Page images
PDF
EPUB

halbert exercise, which differs in nothing from that of the army.

The second part of this work confifts of directions to the officers about the method of teaching the exercife; rules and directions for marching; rules and directions for wheeling; directions for marching and wheeling by platoons, or divifions; and directions for the days of exercise by fingle companies. All these several directions are illuftrated by references to proper plates at the end of the book. Every attitude in the manual exercise, is alfo perfectly well represented by forty-four sketches done from the life, which have been defigned by a skilful hand.

Tho' the Author of this military performance was not bred a foldier, his genius and application have evidently rendered him perfectly well acquainted with his fubject. His introduction fhews him to have ftudied the best authors both ancient and modern, and the work itself convinces us, he has affiduously practifed what he recommends to others.-The third part, (not yet publifhed) will contain the exercise and difcipline of a battalion.

MONTHLY

CATALOGUE.

For OCTOBER, 1759. .

POLITICA L.

Art. 1. The Lamentations of the People of France; found under the King's Cover at Versailles. Tranflated into English, by a Gentleman juft arrived from France. 8vo. 6d. Rivington and Fletcher.

[ocr errors]

does not appear upon what authority the original of this piece is faid to have been found under the cover of his moft Chriftian Majesty we rather apprehend it to be a pamphlet, conceived and brought forth, juft as the generality of our own pamphlets are, -for the accommodation of their Authors.-This is a Remonftrance to the King, in the name of the people; fetting forth the errors of his government, and the diftreffes of the kingdom; and interlarded with many anecdotes relating to his Majesty's Mistress and Ministers: to render the piece the more entertaining and palatable to its Readers. From the defects of the printing, and the badness of the letter, we infer it to have iffued from fome obfcure country-prefs, where no Corrector is employed and fome of the faults, indeed, are fo grofs, that we can only account for them, by fuppofing the Gentle

man

man just arrived from France to be himself a foreigner, litle acquainted with the English language.

Art. 2. Secret Reasons why the Invafion on England was projected, but not accomplished: Being the Subftance of fame Conferences lately held at Versailles. 8vo. 1s. Simplon.

The Author, or Editor, pretends that this pamplet is a Tranflation of an original published at Bruffels. If this be true, it proves that they can publifh as miserable catch-penny things abroad, as our Grubs porduce here.

Art. 3. Faction detected by the Evidence of Facts, &e. 8vo. 6d. Leage.

As this unhappy Detector acknowleges himself difordered, we shall not aggravate his uiftrefs, by entering into the merits of what he has here found means to get into print. He has borrowed his titlepage from a celebrated political pamphlet publifhed about fixteen years ago.

Art. 4. Farther Obfervations concerning the Foundling Hofpital, pointing out the ill Effects which fuch an Hospital is likely to have upon the Religion, Liberty, and domeftic Happiness of the People of Great Britain. Written for the Information of thofe refpectable Perfons, whofe humane and charitable Difpofitions have led them to fupport that Hofpital; and intended to fhew all Fathers and Mothers what a Hydra they are nurfing to Pofterity. To which are prefixed, Former Obfervations concerning the faid Hofpital. Moft humbly fubmitted to the Confideration of Parliament. By J. Mafie. 4to. 6 d. Payne, &c.

[ocr errors]

The zeal of this very indefatigable Writer feems to have tranfported him beyond the bounds of fober fenfe, and this performance is the Quinteffence of Political Methodifm. In a former work, he had offered fome obfervations on the Foundling Hofpital, which, in many refpects, were worthy attention; but in this, he indulges himfelf in rhapofodical Queries, and unintelligible Dogmas. Among other extravagancies, he earnestly recommends, what he phrafes, the feemingly fimple cuftom, practifed by the venerable Patriots of old, of training up English children in a belief, that the POPE, the DEVIL, and the FRENCH KING, were alike terrible enemies to them. For our parts, however, the Devil may be interested in the encouragement of the Foundling Hofpital, yet we cannot conceive that it has any thing to do with the Pope and the French King, or they with it.

Art. 5. A Letter from Marshal Saxe in Elyftum, to the French King, Lewis le Petit, on his withered Laurels. Tranflated from the French. 8vo. 1s. Woodfall.

6

We

We are not fatisfied that this is really a tranflation from the French. However, be that as it may, it does not breath much spirit, or convey much information. The anecdotes it contains, are well known; and the whole is nothing more than a lifeless ridicule of the French Generals who have commanded in the present war.

Art. 6. Reafons for an Act of Parliament to make it Death to impofe upon a Lord Chancellor; and Transportation, knowingly, to make bad Briefs for Council in a Caufe in Chancery. In a Letter to the People of England. 8vo. pamphlet. Dublin, printed for the Author.

This pamphlet contains a relation of fome villainous practifes, which were used in two caufes, wherein the writer was concerned; the one in England, the other in Ireland. The circumstances seem very extraordinary, and, in fome inftances, almoft incredible: but if the author tells his own ftory with truth and impartiality, he has undoubtedly, been a facrifice to the vileft injuftice and oppreffion. We cannot, however, approve of his recommendation to make it death to impofe on a Lord Chancellor. Our capital punishments are too much multiplied already: and the author's feverity may ferve as a proof, that if men were left to the gratification of private revenge, there is fearce an injury which they would not deem worthy of death.

[ocr errors]

In the conclufion, the writer tells us, that as he has made the ⚫ practice of the court of Chancery his ftudy, not by choice, or de⚫ fignedly to live by, but by accident, and has looked into all the offices of the court, he shall submit his thoughts to the public, how all • abufes in Chancery may be for the future removed; which (he tells us) fhall be the fubject of another letter to the people.' As this ingenious writer proposes to shew us, how all abuses in Chancery may be for the future removed, there certainly will be no occafion for making it death, to impofe on a Lord Chancellor: fo that his propofal is a Felo de fe.

Upon the whole, we are induced to think, that if Mr. Bradshaw (for that, it seems, is the writer's name) had studied law lefs, he would not have been fo great a fufferer by it. As a smattering in science, makes men pedantic, fo a fmattering in law, renders them litigious.

Art. 7. Some Obfervations on the late Act of Infolvency, passed in the 32d Year of King George II. 4to. Is. Mears.

It was apprehended, fays this obfervator, that this act would have had this title, An act for the abfolute discharge of the persons of prifoners confined for debt, as well on mefne process, as on exe cutions, upon delivering up all their effects for their creditor's " benefit;' and then, he obferves, it would have had the effect of a bankruptcy. But, he adds, we find it to be only a recital, or recapitulation of former acts, with this addition in its title, To oblige debtors who fhall continue in execution in prifon beyond a ◄ certain time, and for fums not exceeding what are mentioned in the

[ocr errors]

• aft

35°

act, to make discovery of, and to deliver upon oath their effects for • their creditor's benefit.' So that, he obferves, after a prisoner has got a discharge from executions, yet, if he is charged with any meine procefs, he must use the common expenfive way of getting discharg ed by fuperfedeas; and he is apprehenfive, that fome artful people will confefs judgment immediately to fome friend, in fums for which no valuable confideration was ever given, in order to charge the prifoner in execution, and fwallow up great part of his effects. It is certain that this act requires amendment in many particulars. The reftriction to the fum of 100l. feems to be against reafon. It is true, as the writer takes notice, that for a 100l. a man may become a bankrupt, and if bufinefs was to be done in a fummary way for debts above that fum, the fees of the great-feal, &c. would be greatly leffened. But, (as our author remarks, and others before him have obferved) even in cafes of bankruptcy, no valid reafon can be given, why debtors under that fum fhould not be intitled to the relief which thefe acts afford.

Art. 8. Some farther Remarks on Naval Affairs, in which is a fair and impartial Enquiry into the Right which Englishmen have by the Treaty of 1674, of taking Enemy's Property, found aboard Neutral Ships. 8vo. 1s. Davis.

This writer pathetically bewails the difhonour which has befallen. the state, by reafon of the abuses committed by our privateers, and proposes feveral regulations to be obferved in granting Letters of Marque for the future. He likewife, recommends feveral fenfible expedients for the improvement of the royal navy. Among other things, he condemns the practice of raifing men to command accord-ing to feniority, and obferves very juftly that, tried and experienced virtue, ought always to have the preference of prefumptive virtue.' He alfo exclaims against the practise of removing captains from one fhip to another; and of preffing men from on board his Majesty's fhips without any urgent neceffity: for it is impoffible, he adds, at that rate, that any captain fhould make himself ac• quainted with his men, or his men with him, which on many occafions, he obferves, is of infinite confequence.' Towards the conclufion, he takes occafion to fhew the advantages of a naval war over a continental one. And as to our American colonies, he thinks, that at the fame expence we put ourselves to in fending European forces there, we could raise and maintain four times the number of American ones, who are better skilled in that manner of bush-fighting than our own. With refpect to our right of taking enemy's property on board neutral ships, he does not feem to have advanced any thing new.

Art. 9. A Propofal effectually to supply the Royal Navy with Sea-men, at all times, without Preffing. By a young Gentle

man.

8vo. Is.

Lewis.

This is a project for registring feamen, much in the fame manner as it is done in fome other countries. The fcheme is, however,

attended

attended with many difficulties. In a time of war, when it is required that a fufficient number of failors be kept on foot, who will alfo, in one ship or other, find conftant employment, our author's defign, with fome amendments, might anfwer the purpose: but in a time of peace, when a much lefs number of them will be wanted, they muft, notwithstanding their ferving regularly in their turns, remain out of employment a great part of their time. Who is to maintain them during that interval? For maintained, and even recruited they must be; fince, if their number be permitted to decrease, we shall not have hands effectually to fupply the navy, at all times, without preffing. Our Young Gentleman does not feem to have confidered this. We would advise him, therefore, to add another article to his propofal, or, to get fome abler hand to provide for the maintenance of our fea-men in time of peace.

POETICA L.

Art. 10. Ode occafioned by the Succefs of Admiral Boscawen. By a Gentleman of the University of Oxford. 4to. 6 d. Baldwin.

Of Verses, the prefent age is in no want. Monthly, weekly, and daily, the prefs teems with them; but here we meet with a rarity. Verfes written by a POET.

SPECIMEN,

Hark! the hoarse guns in thundering vollies found,
Dire engines, form'd for havoc and for death!

See, how they hurl fad defolation round,

And sweep whole ranks, whole fquadrons, at a breath!

Nor lefs, proud Gallia, where thy navies play,
Britannia thunders o'er the fubject wave;

Nor tears, nor prayers, nor vows, avail to ftay
Thy vanquish'd thousands from an early grave.
The giant veffel's knotty oak-ribb'd fide,
Th' unequal war unable to fuftain,
Gaping in horrid chafms, admits the tide,
And found'ring plunges in the op'ning main.
And mark, at length, their broken fad remains,
(For future wrath referv'd, a fhatter'd few)
Confus'dly flying o'er the watry plains,

While Britain's flaughter-dealing fons pursue.

"Wake then, O, 'wake to glory, 'wake to fame,
Nor fighing fay fuch splendid scenes are past:
The verfe that flows with great Bos CAWEN's name,
With Time itself, and his renown, shall last.

Art. 11. Hymns, &c. compofed on various Subjects: with a preface, containing a brief account of the author's experience, and

the

« PreviousContinue »