practice of the office. Many curious entries are preferved, which are taken from a manufcript work of William Ball, who was a clerk in the Exchequer at the beginning of the last century, and Jikewife from Mr. Prynne's treatife on the Aurum Regina, or QueenGold; which treatife is now out of print; and indeed the claim, to which it relates, is become obfolete. The Aurum Regine is defined to be an ancient perquifite due to the Queen Confort, from every person making a voluntary offering to the King, to the amount of ten marks, or upward, in confideration of any privileges or grants conferred by the King; and is due in the proportion of one tenth part, over and above what is paid to the King. This duty was claimed and enjoyed by the Queens of England till the time of Edward VI. who dying unmarried, and his fifters fucceeding him, there was no Queen-Confort during three reigns; (Queen Mary, though married, being properly Queen-regnant;) by which means this duty was fufpended for nearly fixty years; and was then claimed by Queen Ann, confort of James I.: but he never thought proper to exact it. Charles I. at the inftance of his Queen, iffued his writ for levying it but, probably finding it unpopular, as well as very troublesome to levy, afterward purchased it of his confort for ten thousand pounds. By the ftatute for abolifhing military tenures, its value became ftill more infignificant.

Mr. Burton fpeaks, with fome degree of fpleen, of Mr. Madox's overlooking the Office of Pleas, in his refearches into ancient records, for the purpose of compiling his valuable History of the Exchequer. From the manner in which he ftates that Vernon and Prynne had cited a writ out of the Exchequer, which he (Mr. Madox) could not find in either of the two Remembrancer's offices, Mr. Burton obferves, that one fhould be almoft inclined to believe that he intended to bury in oblivion the ancient Office of Pleas wherein this branch of bufinefs, (relating to the Aurum Regina,) and many others unnoticed by Mr. Madox, were in those days principally, if not folely, carried on.

Art. 31. Inquiry into the Legality of Capital Punishments, in a Letter to Lord Thurlow. 8vo. pp. 50. 1s. 6d. Debrett. 1791. This letter is addreffed to the Lord Chancellor, who is officially "the keeper of the King's confcience," and confequently, the writer contends, is peculiarly interested in refolving the following doubts: Does the Sovereign poffefs any power which has not been delegated to him by fociety? Does fociety, as an aggregate body, poffefs any right which had not previously appertained to the individuals who compofe it? Did individuals ever poffefs the right of abridging the duration of their own lives?' Many of the ideas, that occur in the difcuffion of thefe points, will be found in Beccaria's celebrated Effay on Crimes and Punishments. See alfo the last App. to the M. Rev. If the author of the prefent Inquiry is not more fmitten with the love of paradox, than actuated by a fpirit of fober inquiry, we should wish to refer him to fome obfervations on this subject by * 1 Blackft. Comm. chap. iv.

Archdeacon Paley, in his Principles of Moral and Political Philofophy, which are well worthy of his confideration.

Art. 32. A Treatife on Civil Imprisonment in England; with the History of its Progrefs, and Objections to its Policy, as it refpects the Interests of Creditors, and the Punishment, or Protection, of Debtors. Concluding with the Principles and general Lines of a Plan for amending the prefent Law, and an Appendix of Notes. By Thomas Macdonald, Efq. of the Inner Temple, Barrifter at Law. 8vo. 4s. Boards. Murray. 1791.

Mr. Macdonald deduces, with great accuracy, the progress and prefent ftate of the laws relating to imprifonment for debt; after which he confiders their operation and effect, both as to arrests on meine process, and imprisonment in execution; and examines attentively the principles and purposes which are afcribed to them. In the various lights in which they are viewed, he finds much to condemn;-but he does not content him felf with barely ftating the evils of the prefent fyftem. He endeavours to point out a plan by which the unfortunate Debtor may be protected, and the dishonest and fraudulent punished.

This is a fubject of the greateft difficulty, and is interesting alike to policy and humanity. Mr. Macdonald obferves, that it is not for every individual to act the part of a legislator; but every individual ought freely to ftate the fuggeftions of his mind upon those topics of common concern, which, from his fituation and habits, have naturally engaged his attention: and he may be affured that fuch fuggeftions will ever be beft received by thofe who are best able to judge of them."

Art. 33. The Crown Circuit Companion, &c. &c. By W. Stubbs, and G. Talmafh, of Staples Inn, Gentlemen. The 6th Edition, with feveral Additions, Improvements, and modern References. By Thomas Dogherty, of Clifford's Inn. 8vo. 10s. 6d. bound. Brooke. 1790.

The former editions of this work were extremely defective. The precedents of indictments were by no means deferving of reliance; yet many of them were implicitly tranfmitted through fucceffive editions, without alteration or comment, though they were manifeftly erroneous. The indictments for perjury were unneceffarily prolix. Thefe Mr. Dogherty has very properly retrenched, and has filled the vacant fpáce with more ufeful materials, with precedents which have either received the fanction of judicial determinations, or have been fettled by counfel of eminence. Mr. D. has added some material information to the doctrine of indictments, which he has inferted under the proper titles.

He has not ventured (he fays) to deviate from the former editions without the protection of well-founded authorities: but when diligent refearches and repeated inquiries have failed in fupporting him to make a few amendments where he conceived them wanting, neceffity obliged him to permit thofe parts of the work to remain in their original state, as if would be highly prefumptuous in him to alter an ancient precedent without being in like manner warranted.

• He

He has, however, endeavoured to explain the utility of fuch. intended alterations; and as his remarks, in thofe particulars, only amount to fuggeftions, arifing from a zealous defire of fulfilling his undertaking with accuracy, he trufts they will meet with a candid and difpaffionate inveftigation.'

This gentleman published, about four years ago, a work of a fimilar nature, called The Crown Circuit Affiftant. To the precedents and inftructions contained in that book, he occafionally refers.

Art. 34. A fuccin& Digeft of the Laws relating to Bankrupts: in which all the reported, and feveral Manufcript, Cafes upon this important Subject, from the first paffing of the Bankrupt Laws, in the Time of Henry VIII. to the Commencement of Michaelmas Term in the 31st Year of Geo. III. are inferted, and the refpective Rights and Duties of the Commiffioners, Creditors, and. Bankrupt, difcuffed and explained: together with the feveral Modes of Proceeding, and most approved Precedents, from the A&t of Bankruptcy and the opening of the Commillion, to the last Examination and Allowance of the Certificate, and the whole Syftem of the Bankrupt Laws rendered eafy and intelligible to every Capacity. 8vo. pp. 260. 4s. 6d. fewed. Richardfon. 179. This digeft of the bankrupt laws is drawn up with more care than anonymous publications of this kind ufually are. Whether it will have the effect intended by it, of diffufing a general knowledge of this complicated fyftem among merchants and traders,' may be well doubted. In cafes of importance, they will have recourse to profeffional affistance; and the common occurrences of business feldom admit or require an acquaintance with those nice diftinctions, which occupy the attention of courts of justice.

Art. 35. A Law Grammar; or, an Introduction to the Theory and Practice of English Jurifprudence. Containing Rudimen ́s and Illuftrations of the Laws of Nature, the Law of God, the Law of Nations, the Law Politic, the Civil Law, the Common Law, the Law of Reason, General Cuftoms, established Maxims, the Roman Code, the Canon Law, the Marine Law, the Military Law, the Foreft Law, the Game Law, the Statute Law, the Municipal Law, the Rights of Perfons, the Rights of Things, Civil Injuries, Modes of Redress, Crimes and Mifdemeanors, Modes of Punishment, the Courts of Juftice, the Vocabula Artis, a General Index. 8vo. 9s. bound, Robinsons, &c. 1791. This law-grammar is formed on the plan of an extenfive commonplace book; and however improving and beneficial it may have. been to the perfon, who extracted the materials, and confulted the authorities that are cited, we apprehend it contains too fummary a view of the law to be of much practical utility to others.

POETRY and DRAMATIC.

Art. 36. Reflections at the Tomb of Columbus. By a Lady. 4to, PP. 26. 25. Kearfley. 1791.

It is to be regretted that thofe poets, whole fuperior genius has given them a power of conferring immortality, have not always been judicious, or honeft, in the choice of fubjects of panegyric,

but have fometimes beftowed the meed of praife on characters, which, according to the impartial decifion of reason, ought to have been configned to oblivion.-Nor is it lefs to be lamented, that fome great names, which are inrolled in the page of history as benefactors to mankind, have never been confecrated by the Mufes, and tranfmitted to pofterity embalmed in verfe equally fublime with their meritorious deeds. A theme fo infpiring as that of the difcovery of the new world, ought to have employed the pen of a bard of the first order; and the Columbiad fhould long ago have found its place by the fide of the Iliad and the Æneid. The fair authorefs of thefe verfes difcovers the best difpofition to do justice to the memory of Columbus; and if her poetical talents be not equal to her theme, he has at least the merit of having chofen an excellent fubject. Her powers of verfification will be feen in the following lines:

Here fleeps his duft, whofe nobly daring mind
No chains of Prejudice could bafely bind.
In Hardship's rig'rous fchool to Courage bred,
By native Genius to fair SCIENCE led,
His manly reafon, ev'n in early youth,
Perceiv'd, thro' Error's mift, the fun of Truth,
And mark'd the diftant, feebly glimm'ring ray,
Breaking, by flow degrees, to fplendid day.
Tho' blind-born Bigotry oppos'd her fears,
Tho' fpurious Science rais'd her broad barriers,
With mental eye new regions he explores,

And hears strange oceans dash on unknown shores.'

The writer adheres pretty clofely to hiftorical truth, and appears to have made Robertfon her principal guide.

Art.

37. An Heroic Epifle to the Right Honourable Edmund Burke. 4to. pp. 14. 15. Debrett. 1791.

Art. 38. Heroic Epistle to Jofeph Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. &c. &c. 4to. pp. 30. 1s. 6d. Robinsons. 1791.

"There's never a Jack but there's a Jill," fays the proverb.There's never a knight but there's a fquire, fay we. A brace of rival Sanchos have here amufed themfelves with a mock panegyric on their respective heroes; cloathing in ironical ftrains fome of the moft ftriking paffages in the late productions of Mr. B. and Dr. P.; and affecting to fympathize in the fears and the hopes which thofe gentlemen have feverally expreffed for the future ftate of public affairs in Europe, and especially in this country.

Though thefe wits boaft alike of their defcent from the flock of Mac Greggor, they are unequally related to their facetious progenitor. The degree of affinity is remote in each; but the laftmentioned is the nearer o' kin. Accordingly, though many think it has fared otherwife in the warfare between the principals, in this fkirmish between the fubalterns, "the Whig dogs" certainly "bave the worst of it."

As caterers for the public, we are defirons of fetting none but

the best dishes before them. We shall therefore content ourselves with making a few extracts from the latter epiftle:

Ah, fay my PRIESTLEY, to thy various praise
Why has no fweet encomiast tun'd his lays?
Still fhall the Mufe, who to Sir WILLIAM's name,
Woo'd by MAC GREGGOR, gave heroic fame,
Grudge from his garden one poetic tint,
To deck the wonders of thy fprig of mint?
For BANKS's fleas fhall PETER's lyre be ftrung,

While thou, thy mice, and moufe-cage fleep unfung?'

• Unhappy BURKE!-what phrenzy rafh and blind,
What luckless dæmon, feiz'd thy raging mind,
And bade thee write of conftitutions, kings,
Exploded, mean, unphilofophic things,
In fpite of reafon, and in friendship's fpite,
The dictates of great Doctor PRIESTLEY flight?
Arm'd at all points this doughty champion turns,
Smiles now in fcorn, and now with fury burns.
Down then in hafte upon thy ftubborn knees:
The moment that remains for mercy seize;
Convicted rebel, who to Britain's throne
Preaching one legal Heir, and one alone,
Dar'st in the madness of thy zeal maintain
That PITT or PRIESTLEY have no right to reign.'-
If fcavanger and king, are like in this,
That both we choose, and one at will difmifs.;
What fophift would perfuade us that the other
Should find more favour than his dusty brother ?'.
Joy to my PRIESTLEY; joy, Behold, behold
The bleft Millenium by thy tongue foretold!'

At Lambeth Ferry fee broad-chested MOORE,
The tide against him, tugging at the oar;
See Stout-limb'd MARKHAM, owner of a chair,
With Irish heroes fcuffling for a fare;
WATSON, a chemift's journeyman, return'd
Again to thumb the books which late he burn'd;
Smooth HORNE an oil-man in the fhop of SKILLt.
Dipping in unctuous puffs his gentle quill;
And HORSLEY, yet thy foe, for trunks and pies
In Grub ftreet garrets fcribbling new replies;
While PITT's own PRETTYMAN, now Peter Puff,
By auction fells his bankrupt brethren's ftuff,
In his new pulpit thundering from on high-
Each look affurance, and each word a lie.'

See the frontispiece, and numerous paffages in Dr. Priestley's firft volume on Air.'

+For the daily advertisements of Meffrs. Skill and Son fee any of the thirteen morning papers.'

Art.