every object which we see becomes a monument, attesting the existence of an Original Cause; to whose benevolence every object bears witness; and of whose beauty, harmony, and grandeur, the whole Universe, in detail as in combination, is a temple, through which we are led, step by step, to the sanctuary of the ETERNAL." 60. A Defence of the Doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement, as maintained by the Church of England: in an Address to the Inhabitants of St. Alban's, and its Vicinity: occasioned by a Pamphlet, entitled A Letter to Trinitarian Christians, by W. Marshall, Minister of the Unitarian Chapel, St. Alban's, Herts. By the Rev. Thomas White, M. A. Minister of Welbeck Chapel, St. Mary-le-bone. 12mo. pp.40. Rivingtons. NOT having been so lucky as to meet with the good woman who; when applying to Mr. White for relief," offered Mr. Marshall's 'Address' to him for sale as a godly book, and told him that it was the last of twelve which she had purchased at St. Alban's, and sold about the country;" we shall not further enter into the arguments here used against the 'Address,' than to state, that Mr. White disclaims all personal animo sity, and all uncharitable rancour. "It is my earnest desire that I may not offend in this respect; and that, if my reasoning should not appear satisfactory, my spirit and temper may, at least, be such as to reflect no discredit on the doctrines which I think it my duty to advocate.-May the same disposition prevail in all who turn their attention to this subject!" "I will not pretend to say that they are worse than avowed Atheism, or the most profligate vice;' but I will assert that they are scarcely less dangerous. Such is the manifest absurdity of Athe ters the pride of human nature; it leads men to a false estimate of their own character; and thus throws such impediments in their way, that they are little likely to embrace the humbling but consolatory doctrines of the Gospel." 61. Christianity liberal according to the genuine and full Import of the Term : a Sermon, preached at the Visitation of the Rev. the Archdeacon of Wilts; holden at Mariborough July 23, 1816. By Walter Birch, B. D. Vicar of Stanton St. Bernard's, and Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. Published at the request of the Clergy present. THERE is such a regular train of reasoning carried through this Discourse, and one part so much depends on another, that it would in some degree be doing the Author an injustice to select any single passages from it as specimens of the whole. Let it suffice therefore to say, that a vein of no common, yet of an unaffected, eloquence pervades it. The design of it is to shew, that "the Christian character is essentially and einphatically liberal." For this purpose we are presented with the supposed case of a philosophic Heathen, a man of liberal and lofty sentiments, indulging a train of reflection congenial to such a mind, and gradually led on to the study of the Christian system by the contemplation of some of the great truths of the religion of Nature." One would, perhaps, have expected that the necessity of an atonement should have entered into the contemplation of this enlightened Heathen, as he must have seen it evinced by the propensity of man, in all ages and countries, to seek for a reconciliation with a higher power through the means of sacrifices. Yet we are inclined to give the Preacher credit for having omitted the consideration of this point, not so much from oversight, as from an opinion that it would not have conduced to his main ism; such the abhorrence universally object, which probably was to con : excited by gross profligacy; that men are not likely to be encouraged in them by the countenance of any respectable characters but Unitarianism veils itself under the name and profession of Christianity, whilst it robs that religion of its vital principles. It makes great pretensions to reason and philosophy; it flat GENT. MAG. November, 1816. vince those who entertain a prejudice against Christianity as it tended to confine and narrow the minds of its professors, but who, no longer seeing the sacrifices that were so genes raily practised in the Heathen world, do not perceive the need of the one only effectual offering. 63. Essays in Rhyme, on Morals and Manners. By Jane Taylor, Author of Display, a Tale, &c. &c. 12mo, pp. 174. Taylor and Hessey. WE have been so well pleased with several of the former publications of this Lady, that we opened the present "Essays" with some degree of interest: yet, though we admire the good sense and serious sensations of Miss Taylor, we prefer her works of imagination to any "Rhymes" on religious subjects, particularly when treated in a somewhat too familiar style. Miss Taylor has evidently read Mr. Crabbe's peculiarly excellent Poems; but has not quite attained the exquisite simplicity by which they are distinguished. We do not mean to blame this wellintentioned lady for being too serious; but we think her pleasantry better than her preaching; and that she can be pleasant, the following description will amply testify: "In yonder red-brick mansion, tight and Sit he and she, on either side the grate. der rush, [brush: Mix'd with the varied forms of genus Cask, firkin, bag, and barrel, crowd the floor, [door. And piles of country cheeses guard the The frugal dames came in from far and near, [here. Hard was the toil, the profits slow to To buy their ounces and their quarterns [mount: And yet the mole-hill was at last a Those petty gains were hoarded day by day, [they); With little cost (nor chick nor child had Till, long proceeding on the saving plan, He found himself a warm, fore-handed count; [snuff, How many a cup of tea and pinch of There must have been consum'd to make enough! At length, with paint and paper, bright and gay, The box was finish'd, and they went [away. But when their faces were no longer seen Amongst the canisters of black and green, Those well-known faces, all the country [ground round "Twas said, that had they level'd to the The two old walnut-trees before the door, The customers would not have miss'd them more. Now, like a pair of parrots in a cage, They live, and civic honours crown their age: [tled there, Thrice, since the Whitsuntide they set- Proud in official dignity, the dame This is extracted from a Poem called "Prejudice;" but we forbear to copy the picture of the Mayoress's mind, as it is more cruel than we should have expected from the bene. volent heart of Miss Taylor. 64. Winter Evening Recreations at M-. 12mo, pp. 135. Hatchard. "THE inhabitants of the Village of M, who resembled one large family, were accustomed, during the winter months, to meet once a week at each other's houses, after the different engagements of the day were concluded. As young persons of both sexes composed part of the society, it was proposed that each should exert his talents for the improvement and amusement of the rest. Many pieces, both in prose and verse, were by this means produced; some of which obtained a wider circulation than at first was intended. From these a selection has been made, which is now presented to the publick, with the initials of the Authors annexed." The principal feature of this Vo lume is a well-written and inter- large fortune into his own family, We make one pleasing extract: Recall'd by Affection to Erin's green shore, When with patriot ardour thy bosom [it Though years may elapse ere thou visit E'en then, though thy footsteps each scene may retrace, Some friend may be fled, whom thou Commendable as are the sentiments in the concluding Poem (a comment on a text in the Revelations), we cannot approve of the familiarity with which our blessed Saviour is made one of the Interlocutors. 65. NauticHours; 8vo. pp.78. Stockdale. THIS Work, which the Author modestly styles a thing of shreds and patches," is the production of no ordinary mind. It contains eighteen elegant little Poems; several of them tributary to the memories of the illustrious dead; among whom are Columbus, Blake, Benbow, Falconer, Riou*, and Nelson. Of the two latter, our Readers shall have an opportunity of judging. * «Captain Riou, termed the gallant and good' by Lord Nelson, is considered "by those who knew his worth, as one of the greatest losses the Navy of England sustained during the late wars. In the earlier period of his service, he shewed the undaunted firmness of his character. In 1789, when Lieutenant and Commander of the Guardia store-ship, he had the misfortune to strike upon an island of ice, and received so much damage, that scarcely a chance remained of the possibility of carrying her into port. In this situation, he encouraged those who wished it to leave the vessel, but deemed it unworthy in himself to quit his post; and he was so happy, after incessant exertions for ten weeks, as to succeed in carrying her into port. The noise and the splendour of battle, and the hopes and the honours of victory, may infuse, even into common minds, the courage and the sentiments of a → hero; but he, whom an inherent sense of duty leads to meet and brave death, in its lingering and undazzling form, unaided by the triumph which accompanies, and unassured of the fame which rewards it, has a mind of no common order." "ON "ON THE TOMB OF NELSON. "Away! nor one vain sorrow breatheNor shed unwonted tribute here-Nor twine around the cypress wreath As though 'twere common dust beneath, As though it ask'd the common tear: Hence! this is Valour's, Virtue's dust! Immortal Nelson's hallow'd grave!— Hence! this is Glory's sacred trust! And Glory's meed these asbes crave! Go! nerve thy heart to seek such doom, With patriot fervour beating high— Then heap upon, around, this tomb, The laurel,-whose eternal bloom Is Valour's wreath and canopy: This meed to win-that zeal to give'Twas his 'twas Nelson's godlike pride For these-He liv'd as Heroes live! For these-as Heroes die-He died!" "ON THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN RIOU, Who fell in the Battle of Copenhagen. "And shall we not that warrior's fate Jament, [grac'd? Whose parting hour a victor's laurel Nor shed due tribute o'er that monu mentt, [doom, are traced? Where Valour's deeds, and Valour's Yes! when a Hero falls-a Riou bleeds, Untimely bleeds ere Glory's course [speak his deedsThough Triumph crown--though Nelson Our tears must mourn a battle dearly is run won! Gallant and good!" thy worth had nobly shōne, Reft of the charm to victory allied! Where all thy greatness might have beam'd unknown, And thy undaunted heart blaz'd forth and died! Thine was the soul in every scene the same Firmly majestic-yet serenely brave! And longer life had blended thee with fame[grave!" Nor left another wreath to deck thy 66. The Naiad, aTale; with other Poems. 8vo, pp. 63. Taylor and Hessey. "THE Naiad," we are told, “is founded on a beautiful Scotch ballad, which was procured from a young girl of Galloway, who delighted in preserving the romantic songs of her Country." "Nothing can be finer than the fancy and pathos of the original; from the necessity, however, of changing the scene, little, if any, of the imagery of the old Ballad could be retained. The story is in itself powerfully in + In St. Paul's Cathedral. teresting, and forms one of the richest subjects for fanciful and feeling poetry that can possibly be imagined. One of the ballads of Goëthe, called 'The Fisherman,' is very similar in its incidents to it: Madame de Stael, in her elegant work on Germany, thus describes it: A poor man, on a summer evening, seats himself on the bank of a river, and as he throws in his line, contemplates the clear and liquid tide which gently flows and bathes his naked feet. The nymph of the stream invites him to plunge himself into it; she describes to him the delightful freshness of the water during the heat of summer, the pleasure which the sun takes in cooling itself at night in the sea, the calmness of the moon when its rays repose and sleep on the bosom of the stream: at length the fisherman, attracted, seduced, drawn on, disappears.' advances near the nymph, and for ever With an evident imitation of the varied measures of Lord Byron, this pretty little story is told in elegant language; and the versification, with the exception of a few awkward rhymes, is harmonious. Lord Hubert, returning late in the evening to a young Bride, accompanied by his little page, enjoys the calmness of an Autumnal evening. "They kept their course by the water's edge, [sedge; And listen'd at times to the creeking Or started from some rich fanciful dream, At the sullen plunge of the fish in the stream; Then would they watch the circle bright, (The circle, silver'd by the moonlight,) Go widening, and shining, and trembling on, [gone. Till a wave leap'd up, and the ring was And hide in the bank where the deep be curl'd Ah! who would go dreaming away the It moves serene, but it treads not the and sings." Lord Hubert, forgetting his Bride, listened to the Enchantress, and was irrecoverably lost. the eye; "She stept into the silver wave, And sank, like the morning mist, from [sigh, Lord Hubert paus'd with a misgiving And look'd on the water as on his grave. [the stream, But a soften'd voice came sweet from Such sound doth a young lover hear in his dream; [derly hollow: It was lovely, and mellow'd, and tenStep on the wave, where sleeps the moon-beam, [cate gleam; Thou wilt sink secure through its deliFollow, Lord Hubert, follow!' He started pass'd on with a graceful mirth, [earth. And vanish'd at once from the placid -The waters prattled sweetly, wildly, Still the moonlight kiss'd them mildly; All sounds were mute, save the screech [dog's howl; And the otter's plunge, and the watchBut from that cold moon's setting, never Was seen Lord Hubert-he vanish'd for [young day, And ne'er from the breaking of that Was seen the light form that had pass'd away." of the owl, ever: Five small Poems, not devoid of merit, accompany "The Naiad." 67. Emigration; or, England and Paris; a Poem. 8vo, pp. 52. Baldwin & Co. WE readily give credit to the Author of this Poem, as to the "patriotie motives' in which it originated. "He had witnessed, with a grief which he is sure he participates in common with his countrymen at large, the present system of travelling or emigrating to various parts of the Continent, and particularly to Paris; and he felt that every individual ought to add his effort, feeble as it may be, to counteract so injurious a practice. With regard to the political effects of the system at the present serious juncture, no language can possibly be too strong. At a moment when labour is so scarce, that charitable institutions are actually engaged in discovering new modes of employing thousands of persons, who are both able and willing to work, but who cannot procure occupation, it is no trifting offence to subtract from the demand for national industry, by residing in Countries where none but foreign provisions and foreign manufactures are, of course, required. It is surely not just or patriotic to pamper foreign artizans and labourers at the expence of our own. The periodical prints inform us that there are not less than 60,000 absentees, and reckoning that each of these, taking the average, derives from home an income of 2001. per annum, the loss to the Nation will be more than thirty thousand pounds sterling per day, or twelve millions a year! -- "The enormous sums which have been expended in mere travelling, or, in other words, in enriching innfrom the keepers and postilions, three-guinea fare to the most splendid equipage, would have formed no mean item in assisting the labouring and manufacturing poor, many of whom are suffering all the calamities of war in the midst of plenty and of peace. Even if expended on luxuries, these immense sums would have greatly assisted the numerous tradesmen who are ruined by the absence of their late customers, without a possibility, as things now stand, of obtaining new ones. In so closely compacted a society as that of England, every link which is taken away weakens and disjoins the rest. "Nothing is intended to apply to those who really travel on business, and who are therefore benefiting their Country as well as themselves. Yet even to these it might not be inappropriate to suggest the necessity of guarding against that moral contagion which they are destined to encounter; nor is it too precise to remind them specifically, of the religious veneration due to the Sunday, and to that Sacred Volume which is the best, and only effectual antidote to the poisonous atmosphere in which they are likely to be placed." We |