I have heard the whole from the duke of Newcastle, and on Friday morning de fource from Mr. Pitt. But if I was to attempt to relate in writing all that I have heard in two converfations of two hours each, the dotterels and wheat ears would ftink before I could finish my letter. Befides, it is as ftrange as it is long, for I believe it is the most extraordinary transaction that ever happened in any court in Europe, even in times as extraordinary as the prefent.

I will begin, as the affair has gone on, prepofterously, by telling you, that it is all over for the prefent, and we are all come back re infetta.

It began, as to the fubftance, by a meffage from my lord B-e to Mr. Pitt, at Hayes, through my lord mayor, to give him the meeting privately át fome third place. This his lordfhip (lord B.) afterwards altered by a note from himself, faying, that as he loved to do things openly, he would come to Mr. Pitt's houfe in Jermyn-ftreet, in broad day-light. They met accordingly, and lord B-e, after the first compliments, frankly acknowledged, that his miniftry could not go on, and that the **** was convinced of it, and therefore he (lord B.) defired that Mr. Pitt would open himself frankly and at large, and tell him his ideas of things and perfons with the utmost freedom. After much excufe and hanging back, Mr. Pitt did fo with the utmoft freedom indeed, though with civility. Here I must leave a long blank, to be filled up when I fee you. Lord B-e heard with great attention and patience; entered into no defence; but at laft faid, "If thefe are your opinions, why fhould you not tell them to the **** himfelf, who will not be unwilling to hear you?"- "How can I, my lord, prefume

to go to the ****

who am not of his council, nor in his fervice, and have no pretence to afk an audience? The prefumption would be too great. -"But fuppofe his m--y fhould order you to attend him, I prefume, fir, you would not refufe it."" The ****'s command would make it my duty, and I fhould certainly obey it."

The Letter to Dr. Birch is dated October 9, 1762, and recommends, for good reafons, the erafement of a few words printed in brackets, in the doctor's edition of Sir Francis Bacon's Letters.

Obfervations on the Jurifprudence of the Court of Seffion in Scotland. 8vo. is. Murray.

Much has been faid, and much written, of the neceffity of a reform in different departments of the state; but, if the reprefentation of this author be well founded, nothing can require it fo much as the mode of jurifdiction in the court of fellion in Scotland. According to his account, not only the jurifdiction of this court, but the mode of exerciûng it is indefinite. Instead of favouring the prompt decifion of civil caufes, it is calculated to protract them even to an unlimited

period.

1

period. The forms of procefs being governed by no deter minate rules, a field of endlefs litigation is left open to the lawyers, while their clients are involved in ruinous expences, and the judges are oppreffed with the accumulated load of contradictory arguments, fufficient to demand the attentive examination of feveral months, if not of years. In a word, it appears to be a court fo unhappily conftituted as to obstruct the objects of jurifdiction, even under the difpenfation of the most falutary laws; and it certainly calls aloud for speedy and effectual regulation.

The Speech of the Right Hon. Charles James Fox on the Irish Refo lutions, May 12, 1785. 8vo. 25. Debrett.

Mr. Fox's Reply to Mr. Pitt, upon reporting the Fourth Propofition of the Irish Syftem, May 31, 1785. 8vo. 6d. Kearney.

As a literary Review is not the channel for the conveying of parliamentary debates, our readers will not expect from us an account of either of those Speeches. To judge of the force of the arguments, it is neceffary to be acquainted with those which were used by the oppofite party; and in refpect of rhetorical abilities, Mr. Fox's character is fufficiently known.

The Debate in the House of Commons, on the Motion of the Right Hon. William Pitt, for Leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Reprefentation of the People in Parliament. 8vo. 1s. Stockdale. This interefting debate brought the long agitated affair of a parliamentary reform to a crifis. For, though the prefs had groaned thefe feveral years with publications on the fubject, we have not, fince that period, met with one on either fide of the question.

A Political Pfalm, for the Service of the Year 1785. 4to 15 Ridgeway.

Below, the notice of criticism.

MISCELLANEOU S.

The Cafe of our Fellow-creatures the oppressed Africans. 8vo. zd Phillips.

This is a ferious and well-meant addrefs on flavery. We have often had occafion to mention the subject, and have always born our teftimony against this inhuman practice. We wish therefore the greatest fuccefs to the exertions of this very benevolent Society of Quakers. We fhall probably, at fome future period, have an opportunity of fhowing, that it is not lefs expedient than humane.

Heraldry of Nature; or, Inftructions for the King at Arms. Small 8vo. 2s. 6d. Smith.

This is a new mode of fatire, or rather a new form of abuse. The idea promifes entertainment; but the execution is mifer

ably

ably deficient. The author fhould have defcribed the men, and their ftriking characteristics, inftead of aiming at their foibles. The best part of the work is the felection of the mottos, and their tranflations; in which he difcovers fancy and ingenuity. The motto to the marquis of B's arms is CLAM; but often, in his choice of thefe, he finks into puns and false wit. The Reviewers corrected: or False Criticism analyfed. By W. Ed monftone, Surgeon. 8vo. 6d. Richardfon.

Ploravere fuis non refpondere favorem
Speratum meritis.'

This complaint was a very ancient one, and complaints of this kind will always continue. Mr. Edmonstone's animadverfions were excited by the criticifm on his Effay on the Prevention of an Evil injurious to Health, and inimical to Enjoyment,' in the Monthly Review.

Adventures of a Pincushion, defigned chiefly for the Ufe of Young Ladies. 24to. 6d. Marshall.

This is an inftructive and amusing little book: the leffons are inculcated with great addrefs, and they are ftrictly moral and juft. It is a favourable profpe&t for the fucceeding age, that the little books for children are fo much improved in every refpect.

Efay to prove the Infufficiency of Subalterns Pay in the Army, &c. Small 8vo. 2s. 6d. in Boards. Stockdale.

Nothing is more generally acknowledged than that the pay of a fubaltern officer is really inadequate to his ftation. According to a calculation made by this writer, and which we think is far from being exaggerated, the almoft unavoidable yearly expences of a fubaltern officer exceed his income by a fum nearly equal to his pay. The author pleads the caufe of the military officers with modefty; and has fubjoined fome fenfible hints for more effectually recruiting the army.

Practical Benevolence. 8vo. 15. Murray.

A well-written letter, addressed to the public by a universal friend, who offers his advice to perfons of all denominations, in the most delicate circumftances of life. The confpicuous philanthropy of the author merits our warmeft praise; and we' heartily with fuccefs to a plan fo fingular, benevolent, and gratuitous!

Elements of Nature; or, Free Opinions Sported in the interior Cabinet of Venus. By Montaigne. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Peacock. According to the compiler, this pamphlet includes the beauties of Montaigne; but he would have acted more ingenuously, to have called thefe extracts the Deformities of that agreeable author.

Eleven additional Letters from Ruffia, in the Reign of Peter II. By the late Mrs. Vigor. Never before published, With a Preface and Notes. Small 8vo. 15. 6d. DodЛley.

The Letters formerly published by this lady commenced with the year 1730, and terminated in 1739 ; but all in the pre

*

fent collection bear the dates of one or other of the two years preceding the first of thofe periods. The late Mrs. Vigor was the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Goodwin, a clergyman of large fortune in Yorkshire, which, after her brother's death, devolved to her. She was married fucceffively to three husbands the firit of whom was conful-general to Ruffia, and the fecond was refident at that court. She died at Wind for in September laft, aged eighty-four. Her understanding, which was strong by nature, fhe had cultivated both by books and an extenfive commerce with the world; and her vivacity was the delight of all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. With thefe talents, fhe was eminently qualified for observation, as well as for communicating her ideas either by oral or literal intercourfe. Her Letters, therefore, contain many curious particulars relative to perfons of diftinction at Petersburgh; and they are written with that agreeable eafe which ought to be the chief characteristic of epiftolary compofition.

Lectiones Selec; or Select Latin Leffons in Morality, Hiftory, and Biography. By the Rev. John Adams. I 2mo. 8d. Law.

From the extreme facility of thefe Leffons, they are not calculated to convey the idioms of the Latin; but they may be ufed with advantage by boys who are just beginning the ftudy of that language.

The Tea-Purchafer's Guide. Small 8vo. 15. Kearsley.

The author of this pamphlet delivers the common obfervations relative to the judging of teas; and likewife the methods of qualifying any fort of tea, by mixing it with another. According to his information, great quantities of bad prize-teas are at this time in London, and are faid to be the cause of the complaint fo prevalent with refpect to this commodity.

*See Crit. Rev. vol. xl. p. 165.

THE

CRITICAL REVIEW.

For AUGUST, 1785.

Travels in the Two Sicilies, by Henry Swinburne, Efq. in the Years 1717, 1778, 1779, and 1780. Vol. II. 4to. 17. 15. in Boards. Elmily.

WE E have now the pleasure to refume the narrative of this agreeable traveller, who, after his return from Puglia, devoted the cooler days of fummer and autumn to excurfions in the neighbourhood of Naples. This is a fcene which has often been described by other authors; but every object receives freth beauty from the imitative pencil of Mr. Swinburne. His first voyage was to the island of Capri, anciently called Capreæ, about eighteen miles fouth of Naples, at the entrance of the gulf. Steep cliffs and grand masses of rock, he obferves, gave it a wildnefs of feature which, as he approached, was gradually foftened by patches of verdure, and clufters of white houfes.

The landfcape round the place of debarking, fays he, is compofed of various trees rich in luxuriant foliage, cottages raised on terraces, a smooth strand with bufy groups of mariners, painted boats drawn on fhore, or dancing on the furge, villas peeping through the grove, and, to complete the fcene, bold rocks projecting into the bofom of the deep. On a ridge between two rugged eminences, which form the extremities of the island, and rear their fhaggy fummits to a tremendous height, I discovered the cupolas and buildings of the epifcopal city; at a distance it had the appearance of a confiderable place, on a nearer view it dwindled to a village.

From the town I followed an ancient causeway to the eastern fummit of Capri, where cliffs of ftupendous attitude overhang the channel that feparates the ifland from Cape Campanella. Though my eyes had long been accustomed to vast, as well as charming profpects, yet the view from hence is fo extenfive, grand, and beautiful, that it was impoffible to behold it without emotions of furprise and rapture at one glance I took in a range of coaft exceeding one hundred miles in length, Vol. LX. Auguft, 1785. G reach