hroughout his performance, we trace the features of a quondam revolutionist, ftill adhering to many of his former prejudices, ftill diffatisfied with prefent inititutions, but grown cautious from experience, and probably temperate from age. on The Chapters, or (as the Author terms them) "Studies," are "Political Conftitutions,""-" Metaphyfics,"" Analogies," General Opinions of Political Conftitutions,❞— Kings,' ""The Church,' -"Nobles," "Representation of the People,"—" Parties,' "The Prefs," "The Prince." 66 On moit of thefe fubjects the writer's ideas are too indefinite, his fchemes (if fchemes they may be termed) too vifionary, and his language too obfcure, to render his work of mach practical utility. To his doctrine, that "a general feeling, or fenfibility is neceffary to the existence of every fociety," and that "the general fentiments, paffions and judgment, formed on that general fenfibility, are the real grounds of political power," we have no objection, if the Author means (as we trust he does) that public opinion, well-informed and maturely weighed, is the firmeft fupport of government. But if his general fenfibility" includes every impulfe of uninformed multitudes, inflamed perhaps by artful and ambitious demagogues, this doctrine manifeftly leads to uproar and anarchy. With fome of the Author's opinions refpecting the French Re volution we agree; though they are blended with doctrines at. best questionable, and with others againft which we must strongly proteft. If a paffion for war may be justly objected to the Kings of France, and their minifters, what fhall be faid of their fucceffors, the revolutionary republic, and the prefent military defpotifm? If the unfortunate Louis the Sixteenth, "invited and encou raged" as the Author admits, "the reforms that led him to the feaffold? Is it at all probable that he fhould" ftruggle and intrigue to regain powers which he had fo readily given up? In fact this unhappy Prince, though he occafionally made a fhow of vigour, confented in the end to every facrifice demanded of him. For the fake of peace, he would no doubt, have refigned his crown; but his perfecutors could only be fatiated by royal blood. In the Chapter relating to the Church, the Author appears to confider it as too much connected with the State, and he complains (very unjustly we think) of the Clergy being obliged "to participate in the guilt of driving nations as herds to the flaughaer." We know not of any fuch participation. Compelled to a war of felf-defence, we may furely pray for that fuccefs against our enemy by which alone our civil and religious liberties can be preferved. But the hoftility of this writer to the established Church, and ftill more to thofe academical inftitutions by which it is fupplied with learned and pious Minifters appears through. out; and though he speaks with reverence of the benevolent prin ciples of Chriftianity, his difbelief of it as a Revelation, occafion ally breaks forth *. In the Chapter or Study" entitled "Nobles," we do not find much fubject for animadverfion, except an illiberal prejudice against thofe Peers who have earned their honours by unwearied diligence and diftinguished talents in the profeffion of the Law. The conduct of the Parliaments of France, and other men of the law in that country, on the occafion of the Revolution, we do not defend: but, as applied to Britain, the reflections are unmerited, and only reflect difgrace on the Author +. In the Study called Reprefentation of the People," there is much obfcurity, and we think little material information. The innovating projects of modern reformers are indeed properly dif couraged; but the cry of a commercial monopoly raifed by France against Great Britain, fo decifively refuted by Gentz and other writers, is revived and re-cehoed by this Author. The Study entitled "Parties," contains, like the rest of the work, many over-refined fentiments, obfcurely expreffed: but with earnestnefs and apparent fincerity; it warns reformers against innovations, which could not in the prefent ftate of the country, be attempted without the utmost danger to its peace and welfare. The Author's principal attention feems however to have been directed to the fubject of his tenth Study, "The Prefs." This he informs us, "is regarded by men of real wisdom as the last hope of the human race." Although, from the extinction of its freedom in almost every other country but the British dominions, we fee not much ground for this hope, we readily join this Author in the opinion, that a free Prefs is effential to a free Conftitution; but we totally diffent from his affertion that it is not enjoyed in Great Britain. Satirifts and libellers, he fays, are not after all inti. midated. But how "the profpect of the Pillary, of favage mutilation, of felonious tranfportation, or of an ignominious death, can blaft in the bud the highest and most eftimable productions of the human mind," (as this Author has the hardihood to declare) we are at a lofs to conceive. The two latter of thefe punishments are wholly inapplicable to libels, the fecond (which we prefume alludes to the lofs of ears) has not been applied within the laft century and a half, and the Pillory very feldom to libels within our remembrance. But why the most estimable productions of the human mind," muft neceffarily be libellous, we must leave to the author to explain, The laws refpecting the Prefs in this country, are we conceive, placed upon the only footing that can fecure its freedom, and (to a certain degree) curb its licentioufnefs; nor has the author whilft See the beginning of p. Er. + The illiberal attack on Lord Thurlow by the late Duke of Richmond in the Houfe of Lords, is mentioned with approbation. he arrogantly cenfures this fyftem, ventured diftinctly to propofe another*. We agree with him however, that much political good may be produced from the labours of merely literary men ; though we do not think, as he seems to do, that they are the fittest perfons to direct the councils of a nation. On the laft fubject or Study, entitled "The Prince," the author fuggefts that political reforms fhould not originate with the fac tious bodies of men who have lately propofed them, nor even with the people at large, but emanate from the fovereign himself on the fuggeftion of the Heir Apparent; whom he celebrates as Patron of the Literary Fund. From this circumftance, as well from the style, and many of the fentiments in this work, we are rather inclined to afcribe it to the well-known founder of that inftitution. DIVINITY. ART. 20. "Dean Addifon, in his travels into Barbary, informs us," fays Mr. Vanfittart," that the Jews were accuftomed to fing the 49th Plaim, in a fort of plain fong, at their funeral proceffions." Whence he concludes, not unreafonably, that the doctrine of the Refurrection must be expreffed to them in the original, more clearly than it appears to us in our public verfion. The object of the fermon, therefore, is to fhow that it is capable of being fo tranf lated as to exprefs what they understood by it. The chief al teration which he attempts to make, is in the 14th verfe, where he renders and their ambassador, and the following words, mbab .from his glorious habitation מובל לך,te abolis the grave שאול The epithet glorious is not neceffarily implied in bam, but Mr. V. gives a fufficient reafon for inferting it. This he refers to Chrift, and confequently confiders the paffage as directly prophetic. He propofes alfo a mode of dividing the Pfalm, which may or may not be right, but as the whole is of uncommon difficulty, and has perplexed interpreters of all ages, the prefent effort deferves much commendation. The remarks, in the fecond part of the publication, are intended * He intimates indeed that only falsehood should be punished, this is the cafe in a civil action. On an indictment, it is not poffible always for the profecutor to prove a negative. o afcertain what creature was intended by the LEVIATHAN in Job. Mr. V. decides for the crocodile, and after quoting Bochart, and other great authorities, for that interpretation, proceeds to how that the author of the Book of Job was acquainted with Egypt. We perfectly affent to his opinion in this respect, but not to all his reafons for it; but we efteem him fuccefsful in forming a new interpretation for the word *, inftead of his tongue, from the fact, afcertained by himself as well as others, that the Crocodile has no tongue. We particularly object, however, to all that is faid in reference to the defcription of the facred Thebaid crocodiles on Herodotus; because that tends to fhow the very things done to that animal, which the inpired Poet ftates as being an abfurdity even to fuppofe practicable. For this reafon we object alfo to the opening of his propofed new tranflation. "Behold now Le wiathan," &c. But, on the whole, we are much pleafed with his remarks; particularly as a very exemplary fpecimen of learning and diligence in a young divine. ART. 21. High Tide. A Sermon, preached in the Parish Churches of Boften and Sutterton, in the County of Lincoln, on Sunday, January 20th, 1811, for the Benefit of the Poor Sufferers, by the late Inundation of the Sea in that Neighbourhood; and now pubLifhed for the fame Purpose, at the Requeft of the Committee. By the Rev. George Hutton, D.D. Vicar of Sutterton, and fome Time Fellow of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford. 8vo. 21. PP. Is. Kelley, Bolton and Spilsby; London, Baldwins. 1811. It is generally known to the public, through the newspapers, that, on the evening of the 10th of November laft, the neigh bourhood of Boston, in Lincolnshire, was dreadfully inundated by the breaking of the fea-banks, occafioned by a violent gale of wind and extraordinary high tide. Happily, the number of persons who perished, appears to be much smaller than was at first reported. But among thofe cafes, fome were very pitiable: a young woman overwhelmed in milking, by the fudden fall of an adjacent bank; a young man, in his efforts to ferve his father's flock of fheep; a poor woman, aged 85 years, drowned in her bed. It appears, from a statement prefixed to this difcourfe, that the total lofs to the neighbourhood (including the damage to feabanks) is about 28,000l. of which, 8,000l. has been lost by perfons who are either totally ruined, or greatly diftreffed; and who alone folicit relief from the public. The entire lofs is here properly ftated; juftifying an application for relief to persons not immediately connected with the neighbourhood, the inhabitants ,at full length לשונן of which, and owners of lands there, are many of them deeply involved in this fad misfortune. The fums fubfcribed on the 1ft of February, amounted to fomewhat more than 2,000l. We hope this fubfcription will proceed happily, and are glad to find, by the newspapers, that contributions have been fent by Poft to the Minifter of Boston, from perfons at a diftance, and unknown. In the very useful difcourfe before us, on Pfalm xciii. 5. the doctrine of an over-ruling and all-directing Providence, is ftrongly fet forth it, from the works of the Almighty; and 2dly, from the revealed word of God. "The fuperintending care of divine Providence, as it is a matter of daily obfervation, fo is it fometimes more confpicuously manifetted in figual inftances of public bleffings and benefits. One eminent proof of this our favoured country lately experienced, in a fruitful feafon and a plentiful harveft; and in confequence we were called upon by our pious Sovereign,-may the Father of Mercies reftore and preferve him to the fervent wishes and prayers of an affectionate and loyal people!-we were called upon to prefent our bounden tribute of praife and thanksgiving before the throne of the Moft High. But, as darknefs naturally fucceeds the light; and as adverfity very frequently follows close upon the heels of profperity, in like manner fhall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?? Shall we prefume to murmur at the difpenfation of the Almighty, because, in the midst of profperity it feemeth him good to fend us a vi fitation of calamity? Oh! let not this fin be laid to our charge! *yea, rather let us deem the vifitation fent in mercy; let us endeavour to profit by the trial that is appointed us; let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God: and, as no profperity fhould feduce us to forget our heavenly Father, fo let no adverfity ever drive us from him. Severe, indeed, and moft afflictive has been the calamity which has lately vifited this neighbourhood; at the word of the Almighty, the formy wind arofe, and lifted up the waves of the great deep;' deftruction -hovered round us, and laid waste our poffeffions, But in the midft of wrath, mercy ftill fet up her bow in the cloud.' The fame Almighty nower that winged and directed the ftorm; that brought the winds out of his treafurics; that commiffioned the fea to burft its bounds, quickly ftayed his avenging armi, bade the ftorm to ceafe, and filled the raging of the fea; at his word, peace, be ftill,' all was in an inftant hushed into filence; through his help the deep did not.fwallow us up.' waves of the fea are mighty, and rage horribly; but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.' Extenfive and ruinous as the defolation has proved, yet is it accompanied with fome circumftançes of confolation. It is confolatory to reflect, that, confidering the extent and rapidity of the inundation, fo few lives fell a facrifice to the deftructive element. It is con The folatory |