ftill greater evils, anarchy, and the fubverfion of all we have reafon to venerate yet there are writers who will not fee the difference, and who choose to argue for peace, as if any perfon doubted or denied its bleffings. That an intolerant, perfecuting fpirit, has appeared in this ifland, the preacher before us thinks it impoffible to doubt. The multitude is always intolerant in all its ways, but, exclufive of the effects of that unalterable propenfity, we think it not only easy to doubt, but just to deny, that fuch a fpirit exifts. The text is a curious one, 1 Kings xxii. 11 and 12.

ART. 39. A Call to Recollection, Refolution, and Exertion, with a View to the pref.nt State, and effential Interefts of this Country. By the Rev. R. P. Finch, D. D. Prebendary of Wefiminfer. 12mo. 4d. or 3s. 6d. per dozen. Rivingtons. 1794.

44 PP.

Recollection, refolution, and exertion, on the fubjects of duty, cannot ever be unfeasonably urged, nor ever more seasonably than at the prefent time; in which, if a ferious call, like this before us, should preferve only a few from that forgetfulness which is but too epidemic, it would perform an important fervice. This tract by Dr. Finch is written in fo plain and practical a manner, that we cannot doubt but, aided by the lownefs of its price, it will circulate good principles to a confiderable extent. The fentiments interfperfed refpecting the late tranfactions on the continent, are thofe of a feeling mind, impreffed with great horror of extraordinary iniquity.

ART. 40. A Sermon on the prefent Scarcity, preached in the parish Church of Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire, July 26, 1795. By F. T. Trarch, M. A. Svo. 22 pp. IS. Robfon. 1795.

A fenfible and well-meant difcourfe, and well calculated to operate according to the preacher's with on his immediate hearers.

ART. 41. Reafons for Peace, fated in a Difcourfe delivered in the Union Chapel, Birmingham, on Wednesday, February 25, 1795. Being the Day appointed for a General Faft. By D. Jones. 8vo. 43 PP. 18. 6d. Johnson, 1795.

This is a very vigorous and able compofition, though we confess ourfelves neither fatisfied with the principles it inculcates, nor convinced by its arguments. We alfo are for peace; but we would not purchase it at the risk of future fecurity, nor at the expence of our national dignity.

POLITICS.

ART. 42. Réflexions fur la Paix. Addreffées à Mr. Pitt et aux Franfois. 8vo. 48 pp. 1s. 6d. à Geneve, 1794. Et fe trouve chez Debrett.-Reflections on Peace. Addressed to Mr. Pitt and the French Nation, c.

This is a very interefting and extraordinary pamphlet; the production of Madame de Stael, the acute and eloquent daughter of

M. Nesker.

M. Necker. Prejudiced and mistaken on many points, the fees in their true light the horrors which have defola'ed France, and the iniquity by which they have been caufed; and recommends peace as ftrongly to that exhausted nation as to any other power. She affects to confider Mr. Pitt alone, as ftanding on an equal footing with France, in this great question: " Mr. Pitt et la France, une nation et un homme, Voilà ce qu'il importe de perfuader." Many of her ideas on France are juft, and the errors fhe has committed, in speaking of this country, and our interefts refpecting the war, are completely expofed by the author of the fubfequent pamphlet. On the idea of restoring the fyftem of Robefpierre, the exclaims, No, this horrible fyftem is a phænomenon which nature cannot twice produce; no, I do not yet believe that the deftruction of focial order has arrived, that pity is banished from the earth, that man has totally devoted himself to the destruction of man, that Atheism can become the fuperftition of the people; property be attacked by all the laws, and fociety inftituted for no other purpofe, than that by collecting individuals together, it might render them the more certain victims of deftruction." The following opinion alfo is probably well founded: "The greater part of the faults committed by the Coalefced Powers, arofe from their being too much influenced by the clamours and the hopes of the Aristocratic Emigrants." We are glad, even at the expence of fome errors, to fee peace eloquently recommended to the French, by a perfon to whom they are likely to liften; fince, when they once conceive it to be their trueft intereft, they will poffibly confent to purchase it by fuch conceflions as the fecurity of Europe demands.

ART. 43. Réflexions fur la Guerre. En réponse aux Réflexions fur la Paix, addreffées à Mr. Pitt, et aux François. Par M. D'Ivernois. 8vo. 157 PP. 35. Elmily, 1795.

ART. 44. Reflections on the War. In Anfwer to Reflections on Peace, addreffed to Mr. Pitt and the French Nation. By Francis d'Ivernis, Efq. Tranflated from the Original French. 8vo. 135 pp. 3s. Elimfly, &c. 1795.

It is not eafy to do juftice to the fingular and extraordinary merit of this pamphlet, without using a language which would almost feem hyperbolical. To an English reader it is ftill more important and interefting than even the Account of the Revolution at Geneva, written by the fame author, and noticed by us in a late number. (Brit. Crit. May, 1795. P. 545-)" My purpofe," fays the author, " I hope will not be mistaken. Indeed, it will foon appear that we have really both the fame object; for who is there fo unfeeling as not auxioufly to wish for peace? Not, indeed, a fufpicious and temporary fufpenfion of war, difguifed under that name; but a peace equitable and durable, more fo than can poffibly be obtained by any conceffions on the part of the allies." Mr. D'Ivernois, as completely as his antagonist, Mad. de Stael, gives up as vifionary the ideas of "difmembering France; of compelling an unconditional fubmiffion

to

"

to the ancient system; and chastising those who deftroyed it:" and reprobates the thought of bringing back the emigrants in triumph to Paris, with all their terrible train of vengeance, exclufive privileges, feudal rights, and partial taxation." But he contends moft ftrongly and moft ably, that, for the fafety of Europe, it is abfolutely neceffary that France fhould give up all her conquefts, and retire within the limits of her ancient territory. It is a circumstance very fingular, as well as the ftrongest confirmation of the equity and propriety of this demand, that Dumourier (in his Coup d'ail Politique, which ftands as the firft article in our Foreign Catalogue) contends with equal ardour, on the grounds of policy and juftice, that France fhould voluntarily relinquifh all her conquefts. M. D'Ivernois completely proves, from the exhausted state of that country, and the depreciation of the affignats, that, not only the Allied Powers, but Great Britain herself has ability to enforce this neceffary facrifice to the balance of power in Europe, and ought not to conclude a peace without it.

Mad. de Stael confiders Mr. Pitt as the only perfon, on one fide, who prolongs the war: M. D'Ivernois, in his introduction, very properly reminds her of the refolution he moved and carried this very year, expreffing, among other things, the uniform defire of his majefty," to effect a pacification on juft and honourable grounds, with any government in France, under whatever form, which shall appear capable of maintaining the accustomed relations of peace and amity with other countries."

The work is divided into five chapters. Chap. I. difcuffes the question, whether the war has really been more difaftrous to the Confederated Powers, than neutrality would have been: and treats the topic of the conquefts. Chap. II. fhows that the only refource of France is the affignats, which muft foon inevitably lofe all value. P. 22. Chap. III. contrafts the refources of Great Britain with those of her adversary. P. 49. Chap. IV. treats of the obftacles which prevent France from remaining a Republic; and of the importance it is of to her, to have an hereditary, but limited Monarchy. P. 72. Chap. V. endeavours, and very skilfully, to remove the common prejudices of the French against the British conftitution. P. 98. To the English edition is fubjoined a poftfcript of nine pages, ftating that the fall of the affignats has gone on ftill more rapidly fince the pamphlet was written, than the author had predicted, and that the figns of the fall of the republic are no lefs ftrong.

As we have already been tempted, by this interefting article, to extend our account beyond the limits we ufually affign to thofe which stand in this part of our work, we fhall tranfgrefs ftill further, by giving the following fenfible and juft paffage on the effects of the war." I am, however, convinced, that nothing but the exifting calamities of the war, could have led M to lofe fight of the far more terrible calamities from which, in all probability, Europe has been preferved by it. Quite overjoyed to fee the French Revolution all at once take fo moderate a turn, M does not obferve that it is the war, which, by exhaufting that nation, bas brought fo foon to an epoch, when the principles which led to it have loft their attraction, even with the

4

French

French themselves; and, when they are as candid in avowing the difaltrous confequences of thofe principles, as formerly they were zealous in trying to perfuade other nations, that the adoption of them would renovate the world, and restore the golden age.' P. 11. Those in this country who are ftill fo far behind the experience of the times, as to defend the principles which the French have abandoned, may take a hint from this, and the French confessions which follow it.

With refpect to the defence of the English conftitution, so well managed in this pamphlet, by M. D'Ivernois, we regard fuch a teftimony from a very intelligent foreigner, and friend to liberty, with peculiar delight, and on this account recommend the tract, even to those who do not wifh to difcufs the question of the war.

The English tranflator, who is faid to be a particular friend of M. D'Ivernois, has fuffered an inconfiftency to creep into his tranflation, by fpeaking of the author of Réflexions fur la Paix, fometimes as male, and fometimes as female: compare p. 71 and p. 119. As the fex is fpoken of in the first inftance, it would have been beft to have used she, &c. throughout. The fault is not fo glaring in the original: yet the tranflation is well executed.

ART. 45. Confiderations on the Causes and Effects of the prefent War, and on the Neceffity of continuing it till a regular Government is eftablished in France. By William Hunter, Efg. 8vo. 63 pp. 21. Stockdale, 1794

The feveral parts of this extenfive fubject are here arranged in good order, and well connected; to each due confideration has been paid; and the man who reads Mr. H's tract with attention, will rife from the perufal of it, poffeffed of much ufeful knowledge on the feveral parts of his fubject. There are many paffages of it well deferving to be noted with particular approbation. We cannot, however, omit recommending to notice, his fentiments on the subject of equality; and on the tendency of the nature of man, and of fociety. to depart from it immediately, whenever it may take place de facto. We may add the following confequence, to which, the argument he has fo well ftated, evidently leads. The ftate of equality cannot be produced but by great force; and, as soon as this force fhall be removed, the natural tendencies above-mentioned, must have their effect. A ftate of equality can, therefore, only be continued, by the continuation of the force which produced it: and fuch a state of perpetual and ftrong coercion, must be a ftate of perpetual mifery.

We except from thofe opinions of Mr. H. to which we exprefs our concurrence, what he has faid of the effence of liberty. We think it confifts in fomething more than a knowledge of what the laws allow, and what they condemn. We do not obferve, however, that this erroneous pofition vitiates any thing more, in the pamphlet, than the paragraph which it begins; there are no confequences drawn from it; nor does it appear to have mixed with, and difcoloured, the author's fubfequent reflections and fentiments.

ART.

ART. 46. A Refutation of Mr. Pitt's alarming Affertion, made on the laf Day of the laft Selfion of Parliament," that unless the Monarchy of France be restored, the Monarchy of England will be loft for ever." In a Letter, addreed to the Right Honourable Thomas Skinner, Lord Mayor of the City of London. 8vo. 76 pp. 2s. 6d. Bell, Strand, 1794.

This tract is divided into nine parts, the eighth of which, contains the whole of the fubject the author propofes to difcufs. The two pamphlets of Mr. Bowles, on the oppofite fide of the queftion, which we confidered at confiderable length very lately, being recent in our memory, we find that the Obferver, for fo he figns himself, has omitted to confider in his refutation the moft material arguments for the affertions which he combats. As a fpecimen of his mode of reafoning, we fhall felect the first inference he lays down, on entering upon the body of the fubject. The words he attributes to Mr. Pitt are, "That unless Jacobin principles could he effectually rooted out of France, England was for ever loft." This, he fays, in plain English, means," that, unless monarchy can be restored to that country, monarchy in England cannot long fubfift." By the most curfory examination of the propofitions here stated to be the fame, they are found to be different. To make his inference juft, the, principles of Jacobinifm and republicanifm must be the fame; and, although we hold republicanism to be hurtful, in almost all cafes, Jacobinifm appears to us as hoftile to that, as to any other fyftem. This will appear by the definition of a fociety of Jacobins: a definition which, as we have not feen, we fhall here give. A body of men, felf-conftituted; keeping up, or adding to their numbers, by elections made by themselves; and exercifing controul, over what they recognife as the lawful fupreme power of a country, by actual force, or the fear of it. This is a fociety of Jacobins. Such an affociation cannot act even in a republic, but by the partial or total fubverfion of its lawful powers. Weak monarchies have exhibited fomething analogous to this, in the encroachments of individuals on the power of the fovereign: fuch were the ufurpations of the mayors of the palace, over the latter kings of the Carlovingian race in France. Examples from other monarchies might alfo be brought. In defcribing repeatedly, what a great flatef man would do in an affigned fituation, or what measures he would have avoided, this writer affumes the character of a great statesman: but, when he informs us, that the Emprefs procured by her intrigues thofe difturbances which produced the temporary expulfion of her troops out of Poland, that the Pruffian king might not fit down quietly on his acquifitions there, we feel no hefitation in denying him that title; though he quotes the authority of an anonymous gentleman, in an office of confideration at Berlin. To carry our examination of this tract any further, would neither be agreeable to ourselves or our readers. To point out the multitudes of errors occurring in writers of a certain clafs, would render our work too much like the compartments in an anatomical mufeum, appropriated for the reception of difeafed and deformed parts.

ART.