Spectabat diversa locis ; Phasimque, Lycumque, Georg. IV. 365-373. And now, admiring his maternal courts None more impetuous through the fruitful fields To the blue ocean rolls his foaming wave.' pp. 125, 126. An entire version of the Georgics, as elegantly finished as this passage, ould raise the author to an equality, at least, with the first of English translators. But there are many proofs, in different parts of the book, that Mr. D. has been too hasty and too careless to have merited such honours; it is evident that he has not done his best; and when we say this, in censure of his indolence, and in impeachment of his work, we do not forget that it is a compliment to his abilities. We can account for many of his verses being flat, uncouth, and ill-polished, when we observe such glaring proofs of inattention as the following deficient and redundant lines: And Opis, and, with ardent eye.'-p. 124. Itself, and so the light; the eye detects the black.'-p. 49. There are many trivial bemishes in the versification, which deform its general beauty; the following line is but a clumsy representation of Et votis jam nunc assuesce vocari: And use thyself to invocati-on !'-p.4. Is it from the remembrance of certain anile instructions in spelling, that Mr D. is so fond of this absurdity as to repeat it a page or two afterwards? The balmy stream of vegetati-on !'-p. 7. In a few cases, the version is not sufficiently compact; we were the more struck with Mr. D.'s diffuseness in the rendering of Felix qui potuit rerum,' &c from comparing it with that of Cowper: Ah! happy he, to whom 't was given to sound To triumph o'er inexorable fate, And hold the hoarse wave of greedy Acheron Cowper. Happy the mortal, who has traced effects To their first cause, cast fear beneath his feet, And death, and roaring hell's voracious fires.' One of the finest specimens of our author's manner of imitating the phrase and cadence of his original, is to be found in the very first passage. But the following specimen will perhaps furnish a more impartial specimen of the general execution of the work. Ah! but too happy, if they knew their bliss, The admiring crowd; no broider'd gold disguise Theirs the pure altar; theirs old age revered; Departing Justice fled the haunts of men.'-pp. 61, 62. We recommend our classical readers, and still more earnestly those who are unacquainted with these beautiful poems in the original, to the pleasure they will derive from Mr. D.'s performance; and we also advise the author to take the advantage of a second edition to give it a still higher claim to popularity. It would be benefited by the addition of a few notes; for we hope Mr. D. does not expect all his fair readers to carry about Lempriere's Dictionary, either in their heads or their pockets. Art XV The Holiness which becometh the House of the Lord; considered in a Discourse, delivered at the Opening of the New Place of Worship, New York-street, Manchester, April 20, 1808. and published at the Request of the Hearers. By John Fawcett, A M. 8vo. pp. 30. Price 6d. Halifax, Holden and Dowson; Button, &c. 1808. IN the ceremony of consecrating, or setting apart, a building for divine worship among the Dissenters, a minister is commonly employed, for whom age, talents, and piety, have procured a superior portion of respect, and who has been recognized as in some degree primus inter pares, by the consent of his brethren, and the prevailing tendency of public opinion. And it is highly suitable, that one part of such a dedication service should consist of an explanation of the sentiments and the views which the founders of the edifice entertain. On these accounts, the selection of the venerable and excellent preacher to officiate on this occasion, and the manner in which his function has been discharged, will be equally approved by the public. The words chosen for a text are Holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, for ever, P. xciii. 5. In discussing them, the preacher adverts to the spiritual Church or house of God, "consisting of professing believers in Jesus, and such as are subject to his laws and government;" and then to the practice and the reasons of appropriating particular buildings to the public worship of God. Thus countenanced (says he) by Christ and his apostles, and favoured with the protection of the mild and gentle government under which we happily live, we are encouraged to build convenient places where we may assemble together to worship God, according to the dictates of his holy word, and the light of our own consciences.' p. 12. The second part of the discourse refers to the term “holiness." The holiness which becomes the house of the Lord in New Testament times relates not to the place of worship, but to the people concerned in the erection of such a place, and to those who assemble there for religious exercises. And as such, it may include, holiness of intention, holiness of doctrine, holiness of worship, holiness of discipline, and holiness of practice.' p. 15. These several topics are judiciously, though of course not very copiously, illustrated. We quote the following sentiments with the more pleasure, because we believe them to be generally prevalent among the Dissenters. We utterly disclaim all intentions of disloyalty to our lawful, most gracious, and beloved Sovereign; and of disaffection to the government under which we live, and enjoy so many privileges. We take this opportunity of declaring our firm attachment to the constitution of Great Britain. We are persuaded, that it is excellent in its principles, and that it is wisely framed, for the intention of national happiness, and real liberty. We are resolved to contribute our best endeavours, to maintain and preserve, by all the means in our power, the constitution of this kingdom, consisting of king, lords, and commons. We know, that one valuable property of this constitution is, that it contains within itself, the means of reforming and rectifying abuses and improprieties. Some such there may probably be; but we love the constitution itself. And we know that the same rule which requires us to "fear God," requires us to "honour the king" "to be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, and to render to Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and to God the things which are God's," 1 Pet. ii. 13 and 17. Matt. xxii. 21. Let us not be charged with designs of breaking the peace of religious societies. We wish well to all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours. We could have no pleasure in the diminution of one church of Christ, for the establishment and increase of another; in pulling down one house of God for the building up of another. The conversion of sinners to God will give us a thousand times more pleasure, than the proselyting of persons from one set of religious sentiments to another.' pp. 16-19. In the pious remarks on holy doctrine, Mr. F. shews that he is no less orthodox than loyal. We shall only add his summary of the requisites to holiness of worship. These acts of worship are not to be performed in a dull, lifeless, negligent, and formal manner; such worship does not become the house of the Lord, nor will it meet with his approbation. "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him," John iv. 23, 24. Holy worship is accom panied with faith in God, without which it is impossible to please him. It is expressive of love to his name; for if we are destitute of that, we want that holy and animating principle which is essential to true religion. I Cor. xiii. A kind and charitable disposition towards our fellow-creatures is requisite in acceptable worship; for holy hands should be lifted up, without wrath; since, if we forgive not men their trespasses, neither will our heavenly Father forgive our trespasses. Indeed, we only pray to be forgiven as we forgive others; so that without a true christian temper, our own prayers condemn us.-Holy worship must be sincere and upright. Every sin should be renounced, and there should be a readiness to obey every divine command; for if we regard iniquity in our hearts, i. e. love it and cleave to it, the Lord will not hear our prayers. Psal. lxvi. 18.-Holy worship will not be lukewarm, but accompanied with fervency and ardour of mind. We should be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." -It should be performed in deep humility of mind, in order to its being acceptable before that God who fills heaven and earth with the majesty of his glory. "He resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." The sacrifices which God will accept are those of a broken and contrite heart." To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that `trembleth at my word," Isa. lxvi. 2,’ Art. XVI. Poems and Tales. By Miss Trefusis. 2 vols. foolscap 8vo. pp. 360. Tipper, 1808. WE have not for a long time had the pain of witnessing such a wretched waste of mental resources, as this elegant pair of volumes exhi bits. Possessing powers of fancy, an elegant taste in expression, and a facility of versification, which are worthy of dignified employment, Miss Trefusis has only aspired to flutter in idle compliments, and sigh in amatory canzonets. There is much in the performance that discovers talent, but scarcely a page that excites a salutary feeling or conciliates esteem. is but justice to observe, however, that the most love sick of our author's young ladies express themselves with great decorum; our charge against the work is not of vice but of frivolity. It A large proportion of the poems have already appeared in novels written by the author. We hope that as her gayest time of life is probably past, she will no longer sing to love alone, to love alone and that she will henceforth engage in no literary pursuits that will not give her name some genuine respectability in the cpinion of the public. Art. XVII. Debates in Parliament respecting the Jennerian Discovery, including the late Debate on the further Grant of 20,000l. to Dr. Jen ner. Together with the Report of the Royal College of Physicians of London on the Vaccine Inoculation. With Introductory Remarks. By Charles Murray, 8vo. pp. 164. Price 5s bds Hatchard, &c. 1808. VERY little comment is necessary on this publication; we notice it as containing a copious and authentic report of the Debates which have resulted in two grants to Dr. Jenner, amounting to 30,0001; together with the very satisfactory report of the College of Physicians, after a las borious investigation of the whole subject, under the direction of Parliament. It may therefore be regarded as containing a full summary of the arguments and evidence in favour of Vaccination; and to those who cannot or will not understand either, it may be recommended as an appeal ad ve recundiam. Perhaps a more extraordinary contest was never witnessed, than that of a few persons in England against the collective wisdom and integrity of the medical profession and the legislature of their own country, and against the general conviction and practice of half the globe. The Introductory Remarks disclose some important facts, concerning the mea. sures used at the Small-Pox Hospital to disseminate the variolous pestilence. Art. XVIII. Female Benefit Societies recommended: or the Necessity and Advantages of Foresight. A Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of St. Saviour, in the City of York, on the 1st of June, 1808, before the York Female Benefit Club, established in 1801. Published at the Request of the Patronesses. By the Rev. John Graham, Rector of St. Saviour and of St. Mary Bishophill Senior, York, and Domestic Chaplain to the Right Hon. Earl Bathurst. 4to. pp. 18. Price 1s. 6d. Rivingtons, Hatchard, &c. 1808. IN this plain but sensible address, the duty of foresight and provision for the future is cogently enforced from Prov. xxii. 3, and the advantage of subscribing, especially at an early age, to a Benefit Club, is clearly and strikingly displayed. From considering the preparation which it is prudent to make against the casual infirmities and the decline of life, nothing can be more obvious than a transition to the far more important duty of preparing for its close; and we have the pleasure to observe, that Mr. Graham has too vivid a sense of his fessional duties, while addressing his hearers on a subject of worldly prudence, to forego the opportunity of consulting their most serious interests, and warning them distinctly and evangelically to lay up treasure in heaven. pro We quote the following remarks, because we are anxious to call the public attention repeatedly and earnestly to a grievous abuse in institutions of this nature, which the advice of intelligent persons to their inferior neighbours may avail to remove; the evil is much more extensive than Mr. G. supposes, and the measures which he suggests are abundantly sanctioned by experience where the trial has been made. There are some Male Benefit Clubs, he observes, which have monthly meetings of their members at public houses, who, in addition to their subscription to the fund, pay 2d. per month each, whether they attend or no, to be spent that night. Many of the members do not attend; in which case, the contributions of the whole Society being spent by a few, frequent excesses must be necessarily committed. What a pity, that this pernicious custom should be permitted to continue, and that they should meet at public houses at all! What a pity, that Honorary Members do not undeftake the management, as in Female Societies; and that these twopences are not erected into a fund for particular purposes, and for the relief of extraordinary wants! In a -body of 200 members, from these twopences alone, the sum of 201. a year would be raised, which might go far to form an Accumulating VOL. IV. 3 S |