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Retrofpec? of Domeftic Literature.— Political Economy, Sc. 037 
Giforganizing influence ; generally, per- 
haps, they are tainted with an equal por- 
tion of its poifon. The obvious antidote 
in fuch cafes, isa ferious return to the du. 
tes of religion, the répudiaiion of vice, 
and the culture of virtue. ‘The prefent 
effay is divided into four parts. In the 
firlt, the nacure of religion is explained ; 
the fecond treats on civil fociety, and civil 
government ; the third points out the in- 
fluence of religion on fociety ; and the 
laft. expatiates on its neceffity, in the pre- 
fent fttate of Europe, to reftore peace and 
good order. This litile work abounds 
with fenfible and judicious reflections : if 
the author’s prolixity is fomewhat tire- 
fome, his ferioufnefs and great earneftnefs 
are extremely imprefflive. 
‘¢ The Statiftical Breviary ; fhowing, 
on a Principle entirely new, the Refources 
of every State and Kingdom in Europe ; 
illuftrated with ftained Copper-plate 
Charts, repreienting the phyfical Powe:s 
of each diltinét Nation, with Eafe and 
Perfpicuity. By WiLtLiam PLayFarr. 
To which is added, a fimilar Exhibition of 
the raling Powers of Hindoftan.” The 
plan of this work is better than its execu- 
tion. Mr. Playfair’s tables exhibit, in a 
very clear manner, the extent, population, 
and revenue of the principal European na- 
tions: but their inaccuracies are fo nu- 
merous and important, that they muft not 
be re‘erred to with implicit confidence.— 
Mr. Playfair has received hints for the 
correction of his tables, which he will do 
well to profit by: when accurate, and it 
may eafily be rendered fo, his work will 
be an extremely ufeful one. 
‘© Delineation of the Britifh Conflitu- 
tion, from the original to the prefent Pe- 
riod, by James MuLuata, L.L.D. 
F.R.S. Vol. 1I.”’ Dr. Mullala’s attachment 
to the Conftitution, which be has fo fuccefS- 
fully delineated, was evinced in a fingu- 
larly unfortunate manner: it created him 
many enemies, and one of thefe called him 
out! The Doétor accepted the challenge, 
when his antagoniit, being a Aa/fy man, 
difcharged his piftoi before the feconds had 
given the appointed fignal; the ball took 
an unlucky direction, and, from the man- 
ner in which Dr. Mullala has related the 
ftory, one would almoft imagine that he 
received a wound not very diftant from 
that delicate part which Uncle Toby ex- 
_pofed too freely tothe enemy at the fiege 
of Namur. Jt ij much to be hoped that 
thé learned author of this book w'l} not 
fuffer any future provocation to interrupt 
hs hiftorical refearches. Dr. Mullala his 
flown himfelf to be -well qualified for the 
MonTHLY Mic, Ne..29, 
tafk he has undertaken: he delineates the 
Conftitution not merely as it exiited at any 
particular period of time, but he confiders 
it as connected with its former and its future 
condition : he tracesits progreffive changes, 
dete&s the caufes of them, and accounts 
for their confequences. Dr. Mullala pro~ 
pofes to write a Differtation on the com- 
parative merits of the different authorities 
that have been reforted to in the courfe of 
his work ; acritical enquiry of this forty 
conduéted with the fame ability which dif- 
tinguifhes the volume before us, cannot 
fail of being extremely interefting and ex- 
tremely ufetul. . 
“© The Means of Reforming the Morals 
of the Poor, by the Prevention of Pover- 
ty ; anda Plan for meliorating the Con- 
dition of Parifh Paupers, and diminithirg 
the enormous Expence of maintaining 
them, by Joun Hitz.” Mr. Hill fug- 
gefts an improvement on the plan of 
Friendly Societies, namely, the eitablifh- 
ment of an affociation for the encouragemen 
and fupport of virtue and induftry. Since 
mankind is as eafily led as it is driven, 
and ftimulated to action, as well by the 
hope of reward as by the fear of punifh- 
ment, there can be no doubt that that is 
the preferable plan which embraces the 
largeft portion of humanity, and commu- 
nicates the largeft portion of felicity. Mr. 
Hill certainly begins his fyitem of reform 
at the right end: firlft make the poor com- 
fortable, and then you may ttand fome 
chance of making them moral ; but the 
one is a preliminary {tep which is abio- 
lutely eflential. Confidering the “ ftrength 
of the day-labourer as his whole wealth, 
and the labour of his hands as his juft in- 
heritance,”’? Mr. Hill is averfe to paro- 
chial reliefas a fubftitute for inadequate 
wages, and contends that an augmentation 
of the pay of the day-labourer is at once 
the wifett and moft political, as well as the - 
only juft meafure, that can be. adopted in 
relicf of the lower orders. 
‘¢ Obfervations on Friendly, Societies 
for the Maintenance of induftrious Claffes, 
during Sicknefs, Infirmity, Old Age, and 
other Exigencies, by Sir FREDERIC Mor- 
TON -EpeN, Bart.’ This very worthy 
Baronet is indefatigable in the profecution 
of any plans which can relieve the neceffi- 
tous, or afford comfort to the miferable: 
we always open his books, anticipating 
pleafure and initruétion from the perufal of 
them, and have never been difappointed. 
Reflefting that ‘ contagion, moval as 
well as phyfical, is frequently the refuit 
of multitudinous affemblies,”” Sir F. Eden 
is an advocate for the encouragement of 
4 N thofe 
, 
