and well suited to the occasion on which it was preached. It is taken, with many additions and alterations, from 'Sermons sur divers Textes de l'Ecriture Sainte, par Charles Bertheau, Pastour de P'Eglise Francoise de Londres.' In our Review for June 1805, we noticed a volume of serious by the same writer, which, like this, are taken from the French. ART. 16.-4 Sermon preached on Occasion of the late Naval Victory, in the Parish Church of Wellington, Sulop (November 10th, 1805). By the Rev. J. Eyton. Svo. pp. 30. 18. Crosby. 1805. THE zeal of Mr. Eyton induced him to anticipate the day appointed by his majesty for a general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the late signal and important victory, which gave occasion to the present sermon, and of which indeed it gives rather a detailed account. It, however, contains sentiments of unfeigned piety, and earnestly inculcates the very necessary and comfortable, but very forgotten, doctrine of a particular Providence. In page 15, we met with these words: The seasons at which we have experienced the greatest national blessings, have generally been those at which iniquity hath most abounded, and the overflowings of ungodliness have most impetuously carried us away.' We must confess that we do not see how this remark can be supposed to illustrate the argument which immediately precedes it, and that after reading it, we were almost tempted to cry out, What shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?' (Romans VI. 1.) The answer is on record. 'God forbid.' Whatever profits may arise from the sale of this sermon, will be applied to the benefit of the widows and orphans of the brave seamen who fell in the late engagement. POLITICS. ART. 17.-Outline of a Plan for reducing the Poor's Rate, and amending the Condition of the Aged and Unfortunate; including those of the Naval and Military Departments: in a Letter to the Right Hon.George Rose, occasioned by his Observations on the Poor Laws, &c. By John Bone. Sco. pp. 61. 1s. 6d. Asperne. 1805. THIS pamphlet was occasioned by Mr. Rose's recent publication on the Poor Laws, which was reviewed by us at some length in our number for October last. Mr. Bone has embraced this opportunity of communicating to the public the outline of a most extensive plan, from which the author naturally expects proportionate advantages. We have no wish to condemn untried, any charitable -establishment founded upon voluntary contributions. If unsuccessful, or inadequate to the purpose, the evil soon cures itself. We feel it unnecessary to give the details of the measure proposed, as it is upon a scale of apparently equal magnitude with the establishment of the Bank of England, and not likely to be carried into effect, to immortalizé the fame of Mr. Bone the, founder. Besides, we are disposed to believe that all the substantial advantages which would probably result from it, may with much greater facility and utility be obtained by the encouragement and increase of Friendly and Benefit Societies. The reader will find a fund of valuable information on the important subject of the poor laws in a pamphlet entitled "Thoughts on the Poor Laws and on the State of the Poor,' published by Payne and Mackinlay, in 1802. ART. 18. An Address to the Public, containing a Review of the Charges exhibited against Lord Viscount Melville, which led to the Resolutions of the House of Commons on the 8th April, 1805. Sto. pp. 84. 2s. 6d. Hatchard. 1805. AS the charges exhibited against Lord Melville are now in the way to receive the solemn judgment of the highest tribunal of the kingdom, we cannot but disapprove of this, and every other publication which tends to prejudge the question, either on one side or the other-the present address, however, in favour of his Lordship, discovers considerable ability, a good deal of argument, and, with some few exceptions, is written with a becoming mixture of spirit and moderation. ART. 19.-The Mirror of Iniquity, contained in a Letter to the Magistrates of England. London, printed at the Press of the Author, and sold by him at No. 9, Fleet Market. Svo. pp. 72. THIS Letter, signed R. Holloway, and dated December, 1805, in a style suited to the subject, gives a disgusting account of the practices of some persons who appear to follow the trade of common informers, as a means of procuring their livelihood. We are sorry to say that the nature and multiplicity of our penal laws necessarily give existence to commou informers, but where the informations are well founded, their proceedings certainly give strength and effect to the laws. On the contrary, where unprincipled men entrap the unwary into the commission of offences for the purpose of gratifying private interest or malignity, no conduct deserves to be more severely reprobated, and most unquestionably is liable to severe punishment. If the account given by Mr. Holloway be correct, the systematically nefarious proceedings of the persons he mentions, cannot long escape the vigilance of the police. We entertain not the smallest apprehension of any considerable depredations being committed in this way, for in no country can there be less occasion to remind the magistrates of their duty than in England. Their information, zeal, and activity deserve the warmest thanks of the community. CRIT. REV. Vol. 7. February, 1806. Р ART. 20.4 concise History of the present State of the Commerce of Great Britain. Translated from the German of Charles Reinhard, LL. D. of the University of Gottingen, and Knight of the Order of St. Joachim. With Notes and considerable Additions relating to the principal British Manufactures, by J. Savage. 8vo. pp. 74. 2s. 6d. Symonds. 1805. THIS pamphlet contains but a very short and imperfect sketch of the commerce and manufactures of Great Britain. It still, however, is calculated to afford some useful information to the class of readers on the continent for which the original work is intended. To translate it appears to us to have been unnecessary trouble, as the English reader may consult much more accurate and extensive works upon the subject, originally written in his own language. It is gratifying at the same time to observe a learned foreigner anxious to impress upon the minds of his countrymen a true sense of the power and prosperity of the British nation. POETRY. ART. 21.-Palmyra, and other Poems. By T. L. Peacock. Svo 7s. Richardson, 1806. WE assure Mr. Peacock that we have much mercy in our composition; and that however his address to us may be supposed to have otherwise swayed us, we should not be less inclined than we are at present, to pass a favourable sentence on his juvenile efforts, without such an inducement. The bard before us is, no doubt, very youthful, and with due allowances for ago and experience, which are properties on which our buzz-wigs are wont to dwell, we congratulate him on his success, and wish to extend the credit and encouragement of his poetry. This little volume is really so pleasing that we feel an inclination to dilate upon it beyond the narrow bounds we usually prescribe to ourselves on these occasions. It sets forth with a cento from the works of Shakespeare, addressed to the Reviewers, which is well connected; and its finale is couched in more liberal terms than we generally experience.- Your love deserves my thanks: só farewell, GENTLEMEN The chief poem in the book is entitled Palmyra, and several spirited and poetical passages are interspersed in it. 'As scatter'd round, a dreary space, Ye spirits of the wise and just! In reverential thought I trace The mansions of your sacred dust, Pours on the air her many-sparkling rays, And again, 'How oft in scenes like these since Time began, With downcast eye has Contemplation trod, .13. Upon the whole, we admire the Ode from which we have made these extracts; but we must not conceal that the coinage of new adjec tives is made with too unsparing a hand; and that sense is not unfrequently sacrificed to sound. Yet these are the very venial peccadilloes of youth. The notes are formed of entertaining citations from authors whose evidence may illustrate the story. The Visions of Love' are pretty and Maria's Return' will at least put modern lyrical poems to the blush. In Fiolfar,' the Runic rhyme is woven byla master's hand; and the fire of Gray seems not entirely evaporated in the following lines of Mr. Peacock. 'The sword clatter'd fiercely on helm and on shield, He plung'd in the red-foaming torrent of war.' P. 78. ་ The shorter poems have various merit: they occasionally betray much feeling, and much promise of future melody. Nuga' close the whole; but we should have preferred the omission of 'Nuga,' The vulgar Jew song, with which they commence, might add to the hilarity of a convivial party, but it was unwise to suffer it to escape from manuscript. We assure Mr. Peacock that we are not Jews, but we can by no means approve of the illiberality, buffoonery, and nonsense of this portion of his book. In other respects, Mr. Peacock has respectable claims to distinction; and we recommend his poems, not only as harmless and innocent, but as productive of high relish and amusement. ART. 22.-The Rural Sabbath, a Poem, in four Books, and other Poems, by Wm. Cockin. 12mo. pp. 184. Nicol. 1805. THIS Poem is by no means equal to one on the same, or a similar subject (Mr. Grahame's Sabbath,) which we reviewed in our Num ber for December last; still we have derived some pleasure from the perusal of it, which was not unalloyed by regret, that the author is alike insensible to approbation or censure. In a short and unsatisfactory account of Mr. C. prefixed to the volume, we are informed that he exercised the employment of a teacher of writing and arithmetic in various parts of the kingdom till a few years before his death, (which took place in 1801), when he retired to his native vale amid the mountains of Westmoreland, to indulge his fondness for mathematical, metaphysical, and (strange combination!) poetical studies. The plan of the poem is sufficiently designated by its title. The subject is such as must necessarily preclude all attempt at the higher species of poetical excellence: we must therefore not look for thoughts that breathe and words that burn; harmony of numbers, chasteness of expression, and appropriate descriptions of rural scenes and manners, are all that can be expected; and for these, in many instances, the reader will not look in vain. It has been a custom with the votaries of Parnassus to call in the aid of the muse or some other power, who may preside over the subject they celebrate. Our author has introduced no unpleasant variation from this hacknied plan, by commencing with an address to the powers of indolence, not to implore their assistance, but, as may be supposed, to deprecate their influence. 'No, listless Powers! alluring as you are, Your Syren blandishments in vain would check And shades, oblivious as the paths I tread.' r. 3. The following description is not deficient in pathetic simplicity. Fell to the slender earnings of her hands, (To her what charms! who saw them bud and bloom) |