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ces, hope to contribute to the much defired reform of the American stage, and produce a change, which the lovers of

the drama have long called for in vais; and to which American liberality fully entitles them.

BIOGRAPHY
OF

GOVERNOUR POWNALL.

DIED, at Bath, (England) on the 25th of February, 1805, in the 85th year of his age, Governour Pownall, universally lamented, because universally respected by all who knew him. He met his death with fortitude, being well prepared for the event, having long familiarised his mind to the contemplation of it. The excellent writings he hath left behind him give an ample evidence of his uncommon abilities. He retained his faculties, in perfect vigour, to the latest period of his life, as many scientifick men can witness, who attended him almost to the end of it. In his early days he filled a situation in the Board of Trade, and was much esteemed by Lord Halifax, who was first lord of that board. In those times, this board of office was the best school for young gentlemen to obtain a rudimental knowledge of the commerce, the politicks, and the interests of their country. Mr. Burke, however, by his bill of reform, in the year 1782, abolished this office. Mr. Thomas Pownall, (the subject of this sketch) constantly paid a particular and sedulous attention to the affairs of the colonies. At the beginning of the seven years' war with France, which commenced in America in 1754, (two years before it broke out in Europe) a number of perfons, who were styled commissioners, being deputed from each colony, assembled at Albany, to consider of the best method they could devise to defend themselves against the French, who were making great and alarmning encroachments on their back settlements. This assembly was called the Albany "Congress, and was the first congress

held in America. The precedent of this congress gave rise to the subsequent plan of a Congress Government, established at the revolution in 1775. As soon as the intention of the colonies to hold a Congress at Albany was known in England, Mr. Pownall immediately foresaw the danger to the mother country that this project of a general union would draw after it, if once permit ted; and he presented a strong and impressive memorial to Lord Halifax on the subject. This was in the year 1754. The plan, which the Congress had in view, was to form a great council of deputies from all the colonies; with a governour-general to be appointed by the crown, and empowered to take measures for the common safety; and to raise money for the execution of their designs. The ministry did not approve of this plan; but, seeing that they could not prevent the commissioners meeting, they resolved to take advantage of this distress of the colonies to turn the subject of deliberation to their own account, For this purpose they sent over a proposal, that the Congress should be assisted in their considerations by two of the King's council from each colony, be empowered to erect forts, to levy troops, and to draw on the treasury in London for the monies wanted; and the treasury to be reimbursed by a tax on the colonies, to be laid by the British Parliament. This proposal was peremptorily rejected, because it gave to the British Parliament a power to tax the colonies.

This was the first idea of taxing the colonies by the authority of Parliament. These facts are but

little known. Although Mr. Pownall did not agree with the Ministry in the whole extent of their proposal, yet they thought him a gentleman so well acquainted with the affairs of the colonies that, in the year 1757, they appointed him governour of Massachusetts Bay, in the room of Mr. Shirley removed. He did not give his confidence to Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Oliver, nor to any of their party; which they resented, by propagating a variety of slanders against him amongst the people,particularly amongst the clergy, with a view of making his situation uncomfortable to him. He was a friend to liberty, and to the constitution; and therefore he countenanced no plots against either. Being exceedingly averse to disputation, after two years residence, he solicited to be recalled. In the year 1759 Mr. Bernard (afterwards Sir Francis) was removed from New-Jersey to Massachusetts Bay,and Governour Pownall went to New-Jersey in his room. He staid in New-Jersey but a very short time, being almost immediately appointed governour, captain-general, and viceadmiral of South-Carolina, in the room of Mr.Lyttleton, now lord Lyttleton. He staid in Carolina until the year of 1761, when, at his own desire he was recalled. Upon his arrival in London, he was appointed director-general of the office of Controul, with the rank of colonel in the army, under the command of Prince Ferdinand in Germany. While in this situation, having permitted some oats to pass from Bremen for the use of the army, Mr. John Guest, who had been appointed inspector of the magazines in Germany, declared them damaged, and unfit for use; and he sent a memorial to the lords of the treasury in London, charging Governour Pownall with misconduct in this matter. After fome examination the charge appeared to be unfound ed, and in consequence Mr. Guest was dismissed from his employment.

Guest came to London, and, in the spirit of revenge, sent a copy of his memorial to Mr. Wilkes, who caused it to be printed in the for tieth number of the North Briton. At the end of the war, Governour Pownall returned to England. His accounts were examined, and passed with honour. At the general election in 1768, he was chosen a representative in Parliament, for Tregony, in Cornwall. At this time the hostile designs of the British cabinet against America were become perfectly obvious. All America saw them, and every colony was seized with a general alarm. These designs, and the measures which were founded upon them, Governour Pownall strenuously and uniformly opposed in Parliament. His first essay was against the bill for suspending the legislature of New-York. In the debate on that bill he declared with a warm and strong emphasis,that "it was a fact, which the House ought to be ap prised of in all its extent, that the people of America, universally, unitedly, and unalterably, are resolved not to submit to any internal tax imposed upon them by any legislature, in which they have not a share by representatives of their own election." At this time very few people in England believed that America would make any serious resistance; but in a few years Gov. Pownall's words were found to be strictly true. His other speeches in Parliament, which are many in number and very interesting, were all printed by Mr. Almon, in his Parliamentary Register,from Gov. Pownall's own manuscripts. The governour also assisted Mr. Almon very considerably in his American Re membrancer, in twenty volumes; a work that has now become extremely scarce. At the general election in 1775, Gov. Pownall was elected representative in Parliament for Minehead, in Somersetshire. Throughout this Parliament, he continued to oppose every measure

that was inimical to America. He approved of Mr. Grenville as a minister, but not of his American measures, which he said were suggested and recommended by those persons in America, to whom he had refused to give his confidence ; and who, he said, were the enemies of both countries. He highly esteem ed the late lords Chatham and Temple, whom he always considered to be the truly disinterested friends of their country. With Dr. Franklin he was also upon terms of sincere friendship. And he was with equal ardour the opponent of that system of government, which Mr. Burke so happily denominated "a double cabinet." At the general election in 1780 he retired from Parliament; but he preserved his connection and friendship with Mr. Almon. Some time afterwards he quitted Richmond, and retired to Bedfordshire :

but frequently visited London and Bath.-Month. Mag.

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MEDICAL REPORT.

Statement of Diseases for November.

Fevers of the typhoid class have, as usual in this country, been the prevailing diseases of this month; in October. Some of the graver their number not so considerable as cases have terminated fatally; and these often marked by delirium and the appearance of affection of the brain, with less arterial action than common. Pneumonic inflammation has been seen complicated with certain of these cases. Coughs and catarrhal affections have been very general; but not severe.

autumnal diseases of children, exScarcely any thing remains of the cept a few chronic diarrhoeas. A fatal, have occurred of the peripnumber of instances, some of them neumony of children. Those who have passed through the hooping cough, or are still labouring under it, seem to have been particularly exposed to this disease.

Vaccination is scarcely heard of.

Corrigendum.-In the note at the end of The Botanist, in our last, a sentence was omitted in transcribing. It should read thus:With the history and the description (of the recently established botanical garden) came a copy of an elegant oration, delivered by the celebrated Roscoe, at the opening of the botan ical garden in Liverpool.

232

Trowned Dysentery Lever, bilious

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Editors' Notes.

WE have received a communication from Dr. Morfe and Rev. Mr. Parish in answer to our review of their work. We have recently refufed to admit a letter from another author, who has many claims on our refpect, and we were therefore juftified in befitating to comply with the wishes of our reverend correfpondents. But as their letter contains charges of fo ferious an af pect, that we should be compelled to meet them in fome other form, we shall infert their letter in our next number and submit to the eafy taik of our own vindication.

The account of a vifit to the falls of Niagara is written by a gentleman of talents, and thall appear in our next.

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MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY,

FOR

DECEMBER, 1805.

Translated from the French for the Anthology.

MANUSCRIPTS OF M. NECKER, PUBLISHED BY HIS DAUGHTER.

OURS is a singular family! say's Mr. Necker; and this opinion, which I should not have presumed to announce in this way, but which I have a right to repeat after him, appears to me strikingly just and true. Was it not in reality a singular sight to see this family together; Mr. Necker in unceasing admiration with Madame Necker; Madame Necker in adoration with Mr. Necker; Mr.Necker ravished with Madame de Stael; Madam de Stael in extucy with Mr. Necker, and each of them occupied without intermission in making others partake of their transports and enthusi asm? Hitherto they have not succeeded; so many praiseworthy efforts have been without success, or rather they have had such an unfortunate success, that, from politeness, I should not dare to describe it: But here Madame de Stael has again advanced into the arena to break a strong lance in favour of the memory of her father, and in a long disquisition upon the character and private life of Mr. Necker exhausts al that a rich and brilliant imagination can furnish of ideas and colouring; all the tender movements, the plaintive accents, mild Vol. II. No. 12. 3G

recollections, and sad regrets of melancholy and sensibility; all that is most exalted in tenderness and love; every thing which rhetorick offers of expressions, figures, and oratorical movements; all that could be inspired by the most flattering eulogy; every thing which could be permitted in the most exaggerated panegyrick, and from so many faculties, sentiments, and resources she composes for the object of her adoration a shining crown of glory.

Mr. Necker is no more, and his death is yet too recent for us to hold towards him the severe tone of posterity. He is placed in the most fortunate position to be judged; in the position which commands the most caution in a writer. Living, he would provoke just reproaches, and hatred perhaps too merited; had he been longer deceased, he would be given to the judgment of a generation that would have a right to be more inflexible than his cotemporaries. But, at present, as he is not here to make apologies, to answer,to defend himself,to attack, or even to propose new constitutions which would recal too strongthat which he has shaken, we are

in a manner disarmed; and if we still think of his demi-ambition, his demi-movements,his demi-talents, his demi-virtues, which produced misfortunes so entire and so deep, we know at least that so many calamities were not in his intention, and the crimes of so many others have made us forget his faults.

practice of her family, she will not exert her talent against them; she chooses ather to oppose to them her virtues, a firm sentiment of pride and elevation of mind. But it may be truly said of Madame de Stael in particular, as of men in general, that the arms of her virtue are less formi dable, than those of her talents; but I will not take advantage of all that this declaration may have of consoling, and, faithful historian, or rather simple copyist, I will only transcribe the praises of Madame de Stael, without endeavouring to make them appear ridiculous.

If any thing however were capable of recalling them, it would be the indiscreet and excessive praises of Madame de Stael. Without doubt it is allowable in a daughter, without doubt it is even praiseworthy in her, to swell a little the measure of the virtues and talents of her father; but I do not believe this permission extends itself to make it a duty to offer him to us as the greatest, the most virtuous, the most amiable, the most admirable, the most sublime of mankind; one to whom so many recollections, so many facts, so many events, so many proofs assign a very different rank a mong men. Without doubt much consideration is owed to a woman; but this consideration cannot carry me so far, as to ap-celestial soul," "noble sentiplaud such an absurd want of truth and propriety, such foolish and ridiculous exaggeration.

This consideration will engage me at least not to derive from this ridiculous work an advantage which I might, but to treat seriously, what it would be much more easy and inviting to combat with the weapons of pleasantry. Madame de Stael appears to expect this mode of attack, and seems even to dread it a little. She places the wits notwithstanding at their ease; for she declares to them that, sad, though faithful depositary of the constant

It will not then be my fault, but that of the panegyrist, if a smile is excited, when we learn, that while in expectation of a detailed and political life of Mr. Necker, which is promised us, his abridged and private life is merely filled with phrases, repeated without ceasing, and varied in a thousand ways: "justice," "simplicity," "elevation of mind," "virtues," "genius," "perfection," "sublime soul," "ethereal soul,"

ments," "admirable sentiments,” "sublime sentiments." "We see in Mr. Necker a simple man," "a sublime man," "a just man," "a powerful man," "a good man," "a man of genius," "a susceptible man," "an illustrious man," "the image of that Providence, who presides over the starry heavens, and who disdains not in his goodness to watch over the life of sparrows," "a man, like that god of fable, who reigned alternately in the heavens and served on the earth," "a man, who had a right to sacrifice so many present advantages to the suffrage of ages, and who could

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