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plete. It is, beyond all comparison, fuperior to that of M. Dɛ MAIRAN in every respect.

Before we close this Article, we should obferve that the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris have applauded the undertaking of Profeffor Van Swinden, and expreffed their defire of seeing it speedily executed, as they think it muft contribute, in fuch judicious hands, to encreafe our knowledge of the curious phenomenon in queftion, and of the effects which refult from and depend upon it.

M. VAN SWINDEN has lately pubiifhed an academical difcourfe concerning the Newtonian philofophy, of which we shall give an account in a fubfequent Review. We feel a peculiar pleafure in embracing every occafion that offers of doing justice to the eminent merit of this excellent philofopher.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For APRIL, 1780.

LA W.

Art. 11. Confiderations on the Laws between Debtors and Creditors; and an Abstract of the Infolvent Acts. With Thoughts on a Bill to enable Creditors to recover the Effects of their Debtors, and to abolish Imprisonment for Debt. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Bew. 1779.

TH

HIS Writer is not fufficiently master of his own opinion, to be able to inform or regulate that of the public. He appears indeed convinced himself, and takes fome pains to convince others, that great abufes flow from the laws between debtors and creditors; but till he can point out in human fociety, any inftitution which fraud and villany cannot pervert against the ends for which it was defigned, he muit content himfelf with pathetically lamenting the evils which he cannot remedy. Laws are in their nature general. We see the mifchiefs that their promifcuous operation produces in particular instances. We forget, or do not perceive, the good effects with which they are attended upon the whole.

This pamphlet embraces a twofold object, and each is dictated by humanity. The Author (whofe humanity, though it be greater than his judgment, certainly merits praife) firft takes the fide of the creditor against the arts of the dishonest and fraudulent debtor: and afterwards, that of the debtor against the cruel and unrelenting creditor. In one cafe, the laws, it feems, are too fevere against the debtor. In the former cafe, they are too mild, and too easily evaded. To correct these oppofite defects (if the charge do not destroy itself by its inconfiflency), and to find a middle path between them, requires the matureft political wifdom. We are afraid that no human laws can reach the human heart; and when an artful head and a corrupt heart meet, they must always prove an over-match for undefigning fimplicity, though guarded by all the legiflative cautions and provifos that ever were fuggefted. The Laws between Debtors and Creditors will be found like others,

"Still for the ftrong too weak, the weak too ftrong."

We

We have a better opinion of this Writer's powers of defcription, than of his talents for legiflation. However, as he recommends a standing legislative provifion on the principles of the late infolvent acts, we may here fafely truft him lefs on his own credit than on the wifdom of Parliament, which, by paffing thefe acts fo frequently, has. in effect, fhewn the neceflity of a perpetual infolvent aết. The chief impediment to this great object, this Writer imagines to be the profeffors (we fuppofe, he means the law praЯifers) of the law; whofe gains, he tells us, rife in proportion to the loffes of others, and to whom the legislature leaves the fubjects of the itate, "as fheep to the dogs of their drivers: they are fleeced of all that can be got, and then barked into prifon, that gaolers and their followers may take what lawyers and their fubordinates have left behind.

"There are a part of his Majefty's fubjects, forty thoufand or so, whose revenues rife in part from the law that arrefts the perfon, and leaves the property of the debtor in his hands, to contend with the creditor. Every man that is arrefted, if he is not under a neceffity, is generally in a humour, to go to law with his creditor. Every writ is a dividend to the profeffion of the law; and an act to give liberty to debtors, and their property to their creditors, would be a law, though neither offenfive to juftice, mercy, or the good of his Majelly's induftrious fubjects, yet it would prejudice the intereft of a numerous learned profeffion, who live with great, good management on the labours of their fellow-fubjects. This is the great objection against the Bill propofed; and if the learned profeffion unite together in one fcale, they will probably be found to outweigh the most evident interests of the whole community in the other."

To take off the edge from these harsh and illiberal reflections, we fhall juft obferve, that the prefent Bill, now depending before Parliament (called Lord Beauchamp's Bill), was not only penned by a great lawyer of the prefent day, but has been alfo warmly fupported by him in the Houfe of Commons; the truth is, the most formidable oppofition to it has arifen not from the tribe of men above alluded to (whom the Author wildly reckons at " forty thousand or fo"), but from the trading part of the community, who were apprehenfive that fuch a measure would clip the wings of credit.

We hope, however, the experiment will be tried; and that the call of humanity, now fo powerfully made on the legislature, will not be deadened by the clamours of mistaken felfishness in fome creditors, and the vindictive tyranny of others.

Art. 12. A Brief Inquiry into the Justice and Policy of Long Confinement for Debt. With a View of all the Infolvent Acts. 8vo. I s. Bew.

Exhibits in a clear manner the ill policy, inutility, and cruelty, of vesting creditors with a power of confining infolvent debtors, to the utter ruin of individuals and their families, and the injury of the community in general.

Mr. Wallace, Solicitor General.

POLITICAL,

Refpecting IRELAND.

Art. 13. A Letter to the Right Honourable Lord North, on his Propofitions in favour of Ireland. By Francis Dobbs, Efq; Barrifter at Law. Dublin, printed; London, reprinted. 8vo. 6d. Bladon. 1778.

If Ireland does not affume the language and conduct of North America, the fault will not reft with Mr. Dobbs, who seems ready to dye his bar-gown red to obtain a nominal diminutive independency, which could not perhaps be permanent.

Art. 14. Seafonable Advice to the People of Ireland, during the prefent Recefs of Parliament. Dublin printed, London reprinted. 8vo. 6d. Wilkie. 1780.

A fenfible, temperate reprefentation, calculated to conciliate the minds of the two nations.

Art. 15. Thoughts on a Fund for the Improvement of Credit in Great Britain, and the Eftablishment of a National Bank in Ireland. 8vo. I S. Murray. 1780.

Among the fchemes for national improvement and convenience, that of funding is the most myfterious in its operations; at least to as authors,-whofe ftudies are rather directed to overturn the unreafonable credit which our bookfellers wish to establish in their dealings with us. We therefore refer this fubject to the mature confideration of the Irish patriots, whom it more immediately concerns:-obferving only, in general terms, that the pamphlet appears to be fenfibly written; and that the thoughts contained in it deferve the mature confideration of all who may be interested in the scheme propofed, on either fide of the water.

POLITICAL.

Art. 16. Political Reveries, and Utopian Schemes for the Welfare of Great Britain and Ireland. By an Idle Man. With a Plan for new modelling the British Forces by Sea and Land. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Richardfon, in the Strand. 1780.

Where political fchemes, various and extenfive in their objects, are formed, they are properly characterized as of an Utopian nature, Our prefent Idle Man is a bufy writer, and difcuffes many parts of our national policy, both internal and external. He decides againft the probability of our reducing the continent of America, and would have our colonies to confit only of islands, that might be controuled by our fleets. He protests againft draining away our men for foreign land fervice, and would raife German troops with British money for all fuch occafions, to diminish the inconveniencies of a halfpay lift. He is for reducing our land forces according to this idea, and for increafing our marines and artillery; properly remarking, that, as an infular power, all our forces ought to be of an amphibious nature. But our Author does not confine himself to these objects; his Reveries extend incidentally to the most effectual mode of railing taxes; the propriety of an equal land-tax; the fale of churchlands, and thofe in public trufls; the planting oaks for fhip-building; a ftrict application of the finking fund; a general naturalization, &c.; fo that his purchafers have variety enough for their money. Without following fo multifarious an author through all his meanders,

we shall conclude with intimating, that while a writer of any abilities indulges his reveries, he may throw out remarks, and ftart hints in the course of impracticable plans, that may neverthelefs deferve ferious attention.

Art. 17. The Speech of Leonard Smelt, Efq; delivered by him at the Meeting of the County of York, Dec. 30, 1779, with Notes Variorum. 8vo. 2 S. York printed, and fold by Faulder, in

London.

The Editor obferves, in his advertisement, that as this fpeech was not taken down in fhort-hand, the prefent copy is not to be confidered as pretending to be an exact copy of every word that was spoken by Mr. Smelt; but as it was put together from the notes taken by feveral gentlemen prefent, the Public may rely on its authenticity in point of argument and of fentiment, as much as on that of any speech in parliament that is not immediately published under the Author's own infpection. He adds, it is prefumed that the Public will accordingly rely on "it, till its inaccuracy fhall be proved by another edition, fo authenti"cated."—Another edition, jo authenticated, has been published, and the difference between the two copies is great indeed (fee the next article)! The notes to the prefent copy will, however, be efteemed by many Readers, as containing a variety of fhrewd political obfer

vations.

Art. 18. An Account of fome Particulars relative to the Meeting beld at York, on Thuriday, the 30th of December, 1779. By Leonard Smelt, Efq. 8vo. 1 s.

Becket.

The public prints have fufficiently informed us of the odium which this gentleman incurred by freely declaring his fentiments in a general affembly, profeffedly held to collect the opinions of the county. He complains that his fpeech has been mifreprefented, both in manner and fubftance, and he therefore does himfelf justice in this publi. cation.

No one who has ever attended a numerous affembly of this nature, will boast much of the maturity of their deliberations, or of the liberality of their proceedings. When a particular point is to be carried, any indifcreet individual who ventures to open his mouth against it, is fure to be hooted into filence, and may efteem himself happy if he escapes actual violence, while the favourites of the meeting may procure their eager fanction to any thing they are prepared to offer.

But when the profeffed advocates for liberty become arbitrary, which is fometimes the cafe where their predominant humour is oppofed, they act like fome of the early reformers, who no fooner revolted against the errors of the Romish church, and formed little ecclefiaftical establishments themselves, than up ftarted fuch petty POPES as Calvin, who employed those faggots, they had just escaped, against their brethren. It is a mild rebuke to apply the words in the gospel to those who have liberty in their mouths, and tyranny in their hearts -Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of.

Mr. Smelt does not, in this authentic copy of his fpeech, appear to be altogether the abject tool of defpotifm which he has been reprefented to be by his violent commentators on the other fide of the question.

Art.

Art. 19. A Letter to Edmund Burke, Efq; occafioned by his Speech in Parliament, February 11, 1780. 8vo. Is. Bew.

An attack on the principles and tendency of Mr. Burke's celebrated fyftem of political economy, which is already under the review of the great council of the nation.

Art. 20. Obfervations on Mr. Burke's Bill for the better Regulation of the Independence of Parliament, and economical Reformation of Establishments. By a Lady. Addressed to Lord North. 8vo. 1s. Becket. 1780.

There is fufficient internal evidence to verify the declaration in the title-page, that thefe are the obfervations of a lady; and fince the quondam Mrs M. has fuffered private concerns to withdraw her attention from public affairs, this lady is ready to fucceed her. But the muft correct her principles, a little, before the can hope to be installed in Alfred-house. Art. 21. Mr. E—— B▬▬'s Answer to his own Speech of the 11th of February, with Mr. Fox's Animadverfions thereon. Taken in Short-hand at the C Tavern, in the Strand, February 2, and now first published by Lovel Tomlinfon. 8vo. 19. White.

Mr. T. informs his Reader, that he overheard the converfation he has here published, through a partition, while he fat drinking fixpennyworth of punch at a tavern; and that he took it down in hopes of its paying for his punch. Probably he did not then recollect that the Printer and Stationer would ftand between the Publisher and his expected reimbursement. As he profeffes brachygraphy, he may in future find it more profitable to wait for employment in that branch, than to exercise his talents upon fpeculation. Art. 22. Reflexions on a Pamphlet, entitled, "A fhort History "of Oppofition;" with fome Observations on the Views of the Minority, and Reflexions on the prefent State of Affairs. By a Country Gentleman. 8vo. 23 Pages. No Price, nor Bookfeller's Name.

The Writer does not give this tract as a full answer' to the pam phlet mentioned in the title-page, but only as a curfory animadverfion on fuch parts of it as he deems the most exceptionable.' His defign is to wipe off fome of the afperfions thrown out against, and to vindicate the characters of, a fet of men [the gentlemen in oppofition], whofe views, in general, the Author is convinced, have been directed toward the public good! And I must own, fays he, I feel a pleafure in doing this at a time, when it is fo unfafhionable a thing to fpeak well of them, and when their advocates can expect to reap little other reward for their trouble, than the pleafure of being fuch, when almost every pen is employed, and every art which proftituted abilities can invent is made ufe of, to blacken and mifrepresent their characters!'-This may be a well-meant, but it is a very flight and curfory performance.

*This pamphlet is dated, December 11, 1779, but the publication did not then take place.

Art.