*

If we look for the parentage of deftru&tive monopolies, and partial reftrictions, which have received the fanétion of parliament; thete, indeed, we may refer to commercial men: but at prefent, in our own Houfe of Commons, we frail find the merchants who have feats there, are not the guardians of the tracing interes; but rather the independent Gentlemen of fortune who apply their thoughts that way, and are exclufively called the men of business. The principal parliamentary bufinefs to which our merchants attend, lies in the contract way. Does this Anti-unionist apprehend that Ireland would be injured if ber merchants were not led into the like temptation ? As to the neceflity of her fending practising lawyers to parliament, it is by no means obvious to us. Can no man understand, or defend the laws of his country but a practifer in the courts of law? Can no man explain the principles of the Conflitution but an Attorney or Solicitor General? The idea is extravagant We hardly need remind Mr. Walker of one of the greatest benefactors to his country, who certainly was no lawyer.

Let Ireland tell how Wit upheld her caufe,
Her trade fupported, and fupplied her lars;
And leave on SWIFT this grateful verfe engraved,
The rights a court attack'd, a poet fav'd.

РОРЕ.

So little did Swift love the lawyers, that he was fond of declaring, that they, of all men, feemed leaft to understand the nature of government in general; like under-workmen, who are expert enough at making a fingle wheel in a clock, but are utterly ignorant how to adjust the feveral parts and regulate the movement.

But though we think that the preceding arguments of this young orator are inconclufive, we are far from intimating that his other objections to an union are fo. There is argument as well as eloquence in his display of the probable confequences that would refult to Ireland from this measure. He is of opinion, that the sciences, and liberal arts, will take their flight with her parliament, and like birds of paffage feck a happier climate. The Nobles, and eftated Gentlemen departed,-Genius would clap her wings, and fly from the deferted land. Not only men of fortune, but men who rely upon their abilities to acquire a fortune, would defert Hibernia, as a place not calculated for their purfuits. Fond of basking in the funfhine of power, and deriving animal heat from their vicinity to a court, they would hafte to England; and hapless Ireland, once univerfally admired for the eloquence of her orators--the wifdam of her divines the ability of her lawyers-and the bravery of her warriors, --would become at beft the compting-houfe of the merchant, and the hp of the mechanic!' T. Art. 18. The Reformer. By an Independent Freeholder. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Fielding and Walker. 1780.

The errors of Adminiftration, the abufes of office, the waste of public treafure, or the enormous increase of place and penfion lifts,

hefe are not the evils of which this reformer complains. He does not appear to be fenfible that any fuch errors or abuses exift. The only political evil against which he exclaims, is-the oppofition maintained again our immaculate Miniftry; who, it should feem, in the opinion of this champion of theirs, can do no wrong: confequently,

the

the Minority are all in the wrong for impeaching their measures. Accordingly, in his rage of reprehenfion, he beknaves and befools, and bedevils them, without mercy.-But moft Readers, we apprehend, will think that there are fome characters, of which he ought to have been more tender; particularly that of the good and amiable Sir George Saville: against which he brings fome very ill-fupported and frivolous objections.

This writer deals rather in wit than argument, and more in virulence than wit. We must do him the juftice, however, to remark, that, in what he ftyles his Plan of Reformation on a wide Scale, he judiciously offers fome hints which deferve to be attended to; particularly his recommendation of an equal land tax, and an equal poor's

rate.

Art. 19. Hiftorical and Political Reflections on the Rife and Progrefs of the American Rebellion. In which the Causes of that Rebellion are pointed out, and the Policy and Neceffity of offering to the Americans a Syftem of Government founded in the Principles of the British Conftitution, are clearly demonftrated. By the Author of Letters to a Nobleman on the Conduct of the American War. 8vo. 3 s. Wilkie. 1780.

In thefe reflections we meet with the fame good fenfe, and subftantial information, for which we recommended the Letters to a Nobleman.-See Review for Sept. 1779, p. 228. The writer is fuppofed to be Jofeph Galloway, Efq; late a Member of the American Congrefs; and Author, likewife, of a Letter to Lord Howe. See Review for Decem. laft, p. 467. Alfo of Cool Thoughts on the Confequences of American Independence, &c. Rev. Jan. 178. p. 88. The Author's zeal for a folid re-union of the two countries is as laudable as it is warm; and feems to be really founded in his fincere wishes for the permanent welfare and happiness of all parties. Art. 20. The Critic; or Tragedy rehearfed: a new Dramatic Piece in Three Acts; as it is performed by his Majefty's Servants, with the greatest Applaufe. By the Author of the Duenna*. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Bladon. 1780.

This political Punchionella fticks as close to the fkirts of Mr. Sheridan, as the little black fellows did to thofe of Trapolin, in the Duke and no Duke. The title of every new piece, produced by the ingenious Manager (and which, for REASONS OF STATE, he keeps unpublished) is infantly feized by this pilferer, and applied to his own improper ufe: to impofe a ftate-fatire on the Public, under the falfe appearance of a theatrical performance.

Refpecting IRELAND.

Art. 21. A Letter to the People of Ireland. Occafioned by their prefent Hardships and Diftreffes. 8vo. I S. Almon. 1779. This tract was published fome months ago, but, we fuppofe, not much advertised in the English papers; by which means it might efcape our earlier notice. It was, evidently, intended to roufe'

For our account of this Author's Duenna, See Rev. Vol. Iv.

p. 156.

Dd 4

[the

[the Author's own word] the good people of Ireland to command refpect, by refpecting themselves.' Scotland,' fays the Writer,

bates you; England, a country of refined political hypocrify, cajoles you. Negociate with wifdom, dignity, and fteadiness: and the bufinefs will be accomplished at once.-Be united, and be ftreng: by being virtuous, you will be united; and being united and virtuous, you may defy the world.'-This language, to ufe, ftill farther, the words of the Author (who profeffes himself an Irishman, and as Such aggrieved and injuriously treated), Englishmen will call fedition, Irithmen patriotism.'

་

Art. 22. Confiderations on the intended Modification of Poyning's Law. By a Member of the Irish Parliament. 8vo. I s. Almon. 1780.

A very fenfible discussion of a subject that is highly interefting, on both údes of the water.-The Author argues in favour of the propofed alteration; but in vain--They have out voted him.

PHILOSOPHICA L.

Art. 23. An Essay on the Conftruction and Building of Chimneys; including an Enquiry into the common Causes of their Smoking, &c. By Robert Clavering, Builder. vo. 2s. 6d. Taylor. 1779.

As medicine has its opprobria in the gout, and indeed too many other fubjects, fo that great domeftic nuisance, a fmoky chimney, is the opprobrium of architecture; which too, like the former, has its quacksindeed what art has not commonly ftyled Chimney Doctors; who, without science, or principles of any kind, undertake the cure of a diforder without the leaft knowledge of the caufes by which it is produced, nor confequently of the remedies by which it is to be removed. The author of this little performance, after briefly explaining those properties of air and fire which relate to his fubject, treats particularly of the various circumftances by which the diforder in queftion may be occafioned. Thefe are reducible to three general heads :-the wrong conftruction of the chimney itself, or of its various members:-errors committed in the position and distribution of doors and windows, by which irregular currents of air are produced and external obftructions, proceeding from neighbouring buildings, high grounds, and exposure to particular winds. On each of thefe heads the author gives many obfervations, and practical directions, which appear to be judicious, and to be founded on juft principles, confirmed by experience. These are illuftrated by proper figures; together with a table, in which the proportions of the feveral parts of a chimney are given, according to the fize of the refpective apartments. B...y Art. 24. The Faft-Day, a Lambeth Eclogue. By the Author of The Auction. IS. 6d. 4to. Bew. 1780.

POETICAL.

This Eclogue is not without merit; the characters (fillitious ones, we Suppose) are not ill fupported. The perfons of the drama are Pifcopella and Comb-bruh. Pifcopella's disappointments at the interdiction of card-table amufements on the Faft-day, are thus expreffed:

PISCOPELLA.

"O that this flow-pac'd, canting day were paft!
Comb-bruh, I almost wish it were my laft:

d

When holy Dulness, by fupreme command,
Scatters Hypocrify through half the land,
And bids each pious foul his lips prepare
To harafs Heaven with unmeaning prayer:
When Pleasure, bound in unrelenting chain,
Appeals to Fashion, but appeals in vain :
When Trade, who neither Saints nor Lent obeys,
Profeffing hatred of their holy days,

Curfes another, added to the feven;

But, Comb-brush, fure that curfe will be forgiven!
-The Doctor talks in vain :-I cannot fee
The wisdom of this dull folemnity:

Folly and nonfenfe all it feems to me:

V pours, and difcontent, and fpleen it brings,
Though preach'd by Bishops, and ordain'd by Kings.
Bishops, I know them well, if it should laft
Beyond a day, would ne'er propose a Faft:
Or, fhould it stem Corruption's rapid flood,

Kings would declare it did them too much good.'

The writer then fubjoins a note, which, fhort as it is, would contain much true moral fatire, were it any way applicable to the present times: A government (fays he) fupported by corruption, would be guilty of a moft arrant folecifm in politics, in recommending fupplications to Heaven, to restore public virtue, if there was the leaft chance of fucceeding I cannot (continues he) conceive any thing more diftreffing to the minister of such a state, than repentance and amendment of life in his chief fupporters,' &c.

C..t..t.

Art. 25. An Epifle from the worshipful Brown Dignum to the
worshipful Mr. Buckhorse: now made public, in confequence of
a fpurious Letter from the Hon. C. Fox to the Hon. J. Town-
fhend. To which is prefixed, a Dedication to the Earl of Sandwich,
4to. 1 s. Millidge. 1779.

A facetious parody; but too infignificant to admit of an extract,
Art. 26. Unanimity. A Poem. By J. Macaulay. 4to. I s. 6d.

Cadell. 1780.

This poem is an allegorical dialogue between the Genius of Britain and

The watchful guardian of the Gallic state.'

The scene lies in England upon a chalky cliff

'tremendous, fteep,

Whofe awful front o'erlooks the rolling deep.'

The converfation opens with an interrogatory by the Genius of Bri-
tain, who for fome reafon or other is now transformed into a British
warrior:

Prefamptuous Power (the British warrior cries)!

What cause invites thee to these English skies?'

We then learn that

The Gallic Power approaching from afar,
Defcended graceful from his fplendid car.'

Though the writer tells us, but a few lines before, that

before the gliding chariot fands

The facred guardian of the British lands,'

So

So near, indeed, that

the courfers backward ftart,

Scar'd by the lufire of the glittering dart.

But to proceed-Before his Gallic divinity fhip vouchsafes any answer to this and fome other questions, he turns his horfes to grafs; his nags, as this writer perhaps means to infinuate, having but an indifferent pasture at home:

The fteeds, obedient to their Lord's command,

Wait his return, and graze on hoftile land.

When thus the Power: " Nor bent on dark emprize

Nor open wrong, I quit my native skies.

What need for me to shake Britannia's throne?

Her fons have done it, and the deed 's their own."

After a few more lines in the fame train, he concludes with the fol-
lowing counfel:

Fly then this land and if to Gaul a friend,
Our ports to thee fhall open arms extend.
Or if Iberia's vineyards please thee more,
Or the long windings of th' Atlantic fhore,
Timely retreat; confirm thy doubtful voice,
And lafling glory fhall await thy choice.'

This advice, as might be fuppofed, is rejected with difdain. Britannia fets him and every other enemy at defiance, telling him, Britain united, all your toil fhall mock,

And fand unmoved amidst the mighty fhock.'

We heartily with the may be as good as her word.

In the conftruction of this allegory there appears neither novelty nor, invention. With respect to the mere matter of verification (Poetry is a term no way applicable to this performance), our Bard keeps one even tenor, never rifing above mediocrity, and not often finking below it. C.t..t Art. 27. An Ode to the Memory of the Right Reverend Thomas Wilfon, late Lord Bishop of Seder and Man; by the Rev. W. Talker, A. B. Author of the Ode to the Warlike Genius of Great Britain, &c. 4to. IS. Printed for the Author. Sold by Dodfley.

From a fprightly fally or two in Mr. Tafker's firft publication, we had formed expectations not unfavourable, with refpect to his future performances. Thofe expectations, forry are we to say it, have not hitherto been gratified. Whether it be, that Mr. Talker's Pegafus is, as the jockies phrafe it, a jade, at the bottom, or that he rides him without judgment, the poor beaft is become as fpiritlefs as a posthorfe. The ode before us is a very infignificant performance. A Westminster fchool-boy, though in a hurry to get his tafk over, might furely fcribble fuch verfes as thefe :

E'en from his earlier years,

Rifing above the groffer spheres,

To human science! perithable lore,

He join'd celeftial Wiftom's copious flore:
Tho' born of high illuftrious line,
Defcendent of the Palatine,

Tho