applied, by parity of reafon, to eftates of different degrees of culti vation, populoufnefs, and income.

"Suppofe, out of thirty families there be at all times one incapable of earning a maintenance, nineteen having only abfolute neceffaries, there will remain ten contributors in various proportions SA the fupport of one poor family Now, as this family will very frequently comprize feveral individuals, who can earn their own, and even more than their own, fubfiftence; or perhaps confift of a widow, an aged or infirm perfon, capable of fome little industry; we may reduce the relief wanted by each family to the full maintenance of a fingle pauper: for though more might be wanted in fome inftances, lefs would fuffice in others. If then we allow to that pauper † one fhilling a week, which will be fufficient, in general, to fupport life; and levy that at the rate of two-thirds on the landlord, (if his lauds have been lately fet) and one-third on his nine richer tenants, there will lie a tax of 11. 14s. 8d. a-year on the former, for the fubfiftence of each poor family on his eftate, where the leafes have been lately renewed. Now it will be a very moderate allowance to fuppofe, that a tract of land (even in a populous country) containing thirty families, will pay to the lord of the fee 150l. per annum, or 51. per family; and, of course, the tax of 11. 145. 8d. a-year for the pauper in that district, will amount to little more than one per cent. per annum of his rent. As far as the fhort experience of the author, in the care of an extenfive and populous parish, of little manufacture, can enable him to judge: a regular contribution of one per cent. Í from every landlord, would (with the aid of the farmer's bounty in meal, potatoes, &c.) make fuch a provifion for the poor, as would take off from the landed gentleman the imputation of injuftice to his poor tenants I, under which he muft at prefent labour, unless there be fome defect in the procefs of this argument. Of this, however, the Author has fo little fafpicion, that he is ready to refume his defence of it against any objection, advanced with fuch candour and decency as to deserve attention."

Though there will probably be one in twenty, who occafionally may want affiftance, yet there will not be perhaps, en an average, more than one in thirty conftantly in pay.

This allowance may appear too fcanty to fome benevolent perfons, who wish to give to the poor a comfortable maintenance; and may compare it with the expeace per capita of the charter fchools, or other charitable inftitutions. But they will be pleafed to bear in mind, that this calculation is not intended to establish a competent meafure for charity. It aims merely to fix every man's abfolute debt to his poor tenants, what cannot be with-held without injuftice; without rendering him acceffary to their destruction, if they thould perith for want; and perhaps chargeable with the fame guilt, for abandoning them to perith, even though their lives thould be accidentally preferved by the bounty of their indigent neighbours, who are not under equal obligations to relieve them.

By fixing a certain rate per cent. on the rent-roll, this tax will lye proportionably light on lands cheaply fet; where, of courfe, the richer tenants, having a greater fhare of the profits of cultivation, are more able to contribute.

I fay injuftice to his peor tenants, becaufe, however liberal he may be in his contributions to the poor at large, yet if he neglects the poor on his own eftate, whe in fome fort owe their indigence to him, he ftill remains their debtor.

In pleading for clients, who fue in forma pauperis, we readily agree with this their humane and liberal advocate, that no finifter or interested view can be imputed to the pleader; as little indeed is to be gained by maintaining the rights of the poor, against the prejudices and fuppofed intereft of the rich, but the confcioufnefs of a benevolent intention and the heart-felt fatisfaction of endeavouring to be a friend to the friendlefs.

ART. XI. A Treatise of Optics; Containing Elements of the Science; in two Books. By Jofeph Harris, Efq; late his Majefty's Effay Mafter in the Mint. 4to. 14s. White.

new.

There is little to be met with in this work, that is altogether It must yet be confeffed, that it is a very judicious and methodical compilation; in which, not only the materials are happily chofen and well difpofed for the illuftration of each other, but are alfo frequently elucidated by remarks and obfervations peculiar to the compiler. On the theory of vifion, the Author quotes a manufcript of Sir Ifaac Newton, in which that great philofopher delivers his opinion that the fenfations, caused by the impulfes of light upon the retina, are communicated to the fenforium by means of an Ether. The words of the manufcript, are faid to be these.

Light feldom ftrikes upon the parts of grofs bodies, (as may be feen in its paffing through them,) its reflection and refraction are made by the diverfity of æthers; and therefore its effect on the retina can only be to make this vibrate; which motion then must be either carried in the optic nerves to the fenforium, or produce other motions that are carried thither. Not the latter, for water is too grofs for fuch fubtile impreffions; and as for animal fpirits, though I tyed a piece of the optic nerve at one end, and warmed it in the middle, to fee if any airy fubftance by that means would difclofe itfelf in bubbles at the other end, I could not fpy the least bubble; a little moisture only, and the marrow itself fqueezed out. And indeed they that know how difficultly air enters fmall pores of bodies, have reason to fufpect that an airy body, though much finer than air, can pervade, and without violence (as it ought to do), the fmall pores of the brain and nerves, I fhould fay of water, because thofe pores are filled with water; and if it could, it would be too fubtile to be imprisoned by the dura mater and fkull, and might pafs for ather. However, what need of fuch fpirit? much motion is ever loft by communication, especially betwixt bodies of different conftitutions; and therefore it can be no way conveyed to the fenforium fo entirely, as by the ether itself. Nay, granting me, but that there are pipes filled with a tranfparent liquor paffing from the eye to the fenforium, and the vibrating motion of the æther will of neceffity run along thither. For nothing interrupts the motion but reflecting furfaces; and therefore alfo that motion cannot fray through the reflecting fur

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faces

faces of the pipe, but must run along (like a found in a trunk) entire to the fenforium, And that vifion thus made is very conformable to the fenfe of hearing, which is made by like vibrations."

Something like this, is faid by Sir Ifaac Newton, in the queries annexed to his Optics: It has been alfo contended, that the vibration is continued along the folid part of the optic nerve; but this opinion hath been of late much discountenanced, and recourfe again had to the nervous fluid. The exiftence of this fluid, however, has been as much doubted by fome, as the aptitude of the folids to communicate the vibration in queftion. On this fubject, we fear anatomical experiiments will throw but little light. There is yet great plaufibility in the above fuppofition of Sir Ifaac Newton's, but then it militates against his notion of the rays of light confifting of folid bodies actually paffing from the luminous to the illuminated body. Were it admitted that thofe rays are nothing more than motions propagated through an elaftic ather, which we conceive to be really the cafe; we are perfuaded the theory of vifion might be confiftently elucidated.

ART. XII. Obfervations on feveral Paffages in the Book of Preverbs, with two Sermons. By Thomas Hunt, D. D. F. Ř. aud A. S. S. late Canon of Chrift-Church; Regius Profeffor of He brew, and Laudian Profeffor of Arabic. 4to. 5s. Prince, Ox. ford-Rivington, London.

The great reputation of Dr. Hunt, as a critic in the oriental languages, will doubtlefs recommend thefe obfervations to the perufal of all those, who are versed or inquifitive in this branch of learning. Some of these observations, it feems, were actually printed before the doctor's death, and the reft, we are affured by Dr. Kennicot, the editor, were intended in like manner for the prefs.

On the manner of explaining the fcriptures in general, the learned author makes the following remarks in his introduction. "It has been well obferved by the critics, that there is no better way, in general, to come at the true meaning of an author, than to compare him with himself. This obfervation is founded on a fuppo fition, that every author has its peculiar method of expreffing himself, and that he every where acts confiftently with it: the former is true of every writer, in general, and the latter of every good one. Men's fyles are almost as different as their faces. And as in the latter, there are fome peculiar lines and features, which make up The Perfon, and diftinguish him from every other; fo are there, in the former, certain modes of thinking, and turns of expreffion, which discover their author, and point out the pen from which they flow.

"Whoever therefore its down to any book, with a defign of reading it with profit to himself, or of explaining it with fuccefs to another, must be particularly careful to enter into the spirit and genius

of

of the writer; to acquaint himfelf with his manner; to ftudy his diction; and weigh his fentiments: and thereby, at laft, to infinuate himfelf into a thorough intimacy and acquaintance with him. The effect of this familiarity with your author will be, that he will open himself freely to you; lay out his whole mind before you; and not fuffer you to go away with any difficulty, which your long friendship with him has entitled you to a folution of.

"This is a method, which has always been found of great ufe for understanding profane authors; and it will equally hold in our study of the facred. They too, it is certain, are the best expofitors of themfelves; and will be most easily understood by those, who compare them moft carefully. They likewife have their peculiar and diftinguishing ways of expreffing themselves, by duly attending to which, and fo in this fenfe comparing Spiritual things with fpiritual, the careful expofitor will in time contract fuch an acquaintance with them, as will enable him clearly to difcern their meaning, upon most occafions; and readily to account for difficulties in places of obfcurity, by having obferved their feveral methods in places lefs dark and intricate."

As this is the cafe with the bible in general, the author obferves, it is peculiarly fo with the book of Proverbs in particular; "The Proverbs, being for the moft part loofe and independent fentences, and not capable of receiving that help from the context, which many other paffages of fcriptures are: confequently our way of studying Thefe cannot be the fame with that we make ufe of for underftanding Thofe. But then, this book has a method of its own; and fuch a one too, as, if duly regarded, will ferve for a clue to conduct us through the intricacies of moft of thefe dark fayings; and to bring us to the knowledge of a proverb, and the interpretation thereof. If the Proverbs have not that advantage from the context, which the more connected parts of fcripture have; they can do without it. Each of them, if rightly divided and confidered, is a comment on itself; and the very obscureft, when fet in a proper view, will fhine by its own luftre."

But for a further acquaintance with this learned and critical production, we muft refer the reader to the book itself.

ART. XIII. The Maiden Aunt. 12mo. 7s. 6d. Bew.

Written by a Lady. 3 vols.

This novel, written in the form of letters after the manner of Richardfon and Rousseau, though it wants the variety of incident and character, which fo eminently recommend the writings of thofe capital masters, is by no means deficient in point of expreffion and fentiment; the delicacy of the one and propriety of the other doing frequent honour to the fenfibility and tafte of the writer; to whom the novel-reading part of the fex will, we doubt not, think themselves under fome obligation for this agreeable addition to their literary entertainment.

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PAMPH.

PAMPHLET S.

POLITICS.

ART. XIV. An Humble Addrefs and Earnest Appeal to thofe reSpectable Perfonages in Great-Britain and Ireland, who, by their great and permanent Intereft in landed Property, their liberal Education, elevated Rank, and enlarged Views, are the ableft to Judge, and the fittest to Decide, whether a Connection with, or a Separation from, the Continental Colonies of America, be moft for the National Advantage, and the lafting Benefit of these Kingdoms. By Jofiah Tucker, D. D. Dean of Glocefter. 8vo. Is. 6d. Raikes, Glocefter.-Cadell, London."

Suis et ipfa Roma viribus ruit. HOR.

Of all the contending writers, who have drawn their pens in the prefent difpute between Great-Britain and America, there is none whofe long application to political fubjects, and eminent abilities in treating them, merit the deference due to Dean Tucker. Marked with a fingularity of thinking, indeed, which generally accompanies great genius, his views appear frequently to common eyes in a great degree romantic, and his plans deficient in propriety. They, who are capable of entering farther into them, do not fo readily pronounce them vifionary; but, though they may not altogether approve his expedients, are constrained nevertheless to admire them. We fhall be more particular, therefore, in our account of the present pamphlet than the bulk of it may feem to require, as well out of respect to the writer as the importance of the matter in difpute.

"The grand object now before him is, in his own words, fimply this; Great-Britain and her Colonies are at open war: and the proper and important question arifing from fuch a fact is the following, What is to be done at the prefent crifis?

"Three fchemes have been propofed ;-the ParliamentaryMr. Burke's-and my own.

"The Parliamentary fcheme is-To maintain vi et armis the fupremacy of the mother-country over her Colonies, in as full and ample a manner, as over any part of the British dominions.

Mr. Burke's is, (though not in exprefs words) To refign or relinquish the power of the British Parliament over the Colonies, and to erect each Provincial Affembly into an independent American Parliament;-fubject nevertheless to the King of Great-Britain, with his ufual prerogatives:-for which favour of acknowledging the fame fovereign, the Colonifts are to be complimented with the moft precious rights, privileges, and advantages of British fubjects.I fay, complimented, and complimented even gratuitoufy;-for as to their contributing any proportion, either of men or money, towards the public expence, and in return for thofe favours-all