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MONTHLY

CATALOGUE,

For JANUARY, 1780.

POLITICAL.

Art. 12. Facts: addreffed to the Landholders, Stockholders, Merchants, Farmers, Manufacturers, Tradefmen, Proprietors of every Defcription, and generally to all the Subjects of Great Britain and Ireland. Svo. 25. Johnfon, &c. 1780.

TH

HIS, as the title imports, is not a pamphlet of SPECULATION, but of BUSINESS,-bufinefs of the most ferious and important aspect, with regard to the political welfare of this community. It bears reference to one of the greatest objects of government ;-the œconomical application of the public revenue; for without EcoNOMY it is impoffible for even the mightiest STATES and EMPIRES, any more than private families and individuals, to fubfift, with any profpect of durability. As DISORDER is always followed by DISTRESS, fo wherever WASTE and EMBEZZLEMENT prevail, POVERTY and RUIN are infeparably in their train: nor is it poffible for human policy to divide companions who, in the unalterable nature of things, are eternally united.

The Fats here brought forward, to the general view, relate merely to the expenditure of the public money. Our Authors [for this tract is fuppofed to be the production of more than one hand, or one head] have avoided to take notice of the thameful abuses which prevail in the receipt of the revenue, and in the manner of accounting for it.' The waste and plunder,' it is added, of the public money under these heads, are not of a lefs magnitude, or of fmaller importance, than the abufes in the expenditure. But they deferve a feparate difcuffion, and fhall have it; if it fhall appear that the intelligence here communicated is welcome to the public, and ferves at all to rouse them to a fenfe of their wrongs, and to refolutions of obtaining juftice.

The reprefentations here made, are profeffedly founded on the Duke of Richmond's and Lord Shelburne's celebrated motions in the House of Lords, Dec. 7th and 15th, afferting the prodigality and wafte of the national treafure, and urging the indifpenfable neceflity of immediately applying the remedies proper for a diforder fo imminently dangerous to the body politic. The reditude of those [three] motions is first confidered and evinced, by way of preliminary difcourfe; and then the Authors proceed to state, in

Chap. II. The charges of the prefent war,-in order to demon ftrate the propofition which ftands at the head of the chapter, viz. that nothing can more forcibly prove the extreme neceffity of the propofed reformation, than an exhibition of the expence already ins curred by the war, even with the fuppofition that a peace had been, fettled at Chriftmas 1779. The accuracy of the estimates must be

The Duke well obferved, that profufion is not vigour ; that true ceconomy, by retrenching all ufelefs expences, creates confidence in government, gives energy to its exertions, and provides the means for their continuance.

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taken for granted, as they appear to be drawn from authentic parliamentary documents; and the results are prodigious, indeed,-far exceeding all example of former administrations! The following is one of the conclufions here deduced: Suppofing the war to be continued (as Mr. Eden † fays it probably will) for years, it cannot add lefs, every year, to our debt, than THIRTEEN MILLIONS, exclufive of douceurs !

Chap. III. Gives us by way of contraft, the laudable example of the prefent adminiftration of finance in France. The observations here made, on this topic, are grounded on the very commendable and highly popular edicts iffued in October and December laft; the language of which, from the mouth of a French monarch, cannot fail of itriking, with fingular force, the attention of every intelligent English reader.

Chap. IV. On the King's Civil Lift. For the incurred profufion in this department we refer to the pamphlet; only observing, after our Authors, that notwithstanding his Majelly's large appointment, in 1750,-notwithstanding the vote of half a million for the discharge of his debts, in 1769,-notwithstanding a further benevolence of 618,3401. for the fame purpose, in 1777,-notwithstanding these great overflowings of extraordinary fupply,-yet, in the midt ofthe prefent expenfive war, the first Lord of the Treafury had the modesty four Authors' word] to propofe an augmentation to his Majetty's Civil Lift of 100,000l. per ann !'

Chap. V. Extraordinaries of the Army (here pointedly ftyled Lord North's Civil Lift). In Sect. I. we have a comparison of the prefent extraordinaries with thofe of former wars; in which the exceedings are truly alarming. It appears from the fums here put down, that the extraordinaries for four years only of the prefent war, amount to one million and a half fterling more than all the extraordinaries of King William's and Queen Anne's, and George the Second's first war together, which wars comprife the space of twenty-nine years!'

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Sect. II. On the Jums remitted to North America, of which no account has been given to parliament. Here is an account of near four millions, for the years 1775, 1776, 1777, and 1778; the remittances for 1779 not being yet brought in. Befide the above-mentioned fum, the pay of the army is alfo remitted to America by Mefirs. Harley and Drummond. The remittances are fometimes made in Spanish or Portugal coin, and fometimes in English coin: the quantity of the latter exported is faid to have alarmed the Bank of England.'

Sect. III, and IV. Contracts. For the enormities under this head, we refer to the Facts' at large.

Seat. V. Bills drawn by Governors. More enormities, in a new mode of profufion.

Seat. VI. Extraordinary Appointments, and contingent Bills. The abufes under this head have alfo the merit of novelty,

Sea. VII. Prefents to Indians. This fection affords indubitable. evidence that tomahawks and fcalping-knives are very expensive articles.

In his Letter to Lord Carlisle.- -See our last month's Review,

P. 471.

Chap.

Chap. VI. Ordnance Eftimates, Here, for the fake of brevity, the Reviewers œconomy) we must again refer.

Chap. VII. Navy Debt. (Lord Sandwich's Civil Lift). This branch of our public Debt is here stated at 8 012,4151. of which the increase of last year only was 2,833,4151. For the articles of extravagance, and of abufes, enumerated in this chapter, we must, further, defire our readers to confult the book.

Chap. VIII. Remarks on Lord North's Method of raising Money by Loans. Here the Minifter is charged with making contracts, and borrowing money, on higher terms than neceflity required. The detriment to the public, under this head, will appear terrifying, indeed, to those who do not think, with fome gentlemen in adminifiration, that the refources of this country are inexhaustible.

In conclufion, the public fpirited writers obferve, that if, in this our alarming fituation, many words are neceffary to excite us to vigorous and decifive exertions, we have already furvived the liberties of our country.We are now arrived at a period when either corruption must be thoroughly purged from the fenate, or the nation is undone. If no remaining remedy can be found, by which this peft-lence can be quietly removed-acum eft de republica. Let us fix the mark of the plague upon the doors of the house, and then-let him that will die of the infection, enter.'

Art. 13. The Yorkshire Question, or Petition, or Address: Being a fhort and fair State of the Cafe, on the Principles, the Views, the Means, and the Objects of both Parties, as confessed by themfelves. Most earnestly and feriously addreffed to the Confideration of the People of England, affembled in their feveral County, City, and other Meetings. 8vo. 2 d. Almon.

Confidering Mr. Smelt's Tory principles, as avowed in his famous fpeech at the late Yorkshire meeting, as congenial with the common fentiments of the party who call themselves the King's Friends,—the Whiggish Author of this little pamphlet has given us his comment on the paffages here referred to, and has, very properly, exploded the principles of defpotifm with which they are obviously pregnant.-An account of Mr. Smelt's character and connections* is prefixed, and his fpeech, at length, is annexed.

This little, but feafonable, tract is of more importance than many of our political publications of greater bulk and higher price. On the whole, the friends of liberty will deem themfelves much obliged to Mr. Smelt for his openness and honefty, whatever those of the -We are credibly informed court-party may think of his discretion.that a fhrewd Yorkshire freeholder, who was present at the time when this lucklefs oration was delivered, could not forbear exclaiming, in a loud whisper to his neighbour, who stood at his elbow-" E'faith! "this meatter what's his name has letten the cat out o`th'bag!"

He was formerly fub-governor to the prefent Prince of Wales is ftill, according to this pamphlet, in high favour at court, particularly with his Majesty.

Art,

Art. 14. An Addrefs to the Freeholders of Middlefex, affembled at Free Mafon's Tavern, in Great Queen Street, Dec. 20, 1779Being the Day appointed for a Meeting of the Freeholders, for the Purpose of etabliching Meetings to maintain and fupport the Freedom of Election. 8vo. 6d. Dixwell, &c.

The Author of this address is a close thinker, and a found reasoner. His obfervations on county meetings are offered with a view to render fuch affemblies of real, conftitutional, and permanent effect, for redrefs of national grievances, and even, if occafion require, for a reformation of the conflitution itself: the Writer's arguments are conceived with folidity, and urged with judgment and temper. Art. 15. The Hiftory of a French Loufe; or the Spy of a new Species, in France and England: containing a Defcription of the moft remarkable Perfonages in thofe Kingdoms. Giving a Key to the chief Events of the Year 1779, and thofe which are to happen in 1780. Tranflated from the 4th Edition of the revised and correated Paris Copy. 8vo. 3s. Becket. 1779.

We gave fome account of the French original (if the French was the original) of this political fatire, in our latt month's Catalogue. It is unneceffary to add any thing to what was then faid concerning the character of the work.

Art. 16. Five Letters, &c. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Dixwell.

When this political mail was firft made up, it contained but three letters; which, as the directions are rather long, we do not here repeat, being able to refer the reader to the Rev. vol. lx. p. 322, where they are mentioned with fome explanation of their contents. A few more are now put into the bag, under the following fuperfcriptions:

The fourth is addressed to the monied men of Great Britain and Holland; upon the fubject of opening a policy of fubfcription for the reduction of the French islands in the West Indies. In return for which, the abJolute property of thefe iflands is to be guaranteed to the fubfcribers, upon the faith of an act of parliament And the fifth is addressed to the nobility and landed intereft of Scotland; upon the fubject of appropriating the forfeited eftates of that kingdom to the purpose of maintaining five thousand men as a militia; who, when not embodied, are to be employed in working upon the high roads and other public works of that kingdom. To which is added, fome remarks upon Sir Charles Bunbury s fcheme of fending the convicts to the coast of Africa: and upon the prefent one in agitation, of ereling work and task houses in the different counties of England. With fome queries addreffed to the Lord Lieutenants of the dif ferent counties, upon the prefent eftablishment of the militia.

For the British parliament to grant French islands de jure, before they are in poffeffion de facto, is a fpecies of anticipation, characterifed in ancient faws, as reckoning chickens before they are hatched; and as felling the bear's skin, &c. Such formal annur. ciation of intended conquests, calculated to infpire preparations for attack, would in greater proportion warn the poffeffors how to defend themselves. But fchemes appear, to the happy inventors, very feafible on paper.

On the fubject of English and Scots militia, and on the employment of convicts, the Writer throws out feveral good detached obferva. REV. Jan. 1780. tions,

G

tions, not being altogether fo bold a visionary in domestic policy, as he appears in his foreign fchemes and arrangements,

Art. 17. Adminiftration Diffected. In which the Grand National Culprits are laid open for the Public Inspection. 8vo. 4s. fewed. Barker. 1779.

This Diffection is performed with a keen knife, and a bold hand. The malefactors being cut up, and expofed to public infpection, the metaphor drops in courfe; and we come, in plain terms, to fpeak of the book before us, as containing a political review of the prefent circumstances and fituation of this country, fo far as both have been obviously affected by the conduct of government, fince the commencement of the unfortunate war with the American colonies.-The Authors (for this tract appears, like our Review, as the work of several hands) have entered on the difcuffion of the subject, on a large fcale of enquiry; extending to almost every principal branch of adminiftration. Their general conclufion is- That the remedies, which it were to be wished his majesty (feeling for the diftreffes of his people) would inftantaneously apply to our wretched and defponding fituation,' are obviously these :

I. A difmiffion of every principal minifter novs employed.

II. The appointment of men of GENIUS in lieu of thofe dismissed.
III. The punishment of a Commander at land, and another by fea":
IV. A thorough confidence of the SOVEREIGN in his PEOPLE.'

As it has often been urged, by the adherents of ministry, when objecting to a change, that we can no where find more able, or better men,' our Authors treat this objection as frivolous and falfe. They contend, that nothing is wanting to extricate us out of our difficulties but GENIUS. In this MASTER QUALITY, the fpirited writers confider our prefent ftatefmen and commanders as totally des ficient. To prove that genius has, at all times, and in all countries, been found perfectly equal to the great work here cut out for it, our Authors enter into an hiftorical detail of the illuftrious actions of heaven-born leaders and heroes, in the military line efpecially; and they conclude, that genius is ftill to be found, if we will but call it forth. And to direct us in the fearch of this ineftimable jewel, they point to our prefent race of fenators, among whom may be found men of whom the greatest hopes may reasonably be formed, if we dare to entrust them with our political falvation.-In the house of lords they have fingled out, in the following order, lord Lyttel ton [deceafed fince our Authors wrote], lord Camden, the duke of Richmond, lord Shelburne, the duke of Grafton, and the marquis of Rockingham. In the lower houfe, our Authors fix upon, firft, Mr. Fox; on whofe fuperior abilities, indeed, the highest expecta tions may reafonably be raifed. To this diftinguished name they have added thofe of Mr. Burke, and colonel Barré; and here they ftop, prefuming it unneceffary to go through the lift of men in the lower affembly, whofe genius and parts are capable of fuccouring their country.' We wonder, however, that the justly honoured name of Sir George Saville efcaped this mark of diflinction.

• Both fufficiently pointed out in the book.

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