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Miniftry. Prepare, fays he, a new remonftrance and petition, fign it, and let it be fent to all the corporations in Britain. Let them be urged and entreated by all that is dear to Englishmen, also to fign it. With this in your hands once more approach the throne, and believe me, as you will now be more refpectable, you will be more fuccefsful. But fhould your petition be ftill difregarded, yet withhold not your affistance. Confider that the Ministry must know the precipice on which they fland; that danger will operate like patriotifm upon them, and truft to providence and the courage of Englifhmen for the reft. When your country, by your affiftance and example, is delivered from external danger, then turu your attention to domestic enemies. Let the conduct of every man you fufpect be ferutinized. Let the traitors, if fuch they are found, receive the reward of their treason on the block. Let Majefty itself feel your refentment, if Majelly lift itself up against the liberty of the people.' Art. 14. A Shorter Anfwer to the Short Hiftory of the Oppofition. Evo. 6d. H. Payne. 1779.

In our laft Month's Review, we gave fome account of a Short Anfwer to the History of the Oppofition: this Shorter Answer is rather too fhort for the refutation of a performance which many of its readers have confidered as worthy of much attention: even though it should not be regarded as containing altogether a fair and candid view of the general principles and conduct of the party against which the ingenious Writer has employed his pen.

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Art. 15. An Inquiry into the State of the Militia: Containing a Recital of the different Manner in which Military Service has been performed; a full Description of the ancient Norman Custom of holding Lands by Military Tenure: With the various Arms used, and Manner of levying the Forces, from the Origin of the Britons to the prefent Period: In which is included an hiftorical Account of the Eftimation in which the Militia of London was formerly held. And a brief Inquiry into the Caufe of their prefent Situation, and an Account of the Expenditure of the Trophy Tax. To which is added, feveral Plans, by which they may be made of public Utility. 8vo. I s. Bew. 1779.

There is a ftrong vein of true humour in the English populace, who feldom mistake the object on which they feel themselves dif posed to exercise it; and the Trained Bands, of the city of London, are never met by an old drunken bafket woman, but she is up with them in a ftyle that both parties very well understand. The rank and file, if they may be claffed under fuch a description, are a true burlefque of every military idea, and they are fuitably officered; we mean in the fubordinate departments. The Writer before us understands them as well as any old basket woman whatever, and offers several plans for their improvement, to the choice of the court or Lieutenancy. Thefe gentlemen, if they are not immediately in the military line themfelves, wish, no doubt, to place the militia of London on a refpectable footing; and we are perfuaded, that when a plan is laid before them, practicable in its nature, and easy to the inhabitants, the militia of London will be able to face any drunken cobler, or old woman, boldly, and difarm them of all their vulgar

wit.

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Art.

Art. 16. Political Arithmetic. Part II. Containing Confi derations on the Means of raising the Supplies within the Year. Occafioned by Mr. Pulteney's Pamphlet on that Subject +. By Arthur Young, Efq; F. R. S. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Cadell. 1779. Mr. Young is not lefs fummary in collecting data to reafon from in politics, than in agriculture; and he hurries his reader from one deduction to another, with a celerity that a perfon lefs quick in his conceptions, and therefore cautious in his affent, may think not altogether fafe in momentous fubjects. A farmer who has rent and fubfiftence to raife from his land, may have improvements in view, and may try experiments on fuitable parcels of ground; but would he act wifely were he to reft the whole produce of his farm, his whole dependance, on the iffue of a project? In this rafh light, however, does Mr. Young's fcheme for raifing the fupplies within the year appear to us; notwithstanding his confidence of its fuccefs. After arraigning the principle, and application of the tax raised for the fupport of the poor, as being applied to the production of very little real good, but of the most ample mifchief,' he proceeds in the following manner:

If the neceflities of the ftate make it expedient to raise the fupplies within the year, where can a minifter turn for a fund larger, or more certain in the amount, eafier in the collection (for it is collected to his hand), or which would prove lefs burthen some to the fubject? The fact is, that if a part of this productive tax was applied to the ufe of the ftate, it would be the application of a large revenue, from mifchievous to beneficial purpofes.

It is very easy to forefee a multitude of objections to fuch a plan, and I will admit this circumftance alone to be fufficient, when I fee a minifter raise a million a year additional revenue without objections. There is, however, one which fhould be guarded against

fudden changes that concern great bodies of people might and would be dangerous, the measure should therefore be brought about as gradually as might be. Perhaps it might be proper to pass an act, limiting poor rates for ever in all parishes to a fum not exceeding the average of the last seven years. And then to enact, that no parochial afiftance of any fort whatever, fhould be given, under the age of fixty years, except to perfons with broken limbs, or other impoffibilities of fupporting themselves.

Annexed to thefe acts, a tax to be laid on the amount of poor rates, beginning with 10 per cent. applicable to the uses of the public, which might be gradually increafed.

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If fuch a fyftem was in time to wipe out the prefent, the charity of individuals would revive, a fpirit of humanity in poor families, for aged and helpless relations, which is fo ftrikingly manifeft in Ireland, where there is not the veftige of a poor rate, would arife, and of which there at prefent is fcarcely a trace in England: a fpirit of care and forefight would be kindled among the poor, induftry would flourish in confequence, and the only visible change in the œconomy of poor families, would probably be a lefs liberal con

For the former publication, fee Review, vol. li. p. 470.
See Review, vol. lx. p. 124.

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fumption

fumption of tea, fugar, and fpirits. No perfon can have had many opportunities of witneffing the effect of poor rates, without being fenfible that a benefit, instead of a burthen, would refult to, the public from raifing, by this means, an increasing revenue.

If notwithstanding thefe circumstances, government found, or thought itself fo effentially weak as to be apprehenfive of the refentment of a mob, upon fuch an occafion, and the measure was rejected in favour of a direct land-tax on thofe long and fteady friends, the country gentlemen, then fome contrivance, in laying on that land-tax, fhould be had recourfe to, which might promife an ease in this burthenfome article of rates. Such, for instance, as making the tax fo much per cent. on the rates, that it might rife proportionably with them; which by making one burthen the index and regulator of another, the greater activity might be exerted in the country to leffen both.-The lazinefs and idle inattention of country gentlemen, even to their own interefts, have been fo remarkably exhibited, in permitting rates to come to their prefent amount, that they well deserve fuch fpurs. It would, literally fpeaking, be a tax upon folly-I need not add, a most productive one! It might also be confidered in the light of a domestic regulation, as well as a tax-it would in fome meature be voluntary, as the amount would depend on the care and attention with which gentlemen exerted themselves in leffening an evil, which they have almoft entirely brought on themselves.'

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An argument muft contain fome convincing truths, to render it plaufible, and the application of the poor's rate has undoubtedly been too much neglected, and left to improper management; but if Our workboufes and houses of industry truly deserved their names, there needs no fpeculation or calculation to fee that the poor would keep out of them as long as they could; that thofe within would in great meafure fupport themfelves; and the rates grow lighter in proportion with the reform. But after near two centuries have fo intimately interwoven this mode of fubfifting the poor into our parochial policy, to begin a reformation by loading this fund, already fufficiently appropriated to purpofes that admit of no fufpenfion, with the support of a war,-this remained for Mr. Young to propofe.-What is to become of the poor until the expected change takes place, by a lefs liberal confumption of tea, fugar, and fpirits; or when this change may be expected, from the mere abridgment of their allowance, are circumftances the calculation of which is not allowed to fhade the bright fide of the fcheme. But as no preparatory restrictive ftatutes can fill empty bellies, the first step toward fuch an alienation, or tax upon mifery, must be the Hottentot principle of economy, of knocking on the head a fufficient number of ufelefs beings at home, that their food may be applied to the nourishment of those who are able to ferve our enemies in the fame manner abroad. In brief, this plan would produce far more immediate diftrefs and popular commotion than the fuppreffion of religious houfes; which must be encountered with a far greater exertion of legal cruelty to eradicate Violent as fuch measures must be, the Hottentot fcheme only could give them that inftant energy to fupport our military operations next year with

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out the affiftance of a loan; the ability to do which, Mr. Young thinks would detach the French from their American alliance.

The great need which our establishment relating to the poor has of a wife reform, is too apparent to be infifted on; it may neverthelefs be hoped, that the military operations of the next year, critical as our circumstances may appear, are, in no degree, dependant on it.

POETICA L.

Art. 17. Poems, by John Hawthorn, Light Dragoon in the Inniskilling Regiment. Printed for the Author. 4to. 3 S. Dodfley, &c.

1779.

Of honeft John Hawthorn's poetical attainments the Reader will
form his own judgment from the following extract, which is given,
not as the most favourable fpecimen of his abilities, but merely
that, by pointing out the Writer's fituation and circumftances, the
humane may be induced to become purchasers of his book:
It is not many months ago, fince I
Enjoy'd my freedom and my liberty,
Before I e'er took up a haverfack,
Or bullying ferjeant to rattan my back,
When on my ftockings there might be a spot ;
No matter if my shoes were black or not:
Then, calmly I could lie, and take my reft,
No powder'd hair, or ruffles at my breast:
When at my ease I liv'd in a warm cot,
And had of land a fertile handsome spot :
What though my roof no tiles or flates fuftain,
The well pack'd thatch kept out the driving rain;
A chearful fire glanced through my floor;
My wife could milk her own cow at my door;
Each day, a dinner drefs'd by my good dame,
And chearing fmells from boiling beef-pots came :)
My horfe was fure to know me at first fight;
Nay more, my dog would know my feet at night;
Oft I would walk in a fair evening tide,
And mufe in quiet by a river's fide;
Where oziers green were nodding o'er the waves,
And water lilies spread their moiften'd leaves;
Then home return with calm and ferene breast ;
Return my thanks to GOD, and go to reft.
Thus did I live but in a low degree;

If fome liv'd better, fome liv'd worse then me :
Till trading bad, and lofs of different kind,

Made me enlift, and leave them all behind.'

Art. 18. The Hero of H---s, or, Black a-Moor washed White. Dedicated to JEMMY TWITCH FR. 8vo. I s Hookham. 1779. Low abufe of fome Middlefex Juftice, who, if his character be here justly reprefented, is but a poor fubject for public notice, in a printed lampoon; but, as was observed of the Afs eating thiftles," Like lips, like lettuces."

Art.

Art. 19. England's Defiance. An irregular Ode,

T. Payne. 1779.

Įrregular indeed!

SPECIMEN.

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England hath ever been

Towards her children

A parent juft, beneficent, and mild:
Ev'n now he would forgive, forget,
And tenderly receive,

But not fo long as the doth live,

Can the fubmit

Unto America, her froward child.'

This is neither verfe, nor profe, nor rhyme, nor measure; but fuch a jumble of all together, as cannot fail of convincing every reader, who knows what poetry ought to be, that the Author of this piece must have conceived a ftrange notion of the fpirit and compofition of an ode.

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 20. A Treatise on Silk, Wool, Worsted, Cotton, and Thread, defcribing their Nature, Properties, and Qualities, with Inftructions to clean the Manufactures in the Hofiery Branch, and at the fame Time prefeve their Colour and Beauty; calculated for the Use of Families. To which are added, Descriptive Remarks on Frame-work Knitting, knitting with Wires, and Patent Manufacturies. By R. March, Hofier, No. 230, Temple-Bar. 8vo. 1 s. Murray, &c.

Here are fome things which fome of Mr. March's readers may think not unworthy their attention; but, perhaps, the circumftance which he would have them chiefly regard, is, the direction to his fhop-" No. 230, Temple-Bar."

Art. 21. The Publican's Guide; or, Key to the Diftill House. Containing, I. An Account of Rum, Brandy, and other Spirituous Liquors, in their original State; the most advantageous Method of purchafing each Article, with Inftructions for the Buyer, by which every Retailer will be enabled to reduce his own Liquors, and fell on Terms equal to—and with far more Credit, than-the Generality of advertifing Merchants. I. The Discovery of Adulteration in what is called Genuine Rum; the iniquitous Practice of Adulteration in the Distillery; with the Use of Falfe Proof, and its Effect on Spirits. III The Ufe of the Hydrometer, an Inftrument to ascertain the true Strength of Spirits. IV. Tables fhewing the Prices of Liquors, from 5 1. per Tun to 100l. and from one Gallon to a Tun. Alfo the exact Weight of Rectified Spirits of Wine, Brandy, Rum, and Proof Spirit, from One Gallon to Two Hundred. Interfperfed with Anecdotes and Remarks, neceffary to be known by all Dealers in Spirits, and highly interefting to the Public in general. By William Auguftus Smyth. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Harrifon. 1779.

The arts by which fpirituous liquors are doctored, and our confitutions fported with, for the emolament of unprincipled dealers, are here difplayed in general terms; but the information might have

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