will therefore appear very extraordinary, if, in defiance of this general prejudice, we fhould make it a queftion, whether fome barrels throw their fhot more clofe ly than others do; but ftill more fo, if we decide the question with a negative, and this from various experiments, made on purpose, and frequently repeated, in order to fatisfy ourselves of the fact. The few who have made this matter the fubject of experiment, know, that the clofeness or widenefs with which a piece throws its charge, is liable to an infinite number of variations: and that, whether from circumftances that are merely accidental, or from others, which, being unknown, cannot be prevented, the grains of hot compofing the charge, may, at the intant of explosion, arrange and combine themselves fo differ. ently, that all the trials they can make will never produce refults fufficiently uniform to draw any general conclufion from, or to convince perfons not already prejudiced, and who will take the trouble to examine before they decide. We have fired the fame piece from a reft twenty times in fuccetsion, with the fame charge of powder and of shot, and at the fame diftance; and have, during the courfe of the firing, thrown into the mark from 30 to 70 grains, with all the intermediate numbers. We have repeated this trial a great many times with the fame piece, and alfo with different pieces, at the fame time, without having ever obferved fo much uniformity in the fame piece, or difference in different pieces, as to give room for preferring one piece to another. The experiments made by Monf. Le Clerc ferve to confirm thefe. It is worthy of notice, however, that in the second set of experiments, the number of grains thrown into the mark is uniformly greater than in the first fet, although, as we have already mentioned, the only difference between them was, that, in the first fet, the wadding was made of card-paper, and in the fecond, of hat, both cut to the fize of the caliber: are we to attribute the difference in the refults to this circumftance * ? In firing with ball it is observed, that the better the ball fits the piece, or the lefs windage there is, the greater will be the force of the difcharge. This evident * Where he treats of wadding, he mentions cork being extolled for this purpofe; and though he has not tried it, inclines to credit its merit, ly depends upon the flame not being allowed to escape paft the ball; and probably in the cafe of fhot the wadding of hat may be preferable to that of card or paper, by diminishing the windage; or rather, perhaps, by preventing the flame from getting among the grains of fhot, and difperfing them by its lateral expanfion when it has quitted the muzzle. The firft conjecture might be determi. ned, by comparing the clofeness or difperfion of different difcharges, in fome of which tow, in others paper or card, and in others hat, was employed for wadding. The fecond alfo might be decided by varying the fituation of the piece of hat: thus, for inftance, we might one time place it between the powder and shot, with a small wadding of tow over the fhot; and at another time, place the tow next the powder, and the hat over the fhot. If the hat operated by preventing the flame escaping past the fhot, and thus leffening the force of the discharge, there would be little, if any, difference whether it was placed above or below the shot. But if its good effects depend upon its hinder. ing the flame from getting among the grains, and scattering them in the manner mentioned above, then the fhot would fly more closely when the hat was placed between it and the powder. We are, however, inclined to confider the latter as the true effect of hat-wadding, and this from a practice that is faid to be fecretly and fuccefsfully followed by fome perfons, when firing with shot at a mark, for a wager: they put in the fhot in small quantities at a time, ramming down a little tow or thin paper over each, fo as to fill the interftices of the grains, and thus prevent the flame from infinuating itself among them *. Another opinion pretty generally establifhed among fportfmen, and upon which we shall decide much in the same way we have done upon the former, is, that barrels of a fmall caliber throw their fhot more closely than those of a wider one do. That the fame number of grains fpread over two unequal furfaces, and flying off from thence with equal degrees of * We have often intended to try the effect of making up the charges of fhot in flight cartridges, and firing with them at a mark ; but have never put it in practice: the paper employed ought to be no ftronger than is juft fufficient to prevent its tearing with the flightelt handling after it is filled with the fhot. divergency divergency, will be found more widely feparated in the one cafe than in the other at any affigned distance, is a circumstance mathematically true; but the difference in this cafe will never be greater than that of the respective surfaces from which they diverged. Now the difference between the areas of the largest and smallest calibers ever employed in fowling pieces, is lefs than the error in the measurement of this divergence would be at ten yards from the muzzle; fo that the greater or lefs diameter of the bore cannot produce any fenfible difference in the clofenefs or widenefs with which the fhot is thrown, provided the charge be the fame in both pieces. We have fubjected this matter to the teft of experiment, and the refult has accordingly been, that a barrel of 22 or 24, which is the largest caliber ufually employed in fowling pieces, threw its fhot as closely as one of the smallest caliber, viz. of 30 or 32. There is a curious circumstance attending the foot of barrels, whch is, that fometimes the grains of lead, in place of being equally diftributed over the space they ftrike, are thrown in clusters of ten, twelve, fifteen or more, whilft feveral confiderable spaces have not a fingle grain in them. Sometimes a cluster of this kind, confifts of one-third, or onehalf of the charge; and it also happens fometimes, though more rarely, that the whole charge collects itself into one mafs, fo as to pierce a board near an inch thick, at the diftance of 40 or 45 paces. Small barrels are said to be more liable to this than large ones; and Monf. de Marolles fays, that this is especially the case when the barrels are new, and alfo when they are fresh washed. He mentions a double-barrelled piece of 32 caliber, which was particularly liable to this clustering and lumping of the fhot; but adds, that the fame thing did not happen to him with other barrels of 26 and 28 caliber, which he had ufed before. The lumping may, perhaps, depend upon the wadding employed, acting fomewhat in the manner of the paper cartridge we spoke of (note page 112); poffibly the clustering of the hot, may proceed from the wadding doing the fame with a part of the charge. Our conjectures upon this matter, however, together with the means which we think moft likely to remedy it, will come more properly under the head of the next ar ticle, With regard then to the extraordinary clofenefs with which fome pieces are faid to throw the fhot, we certainly shall not take upon us to affert that the perfons who speak of them, wish to deceive us; but we do moft firmly believe, that they deceive themselves; and that their accounts proceed either from their belief that a gunfmith by superior skill and care is able to make fuch, or from their having once feen a piece accidentally lump its fhot in the manner defcribed above. The refult of our experience, however is very unfavourable to this prevailing opinion; for we do affirm, that after having fired at a mark times without number, we have never yet found a barrel which, at the distance of 50 paces, would throw its whole charge, we will not fay into the breadth of a hat, but into a space of three feet fquare." We produce this chapter without offering any remarks; and only mention our regret, that sportsmen fhould resort to methods fo cruel for training dogs, as fome that are mentioned in this Eflay. We can scarcely believe that they are neceffary; and if we were convinced that more gentle methods would be ineffectual, we should ftill think these unjustifiable on the principle of Sport! M. Philofophical Reflections on the late Revolu MR Courtenay is a true believer in the Horatian precept: no one more frequently fubftitutes the ridiculum for the acre, nor comes to the difcuffion of grave matters with a more laughing countenance. The complaints of diffenters, the oppreffion of churchmen, the cabals of minifters of fate, the flavery of the Africans, and the emancipation of the French, all ferve to promote his joke; and as for the accumulation of national debt, and the encreafing hardships of multiplied taxation, they are fubjects on which he never fails to make us laugh till we cry. Let thofe laugh that win, is, however, a good maxim; and, with respect to the French bufinefs, we fee no lofers,—except, indeed, as Mr Courtenay might tell us, a few gentlemen who have loft their heads.- We infert what he fays on the project of abolishing the flave-trade. "On 1 200 New-Books: Courtenay's Philofophical Reflections, &c. Vol. 52. "On the fame confiftency of principle, M. Mirabeau moved this fenate of democrats to addrefs the King to appoint an envoy for the special purpose of joint ly confulting with our adminiftration on the most effectual means of abolishing the flave-trade. Did this fpring from the generous fuggeftions of humanity? Certainly not. Treachery marks their proceedings; and the ruin of revealed religion is the invariable aim of all their actions. For has it not been inconteftibly proved, by writers equally diftinguished by genius, learning, and profound refearches into antiquity, that the eldest born of Ham, who was accurfed by his father, was called Cufh, which, in the Hebrew language, fignifies black. Ethiopia, under which name Africa is included, is called in fcripture the land of Cuth, and the inhabitants, Cufhims, or Cufhites.-The Negroes therefore are defcended from Ham, by his eldest fon Cufh; which accounts for the degraded fituation these people have ever continued in." This reafoning is conclufive-The Cufhites were certainly devoted to perpetual flavery, for the wickedness of their great progenitor, Ham. Cuth himself was probably born black, both as a prophetic defignation of his future fate, and to tranfmit this degenerate colour to his pofterity. The only fpecious objection to this very rational hypothefis, is obviated by the author of Obfervations, &c. in antwer Mr Clarkfon's reprobated Effay. "It may be obje&ed," fays he," that Cuth was born prior to the time of Ham's committing the offence againft his father, for which he fentenced him and his pofterity to fo fevere a punishment; and thereforethe complexion of Cufk could not have any relation to the crime to be commit ted afterwards by his father. In anfwer to this, I observe, there is no impropriety, nor improbability, in fuppoting that the blacknefs of Cuth was the mark fet upon him and his pofterity, from the foreknowledge of the Deity, of the crime, and confequent punishment, which Ham would commit, and be sentenced to; and as a feal of that perpetual fervitude to which his defcendants were to be doomed by that fentence." Be this as it may, it is inconteftibly proved by the celebrated author of An cient Mythology, and univerfally admitted, that the Europeans are the fons of Japheth: it is therefore our indifpenfable duty to accomplish the divine predictions of Noah, and to hold Ham's defcendants in chains for ever. But it is the avowed intention of the National Affembly to weaken the credibility of the facred hi ftory, by emancipating the Negroea. However, I trust we shall not be made the dupes of this profane policy: on the contrary, I fincerely wish, that the corporations of Bristol and Liverpool would fend out the reverend author of the Scriptural Researches to the West Indies, with a cargo of Bibles; which may be conveniently ftowed in the flave-fhips, as they are not now fo much crowded as formerly. Let him teach the unfortunate Africans to read and study the book of Genefis let their genealogy be condenfed into a fhort catechifm, fuited to their untutored capacities, and taught them every Sunday by one of the Negro-drivers. It is impoffible to fay what a fudden and falutary effect it may have on their unenlightened minds, to know that their fofferings are folely owing to the wickedness of their anceftor, Ham. It will conciliate their affections, and endear the fons of Japheth to their hearts, if they are once perfuaded that we hold them in bondage, and inflict ftripes on them, neither to obtain any base and fordid profit from their burning toils, nor to gratify the fudden impulfe of vindictive paflion, but merely in obedience to the decrees of Heaven, to accomplish the word of prophecy, as faithful executors to the last-will and teftament of Noah, our common progenitor, the fecond father of mankind." M. LONDON. Religion, Morality, &c. Sermons, by Hugh Blair, D. D. F. R. S. Ed. One of the minifters of the High Church, and Professor of Rhetoric in the Univerfity of Edinburgh. vol. 3. 8vo. 6 s. boards. Creech, Edinburgh; Cadell, London.The number of fermons in this volume is twenty. I. On the true honour of man. 2. On fenfibility. 3. On the improvement of time. 4. On the duties belonging to middle age. 5. On death. 6. On the progrefs of vice. 7. On fortitude. 8. On envy. 9. On idleness. 10. On the fenfe of On moderation. 13. On the joy and bitterthe divine prescience. 11. On patience. 12. nefs of the heart. 14. On characters of im perfect goodnefs. 15. On the facrament of the Lord's fupper, as a preparation for death. 16. 16. On the ufe and abufe of the world. 17. On extremes in religious and moral conduct. 18. On fcoffing at religion. 19. On the creation of the world. 20. On the diffolu tion of the world. Such are the important and interesting fubjects which Dr Blair has chofen for the difcourfes now published; and they, who are acquainted with the former volumes, will naturally anticipate the mafterly manner in which they are treated. To fay, indeed, that these fermons are equal to thote that preceded them, is perhaps the highest praife that we can beftow; and while we willingly afford them this commendation, we likewife congratulate the literary world on the acquifition of thefe elegant models of compofition; at the fame time, ftill more warmly congratulating the world in general, on fo important an addition to the common tock of moral and religious inftruction. In fome of the last fermons the author has attained a height of fublimity which he feems not before to have attempted, and which, in our opinion, is almoft without precedent in the hiftory of this fpecies of compofition in our country.-The Monthly Review, from which the above obfervations are taken, concludes the account of this volume as follows. -We ought now to take our leave of this respectable author, and to consign his work to the fame which awaits it. Be it observed, however, that the productions of the pulpit conftitute every where the most interefting fpecies of literature. Of all compofitions, they are molt generally diffeminated, and tend moft to establish the opinions and form the characters of mankind. They are the great and the folitary ftudy of the common people, and come to them with irrefiftible affociations of facrednefs and folemnity. They conftitute the principal ftock of domeftic literature. They are the ftudy of every wife and confiderate parent; and from them he derives all the precepts of religion and morality, by which thofe whom he has brought into this world of trial are fitted for a better. Sermons are the first compofitions recommended to the young. To them, the ferious, the unfortunate, and the aged, apply themfelves in their hours of thoughtfulness and diftrefs; and from them, they often derive their hopes or fears. How important, there fore, to mankind, are thofe books which have this influence upon human opinions; which form the fentiments of youth, the principles of manhood, the hopes and confolations of age? and how well does that preacher deferve of his country, who, feel ing the importance and the dignity of his of fice, brings forth all the powers of a wife, and all the acquifitions of a cultivated mind, to recommend the fpirit of pure and enligh tened religion to every order of mankind! In the enjoyment of lettered fame, there are other men who participate with Dr Blair; but in the application of talents and of learning, to render mankind wifer or better, there are few literary characters who can claim an equal fhare; and however we may be difpofed to confider his fermons as the productions of genius and of tafte, when we regard them in this more important light, we feel them intitled to that ftill more honourable fame which is the portion of the wife and good alone, and before which all literary fplendor difappears. Practical fermions, felected and abridged from various authors. By J. Charlesworth, late fellow of Trinity college, Cambridge. vol. 2. fmall 8vo. 3 s. boards. Johnfun. A defence of the unity of God; in four letters to the Rev. Mr Harper. In reply to his addrefs to Dr Difney, for refighing the rectory of Panton, and vicarage of Swinderly, and for quitting the established church. Including remarks upon Mr Romaine's fermon on the felf-existence of Jefus Chrift: Together with remarks on the Rev. Mr Hawkins's letter to Dr Priestley; and upon a publication intitled, Hore Solitaria: With general obfervations on the common unsubstantial mode of defending the doctrine of the Trinity. By G. Clark. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Johnson. Moral and philofophical estimates of the ftate and faculties of man; and of the nature and fources of human happiness. A series of didactic lectures. 8vo. 4 vols. 16 s. boards. White. Rather deferiptive and pathetic than didactic; but poffefs confiderable merit as pra&ical difcourfes, and will be read with much pleasure by thofe who are more atten tive to utility than novelty. M. Hiftory, Biography, Law, Politics, Sc. A general history of the Othoman empire. Dedicated to the King of Sweden. Tranfla ted from the French of M. de M- d'Ohilon, Knight of the Royal Order of Vafa, fecretary to the King of Sweden, formerly his interpreter and chargé d'affaires at the court of Conftantinople. The work is enriched and elucidated by valuable engravings. 4to. vol. 1. (with the folio atlas of plates accompanying it.) 51. 5 s. boards. Robinsons. Hiftory of the late revolution in the Dutch republic. 8vo. 4 s. boards. Edwards. Memoirs of the life of Robert Adair, Efq; [late furgeon-general to the army.] 4to. 2s. 6d. Kearsley. A dialogue on the revenue laws, between a magiftrate, a lawyer, a courtier, and an. anti-courtier. 8vo. 38. fewed. Egertons. Imprifonment for debt unconstitutional and oppreflive, proved from the fundamental principles of the British conftitution and the rights of nature. By Edward Farley, Efq; 8vo. 2 s. 6 d. boards. Hookham. The The laws of mafters and fervants confidered; with obfervations on a bill intended to be offered to parliament, to prevent the forging and counterfeiting of certificates of fervants characters. To which is added, an account of a fociety formed for the increase and encouragement of good fervants. By J. Huntingford, Gent. Secretary to the Society. 8vo. 2 s. 6 d. fewed. Brooke. The duty of constables, containing inftruc. tions to constables, petty conftables, headboroughs, tything men, &c. in the feveral particulars of their office. 8vo. 6d. RobinJons.-Thefe very useful inftructions are published by the direction of the fociety for carrying his Majesty's late proclamation into effect, and are defigned to affift in the prefervation of peace, decency, and good order, in the community, and a more vigorous enforcement of the laws; thofe, especially, wherein the morals of the lower order of people are concerned. We cannot help wishing that these inftructions were put into the hands of every high conftable, petty-conftable, and tything-man, &c. at the time of their being fworn into their offices. M. Obfervations on Mr Dundas's India budget. 8vo. I s. 6 d. Debrett. Confiderations on the approaching diffolution of parliament. Addreffed to the elective body of the people. With fome account of the exifting parties, &c. By the author of the "Letter to a country gentleman," "Royal interview, &c. &c." 8vo. 28. Walter, Piccadilly.- -This manly and spirited, but decent and candid, writer, gives a fair and free statement of the real pretenfions of the two great parties which divide this country. M. The critical period; or feafonable truths relative to the general election in Great Britain and Ireland. 8vo. I s. 6d. Kearsley. This writer has the fame general and feasonable view with the author of the foregoing confiderations, viz. to recommend to the electors of Great Britain and Ireland a free, independent, and honest exercise of their rights, in the choice of worthy and able men to be their reprefentatives in parliament; men who are true friends to our happy conftitution of government, and steady refifters of minifterial corruption. M. The duty of a member of parliament, clearly explained. In a letter from a Nobleman to his fon. With examples, &c. 8vo. I s. Ridgway- -A literary take-in. M. The patriot; addreffed to the electors of Great Britain, by a member of the House of Commons. Containing a differtation on the propofed reform of parliamentary reprefentation. The advantages and difadvantages of annual elections. A copy of the test intended to be proposed to candidates at the enfuing election. A concife view of Mr Pitt's adminiftration. With difpaffionate remarks on the fuppofed confequences of admitting a majority of Mr Fox's friends into the new parliament. 4to. 38. Bourne.————The subjects which are difcuffed in this dialogue, are fully enumerated in the title-page; and the manner of their difcuffion would almost lead us to fufpect that the author is not, as is here ftated, a member of the House of Commons, but a gentleman, on the feverity of whose fufferings for fimilar publications, we reflect with pity. The fame threwdness of remark, and the fame boldness of language, which distinguished the writings of Alfred, are con fpicuous here. The fhrewdness, however, occafionally deviates into fallacy, and the boldnefs becomes rancour. M. The Spanish pretenfions fairly difcuffed, by A. Dalrymple. 8vo. I s. Elmfly.-The Spanish claims are of two kinds : " of all the Magallanic regions; and of all parts on the N. W. fide of America." Mr Dalrymple, with great geographical precifion, proves, that the Spaniards have not even the pretence of firft difcovery to the Magallanic regions; and that "the only difcovery which the Spaniards can claim here, is the Discovery of the Strait of Magallan, the Portuguese having discovered the Eaft Coaft of Patagonia long before Magallan's Voyage, and the English having completed the Discovery! confequently, as much exclufive right to that Navigation must belong to the Englife, as the Spaniards can pretend to, from their having gone beyond the Portuguefe; but a pretenfion of the Englife to an exclufive right of navigating on the South of Cape Horn, could they be fo abfurd to make it! would be laughed at, by all the world, as too ridiculous to merit ferious attention." The Spanish pretenfions on the North are next confidered; and the author concludes, from authorities which he produces, that "the first public and authentic description of Nootka, or King George's Sound, in 494° North Lat. and the parts adjacent, was gi ven to the world in Captain Cook's last voyage, 1778." There may be truth, and we believe there is, in what is here advanced: but in difquifitions on this fubject, it would be well if attention were paid to the interest and wishes of the inhabitants of thefe difcovered regions. Have they not the right of disposing of the produce of their own land and labour at any market which they may chufe? and is not the pretence of reftricting their trade to that country whofe navigators first discovered their fituation, too ridiculous to be ferioufly confuted? M. Philo-Theodofius; or a new edition of Theodofius. With a new character of Mr Burke. To which are added, for the convenience of gentlemen difpofed by duty or inclination to become perfect mafters of the fubject, a feries of propofitions. On the na ture T |