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depreffing that of Ruffia, whofe power, and not that of France, the author appeared moft fingularly to dread. Similar doctrines are attemp ed to be enforced by the author before us; whom we conceive to be the fame perfon. The only part of this tract which has the leaft fhow of common fenfe, is that wherein the author propofes a plan of national defence, in fome points refembling that which has lately been adopted by parliament. In other refpects the work before us contains little more than enthusiastic, and fcarcely intelligible, rant and declamation. The author very warmly cenfures every oppofition to the views of France, and urges, even on religious motives, our joining her in all her fchemes, affigning Egypt to her, with fuch other poffeffions of other powers as the may choofe, provided fhe will fuffer us to have fome thare in the spoil! Our principal fhare is to be a new kingdom of Affyria; which we are to feize, and of course plunder and revolutionize! All this iniquity is to be committed for the fake of Chriftianity, and is (this wonderful author affures us) pofitively enjoined in the Scriptures!!! We need not be furprifed that fuch a writer confiders Bonaparte as an innocent and injured man, and reprefents all his aggreffions, fpoliations, and maffacres as neceffary to his own fecurity. The author cites indeed fome writings of a Dr. Edwards, (advertised alfo on the outer leaf of this tract, as if the author was the fame,) in which the plans here enforced are further detailed and proved (he affures us) to demonftration. We are not very eager for the perufal of

them.

ART. 24.

A Letter to Lord Porchefter, on the prefent degraded State of the English Clergy. 8vo. 24 pp. 6d. Bell, Ox ford-ftreet, &c. 1806.

We place this among politics, becaufe it refers chiefly to whatis confidered as a political degradation, the exclufion of the clergy from the houfe of commons. We confider it as a ftrong proof of the general right feeling of the English clergy, with refpect to their fituation and duties, that this is the firft remonftrance which has appeared, in fe long a period, on that fubject. They have acquiefced in a pofitive exclufion, from that, to which before they never afpired, without an effort, and without a murmur: feeling, as they ought, that political intrigues, ftruggles, and rivalfhips, were not the proper occupations for their minds. This author totally mistakes the matter, when he argues, (as he feems to think, triumphantly) that because a bishop is not unfit to be a legiflator in the upper houfe, an inferior clergyman is not unfit to be a reprefentative in the lower. The bishop holds his feat in the houfe of lords by legal right. He has no electioneering canvas, no courting of pot-wallopers, none of the degrading iniquities of an election to go through for acquiring it. He is not expofed to the fcurrilities of drunken voters, nor chaired among the fhauts of a multitude,

multitude, made beaftly by intemperance, and the worst abuses of freedom. He has not to intrigue among the multitude, to obtain or to renew his feat. This is the great difference. It is not that a clergyman is unfit to be a legiflator, any more than to be a magiftrate: but that he is unfit to feek it, as feats in parliament are, and must be, fought.

We will not argue this matter further, though much further it might be argued; nor contend with this author respecting the indelibility of the clerical character, which he calls popifh. On thefe points, his opinion, (if he is a clergyman) is merely a fingle voice, oppofed to the general acquiefcence of the whole body, and therefore of no great weight.

Againft compulfory refidence, and against fome of the new provifions refpecting curates, he argues better. But, on the whole, he is by far too much liberalized for us; and has many feelings and fentiments in which we cannot participate. No clergyman, however, should take alarm at the formidable words in this title page, "the prefent degraded ftate of the English clergy," fince, the degradations here fpoken of (except in the fingle instance of curates' falaries) are fuch as are neither felt nor complained of throughout the clerical profeffion.

TRAVELS.

ART. 25. Travels after the Peace of Amiens, through Parts of France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. By J. G. Lemaitre, Efq. Author of a Rough Sketch of Modern Paris. 8vo. 3 vols. 11. 4s. Johnson. 1806.

If the long and tedious catalogue of pictures, ftatues, antiques, c. feen by the author in his travels, were deducted from these volumes, they would be reduced nearly to one, nor would that one contain matter of fufficient intereft to justify any particular recommendation. The truth is, we are told nothing new about any of the things, places, or perfons defcribed, with the exception of a few anecdotes of Gibbon, (one of which is not the moft probable) of Voltaire, the Sicilian court and fome others. What is there to excite curiofity, at this day, in the ceremony of a nun's taking the veil? What of novelty in the hiftory and difcovery of Herculaneum, of the mode of prefentations at different courts, of the manufactory of Drefden China, &c. &c.? The truth is, we prefume, that the writer has amufed himself, and his narrative may be acceptable to his friends, but his publication adds little to our store of knowledge, and will not have a place, for it does not deferve it, among thofe defcriptions of Europe, which are reforted to for the most pleafing entertainment, and most authentic and important information.

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DIVINITY.

DIVINITY.

ART. 26. The Young Perfon's Affiftant, in reading the Old Tef tament. In a Scries of Letters from a Mother to her Children, relative to Divine Truth. By Mrs. Dawbarn. 8vo. 79 pp. 21. 6d. White, Wifbech. 1806.

"Thefe Letters are defigned to fhow a connected form of the Old Testament, and its infeparable connection with the New: alfo to fhow, at what period of time each of the Prophets lived; that they may be read and compared with thofe hiftorical parts of the Holy Scriptures which relate to the times when they prophefied."" Nearly the whole of thefe Letters have been collected from PRIDEAUX, COLLYER, BROWN, Scripture dictionaries, &c." The work is creditable to Mrs. D.'s reading and maternal care; and indicates strong pious feelings, a little tinctured with enthusiasm.

Thanksgiving Sermons.

ART. 27. England expects every Man to do his Duty!!! A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of St. Lawrence, before the Mayor and Corporation of Southampton, and published at their Request, on Thursday, the 5th of December, 1805, being the Day appointed for a General Thanksgiving; when a Collection was also made for those who suffered, and for the Widows and Orphans of those who fell, in the late important Victories. By the Rev. Thomas Mears, M. A. Rector of St. Lawrence, and Chaplain to the Corporation. 8vo. 19 PP. IS. Law, &c. 1805.

Had we enjoyed the distinction of a feat in the Common Council at Southampton, we should certainly have joined with our brethren in thanking the preacher for this patriotic, but (as he feems to acknowledge at p. 17.) baftily-written fermon; and though we might not have brought forward, yet we should not (perhaps) have disturbed the unanimity of a motion, for requesting its publication.

ART. 28. The Duty of Thanksgiving; a Sermon preached at Whitkirk, near Leeds, on Thursday, December the 5th, 1805, being the Day appointed for a General Thanksgiving. By S. Smalpage, M. A. of Trinity College, Cambridge; Vicar of Whitkirk, in the County of York, and of Laughton with Wildf worth, in the County of Lincoln; and Chaplain to the Marquis of Hertford. 4to. 20 pp. 15. Longman, London; Deigh ton, Cambridge; Wolftenholme, York. 1805.

On all accounts a very refpectable difcourfe. The preacher thus truly speaks of England: "A country which has long maintained

maintained a proud pre-eminence amid furrounding nations; a country enriched by the peaceful arts of commerce, and wafting from all quarters of the globe their various produce, for the ufe, the comfort, and even the luxury of its inhabitants; a country. which for the unrivalled excellence of its conftitution (may its duration be equal to its excellence!) is the envy and admiration of the whole world; a country where the glorious light of the Gofpel fhines out with the brighteft luftre, diffufing its blessed influence in all the varied charities which may administer to the wants, the infirmities, the difcafes, the accidents, to which hu man life is fubject." P. 8. At p. 9, we meet with a warning, lefs urgently neceffary now than it was a few years fince, but never to be forgotten by us : "There was a time when our ruin was attempted under a more fpecious and fallacious, though not on that account a lefs dangerous form; by endeavouring to render us diffatisfied with our prefent government, and holding out en. couragement and fupport to infurrection and rebellion. But the good fenfe of the people of this country was not fo to be beguiled of their beft privileges: they would never expect to find a friend in their bitterest enemy, knowing that "the kiffes of an enemy are deceitful." Other countries have, unhappily, too late difcovered their error in embracing French fraternity and affiftance. They too were amused for a while with fancied fchemes of liberty, but found in its ftead the most degrading and oppr five flavery; "for their vine is of the vie of Sodom, and of the fields of Go morrah; their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of afps." We with to quote p. 11, and feveral other paffages, but we must be fatisfied with recommending the whole difcourfe to the attention of our readers.

ART. 29. Lord Nelfon. A Funeral Sermon, chiefly preached on the late Thanksgiving Day, at Thursford and Snoring, in Norfolk, near the Birth-place of this great Man; with a particu lar View to his most useful Life, and glorious Death. By the Rev. George Cook, M. A. Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. 4to. 31 PP. 2s. 6d. Chapple, &c. 1805.

It is reasonable that we should fometimes fpare ourselves the trouble of deciding upon the merits of a book, referring the bufinefs to our readers. Probably they will find it, in this cafe, no difficult task, when the following specimens of oratory fhall have been confidered: "Yes; let me repeat it. He was, from the firft, the dreaded fcourge of France and Spain. Winefs Calvi, witnefs Santa Cruz. What though before the one he left the precious memento, his right eye, and before the other-let us paufe, and read the man-his right hand, his spirit was unbroken ftill." P. 21. "Though thefe laft wonderful exploits are the joyous occafion of this day's meeting, yet as it will be impoffible

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BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXVIII. AUG. 18.6.

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attempt it. You fee them. You hear of them. Your Fame is fo busy with it,

to emblazon them, it is needlefs to They are bright before your eyes. very children can tell you the ftory. you can hear of nothing elfe." P. 23.

ART. 30. Victory and Death. The Subftance of a Difcourfe, delivered December 5, 1805, the Day of General Thanksgiving, for the total Defeat of the Combined Flects by Lord Nelfon; in Aid of the Patriotic Fund. By Thomas Wood. IS. Baynes, &c. 1806.

8vo. 25 PP.

Though we cannot praife this difcourfe as a literary compofition, yet we may commend its general tendency, and that of many particular paffages. "Whilft we gratefully acknowledge the goodnefs of God in defending us, we should not be inattentive to the inftruments he employs. Our regular foldiery, for bravery and difcipline, are not furpaffed by any in the world; and the Volun teer corps, for military etiquette, and patriotic zeal, are a praise to their country, and a credit to themselves; and, no doubt, would, if called upon, courageoufly step forward to meet the inve terate foe." P. 21. A day of thankfgiving to the Sovereign Difpofer of the affairs of men, on receiving a national mercy, is an unquestionable duty; and it has a direct tendency to awaken a fenfe of religion in the minds of the people, and to confirm their faith of a divine providence. "The fectarian meets the metrope. litan worshipper at the throne of grace, and the fpirit of narrow bigotry yields to the influence of genuine philanthropy. The patriotifm and piety of the land are happily united, and the fuccefs of arms is devoutly afcribed to the interpofition of God." P. 16. A period at p. 8, requires fome confideration: "The glorious Gofpel never fhone with brighter luftre, nor ever had a more nume. rous train of fincere adherents; not only our towns and cities, but even the country villages, are abundantly favoured with the glad tidings of falvation, fo that we live in a Gofhen of light." In plain language, meeting-haufes are daily fpringing up in every corner of the kingdom. Concerning the probable effect of this unexampled increafe, upon the eftablishment in church and ftate, we forbear, on the prefent occafion, to offer any conjectures. But we atteft with fatisfaction, that the difcourfes, pronounced in thefe places on the day of thankfgiving, (as far as they have yet come within our notice) are loyal and patriotic.

ART. 31. Victory Mourning. A Sermon, preached at Southampton, November 10, 1805, occafioned by the great Victory obtained over the Combined Fleets of France and Spam, off Cape Trafalgar, October 21, when the renowned Lord Nelfon was flain. By William Kingsbury, M. A. 8vo. 30 pp. IS. Baker, Southampton; Ottell, London. 1805.

We have read this fermon with far more fatisfaction than we received from a tract by the fame author, noticed in our 14th vol.

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