Vol. xxxix The fubject of the following genuine it muft give your Lordship pain to be fent letters, the time when they were written, fo far on fo hopeless a bufinefs. and the rank and reputation of the writers, render them of much importance. To Benjamin Franklin, Efq; Philadelphia. Eagle, June 20.1776. [xxxviii. 437.587. Cannot, my worthy friend, permit the letters and parcels which I have fent you, in the ftate I received them, to be landed, without adding a word upon the subject of the injurious extremities in which our unhappy disputes have engaged us. You will learn the nature of my miffion from the official difpatches which I have recommended to be forwarded by the fame conveyance. Retaining all the earneftnefs I ever expreffed, to fee our differences accommodated, I fall conceive, if I meet with the difpofition in the colonies which I was once taught to expect, the moft flattering hopes of proving ferviceable, in the objects of the King's paternal folicitude, by promoting the eftablishment of lafting peace and union with the colonies. But if the deeprooted prejudices of America, and the neceflity of preventing her trade from paffing into foreign channels, muft keep us ftill a divided people, I fhall, from every private, as well as public motive, moft heartily lament that it is not the moment wherein thofe great objects of my ambition are to be attained; and that I am to be longer deprived of an opportunity to affure you perfonally of the regard with which I am Your fincere and faithful humble fervant, P. S. I was disappointed of the opportunity I expected for fending this letter at the time it was dated, and have been ever fince prevented, by calms and contrary winds, from getting here to in form Gen. Howe of the commiflion with which I have the fatisfaction to be charged, and of his being joined in it. Off Sandy-Hook, 12th July. To the Rt Hon. Lord Viscount Howe. Philadelphia, July 30. 1776. Received fafe the letters your Lordship fo kindly forwarded to me, and beg you to accept my thanks. The official dispatches to which you refer me, contain nothing more than what we had feen in the act of parliament, viz. offers of pardon, upon fubmiflion; which I was forry to find, as Directing pardons to be offered to the colonies, who are the very parties injured, expresses indeed that opinion of our ignorance, bafenefs, and infenfibility, which your uninformed and proud na tion has long been pleafed to entertain of us; but it can have no other effect than that of increafing our refentments. It is impoffible we fhould think of fubmiffion to a government that has, with the most wanton barbarity and cruelty, burnt our defenceless towns, in the midft of winter; excited the favages to masfacre our peaceful farmers, and our flaves to murder their matters; and is even now bringing foreign mercenaries to deluge our fettlements with blood. Thefe atrocious injuries have extinguished every fpark of affection for that parent-country we once held fo dear. But were it poffible for us to forget and forgive them, it is not poffible for you, I mean the British nation, to forgive the people you have fo heavily injured: you can never confide again in thofe as fellow-fubjects, and permit them to enjoy equal freedom, to whom, you know, you have given fuch juft caufes of lafting enmity; and this muft impel you, were we again under your government, to endeavour the breaking our fpirit, by the feveret tyranny, and obftructing by eftrength and prosperity. very means in your power, our growing But your Lordship mentions "the King's paternal folicitude for promoting the establishment of lafting peace and union with the colonies." If by peace is here meant a peace to be entered into by diftinct ftates, now at war, and his Majefty has given your Lordthip power to treat with us of fuch a peace, I may venture to fay, though without authority, that I think a treaty for that purpose not quite impracticable, before we enter into foreign alliances [xxxviii. 587.]: but I am perfuaded you have no fuch powers. Your nation, though by punishing those American governors who have fomented the difcord, rebuilding our burnt towns, and repairing, as far as poffible, the milchief done us, the might recover a great fhare of our regard, and the greatcft fhare of our growing commerce, with all the advantages of that additional strength to be derived from a friendship with us yet I know too well her abounding pride, and deficient wisdom, to believe the will ever take fuch falutary measures. Her fondness for conqueft, as a warlike na tian; her luft of dominion, as an ambitious one; and her thirst for a gainful monopoly, as a commercial one, (none of them legitimate caufes of war), will all join to hide from her eyes every view of her true intereft, and will continually goad her on, in these ruinous, diftant expeditions, so destructive both of lives, and of treafure, that they must prove as pernicious to her in the end, as the Croilades formerly were to moft of the nations of Europe. I have not the vanity, my Lord, to think of intimidating, by thus predicting the effects of this war; for I know it will in England have the fate of all my former predictions, not to be believed, till the event fhall verify it. Long did 1 endeavour, with unfeigned and unwearied zeal, to preserve from breaking that fine and noble china vase -the British empire: for I knew, that, being once broken, the feparate parts could not retain even their fhares of the ftrength and value that exifted in the whole; and that a perfect re-union of thefe parts could fcarce ever he hoped for. Your Lordfhip may poffibly remember the tears of joy that wet my cheek, when, at your good fifter's, in London, you once gave me expectations that a reconciliation might foon take place. I had the misfortune to find thefe expectations disappointed, and to be treated as the caufe of the mischief I was labouring to prevent. My confolation under that groundless and malevolent treatment was, that I retained the friendfhip of many wife and good men in that country, and, among the reft, fomé fhare in the regard of Lord Howe. The well-founded efteem, and, permit me to fay, affection, which 1 thall always have for your Lordship, make it painful for me to fee you engaged in conducting a war, the great ground of which, as defcribed in your letter, is the neceffity of preventing the American trade from paffing into foreign channels, To me it feems, that neither the obtaining nor retaining any trade, how va luable foever, is an object for which men may juftly spill each other's blood; that the true and fure means of extending 2nd fecuring commerce, are the goodnefs and cheapness of commodities; and that the profits of no trade can ever be equal to the expence of compelling it, and holding it by fleets and armies. I confider this war againft "us, therefore, as both unjust and unwife; and I am perfuaded, that cool and difpaffionate pofterity will condemn to infamy those who advised it; and that even fuccefs will not fave from fome degree of disho nour those who have voluntarily engaged to conduct it. I know your great motive in coming hither was the hope of being inftrumental in a reconciliation; and believe, when you find that to be impoffible, on any terms given you to propose, you will relinquish fo odious a command, and return to a more honourable private sta tion. With the greatest and moft fincere re fpect, I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's moft obedi ent, humble fervant, B. FRANKLIN, * [xxxvi. 248. xxxvii. 116.) A remarkable cure of Fits. ANne Nichols, daughter of Robert Nichols, of Childer-Thornton in Chefhire, troubled with fits, was perfuaded to wear the skin of a flow-worm, wrapped in a linen girdle, round her waist; which the continued to do for nine months, with out the return of her diforder; when one day being at work, he felt fomething crawling about her breast, and to her great furprise found it to be a worm about two inches long; and, upon examination; found five or fix more in the fkin within her girdle. The fright brought on three fits; fince which, however, he has been perfe&ly free, though he has difcontinued the girdle more than a year. — Liverpoo! Paper. Bath Chronicle, Thursday, March 20.1777. Anted, for a family who have bad health, a fober, fteady perfon, in the capacity of doctor, furgcon, apothecary, and man-midwife: He muft occafionally act in the capacity of butler and dress hair and wigs: He will be required to read prayers occafionally, and a fermon every Sunday evening. The reafon of this advertisement is, that the family cannot any longer afford the expences of the phyfical tribe, and wish to be at a certain expence. A good falary will be given.- N. B. He will have liberty to turn a penny in any branch of his profeflion when not wanted in the family, NEW NEW BOOKS. [102.] LONDO N. A theological furvey of the human under Banding. Intended as an antidote against modera Deifm. 5 s. Wallis & Co.De figned to establish the doctrine of divine grace communicated to the mind of man, or the known principles of reafon independently of a written ievelation; endeavour ing to fhew, that the mind of man is fupernaturally endowed with a divine principle, which counteracts the evil principle natural to him in confequence of the lapfe of his firft parents, and which is the fource of his faith in God, and in the immortality of the foul. He fuppofes, that this principle, which he denominates a diftinct fenfation in the mind of man, and fometimes a fpirithal medium or organ, is the true foundation of theology. This feems to be the general fcope of his reafoning; but be has collected together fuch a mals of heterogeneous matter, that it is difficult to keep in fight the abject at which he ultimately aims. M. An argument for natural and revealed e·Figion in which the principles of free-think ers are examined. By the Rev. James Williamfon, A. M. fellow of Hertford college 5. Rivington. Many juft ideas, but ranged immethodically, and expreffed ob fcurely. M. A charge delivered at the ordination of e Rev. Mr Thomas Twining, May 31. $775, in Downton, Wilts, by John Sturch; and a fermon preached on the fame occa• Lon, by Jolhua Toulmin, A. M. Together with an introductory difcourfe, by John Mills, and a confession of faith, by Thomas Twining. 15. Buckland.-Pious and rational, and must prove peculiarly acéeptable to the more liberal part of the Diffenters. M. . A fermon [from 2 Kings, iv. 1.] preach ed at the anniverfary meeting of the fons of the clergy, in the cathedral of St Paul, on Thursday, May 9. 1776. By Beilby Pot tens, D. D. now Bishop of Chefter. Batharf.. Excellent; and does honour to his Lordship's literary character, and his humanity. C. A fermon [from 1 Pet. ii. 17] preached before the House of Lords, Jan. 30. 1777. By John Lord Bishop of Bangor. 1 s. Robfon According to this Rt Rev. author, Chriftianity has introduced no alterations in the civil rights of men, or the political conftitutions of different countries; oppofition to ruling powers may be fometimes expedient; governors are fallible, like other men; and, in fo extenfive and complicated a course, may, and must fome times, even with the most upright intentions make miftakes, and it is poffible may mean amifs; in either of these cafes, wife and good men, appointed for fuch purpo fes, and making a confcience of their duty, will speak and act according to reafon, and their own information; and if this be done foberly and candidly, and according to the forms of the conftitution, it is truly merito rious, becoming men living in a land of li berty, and in divers respects serviceable to government itself; on the contrary, wher things are carried to extremities, and con ducted with rafhnefs and violence, the mo pernicious confequences must enfue. illuftrates the fatal effects of fuch proceed ings by a general view of the latter part o the reign of Charles I. and concludes wit fome judicious obfervations on the circum Dances of that melancholy but inftructiv period. C. H A letter upon education, tranflated from the French of a royal author. 2 s. Nour Printed in French not long fince a Berlin, under the feigned name of a Citize of Geneva, but faid to have been writte by a great northern potentate. Havin fhewn the impropriety and the defects the common modes of education, by whic young men, efpecially the nobility, a brought up in effeminacy and indolence, I earnestly recommends a more vigorous an manly difcipline. "Regulate (fays he their morals, imprefs them with virtuo fentiments, elevate their fouls, render the laborious, cultivate their understanding with care, ufe them to reflect upon their a tions, teach them to be wife and circun spect, to love frugality and fimplicity." He likewife takes notice of the frivolous ducation of the fair fex, and with equ warmth and energy recommends the cult vation of their minds. - The tranflator h fubjoined a confiderable number of note mose particularly applicable to the circum frances of the English nation. C. - The pupil of pleature; or, The new f ftem illustrated. Infcribed to Mrs Eugen Stanhope, editor of Lord Chesterfield's le ters. By Courtney Melmoth. 2 vols. 6 Robinfon. -Whatever latitude Lord Ch flerfield's fyftem may allow, in the pursu of pleasure, or the practice of diffimulatio there feems to be no foundation for loadi it with the infamy of producing characte capable of every species of villany. And this light we must confider Mr Melmoth Pupil of Pleafure; whom he has defcrib as forming a plan of seduction against a ma ried woman who was in the last stage of confumption, and at length, feizing the m ment of a fainting fit into which his prefen had thrown her, for accomplishing his p pole by force. This part of the story is lated with fo many heightening circumftan- ther Rousseau [xxviii. 695.], nor Dr Beattie [xxxii. 428. xxxiii. 199. xxxv. 78. 387. 504.], are once named. As to the manner of his death, as Mr Hume lived, fo, it seems, he died, without hopes or fears of futurity-That he had an amiable temper, extenfive learning, and many virtues [xxxviii. 455. 578.], we readily grant; but cannot, with Dr Adam Smith, think any man "perfectly wife" [7-], who is not wife unto falvation. ces, that it is impoffible to read it without feeling difguft, and pronouncing the whole unnatural and shocking. In the other parts of the work, the feenes of feduction are painted in fuch glowing colours, that fome readers may be apt to question whether Me Melmoth's preparation will operate as an antidote against the poison of Lord Chesterfield's writings. M. A letter to Courtney Melmoth, Efq; with fome remarks on two books, called Liberal Opinions, and The Pupil of Pleasure. 64. Wilkie- The advice of a good friend to Mr Melmoth, and apparently fo to motality. C. A journey to the highlands of Scotland. With occafional remarks on Dr Johnson's tour. By a lady. 2s. 6d. fewed. Fielding and Walker,- The lady who writes this epiftolary narrative, appears to be a lively correfpondent; but her information is fometimes erroneous. C. Confiderations on the laws relating to the office of a coroner, and on the practice of coroners, in taking inquifitions fuper vilum corporis, &c. 2s. 6d. Baldwin Offers many fenfible remarks on the defective state of our laws refpecting the inquifitions taken by coroners on dead bodies, &c. M. Hiftory, Law, Politics, &c. The penal statutes abridged, and alphaThe life of David Hume, Efq; Written betically arranged. Calculated to ferve the by himself. [1] 1 s. 6d. Cadell.- A wri- defirable end of an alphabetical commonter in the Gentleman's Magazine obferves, place book of the penal laws. Exhibiting, that Mr Hume, in faying, that his History at one view, the nature of the offence; the of England was at firft difapproved and de- penalty annexed to it, for the first, second, fefted, and that the Primates of England and third offence; the number of witnesses and Ireland were the only perfons confider and magiftrates neceflary to conviction; the able for rank or letters who encouraged him application of the penalty; the manner of to perfevere [3.1, "has furely much over profecuting and recovering the penalty. By charged the piece, and has by no means George Clark, Efq;35. fewed. Fielding done juftice to himself, or to the public. An- and Walker. Addington's abridgement other exception, a man of rank and letters, [xxxvii. 618.] was given in a tabular form; I beg leave to mention, namely, the late this is arranged in the dictionary-method; Earl of Corke, who at that time [1755] thus - and may be confidered as an appendix to expreffed himself: "I am reading every e- Burn's Juftice. . M. vening Mr Hume's Hiftory of Great Britain [fo he at first fyled it]; I own myself much pleafed with it in general. The style is particularly lively and excellent. Where he is obfcure, I believe he is affectedly fo. His materials are admirably put together; many very curious remarks; fome new facts; and all old and known ftories put into a new method, and perfectly entertaining." Hughes's Correfpondence, vol. 3. p. 145. note. The ti tle of the pamphlet alluded to by Mr Hume [3.is, Remarks on Mr David Hume's Effy the Natural Hiflory of Religion, Addreffed in the Rev. Dr Warburton-Since the appear ance of Mr Hume's Life, a new edition of this performance has been publifhed, with the following advertisement prefixed."The following is fuppofed to be the pamphlet referred to by the late Mr David Hume, in p. 21. of his Life, as being written by Dr Hurd. Upon my applying to the Bishop of State of the gaols in London, Weftnin(ter, Litchfield and Coventry for his permillion and borough of Southwark. To which is to republish it, he very readily gave me his added. an account of the prefent ftare of the confent. His Lordship only added, he was convics fentenced to hard labour on board forry he could not take to himfelf the whole the Juftitia upon the river Thames. By Wilinfamy of the charge brought against him; ham Smith, M. D. 1. s. 6 d. The Re but that he should hereafter, if he thought viewers speak in terms of approbation ɔf it worth his while, explain himfelf more this performance both with refped to intenparticularly on that fubject. T. CADELL. tion and execution. The diftreffes and abuStrand, March, 1777.”—In this Life it is obfes which it prefents to the view of the pu fervable, (continues our author), that nej; blic are of a nature which muft interefl every VOL. XXXIX, ย feeling Characters. Containing an impartial review of the public conduct and abilities of the most eminent perfonages in the parliament of G. Britain; confidered as ft tefmen,. fenators, and public fpeakers. Revised and corrected by the author, fince their original publication in the Gazetteer. 2s. 6d. Bew. Thefe characteristic delineations have obtained a very confiderable degree of approbation. They appear to have been drawn with tolerable impartiality, although the ingenious author feems to lean, in fome degree, toward the party in oppofition. M. feeling mind, and excite an earnest defire to promote any scheme by which they may be removed. M. An effay on Britifh liberty: addressed to both Houfes of parliament. 3 s. Bew.. Defigned to expofe the licentiousness so openly practifed and afferted under falfe ideas of liberty. C. A letter to the directors of the Eaft-India Company. By Keane Fitzgerald, Efq; 15. Payne. Exposes the unjustifiable prac tices refpecting the management of the fhip ping. Č. Reflections on ufury. 1s. Fielding and Walker.We are here prefented with an account of thofe ufurious and pernicious contracts carried on under the mode of under-valued annuities; with the substance of the bill now before the parliament to prevent them, and obfervations on the advantage of which it will be productive to the public. C. America. A political paradox, 6 d. Almon. A fling at the miniftry, who have declared, on a folemo occafion, "their defire of reftoring to America the bleflings of law and liberty [xxxviii. 562.J." To prove their fincerity, these bleffings, it is remarked, are tendered to the Americans by the hands of 40,000 lawgivers from Britain and Germany. M. A letter to Dr Price on his "Additional Obfervations," &c. [98] 6 d. Southern. Contains fome pertinent, though trite remarks. M. The American crisis. 1s. Flexney. Nothing new. Recommends the profecution of the war with vigour, and the temperate ufe of victory. C. A calm addrefs to the inhabitants of Eng. land. By John Welley. 3 d. Fry-Employed on the fame fubject with the former [xxxvii. 571,4. 611.]; being intended to expofe the injuftice of the American claim to independency, as well as the ridiculous notion of that liberty which the rebels pretend to affert. C. Sermons on the general faft, Dec. 13. 1776. Judgement begun in the house of God, to be finished on its enemies. In Duke street chapel, Westminster. By G. Mariot, Rector of Alphamfton in Effex. I S. Flexncy.- Differs from most of the faft-fermons in this refpect, that Popery is the chief object of the author's fears and apprehenfions, and the main theme of his animated and not inelegant declamation. We approve his zeal against the Babylonih harlot, fo far as it is prudently and feasonably exer ed; but we do not think the faft day was the proper time for giving the old Jezebel her dref hug. M. Subjection to the higher powers. A fermon by S. John Chryfoftom, Patriarch of Conftantinople, near 1400 years ago, explaining that celebrated paffage upon goverament, Rom. xiii. 1.-11. Tranflated from the Greek, and preached to a country. congregation. To which is added, a letter from a late judge, concerning the right of Great Britain to tax her colonies. With an Appendix. By Ed. Lewis, M. A. Rector of Waterstock and Emington, Oxon. 1 S. Rivington. - The "Letter from a judge," is faid to have been written, in 1763, by the late Sir Jofeph Yeates, and addressed to Chriftopher Griffith, Efq; at that time member for the county of Berks; and contains fome arguments in fupport of the design of taxing America, which have, fince, been irrefragably answered by the advocates on the other fide. — Of Mr Lewis's amiable candor, moderation, and decer y of deportment in the field of controverfy, take the following fpecimen, from his Appendix. After an invective against modern patriotifm, he thus proceeds. "Suppofe that in confequence of these patriotic notions of a natural and inalienable right, &c.-I should fhoot my worthy friend and neighbour, the collector of the window-tax, who, backed by the authority of the whole legislature, attempted to enter my houfe, in order to distrain my goods, and to fell them, to pay the faid tax. Does Reason fay, I fhould merit applause as a patriot and friend to Liberty, or that I ought to be hanged as a rebel and a murderer? Think as you please, but I am fure my confcience would fly in my face, and tell me that hanging was too gentle a death for fuch a villain. [So far you fay well, Mr Lewis; go on, Sir !] But at the fame time, does not there feem to be some reason that that factious leveller, Dr Price, fhould meet with the fame fate, with his liberty-book, lying calculations, and city cup dangling at his back fide, [O fye, Mr Lewis !], in readiness to receive [hold your nofe, Reader !] the last discharge of nature fout upon you, Mr Lewis !] in her laft efforts, and for a recompence to Jack Ketch, for executing a deed of more merit, than that whereby its prefent owner gained it."-Enough of Master Lewis, Rector of Waterstock and Emington! M. National profperity and national religion infeparably connected. By C. De Coetlogon, M. A. I S. Oliver. We are feldom difpofed to controvert the doctrines ufually enforced at the Lock; and were we, at this time, inclined to animadvert on fome of the immoderately good things advanced in the prefent fermon, we should be effec tually withheld by the benevolent word printed at the bottom of the title-page, viz For the benefit of the Lock Hospital. * M The |