Celebs in Search of a Wife; comprehending Observations on Domestic Habits and Manners, Religion and Morals. 8th edition, two vols. 8vo, Price 12s.

Ir was mentioned in one of our recent Numbers, that wherever the Poison-tree grows, its antidote grows very near it. This is a gracious disposition of Providence; and we are happy to find that something similar obtains in the literary world. The groves of Literature have, within the last 50 years, been poisoned with infidel and licentious novels and rómances; but in this aud a few other similar works, we behold the antidote to such dangerous publications. Here, with at least equal interest and entertainment, the reader will find the wisest maxims of life and conduct, and even the holy principles of religion. The work has been generally ascribed, we believe without contradiction, to the celebrated Mrs. Hannah More; to whose pen the world, in its different ranks, owes perhaps greater obligations than to that of any other living author. The present publication is intended for the higher classes; and we find, with pleasure, it obtains among them a very extensive circulation.

Among the persons introduced in this work are the following:- Mr. Stanley is an exalted character, an accomplished gentleman, and a consistent Christian; and his daughter, Lucilla, exhibits the same graces in their female character and in early life; Mrs. Ranby is a narrow-minded religionist, with all her piety in her tongue; Lady Bab, a modish matron, who artfully affects frankness from a principle of guile; Lady Belfield is the extreme of candour and good-nature. Various other personages are introduced, which give life and variety to the dialogue, and form a pretty numerous group of ladies, among whom Celebs searches for a wife, and finds a lady to his wishes in the amiable Lucilla, to whom, we expect, ere this, he is happily united, as her father, in the close of the work, hoped to call

him his son-in-law before Christmas.

The grand object of the work is to censure a life of indolence and dissipation, and to recommend the opposite one of piety and benevolence. Considered in a literary view, it certainly possesses much merit but if among its excellencies we might be permitted to mark defects, we think there is a want of incident in the narrative, and a little too much formality in the dialogue. It is a work, however, which deserves to be universally perused; and if it be without advantage, the reader should blame himself, and not the author.

A Sequel to the Antidote of the Mi

series of Human Lite; containing a further Account of Mrs. Placid and her Daughter Rachel. By the Author of the Antidote. 12mo, 3s. 6d.

MRS. PLACID is so great a favourite with the public, that she will be sure of a welcome; and as she preserves the same cheerful good-natare which characterized her former conversation, the reader is sure to be benefitted and entertained in her company. Even our formal friend Broad Brim, relaxes the severity of his muscles, and adds a degree of sociability to his benevolence. The noisy squire becomes serious and active in doing goed; and the student obtains a living, and becomes an excellent parishpriest. The author has also contrived, with great ingenuity, to give the reader a glance at most of the former characters, besides introducing several new ones. Every thing is natural, easy, and entertaining, and at the same time full of useful instruction in piety and morals. short, this Sequel possesses more interest and excellence than usually falls to the share of second attempts of the most celebrated writers; and we find, by the Advertisement of the Publisher, that we are indebted for this and the Antidote (already in its fourth edition) to the same lady who favoured the public with Talents Improved, and Conversa tions on moral and religious subjects

la

The Star in the East: a Sermon

By the Rev.

preached at Bristol. C. Buchanan, D. D. 8vo, Is. 6d. THE subject of this discourse is well chosen, and judiciously managed. The circumstance of the star which appeared at the birth of our Saviour, is applied to the dawn' of Christianity in the East. The for mer part of the discourse shews, 1. That the Hindoo history illustrates that of Christ. 2. That certain of their doctrines shadow forth those of Christianity, as the Trinity, Incarnation, &c. 3. That our reli. gion receives farther confirmation in the state of the Jews in the East:

and, 4. In that of the Syrian Christians. The latter part of the sermon ably advocates the cause of Christian Missions in India, for which the author is eminently quali fied by his residence there; and the story of Abdallah and Sabat is so highly interesting, that we have thrown it into the Evangelicana of the present Number.

The Union of Piety and Literature: a Sermon preached Jan. 18, 1809, before the Promoters of the Protestant Dissenters' Grammar School at Mill Hill. By James Hinton, A. M. 1s. 6d.

IN this sermon, Mr. Hinton appears as the able advocate of the new Institution at Mill Hill. His text is taken from Psalm xc. 17.

Establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." These words he considers as applicable to the present object, every friend of which may use this petition of the psalmist. He next remarks the natural and necessary connexion that subsists between upright prayer and diligent endeavours; and obeerves, lastly, That on the aid which cometh from above, our highest expectations depend.

are

We heartily recommend this discourse, especially to those parents among the dissenters, who anxious to obtain a truly good education for their sons, and who know how to appreciate "the Union of

Piety and Literature" in that most important affair.

The plan of the school and its terms are annexed, from which we learn that board, lodging, and edu cation are provided at 451. per ann. Sons of Ministers, who are members of the society, are admitted for 30. per annum. We perceive also® that it is intended to admit a certain number (peculiarly recommended) either gratuitously, or on terms exceedingly reduced; but for this, and other purposes, the Committee state that they must make an extensive appeal to British generosity.

Reflections on some Questions rela.

tive to the State ot the Nation; addressed to Dr. Randolph. Occa sioned by a Letter to the Duke of Bedford, lately published by Dr. Randolph, &c. By John Pern Tinney. 3s. 6d.

Ir is not with the political, but with the religious part of this pamphlet, that we are concerned. The

author is one of the modern church alarmists, who are exceedingly terrified with the increase of Methodists. The following is part of his glowing description of that body: :- Like the Puritans, they substituted fanaticism for piety, credulity for faith, monkish learning for ornamental literature and useful science, enthusiastic rhapsody for sober devotion, and gloomy melancholy moroseness for the joyful hopes of rational religion. They laid claim to peculiar inspiration; they impiously made themselves the instruments of a miraculous agency; they assumed the sole power of dispensing the means of salvation; they condemned all who were not their converts, tó irremediable perdition; they made a conversion to their wild dogmata the only possi ble condition of the divine mercy; and that condition being performed,

เ

they reprobated the necessity of any one of the moral duties;' and substituted in its place the all-sufficiency of grace.'

What can we think of an author who is not afraid to ass.rt such notorious falsehoods! and where can be the morality of thus bearing

false witness against his neighbour ? The body of people whom he reviles, have yet to learn that they have acquired powerful influence in the Universities, in the East India House, and even in the House of Commons. Alas! he wonderfully over-rates their influence, while he shamefully misrepresents their sentiments. It would be honourable to writers of this stamp, if they would take pains to understand a subject before they write upon it :at present, they speak evil of things which they know not.'

tinction. From the text, Jer. v. 3,9, which is happily chosen, Dr. W. takes occasion to observe, 1st, That God requires nothing less than truth or sincerity in a nation professing to know him: O, Lord! are not thine eyes upon the truth ?'

2dly, That providential corrections should lead to the exercise of pious grief on account of our sins, and to a humble submission to God's awful power;-3dly, That, when providential dispensations are slighted and misimproved, the provocation is great, and the danger truly alarming; 4thly, That, when moral depravity, profaneness, and irreligion, are spread through all ranks, the aggravation of national evils is still greater; and, 5thly, That such a nation, without a speedy reform, has every reason to expect the divine vengeance.'

In the amplification of these particulars, Dr. W. has discovered a mind richly furnished and judicious. The subordinate topics are well chosen, well connected, and subservient to the main design. Between the state of Judea, as described by the prophet, and that of our own country, the paraliel is not strained, To expose the alarming degeneracy of the times, the author has employed the language of Holy Writ with painful truth and pointed severity; and, in pressing the necessity

of a moral and religious reform, especially among the higher classes of the community, he has combined, with such delicacy and effect, the original and the present bearings of the text, that it is impossible not to feel the forcible and convincing elo

quence.

A Commentary on the First, Second, and Third Epistles of St. John. By Thomas Hawkins. 8vo, 6s.

MR. H. modestly expresses himself thus, in his Introduction, In medi tating on the Epistles of St,. John, I have found considerable pleasure and improvement. At the feet of this great and venerable Apostle, I have set down to learn the lessons of wisdom, truth, and grace, which he appears to be so well qualified to teach. What I have learned, I here present to the world with diffidence in reference to myself as an author, and with deference in regard to my superiors in theological knowledge and classical erudition. Critical acumen apart, I write not designedly for scholars, but for general readers, I am a learner; and, in this Com mentary, I merely repeat those, les, sons which I have learned. Happy shall I be if these brief and plain remarks may, in any measure, subserve the great interests of vital religion!'

The unassuming pretensions of Mr. H. are fully made good. We will not deny that a severe critic may find something to condemn; yet, it is but justice to say, That the Commentary is comprehensive, tho compressed, and abounds with very just, experimental, and practical remarks. The love of God and of Christ to the world, --the agency of and the nature the divine Spirit,

of our love to God and to one another, are insisted upon in a pleasing manner; and, we trust, the whole will be found conducive to the real Edification of every pious reader.

Perlege si vis: a Letter to the Right Rev. Spencer, Lord Bishop of Peterborough, in Answer to an Appeal made to the Society for Defending the Civil Rights of Dissenters, relative to the important Question of Church Burial by the

Established Clergy, &c. By J.
W. Wickes, M. A. Rector of
Wardley, &c. 8vo, 2s.

Two clergymen conversed one day on this important question; the one objecting to the burying Dissenters, the other expressed his readiness to bury all the Dissenters in his parish! and we cannot but do this gentleman the justice to believe that, tho' he has objected to the burying the child of a poor labourer, because his father belonged to a Dissenting Meeting, he would not have the least objection to bury the whole Congregation! Such, at least, we Judge from the spirit of the pamphlet.

As we are not learned in the canon laws, we do not conceive our

selves competent to decide whether a clergyman is compelled to this office; but we think it not a little extraordinary,. that a Dissenter should, without re-baptism, be capable of ordination in the church, and even of filling its highest offices (as was, we believe, the case with Archbishop Tillotson, Secker, and Hort) and yet not be entitled to Christian burial. We do not think it wise, however, in the Established Clergy to agitate the subject, since, if they gain their point, they will Fose their fees; for the infallible consequence will be, the increase of Dissenting Burial-grounds.

We cannot, however, justify Mr. Green in calling the worthy Rector of Wardley cum Belton, a high man. If we may judge from the style and language of his Letter, we conceive him to be just the contrary.

An Essay on Humanity to Animals.
By Thomas Young, A. M. Fellow
of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Abridged, by permission of the
Author. 2d Edition, Is. 6d.

THE original Work, of which this is an abridgment, was published in 1799. lo 1804, a highly-respected and benevolent gentleman obtained the author's permission to abridge and publish 500 to give away; which, being all so disposed

* D. Barclay, Esq.

of, and more solicited, the same gentleman has printed this second edition for sale, on account of the

ingenious author. It is well executed, and certainly deserves serious regard; and, at a time when a Bill has been brought into Parliament for the more effectual Pre-> vention of Cruelty to Animals,' by a nobleman whose eloquence has often been employed in advocating humanity and religion in our courts of justice, it may be hoped that the important subject will meet with general attention.

In addition to arguments deduced light of Nature, and from self-infrom just observation, from the. terest, it will appear to every attentive reader of this Essay, that the Holy Scriptures teach and inspire a benevolence, which reaches even to the meanest of the brutal tribes.

+ Lord Erskine.

tion of Jesus as absurd and incredible. The sermon was printed, and entitled, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph:' a copy of this sermon was sent to Mr, Alliott, by the person to whom the letters are addressed, with a request that he would write some observations on

the subject. In consequence of this application, Mr. Alliott was induced to write and to publish the pamphlet before us; and, for his compliance, he is entitled to the thanks of the friends of sound doctrine. He endeavours, and, we think, with complete success, to prove, in opposition to Mr. Davies, That Jesus represented himself as the Son of God, that the doctrine of his Miraculous Conception is perfectly consistent with the language of the apostles,with the expectations of the believing Jews, and with the predictions of the ancient propnels.

Mr.

A. then shews, That it is not inconsistent with sound reason to suppose that God should, in this case, as in the case of all other miracles, supersede the ordinary course of nature.

A Compendious History of New England, exhibiling an interesting View of the First Seillers in that Country, their Character, their Sufferings, and their ultimute Prosperity. By Jedidiah Morse, D. D. and Rev. Elijah Parish, A. M. of Boston, New England. Crown 8vo, 3 Ed.- large paper, 6s.

Ir is with pleasure we announce the appearance of a London edition of this valuable work, which was first published at Charlestown, in the year 1804. It gives a very compendious, and, we doubt not, an accurate account of the coloniz ation and growing prosperity of an important part of the American States. It must, therefore, deserve the attention of the public in general; and it recommends itself more especially to the friends and advocates of liberty of conscience, by the interesting detail it presents of the voluntary sufferings endured in the cause of truth by the first settlers in New England. The pre

cise object of the respectable compilers of this work, will best appear from the following quotation from their preface: :- The materials for the history of this favoured portion of the world, though abundant, have hitherto been scattered in many volumes, too expensive and too disjointed, to be rendered useful to the rising generation. To reduce them to a form, order, and size, adapted to the use of the higher classes in schools, and to families, has been our aim in compiling this small work.' We approve both of the design and the execution.

Missionary Transactions, No. xx.
Price 1s.

THIS Number contains the Journal of the Missionaries at Otaheite to the close of 1807; Extracts and Letters from Dr. Vanderkemp, Mr., Read, Mr. Albrecht, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Kramer, &c. at the different stations in South Africa, which relate very pleasing instances of the success of the gospel among the Hottentots and others. Mr. Albrecht's Observations on the Cus toms of the Namaqua nation are nev and curious. The Accounts from Mr. Wray, at Demerara, are very encouraging. The letter from Mr. Palm, in Ceylon, is also interesting. The whole is worthy of the perusal of all who are concerned for the extension at the Redeemer's kingdom. We understand, that the Ministers who make Collections for the Society, may have each a Number gratis, by applying for it at the Publishers.