Effai fur les Grands Evénemens par les Petites Caufes, tire de PHiftoire. A Geneve, et fe trouve a Paris, chez Hardi, 1758. 12mo. pp. 346. That is,

An Effay on Great Events, which have arifen from Trivial Causes. Illuftrated from Hiftory..

The ingenious Author of this little work propofes to fhew, that in regard to the moral and political world, it is not always great and adequate caufes, that produce ftrange and furprizing events; but that, on the contrary, they may be, and often are, the refult of things feemingly fmall, and utterly difproportionate, to their effects. In order to prove this, as is very natural, he has recourfe to facts, and exhibits fifty relations from hiftory, in fupport of his thefis. To tranfcribe thefe, would be to tranflate his book, of which, however, no idea can be given, but by producing an inftance.

At a time when an implacable war had long fubfifted, between the rival republics, Venice and Genoa; fell out the following event. A beautiful widow in the laft mentioned city, by a train of inevitable accidents, funk into the loweft ftate of indigence, and unable to bear the fight of her children ftarving, threw herself, in a fit of defpair, on a Nobleman, whofe illicit folicitations she had rejected with difdain in the time of her profperity. This Senator, whofe name was Luchio Vivaldo, behaved upon this occafion, with dignity and honour. He refpected her virtue, and not only relieved her prefent, but fet her above the reach, of future diftrefs. The citizens of Genoa, ftruck with the generofity of this action, in private life, thought they could not entrust the public concerns to a better man; and in confequence of this, gave him full powers to treat with their SifterState of Venice. His negotiation had all the fuccefs they could with, and he concluded a peace acceptable to both commonwealths, becaufe confiftent with both their interefts.

Mr. Richer, to whom the public ftands indebted for this very neat and agreeable performance, feems to have intended it chiefly, if not purely, as an amufement; and confidered even in this light, it is an elegant entertaining piece. But the subject might be fo managed as to ferve fuperior purpofes; that is, to inform, and to infruct. To this the Author is certainly equal in point of abilities; but amufement is the fashion in France, and the great ambition of our Author was to please.

Creta Sacra, five de Epifcopis utriufque Ritûs Græci et Latini, in Infula Crete; accedit feries Præfidum Venetorum inluftrata, APPEND. Vol. XVIII.

Tt

Autore

Autore Flaminio Cornelio. Venetiis 1755. Jo. Bapt. Pasquali. 4to. Tom. I. pag. 327. Tom. II. pag. 458. That is,

The Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of Crete, containing the Succeffion of the Prelates, both of the Greek and Latin Communions. To which is added, the Series of Venetian Magiftrates who governed that island.

This work, which comprehends more than the title promifes, is divided into four parts. The first under the title of Prolegomena, contains an historical relation of feveral voyages of the Venetians into the Levant, with an hiftorical and geographical description of the island of Candia, the modern name of Crete, by Chriftopher Buon del Monti, a Florentine; but corrected, augmented, and enriched, with very learned notes, which leave the Reader without the fmalleft doubt as to any remarkable place in that island, once adorned with no fewer than one hundred cities.

The fecond part includes the hiftory of the Greek Bishops, beginning with Titus, the beloved difciple of St. Paul, and continued to the time that ifland was yielded by the Emperor Alexis IV. to Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, who in Ann, Dom. 1204, refigned it to the Serene Republic of Venice. At this period came in the Latin Bishops, of whom an account is given in the third part.

It was at this juncture alfo, that many Venetian families tranfported themselves into this ifland, in order to fettle and cultivate it. This brings the Author to the civil and political hiftory of this noble ifland, which is the bufinefs of the fourth part. He gives us here an ample account of the principal families who eftablished themselves in Crete, and the magiftrates, who under the name of Rettori and Duchi, governed in the name of the Republic. He draws next a fine picture of the flourishing frate of the Venetians; the jealousy of the Genoefe, on feeing their rival become miftrefs of the Archipelago; and, in fine, the cfforts made for the fpace of twenty-five years, by the Turks, to difpoffefs the Venetians, in which they fucceeded at laft; chiefly by the perfidy of thofe who, under the colour of coming to their defence, abandoned them in the moft critical conjuncture, and left them to fink under the oppreffive weight of the collected force of the Ottoman empire.

C

MONTHLY

1

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For JUNE, 1758, continued.

POLITICA L.

Art. 1. A Plan for regulating the Marine System of Great Britain. In which the Service of the Navy, the Interest of the Merchant, and the Contentment of Seamen and their Families, are impartially confidered; and each endeavoured to be provided for, &c. &c. By Capt. John Blake, who was in the fleet under Sir Charles Wager, at the fiege of Gibraltar, anno 1727; commanded a fhip in the Mediterranean in 1733, and afterwards the fhips Hallifax and Lincoln, in the fervice of the East India Company. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Millar.

THE

HERE are many articles in this Plan which feem well calculated for the benefit of the Navy, by tending to improve the morals, fecure the health, and engage the ready fervice of Seamen.

The fcheme propofed is too tedious and complex to find roorn in a Catalogue article, and perhaps a more particular analysis would be dry and unentertaining to the generality of Readers. But as the fubject is highly interefting to every Briton, we recommend the perufal of the pamphlet to all who would wish to fee our Navy put under fuch regulations, as may belt promote the public utility, and the intereft of thofe valuable members of the community, the Sailors.

We cannot, however, omit the following reflection, which we are afraid is too well warranted by fact. The Captain propofing, that the extraordinary charges (if any) attending the execution of his Plan, may be defrayed by a drawback from the produce of the prizes taken from the enemy, obferves as follows.

It is well known,' fays he, when a prize is taken by his Majefty's fhips, no lefs than three-eights of the whole, or 7's 6 d., in the pound, goes to the Commanders; by which fome of them have jumped at once into fuch riches, that they have ungratefully thrown up, or on fome pretence or other excufed themfelves from the fer. vice, or at leaft become very cautious of rifquing their perfons in it afterwards. This point therefore feems to deferve the animad⚫ verfion of the Legiflature; mean time, as the Commander takes to himfelf 7 s. 6d. out of every nett pound the prize fells for, can he think it hard to be obliged to contribute Nine pence, or Four-pence Half penny, which is ten or nine per cent. out of his Seven Shil'lings and Six-pence, to the carrying on of this Plan, from which he will reap fo many advantages?'

We agree with the Captain, that this point deferves the animadverfion of the Legislature; and we are of opinion, that the opportunity of acquiring fuch fudden and valt accumulations of wealth, has rather been of prejudice than fervice to the Navy.

Tt 2

R-Art. 2.

Art. 2. The Old Englishman's Letters for the Poor of Old England; in which is proved, that, independent of relieving the poor and middling People of England, it is the true Interest of England as well as Ireland, to allow the free Importation of Tallow, Cattle, and Hides from Ireland; and that nothing will diftrefs the common Enemy more. By William Homer. 8vo. Is. Comyns.

We are very forry every body elfe was not of Mr. Homer's opinion the nation had not then loft the benefit intended it, by the (rejected) Bill, for anfwering the good purposes fo earnestly and judiciously contended for by this honeft Writer.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 3. A plain Narrative of Facts, or the Author's Cafe fairly and candidly stated, by way of Appeal to the Public. By W. Webster, D. D. 8vo. 6d. Noon.

Dr. Webster, of Ware, complains, that notwithstanding the great fervice he has, for near half a century paft, rendered both to Church and State, by his (invaluable) writings, he is ftill but poor Dr. Webfier of Ware.- When we confider this Reverend Author's cafe, and character, we are naturally reminded of the following paffage in the Dunciad.

And am I now threefcore?

Ah why, ye Gols! fhould two and two make four ?

Particularly the Weekly Mifcellany; a work many of our Readers may

remember.

Art. 4. The Curiofities of Paris, in nine Letters. Containing the Manner of Travelling from Calais to Paris, and the Defcription of the Towns, &c. on the Road. Defcription of Paris, Courfe of the Seine, Bridges, Fountains, &c. Palaces, Paintings, Gardens, Statues, Cabinets of Curiofities, and an Execution on the Wheel. Hofpitals, Churches, Relics, and Proceffions. Squares, Statues, and Infcriptions. Different Orders of the Religious, Orders of Knighthood, Equipages, and Theatres. Amphitheatres, public Libraries, Colleges, Nunneries, &c. and the Ceremony of taking the Veil. Defcription of St. Cloud, the royal Mausoleum of St. Dennis, and Regalia of the Crown. Defcription and Curiofities at Versailles, Trianon, Marli, Waterworks, and Machine, Gardens, Statues, Proceffion of the Knights of the St. Efprit, &c. &c. Interspersed with ufeful Obfervations, and particularly adapted for the Perufal of chirurgical Students, and the Traveller. By A. R. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Owen.

This appears to be genuine, and is the most modern, as well as the most entertaining performance of the kind that we have met with.

Art. 5. A Catalogue of the Collection of Pictures, &c. belong ing to King James II. To which is added, a Catalogue of the Pictures and Drawings in the Clofet of the late Queen Caroline with their exact Meafures; and alfo of the principal Pictures in the Palace at Kensington. 4to. 10s. 6. Bathoe.

The Preface, which is faid to be written by a perfon of diftin&tion, informs us, that thefe Catalogues were purchafed by the Editor, at the fale of Mr. Virtue, [fo the Prefacer expreffes himfe.f] as was alfo that of King Charles's collection; fee Review, vol. XVII. page 278. That of King James's collection was tranfcribed from a book in the poffeffion of the late Earl of Oxford, with the King's arms on the covers, which probably was for his Majesty's own u'e.The catalogue of Queen Caroline's clofet was taken by Mr. Vertue himfelf, in 1743-'

Art. 6. Memoirs of the Military Tranfactions of Sir John Burroughs, Knt. Colonel-General of the King's Army in the Expedition to the Ifle of Rhea: Of his landing, attacking, and beating the French Troops with twelve hundred Men, and being killed before the Caftle of St. Martyns: With a Lift of the Offers of Note, who fet out in that Service, under the Command of the Duke of Buckingham: Together with his Character by Way of Elegy, written before St. Martyns, in the Year 1627. By Captain Robert Markham, an Officer in that Expedition. 4to. Is. 6d. Owen.

Sir John Burroughs, Colonel-General of the King's army, whose family is now little known, ferved in all the fuccettive wars of his time. He commanded in, and was Governor of the city of Frankendale, during the longeft, and perhaps one of the hotteft, fieges ⚫ that had ever been known. He was employed in the fervice of the ⚫ States, and was in the memorable battle with the King of Denmark near Stade, against Tilly: He was engaged in the famous expedi⚫tion against Cadiz; and alfo in that against the isle of Rhe, where he was killed with a musket-ball, on the 11th of September, 1627, in the forty-first year of his age.' Pref. p. 4.

Art. 7. An humble Addrefs to the Public, together with fome Confiderations on the prefent critical and dangerous State of the Stage in Ireland. By Thomas Sheridan, Deputy Maiter of the Revels, and Manager of the Theatre-royal. 8vo. Is. 6d. Faden. Re-printed from the Irish Edition.

Those who have been attentive to the controverfy at prefent fubfifting between Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Barry, occafioned by the latter's project for a new Play-houfe in Crow-ftreet, Dublin,-will find fome entertainment in the perufal of this pamphlet; which may be confi. dered as Mr. Sheridan's apology for his conduct, ever fince the Theatre-royal fell under his management: and, indeed, the diftrefs he is

T13

threatned