The principal defect of the last edition was the want of arrangement and method, which caused a certain degree of confusion, and - made the work seem void of chronological order. This the editor has endeavoured to remedy in the present edition, by a division of the whole into distinct chapters. Some errors, which will unavoidably find their way into every original work, have been corrected; and the history, which in no part reached later than 1785, has been brought down to the year 18co. It was not the wish of the editor to add to the author's researches into antiquities, which are already so ample. The period between the year when the author left off, and that to which the work is now brought, is but a short one; yet in those fifteen years our military institutions have undergone very material changes. Where the new regulations partake too much of detail, the reader, after some slight notice in the text, will often find them in the appendix; and to this part of the book the editor has thought it proper to assign some articles, that were rather too prolix in the last edition. Some other parts are compressed, the editor trusts, without injury to the author, and he is sure with advantage to the reader. This compression has enabled the publisher to add to the work the treatise on ancient armour and weapons, which was written about the same time by the author; so that both are now comprehended in two quarto volumes.' In the additions and new arrangement, the editor has shewn attention and judgment. Yet we must repeat our former remark, that a great part of the Treatise on Ancient Armour is copied from details which the author had before given in his Military Antiquities. The work therefore still wants compression, which might be easily attained by consolidating the two subjects. A few minute remarks have occurred to us in looking over these volumes, which we shall annex for occasional use at any future opportunity. Under the article Banneret, (p 180, vol. i.) should we not have had an account of the revival of that order of knighthood, in the present Sir Henry Trollope, of the royal navy? The Duke of Richmond and Marquis Townshend have each twice filled the office of Master-General of the Ordnance, but they appear only once in the succession, p. 207, vol. i There is a contradiction in the definition of close order, pp. 350 and 351, vol. i. The note in page 360, vol. i. on the term volley, is fallacious: which is the more to be regretted, because it is intended to correct an error which it rather creates. One or two omissions and errors occur in the references: but, considering the number of the plates, it is rather surprising that the mistakes are so few. * See Rev. vol. lxxv. p. 46ɔ. Art. RELIGIOUS. Art. 12. Reflections on the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ; and on the probable Consequences of a public Exhibition of his Ascension; which some think necessary to the Credibility of the Fact. By John Bigland. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Williams. 1803. This pamphlet may be considered as a reply to Mr. Paine's objection to the credibility of the Ascension of Christ. The author is ingenious, but diffuse, and displays much more geographical science than the subject absolutely required.-In the following passage, the reader will find the substance of the argument; or the general conclusions from Mr. Digland's reasoning: That no transaction, however public, no spectacle, however conspicuous, in whatever part of the world it might be exhibited, could, by any known operation of physical or moral causes, come to the knowledge of all mankind: That as the ascension of Christ could not have been visible to all men, it seems perfectly consistent with the Divine wisdom and justice, that the inhabitants of Jerusalem and its vicinity should be deprived of an indulgence which all nations could not enjoy, and of which they had, by the whole tenor of their con. duct, rendered themselves of all men, the most unworthy: That the actual effects of Christ's mission have not been materially different from, nor much inferior in magnitude, permanency, and extent, to those which, by the most probable conjecture, we may suppose would have been produced by the most public exhibition of his ascension: That if this interesting event had been accompanied by "public and ocular demonstration, like the ascension of a balloon," as Mr. Paine expresses it, even in that case, Christianity could not have been propagated in the world by any other means than by an apostolic mission, and the instrumentality of preaching; and consequently, That a public exhibition of the ascension was in no wise necessary to prove the Divine authority of the Christian revelation; especially as the subsequent propagation and establishment of Christianity, in direct opposition to all human power and policy, and by means apparently so inadequate, is a phenomenon which has no parallel in the history of the world, a permanent miracle, incessantly operating through a series of ages, and of far greater weight, as well as of a nature less ambiguous, less susceptible of illusion, and far less liable to be misunderstood than any single miracle, however wonderful in its nature, and however public in its performance.' The pamphlet concludes with a general and impressive view of the evidences of Christianity. fur Art. 13. An Help in Devotion: more especially in the Sacred Work of Retirement, and Employment in the Closet: Being the New Testament considered with a View to what every Chapter may nish as proper to assist Christians in their daily Devotion. By the late Rev. Samuel Bolde, Rector of Steeple cum Tyneham, Dorsetshire. Second Edition. 8vo. pp. 220. Printed at Sherborne. 1801. The The first edition of this manuel of piety was published in the year 1736, and was composed by the author from the commendable motive of rendering himself useful to Christians, when old age and infirmities had incapacitated him for the public services of the Church. His object was to furnish, to those who were in the daily habit of reading the Scriptures, a prayer adapted to the contents of each chapter. The present editor, Mr. Samuel Goadby, the printer, of Sherborne, having met with a copy of this Help in Devotion on a stall, was induced, by the satisfaction which it afforded him, to print a seicond edtion of it; and he will thus no doubt be the means of extending a similar satisfaction to others. Art. 14. The Eternity of Hell Torments indefen ible: Being an Examination of several Passages in Dr. Ryland's Sermon, intitled "The First Lye Refuted." In a Series of Letters to a Friend. By Richard Wright. 8vo. Is. Vidler. We have not seen the sermon on which this Examiner comments, nor do the extracts here adduced incline us to wish for it. The Laic has assumed more amiable and defensible ground than the Christian divine, and maintains a doctrine more consonant with the mercy and justice of God.-How long will the Ministers of Christ have a seeming pleasure in representing the Deity as inflicting, and their frail. fellow beings as enduring, eternal torments? Such a doctrine cannot make any part of the contents of a revelation truly divine. We find it not in our Gospel. Art. 15: Diatessaron: seu integra Historia Dom. Nostri Jesu Christi Latinè, &. in Usum Scholarum. Opera & Studio T. Thirlwall, A.M. 12mo. 35. Boards. Rivingtons. In this Latin translation of the Diatessaron lately published by Professor White, the version in general adopted is that of Castellio's although, where the editor regarded his phrases, as they sometimes are, as forced and affected, he has had recourse to Beza, Tremellius, and the Vulgate.-The publication will perhaps be of use to those who, in reading the Greek, are occasionally induced to consult a translation; and especially to those into whose hands it may be proper to put this work, before they have attained a knowlege of the Greek language. Art. 16. A short History of the Antient Israelites; with an Account of their Manners, Customs, Laws, Polity, Religion, Sects, Arts and Trades, Division of Time, Wars, Captivities, &c. Written originally in French by the Abbé Fleury, much enlarged from the Apparatus Biblicus of Père Lamy, and corrected and improved throughout. By A. Clarke. 12mo. 4s. Boards. Baynes. 1802. A translation of this very useful treatise was published in the year 1756 by Mr. Farneworth; which version is adopted by the present editor, enriched by additions from Père Lamy, and by some judicious notes of his own.-The work of the Abbé Fleury is too well appreciated by the public to need any comment from us; and indeed * See Rev. vol. xxxi. N. S. p. 204. the the terms in which the late pious Bishop Horne spoke of it are in themselves sufficient to stamp a value on it. We shall therefore only add that the edition before us is rendered very complete by a copious index to the whole. Art. 17. Case respecting the Maintenance of the London-Clergy, briefly stated by Reference to authentic Documents. By John Moore, LL.B. 8vo. 2s. Rivingtons. Mr. Moore offered proposals for printing, by subscription, a new edition of Bishop Walton's treatise concerning the payment of tithes in London, with notes and a continuation: but, not receiving adequate encouragement, he has compressed the substance within the limits of a pamphlet. The mode of paying the London-Clergy, before and subsequent to the reformation, is here detailed; and, according to Mr. M.'s statement, which he pledges himself is a fair one, the incumbents receive at present a stipend which is far short of their dues. They look for relief from parliament; and all that they wish, it is added, is that, in scttling the future produce of their benefices, it may be remembered that the demands which they shall be empowered to make are a composition for personal tithes, as well as oblations due from the inhabitants, and are to afford a suitable maintenance for the clergy of the most opulent commercial city in the world. A document drawn up in 1638 is added, containing in the first column a list of the benefices within and without the walls; in the 2d, the amount of the tithes now paid according to the report of the clergy- -in the 3d, tithes paid according to the report of the city ;-and in the 4th, an estimate of the tithes as they ought to be paid, according to the value of the houses. Art. 18. Methodism unmasked; or the Progress of Puritanism, from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century: Intended as an expla natory Supplement to "Hints to the Heads of Families." By the Rev. T. E. Owen, A. B. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Hatchard. Harsh and intemperate invective neither assists sound argument, nor prepares the mind of an opponent for receiving it; and therefore we must always protest against its use. Though we are not par tial to Methodism, and lament its operation on the common mind, we are never disposed to vilify its professors; who are generally less the objects of blame than of pity. Mr. Owen solemnly deprecates religious persecution: but his charge against sectarists of all kinds, and particularly against the Methodists, as being either blind in struments or wilful tools in the hands of Anarchists and Atheists,' is of a very serious nature; and his anccdote of some of this sect, who belonged to a volunteer corps, and who refused to be drilled on a Sunday, does not in the smallest degree substantiate the accusation. We are of opinion that the Methodists, and other sectaries, carry their religious observance of Sunday to a superstitious extreme: but, when conscience is pleaded, and their strictness in religious duty on that day is universally known, it is little short of calumny to class them as willing tools in the hands of Atheists. We suspect, moreover, though we have never heard one syllable of the case in question, that the the matter is not fairly stated: these people might object to be exercised on a Sunday, without refusing to bear arms in defence of king and country, against a foreign foe.' Their maxim, we believe, is, that works of necessity and mercy are to be done at all times; and we are confident that, in case of actual invasion, when this necessity would be indisputable, the Methodist would not plead the observance of Sunday in order to excuse himself from combating the public enemy. Some of the extracts here adduced prove the ignorance and the hypocrisy of individuals, but do not impeach their loyalty. The Jacobinical Mysteries of Methodism are mere phantoms of the imagination; and Mr. Owen ought not, on the evidence which he has produced, to accuse any of this sect of hoping to feast on the spoils of private property, and to wallow in the wealth of nations." EDUCATION. Art. 19. Lecteur François ou Recueil de Pièces, en Prose et en Vers, tirées des meilleurs Ecrivains. Pour servir à perfectionner les jeunes gens dans la Lecture; à étendre leur Connoisance de la Langue Française; et à leur inculquer des Principes de Vertu et de Piété. Par Lindley Murray, Auteur d'une Grammaire Anglaise, &c. 4s. 6d. Boards. Longman and Rees. 1802. 12mo. The favourable reception of Mr. Murray's English Reader* has prompted him to undertake the present compilation; which is conducted on the same plan and calculated to afford the same assistance to the student of the French language, that the English work was designed to administer to our youth in relation to their own tongue. The extracts are, for the most part, taken from the best writers of the age of Louis XIV., and afford specimens of various styles and modes of composition. Especial care has been taken to render the study of eloquence subservient to virtue, and to introduce only such pieces as shall answer the double purpose of promoting good principles, and a correct and elegant taste.-This will, no doubt, be found a very useful school book. Art. 20. A Series of Geographical Questions, for the Use of Young This appendix-work may be accommodated to any geographical treatise, but it was particularly designed for a small publication intitled A new Introduction to Geography, in a Series of Lessons for Youth. He that can answer all the questions put in this volume must know a great deal; and a great deal of his knowlege will not be worth having. Admitting, however, the propriety of the end to be answered, the book is skilfully drawn up. Art. 21. An Introduction to the Use of the Globes, with Questions for Examination annexcd. Designed principally for the Use of Schools. 2d Edition, with Corrections and Additions. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Boards. Johnson. * See Rev. vol. xxix. N. S. p. 464. and vol. xxxv. p. 444. We |