The fubject certainly cannot be placed in a more impreffive point of view, What then is the ground on which the Church is called upon to wave its claims? Liberality.But liberality must confift with juftice and with loyalty.Can we refign our fovereign lightly to the mercy of thofe who deny his juft authority? The Roman Catholics, if confcientious, muft perfift in denying the prerogative of their fovereign, and are confequently difqualified for those offices under him, which involve the joint concerns of church as well as ftate. The great advocates of what are called the Catholic Claims uniformly, and with all their talents, and indeed without disguise, attack the authority of our government, and the prerogative of our fovereign. This is fpecified in two recent and friking examples. Our Church, fays Dr. Ireland, with great and becoming emphafis, is connected with the State, and both are bound to the Throne. Religious diffent produces civil incapacity, and difqualifies thofe who avow it from the administration of the powers of our proteftant government. This excellent difcourfe thus concludes: "What then is the duty of the Catholic? He may retain his belief in peace and fafety; but he ought not to covet political power, while his principles are at iffue with the very nature of the government. I addrefs this to his confcience, and pro.. pofe to him an example from an age which he profeffes to venerate. The first Chriftians could not act upon the principles of heathenifm, and therefore never claimed the privileges or the profits of Roman office. They would have been content to be merely fafe from the fword of perfecution; yet even this was denied to them. The government exercised all its natural rightsin the maintenance of a national worship, but it applied no toleration to diffenters. And hence came the unprincipled perfecutions of that half-enlightened age. Meanwhile, the believers knew the duty of loyalty, and performed it amid the preferva tion of their confcience towards God. They were exemplary fubjects of Rome, though idolatrous. They fupported its government, though marked with the moft bloody hoftility to them. They entered freely into its armies, fought its battles, and maintained the caufe of the empire till they had matured it for the acknowledgment of the faith of Chrift. "To the Diffenter from our Protestant Establishment I would fay, You experience that toleration which paganism would not grant, and for which the primitive Chriftians would have returned their heart-felt thanks and praises to heaven. While therefore you enjoy the privilege of confcience, learn to refpect the rights of that government, under which Providence has placed you. But know, that to demand a fhare of political power power from the hands of the fovereign whofe prerogative you continue to deny; to irritate a government which would rather leave you to repofe, and then to upbraid it with perfecution, is neither political loyalty nor Chriftian obedience." P. 24. Having thus given the fubftance of this Sermon, it cannot be neceffary to exprefs our particular opinion. The Church has in all times of peril and attack met with advocates equally zealous and equally powerful, and we doubt not but it always will. In this hope and confidence we thank Dr. Ireland for this excellent publication. BRITISH CATALOGUE. ART. 11. POETRY. Oriental Tales, tranflated into English Verfe. By J. Hoppner, Esq. R. A. I 210. 144 PP. 55. Murray. 1807. We are far from being surprised to see a second edition of these pleasant tales in so short a space of time. Mr. H. has written a new preface, in which he gives the following account of the origin of the tales." Four are selected from the Tooti Nameh, or Tales of the Parrot, viz. ff, 2d, 4th, and 6th. The third is founded on one of a fet published in a small volume by the Rey. W. Beloe. The fifth is from the Heetopades of Veefhnoo-Sarma. The 7th and 8th are from the Fables of the 12th and 13th Centu ries, published by M. Le Grand." At the latter end of the preface, Mr. Hoppner very properly retorts upon fome cavillers, who it feems had attacked his first edition. In concluding, he offers the following neat apologue to their confideration, "A Horfe before an Afs was led, So Sir, the foreft has been ringing, With what you're pleased to call your finging. ART. 12. Defcriptive Poetry. Being a Selection from the best modern Authors, principally having Reference to Subjects in Natural Hiftory. 8vo. Price 3s. 6d. Savage. 1807. This felection is made with much judgment and tafte, and has in fome degree the diftinétion of novelty. It in a particular manner unites inftruction with amufement, and may very properly be recommended to all who have the care of young perfons. The authors felected for the purpose are of high character among modern authors for poetical talent, namely, Hayley, Maurice, Charlotte Smith, George Ellis, Sotheby, Bloomfield, The following fpecimen is from Mr. Kett's Juvenile &c. Poems. TO THE RIVER WYE. "O Wye, romantic ftream! thy winding way ART. 13. Uti Poffidetis, and Status Quo: a Political Satire. 8vo. 20 pp. 15. 6d. J. J. Stockdale. 1807. This poem, in the Still a remnant of these fatires is on hand. Lyric ftyle, appears to have been written before the downfal of the Talents, and from fome typographical fymptoms, as well as critical marks, is probably to be attributed to the ingenious author of Elijah's Mantle. The poet rings the changes on the uti poffidetis, and ftatus quo, in a very amufing manner. ample, 7. "Courted by Fox in language fweet, Politenefs would compel him. Tis ftrange, that Peace fhould look fo queerly, On men who fraternized fo dearly At Paris, Ante Bellum. For ex 8. "Tho 8. "Tho' favour'd YARMOUTH might be coax'd, MAITLAND a Scot difcreet is; From fuch negotiators fay, How could your bafis flip away, 9. "When PITT's good genius bleff'd the land, Mix'd with his country's duty; ART. 14. Outlines of English Hiftory, in Verfe. By Elizabeth Rowfe. 8vo. Darton and Harvey. 2s. 6d. 1808. A pleafing book for young people, and useful alfo, as rhyme is better calculated than profe to retain facts and dates in the memory. It prefents an epitome of English history from the time of the Britons to the prefent period, and thus loyally concludes: "And oh may heaven on George's honour'd head The choiceft bleffings in abundance fhed; And when Britannia muft her King refign, While round his brow the olive wreath fhall twine, Give him a brighter diadem above." At the end of the volume is an alphabetical lift of nations and places mentioned in the hiftory, which will alfo be found convenient for young ftudents. ART. 15. An Invocation to Truth upon a defireable Event fup- This was written by the author, who appears, if not an exalted poet, at leaft to be a very amiable man, under the impreffion that Peace was at hand. The metre is not exactly adapted to the ferious fubjects difcuffed, which are thofe of religious, moral, and political truth. A fhort fpecimen will fuffice. "Fafbion checked her vagaries, her creft fhall unplume, Licence writhe in the chains 'twas her vaunt to affume, G BRIT, CRIT. VOL. XXXI. JAN. 188. Flush Flush of health to difeafe be by Riot inflam'd, Witlefs Mirth of her laughter convulfive afham'd.. ART. 16. The Plea for a private Indulgence of Grief, a Poem, by J-n D-n, Ď. D. Addreffed to the Hon. P--p B-v-ie, Auguft 1774. 8vo. is. 6d. Cadell and Davies. 1806. This is by the fame author as the above, and feelingly laments one of the greatest calamities incident to focial and domeftic life, the lofs of a beloved partner. The occafion itself would difarm criticism, but the compofition is entitled to refpect and praise. ART. 17. Palmyra, and other Poems, by T. L. Peacock. 12mo. Richardfon. 75. 1806. This volume confifts of an ode on the fubject of Palmyra, Vifions of Love, and various mifcellaneous Poems. The first ftanza in the book will probably induce the lover of poetry to proceed through the whole. "As the mountain torrent rages, Loud, impetuous, fwift, and ftrong, Rolls with ceafelefs tide along. The nobleft works of human power Olivion's awful ftorms refound, And darkness veils its memory.” ART. 18. Gr-ville Agonistes, a Dramatic Poem. 8vo. 24 PP Is. 6d. Hatchard. 1807. This is not a drama, nor a parody of the dramatic poem to which its name alludes, but a fet of fpeeches in couplet verfe. It wears indeed fomewhat of a dramatic form, yet its whole texture |