After fuch a declaration from a professional character, to which full faith and credit is usually given in court and thereout," no doubt can be entertained concerning the authenticity of the papers contained in this compilation. And as the various forms of transacting business in the commercial world cannot be proper fubjects for literary criticism, it is solely on account of the great utility of fuch a collection to the numerous classes of our fellow-fubjects concerned in the extensive foreign commerce and domestic trade of the united kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, that we have thought it incumbent on us to give a concise statement of the plan and principal contents, in our review of new publications.

The arrangement, in alphabetical order, under general heads, facilitates a reference to any particular document that may be more immediately wanted in the hurry of business, and is best calculated for occasional inspection in the counting-house by merchantsclerks, who have no time to beltow in searching for articles not readily to

be found.

Every general head is judiciously fubdivided, and comprises specifications of the different forms which vary from the common, or usual document, according to circumstances; and it may be obferved, that the number and importance of the special precedents in this volume constitute the chief merit of the compilation: for many of the inftruments for transacting bui.

VOL. XLI. JAN. 1802.

ness in common usage, have been always ready framed, printed, and fold in the ftationers shops. Such, for inftance, are Bills of Lading, Bonds, Indentures of Apprentices, Letters of Attorney, General Releafes, &c.

But the extraordinary instruments are of fuch a nature as to convey mercantile information and instruction which ought to be generally promulgated for the benent and security of property, from misunderstandings, which too often occafion litigations that might be avoided if commercial contracts were always accurately drawn up; and the present work affords ample means of comparison, upon which an opinion may be formed of the accuracy of any writing that contains special covenants framed by private perfons, or by attornies, when presented to merchants, tradesinen, or any other parties, previous to executing them.

It is for this valuable purpose that we take the liberty to point out a few of the many special forms, under general articles, which we believe are not to be found in any similar publication; and we shall follow the alphabetical order in which the Author has placed them.

Agreements for investing a sum of money to be laid out in the purchase of produce in the West Indies, and each party to have an equal share of the profits. From part-owners, to indemnify the Captain from tradesmen's bills, and bills of lading, upon his leaving the ship.

Afsignment of stock in trade, debts, and effects. ffects, as an indemnity to trustees against the payment of securities given to creditors by trustees who were themselves creditors; and release from creditors to infolvent: the daughters of the insolvent, who were principal creditors, release their claims in payment of their father's debts. Of a debt, with power of attorney to bring action. Bill of Sale of a Negro female slave, and her Mulatto male child.

Bond's from a gentleman to his bankers for the payment of all fums

F

of

of money that may be advanced by them, with interest, and all coits and expences of postages, commiflions, difcount, &c. and for adjusting and ascertaining balance when requested. Of indemnity for paying a bill that was loft.

Certificates of the identity of a perfon:-that A. B. is Chief Mate of a veffel, and has the charge of the merchandize therein.

Charter Parties-several forms differing materially, by the particular covenants contained therein, from the com-

mon.

Contracts-between a master and mariners of British ships in the West India and African trades; and in the Greenland Fisheries.

Deeds of Copartnership-An indenture of copartnership between four, for affairs domestic and foreign-On separation of copartnership, with different covenants. Of emancipation of a male Negro flave.

Declarations of writings being depofited in the hands of a perfon, in trust, to be produced on demand. This article merits particular attention from those who depofit wills, title-deeds, and other papers of confequence, in the cuftody of persons out of doors, in cafe of fire, or other accidents, and the death of the proprietors. That an other is concerned in lottery tickets, and to thare the profits jointly.

Letters of Licence and Composition-A deed of composition of creditors with a debtor, granting a time for payment of the compofition money, and a freedom from arrefts, &c. with a provifo in cafe of default. From one creditor only, and covenant not to fue the debtor under forfeiture of the debt.

Petitions a variety of forms in special cafes, in the course of transacting bufiness at the public offices, more particulariy at the Custom-house, the Excife Oflice, and the East India Houfe.

Procurations or Letters of AttorneySpecial to three perfons, but in cafe

of death, abfence, or refusal of two of them, then to another, to join him that does act, From a merchant to two of his clerks, to transact and manage commercial concerns. Containing fuch full powers as, we conceive, are but feldom granted to clerks, being the fame as partners usually possess.

Releafes-On payment of a fum of money owing on a botton:ry bond which is loft, and covenant to deliver it up when found, and indemnify in the mean time. From creditors (to one that took out letters of adminiftration to the debtor) upon their receiving C.in fatisfaction of their debts, to be divided amongst them in proportion to their debts; and covenant from them to refund in proportion, in cafe any other debts of the deceased shall appear.

With respect to the Appendix, we have only to observe, that it appears to be a careful collection of cafes, relative to bills of exchange, infurance, and shipping, decided in our courts of law, and taken from ancient and modern lawbooks, such as Term Reports, &c. or from fuch commercial works of longestablished reputation as have recorded them under their respective titles ; as the latter was the readiett mode of selecting these precedents, we find a reference to fuch authorities occafionally given. See, for instance, Appendix, page 5, On Presentment of Bills of Ex.. change for Acceptance; and p. 31, On General Average, under the head of Infurance, where the well-known Lex Mercatoria of Wyndham Beawes is the ac knowledged authority.

"

Cooke's Bankrupt Laws, Park's Law of Marine Infurance, and other publications of equal merit, have likewise been confulted, to form this useful compendium, which is brought down to the present time; and confequently includes fome articles not to be found in any former commercial work. Such are the Slave Carrying Act, 40 Geo. III. p. 85. And the last Smuggling Acts, p. 91.

Μ.

W
TE object, in limine, to this pompous
defignation of the Bishop of
Meath. Dr. Vincent copied fcrupu-

loutly from the title of the Bishop's Sermon; but we apprehend he ought to have known better. In our humble opinion,

opinion, none but Archbishops are en. titled to afsume so fingular an epithet.

In our brief critique of the pamphlet before us, we hope to be clearly understood as by no means compromifing our own particular opinion respecting the existing merits and demerits of public and private seminaries. That we do entertain a decided opinion upon the subject, we will not hesitate to declare; at the fame time, and in the fame breath, we affert, that this opinion lies still open to conviction, and that such conviction must ultimately depend upon the fole excellency of indisputable arguments and incontrovertible facts. The challenge, twice given, is, at length, accepted. The point is brought fairly to issue. The reputations and characters of no common men, of no common focieties, are at stake:

ἀνδρῶν,

-- εὐχ ἱε ρηϊον, ἐδὲ βοείην Αριύσθην, ἄ, τε ποσσὶν α έθλια γίνεται ̓Ἀλλὰ περὶ ψυχῆς θέον Ἕκλορος ἵπποδαμοιο. The question is not, now, whether public or private education, abstractedly confidered, be preferable: we are not, now, to witness a calm difcuffion of the respective benefits appertaining to Westminster and Eton, St. Paul's and the Charter-house, Merchant Taylor's and Harrow, &c. &c. or the supposed fuperiority of fuch institutions to those of Dr. Valpy of Reading, Dr. Thompfon of Kensington, Dr. Wanoftrocht of Camberwell, or Dr. Burney of Greenwich. No, no. A blow, a deadly blow, is aimed at the very EXISTENCE of all public schools. And it is aimed by whom? By "the most reverend the Lord Bithop of Meath," who takes his stand, in apparent security, behind the seven-fold thield of Dr. Rennell. We scorn to brand the attack with the mark of infidiousness; and yet, if Dr. Vincent's afsertion be credited, [and who, that knows Dr. Vincent, shall dare to difbelieve it?] it is an attac' that has very much of the complexion of a premeditated afsassination. It is an attack, fudden and wholly unexpected, in the midft of a hollow feeming truce; and the act of Pandarus, in the IVth Iliad of Homer, is renewed. Be this as it may, THE WAR IS BEGUN ; the whole literary world are interested, as spectators or as auxiliaries; and the welfare of all the rifing generation in this great empire most essentially depends upon the termination of the controverfy.

Dr. Vincent does not arrogate to himself the defence of any other difcipline than that of his own extenfive establishment. He observes, page xi: "What sense the Warden and Master of Winchester, or the Master of Eton, may have of this procedure, I know not; but they are men of abilities, and equal to their own defence. I have not communicated with them, because I had not the arrogance to offer myself as a champion in the common cause." In this, the Doctor has acted with propriety. All public seminaries are equally implicated in the indiscriminate sweeping accufation :an accusation dispersed, by means of The Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge, throughout the metropolis, into every county of England and. Wales, into Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and the East Indies: - and every HeadMaster of each feminary, fo thamefully

afperfed, is bound, by all the obligations

of gratitude and honour, to vindicate the fame of his own peculiar foundation. Such divines as Dr. Rennell and the Bishop of Meath, would not lightly and unadvisedly institute a groundless charge. They, too, have characters, high and hitherto unfullied, to preserve; and the weight of their joint authorities, assisted by that of THE SOCIETY just mentioned, muft fatally operate to depress the public esteem for public schools, unless very speedy and very effectual general resistance be made in time. The force of gravity, if we may be allowed to use the expression, adds greatly to accelerate the menaced ruin. But to return to Dr. Vincent's treatise.

We could have wished to have feen less fire in this thort composition. If no injury has been experienced, or (as the learned writer trufts), can be experienced from the difcuffion, by West. minster School, furely Dr. Vincent need not have indulged in any contemptuous language against Dr. Rennell. The Bishop of Meath's quotation from the latter's discourse does not conftitute a fresh act of aggreflion in Dr. R. And yet, speaking of this Gentleman, Dr. V. exclaims: "How he brought himself to think, that he was more invulnerable than others of his profeffion I know not!" Page i. "Dr. Rennell has published many Sermons, and I question if his great name ever fold an. edition of five hundred copies." Page iv. " I believe that the zeal of Dr. F2 Rennell

Rennell made him conceive that this was a splendid topic for his eloquence." Page x. "Dr. Renneil was bred at Eton, and has lived at Winchester; but he knows no more of Westminster than Tom Paine does of the Bible." Page xi. We abstain from further similar extracts. These are but specks in the fun. We must presume, however, to suggest, that since Dr. Rennell, by Dr. V.'s own statement, was bred at Eton, and has lived at Winchester, it is not impossible but he may be possessed of strong groundwork for his massy superstructure. We decline, for for reasons already stated, to enter fully into the merits of

Poverty, a Poem, with several others on various Subjects, chiefly religious and moral. By Charies A. Allnatt. Shrewfbury. Eddowes. 8vo. 1801.

We are willing to allow this Author the merit of a design to promote humanity and benevolence, morality and religion; but such poems as these, which are wanting in every poetical requisite, are not likely to attract at tention enough to effect such good purposes.

The Valley of Llanberne, and other Pieces in Verfe. By John Fisher, A. B. 12mo. Hatchard.

"The Valley of Llanherne lies on the North Western Coast of Cornwall, a few miles below Paditow Haven. There is in it a feat of my Lord Arundel, at present inhabited by a community of Carmelite nuns." The beauties of it are here described in very pleasing verse, in the measure and in imitation of Dyer's Grongar Hill. We could have wished, however, that the Author had been more attentive to his rhymes; fome of them, as prey and enemy, &c. are very faulty. The smaller poems are intitled to praise; but the parody on Ovid's Confedere duces deserves nothing but cenfure.

Peace. A Poem. Inscribed to the Right Honourable Henry Addington. By Thomas Dermody. 4to. Hatchard.

Mr. Derzaody hails the return of peace, of which he displays the blesfings, and prophefies the future ad. vantages, in strains which certainly do him credit as a poet, and we hope will not derogate from his claim to the prophetical character.

the case at present. We shall only. here observe, that Dr. Vincent has published a very affecting and excellent little treatise. It does honour to his head and to his heart. Passages in it there undoubtedly are, which we could have wished softened, at least; if not withdrawn. But Dr. Rennell's accusation, supported as it now stands by the teftimony of a Bishop, is so oppressive, that his aged antagonist may justly excuse his warmth, by saying,

"Tu pulfas, ego vapulo tantum!" We look, with anxious eyes, to the future profecution of this controverfy.

W. B.

Adamina. A Novel. By a Lady. 2 Vols. 12mo. Vernor and Hood.

The incidents of this Novel have long been hackneyed in works of the like kind, and are not to be applauded for their adherence to probability. The plot is but little complicated, and the characters but faintly drawn. The work possesses, however, the merit of containing c nothing offensive to re. ligion and morality, and may be read not without some degree of fatisfaction.

A Dictionary of Mohammedan Law, Bengal Revenue Terms, Shanfcrit, Hindoo, and other Words used in the East Indies, with full Explanations; the leading Word of each Article being printed in a new Nuftaleeke Type. To which is added, An Appendix, containing Forms of Firmanns, Perwanebs, Arizdashts, Instruments and Contracts of Law, Passports, &c. Together with a Copy of the original Grant from the Emperor Furrukbseer to the English East India Company, in Persian and English. By S. Rousseau, Teacher of the Persian Language. 12mo. Sewell. 7s. 6d.

This is a most useful performance, and will contribute equally to the pleasure and advantage of those who may be hereafter employed in the service of the East India Company. By its assistance, the future servants of the Company will arrive in the country furnished with a portion of knowledge which heretofore, however neceffary, could only be acquired by flow and difficult means. Prefixed is an introductory description of Bengal, Bahar, and Oriffa.

A Sermon

A Sermon preached at Prittlerwell, in Effex, on the 20th of September 1801, upon the Prayer of Tbankjgiving to Almighty God for the late abundant Crop and favourable Harvest, fuft directed to be used September 13, 1801. By the Rev. Sir Herbert Croft, Bart. Vicar of Prittlewell.

12mo.

If, in our review of this article, and of the one which immediately fucceeds, we appear to be more diffuse than the importance of fingle Sermons may be thought to require, we request our cle rical readers to remember, that the name of HERBERT CROFT is too remarkable in the annals of literature to be ranked by us among those of the common preachers of the day.

An elaborate Dedication to his "old school-fellow," Mr. Addington, intro duces this little tract to our notice, We were amused by the following whimsical affertion, which no man, we prefume, can hesitate to believe: "I thall not aid the fucceffor of the brave Abercrombie in driving the French out of Egypt." - The Dedication is accompanied by the Prayer of Thanksgiving; which fills uptwo whole pages, and is largely introduced into the texture of the Sermon, taken from xiii Matthew, 30. The discourse is well written. We thank God, the cause of alarm no longer exists which dictated the sentiments in pages 16,17; buta pafsage therefrom cannot fail, even now, to gratify our readers." Should they [the French] come to this country, the blessings and riches of which the they well may envy and covet; and, should they tell you of their LIBERTY AND EQUALITY, let them know that you poffefs more real liberty than they; and ask them whether they can boaft this equality-whether those, who riot in the riches of the innocent, whom they have murdered, dispense them with liberality, for the relief and comfort of the poor?"We could, with pleasure, make further extracts; but we proceed to Sir HERBERT'S second difcourse.

W. B.

A Sermon upon the Peace, preached at Prittlewell, in Effex, on the 18th of October 1801. By the Rev. Sir Herbert Croft, Bart. Vicar of Prittlewell. 12m0.

This very little tract of twelve hort pages is not without two pages of Dedication to the Bishop of London; in. forming his Lordship that Sir Herbert esteems him highly, and that his Lordhip's predeceffor gave Sir H. a living of

120l. a-year!!! The text is from falah," xlv. 7.

Were we poffefsed of no other criterion of Sir Herbert's amiable difpofition and extreme tenderness of heart than this flight work, we should not hefitare to declare our firm conviction, that a more benevolent character than

its author does not exist. Other respectable publications may evince his talents as a scholar: this humble sheet of paper exhibits him as the Englishman, as the philanthropift, as the CHRISTIAN. We thall make no apo logy for embellithing our pages with two extracts.

"Alas! my friends, we are, all, too apt to take the good things of this world as mere matters of courie; as things to which we have a right, an abfolute claim: without at all confi. dering the mighty hand from which every thing good or bad in this world immediately comes. The shades of night were dissipated, this morning, as usual; the fun, as usual, exhibited the gorgeous spectacle of his rifing: but, because these things are usual, who, among us, hath attended to them? Who hath been grateful to the Author of the World, to the Father of all Nature, for a new day; which God could certainly have withholden, as easily as he has been pleased to grant it? How many are there among us, here afsembled, who have faid their prayers, this morning, on their rifing from fleep, which is a temporary death, and thanked their Maker for waking again in this world? How many have even been at the trouble of repeating the short, but expressive, prayer which Bleffed Saviour taught us to address to our Father which is in heaven?"

our

"As foon, my friends, as the service is ended, I mall have to contign to his narrow house, in our church-yard, young and deferving brother (for we are all brothers), only twenty-four years of age, who, last Sunday, did not feem any nearer his last home, than any one of us. Shall we quarrel with our friends and relations, in fuch an uncertain world as this? We have a common phrafe in our language; and a more fublime one, perhaps, than any other language can boast. When all hopes of recovery are over, we fay. a person is at Death's door. My friends, we are, all of us, when in the fullest health, literally at Death's door. Death has,