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CRITICAL REVIEW.

For SEPTEMBER, 1796.

The New Annual Regifter, or general Repofitory of Hiftory, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1795. To which is prefixed, the Hiftory of Knowledge, Learning, and Tafle, in Great Britain, during the Reign of King Charles the First. 8vo. 95. Boards. Robinfons. 1796.

THE volume before us is introduced by the following apology--

The prefent volume makes its appearance at least a month later than was intended. But as our readers muft perceive that our information is derived from no common fources, it may naturally be conceived that fome delay may occur in the collecting of that information, and that, whatever may be our affiduity in endeavouring to gratify the anxious curiofity of the public at this momentous period, fome difappointment (for every delay is a difappointment) may enfue from circumftances which we cannot command.' P. iii.

The editors must excuse us, if we obferve that fuch an apology was neither neceffary, nor expected by the public. To collect from authentic documents the tranfactions of the year, to arrange them with accuracy, and exprefs them in animated and correct language,-is a tafk which must necefla rily occupy feveral months; and when we reflect that their rival editors have not yet brought forward their history of 1792, and have even left the whole of French affairs of 1791 in arrear, we must add that it favours of affectation or bravado, to offer an excufe for having delayed their hiftory of the year 1795, to the beginning of Auguft 1796.

The volume is introduced (as ufual) by a kind of critical hiftory of science and literature, during the reign of Charles the Firit, which is written in the fame candid and moderate ftyle as the preceding patés; as will be feen in the following fhort bat correct character the philofopher of MalmburyCRITREAer XII. Sept. 1796.

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• Few of the political writers of this period have attracted more of the notice of fucceeding times, than Hobbes. In 1647, this philofopher published "De Cive," a work which he had long had in contemplation, and which was intended to check the rifing fpirit of democracy, by establishing the claims of monarchy, on new principles of philofophy. In 1650, he wrote "De Corpore Politico," and the year following his "Leviathan," in which, in establishing a fyftem of civil policy, he reprefents man as an untameable beast of prey, and government as the ftrong chain by which he is to be restrained from mifchief. This work, though learned and ingenious, adduced fuch bold and paradoxical opinions, both in philofophy and policy, that the clergy took the alarm, and the au thor was reprefented to be, in religion, inimical to revelation, and in policy, an advocate for the cause of tyranny. That his temper was foured by beholding the exceffes into which the enthusiasm of liberty had betrayed the popular party, and his understanding fhocked by the fanatical cant of the puritanical clergy, is, we think, evident from his writings. In religion, however, he appears rather to have been a sceptic than an abfolute unbeliever; and his politics contain many found obfervations on the principles of government. In comparison with fuch men as Hobbes, the pretended philofophers of France are puny fciolifts, and their English imitators below contempt.' . xxvii.

The most important department, however, of this publication is the historical, which confists of ten chapters; the first five of which are occupied with our domeftic affairs, and exhibit an apparently faithful sketch of the parliamentary proceedings in the feffion of 1795. This part. however, we obferve, is lefs extended than in the preceding volume,-probably because the arguments on the war, which is the most prominent topic, were in general anticipated in 1794. The fixth chapter. relates to the affairs of Ireland; and we find in it the most accurate and impartial account we have any where seen of the difmiffal of earl Fitzwilliam, &c. The following obfervation appears new to us; and yet it carries with it a strong internal conviction that it is founded in truth

There is, however, another caufe to which, upon the best authority, we are led to impute the difiniffal of earl Fitzwilliam; and that is a well-grounded dread in the ininifter, of the rising influence of Mr. Grattan, the Ponfonby family, and others of the Irish patriots. These men, though they have not, we confefs, acted in. all refpects confiftently with the character, have always been attached to Whig principles: and principles cannot in all inftances undergo. an immediate change, and be made in every respect fubfervient tothe dictates of felf-intereft. They are pren too of rank, of cohfderable local influence, and of tranfcendent talents. If therefore

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the influence which is now vested in a family of new men, who are neceffarily more dependent on the British cabinet, could have been transferred at once to the Whig party of Ireland, while the Portland party here remained connected with them, the whole power and influence of that kingdom must have vested in the duke of Portland and his friends; and it must in some measure have counteracted that immense influence which Mr. Pitt has acquired with the monied intereft of England. This is therefore the only clue which will lead to the developement of the conduct of the British cabinet. We state it not as a matter of cenfure (for jealoufies and intrigues will take place in all cabinets), but as a matter of hiftorical remark. The narrative which gives only a dull record of events to be found in every newspaper, is not a history but a chronicle.

We fhall not enter into any difcuffion concerning the probable confequences of the catholic bill, as it is a meafure which does not appear likely to be foon carried into effect; and the merits and demerits of lord Fitzwilliam's administration are amply canvaffed in the fucceeding debates. We confefs ourselves not among the unqualified admirers of that adminiftration; yet, whatever may be the feelings of those who reprobate the prefent war,-thofe affuredly, who are difpofed to approve it, ought not to with-hold com mendation from earl Fitzwilliam. The union of parties which he effected, the cheerfulness with which an impoverished nation fubmitted to immense burdens, were certainly favourable to the prefent objects of miniftry. In the words of a writer who is fuppofed to occupy a high ftation in the church, and to be intimately connected with earl Fitzwilliam," he made a war in which Ireland had no concern, fave as the was implicated with Great Britain-a war, doubtful in its caufe, difgraceful in its confequences, and indefenfible in its management-palatable, or at leaft not unpopular to the people of Ireland. His arrangements in correcting the lavish expenditure of the public money were certainly for the benefit of the nation, and his attention to the diftreffed peafantry highly commendable.' P. 152,

The remaining four chapters are chiefly devoted to the events of the war, and the ftate of the interior of France, in which we can easily discover that the affertion of the editors is not over-charged, that their information is derived from no common fources;' but, on the contrary, that much of it muft have been collected on the fpot. It cannot fail to be acceptable to our readers, to be made better acquainted than moft of them probably are, with the characters of the men who at prefent exercife the executive authority in France

The suspicion and alarm which were awakened by the fatal experience of the paft, joined to the honourable refiftance of Thibeaudeau, baffled the defigns of thofe who had fought to bow the

people beneath the yoke of a fecond revolutionary government; and they no longer attempted to with-hold the conftitution. The prefent temper of the convention, however, entirely excluded from the higheft offices of the ftate the men whom probably the voice of the people would have raifed to thofe dignities. At the fame time the prevailing party in the convention felt that to compofe the whole executive directory of avowed terrorists, would excite fuch general indignation as it were well to avoid. A middle path was therefore chofen. A lift was formed of men who were not indeed diftinguished as favourites of the people, but most of whom bore characters free from reproach. The party of what was called les hors la loi (the outlawed deputies in the time of Robespierre), who, a few weeks before, would have had the abfolute choice of the executive power, could now only raise, by a fort of compromife with the convention, one of their own party to that station. This perfon was Reveillere-Lepaux; he was formerly a lawyer; when called to the legiflature, he attached himself to the party of the Gironde, had the honour of fharing their profcription during the tyranny of Robespierre, and was obliged to conceal himfelf in order to preferve his life. Reveillere-Lepaux is a man of strict integrity, and alfo a man of letters; he has applied himself particularly to the ftudy of botany, of which he poffefles confiderable knowledge. He was with difficulty prevailed upon by his friends to accept the office of director, which a weak ftate of health, as well as a tafte for ftudy and retirement, led him to decline. At length, however, he yielded to the folicitations of those who felt that it was important to place at the head of affairs a perfon of his integrity; but it is faid that, already wearied of his employment, and fuffering in his health, he intends fhortly to refign. Rewbell was born in the province of Alface; and his profeffion was alfo that of a lawyer; he was one of the village attornies of whom Mr. Burke makes mention, who compofed the conftituent affembly, where he performed his part with honour, and proved himself a friend to the Liberties of his country. After the conqueft of Holland by the French, Rewbelt was fent with Sieyes, to conclude a treaty with that country. Rewbell has always belonged to what is called the middle party, and contributed with great ardor to the fall of the Jacobins, after the 27th of July. He is a man of plain good sense, and is faid to know well how to take advantage even of difficult circumstances.

Letourneur de la Manche was, before the revolution, an offi cer of engineers; he is not diftinguished for talents, and was rather more attached to the mountain than the plain; but his conduct has been unfullied by any of the excelles of the Jacobin party. The Abbé Sieyes is well known as a man of letters, a philosopher, and the author of the Table of the Rights of Man, drawn up by the .conftituent affembly. How a man fo celebrated, and fo intimately

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