I have just heard, that it will be very falutary to the whole king, dom, and in particular to my own conftituents; I am forry, therefore, that I have their pofitive inftructions to vote against it; the more fo, as I have no doubt that, had they been here, and heard the debate, they would have directed me to fupport the motion." P. 74.

ART. 28. A Review of the Conduct of the Allies, with Observations on a Peace with France. 8vo. Richardfon. 2s 6d. 1810.

The reafoning of this political writer is fufficiently calm and temperate, but he affumes premifes which cannot be allowed. It is ufelefs at this period again to discuss the treaties of Pavia and Pilnitz, on which fubjects we think very differently from this author. The immediate question is, whether a secure and honour, able peace can be attained with the prefent ruler of France. It is the object of this pamphlet to affert the affirmative, but with what claim to attention can it be faid, that "Buonaparte's views are not directed to these kingdoms; he looks only at the Continent. His commercial enmity is but a temporary measure, and never intended to be acted upon a permanent policy." These, indeed, are faid to have been the fentiments of Mr. Fox, but would Mr. Fox, if alive, make the fame affirmative now, or if he did, would any man of common fenfe believe him?

DIVINITY.

ART. 29. A Chriftian's Survey of all the Primary Events and Périods of the World, from the Commencement of Hiftory, to the Con clufion of Prophecy. 12mo. 12mo. 226 pp. 75. 6d. Miller. 1811.

It is quite impoffible for us to give a fufficient commendation of this little work, which, though anonymous, well deferves to obtain a diftinguished name for its author. The clearness of its views, the diftinctnefs of its statements, the judicious and admirable ufe of various and moft found learning, the total abfence of all folly and fanaticifm, which have been fo frequently united with fpeculations on prophetical fubjects, all unite to place it, short as it is, very high above many modern efforts to interpret the of paft and prefent times.

The author fees in the prefent French empire, not a fifth power, but the little horn arifing out of the fourth or Roman empire. France," he fays, was always comprehended in, and conftituted an integral part of that IMPERIAL body. The power of France, therefore, which has now fo fuddenly rifen up fupreme dominion, in the Chriftian church, although it affumes the title of EMPIRE, can only be regarded as a prominent part of the

LAST

LAST BODY of EMPIRE, that of ROME; and as it were growing upon it, and out of it; and not as a diftinct and extraneous power, as the chief powers of all the four great empires, were diftinct and extraneous from each other." P. 133. Far re

moved from the vanity of attempting to prophety by the aid of the facred prophecies, this author interprets every thing. future in fo general a way, as to leave to Providence its own mode of fulfilment, without pretending to limit or afcertain too exactly, what is to happen.

We haften to notice this tract, and prefer giving it this short. and vigorous commendation, to the attempt to analyze it more. exactly in a longer article. Suffice it to fay, that the author is clear and learned in his views of paft times, correct as to the prefent, and modeft as to the future.

ART. 30. The Duties of Patristifm confiftent with Chritianity. A Sermon. By Francis Skurray, B. D. Fellow of Lincoln College Oxford. 8vo. 39 pp. Hatchard. 1811.

This Sermon was preach'd on the 28th of May, 1809, in the Church of Warminster, by the author, as honorary Chaplain to a regiment of Local militia; (we prefume the 5th regiment of Wiltshire Local militia, commanded by Lord George Thynne,, to whom, in conjunction with the other officers it is inferibed). It is now published as feafonable at this particular period, whenthose military corps are re-affembling, Mr. Skurray, whofe writa ings we have before had occafion to notice and commend *,-las managed in this difcourfe, to notice, though in a most curfory manner, many important points, of which he seems to us to en tertain fuch juft views, (that is, views fo conformable to our fentiments and feelings,) that we are only forry he felt compelled to write upon them, as though the hour-glafs were at his elbow. In. former days, Sermons were allowed to be of that length, that there was room for the fulleft difcuffion of almost any subject the preacher had to handle, but then, indeed, they were lefs frequent. Now, that they are fo common, and fo generally confidered as a certain limited portion of the church-fervice, it is difficult to find time to treat any topic properly, and there is no poffi. bility of treating it fully: nor is it difcreet to rely more upon the patience of readers of Sermons, than upon the au ditors of fuch public difcourfes. A Sermon to be at all po. pular, muft to a certainty be of a prefcribed length. From Mr. S.'s mode of handling the topics he does touch upon, we fhould have been glad to have had him more diffufe, on the pretended incompatibility of " Patriotifm with genuine Chriftianity," on the "atteftations of Divine agency," and favorable interpofition,

* Sce Brit. Crit. vols. xxii, xxxii, and xxxv.

* exemplified within the compass of our own experience and recollet、 tion," on the striking contraft between the Volunteer corps of Bri. tifh foldiery, and the miferable conscripts of enslaved France; on the neceffity of war, as arifing naturally out of the present confti. tution of things, and on the compatibility of the duties of a foldier and a Chriftian. Thefe and other very important topics are all briefly touched upon in this discourse, and fo neatly, pro. perly, and difcreetly, that we could not upon perusal, help la. menting that the difcourfe was fo fhort. The following tribute to the memory of Mr. Pitt, we think moft juft, and are glad to fee it fupported by reference in the notes, to Mr. Goldsmith's ftrong atteftation, in regard to the opinions of certain moft con. fpicuous French Revolutionifts.

"On reference to this critical period, we should prove unjust to the memory of the dead, did we not recal to our grateful recollection, the merits of that intrepid Statesman, who seemed an inftrument in the hand of Providence, to fnatch us from the precipice of impending defolation,

"When there was upon the Earth distress of nations with perplexity, the fea and the waves rearing, he, like a skilful Pilot, who participates in the dangers of the veffel which he navigates, flood unappalled amid the political agitation. By dexterous ma. nagement, under Divine Providence, he brought the veffel of state, fafe from among the rocks, which threatened her with fhipwreck, and from the vortex which yawned to engulf her. At length his exhaufted frame funk under the fatigue of duty at the helm, when he breathed out his ardent spirit, in mingled accents of piety and patriotism.”—

To every sentiment of the above, we cordially subscribe.

ART. 31. A Dialogue between a Minifter of the Church of England, and bis Parishioner, on the Excufes alledged by those who abfent themfelves from the Holy Communion, By the Rev. George Hutton, D. D. Vicar of Sutterton, and Re&or of Algarkirk cum Fofdyke, near Bofton, and fometime Fellow of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford, 8vo, 30pp, 6d. Kelfey, 1811,

In our 34th vol. p. 424, we recommended a Dialogue by this author, on the fubject of Infant Baptifm. With much fatisfaction, we fee another fpecimen of his atttention to the fpiritual welfare of his parishioners. The opening of this Dialogue prepares us to expect the happy effect of it;

"Minifier. Good morrow to you, Neighbour, I am glad to fee you looking fo well,

"Parifioner. I thank you kindly, Sir, God be praised, I am pretty well in health, confidering that my best days, as I may say, are gone by,

Minifter,

"Minifter. I hope, John, that some of your best days, as you call them, are yet to come: and that every day added to your life, will add to the improvement of your time.

"Parishioner. I heartily join with you, Sir, in that hope."

At p. 20, the Parishioner fays, very properly, "I am much obliged to you, Sir, for the information you have afforded me. You have indeed fet these matters in a clearer light than I ever faw them before. And I will endeavour to profit by your inftructions,"

We earnestly join with the author in his hope, that his endea vours may not be entirely without effect, in restoring a much. neglected ordinance to its due regard and eftimation.

ART. 32. A Difcourfe delivered on board his Majefty's Ship Trident, in Malta Harbour, Nov. 19, occafioned by the Death of Sir A. J. Ball, Bart. his Majefty's Civil Commissioner for adminiftering the Affairs of Malta and its Dependencies, RearAdmiral of the White, &e, &c. &c. By Richard Cruttwell, LL.B. Chaplain of the said Ship, and late Secretary to the Rear, Admiral. 8vo. 21 pp. 21 pp. 18. Cadell, 1809.

There is nothing in this fermon which can demand particular notice, nor would any thing have deferved reprehenfion, had the author forborne to introduce fome verfes, which, befides their incongruous appearance in a fermon, have neither poetical ex preffion nor even correct verfification to recommend them, No author is quoted for them, and the natural conclusion is, that they are the production of the preacher himself, No man, indeed, who did not write them, could have been partial enough to quote them.

ART. 33. A Sermon preached at the Archdeacon's Vifitation, June 22, 1808, in the Parish Church of Thirsk. By Thomas Newton, M.A. Rector of Tewin, Herts, and Curate of Coxwold, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. 4to. 17 pp. is. 6d, Rivingtons. 1809.

Plain and fenfible arguments in favour of religion in general, and our Church in particular, are offered to the reader in this fermon. Studious himself not to use reproach against those who differ from us, this author is well entitled to ask, why are such weapons employed against us. "Why are our hearers told in every town, and almoft in every village, that their lawful minifter does not preach the Gospel," or, that they "preach up felfrighteousness," because they preach, as St. Paul did, that we ought to "maintain good works?" These are certainly questions to be asked, and more easily asked than fatisfactorily anfwered.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 34. Microcosmography; or a Piece of the World difco vered; in Effays and Characters. By John Earle, D.D. of Chrift Church and Merton Colleges, Oxford, and Bishop of Sa lifbury. A new Edition. To which are added Notes and an Ap..pendix, by Philip Blifs, Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford, Cr. 8vo. 340 pp. 10s. 6d. Harding. 1811.

This republication of a fcarce and curious book, and valua ble as well as curious, which is not always the cafe, is executed with diligence and tafte; and will be very acceptable to those who are attached to our early literature. The laft complete edition appeared in 1732, and from that edition, collated with the firft, which appeared in 1628, the prefent has been taken; very carefully noting the feveral variations. On the whole Mr. Blifs notices ten editions, before his own, of which the laft was anonymously printed at Salisbury in 1786, and contained only 74 characters instead of 78.

To the work itfelf Mr. Blifs has fubjoined an Appendix, (commencing at p. 211) which contains fome account of Bishop Earle; characters of him, written by contemporaries, and others; feveral of his minor compofitions, fome of them now first pubblifhed from MS., with a chronological lift of "Books of Cha racters" from 1567 to 1700; a few corrections, &c.

Mr. Blifs's notes are in general inftructive and judicious; explanatory of old words and cuftoms, or otherwife illustrative of the text. Of the game called one and thirty, however, he has found no account (p. 62). We will therefore tell him, that it was, even within our memory, a common English game, and was nearly onì the fare plan as the French vingt-un, or one and twenty. Another variety of it, called "One and thirty, Bone-ace," or "Bone-ace" alone, is defcribed in the Compleat Gamefter (1680), p. 91. The number of cards dealt to each person was three, and he who attained 31, or came nearest to it, won. We have not the older editions at hand, but we doubt not that "queen," in page 101, was "quean;" the epithet proves it. "Imputation," in page 183, is alfo fimilarly used in page 162, and implies the pride of con ferring a favour.

The writing of characters was, after the appearance of Sir Thomas Overbury's book, a very fashionable employment, and Mr. Blifs has given a curious and entertaining lift of fuch productions; among which the name of Microcofmographia itself ought perhaps juft to have been mentioned, in the tenth place, to mark its chronological fituation. Such a lift cannot be expected