, 184 (additional) perfons will receive wages thereon, to the amount of 561. If, inftead of being manufactured, this pack of wool is exported, it will employ one cart and one horfe for one or two days, part of a fhip's crew for three days, and produce, when at Life, about 161.: but if first manufactured and then exported, would produce 681.; balance of lofs to this country on one fingle pack of combing-wool, 521." p. 65. The national advantage derived from the home-markets feems of itself a fufficient reafon for prohibiting the exportation of wool. But, in addition to this argument for non-exportation is the confideration, that "the long combing "wool is coveted by the French for "their fifanes, and other worsted "Atuffs." p. 32-34. Under fuch circumstances, it is furely a justifiable policy to withhold from our competitors an article which we confi. der as conducive to their intereft; fince, by communication of that article, we enable them to vie with our own trade [Nov. in ftuff manufactures. In the First Part of his work the writer controverts fome pofitions of Dr. Anderfon, and gives a comparative view of the price and quantity of wool ftates too, that "in the most flouriling at different periods of this country. He "times of Henry II. there were not "near 500 weavers in the whole realm "of England; a number so insignifi"cant, that every petty town in Flan"ders and Brabant could produce as 66 ence, he concludes the fuperiority of many." p. 18. Hence, by fair infer Flemish to English manufactories at that æra.-In the Second Part he recommends the growth of fine wool; and intimates the means by which the increase of that article may be promot ed. A separate breed of theep, downpafturage, and attention to the managethe wool-grower. ment of their flocks, are pointed out to marks on the utility of machines, and Mr. W. concludes with pertinent recombats the popular prejudice againft the introduction of aids fo indifpenfibly neceffary in the Weftern counties. "The adopting of thefe machines to the "woollen manufacture will occafion an "increasing demand of wool, and there"by greatly encourage the wool-grower, "and enable the manufacturer to give a "better price." p. 70. The hiftorical deductions in this pamphlet fhew confiderable research; the arguments against exportation feem ed rather on the experience of facts than to carry conviction, as they are found◄ on the theories of speculation. 194. Lectures on Political Principles. By the THE bafis of thefe Lectures is, a clofe and regular review of Montelquieu's Spirit of Laws, carried down to quainted with that popular work need the eighteenth book. Our readers acbefore us. Modern philofophers, having not therefore be told the plan of this traced facts and experiments up to immutable principles in natural knowledge, are now transferring their acumen to the thefe principles our author difcovers fcience of politicks. In fearching for confiderable address. And though we us in the preface, of doubting whether mean to use the free permition given the principles he endeavours to establish be be demonftrable or vifionary, we fhall find no difficulty in admitting that he has frequently placed thofe of Montefquieu in the latter predicament, whofe metaphyfical dreams of the origin of fociety, whofe flattering rhapfody on imaginary perfections in the Englif Conftitution, and political myfticifm in regard to the operation of phyfical causes on the mind, are perhaps treated with fuccefsful feverity. As the author informs us, in his preface, that the defign of thefe Lectures was rather to raife than to fatisfy a fpirit of inquiry in the young perfons whofe ftudies he directs, the reader will be the lefs of fended though he fhould now and then remark a difpofition to cavil about words, and to multiply minute and captious differences. He is, however, upon the whole, neither a weak nor illiberal opponent. As a proof that he ranks not under the latter imputation, the follow ing fair and forcible fketch of his ad verfary's character will fufficiently demonftrate: "The genius of Montefquieu is of an order commanding admiration and respect. It is fertile and inventive in the art of difplaying wonderful treasures of heterogeneous know ledge. His talents in conftructing the principles of a fyftem are not equal to thofe he employs in drawing circumftances, from all imaginable quarters, to favour and fupport it. The predominant faculty of his mind is ima gination: his theory is fabricated from common prepoffeffions; as is generally the cafe in the fable of epic poems and plays: but his address in giving it plaufibility, the unaffected eafe with which extensive knowledge is ap plied, the pertinence and beauty of the images and allufions, and the charms of his ftyle, have raised him above the rank which he would have had a right to occupy with the first poets of any age or country. Mon tefquieu is, among Politicians, what Sterne may be among Divines; he affumes principles and truths; fearches the univerfe for circumftances to corroborate them; warmly interests the heart in their favour; and points and directs his language with a delicate and irrefiftible hand. Hence the aftonishing popularity of his writings. As grave, folid, and unornamented fermons are neglected for the more brilliant fallies of fentimental effays, the inftitutes of Juftinian, the works of Bodin, Harrington, Grotius, Puffendorf, Bacon, Hobbes, Stuart, and Hume, are frequently difcarded for the captivating charms of the Spirit of Laws. But I would not anticipate pbfervations which may, in future, obviously arife from the fubjects before u. I will only add, whatever reasons I may have to guard youthful candour, in studying Montefquieu, from the effects of his addrefs on doubtful principles, I have no inclination to check the most ardent fenfibility on the fubject of his humanity and benevolence. His talents will entitle him to admiration; but the goodnefs of his heart, an unremitting folicitude to meliorate the fufferings, and to promote the happiness, of mankind, will fecure to his memory the esteem and affection of all ages." Mr. Hobbes is alfo mentioned with tical reader decides on the juftice of this confiderable applaufe. While the polilet it not be thought invidious if we reencomium on the author of Leviathan, mark, that the panegyrick on this wri ter involves a fophiftical and pernicious infinuation, which furely the author could not defign to convey. "The prepoffeffions against Mr. Hobbes are evaporating; and his works might be as by a circumitance fill more exceptionable popular as they are abhorred, if not degraded than atheism; I mean infincerity. His political difquifitions are warped by mean and interested difpofitions to pay court to the Stuart family at its restoration to the English crown." that defpotic notions in politicks are But will any one seriously maintain, really lets exceptionable than atheiftical doctrines in religion? So grofs a folecifm in the principles of Hobbes, Mr. Williams himself, who has borne fuch ample and ready teftimony to his abili ties, cannot but attribute to the meanest infincerity. And if this be one of the prejudices against his writings, we are forry, if the fact be true, that it is be ginning to evaporate. It is now time to obferve, that our author's work is not a mere cavil upon Montefquieu; his critique on that wri to exhibit his own opinions. In fupport ter is rather the form in which he chufes of them, the reader will find much ingenuity and ftrong writing. Yet it may not be inapplicable to obferve, that a free ufe of phyfical metaphors in the difcuffion of moral fubjects has a tendency to miflead and perplex the reader, and to render the ftyle turgid and intri cate. The collected force of our au thor's reafoning would go to prove, that no facts recorded in hiftory, nor arguments adduced by Montefquieu, affect the poffibility of creating a body "which "fhall controul its members without "impeding their particular offices." Thus difmiffing all tendernels for prejudice, all regard to habit, all respect to antient ufage, he would have the ground cleared, 1040 Review of New Publications. cleared, and a conflitution laid de novo, correfponding with this perfect model in the minds of political philofophers. Referving, for the prefent, our private opinion of fuch a plan itself, and the arguments made ufe of to fupport it, we acknowledge, with pleasure, that he has dropped many valuable and important himes; among which are his fpirited and manly arguments on the fubject of a fuppofed equality of the human fpecies. This idea, he confeffes, is as ab furd as a propofal would be to render men of equal height, or to make them weigh an equal number of grains, and fuppofes that a defign to correct fuch imaginary errors of nature might give rife to the fable of the bed of Procruftes. After this ftrong and pointed ridicule of the ravings on the fubject of an equal diftribution of power and property, we were furprifed and concerned to find him, in the fequel, an intemperate declaimer against the order of nobility, which, under proper regulations, is certainly one of thofe wholefome inequalities. Before we conclude our extracts, we wish to recommend his ftrik. ing obfervations on the alarming and increafing influence of lawyers in our legiflature, to the ferious confideration of our countrymen : "Men educated to the law, accustomed to public fpeaking, pertinacious in the purfuit of objects, and flexible in their talents and confciences, are thought fit inftruments by leaders of political parties, and introduced into legislative affemblies in the face of a general and acknowledged maxim; 'thofe who may be interested in the execution of laws fhould have no influence on their formation. Modern statutes are contrived for the benefit of lawyers, not of the community, where they are generally abhorred." It is a pity that the author's zeal against defpotifm fhould have led him, in one infance, to misunderstand and mifreprefent what Montefquieu has ad. vanced on the fimplicity of civil and criminal laws in governments of that nature. He maintains, on the contrary, that Montefquieu is neither "juflified by fact, nor warranted by poffibility." And why? "Becaufe decifions muft "be as variable as the difpofitions of "all the pachas and governors of en"flaved provinces." But who does not obferve that Montefquieu fpeaks here of fimplicity as it refpects the eafy prosefs and operation of laws, not of inflexible uniformity in their application; which, abfolutely confidered, can never [Not's be accounted a bleffing, under any form of government. Mean time, it is a pious fraud in the votarics of liberty to pres tend that defpotic governments are not, from their fimplicity, adapted to business and dispatch. It is in vain to argue that the beft form of human policy cannot be exempt from fome mark of human imperfection. Each will have defects peculiar to itself; and it can be proved to demonftration, that free governments have as natural and unavoidable a tendency to corrupt the morals as defpotic forms have to depress the spirits of a people. Finally, it refts with the reader to determine whether the prefumption of natural philofophers does not lead them a little too far, when they would perfuade us that it is poffible to conftitute a government on mere principles of mechanifm; whether those technical allufions, which lend a fictitious colour to fuch hypothefes, do not, in fact, millead, by arguing from analogies which we really do not comprehend? Mathe matical people are fond of recurring to them. And the work before us teems with paffages fimilar to the following an attempt to refute that affertion of Montefquieu which would limit repub licks to a small extent of territory. "The beauty or utility of a machine does not depend on the quantity of matter em ployed in it, but on the skill with which it is conftructed. It is true, in our firft mechanical effays we confine ourselves to fmal fpaces and portions of matter. This is owing to defect of fkill, not to fixed relations of certain quantities, to certain kinds of machinery. Our first attempts are improved upon until the inventions we modeled as toys occupy any fpaces we chufe to affign them. This is the case in government,” &c. If this fort of media be admitted upon fuch questions as the prefent, we may look to fee, in due time, a fyftem of ethicks, as well as politicks, constructed on the neweft principles of mechanism; fuch as fhall evince what a miftake it was in Alcæus to affert, Ου λιθοι, εδε ξυλα, Οι τεχνα νεκτονων αι πολεις εισι In the mean time, as we have our doubts concerning the poffible application of fuch principles in combining thofe contractable materials called men into machines and engines, we had ra ther ftand by while the experiment is making in France and America, than be practifed upon even by that great political mechanick Dr. Adam Smith himself, 195. A Treatise on Tropical Diseases; on Mili- In the Differtation on the Climate of the West Indies, Dr. Mofeley has em braced every thing which relates to climate, and has given the peculiarities of this and almost every other climate, together with their various phænomena, and the effects and impreffions of their tranfitions, to which Dr. M. chiefly afcribes most febrile difcafes in tropical countries. This part of the work is enriched with a concife history of pulmonary phthifis, with fuch obfervations on its treatment, as far as relates to climate and fea-voyages, as make it highly important to thofe who have the care of people afflicted with this endemic of our own climate, and who may not have had thofe opportunities which Dr. M's medical purfuits have afforded him, in almost every part of the globe. Our author has confidered the construction of buildings for houses, hofpitals, barracks, &c. with great judgement; and his directions for feafoning the habit of body, living, cloathing, and guarding againft difcafes, are fuch as muft enable every perfon going to the Eaft or Weft Indies, or to any hot climate, to preferve their health. This fubject is fo methodically treated, that thofe deftined for tropical countries may have a perfect knowledge of what is moft proper for them, from their going on board the veffel which carries them, to their arrival; and for their guidance afterwards, during their residence, under every fituation and circumftance. This part of the work is of great importance to those who have the command of hips and regiments, as well as to individuals. Dr. M. difcuffes very fully the treat ment of the bite of mad dogs, and the mifchiefs from venomous inicêts and Lerpents. He defcribes the epidemic GENT. MAG. November, 1791. canine madnefs in St. Domingo and Ja.. Among other curious fa&s, Dr. M. informs us, that "In tropical countries "people are feldom affected with dan gerous pulmonic difeajes; idiotifm and "mania are very uncommon: and "though the moon has unquestionably great influence on crifes and relapfes, in continued and intermitting "fevers, yet lunacy is almost unknown; "and fcurvy and gravel are difeafes "feldom to be met with, and the ftone "fcarcely ever." Dr. M. then relates the cafe of an officer of the 79th regiment, who had been greatly afflicted with the ftone in England, but by going to Jamaica, and refiding there three years, the difcale gradually diminished, and entirely lett him. The ftone was fo large, and the dileafe fo violent in England, that, on examination, Mr. Pott recommended the extracting it by lithotomy; to which the officer had confented, but which ope ration he fortunately avoided by being fuddenly obliged to join his regiment. Many are the useful thermomètrical obfervations in this effay. The fealons of the year are delineated with interefting accuracy; and hurricanes, which our author has witneffed, are defcribed in the moft matterly manner; and, in deed, we may venture to affert, that this is the only just description of the horror and devaltation which accompany thefe dreadful |