always labour can have no true judgement.. the bare mention, by Capt. Dixon, in You never give yourselves time to cool. You can never furvey, from its proper point of fight, the work you have finished, before you decree its final execution. You can never plan the future by the past. You can never go into the country, foberly and difpailionately, to obferve the effect of your measures on their objects. You cannot reel diftinctly how far the people are rendered better and improved, or more miferable and depraved, by what you have done. You cannot fee, with your own eyes, the fufferings and afflictions you caufe. You know them but at a distance, on the statements of thofe who always flatter the reigning power, and who, amidft their reprefentations of the grievances, inflame your minds against those who are oppreffed. These are amongst the effects of unremitted labour, when men exhauft their attention, burn out their candles, and are left in the dark.-Malo meorum negli gentiam, quam iftorum obfcur turam diligentiam.” p. 72-74. It has been faid, that Mr. B. falls fhort of himself in this publication. We leave the publick to judge of the propriety of this obfervation from the copious extracts here laid before them. In our opinion Mr. B. deferves to be heard, and will be heard, both in France and England. 91. A Letter to Jofeph Priestley, LL.D. F.R.S. on his Difcourfe delivered on Wednesday, April 27, 1791, to the Supporters of the New College at Hackney. By Samuel Turner, M. A. CONTAINS fome fimple truths, be low Dr. P's notice. 92. An Answer to Mr. George Dixon, late Commander of the Queen Charlotte, &c. By John Meares, Elg. In which bis Remarks on the Voyage to the North-weft Craft of America, c. are fully confidered and refuted. p. WE announced this Anfwer in 64; and, as we then conjectured, the controverfy has not ended here. 93. Further Remarks on the Voyage of John Meares, Ejq.; in which feveral important Fars, mifreprefented in the faid Voyage, re-s lative to Geography and Commerce, are fully fat flantiated. To which is added, a Letter from Capt. Duncan, containing a decifime Refutation of feveral unfounded Affertions of Mr. Meares, and a final Reply to bis Anfwer. By George Dixon, &. SORRY are we to obferve that any expedition, undertaken by fea or land, for the fake of ufeful difcovery, fhould be defeated by private refentiment. But his narrative of his voyage, that Capt. Meares's crew fuffered the exceffes of the fcurvy, by the too free use of spi rits, has involved them in a difpute, inco by Capt. Meares making him fay, that which Capt. Duncan has been drawn, Capt. Dixon refufed him relief at fea; which "affertion Capt. Duncan avows to be without foundation." On this ftatement of facts, by Mr. Meares's opponents, we, as far as our limited knowledge of the difputed points in question goes, cannot help being of opinion that Mr. M. has gone too far, 94. Speeches in the House of Commons upon the Equalization of the Weights and Measures of Great Britain; with Notes, Objervations, &c. &c. Allo, a general Standard propofed for the Weights and Meafures of Europe: with brief AbraЯs of the most material Alls of the British Legislature, and other Ordinances and Regulations, for the Equalization of our Weights and Meafures, from Magna Charta to the prefent Time, &c. &c. By Sir John Riggs Miller, Bart. Together with Two Letters from the Bifbp of Autun to the Author, upon ib Uniformity of Weights and Measures; that Prelate's Propofition, respecting the fame, to the National Aff mbly; and the Decree of that Boly, of be 8th of May, conformable to the Bifh p's Propofition: with English Tranflations. 8vo. THE firft object of this curious inveftigator, whom we are forry not to fee profecuting his refearches and plans in his place in St. Stephen's chapel, is, to fatisfy the Houfe, that much uncertainty and perplexity prevail now, and have in every other country, in refpect to at all times prevailed, both in this and weights and measures. His fecond object was to lay open to them the caufe of this uncertainty and perplexity; and to prove that, under the prefent circumftances, it is permanent and inevitable. His third object is to shew the mischievous influence which the inequality of our weights and measures has on fciforts and morals both of individuals ence, on commerce, and on the comand of the community at large. His fourth would be to offer fome immediate corrections of the abufes now prevailing from tuch inequality; and his fifth object would be to fuggeft fome general standard, from which all weights and measures may be in future railed; being itfelf derived from fomething in nature that is invariable and immutable; and which muft neceffarily be at all times, and in all places, equal, and the fame. fame. The three first are felf-evident propofitions; the fourth is not difcuffed in this pamphlet; and, in refpect to the fifth, Sir John ftates the effential and eligible qualities of an univerfal ftandard for weights and meafures. The effential qualities feem fully enumerated in his explanation of his fifth object; and thofe which may be thought eligible are, that if it be of a proper extent; neither fo large nor fo fmall as to create any difficulties either in the conftru&tion or use of it; that its denominations be in tens; that, if poffible, it may be derived from, or connected with, two things in nature, fo that one of them may be a check on, or proof of, the other; that it should agree nearly with fome one of the meafures now in common ufe; that it should correfpond, in fome degree, with the meafures of other nations; and, if poffible, be a medium between them; and that both the flandard, and its denominations, be fuch as neighbouring nations may be inclined to adopt. He next examines the properties of feveral objects which have, at different times, been propofed as proper fandards for an univerfal meafure; and points out the advantages and defects of each. The first that he mentions is taken from a drop of diftilled water, or fpuit of wine, rectified to a certain de gree of ftrength, and the drops made in a certain temperature of the atmosphere; a certain number of thefe drops may be denominated a ton weight; and the fide of the cubic veffel which contains them, as it will be about 38 or 39 inches, if the ton weight be of its prefent magni. tude, may, very conveniently, be eftablifhed for the ftandard yard. The internal capacity may alfo be a ton of liquid measure, 32 bushels, or four quarters of corn, and a chaldron of coals. Sir John Miller thinks this the moft unexceptionable of small standards; but he doubts whether the drops, whatever care may be taken, can be made fo nearly alike as not to admit of a very confiderable error in the total quantity of fuch a vaft number as would be requifite for the purpose. The fecond tandard which he propofes is taken from the admeafurement of the space through which heavy bodies fall in a fecond of time. This Sir John rejects, on account of the difficulty which would occur in determining the fpace with fufficient exactness. The third ftandard is taken from the meature of a degree of a great circle of the earth. He enu merates feveral advantages which would refult from deriving our standard meafure from this fource: but he allows that the trouble, time, and expence of firft finding it, and recurring to it after ward, are very great objections to it. He alfo, very july, doubts whether it admits of being determined with fufficient accuracy; and gives his reafons for this fufpicion. The fourth standard is propofed to be taken from the length of a pendulum, which makes one vibration in a fecond of time. This appears to our author, and perhaps justly, to be "the most proper for a fandard, as it is "the fimpleft, the most easily obtained, "and the moft accurate." But, for a fuller view of the fubject, we must refer our readers to the pamphlet itself, and to fome remarks on it, fuggefted by our brethren the Monthly Reviewers, in their Review for May laft, vol. V. p. 60-65. 95. A Vindication of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolu "tion in France;" in Answer to all bis Opponents. IF Mr. B's Reflections needed a Vindication, this writer has taken-in the whole range of his opponents; and if, while he fets up for candour and liberality of fentiment, he appears to depart from his profeffions, he does no more than the generality of thofe whom he replies to. Thefe are, Mrs. Wolftencraft; the Leffons to a young Prince, by a Statefman; Major Scott; the Short Obfervations on Mr. Burke's Reflec tions ; Doctors Price, Towers, and Priestley; Meffieurs Lofft and Rous; and Mrs. Macaulay Graham : all whom he characterizes; and, in doing this, fhews that he is not deftitute of abili. ties, improved, in this inftance, by a refidence, for the last three years, in Paris. In characterizing the National Affembly, he is not a whit more favourable to it than_Mr. B.; nor is he, perhaps, wide of the mark when he calls it "a difgufting mixture of weak"nets and effrontery, fuperftition and "impiety, ignorance and prefumption, folly and cruelty, mifchievous boys "in legiflation, protectors of unheard "of cruelty, and notorious violators of property (p. 50); who have reduced "robbery to a fyftem. There is no 66 thing that men can do, that I do not "conceive the National Affembly capa"ble of; I mean the majority, that are "led by Mirabeau and nothing more 66 probable "probable than that the people would "affent to any thing they could do" (p. 102. One inftance we have, and this writer was eye-witnefs to it, in the condemnation of M. de Favras by the Chatelet, for fear of the mob. This vindicator of Mr. B. declares himself totally unacquainted with him, or with any one who knows him; and that he has only feen him once, and fhall, in a few weeks, leave this country, perhaps never to return (p. 142). He " con "ceives Whiggifm to be a jealous at"tachment to the Conftitution, as fet"tled at the Revolution; and, on this "principle, Mr. Burke is the best Whig, and Mr. Burke's book the "best Whiggish book in the language. "He is not a Whig that fays Mr. "Burke is not a Whig: he is not an "honeft man that fays Mr. Burke is "not a virtuous Whig" (p. 141). Upon the whole, we confider this Vindication as the best detection of the fophifms and evil principles adopted by the revolutionifts of France, and their worshipers in this country. 46 95. A Statistical Account of Scotland, drawn up from the Communications of the Minifters of the different Parishes. By Sir John Sinclair, Bart. Vol. I. Edinburgh, 1791 t. IN the Introduction, dated Edinburgh, May 25, 1791, Sir John tells us, "It is now about twelve months fince I first had the honour of circulating, among the Clergy of the Church of Scotland, a variety of queries for elucidating the natural biftory and political state of that country. My original idea was to have drawn up, from their returns, a general Statistical View of North Britain, without any particular reference to parochial districts. But I found fuch merit and ability, and fo many ufeful facts and important obfervations in the anfwers that were fent me, that I could not think of depriving the Clergy of the credit they were entitled to derive from fuch laborious exertions; and I was induced to give the work to the publick in its prefent fhape. It would have been more defireable to have had the accounts of the different parishes arranged by prefbyteries, or counties, for the purpofe of connexion, and to prevent repetition, where the circumstances of the different diftricts were nearly fimilar. But it was not to be expected that complete information, *We with our good neighbours of North Britain, who have already too many foreign words in their language, would not load or obfcure it with more. See p. 54. See an analyfis of this account of a parochial in our p. 506. refpecting any one of the larger divifions of "The variety of bufinefs, both of a public "It would be improper to conclude with- The parishes defcribed are in number rom, Innerwick, Linton, Newlands, Kirk 1 Rathfay, Kingarth, Houflon and Kilallan, Biggar, Dunfyre. Yefter, Bathgate, Stranraer, Kettle, Delting, Kilrennie, Arngask, Dunnichen, Carmylie, Panbride, Lunan, Auchterderran, Kinlofs, Oathlaw, Gamrie, Gafk, Lymore and Appin, Meigle. The four first are published in a pamphlet intituled Specimen of the Statistical Account of Scotland, drawn up from the Communications of the Minifters of the different Parifbes. By Sir John Sinclair, Bart.; given out in the beginning of the year. The principal heads of inquiry are, "name, fituation, furface, air, popula❝tion, cultivation and produce, manufactures, wages, prices, and poor; "rents of land, church, and fipend; mineral fprings and roads; manners, "customs, mifcellaneous obfervations, "including antiquities." The parish of Ballantrae has no perfon in it conneed with the law, not even a conitable or heriff's officer, nor a juftice of the peace, and the fheriff's court is 36 aniles diftant; there is no furgeon or physician within 12 miles, and it is doubted whether half a dozen fuch parifhes would give bread to one. We prefume the fpiritual paftor fupplies all these wants. 97. Waiting for God's Salvation.-A Sermon, occafioned by the Death of the Rev. Samuel Morton Savage, D.D. who departed this Life February 21, 1791, in the Seventiesb Year of bis Age. By William Bennet. To which is added, An Address at the Grave, by Thomas Towle, B.D. THIS Sermon, from Gen. xlix. 18, Speaks the language of the orthodox puritans and dealers in experiences of the laft age, of whom fo few furvive. The falvation Dr. S. waited for was very different from that which his friend Dr. Price fang his Nune dimittis upon. Both are removed from the prefent fcene of turbulence in religion and politicks, to contemplate the true principles of both in their full difplay; or, if we believe certain philofophers, to await the confummation of all things in the filent fleep of the grave, till Confcioufnefs, as well as Existence, be reftored, and Do&tors Pricftley and Price fhall have fomething elfe to do than to talk over the fate of flares and empires, and the fresheft news from France and England, whofe theatres of action will have been long annihilated. From Mr. Towle's Addrefs we learn, phat, under the influence of Chriftian 2 evangelical principles, an unfhaken in tegrity reigned through Dr. Savage's whole deportment; an integrity which difcovered its reality and frength by roufing his indignation at every appear ance of deceit and duplicity, and in fpiring him with a difdain of all that was mean, bafe, and fervile. Towle, "were above the common fize. His "Dr. Savage's natural abilities,” says Mr. apprehenfion quick-his memory retentivehis judgement difcriminating-to all which valuable endowments were joined a strong inclination, and proportionable capacity, to communicate his ideas, not indeed furrounded with those tinfel ornaments, or arrayed in that gaudy drefs, by which fome are greatly captivated, but attended with what is much more deferving esteem-perfpicuity-preci fion-and accuracy. indeed! By the blefling of God, on exten"His literary attainments were a treasure learning, both various and valuable; infofive reading and clofe ftudy he acquired much, that whoever does justice to his character, in this part of it, muft acknowledgebe was an eminently learned man. "By the advice and under the patronage of good judges-after a courfe of fuitable preparatory ftudies, which he paffed through with reputation and advantage - he was brought forward into public fe. For many years he was pallor of that Chriftian Society of Proteftant Diffenters of the Congregational Denomination, where the greatly venerable Dr. John Owen, the eminently learned Mr. David Clarkfon, the truly ingenious and pious Dr. Ifaac Watts, and the jufly-esteemed Mr. Samnel Price-not to mention other names defervedly honoured in the religious world-fuftained the fame facred character. Nor was this-honourable as this was-the only public department for which Providence had defigned him. After having conducted other parts of a learned education, to his own credit, and to the approbation of those with whom he was connected, be was feated in the Learning where the Rev. Dr. David Jendivinity chair at that Seminary of Religion and nings for many years worthily and honourably prefided. "That impartiality which I defire ever to maintain constrains me here to fay, that though there were many who highly efteemed him, and to whom he was greatly ufeful, in both thefe departments-of whole regard he retained and exprefied a grateful fenfe to the day of his death-it must be acknowledged his apparent fuccefs was not fuch as, from his piety, abilities, and learning, fome might expect. The canics of this fa♬ the prefent time and place will not permit me to in A feminary chiefly fupported by the liberality of William Coward, Efq. of Walthamitow; who died in 1738. vestigate death-bed, on the early death of "a "most lovely and highly favoured "youth, a dutiful and only fon, the joy of his parents, the hope of his "family, an illuftrious ornament and pattern of his age." veftigate or declare-but, whatever they might be, or fhould it even be fuppofed that any thing criminal was attached to them, juftice to the character of the deceased obliges me to add my full perfuafion, that wo criminality rafted with bm. Moft earnestly. did he defire that the great ends, in order to the attainment of which he was advanced to the itations he filled, might be faithfully and punctually accomplished. For this purpose, he laboured with indefatigable zeal and diligence. When he had reafon to fear his labours were not fuccefsful, the thought pierced his heart with an anguish peculiarly pungent-but when there was ground to hope that fuccefs crowned them, his whole foul was filled with fenfations exquifitely delightful. "Such was my dece:fed brother in the public characters under which he appeared; a general sketch of the manner in which he demeaned himself in other situations may be expected, and fhall be briefly given. "View him in his family, there you fee the indulgent hufband, the tender parent, the good master, having the happiness to receive fuitable returns from thofe to whom he flood in thefe relations. Attend to him amung bis friends; to them his attachments were fincere, ardent, and steady, Confider him as a member of that large political body THE STATE; genuine love to his country warmed his heart, moved his tongue, and regulated his actions. As a good fubje&t, while he detefted-and, on proper occafions, expreffed his deteftation of all factious, feditious, and rebellious principles and practice: -he honoured the King, obeyed the Laws, and highly valued our well-framed Conftitution. Indeed, under the direction of his confcience, he was a Diffenter from the Eftabfhed Church of this country-but, while he thankfully accepted the liberty the Conftitution gave him, of acting up to his fentiments, a fucb, his words and actions uniformly exprelfed a firm perfuafion that the diffent fhould be conducted, as with refolution and fteadiness, fo with decency and prudence. Trace him in his behaviour among mankind at large-though rather difpofed to retirement and folitude-there you will find him juft, benevolent, and honourable-habitually acting on gofpel principles-under the influence of that equitable and lovely precept of our Divine Mafter-Whatsoever ye would that men fhould do unto you, do ye even fo unto P. 42-46. them." a 98. Youth reminded of a future Judgment, in funeral Difcourfe, occafioned by the Death of Mr. John Vowel, who died at Hackney, Dec. 24, 1790, in the Twenty-fecond Year of bis Age. To which is added, fome Account of bis Sifter, Mifs Sophia Vowel, who died on the 7th of the fame Month, in the Sixteenth Year of ber Age. By W. Bennet. AN affecting difcourfe, from Ecclef. xi. 9, a text chofen by himfelf on his GENT. MAG. July, 1791. 86 99. The Eulogies of Howard. A Vifion. CONCERNING the merits and virtues of the departed Howard there feems to exift but one opinion, amongst all ranks and characters of men. Even they who intimate that his conduct was tinctured with enthusiasm allow it to be an enthusiasm of the most amiable nature, equally deferving of imitation and reward. The pen which produced the prefent performance is certainly no mean one, and must have its effect in contributing to the final accomplishment of what the friends of Benevolence and Howard have in view. This beatific vifion reprefents another and a better world, in which the three more diftinguithed Profeffions concur in acknowledging the fervices of Howard to mankind to have deferved a permanent and immortal compenfation. Three different Eulogies are pronounced in his name, by three illuftrious characters, in the Separate beaven affigned to the profeffors of Divinity, Medicine, and Law. A Funeral Sermon is added; which, perhaps, with refpect to the compofition, is the best part of the work. The whole is entitled to our praife, and has our best wishes for its fuccefs. 100. The Aboriginal Drilons. A Prize Poem, · Spoken in the Theatre at Oxford, July VII By George Richards, B. . Fellow of Oriel College, MDCCXCI. THIS is one of those original effu. fions of Genius which burst out when leaft expected. The author's talents are here developed; and, from the compofition as well as the fpirit with which it was delivered in the Theatre at Oxford, on the 8th infiant, as well as previously rehearfed, we augur well for his poetic fpirit, notwithttanding the little fymptoms he fhewed of it on his firft fettlement in the University. This this he is indebted to the munificence is the third prize he has won; and for of an unknown benefactor, who laft year fent a letter, written in a concealed hand, to the Vice-chancellor, inclosing a bank-note of zol. with a fubject for a poem. We do not recollect to have read a more animated compofition fince Mr. Howard's Conquest of Quebec, in 1768, |