of Wigtoft with Quadring, Chaplain to the Right Honourable Lord Gwydir. 8vo. 50 pp. 2s. 6d. Printed and fold by Townley, Bofton. Rivingtons. 1812.

Thefe remarks have the advantage of being produced by a most refpectable and experienced minifter of a very large parish, who has long turned his mind to the precife objects of the Bill, on which Le has here published his remarks. He is, befides, a very active justice of the peace, and fully exercifed in every branch and particular of parochial bufinefs. To give further weight to his obfervations, he is a man of the highest character, a found divine, a warm and active friend to the conftitution in church and ftate: and, in a word, exactly fuch a man, as to character, abilities, and knowledge, as perfons wishing to form new regulations, fuch as are intended by the propofed bill, ought particularly to feek the opportunity of confulting. Having faid this, we shall give no more of the prefent publication than the short statement prefixed, in there words :

"That the original purpofe of this Bill was, to render great. fervice to the public, without detriment to any defcription of perfons, particularly to the minifters of the established church, can be doubted by no perfon who has heard of the Mover of it. Nor will any one doubt that the Honourable House, in which it was moved, did concur in this entire purpofe. Whether the latter part of it was accidentally overlooked or not, by those who had the difficult task of amending: will appear from the following extracts and remarks."

ART. 25.

EDUCATION.

National Education; or a bort Account of the Efforts which have been made to educate the Children of the Poor, according to the new Syftem invented by the Rev. Dr. Bell; including an Account of the recent Establishment of the National Society: To which is jubjoined, a Letter on the Subject of National Education. PP. 24. 6d. Hatchard; Wilfon, and J. Walker.

1812.

This little tract must prove acceptable to every fincere friend of our Church establishment. It is ftated in the advertisement that the matter comprifed in it "appeared originally in the newfpaper called the National Advifer, and is now republished in this form in compliance with the request of feveral clergymen and gentlemen, warm friends of our ecclefiaftical establishment, and zealous advocates for the education of the poor in the principles of the National Religion. The account of the efforts which have been made to educate the children of the poor ac cording to the new fyftem, and of the recent establishment of the

National

National Society, was drawn up (it is ftated) by a gentleman, who has long been actively engaged in the caufe, and may therefore be prefumed to poffefs a complete kuowledge of the fubject. The letter which follows was drawn up by a diftinguished member of the Church.'

This account of what has been done, and of the noble efforts which are now making, to educate the poor, is perhaps one among the best which have yet appeared in fo fmall compafs. The following obfervations on Mr. Lancafter's plan of education afford a very favourable fpecimen: "The avowed purpose of Mr. Lancaster, with refpect to religious inftruction, was fimply to teach the children to read the facred fcriptures, without oral or other comment, which might give their minds a bias in favour of any particular profeffion of Chriftianity. The choice of their creed was left wholly to themfelves, or to their parents. This total indifference to a matter of fuch tranfcendant importance, both to the community at large, and to the children themselves, was inculcated under the fpecious appellation of liberality-a fort of liberality, however, which goes to delude the people into a belief, that preachers and teachers of religion are by no means neceffary, and which, indeed, it is difficult to reconcile with fincere religious belief in those who are its advocates. If Mr. Lancafter had taught the peculiar tenets of his own fect in his fchools, we should not have been furprised, nor have been difpofed to blame him; but that a man, profeffing to be a Chriftian, hould make it a matter of boaft that he taught no religion at all to his children, is enough to roufe the moft luke-warm to an expreffion of furprife, and indignation. Mr. Lancaster, by not endeavouring to inftruct his children in fome particular profeffion of Christianity, expofed them to the danger of not embracing it in any form, and therefore, by aiming at a liberality too unbounded for any mortal to cherish with unmixed fincerity, he was, in fact, betraying the great caufe of religion itself."

The reflections which are fubjoined, on the subject of National Education, accord entirely with our own fentiments, and are evidently the production of an able pen. We will not, however, give an extract from this part of the publication, because it appears in fo cheap a form, that we think moft of our readers who feel an intereft in the great caufe which it is calculated to fupport, will be difpofed to purchase it.

DIVINITY.

ART. 26. Sermons, Charges, and Tracts, now first collected into a Volume. By Shute, Bishop of Durham. 8vo. 446 pp. 125. Rivingtons. 1811.

As the principal contents of this valuable volume must have receiv ed our fpecific attention at their proper times and places, it seems only

neceffary

neceffary to announce to our readers, that they have now an oppor. tunity offered of obtaining, in a collected form, what could not previously be had without much pains and trouble.

We fhall be fatisfied, therefore, with recapitulating the con

tents.

"A Sermon before the Lords, on Jan. 30, 1772.-A Sermon before the Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, Feb. 17, 1775.-A Sermon before the Lords, Feb. 27, 1795, a Day of General Faft.-A Charge to the Clergy of the Diocefe of Sarum, 1783.-A Letter to the Clergy of the fame Diocefe.-A Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Durham, 1792.-A Charge to the Clergy of the fame Diocefe, 1797.A Circular Letter to the acting Magiftrates of the county of Dur. ham.-A Charge to the Churchwardens of the Diocese of Durham in 1801.-A Charge to the Clergy of Durham, 1801.-A Charge to the Clergy of the fame Diccefe, 1806.

"The Grounds on which the Church of England feparated from the Church of Rome reconfidered, in a View of the Romish Doctrine of the Eucharift, with an Explanation of the antepenul timate Answer in the Church Catechism.

"Grounds of Union between the Churches of England and of Rome confidered, in a Charge to the Clergy of Durham, in 1810."

Our fenfe of the great importance and value of these different Sermons and Tracts has been before and fuitably expreffed. We have only, therefore, to return our beft thanks to this excellent and venerable Prelate, for enabling us to contemplate, at one view, the extent of his fervices to the caufe of religion and piety May he yet live to fee their beneficial operation and falutary effects.

ART. 27.

The Duty of Almfgiving for the Support of Lunatics, a Sermon, preached in the Collegiate Church of Southwell, in the County of Nottingham, October 27, 1811. By the Rev. W. Barrow, LL.D. and F.A.S. 30 PP. Price 15. Newark, printed. Rivingtons, London. 1811.

The prefent difcourfe, though written, according to the author's statement in an advertisement prefixed, at the call of the moment, intended only as an exhortation in a parish church, and publifhed, with fome reluctance, at the request of the audience, will by no means detract from his former reputation. The text, at first fight, will appear fomewhat curious-John xiii. 27. "Then faid Jefus unto him, what thou doeft, do quickly.” But it is taken for the purpose of an attempt to prove from the context, in oppofition to a received opinion, that the parents of our Saviour were not in fuch narrow circumftances, but that he was able to give alms to the poor, and in this virtue as in every other, to leave us an example, that we should follow his feps. This idea

will

will be new to many of our readers. It is, however, fupported with equal candour and ingenuity, and the tranfition from this difquifition to the immediate object of the discourse is very well managed. The fermon was preached, and is now published and fold, for the benefit of an excellent inftitution, a General Lunatic Afylum, lately erected near Nottingham; and from the utility of fuch an inftitution, as well as the merits of the fermon, we are difpofed to give it all the publicity in our power. The author evidently had the fubject of his addrefs fincerely at heart, and what his humanity dictated, his pen has well expreffed. We fhall conclude our remarks with two fhort extracts, and we truft that, without further encomium from us, they will recommend the whole fermon to the attention of our readers. In the former, the author combats the prevailing opinion, that lunatics are fecured from mifery by their want of feeling; and in the second, enforces, from their helpless condition, their peculiar claim to our charity.

"I may be told, perhaps, that the poor lunatic ftands the lefs in need of our pity and affiftance, because he appears to be infenfible to the evils that he endures: because against him affliction her. felf appears to throw her poifoned arrows without effect. But is this the true ftate of the cafe, is there not much greater reafon to fear that he fuffers with more than common acuteness! Is his inceffant restleffness, his perpetual wish to change his place or pofture-Is this the fymptom of infenfibility? are fullen, filence, diftorted features, or flarts of terror--are thefe the indications of a mind at ease? are fudden gufts of paffion, of violence, and of clamour-are these the expreffion of fatisfaction and content? No, No. Though his reafon is overthrown, his fenfes have not loft the power. Though the mind is in ruins, his body has not ceafed to feel. Does he not ftill experience the common wants and the common propenfities of his nature? Do not his limbs ftill fhrink at the pelting of the ftorm? Does not his heart ftill tremble at the horrors of his own imagination?

"It has been well obferved that the mirth of a madman is almost always mifchief: and I fear it is mifchief, because he feels it to be mifery. He is malignant because he is wretched; and wishes to inflict upon others fome portion of the anguish that he endures. His eye befpeaks vacancy, not animation. His fmile is without cheerfulnefs: his gaiety without delight. 'Tis moody madness laughing wild amidst fevereft woe." P. 20.

"In the prefent inftance you cannot doubt but the objects that I recommend, are justly entitled to your care. Other needy men may have been unwilling to exert their own powers for their own good. The poor lunatic has no powers to be exerted. Other needy men may have difregarded the motives to diligence, or the principles of virtue. The poor lunatic knows nothing of motives or virtues, or principles. He has forgotten the most familiar dif. tinctions of right and wrong, He has no judgment to direct his

conduct,

conduct, no mind to guide his hand. As he is not mafter of his own actions, he cannot give offence to his benefactors. His errors cannot harden your hearts against him. As he cannot be expected to perform, he cannot be understood to violate, the duties of a neighbour or a friend. He proclaims no doctrines hoftile to the public peace. He takes no part in the tranfactions of any fufpicious fociety. He is attached to no fect in the church. He fupports no party in the ftate. He is known only by negatives. and privations; by what he wants and what he has loft. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. Yet to the Jew, that was left naked and wounded by robbers, the Samaritan was confidered as a neighbour. Ore man may be of Paul, and Apollos; but charity is always of Christ."

P. 26.

her of

ART. 28. A Sermon preached in Bofton, America, April 5, 1810, the Day of the Public Faft. By William Ellery Channing, Pefter of the Church in Federal-freet. Published at the Requeft of the Bofton. London reprinted.

Hearers. 1811.

6d. 15.

Hatchard.

The object of this animated and excellent difcourfe is to corroborate the impreffion lately made on the public mind, by the Letter on the Genius and Difpofitions of the French Government, lately reprinted in England. The author of that Letter visited France with the ftrongest impreffions of partiality in its favour; and the ultimate refult of careful inveftigation, was difguft and antipathy. The text of this difcourfe is Matt. xvi. 3. "Can ye not difcern the figns of the times ?" He begins with explaining what thefe figns are, viz. a new government in the heart of Europe, having one end fteadily in view, the creation of an irrefiftible military power. He expatiates on the character of the formidable director of this power, and fees nothing but what is overwhelming and difheartening. Who ever enjoyed fuch power without abufing it? and little as America may feem to be an object of his care, he there hopes to fix a mortal wound on England. But, perhaps, he may only want the alliance of America? Her alliance, emphatically exclaims the writer, look to Venice, Switzerland, Holland, and, above all, to Spain. He then for cibly defcribes the internal fituation, of France, drinking to the dregs that cup fhe has mixed for other nations. The preacher is remarkably fpirited, recommending his country men to forbear from yielding to the malignant paffions of the heart, but to cultivate a benevolent and generous patriotifm; and, above all, the truth and praf ice of the gofpel of Chrift. This is a truly excellent difcourfe.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 29. Profpectus of an Inflitution for the Relief of the opulent Blind, and for educating them in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic,