The truth of the reflection which immediately follows cannot be denied:

If then this rapid increase shall be suffered to continue: and, in deed, if the present high prices shall not be speedily and effectually reduced, by the means recommended in other parts of this treatise, the prices of all kinds of ingenuity, labour, and skill, and the profits of every trade, should be increased so as to keep pace with them; or otherwise the great bulk of the people, that is, the middle and lower classes, will very soon be impoverished to a degree that will greatly injure the national resources; and for which increased contributions from the rich (which, comparatively speaking, are few in number) will by no means compensate.'

Though we are sometimes constrained to question the statements and to resist the arguments of this writer, we feel pleasure in every opportunity of testifying approbation. He has taken pains to acquire information, and his reflections are animated by benevolence and public spirit. His strictures on the Act of Incorporation of the London Flour Company are truly judicious. He has no expectation of national benefit from incorporated monopoly, and he sufficiently exposes the radical defects of the act itself. The profuse praise lavished on this new company by a late pamphleteer obliged us, in a recent article, to hint our opinion of its probable operation. An incorporated company dealing in corn, flour, and bread, must possess advantages not enjoyed by common dealers, which may be turned to the benefit of the company, and not to the public good. Governments are not in their most enlightened moments, when they encourage such schemes; so inconsistent with the liberal and expanded principles avowed by our ministers themselves, respecting the wise policy of a free trade! Let such trade be encouraged, and there will be no necessity for public granaries, nor for obliging families to manufacture their own bread; which, in great towns, where both space and time are very valuable articles, would be extremely inconvenient.

Mr. G. argues for shaking the bushel in measuring, for enforcing pitched in opposition to sample markets, and for making it a law that all corn sold shall be delivered to the buyer in open market, and that the seller shall not in the same or future market expose it at an advanced price. He may sell it, we suppose, for less than it cost him, and live (as they say) by the loss. This may be called taking care of the public: but it must be a public without trade; for under such a law, Commerce could not exist.

We have attentively followed this gentleman through the dif ferent chapters of his work, in which he remarks on the effects

Desisting from setting the assize of bread, afterward recommended, is wise only on the principle of leaving trade open and free.

of

of the bounties given by the Agricultural Society to promote what is termed improved breeds of sheep-on -on carcase butchers-on the fish and coal markets, &c. &c. and we are convinced by what he has advanced that, to the merit of good intention, he has added great persevering industry, in hopes of promoting the general welfare; yet we must be free to confess (to use parliamentary language) that he has deduced his conclusions of existing abundance, and extensive monopolies, from very slender and insufficient premises. The quantity of grain passing over Maidenhead bridge, and other local circumstances equally trifling, tend but very little towards ascertaining the amount of the national produce and stock of grain; and the documents which are here given do not warrant the inference, that the high price of the necessaries of life is owing to the rapacity of forestallers, who have reduced monopoly to a system, and who drink the tears of the labouring poor out of cups of silver. If gentlemen employ such inflammatory expressions in their writings, are we to wonder that the common people are instigated to violence, and that their violence is ill-directed? As inquiries are now making by parliament, it may not be amiss to hint that, when the interested are examined, it requires more than usual sagacity to arrive at the truth;' nor may it perhaps be unjust to suspect that persons engaged in the corn trade will avail themselves of times and seasons: but there seems no reason and justice in reprobating them as the authors of our present calamity, and in pointing towards them the artillery of the public indignation.

ART. XV. The Prospectus, Charter, Ordinances, and Bye-Laws, of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Together with Lists of the Proprietors and Subscribers; and an Appendix. 4to. 35. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1800.

THE

HE Charter of Incorporation states that the Royal Institution, of the establishment of which some account is here given, is formed with the view of diffusing the knowlege and facilitating the general introduction of useful mechanical inventions and improvements; and for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the application of science to the common purposes of life. In the Prospectus, its motive and object are more fully

In consequence of these premiums, the farmer is induced to make the sheep more fat than is necessary, and so far to waste his pasture. However the butcher and the candle-maker may admire them for "tallowing well in the cawl and on the kidney," an useless superabundance of fat is produced on the carcase, which disgusts, and produces great waste in families.

explained

explained. We are there reminded how intimately mechanical improvements are connected with the comforts of social man, and yet how slowly these improvements make their way into common use. To remedy this defect is the avowed purpose of the founders of the new philosophical society, which is designated by the style and title of the Royal institution *.

Among the various operators who take their stations in the great laboratory of civil society, there are others who cannot be classed either with manufacturers or merchants, though they perform a great and very essential part of the general work. These men are philosophers, who have devoted themselves to the labour of observing, comparing,-analysing,-inventing. The movements of the universe, the relations and habitudes of men and of things,causes and effects, motives and consequences, are the powers on which they meditate for the developement of truth, by those remote analogies which escape the vulgar mind. It is the business of these philosophers to examine every operation of nature or of art, and to establish general theories for the direction and conducting of future processes. Invention seems to be peculiarly the province of the man of science; his ardour in the pursuit of truth is unremitted; discovery is his harvest ; utility his reward. Yet it may be demanded whether his moral and intellectual habits are precisely such as may be calculated to produce useful practical improvements. Detached, as he usually is, from the ordinary pursuits of life, little if at all accustomed to contemplate the scheme of profit and loss,—will he descend from the sublime general theories of science, and enter into the detail of weight, measure, price, quality, or the individual properties of the materials, which must be precisely known before a chance of success can be gained?-Does he know them?-will be become an operative artist ?-or can he make advances of this nature, if he do not?-Are his motives and his powser equal to this task?Surely they are not.-The practical knowledge,-the stimulus of interest, and the capital of the manufacturer, are here wanting; while the manufacturer on his part, is equally in want of the general information, and accurate reasoning of the man of science.'

How are these obstacles to be conquered? How are the genius and efforts of men of science, in their different departments, to be assisted aud combined for the public good?

There appear (says the intelligent author of this Prospectus) to be but three direct methods of diminishing or removing these difficulties: 1. To give premiums or prizes to the inventors. 2. To grant temporary monopolies. And, 3. To direct the public attention to the arts, by an institution for diffusing the knowledge and

*For the novel use in this country of the term Institution, some apology is made; and lest we should suspect that the phrase is borrowed from the French word institute, we are told that it is a term already well known for near a century, in the famous “Institute” of Bologna.'

3

facilitating

facilitating the general introduction of useful mechanical inventions and improvements. The first already constitutes the object of a most respectable Society; the second is already provided for by the law of the land; and the third is now offered to the consideration of the public.

The two chief purposes of the ROYAL INSTITUTION, being the speedy and general diffusion of the knowledge of all new and useful improvements, in whatever quarter of the world they may originate; and teaching the application of scientific discoveries, to the improvement of arts and manufactures in this country, and to the increase of domestic comfort and convenience; these objects will constantly be had in view, not only in the arrangement and execution of the plan, but also in the future management of the Institution.

In the execution of the plan, the Managers have purchased, with the approbation of the Proprietors, a very spacious and commodious house in Albemarle-street, where convenient and airy rooms will be prepared for the reception and public exhibition of all such new mechanical inventions and improvements, as shall be thought worthy of the public notice, and proper to be publicly exhibited; and, more especially, of all such contrivances as tend to increase the conveniences and comforts of life, to promote domestic economy, to improve taste, or to advance useful industry.

The completest working models, or constructions of the full size, will be provided, and exhibited in different parts of this public repository, of all such new mechanical inventions as are applicable to the common purposes of life.'

In order to carry into effect the second object of the Institution, namely, that of teaching the application of science to the useful pure poses of life, a lecture-room will be fitted up for philosophical lectures and experiments; and a complete laboratory, and philosophical appa ratus, with the necessary instruments for making chemical and philosophical experiments: and men of the first eminence in science will be engaged to officiate in this essential department.'

These extracts will be sufficient to explain to our readers the outline of this Institution; from which, if we are to judge by the noble and liberal patronage which it has received, no inconsiderable benefit seems to be expected. The opulent and fashionable members of society are here invited to an intimate familiarity with science; as it is presumed that, when the rich shall take pleasure in contemplating and encouraging such mechanical improvements as are really useful, good taste, with its inseparable companion, good morals, will revive:-rationak economy will become fashionable: industry and ingenuity will be honoured and rewarded; and the pursuits of all the various classes of society will then tend to promote the public pro, sperity.'

، * The Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, instituted 1753-'

If such effects can be produced by this Royal Institution, its establishment will be a singular blessing: but, though we would not damp the ardour of enterprize in its patrons, we are taught by experience not to raise our expectations too high on these occasions.

For the system of rules and regulations, we must refer to this work.

ART. XVI. An Inquiry into the Life, Writings, and Character of the Reverend Dr. William Guild, one of the Chaplains in Ordinary to his Majesty King Charles I. and Founder of the Trinity Hospital, Aberdeen. With some Strictures upon Spalding's Account of him, and of the Times in which he lived. By James Shirrefs, D.D. Senior Minister of Aberdeen, &c. Svo. PP. 142. 2s. 6d. Boards. Rivingtons. 1799.

As the motives of Dr. Shirrefs, in this publication, are com

posed of gratitude for benefactions bestowed on his native city, and of respect for distinguished learning and virtue, they must intitle him to considerable praise; and this praise will be increased by the candour and love of truth which pervade the work but the subject of the history is too little known, and the events of his life are not sufficiently varied, to excite general interest. Dr. Guild was born in the year 1586, and very early distinguished himself by his writings. In 1617, when James I. endeavoured to establish Episcopacy in Scotland, he appears to have been consulted on that important occasion; and, by his prudent and honourable conduct, to have engaged the esteem and friendship of the celebrated Bishop Andrews, to whom the management of that difficult business was intrusted. Every person conversant in history knows that James failed in his attempt, and had wisdom sufficient to refrain from renewing it during the course of his reign. Happy would it have been, had his successor pursued the same line of conduct: but, actuated by a zeal which, however laudable, must be confessed to have been ill timed, (if not intemperate,) Charles I. by proclamation ordered the liturgy to be used in the public worship of the Church of Scotland; and this imprudent step may be considered as one great cause of the civil war which not long afterward ensued.

Of the solemn League and Covenant, which was the immediate consequence, our author speaks in the following manner:

At this alarming crisis, when the resentment and jealousy of the nation were aroused, it was thought necessary to establish, as a test of principle, that famous Covenant, which has been so much applauded by some, and so much reprobated by others. Impartially considered,

it