tlemen of the county, at the Quarterly Seffions, are- To Farm Gates-make Contracts-Receive and Pay-keep Accounts-affilt to form Designs-bring to Justice Road-offenders, &c-is, in our opinion, big with every evil the Author would wish to avoid by it.At prefent, when a Road-bill is granted, perhaps for ten or fifteen miles, there are feldom less than one, two, or three hundred Commiffioners made; and those are neighbouring Gentlemen, fubftantial Freeholders, and Tradef. men; the law excluding any others from acting. Now, whether Gentlemen interested in the utility of the road, are not more likely, than a mercenary Clerk, to carry their design into execution, and lefs liable to fpoil the road by fparing his Lordship's ground, or the Parfon's bedge, in widening narrows; or following a crook and elbow in the road, rather than cut a ftraight path through bis Worship's field, does not with us admit of a doubt.

The business of all the Turnpikes in a county would be more than could be done at the Quarter feffions.

It would aften be in the power of a leading Gentleman, in conjunction with the Clerk, to distress any district that had difpleafed him, either in voting, or any other way. It would be a leading step towards patting all our roads into the hands of the Legiflatore; and what ufe an evil Minifter, if we ever should have one, might make of such a power, it is too eafy to forefee: we, therefore, fincerely hope, that all propofals which have that tendency, will ever be rejected by Britons.

Art. 21. A Philofophical Difcourfe on the Nature of Dreams. By the Rev. Mr. Saalfeld, Minifter of the Gofpel at LutzenSommerren. Tranflated from the German. 12mo. Is. 6d. Becket, &c.

Shall we have no end of tranflations from the German? What heaps of their ftoff have we of late imported? As if we had not ori ginal nonfenfe. enough, we have tranflated the reveries of mad Theologues, and the abfurd dreams of Fanatics.- -Mr. Saalfeld brings up the rear of this venerable corps, and tells us, with a very grave face, that should we dream a vicious dream, we may hope it will not be imputed to us, 10 our condemnation; but that it is, notwithstanding, a very wicked thing; and, therefore, we ought to beg of God forgivenefs upon it.' O Religion ! what hast thou fuffered from thy own fa miliar friends!

Art. 22. A Method for finding, wherever we are, by an Obferva tion of the Moon, more practicable at Sea than at Land, what 'Clock it is then at London, and, confequently, for finding the Longitude of the Place where our Ship may then happen to be. 8vo. 6d. Baldwin..

It is an obfervation of the famous Fontenelle, that every perfon, before he undertakes the folution of a difficult problem, fhould be fure that his abilities are equal to the tafk. If this rule had been obferved by the Author of the piece before us, the world had never feen this pamphlet. He fuppofes, that if the moon comes to the meridian of London at ten o'clock, it will not pass the meridian of another place fitteen degrees

to the weftward of London, till twelve at night, apparent time at London, or not till eleven apparent time at the place of obfervation; becaufe the moon moves about half a degree from weft to eaft, in her orbit, while the earth moves fifteen degrees round its axis. And on this fallacious principle he has founded his method of folving the important problem of finding the Longitude at fea.

But this is fo far from being the cafe, even fuppofing he has truly effimated the moon's motion, and that her orbit was parallel to the Equator, that the will be upon the meridian of a place fifteen degrees weft of London, at about two minutes after ten, apparent time at the place of obfervation. Our Author, therefore, need not have told us in his preface, that he was no Aftronomer, as the flightet perufal of his pantphlet would have abundantly convinced the Reader, that he was a ftranger to the very elements of that science.

Art. 23. An Explication and Vindication of the first Section of the Short Obfervations on the First Principles and Moving Powers of the prefent System of Philosophy*, in a Letter to à Lady. 8vo. 6 d. Nicoll

This is no more than a laboured, and, in our opinion, very unneces. fary, apology for what the Author of the Obfervations had advanced in his firft fection, relative to the firit caufe of the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, and other matters, which appeared to fome fcrupulous Readers, to be of an irreligious tendency, We conceive it much easier for the Obferver to clear himfelf of the imputation of wilful atheilm, than that of miltaken sophistry; and are furprized to fee him so much more felicitous to defend his religion, which is so little concerned with his argument, than his philofophy, on which the truth of his whole argument depends.

See our last Month's Review, page 345.

Art. 24. A new Syftem of Philofophy, founded on the universal Operations of Nature. By Mr. James Usther. 8vo. 28.

Davies.

A weak and infufficient attempt, to decry and fet afide the mechanical philofophy; not by fubftituting a new fyftem, but by a revival of the ancient exploded notions of fpecific forms, and efficient elements. * I have concluded, fays Mr. Usher, from an attention to well-known effects, evident to fenfe, that the fimple elements of bodies are, in general, unchangeable, and incorruptible, and were at the beginning created different and divided into kinds or forts; that the embryos, or feeds, of natural bodies, are felect compofitions of thefe elements, which inherit in themselves, by a divine law, principles productive of new feeds and embryos, that continue and eternize the fpecies by fucceffion; that each kind of element being endued with particular attrac tions and repulfions, the specific feeds, convene and confolidate to themselves, their respective kindred and family elements, and refift and repel the unrelated and diffociable ones; whence, in the natural round and courfe of attractions and repulfions, the productions and diffolutions we fee in this tranfitory world, take place.”

Such

Such is Mr. Usher's scheme for explaining, as the Satirift fays, the caufation of caufes, and the causes of things. How far it may prove fatisfactory to the unphilofophical Reader, we will not prefume to fay, but we will venture to predict, that this new fyftem will yield little edification to others. That the mechanical philosophy is attended with numerous and confiderable difficulties, is very certain; but Mr. Usher, instead of attempting to untie the Gordian knot, hath endeavoured to cut, or rather to hack it in two: wanting the fword, however, of an Alexander, he hath failed in the attempt, and hath neither demolished the mechanical fyftem, nor established his own.

Art. 25. The General Hiftory of the late War: Containing its Rife, Progrefs, and Event, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. And exhibiting the State of the Belligerent Powers at the Commencement of the War; their Interefts and Objects in its Continuation; and Remarks on the Meafures which led Great Britain to Victory and Conqueft. Interfperfed with the Characters of the able and difinterefted Statesmen, to whofe Wisdom and Integrity, and of the Heroes, to whofe Courage and Conduct, we are indebted, for that naval and military Success, which is not to be equalled in the Annals of this, or of any other, Nation. And with accurate Defcriptions of the Seat of War, the Nature and Importance of our Conquefts, and of the most remarkable Battles, by Sea and Land. Illuftrated with a Variety of Heads, Plans, Maps, and Charts, defigned and engraved by the best Artifts. By the Rev. John Entick, M. A. and other Gentlemen. 8vo. 5 Vols. 11. 5s. fewed. Dilly.

If a mere compilation from news papers, Gazettes, and other public prints, frequently filled with the lies of the day, or calculated for private or finilter purposes, may deferve the refpectable name of a History, the volumes before us may pafs mufter under that title. But if the Reader fhould expect to find in this work, that difplay of comprehenfive abilities, that nice difcernment of perfons and facts, or thofe rare talents of style and compofition, which are included in the character of a good Hiftorian, he will be difappointed. With regard to ourselves, we have travelled through the numerous pages of this publication, with much the fame improvement and entertainment, as we should have met with in turning over a file of Gazetteers, or the papers of any other Coffee-house Historian There is one circumftance, indeed, which might induce us to give the preference to the latter, as in fome of our news papers there is kept up an appearance at leaft of impartiality; whereas the Manufacturers of this Hiftory, profeffedly fet out, and proceed on the defign of bepraising Mr. Pitt, with the moft grofs and fulfome of all poffible encomiums. This is an object they never lofe fight of, through the whole work; which feems, therefore, intended more as a fervile panegyric on that patriotic Minifter, than as an impartial Hiftory of the tranfactions of the times, Nay, fo little care have thefe Compilers taken to conceal this defign, tho' fo foreign to the purpose of a General History, that they have frequently tranfcribed, whole pages of pamphlets profeffedly written in defence of his conduct, and parti

cularly

cularly of the Review of Mr. Pitt's Administration, which makes no inconfiderable figure among the historical and political reflections of the refpectable Partnership, here carried on under the ferme of Meffrs. Entick and Co.

*See Review, vol. XXVII. page 474.

Art. 26. Remarks on fome Obfervations on Dr. Brown's Differtation on Poetry and Mufic. In a Letter to the Author of the Obfervations. 8vo. is. 6d. Davis and Reymers.

This is a very angry, farcaftic Reply to the learned and ingenious Author of the Obfervations.-Little, however, has been done towards the establishment of any material argument. -Critics, like Philofophers, can more eafily refute the affertions of their brethren, than defend their own; and a position that ftands only on the three legs of a fyllogifm, is easily tripped up. We fhall not fill any more of our pages with the fkirmishes of thefe critical Warriors, as we fuppofe that few of our Readers would be concerned to know whether Myron's cow was a red or a black cow.

Art. 27. Friendly Advice to the Fair Sex in particular, and worthy the Attention of the other Sex. By a Clergyman of London. 4to. 15. Kearfly.

Shews the ufual caufes, and unhappy confequences, of proftitution; which, the Author fays, is the reigning and prevailing vice of this age. He gives his young female Readers plenty of good and fober advice on this critical head; and we hope it will not be thrown away upon them. But his manner of addreffing them is not the most engaging; nor, we fear, are all his arguments fo happily adapted to the laudable end he has in view; particularly his infifting fo much on the eternity of Hell torments, as the most powerful diffuafive from vice. He does not, however, forget to remind them of the more immediate ill confequences; which, we doubt not, will be more immediately regarded by the young and thoughtless perfons to whom he addreffes himself,

Art, 28. A brief and neceffary Supplement to all former Treatifes on Quadrille; confifting of Hints, Questions, Explanations, References, Suppofitions, c. For the benefit of the Unlearned. By no Adept. 12mo. Is. Becket.

As we look upon cards to be the greatest of all enemies to Literature, by engroffing fo much of that precious time which might be fo much more nobly and more ufefully employed, fo we would not recommend the most ingenious treatise that ever was written on the subject.

12mo.

Art. 29. The Vifitor. By feveral Hands. Publifhed by William Dodd, M. A. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefty. 2 Vols. 6s. Dilly.

The papers published under the title of the Vifitor, fiift made their appearance in the Public Ledger.-A news paper-conveyance, indeed, was the only one they deferved; for the religious papers are moftly fa

natic

natic fuftian; the moral Effays trite and dull; and the attempts at hu mour, are impotent and puerile.

Art. 30. The Hiftory and Antiquities of the County of Essex. Compiled from the most ancient Hiftorians; from DomesdayBook, Inquifitions poft Mortem, and other the most valuable Records and MSS. &c. By Philip Morant, M. A. Rector of St. Mary's Colchester, and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. Illuftrated with Copper-plates. No 11. Folio, IOS. 6d. Baker:

This fecond Part of Mr. Móránt's laborious compilation, contains the Hundred of Lexden, and the chief part of the very large Hundred of Hinckford. The first part was mentioned in our Review, vol. XXVIII. page 401.

SERMON S.

1. THE Serious Confideration of a future Judgment, a very powerful Argument to diffuade Youth from the Purfuit of unlawful Pleafures. At Warwick, on, a Lord's-day Evening Lecture, 1763. By John Knight. Fuller."

2. Paul's Farewell to the Church at Corinth-being the fubftance of a farewell Sermon in Broad ftreet Meeting, Reading, April 1ft, 1764. By Evan Jones, V. D. M. Dilly.

3. Moderation explained, and recommended-before the Synod of Merse and Teviotdale, at Kelio By James Allan, M. A. Minifter at Ey-mouth. The fecond Edition, enla ged. I S. Willon.

4. Before the Vice Presidents, Stewards, and Trustees of the Weftminfter-Hofpital, in James's-ftreet, Weltminster, at the parish church of St. Margaret, on their anniverfary-meeting, April 12, 1754. By Gregory Sharpe, L. L. D. Matter of the Temple, Chaplain in ordinary to his Majefty, and Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies. Dudley.

5. At the English church at Rotterdam, Feb. 29, 1764, being the day appointed for public Thanksgiving, Faft, and Prayer, by the States of Holland, &c. By Thomas Greaves.· Field:

6.

Before the Prefident, Vice-Prefidents, Treafurer, &c. of the Hofpitals for the Small-pox and In culation, April 12, 1764. By Philip Lord Bishop of Norwich. To which is annexed, an Account of the rife, progrefs, and ftate of the faid Hofpitals, from their first inflitution, 26 September, 1746; with a lift of the Governors and Subfcribers. Woodfall.

The Letter figned A. D. G. L. &c. &c. is received. We shall ever be glad to learn the fentiments of our candid Readers, however any of them may differ from us, on controversial fubjects. There is no occafion to apprehend, that Delenda eft Carthage is any part of our real deign. On the contrary, all we contend for, is, that the fortifications be thoroughly repaired, and the place put into a better ftate of defence.

ttt The Conclufion of Profeffor REID's Enquiry into the Hus man Mind, is deferred to our next, for want of room in the prefent Month's Review.