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and furviving virtue would condemn the incenfe! But I disdain to decorate vice or folly with posthumous applause, as much as I feel it a pleafing, though melancholy duty to pronounce, from this facred place, the eulogium of departed virtue, &c." P. 9. This half verfe, half profe ftyle, is little fuited to a difcourfe on fuch an occafion. The verfes fubjoined, both Latin and Englith, are very indifferent.

ART. 32. On the Obfervance of the Sabbath, a Sermon. By the Rev. L. H. Halloran, D. D. To which is added, a Form of Morning and Evening Service for the Ufe of Schools. 4to. 38 pp.

faine Publishers. 18co.

Is. 6d. The

A very common, and in fome parts rather injudicious, recommendation of the Obfervance of the Sabbath. Meritorious as the defign of both thefe Sermons evidently is, the author's friends might have been lefs eager than they were to have them pulilicly characterized.

ART. 33. A Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of Langton juxta Partney, in the County of Lincoln, on Sunday, June 8, 1800, being the First Day appointed for a public Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the providential Protection of the King from the late atrocious Attempt against his facred Perfon. By the Rev. Robert Uvedale, M. A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Correfponding Member of the Literary and Philofophical Society at Manchester. 4to. 12 pp. 15. Deighton, Cambridge; Hurft, &c. London. 1800.

A very found and fenfible difcourfe on the nature of the duty owed to God, and the honour required to be paid to the fupreme magiftrate, and the influence of religion on the welfare of nations. By an Advertifement at the back of the title, we learn that the author has many works prepared for publication, on the Hebrew and other Oriental Languages, which have been inspected and approved by Profeffor Carlyle.

ART. 34.

Pub

An Efay on the Conduct and Character of St. Peter, confi dered as giving Evidence to the Truth of the Christian Religion. lifhed in Pursuance of the Will of the late Mr. Norris, as having gained the Annual Prize inflituted by him in the University of Cambridge. By the Rev. Thomas Grimwood Taylor, M. A. Fellow of Trinity College. 8vo. 40 PP. 15. Deighton, Cambridge; Rivingtons, London. 1799.

We heartily concur with this author in the obfervation with which his Effay commences, that "were we to reft the evidence of the Chriftian religion upon the lives and deaths of the first Apoftles, all confirming the particulars of that teftimony which is delivered in their writings, there would be more than enough to fatisfy the fcruples, and eftablish the belief of every rational enquirer."

The purpofe of the Effay is to confider the conduct and character ́ with this view, fomething in the manner in which thofe of St. Paul were confidered by an eminent writer. This task has been fenfibly performed by Mr. Taylor, and in a manner creditable to the inftitufien under which he obtained his academical reward.

ART.

ART. 35. Scripture the only Guide to Religions Truth. A Narrative of. the Proceedings of the Society of Baptifts in York, in relinquishing the popular Systems of Religion, from the Study of the Scriptures. To vihich is added, A Brief Account of their prefent Views of the Truth and Practice of the Gospel, in a Series of Letters to a Friend. By D. 25. Lund, York; Johnfon, London. Eaton. 8vo. 134 PP. 1800.

From the account given by thefe apparently well-meaning perfons of themselves, it appears that, from having opened their eyes to perceive the errors of Methodifin, in which they had been involved, they have undertaken to make a religion for themselves, which they conceive to be authorized by the Scriptures. From the partial and imperfect views which they have been able to take, they have conftructed a system of Socinianifm and Materialifm, which they attempt to defend from the books of Revelation. Heartily do we wish them truer views of things, and a religion founded on divine authority. When we reviewed Mr. Graham's excellent defence of the Church of England*, we had not seen this Narrative, which, in fact, occafioned that defence. Whatever poifonis here infinuated, by a real or pretended deference to Scripture, will find its beft antidote in the perufal of Mr. Graham's

tract.

ART. 36. A bort and eafy Method with the Deifts, wherein the Certainty of the Chriftian Religion is demonftrated by infallible Proof from Four Rules, which are incompatible to any Impofure that ever yet has been, or that poffibly can be. In a Letter to a Friend. Extracted from the Works of Mr. Charles Leflie. To which is prefixed, A Prefatory Addrefs to the Deiftical Leader. By Jofeph Nightingale. 8vo. 56 pp. 18. Macclesfield printed, and fold. 1800.

This admirable tract of Charles Leflie is fo well known to all who have studied the evidences of Religion, that there can be no occafion for any recommendation of it. We are glad to fee it republished in every poffible form; and we commend the zeal of the prefent editor for endeavouring to add to its celebrity. His own appendix contains fome useful tables of prophecies, as given and fulfilled.

POLITICS.

ART. 37. A Letter to the Right Hon. William Pitt, on the Influence of the Stoppage of Jues in Specie at the Bank of England, on the Prices of Provifions, and other Commodities. The Second Edition; with additional Notes, and a Preface; containing Remarks on the Publication of Sir Francis Baring, Bart. By Walter Boyd, Efq. M. P. 8vo. 5s. Wright. 1801.

If we do not allow that Mr. Boyd's doctrine of the effect of the fufpenfion of iffues in fpecie, at the Bank of England, is juft in itfelf,

See Brit, Crit. February, 1801, p. 182.

we

we fhall by no means deny that he has enforced his opinion by much plaufible reafoning. That he is fincere, we feel fufficiently perfuaded. Throughout his publication, he difcovers the most entire conviction of the truth of his own theory. Mr. Boyd's principal antagonist is Sir Francis Baring, a gentleman of great experience, ample fortune, and confiderable reputation in the commercial world. It is to this gentleman's obfervations, that the additions in this fecond edition are directed; and, however different opinions may be on the general argument, candour muft allow, that Mr. Boyd has difcovered great acutenefs, and a degree of temper and coolness, not frequently to be met with in controverfies of any kind.

SCARCITY.

ART. 38. Remarks on the Deficiency of Grain, occafioned by the bad Harvest of 1799; on the Means of prefent Relief, and of future Plenty. With an Appendix, containing Accounts of all Corn imported and exported, with the Prices from 1697 to the 10th of October, 1800; and alfo feveral other Tables. By John Lord Sheffield. 8vo. 120 pp. 3s. Debrett. 1800.

The noble author proposes to state, without referve, the nature, progrefs, and extent of our prefent diftrefs; and thus to enable us to judge how far we have the remedy in our power, and especially the prevention of a recurrence of the fame emergency. In Part I. it is fhown, that, our prefent difficulties being dependent on, and blended with thofe arifing from the bad harveft in 1799, the whole of that period is properly included in the following obfervations: the cry againt monopoly and iniquitous practices, is reprobated; and the whole crop of 1799 (meaning, we prefume, wheat only) is afferted to have been lefs than two thirds of the ufual confumption. We meet with an useful note at p. 22, fhowing it to be probable, that an army and navy, of 300,000 men, do not confume more British corn than they did as individuals, particularly as peafants. Farmers are vindicated from the charge of combining to hoard their grain. The late conduct of millers, near London, is not commended; but they are vindicated from the charge of monopoly. Part II. fets forth the means of relief from the prefent fcarcity. A maximum price of provifion is strongly reprobated, and is fhown to have failed in three inftances, in 1315, in 1689, and under the atrocious tyranny of Robefpierre. The scheme of raifing farmers' rents, in proportion to the increafed price of wheat, is faid to be extravagant and impracticable; public magazines, an advance of the price of labour, and parochial largetles are difcommended.

There feeins, then, to be no reasonable expectation of relief, except through management, including the ufe of fubftitutes, and importation." P. 66. Some of us can atteft ftrongly the juftice of the fol lowing remark: "The affize is fet on a bad principle; and, if we retain any affize, it fhould be changed: befides, it is at prefent more favorable to the bakers to make bread of the finest, than of the whole of the flour; it should be the reverfe." P. 85. Very justly is the

practice

practice cenfured, "which was almoft general in the country, of felling wheat or flour at reduced prices, thereby counteracting the natural and falutary effect of market prices, and greatly promoting the confumption of that article, the fcarcity of which is fo alarming." P. 86. An Act of Parliament is recommended (p. 87) and has fince been made, for relieving the poor, in part, by fubftitutes for bread. Governor Pownall's plan for putting millers, as well as bakers, under material regulations, is properly commended. The compaffionate attention, in various ways, of families refiding in the country, towards their poor neighbours, is mott highly and juftly extolled. If there be not an error of the prefs at p. 96, the cafe is one unheard of by us, of occupiers of land paying 25s. in the pound, at rack-rents, towards the maintenance of the poor. At p. 99, we were difappointed, by finding that the third Part, "On the Means of future Plenty," is for a fhort time poftponed, with the view of difpatching the publication of the first and fecend Parts. To this third Part we shall be glad to pay attention, having found in the prefent tract many practicable and very ufeful fuggeftions.

ART. 39. Induftry, and a pious Submiffion, Charity, and a ftri&t Economy, recommended and enforced, as the best Means of alleviating the prefent Diftrefs. A Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of St. Anne. Westminster, on Sunday, the 14th Day of December, 1800, being the Day on which his Majefty's Proclamation, on the Scarcity of Grain, was directed to be read. By Jof. Jefferson, A. M. and F. A. S. 8vo. 34 PP. IS. Lea. 1800.

The author's dedication of this Sermon to Mr. Archdeacon Eaton, Rector of St. Anne's, is very creditable to both of them. From John vi, 5, the preacher begins by impreffing upon the minds of his hearers an attention to thofe evident truths, the creative power, and providential care of God; and a conviction," that when God deranges the ufual order of his bounty, and beftows, with a sparing, what is generally given with a profufe hand, it may be amongst his defigns, the fevereft of which, we know, are tempered with wisdom, to draw our attention to these truths, fo as to enforce religion and piety; to teach us by his judgments, what we have refufed to learn by his mercies." P. 8. He then ftates, in fubftance, the miracle of the five barley loaves, and the two fmall fishes; and deduces from it a fummary of thofe duties which the circumftances of the times call us to perform; namely," a fubmiffive acquiefcence on the part of the lower ranks, a diffufive charity on the part of the higher, a rigid œconomy in all.” P. 12. These feveral topics are difcuffed with much good fenfe, and with a confiderable portion of energy and eloquence. The admonition to fervants, at p. 26, is calculated to be generally useful; for we fear, that, if œconomy in the ufe of flour and bread has not been fo univerfal as might be wifhed, much of the blame may be imputed to the perverfeness of perfons of this defcription. The proceedings (stated in the Appendix) of the inhabitants of St. Anne's parish, in veftry, in confequence of the Royal Proclamation, appear to have been very prudent and judicious.

ART.

ART. 40. Caufes of the Scarcity invefligated. Also, an Account of the most striking Variations in the Weather, from October, 1798, to September, 1800. To which is prefixed, the Price of Wheat, every Year, from 1600, to the prefent Era. By Samuel Hopkinson, B. D. late Fellow of Clare-Hall, Rector of Elton in Northamptonshire, and Vicar of Morton. 8vo. 52 pp. Newcomb, Stamford; Jacob, Peterborough; Debrett, London. 1800.

The Preface to this tract is not quite unexceptionable: "How the leifure hours of divines, in convivial cities and rural towns, are commonly taken up, it is not neceffary to inform the public." We know that many of thofe hours are taken up in ways at least as ufeful and refpectable, as in forming defcriptions of "variations in the weather; of the feafons of fowing wheat, barley, beans, and oats; of the getting in of harvests; or even of the size of the hail-stones which fell on the fourth of May, 1800." If a divine fhould think, that invidious reflections upon any among his order will help to amend it, he may, in thefe times, very fafely, and not indecorously, leave the business to those who do not belong to that order.

We agree with the author, that one, amongst other exifting caufes of the icarcity, fo much complained of, is the extraordinary ungeniality of the feafons." P. 2. Indeed, we account this to be the grand caufe. The defcription, at p. 36, of the effects of the prefent war upon our fupply of provifions, is at leaft greatly overcharged, if not wholly erroneous and very unjuft, we think, at prefent, is the remark, that our various diftreffes are rendered ftill more intollerable, by the diffolute conduct of many in the higher Grades of Life, and by the Feftivity of the middle orders." P. 37. That fome ufeful obfervations may be found in this tract, we readily allow; but they are greatly counterbalanced by the rafinefs of its animadverfions, and (in a literary view) by the affectation and turgidity of its ftyle.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 41. A Hebrew Grammar, for the Use of the Students of the Univerfity of Dublin. By the Rev. Gerald Fitzgerald, D. D. Hebrew Profeffer in faid Univerfity. 8vo. 194 pp. Dublin printed, at the Univerfity Prefs, by R. E. Mercier and Co.

This Hebrew Grammar is upon the Maforetical plan, and is a medium between the more voluminous and complicated work of Buxtorf and the fhorter inftitutional works that have been made out of it, in later times. Nothing can be done, in this walk of Grammar, but to day the fubject before the ftudent, with fimplicity and perfpicuity. Dr. Fitzgerald is entitled to this praife; and we have no fcruple in faying, that this appears to be as good an introduction to the knowledge of Hebrew Grammar as can be defired.

So printed, without the article.

We

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