Mr. E. has exposed the cowardice of suicide to deserved infamy.This is followed by an animated eulogium on HowARD, and some other pieces, forming altogether a pleasing miscellany, that must gratify every reader of taste.

Prefixed to the volume is a beautiful engraving, by Cromek, from a design of Stothart's; the subject from “ The Suicide.” Religion without Cant, or a Preservative against Lukewarmness, Intolerance, Fanaticism, Superstition, and Impiety. By Robert Fellowes, M. A. 8vo. 9s. Boards. White. 1803.

FANATICISM has seldom encountered a more strenuous and able opponent than the author of this volume. Deeply inipressed with the idea of its pernicious tendency, and regarding it as a very vigorous "source of the prevailing declension of virtue, and increase of vice,” he has employed the whole strength of his mind in endeavouring to prove its futility, and counteract its deleterious influence. In a discussion of so delicate a nature, it is scarcely matter of surprise, though certainly of regret, that zeal, even in the cause of moderation, occasionally hurries the writer beyond the prescribed limits of candour and liberality. This is more particularly observable in the former part of the work, where he indulges himself very liberally in severity of remark, and acerbity of expression, towards the advocates of certain doctrines, and imputes their belief of them to the worst of motives. It is true his acrimony is directed against those sentiments only which he conceives, and perhaps justly, to be inimical to the interests of morality and true religion: still, allowing the justness of his conclusions, his censure should have been more discriminating; since there can be no doubt but many, especially among the lower classes, embrace them with the utmost sincerity, and the purest intentions. If, in this respect, our author do not admit of complete exculpation, much may be urged in extenuation of his offence, and he has himself considerably palliated it, by the subsequent ingenuous statement, which, at the same time, furnishes a clue to some of the principal subjects which come under his attention, and his opinions concerning them.

"Of those doctrines which relate to the fall, the new birth, divine grace, and which have been made subservient to the worst of purposes, I have endeavoured to give a plain, a scriptural, and a rational explanation. Of that absurd and unscriptural fiction called original sin, which, since the time of St. Austin, has been represented by visionaries, fanatics, and impostors, as the most important and salutary constituent of vital christianity, I have spared no pains to refute the error, and expose the absurdity; and I have employed the more time on this subject, because I am convinced it will be found the root of numberless

corruptions. If, in speaking on this doctrine, I have used warmer language than men of a colder temperament may approve, my only apology is, that such language is the language of my heart: I could not well have employed different expressions without doing violence to my feelings, to my reverence for God, and to my love for mankind. When the obligations of truth, of justice, and of mere cy are openly reviled, or insidiously undermined, I should be totally unworthy of the profession which I have embraced if I did not stand forth their fearless and strenuous advocate."

Nor ought it to be forgotten that he never betrays an intollerant spirit, but deprecates, in the strongest terms, the intervention of human power, or any the remotest species of persecution, in matters of religion.

"False theories of religion and of morals ought to be opposed by every ineasure which is consistent with justice and with charity, but the only force which, in such a service, we can employ with prudence and success, is the moral force of reason; and reason certainly cannot be exerted in a cause more agreeable to the will of him by whom it was bestowed, than when it is exerted in the defence of genuine religion and morality."

These and similar sentiments, emanating from the spirit of ca tholic charity towards all mankind, abound in every part of the work, and reflect the highest credit on the writer. Having dwelt rather diffusely on his failings, a more pleasing task remains: imperfections there must be somewhere, and it is happy for Mr. F. that his general merit can well suffer some abatement. He has entered deeply into the study of polemical divinity, and nobly scorning the trammels of authority, has founded his decisions on the başis of personal investigation: and though his ideas may be sometimes tinctured with peculiarity, yet the force of his reasoning, and the ingenuity with which he pursues a position through all its béarings and relations, must arrest the serious attention, even if it fail in convincing the judgment of every sincere enquirer after truth. The bulk of the volume being of an argumentative nature, he has judiciously adopted a manner plain and perspicuous, yet devoid of meanness; but where the subject will admit, he has shewn himself capable of adorning it with the highest embellishments of composition. The notes, which are extremely numerous, discover much biblical research, and are a fund of rational entertainment; but it is surely somewhat paradoxical to give pages of quotations from the learned languages, for the edification of opponents whom he expressly charges with ignorance. A copious analysis of the whole is prefixed, in the form of a table of contents.

The War Offering; a small Collection of original Songs, adapted to familiar Tunes, &c. by J. Amphlett. Longman. 6d. 1803.

THESE political morceaux are prefaced by an ironical dedication to Bonaparte, and a whimsical "exordium," or conversation, in which the "Critic" is disarmed by the modest pretensions of the "Author." The songs, seven in number, contain many smart allusions, with no inconsiderable portion of humour, and are admirably adapted to the present critical emergency,

A short Account of John Marriott, including Extracts from some of his Letters; to which are added, some of his Poetical Productions. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Darton and Harvey. 1803.

FROM the specimens of poetry and of prose which this little volume exhibits, we are led seriously to lament that the author should not have “died hereafter." A melancholy gloom seems to have pervaded the life of this unfortunate young man, and with which his poems are in general tinctured.

A Friendly Address to the Volunteers of Great Britain. 6d, Rivingtons. 1803.

This is a seasonable address, which we earnestly recommend to the volunteers at this crisis, as a stimulus, if a stimulus were neces sary, to induce them to become soldiers in deed,

The Poems of Ossian. Translated by James Macpherson, Esq. in two Vols, Crown 8vo. 18s. Bds. Lackington, Allen, and Co. 1803.

WHETHER these poems be the entire fabrication of the ingenious gentleman who is pleased to designate himself a mere translator, or whether they be fairly attributable to the age in which they are said to have been produced, is not now the question. Their elegant simplicity and beautifully picturesque descriptions are universally acknowledged. This edition is entitled to our notice, on account of the beauty of the type, the tasteful decoration, and the very correct manner in which it is printed.

The Powers of Imagination, a Poem, in three Parts. Written at the Age of sixteen. By Miss Charlotte Seymour. 4to. Longman and Rees. 1803.

This poem claims our attention, from the circumstances and age of the fair writer at the time it was composed. We cannot, however, with all our inclination towards lenity, much commend the partiality of those friends and relatives who recommended the poem to be published. "The Powers of Imagination," as written by a young

lady at sixteen, may, in manuscript, and within a private circle, very deservedly excite wonder: but the publication is, like the poem itself, premature.

Four Heroic Epistles of Ovid; translated into English Verse. 2s. 6d. Dwyer. 1803.

VERY little of the spirit of the original is transfused into the translation of these epistles. Poetry hath recently become a trade, and this author is entitled to the approbation of a smooth-tradingpoet.

The Stranger in France; or, a Tour from Devonshire to Paris. Illustrated by Engravings, in Aqua Tinta, of Sketches taken on the Spot. By John Carr, Esq. 4to. 1l. 1s. Od. Large Paper 17. 11s. 6d. Johnson. London. 1803. (Continued from Page 262.)

MUCH has been said of the infernal machine by which the First Consul was intended to have been destroyed in his way to the national institute of music. Mr. Carr passed the ruins of the houses that suffered by the explosion, and gives the following account of an affair which has been involved in some mystery.

"It is now well known that Monsieur Fouché, at the head of the police, was ac quainted with this conspiracy from its first conception, and, by his vigilant agents, was informed of the daily progress made in the construction of this destructive instrument, of the plan of which he had even a copy. The conspirators proceeded with perfect confidence, and, as they thought, with perfect security. Three days before it was quite compleated, and ready for its fell purpose, from some surprise, or dread of detection, they changed their place of meeting, and, in one night, removed the machine from the spot where it had been usually deposited. The penetrating eye of the police lost sight of them. Fouché and his followers exercised their unrivalled talents for pursuit and discovery, to no purpose. The baffled minister then waited upon Bonaparte, to whom he had regularly imparted the result of every day's information respecting it, and told him, that he could no longer trace the traitorous instrument of his assassination, and requested him, as he knew it must be compleated by this time, not to go to any public places, until he had regained a knowledge of it. Bonaparte replied, that fear only made cowards and conspirators brave; and that he had unalterably determined to go with his accustomed equipage to the National Concert that very evening. At the usual hour, the First Consul set off, undismayed, from the Thuilleries, a description of the machine, which was made to resemble a water cask, being first given to the coachman, servants, and guards. As they proceeded, the advanced guard passed it unobserved, but the coachman discovered it just as the consular carriage was on a parallel with it; instantly the dexterous and faithful chariofeer lashed his horses into full speed, and turned the corner of the Rue Marcem. In one moment after, the terrible machine exploded, and covered the street with ruins. The

thunder of its discharge shook the houses of Paris, and was heard at a considerable distance in the country,"

It is impossible to turn over many pages of this agreeable publication, without meeting with some anecdote or description too striking not to be transcribed. The account of David, conspicuous among the savage monsters which disgraced France during the reign of Terror, and yet the most celebrated and successful cultivator of one of the peaceful arts, is, on many accounts, particularly interesting.

"During my stay in Paris, I visited the gallery of David. This celebrated artist has amassed a fortune of upwards of two hundred thousand pounds, and is permitted, by his great patron and friend, Bonaparte, to occupy the corner wing of the old palace, from which every other man of genius and science, who was entitled to reside there, has been removed to other places, in order to make room for the reception of the grand National library, which the First Consul intends to have deposited there. His apartments are very magnificent, and furnished in that Baste, which he has, by the influence of his fame, and his elegance of design, so widely and successfully diffused. Whilst I was seated in his rooms, I could not help fancying myself a contemporary of the most tasteful times of Greece. Tunics and robes were carelessly, but gracefully, thrown over the antique chairs, which were surrounded by elegant statues, and ancient libraries, so disposed, as to perfect the classical illusion. I found David in his garden, putting in the back ground of a painting. He wore a dirty robe, and an old hat. His eyes are dark and penetrating, and beam with the lustre of genius. His collection of paintings and statues, and many of his own studies, afforded a perfect banquet. He was then occupied in drawing a fine portrait of Bonaparte. The presence of David covered the gratification with gloom. Before me, in the bosom of that art, which is said, with her divine associates, to soften the souls of men, I beheld the remorseless judge of his sovereign, the destroyer of his brethren in art, and the enthusiast and confidential friend of Robespierre, David's political life is too well known. During the late scenes of horror, he was asked by an acquaintance, how many heads had fallen upon the scaffold that day? to which he is said coolly to have replied, only one hundred and twenty ! ! The heads of twenty thousand more must fall, before the great work of philosophy can be accomplished.'

"It is related of him, that, during the reign of the Mountain, he carried his portfolio to the front of the scaffold, to catch the last emotions of expiring naturè, from the victims of his revolutionary rage.

"He directed and presided at the splendid funeral solemnities of Lepelletier, who was assassinated by Paris, in which his taste and intimate knowledge of the ceremonies of the ancients, on similar occasions, were eminently displayed.

Farewell, David! when years have rolled away, and time has mellowed the works of thy sublime pencil, mayst thou be remembered only as their creator; may thy fame repose herself upon the tableau of the dying Socrates, and the miraculous passage of the Alpine hero; may the ensanguined records of thy political frenzy moulder away, and may science, who knew not blood till thou wert known, whose pure and hallowed inspirations have made men happier, and better, till thou wert born, implore for thee forgiveness; and whilst, with rapture,