370| 
xidiculous affair, exo that our 
FU supposed to have assisted 
Mr. Nicol in ap answer to. Dr. 
Joknsen’s Tour, printed in.1779. 
-In.1975» Myr. Macpherson’ pub- 
lished ‘* The History of Great Eri- 
tain, from the Restozation to the 
Accession of the House of Hanover,’’ 
in two vols, 40. a work which has 
been decried with much clamour, 
but without much 
uch argument or 
proof. ‘The author appears to have 
been influenced by some prejudices 
in favour of the Tory party ; but 
his performance, as fur as we have 
had an opportunity of comparing 
his narrative with his authorities, 
is not liable to the censure thrown 
out upon it. In this publication 
he certainly aQed with great fair- 
ness, as along with it he published 
the proofs upon which his facts were 
founded, in two quarto voiwmes, 
entitled, ‘€ Original Papers, con- 
taining the secret History ef Great 
Britain, from the Restoratian to 
the Accession of the House oi Tia- 
mover, ‘Lo which are prefixed Ex- 
tras from the Life of James II. 
as written by himself.’’ These pa- 
pers were chiefly colleéted by Mr. 
arte, but are not of equal au- 
thority... ‘They however clear u 
many, obseurities, and set the cha- 
sa¢ters of many persons in past times 
in a different light from that in 
which theyhave been usually viewed. 
Soon after this period, the tide 
of fortune flowed very rapidly in 
Mr. Maepherson’s favour, and his 
talents and industry were amply 
suficient to avail himself of every 
‘favourable circumstance ;which a. 
rose. The resistance of the colo- 
nies called for the aid of a ready 
writer to combat the arguments of 
the Americans, and to give force 
te the rezsons which influenced 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1796. 
the conduét of | government, and 
he was seletted for the purpose, 
Among other things .(of which we 
should be glad to give a more 
particular account) he wrote a 
pamphlei, which was circulated 
with muchindustry, entitled, ** The 
Rights of Great Britain asserted 
agaist the Claims of the Colonies 5 
being an Answer to the Declaration 
of he General Congress,’’ 8yvo. 
1776, «ud of which many editions 
were published. He also was: the 
author of ** A short History of the 
Op pposition during the last Session 
of Parliament,” Svo. 1779, 2 pam- 
phiet which, on. account of its 
merit, was by many ascribed to 
Mr. Gibbon. 
But a more lucrative employ- 
ment was conferred on him about 
this time. - He was - appointed 
agent to the nabob of Arcot, 
and in that capacity exerted his 
talents in several appeals to the 
public in behalf of his client. 
Among others, he published ‘* Let. 
ters from) Mahommed Ali Khan, 
Nabob ef Arcot, to the Court of 
Directors. ‘To which is annexed, 
a Stute of Facts relative to Tanjore, 
with Appeniix of Original 
Papers,”’ 17774 and he was 
supposed to be rhe author of ** ‘The 
History. and Mavazement of the 
East India Compaay, irom its Ori. 
gin in 1600 to the present Limes, 
vol. I. containing tne Affairs of 
the Carnatic ; in which the Rights 
of the Nabob are explained, and. 
the Injustice of the Company prov- 
ed.’’ gto. 1779. 
In his capacity of agent to the 
Nabob, it was probably thought 
requisite that he should have a seat 
in the British parliament. He was 
accordingly in 1780 chosen member 
for Camelford, but we do not re- 
collect 
aii 
fbO8 
