occasion, and, when the reckoning is called, two sneak out of the room without paying their shares, how must the deficiency be made up, but by a fresh call on the honest part of the company? Would not such conduct be deemed infamous in common life, and private wrongs on sufferers, by such baseness? What holds good of twenty is equally true if extended to hundreds, to thousands, or millions.'

Unfortunately for our author's purpose, of the persons who evade the taxes, or smuggle, many of them have not, either by themselves or their representatives, agreed to the imposition of them; and it is, we imagine, to this circumstance-overlooked by the writer-that a debt to the governments of most nations has never been considered in the light of a debt to an individual. The governors, however, are placed in a still worse light, on this subject, than the governed.

• Government is in the situation of a minor, that must and will raise money upon any terms, however hard or ruinous; and the oftener he is driven to the necessity of borrowing, on the worse terms he will borrow; the oftener he is obliged to anticipate his revenue, or pledge his reversionary interest, the sooner will his means be exhausted, his credit shaken, and himself involved in inextricable ruin.' P. 40.

In pleading at the bar, the barrister is not so anxious for the reputation of his client as the gaining of his cause; but, at the tribunal now appealed to, better language and better arguments are required.

ART. 18.-An Investigation of Mr. Morgan's Comparative View of the public Finances, from the Beginning to the Close of the late Administration. By Daniel Wakefield, Esq. 8vo. Is. 6d. Rivingtons.

1801.

The writer conceives the ex-minister to have been the ablest financier this country ever saw ;' and the income-tax is with him an object of praise, as a measure boldly conceived and happily executed.' The sense of the people has been taken on the latter subject; and the terms in which the income-tax is reprobated-terms by no means too severe for so detestable a measure-may in some degree counterbalance the panegyric here produced on the measure and its author. According to him, the calculations of Mr. Morgan are all wrong, and every thing that Mr. Pitt has done is right! It is a vain attempt, however, in our author to depreciate the merits of Mr. Morgan as a calculator: and to talk of Mr. Pitt enlarging the liberty of the empire' is such a complete burlesque on the late administration, that, for some time, we almost doubted whether the writer was in a sportive or a serious mood. The concluding period shows off our author to the best advantage.

6

• I then call on my country not to grow weary of the race till the course be run-not to shrink from supporting government in the arduous task of bringing the war, by means of efficient exertions, and

a vigorous prosecution of the contest, to a successful termination, by a peace consonant to the glory, and promoting the interests of the country.' . 67.

r.

ART. 19.-An Address to every Class of British Subjects, and particularly to the Legislators and Colonists of the British Empire; in which some Observations are offered on the Nature and Effects of the Slave-Trade, and a new Mode of Abolition; humbly recommended to the Notice of the Public. By Dennis Reid, Esq. of the Island of Jamaica. 8vo. IS. Stockdale. 1802.

We agree entirely with the author, that the slave-trade is against the policy, honour, and religion of the nation.' We should be happy to hear that parliament had determined that this wicked and detestable trade should not be continued for more than three years longer; but we are not sanguine upon this subject; nor do we expect to see its abolition flow from any effort on this side the Atlantic. Our writer justly considers the interference of the British parliament in the internal regulation of the colonies as improper. But the question of the abolition of the slave-trade has nothing to do with internal regulation; for the whole the British parliament need attempt, is to regulate the conduct of British subjects on the high seas. Perhaps, after all, no law is necessary; and if the money expended in futile efforts to obtain an act of parliament had been employed in bringing before a court of justice a few captains of Guinea-men, for their misconduct towards both blacks and whites in their vessels, this wicked traffic would by this time have ceased to disgrace the nation.

RELIGION.

ART. 20.-A Sermon preached before the honourable House of Commons, at the Church of St. Margaret, Westminster, on Tuesday, June 1, 1802, being the Day appointed for a general Thanksgiving. By William Vincent, D. D. &c. 4to. Is. 6d. Cadell and Davies. 1802. A politico-philosophic discussion on the revolution of France, which would suit St. Stephen's chapel just as well as St. Margaret's church. The general tenor of it may be collected from the splendid introduced by the author for the express purpose of enlipassages vening his discourse.

We have lived to see a great nation renounce Christianity and embrace heathenism; and again revert from heathenism to submit once more to the empire of the Gospel.

• We have been engaged in a contest with this nation, such as Europe never before experienced; we have finished it in victory, and concluded it with peace, P. 5.

More blood was shed in France during seven years under the mild dominion of philosophy, than in the last seven hundred years of Christianity. The belief of a God is a principle as generally fixed in the human breast as the love of life itself. We® (that is

the English nation) know nothing of first principles, or regeneration, or even reformation. The war has ended on our side with victory, and the undoubted sovereignty of the sea.'-It is needless to point out the various fallacies in the positions thus advanced by the preacher, or to expatiate on the encomiums bestowed by him upon his own nation. Flattery ought not to be the language of the pulpit. Suffice it to observe, that the crimes of the revolution are laid to the charge of philosophy-a most absurd and unfounded assertion; that not one word is said of the abominable system and superstition of monastic vows, or the intolerance of popery which prevailed before the revolution; and that, when religio. is mentioned, it is so strangely characterised, that an uninformed reader might suppose the French had not only formerly rejected, but had now returned to, a system of religion founded on the Scriptures, instead of the idle traditions of the Romish see. The revolution in France is doubtless a great lesson to all mankind; but the proper use of it is to teach every state to examine its religious practices, and to see that it supports nothing contrary to the will and the word of God. Cambyses was the instrument in the hands of the Almighty for destroying the outrageous superstition of the Egyptians: and when any nation is sunk so low, that the grossest frauds are upheld by the superiors of a state, a few may be preserved by reason from the delusion; but the hand of force, from within or from without, is necessary to recall the infatuated mass to its

senses.

ART. 21.-A Sermon on the Peace: preached at Barnstaple, on the First of June, 1802. By the Rev. Richard Taprell. 4to. 15. Mawman. 1802.

On perusing the first sentence, we seemed to have made a mistake, and to have taken up his majesty's speech instead of a sermon.

With unfeigned lips I first thank my God, and next I congratu late my people, on the happy occasion of this meeting.' P. 5.

The events of the war are enumerated in their order; and the preacher of Christ crucified gave from the pulpit the following description of the battle of the Nile-a short account having been previously presented of four other naval victories.

L

In the year 1798, the French fleet was again defeated, with the loss of eleven sail of the line, and two frigates, by that gallant officer, lord Nelson. The battle of the Nile was, perhaps, one of the most glorious that was ever won since battles first began to be fought. The skill with which it was contrived, the cool and steady ardour with which the plan was pursued, and the bold and daring courage which was displayed throughout the engagement, all conspired to produce the wonderful effect, and to insure the success which followed; and their combined efficacy terminated in an event, which the annals of this country will record to the never-ending honour of the actors in that great scene-an event, which seems to be of itself singly sufficient to raise a nation's name, and to establish a

#ell-earned fame for valour and prowess, to many succeeding generations.' P. 15.

After some reflexions on war of a more Christian kind, and a pane gyric on the duke of Bedford, the preacher recollects himself, and mounts to higher thoughts: I conclude with reminding you of the author of all our blessings.'-We could have wished for more of this reminding, and less of newspaper intelligence, from a Christian pulpit. ART. 22.-A Sermon, preached at Mill-Hill Chapel, in Leeds, on the late Day of Thanksgiving, for the Restoration of Peace. Published at the Request of the Congregation. By William Wood, F. L. S. 8006 Is. Johnson. 1802.

War is considered, in its true colours, as a great national evil; and the preacher wisely abstains from entering into the merits of the contending parties. He rejoices at the return of peace as a true Christian, and leaves its opponents to discuss its political merits by themselves; while he surveys, in a very different point of view, the true interests of the nation.

But what are political interest and mercantile concerns, when weighed in the balance against the sacred principles of the Gospel of Christ, and the divine affections of humanity? Away with the lit tleness of national honour, when it is arrogantly opposed to the ge neral welfare of mankind. Our best treasures are our fertile vallies and well-cultivated plains, our numerous flocks and herds, our mountains rich in mineral ores, our industrious activity, our ingenious arts, our deep-laden ships which traverse every ocean of the globe, our chartered rights, our equal laws, our civil and religious liberties. If these be faithfully preserved, duly improved, and wisely exercised, we can never cease to be happy.' | P. 16.

ART. 23.-A Sermon, preached at the Cathedral Church of Winchester, on Tuesday the 1st of June, 1802, being the Day appointed to be observed as a general Thanksgiving for the Restoration of Peace. By the Rev. John Garnett, A. M. Sc. 8vo. 25. Cadell and Davies.

1802.

This discourse was not intended for publication; and is published in compliance with the request of some, and the wishes of the whole, of the audience. Upon several ifs is made to depend the purity of our national conscience.

If the conduct of this country, in the commencement, prosecution, and conclusion of the momentous struggle in which she has been engaged, has been consistent with justice and humanity, with faith and honor, with firmness and moderation; if no wicked schemes of aggrandisement, no plans of conquest, no paltry contentions for dominion, prevailed with us either to begin or prolong the contest; but, on the contrary, if we were compelled to engage in it by the only causes by which war can be justified, both external and internal aggressions; if we embraced with eagerness and sincerity all op portunities of pacification, whenever the government of our adver saries wore the appearance of stability and consistence

P. 4.

War is justly considered as a calamity; yet

Reason cannot disapprove, nor does Christianity condemn the voice of him who calls upon his countrymen to protect with their swords, their government, their property, their religion, and their laws.' P. 6.

The preacher might just as well have said that Christianity does not condemn the putting of quassia into our beer instead of hops. Christianity leaves the civil concerns of life to the proper directors, and interferes only with the spiritual: it has nothing at all to do with carnal weapons; and the voice of him who declares war with our Justs and passions is her chief delight. It being established that Christians may go to war in defence of their government, their property, their religion, and laws, the next step is easy-to show that these were all in danger, and, of course, that the war was just and necessary. Our army and navy now receive due encomiums; which, moreover, are not denied to the volunteers who took up arms in defence of their country. The nation is next praised for its conduct to the French emigrants and the French prisoners; and the French emigrants are also praised for their conduct towards their benefactors,

To the magnanimity of our parliament and the seasonable and intrepid exertions of our government may, under Providence, be ascribed, whatever of strength and solidity the civil and religious establishments of Europe at present retain. The barrier thus raised and supported against the overwhelming torrent of those principles, the folly and madness of which have at length been felt and understood in the very country that gave them birth, has secured to the civilised world the possession of social order and rational subordination.' r. 18.

The affairs of Ireland come on in their turn; and if the restless or insidious character of our late adversaries' should provoke us again, they are given to understand what they may expect. Some religious reflexions are now introduced; and the end is more worthy of the preacher of peace and righteousness than the beginning.

ART. 24. Reflections on War. A Sermon, preached at the Baptist Meeting, Cambridge, on Tuesday, June 1, 1802, being the Day of Thanksgiving for a general Peace. By Robert Hall, A. M. 8vo. Is. Button. 1802.

This sermon was preached for the benefit of an institution established at Cambridge for sick and aged poor, whose first set of regulations appear to us excellent; while an additional resolution, voted after the formation of the general plan, militates against the title and character of the institution itself. By this last resolution, whenever the funds amount to thirty pounds, and the annual subscriptions to sixty, other objects, besides the sick and aged poor, may receive benefactions. Now, as these objects are not defined, an institution of this kind is liable to great abuse. We shall be happy to hear that the society has annulled this by-law, and that it deter◄