instruction. Places of worship at particular times are appropriated to their use, and members of the society visit the sick and aged, to combine pious advice and direction with their pecuniary bounty.

Both the sermons, as they could scarcely fail to be on this very inte resting topic, are worthy of perusal; the one is much the more distin guished by elevation of sentiment and the graces of style, and the other is highly characteristic of its pious and benevolent author. To each Sermon the rules of the Society are annexed; the former is accompanied with an appendix containing a very affecting narrative of an African woman, whose susceptibility to the tenderest social affections and the finest devotional feelings, is impressively exhibited.

Art. XXI. The Office of Reason in Religion. By John Clarke, D. D. Boston, Massachussets. 12mo. pp. 12. price 3d. Eaton. 1808.

A hearty laugh is one of the most grateful refreshments of our critical

labours especially when it succeeds and dissipates the weariness of poring over pages of sober dullness. We therefore feel a very lively sense of gratitude to the author of this remarkable tract. After labouring to explain and prove two most obvious things, that the office of reason is to examine the evidence of Scripture, to ascertain its authenticity, and to examine its phraseology to ascertain its sense, he breaks forth into the following most logical and marvellous corollary. "Whatever you hear, search the scriptures; and see whether they speak the same language, &c. &c. Your religion will be of the rational kind, which all who reflect will admire. Instead of bewildering yourselves with mysteries, you will modestly dismiss what you cannot comprehend"!! That word "modestly" is in truth irresistibly ludicrous. And so religious people" of the rational kind modestly dismiss" from their creed, among a multitude of other doctrines, those of the infinity, spirituality, and eternity of God, the creation of the world, and the resurrection of the body! Truly, we should think these " tionals" stand a fair chance, like the ingenious Bedlamite, of being outvoted.

ra

Art. XXII. Libel. Sir John Carr against Hood and Sharpe. Report of the above Case, tried at the Sitting after Trinity Term, before Lord Ellenborough, and a Special Jury, 25th July, 1808. Taken in ShortHand by Thomas Jenkins. To which are added, several Letters on the Subject, written by the Earl of Mountnorris, Sir Richard Phillips, and the Author of "My Pocket Book." 8vo. pp. 39. Price 1s. 6d. Vernor and Co. 1808.

WE

were pleased with the event of this trial, and we notice the report of it, on general principles. If it had nothing else to recommend it, than its tendency to lower the reputation of Sir John Carr and his quartos unduly, to elevate that of his illiberal assailant, the author of " My PocketBook," undeservedly, and to place the character of the sheriff of London. in no very enviable predicament, we should have left it to the caprice of literary curiosity and the aid of advertisements; but it deserves to obtain the widest circulation that patronage can give it, as confirming to Britons the invaluable right of free criticism through the medium of the press. The manly and constitutional declarations of Lord Ellenborough have added new dignity to the illustrious station which he fills, and have augmente i his ample claims to the esteem of his countrymen.

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ART. XXIII. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION.
LITER

The Rev. W. Parry, of Wymondley House, will shortly send to the press "A Vindication of Strictures on the origin of moral evil, in reply to the animadversions of the Rev. T. Hill, with further strictures on Dr. Williams's Hypothesis.'

Also, speedily will be published, "A Rejoinder to the Rev. Thomas Hill's "Brief Strictures on Mr. Bennet's "Remarks, relative to the Origin of Moral Evil;" exhibiting the "Passive-Power-Hypothesis" m its application to the doctrine of ORIGINAL SIN;" by the Author of the Remarks, &c. A Volume of Sermons by the late excellent Mr. Lavington of Bideford, (for an account of whom see Ecl. Rev. Vol. III. p. 638.) is now in the press.

Shortly will be published The Life of Mr. John Bunyan, containing his Grace abounding to the chief of Sinners, An Account of his Imprisonment, Conversation before the Justices, &c. first published from his own Manuscripts in 1765, and Remarks on his Character and Writings, with a fine Portrait. By Joseph Ivimey.

Also by the same Author, The History of Baptism, or an Appeal to the Ser ptures and History for Information on that Subject, in Dialogues between a Baptist and a Pædobaptist. With a Frontispiece representing the Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch.

Sir John Carr's New Work, a Tour in Scotland, is in the Press and will be published in Noyember.

A Cheap Edition of Robinson's Scripture Characters, in 4 vols. 12mo. is in considerable forwardness.

The Author of the Age of Frivolity has in the press a small volume of Poems, con sisting of Sonnets, Tales, and Characteristic Pieces.

The Rev. Mr. Wix has nearly ready for publication, Scriptural Illustrations of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England.

The Author of Rural Sports proposes to publish by Subscription, in a quarto volume, a History of the Horse; containing Directions for breaking, rearing, training, &c. of Horses, for the Turf, the Field, and the Road, interspersed with Anecdotes appertaining to each Class; and also an Account of the most approved Methods of treating the Disorders to which they are liable by nature, or improper management.,

Mr. E. A. Kendal, of New York, has in the press, Travels in Lower and Upper Canada; in which the Political and Moral

State of those Countries, their Agriculture, Trade, Resources,& c. are illustrated by many: important Facts and Anecdotes. The work is expected to form one large volume in 4to. accompanied with engravings, and will be published in England about the time of its appearance in America.

Mr. George Montagu's Supplement to the Testacea Britannica is nearly finished, and will speedily be ready for delivery.

Miss Anna Murphy intends to publish an Account of a few of the most remarkable Trees and Plants, collected and abbreviated from the best authorities..

Dr. Andrew Grant, who has recently returned from South America, has in the press a History of Brazil which will contain a Geographical and Historical Account of that important Colony, with a Description of the Manners, Customs, Religion, &c. of the natives; interspersed with Remarks on the Nature of the Soil, Climate, Productions, and Foreign and Internal Commerce. To which will be subjoined, Observations on the most prevaleut Diseases incident to the Climate, with Hints to new Settlers on the most efficacious Modes of Prevention. It will form one volume in octavo.

Mr. Belfour intends speedily to publish in two octavo volumes, Illustrations of Quixote tending to confirm and elucidate several real Events related in that ingenious Work; to convey intelligence of Authors and of Works therein cited; to discover the sources whence Cervantes has adopted various Stories and Adventures, improved by the glow of his own ferule Imagination ; to disclose his continual Allusions to Works of Chivalry and Romance, and to develope the Satire he employs to correct the Follies and vices of the Spanish Nation; with occasional Reflections on certain Doctrines and Opinions which he advances or supports.

Dr. Mavor, whose Agricultural Report of Berkshire will speedily be published, has long had it in contemplation, to bring out a new edition, with Georgical Notes, of Tusser's Five Hundred Points of good Husbandry, a Work now become extrem ly scarce, and which furnishes many excellent Precepts in the Science of Agriculture, delivered in an orig nal Style of poetical Composition. The quaintness of the Elizabethean age, mixed with much good sense and good humour, distinguishes the Work of Tusser, and renders him equally entertaining and useful.

A Prospectus is issued of a new periodical ble purposes.

ART. XXIV. LIST OF WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

A Treatise on the Culture of the Pine strel, consisting of Twelve Views of the RiApple. By W. Griffin, 8vo. 10s. 6d.

granting the same, both on single and jointLives, with Benefit of Survivorship. Also, additional Tables, contrasted with the former throughout, calculated to shew what Annuity can be purchased for 1001. sterling at the same Rates, upon the same Lives. By E. F. T. Fortune, Stockbroker, 8vo. 3s. 6d.

The Gentleman-Farmer's and Husbandman's most useful Assistant, in measuring and expeditionsly computing the Value of any quantity of Land, at various given Prices per Acre, from 1s. to 101. By W. Francis, 2s. 6d.

Good Advice for the Husbandman in Harvest, and for all others who labour hard in warm weather; by T. Beddoes, M. D. 1s.

Dialogues on Eloquence in General, particularly that Kind which is fit for the Pulpit. By M. Fenelon, late Archbishop of Cambray. With his Letter to the French Academy concerning Rhetoric, Poetry, History; and a Comparison between the Ancients and Moderns. Translated from the French, and illustrated by Notes and Quotations, by W. Stevenson, A. M. A New Edition, revised and corrected, with additional Notes, by the Rev. James Creighton, B. A. crown Svo. 8s.

POETRY.

The Family Pictnre; or, Domestic Education. A Poetic Epistle from a Country Gentleman to his College Friend, the Bishop of ; with Notes, 33. 6d.

The Contrast: including comparative Views of Britain, France, and Spain, at the present moment. In Two Parts. Addressed to an English Nobleman. By S. J. Pratt, Esq. Author of Gleanings in England, &c. &c. 1s.

A Selection of Poems. By Charles Smart, Newark. 2 vols. crown 8vo. 16s. boards.

The First Two Books of Ovid's Metamorphoses, attempted in English Verse. By W. Mills. Late a Scholar, now an Assisttant,in Buntingford Grammar School. 12mo.

5s. boards.

POLITICS.

An Exposure of the Arts and Machinations which led to the Usurpation of the Crown of Spain, and of the Means pursued by Bonaparte to carry his Views into Effect. By Don Pedro Cevallos, Principal Secretary of State to Ferdinand VII. Translated, revised, and edited by John Joseph Stockdale.

THEOLOGY.

A Sermon, preached at St. Mary Le Bow Church, Cheapside, on Monday the 5th of September, 1808, being the first of a Series, appointed to be delivered for Boyle's Lecture, on the 1st Monday of every Month. By the Rev. Edward Repton, A. M. of Magdalen College, Oxford; Curate of Crayford in Kent, 6d.

CORRESPONDENCE.

WE are obliged to our estimable Correspondent, whose communication under the naine of Verax was noticed a few months ago, for avowing his name; and readily accede to his wish in making public the substance of his animadversions on our Review of Ritchie's Life of Hume, (Vol. IV. p. 8.) The consummate and predominant vanity of Mr. Hume, on which he remarks, is well known; the principal object, however, of his Letter is to correct an error of Mr. Ritchie relative to the power of the General Assembly to follow up their intended ecclesiastical censure on Hume and Kames with a criminal process in the civil courts. He justly observes that by the Stat. of 10 Anne, c. 7, § 10. it is expressly enacted that no civil pain, or forfeiture, or disability, whatsoever shall be in any way `incurred by any person or persons by reason of any excommunication or prosecution in order to excommunication by the Church Judicatories in that part of Great Britain called Scotland;" and all magistrates are forbidden to enforce any summons or execute any sentence of suck judicatories. The true or principal reason, our Correspondent thinks, on authority which he deems good, of Hume's and Kames's anxiety, was, that they had a design of getting themselves nominated Elders of the Kirk, in order to be returned as Members of the General Assembly; in the way of which design the intended church censure would have bee au effectual obstruction. At any rate, the charge on the General Assembly of a disposition to subject these persons to civil pains or disabilities, is evidently unfounded; and we are obliged to Verax for the intimation which enables us to correct the statement to which we had inadvertently given currency.

Erratum in some Copies. p. 1023, 4. 25. for unfolded, r. enfolded.

THE

ECLECTIC REVIEW,

For DECEMBER, 1808.

Art. I. Universal Biography; containing a Copious Account, Critical, and Historical, of the Life and Character, Labors and Actions of Eminent Persons, in all Ages, and Countries, Conditions, and Professions, arranged in Alphabetical Order. By J. Lempriere, D. D. 4to. pp. viii. 1172, double columns, price 31. 3s. Cadell and Davies. 1808. DR. Lempriere will be recollected, by most of our readers,

as the author of a Classical Dictionary, published in octavo; which has on the whole been thought respectable, notwithstanding its blemishes and defects, and, meeting fortunately with no competitor for the public favour, has been introduced into many families and schools. The huge quarto volume now on our table is intended as a companion to that dictionary; and the author flatters himself that it will experience "the same extensive circulation, with which that work has so long and so liberally been honoured." We apprehend it will not; for it does not equally deserve it. To sketch the biography of a single individual well, is no easy task: but to write accounts of the lives of all the most celebrated men that ever existed, of every age, of every country, of every variety of talent and profession,-mechanics, agriculturists, poets, painters, sculptors, heroes, statesmen, philosophers, divines,is an undertaking which requires the union of so many and such opposite powers and acquirements, that to fail in the endeavour would involve no disgrace, excepting that for one person to undertake the work of ten must itself be an indication of temerity or of ignorance. Yet Dr. L. is not entirely unacquainted with the duties incurred by the writer of a Biographi cal Dictionary, as would be evident to our readers if we had room to quote his remarks on the uses of biography, his opinion that "the assistance of judgement, and the rules of proportion, are in a composition of this nature, materially essential," and his profession of "the purest motives of impartiality, &c. (Pref. p. vi. vii.) We are afraid that even from these disVOL. IV.

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