Spanish; with tables subjoined of the Hebrew words that are critically considered in these dissertations, and a string of texts exegetically mentioned in them, with the usual alarm about negligent copyists and ignorant scribes; interspersed throughout with erudite quotations from Ragbag, Shagbag, and all the rabble rout of rabbies, of the Mishna and Gemara, of both the Targums, Onkelos and Jonathan, the Chaldee paraphrast Abulpharagius, (or, as some of our literati chuse to write his name Aboul '1 Pharag,) and the hosts of Polyglotts and Mikrobresbutikons ;-and the whole of the stupendous labour is, with great solemnity and propriety, dedicated to the right reverend and reverend the dean and chapter of St. Paul's cathedral, London.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 31. Selections from the most celebrated Foreign Literary Journals and other periodical Publications. 8vo. 2 Vols.

Debrett.

1798.

16s. Boards.

In our account of the Varieties of Literature, (vol. xix. p. 472.) we apologized for allotting so short an article to so interesting a publication; and we intimated the intention, when we should be less encumbered with a pressure of materials, to borrow for our own pages some of its amusing contents. We regret that this time of leisure and room is not yet arrived.

Of these two new volumes, (for the alteration of title has in nothing affected the plan,) the more valuable parts consist in the papers by Professor Meiners, (concerning whom see Rev. vol. xxii. p 526.) which are various, instructive, learned, and condensed; in the account by Jagemann of the state of commerce, art, and science, in Tuscany, which is well digested; and in the historic dissertations concerning Russia by Schloetzer, whose erudition and good sense are alike prominent.

These Selections are made with judgment, and translated with fidelity.

Art. 32. A Letter addressed to the Right Hon. Lord Chief Justice Kenyon, complaining of Injustice, and pointing out the Danger to Society from Perjury, and the Facility with which the loose and equivocal Testimony of Servants may destroy the Peace of private Families. By A. Hook, Esq. 4to. pp. 20. Is. Murray and Highley. 1798.

In our xiith and xxiid vols. N. S. may be found an account of those transactions which have occasioned the present publication. In February 1793, Captain Campbell brought an action against MajorHook for criminal conversation with the plaintiff's wife, who was niece to the defendant, and the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff with 3000l. damages. In consequence of this verdict, Captain Campbell instituted proceedings in Doctors' Commons, and obtained a divorce à mensa et thoro. Major Hook, in a defence which he published soon after the trial, denied the whole charge brought against him, and imputed perjury to all those witnesses by whose testimony the charge was supported. The present letter, addressed to Lord Kenyon, before whom the cause was tried at Guildhall, contains

many

Tooke

Tay.

many solemn assertions of the Major's innocence. The occurrence is
very extraordinary, and presents us with a choice of difficulties. We
must believe either that four witnesses have perjured themselves, with-
out any evident reason) or direct interest to influence their conduct;
or that Major Hook has been guilty of an incestuous commerce with
his near relation, and of repeated instances of deliberate falsehood in
asserting the contrary. Each supposition is disgraceful to human na-
ture; and we must rejoice that, in so difficult a situation, it is not
necessary for us to pass judgment.

Art. 33.
Historical Account of the most celebrated Voyages, Travels,
and Discoveries, from the Time of Columbus to the present Period.
By William Mavor, LL.D. 20 Vols. Small 12me.
zł. 105.

sewed. Newbery.

Dr. Mavor remarks that, of the grand works on this subject, in our language, which can be named in a collective and respectable light, the last, viz. "Astley's Voyages and Travels," was published upwards of half a century ago. Since that period, single voyages and travels have been multiplied to an amazing degree; and as the last enquirer has always the best chance of obtaining excellence, whatever relates to manners, to soil, to climate, to produce, to natural or artificial curiosities, is most advantageously viewed through the medium of recent publications.' He truly adds that the expence attending the purchase of all, the time requisite to read them all, and the little interest which general readers can take in particular parts, render such a selection desirable as might satisfy without fatiguing, and convey the most requisite information at a price too limited to be burdensome.'

Such considerations, it appears, have induced Dr. Mavor to give an historical account of the most celebrated and interesting voyages, travels, discoveries, &c. divested, as far as possible, of technical phrases and cumbrous minutia. Our plan,' he observes, is to concentrate the wide range of publications on this subject into a narrow compass, and to deliver them in uniform diction and connected narrative; to preserve every circumstance that can amuse or instruct; to entertain the fancy, and to humanize the heart. Character and incident are the principal traits we wish to seize; and by apt reflections to make man the friend of man, is our leading aim; and, though we do not despair of success, we are animated by more honourable motives than those which can arise from a wish to gratify vicious taste, or conciliate worthless favour. We confess we have written with an eye to youthful innocence and female delicacy. Our pages, therefore, we trust, will not offend, should they fail to please.'

The first ten volumes of this collection are devoted to naval adventures; the last of this number is styled miscellaneous, as containing accounts of shipwrecks, and other particulars which could not with propriety be introduced among the preceding narratives.-Travels occupy the remainder of the work; of which the twentieth volume, corresponding with the tenth, records a few affecting incidents and striking enterprizes, which could not so conveniently be inserted elsewhere. Among the editor's remarks which here occur, on a retro spective view of the work, we select the following paragraph:

For

S.R.

For what we have done, and for what we have not done, we are aware that we are liable to animadversion, and that different opinions will arise. Our selection embraces as wide a field as our limits would permit; and works of established reputation have generally been pre ferred; but in our wish to collect some rays of information from every quarter of the globe, we have sometimes been obliged to have recourse to what was less excellent. Our uniform object was to increase the fund of general knowledge; yet we are sensible it is impossible to please every taste in the materials we have chosen; or, within the compass prescribed, to include every work deserving attention. On this subject no two persons will perhaps think alike; and therefore we only crave the indulgence which we are ready to

allow.'

It has appeared to us that the best method of presenting a view of this work to our readers was that of making a few extracts from Dr. Mavor's own advertisements; which we have accordingly done. It will scarcely be expected that we should have so attentively perused these twenty volumes, as to appreciate exactly their merits: but, in general, we think that they accord with Dr. M.'s own remarks. Some defects will no doubt occasionally offer themselves to the eye of the attentive reader: but, on the whole, we esteem it a seasonable, acceptable, and useful performance, particularly adapted for the assistance and information of youth;-though by no means confined to the juvenile class; since persons of every age may consult and peruse it to great advantage and entertainment. The compilement is embellished with a variety of engravings.

POLITICAL, &c.

Art. 34. An Address to the Proprietors of the Bank of England. 3d Edit. With Additions. By A. Allardyce, Esq. M.P. one of the Proprietors of the Bank of England. 4to. 9s. Richardson. 1798.

Boards.

At a general court of the proprietors of the Bank of England, held 14th Dec. 1797, the author of this Address moved: that there be laid before this court an account of the charge of managing the business of the governor and company of the Bank of England: an account of the expence of building; and an account of all other expences incurred by the governor and company from the 10th Oct. 1787 to the 10th Oct. 1797, distinguishing the different years and the particulars under their respective heads." No arguments were used to 'prove the impropriety of the motion, but it was stifled by moving the previous question, which was carried.

Mr. Allardyce now announces his intention of bringing forwards, at a future general court, another motion.

"That there be laid before the court an account of the general state and condition of the corporation, with an account of the income and expenditure for the half-year immediately preceding; and that a dividend of all the profits, benefits, and advantages, arising out of the management of the said corporation for the said half-year, (the charges of managing the business of the said governor and company only excepted,) shall be made to and for the use of all the members

Hi.

of

of the said corporation for the time being, rateably and in proportion to each member's share and interest in the common and principal stock of the governor and company of the Bank of England, as required by the statute of the 7th year of Queen Anne, chapter vii. section 63."

This, he insists, cannot decently be put to the vote, as the cited act of parliament commands compliance.

The Appendix contains very curious, important, and not elsewhere accessible papers relative to the stoppage of the Bank-Conversations and Correspondence with the Minister, Examinations of the Directors before the Privy Council, Report of the Lords' Committee of Secrecy, Accounts of Exports and Imports, Produce of Taxes, Money coined, Monies advanced by the Bank, Amount of Treasury Bills, Amount of Bank-notes in circulation, Charter of the Bank, Extracts from Acts of Parliament relative thereto, and from the Byelaws of the Company, &c.

A short Postscript follows this valuable compilation of instructive documents, in which the author thus gives his opinion:

I believe it will not be very difficult to prove, that the connection between Government and the Bank is disadvantageous to both parties, very prejudicial to the public in general, and to the mercantile and manufacturing interests in particular, and that the funds of the Bank ought to have been left unfettered and unincumbered, to give facility to commercial operations, thereby giving an additional active capital to the country, which, by producing materials for exportation, would have turned the balance of trade into our favour, and with it the tide of exchange, which would have brought an influx of gold and silver; all of which, except what was absorbed by the circulation of the country, would have glided into the coffers of the Bank.

For every million, which the Bank advanced to Government, it thought proper to withdraw so much from mercantile discounts, or from other operations which would have been equally advantageous to the state and to itself."

Independence of spirit, and the industrious pursuit of sound information, characterize this work, and entitle the author to the thanks of the public.

Art. 35. The Crimes of Democracy. 8vo. Is. 6d. Faulder. 1798.

It would not be easy rightly to guess the object of this pamphlet from its title. It is a plausible but superficial composition, designed to prove that the wai with France originally was, and continues to be, necessary; that the increase of the national debt has been more than compensated by the increased commerce and wealth of the country; and that, notwithstanding the present power of our enemies, should they escape our watchful fleets, they will fall a certain, if not an easy prey to our brave soldiers, fighting in defence of every thing they hold dear-their Religion and Liberty.' The title of this pamphlet, compared with the contents of it, reminds us of the French Preacher who delivered a discourse on "the love of God," from the text "Peter's wife's mother lay ill of a fever."

Tay.

Wall...

Art.

Art. 36. The State of the Nation with respect to its Public Funded 35% Debt, Revenue, and Disbursements, comprized in the Reports of the Select Committee of Finance, appointed by the House of Commons, to examine and state the total Amount of the Public Debts, and of Interest and Charges attending the same as they stood the 5th of January 1797; particularizing the Receipts and Disbursements of the several undermentioned Offices, viz. Treasury, Exchequer, Secretary of State, Custom-house, Excise-office, Stamp-office, Post-office, Tax-office, War-office, Ordnance-office, Barrack-office, Transport-office, Admiralty-board, Salt-office, Hackney-Coach Office, Hawkers and Pedlars Office, Pensions, Salaries, and Fees Office, First Fruits and Tenths Office, Bank of England and South Sea Company; the Names of the superior Officers and Clerks in each Department, their Salaries and Fees, together with the Amount of whatever additional Salaries or Pensions they receive from other Situations paid by the Public. 8vo. 2 Vols. 12s. sewed. Symonds, &c. 1798.

Of these volumes, the first contains seven reports on the several subjects of Public Funds, Unfunded Debt, Collection of Customs, Collection of Excise, Stamp-office, and Post-office.-Annexed to each report is an Appendix containing the official documents and the evidence on which the report is founded.

The second volume contains reports on the Tax-office, Salt-office, Hawkers' and Pedlars' Office, Hackney-Coach Office, Duties on Pensions, Salaries, and Fees, First Fruits, Expenditure of the Public Revenue, Treasury, Secretaries of State, Admiralty and Navy Boards, and Navy and Marine Pay Office, Transport Office, the Secretary at War, Comptrollers of Army Accounts and Pay-Master General; with an Appendix, as in the first vol. to each report.

The three remaining reports on the Exchequer-office, the Ordnance office, and the Barrack Department, with the concluding remarks of the Committee, are reserved for a subsequent publication.

Though it does not strike us that the perusal of these reports can be either very useful or very gratifying to the generality of readers, yet to those who are fond of statistical inquiries it will certainly prove very acceptable. The great variety of matter which they contain is well arranged; and in some of the reports a considerable portion of financial sagacity is displayed.

Those who have much to do with the public offices may find in these reports a variety of useful information respecting the constitution of them, and the fees payable to the officers.-If the public creditor could be conceived to derive either pleasure or advantage, from seeing how many fluctuations his funded property has undergone in so short a time,' we would recommend to him also a perusal of these reports.

Art. 37. The Reports of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Finance, as presented to that House; containing an Account of the Public Funded Debt, Taxes, Unfunded Debt, &c. ; including the present State of the following Public Offices, with the Measures that may be adopted for reducing the Public Expendi ture, &c.-Customs, Excise, Stamp-office, Post-office, Tax-office,

Salt

Wall..e.