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take notice of every falutary injunction, contained in this notable Charge; to the whole of which, we therefore, refer the curious Reader.

Art. 22. The British Mariner's Guide. Containing compleat and eafy Inftructions for the Discovery of the Longitude at Sea and Land, within a Degree, by Obfervations of the Distance of the Moon from the Sun and Stars, taken with Hadley's Quadrant. To which are added, an Appendix, containing a Variety of interefling Rules and Directions, tending to the Improvement of practical Navigation in general; and a Set of correct aftronomical Tables. By Nevil Mafkelyne, A. M. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Fellow of the Royal Society. 4to. 5s. fewed. Nourfe.

The importance of finding the Longitude at fea, is fo great to a maritime and commercial nation, that every rational attempt to ascertain it to any tolerable degree of accuracy, undoubtedly deferves encouragement. In the method here proposed, four obfervations are requifite to determine it. The firft, is an altitude of the fun, or fome bright flar, for regulating a watch, by which the other observations are to be made. The fecond, is the distance of the moon's enlightened limb from the fun or ftar. The third and fourth obfervations are, the altitudes of the moon and the fun, or the ftar, from which the moon's diftance is obferved; to be taken by two Obfervers affifting the person who takes the distance of the moon from the fun, or ftar, at the very inftant, or, at the utmost, within a minute of the time he gives notice that he has compleated his obfervation. At the fame inftant, or, at the utmost, within a quarter of a minute, and before the Obfervers attempt to read off the degrees and minutes from their quadrants, fomebody muft note the hour, minute, and quarter part of a minute, of the watch regulated as abovementioned.

This method may seem a little troublesome to fuch as have not made ufe of it; but we are informed, that a very little practice will render it eafy and familiar.

With regard to the other problems, rules, and directions, for the improvement of Navigation, contained in the Appendix to this work, we fhall only mention two of the most curious. The one is, a problem to determine the Longitude at fea or land, from three cotemporary obfervations only; namely, the diflance of the moon's limb from a star, and the apparent altitudes of the moon and ftar, provided the moon be not lefs than two hours diftant from the meridian. The other, is a concise method of finding the Latitude from two obferved altitudes of the fun, with the interval of time given by a common watch.

As to the tables, they are molt of them curious and useful; and as they appear to be pretty generally correct, we cannot help recommending this publication as a work of confiderable merit and utility.

Art. 23. Obfervations on the State of the Highways, and on the Laws for amending and keeping them in Repair; with a Draught of a Bill for comprehending and reducing into One Act of Parlia

ment,

ment, the most effential Parts of all Statutes in Force relating to the Highways, and for making Provifion for the more eafy and effectual Repair of the Highways. By John Hawkins, Efq; one of his Majefty's Juftices of the Peace for the County of Middlefex. 8vo. 2s. fewed. Worral.

The Writer of this treatife appears to be perfectly acquainted with his fubject; he has with great perfpicuity pointed out the defects in the laws now fubfifting, which he has fhewn to be inconfiftent with the ge neral principles of juftice and equity, and inadequate to the ends propofed. It is easier, however, to point out inconveniences, than to remove them and though we acknowlege that there is great merit in the Author's draught of a bill for reducing all the laws now in force into one, yet we are not fatisfied that it would effectually provide for all the mifchiefs to be remedied. Among other objections, we think it much too prolix; and that, in particular, the feveral claufes regulating the number of days Statute-labour, might without any difficulty be comprehended in one. Indeed, in our opinion, it would be most adviseable to annihilate the ftatute duty entirely; and the draught of the bill, as the Author obferves, may easily be adapted to that end: but, if thought proper to be continued, it is highly reafonable, that they who wear the roads with coaches, chariots, and chaifes, fhould, as he has judicioufly provided, be made contributory. Upon the whole, the draught of the bill here offered, is a good foundation for improving the laws on this very interesting fubject.

Art. 24. An Oration delivered at Newport, Ile of Wight, November 15, 160, to a few Friends of Liberty and their Country. As an Introduction to an annual Meeting on that Day. 8vo. Griffin.

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If this Orator's judgment had borne any proportion to his zeal, he would never have fuffered this rhapfody to have transpired beyond the few friends to whom it was delivered. As warm Lovers of Liberty, we applaud the occafion of this meeting, but fuch orations will never tempt us to be members of the fociety.

1.

SERMONS.

• THE ford, and guilty 201-63. By John Tottie, D. D. canon

HE folly and guilt of fatyrical flander, before the University of
February

of Christchurch, archdeacon of Worcester, and chaplain in ordinary to his Majefly. Sandby, &c.

2. On occafion of the Brief for the American Colleges. By Daniel Watfon, A. M. Vicar of Leke in Yorkshire. Richardfon, &c.

We have here a fenfible difcourfe on a very benevolent occafion; that of establishing feminaries for encouraging learning in the British colonies an undertaking which every friend to knowledge must wish well to, although it may not be in his power to advance it.

As in one particular we view this fubject in the fame light with Mr. Watson, we will cite a pertinent remark which he has made on the

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fcheme of erecting colleges in America, in his own words. "Experience, fays he, hath informed us, that not only true re igion, but all arts and fciences had their dawning in the Eaft have hitherto travelled weftward, and feem to be ftill in the fame direction. So that should America, in fome very diftant period, become the school of Chriftian knowlege, afeful arts, and liberal fcience, under the countenance and protection of a powerful and independent ftate;

and in fuch circumstances, should its inhabitants speak of this ifland, as we do of those countries which once were, and now no longer are bleffed and diftinguished with those ineftimable improvements of human nature; what could be objected to a difpenfation, tending to vindicate the wisdom and juftice of the Governor of the World, in taking away the light from those who refuse to walk by its direction, and imparting it to nations and people, that have hitherto been in darkness, but are now perhaps more likely to bring forth the fruits thereof.

What Mr. Watfon fays may be very true; we know that the feats of knowlege have shifted, and have left places as dark as they once found them: Whether that may be the cafe again, now that the printing-prefs has diffufled learning more univerfally, is a point only to be afcertained by future experience. The ravages of conqueft have effected what we have formerly feen of this nature; what may yet occur muft fpring from other caufes. If ever the feat of learning fhould move to America, and carry the Chriftian religion with it, fuch a revolution muft result from the eternal changes that all worldly affairs naturally undergo. Man will never reft fatisfied with his prefent acquirements; when, therefore, arts, fciences, and religion have been canvaffed, altered, and improved all poffible ways, they may decline here, though not, as in other places, quite defert us; and be as eagerly cultivated in infant colonies, and by ignorant nations. Thus may the tranfmigration of religion from one country to another be naturally accounted for, without fuppofing, as many do, the Almighty to shift about what is esteemed the true faith, from one country to another, eternally thwarted and difappointed in his purpofes: and we may venture to predict that whatever fyftem of faith is propagated, and wherever it is established, people will inevitably differ in their opinions, and branch out into what are called schifms.—As mankind never did, it is probable they never can unite in any one theological fyftem.

3. The Superior happiness of the righteous dead to that of living faints. Occafioned by the decease of the Reverend Mr. James Fall, of Watford in Hertfordshire. By John Gill, D. D. Keith, &c.

4. At the aniverfary meeting of the governors of the Magdalen chaity, March 22. 1763. By Patrick Delany, D. D. dean of Down. Johnston.

5. The influence of reliin on human laws: at the affizes at Ox. ford, March 3, 1763. By John Rotheram, M A. Fellow of Univerfty college, and one of the Preachers at his Majefty's chapel at Whitehall. Sandby.

6. The S.ripture Doctrine of Obedience to Government,-at Oxford, v Fair, and Audley-chapel, in the parish of St. George HanoverBy George Watfon, M. A. Robson, Law.

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THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For J U N E, 1763..

Conclufion of the Debates of the House of Commons, from the Year 1667 to the Year 1694. Collected by the Honourable Anchitel Grey, Efq; who was thirty Years Member for the Town. of Derby Chairman of feveral Committees; and Decy-. phered Coleman's Letters for the Ufe of the House. Vols. IX. and X.

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HESE concluding volumes comprehend the parliamentary tranfactions of the most interesting period in the Englifh hiftory. Till this happy era, we could fcarce be faid to have had any fettled conftitution. The prerogatives of the crown, and the privileges of the people, were, both of them, rather founded on ufurpation than right: under the government of a weak and neceffitous Prince, the latter were prevalent; under that of an able and ambitious Monarch, the former were predominant and as far as precedent could give a fanction to practice, both might equally juftify the exercife of undue and irregular powers.

The unfortunate Charles, attempted to vindicate his arbitrary measures, by this idle and infufficient plea. Had he been guided by his own good fenfe, inftead of being governed by the pernicious counfels of interefted and enterprizing advifers, he would have known, that no precedent whatever could warrant the exercise of power which, by experience, is found injurious to the intereft of the people, for whofe benefit alone Kings were entrufted with prerogatives; and of whofe majefty, Kings are but the reprefentatives.

VOL. XXVIII.

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It is fcarce credible, that they who deftroyed their King, because he exceeded the juft limits within which fovereignty should be circumfcribed, were nevertheless fo weak and inconfiderate, as to admit his fucceffor, wi.hout any previous attempt to afcertain the boundaries between prerogative and privilege, which, through various revolutions, had been difputed at the expence of fo much blood.

Their omiffion, however, was attended with fuch fatal confequences, as left the crown once more in the difpofal of the people, who, having profited by the errors of their predeceffors, at length took care to obtain an exprefs acknowlegement of their rights, and conferred the crown upon a real contract between the King and his future fubjects.

Nevertheless, though much was done at this time for the improvement of national freedom and welfare, yet much was left undone; and is ftill wanting towards perfecting the generous plan, which the Patrons of the Revolution most probably had in view.

It may not become us, as Reviewers, to point out wherein the revolutional fyftem is yet imperfect; and fuch an attempt is the more unneceffary, as, in the courfe of the following debates, the Reader's own fagacity will fuggeft to him many particulars to which we allude.

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On the meeting of the Parliament, the House, in a grand committee, confidered the state of the nation; when a long debate arofe, whether the words "demife," desertion," volution," or, "abdication," fhould be made ufe of to fignify the confequence of the King's having withdrawn himself. After feveral very curious, learned, and critical arguments, which are too copious for abridgment, they

Refolved, That King James the second having endeavoured to fubvert the conftitution of the kingdom, by breaking the original contrast between King and People, and, by the advice of Jefuits, and other wicked perfons, having violated the fundamental laws, and having withdrawn himself out of this kingdom, has abdicated the government, and that the throne is thereby become vacant. [Which was agreed to by the House, and the Lords concurrence was defired.]

It is obfervable, that among other things, they very prudently determined that "The vacancy of the throne made no diffolution of the government:" and they confidered it as a cafe only tending to diffolution. The reafon of this fubtle diftinction is obvious; for had it been deemed an actual diffolution, the go

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