Art. 46. An argumentative Appeal addressed to the Right Reverend the Bishops, and the Body of the Parochial Clergy, on the Modes of raifing Money for the Improvement of Church-Lands, in Cafes of Enclofure; fuggefting a Plan lefs exceptionable than any hitherto adopted. By B. N. Turner, M. A. Author of the Candid Suggestions in Answer to the late Mr. Jenyns's Difquifitions, &c. 8vo. Is. 6d. White, &c. 1788.

In cafes of inclofure, difburfements are required to improve the land taken in; and Mr. Turner contends, that in thefe difburfements, the incumbent, who is only tenant for life, finks property. in which his heirs have an intereft, for the benefit of an eftate in which they have none, and for the emolument of strangers: which, in the event of his speedy decease, is an undoubted hardship on his family. A remedy has indeed been provided, by the grant of a power to borrow the neceffary fum on the premifes, to be paid off by instalments in twenty-one years; but this remedy appears to Mr.. Turner defective, because, should the incumbent have the ill-luck to outlive the twenty-one years, he will have paid all the money off, and as truly have funk it from his family, as if he had died in the first year without any fuch provifion. He is therefore for extending the term of liquidation to forty-one, ninety-nine years, or for ever; but the plan he deems most unexceptionable, is to fell a portion of the allotment for the purpofe of improving the remainder.

4to.

Art. 47. The Bee; or, the Exhibition exhibited in a new Light:" being a Catalogue-Raifonné of all the Pictures, with Comments, Illuftrations, and Remarks. Is. 6d. Hooper. 1788. This companion to the catalogue of the pictures, &c. in the ex-, hibition at the Royal Academy, is, in general, executed with candour and taste. The author has prefixed fome brief obfervations on the principles of painting, which may be of fome ufe to thofe who do not pretend to be connoiffeurs.

Art. 48. Extracts from the Album at Streatham; or Minifterial Amusements. To which are added, The Bulfe, a Pindaric Ode, and Jekyll, an Eclogue. 4to. 2s. Ridgeway. 1788. It has been faid, that "wit is of no party;" but it feems, of late, to have attached itself to the OUTS: who, not being, like Abel in the Committee, overburthened, neck and fhoulders with the weighty affairs of ftate,' have nothing to do but to amuse themselves, and the Public, with the pleasures of imagination. In confequence of this their learned leifure,' they have here given us a companion to the Rolliad, and the Probationary Odes. The ins are again the objects of ridicule; but they ftill fay, or fing, to the old tune of Those that are cut, may pout;

But we that are in, will grin.'

There is really wit, and mirth, and ingenuity, in thefe new-fashioned fatires. We cannot even guess at the authors; but, whoever they are, we are obliged to them for some hearty laughs, thofe fillips of

* See Rev. Vol. Ixvii. p. 390.

↑ Mr. Steele's hofpitable manfion is at Streatham.

Hh 2

the

the mind, which we do not often meet with in our literary walks, fome of which are dull and dreary enough!-The Gentlemen who figure in this exhibition are, the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Grenville, Colonel Barré, Mr. Dundas, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Drake, Mr. Wilkes, Lord Hawkesbury, Sir Jofeph Mawbey, Marquis of Landfdown, Sir Gregory Page Turner, Lord Weftcote, Mr. Minchin, Lord Mulgrave, Mr. Wilberforce, and Major Scott.

EDUCATION, &c.

Written for the 12mo. 1S.

Art. 49. Midfummer Holydays; or, a Long Story. Improvement and Entertainment of young Folk. half-bound. Marshall. 1788. "Semper idem" was once facetiously tranflated "worse and worfe:" in the prefent application of it, however, it will better fuit our purpose, and our grave characters, to ftick to the old pike-staff meaning of it-" always the fame," or, rather, "when you have feen one, you have feen all;"-that is, when you- but we will leave our Readers to apply this to the Midfummer Holydays,' for we have already noticed the fimilarity of these little books: though, as their refemblance is fo ftrong, it may be fome confolation to know, that they are all GOOD likeneffes-of good originals.

THEOLOGY.

Art. 50. Practical Sermons, preached at Hendon in Middlesex. By W. M. Trinder, LL. B. and M. D. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Riving

tons.

Perhaps the practical tendency of thefe difcourfes, and the apparent good intention of the Author, ought to screen them from the severity of criticifm; but it is neceffary that we guard thofe who may happen to read them, against an error into which the writer's mifplaced zeal might poffibly lead them. When Dr. T. in his fermon on education, quotes a large extract from the Act of Uniformity, 14 Car. II. in which reftrictions are laid upon fchoolmasters, and pathetically laments that this wife at hath been for many years either but little regarded, or elle totally forgotten,' and calls upon the legisla ture to enforce it; he ought to have known, and to have informed his readers, that by a wifer ac, paffed in the prefent reign, fchoolmafters are enabled to put themselves under the protection of law, without renouncing the Solemn League and Covenant, or binding themselves to conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England. Art. 51. A Charge and Sermon, together with a Confeffion of Faith, delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Mr. George Birley, October 18th, 1786, at St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. 8vo. is. Buckland.

The above charge contains much ferious and good advice (rather of a Calvinistical caft), by Mr. Dan. Taylor. The fermon alfo is marked by the peculiarity of its Author. Who, but Mr. Robinfon, on fuch an occafion, would have chofen for his fubject, Prov. xxvii. 10. Thine own friend and thy father's friend, forfake not. Whence the preacher defcants on the nature and original of the Chriftian church, the difcipline of which,' he fays, arofe of itself out of

the

How

the condition of equality into which Jefus put his difciples. effential,' he afterwards adds, is friendship to the execution of its offices? An hireling may walk his round, and pace the circles in godly guife, but the unpurchafeable feelings of friendship never warmed the breast of an hireling, The Confeffion, which finishes this pamphlet, feems to be, on the whole, what is deemed orthodox (although it rejects the word perfon refpecting the Trinity), and at the fame time, has the air of candour and liberality.

Art. 52. The Impropriety of open Communion or mixed Communion between Baptifts and Pado-Baptifts in the Lord's Supper. 12mo. 2d.

Afh.

This little piece does not require much of our attention. The Author is warmly zealous against the practice mentioned above; but we muft ever believe that a kind and charitable difpofition in our different fectaries, toward each other, is of much higher importance than any uniformity and exactness as to particular modes and opinions.

Art. 53. Philofophical and Critical Inquiries concerning Chriftianity. By M. Charles Bonnet of Geneva, F. R. S. Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, &c. Tranflated by John Lewis Boiffier, Efq. 8vo. 6s. Boards. Stockdale, &c. 1787.

A part of M. Bonnet's excellent work, entitled, Recherches PhiloSophiques fur les Preuves du Chriftianifme, was lately tranflated under the title of Interefting Views of Chriftianity. This volume is a new tranflation from the fame work, including, befides what was before tranflated, the Author's obfervations on the nature of teftimony and the characters of credibility. Still, however, the first part of this work, expreffing M. Bonnet's peculiar notions concerning miracles, as a part of the great chain of events comprehended within the action of the laws of nature, remains untranflated. We fee no good reafon for this omiffion, and cannot help withing that this ingenious work had been prefented to the English reader without abridgment or mutilation. The tranflator has executed his task faithfully. Art. 54. Practical Sermons. Selected and abridged from various Authors. By J. Charlesworth, M. A. late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Vol. I. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Boards. Johnson. 1788. The flyle of preaching has, of late years, undergone fo material an alteration, that many fermons of the last period, though abounding in good fenfe and juft obfervation, are in great danger of being thrown afide, as obfolete. This is partly owing to the method of divifion which was at that time in univerfal ufe, and partly to the diffuse and prolix manner in which fermons were then commonly written. The only expedient for refcuing thefe ufeful writings from oblivion, is to republish the most valuable parts of them, in fome contracted form, accommodated to modern tafte. This talk was, fome time ago, in part executed by Dr. Enfield, in a compilation called The English Preacher. But nothing farther was attempted in that publication, than to abridge fome of the best practical difcourfes, and diveft them of the formality of divifions and fubdivifions. The tyle of each author was preferved with very few variations. Mr. Charlesworth has taken up the fame defign, and has proceeded much

farther,

farther. He has, without fcruple, made fuch alterations, as he has judged to be improvements; contracting the diffuse, fimplifying the figurative, and reducing the whole to one uniform character. The confequence is, that the reader no longer recognizes the diftinguishing features of Hoadley, Balguy, Orr, Carr, Duchal, Leechman, Bourn, &c. but every where difcovers the afpect and manner of the Editor. These liberties, taken with authors living as well as dead, may be thought too bold: but the Editor's good intention ought, perhaps, to be admitted as a fatisfactory apology. His compilation, or compofition, confits of a series of practical difcourfes, happily adapted to the comprehenfion of the multitude.

Should Mr. C. go on with his plan, his readers will wish to be referred to the feveral writers from whofe works the fermons are extracted, that they may have an opportunity of fettling the refpective claims of the original authors and the Editor. To Mr. Charlesworth, the public is indebted (as we are informed) for the 2d, 5th, and 11th difcourfes.

1. The Slave Trade inconfiftent with Reafon and Religion. Preached in the Parish Church of Tottenham, Middlesex, March 16, 1788. By Thomas Bradshaw, D. D. 4to. IS. Richardfon, &c.

Doctor Bradshaw addreffes this publication to THE CHANCELLOR, imploring his interference in behalf of the wretched Africans. A parliamentary inveligation,' he adds, will foon take place. Suffer me to perfuade your Lordship to ftand forth the avowed champion of humanity; and let your influence be exerted to prevent a British fenate from being any longer difgraced, by giving their fanction to a traffic fo difhonourable, unmerciful, and unjust.

-We cannot but commend the zeal of our Author, for the natural rights of mankind. In repeating the ufual arguments, lately urged, against the Chriftian practice of enslaving the Africans, he enforces them by fome obfervations that are lefs common; and he particularly contends (in oppofition to thofe who affirm that the Blacks are an inferior race of beings, deftined to be the slaves of their fuperiors) that they want nothing but culture, to raise them to a rank, in the fcale of rational beings, equal to the white nations, who prefume to lord it over them, with fo high a conceit of their own fuperiority.

II. Preached at Charlotte Chapel, Pimlico, March 25th, 1787, on the Death of Thomas Moffatt, M. D. late of New London, in Connecticut, who died at Grofvenor Place, in the Parish of St. George, Hanover Square, in the 8th Year of his Age. By Samuel Peters, A. M. 4to. Bond. [No Price.]

Dr. Moffat was one, who, with other Loyalifts, left North America during the late troubles, and probably loft great part of his fubftance. His behaviour and fpirit in life and in death, were, according to this writer, exemplary and praife-worthy. This dif courfe at his funeral, fometimes difcovers good fenfe and reafon, and is at others rather confufed and incomprehenfible. The author

is, however, no advocate for faith without works, but infifts on the neceffity of religious obedience. He feems defirous of reftraining the pen of criticifm, when he tells the public, Should the performance be thought too much below the zenith of modern perfection among the acute, an appeal may be made to the humble and contrite, who are more fond of the praife of God, than of the applaufe of men.' After this, we have nothing to add but that the text is to be found in Romans viii. 2.

III. Intended to enforce the Reasonablenefs and Duty, on Chriftian as well as Political Principles, of the Abolition of the African Slave Trade. By the Rev. J. M. 8vo. Is. Johnfon. 1788. We know not whether this difcourfe was ever preached to any congregation, nor who is meant by the initials 7. M.; but we underftand that the profits of the publication are appropriated to the benevolent defign of the Society inftituted in London, for the purpose of effecting the abolition of the Slave Trade.' — May the good defign of the Author be answered!

IV. On the Duty of Forgiveness; abridged from the late Rev. R. Needham, M. A. together with a fhort Difcourfe on Prayer. By a Member of the Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge. 12mo. Price 3d. or 18s. an Hundred. Johnfon. Thefe fermons are printed from the volume lately published by Mr. Charlesworth, in a cheap form, for the benefit of the poor. *See Review, p. 445.

CORRESPONDENCE.

In our laft Number, notice was taken of one part of a letter from S. P. W.; but we were at that time prevented from replying to the other part, by the want of an immediate opportunity of communicating it to the gentleman principally concerned in its contents. From that Gentleman we have fince received a note, to the following effect: -Every fcholar who has perufed the Carmen antamœbaum in clentem Bellendeni Editorem will certainly agree with the Monthly Reviewers, in their account of it. To the unfupported cenfure of S. P. W. no regard is due. His Letter is written in fuch a ftyle as renders it rather difguftful, than worthy of critical attention. This Correfpondent fhould be reminded, that the character of the Monthly Review depends only on the fuffrages of those who are really capable of eftimating the CANDOUR and LEARNING with which fuch publications ought to be and are conducted; and not on the judgment of one H, the oracle of S. P. W.

*t A Letter from the very ingenious Author of ' Obfervations on Picturefque Beauty' (See our laft, p. 314.) very politely acknowleges the propriety of most of our strictures on his Tour; but he apprehends that, in one refpect, we have not done him complete juftice. We fhall print this part of his Letter, without any comment; leaving our Readers to their own judgment on the point. You think, fays Mr. G. that I labour the point of grouping too much. But you will be pleafed to obferve, I fay little on the head of fimple

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grouping;