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though they may not convey any diftinct ideas, yet as they end in a way that is favourable to the hypothefis of the Author, a Reader of the clafs for which this work is chiefly calculated, believes that what he has been reading contains unanswerable arguments in proof of that hypothefis, and he remains entirely convinced by the Author.

Mr. Loch feems to have a confufed idea of many particulars relating to commerce and manufactures, which he throws together in chaotic confufion, frequently starting from one fubject to another, where there is no apparent connection-and as frequently returning with equal diforder to the fubject he had quitted. Our Author feems, however, to be poffeffed of abundance of zeal in the cause of his native country, and is no less vehement against the English for fending their manufactures to Scotland. We wish to fee manufactures flourish in every part of the kingdom, and cannot help thinking, that little good can refult from inflaming the minds of the lower people in either part of the island against their brethren on the other fide the Tweed.

Without attempting to give an analyfis of this defultory work, we fhall only obferve, that the bulk of the first volume confifts of many arguments tending to prove that the linen manufacture is an unprofitable one for Scotland, and that the woollen manufacture would be extremely profitable; in which we think he is right. This we had occafion to obferve was demonftrated fome time ago in another work relating to the manufactures of Scotland *, from which performance our Author feems to have borrowed largely, without making the smallest acknowledgement for it +. Indeed, his obfervations on the management of sheep are little more than a tranfcript of what Mr. Anderson has faid, put into a different drefs; intermixed with a few observations picked up from other authors, by whom he

* Obfervations on the means of exciting a spirit of national induftry, &c. See Review, vol. lviii.

+ Example. "It is a certain fact, fays Mr. Loch. that that part of a fleece which grows in the coldest season, or in winter, is infinitely finer than that which grows in the fummer; and that these threads or filaments on any fleece are exactly proportional to the different degrees of the temperature of the air, or the variations of heat and cold in the district in which the fheep are reared." In our Review, referred to in the above Note, we detailed the experiment by which this curious fact was firft demonftrated, and the ufes to which it might be applied. A fact that does not feem to have been attended to by any one before thefe experiments were made. See alfo a Note, p. 170, of Mr Loch's work which is almoft literally taken from Mr. Anderfon's book, as tranfcribed into our Review.-Many other ex-. amples might be given.

is frequently mifled, or bold affertions of his own, that too often ftand in need of proofs to establish them +: interfperfed with ftrokes of humour and wit, of his own ftyle, that may perhaps divert fome Readers, though it may not convince their understandings.

But although we cannot fay much in favour either of the. originality or the elegance of this Writer, yet many obfervations incidentally occur in this mifcellany (for fuch it might have been with propriety named) that are curious, and deferve attention. Among which is an account of the manufactures of Paisley, furnished by an anonymous writer, who feems to have been very well informed.

The fecond volume of thefe Effays contains obfervations by the Author on the different manufacturing towns in Scotland, made in a tour undertaken by him in quality of General Inspector of manufactures and fisheries: with the journal of a traverse among the Western Ifles during the fishing season, in 1778.

From the first part, we are happy to see that the numerous infant manufactures in Scotland are in a much more promifing ftate than we had apprehended, and that induftry is coming more and more into fashion in that part of the island. We heartily with the gentlemen of landed property in that country may continue to give every encouragement to these manufactures, and that the legislature may in future beftow a greater. degree of attention to the improvement of Scotland than it has hitherto obtained for undoubtedly the profperity of that part of the nation will contribute more to its internal defence than that of any diftant colonies ever can do. In this refpect we agree in opinion with our Author,-nor do we hefitate to pronounce, that the spirit of colonization has been the hobby

Example. "They (the Highlanders), fays he, p. 21, are alfo endeavouring to mend their breed (of fheep) by adopting the example of the nobility and gentry; who, to effect this, have fpared no expence to import tups of the best kinds from the above-mentioned gentlemen (viz. Meffrs. Bakewell, Chaplin, and Culley), by which means they have now fheep, which instead of two or three pounds of coarse wool, yield eight or ten pounds of fine wool; and in lieu of mutton of fix and feven pounds per quarter, now fixteen and eighteen pounds and yet thefe very fheep do not require a fifth part more food to fupport them than the hungry half-flarved breed of this country." Let this fact be fully proved, and we will undertake that in a very few years not one of the old breed of sheep will be found in the country. Again, he obferves, p. 12, " for hairy fheep, tranfported to rich pafturage, will caufe the wool to grow much finer, and contrariwife."

Where is the proof of this to be found?

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borfe of Europe for a century paft, and has been productive of much national diftrefs. But the time is not perhaps yet come when the force of this obfervation will be fully felt.

Will it be believed, in future ages, that Britain has exhaufted her treasury for more than a century paft, and thrown out every alluring bait that could be devifed, to induce the natives of her own ifland to relinquish their habitations, and migrate to diftant [defert] countries, where they ftand in perpetual need of fupport from the weakened state, instead of strengthening it-and all this without enquiring whether it was poffible to convert the labour of these perfons at home to any more valuable purpose? Can it be believed, that a nation not abfolutely stupid fhould have gone thousands of leagues in queft of fishing groundsfhould have peopled a barren unhofpitable ifland, and undertaken two expenfive wars to obtain poffeffion of that fishing ground, without fo much as founding their own coaft, to fee if any thing of the fame kind could there be found, even after they had received the strongest intimations that it might? Yet, aftonishing as this may appear, it is undoubtedly true:—and, whether the obfervations of our Author on the number and magnitude of the fishing banks on the Weft coaft of Scotland, may turn out as he imagines, or not, ftill we are inexcufable in not having, long ago, explored them with the utmost care, fo as not to leave room for a doubt concerning them.

From the whole train of our Author's obfervations on the fisheries, it is evident, that he means to magnify every advantage that his nation enjoys in that respect as much as poffibie.We are forry that our fcanty limits forbid us to enter into this difcuffion fo fully as we could wish. We could, but for this objection, have been glad to collect together feveral interefting facts relating to the fubject, that are fcattered through the volume before us, fo as to place them in one confpicuous point of view.-Would the nation be at the expence of fending a man of genius and public fpirit to that part of the country, to collect facts and make obfervations on the fpot, who could be capable of judging of the expediency or non-expediency of the measures that fhould be pointed out by the natives and others whom he might there meet with, who had frequented thefe feas, and who could arrange his ideas in a clear and perfpicuous manner, we are perfuaded that the obfervations of fuch a person, made public, would be of much more national advantage than the dif covery of a Southern Hemisphere, and might be accomplished at less than the thousandth part of the expence of an expedition to Otaheite. In the mean time, we recommend the journal of this Author to the attention of our countrymen-as it may ferva to excite in them a defire to explore these unknown regions, in which we are happy to fee that the fifhings are beginning to be

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attended to by the natives, although the laws are little calcu lated to promote their induftry. We hope the time is fast approaching when this great national object will obtain a more unbiaffed degree of attention from all ranks of people, than has hitherto been bestowed upon it *.

The third volume confifts of fome general obfervations on trade-on fome of the manufacturing towns in England-on the police of the city of Edinburgh-on the trade to Campvere-on the canal between Clyde and Forth on the advantages of making a navigable canal through the peninfula of Cantyre-on the trade to Ireland; with some smaller articles: to which is added a fupplement, containing the Author's thoughts on the means of quieting the rebellion in America, which feems to have no other claim to a place here but that of filling up a part of the volume. On all these subjects, perfons who are unacquainted with them may receive fome information.

The following inftance of industry and attention in a Mr. Campbell of Loch Goyl, deferves to be particularifed, as it tends to fhow that the natives are neither fo ftupid nor indolent as they are commonly reprefented:

"I dined, fays Mr. Loch, vol. ii. p. 225, with the reverend Mr. M'Lea, who told me in the courfe of converfation, that Alexander Campbell, one of Ardkinglafs's tackfmen or farmers, had great merit in fifhing the head of this loch; that he had, within thefe four. years, encreased the number of his boats and nets as fix to one; and that most of his fifhers came over to him at the proper feafon from Nairn. This information excited my curiofity to be fully acquainted with their mode of payment, the nature of their fishing, and to what market the fish were fent for fale; upon which I was told, that Mr. Campbell provides boats, nets, lines, and every material for fishing, and allows his fishermen one half of the fish caught for their trouble. Mr. Campbell has contrived nets with which they catch falmon, cod, feaths, feals, haddocks, and many other kinds of falt water fish, and mackrel when in feafon, in vast quantities. Nay, fo great has been their fuccefs in this laft kind, that they have often caught from 3:00 to 5000 at a draught, the market for which, as well as the others, is principally Glasgow, Paifley, Greenock, &c.; and the very inhabitants themfelves, who often affift the fishermen in hauling their nets on fhore, when heavy loaded, are moft generously rewarded by Mr. Campbell, who gives them as many fish as they can carry home for the use of their families." This is acting with a liberality of fpirit that shows Mr. Campbell is capable of forming extenfive views of trade and manufactures. We heartily with him all the fuccefs his induftry deferves, and are glad to fee that his laird is not insensible of the value of fuch a tenant.

ART.

ART. III. Three Difcourfes. I. On the Progrefs of religious and Christian Knowledge. By William Enfield, LL. D. II. On religious Zeal; with a comparative View of the Proteflant Diffent-. ers of the last and prefent Age. By Richard Godwin. III. On the Character, Offices, and Qualifications of the Chriftian Preacher. By Philip Holland. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. Boards. Johnfon. 1780.

WE

E are informed, in the Preface, that the Difcourfes here offered to public attention, were, in fubftance, lately delivered on occafions on which a confiderable number of diffenting minifters were affembled; and that the Authors are fo nearly agreed in their general views, that they wish to appear in the world as friends united in the fupport of an important common cause.'

The leading objects of thefe Difcourfes are to encourage free enquiry, and to excite an active but temperate zeal for the great interefts of rational Chriftianity. The Authors are particularly careful to guard against the fatal extremes of infidelity and fanaticifm-bigotry and indifference.

ous.

The firft Difcourfe, by Dr. Enfield, is fenfible and ingeniThe Author traces with judgment and candour the progrefs of religious knowledge through its various gradations, and amidit the obftructions which ignorance or policy, pride or intereft, fuperftition or enthusiasm, have from time to time thrown in its way.

The teftimony which the Doctor hath borne to the high merit of the Polonian brethren, who affifted Socinus in perfecting his daring fyftem of reformation, will perhaps be objected to, as partial, if not extravagant, by fome of our Readers. We will tranfcribe this fingular paffage. Soon after the firft dawn of the Reformation, feveral great men arofe who poffeffed fuch ftrength and acutenefs of understanding, and freedom of fpirit, as to be able, at one effort, to feparate the pure religion of Chrift from the mafs of abfurdities and fuperftitions with which it had been mixed; and to conceive themselves, and to represent to others, a fyftem of faith fo rational and fcriptural, that all the labours of modern times have done little to improve it.'

It must indeed be acknowledged, even by the moft bigotted adverfaries of Socinianifm, that its first founders were men, not only of uncommon fortitude, but of great erudition and diftinguifhed abilities. And it would be the height of prejudice not to allow them even higher praise than is due to their literary endowments. They are entitled to that praise which is the juft reward of an unyielding integrity, and of the pureft and most amiable virtues that could adorn the characters of men and REV. Sept. 1780. Chriftians.

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