valued friend. We may add, that the preacher is expected to be impartial in drawing the character of the deceased, and to give it an intereft with the world at large, when the appeal is made by publishing. In these refpects, Mr. Evans has executed his task in a fatisfactory manner. His reflections are pious and appofite; and his delineation of the character of Mr. Bulkley will not be thought overstrained by those who were acquainted with the defunct. He was an indefatigable minifter of the gofpel, for a period of nearly fixty years, and was known in the literary world by fome works of

merit.

The Duty of Thanksgiving. A Sermon preached at the FoundlingHofpital, December 19, 1797; being the Day appointed for a General Thanksgiving. By the Rev. John Hewlett, B, D. Morning Preacher to the faid Charity, and Lecturer of the united Parishes of St. Vedaft and St. Michael le Quern. Published at the Requeft of the General Court, and for the Benefit of the Charity." 8vo. Is. Johnfon. 1798.

The reputation which Mr. Hewlett has obtained by former difcourfes will suffer no diminution from the prefent; for it evinces the fame genius and happy talent in enforcing pious fentiment with eloquence and spirit. It contains fome fplendid paffages, and reflects credit both on the head and the heart of the writer.

Due Senfe of Divine Favour, a Teft of Chriftian Confidence. A Sermon delivered to a Country Congregation, on the 19th of December,' 1797, the Day appointed by Royal Authority for a General Thankf giving to Almighty God, for the late fignal Victory of his Majefty's Fleets over thofe of the Enemy. By the Rev. Sir Adam Gordon, Bart. M. A. Rector of Weft Tilbury, Essex, and Prebendary of Briftol. 8vo. 1s. Stockdale. 1798.

In performing the duty of a faithful parochial priest (and all who know Sir A. Gordon will allow him to be a minister of that defcription), the preacher has not thought it a departure from that province to introduce, in a thanksgiving fermon, remarks on our escapes from internal enemies and their plots, and fome other topics of a political nature. His conclufions, however, are in favour of religious reformation; and his honeft zeal in promoting it, as far as his advice and authority extend, induces us to overlook paffages to which fome objections might juftly be made.

A Sermon for the 19th Day of December, 1797, being the Day appointed for a General Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the fignal Victories obtained by his Majefty's Arms, in Three great Naval Engagements, over the respective Belligerent Powers, united against this Country. By the Rev. L. H. Halloran, Chaplain in the Royal Navy. 8vo. IS. Law. 1798.

2

From 2 Chron. ch. xx. v. 13, Mr. Halloran endeavours to diwest his auditors of the pride and licentiousness of victory, and to Convince them that their gratitude ought to be humble as well as

beartfelt. The difcourfe is plain, well-arranged, and adapted to the occafion. The profits of the fale are intended for the relief of the feamen's widows and orphans.

A Sermon preached at Great Oufeborne, on Tuesday, the gth of Decomber, 1797, being the Day appointed by his Majefty for a General Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for our Naval Victories. By the Rev. Samuel Clapham, M. A. Vicar of Great Oufeborne, near Knarefbro'. 12mo. 3d. Johnson. 1798.

A very small part of this fermon is appropriated to the religious purpofe of a thankfgiving day. The author is fo intent on impreffing the minds of his hearers with an exalted opinion of the wisdom of the ministry, and with a conviction of the neceffity of fubmitting with cheerfulness to the misfortunes of augmented taxation, that he has made the gratitude of the nation for our naval victories only a fecondary point. Perhaps he may confider the exiftence of the present administration as a bleffing of a higher fpecies.

The Duty of Thanksgiving for National Bleffings: a Sermon, preached on Tuesday, December 19, 1797, being the Day appointed for a General Thanksgiving. By William Mavor, LL. D. Vicar of Hurley, Berks, and Chaplain to the Right Hon. the Earl of Dümfries. Svo. 15. Rivingtons. 1798.

The duty of the day is not here impeded by political confiderations. The bleffings which we enjoy as a nation are extolled only as motives to greater zeal and fervour in religion; and the animofities which are kept up by rancour and obloquy are justly cenfured. The following very judicious remark appears in a note.

au

The impolicy, the grofs impolicy of dividing this nation into favourers and opponents of the French revolution, every day becomes more apparent. Call a man "an incorrigible jacobin,” and you certainly make him fo. Falfe principles, though they ought to be expofed, are only propagated by the virulence of mifapplied invective: and I truft French principles will never be juftly imputed to any confiderable number of thinking men in this kingdom. It is the duty of every good fubject to conciliate, not to die vide.' P. 21.

Such indeed is the duty of every good fubject; but how different is the practice of those profligate writers who boast of their zeal for our conftitution, and endeavour to prove it, by calumniating the character of every man who does not, think the prefent miniftry immaculate !

A Sermon, preached Aug. 13, 1798, before the Reading and Henley Affociations, the Woodley Cavalry, and the Reading Volun teers, at the Confecration of the Colours of the Reading Affociation. By Richard Valpy, D. D. F. A. S. Chaplain to the Affociation. Sve. 13. 6d. Robinfons. 1798.

This difcourfe includes every topic which can be fuppofed to

animate and direct the zeal of volunteers; and Dr. Valpy's fentiments on public affairs, principally introduced in the notes, are Tuch as will be approved by the judicious and impartial. The fol lowing paffage is worthy of felection:

Many candid perfons have lamented the policy, which rejected offers of service from men of the first property, and of high military reputation, who forgot their oppofition to the minister of the day in their duty to their king, their country and themselves. The univerfal cause of national defence has nothing to do with party politics. Infinite are the public as well as private benefits of a fpirit of conciliation. Friendships are too often mortal; but enmities ought not to be rendered immortal.' P. 27.

Philanthropy, Religion, and Loyalty, the beft Characteristicks of a Chriftian Soldier. A Sermon; addressed to the armed Affociation of the Parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, and to the Inhabitants at large, on Sunday, 8th of July, 1798. By the Rev. Weeden Butler, Morning Preacher of Charlotte-Street Chapel, &c. 8vo. 1798. This fermon was printed at the requeft of the hearers; and fuch a compliment did not exceed its deferts.

A Sermon preached before the Oxford Loyal Volunteers, on Friday, July 27, 1798, at the Prefentation of their Colours by Lady Mackworth, as Proxy for her Grace the Duchefs of Marlborough, By W. Finch, LL. D. Rector of Avington, Berks, &c. c. 8vo. Is. Rivingtons.

6

८

This divine contrafts opinion (which he places in an unfavour→ able point of view) with principle; and afferts, that the individuals who compose a state or kingdom fhould only engage in war upon the principle of justice; knowing that, as change of circum. ftances thall fuggeft, the fucceffive viciffitudes of human fortune may render those who now fupplicate for mercy, at another time. capable of difpenfing it,' He adds, that upon this plan our coun try has generally proceeded: efpecially when the conftitution has been perfectly formed and fettled, the rights, of rulers and fubjects have been afcertained, and the true and practicable caufes of national profperity have been accurately understood. Whatever may be our opinion upon thefe points, we are inclined to beftow our applaufe on the compofition of the prefent fermon.

The Duty of loving our Country. A Sermon preached at the Cathe dral Church of St. Paul, on Sunday, July 22, 1798, before the Temple-Bar and St. Paul's Difiria Military Affociation. By Thomas Bowen, M. A. Chaplain to Bridewell-Hofpital, to the Aociation, &c. Svo. Is. Rivingtons.

Mr. Bowen afferts, that attempts have been made to weaken true patriotifm, by an extenfion of our benevolence to countries which have not the fame governn.ent and manners with our own; and he

maintains that we can only exert focial duties effectually, to the community to which we belong, to our own country, which he calls our Jerufalem, in allufion to the text chofen on this occafion. He alleges that the Saviour of the human race was only fent to the loft fheep of the house of Ifrael, though he extended to all mankind the benefits of his incarnation.

We fhall only obferve, that the preacher's views are not comprehenfively liberal.

A Sermon, fer the Relief of the Infolvent Debtors, in Warwick Gaol; preached at Rowington, November the 20th, 1796. By George Weale, A. B. Curate. 8vo. Lee and Hurft. 1797.

Mr. Weale preached this difcourfe at the defire of the grand jury of Warwickshire, who recommended fermons throughout the county, for the relief of imprisoned debtors. He humbly apologifes for publishing it at a period fo late from the time when it was preached; but, as his object was to renew the custom of those charitable difcourses, the apology was unneceffary. He enforces the duty of compaffion on Chriftian motives, and depicts the horrors of a gaol with freedom, and, we apprehend, with juftice.

EDUCATION.

Lectures Graduées pour les Enfans. Par M. l'Abbé Gaultier. Progreffive Leffons for Children. By the Abbé Gaultier. 3 Vols. 6s. 6d. Boards. Elmfley and Bremner.

In the preface to this little work, the abbé Gaultier compliments the English as the inventors of the art of writing books calculated for the earlier years of childhood. He tranflated a work of this kind from our language into French, in the year 1788; and it was very favourably received at Paris. He has now published a kind of continuation of that performance.

In the first volume are leffons for children of the age of three years. Examples of French pronunciation are first given; and fhort fentences follow. The fecond and third volumes are intended for those who have respectively attained the ages of four and five years. The leffons gradually rife in importance; and amufement and utility go hand in hand.

A part of M. Gaultier's plan is to make use of counters. One of these the instructor may give to a child for every syllable which has been read or fpelled properly; and for every fault one is to be paid to a child who is able to correct it. If children are not fufficiently interefted and eager in this game of counters, a prefent of fruit, or fome other indulgence, may be allowed for a certain number of counters. Thus (to ufe the words of Locke), ' learning may be made a play and recreation to children.' The abbé has prefixed his own head to the work. Perhaps he

thought, that a view of the features of the author would render his leffons more attractive to the young readers of his book.'

Minor Morals, interfperfed with Sketches of Natural History, Hif torical Anecdotes, and Original Stories. By Charlotte Smith, Author of Rural Walks and Rambles Farther. 2 Vols. Small Sve. 45. Boards. Low. 1798.

A writer of reputation and talent here condefcends to devote her labors to the inftruction of children. She reprefents an aunt as super-intending the education of her four nieces, and forming their minds to early prudence, knowledge, and virtue. The work confifts of dialogues and occafional narratives. Topics of natural history are pleasingly difcuffed; morality is impreffively recommended; and the profe is fometimes varied with poetical pieces, exclufive of quotations.

The inftructress thus cautions her fair pupils against envy :

• Take care, that this with to excel, laudable and proper in itfelf, be not suffered to produce that moft tormenting of all paffions, envy ;- -an infirmity of the mind fo humiliating, fo bitter to whoever has the misfortune to feel it, that it fours the temper and pollutes the heart, more, perhaps, than any other feeling.

"It has always to me been an objection against schools, that often the motive of emulation is fo used, as to excite this narrow and distasteful weakness; and what is worfe, it is often excited by things contemptible in themselves, and in which there is no merit in excelling. The balls given once a year to exhibit the young people's progress in dancing to the best advantage, are, among others, a cause of great anxiety and heart-burning; not as to who fhall do beft what they have been taught, which would be a commendable ambition, but who fhall be most fashionably or fantastically dreffed.' Vol. i. P. 16.

The art of drawing the writer strongly recommends, particularly the application of it to plants and flowers. After referring to the ufes of many of them, the fays,

'Besides the innumerable ufes by which plants are made to form fo great a part of the neceffaries and comforts of civilized life, they are themselves the most beautiful objects in nature, and feem to have been designed as well for the folace of the penfive folitary, as to ornament, in that happy age of youth, which is a little above infancy, the female form and face. We figure to ourselves with pleasure, nymphs and dryads crowned with leaves and flowers; and fancy has more delight in dreffing her vifionary images thus, than in adorning them with all the riches of the earth. Rofes are more foothing to the imagination than rubies; a garland of jasmine, or lilies of the valley, a more interesting head-drefs than a diamond tiara; and to learn to trace or imitate their figures feems to me to be a means of forming the taste of young perfons, and teaching them to unite ornament with fimplicity.' Vol. i. P. 34.