Retrospect of Domestic Literature—Politics, Ke. 
beginning of this period formed the pivot, 
on which turned the Celtic government 
of ancient ages, and the Anglo-Norman 
polity of subsequent times: Yet, it is of 
a period so crowded with changes, and 
so varied with novelties, that the late 
historiographer royal says, ‘ The events 
which then happened, may be slightly 
touched, but merjt no particular inquiry.’ 
But, I have dwelt on those revolutions, 
and have marked every change. By a 
vast detail from the Chartularies, in re- 
spect to the civil history, from 1097 to 
1306, to the ecclesiastical annals, to 
laws, to manners, and to domestic eco- 
nomy, I have tried to ascertain every in- 
tcresting circumstance, and to render 
the national annals of that interest- 
ing period quite familiar to every 
reader: and, to give completeness to the 
whole, are added supplemental views of 
subsequent times, which have their de- 
tails to instruct, and their curiosity to 
amuse.” Such is the plan which Mr. 
Chalmers has both laid aid endeavoured 
to execute, for reforming and ascertaining 
the ancient history of North Britain, 
which has been so long distorted by con- 
troversy, obscured by fable, and disre- 
garded by fastidiousness. The work is 
illustrated with a Map of North Britain 
in the British and Roman times; a Plan 
and Sections of the British Fort on 
Barra Hill in Aberdeenshire; a Plan of 
the Roman Camp, called Norman-dikes; 
a Plan of the site of the Roman Tuessis ; 
a Plan of the site of Forres, the Varis of 
the Romans; and a Plan and Section of 
the Roman Fort, near Clattering Brig, 
in- Kincardineshire. 
POLITICS, POLITICAL ECONOMY, &c, - 
Under this class it is with pleasure that 
we mention several tracts of great in- 
terest, as well in regard to the foreign as 
the domestic policy of Britain. 
Previous to the abolition of the slave- 
trade, Mr. Wilberforce, in the shape 
of an Address to his Constituents, exhibi- 
ted a full and faithful view of the whole 
arguments which bore upon the question. 
Taking it up in Africa; describing the 
evils which this nefarious traffic entailed 
upon the continent; and proving even 
from the evidence of the traders. them- 
selves, that its extinctioniwas not only 
required by humanity ane ice, but for 
the safety of our coloni pd the pros- 
perity of our marine, ill for ef- 
fecting this great object has since passed, 
and may be said to have wiped away one 
of the foulest stains that ever sullied the 
character of a generous people. We 
625 
hope and trust that the provisions of the 
statute wil be enforced: and we heartily 
congratulate the man, whose labours for a 
series of years have been at lust crowned 
by the abolition of a trade, as inpolitic 
as it was wicked. 
Another subject of Legislation, which 
has been of late canvassed with extraor- 
dinary zeal, has been the moral and po- 
litical condition of the poor. The intro- 
duction into Parliament of Mr. Whit- 
bread’s Bill has been followed. by the 
publication of ditterent statements, ob- 
servations and enquiries; of which it may, 
perhaps, be sufficient to do httle more 
than enumerate the titles of the most im= 
portant. The leading features of Mr. 
Whitbread’s plan are, first, the establish- 
ment of parochial schools; secondly, the 
establishment of a poor assurance ofhce; 
thirdly, the amendment of the laws of 
settlement; fourthly the relief of the bur- 
then of such parishes a3 are already too. 
severely oppressed by their poor; and 
fifthly, the enceuragement of labouring 
men to bring up their families without 
charge to their respective parishes. These 
are followed by some regulations for the 
better governmentof workhouses. There 
are some parts of Mr. Whitbread’s plan, 
however, to which we cannot give our 
approbation, It is occasionly: more in- 
tricate than the nature of circumstances 
seems to require. Though at the same 
time we are ready to confess that the ate 
tainment of two of its objects, 1s likely to 
give a new character to the indigent 
classes of the community; these are, the 
proper instruction of youth, and the ap- 
plication of stimulants to industry at ma- 
turer periods of life. 
“ The State of the Population, the Poor 
and Poor-Rates of ecery Parish within 
the Bills of Mortality in the Cities of 
London and Westminster, the Borough of 
Southwark, and the County of Middlesex : 
Jrom Papers ordered to be laid before the 
House of Lords, April 5, 1805,” aifords 
some idea of the rapid and alarming in- 
crease of the poor in the county or Mid- 
dlesex. The sum raised for the relicf of 
paupers in 1776, appears to have been 
189,975/.; in the medium years 1783-4, 
and 5, it was 210,910/.; and in 1803,, 
amounted to 490,144/. The number of 
persons relieved from the poor-rates in 
1801, were no less than 8 in the 100 of 
the resident population. 
“ A short Inquiry into the Policy, 
Humanity, and past Effects of the Poor- 
Laws,” by one of his Majesy’s justices of 
the peace for three imland couaties, may 
furnish 
