of which are favourable to the Neptunian bypothesis; and the latter affording hints, by which our highly improved manufactories may profit. But they will be found entertaining and flattering to Bri tons, from the impressions which they describe the author to have felt, on viewing the numerous objects of utility or curiosity, which arrest the attention of inquisitive foreigners in every part of this country; the mines, manufactures, spirit of enterprise, order, and economy, which are the foundations of our greatness; and the striking scenes of grandeur or of beauty, which abound both in the northern and southern parts of our island. The respectable tribute, likewise, which the author pays to our philosophic and literary characters, the handsome terms in which he speaks of the hospitality and friendly manmers which he experienced, and the good humour which pervades his whole work, will not contribute to render the perusal of his travels less pleasing to our country

men.

The two volumes of "Rambles through Ireland, by a French Emigrant, translated from the French of M. de Latocnaye, by an Irishman," contains the remarks and observations of an eccentric, but inquisitive and lively, pedestrian traveller, during an excursion of eight or nine months, through the greatest part of that country, to which he carried with him numerous and very respectable letters of recommendation. We read them, not without receiving entertainment, and some information, particularly respecting "the remotest and wildest part of the country, where the national character may be supposed to have been least modified by an intercourse with

strangers.' According to the translator, he has painted his countrymen as they are. The picture which he presents of the higher ranks is honourable to their public spirit, generosity, and hospitality; and that of the lower classes much more pleasing than we have been accustomed to receive from the pencils of foreigners.

The "Letters of a Traveller, on the various Countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa, containing Sketches of their present State, Government, Religion, Manners, and Customs, &c. edited by Alexander Thomson, M.D." consist partly of compilations from writers of respectability, and partly of information obtained by the author in his visits to countries seldom frequented by European tourists. The mélange is not unskilfully prepared, and, by young readers, may be consulted with plea-, sure and profit.

Mr. Warner's "Second Walk through Wales, in August and September 1798," is conducted on the same plan, and is equally pleasing and entertaining with his former. volume, of which we gave an account in our last year's Register. To travellers through the principality, both volumes will prove serviceable, in pointing out the ob jects most worthy of their notice, in supplying them with an abstract of their history, and in beguiling the fatigues of their journey by amusing. narratives.

Mr. Pratt's "Gleanings in England, descriptive of the Countenance, Mind, and Character of the Country," volume IV. are a continuation, in the same manner and spirit, of his work noticed in our Register for the year 1795. That his pages still continue to be sometimes highly interesting and enter. taining, we readily acknowledge;

but

but we cannot conceal that at other times we were oppressed with langour by the author's prolixity and verbosity. If Mr. Pratt devotes the same proportionate share of attention to other parts of the kingdom that he has done to Nor folk, in the present volume, in oider" to present a just and honourable idea of this important country, as a whole, from-not a mechanical, not a methodical,but fair and liberal survey of its parts, taken in several journeys upon its animated surface, with descriptions from immediate objects and reflexions, moral, natural, political, or personal, either in connexion with, or arising out of, them," it will not be easy to form a conjecture of the magnitude to which his work must swell.

The hon. Mrs. Murray's "Companion and useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland, to the Lakes of Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Lancashire, and to the Curiosities in the District of Craven, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, &c." will more than answer the expectations which may be formed from its modest and unassuming title. The particular and judicious directions and information which she has given to travellers constitute the useful part of her work; and to these she has added pleasing and animated descriptions of the natural scenery, delineations of character and manners, and lively anecdotes, which will gratify and amuse the reader.

"The Balnea, or an impartial Description of all the popular Watering Places in England, in terspersed with original Sketches and incidental Anecdotes, &c. by George Saville Carey," may serve as an entertaining companion and guide to the visitors of those scenes,

The Political publications of the year 1799, if we except such as relate to the state of things and subjects discussed in Ireland, have been fewer in number, and of less importance than during several preceding years. This is to be attributed in some measure to the expensive prosecutions carried on against booksellers, who were so unfortunate as to receive into their shops for sale publications which excited the indignation of the attorney-general. The impossibility of examining every work which should pass through their hands in the course of trade determined some of the most re pectable of that class not to publish any treatise of political complexion and others carefully to exclude such as should not favour and support ministenal politics. By such determinations a considerable delay was occasioned

in the appearance of a vindication of " the Secession from Parliament" of the opposition members, by the reverend Mr. Wyvill, which must be allowed to be an able, temperate, and constitutional production, by those who may not feel the force of the author's arguments. Such a secession, when the peculiarity of circumstances requires it, he maintains to be consistent with the law and usage of parliament, and to be the constitutional mode of appeal from a minority to the sense and reason of the community at large., The "Thoughts on Government, with a short View of the comparative political Freedom enjoyed in France, America, Britain, &c. by George Watson, Esq. " are employed in showing that the British constitution is more perfect, and likely to endure longer than any other constitution in the world. So far from entertaining apprehensions of evil consequences from an ex-, tension of the regal influence, the author asserts his belief," that, if not properly restrained, the superior influence of the people will swallow up the power of the

crown.

"The Rise, Progress and Consequences, of the new Opinions and Principles lately introduced into France," will prove acceptable only to superficial and credulous readers; and the "Historical View of the Rise, Progress, and Tendency, of the Principles of Jacobinism, by the Reverend Lewis Hughes, B. D." to the admirers of the abbé Barruel's reveries, from which it is a professed compilation.

The Appeal to Man, but particularly addressed to the British Government, with an Institute of Government, &c. is a strange compound of mysticism and demobracy, in which the Auther, in the

plenitude of his wisdom, labours to persuade his majesty's ministers to eatablish similar forms of government in the British colonies and dependencies, with what have awakened their jealousy and apprehensions when adopted in a neighbouring country.

"The Conduct of Great-Britain vindicated against the Calumnies of foreign Enemies and domestic conspirators, &c. by Charles Tweedie, Junior," is the composition of a juvenile, but ingenious and lively writer, who has shown himself not sparing in declamation, and vituperative rhetoric, while endeavouring to convict the French of the crimes of commencing the present bloody and ruinous war, and of frustrating all attempts at negotiation for peace.

The "Observations on the Political State of the Continent, should France be suffered to retain her immense Acquisitions, &c." are the production of a well-informed and able writer, who is a strenuous advocate for the continuance of war with the French republic, until her conquests in Belgium and Italy are wrested from her grasp. In endeavouring to point out the necessity of such protracted hostility to the safety of Europe, he is supported by the authors of "Thoughts on the Interference of Great-Britain with the Political Concerns of the Continent;" of "Arguments for a Coalition against France;" of "Considerations on the Impolicy of treating for Peace with the present Regicide Government of France; and of the Necessity of destroying the French Republic, proved by Facts and Arguments, translated from the French, by the Author." Mr. Bowles's Retrospect sists of a republication of the dif ferent tracts in which that author

con

has

has endeavoured to persuade his countrymen to exert repeated and increased vigour, for the destruction of the French republic and of French republicans.

Sir Francis d'Ivernois has contributed his efforts to the same cause by an "Historical and Political Survey of the Losses sustained by the French Nation, in Population, A. griculture, Colonies, Manufactures, and Commerce;" the chief object of which is to show, that the resources of the French republic for carrying on the war are extinct. Sir Francis has repeatedly encouraged our war-loving statesmen by the same kind of consolatory intelligence; but, unfortunately, the progress of events has not corresponded with his ingenious calculations. If we may credit, however, the author of " Tests of the National Wealth and Finances of Great-Britain," whatever be the state of the French treasury, our resources for carrying on the war are progressively increasing; for the increase of taxes, of which no person can entertain a doubt, in his estimation, is an incontrovertible proof of the increase of national wealth. Mr. Rose, likewise, has endeavoured to stimulate our exertions against France, by "A brief Examination into the Increase of the Revenue, Commerce, and Manufactures of Great Britain, from 1792 to 1799;" in which he has offered a specious and flattering picture of the flourishing state of our finances, to comfort us under the severe pressure of our public burthens, The other articles which belong to this department are, "The Dutch Expedition vindicated, with brief Observations on the Emigrants;" "The Failure of the French Crusade, or the Advantages to be derived to Great Britain from the

Restoration of Egypt to the Turks, by Eyles Irwin, Esq.;" a satirical "Extract from an Account of certain poor Persons in London, who cannot pay their Income-Tax, with Observations, and a Plan for their Relief;""The Origin of insidious Arts of Jacobinism, a Warning to the People of England, &c. by Francis Wollaston, Rector of Chiselhurst ;" and Mr. David Rivers rancorous and malignant Observations on the Political Conduct of the Protestant Dissenters, &c."

In Irish politics, we meet with "An Examination into the Discon tents in Ireland, with Remarks on the Writings and Interference, ex officio, of Arthur Young, Esq. &c, by William Bingley, fourteen Years a Resident in" that country. This work is written with great openness, simplicity, and candour, and presents us with valuable information relative to the real state of the country and country-people of Ireland, before the commencement of the late unhappy civil war. The disaffection, and subsequent rebellion, of the Roman-catholic peasantry, he clearly traces to the oppressions attending the collection of tythes, and other sufferings, which call loudly for remedy, before permanent peace and tranquillity can be expected in that country.

The "Impartial Relation of the Military Operations which took Place in Ireland, in Consequence of the landing of a Body of French Troops under General Humbert, in August 1798," we notice in this place, on account of the light which it throws on the political state of the popular mind at that period. From the evidence brought forwards by the author, it appears that so general was the prevalence of disaffection, that little confidence could be placed

placed in a considerable part of the national militia, and that it required the greatest caution and prudence in marquis Cornwallis, with the large force entrusted to him effectually to counteract the mischief of that feeble invasion.

The "Legal Arguments, occasioned by the Project of an Union between Great Britain and Ireland, on the Exclusion of the Roman Catholic Nobility and Gentry of both Kingdoms from Parliament, by a Member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn," are drawn up with ability, and would not have been less forcible and impressive, if the author had been occasionally more cool and temperate in his language and incidental reflections. We can perceive no reasons of true policy or expediency, that, in the present state of things, should prevent protestants and catholics, and men of all religious opinions, from being considered as children of one family, and entitled to the same privileges and immunities of every description.

The subject of a union between Great Britain and Ireland, adverted to in the last-mentioned article, gave rise to a variety of publications, of which our limits will only permit us to take very brief notice. Some of those publications consist of speeches, or the substance of speeches, delivered by the principal orators and statesmen in both houses of parliament, and demanded our attention in giving an abstract of the parliamentary debates. The other articles we shall class according to the side of the question embraced by their respective authors, in favour of, or against, the union of the two kingdoms.

In the number of the former ere "Considerations upon the State

of Public Affairs in the Year 1799. Ireland." This treatise presents us with striking facts, and ingenious reasonings, to prove not only the policy, but the necessity, of the incorporation of Ireland with England, delivered in the polished but turgid language of the Burkean school.

"The Necessity of an incorpo rate Union between Great Britain and Ireland, proved from the Situ-, ation of both Kingdoms, with a Sketch of the Principles on which it ought to be formed," is the title of a pamphlet which contains a full and comprehensive view of the subject, and a luminous arrange ment of the most weighty arguments in favour of the measure in question.

The Three Letters to a Noble Lord, on the projected Legislative Union, &c. by a Nobleman," are to be commended for the calmness and good temper with which the author discusses his subject, and points out the influence which such a change must have on the legislation, commerce, and religious pri vileges of the Irish.

The Reasons for adopting an Union between Ireland and Great. Britain, by the Author of the Letters to Jos. Spencer, Esq." possess a similar character with the lastmentioned article; as do, likewise, the treatises entitled "Ireland profiting by Example, or the Question, Whether Scotland has gained or lost by an Union with England ? fairly discussed, in a Letter from a Gentleman at Edinburgh to his Friend at Dublin;" and the "Letter addressed to a Member of the Irish Parliament on the Subject of the proposed Union, &c."

"The Competency of the Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland to incorporate their Legisla

tures,