SLAVE TRADE.

Art. 28. The Speech of Sir William Young, Bart. delivered in Pariament on the Subject of the Slave-trade, April 19, 1791. 8vo. pp. 63. 25. Stockdale.

Were it poffible for the British parliament to fubftantiate their wishes in favour of the black breed of Africa, we are perfuaded that thofe who voted against the abolition of the flave-trade would cor dially join the other fide of the house, in unanimously voting them a larger fhare of human intellect, to attain civilization, and to affert the dignity of human nature: but if they cannot do it themselves, are we in any refpect bound to do it for them, or are we able? For, as Sir William Young very pertinently afks, in this able fpeech,When my vote is folicited for an abolition of the trade in queftion, as far as relates to Great Britain only, I would with at least to be previously convinced, that whilft Britain lofes, Africa will gain:'— because, as he afterward juftly obferves- Great Britain may abandon her share of this trade, but cannot abolish it. The general queftion of abolition of the trace for flaves to Africa, is not before us. We are not an affembly of delegates from France, from Spain, from Holland, and other powers now engaged in that commerce, but the legislature of a fingle nation, whofe dereliction of the trade on their own part, cannot any ways fupprefs, and (1 fhall prove,) will eventually aggravate the miferies incident to a fyftem of traffic. which every enlightened man muft acknowledge, and every good man muft deplore." This he does prove to conviction, in a speech that contains a great variety of information on the fubject, chiefly collected from the evidence before the House, divefted of that declamatory colouring, of which thofe who are moft eager in any cause, good or bad, do not difdain to avail themselves.

The fpeech has not the freedom of oral delivery; for the style has been laboured into a stiffness that borders on obfcurity.

LAW.

N.

Art. 29. Proceedings in a Caufe tried at Westminster Hall, Feb. 2. 1791, before Lord Kenyon and a Special Jury; wherein Mr. Charles Ryland, Chief Mate of the Walpole Eaft-Indiaman, was Plaintiff, and Mr. Henry Churchill, Commander of the above Ship, was Defendant, for an unjust and malicious Sufpenfion. Taken down in Short-hand by William Blanchard. 8vo. pp. 96. 25. Richardfon.

By the evidence produced, it appeared, that Mr. Ryland was appointed chief mate, contrary to the Captain's wishes, who wanted his fecond mate to have had the appointment: that, in a fhort time after leaving the Downs, the Captain fufpended Mr. Ryland, by his own authority, on a frivolous pretence, and carried him, during the whole voyage out and in, as a private paffenger; by which he was deprived of thofe privileges to which his ftation entitled him, befide the injury that he fultained in his character. For this treatment he fought redrefs, and obtained a verdict in his favour for 500l. damages, with cofts. 7

N.

BIOGRAPHY,

BIOGRAPHY.

Art. 30. An Examination of the Life and Character of Nathaniel Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham. 8vo. pp. 119. 2s. 6d. Johníon.

ter.

1790.

The author of this little work principally intends to review what has been faid concerning Bishop Crewe by other writers, and to remove fuch errors from the public eye, as the information which he has obtained may enable him to correct. In doing this, he has a particular respect to Mr. Hutchinfor, who, in the first volume of his Hiftory and Antiquities of Durham, has, (he fays,) gathered together, with an affiduous hand, particulars of the life and principles of that great prelate, which reprefent him as an ambiguous characSome of his authorities are to be difcredited; he collected indifcriminately; and yet, with a fpecious degree of juftice, referred the reader to confult the originals.' For his affiftance in this attempt, we are informed in a note, that, by accident, he has obtained a manufcript, which evidently belonged to fome one of the houfehold of the Crewes, and contains minutes of the moft material incidents of the prelate's life.' This MS. as may be fuppofed, is fomewhat partial to the Bishop, efpecially toward the conclufion; yet it occafionally fuggefts cenfures on his conduct more of this kind feems to be intimated than is expreffed; and by an obfcure, laconic, and fometimes ludicrous manner, the impreffions left with the reader are not the most favourable to the Bishop.

We cannot attend this writer in his detail; nor is it generally neceffary to bring forward the mistakes and errors of the dead :Peace to their afhes !-yet when they have acted in very public cha racters, and made fome figure in the hiftory of their country, it may become, in a degree, requifite to remark them, both as a warning to others, and as an utter filence might prove injurious to the cause of truth, liberty, and virtue.

From comparing the different accounts which remain of Lord Crewe, (who, by the way, was a peer both of the temporal and fpiritual order,) we apprehend, impartial inquirers will be difpofed to conclude with us, that he was a man who poffeffed abilities for his own advancement, which he fteadily employed for that purpose: ambitious and haughty, fond of power and magnificence, he was prepared to purfue them with unceasing regard, and too ready alfo to adopt measures of oppreffion and perfecution, when countenanced by thofe on whom he depended.-His ancestors appear to have been men of honourable characters, who refifted the encroachments of the crown, and even fuffered for that refillance in the reign of Charles the Firft; who also, though they did not fall into the feveral exceffes and fanaticisms with which the fucceeding period was marked, remained firm in what appeared to them expedient for the public fervice. Nathaniel, the Bishop, feems early to have formed the refolution of walking in the road to preferment; and indeed inclined to refign any fentiment that might oppote that darling object. In this progrefs, his face was fet against the principles of his family. He attached himself, with affiduous care, to the corrupt and diffolute REV. JUNE 1791.

court

court of Charles the Second; and, in particular, to the Duke of York, afterward James the Second. Even James he appears willing to forfake, when times and circumftances were altered. It has been fuppofed that he was under the influence of fuperftition: but this is not fo evident; he loved grandeur, oftentation, and pre-eminence, in the forms of religion, as well as in every thing else but as to its principles, they were, perhaps, more indifferent in his view, fo that his ambition might be gratified; proud and prefuming while in power, he was yet, if hiftory may be credited, equally fervile in order to attain, preferve, or increase it; and as abject as fervile, when he found himself in danger.

From fome flight intimations which the MS. furnishes, we learn that the father of the prelate observed his conduct with anxiety and concern; on one occafion, we are told, "His father's conftant prayer for my Lord was, to keep him from ambition and fuperftition." Again we read-" My Lord's father reproved him at home, for fpeaking, as he had heard, too fharply in the House of Lords about the late troubles, and faid, Son, you had better have been fuck in your bed."-At another time it is added-1" My Lord bowed to the altar, and his father faid, Son, you give me offence. His father applied pieces of the Litany to each of his children; my Lord's was, From ambition and Superftition, &c."

The death of Charles the Second is thus related in the MS."An. 1684, February 6, King Charles dies. My Lord waited on him at chapel the Sunday before. My Lord never ftirred from him during his fickness: he was fick five days and five nights, and my Lord was not absent two hours. The King's mischief and complaint was from eating a Swan's egg at the Duchefs of Portf mouth's. She ftole a diamond ring from his hand while he was fick in bed, but King James made her return it after the King's death."

We shall finish this article by obferving, that Mr. Hutchinson expreffes a perfuafion, that the mistaken principles of Bishop Crewe, in the affairs of government, though they ftain his memory, will be all obliterated from the benevolent mind, by his charity and extenfive munificence. The writer of the pamphlet before us terms this adulation, and fuppofes the hiftorian had his eye on fome of Lord Crewe's relatives; for, (fays he,) it has always been held that teftamentary donations have too much the complexion of atonement and expiation, and the work of an affrightened confcience, to deferve fuch praises.' On this it is not neceifary for us to add any comment. Art. 31. An impartial Review of the Life and Writings, public and private Character, of the late Rev. Mr. John Wesley: In two Parts. Part I. By John Annelley Colet. 8vo. pp. 46. Is. Forfter. 1791. Mr. Annesley Colet here informs us, that Mr. Welley was his great-uncle, a relation which, he thinks, entitles him to furnish the world with fome memoirs of that extraordinary man. He is probably right in fuppofing, that many accounts, fome of them fpu

Hi.

P. 46. § P. 108.

rious and furreptitious, might foon make their appearance: yet this will not, without fome difficulty, be admitted as a fufficient apology for the hafty manner in which he has thrown together his own obfervations. His anger feems to be much excited by fome perfons who have oppofed his publication. However, if we may judge from this pamphlet, it is not his defign to be very expenfive to his readers: but as this first part is only an introduction, the fecond may poffibly be much larger: yet Mr. Welley is here confidered under the different characters of a gentleman, a fcholar, a poet, an hiftorian, a philofopher, a divine, and a politician. It must be acknowleged that he was a wonderful man, and his nephew does not fail to bestow on him the highest encomiums. Mr. C. feems to apprehend, that had he not been at the head of that confiderable body of Methodists, which in all its extent was under his direction, he must have been a prime minifter, as any inferior office in government he would have fcorned.-If he had any failings, this writer tells us, they were ambition and love; as to the latter, he embraces the opportunity of informing the world that he is himself an enamorato, and has the most zealous attachment, almost to adoration, to the fair fex; at the fame time, notwithstanding his guard, he fo expreffes himself on the fubject, as will leave, with fome readers, impreffions rather difadvantageous to his uncle. whole, Mr. Colet may have been fomewhat too eager for starting firft in the race;-a little more time, thought, and judgment, might have improved his performance. Hi...s.

MEDICAL.

Art. 32. A bort Account of the Method of treating Scrofula, and other Glandular Affections; the inveterate Cutaneous Difeafes, commonly called the Scurvy and Leprofy; alfo Ring-worms, Tetters, Siphylitic Scurfs, Scabs, Blotches, Ulcerations, &c. By James Rymer, Surgeon. 8vo. pp. 36. 1s. 6d. Evans, &c. 1790. Mr. Rymer prefaces his Short Account,' with a long history of the effects of his febrifuge, detergent, and alterative pill, &c.' in which, he tells us, he has no fecrets in whatever regards the health of mankind, or of any of God's creatures, which he wishes to conceal from the public.' What then, Mr. Rymer, is the compofition of these pills; of the anti-asthmatic pill; of the cardiac tincture, pe&oral medicine, &c. ?

Refpecting Mr. R.'s method of treating fcrofula, it is fo generally related, that little information can be gained without confulting Mr. Rymer himself.

EDUCATION and SCHOOL-BOOK S. Art. 33. The Catechifm of Nature, for the Ufe of Children. By Dr. Martinet, Profeffor of Philofophy at Zutphen. Tranflated from the Dutch, by John Hall, Minifter of the English Pryfbeterian Church in Rotterdam. 12mo. pp. 73. 1s. fewed. Johnfon. 1790.

The only ufe of dialogue writing, which we can discover, is for the cafe of the writer, by breaking the information that he furnishes

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into

into fmall detached portions; and by releafing him from the obligation of giving a fyftematical connection to the whole: but, as we have before had occafion to obferve, as foon as a reader cafts his eye on a book, he afks all the information which the author of it can give him: why then is he to lofe time in reading, and why is the book to be extended by, fuperfluous and abrupt queftions? Since, therefore, Mr. Hall confeffes that he has made alterations in this work, to procure it a more general reception,' and propofes to undertake the tranflation of a larger work of the fame kind, by the fame author, in four volumes octavo, if he would exclude the needlefs interrogations, the ignorant expreffions of wonderment, and the thankful acknowlegements for information; in brief, if he will turn the converfations into lectures, his tranflation will improve by fuch condenfation.

This is a fhort fyllabus of natural philofophy, adapted to the capacities of young readers, who are not advanced to the study of elaborate and fyftematic productions.

N.

Art. 34. A New Hiftory of Greece, from its earliest Establishment, until it was fubjected to the Koman Empire; containing an Account of the Wars, Revolutions, Progress in Arts and Sciences; together with the Characters of the most diftinguished Generals, Legiflators, and Philofophers, whofe Actions were the Ornaments of Greece. 18mo. pp. 232. 2s. bound. Riley. 1790. This little work is a valuable addition to Riley's Hiftorical Pecket Library. It is drawn up in a clear method, and ftates the leading facts of the Grecian hiftory, with as much precifion as could be expected in fo fmall an abridgment. As an introductory work, it may be useful in giving children the firft ideas on the important portion of history concerning which it treats. E. Art. 35. An Introduction to German Grammar. By the Rev. Dr. Wendeborn. 12mo. pp. 208. 4s. Boards. Robin fors. 1790. The great abundance of excellent books, which are published in Germany in every branch of fcience and literature, renders it an obje&t of daily increasing importance, that our access to the German language, which is confeffedly a difficult one, fhould be rendered as eafy as poffible. Dr. Wende born, who, from his knowlege of the English as well as of the German, is well qualified for the undertaking, feveral years ago published a work, entitled, Elements of the German Language, which has been well received. This work is here republished in an improved ftate, with the addi

*Such as- What becomes of the groffer parts of our food?As men are dying perpetually, is there not fome danger of the world's lofing all its inhabitants ?-1 fhould wifh now, if you please, to turn my thoughts from the land, to that great body of water, the fea. What is there worthy my obfervation?-Are there any fifh which migrate in the water, as birds of paffage do in the air at certain teafons -I do not perceive that birds have any teeth to chew their food -1 have heard that fine rags are a very acceptable prefent for hofpitals! &c.

† See Rev. vol. liii. p. 358.

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