To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. Accum's work on the adulteration of There was a time when it was matter of curiosity, to guess at the writers in the Edinburgh Review, but of late it has attracted so little attention that this is no longer the case. We are inclined, however, to suspect that Mr. Hazlit has had a finger in the pie, in the eighth article which respects certain ingenious poetical imitations by Barry Cornwall.-Who this Barry is, we have never heard, but he seems to possess so much of the pretty vein of Mr. Leigh Hunt's style, that we should not be surprised to hear they were one and the same person.-The Edinburgh Reviewers are celebrated for assisting their friends; and if friendship is not at the bottom of this article about Mr. Barry Cornwall, we know not how it has happened that his poetry has been reviewed in their journal. The tenth article bears the interesting title of The Recent Alarms, and those who choose to see how the same things may be viewed by different eyes, should compare it with the review of Lord Grenville's speech, &c. on the same subject in the last number of the Quarterly Review. We really hope that his lordship and Mr. Canning, and some others, will refrain from aggravating the public discontent, by advocating that system, which, although it has promoted their fortune, has reduced the great body of the people to distress and poverty. The eleventh article is on that extremely novel and original topic, the elquence of Demosthenes. Can it be possible, that this domine production is from the pen of Mr. Brougham! It contains one most amusing touch of the absurd. The Reviewer is quite indignant at the Abbé Auger for calling Paris the modern Athens, and prints the phrase in Italics. Edinburgh, it seems, is the true and genuine modern Athens, but the ignorant French translator of the Grecian orator did not know this-pest! We now take our leave of the Edinburgh Review for three months; but we cannot conclude without advising those concerned in it to get a few new hands. It will never do, thus to work the most trite subjects over and over again. URING the last winter, we have DURI had a weekly meeting in this town, for the purpose of discussing religious subjects. As these discussions are calculated to educe "the truth as it appears in the gospel," I feel desirous of seeing them zealously carried on, in every town and village in this island. The assembly is governed by rules to the following effect: 1st. Every Christian is allowed to address the president, provided he confine himself to the space of ten minutes. 2d. No politics, nor yet allusions to political parties, are allowed. 3d. Two speakers are not permitted to follow each other, on the same side of the question. 4th. The president shall, at all times, make such observations as he shall think necessary: 5th. Personal remarks are not suffered. As institutions, which have for their object the promotion of knowledge, are patronized by your valuable miscellany, the insertion of the above, may be the happy means of promoting a more general diffusion of truth and virtue. Manchester, April 5, 1820. W. B. S. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. A SIR. NNEXED I send you for insertion in your valuable miscellany, an extract from one of the original letters of the late John Howard, Esq. a man who has immortalized his name by deeds, which whilst they have eminently tended to alleviate the distresses of the most unhappy part of the community, have at the same time, contributed to render himself a distinguished ornament to human nature. This letter, which is dated, "Rome, May 22d, 1770," together with several others, in Mr. Howard's own hand writing, I was favoured with a sight of, by a near relation of the gentleman to whom they were addressed; and conceiving the one in question, to be particularly interesting, I made from it, the extract which I now send you, and which I trust will afford the generality of your readers, as much pleasure in the perusal of it, as it has afforded me. I am, &c. THOMAS CLARK, JUN. Birmingham, April 6, 1820. "Since I left Holland, (says Mr. H.) and through all the southern part of France, and over the Appenine Moun tains into Italy, I travelled not a mile with any of our countrymen, as I chose to have a more thorough knowledge of the manners, or temper of other countries. Those mountains, (the Alps,) are three or four days passing; for many miles there is hardly a three-foot road, with precipices into the sea, I should guess three times the height of St. Paul's; but the mules are so sure footed, there is nothing to fear, though the road is also very bad. Through the mercy and goodness of God, I travel pleasantly on with an easy calm flow of spirits; I carry with me a little tea equipage, with which I regale, and little regard if I have nothing else. "Florence being the seat of the arts, I visited the famous gallery many days, from whence I travelled to this once renowned city; the amazing ruins of temples, palaces, aqueducts, &c., give one some faint idea of its ancient grandeur, but comparatively, it is now a desert. The description of them, as also of St. Peter's Church, and the Vatican, I must defer 'til I have the pleasure of seeing you. "The Pope passed by me yesterday, and waved his hand to bless me; I bowed, but not kneeling. Some of the Cardinals were displeased, but I never can, or will to any human creature, or invention, as I should tremble at the thought of the adoration I have seen paid to him, and the wafer. My temper is too open for this country; yet an To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, As there is at present a great preju S there is at present a great preju have been too many just grounds for alarm, owing to the hardihood of the persons employed in the management of E B important piece of news of this court that I know, I durst not commit to writing, that cruelest of all inventions, the inquisition, stops all mouths. "I set out to-morrow for Naples, and as I return to see the great procession of the 15th of June, I intend staying about a fortnight; afterwards I am bound for Lorretto, Ancona, Bologna, and Venice, at which last place, it will be a great pleasure to receive a line from you. Thus, my dear friend, am I travelling over desolated places of ancient grandeur; how ought it to overpower that selfish and vain principle that is rooted in my constitution, and humble the pride of one's heart; and when at other times, I view in statues, paintings, architecture, &c. the utmost stretch of human skill, how should one's thoughts be raised to that glorious world, that heavenly city, the city of the living God, where sin, sorrow, and every imperfection shall be done away! Oh! free, sovereign, unbounded grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! How thankful should we protestants be for this glorious gospel, which we have in our hands, and which millions in this country are denied that happiness, we are exulting in. "But I must conclude, that I remain, with much esteem, Dear Sir, Your affectionate and obt. servt. "The Expuls-n of the J-s-its." them, I beg leave to submit to you a plan of a safety-valve for the boiler of a steam boat, which, as it is placed in the inside of the boiler, cannot be overloaded by the engineer, which has been the cause of most of the accidents which have happened. AA Is part of the top of the boiler. B A box, containing the valve, fixed in the inside of the boiler. C The valve, which is loaded according to the pressure necessary for working the engine. DA pin fixed to the top of the valve, and working in a socket, to keep the valve in its proper place. E The pipe for carrying away the overplus steam, which may be raised to any height, or turned into the chimney. The dimensions will depend on the size of the boiler. N. B. The valve is represented in the state it would be in if the steam was escaping, and for further security it would be well to have two such valves. I feel so satisfied of the efficacy of the above plan for the purpose intended, that although it has appeared before in the Liverpool Mercury, I take the liberty of giving it a wider circulation through the medium of your valuable Magazine. Liverpool, Dec. 11, 1819. A. K. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. I SIR, TAKE up my pen to transmit some account of the new Society of Methodists, denominated Ranters. Whether they are called Ranters, from any similarity they bear to the sect of Ranters that arose in 1645, who taught that they were come to restore the true church, ministry and ordinances, which they asserted were lost; or whether they are so denominated from their preaching and praying in the open air, and the general rant and noise of their assemblies, I am not able to ascertain. They are, in fact, methodists, and I do not learn that they differ at all in doctrine from the great sect of Wesleyan Methodists. They seem, however, to think that the old methodists, on account of their great popularity and patronage they have obtained, have in some measure deviated from the original spirit of Methodism, and drunk in too much of the spirit, and conformed too much to the customs and practice of the world in their religious concerns. The Ranters seem not to admire the modern polish of Methodism, the grandeur of its edifices, the splendour of its ordinances, the improved elocution and decent solemnity of its ministry, the comparative stillness of its worship, and the general order and decorum of its assemblies. They seem to think religion cannot well exist without noise, and bustle, and ferment, and that it consists of much more than quietly believing in Christ, and doing justly, and loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. Their aim seems to be to revive the pains, and throes, and labours, and agitations, and horrid tremblings, and tumultuous joys which characterized methodism at her birth!! However I may disapprove of the extravagance of the Ranters, I would be the last to misrepresent them, or their opinions. They shall now therefore, speak for themselves. They call their meetings Camp-Meetings; the following account of which is extracted from their hymn book: On the Origin of the English CampMeetings, &c. A large religious meeting, in the open air, and the first in England which bore the title of a Camp Meeting, was held upon Mow,* on Sunday, May 31, 1807. Mow is a large mountain running between Staffordshire and Cheshire; and about five miles distant from the Staffordshire potteries. MONTHLY MAG, No. 339. It commenced about six o'clock in the morning, and continued without intermission till about half past eight in the evening. It began with one preachingstand only; but three more were afterwards erected. The preachings were intermingled with a diversity of pious exercises; such as singing, prayer, exhortations, speaking experience, relating anecdotes, &c. During a great part of the day, the scene was interesting; a company wrestling in prayer;-four preachers delivering the word of life;-thousands listening;-tears flowing;-sinners trembling; saints rejoicing. Such was the first of the English Camp Meetings. "A day's praying upon Mow," began first to be talked of in the year 1801. The thought rose simply from a zeal for praying, which had sprung up in that neighbourhood.-From the year 1802 to 1807, various accounts of the American camp meetings were published. These accounts strengthened the cause, and fanned the flame: and in the mean time, L. Dow, a native of America, preached in England, and gave some account of these meetings. He drew some attention to the subject, but never had a thought of attempting a camp-meeting in England; and when he left England, he had no thought of such a thing taking place. In 1807, by a peculiar direction of Providence, a camp meeting took place as above; and two more were published to be held the same year. These were strangely opposed, and as wonderfully supported, and camp-meetings gained an establishment. As matter of history perhaps, the following doggrel lines, taken from the Ranter's hyma book, may be admitted into your journal as illustrative of the spirit and doctrine of these religionists. Camp-Meeting Hymn. When the Redeemer of mankind Began to heal the lame and blind, The pharisees withstood: Thus proud men camp-meetings withstand, The gospel still is free; Tho' hirelings cry they must be stopp'd, And now they all agree. The Lord a glorious work begun, Across the sea it flies; 2 Q This This work is now to us come near, We see it with our eyes. And proves their efforts vain. Because it broke their rules; They preach, exhort, and sweetly sing, And tho' the proud despise; They preach and pray with all their might, But, when by grace restor❜d, Both sects and parties fall; And Christ is all in all. Some of the old Methodists appear to dread the spread of Ranterism, as likely to be injurious to their cause, on account of its cheapness, it requiring much less subscription to support plain Ranterism, than adorned Methodism. A very intelligent Methodist seriously expressed this idea to me, saying," He feared those who had little to spend, and those who wished to spend but little, would prefer Ranterism, on the score of economy, and that Methodism would be thereby retarded in its aspiration after universal empire." Thus far had I written, when a respectable periodical publication, (The Monthly Repository,) coming to hand, I was agreeably surprised to find it contained some account of the Ranters. The account there given, corroborates in general the above statement; but a few additional particulars I shall transcribe. The constitution of the Ranter's Society, is evidently intended to shame the hier archy of the Wesleyan Methodists. It is declared, that "all members of the connexion shall have equal rights, according to the station they fill in the church." The affairs of each circuit are managed by a quarter board, consisting of preachers, leaders, stewards, and delegates. These circuit boards are subordinate to the annual meeting, which is composed of two lay delegates and one preacher from each circuit. Those who long for a cheap religion, will surely at length be satisfied. The salary of an unmarried travelling preacher, is fixed at four pounds per quarter, together with board and lodging. For the maintenance of himself and his family, a married preacher is allowed fourteen shillings per week, and one shilling per week for one child, under the age of eight years. He is prohibited from carrying on any business, or from selling any goods or medicines. If, however, his wife be disposed to participate in the duties of the ministry, she is allowed to act as a travelling preacher, and is paid two pounds per quarter for her services. Why the female preacher should be stinted to half the allowance made to the male does not appear. The love of minute regulation, is exemplified in the Ranter's minutes, by some whimsical questions, such as, "What shall be done in case of a travelling preacher's marrying?" “ What shall the travelling preachers do in case of sickness?" "In what dress shall the travelling preachers appear in public?" The answer to this deserves insertion: "In a plain one; the men to wear single-breasted coats, single-breasted waistcoats, and their hair in its natural form; and not to be allowed to wear pantaloons, trowsers, nor white hats; and that our female preachers be patterns of plainness in all their dress." It appears that the circuits are four, of which the head quarters are, Tunstall, Nottingham, Loughborough, and Hull: the Hull circuit, there are eighteen preachers and ten exhorters, whose exertions are extended to nearly thirty places, some of them above forty miles distant from Hull. The Ranters' Society, altogether, appears rapidly on the increase; these people are particularly distinguished by their adoption of merry song tunes in their psalmody, for it is a maxim with them, that the devil shall no longer exclusively possess all the most lively and most enchanting tunes. Indeed their psalmody in general In is not calculated for serious tunes, I really was painfully amused by hearing them sing the following, Is there any body here that wants salvation? Call to my Jesus and he'll draw nigh. O glory, glory, hal, hallelujah ; Glory be to God who rules on high. I am willing to endure the sneers of the unbeliever, when I assert it as my settled opinion, that any religion that inculcates belief in a God, and a future state of rewards and punishments, especially on Christian grounds, is better than no religion at all; yet I must acknowledge it is painful to reflect on the wanderings of the human intellect, on the subject of religion. It is important to distinguish between religion and superstition. Superstition is frantic, riotous, tumultuous, censorious, uncharitable. Religion is calm, sober, peaceful, orderly, and charitable. J. PLATTS. Doncaster, April 1, 1820. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, HE following information relative to this Island, since it has been restored to the Dutch, is likely to interest those of your readers who have read the elaborate work of Governor Raffles. Professor Reinwardt, director and manager in the objects of Agriculture, the Arts and Sciences, &c. has lately set out on an excursion into the interior and the different parts of Java, to investigate the physical condition of the island. He is accompanied by M. A. Payen, of Brussels, as painter, by two designers, Messrs. Bik, and by M. Kenst, director of the Botanical garden. An additional associate is Lieutenant Col. Treffsz, who has a particular commission to make a collection of the most remarkable productions, to be transmitted to the royal cabinets of natural history. The Governor General of the island has consigned for these services, a colonial corvette of his majesty, named the Lwalewe, stated to be large, and every way adapted for the purpose. He has, moreover, given direction that M. Treffsz be furnished with all the means and facilities that may contribute to the success of the undertaking. M. Treffsz has already afforded proofs of his capacity for the department entrusted to him. Among other particulars he has presented to the royal cabinet of natural history, a very large crocodile of Java, more than seventeen feet in length, and stuffed under his inspection. paration is much admired, as it repre His pre sents the animal, nearly as if alive; it will shortly be forwarded to the mother country. Since Java has been restored to the Hollanders, the local government has caused to be collected, in order to be sent to Europe, certain objects of antiquity which the English, during their late residence, had caused to be excavated or disinterred. The most important of these remains of art, and of very high antiquity, are six statues in stone, of a colossal magnitude. They were found in the ruins of Malang, and apparently they must have been ornamental additions to some other colossal con structions. Three of these statues representing goddesses, have been already sent from Batavia to Amsterdam. One is the Goddess Durza; she has eight hands, and is mounted on a buffalo, that is trampling vice under its feet. The other phant, and bears, in the Indian mythoGoddess has a head shaped like an elelogy, the name of Genesa; the inhabitants of Java call her Ganasinga Jaga. The third statue, represented under the form of a bull, is called Nandi. The labour and workmanship in this last statue, are spoken of very highly. I hope at a future period to be able to send you other details. Batavia, July 10, 1819. W. S. T. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. Ο SIR, BSERVING in the last Number of your Magazine, p. 23, a surmise thrown out that the authorship of Junius with his Vizor up! is attributable either to Sir W. E. Taunton, of Oxford, or to the late Honourable Mr. Justice Hardinge, I consider it a debt of justice due both to the former gentleman, and also to the memory of the latter, to state, that they are both guiltless of all demerit on that score, and that your correspondent is much mistaken in the suspicion he has so extensively circulated through the medium of your miscellany. At the same time I owe him the expression of my gratitude for the praises he has been pleased to confer upon me; praises, indeed, which, I am sincerely convinced, are much more lavish than can be warranted in strict truth, by the very slender deserts of the publication in question. The many preposterous and wholly indefensible guesses with which the press has teemed for this last half |