aptly illuftrated, as our author, with his ufual felicity, fhews, in his Timon of Athens. Though this is not the view ufually entertained of this fingular dramatic character, if we attend to the obfervations of Mr. Richardfon concerning the defign of the poet in all its parts, we fhall find that the opinion advanced by the profeffor is not without foundation." The love of diftinction is alferted to be the ruling principle in the conduct of Timon; yet it is not affirmed, nor is it neceffary to affirm, that Timon has no goodness of heart. He has much goodnefs, gentlenefs, and love of fociety.-Thefe are not inconfiftent with the love of diftinétion: they of ten refide together; and in particular, that love of diftinction which reigned in the conduct of Timon, may easily be fhewn to have received its particular bias and direction from original goodnefs. For, without this, what could have determined him to chufe one method of making himfelf confpicuous rather than another? Why did he not feek the distinction conferred by the difplay of a military or of a political character? Or why did he not alpire after pageantry and parade, the pomp of public buildings, and the oftentation of wealth, unconnected with any kind of beneficence ? "In general, our love of fame or diftinction is directed and influenced by fome previous caft of temper, or early tendency of difpofition. Moved by powers and difpofitions leading us to one kind of exertion rather than another, we attribute fuperior excellence to fuch exertion. We transfer the fame fentiment to the reft of mankind. We fancy, that no pre-eminence can be attained but by fuch talents as we poffefs; and it requires an effort of cool reflection, before we can allow that there may be excellence in thofe things which we cannot relish, or merit in that conduct to which we are not inclined. Guided by early or inherent predilection, men actuated by the love of diftinction, feek the idol of their defires in various fituations; in the bufile of active life, or in the fhade of retirement. Take the following examples. The fon of Olorus was prefent, while yet a boy, at the Olympic games. All Greece was allembled; many feats of dexterity, no doubt, were exhibited; and every honour that affembled Greece could beftow, was conferred on the victors. Moved by a fpectacle fo interefling and fo infpiriting, the Spartan, Theban, or Athenian youth, who were not yet of vigour fufficient to five for the wreath, longed, we may readily fuppofe, for maturer years; and became, in their ardent imaginations, fkilful wrefllers and charioteers. The fon of Olorus, if we may judge by the confequence, felt little emotion; no fympathetic longings; and no impatience to drive a chariot.But hearing Herodotus, on that occafion, reciting his hiftory, he felt other fenfations; his heart throbbed, and the tears defcended. The venerable hiflorian obferved him weeping, and comprehending his character, "I give thee joy," faid he to his father," for the happy genius of thy fon." Now, the fon of Olorus became an hiftorian no lefs renowned than Herodotus: for Herodotus and Thucydides are ufually named together. The celebrated Turenne, in his early days, was an admirer, no lefs paflionate, of Quiatus Curtius, than the fon of Olorus was of Herodotus; and we are told by Ram. fay, from D'Ablancourt, that when not yet twelve years of age, he challenged an officer who called his favourite hillory a romance. But this admiration was not to much for the graces of owery, compofition which abound in the Roman hilloian, as for the valiant actions of Alexander. Thefe drew his attention, and foon after, his imitation. Though his breast heaved, and his eyes fparkled, in the perulal of favourite paffages, he was not led to write fine defcriptions like Curtius; but to break horfes like the fon of Philip. "Now, fince thofe that are actuated by the love of diftinction, are led, by early or inherent predilection, to one kind of action rather than another, we have no difficulty in allowing principles of goodnefs and humanity to have reigned early, or originally, in the breaft of Timon. Nay, after lofing their authority, they continued for fome time to attend him; and refided in that breaft where they formerly reigned. They became like thofe eastern princes, or thofe early fovereigns of a neighbouring country, who grew fo indolent and pallive, that they lay immured in their apartments, and left the management of the late to fome active minifter, an ambitious vizier, or mayor of the palace. Some of thefe minifters att ed for a while under the banner of the fovereign's authority; but afterwards, having left him but the fhadow of power, they fet up for themselves; became fupreme and defpotic. "Here, however, we are led to enquire, how happens it that a principle inherent in the foul, and once an active principle, becomes pailive, fuffers others to to operate in its flead; not only fo, but to perform fimilar functions, affume correfponding appearances, and, in general, to be guided apparently to the fame tenor of conduct? Did the energy of the inherent affection fuffer abatement by frequent exercife? Or were there no kindred principles in the foul to fupport and confirm its authority? Could not reafon, or the fenfe of duty, fupport, and the power of active habit confirm? How came the fultan to fubmit to the vizier ? A ed encouragement; and was therefore unreserved in his praifes. The fame may be faid of every virtue. But defigning, or undeferving perfons, transferring their own difpofitions to other men, and of courfe apprehenfive left the wheels and fprings of benevolence fhould contract ruft, are oiling them for ever with profufe adulation. Mean time, our man of liberality begins to be moved by other principles than fine feelings and conflitutional impulfe. The pleafure arifing from fuch actions as thefe produce, is too fine and too delicate, compared with the joys conferred by loud and continued applaufes. Thus his tafte becomes vitiated; he not only acquires an undue relifh for adulation, but is uneafy without it; he contracts a falfe appetite; and folicits diftinction, not fo much for the pleasure it yields him, as to remove a difagreeable craving. Thus, fuch benevolent actions as formerly proceeded from conftitutional goodnefs, have now their origin in the love of praife and diftinction. Goodnels may remain in his breaft a paffive gueft; and having no other power than to give countenance to the prevailing principle. It may thus reign in his language and reveries; but the love of diftinction directs his conduct. The fuperfeded monarch enjoys the parade of flate, and annexes his fignature and fanction to the deeds of his active minifter." "In general, original principles and feelings become pallive, if they are not, in their first operation, confirmed by reafon and convictions of duty; and if the paffion which fprings up in their place affumes their appearance, and acts apparently as they would have done. Nothing is more impofing than this fpecies of ufurpation. It is not the open affault of a foe, but the guile of pretended friendship. No. thing contributes more to dangerous felfdeception. Applying this remark to our prefent fubject, and following the lights of obfervation, we fhall briefly illuftrate how early or inherent goodnefs may be fubverted by the love of diftinction. perion of good difpofitions, inclined by his temper and conflitution to perform acts of beneficence, receives pleafare in the performance. He allo receives applaules. He has done good, and is told of it. Thus he receives pleafure, not only from having gratified a native im- The ingenious and learned profeffor af Fuife, but from the praise of mankind, certains and traces in the conduct of Tiand the gratitude of those whom he may mon, the marks of that beneficence which have ferved. The applaufes he receives proceeds from the love of diftinction. He are more liberally befiowed by defigning marks the caufes of the ftrange alteration and undeferving perfons, than by the de- which took place in Timon's character, ferving and undefigning. The deferving and traces the operations of thofe circumdepend too much on the permanency of ftances that changed him from being apthe original principle, independent of en-parently focial, and full of affection, into Couragement; and may therefore be too an abfolute mifanthrope. fparing in their approbation. Guftavus Adolphus ufed to fay, that valour need [To be continued.]. A Letter to Dr. Richard Price. Containing Strictures on his Letter to Colonel Sharman, Chairman of the Committee of Correfpondence appointed by the Volunteer Corps affembled at Lilburn, on the 1st of July, 1783. London, Bladon. IN N this letter the author makes many fevere and well pointed reflections again Dr. Price's political principles. In delivering thefe principles the Doctor, he fays, "imitates clofely the obfcurity of the antient oracles,"-in every thing, at leaft, that may be interpreted to his prejudice. The author always difliked the Doc tor's fyftem. He ever believed him to be fwayed by faction, and fuch like ignoble motives; and, in the prefent inftance, he declarés him to write like an unfaithful, and difloyal fubject, who has not the welfare of his country at heart. Dr. Price was led to write, the author fays, by the flatteries which the committee of corref pondence beflowed on him. He thinks it ill becomes a man, one of whofe feet is already in the grave, to indulge a paf fion for flatteries: it were more befitting that he now bethought himself of preparing for that region, in which his politi cal cal knowledge can ftand him in no ficad. In the course of his strictures he reprobates the administration of Lord Shelburne, in very strong terms; and fcruples not to affirm, that he appears to have fludied the intereft of our enemies much more than our own; and that the fun of Britain did fet on that day in which his execrable peace was made. He defends the coalition. He concludes his letter with the following exhortation to the Doctor: "You have, Sir, but a thort feafon for the indulgence of thofe paffions which have, too long been uppermoft in your mind; the love of ruin, with all its gratifications mult fail you in the end; belides you should confider you have had your day; you have feen your country greatly humbled, fuperlatively humbled, even by the men you honour. It must afford no fmall comfort to you to reflect on the evils that have paffed; therefore, let that pleafurable retrofpect fuffice, and let me advife you to write and fin no more; retire now, old man, retire to your clofet, there commune with your heart, and be ftill, and truft me, that let your attachment to politics be ever fo prevalent, there are ob jects for your confideration of fuperior importance, and you will do well to observe them.” A brief and impartial Review of the State of Great Britain, at the Commencement of the Seffion of 1783. Debrett. THE HE author of this performance, after making a few general obfervations on the feafon proper for mature reflection, and on the voice of the people, with regard to the concerns of the flate, mentions, with peculiar vehemence, this as the time for every pollible exertion to fave this country from impending uin. He rejoices that the plan of fyftematic difcord is now no more, and thar, at prefent, we enjoy a breathing time from all our difficulties. He takes notice of the independence of America, and the revolution which it has produced. He pronounces it pregnant with events the most numerous and important. On account of it France and Spain have demanded new commercial regulations, and the Dutch no longer with to be united with their ancient friends. lic confiders France as the natural enemy of this flate, and, in a truly prophetic file, declares, that the competition will never ceafe, till a decided fuperiority be fully accomplished. He looks upon America as ultimately connected with France, and in order to diffolve the union, it is necellary for us to land with firmness and temper, to despile every adulating practice, and to adhere to the fpirit of treaty. Our minifters, he thinks, deforve the highest praite for prohibiting all intercourfe betwixt the new States and the Weft India iflands. He taxes America with the baseft ingratitude; he alludes to the treatment of the loyalils, and who can help lamenting their truly pitiable flate? By conceding too much to America, we have rendered her haughty and imperi ous. The genius of conceffion, fays the au thor, no longer predominates in the Ba tifh councils. Confidering the fuperiority of our manufactures, it is certain, he maintains, that Britain will ever fecure a confiderable fhare of the American trade. He takes notice of the prevailing influence of Fra ce over the Dutch, and gives a full and fatisfactory account, from the fubdivifions of intereft in that commonwealth, how it has been effected. The author then adverts to the alarming flate of the British Eaft India Company-without the feafonable interference of parliament, he adds, a total diffolution of its power and importance may be feared. He enters into a long detail of the conduct of the Company, the Directors, and Governor Haftings. He founds his obfervations on the reports and refolutions of the fecret and felect committees; and, after a few obfervations on whigs and tories, he concludes in the following manner: "In short, look to the principle, the conduct, or the fins of the coalition, you every where difcern the genuine features of whiggifm." The author of this review neither wants abilities nor political information, but he commits a mistake in the title page when he calls his review Impartial., A Letter to the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, Paymafter General of his Majefty's Forces. By Major John Scott." Stockdale. is, the report given of that fpeech in the Morning Chronicle, a foundation which cannot be fuppofed to be altogether a found one: indeed he feems himself to think fo, when he regrets that "the reporter is fo detached, and deals fo exceedingly in generals." The author fays, Mr. Burke could not but lament, on that day, his misfortune in being deprived by Mr. Fox of the inexpreffible pleasure of reading Colonel Boujour's affecting letter, of telling the piteous tale of Cheyt Sing, &c. There was left for the difplay of his melting eloquence, only the ftale defence of Shah Allum, the expulfion of Coffim Ally, and the defraudation of the plenipotentiary Omichund. On all thefe topics Major Scott is well qualified to write, from his local knowledge of India, and his perfonal acquaintance with many of the gentlemen who were inftrumental in bringing about these occurrences. Accordingly he adduces feveral ftrong and flubborn facts, which tend not a little to oppofe the artful fophiftry of Mr. Burke. He defends his honourable patron, Mr. Haflings, very ftrenuously. He adverts to the little confiftence that fubfifts between the Paymafter General's former profeffions, and his prefent conduct;-deviates into the now beaten path of the dangerous confequences that would have arisen from so vast an acceffion of power, as the patronage of India would have brought to the coalition; and fhews that the late twenty-four Directors, with a very few exceptions, were in every refpe&t equal to the management of the Company's affairs. The Major finds fault with Mr. Burke for quibbling fo much about words, and he tries to affign to many of them their juft meaning. We gave our opinion of this author's style ou a former occafion. A Letter to the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State. By Major John Scott. Stockdale. MR. R. Scott takes up the pen to vindicate his immediate principal, Mr. Hailings. He confeffes himself his political agent, but he does not addrefs Mr. Fox in that capacity. He thinks his own property, privileges and rights attacked by his bill, and his feelings call upon him to exert himself to oppofe it. He is of opinion that the public will be injured by the new plan, as a blow thereby is given to all public credit. He afferts, in vindication of Mr. Haltings, that he never attempted to fecure the intereft of any by corrupt practices. During the twelve years of his governorship it is impoffible, he fays, to give a full account. He traces his conduct from his arrival in India, and adds, that his plan was that of peace. Contrary to his own feelings he has been engaged in war. The following elogium on general Sir Eyre Coote is animated and juft: "I cannot here deprive myfelf of contributing my humble mite of gratitude and applaufe to that worthy and gallant old general, who to the inflexible virtues of the man, joined the most exalted talents of the foldier, who redeemed us from utter ruin in the Carpatic; who facrificed the declining years of a molt active life to the difficulties and labours of war, rendered doubly severe by the feverities of an Afiatic climate, and who lived but to the moment when his country had just began to flatter itfelf with the poffibility of fparing Bis exertions. Methinks I fee the wonderful veteran reclined on his laurels, ftruggling in the very EUROP. MAG. arms of death, and collecting the last rema nant of his exhaufted ftrength, while he dictates to the difconfolate fecretary the animated conclufion of the forcible minute he delivered on this occafion: "Though for my part, fays he, I may with propriety fay that I have one foot in the grave and the other on the verge of it, I trust in God I fhall retain fufficient ftrength, both of body and mind, to put an advantageous and glorious end to this deftructiye war in India, instead of having our national honour and military credit degraded by any folicitation for peace to an enemy, already difmayed: and therefore I truft that this board will never confent to fo degrading and unjuftifiable a measure as is now propofed by the prefident and fele&t committee of fort St. George." In conclufion, Mr. Scott roundly af ferts, that there is as little mifmanagement, corruption and oppreffion in the different feats of the British government in India, as are to be found in any part of the world-that a few years of peace will reflore the India company's affairs to the highest profperity in AGá-and that if the India bill were loft to-morrow, every cor porate body in the kingdom, and every man who values his birth-right and the freedom of his country, would have reafon to triumph in the event. In this pamphlet we recognife the warm feelings of the friend of Mr. Haflings, ra ther than the folid arguments of a judicions apologist. G Pro Proceedings of a General Court of Proprietors of Eaft India Stock, held at the IndiaHoufe, on Friday, Nov, 7, 1783, relative to the Hon. Warren Haflings, Governor General of Bengal. Debrett. THE HE object of this numerous and refpectable meeting was, "To confider the advices brought from Bengal, by the Surprize packet. In confequence of a let. ter from nine proprietors." Governor Johnfione opened the bufinefs, and having made the two following motions, the whole attention of the court was turned to the iffue of them. The motions were, That the thanks of the court be given to Warren Haflings, Efq; and the other members of the fupreme council, for their great fervices done in India; and That the court request the said Warren Haftings, Efq; governor general, &c. not to refign his offices in India. Sir Henry Fletcher was chairman. He and Mr. Edward Moore were the only perfons who declared a strong difapprobation of the conduct of Mr. Haftings, and who wished to with-hold from him thofe honours which his exalted merit fo irrefittibly claimed from others. Sir Henry threw out many infinuations to the governor general's prejudice: and Mr. Moore ftated his diflike to him with much warmth and inveteracy. Mr. Moore's was the only diffenting voice in the court. The fpeakers at this court were Commodore Johnftone, Mr. Dallas, Sir H. Fletcher, Mr. Sulivan, Major Scott, Mr. Watfon, Mr. Moore.-Commodore jeh flone, Mr. Dallas, and Mr. Watlon make the first figure as orators. If the fpeeches of thefe gentlemen, as now before us, are exact tranfcripts of what they delivered, they do much credit to their correctness of diction, and their perfuafive elegance. If on the other hand, they owe confidera bly to the tafle and judgment of the editor, then his efforts deferve praife. Governor Johnftone pays his tribute of refpect to the diftinguifhed perfon, to whom the attention of the court was turned, as being a great and difcerning politician, but much more as being a confummate general. In order to confound his enemies, he puts into his mouth the words fpoken by the Roman general Sylla, when he was afked, how he could remain in Afia when Marius was carrying on fuch perfecutions against him in Rome? "It is by this, faid Sylla, that I am making the moft cruel war against Marius. I will first conquer the enemies of the republic, and then return to Rome, and punish Marius." Obfervations on a Letter to the Court of Directors of the Eaft India Company, from Warren Haftings, Efq; Governor General of Bengal, &c. Printed by Order of the Court of Directors, Nov. 19, 1783. THE HE contents of Mr. Haftings's letter are very generally known. The compofition of it has been applauded by men of letters; and the dignity of fentiment which pervades it, joined to that fpirited and honeft indignation which always fteps forth in the caufe of injured honour, has commanded the admiration of every man of difcernment and real worth. Thefe Obfervations were intended to refute the affertions contained in the governor general's letter, but they tend only to traduce them. If the directors have dropt the author a few rupees, by way of a compenfation for his pens, ink and paper, and any little ideas of his can, which an acute oblerver may perchance difcover in peruling his book, he will rot have fo much realon to repine, when he finds his unprejudiced and intelligent readers paving his book that tribute of respect to which it is fo jully entitled. That the author may be the more univer fally admired, we take this opportunity of announcing to the world, that he does not appear to have confidered perfpicuity, nor tafle, nor truth, as any of the requifites of compofition. He and his friends, if there be any tendency to rafh judgment in their compofition, may conclude from this declaration, that we certainly do not mean that the book fhould be univerfally read. If they do make such a conclusion, it will be a falfe one: for our meaning is, that the perfon who fhall be difpofed to read fuch a work, may be at pains previoully to bring his mind to fuch a train of thinking, that he may be able to perufe it, without being diffatisfied with any defiderata that |