1727.] A SYSTEM OF MAGICK." 'Our Magick, now, commands the Troops of Hell, Th' obsequious Devil, obeys the Sorcerer's Skill, 421 The Mill turns round the Horse, that first turns round the Mill.' London: Printed and sold by J. Roberts in Warwick Lane. 1727." It was advertised as being "By the Author of the Political History of the Devil," and is undoubtedly the reciprocal of that work:-the one expatiates on the transactions of the Devil with the visible world; and the other gives an account of mankind's dealings with the Devil. "If by In the outset of his preface he guards himself against the supposition that he can sanction juggling, conjuring, and the low arts by which mankind are deluded and cheated. a System of this terrible Thing called Magick, my Readers should expect a Body of the Black Art as a Science, a Book of Rules for Instruction in the Practice, or a Magical Grammar for Introduction to Young Beginners, all I can say to such is, that they will be mistaken." He then goes on to denounce the modern practices of Mountebanks and so called Cunning Men, saying, ""Tis a strange Piece of Art where Fools cheat Fools, and the Blind and Ignorant are imposed upon by the Blind and the Ignorant." He considers that this Itch in the brains of the people, to run after impostors, who defraud them of their money, can only be reached by ridicule and satire; and, to expose and run down the pretended Magic of the age, is the object of his work; starting the subject "from its Original, and pursuing it to the end of its Prospect." He says, "Let no Man be disgusted at the good Account we give of the Original and Wisdom of the Magi; their Magick was truly Science, whereas ours is neither Magick nor Science, but a kind of Devilism; a practice carried on by Men that would be wicked, if they did not want Wit; and are no otherwise Harmless, than as they happen to be Fools." This will give an idea of the scope of the volume, which exhibits great research in its historical part,-while its morality and religion are derived from, and accordant with the Scriptures. The turn he has given to the work, namely that the first Magi were wise and honest;-those of the middle ages madmen and rogues; and, the modern practitioners wicked fools, is as amusing as true. The stories he has collected together, to illustrate his subject, are well chosen, and related with admirable humour. The reader will find some curious discussions on the corruptions of religious worship, and the origin of witchcraft and idolatry; with remarks upon the follies they have occasioned, and the knavery that produced them. He levels all the force of his satire upon the deluders, and deluded lovers of the Black Art; and, in his zeal for religion, uses great severity against the Atheists and Sceptics of his own day. There is much value in his delineations of the manners of former times, written in a popular stile, with a useful and moral purpose; and the work may always be read with pleasure and profit. A Second Edition, with additions, was published on the 16th of January 1731. In the recently discovered writings of Defoe will be found some paragraphs of news relating to the intermarriages between the Royal Families of France and Spain. Some of the particulars are very interesting, and all of them pitiable, so far as the poor little children, who were thus attempted to be victimised for State purposes, are concerned. All the schemes, however, of the Regent of France, to unite the two countries more closely by these Baby marriages, were rendered abortive; and, shortly after his death, were productive of a war between the two countries. As soon as the young King of France became old enough to think for himself, he disliked the Infant Queen provided for him by his uncle, and sent her back to Madrid; announcing shortly afterward, his intention to marry the daughter of Stanislaus late King of Poland. This greatly exasperated Spain, and war between them became imminent about the close of the year 1726. The Alliance between Germany, France, and England, under the Treaties of Vienna and Hanover, would draw the latter into the quarrel, and Spain appeared quite willing to encounter the force of three great kingdoms. Madrid was then the asylum of the Dukes of Ormond and Wharton, as well as most of the leading English Jacobites; and, though the British Ambassador had not left that Capital in the middle of January 1727, a Spanish Camp, was already formed at St. Roche for the purpose of besieging Gibraltar. It was under these circumstances that Defoe again dipped his pen in politics, and published an able and patriotic Tract, entitled, "The Evident Approach of a War; and something of the Necessity of it, in Order to Establish Peace, and Preserve Trade. Pax Quæritur Bello. To which is added, an Exact Plan and Description of the Bay and City of Gibraltar. London: Printed and Sold by J. Roberts in Warwick Lane; and A. Dodd in the Strand. 1727. Price 18. 6d." He remarks on the strange political madness, that those should be most eager for war, who are least able to carry it on; and, that it might be said to the Spaniards, "as the Turks once said to the Muscovites, that they hardly knew how to make War, and were not worth making Peace with." He looks at the question also from a commercial point of view; and, speaking of the dependance of Spain upon other nations, he says, "Not any of their Priests have a Cassock, nor the Nuns a Veil, nor the Gentlemen a Cloak, but what is of foreign Manufacture." He thinks that Exchange Alley and the Stock-Jobbers are assisting the agitation, for their own advantage; and, in reply to the inquiries that were being made everywhere, says, "If they ask us here, whether it is Peace or War? we answer, with the Story in the Gospel,-The Emperor is of Age, Ask him! The King of Spain is of Age, Ask him!” On the whole, he seems incredulous, that Spain could be so infatuated as to embark in a war with the three greatest powers in the world. There has probably been no practical improvement whatever, as to the ill circumstances too frequently leading to, or arising out of, the Marriage Union, since the days of Defoe; yet, what is called modern refinement, and delicacy of expression, makes it difficult for his biographer to do justice to a treatise on the subject by him, inculcating the highest morality, and written with great seriousness and force of argument. Not a word in his book is intended to pander to impurity; but on the contrary, his standard of matrimonial delicacy of conduct is placed so high, as to be rather aimed at, than attained. Defoe was a sincere advocate for the state of matrimony; and considered that when rightly entered into, it was the highest condition of human felicity. To reason against the institution from the numerous unhappy matches, he says, "is only arguing the Ignorance and Corruption of |