juft. To obviate an objection which might be made, I repeated the experiment by hiding the wheel with a piece of paper held over it, which paper had only a very narrow flit cut into it, fo as just to permit a tooth and a space to appear at once, when the experiment answered as before*, "

Efay II. On the Nature and Principles of Public Credit. 8vo. 25. White.'

IN N our fifty-feventh Volume, page 197, we gave fome account of the First Effay; and, in the conclufion of the article, extracted the author's promise of a Second, in his own words. A little ambiguity in the language induced us to emplay them, for we could not eafily afcertain his precise mean, ing; but it is fufficiently elucidated in the present Effay.

The fubject of this continuation is the finking fund, or a fund raifed from the furplus of the revenue, for the purpose of accumulating a fum to be employed in the diminution of the national debt. This indeed ought to be its object; if it has been otherwife employed, we fuppofe fufficient reafons might be affigned for its deftination; it will indeed be obvious, that to take fums from this fund, which would otherwife have contributed to fwell the public debt, can scarcely be ftyled a misapplication of them, except in very particular circumstances. It frequently must be favourable; as, for inftance, when by interested combinations, the premium demanded for a loan exceeds its value, appreciated by the price of flock, or when the latter is funk by artful manœuvres to fuit the plan of the lender. What our author calls the 'progreffional power of the finking fund,' is the power which any given fum has to redeem a greater or lefs capital of the public debt, and this muft neceffarily be in the inverse ratio of the public profperity. When intereft, for inftance, is high, stocks are low; confequently public calamities will be favourable to this power, as by their means a greater quantity of stock may be bought with a given fum. This is one of the inftances

The chevalier D'Arcy, in fome experiments, made with a view to determine the duration of vifible fenfations, found that the fenfation of a lighted coal lafted eight-thirds, after the lighted coal itfelf had ceafed to make any impreffion on the eye. Hence it follows (one-third being the fixtieth part of a fecord) that we cannot entertain fo many as eight fuch fenfations, one after another, in a fecond of time. In Mr. Herfchel's experiments, where the objects were lefs luminous, the number was found to be far greater. But it is highly probable, that the duration of fenfations depends in a great measure on the fplendour of the objects concerned. The chevalier D'Arcy himself found white objects to be not quite fo durable aş the lighted coal. He appears, however, not to have made any decifive experiments with this particular view.Memoires de l'Academie des Sciences, année 1765, p. 439.'

hinted at in our former article, where arithmetical calculations muft be neceffarily modified by views of a very different nature; for a profperous ftate of the finking fund will act as a counterpoife to national calamities, and prevent that influence on the price of stock, which they would otherwife produce: and if ever the finking fund be appropriated in this manner, as is fuppofed to be the prefent intention of administration, it will be abfolutely neceffary to conceal the execution of the defign with the most anxious precautions, and to employ the money by flow degrees, and at diftant intervals. But to return.

Our author, though he neglects this neceffary counterpoife in general view, yet, when applied to particular circumftances, gives it a proper weight. To render the finking fund capable of producing its full effect, he thinks the progreffional power should be fecured. This is, he thinks, beft done by converting the debt into redeemable ftock, the nominal capital whereof fhall not exceed the actual value of the annuities, computed according to the market rate of interest for the time being.' But as, in this cafe, the extra-intereft, granted by this converfion, is, in obvious ways, liable to an immediate reduction, unless its fecurity be provided for, it is equally neceffary, that the honeft annuitant,' who only can be injured by this reduction, fhould be placed beyond the reach of contrivances, which would fo much deteriorate his property. The counter fecurities are the fubject of this pam phlet and the two following fections contain, ift.

An investigation, afcertaining the neceffary principles of an annuity ftock, that shall naturally produce an equal fecurity to the progreffional power of the finking fund, and to the annuity appertaining to the creditor.' 2dly, An enumeration of the fuperior advantages attendant on an annuity stock of the foregoing principles, in preference to any other kind of annuities; and the mutual benefit flowing therefrom, as well to the crea ditors as to the public; whereby the public credit naturally becomes restored to its pristine state.'

In the first Section of the Foftfcript, our author endeavours not only to fhow that Mr. Sinclair's opinion of the found state of our refources, and the diftance of a national bankruptcy, is well-founded; but that, in reality, this fatal event is equally producible or preventible' at pleasure. We cannot enter on this fubject, as it would exceed our limits; but, after a careful examination, we think the plan equally clear, confiftent, and practicable. We would ftrongly recommend it to the powers that be."

In the fecond Section Mr. Gale confiders fome of the po fitions in Dr. Price's remarks on a plan to raise money by

public loans, and to redeem public debts. The principal of thefe pofitions are, that reductions of intereft are fome of the most dangerous and temporary expedients: that they only poftpone calamities, by accumulating them, and rendering them less poffible to be avoided.' This fobject our author expatiates on at fome length; and, after a few obfervations on other parts, examines the doctor's plan for diminishing the national debt. The nature of thefe details prevents us from analyfing, and their length from tranfcribing them. We shall only add, that Mr. Gale's arguments are fupported by great ftrength of reasoning, and, what feem to us, accurate calculations.

This Second Effay is more, clear, and more applicable to practice, than the former, while at the fame time it exhibits equal accuracy of diftinction, and is fupported by reasoning equally folid. The language is ftill dry and unornamented; to many it may feem obfcure; but these are defects infeparable from the fubject, in which ornament would be mifapplied, and which is with difficulty comprehended or explained.

Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy. 3 Vols. 12me. 15s. Bell.

HIS title is modeft; but it leads one to expect apologies

THIS

for errors, inftead of a free, unconstrained relation of them. Perhaps Mrs. Bellamy has preferved it, in imitation of the title of fimilar performances, without perceiving its tendéncy to mislead. Though we muft fufpect, that a natural partiality for her own actions, a little fpice of felf-love will gild her faults, and diminish her errors, yet the tale, in many refpects, appears to be related with fidelity and candour. Her own mind, unaccustomed to restraint, was eager and impetuous in forming and executing its refolutions: Lively, gay, and inconfiderate, with a fpirit which years could not humble, or misfortunes deprefs, fhe has been the victim of mifdirected talents, and of qualifications which, in better circumstances, might have rendered her a bright ornament of fociety. In the fun-fhine of profperity fhe was followed, courted, and admired; her faults affumed the luftre of their kindred virtues, and her errors were confequently fanctioned by popular applaufe; they were rooted by the approbation of thofe whofe praife was fame. At this time, he could not be expected to think of age,-to reflect on its attendants, obfcurity, neglect, and perhaps poverty; fo that many of her faults may be ftyled indifcretions, and these were fometimes produced by the

mifconduct of others rather than of herself: even her indifcretions have, in fome inftances, arifen from the best motives, the most warm and active benevolence.

We would not, however, wish to plead in favour of immorality, though we should diftinguish between voluntary and accidental guilt. There are not many works whose tendency is more falutary. These volumes may remind the gay Auttering butterflies of the present day, that the period of reflection and regret will probably arrive, when the remembrance of thefe fading pleasures will be attended with remorse rather than delight they may fuggeft to the unthinking fair-one, who envies the gilded luxuries of her who seems to bask in the funshine of fortune, that it is an unfubftantial pageant,' which will diffolve, and leave a permanent diftrefs: that, in the midft of fplendor, the mind fears to look at the conduct which its unregulated paffions have dictated, and shuns reflection as its bittereft enemy. Mrs. Bellamy has endeavoured to oppose the influence of example, by moral reflections; but these are often trite or mifapplied, and their return at the end of every letter, rather tends to difguft than instruct. The confequences of vice are the beft incentives to virtue.

The story is in general told with fpirit: it is frequently affecting and amusing; but the anecdotes lofe much of their zeft, because unaccompanied with that lively manner which once diftinguished Mrs. Bellamy. The wretched we commonly forsake, and fly to eyes unfullied with a tear:' perhaps, on this account, we found the latter volumes lefs interefting than the former; but whatever was the cause, in her decline, the ftory hangs with unusual heaviness. The anecdotes, occafionally introduced, reflect the highest honour on the humanity of fome of the heroes of the ftage. If Mr. Garrick does not poffefs an honourable and refplendent nich in this group of ftatues, fomewhat must be allowed to the failings of human nature, and fomewhat to difadvantageous impreffion, which his frequent difputes with our author muft have neceffarily left.

On the whole, thefe volumes are very entertaining, and we think inftructive. To the heart guarded by moral instruction, they can certainly do no injury; and we think the confequences are too obvious to be overlooked by the most careless, the most diffipated reader. The confeffion, fo far as it may be fuppofed candid, adds a credit to the author; but independent of felf-love, the debts of gratitude feem to have been repaid, by extenuating the errors of others.

The

The following anecdote of a certain distinguished character; is curious and entertaining.

"I cannot here help taking notice of an inftance, among many, of this worthy man's fondnefs for his fon, who justly makes fo confpicuous a figure in the political annals of the prefent times. The wall at the bottom of the lawn before Hollandhoufe being to be taken down, and iron pallifades put up in its room, that the paffengers on the road might have a better view of that fine antique building, it was neceffary to make use of gunpowder to precipitate the work. Mr. Fox had promifed mafter Charles that he fhould be prefent when the explosion took place. But finding the workmen had completed the fall of the wall without giving him notice, he ordered it to be rebuilt, And when it was thoroughly cemented, had it blown up again, in order to keep his word with his fon. He at the fame time recommended it to thofe about him, never, upon any account, to be guilty of a breach of promise to children, as by doing fo they instilled into them an indifference in regard to the obfervance of their own promifes, when they arrived at years of maturity."

The following trait of Mrs. Bellamy's fenfibility does credit to her heart.

Mr. Colman introduced a young lady, by name Morris, in his play of The English Merchant, in which he met with great approbation. She afterwards appeared in Juliet. As her youth and attractions were what Juliet fhould be, it would have been abfurd to a degree, had I objected to her playing it; notwithstanding, at that period, it was not com mon to take the capital performers characters from them, except for a perfon of acknowledged merit.

This fair flower, like a lily, reared a-while her head, dis played her beauties to the fun, and diffufed around the sweetest odours. But tranfient as the lily's was her fate.-Like her lovely emblem furcharged with rain, the foon dropped, and charmed no more. So eager was the grifley monster death to feize fuch perfection, and to hafty were his ftrides, that he was unable to appear at her own benefit in the character of Juliet. I was therefore folicited by her relations to perform the part, which I did with the greatest readiness; fincerely regretting, at the fame time, the untimely decay of fuch promifing merit; which probably would have adorned the stage with another Farren.'

We would willingly have extracted fome paffages relating to Mr. Quin and Mr. Woodward; but we would neither an ticipate the reader's curiofity, or run the flightest risk of injuring the unfortunate author.

The