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li drefs. The arguments are often acute and pointed, but no ftriking or fatisfactory. The delufion is in the ftyle; for, when we are pleased, we fometimes think we are convinced. The author di-, vides his addrefs into three parts; first, on what the.commiffioners did not choose to do; fecondly, on what they have done; thirdly, on what they ought to have done.

Yet the author is warm in his praises of the individuals who practife medicine; in no profeffion he finds more amiable men, more true philofophers, good citizens, excellent mafters, and faithful friends.

It has happened, adds he, in your fcience, differently from what occurs in others: there are few sciences but what are more valuable than its profeffors; but, by a fingular contraft, there are few phyficians who are not more valuable than medicine. Rouffeau has faid, "bring the phyfic without the doctor." I fhould not hesitate to return, bring the doctor, provided he leaves his medicines behind." Thus he makes the amende honorable. Can we blame him? by no means; he has done every thing, except establishing the credit of Mefmer and magnctifin.

MONTHLY CATALOGU E.

POLITICA L.

An impartial Sketch of the Debate in the House of Commons of Ireland, on a Motion made on Friday, August 12. 1785, by the Right Hon. Thomas Orde, Secretary to the Right Hon. Charles Manners, Duke of Rutland, Lord Lieutenant, for Leave to bring in a Bill for effectuating the Intercourfe and Commerce between Great Britain and Ireland, on permanent and equitable Principles, for the mutual Benefit of both Countries. By W. Woodfall. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Robinson and Debrett.

MR. W. Woodfall, editor of the Morning Chronicle, has

long been celebrated for the extent of his memory, and his great abilities in reporting parliamentary debates, &c. in which he is certainly unrivalled. Every reader of thofe productions must therefore reap peculiar fatisfaction, on finding that this extraordinary perfon paid a vifit to the Irish capital, for the purpofe of collecting and ftating the fentiments of the reprefentatives of that kingdom, relative to the propofed commercial intercourfe with Great Britain, as delivered on the twelfth and fifteenth of Auguft laft. In performing this fervice, fo acceptable to the public curiofity, he has purposely, and for good reafons, omitted to enumerate every interruption given to gentlemen while they were speaking, and has noticed fuch only as contributed to elucidate the argument, and explain

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the particular fact to which they alluded. He has likewife, with equal propriety, contented himself with stating on which fide of the question feveral gentlemen fpoke, whom he either heard indiftinctly, or who did not accompany the delivery of their opi nion with any arguments or obfervations that were new, or more pointedly applied than they had been before by other speakers. Mr. Woodfall affures us (and from our experience of his fidelity, in numberless inftances, we can rely on his affertion), that he has guarded against all national prejudice or party-colouring } and as a confirmation of the authenticity to which he has anxiously adhered, we find that he has been favoured with a number of the most fatisfactory communications on the fubject. For these reafons, we are perfuaded that the sense of the de bate, in general, is fairly and fubftantially conveyed in this publication. With regard to the fpeeches, we fhall only obferve, that feveral difcover ingenuity, and others both in-. genuity and force of argument. But at the fame time that we derive pleasure from thefe efforts of Hibernian eloquence, we cannot help feeling regret at the influence of what we think a groundless opinion, on the minds of fome of the most diftinguished orators.

Notwithstanding all the oppofition, from whatever motives it may have proceeded, which has been made to the celebrated propofitions for the establishment of an indiffoluble commercial treaty between Great Britain and Ireland; notwithstanding all that has been spoken in the parliament of both kingdoms, all that has been written, and all that has been thrown out in popular affemblies on the fubject, this verbal, this declamatory oppofition bears not the smallest resemblance to that general ferment which arofe in Scotland against the Union in 1706, when almoft the whole nation became outrageous; when queen Anne's minifters were not only publicly infulted, but had nearly fallen a facrifice to the furious refentment of the populace; when the execrated articles were burnt with indignation; and an army was even raifed to oppofe this reprobated measure of government.But, as an eminent historianhas obferved, with regard to this fubject, We now fee it has been attended with none of the calainities that were prognof ticated; that it quietly took effect, and fully answered all the purposes for which it was intended.'

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The perufal of this publication will correct many mistakes that have crept into the papers, respecting what was delivered by the members on each fide of the question, the most important which has been debated fince the period above men. tioned,

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The Speech of Sir Hercules Langrishe. 8vo. 1. North.

This Speech was delivered the 28th of April laft, on the motion for a parliamentary reform in the Irish house of commons. It is replete with ftrong argument against that project, and places the abilities of fir Hercules Langrifhe in a very confpicuous point of view.

The Irish Proteft to the Minifterial Manifefto contained in the Addrefs of the British Parliament to the King. 8vo. Debrett.

15. 6d. This pamphlet contains the addrefs of the British parliament to the king, with remarks on the addrefs, and a copy of Mr. Pitt's bill. The author treats the fubject with the warmth of a political partizan; but it is only difpaffionate enquiry that can ultimately guide the fentiments of both nations in refpect of a treaty fo important to their mutual interefts.

Letters concerning the Trade and Manufactures of Ireland. 8vo. 8vo. 25. Stockdale.

In thefe Letters fir Lucius O'Brien minutely investigates the iron trade, refpecting which he differs, in the most important particulars, from lord Sheffield. According to fir Lucius, the apprehenfion of any rivalship from the Irish, in the iron manufacture at least, is rendered entirely groundlefs by local circumftances; and it may be queftioned whether, with regard to other articles of trade likewife, the pernicious confequences, fo much dreaded by the manufacturers of both countries, are not in a great measure chimerical. This pamphlet alfo contains a Letter from Mr. William Gibbons of Bristol to Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bart, and his Anfwer. To these are subjoined, the Refolutions of England and Ireland relative to a Commercial Intercourfe between the two Kingdoms.

Mr. Burke's Speech on the Motion made for Papers relative to the Directors, for charging the Nabob of Arcot's private Debts to Eu ropeans, on the Revenues of the Carnatic. 8vo. 3. Dodfley. This Speech is relative to a letter written by the court of directors, and altered by the board of India controul, of the 15th of October 1784, directing a certain annual reserve to be made from the revenues of the nabob of Arcot, for the liqui dation of his debts to private individuals, and to the English Eaft India company. This meafure was difapproved by the court of directors, as placing crédits of a private and a public nature upon the fame footing, or rather giving the former a preference. It afterwards became the fubject of reprehenfion in both houfes of parliament, where a motion was made for papers that might lead to a farther enquiry. In the prefent pech, which was delivered on this occafion, Mr. Burke, as ufual, gives full fcope to his imagination. He difcovers great rhetorical vehemence, and, apparently, much force of reafon ing. But when his arguments are examined, they are void o

fufficient foundation. Particulars are magnified, or mifrepre fented; and, after all the declamation of the orator, the whole appears to be only a plaufible delufion.

An Addrefs to the Loyal Part of the British Empire and the Friends of Monarchy throughout the Globe. By John Cruden, Efq. 8vo. No Publisher's Name or Price.

It appears that the American loyalists in the fouthern provinces took refuge in Florida, under the promise of protection from the British government; but no ftipulation being made in their favour at the conclufion of the war, they were ordered to quit their new fettlement by the Spaniards, to whom that province was ceded. In this direfsful fituation they have empowered Mr. Cruden, one of their number, to negociate a lottery, in which the prizes confift of dollars, to procure them fome temporary relief. It is certainly to be regretted, that men who have an equal claim to the humanity of Britain with the other loyalifts, fhould not be included in the provifion which the legislature has allotted for the fubfiftence of our unfortunate tranfatlantic adherents. But we hope, from the generofity and juftice of the nation, that real fufferers will not be long permitted to experience neglect.

Some Obfervations on the Militia, with a Sketch of a Plan for the Reform of it. 8vo. IS. Egerton.

The plan propofed by this author for leffening the expence of the militia, relates chiefly to a reduction of the numbers called out to the annual exercife. As an inconvenience arifes from the fervice of a whole battalion terminating at the fame time, he fuggests that each battallion fhould be divided into five equal parts, and that thefe fubdivifions fhould be enrolled for different periods of fervice, from one to five years. He likewife propofes various other regulations refpecting the mili tia; but fome of them feem unneceffary, and others afford but little profpect of any certain advantage.

The Oriental Chronicles of the Times. 8vo. 25. Ed. Debrett. We here meet with the laft change of the miniftry, the e'ection of a new parliament, and fome other public incidents, related in the eaftern ftyle. The production is not void of ingenuity, but is fo partial to the party which forms the oppofition, that it only can be read with pleasure by themselves, and their interested adherents.

The Claims of the British Seamen to a more equal Diftribution of Prize-Money, inconteftibly afferted. 8vo. IS. More.

It cannot be denied, that the inequality in the diftribution of prize-money, in the naval fervice, is a grievance which ought to be remedied. This mutilated veteran, as he styles himself, ftrongly recommends the correction of this flagrant enormity; but it is to be feared that his utmost efforts will

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prove ineffectual, without the earnest co-operation of men in power.

Hiftory of the Weftminster Election. 4to. 10s. 6d. Debrett.

The incidents attending an election are generally of a fugitive nature; but the compiler or compilers of this mifcellany are determined to refcue, if poffible, the late Westminster election from oblivion. For this purpofe they have preferved every occafional fally of wit, every pointed altercation, and even every caricature which was exhibited during the tranfaction.

A Fragment of the History of that Illuftrious Perfonage, John Bull, Efq. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Bew.

This is written in imitation of the History of John Buli by Dr. Arbuthnot; and, though it poffeffes not the humour or delicate turn of thought, fo confpicuous in that celebrated author, it is far from being deftitute of merit. Under the character of Paddy, the genius of the Irish nation is likewife not unhappily defcribed.

Defultory Reflections on Police: with an Effay on the Means of preventing Crimes and amending Criminals. By William Blizard, F.S. A. 8vo. 25. Dilly.

In thefe Reflections, Mr. Blizard makes many judicious remarks on the police, particularly of the capital, which is univerfally acknowledged to be extremely defective. For remedying this great evil, he fuggefts feveral improvements; fuch as, laying an additional duty on low public houses, fo destructive to the common people; paying more attention to the religion and morals of the inhabitants of the great hofpitals; difcouraging vagrants; promoting induftry, &c. Much has been faid of an intended plan of reformation, the neceffity of which becomes every day more urgent and indifpenfible. In the digefting of fuch a plan, we hope that due attention will be paid to all the useful hints thrown out by Mr. Blizard and others on this important fubje&.

DIVINITY.

Prayers and Meditations compofed by Samuel Johnson, LL. D. and published from his Manufcripts, by George Strahan, M. A. 8vo. 35. 6d. in Boards. Cadell.

He who has been accustomed to view a ftately edifice with admiration, and, after having long confidered folidity and ftrength as characteristic of its ftructure, fuddenly discovers in it fome flriking weaknefs, experiences a kind of mortification not unlike that lately felt by the literary world on the first appearance of the publication before us. What shall we say, however, to confole our difappointment? what, but that it feems the decree of nature, that ftrength and weakness, folidity and want of fubftance muft, in all created beings, fubmit to alliance and vicinity where is the oak without fome feeble branch,

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