ty of his mind is mentioned, and, we are almost ready to fay, com pletely overthrown, when, fpeaking of perfons who differed widely from him on the doctrine of the Trinity, it is added, He held their principles in abhorrence: with fuch he would bold no communion or fellowship; nor once bid them God fpeed."

We obferve fome Scotticisms in this work, with here and there an maccuracy of phrafe or peculiarity of expreffion: but these are not very frequent.

Art. 64. A plain and eafy Introduction to the Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion; with a comprehenfive View of the Reasonablenefs and Certainty of the Chriftian Difpenfation. Intended for young Students in particular; and exhibiting much of the Subftance of Dr. Jenkin's learned Work, long out of Print, on the fame Subject. By a Clergyman of the Church of England. Two Vols. 12mo. 6s. Boards. Rivingtons. 1795.

Republications of the fubftance of valuable treatifes on important fubjects, which are neglected only because they are old,' may in many cafes be very useful. Among the numerous and able defenders of Christianity who were called forth by the public appearance of feveral Deistical writers at the beginning of the prefent century, Dr. Jenkin's was a name of fome celebrity. His treatife," on the Truth and Certainty of the Chriftian Religion," is, at the prefent time, here very judiciously revived with improvements. The work, though not voluminous, takes a wide compafs, and affords a comprehenfive view of the evidences both of natural and revealed religion. The author's, or editor's, ftatement of facts and arguments is not, however, fufficiently fupported by citations of original authorities, to render the publication, with refpect to candidates for holy orders, any thing more than an introductory manual.

Art. 65. A Liturgy, containing Forms of Devotion for each Sunday in the Month, with an Office for Baptifm, &c. 1200. PP. 143. zs. Boards. Baldwin.

Formidable as the idea of innovation is to many who are chained down by bigotry, or by intereft, to the maintenance of old forms, yet in an age of increafing knowlege the probability always is, that innovation will be improvement. This is particularly the cafe with respect to the exifting exercises of religion; in which, notwithftanding the reformation, an intelligent and liberal mind must still fee many remains of antient fuperftition and fanaticifm. Among the veftiges of the latter, we shall not perhaps hazard too bold a pofition, if we venture to place the practice of extemporaneous prayer in public worship: a practice which appears to have had its origin in an enthu¬ fiaftic notion of immediate infpiration, and which has always been attended with obvious defects and inconveniences. The Diffenters are beginning to perceive the imperfections of their antient method of conducting public devotional exercises, and have in feveral places exchanged the folitary recital, whether extempore or memoriter, of one long and often tedious prayer, for the more animated and interefting focial form of a liturgy with refponfes. The prefent publication is a laudable, and on the whole not unfuccessful, attempt of this kind. In

ten

ten diftinct services, the fubjects of devotion are perhaps as much di verfified as may reafonably be defired. The editor has very properly made a free ufe of the language of the fcriptures, of the book of Common Prayer, and of preceding liturgies. He has also added much new matter, which is drawn up with a devotional spirit. Concerning the style of this liturgy, we muft, however, remark, that it is by no means uniformly fimple and liturgic. The admirable model of this kind of writing in the book of Common Prayer might, with great advantage, have been more clofely imitated. The long continued and harmonious periods of the antient prayers in our liturgy have more dignity and fublimity, and are therefore better adapted to devotion, than the fhort, detached, and often ill constructed fentences in which fome of the prayers in this liturgy are written. We muft add too, that, though we are glad to find that the adoption of the liturgic mode is not confined to the Socinian fect of Diffenters, we are of opinion that the editor of this liturgy has unneceffarily narrowed its ufefulnefs, by the introduction of a creed, and of hymns of praife and thanksgiving to Jefus Christ.

Art. 66. Remarks on a Pamphlet, entitled "The Age of Reason, being an Investigation of true and fabulous Theology; by Thomas Paine, Author of the Rights of Man." By which Remarks it may appear, that to adopt Mr. Paine's Notions of Divine Revelation would be "to lofe Sight of Morality, of Humanity, and of the Theology that is true:" contrary to his profefied Intention. With an Appendix. By a Proteftant Lay Diffenter. 8vo. pp. 112. Byrne, Dublin. 1795.

Reprobating the opinion that the Age of Reafon" fhould be treated only with filent contempt, lamenting that it has not rouzed fome of the most able and refpectable divines of the church to a defence of Chriflianity and of revealed religion in general, and fearing left a Will with the Wifp fhould be mistaken for the torch of truth, this well-meaning layman takes up his pen, and offers to the public fome pertinent remarks on the deiftical work of Mr. Paine. He boldly combats Mr. P.'s grand pofition, that the creation is the only word of Gad, and appeals to all hiftory in proof of the infuficiency of the book of nature completely to inftruct in the provinces of religion and morality. After having taken notice of the ignorance and grofs stupidity in which mankind have been generally plunged with respect to theology, in fpite of Mr. P.'s univerfal book always and every-where open, he argues for the neceffity of what we call revelation, the poffibility of which Mr. P. is forced to own. We do not wish to damp the zeal of this writer in the good caufe in which he has embarked, by any strictures that may operate as a difcouragement; and we hope that no effect of this kind will arife from our hinting to him that we think him too diffufe, and that he ought not to quote fcripture, as he fometimes does, in proof of the divinity of feripture, when he is ma naging an argument against infidelity.

Art. 67. An Expofition of the Trinity: with a further Elucidation of the Twelfth Chapter of Daniel; one Letter to the King, and two

The prelatory addrefs is figned B. Carpenter.

to

to Mr. Pitt, &c. By Richard Brothers, the Defcendant of David, King of Ifrael, &c. 8vo. IS. Riebau, &c.

Poor, honeft, well-meaning Richard Brothers! we really pity thy hopeless fituation!— With respect to this pamphlet, however, none can fay, as was faid to the "Great Apofile of the Gentiles," much learning hath made thee mad.

MODERN PROPHECY.

Art. 68. Memoirs of pretended Prophets, who have appeared in different Ages of the World, and especially in modern Times, pointing out from authentic Sources, their Blunders, and the pernicious Confequences of their Pretenfions: with an Examination of the moft remarkable and best attested modern Predictions, fhewing that no Inference can be deduced from them in favour of the recent Ex-' ittence of a prophetic Spirit. By a Clergyman. 8vo. pp. 45. Is. Johnson.

This seasonable and judicious publication is well calculated to prevent that propenfity to credulity, of which the English nation has lately furnished fo ftriking an inftance, in the attention which was paid by multitudes of all ranks to the predictions of a maniac. The writer, as a friend to revelation, wishes to preserve its prophetic evidence from the ridicule which is brought on it by the extravagant and enthufiaftic pretenfions of modern prophets. Jealous, too, for the honour of human nature, of which, unquestionably, credulity is the weak fide, he examines many cafes, which have had the most plaufible appearance, to prove that modern prophets are not entitled to our confidence. The facts adduced will afford the reader much amusement; and the author's remarks on them are pertinent and folid.

IRELAND.

Art. 69. The Specches of Sir Thomas Ofborne, Bart. and Patrick Duigenan, Efq. on the Catholic Bill in the Irish House of Commons, May 5, 1795. 8vo. IS. Debrett.

The arguments against the bill for repealing all penal and restrictive laws, affecting the Roman Catholics of Ireland, are in this pamphlet largely and forcibly ftated: for those on the other fide, the impartial reader must have recourfe to other publications. Sir T. O. appears fet up as a man of ftraw for P. D. Efq. to knock down.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 70. Select Views in Scotland, engraven in Aqua-tinta, with Defcriptions. No. I. containing the Caftles of Nidpath and Roflin. Folio. Imperial Paper. 10s. 6d. G. Walker, Edinburgh; Edwards, &c. London.

This is the commencement of a work intended to be compofed of twelve numbers, forming one volume, price to fubfcribers, 1zs. each number, plain; 11. 11s. 6d. coloured. The publisher, who seems anxi ous to do justice to the picturefque fcenery of his native land, has fo far departed from the bias of national feelings as to have employed English artifts, the prints being executed by Jukes, and the letterprefs difplaying the acknowleged beautiful types of Bulmer.

The two plates in this number do not feem exactly calculated, by the importance of the fubjects, to give a high idea of the pic. REV. Nov. 1795.

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turefque beauties of Scotland: but there is reafon to hope that the felections of scenes will improve, as the publication proceeds; and the lift of fubfcribers befpeak an expectation of an elegant work, and a confidence that it is well founded.

Art. 71. Short Hand made cafy.-The Elementary Principles of Short Hand exemplified in a variety of eafy Leffons, by which a Knowledge of that useful and elegant Art is attainable in a few Hours by the most common Capacity: the whole founded on Nature, Grammar, and true Philofophy. By an eminent Short Hand Writer. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Symonds. 1795.

"The firft aim of language," as Mr. H. Tooke obferves in his Diverfions of Purley," is to communicate our thoughts, the second to do it with dispatch." Nearly the fame may be faid of writing, that its first object is to fet down or record our own thoughts or those of others, the fecond to do it with dispatch. Writing by letters does this very flowly; and the use of abbreviations, marks, characters, and combinations of characters, has been found neceffary to enable the pen in any degree to keep up with the rapidity of difcourfe. Few fhorthand writers are capable of really doing this; partly, perhaps, from their not having made themselves perfect masters of the system which they profefs to follow; and partly from the imperfection of the fyftem itself. The art of fhort-hand writing, or ftenography, admits undoubtedly of confiderable amendment. The author of the treatife before us offers it to the public as an improvement on Wefton's Short Hand published in 1745, and as poffeffing, in a fingular degree, the properties of expedition and legibility. To fpeak pofitively on its merits, we must fet ourselves, as Johnfon ufed to exprefs himself, doggedly to work to learn it, which we have not leisure to do: but, from all the attention which we are able to give it, we are induced to think it a real improvement on prior works of the kind. The method is concife and fimplified; it teaches the art of taking down a whole fentence without lifting off the pen; and, from the view of the fpecimens, we should think that a writer, who was master of it, may easily keep pace with the public orator.

Art. 72. A Narrative of the Infults offered to THE KING, on his Way to and from the House of Lords [Oct. 29]; to which is fubjoined the Proceedings in both Houfes, &c. Svo. IS. Owen. This is not a meagre compilement from the newspapers, but a proper digeft of the materials which thofe and other vehicles of information have afforded, refpecting the horrid outrage mentioned in the title. The narrative is introduced by fome very loyal and indignant remarks and conjectures, relative to the inftigators of the vile affront given, and the farther mischief probably intended, to the person-perhaps even the LIFE-of his Majefty.-The author of the pamphlet feems perfuaded that the attempt was grounded on French machinations, aided by difaffected wretches at home.

Art. 73. The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer; completed in a modern Verfion. Crown 8vo. 3 Vols. 15s. fewed. Robinsons. 1795. The edition of Chaucer's Tales publifhed by Mr. Tyrwhitt leaves nothing to defiderate: it is much to be wished that fome of our blackletter fcholars would reprint, with annotations, the other works of the

father

father of English poetry, as a fupplement to that publication. The object of Mr. Lipfcomb, whofe name is figned to the dedication in thefe volumes, is to extend and perpetuate the reputation of Chaucer in a different manner, by removing the impediments which an obfo. lete dialect opposes to the eafy perufal of his writings. In this endeavour, he was preceded by Mr. Ogle; who, availing himself of the tales which had been re-written by Dryden and Pope, and of the affiftance of Mr. Betterton and others, printed in 1741 a Chaucer modernized. It extended, bating fome change of arrangement, only as far as the first two volumes of this edition; which farther contains Tyrwhitt's Life of Chaucer, his Introductory Difcourfe, and many of his valuable notes.

The admirers of the merry and witty old Bard will, no doubt, hold themselves much obliged to Mr. L. for having completed the celebrated Canterbury Tales in a modern verfion. The lovers of decency will likewife think themfelves, as well as the public in general, farther indebted to the ingenious editor, for pruning away the indelicacies and offenfive paffages of his author * :'-but, from a due regard to the memory of the venerable Chaucer, we would not close this little article without reminding our readers, as Mr. L. very properly does, that the poet's groffnefs is, in a great measure, justly chargeable on THE TIMES in which he lived, and which extended their coarfe influence to writers much poflerior to him; nor can we wonder, as Mr. L. adds, that the ftream which took fuch a length of time to depurate, fhould be turbid at its very source.' Art. 74. An Attempt towards a Defence of Virgil, against the Attacks of J. D'Ifraeli. 8vo. 18. Rivingtons. 1795.

The anonymous author of this pamphlet felt his indignation roused at the attacks of Mr. D'Ifraelit on the great Mantuan Bard, and has repelled them with judgment and ability. The following are Mr. D'Ifraeli's principal objections: 1. Virgil has violated the laws of common fenfe, by his ftrange miracles-fuch as the transformation of Polymneftor's lances into the leaves of a tree-the production of a golden bough from the branch of a tree -the metamorphofis of ships into fea-nymphs. 2. Virgil is alfo condemned for his "cruel piety, in caufing Eneas to immolate eight perfons on the funeral pile of Pallas," 3. He is cenfured for reprefenting his hero" as much too cold, and not a little unfeeling, at his defertion of Dido." 4. For material inconfiftencies and contradictions," which cannot be reconciled." Among these last is a curious one indeed.

We are told that "Virgil is fallen into a grofs error, when hê compares Orpheus deploring the lofs of his beloved Eurydice with the nightingale who regrets the lofs of her young. He first makes the nightingale fing in the fhade of a poplar- Populeâ mærens Philomela fub umbrâ," -and directly after this fong is a nocturnal fong-" flet noctem.”"How can the night and the fhade of the poplar meet together? Befides, the nightingale ceases to fing, when it is delivered of its young."

The Miller's and the Reeve's Tales are both wholly omitted. In the first volume of his " Curiofities of Literature." It should be, as the anfwerer juftly obferves, a golden branch from the bough of a tree; or rather a small twig-lento vimine ramus.

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