"The highwayman, with eyes brimful of thanks, looked at his benefactor, and then up to Heaven-flung his uncharged, rufty piftol away wrung his benefactor's handsmuttered fome bleffings not loud, but deep'-and turned his horfe down a narrow lane: -and, in the evening, came, at the appointed hour, to the inn, where the worthy old gentleman was waiting (you will not easily imagine with what an indefcribably-pleafing anxiety of expectation) to alleviate his diftrefs, by giving him

Eternal bleffings on his hoary head!-by giving him

into the hands of a conftable; that his virtuous felf might receive the reward fo richly his due (but which this world can never pay him) for apprehending a robber.

"Such however is the caprice of chance, and fo cruel alas! the uncertainty of even the best of our gratifications; that, tho this public spirited man received the forty pounds upon the conviction of the villain who robbed him, his fatisfaction was not, by any means, complete; for the fcoundrel had the affurance to elude juftice by dying in his dungeon of defpair: and the Honourable George Sn and Mr. Bofw-1, were cruelly disappointed of one of their deareft luxuries in life."

ART. IX. A foort Defcription of the Human Mufcles, chiefly as they appear on Diffection. Together with their feveral Uses, and the Synonima of the beft Authors. By John Innes. izmo. 39. 6d. Balfour, Edinburgh, Murray, London.

The defign of Mr. Innes, in this ufeful publication, is thus briefly fet forth in the advertisement prefixed to it.

"Several full and accurate defcriptions of the muscles have already been published. But their fize and prolixity have rendered them of lefs value to the diffector than the small treatife of Dr. Douglas, which was first published about the beginning of this century, and, fince that time, has undergone various impreffions, without receiving any improvement, excepting the addition of the fynonyma from Al binus. It is therefore prefumed, that a fimple and concife defcription of the muscles, which fhould contain all the improvements of the moderns, is still wanting.

To clafs the muscles according to their ufes, may do very well in a large work, or in defcribing their compound actions. But this method can never answer the purposes of diffection. To remedy this inconvenience, the mufcles, in the following treatise, are defcribed chiefly as they appear in diffecting the human body.

"The defcribing of the mufcles according to their crigins and inJertions, prevents much circumlocution. This is the method pursued by Dr. Douglas; and, wherever his defcriptions feemed tolerably accurate, they have been copied with little alteration. But Dr. Douglas's book is peculiarly defective with regard to the muscles of the Back and neck; in defcribing thefe, therefore, the method of Albinus has been nearly followed.

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"Those

"Those who have not opportunity, or are averse from undergoing the labour of diffecting, may derive confiderable advantages from comparing the defcriptions now given with the beautiful and correct tables of Albinus.

;

"For the benefit of those who wish to examine the history of the muscles more minutely, the fynonyma of the best authors are added and, for the fake of brevity, the compound action of the muscles, and the origin and infertion of feveral inconfiderable fibres are omitted."

After this proper difplay of the general contents of the work, it is fufficient to say that the author has executed his design with fuch conciseness and precifion, as render it an useful companion for anatomical pupils, as well as others, who would attain a com-: petent and familiar knowledge of the ftructure of the mufcular fystem.

ART. X. The Grand Repofitory of the English Language: Containing, befides the Excellencies of all other Dictionaries and Grammars of the English Tongue, the Peculiarity of having the most proper and agreeable Pronunciation of the alphabetic Words denoted in the most intelligible Manner by a New Alphabet. With a Copper-Plate, exhibiting the New Alphabet both in Writing and Printing Characters. Intended for the Ufe of every one whether Native or Foreigner, that would acquire a complete Knowledge of the English Language, with the least Waste of Time and Expence; but especially for thoje who are but indifferent Readers, from not : having been taught to pronounce properly. By Thomas Spence, Teacher of English in Newcastle. 12mo. 35. Saint, Newcastle - upon Tyne.

We are forry we cannot fubfcribe to the truth of this author's declaration in his title, that his work contains the excellencies of all other dictionaries and grammars of the English tongue. This declaration, indeed, was an unneceffary deviation from truth, as it could not be reasonably expected to find, in a finall pocket volume, the excellencies contained in huge folios. We wish we could even confirm the affertion refpecting the real peculiarity of the prefent volume, viz. that of having the moft proper and agreeable pronunciation of the alphabetic words, denoted in the moft intelligible manner by a new alphabet. We will not difpute with Mr. Spence about the most agreeable manner of pronouncing the alphabetic words; because we may poffibly miftake what he means by alphabetic words. But we are extremely dull, if the method he has laid down for pronouncing words in general, beeither the most proper or the moft intelligible. Mr. Spence may, for ought we know, be a very good practical teacher of Newcastle English; but we apprehend he has taken a great deal of pains to little purpose, in the invention of new types to express the dif

ferent

ferent founds of fyllables. The conveyance of diftin&t articulate founds by means even of the mouth and the ear, to perfons unufed or unacquainted with those founds is fufficiently difficult. To do it by means of literal types, is in our opinion, impracticable.

PA M PHL ET S.

POLITICS.

ART. XI. Remarks on the different Opinions relative to the American Colonies. 8vo. 18. Kearfly.

"These remarks, fays the remarker, took their rife from the number of disingenuous invectives lavished againft administration: unconnected with it, what I fay, cannot be influenced.-Happy, were I an advocate equal to the caufe. Happy, if even my attempt may not have injured it.

"If in the courfe of the following remarks, there are any, that have been difcuffed, I hope I fhall not be accufed of plageary: forry indeed I should be, to plume myself in borrowed feathers, to a:rogate the praife due to another. What I have faid, fprings from the effufion of a juvenile heart, that wishes all profperity to Great Britain, and all her fubjects."

Bleffings on the juvenile heart of this author! What a pity it is he has got allo fo juvenile a head! But alas! how rarely do we meet with an old head upon a young pair of shoulders! In truth this is a fad catchpenny. Take for inftance our juvenile writer's argument against the evils of luxury, and the prevailing opinion, that the Crown is wilfully verging towards defpotifm.

"It is at prefent, a fubject of much difquifition, that the luxury, the attachment to pleafures, the inattention to that economy, (our ancestors were faid to poffefs) gives great fcope to the fovereign, if he is defirous of encroaching on the national privileges to render himfelf more defpotic. Sorry I fhould be to deviate from a general opinion; but is it not evident to reafon, that if the opulence of the nation is diffipated in a variety of expenfive amufements-how can the finances of the fovereign be augmented? and without riches, the primum mobile of every thing: how can a defign on the freedom of the people be effected? Again, The more refined, the more general luxury prevails; it requires a greater number of manufacturers of every kind, to fupply the voluptuous with the materials of luxury; and furely, the more manufacturers are employed, the fmaller muft be the number of military under the command of the fovereign, and without an army, which opulence alone can fupport, it must be impracticable to fucceed in any plan that tends to a subverfion of liberty."

We received an example of this work many months ago; but, as we could fay little in its favour, we wished to avoid pafiing cenfure on a well-intended, though -juiged, undertaking. The completion of the work and the receipt of a fecond copy has induced us to mention it, that we may not be thought to neglect the fayoure of our correfpondents.

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Well faid, Mafter Juvenile! You must do better, however, before you will get connected with adminiftration. Non eget defenforibus iftis.

ART. XII. Septennial Parliaments juftified. 8vo. 1s. Wilkie.

We are forry we cannot be of the opinion of the refpectable correfpondent, who has fo very warmly recommended this pamphlet to our confideration. We find, indeed, nothing but what has been frequently urged and as frequently obviated. It is, however, fomewhat better written than the foregoing pamphlet, or we should be apt to impute it to the fame juvenile author.

ART. XIII. The Morality of a Citizen, in a Vifitation Sermon ; with a View to the prefent alarming Situation of public Affairs; the real Grounds of our unhappy Divifions, and the State of civil and religious Liberty. 4to. Is. Kearly.

Whether this political fermon was ever delivered from the pulpit, or at what vifitation, we are left to conje&ure; the text of it is, however, pertinent." Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to defolation." The preacher fets out with an apology for, or rather juftification of, the preaching of politics, in particular cafes, inftead of religion. We have more than once given our own opinion on this head; having done which, let every man enjoy his own. The prefent writer, indeed, of a very different lamp from the juvenile politicians who wrote the two preceding articles, appears to claim a right to have an opinion of his own; efpecially as he is a profeffed latitudinarian, with refpect to the religion, politics, and morals of others; the expediency of which he maintains with much shrewdness, and equal earnestness.

"A kingdom divided against itself cannot ftand." I need not enter into an elaborate difquifition to prove the truth of this propofition.

"There is not a truth in nature more felf evident. Every body is preferved by the concurrence of the general principles which belong to it, towards its prefervation, Whatever is introduced into it, which has not that concurrence, is a difeafe; and though it may accidentally produce good, is always to be guarded against, and confidered as an evil. All kinds of diffents and oppofitions to the regular operations of a civil conflitution, are political difeafes; and though they may like natural ones, chance to be productive of great good, yet their primary and natural tendency is to defiroy the conflitution. The regimen may be too fevere perhaps in both cafes, which might be neceffery to prevent the difeafes themfelves; and there is no cure for them when they have taken place. We can only affift the conftitution in bearing its death, and wait its diffolution with a philofophical and chriftian patience.

"I think the glory of our boasted conftitution is now tarnishing; and that we hall not long ftand, because we are divided against ourselves. The analogy between the natural and civil conftitutions holds in many remarkable circumftances, one of which is the following: that in both of them there is a certain period which is the utmost point of growth, frength, and vigor. Before this period, every thing is converted to

their

their advantage, by an internal force, which no difeafe can refift. Beyond it, every little circumftance is an injury; and they are daily lofing that virtue, which is the only principle of their prefervation. In that state of any fociety, wherein things are verging to a decline, every art of policy and prudence fhould be ufed, to prevent thofe divifions, which, in an earlier period, might have been beneficlal, but in a later one hurtful, and perhaps fatal.

"The right of private judgment, and all the bleffings of civil and religious liberty, I hold as facred as any man in the world. But I am much mistaken, if the nature of them has been perfectly understood. Civil conftitutions are not plans of reafon; and as fuch, fubject to the inspection and amendment of any man who can undertake them. And why are they not? A pert politician will fay, and he is ready for the undertaking. They are combinations of cuftoms, and habits, and laws, and expedients, reduced by neceffity into fome kind of form; broken in upon by accidents, and restored again, and fettled, in tumults and convulfions. The affairs of men have hitherto been incapable of any other management. What is a man to do, who has the fortune to be born in one of these communities, and at the fame time to be born a patriot, or a reformer? The right of private judgment is no doubt, inviolable. But if he acts according to it, he injures the ftate, by difobeying fome of its laws. Suppofe ten thousand fuch men to be born as the fame time, which may happen every day; it is not poffible that any two of them can think exactly alike. Every one must fet up for himself, and what is worse, he can reform only himfelf. It is not poffible he should have an adherent, if he be perfectly honeft himself, and the perfon he would attach to him be honeft alfo; for no two men ever thought alike, on any but fimple and mathematical propofitions; and perhaps not on them fo often as is imagined. "Oh, but little differences must be given up, to form any union." This is the very principle of civil fociety, without which it cannot be formed or fubfift.

"The question is, whether it be a man's duty to obey the laws and customs of his country, the reasons of which he may, or may not, underftand, from a regard to that principle which we have obferved to be at the foundation of fociety; or to fet up his opinion against the public, and gratify himself at the expence of its peace or fecurity? Confcience is out of the question. No man can go according to his confcience, in any affociation whatever. Or if his judgment in all its variations (and it muft vary, if he be honeft) could be the rule of any party; every other member must facrifice his integrity to keep his confcience in union with his principal. The first and fimpleft union in nature, I mean the conjugal, cannot be formed or preserved, on the common doctrine of the right of private judgment. Matrimo nial factions generally arife from miftaking this doctrine. "What, give up my own judgment!" a female patriot will fay, "I will give up my life fooner." The bond of union is burit, and defolation attends the family. This is the cafe in every fociety; in proportion as this fpirit is prevalent. It could not exift, if it were general. A rope might as easily be made of fand, as a fociety be formed of men whom it is impoffible to unite.

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