following propofal: Let the bankrupt-laws be extended to men whofe principal debts are only twenty pounds; and let the courts of confcience be authorised to proceed on all debts under twenty pounds.'

This mode, he apprehends, if properly executed, will prove equally beneficial to creditor and debtor. He forefees, and anfwers the ebjections that may be made to it; he obferves, that there are many additions and regulations neceffary to complete the fcheme: and he concludes with expreffing his hope, that the hint which he has thrown out may ftimulate fome perfon of abilities to undertake the task of completing it, or to point out a more eligible plan.

LA W.

Art. 22. The Statutes at Large, from the Tenth Year of the Reign of King George the Third, to the Thirteenth of George IIL inclufive. To which is prefixed, a Table of the Titles to all the public and private Statutes during that Time. With a copious Index. Vol. XI. 4to. 11. 1. King's Printers. 1774.

There is no occafion for us here to add any thing to what we have already obferved with respect to the former publications of the preceding parts of this quarto edition of the Statutes at Large.-The value of Mr. Ruff head's edition, is fufficiently known to the gentlemen of the law; to whom any recommendation from us, would, now, be wholly fuperfluous.-But it may not, perhaps, be altogether impertinent to throw out a reflection which ftruck us, on turning over the titles to the feveral acts contained in the prefent large collection. The parliamentary annals of this kingdom (it occurred to us) may be perufed with other views, than merely to become acquainted with the intention of a law or the penalty of its infringement. They are capable of a more extenfive confideration. They may be regarded as a curious collection of the most authentic materials for an hiftory of the various designs of general improvement for which the prefent age is fo much diftinguished:-the fucceffive refources of finance, the revifal of incomplete laws, the adminiftration of justice, the afcertainment and fecurity of property, the conftruction of public roads, the formation of navigable canals, the erection of magnificent bridges, the establishment of hofpitals, the regulations of commerce, the promotion of the inventive arts, the rewards of merit, the encouragements of virtue, and the punishment of crimes; with a thoufand other articles of importance to the public and to it dividuals, all pafs in review before us, and akonish us with their multiplicity, their importance to the growing greatness of our country, and the unexampled rapidity of their fucceffion.-What a wonderful progrefs is this nation now making toward perfection in almoft every fpecies of useful knowledge, and every embellishment of po

A remarkable instance of this appears in the volume now before us; where (13 Geo. iii. c. 77. 29.) the farther fum of 8,750 1. is granted to Mr. John Harrison, for the difcovery of the invention of his Time-keeper. Thus, fince the famous act of the 12th of Q. Anne, the fum of 20,000l. hath been actually paid for the difcovery of the longitude; and the act is fill in force,

lifhed fociety -May the improvement of our morals keep pace with the refinement of our manners!

Art. 23. Farther Proceedings in the Caufe of Fabrigas and Mcftyn. Folie. 6d. Kearly. 1773

The affair in litigation between the plaintiff Fabrigas, and the go vernor of Minorca, was briefly related in our laft Month's Review; and we there informed our Readers, that Mr. F. had gained a verdict with 3000l. damages. This fum was deemed exceffive by the defen dant's council; who thereupon moved for a new trial: a rule to fhew caufe was accordingly granted, and on the 26th of November the matter was argued in the court of Common Pleas. In the fpeech of Lord Chief Juftice De Grey on this occafion, we have a very judicious review of the merits of the caufe, with a full juftification of the verdict. The whole bench were unanimous in refufing a new trial

In this appeal from OFFICIAL DESPOTISM to LEGAL PROTECTION, perfonal liberty hath obtained a complete triumph; and a proper check hath been given to the arbitrary fpirit of military power. Art. 24. The Parish Officer's Complete Guide: Containing the Duty of the Churchwarden, Overfeer, Conftable, and Surveyor of the Highways, as fettled by the Act of Parliament paffed lat Sef fions. The whole laid down in an eafy, concife, and familiar Manner; and cleared from the technical Terms of the Law, as well as the Inaccuracies of former Publications of the like kind. By John Paul, Efq; Barrister at Law. 8vo. is. 6d. fewed. Richardfon and Urquhart. 1773.

The duties of parish officers are defcribed in this pamphlet in an eafy familiar manner, but not fo clearly digefted as they are in Burn's Juftice; to which, however, this compilation appears to be much indebted. The office of Surveyor of the highway, is particularly enlarged on by an abstract of the laft act, which reduces all the former laws into one ftatute. But it may be obferved, that the duty of parish officers refpecting baftard children born in hofpitals, by the act 13 Geo. III. c. 82. is totally overlooked.

DRAMATIC.

N.

Art. 25. Alfred, a Masque; as it is now revived at the Theatre in Drury-Lane. Svo. I s. 6d. Cadell, &c. 1773.

It cannot be unknown to the generality of our Readers, that this mafque was originally written by that admired poet, James Thomfon, in conjunction with his friend, David Mallet; at the defire of the late Frederick, Prince of Wales, before whom it was performed, at Cliffden-house, in the year 1740. Ten years afterwards, it was better adapted to theatrical representation, by the last mentioned Writer; with the additional advantage of Dr. Arne's * excellent mufic. It was then received with great and deferved applause; and was ufhered in by a prologue, fpoken by Mr. Garrick. In this new revival, it has undergone fome more alterations. I he characters were dreffed in the habits of the times; a circumstance of propriety which

* The Doctor fet the whole performance, and brought it on in the manner of an oratorio.

ought

ought never to be difpenfed with, in any dramatic exhibition." Among the improvements in the decorations, &c. an occafional fcene was introduced, with admirable effect,-the platform at Portsmouth, with a diftant view of the royal Navy at Spithead ; in which the painters very happily exerted their abilities, and gained applaufe from the best judges.

NOVEL.

Art. 26. Hadleigh Grove; or the Hiftory of Sir Charles Davers, and the fair Jeffica. 12mo. z Vols. 6 s. Rofon. 1773.

If the Reader has patience enough to perufe thefe very flender volumes, he will find a crude jumble of improbabilities, too haftily huddled together to afford him the fatisfaction which refults from the being well beguiled into a temporary belief of the adventures related. N. Art. 27. An Efay on the Qualifications and Duties of an Archite&, &c. With fome ufeful Hints for a young Architect and Surveyor. 8vo. Is. Taylor. 1773.

ARCHITECTURE.

Intended chiefly as an apology for Mr. D. furveyor to the New Gaol, for fuffering fome Purbeck Portland ftone to be used in the building, inftead of the real Portland; but the Writer has not confined himself folely to this circumftance of exculpation. He has taken the opportunity of rendering this tract of general use, by a number of remarks on the qualifications and duties of an accomplished architect, as diftinguished from the furveyor; and also on the proper bufinefs and diftinct province of the latter: this effay may, therefore, be perufed with advantage by young artists who are fetting But, as the phrafe is, in either profeffion.

GARDENING.

Art. 28. The Gardener's and Planter's Calendar. Containing the Method of raifing Timber-trees, Fruit-trees, and Quick for Hedges. With Directions for forming and managing a Garden, yery Month in the Year. Alfo many new Improvements in the Art of Gardening. By R. Wefton, Efq; Author of the Univerfal Botanist. 12mo. 3 s. 6 d. Carnan.

This new gardener's calendar does not appear to be a mere compilement from preceding works of the fame kind; we rather confider it as, for the most part, what the Author afferts it to be,-the fair refult of his actual experience. Mr. Wefton is a curious, obferving man; and from the remarks of fo affiduous a cultivator, a variety of afeful hints may reasonably be expected, with many improvements in the popular plan of a monthly directory. The prefent work is. chiefly confined to the common, ufeful, and entertaining parts of gardening, and the cultivation of a small piece of ground; without burthening those Readers with the troublesome care of a greenhouse and ftove, who have neither green-house or stove on their premises. Whatever can be wanted, with respect to the management of the kitchen, fruit, or flower-garden, the orchard, fhrubbery, nursery, or feminary, is here treated in a plain and easy manner. The bufi-. nefs and benefit of planting timber-trees, is also a capital object with this Writer,

NATURAL

NATURAL HISTORY.

Art. 29. Some additional Obfervations on the Method of preserving Seeds, from foreign Parts, for the Benefit of our American Colonies. With an Account of the Garden at St. Vincent, under the Care of Dr. George Young. By John Ellis, F. R. S. 4to. Is. Bowyer, &c. 1773.

Of the former part of Mr. Ellis's directions, we gave an account, in the 43d vol. of our Review, p. 217. Thefe additions are equally valuable with the firft part; and are accompanied by a copper-plate reprefentation of a wired cafk for fowing East India feeds, a box for the conveyance of West India and Welt Florida plants, and a box, with divifions, for fowing different feeds, (in earth) from the Southern Colonies and West Indies. Had the various methods of prefervation here recommended, been put in practice by Meff. Banks and Solander, in their late celebrated voyage round the globe, we poffibly might not, now, have had caufe to lament the total lofs of all the feeds of that valuable plant the Chlamydia, which they brought from New Zealand: which plant yields a very fine kind of material for cordage, in ftrength greatly fuperior to our hemp: as hath been proved by experiments made here, with fome of the leaves.-This was a national lofs, which may never be repaired.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 30. The Proteftant Diffenter's Catechifm.

Containing,

1. A brief Hiftory of the Nonconformifts: 2. The Reasons of the Diffent from the national Church. Defigned to instruct and establish young Perfons among the Diffenters in the Principles of Nonconformity. 12mo. Is. Buckland. 1773.

Though the Author of the prefent tract is a zealous Diffenter, he has not departed from the line of moderation and candour. It is not his defign to make converts from the national Church, but to inftruct and confirm the young and the unlearned, among the Diffenters themselves. Such a defign, he hopes, will not be thought unneceffary, or unimportant. The neceffity of it he argues, from many of the Diffenters being only fuch by education, and knowing little of the principles on which their diffent is founded, and on which alone it can be vindicated; fo that, in confequence of this, fome of them are bigots, and others are indifferent. As to the importance of his defign, he urges it from feveral confiderations, and particularly observes, that true Protestantism cannot be defended on any

* These gentlemen took care to bring away, from their native foil, a very large quantity of the feeds of this inestimable plant; but unfortunately, fays Mr. Ellis, the beft fpecimens were placed between papers, fo that notwithstanding the germen of the feeds looked very fair in the microfcope, yet owing to their long continuance between the damp papers in fo tedious a voyage, none of them vegetated.' Had they been put into fmall, dry, clofe boxes, or tin canifters, Mr. E. thinks they would, probably, have retained their vegetative principle: and there feems to have been no reason to question their growing and thriving in our climate, as well as in their own.

other

other principles than thofe on which, the Diffenters found their feparation, viz. The right of private judgment, and liberty of confeience, the acknowledgment of Chrifl alone as Head of his Church, and the fufficiency of the holy Scriptures as the rule of faith and practice. Is it, fays he, of no confequence that we should bear our teftimony against that authority, in matters of faith and confcience, to which the Church of England lays claim, and thofe additions to Christianity which the hath prefamed to make? Is it of no confequence that the doctrines and inftitutions of the Gospel be maintained in their original purity and fimplicity? Surely thefe things must be allowed of great importance to the honour of Christ, and to Chriflian edification.

This work, as the title indicates, is divided into two parts. The firft, which contains the hiftory of the Nonconformifts, is neceffarily concife. The history is carried down to the late defeat of the Dif fenters bill, for relief in the article of fubfcription.

In the fecond part, which includes feven fections, the Author confiders the general frame and conftitution of the Church of England, as national, and established; the character and authority of certain officers appointed in it; the impofition of a stated form of prayer called the liturgy, and many exceptionable things contained therein; the pretended right of enjoining unfcriptural ceremonies; the terms on which minifters are admitted into it; the want of liberty in the people to chufe their own minifters; and the corrupt state of its difcipline.

Befide the general arguments against minifterial fubfcription, the Writer, in the fection relative to that fubject, offers the following reafons to fhew, that there arifes from hence an objection against the conformity of the laity. First, fays he, it is a fufficient reafon for Jay-nonconformity, that the Church requires fuch unreasonable and unfcriptural terms of conformity from the clergy; who are all obliged to preach the fame doctrines, whether they think them right or wrong, or elfe break through the most folemn obligations. zdly, The temporal emoluments connected with thefe fubfcriptions, are a frong temptation to prevaricate, and tend to bring thofe men into the Church who are moft unfit to have the charge of fouls; as well as to keep out fome of the most confcientious, who are best qualified for fuch a truft. 3dly, It becomes all honeft men to bear their teftimony against every impofition in matters of religion, though themfelves be not immediately affected by it; and to countenance and encourage thofe minifters who, on account of fuch impofitions, feparate from the Church,-provided they have the neceffary qualifications

for their office.

We obferve, that the Author hath not infifted upon doctrinal objections to the Articles of the Church of England, as Mr. Bourn has done, and, in fome degree, Mr. Towgood. Neither has he advanced any of the Prefbyterian notions which occur in Peirce, Calamy, and other writers. His fole defign feems to have been, to give a view of thofe principles in which the Diffenters of every denomination, now almoft univerfally agree; and, for this purpofe, he bas explained their idea of the nature of a true Church of Chrift fomewhat more diftinctly and explicitly than ufual.