tainly be much benefited by a due obfervance of most of the directions contained in this ufeful performance.

:

Art. 46. The School Candidates, a Profaic Burlesque occafioned by the late Election of a School-master at the Village of Boudinnoir. 12mo. pp. 103. Utopia printed. 1788.

Learned wit, but too obfcure, both in fubject and fatire, for the generality of readers to confefs the truth, the work is not very clearly understood, even by US!!

Art. 47. The Toaft Mafter; being a genteel Collection of Sentiments and Toafts, &c 8vo. pp. 36. 6d. Abraham. 1789.

The tout enfemble of this work pronounces its author a member of a club in Duck Lane, Smithfield, rather than of one held in St. James's Street, or Pall Mall. It is, indeed, a paltry, poor, and careless, though not an indecent, production.

Art. 48. Yorick turned Trimmer; or, The Gentleman's Jefter: and neweft Collection of Songs. 12mo. PP. 72. IS. W. Nicoll. 1788.

Though there are two or three good fongs in this pamphlet, the other parts of it warrant us in ftyling the whole a paltry and reprehenfible catch-penny.

Art. 49. The Honours of the Table, or, Rules for Behaviour during Meals; with the whole Art of Carving, illuftrated by a Variety of Cuts. Together with Directions for going to Market, &c. To which is added, a Number of Hints or concife Leffons for the Improvement of Youth. By Dr. Trufler. 12mo. pp. 120. 2s. 6d. half-bound. Symonds. 1788. Every one who perufes this title-page, muft be convinced of the general utility of the work: the first (and the concluding) part of it fhould, indeed, be attended to by all; but with refpect to the art of carving, we confefs it to be out of our province; farther than the cutting up, now and then, of a poor miferable author; and we therefore leave that part of this production to the criticism of the worthy Aldermen, Deputies, and Common Council, of the city of London.

MEDICAL.

Art. 50. Practical Differtations on Nervous Complaints, and other Dif eafes incident to the Human Body; with an hittorical Investigation of their Caufes and Cure; in which are interfperfed fome fingular Cafes. By Mr. Neale. 8vo. pp. 68. 1s. 6d. Faulder. 1788. From the title of this pamphlet, we expected to find that it contained some valuable practical directions. In this expectation, however, we were deceived; and we are under the neceffity of declaring, that after perufing the pamphlet with great attention, which indeed it requires on account of its obfcurity, we have been able to meet with nothing but general affertions concerning complaints called nervous, though not defcribed, symptoms brought on by biliofe habits, and removed by generous medicines; a great deal about the brain, and nerves, and cheerful exhilerating paffions &c.; but not one ufeful practical direction for the treatment of any disease incident to the human body.

Bb 4

Having

Having thus freely given our opinion of the work before us, we fhall transcribe the first paragraph of the third fection.

When I treat of the caules that diverfify nervous complaints, and other maladies arifing therefrom, it is neceffary that I first confider how far these affections differ among themfelves; after that, I fhall proceed to discover the material differences between them and thofe difeafes; that by a parity of fymptoms they feem moft nearly related to, as being the propereft way to difcover as much of their abftrufe nature as is within the reach of human fagacity and penetration to comprehend.' P. 35.

From this fpecimen, we leave our readers to determine, whether we must not have confiderable patience even to read 68 pages of fimilar writing, and much more to find out the meaning of the writer.

THEOLOGY and POLEMICS.

Art. 51. An Aufwer to the Three Letters to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, on the Prayer for his Majefty's Recovery. 8vo. Pp. 46. Is. 6d. Hookham. 1789.

A writer, who figns himself A Curate,' has here answered the Prefbyter of the Church of England,' with ftrength of argument, and keenness of retort: not always, however, the retort courteous ;to which, it may be fuppofed, he did not think the author of the Three Letters reafonably entitled. He has alfo given, en passant, a gentle rap on the knuckles of the Reviewer who gave the account of the Letters; fee Rev. vol. lxxix. p. 560. And perhaps the learned Curate is in the right. A gentleman who compofes at his leifure, and has time to revife what he has written, has a great advantage over the periodical drudge, who is obliged, through every season of the year, to beat the wide field of literature, over-grown as it is with bushes and brambles;-liable, all the while, to have much of his attention drawn off, and employed in taking care that his thins are not scratched and torn by the briars :-efpecially theological briars.

Our author has taken much learned pains to vindicate that claufe in the Prayer, which petitions for a removal of that vifitation which, for our fins, God has been pleafed to afflict the King. We can only fay, that notwithstanding the ingenuity and good reasoning here employed, to evince the propriety and orthodoxy of the paffage, we ftill think of it as we did at the first appearance of that compofition.But we must take care of the briars.

As to what the author has fo ably urged in regard to the fimplicity that is required in compofitions of this kind, we think he has gained a complete victory over his opponent. Yet, while we fcrupuloufty adhere to fimplicity, both in fentiment and language, we cannot be too careful in guarding against the danger of finking below that level, on which Truth and Propriety have fixed their ftandard. While we are folicitous to avoid the high and fightless foaring †' of enthusiasm, let us take efpecial heed that we do not defcend to the reptile meannefs and poverty of ftyle which debafed, and ftill continue to dif

Tagether let us beat this ample field." POPE. "all who blindly creep, or fightless fear." ib.

grace

grace, the facred poetry of the Hebrews, under the doings of Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others."

This tract should have been much fooner noticed in our Review; but, through fome accident, it did not fall into our hands till very lately.

Art. 52. An Attempt to explain fome of the Thirty nine Articles, on fcriptural Principles. By a Minifter of the Church of England. 8vo. pp. 23. 6d. Johnfon. 1789.

The editor of this little pamphlet obferves, that in respect to the long wifhed for and much folicited removal of fubfcription, and conformity to human creeds and articles of faith, we have been in a retrograde ftate, fince the days of the venerable Hoadley,-though the neceflity of fuch a reformation has never been equally held forth, and more generally allowed at any time than the prefent. He farther informs us, that this Modification of the Articles was fent to him, accompanied by a letter from a clergyman, who had a large family, defiring him to have a few copies printed. The Modification itself is addreffed to fome refpectable names (here fuppreffed) of his ecclefiaftical fuperiors, affuring them that it is only in the fenfe here given, that he could, as a believer of Chriftianity, ever again fubfcribe the articles; and expreffing a hope, that his fituation, and that of feveral of his brethren, might fo far excite their compaffion, as to induce them to remove thefe ftumbling-blocks of human introduction. As this publication is anonymous, fome readers may poffibly doubt the particular fact. However, it is not be queftioned, that there are many upright and fenfible minds who struggle with the difficalty here mentioned; and it is very defirable that men of piety and principle (and fuch we conclude there are), who have it in their power, would employ fome exertions for their affiftance and relief.

Art. 53. A Survey of the modern State of the Church of Rome. With additional Obfervations on the Doctrine of the Pope's Supremacy. Addreffed to the Reverend Dr. Butler, &c. &c. By William Hales, D. D. Rector of Killefandra, and late Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. 8vo. pp. 226. 35. 6d. Faulder. 1789. Dr Hales has undergone the labour of establishing the principal objections urged by the Proteftants against the doctrines and difcipline of the church of Rome, from vouchers which the profeffors of that church can neither deny nor evade. But to what purpose has this talk been so often undertaken? Where Catholics poffefs the temporal sword*, they difdain to argue; and where they are reduced to this act of condefcenfion, they will not reafon closely, nor abide by the refult of argument. How can they? It is a vain attempt to argue with men tied up by previous fubfcriptions and obligations! For near three centuries back, the reformers have been inceffantly engaged in controverfy with Catholics; but past ftruggles are forgotten, few will wade through old controverfies managed by men who have long been in their graves, and where there are no prefent triumphs to enjoy. The hoftility is therefore renewed by every generation, and Dr. Hales now ftands forth as a

* Page 33.

fair difputant. Difclaiming (fays he) all vague and idle affertions, her doctrines I have delivered, from the Canons, Authorifed Catechifms, and Orthodox Creeds, of the Romish Church, illuftrated by the conceffions of our opponents themselves, and the most refpectable and approved writers of their communion, and confirmed by the practice and difcipline of the church through a long fucceffion of ages down to the prefent day: and the conclufions from thence, all Converging to one and the fame point, I am confident will appear to be drawn with fairness and impartiality, and, I truft, without any illiberal acrimony, or abufe. The fubject is too trite for us to dwell upon; but having it full in our minds, we cannot but join Dr. Hales in remarking, that the latitudinarian principles which pervade the writings of fome Roman apologists at the prefent day, particularly Mr. O'Leary †, come to us in a very questionable shape. He must be conscious, that were they tranflated into Spanish, Portuguefe, or Italian, and published in thofe countries, fo far from being confidered as the ftrenuous efforts of a miffioner zealous in fupport of the Catholic caufe, they would infallibly be prohibited by the Congregation of Index, and publicly burnt; and alfo expofe the author, tranflator, or publisher (if to be found), to all the rigours of the Inquifition; or, at least, procure them a lodging in the prifons of the Holy Office, there to confider, at leifure, of recanting doctrines, which in fome inftances we have feen actually adjudged to be grofs error, and heretical pravity 1.' But English Catholics § were generally, in all ages, a refractory fet of mortals. The doctrines that pafs current in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, will not fuit their enlarged apprehenfions; even Catholic teachers, therefore, learn to be all things to all men, with the farther view, no doubt, of recommending themfelves to the protection of a Proteftant government. Art. 54. Specimens of Sermons and Prayers, of a late Divine, for the Ufe of the Young By Edward Hall. 8vo. 2s. ftitched. John

fon.

Nothing is more cenfurable, than that injudicious partiality, which fo frequently obtrudes pofthumous publications on the public without the author's previous inftructions, and even in direct violation of his modeft with, to retire from the world in that humble obfcurity in which he has lived. Papers, thus haftily gathered up, and fent forth with all their imperfections on their head," fometimes fubje&t a writer to literary cenfure, whofe abilities might have entitled him to no inconfiderable fhare of applaufe. This, if we

*Page 202.

+ We add Mr. Berington (Rev. Auguft, p. 146.), whofe late tract Dr. Hales probably had not then feen.

In Ireland, however, the cafe feems to be fomewhat different; and this tract, therefore, may be confidered as more particularly calculated for that country; in which a work of this kind, and written, like this performance, with decency, moderation, and candour, may feem more peculiarly requifite, for the fupport of the Proteftant intereft. In a word, this Survey, &c. deferves to be read by all who pay any regard to the fubject.

§ Page 92.

miftake

mistake not, is the cafe with the publication now before us. The difcourfes bear evident marks of having been written without any apprehenfion that they would ever pass under the eye of the public; and the editor has fhewn little tenderness for the literary reputation of his deceased friend, in the uncommonly incorrect manner in which he has printed them. Through all this thick incrustation of inaccuracy, we think, however, that we difcover rays of genius and good fense; but these difcourfes would, doubtlefs, appear to more advantege from the pulpit, than they do, in their prefent ftate, from the prefs. Nevertheless, as fpecimens of animation without fanaticifm, and of a popular and ufeful application of a knowlege of the world to the purpose of moral instruction, they merit attention.

The prayers abound with strong expreffions of devotional fentiments, but are, according to our judgment, greatly deficient in that fimplic which is the first excellence in forms of devotion.

THANKSGIVING SERMONS continued: See our laft.

in the County of

XXIX. Preached in the Parish Church of — Cornwall, April 23d, 1789, the Day of Public Thanksgiving, &c. &c. 8vo. 1s. pp. 30. Law.

We cannot imagine why this very commendable fermon appears without the name of the preacher, or of the place where it was delivered, unless the author may have thought it prudent, for a feafon, perhaps, not to be marked as answerable, in whatever quarter, for certain political fentiments which are, we think, very properly introduced into it, as naturally arifing from the fubject; and fuch as, in our opinion, muft ever be grateful to all confiftent Proteftants, all fincere well-wishers to the conftitutional liberties of this country. Whoever, therefore, is the author, he has our fincere acknowlegement of the general merit of his pious, judicious, and well-adapted discourse.

XXX. The Confiftency of Man's Free Agency, with God's Foreknowlege in the Government of the World, proved and illuftrated :-preached in the Parish Church of Great Yarmouth, April 23d, 1789, being the Day of General Thanksgiving for his Majesty's happy Recovery. By Samuel Cooper, D. D. 4to, IS. Robin fons. The learned author of this difcourfe, not fatisfied with delivering, on the occafion of the King's recovery, a general enforcement of religious gratitude, enters into a metaphyfical examination of the objection which lies against the doctrine of Divine Providence, and confequently against public acts of thanksgiving, from the apparent incompatibility of prefcience in God with freedom in man. He folves the difficulty, by denying the abfolute contingency of human actions, and maintaining, that every action muft arife from fome motive, and may therefore be forefeen by the Supreme Being, as the natural effect of a certain cause.

Having established this point, and ftrengthened the argument by some new obfervations, he proceeds, in a strain of animated declamation, to represent the grounds of thanksgiving which the occafion

In reference, we apprehend, to the Regency bufinefs.

afforded,