1 next day he was restored to her husband; and, from that moment, nothing has interrupted their mutual felicity." The additional volume of plates contains maps, charts, plans, &c. correctly defigned and neatly executed. To these are prefixed critical obfervations on the maps, compiled, for the work, by M. Barbie du Bocage; from which it appears that they are not merely copies from former maps, but have been conftructed with great care from a diligent comparifon of the most accurate obfervations and the best authorities. In conclufion, we do not hesitate to declare it as our opinion, that the prefs has not, for many years, produced a work better adapted than the prefent, to communicate useful information to young perfons in a manner at once amufing and infructive. We must not forget to remind the reader, that the Abbé Barthélemy authenticates every material circunftance, by references to all the principal ancient writers, hiftorians, philofophers, poets, &c. Of this we have given ample fpecimens, in our former review of An charfis, from the original, in our Appendix, cited at the beginning of the prefent article. MONTHLY CATALOG U E, FRENCH REVOLUTION. Art. 17. The Rights of Kings. 8vo. pp. 46. 2s. Ridgway. 1791. The author's ideas appear to be the refult of impartial inquiry, extenfive reading, and found reafoning; and they are expreffed in the easy and unaffected language of a gentleman. After a brief expofition of the general principles of government, he inquires into the nature of the English revolution, and, from a fair ftatement of the facts, fays: It is manifeft that the people of England depofed and chofe their rulers, and formed a govern. ment for themfelves, at that period.' He then takes a fhort view of the political state of France; and he maintains, that nothing less than a revolution could relieve, and restore to happiness, that once oppreffed nation. What then are the objections? The populace were guilty of excefs. And are we to expect a revolution without it? The question is not whether excefs was good, but whether it was worfe than the evils of flavery. 6 But their fyftem is defective; many things might be mended. Let us contemplate our own government for a moment: if we count the years which its formation has cot, and reckon its faults, we fhall, perhaps, abate in our demands of perfection. • To To object to the French revolution, then, is both foolish and cruel;-foolish, because they were juftified in what they did; and cruel, because they abolished tyranny.' The right which the French nation exercifed, belongs,' fays our author, to all mankind. They have an unalienable right to form a government for themselves. Public good is the fupreme law-all confiderations muft yield to it.' Hence he concludes that it is abfurd to fuppose an original contract between a people and their rulers. What he fays on this fubject appears to us so just and good, that we will lay it before our readers: If we mean any thing by a contract, it is that, while one party abides, the other is bound by it. Now is this our fenfe of government? If the king of any country fhould poffefs too much power by its conftitution, could not the people diminish it? Could the king urge that he had never broken his contract, and could not, therefore, lofe any of his power? Could he oppofe this language to the unanimous voice of the people? If he could not, there is no contract, no bargain-the idea is ridiculous *. And the expreffion fprung from the Revolution. As our anceftors then used it, the lovers of liberty think that they talk orthodoxly when they follow their example. But it is really not fo. If fuch a contract exifted, no reform could take place, however neceffary for the public good, however agreeable to the wishes of the people. Our rulers could always plead their contract. It was certainly intended that power should not be abused, and original contract may fignify that intention; if aught elfe, it is nonfense: and in the former fenfe our ancestors must have understood it, for James had violated no engagements. He was certainly a tyrant, and therefore depofed; but original contract meant nothing farther. It might be contended, that the people have a right to change their government, even if they are happy. What can hinder them, if unanimous ? This right is, however, abftra&t; not because imaginary, but because it is improbable that an opportunity should offer of exercising it. Neceflity has generally been confidered as the rule of refiftance. When the mifery of individuals becomes intolerable, it is prefumed, that they may oppofe their governors t. But how is it poffible to lay down rules upon fuch a fubje&t? As well might we make laws for the elements, or affign bounds to the ocean. • On fuch occafions the people must be left to their own feel ings; nor have we any thing to apprehend from them. The mul • And Blackstone was of the fame opinion: "For, whenever a question arifes between the fociety at large, and any magiftrate veted with powers originally delegated by that fociety, it must be decided by the voice of the fociety itfelf: there is not on earth any other tribunal to refort to."-See Com. vol. i. p. 211.' Upon this principle Mr. Hampden refifted the officers fent by Charles to levy the fhip-money.' titude titude are naturally fubmiffive, and the proof is, that they have borne fo much oppreffion from their rulers *. And yet to hear fome men talk, we fhould fuppofe that the people breathed nothing but fedition; that they had neither fenfe nor moderation; that they were abandoned, like favages, to the dominion of the most furious paffions, and that we must blind before we could tame them. I wish the fault may not lie the other way: I wish they may not be too easy. It was the feventeenth century before they gave up divine right; before they could be perfuaded that one man is not entitled to make millions miferable. But that delufion is now paft-our worft errors are now over. And as the first step to virtue is to leave vice, fo the firft fign of wifdom is to defert folly.-But I hope we fhall not stop here-I hope we shall improve daily-I hope the time will come, when reason fhall fee, and fentiment fhall feel, and unanimity fhall proclaim, that public good is the end of society, public happiness the bond of government!' Art. 18. Hiftoric Memoir on the French Revolution: to which are annexed, Strictures on the Reflections of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke. 8vo. pp. 96. 25. Dilly. 1791. Though fo much has been already written on the French Revo lution, we think this memoir, which is faid to come from the pen of Mr. Belfham, the ingenious author of Essays, philofophical, biftorical, and literary +, will be very acceptable to the public. It gives a concife and judicious fummary of the leading caufes which produced, of the interefting events which accompanied, and of the principal regulations which followed, the revolution. Though the author be not a blind and indifcriminate panegyrift on every thing that has been done by the National Affembly, yet he warmly and justly praises the new conftitution, on the whole, as one of the grandeft and nobleft efforts that was ever made to advance the happinefs of mankind. Some parts, however, he criticifes with a liberal and independent fpirit; and fuppofes it might have been better if, in a few particulars, it had approached rather nearer to the British form of government. The strictures on Mr. Burke are fenfible and juft, and, in general, fair and candid. In a few inftances, however, we wish they had been marked with lefs afperity and tartnefs; especially in P. 59, where it is afked, Who is Mr. Burke? and what are his qualifications and endowments, which entitle him to hold in contempt the collective wisdom of an illuftrious affembly, who are employed in conftructing a fabric of liberty which will conftitute the happiness of unborn generations, regardless of the wretched and impotent attacks of an infignificant and infolent individual?' Surely any individual, of endowments far inferior to thofe of Mr. Burke, might, without being charged with infolence, examine the proceed Witnefs their patience under the Neros, the Caligulas, the Caracallas, and all the other monsters that have difgraced humanity." + See Rev. vol. ii. New Series, p. 1. ings of an affembly, even more numerous and more illuftrious than that of the French legiflators, if any fuch affembly were to be found, provided he did it to promote what he really believed to be the caufe of truth and virtue Mr. Burke's extreme violence admits of no excufe: but we think that he, or any other perfon with half his merit, may be permitted to diffent from any men, or any meafures, without having his difference of opinion conftrued into an indecent contempt of his fuperiors. Who are you, Sir?' is a quellion mere characteristic of an aristocrate, than of a friend to equal liberty, and an impartial fecker of truth. Art. 19. The Catechifm of the French Conflitution. Containing an Explanation of all its Principles, in the mott eafy and familiar Manner with the Rights of Men and Citizens, the fundamental Articles of the Conftitution, &c. &c. Tranflated from the French. 8vo. pp. 49: is. 6d. Jordan. 1791. Though we do not think the sketch of the French regulations here prefented to us, fo methodical and perfpicuous as that drawn up by Mr. Chriftie in his Letters, it is neverthelefs fuch as cannot fail to be acceptable to all who wish for a knowlege of what the National Affembly have done, and who are alfo defirous of obtaining it in a small time, and at a moderate expence. It is chiefly taken, as the editor tells us, from the Feuille Villageoife of M. Ceruti. Beide what is mentioned in the title page, it contains the duties of men and citizens contrafted with their rights; the form of the civic oath; and the prayer of a true citizen. MEDICAL. Art. 20. Thoughts and Obfervations on the Nature and Use of Dr. James's Powder, in the Prevention and Cure of Difeates. Addreffed to every one who wishes to be acquainted with the falutary Effects of that valuable Medicine: with the Difeafes and Manner in which it has been administered with Succefs; and the Doctor's original Receipt, extracted from the Records of Chancery. By a Gentleman of the Faculty. 12mo. pp. 90. is. 6d. Scatcherd and Co. 1790. This Gentleman of the Faculty writes from No motive but that of the PUBLIC good.' According to his account, Dr. James's powder, either alone, or in compolition with other remedies, will cure all difeafes. Its effects are fometimes curiously pointed out; and if the writer ufes terms in a fenfe different from their common acceptation, let not this be objected to him as a fault:-every man furely has a right to affix what meaning he pleafes to his own words, and it is very ungenteel, as we have heard remarked, to ask a gentleman for a definition:-our medical readers will, from the following fentence, enlarge their ideas concerning alteratives: - That James's powder is a moft ufeful remedy known where a free evacuation is wanted, no one can doubt; and that it wonderfully promotes all the fecretions is evident: hence its use as an alterative.' * See our laft Month's Review. The The following fpecimens of his accuracy in compounding medicines will be fufficient: As a fubftitute for the Doctor's powder, he defires us to Take tartar emetic one part; calx of antimony, about eleven. Again, for the compofition of Dr. Griffith's myrchmixture,' we have this recipe: Take Salt of feel, twenty grains; Salt of tartar, two fcruples; Myrrh, one dram; Tincture of orange-peel, one ounce. These are to be made into a mixture, with as much water as may be judged neceffary, &c. Art. 21. An Efay on Vital Sufpenfion: being an Attempt to investigate and to afcertain thofe Difeafes in which the Principles of Life are apparently extinguished. By a Medical Practitioner. Ενο. PP. 23. Is. Rivingtons. 1791. The writer of this Effay appears to have read and thought much on the fubject; his reading is, however, difplayed with too much pomp, and, his thoughts are rendered confufed and obfcure by the affectation and verbofity of his language. In addition to the ufual modes of restoring fufpended animation, he recommends the practice of transfufion. Art. 22. ARTS, MECHANICS, &c. Tracts on Weights, Measures, and Coins, viz. 1. Synopfis of a Syftem of Equalization of Weights and Meafures of Great Britain. 2. A Comparison of various Pendulums, and Reafens for preferving that which is propofed in the Synopfis. 3. Obfervations on the Equalization of Coins. 4. A new Method of finding pretty accurately the Center of Ofcillation in a Pendulum. c. Remarks on Mr. Whitehurt's Method of obtaining invariable Measures. 6. Remarks on Dr. Rotheram's Obfervations on the propofed Plan for equalizing all our Weights and Meafures. By George Skene Keith, M. A. Minifter of Keith Hall and Kinkell, Aberdeenshire. 4to. pp. 20. is. 6d. Murray. 1791. This auther informs us that the firit of thefe tracts was fent to Sir John Riggs Miller, of whofe labours in this business we have given fome account in our Review for laft April, from his own publication; in which he makes honourable mention of the affistance that he received from Mr. Keith: indeed, their plans are fo much alike, that it is almost evident that they had the fame origin. Mr. Keith enters farther into the computations relative to the confequences which may be expected to refult from the establishment of standards, derived from different fources, than Sir John Miller has done; and indeed feems to have gone to the bottom of that part of the business: but it does not appear that he has made any experiments, and, of course, all the difficult part of it, or, at least, that part of it where we conceive the greatest difficulties will occur, remains ftill as it was. Mr. K. like most others, only talks about that, as he would about a thing in which no difficulty would occur. Mr. Keith thinks Mr. Whitehurst was not aware that his machine would measure the difference between any two pendulums, but thofe 8 where |