we wish he would allow a fimilar enthusiasm to others; and in an anonymous work, written in answer to one fubfcribed by the author, that we had not met with accufations of falfehood, and fufpicions of difaffection and disloyalty. These can only widen a breach we are fenfible it must be the wish of our author, as it is of every good man, to restore by every honeft means.

ART. 21. A controverfial Letter of a new Kind to the Rev. Dr. Price · from a Clergyman of the Church of England. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Stockdale. London, 1790.

This controverfial Letter may be justly called in a new ftile. It is not only candid but good-natured, and fo fyftematically arranged, and fhews an evident difpofition not to mislead the reader from the main fubject, but to elucidate, as much as poffible, every part

of it.

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• I begin,' fays our author, by fuppofing that, notwithstanding the apparent violence of fome of your doctrines, you are in truth a fincere Chriftian, obedient to the laws of God for confcience' fake, and not actuated by any [other] defire fo ftrongly as that which you profefs to cherish, the zeal of a philanthropic mind for the general interefts of humanity. I have read your volume of fermons, printed a few years ago;, and in that, amidst opinions which I confider as erroneous, I think there may be discovered the traces of this excellent character. When, therefore, I perceive that your expreffions are generally thofe of genuine candour, moderation, and benevolence, and yet object to fome of your opinions for wanting, as I think, those very qualities, I can form a thousand fuppofitions to remove the difficulty, rather than confent to conclude concerning you, as I muft were I to confider thofe expreffions infincere. I repeat it, therefore, that I addrefs you with pleasure, as a friend to mankind in general, and among them to me; who neither yet have forfeited, nor mean to render myself unworthy of that common title to your attachment. Nor can I feel a doubt that the topics of diffent which your late fermon will fupply, may be difcuffed between us amicably; not only without deftroying, but even in fuch a manner as to strengthen the tie of Christian amity connecting us, whether we fhould on either hand relinquish or retain our feparate opinions."

The Letter, as the author obferves, is divided into fections, to each of which a short title is prefixed, pointing out the topic confidered in it. We fhall not trouble our readers with any further extracts, but in general obferve that the remarks are concife and judicious, and that the fame spirit of liberality is preserved through the whole.

TEST ACT.

The public has been so long entertained with this fubject that we shall trouble our readers with but little on it. To give an analysis of all that has been written would be only to fhew the fame arguments expreffed again and again in almost the fame words. We have therefore endeavoured to compress the whole in as short a compass as poffible, and are not afraid that many of our readers will be diffatisfied with our brevity.

ART.

ART. 22. Dean Swift's Tracts on the Repeal of the Teft Alt, written and first published in Ireland in the Years 1731, 32, viz. 1. The Prefbyterians Plea of Merit in order to take off the Teft impartially examined. 2. The Advantages propofed by repealing the facramental Teft impartially confidered. 3. Queries relating to the facramental Test. 8vo. is, 6d. Walter. London, 1790.

As thefe are only extracted from the Dean's works we may fuppofe they are in every body's hands; we fhall therefore only exprefs our furprise at the motive that could induce the publisher to bring them forward at this time. If it was with a view of forming the public opinion in favour of thofe laws, it may be remarked, that though the Dean prophefied the most dreadful confequences from their repeal in Ireland, yet that repeal has taken place, and none of thefe confequences have followed. This then would rather make in favour of the late application. But if the publisher's intention was to favour the diffenters, he seems to have taken a strange way to bring about his purpose, by producing all the arguments that were at that time too juftly urged against the prefbyterians. On the whole, therefore, we fufpect this pamphlet must have met with the fate of many of its numerous brethren.

ART. 23. Curfory Remarks on the Policy, Juftice, and Expediency, of repealing the Coporation and Teft Acts. Addreffed to the Nation. By W. Brillow, Efq. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Walter. London, 1790.

The ingenious and liberal author of the tract before us professes himself a member of the Church of England, but wishes to point out fome of the advantages that would refult from a repeal of the teft and corporation acts. We fhall not follow him through the historical detail with which he traces the progrefs of diffenters and reftricting acts, but obferve in general that he difplays an accurate knowledge of the fubject. The principal object of the performance is to imprefs the public with an idea of the policy of granting the prefent request.

The unity of the diffenters,' obferves our author, is faid, at this period, to embarrass the returns to parliament. Whence that unity? From the existence of the restricting laws; repeal them, and the bond will be diffolved. Some families are equally divided between the church and the meeting-houfe; in others many individually attend both; thefe will foon find the expediency of adhering to one, which they are obliged to fupport; and most probably the mafs of pure diffenters will free their children from the future incumbrance of fupporting two forms of worship by fuffering them to become members of the church.'

We are ready to admit that oppofition, or indeed any thing that may be deemed oppreffion, tends only to ftrengthen the weakest caufe; and certain it is that in proportion as the feverity of govern ment has relaxed the diffenting caufe has declined.

Our author proceeds: The proteftant diffenters are allowed to vote for, or become members of parliament, free from any teft. Are then the religious opinions of the lowest dependant on the will of

Gg3

government

government to be more strictly watched than thofe of a fenator And are the remoteft branches of the executive power to be guarded against the admiffion of perfons whofe opinions are heterodox, whilst thofe of two conftituent parts of the legislature are allowed a wider range? Is this politic, is it juft?' In answer to this we would obferve that the wifdom and authority of the legislature is to direct the hand of the executive power, and to impose what reftraints it thinks proper. That the voice of an individual, or of any number of members lefs than a majority could produce no effect on the determinations of the affembly; and that the moment the majority voted any alteration, that alteration would become the established or orthodox faith. Thus if the national religion is to be the religion of the majority, the impofition of any teft on the legislature would be deftructive of its own end by preventing any alteration that might be the wish of the community. While we make this objection we would not be thought to argue on either fide of the queftion. It is enough. for us impartially to review the arguments on both fides, and leave our readers to form their own opinion.

ART. 24. Obfervations on the Conduct of the Proteftant Diffenters. 8vo. 6d. Pridden. London, 1790..

This is at least one of the beft publications we have met with on this threadbare fubject. The language is ftrong and nervous, the arguments clear and concife. In anfwer to one favourite topic of complaint, that the exclufion from public offices on account of a refufal to comply with the teft is a mark of disgrace, our author very properly obferves, If it be fo, it may afford them [the diffenters) fome confolation to reflect that they fhare it in common with the heirs to his majesty's throne, which, as the law now ftands, they can never afcend till they have given the fame public teftimony of their religious principles.' After this fome ftrong and pointed language of Dr. Priestley and other diffenters is produced to fhew the danger of admitting any thing where fo much is required.

ART. 25. Obfervations on the Conduct of the Proteftant Diffenters, No. 1. By the Author of the First Number. Dedicated to the Bishop. of Lincoln. 8vo. 6d. Pridden. London, 1790.

This fecond part is chiefly directed against Dr. Price's Sermon, in which we should have thought the ingenious author might have found enough to reprehend without defcending to perfonality. The fame clofeness of reafoning, fluency of ftyle, and boldness of expreffion, is preserved in this as we approved of in the former number.

ART. 26. Public Documents, declaratory of the Principles of the Proteftant Diffenters, and proving that the Repeal of the Corporation and Left Arts was earnestly defired by King William the Third and George the First, and alfo by many refpectable Members of the Church of Eng-.' land, of high Rank and Situations, both in Church and State, during their Reigns. 8vo. 6d. Birmingham, printed. Johnson. London, 1790.

After a fhort but well-written preface in favour of the application for repealing the above acts, the author produces a great number

of

of public documents to fhew that fuch a measure has been, at different times, the wifh of the moderate and disinterested part of the House of Lords; that the diffenters have always been forward in expreffing their loyalty to the prefent family; and that the fovereigns have never doubted their zeal. That it appears by fpeeches from the throne, and delivered by the Lord-Lieutenant in Ireland, how much it was the wish of William the Third and George the Firft not to be deprived of the services of fubjects whose attachment they were fo well fatisfied with. The authorities whence the papers are extracted being all produced, we have only to state the defign of the publication, and recommend fuch of our readers as with for further information to peruse the work itself.

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ART. 27. Obfervations on Dr. Price's Revolution Sermon, and on the Conduct of the Diffenters and Mr. Pitt refpecting the Repeal of the Teft At, and the English Representation in Parliament; with Remarks on the public and private Character of the Minifter and his Opponents. Printed for the Author, and fold by Fores, &c. Lon

8vo. 2s.

don, 1790.

To thefe obfervations is prefixed a dedication to his Grace of Canterbury, in which his Lordship's moderation is highly extolled, as it must always and neceffarily be in the power of the Archbishop of Canterbury to crush to atoms thefe wolves in Sheep's clothing, thefe hydrabeaded monfters of difputations, these anti-chrifts of religion; fo it is with peculiar pleasure the friends of the national clergy view the moderation difplayed by your Grace,' &c. If his Grace does not give the author a living-or a dinner, we fear the book will be written to very little purpose.

The dedication is fucceeded by fome Latin words, which, whether they be cabalistical, or intended as a second dedication to fome other perfons (under the idea that his Grace of Canterbury, like ourselves, might not know whether to himself or not), we will not pretend to determine. We have next a prefatory advertisement, in which the author studies the fame obfcurity in his French, if he means it as fuch- And this difcourfe, which, by a French term, and to it the politee of the Doctor will hardly object, may be confidered as the coup de gracè, coup d'eiul, or,' &c.

After having thus criticifed the two dedications and the prefatory addrefs, our readers will not be fo unreasonable, as to expect we fhould fay any thing of the work, efpecially as the author is induced, with all due humility, deference, and refpect, to fubmit these few observations on this excellent discourse, weak and imperfect as they unquestionably are' [we would not be fo rude as to doubt the author's word], to the judgment of the public tribunal,' only in the hope that they may aroufe the attention, pro mote the odium of it to fuch a degree as to procure fome more able— advocate,' &c,-Prefatory Advertisement, p. 2.

In general, however, we may fay, that if the remarks are not ¶ just and proper,' they appear aculeate; if we understand the meaning of that word.

ART. 28, A Scourge for the Diffenters, or, Non-conformity unmasked & occafioned by the Application intended to be made this Seffion of Parlia ment for the Repeal of the Corporation and Teft Acts. With Animadverfions on Dr. Price's Sermon, preached at the Old-Jewry MeetingHoufe, on the 4th of November, 1789. In an Addrefs to both Houses of Parliament. By an Ecclefiaftic. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Printed for the Author, and published by Parfons. London, 1790.

As the Lords and Commons have acted on the principles propofed by this ecclefiaftic, we are ready to give him the credit of contributing his mite towards it; but, in our little opinion, argument would have more weight with those refpectable bodies than declamation; nor do we conceive fuch an historical detail necessary for men we fuppofe already well informed on every fubject connected with the hiftory of their own country. The remarks on Dr. Price's fermon are fhort and just.

ART. 29. A Letter to the Rev. John Martin, occafioned by his intended Speech on the Repeal of the Teft and Corporation Acts. By no Reverend Diffenter. 8vo. 6d. Johnfon. London, 1790,

In this small tract we perceive much ill humour. They who cannot manage controverfy with temper ought to leave it to those who can, It requires at least much more genius than falls to the fhare of our author to atone for the profufion of illiberal infinuation, mifconftruction, petulance, and dogmatifm, which difgraces his remarks, and but too plainly betrays the fpirit of the party. We know no cause and no fubject on which it is unbecoming to write in the language of a gentleman. And furely there is nothing in the question before us that can juftify the want of good manners.

ART. 30. The Debate in the House of Commons on the Repeal of the Cor peration and Teft Auts, March 2, 1790, containing the Speeches of Mr. Fox, Sir Harry Houghton, Meffrs. Pitt, Powis, Burke, S. Smith, Tierney, Martin, Beaufoy, Yorke, W. Smith, Wilberforce, and Sir William Dolben. 8vo. 1s. d. Is. d. Stockdale. London, 1790.

We need only announce this publication to our readers, every ar gument brought on one fide being anfwered on the other with all the abilities of the most confiderable speakers in that venerable affembly.

ART. 31. Two Speeches delivered in the House of Commons on Tuesday the zd of March, 1790, by the Right Hon. Char es James Fox, in Support of his Motion for a Repeal of the Corporation and Test A&s. 8vo. 2s. Debrett. London, 1790.

Without entering into the merits of the argument contained in thefe truly eloquent harangues, we fhall only in general obferve that all that can be faid against a measure the wisdom of the nation has thought proper to adopt, is contained in them, and expreffed in language the maft forcible, brilliant, and correct.

ART.