mixture of these two fubftances a faline matter, foluble in water, fufceptible of a cryftallization fomewhat like that of alum, and which, by being exposed to a red heat, is transformed into a kind of faline glafs. The importance and utility of this discovery are palpable.

III. Umflændliche Nachricht von der Hamburgifchen Handlungs Academie: i. e. A circumftantial Account of the Commercial Academy at Hamburgh. By J. G. Bufch, Profeffor of Mathematics, and Infpector of this Eftablishment. 12mo. Hamburgh. 1778. We are the rather inclined to announce this small publication, as it may be of use to those parents who wish that their fons, before they enter on actual bufinefs in counting-houses, should acquire the previous knowledge which may afterward prove ufeful and ornamental to them.

We are aware that the beft fchool for bufinefs, is business itfelf; but still, in every branch, there are certain elements which must be gained by ftudy, independent of practice. Such, in the cafe of merchants, are languages, a certain degree of hiftorical and geographical knowledge, and a general acquaintance with the theory of commerce. If to this be added, the useful application of the years of inactivity to which many young men are expofed before they can come into actual employment, we think we may recommend this establishment as likely to afford confiderable advantage. We must add, that the interior conftitution of it appears to be judiciously framed.

We refer those who wish to be farther informed concerning this inftitution, to the Circumstantial Account' above mentioned, or to Mr. Ebeling, the director of the Academy.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For MARCH, 1780.

POLITICAL.

Art. 10. A Defence of the Act of Parliament lately passed for the Relief of Roman Catholics: Containing a true State of the Laws now in Force against Popery In Answer to a Pamphlet, intitled, an Appeal from the Proteftant Affociation to the People of Great Britain, &c." In a Letter to a Friend. By a Proteftant. Svo. 6d. Johnfon. 1780.

IN

N our Review for January, we delivered our opinion respecting the merits of the pamphlet, to which this letter hath given a more particular reply. We are happy to find our fentiments confirmed by a writer of fuch abilities and candour, as the Author of this letter evidently appears to poffefs. He conducts his argument with spirit and propriety: while the confiftent Proteftant, and the friend of humanity, appear in every page. We fincerely with that its circulation may be as extenfive as that of the "Appeal." It is, we think, a fovereign antidote to the malignant poison which the

minifters

minifters of Pfeudo-Protestantism have been fo affiduous to fcatter abroad, to infect the mind with the most contagious part of that very religion which the Affociation profeffes to oppofe and control.

The principal and avowed object of our ingenious letter-writer is, to fhew that the idea of toleration, as exhibited by the Author of "the Appeal," is fo exceedingly defective, as by no means to deferve the name ;-that his objections to the Act for Relief of Roman Catholics, are principally founded on an entire misapprehenfion of its nature; and therefore-that he and his affociates, in their endeavours to raise a ferment in the nation, and to excite mutual animofities amongst the inhabitants of thefe kingdoms, fo far from deferving to be confidered as guardians of the conftitution, are in fact, whether they know it or not, abettors of perfecution, and enemies of civil and religious freedom.'-This is the object of the prefent liberal and fenfible pamphlet; and we think the Author hath fully accomplished his generous defign.

As a fpecimen of his manner of difcuffing fo important an argument as that in which religious liberty is concerned, and as a juftification of the applaufe we have honeftly beftowed on the defign and execution of the tract before us, we shall prefent our Readers with a paffage or two, extracted from the conclufion.

But it is not merely on account of the confequences to be apprehended from their repeal, that this Author wishes to have all the laws against Popery ftand in full force: he defires it likewife by way of retaliation for the cruelties of the Papifts. The ftatutes against Popery, notwithstanding their feverity, he tells us, are mild. when compared with the bloody edits now in full force against Proteftants in Popish countries. Whilft Papifts in England are claiming toleration, Proteftants in France are expofed to perfecution by the repeal of the edict of Nantz: and in other Popish countries, Protestants are by law condemned to death. Aftonishing contrast (adds he) that needs only to be confidered, to evince the impropriety of the late repeal. Now the plain English of this is-that we must perfecute Roman Catholics, because the Roman Catholics have perfecuted us! Is this the language of a follower of the meek and lowly Jefus of HIM, who faid, "Whatfoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even fo to them?"-Of HIM, who taught us to love our enemies, and to do good to those who hate us?-I challenge him to produce any thing in Popery more oppofite and hoftile to the fpirit of that New Teftament which he profeffes to venerate.'

As a private man, however, I believe Popery to be a corrupt religion; and therefore to be oppofed. But How is this to be done? Not by force; but by reafoning: not by penalties, but by perfuafion. If truth is to be maintained by the fword, Why was not Christianity fo propagated at firft? Why did not the Divine Author, inftead of the word of the Spirit, arm his followers with fwords of fteel? He who could command legions of Angels to his affiftance, might furely have eftablished his clergy in spite of all oppofition, throughout the habitable globe. What other reafon can be affigned for his not doing this, but that which he himself has given, and which ought long ago to have put to filence every advocate for church-authority-MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD.'

Art.

Art. 11. Four Letters from the Country Gentleman, on the Subject of the Petitions. 8vo. 6d. Almon. 1780.

Reprinted from Almon's news-paper, the London Courant; in which we have obferved fome well-written political effays. The Author, who figns himself a Country Gentleman, is a strenuous and able advocate for the county petitions.

Art. 12. A Letter to Lord North. With Free Thoughts on 6 d. Gainsborough printed, and

Penfions and Places.

4to.

fold by Bladon in Paternofter Row, London.

The production of a well meaning, but dim-fighted politician, who may be referred to Mr. Burke's printed speech (where he confiders the partial fcheme of taxing placemen and penfioners) for better information.

Art. 13. Obfervations on an Addrefs to the Freeholders of Middlesex, affembled at Free Mafon's Tavern; delivered to the Chairman, and read to that Affembly, December 20, 1779. With a clear Expofition of the Defign and Plan, therein propofed, of a Republican Congress, for new modelling the Conftitution. 8vo. 6 d. Bowen.

A political fneer, intended to ridicule and explode a very ferious performance. See our account of the Addrefs, in our Catalogue for January, p. 81.

Art. 14. Efay on Modern Martyrs: With a Letter to General Burgoyne. 8vo. I s. 6 d. T. Payne, &c. 1780.

It has been left, fays the Author, to the ingenuity of modern times, ever bufy in refearches, and fertile in improvement, to difcover a new fyftem of martyrdom; a fyftem into which neither wheels, nor flames, nor axes, are permitted to enter; but in which triumph refults from punishment, and advantage fprings from calamity; by which the infignificant may rife to importance, and the indigent to affluence, by the efficacy of mock misfortunes, and the emolument of lucrative heroifm.'

The Author divides modern martyrdom into three fpecies, all of them political, viz.

1. Those who claim merit from the avowal of deliberate maligmity; whofe public virtue is diftinguished only by an oppofition to public juftice, and whofe policy confifts in taking advantage of that difpofition in fome minds, that confiders all government as an oppreffion, that feels all fubordination as a mifery.'-Under this head, the Reader will eafily perceive that the Writer means to include fuch martyrs as Mr. Wilkes; against whom, however, the charge of malignity will not be readily admitted, by thofe who are perfonally acquainted with this jovial, witty, pleafant hero of the populace.

The fecond fpecies of martyrdom- confifts in the noble and dif interefted act of relinquishing fome prefent advantage, in the fuppofed certain profpect of more exalted power, or more ample profit. Such a fyftem is, indeed, from its nature, confined to the higher order of fufferers, and fuch as may be emphatically tiled the poli tical, as thofe before defcribed, may be rather termed the penal martyrs. To facrifice the poffeffion of a lucrative employment, wears at the first glance fo ftrong an appearance of fincerity, that we almoft overlook the folly of unfteadiness, and forget the treachery of

desertion.

defertion. Yet on a nearer view of circumftances and characters, we fhall not confider the political martyr, merely as a convert to false popularity, but rather as a refined (though often difappointed) fpeculatift, who weighs the chances of events, and calculates the fluctuations of power with an almost arithmetical nicety.'

It is needless to lead our Readers into those intricate mazes in political conduct, which the ingenious Writer thinks it easy to unravel, by the help of this clue.

The third fpecies of these felf-created martyrs are, the felf-proclaimed victims, who court the public favour, or pacify the public refentment, not only by voluntary but even by visionary fufferings. In the front of this venerable band appear the military martyrs, armed with recriminating invectives, fhielded by new-formed connections, ftored with voluminous harangues, arrayed in all the pomp of burlesque inquiries, and adorned with all the trophies of partial approbation. In vain would common fenfe oppose her strength against the power of military eloquence; in vain might the reprefent, that true valour would require no aid from the refinements of fophiftry, that real exploits would borrow no ornament from the pomp of declamation; that the commanders of former days established the glory, and extended the empire of their country, not by tedious recitals, but by actual and effectual enterprizes; that the proofs of meritorious fervice did not then rest upon the opinion of friendly witneffes, but on the records of impartial hiftory, on the grateful applaufe of their countrymen, on the universal sense of mankind.'

Here the Author approaches the main object of his view in this publication, viz. the arraignment of the conduct (military and political) of General Burgoyne; which is here exposed to a feverity of investigation by no means new to this unfortunate commander,who, fince his parole-return to England, hath fuftained many attacks of this kind: herein experiencing the truth of the maxim held by a celebrated French warrior-" That a loft battle hath a long tail."

Our Author takes leave of the General, with the following declaration of his inducements to the difcuffion of a fubject by no means agreeable,' viz. I will freely own, the first motive that led me to this inquiry, was a defire of vindicating characters very powerfully, or at leaft fpeciously affailed. Every ftep I have proceeded in it, every view in which I have confidered it, has uniformly tended to confirm me in this opinion, that you are not that oppreffed officer, not that unprejudiced politician, which your speeches and publications have fo induftriously proclaimed you-that whatever misfortunes you may have fuffered, whatever loffes you may have endured, have been the confequence of your own acts, or the effects of your own folicitation.-Had the cafe appeared otherwife to my mind, no confideration could ever have induced me to throw the leaft imputation on your conduct, or infinuate the flighteft doubt of your fincerity.

Art. 15. Speech of Edmund Burke, Efq; Member of Parlia ment for the City of Bristol, on prefenting to the House of Commons (Feb. 11, 1780) " A Plan for the better Security of the REV. Mar. 1780.

R

Inde

Independency of Parliament, and the economical Reformation of the Civil and other Establishments. 8vo. 2 s. Dodfley.

This noble and wonderful piece of oratory, of which we have here an authentic copy *, will immortalize the name of BURKE. Art. 16. Thoughts on the prefent County Petitions. Addreffed to the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders, throughout England. By an Old-fashioned Independent Whig. 8vo. 1 s. 8vo. 1s. L. Davis.

1780.

This writer difcountenances the petitions, on fuch grounds as feem to evince his thorough acquaintance with the ftate of parties in this country. In fhort, he is a political fceptic, and does not credit even the Minority themfelves for any degree of fincerity, in regard to this extraordinary manœuvre :-he does not believe they wish to obtain the prayer of their petition, left they fhould, themfelves, be affected by it, when it may be their turn to have the diftribution of the loaves and fishes.-These cool thoughts were thrown out during the earlier flages of the county meetings; and the publication was, no doubt, intended to act as a damper.

MEDICAL.

Art. 17. An Anfwer to the Letter addreffed by Francis Riollay, Phyfician of Newbury, to Dr. Hardy, on the Hints given concerning the Origin of the Gout, in his Publication on the Colic of Devon, &c. &c. By James Hardy, M. D. 8vo. I s.

&C. 1780.

Cadell,

When a man once mounts his hobby-horfe, there is no stopping him. 'Tis in vain for a friend to fay, " For God's fake, difmountthe vicious beast will throw you-you will have your neck broke→ your joints dislocated-or at least, you will get heartily splashed and bedaubed."-It does not fignify-on he goes-whip and fpur-till his career ends in a quagmire.

Dr. Hardy having laid down to himself as an undeniable position, "that the primary caufes of the gout arife from the action of mineral fubftances admitted into the human fyftem," will not recede from his point, though affailed by the most powerful arguments, both theoretical and experimental. If you tell him, that French gentlemen, who make their own wine, and are remarkably curious about it, would never be fo abfurd as to mix poifon with it, and yet have their full fhare of the gout-he anfwers you with a quotation from the Maijan Ruftique, in which you find three methods directed for preventing wines from turning four. The first of thefe is the suspending a ball of lead in the cafk. Here nobody would deny the poffibility of a noxious impregnation. The fecond is the fumigating with brimftone, or, as we call it, the fiumming of wine. Now, mark the Doctor's ingenuity! This brimftone, he fays, may be native fulphur -native fulphur often contains arfenic-confequently your wine may be impregnated with arfenic by this practice. The third method is boiling down the muft; concerning which, the Doctor thinks it fuf

Another edition has appeared, (but not printed under the Author's infpection) price 1 s. 6 d. Published by Hey, in Paternoster

Row.

ficient