and we shall not be able to purchase them.' P. 18. So! because the ignorant African is inclined to fell, it must be right for the enlight ened Englishman to purchafe! But this reafoning, perhaps, is rather to be regarded as what has been, or may be, offered on this fide of the question, than as the fentiment of the prefent writer.

Though the style of this pamphlet is, at times, rather verbose and perplexed, it is, on the whole, a fenfible tract; the regulations. mentioned are worthy of attention; and we perfuade ourselves that the gentlemen who have the chief conduct of this great business will pay a proper regard to every reasonable propofal, and well weigh each circumftance, fo that at all events the poor flaves may be benefited; and that in time, at least, an end may be put to a traffic, which, furely, difinterested people must allow, difgraces HUMANITY.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 25. Narrative of the Shipwreck of the Antelope East India Packet, on the Pelew Iflands, fituated on the Wettern Part of the Pacific 3 s. fewed. Perth 1788.

Ocean, in August 1783. Izmo. PP. 268. printed, and fold by Eliot and Co. London. Thofe who cannot afford to purchafe Capt. Wilfon's Account of his Shipwreck on the Pelew Inlands *, will find confiderable gratification in the perufal of this portable abridgment of that very entertaining work. The original, indeed, as drawn out, digefted, and embellished, by Mr. Keate, poffeffes an advantage which the generality of books on voyages and travels cannot boat; for it unites the graces of a well-written novel, with the ufeful and common details of a nautical production. Anfon's Voyage was the first publication, within our memory, that could boat this excellence; fince which, we have had Hawkefworth's account of the circumnavigations of Capt. Cook, &c.-The Narrative from which the prefent abftra&t has been made, is not lefs interefting, or pleafant, than either of the preceding performances.

8vo.

Art. 26. First Report of the Philanthropic Society; inftituted in London, September 1788, for the Prevention of Crimes. PP. 56. Is. Becket, &c.

This Report is well drawn up, and the nature of the inftitution which it recommends will eafily be apprehended by one or two brief extracts. And first, it is obferved, that the great defect of the poor. laws we judge to be their want of difcrimination between merit and demerit, amounting virtually to the difcountenancing of honeft industry, and rewarding of indolence and vice' Here, however, a true confequence is deduced from mistaken premifes; for had the writer ftudied our poor-laws, inttead of inferring the from the prefent ftate of our workhoufes, he would have expressed himself differently.

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There is more truth in the following paffage, which points out the objects of the prefent inftitution: It is infeparable from the ordinary courfe of charities, in which a right of prefentation is purchafed, to confine their benefits in a great degree to fuch as already

For our account of which, fee Review, vol. lxxix. p. 109.
Rev. Nov. 1789.

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bave friends. The nature of an inftitution framed to extend relief to a clafs of people, whofe want of friends has excluded them from other charities, makes it fundamentally requifite to avoid that prin ciple, which in thofe has operated to this exclufion. In this, therefore, a fubfcription can purchase no right; it must be a free gift, confided to the difcretion and fidelity of those who have undertaken the grateful task of conveying fuch bounty to the relief of objects, whom no other channel baş been able to reach.'

The Philanthropic Society is, in brief, an extenfion of the Marine Society; its object being to fnatch children from wretchedness, vagrancy, and wickedness; and to train them up to useful employ. ments. In proportion as the parents are abject, friendlefs, and profligate, the more the children are confidered as objects of the Society's care; they are fought for in the receptacles of filth and vice, to rescue them from perdition, and to convert them into induftrious members of fociety. Such is the great outline of their laudable plan; the particulars, and the progrefs already made, are to be found in the REPORT.

Art. 27. Junius difcovered.

By P. T. Efq, 8vo.
Fores.

PP. 36. Mr. P. T. fuppofes, that John Horne Tooke, Efq. was Jonius. Those who wish to know Mr. P. T.'s reafons for having formed this opinion, may be referred to his pamphlet. For our part, though we are not convinced that the discovery is yet made, we cannot pretend to affirm that the author is mistaken. This literary fecret has been wonderfully kept, and poffibly (if it is not here divulged) it may remain a fecret for ever.

Art. 28. Anecdotes, Bons-mots, and characteristic Traits, of the greatest Princes, Politicians, Philofophers, Orators, and Wits, of modern Times. Calculated to infpire the Minds of Youth with noble, virtuous, generous, and liberal Sentiments. By the Rev. John Adams. 12mo, PP. 359. 3. fewed. Kearsley. 1789. As the author juftly pleads, that no improper expreffion is admitted into this collection, and that it contains much inftruction, blended with innocent amufement, we fcruple not to recommend it to young readers. It is a proper fubftitute for those jeft-books, which, fome years ago, were in much request: but it is, in reality, worth an hundred Joe Millers. It has more morality, and not less enter. tainment.

POLITICA L.

Art. 29. A Vindication of the Shop-tax: Addreffed to the Landholders of England. 8vo. pp. 55: I S. Gardner.

The fhop-tax, which excited fo much clamour, being now expired, peace be to its memory. We do not, with this young fanguine writer, wifh to roufe the landholders to demand, with like vigour, a repeal of the land-tax, a repeal of the act which repealed the fhop-tax, or to perfift till fome other mode of taxation on shop. keepers be adopted. The contingencies that attend the foundation, management, and profpects of trade, efpecially of retail trade, must wholly overset the fine-fpun parallel which he draws between preca

rious fhop-keepers and the permanent holders of terra firma. When landed gentlemen are tempted to eftimate their own confequence in the state, we fee, a little more clearly, their real opinion of the trading interest.

NAVAL AFFAIR S.

Art. 30. A Sea Manual; recommended to the young Officers of the Royal Navy, as a Companion to the Signal-book. By Sir Alexander Schomberg. 8vo. pp. 140. 3s. 6d. fewed. Robinsons. 1789.

Sir Alexander Schomberg laudably weighs anchor, and fets fail from the port of inactivity, to give affiftance to young officers who might fplit on the rocks of Inexperience.

Were our literary fquadron to commence an attack on this experienced officer, he would probably bear down on us, and rake us fore and aft. Being, however, only on a peaceable cruife, and neither prepared nor wishing for hoftilities, we fhall alter our courfe a few points, having first flightly reconnoitered Sir Alexander's fituation.

The chief purport of this work is, to give fuch directions for forming the different evolutions at fea, that, in any contingency, in an action, the captain of each ship might be fo well trained as to meet the admiral's idea, and render unneceffary that profufion of fignals, which must otherwife follow in detail, fhould his intention be, by any accident, mifconceived.' Sir A. S. fuppofes a fquadron to be in all poffible fituations, from the changes of the wind, or the alteration of pofition in the enemy's fleet; and gives directions for preferving the order of failing, the line of battle, &c. &c.

We very heartily concur with the author, in wifhing that our young officers might have frequent opportunities of feeing thefe evolutions carried into practice; being well convinced, with him, of the importance of his profeffion, on which the existence of this empire certainly depends.

If this work fhould be well received, Sir Alexander fays, he may be encouraged to give another volume, and upon a larger fcale, hereafter.'

SPORTING.

Art. 31. Cynegetica; or Effays on Sporting: confifting of Obfervations on Hare-hunting; containing an Account of the Hare-hunting and Courfing of the Ancients, from Xenophon and Arrian; a Philofophical Inquiry into the Nature and Properties of the Scent; Remarks on the different kinds of Hounds, with the Manner of training them; Directions for the Choice of a Hunter; the Qualifications requifite for a Huntfman; and other general Rules to be obferved in every Contingency incident to the Chace Together with an Account of the Vizier's Manner of hunting in the Mogul Empire. By William Blane, Efq. To which is added, The Chace, a Poem, by William Somervile, Efq. A new Edition, embellished with an elegant Frontispiece, and a Vignette. 8vo. pp. 292. 6s. Boards. Stockdale. 1788.

The first edition of this work was mentioned in Rev. vol. lxvii. P. 17. It has fince received improvement, particularly by the addition

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addition of an Eaft Indian hunting-party, the objects of whole. daring purfuit are, the buffalo, the tyger, the wild elephant, and the rhinoceros! At the mention of which ferocious game, what becomes of the triumph o'er the timid hare!'? It is also illuftrated by Somervile's Chace, in which the fports of the field are difplayed with the graces of poetry.

THEOLOGY and POLEMICS.

Art. 32. Sermons, principally addreffed to Youth. By J.Toulmia, A. M. Second Edition. To which are added, two Sermons never before printed, and fome Forms of Prayer. 8vo. pp. 235. 3s. 6d. fewed. Johnfon. 1789.

For our account of the first edition of thefe Sermons, fee Review, vol. xlii. p. 477. The fecond and fifth fermons, and the prayers, are now added; and we have read thefe with pleasure. In the fecond fermon, from 2 Tim. i. 5. Mr. Toulmin very justly reprefents the happinefs and improvement of a pious defcent; and in the fifth fermon, from 2 John, ver. 4. he urges the profeffion of Christianity on youth, with forcible arguments, and in a serious, pathetic manner. We are therefore confirmed in the opinion which we gave of the first edition of these difcourfes, that they are serious, fenfible, and practical. Six prayers are added, which well deferve the epithets given to the difcourfes.

Art. 33. Wisdom's Di&tates: or, A Collection of Maxims and Ob. fervations, concerning divine and fpiritual Truths, and that Procefs of Regeneration, or Renewal of Life from the Lord, which only is truly faving. Extracted from the Works of various fpiritual Writers, and particularly thofe of Emanuel Swedenborg. 8vo. FP 204. 1 s. 6d. fewed. Chalkien. 1789.

Some of the maxims in this collection are very juft, striking, and ufeful. They are taken from different writers, but the greater part of them bear the evident ftamp of that wonderful man, Swedenborg, and of his followers. They are myftical, allegorical, and fanciful; they may contain what is good and excellent, but as the depths are beyond our fathom, we cannot pronounce on the fubject. We ap prove much, however, of the candour and charity which they occafionally difcover; as when it is faid, Honour that which is just, good, and virtuous, in all men, let their form of worship, or outward manner of expreffion about religion, be what it may.-Be not offended because another man doth not think like thee refpecting God and his myfteries; for God is not offended at fuch unlikeness, but is really fo when you make yourself unlike to him by finful acts and courtes. He who contends furioufly about religion and its myfteries, it is to be feared has no true religion at all in him; for that does not feck to force others to bow down before any man's own narrow thoughts concerning thofe things.--Strife about divine myfteries is oft very unprofitable, and burtful to religion; it deftroys peace, inflead of giving it +.' In fuch instances, we heartily concur

* Thefe may be had feparate at 3 d. each, or 2s. 6d. per dozen. + P. 189.

with this writer; as to the myfticism, we leave it for those of fuperior comprehenfion.

Art. 34. A Teftimony for Truth: in a brief Vindication of the Divinity of Chrift, and a Trinity in Unity, denied in the Rev. Mr. Frend's Addrefs to the Citizens of Canterbury. By George Townsend of Ramfgate. 8vo. pp. 28. 6d. Matthews. 1788. Whether the doctrines contended for in this pamphlet be true or falfe, let every intelligent reader of the Scriptures judge for himself. We shall only fay, at prefent, that we think no man who is not already perfuaded, or refolved to be fo, at all events, with or without evidence, will be convinced by the vindication before us, in which we meet with little good grammar, and lefs found logic. A number of texts, moft, or all, of which (if we know any thing of the Scriptures) the author misunderstands, or mifapplies, are violently torn from their natural connection, and brought together from remote parts of the Bible, which neither have, nor were ever intended by the facred writers to have, the smallest reference to one another. And because one or two words in thefe disjointed texts, happen accidentally to be the fame, they are very faltely made to relate to the fame fubject. Packed together like what are termed Irish evidences at the Old Bailey, they are dragged into court to give a dark and confufed teftimony, in order to try, if, by their joint fhuffling and equivocation, they can render credible that, about which, when taken fingly, at their own proper homes, and without being tam pered with, they would honeftly confefs they know nothing at all. This is a mode of conduct by which the facred volume may be made to countenance not only the corruptions of popery, but even the abfardest doctrines of paganifm itself!

Because, in different and diftant paffages of Scripture, the fame, or fimilar actions, are afcribed to God, or to Jefus, they are therefore concluded to be one and the fame being; and by the very fame argument, God, and any one of the prophets, or apofties, God and Baal, nay God and Satan, may be proved to be the fame being; for in various parts of holy writ, thefe beings are reprefented as doing the fame or fimilar things.

Because, by an idiom common to all languages, the Hebrew writers, in order to give a dignity and folemnity to their ftyle, reprefent the Deity as fpeaking of himself in the plural number, it is therefore argued that they meant to infinuate that he confifts of a plurality of perfons. As juftly might it be inferred that, becaufe hiftorians and legiflators introduce earthly monarchs fpeaking in the plural number, they therefore defign to teach the world that fuch individuals confift each of a plurality of perfons.

Arguments like thefe, inftead of proving the doctrines which the writers undertake to defend, are only calculated to expose them to ridicule. We are apprehenfive that they even tend to bring into undeferved contempt the caufe of Chriftianity itfelf. Men of fense and judgment, who are unhappily unacquainted with the more folid vindications of our holy religion, when they meet with thefe weak defences of what fome fuppofe to be parts of revelation, are apt to conclude that nothing better can be urged for the whole of it. Thus they ftray from Chrill's fold; and thefe filly writers vainly think to

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