the poor; Adrian + and Conftantine for emancipating the Roman flaves; and Alfred for his equal throne. The fecond book is entirely taken up with the Slave Trade, and with episodes of Ne. gro adventures and virtues; among which laft is celebrated that of two bro

ther-like friends at once ftabbing to the heart the object of their affections. Thus Negro virtues, Negro frailties fhine. In a Didactic poem of the length of this, it is difficult to keep up the poetic fire equal throughout. Mr. Pratt's motives must atone for his defects as for his eratta, which are numerous . We might cenfure the defcription of the prefent ftate of the Holy Land, and even the laboured portrait of Alfred; but we reflect on the many good lines, and the moral tendency of the whole, and on the effect the continued application to its compofition has had on the writer's health; but which lofs, great and good men allure him, will be "amply made up to him by an increafe "of literary reputation."

94. A Lift of Scholars of St. Peter's College, Weftminster, as they were elected to Chrift Church College, Oxford, and Trinity College, Cambridge From the Foundation by Queen Elizabeth, 1561, to the prefent Time. Including the Admifions into the firflnamed College from 1663. To whub is prefixed, a Lift of Deans of Westminster; Deans of Chrift Church College, Oxford; Mafiers of Trinity College, Cambridge; and Mafers of Weftminster School. Col. lected by Jofeph Welch. 40.

"THE favaurable reception which the Regiftrum Regale of Eton, 1774, has met with, would be a fufficient apology, were any neceffary, for having undertaken the following compilation; in which the editor has no pretenfion to any other merit than that of industry and fidelity.

"From an official connection with the Royal School of Westminster, he was led to enquire into its history, and that of the members of fo illuftrious a feminary; of whom at length he gradually obtained the prefent lift which he has fo repeatedly been called

*We are not forry to fee his last rejected in the House of Commons as complicated and

burdenfome.

+ Adrian is complimented with the epithet of tender, and Conftantine with that of ju: how confonant to the rest of their lives Jet History fay.

Not only in the lift at the end, but in corrections in MS. in the copy fent to us, and in others ftill unnoticed. Medicinal and Surinam are wrong accented.

upon to transcribe for private ufe, that he has no doubt of its being acceptable to the publick in its present form.

"The flight biographical notices, fuch as they are, he hopes will be found ufeful. On this head it would have been a real pleasure to him to have enlarged; but the small portion of leifure he enjoys, and the little opportunity of accefs to books, muft plead his excufe for brevity. Where-ever he could, he has referred the reader to more ample accounts; and particularly to Wood, where most of the early scholars elected to Chrift Church are to be found. But Wood is the biographer of one Univerfity only; and as yet there is no publication fimilar at the other; but it is to be hoped that this work will, by holding forth its great men to view in a new light, animate that to publish Athenæ Cantabrigienfes, and procure a continuation of the Oxonienfes.

"It was the éditor's wish to have made the mention of the stations, which the various gentlemen have occupied, as copious as poffible; but this alfo, from the difficulty of obtaining accurate accounts, was a talk far beyond the poflibility of his performing; though the stations of them would oftentimes have promoted a pleafing enquiry to the gentlemen who have been educated at Weftminster by tracing their old schoolfellows into their diftant retirements, where the intrinfic honour of private conduct has often equalled the most substantial honours. of profeffional ftations in our cathedrals, or of the first offices in the state.

"By way of embellishment, two views are here inferted of the ancient and the prefent Dormitory. The first of them, erected upon ftone arches, was originally built as a granary to the monaftery of St. Peter; and is here copied from an original drawing. The hiftory of the prefent building is as follows: a legacy of 1000l. was given in 1708, for that specific purpose, by Sir Edward Hannes, knight, phyfician to Queen Anne. This, in 1718, was followed up by a memorial from the then Dean (Bishop Atterbury) and Chapter of Westminster; which obtained from King George 1. 1000l.; from King George 11. (then Prince of Wales) 50cl.; from a parliamentary grant 1200l. ; and sool. was afterward added by William Morrice, efq. (the Bishop's fon-in-law), for liberty from the church to difpofe of his office of high-bailiff. A noble Earl presented building; and on the 24th of April, 1722, the model, and condefcended to furvey the being Westminster Election Tuesday, the firft ftone was laid, with the following infcription engraved on it: Pofuit felicibus (faxit Deus) Aufpiciis Ricardus Com. de Burlington Architectus 7 Kal. Maii, 1722.'

*For the materials already collated for fuch a work, fee Gough's Topography, vol. 1. p. 219-221.

*If this work fhould ever come to another edition, it is hoped that the gentlemen, who now honour it with a place in their libraries, will oblige the Editor by fuch further notices as their researches may obtain ; which shall be most respectfully confidered hefore re-publishing, fhould the fame hand undertake it."

The two views, drawn by Courtenay and Millar, and engraved by Angus, are elegant reprefentations of their refpective fubjects. Mr. Welch appears to have executed his work faithfully, as far as his materials enabled him He has given feveral blank pages for a continuation, and added a copious index of names.

95. Objections to the Abolition of the Slave Trade, wb Answers. To which are prefixed, Strictures on a late Publication, intituled, "Confiderations on the Eman ipation "of Negroes, and the Abolition of the Slave "Tr de, by a Welt India Planter. By the Rev. James Ramfay, A. M. 8vo.

MR. R. who may be called the Hanway and Howard of the Negroes, purfuing his laudable defign against all op pofition, like many other advocates in a good caufe, in his zeal frequently pushes his arguments further than they can bear. In no inftance, perhaps, fo forcibly, as when he recommends to us to give up the fugar colonies and manufactories, rather than hold the one, and carry on the other, at the expence of humanity, and the rights of fo large a part of mankind as the inhabitants of Africa while, at the fame time, he gives us leave to buy fugar of our neighbours, who manufacture it on the fame hard and unjust terms. Mr. R's plan "aims only at the abolition of the Slave "Trade; it meddles not with flaves al"ready in the colonies. All our flaves ❝are not yet generally in a state where"in full liberty would be a bleffing. "Like children, they must be restrained "by authority, and led on to their own "good. But it would be infidious not "to declare, that humanity looks for"ward to full emancipation, whenever they fhall be found capable of making a proper use of it. But this may be "left to the mafter's difcretion." Such is the conftitution of things, that even humanity cannot be reftored to her rights without much deliberation. The motion made by Sir William Dolben, the 20th inftant, for a bill to regulate the number of flaves to be taken on board each fhip, is a preliminary to Lome future reformation.

96. A Differtation on the Influence of the Paffions upon Disorders of the Body. By William Falconer, M.D. F.R. S. &c. being the Effay to which the Fothergillian Medal was adjudged.

THIS is the firft fruits of the laudable inftitution of the Medical Society 1784, of giving a prize medal of gold or filver for the beft differtations on fubjects propofed by them. Dr. Lettfom, in a speech on the occafion, from which we learn that he intended an hiftory of the paffions, expreffes his great fatisfaction in delivering the medal to a phyfician of whom Dr. Fothergill had fo high an opinion. Dr. Falconer has followed the paffions in their effects on the feveral claffes and genera of diseases.

97. Mont Blanc, &c. (Concluded from p. 330.)

ENOUGH, and perhaps too much, has already been faid upon this subject; but we willingly indulge the animated writer of the following epiftle, by inferting it at length:

"Since Mr. Urban's Reviewers, p. 329, profefs willingly to admit into their publica tion appeals from their tribunal, it is prefumed they will not exclude a difavowal of the charge of mean jealousy brought against the defender of MONT BLANC.

"They know, or affect to know, whence that defence proceeds, and hint, that its pen is accustomed to fcribble in numbers; yet impute to envy-what? even the difinterested affertion of a rival author's claim to poetic honours-a claim which they had unjustly fpurned. They obferve, that " mufes of fire are apt to bear no brother near the throne." A mufe, whofe fires were of that lightless and corrofive nature, would have felt little inclination thus to have entered the lifts as champion for a rival bard, especially beneath inevitable consciousness, that if the fource of fuch temerity was gueffed, it would be revenged upon the defender's own works, if Mr. Urban's critics. They add, that this they should hereafter pass in review before (meaning the defence of Mont Blanc) is not the first instance they have had occafion to remark and to lament-(they do not fay of what, but it is to be fuppofed they mean of envy); but that, for the fake of a character they esteem, they fincerely hope it will be the laft. The author of the stricture in question begs leave to obferve, that a character is not likely to become more amiable by lofing its zeal in the difinterefied defence of injured genius; and that, if it is a mark of envy, in the eyes of Mr. Urban's Reviewers, contemptuously refufe to glowing peetry the to enter a protest against decifions which praife they lavish upon vapid nothingness, this author is content to be deemed envious by them.

"The

"The moft exalted literary character now fiving, well acquainted with the Defender of Mont Blanc, has pronounced, with his pen, that a warmer Encomiast of real genius does not exist *.

"If indeed Mr. Hayley has borrowed a line from the Engraver, rather than the Engraver from Mr. Hayley, the latter is fufficiently honoured. But on which fide is the plagiarifm probable? The fecond edition of Hayley's Ode to Howard was printed in the year 1781. If the poem, which contains the line in queftion, preceded that beautiful Ode two years, whence, but in its want of power to attract public notice, can it be, that nobody recollects to have heard of his SHENSTONE, or the FORCE OF BENEVOLENCE, during the years that have elapfed fince its publication? No occafion, furely, for the most jealous author breathing to fear left such a neglected brother approach too near the throne."

98. Coke on Littleton, &c. &c.

(Continued from p. 337.) "THE reputation of Sir Edward Coke's Commentary is not inferior to that of the work which is the fubject of it. It is objected to it, that it is defective in method. But it fhould be observed, that a want of method was, in some respects, infeparable from the nature of the undertaking. During a long life of intenfe and unremitted application to the ftudy of the laws of England, Sir Edward Coke had treasured up an immenfity of the most valuable common-law learning. This he wished to prefent to the publick, and chofe that method of doing it in, which, without being obliged to dwell on thofe doctrines of the law which other authors might explain equally well, he might preduce that profound and recondite learning which he felt himfelf to poffefs above all others. In adopting this plan, he appears to have judged rationally, and confequently ought not to be cenfured for a circumftance infeparable from it.

"It must be allowed, that the ftyle of Sir Edward Coke is ftrongly tinged with the quaintnefs of the times in which he wrote: but it is accurate, expreffive, and clear. That it is fometimes difficult to comprehend his meaning, is owing, generally speaking, to the abftrufenefs of his fubject, not to the obfcurity of his language. It has also been objected to him, that the authorities he cites do not, in many places, come up to the doctrines they are brought to fupport. There appears to be fome ground for this obfervation. Yet

"Well acquainted" as we are both with the writer of this letter, and the "exalted "literary character" alluded to, (and in laft nonth we have, in more inftances than one, aid the tribute of gratitude to both), we heartily join iffue in this fertiment; and hall now difmifs the fubject. EDIT.

it should not be forgot, that the uncommon depth of his learning, and acuteness of his mind, might enable him to discover connec tions and confequences which escape a common obferver.

"It is fometimes faid, that the perufal of his Commentary is now become ufelefs, as many of the doctrines of law which his writ ings explain are become obfolete; and that every thing ufeful in him may be found, more fyftematically and agreeably arranged, in modern writers. It must be acknowledged, that when he treats of those parts of the law which have been altered fince his time, his Commentary partakes, in a certain degree, of the obfoleteness of the fubjects to which it is applied: but even where this is the cafe, it does not often happen that the doctrines laid down by him do not ferve to illuftrate other parts of the law which are ftill in force. Thus, there is no doubt but the cafes which now come before the courts of equity, and the principles upon which they are determined, are extremely different in their nature from those which are the fubject of Sir Edward Coke's researches. Yet the great perfonages who have prefided in those courts have frequently recurred to the doctrines laid down by Sir Edward Coke, to form, explain, and illustrate their decrees. Hence, though portions charged upon real eftates, for the benefit of younger children, were not known in Littleton's time, and not much known in the time of Sir Edward Coke, yet, on the points which arise respect. ing the vefting and payment of portions, no writings in the law are more frequently or more fuccefsfully applied to than Sir Edward Coke's Commentary on Littleton's Chapter of Conditions. It may also be observed, that, notwithstanding the general tenor of the prefent bufinefs of our courts, cafes must frequently occur which depend upon the moft abftrufe and intricate parts of the ancient law. Thus the cafe of Jacob verfus Wheate led to the difcuffion of efcheats and ufes as they stood before the statute of Henry VIII.; and the cafe of Taylor verfus Horde turned on the learning of diffeifins.

"But the most advantageous, and perhaps the most proper, point of view in which the merit and ability of Sir Edward Coke's writings can be placed is, by confidering him as the centre of modern and ancient law.-The modern fyftem of law may be supposed to have taken its rife at the end of the reign of King Henry VII, and to have affumed fomething of a regular form about the latter end of the reign of King Charles II. The principal features of this alteration are, perhaps, the introduction of recoveries; conveyances to uses; the teftamentary difpofition by wills; the abolition of military tenures; the statute of frauds and perjuries; the establishment of a regular fyftem of equitable jurifdiction; the difcontinuance of real actions; and the mode of trying titles to landed property by ejectment.

ejectment. There is no doubt but that, during the above period, a material alteration was effected in the jurifprudence of this country: but this alteration has been effect ed, not fo much by fuperfeding, as by giving a new direction to the principles of the old law, and applying them to new fubjects. Hence a knowledge of ancient legal learning is abfolutely neceffary to a modern lawyer. Now Sir Edward Coke's Commentary upon Littleton is an immenfe repofitory of every thing that is most interesting or useful in the legal learning of ancient times. Were it not for his writings, we should ftill have to fearch for it in the voluminous and chaotic compilation of cafes contained in the Year. books, or in the dry, though valuable, Abridgements of Statham, Fitzherbert, Brooke, and Rolle. Every perfon, who has attempted, must be fenfible how very difficult and difgufting it is to pursue a regular inveftigation of any point of law through those works. The writings of Sir Edward Coke have confiderably abridged, if not entirely taken away, the neceffity of this labour.

"But his writings are not only a repofitory of ancient learning; they also contain the outlines of the principal doctrines of modern law and equity. On the one hand, he delineates, and explains the ancient fyftem of law, as it stood at the acceffion of the Tudor line; on the other, he points out the leading circumftances of the innovations which then began to take place. He fhews the different reftraints which our ancestors impofed on the alienation of landed property, the methods by which they were eluded, and the various modifications which property received after the free alienation of it was allowed. He shews how the notorious and public transfer of property, by livery of feifin, was fuperfeded by the fecret and refined mode of transferring it, introduced in confequence of the ftatute of ufes. We may trace, in his Works, the beginning of the difufe of real actions; the tendency in the nation to convert the military into focage tenures; and the outlines of almost every other point of modern jurisprudence. Thus his writings ftand between and connect the ancient and modern parts of the law; and, by fhewing their mutual relation and dependency, difcover the many ways by which they refolve into, explain, and illuftrate one another."

(To be continued.)

99. De Lolme's Obfervations on the Window

Tax, &c. (Concluded from p. 345.) HAVING been affured that this is a genuine production of the writer whofe name it bears, we have been induced to give it a fecond perufal; and, though we ftill think the fubject treated in a manner abundantly too jocular, and in fome parts of it perceive an ineffectual attempt to reach thofe flights which

Swift fuccefsfully took in the character of the Drapier; there are occafional flashes of genius and of fatire, not unworthy the Advocate of Geneva. His propofed commutation is whimsical and chimerical; but his plan for preventing the inconveniences of Smithfield Market it would well become the Corperation of London to adopt. Useful Hint for the Improvement of the Metropolit

"The idea," fays Mr. De Lolme, "1 mean to fuggeft, is, the removing of the Market held in Smithfield to fome field at a short distance ont of London. The fields about St. Pancras, or Battle-bridge, would, very likely, be a proper fituation.

"That the Market for cattle being held in the very centre of London is no ornament to the town, I do not think there is any neceffity of undertaking to prove.

"In the fecond place, the confequence of the Market being held in an interior part of London is, that the cattle must be driven through the streets the whole length of their way to that particular place to which they are bound, however distant that place may be; whether Tower-hill and Ratcliff-highway, or the streets adjacent to PiccadillyThis paffage of cattle through the streets is productive of much inconvenience, and very frequently of mifchief; which would be avoided if the Market were held in fome of those fields abovementioned: the cattle would follow those roads by which London is furrounded, till they should reach that particular part or street to which they are fent. The ftreets about Smithfield Market are in the number of the narrowest and most crowded in London.

"But the providing the cattle with water, during the time the Market is held, is that circumftance which I mean more particu larly to fuggeft.

"The feelings of dumb animals feem to be very quick, perhaps as quick as ours (though they want forefight): it is a kind of duty to pay attention to that; especially when it cofts but little.

"The cattle are driven through the dusty roads, for several hours, in Summer, to the Market-place, where they are kept twelve hours more without a drop of water. Sheep, efpecially, muft fuffer much, as they walk clofe together, in flocks, with their mouths no higher than twelve or fifteen inches above the ground, fwallowing, when they breathe, more duft than air: the mifery of those sheep that walk in the middle of a flock muft be very great: the heat raised by the paffage of a flock of fheep may be felt at the distance of feveral yards. Sheep bear patiently their diftrefs on the Market-place; but the larger cattle grow unruly and mischievous.

"The fields I have mentioned, about St. Pancras, being lower than the New-river

head,