both thefe cafes, as well as in all others in which the air is rendered incapable of fupporting life and flame, it suffers a diminution; the caufe of which we fhall have occafion to speak of hereafter. In the eighth fection we meet with a fingular observation of the very confiderable and noxious diminution of common air, effected folely by the effluvia of paint, made with white lead and oil. Several pieces of paper daubed with this paint, being put into an inverted jar standing in water, greatly diminifhed the air contained in it; as was evident from the rifing of the water between one-fifth and one-fourth of the whole space. The remaining air was hereby rendered incapable of effervefcing with nitrous air, and was in the highest degree noxious. This air, like other diminished airs, was made wholesome by agitating it in water deprived of air :-an obfervation which, as Dr. Percival has lately remarked, fhews the utility of the practice of placing veffels of water in rooms lately painted.

The air which is the fubject of the next fection, poffeffes, like the reft, many remarkable properties, and is diftinguished from them by the Author, by the appellation of Acid Air. The honourable Mr. Cavendish first observed it; having procured it from a diffolution of copper in the marine acid t. Dr. PrieftTey however, in the prosecution of his experiments on this subject, difcovered that the metal was not requifite to the production of this remarkable fluid; that it is furnished by the fpirit of falt alone, and is nothing more than the fume or vapour of that acid; which being once raised from it by means of heat, is not liable to be condensed by cold, like the vapour of water and other fluids, but becomes a permanently elastic substance, which extinguishes flame, and is heavier than common air. When all this air has been expelled from a given quantity of the marine acid, what arifes afterwards is a real vapour condenfable, like that of water, by cold. The remaining liquor is found to be a weak acid, barely capable of diffolving iron.

This term the Author has chofen to apply to all thefe elaftic fluids indifcriminately, as a lefs exceptionable appellation than that of vapour. Subftances that poffets a permanent degree of elafticity, and that have in common fo many of the other properties of the air we breathe, ought rather, he thinks, to be diftinguished by the title of air, than by that of vapour; as this laft term has hitherto conftantly conveyed with it the idea of an elastic matter readily condenfable in the common temperature of the atmosphere.

See his ingenious paper on Faditious Air, in the 56th volume of the Phil Tranf. and our Review, vol. xxxvii. Dec. 1767, p. 440, where fome mention is made of this fingular fluid.

The moft obfervable property of this air or vapour is, that while it is contained in an inverted glafs veffel standing in quickfilver, it preferves its aerial or elaftic form; but on presenting water to it, the greatest part of it vanishes, and is found to be condensed into a strong acid fpirit. Two grains and a half of rain water will abforb no less than three ounce measures of this air. The water thus faturated now weighs twice as much as it did before, and is converted into a concentrated spirit of falt, ftronger, the Author obferves, than any he ever met with.

In the courfe of his experiments on this new fubject of inquiry, with a view to discover its properties, and its chemical relations to other bodies, the Author foon difcovered that it had a ftrong affinity to phlogiston, so as to extract it from numerous bodies abounding in that principle; particularly from inflammable fpirits, expreffed oils, oil of turpentine, charcoal, phofphorus, bees wax, and, which is fingular, even from fulphur forming, in this laft inftance, a ftrong exception to the common table of affinities as here this vapour of the weakest of the three mineral acids breaks the union of the vitriolic, or the moft potent, with phlogifton, diflodging the former, and uniting with the latter. It is not one of the leaft obfervable results of these various combinations, that this acid air, which before extinguished flame, is now converted into an inflammable compound, in all its fenfible qualities resembling inflammable air.

Some miscellaneous experiments form the fubject of the tenth and last section of the first part.-But we now find it impoffible even to skim over this truly ingenious performance in the compass of one article. We fhall therefore refume the confideration of it in our next or a future number.

The attention which we have defervedly beftowed on this work has enabled us to detect a few Errata that have escaped the Author's correction, fome of which materially affect the fense. We suffer fo much ourselves by unavoidable inaccuracies. of the prefs, that we readily lay hold of the prefent opportunity of gratifying the Author, his readers, and ourselves, by marking the following:-Page 123, line 3 of the note, for acid, read air. Page 260, line 7, dele with. Page 306, line 2, for necet, read recent. Page 311, line 25, for healed, read treated; and page 324, line 15, for it, read iron.

B...y.

Art. 11. Obfervations on the Act of Parliament commonly called the Bofton Port Bill; with Thoughts on Civil Society, and Standing Armies. By Jofiah Quincy, junior, Counsellor at Law in Boston. Bolton printed, London reprinted. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Dilly. 1774. NE peculiarly unlucky circumftance attending our American difputes, may be added to the reft, viz. that our fellow-fubjects there are as well read in the nature and grounds of civil and religious liberty, as ourselves; as appears by many of their late publi cations, in which they oppose British pretenfions on British principles and this fhrewd commentary on the Boston Port Bill, will incline us to entertain à refpectable opinion of their law pleaders. Were the caufe to be decided by pleading, it is not difficult to fay what the iffue would be; what it may be according to the actual mode of profecution, is too difagreeable a profpect on either fide to anticipate : the refult must be waited with a painful anxiety, by every true friend of liberty, and of his country.

The incroachments of power are very naturally repréfented; but ably as this ingenious Barrister pleads the American cause, it is, it feems, in vain to urge it any more. Why reason is no longer the rule in political management, appears fully from what he fays on a fubject that intimately affects the whole empire, viz. that of a STANDING ARMY! This was once an alarming object of fenatorial complaint; but fo it is, fubjects complain till they are wearied, minifters. fure of a tame majority, laugh at fuch ineffectual representations, outnumber the talkers, and thus, which is the most mortifying circumftance of all, employ the forms of the conftitution to poison it!

A parent first cherishes and inftructs his infant offspring; but the vigour of the one declining, perhaps the fooner for intemperance, while that of the other increases, their circumftances are at last inverted. Hence the parent grows indolent, careless, and peevish; the young ones, vigilant, prudent, and affuming: therefore among other remonftrances from the American fhores, we are not to wonder at being reminded of an impending danger that we have too long. forgot. Whether the remembrance may not come a day too late, and only to add to our forrow, is a queftion well worth the attention of thofe who are qualified for the investigation, and empowered to ac upon it. N. Art. 12. An Argument in Defence of the exclufive Right claimed by the Colonies to tax themselves. With a Review of the Laws of England, relve to Representation and Taxation. To which is added,

Acco of the Rife of the Colonies, and the Manner in which the Rights of the Subjects within the Realm were communicated. to thote that went to America, with the Exercise of those Rights from their first Settlement to the prefent Time. 8vo. 2 s. 6 d. Brotherton, &c. 177..

Another folid and judicious advocate for the colonies has employed his pen to no farther purpose, than to render the contrast between equity and power more glaring.

Art. 13. The Fuftice and Policy of the late Act of Parliament for making more effectual Provifion for the Government of the Province of Quebec, afferted and proved; and the Conduct of Administration retpecting that Province, ftated and vindicated. 8vo. I s. 6 d.

Wilkie. 1774.

We have in this pamphlet a full and explicit difcuffion of the feveral objections raised against the Act for regulating the Government of the Province of Quebec. The particulars we apprehend it is needlefs to enter into; fince no one who confiders the circumftances of that province, and reads the act with due attention, will efteem the popular cavils worth reasoning upon, unless out of tenderness to weak minds, to prevent their becoming the dupes of defigning men. Such men, if they really mean any thing more than exalting themfelves as bell-wethers of the populace here, muft wish to establish oppreffion and flavery under the mark of civil and religious liberty. Because the fortune of war has subjected a great number of inoffenfive French Catholics, in a remote part of the world, to our power, are we to fhock all their feelings and prejudices, deftroy their private peace, and distract the government of the colony, to make them Englishmen and Protestants vi et armis? We have done far wifer, in adopting the conduct of the apostle Paul, who tells the Corinthians, I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal +.

Art. 14. A Letter to the Earl of Chatham, on the Quebec Bill. 8vo. I S. Cadell. 1774.

This excellent letter has been afcribed to a young Lord, whofe character out of the house is as well known as his abilities in it: but it is now afferted that a worthy Baronet is the real father of this political bantling.

Lord C. had thought proper feverely to arraign the Quebec bill. For this he is now as feverely called to account; not indeed in harsh terms, calculated to catch the ear by humouring popular prepoffeffions, but with masterly arguments, directed to the understanding of mankind.

If ever, fays the very fenfible Writer, there was an event on which the Public might demand an opinion, it had a right to yours on the fettlement of Canada. From your rank and experience in the ftate, your importance in your country, and, above all, as the atchieve. ment was yours, the manner of maintaining it fhould have been yours alfo. You was the minifter, the uncontrolled and uncontrollable minifter, when Canada was conquered. When you returned to power a fecond time, you propofed no legiflative act for its regulation and government; muft I then fay to you my Lord, "Vincere fcis, victoriâ uti nefcis."-if your abilities are confeffed, who can excufe your neglect? Or if, in this bufinefs, either inaccuracy of head, inattention of mind, incorrectness of judgment, or infufficiency of reason, may be imputed to any man, on whom can that charge

For which we refer to the harangues and hand-bills of two late unfuccefsful candidates for public offices in the metropolis.

+ 1 Corinthians iii. 2, 31

fall more juftly than upon your Lordship? Why then did you choose this peculiar moment to break forth from your retirement? Surely, my Lord, your condefcenfion is not fuch as to lead you to become the meer harbinger of my Lord-Mayor, and his addrefs within the palace, and of his co patriots without, who attended his Majefty from St. James's to the parliament'

The expediency of affording fome legal form of government to that province is thus cogently pointed out:

Let us flop for a moment, to fee what the government of Canada was, under the proclamation which you with to perpetuate,-it comprehended Eat Florida, Weft Florida, and the Grenades, together. with Canada, countries as different in their establishments as in their foil, and in their climate; various therefore were the inftructions given to the feveral governors, and afterwards changed according as information and experience pointed out new fyflems. In Canada, the French laws alone prevailed till 1764, then the English laws got fome footing. The governors and officers of juftice always doubtful which to take for their guide, fometimes preferring the English, fometimes the French laws, as each feemed applicable to the cafe. before them-One year a proclamation, another year an inftruction to a governor, another year a local ordinance, changed the principle, and varied the course of their jufticiary proceedings.--In this state of fructuation, no man knew by what right he could take, or give, inherit, or convey, poffefs, or enjoy property; or by what mode or rule he could bring his right to a trial. One neceffary confequence was a frequent refort to the crown for amendment, explanation, and decifion; cujus eft condere, ejus eft interpretari."-And what lefs than defpotifm is the power of the crown, when it can create or interpret, eftablish or deftroy laws, by virtue of its own mandates?' As to the civil government of Canada, after fome juft remarks on the nature of trials by jury, the ingenious Writer thus proceeds:

"

Let us now, my Lord, fee what is the fund for an English jury in Canada; the number of freeholders (I do not fay there are none) is fmall indeed; but there are about three hundred Englishmen, wha are house keepers, and of thefe, perhaps thirty or forty are of the rank of merchants and tradefmen; the reft are difbanded foldiers, most of them futlers; and it is a melancholy confideration that their chief traffic is in fpirituous liquors, of which they fhare pretty largely with their cuftomers the common foldiers. The courts of jultice fit once a week. The number of the better fort of English will not afford one legal panel in the whole year, and infufficient to do the business of juries, even fuppofing them to give up their time, and every other occupation to that fervice only: Mr. Maferes therefore admits that the burthen of attendance would be intolerable without pay; and he proposes five fhillings a head for every time they ferve thus the office of jurymen would become a trade, a trade indeed, that none of the better fort will follow, but muft fall of course upon thofe veterans who have left the army for the gin fhop fuch must be the English jury in Canada, without freeholders, without challenge, without change, and in fhort without one attribute of an English jury. Corruptio optimi fit peffima, is a true old adage, and I fpeak it as a proof of the perfection of an English jury, that in an

imperfect