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Aumber, but that fome scheme may be devised and adopted for the reclamation of that unfortunate clafs of females, who live by proftitution, and for the prevention of thofe public enticements to immorality, which are nightly exhibited in every ftreet of the metropolis. We have no doubt but that a large proportion of those females, who earn their bread by the pro ftitution of their bodies, are driven into this melancholy and humiliating way of life, by an inability to find fome honorable employment: when we fee a man, qualified by the alertnefs and mufcularity of his limbs for the labor of a gladiator, measuring lace, or forting ribbons behind the counter, we are difgufted at the meannefs of his encroachment; for it is impoffible to avoid confidering him as a tyrant, walking in thofe paths of industry which fhould be facredly appropriated to the female fex. The publication of Mr. Colquhoun's Treatife on the Police of the Metropolis, roufed the legislature to a fenfe of the inefficiency of that police to the prevention of crimes, or the detection of criminals: a felect committee was in confequence appointed, who prefented a report, in which they advifed either the confolidation of the two offices of hawkers and pedlars, and of hackneycoaches; or that they might both be abolished, and their duties respectively affigned to the office of ftamps, and to the magiftrates of the metropolis; or laftly, if the hackney-coach office fhould ftill be retained, that a material retrenchment might take place in its expenfe. Since the prefentation of this, the committee has fitten again and published another Report," dated June 26th, 1798, in which they declare their opinion, that much more falutary effects with respect to police may be derived from a plan drawn up by Meffrs. Colquhoun and Poole, (which is annexed to their difcuffion) than from any of the fchemes which the committee fubmitted in their report of the preceding year.

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The outline of this plan is, that one great board of police revenue formed by a certain number of commiffioners with handfome falaries be eftablished, and that it fhall difcharge the duties of the prefent offices of hawkers and pedlars, hackneycoaches, &c. That two new officers of police be moreover established, and that all of them have concurrent jurifdiction over the whole metropolis, and the counties of Middlefex, Kent, Effex, and Surrey. It is thought advisable that the attorney-general fhail be empowered to appoint coun

fel for the crown with moderate falaries, to conduct all criminal profecutions; that all lodging-houfes in the metropolis be registered, and the proprietor pay a small fine annually. The committee recommend the adoption of Mr. Bentham's plan for employing convicts in folitary confinement; this plan was fubmitted to government five years fince, and approved by them; but the difficulty of finding a proper place for the erection of his Panopticon has hitherto delayed its execution: this difficulty we understand is likely to he foon removed. In the report before us, it is ftated that the whole annual disbursements attending the criminal police in Great Britain amount to 234,1531. 145. 748. that the annual coft of each convict employed in the hulks, deducting the value of his labor, is 12l. 138. 7d.; and the annual expenfe of each convict sent to Botany Bay 441. 19s. 1d.! How little the public is compenfated for thefe enormous expenfes by a general reformation of the of fenders who are either imprisoned in our feveral places of confinement, who are working in the hulks, or transported to Botany Bay, we are alas, but too well acquainted! In the in- lifcriminate affociation with each other, they devife deep plans of plunder which are too frequently executed on the recovery of their liberty.

An interefting "Account" has been published of the proceedings of the acting governors of the Houfe of Induftry in Dublin for two years, from which it clearly appears how effential is the perfonal fuperintendence, as well as money of men of opulence and refpe&tability, for the economical and comfortable management of a Houfe of Induftry. Previously to the appointment of the acting governors the average expenfe of maintenance with other incidental charges in relieving the poor was annually at the rate of 71. 15. rd. per head; in the first half year of the fuperintendence of the acting governors the average per annum for the fame purpofes was l. 4s. 1d.; the charges for the enfuing year were only at the rate of 41. 158. 3d. Various objections have arisen and been pointed out by those who have written on the fubject against any public eftablishment for the poor: affuming, however, the eligibility of fuch establishments in general, the plan of the House of Industry of Dublin is fo excellent, that it may well ferve as a model for similar inftitutions

On a former occafion we noticed with great pleasure COUNT RUMFORD'S propofals for forming by fubfcription in the

metropolis

metropolis of the British Empire a public inftitution for diffufing the knowledge, and facilitating the general introduction, of ufeful mechanical inventions and improvements, &c. To the honor of the Nation these proposals were embraced and fupported with a degree of ardor, which nothing could have fo generally infpired, but a real eagerness for the propagation of fcience, and the application of it to the common purposes of life. A " Profpec tus" is now printed" of the Royal Inftitution of Great Britain incorporated by Charter, M,DCCC., Patron, the King; with a Copy of the Charter, and a Lift of Subfcribers." This magnificent inftitution, which has fcarcely been twelve months before the public, is already under the direction of nearly 150 proprietors, fubfcribers of 50 guineas cach; 126 life fubfcribers at 10 guineas each; and 114 annual subscribers at 2 guineas each: 5000l. has been raised on voluntary loan for the conftruction of a theatre for public lectures; and a splendid and convenient house in Albemarle-ftreet, has already been taken for the purposes of the fociety: under fuch munificent patronage and fuch wife directors, there cannot be any doubt of the fuccefs and profperity of this national establishment.

The 7th, 8th, and 9th “ Reports of the Society for bettering the Condition, and increafing the Comforts of the Poor" are published: they relate a variety of very interefting experiments for the relief of our fellow creatures in diftrefs, and evince the activity and indefatigable attention of those gentlemen who fuperintend its concerns. A few pamphlets have been written on the fubject of the high price of corn, but they do not, in general, poffefs much information as to the caufes of it; or propofe other remedies than those which have been offered to the public a hundred times before. "The Queftion of Scarcity plainly stated, and Remedies confidered, with Obfervations on permanent means to keep Wheat at a more regular Price, by ARTHUR YOUNG." This writer confiders the fcarcity as real, but not fufficient to authorize the high price which has been demanded for corn; his propofed remedies are to encourage the cultivation of potatoes; to prohibit the feeding of horfes kept for pleasure, on oats; to convert every fcrap of waste land into little poffeffions for the poor, and to affign gardens and grafs lands to labourers for one or two Cows. The author of "A Word for the Poor, &c. &c. &c." contends eagerly, and

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writes in a pert manner and feems not very competent to impart information. Mr. Brooke, in a pamphlet entitled "True Caufes of our prefent Diftrefs for Provifions, &c." has difcuffed the subject with more fobriety and good fenfe, than either of the authors whofe works we have juft mentioned he confiders the principal caufes of the prefent fcarcity in grain of every defcription, butchers' meat, poultry, &c. to be "monopoly of farms; the immenfe number of horses kept in this kingdom; the neglect in breeding cows, horned cattle, hogs, affes, and goats; the almoft difufe of fifh, and careleffness of our fisheries; the prefent method of fupporting the clergy; too extenfive hopgrounds, neglect of orchards, &c." "Exclufive of thefe general caufes of fcarcity," fays Mr. B. "there are others which have operated in a lefs degree, these second caufes are extenfive parks, and pleasure grounds; the common mode of fowing grain; the extravagant manner used by the poor in dreffing ment; the ridiculous waste of ftraw, &c." Mr. B. enlarges on each of these topics, particularly the first; namely, the monopoly of farms, which he confiders as the great fource of the evil complained of, and interfperfes a number of ufeful hints for the improvement of agriculture and the encouragement of fisheries. The anonymous author of "Curfory Remarks on Bread and Coals," difplays much judgment, acutenefs and philanthropy: his obfervations on the unneccffary and unnatural fcarcity of coals particularly merit attention. The last work which we fhall notice under the head of Political Economy is, "The Reports" of two Committees who were appointed by the House of Commons, one in 1798 and one 1799, for the purpofe of inquiring into the beft mode of levying and collecting the duties upon the diftilleries and corn fpirits in Scotland: the Right Honourable Sylvefter Douglas in the chair. These Reports contain a mafs of information relative to the distilleries of Scotland, which does great credit to the industry and accuracy of the gentlemen who composed them. There are two fyftems which have been fuccefiively adopted in the collection of thefe duties, namely the licence fyttem and the furvey fyftem: the former of thefe leaves the diftiller unmolested by the excifeman, previously exacting the duty on fuch a quantity of fpirits as it is calculated the difiller might poffibly produce in a given time; on the payment of this duty the diftiller gets a licence to carry on his bufingfs. The furvey fyftem confifts in

an

an actual reckoning and account taken by the revenue officer of the quantity really produced by the diftiller. The obvious defect in this latter fyftem is the difficulty, or to fpeak more accurately, the absolute impoffibility of afcertaining that real quantity. The licence fyftem, therefore from its facility of execution and apparent certainty of adequate receipt fecmed in every refpect preferable: it was not, however long in ufe before its imperfection was moft ftrikingly exhibited; for the prefent rapidity of diftillation far exceeds what ever had before been practifed or conceived. The legislature had been taught to believe that the process could not be completed in lefs than 24 hours; whereas modern improvements have carried that art to fuch perfection that, inftead of 24 hours, not more than five, probably not more than three, minutes are now required for the procets of diftillation! This wonderful rapidity in the operation, effected by a series of inventions which were prompted, no doubt, by the licence fyftem, has been found productive of very serious evils; it is faid to create a wafte, not only of fuel, but of grain; it injures morcover the quality of the fpirit and renders it more noxious. The committee therefore have proposed a combination of the two fyftems as a fubftitute for both they have fketched the outline, which they conceive, if properly filled up, will in a great meature unite their advantages and avoid their defects. As it was no part of the inftructions of the committee that they should confider how far in a moral and political point of view the diftilleries fhould be encouraged, they have but flightly touched upon that important inquiry: they feem to be of opinion how ever, that if it were thought proper to attempt a total fuppreffion of the manufacture, its practicability is very queftionable; till they think fuch a duty fhould be impofed as to prevent the exceffive ufc of pirits among the poor.

POLITICS.

Mr. REEVES, whofe well-known pamphlet, entitled "Thoughts on the English Government, &c." was profecuted as libellous by order of the Houfe of Commons, has undertaken a defence of his publication, in a " Second Letter" on the fame fubject. The political tenets of this author are generally known, and the doctrine which he attempts to establish is generally execrated. It often happens that, in order to bring about the fame end, oppofite measures are fuccessfully pursued, and the fame measures occafionally adopt ed to effect very different and contra

dictory purposes. No one will feriously queftion Mr. Reeves's loyalty or the fincerity of his attachment to our conftitution; he exprefsly fays, indeed, in this prefent publication, that all is now right in this country, and be would have nothing altered; Mr. Reeves is in the notorious enjoyment of fo many finecures that there can be no doubt of his indifpofition to any alteration. Still however had we been difpofedwhich we certainly are not-to excite difaffection against the government of this country and bring the parliament into contempt, we could have devifed no more effectual method, in our eftimation, than to have written fuch another pamphlet as that which is before us. We should have told the people, as Mr. Reeves has done, that the English government is a fimple monarchy; that the monarch creates the two houfes of parliament; that they (the people) were utterly deftitute of all claim to fovereignty, and of course that they appointed no part of the legislature: that the King might rule without any parliament, and yet violate no law, and finally that he is the fole maker and executor of the laws! Thefe are precifely the doctrines which, in our opinion, have the ftrongest tendency to promote difaffection among the people against the perfon and high office of the Sovereign: these moreover are the exact doctrines which Mr. Reeves with very unfuccefsful affiduity, labors to eftablish. He contends-confiftently indeed--that in no inftance where the fucceffion of the crown has been in. terrupted by any violent change, has the people or the parliament appointed a King: on every fuch occafion the reigning mo narch bas either made himself or been made by fome other king! This pofition, fays he with becoming gravity of countenance, ought to ftartle nobody, when it is confidered that a fettlement of the crown has no force, unless it is made in parlia ment; and the King, being the maker of law, AS HAS BEEN PROVED, he must of courfe make the limitations and fettle. ments of the crown, whether upon him. felf or upon others: further, in order to fuch parliamentary fettlements where the defcent is interrupted there must be previously an acceptance and affumption of the crown. Mr. Reeves then endeavours to fhow that the accethion of Henry IV. of Henry VII. and of William III. all proceed upon the fame principles.

The hypothefis of Mr. Reeves has been controverted in all its parts by the Vinerian Profeffor in the Univerfity of Oxford, Dr. WOODDESON, in a pamphlet entitled, “A

brief Vindication of the Rights of the British Legislature, &c." In this pamphlet the learned author has fully refuted the letter-writer, even from the authorities which himself has adduced, and contends that the very words of the acts of Parliament, in exprefling that each law is enacted not only by and with the advice, but by the authority of that body, directly and peremptorily oppofe the doctrine of Mr. Reeves. This latter gentleman has expofed himself to public ridicule and difcredit in a Third and Fourth Letter" which are chiefly employed in replying to Dr Wooddefon's vindication: This reply is weak and contemptible to the last degree. Sir FRANCIS D'IVERNOIS has again blown the trumpet of war: he has publithed in one octavo volume a " Hiftorical and Political Survey of the Loffes fuftained by the French Nation, in Population, Agriculture, Colonies, Manufactures, and Commerce in confequence of the Revolution, and the prefent War." A fober calculator, one who had really the good of his country at heart, would not, we should imagine, have confined his furvey to the loffes fuftained by our enemy; he would have directed his attention alfo to the loffes we have ourselves fuftained in this terrible and ferocious conflict: he would have examined the effects of the war on our colonies, commerce, manufactures, &c. and have balanced the immediate and certain advantages to be derived from peace against the remote and precarious fucceffes of war. Sir Francis D'Ivernois, however, because he finds out that the French finances are dilapidated; that is to fay, that the expenfe of the government exceeds its income, fancies that the restoration of monarchy is a very feasible project, and calls amain for a coalition of the European powers to re-establish the throne.

war by writers of high refpectability who have maintained very oppofite opinions with arguments plaufible and ftrong. But first inftance, there can be little doubt of with whomfoever the culpability rests in the the guilt of the Minifter in refufing to treat for peace at one time, and in commencing an equivocal negotiation at another.

Minifter's avowal in his "Speech in the Of thefe notorious facts, we have the Houfe of Commons, February 3d, 1800, approving the answers returned to the on a Motion for an Addrefs to the Throne, Communications from France relative to a negotiation for Peace." This labored it is a fpecimen of fplendid captivating fpeech has paffed through feveral editions: fapientiæ parum, for its statements were oratory-mere oratory-fatis eloquentiæ, invalidated and its conclufions reduced to abfurdity, in a speech-fuch an one as the houfe fcarcely ever heard before but from the fame orator-in a 66 been published. We will not fuffer ourHon. CHAS. JAMES FOX which has also Speech" of the felves to enlarge on the comparative excellencies and demerits of these two jusily celebrated productions, for reafons which it is unneceffary to ftate: they who feel interested in the fabject may at an easy publications and form an unbiassed judgexpenfe indulge themfelves with both of Meffrs. Dundas and Erfkine on the ment for themfelves. The "Speeches' fame occafion have also been published.

public his "Reflections on the Political JOHN BOWLES, Efq. has given the State of Society at the commencement of the year 1800.' The voice of Mr. Bowles like that of Sempronius, "is ftill for war"-interminable war! may the found of it never reach our ears again.

A fellow of St. John's College, CamMr. HERBERT MARSH, the able and bridge, has in a fmall pamphlet compresled learned tranflator of Michaelis, has pubfome fenfible Confiderations concerning lifhed in two octavo volumes, " The Hif Peace" the author gives it as his opinion, tory of the Politics of Great Britain and the relations of peace and amity; nay, that France is fully competent to maintain France, from the time of the conference that the must maintain those relations whenat Pilnitz to the declaration of war against Great Britain; with an Appendix, conever a peace is concluded, for the people taining a Narrative of the Attempts made of France will feel their intereft fo deeply by the British government to involved in it, that the government caunot Peace." In this work the author has in-which he contends must be ineffectual. reftore renew hostilities without an appeal to them, defatigably laboured to throw the odium of the prefent war on France: he has ftudied with much minuteness all the public documents which could be procured relative to the fubject, and examined the condition of both countries within the period of his hiftory. Numerous publications have appeared on the origin of the

The author of a pamphlet entitled
and War" adopts the fame opinion with
"The Queftion Stated as it refpects Peace
the preceding writer as to the expediency
of an immediate pacific negotiation, and
argues with ability and fairness.
the probable permanence of peace: he

The fame may be faid of Mr. CROSS of
Lincoln's-

now, and will be confulted by the hiftorian in future times for its pertinence of remark, its accuracy and impartiality. Every one must feel a pride, and glow with fatisfac

Lincoln's-Inn, who has published a squib entitled "Peace or War! which is the beft Policy?" The writer is of opinion that we ought to reject all offers of immediate pacification, and wait until the iffuetion in hearing from fo refpectable an eyeof the late revolution be afcertained and identified. This would be altogether a refpectable publication, had not the author committed himself by perfonally abufing the Chief Conful of the republic.

In a former retrofpect we noticed M. RAMEL'S narrative of the deportation to Cayenne: a fequel to that interefting work is now published, entitled "Secret Anecdotes of the Revolution of the 18th Fructidor, &c." There is but little additional information in the prefent volume, which relates fome new and horrid barbaricies of the French towards their unfortunate countrymen.

A very interefting " Memoir" has been published" of the Operations of the Army of the Danube, under the Command of GENERAL JOURDAN, 1799, taken from the Manufcripts of that Officer." In this publication are detailed without any boaft and pompofity the operations of the troops under the command of this most able general, who clearly proves that every thing which it was poffible for them to do was done. The plan of this campaign was formed by Jourdan himself, but the Directory, who acted in the arrangement of military operations according to his advice, deferted him, he roundly afferts, with the defign of ruining both himself and his army. Scantily fupplied with provifions, horfes, and with troops, the general would have declined the attack of the Auftrians: by the command of the Directory, however, he met the enemy in the field when nearly double his numbers oppofed him. This memorable engagement earned the Frenchman high military honors: he maintained his ground, brought off his troops, and flept on the field of battle after having engaged with fixty-fix thousand men an enemy whofe number amounted to one hundred and twenty thousand!

"The Dutch Expedition vindicated, with brief Obfervations on the Enigrants. To which is added a Postscript, containing the Supplement to the Account of the Armistice concluded between his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York and General Brune." The author of this pamphlet feems to be very infufficiently informed as to the fubject on which he writes.

Not fo Dr. E. WALSH, whofe " Narrative of the Expedition to Holland in the autumn of the year 1799," is a work which muft univerfally intereft its readers

witness as the prefent a teftimony to the honorable conduct of the British troops:

their intrepid valor in the field," fays Dr. W. "their moderation and humanity when victorious, and their calm fortitude under adverfe circumstance muft reflect a permanent luftre on the British arms, and render even misfortune refpectable." The preference which the Dutch evinced towards the French our author accounts for on the fcore of commercial jealousy and national rivalry, in as much as the United Provinces are indebted to England not only for their origin, independence, and fubfequent profperity, but for her unremitting friendfhip and protection to preferve them in that ftate. We are afraid it is not hiftorically true that the Dutch are fo deeply indebted to us for their original independence: and as to our unremitted friendfhip to preferve them in that state, it is tolerably well known that they hated the houfe of Orange, that they were driven into a war which, as it was decidedly against their inclination, they took the first opportunity of finishing: and that in confequence of their fraternization with the French, their finest colonies were left, and their fhips feized by the English. Is it fo very wonderful that when we affected to refcue them from the embrace, however bear-like, of their new friends, they should punish us for an interference, which they would confider as impertinent?

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A third part has been published of Copies of Original Letters from the Army in Egypt." There feems to be but little doubt entertained of the authenticity of thefe letters, which contain much curious information. We dare not venture to make any comment on the part which the British ministry has acted in this bufinefs, by permitting the publication of thefe private letters! The introduction to them abounds with the fame ribaldry and infolence which difgraced the two former parts.

It has excited fome pertinent and acute "Obfervations" from the pen of an anonymous writer whofe notice does more honor to his antagonist than he merits. GEORGE WATSON, Efq. has prefented the public with his " Thoughts on Government, &c. :" they have also received a very hand fome prefent of "Thoughts" from another gentleman whofe fubfcrip. tion is anonymous," on the Interference

of

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