the superintendence of one Supreme, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and Benevolent Author. The natural attributes of the Deity he states to be, omnipo

are here assembled, and busily engaged in discharging their several affairs. The counters and desks which surround the room, are occupied by the officers and clerks of the revenue; they preserve a uniform appearance externally; but are variously dis-tence, omnipresence, eternity, self-extributed internally, according to the diffe-istence, necessary existence, and spiritrent conveniences required by each indivi-uality. But Paley's view of Natural dual. The area of the room is paved with Theology, contains nothing concerning remarkably large slabs of Scotch stone; holiness as an attribute of Deity, by and within the inclosures are boarded floors which attribute Mr. Gisborne understands for the accommodation of the occupiers. the possession, in perfection, of justice, In the centre are three large circular desks, truth, mercy, purity, and every other for the convenience of the public. The moral excellence; the habitual exercise great space which this room encloses, comprising an area of not less than 150,000 of all and of each of these excellencies cubic feet of air, is effectually warmed to in the government of the universe; cora pleasing temperature, by means of the respondent and operative approbation two air stoves, the expense of which is less of each created being invested with mothan six shillings per diem. ral agency, who acts in willing accord ance with these excellencies; and corof each, who acts in willing contrariety respondent and operative disapprobation to any of them.

Mr. Laing adds a description of these stoves: but, we must decline following

him here; and also into his immense combinations of beams, tressels, and girders, though these are, certainly, the most instructive and interesting to Professors of the Art. We must also decline following this gentleman into his description of the original St. Dunstan's Church (derived in part from a book of the churchwarden's accounts, saved from the fire of London) but must close by complimenting him on the almost singular opportunities he has had, in his professional capacity, which we understand is but of moderate length, of contributing such conspicuous services to his country, both in church and state.

Further, Paley says nothing relative. to the earth being at present to the lowest known depth beneath its surface, in such a state of ruinous disorder, and exhibiting such concomitant phenomena, that it cannot be supposed to have proceeded thus from the forming hand of its Creator; nothing of man being now in a fallen state through transgression; nothing, therefore, of his being actually placed partly under penal discipline, partly under hopes and indications and means of mercy.

It is, therefore, Mr. Gisborne's object to prove that, towards the knowother fundamental truths lying at the ledge and confirmation of these and root of the Christian Revelation, Natural Theology affords, in addition to its developement of the attributes enumerated by Paley, specific and appropriate, and most valuable aid. Commencing, therefore, from the point at which the archdeacon's work terminates, Mr. G. first shews that the exterior strata of the earth are

At present in a state of total confusion and dislocation, manifestly produced by convulsions of extreme violence; couvulsions accompanied by the general destrueface, with the exception of those which tion of the living inhabitants of the sur might be preserved by a special interposi+ tion on the part of the Deity. This reduction of the earth to its actual state di

rectly contrary to the harmony, regularity, | fallen creature, stationed in a world where and order by which all the other known penal discipline is combined with indicaworks of God, from the highest to the tions and means of mercy. In its struclowest, are characterised, and the conco- ture also, abstracted from those inlets to mitant destruction of animated existence, suffering and those infirmities subsequently can be ascribed by natural reason to no superadded on account of transgression, other cause than the indignation of God it appears evidently to have been suited against mankind, the only moral agents to a paradisiacal state. But, viewed in on the globe: an indignation not to be connexion with those inlets to suffering explained otherwise than by disobedience and those infirmities, it is not accordant on their part to his commandments. with any supposable situation of beings stedfast in holiness, and possessing the unclouded favor of their God.

Secondly, that the surface of the earth was mercifully so arranged through the instrumentality of the deluge, withdrawn by a gradual but somewhat rapid retirement, as to furnish to the survivors of the catastrophe, and to their descendants, a habitation commodious in itself, and suited to the several purposes of their existence, whether purposes of penal discipline, or of merciful encouragemenf, in the condition and under the dispensation now appointed for them,

Thirdly, that the mineral contents of the earth are, in their nature and in their position, such as to be consistent with the condition of a race of beings, fallen through transgression, yet not excluded from hopes and prospects of mercy: but are not such as we can conceive to be consistent with a state adapted to beings remaining holy, and in the full possession of the divine favor.

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Seventbly, that in the tendencies and the faculties of the human mind; tendencies, demonstrating by hourly experience, to reason and observation a nature radically corrupted, a nature, however, capable of being restored by divine grace, as examples of characters transformed under that sacred influence testify, to the love and the practice of righteousness; faculties, bearing amidst their debasement and their limitations marks of their high origin, but in their exertions exposed to continual hazard of disappointment, and retaining a feeble and transitory hold on their acquisitions; we read the same disclosures respecting man, his condition, and his prospects, which from the antecedent lines of argument we have already deduced.

Eighthly, that while in the various branches of human occupation tokens of the divine benignity are intermingled in a proportion sufficient to justify the hope, that the guilty race is not excluded from mercy: the amount of labour, of pain, of solicitude, of precariousness, of disappointment, is so great as to be inconsistent with any conceivable state of holy beings, and evidently to bear a penal character.

Fourthly, that the large proportion which the collective amount of torrid deserts and frozen wastes bears to the area of dry land, on the globe, and the extent of the havock inflicted on human life and happiness, by volcanoes and earthquakes, do not comport with the supposeable condition of a holy race of beings; but entirely accord with the state of beings fallen through Ninthly, that all the preceding, proposin, and stationed partly under a penal dis-sitions are strengthened by the argument cipline, partly under a dispensation of from negation; by the absence, namely, on the practical non-existence, of any fact contrary to any of them.

mercy.

Fifthly, that the objects provided on the surface of the earth for the use of man, as Tenthly, that the situation of man upon. plants, trees, and other materials for sus- earth, marked, on the one hand, with the tenance, clothing, shelter, and accommo-impress of penal inflictions for sin, and on dation, together with the animals fitted for domestic use, and for the alleviation of human labour, are, in their several qualities, and also in the actual degree of abundance, such, as to be accurately adapted to guilty beings placed under the discipline and the dispensation which have been stated.

the other, with signs of mercy and means of grace, is in every part stamped with the character of moral discipline. This moral discipline is in perpetual and universal operation; and is specifically suited, not. only to inculcate and to enforce those general verities which are common to true religion under every dispensation, but to Sixthly, that the human frame, in its guide and prepare men profitably to restructure, in its powers, in its weaknesses, ceive the particular dispensation, through in its necessities, in its ordinary measure of which it was, ordained in the divine wis health and sickness, and in the precarious-dom that mercy should be conveyed. ness and the shortness of mortal existence, Eleventhly, that the number, the variety," accords with the condition of man, as a the precision, and the importance of the

coincidences, resemblances, and analogies, | expensive form. We give the existing between the actual state of things herd's invocation to Spring,' as among mankind, as it is ascertainable by sable specimen of the lighter productions observation, and the Scriptures, attest the of this lady's muse. truth of the sacred volume, and pointedly corroborate the doctrines of the Gospel.

Fair is Autumn, but her charms
Soon are lost in Winter's arms.
Promis'd hope, thy joys, my fair,
Sweet as roses in the air.
Haste, then hasten to my bow'r,

Bring the wreath, and bring the flow'r.

A Letter to a friend relative to the
present state of the Island of Dominica.
By Langford Lovell, Esq. 8vo. Robbins,
Winchester, 1818.

Our readers may possibly recollect that public attention was directed to this unfortunate island in the course of the last session of Parliament. The design of the present well written letter is to describe its present distressed state, and to suggest suitable remedies and as it does not appear to have been originally intended for general circulation, we shall endeavour to give effect to the writer's benevolent suggestions, by giving a particular account of his pamphlet.

The Island of Dominica in ordinary seasons is favourable to the growth of provisions, which are raised with little trouble. The negroes subsist on yams, eddoes, plantains, bananas, cassava, and various other vegetables and fruits, most of which attain to an enormous size; but from the moisture of the climate they are often watery. Poultry and pigs are also raised by the negroes. and allowances are made to them of salt and of salt provisions, and, occasionally, of flour, rice, Indian corn, and such other articles as are calculated to promote health and strength; these, together with lumber, which comprehends wood for building, mill-timber, staves, &c. were, till of late years, obtained from the United States of America, and arrived generally in assorted cargoes, at seasonable times, in sufficient quantities, and were taken at a fair exchange for rum, of which America was the

chief market.

For many years no hurricane severe enough to destroy the provisions occurred, although they were sometimes damaged. The land is, in general, not rich enough for the growth of canes; indeed, few of its valleys are of sufficient capacity for a sugar plantation, the hill-sides being deprived of the natural soil by excessive rains. Its coffee estates are of uncertain produce. And its communications by sea and land are interrupted, difficult, and dangerous; so that the inhabitants at a distance from each other can have but little intercourse, or interchange of commodities.

VOL. VIII. No. 46. Lit. Pan. N. S. Mar. 1.

From these natural and local disadvantages, as well as others too tedious to mention, many estates, in spite of a profitable commerce with America, and of propitious seasons, were abandoned, and their proprietors ruined; many hardly paid their contingent expenses, and the interest of their debts; and but a few compensated in any fair degree for the capital invested, the risks incurred, and the labours endured.

But the time was approaching, when the island, by the failure of its domestic resources and of the usual channels of its foreign supply, was destined to sink yet much lower in the scale of misery and wretchedness of the causes and quick progress of which, I will, as briefly and plainly as I can, apprize you; that you may be able to form a right judgment upon the subject, and to decide in what ways and in what degrees the government at home, and the white inhabitants, have respectively conributed to its present deplorable condition.

The principal causes of the distress here referred to, are shewn to have been Hurricanes, which destroyed cattle, and in some instances, negroes, together with the buildings, and the fruits of the earth, when in a state of forwardness; 2. the late War with America, which deprived the Island of its usual advantageous exchanges of rum for corn, salt provisions, lumber, &c.; and 3. The prohibition, by the legislature of the mother country, of the former intercourse through American bottoms, which prohibition has been so strictly guarded, and enjoined, that no relaxation-could be made by the governor, except in cases of extreme necessity, of which necessity he was to judge not by the dearness, but by the actual want of Provisions. The effect of this prohibi-, tion has been the adoption of a similar conduct on the part of the Americans; and though, after the hurricane of October, 1817, the governor opened the ports for six months, yet the sufferers of the island of Dominica have not been able to derive all the benefit they otherwise might, from this measure, in consequence of the advantage taken of their exigencies, by the avarice of commerce, which, after a hurricane, more than doubles the price of every commodity that is offered.

See a account of the tremendous burricane of July 1813, in the Lit. Pan. O. S. Vol. xiv. pp 668, 670.

Y

This prohibition our author considers who would doubtless rejoice to see the as the principal impediment to the pros- church rebuilt, and to resume his profes perity of Dominica, inasmuch as it de- sional duties. And with a view to the prives the planters of the means of cul- better observance of the Sabbath, and the tivating its unproductive soil to advan-increase of religion in those parts of the tage. He therefore directs all his resident minister's ability to attend, it apisland which are beyond the limits of the strength, to evince its impolicy, as now pears to me, that certain missionaries of conducted; at the same time he ac- good report, and educated in the principles knowledges the wisdom of such a mea- of the church of England, might be sent sure, if gradually introduced. Deeply from home, for the purpose of visiting, at as Mr. Lovell appears to have suf- least, two estates on every Sunday; and fered, in common with the other planters there reading the prayers, according to of that Island; the recollection of his our liturgy, to the assembled people, and losses at no time betrays him into im- in some capacious room, either now standafterwards delivering a suitable exhortation proper language; and this part of his ing, or which, I doubt not, the proprietors letter is highly deserving the attention of large estates would build for such exof the legislature. cellent uses; and to which the people on We have not room to follow his other the smaller oues might be invited to repair. details and suggestions; but his remarks When the missionary was attending his on the depressed state of religion in the duty elsewhere, the manager, or some other colony are so important, and are expres-read the prayers, and a written exhortation, competent person on each estate, might sed with so much temper and good adapted to the capacities and wants of his sense, that it would be injustice to our congregation. And, in the week, the misreaders to withhold them. To this de- sionaries might make themselves highly pressed state he suspects that much of useful in teaching and catechising the neits present misery is to be attributed.

groes.

These, or some other such measures, are indispensably necessary; and, for the reasons before given, would be attended with better practical results than the building of more churches in an island so situated. The negroes are neither slow to hear, nor dull to comprehend, the doctrines of scripture. Their moral improvement has hitherto been answerable to the degrees of knowledge they have acquired. And I doubt not they will, step by step, attain to a right knowledge and steady practice of religious duty. The laws amended-the church rebuilt-the ministers preaching the word-the people attentive and obe dient to it-the further mercies of God might be fully relied on. "The lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they who seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good."

Is it not reasonable to suppose that God has a controversy with this people, when I tell you that the only protestant place of public worship in the island has been suffered to go to decay; and that not one stone, as I understand, is now remaining upon another? With it pari passu (is it too much to say, because of it, as indicative of the decrease of religious feeling among the inhabitants?) has decayed, whatever of prosperity or happiness the colony before enjoyed. "Him that honoureth me," says God, "I will honour."-I have loved," says David, "the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth." Surely, then, the Legislature of Dominica might have levied a small annual tax, for keeping in repair the edifice "in which God's honour dwelleth." The omission reflects the greatest disgrace on them, and on the people who have never petitioned, After the most anxious consideration of as far as I can learn, either for repairing the the relations which subsist between mas old, or constructing a new church. That ter and slave, I cannot but come to the there never was more than one, will per- conclusion, that he is the only true friend haps admit of some excuse. There is of both, who enforces upon them the only one town, and the roads in general are necessity of reciprocal benevolence; who, so bad, that there would be great difficulty by persuading the former to treat the lat in assembling a larger congregation than ter with tenderness, and to administer lione or two contiguous estates would sup-berally and freely to all his wants, both ply. The rivers too, become suddenly im- of soul and body, supplies at the same passable, from the torrents which fall from time, the most powerful motives for the obedience of the slave-gratitude, love, and confidence.

the mountains.

At Roseau there is a resident clergyman,