he is as ftrong an advocate as the most determined fupporter of the Convention. This love for his country we are far from imputing as a fault to our author; on the contrary, as we think the love of country a virtue in onrselves, we must admit it to be one in him; and we applaud him the more for calling it forth into action on this occafion, as his declarations on this head cannot be pleafing to thofe whom he wishes to perfuade to profecute the war, and may therefore ferve to prove that he is fincere in the caufe which he has embraced. We concur with him entirely that, if we are to go on with the contest, we can do it both with greater effect and at infinitely less expence by arming Frenchmen who have eftates and a country to recover, than by fubfidizing courts that take our money, and leave unperformed the conditions on which it was advanced. N. B. This article has been reviewed from the Tranflation. The original, published by Harlow, appeared under the title of Neceffité de la Guerre & Dangers de la Paix. 25. Art. 39. A Letter addreffed to his Majefty's Attorney General and Solicitor General, in which the Doctrines lately maintained in Parliament, on the Subject of voluntary Subfcriptions, are confidered. 8vo. pp. 116. 2s. Debrett. 1794. The object of this well-written and fpirited pamphlet is to prove that the measures, recently purfued for raifing fubfcriptions, are illegal and unconftitutional; and confequently, in the language of sir Edward Coke, "grievances found out and proved, which ought to be put down and overthrown by authority of parliament." In attempting to make good this conclufion, the author displays much legal knowlege and ingenuity: but we pretend not to vouch for the conclufiveness of his arguments; and to enable the reader to appreciate their strength would require a larger citation from the pamphlet than our limits will allow. We must refer, therefore, to the work itself those of our readers who continue to think that, even in the prefent important crifis, no queftions are of greater moment than those which relate to the preservation of our constitution and our laws. Art. 40. A Plan for the general Prevention of Poverty; in a Letter to George Rofe, Efq. dated June 28, 1793. By Richard Pew, Folio leaf. zd. Crowder. We have the fame fort of apology to make for omitting to notice this letter fooner, as the minifter has made for wholly neglecting it? namely, our being "engaged by a great variety of the most important occurrences." Indeed, we have already given Mr. Pew's admirable plan our fulleft approbation; (fee M. R. N. S. vol. x. p. 423.) and what can we do more? all that we can fay farther, on this fubject, is that we recommend the perufal of Mr. Pew's letter to every one who pays toward the enormous tax, at prefent levied, for the fupport and maintenance of the poor;-which tax, in all probability, Mr. P.'s plan would effentially leffen, or wholly fuperfede. Art. 41. The Grounds of Aldermen Wilkes's and Boydell's propofed Petitions for Peace, examined and refuted. By John Reeves, Efq. 8vo. 15. Downes. 1795. ᏚᏂ.....n. Gil...s. Mars..ll. We took up this pamphlet in expectation, from its title, of being entertained with a plentiful torrent of abufe on the characters and conduct of Meffrs. Wilkes and Boydell but we were mistaken. The performance is ironical; and the name of Mr. R. is artfully borrowed, with the view, no doubt, of taking in those readers who are not partial to the productions of our oppofition-writers.The arguments are all against the war of the good confequences of which the writer has made out a lift-numerous and formidable, indeed! : Art. 42. The Origin, Progrefs, and Expediency of continuing the prefent War with France impartially confidered. By Mr. Gillum. 8vo, 28. Miller, &c. 1795. Mr. Gillum's performance is more declamatory than argumenta tive, more loyal than profound, more paffionate than conclufive. AFRICAN SETTLEMENTS. Art. 43. Two Voyages to Sierra Leone, during the Years 1791, 1792, 1793. In a Series of Letters, by Anna Maria Falconbridge. To which is added, a Letter from the Author to Henry Thornton, Efq. M. P. and Chairman of the Court of Directors of the Sierra Leone Company. 2d Edition. Izmo. pp. 487. 4s. fewed. Long man. 1794 The writer of this amufing volume has recounted, in plain and artlefs language, the various occurrences of her voyages to the coaft of Africa; he has drawn her narrative from obfervation of the manners and cuftoms of the people whom the vifited; and fhe has given a fhort history of the peninfula of Sierra Leone, and of the tranfactions and progrefs of the colony there founded for the purpofe of abolishing the flave-trade. If the letters deferve that credit which their internal evidence feems to demand, there appears to be little probability that fuccefs will finally accompany the philanthropic endeavours of thofe who firft planned and formed this fettlement on the African coaft. The authorefs refers the public, in vindication of herself for having brought forwards many unpleasant facts, to the Court of Directors of the Sierra Leone Company, whom the challenges to contradict one tittle' of what he has advanced. The tract of country called Sierra Leone was first discovered by the Portuguefe; it is a peninsula in one part of the year, but an island during the rainy feafon. Of the inhabitants, Mrs. F. obferves, the women are not fo well haped as the men; which may be owing to the nature of their em ployments, they being not only obliged to till the ground but to do all kinds of laborious work; and they are kept at a great distance by the men, who feldom fuffer a woman either to fit down or to eat with them. Great refpect is fhewn to the aged by all ranks of people. Polygamy is confidered as honourable and as the fource of confequence. The inhabitants know little of religion, though they believe the existence of a God: but, confidering him as too good to do them an injury, they pay homage only to the devil, from an opinion that he is the fole Being whom they have to fear. They are univerfally neat and clean; clean; nor do their capacities feem lefs fufceptible of cultivation and improvement than thofe of any other part of the human race, The volume is interfperfed with various particulars relative to Mrs. Falconbridge's perfonal concerns, and concludes with complaints of ungenerous treatment on the part of the Directors of the Sierra Leone Company; but these are matters not cognizable in our Court. Gell.....d. Art. 44. An authentic Account of the late Expedition to Bulam, on the 8vo. The melancholy commencement of this fettlement is already known to the public; and in the pamphlet now before us, Mr. Montefiore brings forwards the various unfortunate circumstances, which confpired to difappoint the highly raised expectations of those who unhappily left this country for the inhofpitable coaft of Africa. A fociety was formed, during the year 1791, for the purpose of eftablishing a fettlement on fome eligible fpot on or near the coaft of Africa. Tempted by the flattering information which they had received, they fixed on the island of Bulam, fituated in the Rio Grande, lat. 11° N, and long. 15° W. for this purpose. The subscribers were to receive a grant of 500 acres of land for the fum of 30l. and in that proportion for any greater or lefs number of acres as far as 2000. The island is about 18 leagues in length, and from 4 to 5 broad.In the space of a month after opening the fubfcription, gcool. were paid into the hands of the trustees; for which, according to the terms publifhed, they were to grant to the fubfcribers one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land in a country of which they had not obtained one inch of territory. After having encountered various difficulties, the adventurers arrived at the beautiful island of Bulam; of which they immediately took poffeffion by boifting the British flag. The natives, not understanding this mode by which their property was conveyed to ftrangers, made an unexpected attack on the new. comers, in which fome lives were loft, and obliged the Europeans to relinquish what they had obtained. Thus compelled to abandon Bulam, they fought for refuge in a fettlement belonging to the Portuguese, where most of the unfortunate adventurers became victims to the climate of the country. Mr. Montefiore, defpairing of the colonization of Bulam, embarked for Sierra Leone, where we find him in Nov. 1792. This place, contrafted with the hardships which he had experienced at Bulam, we wonder not at his defcribing in favourable terms.-In many parts, he coincides with the account given of this fettlement in the preceding article: but he materially differs from it by characterizing the prefent governor, Mr. Dawes, as a man in every refpect calculated for his This lady went to Africa in company with her husband, a furgeon, who died at Sierra Leone. He was, we fuppofe, the author of a tract on the cruelties of the flave-trade; of which an account was given in our 78th vol. p. 342. H4 fituation, 1 fituation, and of great abilities,' and as acting in the most upright manner for the benefit and intereft of the company.' Art. 45. A geographical and hiftorical Account of the Island of Bulam, with Obfervations on its Climate, Productions, &c.; and an Account of the Formation and Progress of the Bulam Affociation, and of the Colony itself: with authentic Documents, and a descriptive Map of the Iland, and adjoining Continent. By Andrew Johansen, '. 8vo. Is 6d. Martin and Bain. 1794. This account appears to have been compiled from the records of the Bulam Society, particularly from the correfpondence of Philip Beaver, Efq. now firit lieutenent of the Stately man of war,-who had refided at Bulam as chief in command. Grell.....d. Among other materials here communicated to the public, is a letter from Mr. Beaver, dated at Bulam, July 1793, (about a year after Mr. Montefiore left the island,) wherein he gives a much more advantageous account of the fituation of the colony. He feems very confident of the final fuccefs of the undertaking; declaring that, with fufficient fupport, [not military; every thing having been fairly purchased, and amicably fettled with the neighbouring Africans,]- not one-tenth part of what had been afforded to the Sierra Leone colony*,'-he could, long ago, have added to our prefent territories, land fufficient to maintain 500,000 people, and at very little expence.' In conclufion, he adds, If the good people of England knew but one half of the advantages to be derived from colonizing this part of Africa, on an extenfive scale, you might command half the money in the kingdom,'-This officer refided at Bulam about two years. MEDICA L. Art. 46. Confiderations on the Medicinal Ufe of fallitious Airs, and on There is nothing lefs to be expected in scientific pursuits, than that different perfons, even among the votaries of the fame fcience, fhould be alike affected as to any new modes pointed out for its improvement. Differences in temper, differences in education, differences in habits and views, muft ever produce great diverfities in this refpect; and it feems quite fufficient for the general interefts of knowlege, that, while the authors of a new propofal, and their immediate connections, purfue with ardour the experimental courfe which is to decide on its merit, others look on with candour and good withes, and rather incline to promote their plans of reasonable trial than to throw obftacles in their way. In fuch a manner, we imagine, the real friends to medical improvement will be affected towards the experiments now going on in that new branch of the art which may properly be termed pneumatic medicine. We can conceive no poflible reason for which those, who *This other new colony appears to be not more than a few days' fail from Bulam. + Mr. Beaver's letter is addreffed to the Trustees of the Bulam Affociation, lament lament the inefficacy of received methods of practice in certain difeafes, hould be ayerfe from a fair trial of new agents which, it can scarcely be doubted, act a confiderable part in the ordinary state of the animal economy; and which are manifeftly capable of fafe and much varied application in a state of disease. For our part, therefore, we think that the active and perfevering efforts of the very ingenious physician, who leads the way in the pneumatic medicine of this country, are highly laudable; and we are glad to see him, from time to time, communicating to the public the refults of his inquiries, and endeavouring to excite in others the fame fpirit of philofophical zeal for the good of mankind, by which he is himself, we believe, purely and honeftly) twe actuated. The prefent small publication contains, in its firft part, a variety of matter relative to the nature and application of factitious airs, with hints, facts, and obfervations, tending to illuftrate a ftill obfcure and doubtful fubject. In all thefe we find Dr. B. himself speaking with great candour, and never departing from that due degree of philofophical fcepticism which is requifite to the investigation of truth fecond part is chiefly occupied by Mr. Watt's defcription of the conftruction and ufe of an apparatus for preparing and administering factitious airs, for the understanding of which the accompanying plates are neceffary. The We shall not make extracts from a performance which, of course, will be procured by all who interest themfelves in the fubject. POETRY and DRAMATIC. Ai. Art. 47. A Tour through Parts of Wales, Sonnets, Odes, and other Poems. With Engravings from Drawings taken on the Spot by J. Smith. By W. Sotheby, Efq. Royal 4to. 11. 11s. 6d. Boards, Blamire. 1794. Mr. Sotheby's poems were reviewed at their first appearance in 1790, in the 6th vol. of our New Series, p. 143. The prefent fplendid edition, from the prefs of Smeeton, in St. Martin's Lane, may juftly boaft the united decorations of fine paper, neat prefs-work, and elegant coloured prints. The name of the artist who has furnished the drawings is mentioned in the title; that of the fculptor is Alken. The following advertisement is prefixed to the volume: The author of the following poems thinks proper to fignify, that the present edition is publifhed for the emolument of the artist, who has ftamped a value on the defcriptive parts of the Welsh Tour, by the embellishments of his accurate and masterly pencil.' The following lift of the Plates will probably afford fome gratification to those who are acquainted with the fcenes which they reprefent : I. Abergavenny Castle. II. Caerfily Caftle, by moonlight. III. The Pont-y-prid; or the famous new Bridge, built by one Edwards, a mafon. IV. Melincourt Cafcade. V. Caraig-cenning Caftle. VI. Dinevawr ditto. VII. Haverford-Weft ditto. VIII. Nivegal Sands, St. Bride's Bay. IX. Pont Aberglaflyn. X. Snowdon, from Capel Caraig. XI. The Eagle's Tower, Caernarvon Castle. XII, 3 Druidical |