other charges of merchandize, were intolerably increased!' It is farther faid to be demonftrable, that if the directors were to accept the ships offered on the most advantageous terms to the Company, there would be a faving, to the amount at least of two thirds of their prefent yearly dividends!' The question then occurs why this faving does not take place? If the ufual complaints of parliamentary corruption, which have been attributed to the declamation of party, and the ravings of faction, needed any confirmation; we have it before us in the extenfion of the fame baneful fyftem over the affairs of a trading company. We are openly informed, that without examining into the particular btive of any director, when it is confidered that each India fhip is divided into feveral fhares; that the owners of thefe fhares, and the feveral trades-people employed in the fhipping branches, are qualified, generally, as voters; and, confequently, the greater number of ships, the more numerous the fhip-voters.-Alfo, that the Company's fhips are built, ftationed, and paid for, by order of the directors only ;-that those who pay well, may expect to be well ferved; and those who serve well, to be well paid; it may account, pretty clearly, for the extraordinary number of fhips that have been built, and the extravagant prices that have been paid for freight, as well as the particular attention of the fhip-voters to the orders of the directors, who have been, of late, fo very remarkable for exact difcipline at the general courts, that they have, very juftly, acquired the honourable appellation of the Company's household troops; and who, although generally as quiet and peaceable a corps as his Majefty's beef-eaters, are, however, on the election of directors particularly, as formidable, as ever the prætorian bands were, on the election of their Emperors; and, like them too, they will fuffer none to be elected, from whom they have reafon to apprehend a reduction of their pay, or their numbers. • The directors have also another corps, confifting of thofe who have received, or expect favours from them; which, though pretty nume rous, are not equally to be depended on; as they are a kind of irregulars, not in conftant pay, and often influenced by particular leaders, though chiefly by the chairman and deputy; but when clofely united with the household troops, are too powerful for any oppofition. These happened, fortunately, to be divided on the late contells at the India-house; which afforded an opportunity to the independent proprietors of rejecting, at the laft general election, those directors, who by falfe information of the ftate of the Company's affairs, calculated for the bafeft purposes, had led them blindfold, to the verge of destruction." To enter into the particulars of this fubject of shipping, could be interesting only to the members of the Company, who have fufficient motives to acquire more direct information, while the detail could aford no general entertainment: we may therefore conclude with obferving, that if the proceedings of other public bodies, are conducted upon fimilar principles, which is at least in fome degree pro bable, there are fmall hopes of checking a contagion that feems to infect even our wifeft inftitutions for guarding against the abuse of public truft. MLS N. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 16. A Letter to the Universities, of Oxford and Cambridge, &c, in refpect to the Collection that was made for the Colleges of New York and Philadelphia. By Sir James Jay, Knight, M. D. Being a Vindication of the Author, occafioned by the groundless Infinuations and very illiberal Behaviour of Mr. Alderman Trecothick, with authentic Evidence. 8vo. 6d. Kearsley. 1773. There are not many men who are capable of vindicating their own characters. We generally fay of ourfelves either too little or too much. Sir James Jay feems to have been injured in his reputation; and he attributes it, with fome appearance of reafon, to Mr. Alderman Trecothick-But if we remember rightly, we have had almost all this story before; and Mr. Trecothick has thought it either too true or too unimportant to be taken notice of. We do not think Sir James is likely to do himfelf any great fervice by this new publication. A fecond blow fhould not have been given, unless it had been Jmarter than the first. Sir James would make the Alderman a faint, in the late acceptation of the word, by the author of the Effays on Public Worship. We are mistaken if that writer would not place Sir James in the lift, on reading his pamphlet. There is a good deal of that little fhrewdness and cunning in it which is one of the marks of his faints. If therefore both thefe Gentlemen fhould be entitled to the above appellation, we would advise them to refer the matter to the author of the eflays, and he will determine to a hair the difference between them; and perhaps make us laugh by a delineation of it. Art. 17. A faithful Account of the whole Tranfactions relating to a late Affair of Honour between J. Temple, and W. Whately, Efqrs. &c. &c. 8vo. Is. Snagg. The Compiler has robbed the gang; the news-papers had it all before: but if he should ever write any thing worth stealing, they'll be even with him. Art. 18. A Short Inquiry into the Nature of the Titles conferred at Portfmouth. by his Majefty, August 1773. Shewing the Origin and ancient Privileges of Knights Banneret. 8vo. 6d. Almon. From the hiftorical citations here produced, the Writer draws the following brief inference. It feems certainly neceffary, from every cafe that we have feen, that Bannerets fhould at least be created in the field of battle, though not immediately after or before a battle. This objection in the prefent cafe, must be too obvious to trouble the reader. with any farther digreffions upon it, and must be unanswerable even by those who do not think an intermediate title of common knighthood requifite. It is impoffible, therefore, that the officers knighted at Portfmouth, though indifputably worthy every title, fhould, as was believed, be Knights Banneret.' It admits of fome doubt whether the Portsmouth Knights will acknowledge any great obligations to this Writer for his labours in fearching old chronicles and mufty records, to depreciate the value * Vid. Sir James's letter to the Governors of the College of New York, Rev. vol. xliv, p. 422. of their titles: they may however confole themfelves with the reflec tion, that whatever this ill-natured book worm may fay, they are bona fide dignified; and obtained their honours with eafe and fafety, during a noble femblance of naval equipment, fecure from the dan gers of actual warfare. N. Art. 19. The New Pocket Dictionary of the French and English Languages, Containing all Words of general Ufe, and authorifed by the beft Writers. By Thomas Nugent, LL. D. The fecond Edition, greatly improved, with the Addition of upwards of 13,000 Words, befide a very ufefal Supplement, containing the Names of the most remarkable Empires, Kingdoms, States, Ilands, Provinces, Cities, &c. &c. the Names of ancient and modern Nations; together with the Names of remarkable Men, Women, Surnames of Sovereigns, &c. both in French and English; which will prove of great Ufe to thofe who read or tranflate Hiftory, Geography, Mythology, Poetry, &c. and are not to be found in any other French and English Dictionaries now extant. By J. S. Cherier, Teacher of the French Language, Geography, and the Ufe of the Globes. Small 4to. 3 s. 6 d. Dilly. 1774. Our opinion of Dr. Nugent's Pocket-Dictionary, may be feen in the 38th volume of our Review, at p. 68.-The numerous additions made to this compendium of the French and English languages, in the prefent edition, feem to entitle it to a fecond notice in our Journal; we therefore briefly acquaint our Readers that although the ob jections brought by us, to the plan of this dictionary, ftill remain, yet the work muft, in courfe, be greatly improved by the large addi tions now made to it the particulars of which are enumerated in the foregoing tranfcript of the title-page. Art. 20. Efays concerning Iron and Steel: The Firft, containing Obfervations on American Sand-Iron: The Second, Obfervations, founded on Experiments, on Common Iron-Ore, with the Method of reducing it firft into Pig or Sow-Metal, and then into Bar-Iron; on the Sort of Iron proper to be converted into good Steel, and the Method of refining that Bar Steel by Fufion, fo as to render it fit for the more curious Purpofes. With an Account of Mr. Reaumur's Method of foftening Caft-Iron; and an Appendix, difcovering a more perfect Method of Charring Pit-Coal, fo as to ren der it a proper Succedaneum for charred Wood-Coal. By Henry Horne. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Cadell, 1773 It appears from the first of thefe effays, that the American fandiron is a very valuable ore, yielding a large proportion of metal. The greatest part of this effay, however, has been already published in the Philofophical Tranfactions for the year 1763. The fecond effay, and the appendix, though not altogether unexceptionable as to the chemical philofophy, contain many ufeful remarks, and are worthy the perufal of every artift, who is engaged either in the manufacture of fteel or of fteel inftruments. Art. 21. The History and Antiquities of the ancient Burgh of Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk. By Henry Swinden. 4to. 11. 1s. Payne. The value of books of this kind is generally local: This will be deemed of little importance anywhere but at Yarmouth. D. Art. 22. A Companion in a Poft Chaife; or an Amusement for a Such compilements as this, may be easily made by a country printer's devil, in leifure hours, and holiday times; and we have nothing to fay against honeft industry. Art. 23. The Stranger's Affiftant and Guide to Bath. Containing an Account of, fin fhort, every thing that Strangers can want to know relating to Bath; but the Title-Page is too long to, te tranfcribed] 8vo. 1s. Taylor, &c. 1773. Thefe Bath-directories are frequently republished, and, we believe, always with improvements. This is the laft, and, we fuppofe, the beft; there being many useful particulars inferted which we do not remember to have feen in the former compilements." Art. 24. Minutes of the Proceedings before the Lords Committees for Privileges, on the feveral Claims to the Title of Vifcount Valentia, &c. fol. 6s. Robinson. 1772. Thofe who have had their Curiofity excited by the many paras graphs in the news-papers, relating to this family contet, will find: ample gratification in the perufal of thefe Minutes. MATHEMATIC S Art. 25. The Nautical Almanack and Aftronomical Ephemeris. For -the Year 1775, Published by Order of the Commiffioners of Longitude. 8vo. 3 s. 6 d. Nourfe, &c. 1774. 6d. This number only contains the ufual tables, with their explication. POLITICAL. Art. 26. Confiderations on the Impofition of 4 per Cent. collected on Grenada, and the Southern Charibbee Inlands, by virtue of his Majefty's Letters Patent, under Pretence of the PrerogativeRoyal, without Grant of Parliament. 8vo. 1 s. Almon. 1774 A duty of 4 per cent. being imposed on all dead commodities, the produce of Grenada, by letters patent dated the 20th of June 1764; and these letters juftifying the impofition of this tax, by the precedent of Barbadoes, &c. where the like tax was paid; the Author of this pamphlet alleges that no fuch duty is paid at Tortola, Anegada, Jamaica, Providence, nor at any of the Bahama Inlands: moreover, that it is not payable in any island, but by virtue of an act of the reprefentatives of the people, paffed for good and valuable confiderations. R--$. As to Barbadoes, it is related, that excepting 10,000 acres granted by Lord Carlisle, the firft proprietor, who obtained the island from James I. it was peopled by emigrants from England, during the confufions occafioned by the civil wars'; who fettled on the vacant land, and cultivated plantations, without any titles or grants, either from the proprietor or the crown. Upon the restoration of regal govern. ment, thefe fettlers applied to the King for protection against the claims of the Carlisle family, making an offer of paying the tax now in queftion, for the confirmation of their titles; which was accepted, and a compenfation made to the then proprietor. But a provifo of exception F 3 exception was made as to the 10,000 acres before mentioned, which do not pay the impofition, to the present hour. Having thus invalidated the pleas in the letters patent, which impofe a like tax by royal prerogative, on the island of Grenada, the Author recites the contests that have arifen on refusals to submit to it, and makes fome pertinent and fpirited remarks on the proceedings of the courts of law both on the island and at home, in order to keep the decision of the question out of the hands of a jury. But for thefe we must refer to the pamphlet; where the Writer fays, that fince the caufe of fhip-money no point of equal confequence has been brought before any British court of judicature; nor will the liberties of Britain be much lefs affected by the determination.' POETICAL. N. Art. 27. Charity: A poetical Effay. By Charles Peter Layard, A. M. Fellow of St. John's College. Cambridge printed, and fold by Beecroft, &c. in London. 1773 The comparative merit of this production may, we doubt not, have justly entitled the Author to the distinction and reward that he obtained for it, yet we do not think it more worthy of a critical consideration than the generality of the preceding compofitions which, for fome years paft, have entered the lifts for the Killingbury prize; but which we have very cordially configned to reft, in the peaceful pages of our catalogues. Art. 28. Original Poems, Tranflations, and Imitations, from the French, &c. By a Lady. Svo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Robinson. 1773. Scribere juffit amor feems to be this LADY's motto. Love bids her write, and the appears to be moit devotedly prompt and obedient to the beheft of his little godfhip. Almost every piece in her book is facred to the foft paffion, and her collection will, therefore, be most acceptable to pining girls and unfledged boys. There is, however, a little piece addreffed to Monf. Helvetius, on his Treatife De L'Eƒ. prit, which fhews the Writer's good fenfe, and may be regarded as a favourable fpecimen of what may be expected from her, when her mind is freed from the galling chain' which, at prefent, we fuppofe, fhe would much rather "hug" than get rid of. Art. 29. An Epifle from Mr. Banks, Voyager, Monsterhunter, and Amorofo, to Oberea, Queen of Otaheite, &c. &c. 4to. I S. Swan, &c. A poetical fungus, fprung from the applauded Epiftle from Oberea;' fee our last month's Review, p. 503. BOTANY. Art. 30. The Vegetable Syftem. By Dr. Hill. Royal Folio, Vol. 23d. 11. 11 s. 6d. Printed for the Author. 1773. We have frequently announced the fucceffive publications of thefe numerous folios; and we now mention this 23d, which has juft made its appearance, merely to acknowledge our mistake, in pronouncing By the affignment of the Vice-chancellor of Cambridge, and the other Gentlemen appointed to fit in judgment on the poems annually offered for Mr. Seaton's reward. the |