are indebted for feveral refpectable publications, thus explains the purposes of the prefent work.

It commences with, and includes, the adjudications of the prefent reign; and forms a concife, but at the fame time clear and intelligible, digeft of the principal matters contained in fir James Burrows and other fubfequent reporters, arranged under proper titles. By this difpofition, every determination is exhibited at one view, under the head to which it belongs, in orderly fucceffion; and the uniformnity of the authorities is traced and preferved, or their diftinctions marked.

In this compilation, the editor has only confulted books of unexceptionable repute; and among thefe he particularly acknowledges the term reports of B.R. and C.B. and the series of cafes publifhed by Willon, Burrows, Blackftone, Cowper, Douglas, and Caldecot. To mention any one reporter whom he has been under the neceffity of rejecting, on account of inaccuracy and want of precifion, would be invidious.

To render the work as convenient as poffible, there are subjoined to each volume an index to the names of the cafes, and a copious table of contents.

This is the general plan of the undertaking: and the final end of the editor's defign has been to relieve gentlemen from the irkfome tafk of referring to a variety of books; by concentrating, in one work, the fubftance of the decifions in the courts of law during the prefent reign, with correct references to the reporters in which they are to be found.'

P. vii.

The plan of this work will render it very ufeful, if it fhould be completed with the neceffary correctness, and within the proper limits. In the former requifite the prefent volume is not deficient ; and, as to the latter, from the fize of the fpecimen we are induced feriously to recommend to Mr. Williams not to extend the work to a bulk inconfiftent with its nature and utility. This error may be avoided by a more sparing infertion of the arguments of the judges, in the fubfequent volumes. The points decided are of the most material confequence in an abridgment: for the difcuffions, occafional reference may be made to the original reports.

A fuccinct View of the Law of Mortgages. With an Appendix, containing a Variety of feientific Precedents of Mortgages. By Edward Coke Wilmot, of Gray's Inn. 8vo. 4s. Boards. Clarke and Son. 1798.

To this publication the want of accuracy can fcarcely be imputed; but the neceffity for its appearance is not eafily discoverable. The compiler thus introduces it to the notice of the profeffion.

It had frequently occurred to the author, that a fuccinct view of the law relative to mortgages, accompanied by fome useful and

felect precedents, would be a work of utility to the junior part of the profeffion.

Having in his poffeffion a number of modern precedents of mortgage deeds, drawn by the most eminent conveyancers, the author was induced to compile the theoretical part of the prefent publication, by way of introduction to them. He claims no merit, beyond compilation. His object has been, to present a general outline of the established doctrines relative to mortgages, in fuch a form, as might tend to affift the young ftudent, in the better understanding the use and application of the precedents.

Should his juvenile production prove of the smallest benefit to thofe, for whom it is more immediately defigned, the author will feel happy in reflecting, that his hours of leifure have not been unprofitably employed.' P. iii.

The precedents in the appendix may perhaps be found useful: the reft of the book may, by the diligent, be deemed fuperfluous. We approve a difpofition to ftudy in thofe who are destined for the law; but we deprecate the needlefs multiplication of books, as a ferious profeffional grievance.

A general Index to the Modern Reporters, relative to the Law occur◄ ring at Trials by Nifi Prius, from the Period of the Revolution to the prefent Times. By the late John Kells, Efq. Barrifter at Law. Vol. I. 8vo. 95. Boards. Grierfon, Dublin. 1797. In the advertisement to this index, the reader is informed that

• To combine the advantages of a digeft of the leading authorities, with the practical utility of a repertorium referring to all the cafes of any importance, and thus to reduce the principal matters dispersed in seven-and-twenty volumes, within the compass of two, and to exhibit not only the law as it now ftands, but also the progrefs of its gradual improvement, is the defign of the following work.' P. iii.

We have perceived, in the publication before us, no fuch merit as can justify this pomp of introduction. The great oracle of our law, fir Edward Coke, has fagaciously remarked, that abridgments are most profitable to the makers thereof;' and, though we admit the general correctnefs of Mr. Kells' principles and references, we may observe that he has performed no more than what we hope every practifing barrifter has had the diligence to undertake for his private ufe.

RELIGION.

A Picture of Chriftian Philofophy; or, a Theological, Philofophical, and Practical Illuftration of the Character of Jefus in which the genuine Chriftian Temper is contrafted with the benevolent Syftem maintained by Mr. Godwin and other Philofophers, and with the View of Chriftianity, by Wm. Wilberforce, Efq. with Strictures on various Topics of general Intereft and Importance. By Robert Fellowes, A. B. Oxon. Svo. 25. 6d. White. 1799. • Inftead of adminiftering fresh fuel to that factious rage, and

that spirit of bigotry, which is unhappily spreading through these once-happy kingdoms, I have endeavoured to foften the animofities of faction by the precepts of benevolence, and to inspire even the breafts of bigots with Christian moderation.' P. 56.

and

We are happy in bearing our teftimony to this declaration, an in expreffing our fatisfaction at the perufal of a work which affords decifive proof that its author, in delineating the character of our Saviour, has imbibed a great portion of his benevolent spirit. We fhall felect a few paffages, which, in the prefent times, may be advantageously studied by the profeffors of Chriftianity.

It is an abfurd and a dangerous notion, that we can serve the caufe of revelation by limiting the right of free difcuffion, or checking it by perfecution. Perfecution always increafes the evil it is intended to remedy; and religious opinions, which respect the intercourfe between man and his maker, ought for ever to be free from human interruptior. They are too facred for the cognizance of any earthly tribunal.' P. X.

If, knowing our duty here, we perform it to the best of our power, we fall certainly be accepted of God. Whether we fquare our faith by the precepts of Athanafius, or Arius, or Socihus, we shall enter into life, if we keep the commandments and follow, as nearly as poffible, the steps of Jefus, which point the way to immortality. P. 41.

The conduct proper to be observed by Chriftians towards infidels, is well pointed out in the fubfequent paffage, which we recommend to the profecutors of Paine's Age of Reason, and fuch miferable performances.

If infidelity have any arguments to produce against the truth of revelation, let them be calmly and rationally refuted: but if it can produce nothing but frothy abuse and virulent misrepresentafion, the best reply is-that dignified filence and compaffion which Jefus himself difplayed, when he was rebuked and reviled. Can we follow a better example than that of Jefus ?' P. 52.

That Mr. Fellowes can form a just estimate of character, may be concluded from the sketch which he has given of Mr. Burke. The affections of Mr. Burke all gravitated toward his kindred, incapable of a wider expanfion. Of philanthropy he poffeffed but little; or he would not have struggled fo long, and with fo much energy and obftinacy to produce the extermination, by fire and fword, of twenty-four millions of his fellow-men. His morality was neither enlarged by a diffufive benevolence, nor animated by an enlightened piety. His friendship was warm, while it lafted; but it was liable to be interrupted by the irritable petulance of his ́ temper. Inflated with the 'pride of genius, he was impatient of contradiction; and his refentments were, in more than one inftance, indulged even to bitterness.

His fame, with posterity, will reft chiefly on the splendor of his eloquence: but this being employed rather in the embellifhment of prejudices that are evanefcent, than in the fupport of principles that are immortal, I doubt whether it has earned him a wreath of glory, that may wave defiance to the rage of time. His style, as an orator, is vehement, impetuous, and often highly impaffioned; fraught with the beautiful combinations of genius, and displaying the magnificent decorations of an exuberant fancy; but he is rarely difcriminated by thofe fublime conceptions which arife from comprehenfive views, and which mark an intellect of the highest order. His wit fparkles with brilliancy; its flathes often captivate as much by their juftnefs, as their splendor; but he fometimes pursues them, till they lose their luftre, and till languor takes place of astonishment,

When he attempts to reafon in a logical order, his arguments too often refemble the Sybill's [Sibyl's] leaves; they are dispersed in a moment by the breath of his imagination. His judgment may, for a while, rule his fancy; but his fancy always, at laft, fucceeds in ruling his judgment.

He was well acquainted with men, and with human affairs in their little detail; but he does not feem to have considered, like a philofopher, the general principles, or like a benevolent Christian, the general interefts of human nature. His political reafonings are often weak, because they are taken entirely from partial views, and from fleeting interefts; and do not reft on the basis of eternal and unchangeable truth. Could he have effected his wishes, he would have established an oligarchy of wealth and rank, on the ruin of the rights of mankind. He would have placed the liberties of the people on no firmer bafis than the conceffions of the crown; and he would have defpoiled the monarchy of those wholesome limitations, which are a fource of happiness both to the prince and to the people.

The principles of Mr. Burke, feem to have been rather modified by his intereft, than his intereft by his principles. His principal purfuit was private emolument; but he endeavoured to imprefs on others, till perhaps he had impreffed on himself, the conviction, that it was the public good. His private embarrassments increased, by inattention and profufenefs; unfortunately, for his country and for the world, rendered him venal; and if we may judge from his fentiments, on the refiftance of America, his opinions on the French revolution were lefs fwayed by his confcience than his penfion. Poffeffing thofe energies of genius, which taking an independent direction, might have rendered him, as much the benefactor, as he was the ornament of his fpecies: his talents contributed but little, to enlarge the stock of wisdom;, and though they have rendered some service to tafte, and diverfified the elegant combinations of language; yet thefe are but paltry benefits, com

pared with the miseries of that defolating conteft, in which they contributed to involve his country.'

P. 24.

We fhall only add, that the writer's ftyle is fometimes elegant, but frequently inaccurate.

The Death of the Righteous precious in the Sight of God.

A Sermon, preached in the Weft Church, Aberdeen, April 17th, 1796. On occafion of the Death of the very Rev. Dr. George Campbell, late Principal and Profeffor of Divinity in Marifchal College. Published at the Defire of the Profeffors of that College, and feveral others of the most refpectable Hearers. 8vo.

The proper Method of defending Religious Truth, in Times of prevailing Infidelity. A Sermon preached before the Synod of Aberdeen, Oct. 11th, 1796. Published by Defire of the Synod. Both by William Laurence Brown, D. D. Principal of Marifchal College. 8vo. ts. each. Robinfons.

The found theology and candid temper which prevail in Dr. Brown's fermons have given them a fuperiority over many temporary publications of the fame kind. Thefe qualities will be found in juft proportion in the latter of these fermons, in which the defence of Chriftianity recommended will tend to place it on its proper bafis, and extinguifh thofe animofities of fects which prove a ftumbling-block to the weak believer, and often occasion disgust even in the moft candid inquirers.

The former difcourfe is chiefly valuable as containing a biographical sketch of the late Dr. Campbell, whofe Differtation on Miracles, Tranflation of the Gofpels, Philofophy of Rhetoric, and other works, raised him to a high rank among the literati of Scotland. Few men were better qualified to eftimate his merits than Dr. Brown.

A Sermon, preached at Brunswick Chapel, Portman-fquare, on Sunday, April 15, 1798; and at Ebury Chapel, Sloane-street, on Sunday, May 20, 1798, for the Benefit of the Royal Humane Society. By Archer Thompson, M. A. &c. To which is fubjoined, an Appendix on Refufcitation, by the Society. Svo. IS. Dilly. 1798.

We agree with Mr. Thompson, that, from his mode of treating the fubject, his fermon inuft have had a more striking effect from the pulpit than it can have in the clofet. Yet, in the latter, it is not without merit, and may revive thofe tender emotions which are the objects of fuch difcourfes. There are few happier occafions to roufe the feelings of a promifcuous congregation, than when it is the bufinefs of the preacher to expatiate on the utility of the Humane Society.

The Refurrection of our Saviour, afferted from an Examination of the Proofs of the Fdentity of his Character after that Event, in a Letter to the Rev. L. R. 800. IS. Dilly. 1798.

This is an elegant imitation of the Hora Pauline. The diffe