the insurgents, being chiefly men of colour, and finding a difficulty in exciting the mass of negroes to join in the rebellion, were induced to stop their massacres and conflagrations, by truce or convention, called the Concordat; which was concluded on the 11th of September between the free people of colour and the white inhabitants of Port au Prince; and which promised an oblivion of the past, with an engagement by the whites to admit in full force the national decree of the 15th of May, before mentioned. In confirmation of this engagement, the General Assembly on the 20th of September, by a proclamation, declared that they would no longer oppose the operation of the decree in question. Unfortunately, however, we find, in the viith chapter, that almost at the moment at which tranquillity was restoring in St. Domingo by full admission of this decree, it was on the 24th of the same month (Sept.) repealed in the French National Assembly by a great majority. All confidence and reconciliation being thus destroyed, Open war, and war in all its horrors, was now renewed. All the soft workings of humanity-what Shakespeare calls the compunctious visitings of nature-were now absorbed in the raging and insatiable thirst of revenge, which inflamed each class alike. It was no longer a contest for mere victory, but a diabolical emulation which party I could inflict the most abominable cruelties on the other. The enslaved negroes in the district called Cul de Sac having joined the mulattoes, a bloody engagement took place, in which the negroes, being ranged in front, and acting without any kind of discipline, left two thousand of their number dead on the field. Of the mulattoes about fifty were killed, and several taken prisoners. The whites claimed the victory; but for want of cavalry were unable to improve it by a pursuit, and contented themselves with satiating their revenge on their captives. Every refinement in cruelty that the most deprav ed imagination could suggest, was practised on the persons of those wretched men. One of the mulatto leaders was unhappily among the number: him the victors placed on an elevated seat in a cart, and seoured him in it by driving large spiked nails through his feet into the boards. In this condition he was drawn a miserable spectacle through the city. His bones were afterwards broken, and he was then thrown alive into the flames!' This chapter contains strong reflections on the conduct of the British association for the abolition of the slave trade, and of the society in Paris called Les Amis des Noirs together with a translation of the Abbé Gregoire's celebrated Letter to the Citizens of Colour in the French West Indies; which we have not room particularly to notice. In the vinth chapter, the author describes the events which preceded and led to the quarrel between M. Galbaud, Chief Governor Governor of St. Domingo, and the Commissioners Santhonax and Polverel; who, having called the revolted mulattoes and negroes to their assistance, enabled the rebel generals Jean François and Biassou, to massacre all the white inhabitants remaining in Cape François, and afterward to destroy the city itself by fire: a city which, (say's Mr. Edwards,) for trade, opulence, and magnificence, was undoubtedly among the first in the West Indies-perhaps in the New World.' From such scenes of carnage and destruction, the ixth chapter carries the reader back to the state in which St. Domingo flourished before the Revolution, particularly the French part of it.-Here we regret the want of room to follow Mr. Edwards in his account of the origin and circumstances of the different French settlements on this island; their population and produce; shipping and exports, &c.-settlements, in which the liberality of nature was so laudably seconded by the industry of the inhabitants, that, until the ravages and devastations which our author has recorded had there destroyed both the Bounties of Nature and the Labours of Art,' they were 'considered as the Garden of the West Indies; and for beautiful scenery, richness of soil, salubrity and variety of climate, might justly be deemed the paradise of the world.' [To be concluded in the next Review.] MONTHLY CATALOG U E, For MAY, 1797. EAST INDIA AFFAIRS. Art. 14. The New Regulations for the Bengal Army; according to Minutes of Council and General Orders, issued in Fort William, during the Months of May and June 1796. 8vo. pp. 82. Is. 6d. Stockdale. 1797: IN our Review for July 1796, we announced the publication of the new arrangements adopted for the military establishment in India. Those who may be desirous of knowing in what manner they were reduced into practice, by the Bengal government, will find a detailed account of their resolutions, on this important subject, in the extracts from their minutes here republished. ARTS, &c. Art. 15. The Brewer's Assistant, containing a Variety of Tables, calculated to find, with Precision, the Value, Quantity, Weight, &c. of the principal Articles purchased, expended, sold, or retained, in a brewing Trade. Large 4to. 15s. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1796. This very scientific and curious work is calculated for the more G4 learned learned class of brewers. The merely practical operator, who is not intimately conversant with figures and matters of calculation, will de rive no great emolument, nor satisfaction, from the present performance but to him who is sufficiently versed in philosophy and mechanics to avail himself of the numerous tables and calculations here given, this elaborate production will be found very useful, and even entertaining. EDUCATION, SCHOOL BOOKS, &c. Art. 16. The Female Mentor: or Select Conversations. Vol. III. 12mo. pp. 232. 38. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1796. A former volume of this miscellany was noticed with deserved commendation in our Rev. N. S. vol. x. p. 451. We remark in this continuation the same correct turn of thinking, the same purity of sentiment, the same amusing variety of quotation and anecdote, and the same chaste and classical style, which distinguished the preceding parts. The subjects are all such as are proper to be presented to the minds of young persons for the purpose of informing their understandings, improving their taste, or impressing their hearts with virtuous sentiments. After the manner of our most judicious essayists, the writer intersperses fictitious characters, stories founded on fact, or poetical passages, to illustrate moral reflections, and to mingle amusement with instruction. The first piece, on the Annals of the poor, the two Conversations on the Female Characters of Shakespeare, and that on Funeral Rites, are particularly pleasing. These three small volumes will form an useful and valuable part of the young lady's library. Without meaning to hazard any conjecture concerning the author of these papers, we must remark that they bear a strong resemblance to the volumes for the improvement of young persons, for which the public has been indebted to the elegant pen of Dr. Percival. The dedication of the present, indeed, bears the female subscription Honoria. MILITARY and NAVAL AFFAIRS. Art. 17. The Conduct of the Admiralty, in the late Expedition of the Enemy to the Coast of Ireland, as stated by Ministers in the House of Commons, 3d 1 March 1797. With an authentic Copy of the Official Papers on that Subject, ordered to be printed by Parliament. 4to. 2s. 6d. Stockdale. The remarks prefixed to the official papers contained in this publication are, principally, a repetition of the arguments advanced by Mr. Dundas in the debate on Mr. Whitbread's motion for an inquiry into the circumstances which prevented our attending to the defence of Ireland, when lately threatened with an invasion. The facts are clearly stated, and, according to the arguments and inferences drawn by the editor, they furnish a full justification against any charge of neglect: but it is necessary to observe that, though Mr. Dundas, at the outset of his speech, thanked Mr. Whitbread for the opportunity he had given him of laying before the House and the Public, every circumstance relative to the expedition, necessary to establish a complete justification;'-yet, on a division, Mr. Whitbread's motion for an inquiry was set aside by a large majority. The official papers afford interesting information. POLITICAL, POLITICAL, &c. Art. 18. Thoughts on Finance, suggested by the Measures of the present Session. By the Earl of Lauderdale. 4to. pp. 55. 25. Robinsons. 1797. We cannot preface what we have to observe on this production, better than in the words of its noble author: There is no task more discouraging, from its repeated failure, than any attempt to attract public attention to the Finances of the country. It is a subject understood by few, and amusing to none. Though interesting to all, it exhibits views of interest too remote for the majority of mankind.' We are now, however, in such a situation that this subject is immediately and universally interesting. We shall therefore lay before our readers the most important statements in this work, with some observations on those on which we do not exactly agree with the author. 'Lamentations on the extent of the national debt have been so often repeated, it is to be feared, that whatever bears the appearance of complaint on this subject may be disregarded as common-place. But let it be recollected, that the present situation of the country affords no ordinary theme. The history of this year will long remain conspicuous in the annals of finance. In the course of it there has been raised, as a tribute to the obstinate perseverance of our Ministers in the measures dictated by their real or affected alarms, a sum exceeding, as appears from the following statement, sixty millions: Dec. 7. 1795. By Loan £. 18,000,000 April 18. 1796. By ditto April 1796. By funding Navy Bills 7,500,000 4,414,074 By funding Navy and Exchequer Bills 13,737,022 18,000,000 £.61,651,096' We do not think that this sum can be fairly said to have been raised within the year. The last sum of 18,000,000l. was certainly not raised in the year 1796, for it was to be paid by instalments at different times in the year 1797; nor was that sum destined for the service of the year 1796. The profusion of his Majesty's ministers, not to give it an harsher name, seems to have been so great and so glaring, that their opponents need not have recourse to any thing that even borders on misrepresentation. In the military history of the British nation, perhaps there is no period more conspicuous than the War before the last, commonly known by the name of the Seven Years War. In this War, the enemies of England, vanquished in every quarter, were obliged to purchase Peace, by the cession of some of their most valuable colonies. Yet many of our ancestors doubted whether these benefits were not dearly bought by the burdens it entailed on posterity. Can we then observe with indifference, that in a year when the evacuation of Corsica, the conquest of the Maroons, and the useless sacrifice of so many of our countrymen in the West Indies, formed the most im portant portant military anecdotes, we have seen the Minister propose to Parliament, in the course of one day, permanent taxes on the people of this country nearly equal to the total charge of that glorious War! Total charge of debt funded and unfunded, War 1755* £.2,424,104 Taxes Dec. 7. 1796 Total excess 2,132,000 L. 292,104 I cannot doubt but that these views of our recent thoughtless and boundless profusion will awaken the attention of my countrymen. -I must believe, that when they learn that within the short space of four years, we have added to the annual charge of the debt, a sum exceeding the total annual charge of the debt contracted from the Revolution to the year 1782, they must wish to he something of the present management, and of the real situation of their affairs. Total charge of debt created by the present War Total annual charge of the national debt to the 5th January 1782 + £. 6,701,000 } 6,688,000 Excess during the present War £. 13,000' In page 15. Lord L. shews that no less than 181. 158. per centum was gained by the holders of the navy bills issued in September 1796. His observation in p..16. on foreign remittances is just; and we believe that it is new. In a country where the circulation is carried on by specie, the effects of a forced foreign remittance are not so much to be dreaded : there, a demand from abroad for 1,200,cool. only deprives them of circulating medium to that extent; with us, a similar remittance withdraws from circulation, not 1,200,000l. but such a sum of paper as 1,200,000 l. in cash, on the usual system of Banking, is capable of circulating.' When, by Legislative power, we force contributions to a Loan from the various capitals of individuals in equal proportions, without relation to the manner in which they are employed, we obviously abstract, from the produce of a future year, an interest on the sum borrowed at the rate of the average produce of the whole Capital. If the Loan is to be filled by a call on the patriotism of the community; as the patriotic feelings of those who reap the greatest benefits from the subsisting situation of things are likely to be most alive to the demand, it is to be dreaded that we may displace a share of the most productive part of our Capital. But a Loan to the same extent, raised by voluntary subscription, when the interest of the individual dictates the offer; can only draw off, from the produce of another year, a sum equal to the extent of the profit made by a similar share of the least productive part of our Capital. * Sinclair on the Revenue, p. 88.' + Report from the Committee of Finance 1782.' • This |