324 Review of New Publications. deference to refpectable authority. The teftimony of conviction alone " can be valuable. The remark, there"fore, which fhall appear to be juft, "will not be given up, though it may "be propofed with more diffidence, "when others have thought different"ly; nor will obfervations always be "retrenched because they have occur"red to others before, but rather be ❝ urged with greater boldness, as being "fupported by thofe who have with "fkill and attention confidered the ❝ fubject." IId. On the diffemination of the Gofpel, which, our author obferves, had, even in the time of the Apostles, overfpread the whole Roman empire. Concerning the prophecy, which foretold that the Chriftian religion fhould, in that generation, be propagated over all the world, the preacher well observes, that the original words, which are tranflated "all the world," have, like many others, a latitude of fignification; and he judiciously adduces the paffage in St. Luke, where is related the decree of Auguftus, that "all the world should "be taxed," and which could only in clude the fubjects of the Roman empire. "That mighty ftate," obferves Mr. C, 66 was the most extenfive that ever was "united under one head.". It was, without doubt, by far the most powerful and the most populous; but, as to extent of dominion, the Cæfars muft furely yield to the Sovereign of the Ruffian Deferts. Of the first plantation of the Gospel in Britain he fpeaks in the following paffage: "Whether St. "Paul, or whether any of the twelve "Apoftles, vifited Britain, cannot per"haps be determined with certainty; "but Claudian, whom he mentions, "was most probably born in this ifland; "and that the Gofpel was preached "here in the time of the Apoftles, is "allowed on all hands t; and in the "beginning of the third century, Ter"tullian informs us, that even thofe 66 of the island which the Romans parts had not conquered, were, however, "fubject to Chrift 1."-In the first volume of Henry's Hiftory of Great Britain, in that fection which treats on re ligious fubjects, the reader will find a very particular inveftigation of this fubject, which the learned author has treated with his ufual accuracy and diligence. the various impoftors which followed IIId. Against falfe prophets, and of the appearance of our Saviour, with fome remarks on the evidence of prophecy and miracles. IVth. On the troubles which preceded the deftruction of Jerufalem. One principal object of thefe difcourfes is, nity by the literal accomplishment of to prove the divine origin of Chriftia all the prophecies concerning the fate of the holy city. Vth. On the providential deliverance of the Chriftians. In the year of our Lord 66, the Roman army, under Ceftius Gallus, the prefident of Syria, encompaffed Jerufalem, which was on the very point of being taken, when, to verfaries fuddenly and in hafte retired. the amazement of the befieged, the adThis was a fufficient warning to the faithful to fly from the woes to come. They retreated to various places, bur chiefly to Pella, and efcaped all that variety of wretchednefs which befell their countrymen. VIth. On the miferies of the fiege, and the final defolation of the city and the temple. The author firft netices the horrible factions which distracted the befieged Jews, and which contriRoman army. The dreadful events of buted more to their deftruction than the the fiege are detailed from Jofephus, which, from its malfive structure, and and the total deftruction of the temple, prodigious extent, feemed fecure from any fudden danger, and which the Ropreferve, exhibits a great and wonderman commander zealously defired to ful accomplishment of our Saviour's prediction. VIIth. On the future converfion of the Jews. contained in the preceding difcourfes. VIIIth. Recapitulation of the matter The following remark on the conis extremely appofite and judicious:duct of the Romans towards the Jews "To extirpate a people, or demolish a city, was contrary to the practice and "lenity of the Romans in war. Their "whole history affords but one or two "inftances of exceptions in the cafe. "The compliment of the poet (parcere "futje Fis) was the more valuable, be"cause it was just; nor had their for "mer 1 Review of New Publications. mer humanity in this age forfaken them. During the fiege of Jerufalem "the compaffionate Titus was fcarcely "more folicitous to fubdue the rebels "than to rescue the fufferers, and ferve "the city. The temple, to the laft, he was refolved to preferve. But, in "oppofition to heaven, the endeavours "of mortals are ineffectual, and their "wifhes vain. The city and the temple were burnt with fire, and rased to "their foundations; aud thofe who furvived the calamities of their coun"try were scattered over the face of the "earth, and, by a fubfequent decree, "while every other land faw their ob"ftinacy, and obferved their affliction, in Judea alone they were not permit "ted to fet their feet. The blood of "the Holy One, according to the dread interpretation of their fathers, pur. fues, to this day, the wretched pofte"rity. Their blindness is ftill unre"moved, their heart is ftill obdurate; "therefore they are wanderers and va gabonds on the earth, living monu"ments of the juft but tremendous ❝wrath of heaven, and involuntary "witnesses to the truth of the fcriptures "and scripture prophecies.” Thefe Sermons are written in a plain, correct, and perfpicuous ftyle; they prove that the author has devoted no fmall portion of his time to the duties of his profeffion, and are, we think, a valuable addition to the written teftimonies in favour of our religion. 39. Vivian's Explication of the Revelation of St. John. 12mo. OUR readers may not be difpleafed to fee fome account of the defign and plan of this treatife in the words of the author of it. "It appears, from the two first verses of the first chapter, and from the beginning of the fourth chapter, that the general defign of the Revelation is to give, in a series of prophetic vifions, an history of the future fortunes of the Chriftian Church. "Now, as about feventeen hundred years are paft fince the prophecy first appeared, it is natural to fuppofe that fome of the events here foretold have already happened. Others may still be future; and fome may be of that nature as to be fulfilling by a fucceffion of fimilar events for feveral ages together, and may be existing at this prefent time." "Agreeably to this fuppofition, the book divides itfelf into three parts: the first foretelling events that are now past; the fecond Matt, xxvij. 25. 325 those that are now exifting; the third those that are still to come.. "The first of thefe divifions, relating to events that are now paft, takes up the nine. firft chapters of the Revelation. The fecond divifion, exhibiting scenes of a permanent nature (that have long existed, are tranfacting at the prefent time, and probably will of the little book delivered by the angel, in ftill continue for fome time,) is the fubject the tenth chapter, and rehearsed in the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth chapters. The third general divifion (relating to events yet to come) takes up all the rest of the book, from the beginning of the fourteenth chapter. "Three fubdivifions of the first part (containing the Seven Epifiles, Seven Seals, and ber of the third part (exhibiting the Seven Six of the Seven Trumpets); the fame numVials, the Millenium, and the New Heaven and Earth); together with one chapter allotted to the fecond part, conftitute the feven chapters of the following expofition." The author of this Explication of the Book of the Revelation published, fome years ago, A Differtation on the Two-borned Beaft, and has interwoven the fubftance of that differtation into the prefent work. It contains a great number of prophecies pointed out in which the author endeavours to prove the different vifions, not lefs than fixty; have been fulfilled, or are now fulfilLing, many of which have not been ob ferved by preceding writers. That a fcene difplaying fo many circumstances fhould be revealed fo long before, is indeed wonderful; but that fo many correfponding circumftances between the vifions and events fhould be pointed our, without any foundation in truth, is ftill more wonderful. "First, it is to be observed, that the average quantity of tea fold by the Company, for ten years prior to the paffing of the Commutation Act, was little more than fix millions of pounds weight per annum; but, within the first twelve months after the act took place, the quantity fold exceeded 16,000,000 pounds. "2dly. The amount of the duty ftill continued upon tea has, in the first year only, exceeded the eftimate by no less than 60,4341. "3dly. The total fum paid by the purchafers for teas fold fince the paffing of the act, amounts only to 2,770,7991; but, had an. 326 Review of New Publications. an equal quantity been fold at the former prices, the purchafers must have paid not lefs than 4,826,2611. Confequently the publick have been benefited to the amount of 2,055,4621. by this regulation. "4thly. The increafe of the annual amount of the Company's fales will oblige them to extend their importations from China, in order to fulfil the requifitions of the Act, and for which purpose not less than 45 large additional hips, and 3450 feamen, must be conftantly employed by the Company. "5thly. Their exports of the woollens and lead of this country must be augmented from the value of $11,000l. to which the amount has hitherto been limited, to at leaft 300,000l. per annum, which will be neceffary hereafter. Finally, the retaining within this kingdom a balance, amounting annually to no Jefs than 4,032,400l. which, prior to this Act, was regularly paid to foreigners in fpecie, through the medium of the fmuggler, and which balance will in all probability be greatly increafed when the purposes of the Act thall have been carried completely into execution," a im Thefe advantages, arifing from fingle operation, are of fuch magnitude and importance as to fatisfy every partial perfon of the beneficial confequences which must refult from a general application of the fame liberal principle to the duties ftill fubfifting upon various branches of the manufactures and commerce of Great Britain. 41. A circumftantial Narrative of the Lofs of the Halfewell East Indiaman. (5th edit.) A very particular and affecting account of this lamentable catastrophe, compiled from the communications of Mr. Henry Meriton and Mr. John Rogers, the two chief officers, who efcaped, and of which we have already printed a copious account, p. 57. The tyle of the compiler does not add to the pathos of the tale. This narrative required no adventitious aid to arreft the attention, or to awaken the feeling, of the reader. One melancholy circumftance forces itself upon us-the want of difcipline which prevailed amongst the crew; for it feems too evident that the wretched fufferers fell a facritice as much to the remiffness of the feamen as to the violence of the ftorm. 42. Socrates and Xantippe. A Burlesque Tale. By William Wallbeck. A well-known ftory, fpun out to a confiderable length, and fees intended to be very humorous. There is an aß pearance of learning in the notes, and the language is in general correct; but we cannot say that we have received much pleasure either from the verfe of the profe. 43. An Enquiry into the Influence which Inclofures bave bad upon the Population of England. By the Rev. J. Howlett, Vicar of Great Dunmow, Effex. THE object of this pamphlet is, to fhew the fallacy of Dr. Price's arguments refpecting inclofures, and to prove that, inftead of diminishing population, they evidently contribute to increafe it. Calculations, however ingenious, can by no means with certainty afcertain a fact of this nature; truth can only proceed from an actual enquiry. This Mr. Howlett has made; and the refult of it is contained in a table annexed to this publication. During two periods, of five years each, the first beginning with 1760, the fecond with 1775, the births, in a great number of inclofed parishes, are found to have increased in the following propor tions: in parishes not lately incloted as 100 to 109; in parishes lately inclofed as 100 to 121. We are told, that almoft a thousand inclofure bills have been paffed between 1750 and 1781.The object of this writer's labours is laudable; and it seems to be pursued with diligence, and inveftigated with candour. There is no fubject which fo nearly concerns a country as the ftate of its population. In that alone confifts its real wealth: compared with it, the advantages of commerce and the extent of dominion are like duft on the balance. A country, by improvements in cultivation, is, without doubt, made capable of fuftaining a greater number of inhabitants, but fuch an increase is not the certain and neceffary confequence. Rents have been improved, and the neceffaries of life multiplied, by the increafe of paftures, which require little labour to manage them. But that fpecies of improvement which multiplies the articles of confumption without increafing the consumers, and enlarges the profit of the master by diminifhing the neceffity of labour, muft be ultimately ruinous. Impreffed with thefe fentiments, we cannot fully enter into the joy of Mr. Arthur Young. "I "faw," fays he, "great tracts of country inclofed, and laid from arable to grafs; but I faw in the graziers fields "fuch herds of sheep and oxen as de"lighted tants. Review of New Publications. lighted the eye." Grazing will certainly multiply cattle, but not inhabiAgriculture is the great fource of population. Arts and arms are inimical to the health, the fafety, and the vigour of fociety. The profeffion of arms, by removing men from their families and their homes, takes away the opportunity of increase; and commerce, by filent but uniform operation, obftructs its progrefs; and, by its pernicious viciffitudes of clofe confinement and riotous excefs, enervates the vigour, and fhortens the existence, of the artifan; but the daily labour of the hufbandman fupplies him not only with fubfiftence but with health. If the state of population depends on the mode of cultivating the land, nothing furely more deferves the attention of the patriot, and the interference of the legiflature; and perhaps there is no truth more evident than that the decreate of arable lands will ultimately tend to depopulate the country. 44. Florio, a Tale, and the Bas Bleu. 4to. THESE are the productions of Mifs Hannah More, and are worthy of that amiable and elegant writer. The language and verification are eafy and correct; and the obfervations forcible, lively, and juft. An account of a book which every one reads, or an extract from it, is by no means neceffary. It has received general and deferved applaufe; and we are happy in adding our teftimony in its favour to that of the publick. 45. The Recefs, a Tale of orber Times. TWO fifters, the fruit of a private 327 imagination is indeed tranfported into other times, and we find ourselves in the midft of the court of Elizabeth : but, though Leicester, Effex, and Sidney muft intereft us more than thofe men of ftraw that flutter through our modern novels, we cannot entirely approve the custom of interweaving fictitious incident with historic truth; and, as the events related approach nearer the æra we live in, the impropriety increases; for the mind, pre-occupied with the real fact, rejects, not without difguft, the embellishments of fable.Thefe volumes, however, are calculated to fupply not only amusement but inAtruction; and we recommend them with pleasure to the attention of the publick. 46. The Gerufalemme Liberata of Taffo; with explanatory Notes on the Syntax in obfcure Paffages, and References to the Author's Imitations of the ancient Claffies. To which is prefixed, A compendious Analyfis of Italian Metre. By Agostino Ifola, Teacher of the Italian Language in the University of Cambridge. 2 Vols. 12mo. THIS is a very correct edition of Taffo's Jerufalem Delivered, and will be extremely ufeful to those who study the Italian language. To the lift of references to the imitations of the claffics, the Editor, we believe, has added nothing from his own obfervation. Inftead of referring to the paffages, he fhould have printed them at length. Taffo trafficked much in imitation. He was rather the poet of art than of nature. If the Mufes had never vifited ancient Greece or Rome, Dante and Ariofto would have immortalifed themfelves and their country by their writings, but we fhould never have feen the Jerufalem Delivered. The obfcure words and paffages are well and clearly explained; and, from Taffo's frequent ufe of the Dantefcan idiom and phrafeology, they often occur: and the analysis of the Italian metre is executed with judgement and perfpicuity. 47. Liberal Opinions on Taxation, and a new Syftem of Funding. By the Author of "Thoughts on Taxation." THIS author's fcheme is, to make the stockholder bear a part of the public burthen, by fübjecting funded property to a fpecies of taxation, in the following manner. "I would advise," fays he, "that a fubfcription fhould "be 328 Review of New Publications. "be opened for one million, by way of 46 "land-tax is rated at 45.; 41. 55. when 16. is taken off; 41. 10s. when 25. 41. 155. when 35. and 51. when the land is free from all taxes." By thefe, and other regulations of the like pature, he thinks that the interests of the landholder and the ftockholder would be more united; hitherto, he obferves, they have been entirely feparate, and the monied men have conftantly taken more than reasonable advantages of the neceffitics of the flate. The opinions of this writer are delivered with great moderation and candour, and appear to us to be confonant both with reafon and equity; but the absofute determination of their merit be longs to another department. 48. Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnfon, LL.D. during the last Twenty Years of bis Life. By Hether Lynch Piozzi. J. Evo, (Continued from our loft, p. 245 ) FROM this agreeable parterre, which would have been yet more fragrant if a few luxuriant hoots had Judiciously been pruned, we fhall felect fome of the more friking anecdotes of men and manners. "Samuel Johnson was the fon of Michael Johnfon, a bookfeller at Lichfield, in Staf fordshire, a very pious and worthy man, bot wrong-headed, pofitive, and afflicted with melancholy, as his fon, from whom alone I had the information, once told me. His bufinefs, however, leading him to be much on horfeback, contributed to the prefervation of his bodily healch, and mental fanity, which, when he ftaid long at home, would fometimes be about to give way; and Mr. Johnfon faid, that when his workshop, a detached building, had fallen half down for want of money to repair it, his father was not lefs diligent to lock the door every night, though he faw that any body might walk in at the back part, and knew that there was no fecurity obtained by barring the front-door. "This (fays his fon) was madness, you may fee, and would have been discoverable in other "inftances of the prevalence of imagination, "but that poverty prevented it from playing "fuch tricks as riches and leifure encou"rage." Michael was a man of ftill larger fize and greater strength than his fon, who was reckoned very like him, but did not delight in talking much of his family-one bas (fays he) to little pleasure in reciting the anecdotes of beggary.".. "Michael Johnson was past fifty years old when he married his wife, who was upwards of forty; yet I think her fon told me the remained three years childless before he was born into the world, who fo greatly contributed to improve it. In three niel, who lived to be twenty-feven or twentyyears more the brought another fon, Nathaeight years old, and of whofe manly fpirit I have heard his brother speak with pride and pleafure.-Their father, Michael, died of an inflammatory fever, at the age of feventyfix, as Mr. Johnfon told me; their mother at eighty-nine, of a gradual decay. She was light in her perfon, he faid, and rather below than above the common fize. So excellent was her character, and fo blameless her life, that when an oppreffive neighbour once endeavoured to take from her a little field the poffeffed, he could persuade no attorney to undertake the caufe against a woman fo beloved in her narrow circle; and it is this incident he alludes to in the line of his Vanity of Human Wishes, calling her "The general favourite as the general friend."... "At the age of two years Mr. Johnfos was brought up to London, by his mother, to be touched by Queen Anne for the fcrophulous evil, which terribly afflicted his childhood, and left fuch marks as greatly disfigured a countenance naturally harsh and rugged, befide doing irreparable damage to the auricular organs, which could never perform their functions fince I knew him; and it was owing to that horrible diforder, too, that one eye was perfectly useless to him. That defect, however, was not ob fervable; the eyes looked both alike. As Mr. Johnson had an astonishing memory, I afked him, if he could remember Queen Anne at all? "He had," he faid, "a con"fufed, but fomehow a fort of folemn, re"collection of a lady in diamonds, and a long black hood." "Mr. Johnfon's mother was daughter te a gentleman in the country, fucli as there were many of in thofe days, who, poffeffing perhaps one or two hundred pounds a year in land, lived on the profits, and fought not to increafe their income. She was therefore inclined to think higher of herself than of her husband, whofe conduct in money matters being but indifferent, the had a trick of teizing him about it. The lady's maiden name was Ford; and the parfon who fits next to the punch bowl in Hogarth's Modern Midnight Converfation was her brother's fon. This Ford was a man who chose to be eminent only for vice, with talents that ture, and refpectable in any profeffion he might have made him confpicuous in literacould have chofen. His coufin has mentioned him in the Lives of Fenton, and of Broome; and when he spoke of him to me, it was always with tenderness, praifing his acquaintance with life and manners, and recollecting 1 |