of their refpective families muft depend; by their virtuous lives, the virtue of the community be preferved; and from the decent behaviour. of this humble clafs of perfons together, the very character of the nation be deduced." P. 9.

ART. 36. A Sermon on the peculiar Neceffity of renewed and vigorous Exertions on the Part of the Clergy, in the prefent extraordinary Conjuncture, for the Support of Religion, Peace, and Order, in the Chriftian World: preached at the Primary Vifitation of the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Chichester, August 20, 1798. By J. Lettice, D. D. Vicar of Peafmarsh in Suffex; and late Fellow of Sidney-Suffex College, Cambridge. 4to. 19 pp. 1s. Clarke, New Bond Street. 1798. The text, Ifaiah xl, 31, "is fuppofed, in the fpirit of prophecy, to refer to the apostles and firft preachers of the Gofpel; who fhould, in a future time, as the verfe proceeds to state, mount up with wings as eagles, fhould run and not be weary, fhould walk and not faint. It expreffes, in this lively and figurative ftyle, the indefatigable ardour and perfeverance with which, after the death and afcenfion of their Divine Mafter, they fhould profecute the mighty bufinefs to which they were called, preaching Chrift amidst perfecutions, perils, and martyrdom, and every where proclaiming his kingdom" P. 3. From this and other inftances in the hiftory of the Church, it appears, that éonjunctures do arife, during which the minifters of the altar-thofe who"wait upon the Lord," are more peculiarly called upon for a renewal of their ftrength,-for the beft exertion of their faculties in the cause of religion. The preacher then shows, that the present state of the Chriftian world offers one of thofe conjunctures: 2dly, he enquires, in what confifts the characteristic ftrength of the minifters of our religion, with fome view to the priefthood of our own church; and laftly, what are the specific objects to which, in these times, we are moft concerned to apply the renewal of our ftrength." P. 5.

The 1ft topic is difcuffed briefly, but judiciously; the 2nd fomewhat thetorically; the 3d very feasonably and usefully; and the whole discourse deserves attention, not only from the ministers of the established church, but of every other Chriftian fociety. In the concluding fentence, the preacher's eloquence feems to carry him one step too far: "On the iffue of the combat inay depend the very exiftence of ^Chriftianity, with that of every temporal blefling; the liberty, order, peace, property, and welfare of half the world in this and future generations." P. 19.

ART. 37. The Faithful Soldier, and True Chriftian, and the Mileries of Rebellion; confidered in Two Sermons, preached at the Parish Church of All-Saints, Northampton, September 9, 1798. By the Rev. William Agutter, A. M. Chaplain and Secretary to the Asylum. 8vo. 24 pp. 6d. Rivingtons. 1798.

The first Sermon, on the II. Tim. ii. 3, fhows, that, as men "endare hardness" to become foldiers in the literal fenfe, they should do fo, to become "good foldiers of Jefus Chrift.'

The

The fecond Sermon, on I. Sam. xv. 23, fets forth the causes and calamities of rebellion, and the cures for them.

Thefe Sermons breathe the spirit of piety well known to actuate the author, but belong to the tlafs of thofe which fatisfy the hearers more than the readers.

ART. 38. A Sermon, on the Influence of Religion in promoting the Peace and Profperity of Kingdoms aud States. 4to. 24 pp. 15. 6d. Longman, and Wright. 1798.

A Dedication extending to 12 pages, and an Appendix to 6, are fomewhat difproportioned to a difcourfe of 18 pages. The first, however, mixes wholefome advice with high compliments to Mr. Pitt; and the difcourfe itfelf difplays much pious and patriotic zeal, in a flyle unexceptionable, but greatly deformed by the confpiring negligence of the printer, and the corrector of the prefs.

ART. 39. A Philofophic Difcourfe on Providence: addreffed to the Modern Philofophers of Great Britain. By the Rev. Mr. Archard, Author of the Efay on the French Nability, &c. 8vo. 35 PPs rs. Johnfon. 1798.

After making Christianity a fyftem of complete fatalism, this author fays" it would be difficult, for the moft acute reafoner, to discover any effential difference" between it and Stoicifm. It is very much to be wished, that divines would not preach upon topics which few or no congregations can understand; and especially, unless they can be fure that they themselves comprehend them.

ART. 40. Morning and Evening Prayers for the Ufe of Individuals; to which are added, Prayers on particular Subjects. Printed at the Expence of the Society of Unitarian Chriftians, eftablished in the Weft of England, for promoting Chriftian Knowledge, and the Practice, of Virtue, by the Diftribution of Books. 12mo. 25. Johnfon. 1799.

This volume contains a number of devout and energetic addresses to the Deity, and are intended for the benefit of Unitarian Societies. The laft prayer is perhaps the beft. The title-page explains the reft; and informs us alfo, how diligent the Unitarians are in fpreading their mutilated Christianity.

POLITICS.

ART. 41. The Queftion as it flood in March, 1798. 8vo. 24 PP. 18. Faulder. 1798.

The numerous political writings which continually prefs on our attention, render it fcarcely poffible for us to keep pace, even with such as are of a temporary nature; hence " The Queftion as it flood in March, 1798," comes to be examined in April, 1799. Without tak ing advantage of fubfequent events, we fhall revert in idea to that period.

The

The object of the tract is, to throw all the odium of the war, both in its commencement and continuation, on this country, and completely to exculpate France. This patriotic design is here, as in other tracts, taken up for the fake of fixing blame upon the ministry. The ground is too much beaten for us to go over it again; and it has been repeatedly thown, that a totally different state of the Queftion may very easily be given. We do not even affent to the preliminary affertion," that in the year 1792 we might have dictated a pacification to the contending parties; or, if that failed, a well-ordered and a well-armed neutrality would have kept us in peace." The contrary was evidently proved, not only by the general conduct of the French leaders at that period, but by the fubfequent and exprefs declarations of Dumouriez, Briffot, and others. The author goes back even to the refufal of our court to mediate between the French and allies, and argues from it an hoftile difpofition towards France. But the reductions which took place at that period, both in the taxes and naval establishments, afford a much more certain proof of the expectation and defire of peace. We are told, that in objecting to the decree of December 27, 1792, our miniftry complained only of a principle or fuppofed difpofition on which no act was founded. Has the writer forgotten the exprefs orders given to the French Generals to enforce the decree; or the addreffes publicly received, and answered by the Prefident of the Convention, from the difaffected fubjects of England?or were these not acts? Objection is made alfo to the Alien Bill, as a violation of the Commercial Treaty; but the powers given by that bill had been long exercifed in France, both in demanding paffports, and fending away foreigners at pleasure, without any complaint or fufpicion of infracted treaties. This writer afterwards, like others of the fame ftamp, imputes inconfiftency to the minifters, in offering laiterly to treat with France. But every public declaration of our government, uniformly intimated a readiness to treat, whenever France should have established a regular conftitution; and fuch an establishment, though fince violated, and almost destroyed, was formed in 1796.

We have now faid enough to how the fpirit and temper of this tract; and fhall only add, that the talents of the writer are evidently fuch as would entitle him to refpect, were they employed in any better way than that of apologizing for our inveterate enemies, and giving a fresh glofs to fophiftries a thousand times refuted.

ART. 42. A brief Examination into the Increase of the Revenue, Com merce, and Manufactures of Great Britain, from 1792 to 1799. By George Rofe, Efq. Third Edition. 8vo. 77 pp. 25. Wright, 169, Piccadilly.. 1799.

So very important, at the prefent period, is this authentic and official view of the wonderful refources of this country, that not having been able to find a place for it this prefent month, in the more confpicuous part of our Review, we fhall here only announce the intention of more largely detailing its refults in our next number. In the mean time, they who with for information fo very encouraging to us, and fo con founding to our enemies, whether foreign or domeftic, will not wait

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BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XIII, APRIL, 1799.

for

for our further recommendation in order to provide themselves with a tract of fo decifive a nature. Our bufinefs will be to preserve this very curious record in the most convenient form, referring for particulars and proofs to the publication itself.

(To be confidered more at large in our next.)

ART. 43. Application of Barruel's Memoirs of Jacobinifm to the fecret Societies of Ireland and Great Britain. By the Translator of that Work. 8vo. 72 pp. 19. 6d. Booker, No. 56, New Bond-Street. 1798.

The body of this tract is the fame as a note fubjoined to the fourth volume of Barruel's Memoirs, by the tranflator, and mentioned by us at the close of our critique on that book. It is here prefaced by twenty-two pages of preliminary obfervations, giving a very clear and excellent general view of M. Barruel's whole work. Nothing can be better adapted for general circulation and inftruction.

The note itfelf (and confequently the tract) contains the best abstract we have ever feen of the late Report of the Secret Committee, illuftrated by the most appofite and important remarks. On the treafonable addrefs of the Secret Committee of England to the Executive Direc tory of France, produced at Maidstone, thefe fpirited obfervations are fubjoined: "What (purious breed of Englishmen are these? What race of Englishmen have fuffered themselves to be led away by fuch -bafe-born cowards? Is it in the life-time of a Howe, a Hood, a Bridport, a St. Vincent, a Duncan, or a Nelfon, that they dare invite thefe enemies of the human race (the, French) to come and pillage this flourishing country? Are the fans culottes then to lord it in London ftreets, bearing on pikes, in fanguinary triumph, the heads of the best men in England, with the hideous yell of equality and liberty? Vainly fhall fuch fycophants, in the hope of partaking of the general pillage and of defpoiling their fellow-countrymen (for from the King to the peafant all are declared monopolizers) (pread the terror of French arms, and the impoffibility of refifting them. No, far be from us fuch teachers and fuoh leaders, who only beguile the unheedyt to lead them to beggary, wretchedness, or the gallows. Englishmen are loyal, manly, and brave and when once they have unmasked thefe infidious brethren they need never doubt of victory." Very glad are we to fee this note thus published in a feparate form, as we think it likely to produce an excellent effect.

•ART.44. Letters of the Ghaft of Alfred, addreffed to the Hon. Thomas Erfeine, and the Hon. Charles James Fox, on the Occafion of the State Frials at the Clofe of the Year 1794, and the Beginning of the Lear 1795. 8vo. 125 pp. 25. Wright. 1798.

The object of thefe Letters (which were firft publifhed in the paper called the True Briton) cannot be more justly stated than in the Ad

* See p. 397.

† A word almoft obfolete, though used by Shakspeare and Milton. vertisement

vertisement to this publication. It was, " to preferve the adminiftration of justice in its genuine purity-to vindicate the principles of English jurifprudence refpecting the crime of High Treafon-to correct the irregular, indecent, and unconftitutional practices of advo cates to rescue Trial by Jury from fallacies and false doctrines," &c.

&c.

These feveral topics are difcuffed with great force of argument, and in very energetic language. Of the Letters (which are nine in number) the four firft are addreffed to Mr. Erskine, and contain fevere ftrictures on his conduct as an Advocate on the State Trials alluded to; in laying down the law to the Jury upon his own authority, and with out deference to the Judge; and in avowing the dangerous doctrine, that the people have a right to change their government at pleasure. They alfo contain the most conclufive arguments that a verdict of acquittal, though it protects the accufed from all legal confequences of guilt, by no means clears him from all fufpicion, or moral imputation, unlefs fuch a conclufion be perfectly warranted by evidence, Still lefs can it prove, as was most unaccountably afferted, that no confpiracy exifted; a fact which clearly appeared, from the Report of the Committee of the Houfe of Commons, from the finding of the Grand Jury, and from the evidence produced on the trials,

In the Letters to Mr. Fox, the writer enters more fully into the ge neral conduct of Oppofition; on which he is very fevere, ftating in ftrong terms the mifchiefs produced by their perpetual attempts to mifreprefent the defigns, and embarrafs the measures of government, and particularly by the countenance given to the dangerous principles of the French Revolution. The Treafon and Sedition Bills are very ably stated and vindicated. As fo many of our readers must recollect thefe Letters in their original form, we forbear from faying more than that they contain (in our opinion) very juft and constitutional fentiments, expreffed with animation and eloquence. We have before mentioned our opinion (p. 402) that they proceed from the pen of Mr., Bowles,

ART. 45. Competency of the Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland. to incorporate their Legislatures; with fome Remarks upon the Debate in the Irish Houfe of Commons upon the Addrefs. By the Author of The Neceffity of an Incorporate Union between Great Britain and Ireland. Svo. 44 PP. Is. Wright. 1799.

The able writer of "The Neceffity of an Incorporate Union," having in that tract omitted to notice the objection against the competency of Parliament, not being aware (as it seems) that fuch an objection could arife, here undertakes to refute it. After fome prelimi nary obfervations (on which he is very jocular on a late publication, of Earl Stanhope's) he enters on an examination of the question; which, as he flates it, is fimply, "Whether the Legiflature of both countries, have, each for its own nation, powers (under the contract fuppofed to exist between them and their people) to affent to an incorporate. Union ?"

This point is difcuffed, not merely on authority and example, but upon principle and reafon; although the author very juftly expreffes his reluctance to enter into abftract and metaphyfical queftions; the agitation

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of