POLITICS, &c.

Art. 29. The Utility of Country Banks considered. 8vo. 2s. Hatchard, This ingenic us and well written pamphlet is calculated, like Mr. Thornton's more elaborate work, (see p. 30. of this Review,) to augment the respectability of our paper credit; and to prove that the banking system operates to the benefit of the state. Country banks have in this writer a very able advocate; who enlarges on their utility, and endeavours to obviate whatever has been urged to their disadvantage.

Mr. Thornton represents the bank of England as independent of Government: but this gentleman considers it as a great engine of state, which in various ways aids the operations of government." Country banks have not this connection; and, as they divide the confidence, they are regarded as increasing the security of the pub. lic. We are told that every country bank must be considered as a mine to the kingdom, and bankers as the workers of this mice for the public good;'-that, as grand political machines, moving the great levers of the empire, and raising the ponderous powers of war, rational banks may be contemplated as national bulwarks, towers of strength, and edifices of defence ;'-that what the bank of England is to government and merchants of the metropolis, country banks are to traders and gentlemen of landed property in the country; and that the high price of provisions is totally independent of any system of banking known in this country.'

Perhaps, however, the assertions in this pamphlet are too strong and unqualified, and give to the whole rather the air of interested pleading, than of impartial judgment and matured reflections. The system of banking, though advantageous in many respects to a commercial state, naturally tends to produce an excess of paper circulation, and to draw gold from the pockets of the many into the coffers of the few. Mr. Thornton, indeed, allows that country banks have their disadvantages: but the writer now before us exhibits only the bright side of the subject; for which, we are informed, it is actu ally in contemplation with the country bankers to present him with a handsome acknowlegement.

Art. 3c. Public Credit in danger; or Frauds on the Revenue Private Wrongs, and Public Ruin: To which are added, Hints on the best Means to provide for a Peace Establishment, without increasing the National Burthens. By a Member of the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple. 8vo. 25. Hatchard. 1802.

A forcible appeal is here made to conscience, on the sin of defrauding the revenue. The author, having been an enemy to the late war, withheld his advice to Government during its continuance, because he was fearful of contributing to its prolongation: but now, peace being restored, he gives it without reluctance.-He purposes to institute a magnificent society for the support of public credit and universal integrity; and, to check all frauds, he recommends it to the legislature to put the purchasers of contraband articles on the same footing with receivers of stolen goods. By conscientious payment of taxes, every thing, he thinks, would be accomplished which

the

the nation requires for the peace establishment in the way of revenue. There is one safe path before us, and all is well and will be wellRender unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and the business is donc.' Thus the redress of grievances seems to be extremely easy : but, if this desirable event depends on making all people honest, we may wish, indeed, but do not expect, to see this happy event. Our childrens' childrens' children, in the golden age, may be more fortunate.

Art. 31. Serious Reflections on Paper Money in general, particularly on the alarming Inundation of forged Bank Notes. With Hints for remedying an Evil threatening Destruction to the internal "Frade of the Kingdom. In which are included Observations on Mr. Thornton's Enquiry concerning the Paper Credit of Great Britain. 8vo. 18. 6d. Thurgood.

Serious indeed! Mr. Thornton is not more a preacher of consola tion than this writer is a disseminator of alarm. He places the subject of paper money in a point of view in which it was not considered by the former gentleman; and though he prescribes a mode of cure, it is not till he has roused us to a contemplation of the magnitude of the evil. Being ourselves no advocates for the doctrine of unbounded confidence in any banking depository, and foreseeing the mischiefs which may probably arise from an unlimited emission of notes, unchecked by their convertibility into cash at the will of the holder, we are more disposed to coincide in, than to resist, the views of this writer; yet we question the policy of representing the fabrication of forged notes as an easy practice, and of alarming the nation with the idea of an inundation of these forgeries. No doubt they are numerous, but we trust that they do not amount to an imandation; and we hope that the bank will avail itself of the sensible remarks which are here suggested, to check, if not to annihilate, this wicked practice.

Commencing with a glance at the origin of the banking system in Europe, the author proceeds to notice Law's Missisippi scheme in France and our South Sea Bubble; whence he passes to a consider. ation of the Bank of England, which he accuses of having failed in its contract, with the public, by not paying in cash on demand; and he remarks that paper, as money, when the real money has been withdrawn, of which, by common consent, that paper was intended to be an emblem, will ever be liable to fall into decay.' Of the fanding and taxing system, he says that it is an invention which must ever be deprecated by the philosophic and benevolent mind.' In defiance of Mr. Thornton's laboured vindication of paper credit, this writer decides in favour of the precious metals; lamenting that so much of them should have been sent out of the country, since nothing but an increased foreign commerce, with a balance of trade in our favour, can restore to us the quantity which has been sent away. His observations on Mr. Thornton's inquiry are concise: but lie promises to comment on it more at large in future.

Art. 32. A Letter addressed to the Hon. Charles James Fex, in con sequence of a Publication, intitled "A Sketch of the Character

of

of the Most Noble Francis Duke of Bedford." 8vo. IS. Rivingtons.

The author of this letter disapproves alike of the panegyrist and of the panegyrised. Mr. Fox's eulogy is condemned because it did not, like a funeral sermon, exhibit the late Duke of Bedford's reli gious sentiments; and the example of the deceased is reprobated because he did not display-a deathbed repentance. The fortitude of the noble Duke in his last moments, which his Friend so highly extolled, is here represented as constituting the most shocking part of what this writer terms this truly deplorable scene'. The silence observed by Mr. Fox on the subject of religion, and the late Duke's avowed political principles, here excite such animadversions as no liberal and candid mind will honour with its approbation.

EDUCATION.

Art. 33. Chronological Tablets: exhibiting every remarkable Oc: currence from the Creation of the World, with characteristic Traits of each Event; chiefly abridged from the French of the Abbot Lenglet du Fresnoy; arranged alphabetically, and augmented from authentic sources to the present Time, particularly as regards British history: comprehending brief Accounts of Inveations and Discoveries in every Department of Science, and Biogra cal Sketches of three thousand illustrious or notable Persons. 12mo. pp. 256. Vernor and Hood. 1801.

This little book is divided into five tables, under the following titles; General Events, Battles, Inventions, Discovery of Countries, Establishments, &c. &c.--Sacred Writers and Writings; Sects, Religious and Religio-military Institutions, Orders, &c.-Buildings, Hospitals, and Public Offices.-Persons worthy of Note, either for their Virtues or their Vices, particularly mental or bodily Qualifications, Rank, &c. -ind Regal Tables'-to all which is added, Population of Europe, &c. together with Occurrences while this work was at press.'-The editor speaks with great satisfaction concerning his compilation, which, we are told, he does not obtrude on the public without a thorough conviction of its utility and correctness; and he farther remarks, It is believed, no book near the same size and price, contains a more abundant fund of information and enterainment than this now offered; for, by the economy of printing, a page of duodecimo is introduced into a compass apparently not more than half its bulk, in such a way as to comprize multum in parvo.

We give the editor credit for industry, and for attention in his endea vours to render the work more complete; we are pleased also with the division of his subjects, and we apprehend that in its present state it may prove both acceptable and useful: but we cannot fatter him so far as to say that it is not free from defects, and is not capable of considerable improvement. No part of science requires greater exactness and deliberation, or admits of more diffidence, than this of chronology. Doubtful authorities and confident assertions should therefore be avoided, which, perhaps, is not always sufficiently done in this performance: deception is easy on this point, and prejudice misleads.-Whether Free, masonry was taught (p.56.) in England by Pythagoras, about 550 years

before

before Christ, we leave to be determined by those who choose to inves◄ tigate the subject-Of Highways, it is said, (p. 63.) the first law for their reparation passed, 1525; that which erected turnpikes, 1773.’ Of the latter, to which we are referred, we read, p. 139, Turnpikes, for exacting tolls, first erected here, 1350; first law concerning them, 1663; tax levied on persons passing through them, 1782.- Here is probably an erior of the press, or certainly other mistakes. In table iv. we observe, Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, who killed his parkkeeper in 1621, died Aug. 3, 1633, aged 71;' it ought surely to have been said, by accident.- Merlin, the prophet, (p 217 ) lived in 477.' Ought we not to read, reputed prophet? Annet, Peter, pilloried and persecuted for his moral writings, died 1679, aged 75.' It seems very hard that a man should suffer in this manner for his morality. Here again appears an error of the press.-Some names, such as Joseph Addison, Esq. need, perhaps, no other distinction than that of the time of birth and death; so justly are they celebrated and truly esteemed: but, when we observe, Mitchel. Joseph, born 1684, died 1738:' or 'Shirley, James, born 1594, died 1666,' general readers will, probably, be neither edified nor informed.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 34. Cary's New Itinerary; or, an accurate Delineation of the Great Roads, both direct and cross, throughout England and Wales; with many of the principal Reads in Scotland; from an actual Admeasurement made by Command of his Majesty's Post Master General, for official Purposes. By John Cary, Surveyor of the Roads to the General Post Office. To which are added the Names of the Inns which supply Post Horses and Carriages; Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats; a List of the Packet Boats, &c. &c. The 2d Edition, with Improvements. 8vo. with the Maps coloured. Cary. 1802.

10s. 6d. We recommended the first edition of this work in our 27th vol. N. S. p. 110, and the present has an increased claim to patronage on account of various additions and improvements; some of which we shall mention. To the former survey of goco miles, an actual measurement of 1000 more is now given.-At the conclusion of each route (of any material length) a return route is added, to shew the distance from B to A, as well as from A to B, without the trouble of subtracting: which, as it stood formerly, must have been always rather inconvenient, and to some people embarrassing. Besides the usual distinction of market-towns, all places having a post-office are now distinguished by a characteristic mark.-A new map of the Cross Roads, separate from the Direct Roads; and the former are also marked on the ge. neral map, exhibiting their connection with the latter.

The new mode adopted by Mr. Cary in his 1st edition, of reck; oning all distances from the General Post Office, has been abandoned; and they are now computed from the customary standards, in order that they may correspond as nearly as possible with the mile-stones on the roads.

With much candor, and a laudable desire of improvement, Mr. Cary solicits the corrections of all travellers who may use his book;

particularly

particularly in the article of the country seats of noblemen, &c. which must be subject to constant variations. The description of cross roads, also, must no doubt be susceptible of emendations. Ons omission accidentally struck us, viz. the cross road from Cheltenham to Stow, and thence to Chipping Norton.

An account of Mr. Cary's successful action against a piracy of his work was given in our last vol. p. 46. He has not omitted to record it in the present volume, and thus repels a prior charge of plagiarism brought against him.

Art. 25. A Critical Inquiry into the Moral Writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson. In which the Tendency of certain Passages in the Rambler, and other Publications of that celebrated Writer, is impartially considered. To which is added, A Dialogue in the Shades, between Johnson and Boswell. 8vo. 3s. 6d.

and Morgan.

Cobbett

We entirely agree with this ingenious Critic in his unfavourable opinion of many sentiments and doctrines contained in the Essays of Dr. Johnson, which are here examined; and which are considered as having by no means a tendency to promote the comfort and happiness of mankind. He appreciates more highly, however, the merit of the Doctor's poetical performances; of his religious papers, also, (for the most part,) he is a warm admirer; and he does ample justice to the piety and good intentions of that great writer.

This is a well-written and even an entertaining performance. A considerable, if not the principal, part of it first appeared in the coumns of a newspaper. The humorous Dialogue in the Shades, given in the Appendix, bears very hard on poor Bozzi: who is here made to acknowlege that he owed his untimely death to drinking too much mahogany-alias gin and treasle

CORRESPONDENCE.

We are indebted to a noble Correspondent in Ireland, for the correction of an inadvertency in our Review for February last, p. 197, note: where Swift's character of Thomas Earl of Wharton was proposed to be compared with Pope's similar delineation, forgetting that the portrait drawn by the latter was that of Philip Duke of Wharton, son of the Earl: with which distinction, the comparison may still be made.-Our best acknowlegements are due to the Earl of G. for the very obliging expression contained in his letter: in return for which, we can only hope that he may long enjoy all the pleasures which literature can afford, and to which our humble efforts may contribute.

By a letter from Dr. Hutton of Woolwich, we learn with regret that our account of his Treatise on Bridges (See Rev. for March last, P. 324.) has given him pain, which it was by no means our intention to inflict; and we assure the Doctor that he has attached a meaning to our remarks which we wholly disavow.-The observations respecting speculative men were not designed to apply personally to Dr. H. as individual censure; and the force of the objection was in a

great