ART. IV. Lectures on the Elements of Commerce, Politics, and Fi nances: Intended as a Companion to Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England; and peculiarly calculated to qualify young Noblemen and Gentlemen for Situations in any of the Public Offices under Government, and for Parliamentary Business. By Thomas Mortimer, Esq., Author of several approved Works. 8vo. pp. 470. gs. Boards. Longman and Co. 1801. I N the year 1772, Mr. Mortimer published a quarto volume, containing distinct treatises on Commerce, Politics, and Finances; of which a detailed account, interspersed with various strictures, was given by us in M. R. vol. 48. p. 363. We there hinted that, as the book was calculated rather for the senate than the counting-house, it ought to have been intitled Elements of Politics, generally, under the sub-divisions of Commerce, Government, and Finances: but this idea, together with other remarks on the doctrines maintained in the treatises, seems to have made no impression on Mr. M.'s mind; since, though the present may be considered only as a cheaper edition of his former publication, with a new arrangement of materials, he has preserved his old title and opinions. Some gentlemen of the University of Oxford having suggested to him that a new form of compilation would more effectually promote the object which he had in view, viz. of conveying useful knowlege to young students, he has endeavoured to arrange the present lectures in conformity with their idea; and their opinion, that young gentlemen, who are too apt to be remiss in their attendance at the public lectures of their learned Professors, might be induced to receive information and instruction in the present form, from private lectures comprized in a moderate volume, and divided into such portions as neither to overload nor fatigue the mind, and which may be taken up, and laid aside, at pleasure, for other studies or necessary relaxation," has been correctly adopted.' As a text-book, this work may be extremely useful; and we cannot too highly applaud its leading design and general execution but we do not expect that it will be of much service to the lazy student; because it is in vain to think that any assistance will supersede the necessity of application, and that those who read with a fear of overloading or fatiguing the mind will ever acquire a store of useful knowlege. The Elements of Commerce are included in ten lectures. The first three contain the history of commerce, with an elucidation of some general principles on inland trade, agriculture, and population. Lecture 4 treats of Manufactures 5 of Universal Commerce Lecture To this division, is subjoined a conclusion, exhibiting a sketch of the Education, Accomplishments, and Character of a British Merchant. In discussing the subject of Agriculture, Mr. M. reviews the state of the country respecting corn. He gives it as his decided opinion that the existing laws against exportation should be repealed; and that, since the increase of pasture land has diminished population, there should be a clause inserted in every inclosure bill, restricting the proprietors to maintain a certain proportion in tillage. Under the head of Manufactures, the author makes a distinction between those machines which are calculated to abridge or facilitate the labour of mankind, and those which are intended almost totally to exclude it. The former he would encourage, but the latter he wholly condemns. Saw-mills are ranked in the last class; fur, says he, if they were introduced into our dock-yards, they would exclude the labour of thousands of useful workmen' but, if these thousands could be as profitably emploved elsewhere, this is no objection, since the remark applies to all machines which tend to abridge as well as to those which totally exclude humen labour. When it is laid down as a principle that Population is the strength of a state, and that Manufactures operate to the injury of population, the introduc tion of machines into manufactories must be a national benefit, since the adoption of them leaves a greater number of useful hands to be employed in the more healthy occupations of agriculture; by which the earth may be cultivated to a higher degree of perfection than it has hitherto attained. Men who are dismissed from any particular employment, in consequence of the application of machinery, need not be idle; for new channels of industry will always present themselves to those who seek for them. We have already opposed our sentiments to those of the author before us on the subjects of paper circulation, and chartered trading companies; and we need not here renew the controversy. Having shewn by what means a nation may arrive at the summit of felicity by commerce, Mr. M. proceeds in search of the best political tenets by which that prosperity is to be secured and supported. This inquiry leads to the second course, on the Elements of Politics; which, like the former series, consists of ten lectures. The 1st contains introductory observations, among which is the following, on the instruction to be derived from the Law of Nature; That we cannot be atheists - must not be suicides-ought not to be idlers-and were not born to be hermits.' Lecture 2. treats of the Law of Nations, in which the general obligations of civil societies to each other are discussed. Here, after having observed that Nations ought not to declare war against each other except for the most weighty reasons, Mr. M. offers the following reflection : To declare war, is to pronounce a sentence of death against a nation; which we resolve to execute, when in our power. If then, we are not insensible to the feelings of humanity, we should seriously ask ourselves this question-Has the offending prince, and his subjects, so deeply transgressed, that nothing will do but putting them to death? Would to God this point were more conscientiously debated, in the councils of Christian kings, before they cry havock, and let loose the dogs of war!' Lecture 3 treats of the origin of Governments; 4 5 6 7 of the different forms of Governments; The prerogatives of the King are justly enumerated among the advantages of our Constitution. On the maxim that the King can do no wrong, the author makes the following com ment: The prerogatives, and the personal safety of the king, are secured by that wise and salutary maxim, "The king can do no wrong;" whilst the rights and privileges of the people are insured by another maxim equally wise and salutary, "That the king's express order shall not excuse any of his ministers, or counsellors, for acting contrary to law; nor put a stop to, or prevent, the effects of an impeachment in parliament." The law of nature would never suppose, that a father could do wrong to his own family, over whom he had indeed a more extensive power, than is allowed to our kings; but no command of the father, however express, could excuse his family for violating the first principle of sociability- That of not injuring another, in his person, his reputation, or his property." But as the prerogatives of a king are various and important, he must of necessity commit the exercise of some of them to chosen servants; and if these invade the rights of his subjects, and he protects and screens them from justice; in that case, it is agreeable to the law of nature, and to the laws of England, that he should be punished for this usurpation of illegal authority-that their crimes be imputed to him-and in this situation, he becomes as a private man; for, baving having exceeded his regal prerogative, he can no longer take shelter under the political maxim, "That a king can do no wrong," as he has forfeited the title, by violating the compact which confirmed it to him, and cannot thereafter be considered as a public character.' Lecture 8. expressly treats of the Prerogatives and Obligations of the King. Lecture 9. considers the Rights and Privileges of British Subjects, with the Duty which they owe to their King and Country; and Lecture 10. sketches the accomplishments which are requisite to form a Constitutional Member of the British Imperial Parliament. Six Lectures occur in the course on Finance. The 1st is an historical account of the nature of Antient Revenues, and of the origin of Taxes. The 2d treats of the nature and extent of the Public Credit and Funding System of Great Britain. The 3d exhibits the progress of the National Debt. Lecture 4 treats of Stock-jobbing. 5 6 of the Sinking Fund. of Taxation in general, and states the amount of the National Debt to the year 1801. The course of lectures on Finance ought to have been more minutely explanatory; and perhaps, if the author should be encouraged to print a new edition, he would in various places improve his work, and render it still more deserving of public patronage. ART. V. An Inquiry into the Structure and Animal Oeconomy of the Horse. Comprehending the Diseases to which his Limbs and Feet are subject; with proper Directions for She eing; and pointing out a Method for ascertaining his Age until his twelfth Year. To which is added, An Attempt to explain the Laws of his progressive Motion, on Mechanical and Anatomical Principles. The whole illustrated by eighteen Copper-plates. By Richard Lawrence, Veterinary Surgeon, Birmingham. 4to. PP. 212. il. 11s. 6d. Boards. Wallis, &c. 1801. WE have been much gratified by the perusal of this volume, since it displays an enlarged and accurate view of the subject on which the author professes to treat, without any affectation of technical terms, or of that obscurity which is always the result of half-knowlege. We shall extract, as specimens of the author's style, and of his manner of thinking, the observations on the bad effects of cutting the hair from the horse's heels; an operation, on the exactness of which grooms. often pride themselves : A a 4 Mo..y • So So arbitrary is custom, that it frequently occurs that practices are persisted in, which, by a proper investigation, would be found to be most directly contrary to truth. Under this head we may class the foregoing. The common opinion upon this subject is, that the hair harbours dirt, and prevents the legs from being properly cleaned. Under this position, its removal certainly would appear necessary. But when it can be proved that this hair does not harbour dirt, but, on the contrary, prevents its access to the limb, it will be no difficult task to shew its utility. 6 Nature has cloathed the animal with hair for the obvious purpose of defending the skin from the contact of the atmosphere. Other membraneous parts, such as the nostrils and the eyes are shielded, with the same intention, by peculiar secreted fluids, which in a state of health constantly cover their surfaces. The inward surface of the nostrils is kept moist, in order to preserve the sense of smelling; and the outward furface of the eye is kept moist, in order to preserve its transparency. Both of these faculties would be destroyed by the contact of atmospheric air, which, by drying the surface of the nostril, would render it incapable of smelling; and which also, by drying the surface of the eye, would corrugate it, and render it opaque by the multiplicity of refractions which would arise from its irregu larity. As the body is thus defended with hair, it accordingly follows that those parts which would, if they were naked, be most exposed to water and dirt, are furnished with a greater portion of this covering. Hence the hair on the lower part of the leg is considerably longer than elsewhere. This is sufficiently manifested in horses which are bred in cold marshy soils, such as Holland, Flanders, and many parts of England. If a leg of this description, with the hair on it in its natural state, is examined after passing through the dirtiest roads for several hours, when the hair is divided by the hand to inspect the skin, it will be found that the external part only is wet, whilst the internal part, together with the skin, will have remained perfectly dry and free from dirt. In this state it will be only necessary to wash the dirt off the hair on the outside, and leave it to dry by its own evaporation. On the other hand, if the hair has been cut off close to the heels, both water and dirt will have access to them, and when the pastern bends during progression, a very considerable friction is produced, which must consequently irritate the surface of the skin. When the animal returns from his daily labour, the legs are washed with cold water, and except they are well rubbed with straw or the hand, (a benefit which seldom falls to the lot of ordinary horses,) they are suffered to become dry in a natural way; but whilst this evaporation is going on, the legs are extremely cold for two or three hours, and the skin, being deprived of its own fluid, which it secretes in order to preserve its pliancy, becomes corrugated and inflamed, and swelling of the cellular membrane ensues, with all its bad conse quences.' The |