"Without going into the minutiae of this detail, it may be briefly observed, that if the incident mentioned by Mr. Alsop had really occurred, it is not a little singular that it should have remained a mystery to the present writer, who never heard of any such occurrence till now ;no distant rumour, not even a whisper of the kind, ever reached him, even 'by the hearing of the ear,' till pointed out by a friend, within a few months past, in Mr. Warner's late publication.

"Mr. Alsop was a practitioner of considerable skill and experience in his profession; and, as such, was called in to attend the family at Bowood on all occasions where medical aid was required. He was of course sent for at the commencement of Mr. Petty's attack; but so short was the illness of the youthful sufferer, that Mr. Alsop had no opportunity of seeing his patient more than once! Mr. Alsop was a man of strong mind while in the possession of health and the exercise of his mental faculties, and apparently not subject to fanciful illusions; but, how far he might have been reduced by sickness and debility at a later period, no one can say who had not an opportunity of witnessing the last hours of his life. It is however very possible, that his mind, weakened and impaired, his ideas confused, and his judgment clouded by infirmity or disease, might give way to the suggestions of fancy and the delusion of an imaginary scene. This worthy man has long been dead; and though the writer avows himself entirely unacquainted with the time or circumstances of his death, yet when it is considered how many inaccuracies, in the former part of Mr. Warner's Narrative, he has been enabled to contradict by facts, he sees no impropriety in ascribing the extraordinary appearance to Dr. Alsop,' to a supposition at once the most probable and the most rational.

"Whether it be or be not in itself of any importance, after the lapse of so many years, when the means of further

inquiry are no longer attainable, to revive these anxious recollections; or to give a corrected statement of circumoccurrences of this passing scene, have long been carried down the rapid stream of time; might perhaps be questioned, had they not excited a degree of surprise and curiosity in the minds of some readers. The writer further acknowledges, that, influenced by sentiments of consideration and deference towards persons of high respectability, whose names are severally introduced, he feels himself called upon to protest against such misrepresentation, from whatever cause arising, and to correct the errors into which the worthy author has been so unaccountably betrayed. In addition to these considerations, he cannot regret, that a legitimate opportunity is now afforded him of paying a just tribute of respect and regard to the memory of one, whose name should not be allowed to sink into silent oblivion.

"Having been resident at Bowood for some years previous to this lamented event, engaged in the office of preceptor to the two sons of the first Marquis of Lansdowne, the writer trusts he shall be pardoned for expressing himself with confidence and freedom. The facts connected with this case being familiar to his mind, and still fresh in his recollection, he presumes to think he is justified in asserting his competency to bear his testimony to the truth of what he has adduced, and which he hesitates not to say could not be supplied from any other

source.

"It now only remains to give a brief outline of some of the leading circumstances which occurred, narrated with the simplicity of truth--from which the reader may draw his own conclusions.

"The Honourable William Granville Petty, second son of the Marquis, and younger brother of Lord Fitzmaurice, though of a florid complexion, and to all appearance enjoying a state of good general health, was not of a robust constitution. His intellectual faculties were naturally vigorous and alert; while a thoughtful turn of mind occasionally disposed him to contemplative habits very unusual at his age. His countenance was animated and intelligent, and when lighted up by adverting to any elevated sentiment or generous action, bore the significant impress of his mind. In the routine of recreations appointed for these young noblemen, riding was their constant and regular exercise, without either a too rigid attention to, or an inconsiderate disregard of, the state of the weather. On a fine winter's morning in the

month of January, frosty, but under the influence of a clear sky and a bright sun, carefully protected by warm and suitable clothing, Mr. Petty mounted his favourite pony, in company with his brother and Mr. Jervis, and, attended by their groom, took his customary ride.

"Though sensible to the cold while on horseback, he returned home apparently as well as usual; and at dinner conversed freely, and with his wonted cheerfulness,

with Lord Fitzmaurice and their mutual friend, in whom he uniformly placed the highest confidence, towards whom he always evinced unqualified esteem and attachment, and by whom he was tenderly beloved. He discovered no symptom of indisposition till late in the evening, when he complained of internal pain to a faithful and respectable domestic, his personal attendant, whose care was constant and unremitting. Mr. Alsop was sent for; who, observing no indications at that time that could reasonably create apprehension or alarm, administered some medicine, and took his leave. The application afforded temporary relief, and some abatement of pain: but these favourable symptoms were of short continuance. Inflammation soon ensued, which baffled the power of medicine; so violent and so rapid in its progress, that the fatal result took place on the evening of the second day, -within twenty-fours after the first appearance of indisposition,-and, in his tenth year, terminated terminated a life of the highest promise, and of inestimable

value !

"The attack was so sudden, that no real danger was apprehended till it was too late to profit by the means of human aid; and before Mr. Alsop came to make a second visit, his interesting patient was removed from all mortal suffering.

"The Marquis had very recently left Bowood to pass the remainder of the winter in London; and it was Mr. Jervis's painful task to communicate the account of this distressing event by an immediate

express to town. It were vain to attempt to state the effect which intelligence so overwhelming had upon the noble father, for whom his young heart was impressed with the genuine sentiments of high veneration and the warmest filial affection,-the sure indications of a generous and noble nature. It will, however, be readily believed, that this severe and unexpected stroke inflicted a deep and lasting wound upon the mind of the Marquis,-the painful remembrance of which never ceased occasionally to interrupt his tranquillity through

the subsequent period of an important life, honourably and usefully spent in a course of vigorous and manly exertions in the cause of patriotism, liberty, and peace!"

Such an exposure as this may teach every lover of the marvellous to be sure the facts he recites are well attested, lest he yield his understanding captive to the more active powers of his imagination.

Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, by the late Mr. Charles Taylor, with the Fragments incorporated. The whole condensed and arranged in Alphabetical Order; with numerous Additions. Illustrated with Maps and Engravings on Wood. Second Edition. 8vo. pp. 964. Holdsworth and Ball.

THE literary history of this beautiful volume is as curious as its contents are valuable to every intelligent reader of the sacred writings. Father Augustin Calmet, a learned French Benedictine monk, employed a long and laborious life in biblical studies, amongst the most precious fruits of which must be named his Dictionnaire Historique, Chronologique, Geographique, et Literal de la Bible, which was first published, we believe, in Paris, in four folio volumes, in the year 1730. Such a biblical treasure was not long permitted to remain in its original dress, but in quick succession editions of it appeared in Latin, in Dutch, in Italian, in Spanish, and in other languages. In 1732 an English translation was published in three folio volumes, illustrated by expensive engravings, The original work contained many popish notions, which were of course omitted, and the editor This added occasional remarks. work, containing the most valuable part of Calmet's labours, was in great request, so that Dr. Doddridge tells us, that in his day the Dictionary "extravagantly dear." Such, however, was the

was

inert state of the theological bookselling business at that period, that sixty years were allowed to pass without another edition, and the religious public were indebted to the literary diligence and trading enterprize of Mr. Charles Taylor for a new edition, which appeared in two thick quarto volumes, and a large impression of fifteen hundred copies was quickly sold.

Our readers will perceive that this was the first step of that condensing process which has at length brought Father Calmet's four folio tomes, with all his editor's fragments, historical, antiquarian, and scientific illustrations, within the portable limits of the single octavo before us.

Mr. Taylor informs his readers in his original introduction of the several means by which he compressed the original work. Father Calmet, writing for a people not familiar with Scripture history, gave lengthened facts and verbatim relations of events, as they are recorded in the Bible, all of which, for the sake of conciseness, were superseded by textual references to those passages of Scripture in which the narratives occur. He also transposed many of the articles under other words, and gave no quarier to the popish notions, which were interwoven with the very texture of the Dictionnaire.

What the worthy Benedictine lost by this fiery ordeal was, however, made up by his indefatigable editor, who added a long series of seven hundred and fifty articles, which he called FRAGMENTS, including dissertations, extracts from modern travellers, conjectural criticisms, and many curious, and we must add occasionally, not very satisfactory hypotheses. To these were added, in successive years, a Natural History of Scripture, and a volume of plates and maps, with

letter-press explanations, chronological, textual, and other tables, so that the fourth edition, the last which Mr. Taylor edited, was extended to five volumes quarto, and received the dignified and merited title of the Biblical Encyclopedia.

On the death of Mr. Charles Taylor, a fifth edition was began, under the superintendence of a gentleman well acquainted with biblical literature, who felt it was necessary to arrange the stores which his learned predecessor had collected, for though Mr. Taylor might have had the organ of accumulativeness, yet we are sure he must have been strangely wanting in the bump of order. The stores of learning it contained were thus rendered more available; and those stores were augmented by many additions gathered from sources of information.

Our readers have now followed the original work through its various stages, and have seen that Calmet's first English translatorand editor took sundry liberties with the venerable father's labours; that Mr. Taylor was a wholesale corrector and emendator of the same, and that the anonymous editor of Mr. Taylor has caught the spirit of his master, and has largely dealt in alterations, condensations, and additions. Added to all this, he has laboured, in the present edition, to bring together, "under one and the same alphabet whatever is important or intrinsically valuable in either the Dictionary or the Fragments," so that the reader will, with perfect facility, find under each article the whole of that mass of elucidation which, in the original work, must be sought for in different volumes. Surely if the old monk, who, a hundred years ago, gave the original Dictionary to the public, could visit the busy scenes of time, he would

not recognize his own work again, though he should find it duly labelled "Calmet's Dictionary." We have very little doubt, how ever, that he would be candid enough to confess, that it is greatly improved by graphical illustrations, scientific discoveries, biblical criticism, and general arrangement, and that he could now derive much information from that book which enjoys a kind of prescriptive reputation from his venerable name.

In closing this cursory notice of the admirable volume before us, we are constrained to congratulate that large class of Christians, who desire to understand the Holy

Scriptures which they daily read, that there is now placed within the reach of most of them, a work that will supply a larger portion of correct illustration of the history, antiquities, geography, and customs of "the nations, kindreds, and tongues" referred to in the sacred volume, than the costliest commentary will supply, and that with the assistance of the maps and the numerous and beautiful wood-cuts with which many of the articles are illustrated, they cannot fail to obtain a more enlarged and intelligent view of the contents of the sacred volume than they have yet enjoyed.

Expository Notes, with Practical Observations on the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, wherein the sacred Text is at large recited, the sense explained, and the instructive example of the blessed Jesus and his holy Apostles, to our imitation recommended. The whole designed to encourage the reading of the Scriptures in private families, and to render the daily perusal of them profitable and delightful. By William Burkitt, M. A., late Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham, in Essex. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 760--898. London. Dinnis. BURKITT is an ancient favourite with the plain, pious readers of this country, and his "Expository Notes" have, perhaps, passed through a greater number of editions than any similar work. Our own copy is the sixteenth edition, folio, 1765. There are also several quarto editions, of various merits, but we believe that the edition before us is the first octavo impression that has appeared, which is certainly the most convenient size, and as it is printed with a strong clear type, on good paper, will be very acceptable to most Christian families.

Respecting the merits of Burkitt, as an Expositor, there are apparently

conflicting opinions. Dr. Doddridge says "Burkitt has but few valuable criticisms, but he has many schemes of good sermons. His sentiments vary in different parts of his work, as the authors from whence he took his materials While we were orthodox or not." admit that the Doctor's judgment is correct, as far as it goes, yet we think he ought to have said more in justice to the memory of the worthy Expositor, who, as Mr. Buck observes, "has many ingenuous observations, fine turns, natural plans, and pungent addresses to the conscience;" so that if the work be not distinguished either by depth of learning or judgment, it is both pious and practical, and as such, we anticipate its wider circulation through the convenient and cheap edition now before us.

The Voice of Humanity, published quarterly, in 8 numbers, making 2 vols. 8vo. Nisbet.

A PERIODICAL work is scarcely a suitable subject of review. We feel it our duty, however, briefly to notice The Association for promoting Rational Humanity towards the Animal

Creation," under whose sanction this work is published. The term rational is understood by us, as referring both to the means to be employed, and the extent to which those means are to be carried.

The means recommended are rather those of prevention, than the infliction of penalty. Their primary objects appear to be the improvement of our cattle markets and slaughterhouses and knacker's yards; the suppression of bull and bear baiting, cock and dog fighting, &c. in which we presume all the friends of humanity must be agreed. They disown, however, the refined sensibility of those persons who scruple to eat of animal food, though expressly permitted of God, and employed both by our Lord and his apostles.

The numbers before us contain a variety of useful Essays and striking anecdotes, with the substance of several excellent sermons, preached by Dr. Barker, Mr. Greenwood, late of Trinity College, Cambridge, Mr. Good, of Salisbury, and other clergy men of different denominations.

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We feel it necessary to distinguish this Association from Society (formed some years ago) for the preventing Cruelty to Animals," though we are happy to hear that there is a prospect of their being united.

Man's Ability and Obligations; illustrated in the Life, Death, and Eternal Dwelling Place of an Unconverted Sinner. 32mo. pp. 80. Nisbet.

Most of our readers will remember, we suppose, three papers which appeared in our pages, in the early part of the present year, under the above title, the solemn earnestness of which is calculated to impress the minds even of triflers. We are happy to find that their gifted author has reprinted them together in a cheap form, for gratuitous distribution, and as we regard them peculiarly adapted to the circumstances of those who have long heard and neglected the message of salvation, we give them our cordial recommendation.

Fourteen Reasons for leaving the Church of England, a Letter to the Bishop of Salisbury, by the Rev. W. Tiptaft, containing Reasons why he resigns his Living, and

cannot continue a Minister of the Church of England, London. Price 3d. pp 12. Octavo.

THIS letter is printed, as containing, in the estimation of the publisher, several of the principal reasons, in a small compass, for conscientious dissent from the Church of England. It is written in a candid spirit; and is a

tract which, on account of its shortness, and the lowness of its price, may serve as a brief epitome of some main arguments, which ought to induce all conscientious and godly ministers in the Church, as by law established, to consider their ways, and to ask themin continuing in their present conselves how they can justify themselves

nection.

Mr. Tiptaft conscientiously, as he informs us, refrains, at the commencement of the letter, from the use of the

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he assures the bishop, that he does so high and usual appellation;" and from " no personal disrespect" to him as an individual, but because he thinks that such a mode of address is expressly simple commands" of our Lord Jesus contrary to the plain and Christ. Hence the letter is not adGod, the Lord Bishop of Salisbury; dressed to the Right Rev. Father in but simply in the style necessary to designate the office which the bishop sustains in the polity of the English church. The reasons for separation are mainly those to which any conscientious dissenter might subscribe, and we sincerely recommend this tract to our readers, as fit to be put into the hands of candid churchmen, who wish to see the argument brought within a small compass, and are not disposed to shut their eyes against the light. The letter closes with the following remarks.

"These are by no means all the errors and objections that may be stated against the Church of England, but they are those which chiefly affect my mind, and oblige me to decline continuing one of her ministers; and when I farther consider that I can scarcely perceive any visible marks of a true church belonging to her, I secede with less scruple, and with a fuller persuasion that I shall never repent of it. But I assure you, I deeply lament the dead, cold, and indifferent state of the generality of her ministers in the cause of Christ; how