Art. 27. The English Bowman, or Tracts on Archery: To which is added the Second Part of the Bowman's Glory. By T. Roberts, a Member of the Toxophilite Society. 8vo. pp. 298. 10s. 6d. Boards. Egerton. 1801.

This is a well executed and seemingly complete investigation of archery, chiefly collected from Ascham, Sir John Smith, and other worthies.-Mr. Roberts has also given some excellent comments on those writers; with the addition of several chapters of his own and many valuable notes, which shew his extensive reading, and the very great attention which he has paid to his subject.

The work is divided into four parts; containing, 1st. An Examination into the History, Character, and Military Career of the English Long-bow, &c.

zd. An Account of the Revival of Archery, &c.

3d. An Inquiry and Investigation into such extraordinary Feats, as are said to have been achieved with the English Long-bow, in former Times, &c.

4th. The Art and Practice of Archery, &c.

These particulars are followed by a glossary, and a "Remembrance of the Shows and Shootings, or Appearances of Archers, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries." The last article must be as curious to antiquaries as it is interesting to toxophilites.

The author dwells with patriotic exultation on the glorious exploits performed by our ancestors with the long-bow, under Henry V. and the Black Prince; while the feats also of Robin Hood and Little John are not forgotten. Of modern archers, Sultan Selim the 2d, the present Grand-Signior, appears to take the lead.-We doubt, however, the correctness of the statement of his Highness shooting an arrow nine hundred and seventy-two yards; (note, p. 100;) especially as Sir Robert Ainslie, before whom this extraordinary shot is said to have been made, and measured, in 1798, had left the Porte sometime before that year.

a

Art. 28. The Young Midshipman's Instructor; (designed as Companion to Hamilton Moore's Navigation;) with useful Hints to Parents of Sea Youth, and to Captains and School-Masters in the Royal Navy. By David Morrice, late School-Master of his Majesty's Ship Hussar. 8vo. PP. 134. 3 s. 6d. Boardɛ. Egerton. 1801.

This little treatise has also appeared as part of a larger work, published by the same author, intitled "The art of teaching or communicating Instruction; examined, methodized, and facilitated;" of which we propose hereafter to take notice. Mr. Morrice has here divided his Instructor into short sections under the following heads; Geography and Astronomy, Chronology, Mathematics, the French Language, and on young Persons studying without a Master. They are intended for the younger class of pupils, (younkers,' as the author, according to marine phraseology, terms them,) and are not ill calculated, as auxiliaries, to throw light on more regular studies.

Art.

POLITICS, &c.

Art. 29. The Utility of Country Banks considered. 8vo. 2s. Hatchard, This ingen 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 tility, 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 public. We are told that every country bank must be considered as a mine to the kingdom, and bankers as the workers of this mine for the public good; that, as grand political machines, moving the great levers of the empire, and raising the ponderous powers of war, ational 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 picading, 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 actually in contemplation with the country bankers to present him with a handsome acknowlegemeat.

Art. 30.

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. 28. 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 done. 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 Trade of the Kingdom. In which are included Observations on Mr. Thornton's Enquiry concerning the Paper Credit of Great Britain. 8vo. Is. 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 inundation; 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 funding 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 Fox, in consequence of a Publication, intitied "A Sketch of the Character

of

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

IS. Ri

vingtons. 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 religious 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 Occurrence from the Creation of the World, with characteristic Traits of each Event; chiefly abridged from the French of the Abbot Lenglet du Fresnoy; arranged alpbabetically, and augmented from authentic sources to the present Time, particularly as regards British history: comprehending brief Accounts of Inventions 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 flatter 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. Doubt ful 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 Freemasonry was taught (p.56.) in England by Pythagoras, about 550 years

before

before Christ, we leave to be determined by those who choose to invèstigate 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 error of the press, or certainly other mistakes. In table iv. we observe, Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, who killed bis parkkeeper in 1621, died Ang. 3, 1633, aged 71;' it ought surely to have been said, by accident. Merlin, the prophe, (p. 217) lived in 477.3. 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 Roads 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. 18oz.

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 coco 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 reckoning 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