- Half-yearly Retrofpe of Domeftic Literature. 
“hoftile attempts againtt our own fhores, 
its author deferves well of the public. 
We mutt be allowed, however, to diffent 
from the right rever end prelate, with re-- 
fpect to the validity of fome of the argu- 
ments that he makes wie of ; from the 
elevation to which his Aceibhe uftical dig- 
nity and his private fortune raifes him, 
he is, im our opinion, very liable to mif- 
take concerning the efie&ts of an addres 
to the lower orders of fociety ; the in- 
conveniences and peculiar hardthips of 
whole fituation hé can know only trom 
philolophical reafoning and very curfory 
obfervation. The po opularity of this 
work, at leaft, among the higher and 
the reading Pies. to a indeed the 
reafonings are moft applicable, cail- 
ed forth a daring pamphiet of Mr. 
WAKEFIELD’S, ifititled, <« 4 Reply io fone 
Parts of the Bifbop of ewan: s Addrefs ; 
in ftyle this is fuperior to. moft of Mr 
W.’s former works; there are, however, 
in it paflages fo liable to be mifinter- 
preted, that we fhould have pronounced 
it a very imprudent work, even if the 
King’s attorney general had not. thought 
proper, by a profecution of its publithers, 
to fupprefs the circulation. Strictures 
upon Mr. WaKkEFIELD had been pre- 
vioufly publithed by Mr. Haney, in his 
‘© Examination of Mr. Wakefiela’s Reply,” 
&e. and by the anonymous anther or 
<¢ q Letter to the Inhabitants of Great Bri- 
rain, occafioned by Mr. Wakefield's Reply.” 
The Bithop of Landaff’s addrefs has alfo 
been commented upon by Mr. Kines- 
BuRY and Mr. HiNcKLEY; but the 
public notice, in this controverly, has 
been but very little diverted from the two 
_principals to the athis on either fide. 
Mr. Mowesray, in his ** Remarks.on 
the Conduct of Oppefui ‘zon during the pre- 
fent Parliament,” branches into a variety 
of collateral fubje@ts : his aflertion, « that 
every partial alteration which has ta 2ken 
place in eens boroughs (fince the 
revolution), has contributed to extend 
the privilege of voting more widely,’’ we 
hefitate not in pronouncing to be noto- 
rioully falfe. A confiderable portion of 
this pamphlet is taken up in commenting 
on the affairs of Ireland: the fituation of 
that country impofes filence on us. A 
few pamphlets have been written in de- 
fence of, and in oppofition to, the mea- 
fures mg government; but the fubject is 
-now become too delicate for any hafty 
random obfervations, and it is incon- 
fiftent with our plan to be diffufe ; it is 
prudent, therefor 2, that we fhould be fi- 
487 
lent. The! author of «* 4x Appeal to the 
Head and Heart of every Man and Wo- 
man in Great Britain,’ very gravely at- 
tributes the fine weather on the day of 
his Majefty’s late proceflion to St. Paul’s 
to a particular interpofition of the Al- 
mighty, arifing from his approbation of 
the feftival! In the perufal of his filly 
pamphlet, few readers, after fuch a fpe- 
cumen, will be al pointed. 
On the intereft ce fubject of invafion, 
one of the helt, becaule the moft tem- 
perate publication that has come under 
our notice is, ‘* Az Addrefs to the People 
of Great Dee by .Geo. BuRGES, 
B. A. The miniftry, whether prudently 
or imprudently, has, < mott unequivecal- 
ly, enna nation ;”’ and it being too 
late to recal the conlequences of our fol- 
lies or.our crimes, it only now remains 
to cuard againft them in the beft manner 
that we can. ) But though Mr. Burees 
recommends patience for the prefent, yet 
he thinks that a /‘* radical,’ that is, a 
<¢ cradual, peaceable, and deliberate re- 
form,”’ -cannot long. be delayed: and 
through his me as love of peace 
he indulges, in r/ opinion, the allt . 
founded expelrat on of the probability. of 
removing the radical corruptions and in- 
bred difeafes or the Dey politic, ‘bya 
fimple appeal to the reafon and ies of 
that rapacious peek Human nature, 
* French Invafion,” &c. is a colle&ion 
of addreffes on the part of the executive 
direé ory of France: the objeét of the 
work is to manifeft the real intention of 
France fo mvade us, and of courfe te 
prepare us for the event. Invafion! it is 
A woman’s ftory at a winter’s fire, 
Authoriz’d by her grandame. 
Mr. Hucues’ “ RefleSions on the Po: 
litics of France and England at the Glofe: 
of the Year 17 797,"” are jejune and puerile: 
the pompofity of his language is very ine 
competent to conceal the poverty of his 
thinking, But every man muf think ; 
it is not very wonderful, therefore, that 
a commiflary general, HAVILAND LE 
MESURIER, efquire, fhould, in thefe 
turbulent times, have his head full of 
<< Thoughts on a French Invafion.” This 
ingenious gentleman, as would of courfeé 
be expected, is moft outrageoufly loyal ; 
and as to the aroma, the effential oil of 
fuch fweet-fcented odorifcerous: oo as 
his; we all know, 
It is of a nature fo fubtle, 
That unleis it be luted with care, 
The odour will fly, tho’ the bottle 
_ And its fpirit impregnate the air!: 2 
O 
