greateft lengths, fuch an independant and profitable commerce as we have above hinted. In countries, indeed, where agriculture is efteemed a mean employment, where labour is difgraceful, and the doing nothing, or the having nothing to do, gives a title to respect, what wonder if indolence and effeminacy fhould prevail, and create a general diftafte to a military life? If at the fame time alfo, the ill-directed fpirit of commerce fhould fo univerfally infeft the people with the love of gain, that riches fhould be the only introduction to eftcem, and preferments of all kinds be fold to the beft bidder, while the meaneft ar tifices of buying and felling should prove the fureft means to wealth and honour;-is there room to wonder, that individuals fhould only apply themfelves to get money, by the eafieft and speedieft methods in their power? The life of a Trader and a Soldier are, perhaps, too different to be reconciled in the fame perfon; as, we prefume, it may be difficult to perfuade the man who enjoys himself in eafe and affluence, at the trouble only of a few hours attendance to the business of the counting-house, to undergo, with alacrity, on every alarming occafion, the hardships and dangers of a military employment. But in a country where commerce is eftablifhed, and purfued on a juft plan, there will ever be found a fufficient number of induftrious and laborious individuals, to whom military duty will appear rather an agreeable avocation than an hardship. In fuch a country too, if but that due encouragement be given to military me rit which is confiftent even with its commercial interefts, there will be found a fufficient number of those alfo, who, having otherwife nothing to do, would yet, in that cafe, devote their lives and fervices to the defence of the public. On the whole, we do not think that Trade, even in the light our Author has reprefented it, contributed fo much to the decline, or ruin, of the ancient commercial States, as fome other collateral caufes that might be pointed out: nor do we conceive, however incompatible the Soldier and Merchant may prove in the individual, that a commercial, may not, at the fame time, be a very military people. De genuino Principio Equilibrii corporum Solidorum, aliorumque effectuum cum eodem connexorum. Auctore P. Georgio Kratz. Ör, A Differtation on the Principles of the Equilibrium of Solids, and other concomitant Effects, depending on the fame Principles. Principles. By Mr. Kratz, Profeffor of the Mathematics in the University of Ingoldftadt. 12mo. Munich, 1759WE are informed of this work, as a very fcientific and methodical performance; wherein the Author endezvours to fhew the mechanical or immediate caufe why two bodies of equal weight, placed at equal distances from the center of a Balance-Beam, maintain a perfect equilibrium. It is divided into five fections: in the firft of which the Author makes a variety of obfervations on the powers and properties of the Lever. In the fecond, he difcuffes the feveral opinions of Philofophers, concerning the efficient caufe of the Equilibrium, and confiders their validity. In the third, he enters on the enquiry into the true cause of that Equilibrium, by fcrutinizing into the effects which equal weights, placed at the extremities of a Balance, have on the texture of the parts of the beam, &c. In the fourth, the caufe of the Equilibrium is determined, and its effects at large expatiated on. In the fifth, this cause and its effects are further treated of, in its relation to, and dependence on, the physical state of folid bodies. We have seen great encomiums on this performance; but, as the book itself is not yet come to hand, we must defer a more particular account of it to another opportunity. MONTHLY CATALOGUE. For DECEMBER, 1759 MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 1. The Conduct of a late noble Commander candidly confidered. With a View to expofe the Mifreprefentations of the anonymous Author of the Two Letters addreffed to his L-p; to place the Controverfy on a Foundation supported by Falls; to fate the Difficulties which obftruct a public Enquiry; and to propofe a Method of removing them. 8vo. Is. Baldwin. ROM this promifing title-page, we are led to expect fome new ous Controversy: but, in truth, no fuch novelty appears. What the Writer is pleased to call facts, are no more than observations; and and those extremely partial and defective. He does not, indeed, directly attempt to justify the Noble Commander, but only undertakes to prove malice and fraud in the Letter-Writer. For this purpofe he infifts on two points, of which one has been fufficiently laboured by former Pamphleteers, and fully replied to by the Letter-Writer, in an Appendix to his third pamphlet, entitled, Farther Animadverfions, &c. Yet no notice whatever is taken of this Reply in the Appendix, which neglect does not bear the moft favourable teftimony of our Author's boafted candour and impartiality. It must be allowed, however, that he expreffes himself with great temper and decency; and though he artfully disclaims all pretenfions to merit as a Writer, yet he takes no small pains to excel in that capacity and it is but juft to add, that his endeavours have not proved unfuccefsful. He has,n evertheless, forgotten Horace's precept, Artis eft celare Artem: for it requires little more than moderate difcernment to difcover the artifice he employs to reconcile the public to the Noble Commander, though he does not attempt a direct vindication of his conduct. This is particularly evident in his conclufion, where, in ftating the difficulties which obftruct a public enquiry, he flily infinuates, that the Noble Commander's difmiffion is not on account of his misbehaviour at Minden, but on account of his difagreement with Prince Ferdinand: and then he adds, that If by an unfor⚫tunate concurrence of accidents, he (meaning Prince Ferdinand) and any British Commander, have so disagreed, that no enquiry can be < made into the conduct of the latter, without an attempt to impeach ⚫ that of the former, in this cafe, the difmiffion of the latter, without any trial, is neceffary for the public good.' Notwithstanding this he proposes, at the diftance of two or three pages, that Lord George fhould demand A board of General Officers; not to enquire into the caufes of his difmiffion, but to enquire into the fingle fact, whether or no he disobeyed any order from Prince Ferdinand.' How difficult it is for a man who affects a character, to preserve confistency! Art. 2. A Reply to the Second Letter to a late Noble Commander. By a Country Gentleman. 8vo. 6d. Woodfall. This Country Gentleman is, indeed, a very Ruftic: yet it must be allowed, that he has rather more urbanity than the Anferer* of the firft Letter. He does not call the Letter-Writer rogue and rascal in direct terms, but only tells him, by way of periphrafis, that he is totally unacquainted with honour and principle.' As to the appearance of argument in this pamphlet, nothing is advanced, but what has been repeated before: and our Readers are by this time fufficiently apprized of the fubject, to judge of their validity. With respect to the perfonal imputations caft on both fides, the fenfible part of the public, will regard the merits of the difpute, rather than the motives of the Difputants. See our laft Review, page 447. Art. Art. 3. An Addrefs to a Great Man. Folio. 6d. Woodfall. Ex Pede Herculem. This short sketch is the work of no common pen. The ftile is manly and elegant; and the defign of the Address is artfully unfolded: which is no less than to recommend the, reftor-. ing the Duke of Cumberland to the fupreme command of the army. A measure, which the nation in general, of whom his Royal Highnefs has fo well deferved, will, we apprehend, unanimously applaud. Art. 4. A Tour through Spain and Portugal, &c. Giving an Account of the most remarkable Places and Curiofities in thofe Kingdoms. By Udal ap Rhys. The fecond Edition. 8vo. 4s. Lownds. The first edition of this work made its appearance a few months before the commencement of our Review, in the year 1749, and was not mentioned by us at that time; but it may, therefore, be expected, that the prefent new edition fhould not pafs unnoticed. As we have but a very imperfect knowlege of the interior part of Spain, we were pleafed with the profpect of being introduced there by a modern Traveller, who might make us acquainted with the prefent condition of the country, and manners of its inhabitanıs: but in thefe expectations we have been altogether difappointed by Mr. Udal ap Rhys. His defcriptions are not fufficiently geographical; the fituation of places being mentioned in too general a manner, and not fatisfactorily afcertained. We expected to have travelled through the country with the Author, and to have been able to trace our rout from one place to another: whereas we drop abruptly upon towns without knowing how we get to them, nor yet how we leave them: in which respect our Author treats his Readers, as adverse armies treat each other's heralds and expreffes, whom they bring blindfold to the head-quarters; where having tranfacted their business, they are led blindfolded back again. In brief, this performance is executed after the manner of that well-known old Geographer, Ogilby; whofe works are valued for the fake of their prints, in which refpect Mr. Udal ap Rhys cannot compare with him; fince he has not fo much as given us a general Map of the country, by which to illuftrate his detached defcriptions. (He has, indeed, at the end, added a tabular lift of Spanish towns, with their respective diftances, which, if correct, is certaioly useful, though it does not fupply the deficiency of a Map, and proper defcription.) Add to this, that if we except his detail of the Bullfeat, and his defcription of the Efcurial, and its paintings, his book is not enlivened with any digreffions beyond monkish traditions, relating to fome popish Saint, or miraculous image: of which tales he has not been fparing. In thefe, he is fo mere a Relator, that we cannot difcover whether he is a true Believer of them or a Heretic, As to the Spaniards, an idea of them would have been far better conceived, from particular relations, which actual experience would furnifh a Traveller with, than from the best general character which 'could be drawn of them: fince we are not now to be told, that the men men are remarkable for their gravity, valour, and honour; or the women, for their beauty, and vivacity. Art. 5. St. Chryfoftom of the Priesthood. In fix Books. Tranflated from the Greek. By the Rev. John Bunce, M. A. late Rector of Chingford and Pitfey, in Effex. 8vo. 6s. Rivington. This work is published by subscription, for the benefit of the Author's Widow. As it is not calculated for the generality of Readers, there is no occafion to be particular in our account of it; all we shall fay, therefore, is, that the translation appears to us to be very faithful and exact. Art. 6. The Life of General James Wolfe, the Conqueror of Canada; or the Elogium of that renowned Hero, attempted according to the Rules of Eloquence. With a monumental Infcription, Latin and English, to perpetuate his Memory. By J*** P****, A. M. 4to. Is. Kearly. By the two important letters at the end of this Gentleman's initials we learn, that he, Mr. J. P. is Mafter of Arts. What Arts he may be mafter of, we will not prefume to conjecture, but may venture to affirm, that the art of writing well, is not among the number. What rules of eloquence Mr. J. P. has adhered to, we are not learn- ed enough to discover. But as we apprehend that he has followed an entire new fyftem of his own, it was unkind in him not to prefix fome epitome of his new invented rules, by which we might have been able to judge how far he has made improvements on Cicero and Quintilian. If, however, in this motley compofition he has been true to his own plan, we muft beg leave to reject it, and keep to the old rules. Mr. J. P. has, in good truth, reverfed all the rules of doquence; for even in his Exordium he hurries the Reader at once into the very depth of the Pathos-And a very fad Lamentation it is, indeed! In fhort, Mr. J. P. fets out like a Fanatic, rifes into a Biographer, and then, by attempting to play the Orator, fwells till he dwindles into himfelf. Profus Grandia, turget. He has probably heard of what Cicero calls Verbum ardens, which has encouraged him to take fuch liberties in language, as would hardly be allowed to a man of genius. Thus he talks of condign pomp-inumbrated prof pects,' &c. As a fpecimen of our Author's talents, we prefent the Reader with his conclufion, which is the leaft exceptionable part. After an Addrefs to the Deity he says, It is Pitt, who, with thy divine Providence was appointed the tutelary Genius of this nation, that leads the way with precept. Thy wifdom has replenished him with the good gifts of deliberating maturely, judging foundly, counfelling fecurely, ordaining exact ly, and executing effectually. He has introduced the bleflings of Harmony and good Understanding between our Commanders, From this file, one might fuppofe the Minister to be an Archbishop. • both |