The action brought by them againft the Lord Lieutenant gives fome kind of clue to their projects. They contended, by their counfel, for they fupported Mr. Tandy, who was the plaintiff, that the Lord Lieutenant, though head of the executive government, was liable to be fued at law, and ought to enter an appearance to the action, and then demur to it if he thought proper, by ftating his privilege as chief governor. They were aware that he derived his authority from the Great Seal of Great Britain, which, they infifted, could not give him a legal title to the government of Ireland. The confequence, which they would draw from this, was that there was no legal Lieutenant, privy council, nor judicature, at that moment in Ireland; because nothing could confer legality on them, nor on any of them, but the great Seal of Ireland, which was not affixed to Lord Westmoreland's commiffion; the want of it therefore might be faid to vitiate all his acts of government. When the courts of King's Bench and Exchequer stated that fuch would be the confequence of the doctrine fet up, if it were once admitted, the counfel for the plaintiff replied that this was the fault, not of their client, but of thofe who could immediately cure all the defects in the Viceroy's government, by giving him a commiffion under the Irish Great Seal. The action, however, was quafhed by the court: but we dare not hope that this act of judicial power has deftroyed the principles and doctrine on which it was founded. A perufal of the publications of the fociety fhews that it had the aid of firstrate talents; fome of the addreffes are really mafterpieces. The Hon. Mr. Butler, who has been one of the mott diftinguished members, is a gentleman of great abilities, and of high rank, both by birth and profeffion. He is one of his Majefty's learned counsel, and either brother or uncle, we believe the latter, to the prefent Earl of Kil. kenny, and is of a younger branch of the illuftrious house of Ormond. Whether, under all the circumftances of the cafe, the difperfion of the fociety ought to be confidered as a bleffing or a misfortune, we muft leave our readers to determine. To England, it certainly cannot be called the latter; and perhaps it may ultimately prove to be a bleffing to Ireland. MATHEMATICS. Art. 31. The Royal Road to Geometry, and Familiar Introduction to the Mathematics. By Thomas Malton, Senior, 8vo. pp. 550, with Plates. 125. Boards. Dilly. 1793. This new edition of a work which was published fome years ago, (fee Rev. vol. ii. p. 359.) is confiderably enlarged and improved. In its prefent ftate, it comprehends every thing that is neceflary for the inftruction of the learner in the theory and practice of geometry. The first containing the elements of geometry, the theory of menfuration, and a demonftration of fome properties of ellipfes; in the fecond, the author has inferted all the problems of Euclid's Elements, with a number of others fele&ed from various writers; and an appendix on the conftruction of ellipfes, proportional fcales, and the line of chords, with problems, illuftrating their ufe: he clofes with ftrictures on Mr. Bradberry's Treatife of Perspective. In the course of this work, the author has introduced a variety of notes, which fwell the bulk of the volume without adding much to its intrinfic intrinfic value. We wish that he had more conftantly adhered to the object which he profeffes to have had in view; viz. the abridgment of every redundancy and the avoiding of that tedious prolixity," which he very freely, and not without fome degree of afperity, condemns in the works of other authors. In publications of this kind; which are principally defigned for learners, brevity is a distinguishing excellence. We think that Mr. Malton might have been more concife without being lefs intelligible; and that the work would have proved more acceptable, if it had been lefs encumbered with occafional reflections. THEOLOGY, &c. Art. 32. A Reply to the Rev. F. Randolph's" Scriptural Revifion of Socinian Arguments Vindicated." By Benjamin Hobhouse, Barrifter at Law, and A. M. of Brazen-Nofe College, Oxford. 8vo. PP. 147. 25. Cadell. 1793. The teftimony which we bore to the ability of this writer, in our account of his letters to Mr. Randolpht on his "Scriptural Revifion of Socinian Arguments," we think ourselves authorized by the prefent publication to confirm. After having vindicated himself, and his brethren of the Unitarian, or, as Mr. H. chufes to call it, the Humani❤ tarian fet, from certain cenfures, which he deems fevere and ill. founded, he refumes the difcuffion of the question concerning the perfon of Chrift, in order to examine Mr. Randolph's comments on feveral paffages from the antient chriftian fathers, and from the fcriptures, Moft of thefe paffages have already been fo frequently can. vaffed by the writers in this controverfy, that little new matter is now to be expected :-yet, to thofe who have interested themselves in the difpute, this writer's remarks will appear very deferving of attention, in the particular view in which they are prefented to the reader, as a correction, or refutation, of Mr. R.'s explanations; and though we have ourselves little inclination to renew the difcuffion, in the prefent almoft exhaufted ftate of the controverfy, we are not difpleafed to fee it profecuted with fo much freedom; because we perfectly agree with Mr. H. in the opinion that, if ferious and confcientious perfons, who think reform neceffary, in church or ftate, fhould, through timidity, remit their labours, error, both religious and civil, mult enjoy perpetual empire.' Art. 33. Principles of Prayer and Humiliation, in a Time of National Guilt and Diftrefs. By a Layman. Svo. 6d. Jordan. This form of prayer for the faft contains fome good principles, and is profelfedly written to ferve the caufe of true religion and peace: but we cannot give our entire approbation of it. We do not think the writer peculiarly happy in his devotional style; our principal objection arifes from the freedom with which he pours out, before his Maker, heavy charges against his fellow creatures. • Thou feeft the evil leaven of malice and iniquity, the combination of corruption which prevails in the governments of the earth;-they have com * See Review for December 1793, P. 4'7: + See Rev, vol. x, New Series, p.239. paffed The action brought by them againft the Lord Lieutenant gives fome kind of clue to their projects. They contended, by their counsel, for they fupported Mr. Tandy, who was the plaintiff, that the Lord Lieutenant, though head of the executive government, was liable to be fued at law, and ought to enter an appearance to the action, and then demur to it if he thought proper, by ftating his privilege as chief governor. They were aware that he derived his authority from the Great Seal of Great Britain, which, they infifted, could not give him a legal title to the government of Ireland. The confequence, which they would draw from this, was that there was no legal Lieutenant, privy council, nor judicature, at that moment in Ireland; because nothing could confer legality on them, nor on any of them, but the great Seal of Ireland, which was not affixed to Lord Westmoreland's commiffion; the want of it therefore might be faid to vitiate all his acts of government. When the courts of King's Bench and Exchequer stated that fuch would be the confequence of the doctrine fet up, if it were once admitted, the counfel for the plaintiff replied that this was the fault, not of their client, but of thofe who could immediately cure all the defects in the Viceroy's government, by giving him a commission under the Irish Great Seal. The action, however, was quafhed by the court: but we dare not hope that this act of judicial power has deftroyed the principles and doctrine on which it was founded. A perufal of the publications of the fociety fhews that it had the aid of firftrate talents; fome of the addreffes are really mafterpieces. The Hon. Mr. Butler, who has been one of the most diftinguished members, is a gentleman of great abilities, and of high rank, both by birth and profeffion. He is one of his Majefty's learned counsel, and either brother or uncle, we believe the latter, to the prefent Earl of Kilkenny, and is of a younger branch of the illuftrious houfe of Ormond. Whether, under all the circumftances of the cafe, the difperfion of the fociety ought to be confidered as a bleffing or a misfortune, we must leave our readers to determine. To England, it certainly cannot be called the latter; and perhaps it may ultimately prove to be a bleffing to Ireland. MATHEMATICS, Art. 31. The Royal Road to Geometry, and Familiar Introduction to the 128. This new edition of a work which was published fome years ago, (fee Rev. vol. ii. p. 359.) is confiderably enlarged and improved. In its prefent ftate, it comprehends every thing that is neceffary for the inftruction of the learner in the theory and practice of geometry. The first containing the elements of geometry, the theory of menfuration, and a demonftration of fome properties of ellipfes; in the fecond, the author has inferted all the problems of Euclid's Elements, with a number of others felected from various writers; and an appendix on the conftruction of ellipfes, proportional fcales, and the line of chords, with problems, illuftrating their ufe; he clofes with ftrictures on Mr. Bradberry's Treatife of Perspective. In the courfe of this work, the author has introduced a variety of notes, which fwell the bulk of the volume without adding much to its intrinfic intrinfic value. We wish that he had more conftantly adhered to the object which he profeffes to have had in view; viz. the abridgment of every redundancy and the avoiding of that tedious prolixity," which he very freely, and not without fome degree of afperity, condemns in the works of other authors. In publications of this kind, which are principally defigned for learners, brevity is a distinguishing excellence. We think that Mr. Malton might have been more concife without being lefs intelligible; and that the work would have proved more acceptable, if it had been lefs encumbered with occafional reflections. THEOLOGY, &c. Art. 32. A Reply to the Rev. F. Randolph's Scriptural Revifion of Socinian Arguments Vindicated." By Benjamin Hobhouse, Barrifter at Law, and A. M. of Brazen-Nose College, Oxford. 8vo. PP. 147. 25. Cadell. 1793. The teftimony which we bore to the ability of this writer, in our account of his letters to Mr. Randolpht on his "Scriptural Revifion of Socinian Arguments," we think ourselves authorized by the prefent publication to confirm. After having vindicated himself, and his brethren of the Unitarian, or, as Mr. H. chufes to call it, the Humani, tarian fe&t, from certain cenfures, which he deems fevere and ill founded, he refumes the difcuffion of the question concerning the perfon of Chrift, in order to examine Mr. Randolph's comments on feveral paffages from the antient chriftian fathers, and from the fcriptures. Most of these paffages have already been fo frequently canvaffed by the writers in this controverfy, that little new matter is now to be expected :-yet, to thofe who have interested themselves in the difpute, this writer's remarks will appear very deferving of attention, in the particular view in which they are prefented to the reader, as a correction, or refutation, of Mr. R.'s explanations; and though we have ourselves little inclination to renew the difcuffion, in the prefent almoft exhaufted state of the controverfy, we are not difpleafed to fee it profecuted with fo much freedom; because we perfectly agree with Mr. H. in the opinion that, if ferious and confcientious perfons, who think reform neceffary, in church or ftate, fhould, through timidity, remit their labours, error, both religious and civil, mult enjoy perpetual empire.' Art. 33. Principles of Prayer and Humiliation, in a Time of National Guilt and Distress. By a Layman. Svo. 6d. Jordan. This form of prayer for the faft contains fome good principles, and is profelfedly written to ferve the caufe of true religion and peace: but we cannot give our entire approbation of it. We do not think the writer peculiarly happy in his devotional style; our principal objection arifes from the freedom with which he pours out, before his Maker, heavy charges against his fellow creatures. • Thou seeft the evil leaven of malice and iniquity, the combination of corruption which prevails in the governments of the earth;-they have com *See Review for December 1793, P. 417. + See Rev, vol. x, New Series, p. 234, paffed paffed fea and land' for vengeance;-they have profeffed thy fanctions for blood, and have carried with them, through the world, a blaf. phemous antidote against the reception of thy glorious name.' This is not the proper language of prayer. By whatever high authority the practice may be fanétioned, or in however juft a cause it may be repeated, it ill becomes an offending mortal, when he ought to be confefling and deploring his own fins, to bring a railing accufation against his fellow creature. Art. 34. TRIAL O F MR. HASTINGS. A Letter to Mr. Fox, on the Duration of the Trial of Mr. Haftings. 8vo. pp. 88. 2s. 6d. Owen. 1794.. The length of this trial, let who will be refponfible for it, has been unqueftionably a grievance, not merely to Mr. Haftings, but also to the public. A delay of justice is injurious both to the accufed and the accufer. By whom it has been occafioned in this cafe we prefume not to determine; fome impute it to the defendant, fome to the managers, fome to the house of lords, and others to the nature of the charge itfelf. For our own part, we think that there is fome ground for imputing it to this laft caufe; for, from the very nature of the cafe, difpatch was lefs practicable than in any other. The present letter-writer fays that the firft, the great, and the most important cause of delay might be traced up to the late houfe of commons, who, from accident, and not defign, I am fure, adopted a mode of voting the articles (of the impeachment) which made them so voluminous, that much time was abfolutely neceffary for going through even a fmall part of them.' We rejoice, however, that this famous trial is at last near its close, and that little more now remains but for the lords to deliberate on and to deliver their verdict. We heartily wifh that this could be done before the recefs of parliament: but the immense mass of evidence, which their lordships have to confider, muft render it impoffible for them to proceed to judgment before the next feffion. The author, though avowedly the friend of Mr. Haftings, expreffes himself with every appearance of candor and fairness. There are fome parts, however, which we were not able fully to comprehend. He states correctly that the fum gained by the Eaft India Company by the retention for twenty-one years of the annuity of 300,000l. which by ftipulation was to have been paid to the Great Mogul, amounted to 6,300,000l.; which fum, he says, ought, according to the principles of those who countenance the impeachment, to be restored to that monarch with intereft: this we can understand: but we cannot conceive how the intereft on it could amount, as he fays it does, to 4,200,cool. The fum taken from the Begum of Oude, he as correctly states at 600,000l.: but the intereft on it from Feb. 1782 he makes 1,200,cool. Speaking of the presents received by Mr. Haftings, and which, he fays, having been applied to the use of the company, ought in justice to be reftored to thofe who made them, if it were unjuft in the company's governor to take them at all, he makes the amount 200,000l. and the intereft on the fame from the years 1780-1-2, 650,000l. This extravagant rate of intereft aftonishes us. We prefume there muß be fome mistake in the calculation. Mentioning the cafe of the Nabob of Bengal, the author informs us that, |