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Efficacy, we find her as much "at home" as in any of her former works -and rather more according to a plan. The basis is the frailty which, in her strong manner, she denominates "Corruption of human nature;" the consciousness of this state proves our natural imperfection, and the necessity therefore of supplication.-In examining the causes of our errors, she says justly, "our present disobedience proves that more light would only increase our guilt, stronger motives would only render us more inexcusable: we should reject then what we neglect now.

To refuse what we now

have, is not for want of light, but of eyes; not for want of motives, but of faith: not for want of rules, but of obedience; not for want of knowledge, but of will. Let us then pity those blind eyes which do not see, and especially those wilful eyes which will not see." p. 285. As our Author proceeds in her subject we meet with very correct sentiments on the helplessness of man, one of the natural basis of prayer, but she places that point in a light which marks her insight into the human heart and her knowledge of the world.

Now attendance and dependance are the very essence both of the safety and happiness of a Christian. Dependance on God is his only true liberty, as attendance on him is his only true consolation." In the next part of her subject, the effect of good works, as they effect salvation, and the several marks of a nominal faith, we wish she had allowed a little more space, and less consideration to a fear of prolixity in these times; for, when it is an established principle in the new state of Evangelism, and we see with no small alarm its general spread both in the Church and out of the Church, we think that a more full examination of the prevalent doctrine, which lies at the root of all the morality of the Gospel, and savours of Antinomianism, and threatens to defeat the very precept of its foundation, "do to others, &c." and the doers of the word shall be justified; " repent ye, &c." We, from our Author's very animated manner of treating it, have tended in great measure to lay the present mode of preaching it at silent rest.-Those who are given to a nominal faith, and so to their own

hearts" only believe," imputing to themselves the undoubted pardon of all sin by the blood of Christ, and that they shall themselves assuredly be "numbered with the saints in glory everlasting, to almost the exclusion of all others, would be staggered from plunging deeper in the steps of their own danger, by a few more such warnings as the following

While the heart remains unchanged, the temper unsanctified, and the life unfruitful, the prayer has not been "the effectual fervent prayer which availeth much!" We would, however, recommend this part of the work to the serious candid study of all religionists to whom it alludes, and to all others who do not unite with them in principle; for it cannot fail to reclaim the one from their error, and to confirm the other in the true faith that maketh not ashamed!" The careless liver," she adds, "who trusts in an unfounded hope, deceives himself, because he thinks his trust, though he never enquires into it, looks more like grace.

And in her very able examination of the vain excuses for the neglect of prayer, she says justly, it is not pusillanimity, but prudence, so to fear death as to fear to meet it in an unprepared state of mind; and that fear will always be safe and salutary which leads to the preparation," and with this view she states the necessity of prayer to the statesman, the hero, the man of business, of opulence, of genius, and of pleasure-and also of female beauty.

In her awakening conclusion she does not relax in her object; and in looking forward to the inevitable fate of a future judgment, she warns herreaders of that which presents the most mournful picture to us, and is in itself the most dreadful aggravation; that "its" (the soul's) consciousness cannot be extinguished, the thought of what he might have been will magnify the misery of what he is a reflection which will accompany torment, the unextinguishable memory through a miserable eternity-and it will be the consummation of his calamity, that he can see nothing but Justice in his condemnation."

We rise from the study of this little work with sensations of peculiar satisfaction-may we presume to add, with

hope

hope at least, that it has made our hearts better;-and this is the best effect of our criticism, and the best assurance that as it travels into the world, and into other countries as well as our own, it will be the means of recalling many wandering souls from error, and placing them in a more prepared situation to meet their God: that God whose discerning eye is over them, from whom no secrets are hidden! A. H.

99. A Critical Examination of those Parts of Mr. Beutham's "Church of Englandism" which relate to the Sacraments and the Church Catechism. By the Rev. Hugh James Rose, A. B. Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Chaplain to the Earl of Sheffield. 8vo. Porter, 1819. pp. 136.

WE have read with much pleasure, though perhaps all readers have not, Warburton's famous "Doctrine of Grace," in which is included his excellent Commentary on the text of Solomon, about answering a "Fool in his folly." Mr. Bentham is a man of invincible propensity to projects; and though there is an evident abstract fairness in his positions, concerning interest of money, and the tax on stamps, we doubt whether History will not affirm, that the consequences of usury have been ever bad, often intolerable, and that the tax which is in a certain degree optional is best. The fact is, that a legalized quota of interest prevents money being lent at all on bad security, and thus checks waste and profligacy, while, according to Mr. Burke, the expense of Law impedes frivolous vexation. Still Mr. Bentham is correct in the abstract; but all abstract positions are subject to the correc tion of circumstances. Thus nothing is better than broad wheels to waggons; yet, from the structure of vilfage roads, and the insulated sites of farm-houses, which will not afford superior highways, farmers would not. be able with broad wheels to approach their dwellings. Mr. B. treats necessity and circumstances only as white and red billiard balls, with which he is to make a successful hazard, not as detonating balls, composed of chemical preparations, which, by their explosion, may disfigure him. Such a ball, however, is the Church of Euglaudism;" and we

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shall be exceedingly surprized if his literary physiognomy is not already dreadfully cicatrized. We wish not to see him.

If people will then run away from Mr. Bentham, as most certainly they will, we can only regret, that Mr. Rose has displayed much ingenuity, reason, and reading, in confuting a work which ought never to have been seriously treated. It is a monstrous birth, of which the publick would have demanded the suffocation, if it had not been suffered to grow into an adult by the maternal partiality of party.

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THIS well-timed Discourse of a conscientious Dissenter may be read with pleasure by all who sincerely "profess and call themselves Christians," whatever may be their shades of difference, or their respective denominations. The authenticity of the Sacred Scriptures, and the sublime truths which they inculcate, are, or ought to be, alike interesting to all; and they are ably supported by Mr. Evans, who, in his Preface, observes,

"When the enemy is at the gate, internal dissensions cease. Fervently it is hoped that the friends of REVELATION, relinquishing an excessive attachment to minor articles, both of faith and of prac tice, and insisting on the facts of the New Testament, in which all agree, will unite more closely together in the hallowed bands of love and charity."

For the undeniable proofs of the authenticity of the Gospel, we refer to the Sermon itself; and shall only take from it a single remark:

"One trait in the conduct of unbelievers is deserving of special reprehension. In assailing Revealed Religion they put forth their objections, as if they were perfectly new, and had never been urged on any former occasion. This is disingenuous in the extreme. The fact is, that

nothing fresh can be started on the subject. The same monotonous tone of complaint has been continued from Celsus aud Porphyry down to the present times.

And

And what is most unfair, no notice is taken of the reiterated replies which have been made to these objections. Each Deist has

had his respective answerers. No labour has been spared, no erudition has been left unemployed, to set their querulous disposition at rest. Newton and Locke, Lardner and Priestley, Leland and Paley, Watson and Porteus, have done every thing necessary to elucidate the genius, and establish the truth of Christianity."

101. Defection from God the Cause of present and future Misery. A Sermon, preached in the parish Church of Oundle, September 12th, 1819. By the Rev., J. James. 8vo. pp. 29. Rivingtons.

A sound and sensible Discourse, from Jeremiah v. 26; well suited to its Title. In a short Appendix, after adverting to some recent impious publications, Mr. James says,

"Nor think that Infidelity is thus working at a distance only. The Itinerant Propagators of Blasphemy have brought to the very doors of our houses, and attempted to circulate within our families, impious writings, having for their ultimate tendency, the overthrow of Order, Morality, and Religiou; and calculated to produce a demoralizing Atheism, which removing the checks of conscience, and keeping out of view all prospect of an eternal world, would set men to prey upon one another, and bring upon our Country desolation."

102. A Letter to the Right Hon. C. B. Bathurst, M. P. on the subject of the Poor Laws. By Richard Blakemore, Esq. 8vo. pp. 34. Taylor and Hessey. MR. BLAKEMORE is a magistrate of high respectability, nominated (and perhaps appointed) High Sheriff for Glamorganshire. Having been deputed, upon an important public occasion, to attend a Committee of the House of Commons, he was requested by the Members to communicate his ideas in a form less frigitive than that of oral delivery. To this invitation, certainly a denotation of high respect, the present pamphlet owes its origin.

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Mr. Blakemore founds his ideas upon the only basis of value in business, experience.

He observes, in limine, that the great check to pauperism (understanding by the term indiscriminate parochial relief) was destroyed by misconstruction of the statute (43 Eliz.) which statute, as since determined by Parliament, simply intended work to

be provided for the able, and charitable aid (without the condition of labour) only to those who were physically disabled from complying with such condition. We conceived that the statute of Elizabeth, thus understood, steers in the middle channel of reason, between the rocks of idleness on one side, and of inhumanity on the other. It merely says, no person shall perish, but all shall be made useful, and as work is the condition, it is better to work for yourself, than for others. Now, as we know that no manner of good can possibly result from idleness, even to the individuals themselves, we conceive that the duty of all parochial officers is to find work according to the qualifications of the party, and in the direction chiefly, if in villages, of agricultural employment. No absurdity is more gross, than there being no track of employment. Is there a parish in the kingdom, where the arable land is clean, at least kept clean? We know of none. We remember a nobleman, who was perpetually requested to furnish charitable assistance to the old and infirm. He granted small pensions, but only on this conditionthat the paupers were seen, every day of fair weather, with a scythe, weedhook, or sickle, destroying the weeds, either in his park, or his farms. We have heard the expence of cleaning land stated at not less than 107. per acre; and, under correction, we think that giving the land one ploughing to loosen the soil, turning in paupers to weed it, and following the plan by a crop of potatoes, would not only effect the purpose, but repay the farmer with a very considerable profit. We think that the women and children may thus either be made beneficial, or, by declining the employ, be no burden to the parish. We have before given our opinion, that if the paupers are refractory, and prefer committal to prison, they should not be allowed food till they had executed a portion of task-work, more than equivalent to the value of food. We are satisfied that work is the best and only efficient method of limiting pauperism to its original and only justifiable ground, necessity.

We are gratified in finding our opinions supported by so able a mind as that of Mr. Blakemore. He states, that when the check [the correct construction

construction of the statute of Elizabeth] did prevail;

"The practice in cases [of occasional distress] was, that the sufferer applied to his master and his friend, to furnish the required succour, himself engaging, in return, either repayment, or the performance of some other equivalent and specific service: thus the link between master and servant was cemented, and mutual good offices were the result. But what is the practice now?-The language in use among the labouring classes is; 'What, apply to the master? Money borrowed there must be paid again; but get it from the parish, and there is no paying back. Does not then the corrective to pauperism, as applicable to this new state of things, immediately present itself? Let the pauper feel himself placed, in his application to the parish, precisely in the same situation as he formerly was in his application to the master; the money advanced must be repaid, or an equiva lent in services to be performed." p. 12.

We are satisfied that Mr. Blakemore strikes at the root of the evil; and that if the details are made practicable, very important moral results would further eusue; viz. provident foresight in the poor, to prevent the painful necessity of mortgaging their labour and time, and the various other virtues, which follow caution and frugality.

Mr. Blakemore next proceeds to the amazing expence attached to trials concerning settlements. He wisely proposes that, before an order of removal be made by hearing only one side of the question, copies of the evidence should be transmitted to the magistrates of the district, to which the pauper is to be removed, and the settlement not be made final till necessary processes, detailed by Mr. B. (pp. 19, 20), be gone through with, on the principle of "Audi alterum partem."

To his valuable pamphlet, Mr. Blakemore has annexed some very important remarks concerning the bad management of Turnpike Roads. He is of opinion, that they should be subject to the inspection of public surveyors (p. 33). Upon this head we cannot forbear making one weighty observation. We know that too much of the money expended on these roads is pure waste, because occasioned by the use of narrow wheels, in which the farmers obstinately persist. Their plea is, that their wag

gons are not otherwise passable in their own village roads. Let them throw down their ridges into the ruts, and level their roads, which may be done at one hundredth part of the expence with which they saddle the publick, purely to save themselves a inere trifle. Whoever has seen the action of narrow wheels, must see that they did not roll, but plough, and mark out tracks, which induce the drivers of other teams to continue in the same directions, always treading down the centre and raising the sides for the retention of rain and water: thus reducing the road to a mucilage. We think that the most effectual cure of this evil would be, in future Acts of Parliament, to authorize double toll upon all waggon-wheels less than six or eight inches in breadth. This regulation, as well as attention to ditching, would be an enormous saving; but we much doubt whether any plan is equal to the foreign one of a pavé in the centre for bad weather, and side-roads for summer. We do not however speak positively on this subject, because we know nothing of the expence, or other necessary particulars, attending this form of roads. Gentlemen who, like Mr. Blakemore, apply excellent sense, assisted by experience, not vague theory, to public business, are plainly those valuable characters, who are, without flattery, the pillars of the magistracy, and, by the instructive manner in which they execute their duty, are eminent benefactors to society.

103.

The Entomologist's useful Compendium; or, an Introduction to the Knowledge of British Insects, comprising the best means of obtaining and preserving them, and a Description of the Apparatus generally used; together with the Genera of Linné, and the modern method of arranging the classes Crustacea, Myriapoda, Spiders, Mites, and Insects, from their affinities and structure, according to the views of Dr. Leach, &c. &c. Illustrated with Twelve Plates. By George Samouelle, Associate of the Linnean Society of London. 8vo. pp. 496. Boys.

WE are always happy to notice the publication of elementary works on Science, conceiving that they tend in no small degree to promote morality and virtue among the ris ing generation. No science, perhaps,

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has higher claims on our regard than that of Natural History, whether pursued in the field or in the closet: it presents a never-failing source of rational amusement, and the mind that dwells with admiration on the works of the Creation is naturally led to the contemplation of the power, the wisdom, and the goodness of the Creator. The natural history of the British Isles has been pursued of late years with much zeal and success, and we anticipate with pleasure its further progress. Botany, Chemistry, and Mineralogy, have become very popular sciences, and the result has been of much real advantage to society. Entomology is in this country much less studied than on the Continent, where numerous works on the subject have issued from the press. That it deserves not, bowever, the disregard, and even contempt, with which it has been treated will be sufficiently obvious, if we consider the invaluable properties which many insects possess, supplying us with a portion of the luxuries, the comforts, and the absolute necessaries, of life the medicinal virtues of the cantharides, or blistering fly; the useful products of honey and wax; the inimitable colour carmine; and that beautiful material silk, in the ornamental manufacture of which so many of our artisans are employed. To insects also we are indebted for many of the flowers and fruits of the earth. And as we derive great benefits, so we experience some evils, from these, the most minute, but most numerous works of the Creator.

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The publication before us prises very extensive information within a small compass, affording a complete introduction to the science; and the execution of it must have been attended with no ordinary labour. After some introductory observations it proceeds with a copious account of the parts of insects, their situation, use, &c. interspersed with some very interesting information to the student whose object is truth. The next division, "Observations on the different systems of Entomology," contains the opinions of the most celebrated writers on the subject, as well as the state of the science in the time of Linné, an outline of the Fabrician system, &c. GENT. MAG. December, 1819.

The genera of the Linnean system are enumerated, and exhibit in most instances the manners and economy of these families, for in this view our author considers them. The Modern or Natural System divides insects into families, for the most part founded on the Linnean genera; from these, numerous natural genera are separated, to illustrate which one species at least is described, with the synonymes. This department is thus rendered much less difficult than ou a superficial view might be imagined, since the characters are plain and explicit, and the explanation of terms given towards the conclusion of the work will enable any person of moderate abilities to proceed to the strictest examination.

The work concludes with a copious account of the apparatus used by entomologists, the method of collecting insects and preserving them, the seasons for collecting, the method of arranging insects in a cabinet, and of using the microscope, and an extensive calendar of the times of appearance, and usual situations, of above 3000 species of British insects.

The author has evidently spared no pains to render his work valuable, and in every way worthy of the attention of the publick; and we strongly recommend it both for its utility and elegance. It is closely printed; and the plates contain nearly 200 figures, which in the coloured copies are exquisitely finished.

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104. Time's Telescope for 1820; a Complete Guide to the Almanack containing an explanation of Saints' Days and Holidays; Comparative Chronology; Astronomical Occurrences; and the Naturalist's Diary; to which are prefixed Outlines of Entomology. 12mo. pp. lxviii. 324. Sherwood, Neely, and Jones.

TIME, not the World's Time, with wings besprinkled with cards, dice, and "at homes"-but the Time of the Astronomer, the Naturalist, and the Historian, again opens his annual magazin des noveautés; and we can safely assure those who may wish to become purchasers, that all the articles in this literary Bazaar, are well selected and of the first quality.

This pleasing volume is well adapted for Schools, either as a class-book, or, as the reward of merit.

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