writer of this pamphlet feems aware of the delicate ground on which he is treading, when difcuffing a queftion of high judicial concern, previous to the decifion of that auguit Court, before which it is still pending. The fource of delay is by him inputed to the manner in which the Impeachment was voted by the laft Houfe of Commons. "No fuch delay (he contends) could have happened, had the Houfe come to a specific vote on each specific allegation." On the queftion of Guil, he is (as it becomes him) fufficiently guarded. This caution does not, however, deter him from bringing forward fome obfervations in favour of the accused, of which the Public are to form their opinion. The Impeachment was, he contends, avowedly undertaken in order to do juftice to the people of India. A law was afterwards enacted for renewing the Char er for 20 years, upon terms highly advantageous to the Public and the Company. In the progrefs of this Bill (fays the writer) no man beftowed a thought upon the people of India. The pamphlet is closed with a statement of extracts from the Managers fpeeches in one column, and the counter evidence given upon the trial in the other. Thefe, taken as they ftand, together with the fubfequent teftimony of the Marquis Cornwallis annexed, make very ftrongly in favour of that point, which it is the manifest object of this writer to eftablish. DIVINITY. ART. 19. The fatal Confequences and the general Sources of Anarchy. A Difcourfe on Ifaiah xxiv. 1—5. Before the Magiftrates of Edinburgh, Sept. 2, 1792. By John Erskine, D. D. one of the Minifters of Edinburgh. 8vo. 6d. Gray, Edinburgh. 1793. From a text remarkably appofite to the present ftate of the French nation, the preacher reprefents, 1ft, The fatal confequences of anarchy, by a view of the bleffings which it deftroys. 2dly, He traces the fources of anarchy; having previoufly fettled a queftion often propofed, Whether the propriety of political measures should be canvaffed in the palpit-which he determines, as we believe moft fober-minded men do, in the negative: but, with them alfo, he contends, p. 11, that though thefe queftions have nothing to do with the pulpit, yet ge neral maxims of virtue and prudence, which fhould guide in confidering and determining them, are an important branch of public inftruction." Confining ourselves to a general account of this difcourfe, we say, that it abounds with a great variety of folid and ufeful instruction, Governors, as well as the governed, will here find many falutary lef fons, evincing an intimate acquaintance with the fprings of human action, and with the temper and manners of the prefent age. The characteristics of the difcourfe are plainnefs and folidity, rather than elegance or ingenuity. There are fome inaccuracies of ftyle, which, coming from fo refpectable a quarter, muft not pafs unnoticed, left authority fhould lead to imitation. Pref. 1. 5, would for fhould. Pref. note, will for Ball fball. Our brethren, north of the Tweed, can mafter all human fci. ence more eafily than these poor words. Pref. 1. 19, lefs, ufed abfolutely, as minùs fometimes is. P. 16, l. 16, timeously: this word has been lately introduced to our acquaintance; but we defire not to become intimate with it, having fome old friends whom we like much better. P. 19, 1. 22, roll not (for devolve not) their important concerns on a hireling. This is fingularly inelegant. P. 36, 1. 23, learneth for teacheth. P. 37, 1. 8, for gratifying, instead of for the fake of gratifying. P. 44, 1. 26, falfe allurements will betray to purfue: we Thould have fuppofed the author wrote betray us, if the fame mode of expreffion had not occurred twice. See p. 36, 1. 19. ART. 20. Thoughts on the Nature of True Devotion. With Reflec tions on the late Faft. Addreffed to the British Nation. Flower, Cambridge. Is, 6d. However few may have amufed the public, fo numerous have been the writers who have amufed themtelves with reflections on the propriety of a national Faft, that we did not perufe the pamphlet under prefent confideration with much expectation of novelty; and we are under the neceffity of adding, that the author has not difappointed us. He merits refpect, however, for a manly rejection of that abufive language, which the infatuated partizans of either fides, have but too generally conveyed to their political antagonists, through the medium of fimilar publications. There are three confiderations principally attended to in this pamphlet " First, The Nature of true Devotion-Secondly, The Nature of a National Faft, and how far it is in general confiftent with true devotion-Thirdly, How far the late Faft in particular, confidering its circumftances, may be confiftent with fuch devotion."The laft of thefe general divifions is by far the most extenfive. The enormities which have difgraced Paris, though not defended, are endeavoured to be palliated, by the circumftance of an inundation, both of foreign and domestic hoftilities, and the author conceives it a reasonable expectation, that "when her prefent irritation has fubfided, she will look back on her offences with the deepest regret."That the may do fo is our most ardent prayer, and no one will refufe affenting to this hope, that every fucceeding year may be a period of atonement, and every day of her existence a day of progreflive improvement ! ART, 21. A Sermon preached at the Vifitation helden at Skipton, We have already had occafion to commend the author of this fermon, for the folidity of matter and elegance of diction which distinguifh two of his former publications. It is with great pleasure that A Sermon preached at Sunderland for the Charity School-(fee Brit. Crit. Vol. II. p. 213.) and the other at Knaresbro', for the be nefit of the Sunday Schools-(Brit. Crit. Vol. II. p. 461.) we we bear our teftimony to the merit of his third difcourfe; and with great earnestnefs we recommend it to the perufal of every serious and inteiligent clergyman, who feels the importance of his facred office, and is anxious to discharge the high duties of it, with advantage to his hearers, and with credit to himself. That our opinion of Mr. Clapham's excellence as a writer of Sermons is impartial and jutt, will, we hope, be admitted by every reader of the following paffage :-" I would be understood to fay, that hofpitality, fo far as clergymen are concerned in the practice of it, is an important duty. The revenues conferred by the piety and the benevolence of our forefathers on the Church, were not intended merely for the fupport of individuals. By the rules as well as the cuftoms of the Church, the wearied traveller and the indigent peafant, they who were afflicted with sickness, and they who were overwhelmed with adverfity, found an afylum in the manfions of their fpiritual guides. Such, doubtless, in many inftances, was the wife and virTuous practice of our forefathers before the Reformation, when the celibacy of the Clergy left their minds difengaged from those worldly cares, which the different, and doubtlefs a molt improved, condition of Ecclefiaftics in later ages, unavoidably impofes upon them. But while Nature incites, while the laws authorize, while the niceft fentiments of honour do not forbid us to provide for our families, yet the exercife of hofpitality is bound upon our confcience by the relation in which we ftand to our parishioners, by the fpirit, if not the letter, of the conditions, upon which our revenues were originally given; by the opportunities we have for exploring thofe fcenes of mifery which are fo often to be found in the obfcure and loathfome cottage; for liftening to thofe fighs, which, in the din and bustle of the furrounding world, are faintly, or feldom heard; for foothing thofe forrows which throb unpitied and unfeen in the deepest receffes of the foul." The foregoing obfervations are furely neither trite nor uninterefting: they are expreffed in language at once unaffected and animated and they do credit to that foundness of understanding, and that fervour of piety, which pervade every page of this valuable fermon. ART. 22. The Duties of a Soldier illuftrated and enforced, in a Sermon preached at the Confecration of the Colours of the Somerfet Light Dragoons, on Wednesday the 6th of August, 1794, in the Church of St. Mary Magdalen, Taunton. By the Rev. John Gardiner, Curate of the above Church, and Rector of Brailsford, Sc. in the County of Derby. Publifhed at the Request of the Corps. 4to. 37 pp. 15. 6d. Poole, &c. Taunton. Rivingtons, &c. London. Mr. Gardiner alfo has appeared before us on a former occafion, and with honour. (Brit. Crit. Vol. I. p. 460.) We find that he has had alfo the additional honour of being calumniated for that dif courfe, though the calumny could not be raised without a mifreprefentation of both his intention and his words. The prefent difcourfe will certainly make a confiderable addition to the reputation of the author. That no fentence in it can be perverted to a wrong meaning, we we will not fay; for, of what writing can it be faid? But that the general tenor and principles of it are excellent, is what we can have no fcruple to affirm. The text is Pfalm xx. 5. In the name of our God we will fet up our banners." The preacher begins with general reflections on the nature of War, and the degree in which it is compatible with Christian Revelation; and proceeds to particular exhortations to the men, and to the officers of the regiment. Both these parts exhibit the author to us as a man fa juft and enlightened understanding; and it is a matter of praife both to the preacher and his audience, that a difcourfe to much exceeding the ufual limits was heard by them without fatiery, and made public at their request. Among many paffages of fimilar merit, the following feems appropriately useful. "As there is a laurel to adorn the brow in the hour of victory, there are rewards and encomiums that have their attraction in times of fecurity; and the reputation to be gained by decency of deportment, fobriety of manners, and regularity of difcipline, if not as brilliant, is as fubitantial as that which follows magnanimous exploits in encountering a foe. In fact, where is the foldier who does not feel his heart expand in hearing it faid that he belongs to a corps celebrated for the above-mentioned qualities." P. 23. Mr. Gardiner affigns reafons for not having employed the lime labor to render his fermon more perfect in ftyle than when delivered. We fee but few things, however, of this kind that deferve to be cenfured, except the frequent recurrence of the expreffion of Characters, for perfons of a certain character. This, though it might be defended by numerous, and perhaps weighty, examples, is a colloquial vulgarifm and ought to be avoided. ART. 23. Obfervations on fome important Points in Divinity; chiefly thofe in Controverfy between the Arminians and Calvinifts. With Three Dialogues, in which the faid Points are further illuftrated. The whole intended as an Antidote against the pernicious Tenets of Antimonians and Neceffitarians. Extracted from an Author of the last Century. By Ely Bates, Efq. 8vo. 190 pp. clofely printed. 2s. 6d. Law. 1793. The preface to this book, by the Editor, is very well written; and the book itself is an important one; and deferves the notice, not only of Students in Divinity, but of all ferious perfons who understand and confider the influence of the doctrines of the Gofpel upon the practice of its believers. Modern Calvinifts, in particular, will do well to read this work carefully. The more learned amongst them (for fach men are not wanting) will probabiy think it very deferving of their attention; and thofe, by far the greater number, whofe minds appear to be very confufed in regard to the doctrines for which they contend moft violently, may here find much affiftance towards the rectifying of their judgments and notions. When we commend a book generally, it is not to be fuppofed that we affent to all the points in it, especially a book like this, which is fo abundant in matter, that every paragraph, and alinoft every period, contains a doctrine. But the Editor appears to us, in general, to have appreciated the work justly, when he commends the piety and wif dom dom of the Author, the great extent of his theological knowledge, his candour, and charity." The purpose of the book is thus expreffed in the Preface, p. 8, 1. 6. " Should this volume fall into the hands of any who are fluctuating between the two rival systems of Arminianifm and Calvanism, it may direct them to that middle point, where all that is good in either feems to meet, and all that is exceptionable to be excluded: the grace of God being here vindicated, without fubverting his moral government; and the liberty of man afferted, without ufurping upon the grace of God." ART. 24. Early Wifdom. Defigned to improve young People in Religion and Virtue, in the Knowledge of themselves, and of the Worldof the Beauties of Nature, and the Ingenuity of Art. By Thomas Finch, of St. Mary-Hall, Oxon. In 2 vols. Small 8vo. 79. Faulder, &c. London. 1794. The task of Reviewers is never lefs pleasant to them than when they find themselves compelled to difcommend a book, the defign of which is moral and pious. But we confider ourselves in the light of Jurymen; as bound, not indeed by an oath, but by our plighted fidelity to the Public, well and truly to try, and a true verdict to give, according to the evidence. A verdict, therefore, painful to our feelings, as it always is to the humanity of an English Jury (for we are neither of us a Revo lutionary Tribunal) must be given againft this author. He is guilty of writing and publishing a book-not with any evil intent, juft the contrary-but (what is a high misdemeanour in the court of Criticifm) without the qualifications requifite for fo doing. In books of inftruction for young perfons, next to foundness of principles, we require fimplicity of thought, and purity of expreffion. With refpect to principles, we have no complaint against this writer. But whether we have reason or not to be satisfied with him as to the other points, let our readers judge from the following fpecimen :Vol. I. p. 201. "The ignorance of unlettered Africa and America, compared to the mental cultivation of Europe;-the prefent degeneracy of Afia, with the paft learning of the celebrated country of Greece; and, individually, the refined European, with the European in barbarifm, difcoverable by his fpeech and marners-fhew the darkness of the human mind in its native ftate as mournful perspective. But the improvements fupplied the mind by education of knowledge. to knowledge-of pleafure to pleasure-communicate idea how, in its immortal ftate, freed of corporeal fhackles-it will be infinitely capacious to the enjoyment of all eternity." MISCELLANIES. ART. 25. The Life and extraordinary Adventures of James Molef worth Hobart, alias Henry Griffin, alias Lord Maffey, the Newmarket Duke of Ormond, Ec. involving a number of well-known Characters; together with a fort Sketch of the early Part of the Life of Dr. Tonquid. In 2 vols. 12mo. By N. Drallo. 6s. G. Sael. 1794 The |