and, with looks and expressions of the warmest compassion, gave their help. A churchman raised the man from the ground by lifting him under his arms, while a dissenter held his head and wiped his face with a handkerchief. A Roman Catholic lady took out her smelling-bottle, and assiduously applied it to his nose. A methodist ran for a doctor. A quaker supported and comforted the woman, and a baptist took care of the children. Edwin and his father were among the spectators. "Here," said Mr. Ambrose," is a thing in which mankind were made to agree." Took POLITICAL, &c. Art. 54. A Speculative Sketch of Europe. Translated from the French of Mons. Dumouriez. To which are pretixed Strictures on the Chapter relative to Great Britain. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Hatchard, &c. 1798. Our account of M. Dumouriez's Tableau Speculatif de l'Europe appeared in our last Appendix, p. 546. The translation before us is rendered peculiarly valuable by the accompaniment of the Strictures on the chapter On England;" in which the English writer has completely exposed the futility of his author's attempt to prove that the threats of his countrymen, with respect to an invasion of this island, are not an idle bravado. This chapter, as the writer of the Strictures observes, seems to have been dashed off by the Ci-devant General, [still a true Frenchman!] with the national cockade in his hat.' Art. 55. Porto-Bello: or a Plan for the Improvement of the Port 8vo. Previously to presenting his plan for improving the Port of London, Sir Fred. takes into consideration the evils resulting from the present state of the Port; the principal of which seem to be, the want of room for uninterrupted navigation, and the necessity for employing a large number of lighters in the unloading of ships with foreign cargoes; which, besides requiring so much room, occasions greatly increased charges in the landing and delivery of goods, and multiplies the opportunities of plundering. Eight different plans have been laid before the Committee of the House of Commons; among which, the author observes, there is not one that is not liable to great and material objections, but that the plan of the Corporation of the City of London, and the metchants' plan, are those which have attracted the most attention. As we do not possess sufficient knowlege of the subject to authorise us to offer an opinion on the merits of the different plans, we shall confine ourselves to laying before the reader the principal outlines of the plan recommended in this pamphlet; which are, 1st, that a dock should be excavated in Wapping, capable of containing 440 ships. 2. In order to provide the coal and timber trade with a commodious station near the heart of the metropolis, it is proposed that London bridge should be taken down, and rebuilt about 200 yards above its present situation. 3. That the present legal quays, and the the For the author's remarks on the practicability of executing this plan, and the advantages which would accrue from its adoption, we refer our readers to the pamphlet ; in which, likewise, many other considerable alterations are recommended for the improvement of the metropolis. Art. 56. A complete Analysis or Abridgment of Dr. Adam Smith's Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. By Jeemiah Joyce. 8vo. pp. 290. 4s. Boards. Robinsons. 1797. This work, as the title-page professes, is simply an abridgment, In some cases, such performances have their use: but, in general, in order that what in English used to be called the marrow, and what the French call the spirit, of literary productions, may be usefully extracted, it is necessary that each reader should perform the operation for himself. Dr. Smith's Inquiry, however, having been originally composed in the form of lectures to his pupils, still contains something of that diffusiveness and superfluity of illustration, by which lectures are usually distinguished. Under this aspect, an ana. lysis of it may be the more justifiable: but, on the other hand, as some of his most important doctrines, in which the public seemed to have very generally acquiesced without examination, have been recently disputed, most readers would perhaps wish to see his arguments rather strengthened by addition than weakened by retrench ment. Art. 57. The Principles of Government, in a DIALOGUE between a It is well known that Sir William Jones's famous Dialogue on Go vernment was originally published by his brother-in-law, the Dean of St. Asaph"; for which he [the Dean] was prosecuted at Shrewsbury assizes: see M. R. vol. Ixix. p. 349. All parties have seemed, in less violent times, to have been pretty well agreed as to the general merit and importance of that produc tion. On this subject Mr. Norgate is quite an enthusiast; and in deed most readers, we apprehend, will join with him in opinion that no vehicle could be better, or indeed so well, adapted' [in so small a compass] for the circulation of opinions and hypotheses on the great variety of political subjects which it embraces.' Second Pref. p. xiv. 6 Mr. N. has likewise here re-printed the animated Preface to his first edition, published in 1796. The 2d Preface is dated in 1797. The notes and illustrations, with the two prefaces, occupy a considerable number of pages more than the DIALOGUE itself; and they will The Rev. William Davies Shipley. REV. AUG. 1798. Kk doubtless, Capt. B....y. Gil. doubtless, in the opinionof the few that are now left of our OLD WHIGS, be esteemed a valuable addition to the sentiments delivered by Sir W. Jones on the most important subject of FREE GOVERNMENT.-On the whole, we are glad to see so respectable an edition of this small but celebrated performance. Art. 58. Preached in the Parish Churches of Harmendsworth and West Drayton, Middlesex, 19th of December 1797, appointed for a General Thanksgiving for our late Victories at Sea. By the Rev. J. T. Langhorne, LL. B. Vicar of the said Parishes. 8vo. IS. Rivingtons. This preacher recommends with earnestness a reliance on Divine protection, and at the same time a readiness in ourselves to contribute, as far as we are able, to the defence and support of our country. While he manifests his zeal in these respects, he is not a random and violent declaimer. Having mentioned the Revolution as a glorious ara, he adds the comparison, however, between this present time and that I have just mentioned, will not, perhaps, extort from us an equal degree of admiration. Perhaps it may be found that the burthens of the people have increased, that the influence of the crown has incroached on the privileges of the subject, and that we have not that free representation which our constitution supposes, and which the bill of rights confirms to us.' Possibly this paragraph may have been mistaken or misrepresented; for, in a short adver tisement, the author remarks that it is the duty of every man in a public situation, whose opinions are misconstrued, to make them more fully known.' Therefore he has made the discourse public, and proceeds to add that he is far from assuming the least merit from the style of the composition, but trusts that the liberality of the reader, however his political code may differ, will allow him credit for his patriotism.' Whatever opinions Mr. Langhorne may entertain respecting a desirable and practicable melioration in British affairs, he does not fail to remind his hearers that this is no time to complain. Instead (says he, immediately after the lines quoted above) of dwelling on this comfortless view of things, we will indulge the pleasing hope, that when our country is delivered from impending dangers, our rulers will do us the justice to restore to us our constitutional rights, and mitigate the burdens they have imposed.' Under such impressions, he urges with warmth a willing and determined exertion for the general security and welfare, while we place our chief dependence on the care and blessing of heaven. Hi Art. 59. The Duty of Thanksgiving for National Blessings; preached December 19th 1797, by William Mavor, LL. D. Vicar of Hurley, Berks, &c. 8vo. Is. Rivingtons. Dr. Mavor writes with sense and spirit, in enumerating several benefits and blessings which invite Britons to praise, and which demand their gratitude. He execrates all war but that of the defensive kind; regarding the present as such, he exhorts his hearers, to the best of their abilities, to bear without reluctance those burdens, great and unexampled as they undoubtedly are, which the necessities of the state impose.' Again, he says, I have a better opinion of the the patriotism of my countrymen than for a moment to apprehend that, however they may differ about matters of trivial import, they will be united in essentials, whenever the crisis approaches.' In a note, he condemns, what he terms, the gross impolicy of dividing this nation into favourers and opponents of the French Revolution: Call a man (he says) an "incorrigible Jacobin," and you certainly make him so. False principles are only propagated by the virulence of misapplied invective. It is the duty of every good subject to conciliate, not to divide.' These remarks are extremely well founded, and highly worthy of serious consideration from all warm-headed partisans. SINGLE SERMONS. Art. 60. Preached in the Parish Church of Swindon, at the Visit- 6 to shew that man, in his temporal as well as spiritual capacity, is indebted to revelation for that essential knowlege, and for those blessings and benefits, on which his happiness, here and hereafter, chiefly depends :'-a proposition which the author very satisfactorily supports. In the course of his reasoning, he regards revelation as the chief and essential cause of establishing true civil liberty in society; he farther insists that it augments human enjoyments by the increase of spiritual knowledge; and he proceeds to prove that the most useful learning, which prevails at present in the world, may be justly ascribed to the same cause.'- With respect to the 'philosophy and religion of the heathen world, it may be asserted, that the morality of the Stoics was savage and impracticable; the manners and opinions of the Epicureans, atheistical and sensual; that their liberty was licentious and without justice, and their religion impious; and that till the blessed doctrines of revelation enlightened the mind and corrected the will and heart of man, properly speaking, neither national mercy, true civil liberty, nor any other than an idolatrous religion, existed in the world. This is by no means an opinion or sentiment, hazarded: it is formed from a conviction engendered by an attentive perusal of ancient history.' Certain it is, that the tendency of revelation, thoroughly understood and embraced, is to effect all that is ascribed to it by this writer, and still more. Much benefit has been hence derived to communities, and in a higher degree to individuals: yet must it not be acknowleged that its influence and operation have been partial and imperfect? Great obstructions have been opposed to it. If we contemplate the rule and spirit of Christianity, and at the same time direct our view to popish countries, to the Russian or Greek church, not to speak of what is called reformed, or if we read ecclesiastical history, with how striking a contrast are we presented?-This, though well repulsed, has been one among the most formidable ob jections which unbelievers have raised against the Christian revelation: but it is a point which we are not now called farther to canvas. Kk 2 We Hi. We agree with Mr. Hare when he says, In fact, the single injunction of the prophet Micah, to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God, comprehends more vital essence than all the laws of Solon or Justinian; and obedience to this short, but comprehensive, injunction, would be more productive of real civil liberty; for civil liberty can never permanently exist under any government, unless the people (should it not be said, the governours also) are just and virtuous.'-That Christianity has contributed, indirectly at least, and even by its corruption, (especially as to painting and sculpture,) to assist the fine arts, we will not dispute. How far the temple at Jerusalem, so truly magnificent, may have lent its aid for this purpose, though not improbable in itself, is yet a question on which we do not consider ourselves as competent to decide:but we join hands with this writer when he directs the sceptic to the courts of law, to real life, and to the cabinets of princes, and assures him that he will see that all the law-suits, the divorces, the duels, and the wars, which have destroyed the peace of families, made orphans and widows, impoverished and depopulated nations, have been caused by the inobservance, the infringement, the violation, of the doctrines of the gospel.' He farther observes that Sceptics-who know how very wicked the heart of man naturally is, should be the first to confess that a remedy greater than philosophy ever supplied, was wanting to cure so inveterate a disease.'-This is, we think, the only passage that savours of polemical divinity: it is sometimes the language of statesmen, who forget, perhaps, that they are of the same species themselves. Soame Jenyns has somewhere told us that force alone is sufficient to govern so wicked a creature as man.". Bad indeed are they, if there be those who make this their only or chief resort, especially under the light and benefit of revelation; for that, as this writer insists, if duly regarded, is adequate both to reformation, and to improvement in virtue. Art. 61. The Injustice of classing Unitarians with Deists and Infidels Written with Reference to some Reflections from the Pens of Bishops Newton, Hurd, and Horsley, Doctors White, Knox, and Fuller, Mrs. Piozzi, and others; and delivered at Tiverton, July 5, 1797, before the Society of Unitarian Christians established in the West of England, for promoting Christian Knowledge and the Practice of Virtue by the Distribution of Books. To which is prefixed a Letter to W. Wilberforce, Esq. occasioned by some Passages in his late" Practical View." By Joshua Toulmin, D.D. 8vo. Is. 6d. Johnson. The design of this discourse being to vindicate the writer, and those who think with him in religious matters, from some aspersions on their characters, Dr. Toulmin takes for his text that passage of St. Paul, 2 Cor. x. 7. If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's, which the Apostle uses in a defence of himself and his followers against their adversaries; it being one leading design, in each of his epistles to the church at Corinth, to support his own character and credit, and to vindicate himself from the calumnies of those who adhered to other teachers. Hi. |