The

CAUSES AND EFFECTS IS PERFECTLY EXHIBITED. biographer laments that the champion of the new doctrines, and, therefore, the friend of a party here, and their corref pondents in France, does not, in England, receive the applaufe THEY think due to the abettor of democracy and irreligion. "Against so bold, so manly, and so able an advocate in behalf of civil and religious liberty, much malignity has occafionally been difplayed; to deprecate fuch malignity, or defend him from the attacks of the enemies of Juch principles, would be fuperfluous, because it would be unneceffary."

Among the objects of warmeft praise in this work is Mr. Henry Erskine. This praife muft arife from the fympathy of political fentiment, as they fhew themfelves quite unacquainted with the facts of that gentleman's hiftory and the qualities of his mind. If they had known the fubject of their panegyric, they might (we do not fay they would) have difcovered in his genius, qualities which they overlook. Men acquainted with Mr. Erfkine, and able to obferve the characteristics of his mind, would have perceived vivacity, pleasant humour, and light wit to be the prominent excellencies of his genius. For thefe they would have given him a credit which they have not done. They would have found that, as an orator, he speaks principally to the fancy and paffions of his hearers, and rarely to their understandings; that his fpeeches and profeffional opinions difplay neither an extraordinary fund of legal knowledge, nor great powers of investigation and deduction. It is here attempted to reprefent him as both the most learned and able man at the Scotch bar. Those must be total strangers to the accurate and extensive knowledge, and found and vigorous reafoning, of Mr. George Ferguffon, the profound research of Mr. David Hume, (not unworthy of his illuftrious uncle,) the learning and ability of feveral others, who can fuppofe the lively ingenuity, the facetious jokes, the declamatory perorations of Mr. Henry Erskine the highest perfection of Scotch juridical ability. In commending Mr. Erfkine the writer throws out an afperfion on Mr. Dundas, the Lord Advocate, not more falfe than ignorant. The folly is equal to the malignity, because the falfehood is fo very obvious, and muft, indeed, appear fo glaring to any one, of whatever party, that has the smallest acquaintance with Scotch characters. The Lord Advocate, according to this writer, is deftitute alike of powerful talents and juridical experience." We might refer the affertor of this charge to many speeches of Mr. Dundas, which would fully demonftrate its inanity; but, to be concife, we fhall confine ourselves to two. Let them perufe the exhi

bitions

bitions of that gentleman, on Scotch questions, in the Houle of Commons, especially on the trials of Muir and Palmer, in particular, and on the criminal law of Scotland in general, in answer to the very able and learned orations of Mr. Wm. Adam; and if the faid writer is competent to judge from materials before him, he will find a most accurate and extenfive knowledge of the detail of the common and ftatute law of Scotland, both in themselves, and as illuftrated by decisions; a thorough difcernment of its fpirit and general principles, with a comprehenfion of the philofophy of penal law, that thewed molt complete juridical experience, informing and guiding an understanding competent and habituated to rife from particulars to the most extenfive generalization. When, or where, did Mr. Henry Erfkine ever difplay fuch a specimen of judicial knowledge and powerful intellect? This article, alfo, not contented with a grofs calumny against one of his Majefty's principal law officers, proceeds to an equally falfe allegation concerning that body of gentlemen of which he is the head. The writer afferts that Mr. Erfkine was fhamefully bereft of his office of Dean of Faculty, and that envy and malignity were the motives which dictated the proceedings on that occafion. The fact was fimply this.-When the Treafon and Sedition Bills were pending, Mr. H.Erskine was a very active agitator of an oppofition to them; a meeting of the Faculty of Advocates was called to confider this proceeding of their chairman and reprefentative, refpecting the measures that many of them believed, not only beneficial, but abfolutely neceifary, to the falvation of the Conftitution. It being found that Mr. Erfkine perfifted in his oppofition to bills, in their opinion, fo indifpenfible, they, his conftituents, refolved that, at the enfuing election, they fhould choose a chairman whofe known principles and conduct fhould be likely to reprefent theirs. Such was the proceeding which this author calls fhameful, and imputes to the moft unworthy motives.

We have dwelt longer on this work than its literary importance deferves, merely to fhew the tendency of its defign, and the falle impreffions which it means to convey, refpecting both individuals and claffes. As Anti-Jacobins, we reprobate its intention. As literary critics, we do not hesitate to fay, that, on the whole, it is deftitute of new and important information, evidently the work of perfons void of biographical knowledge, and totally deficient in biographical kill and ability. It is a mifchievous, barren, feeble, and paltry performance; and, we truft, will experience, from the

*We adopt here the English terms.

good

good fenfe and found principles of Britons, the contempt which thofe deferve who, from malice traduce, or from ignorance or incapacity, mifreprefent, British Public Characters.

DIVINITY.

ART. XVI. A Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of Hanwell, in the County of Middlefex, on Sunday, July 22, 1798, before the Members of the Voluntary Armed Affociations, formed within the Parishes of Hanwell and Ealing, including New and Old Brentford. By George Henry Glaffe,* M. A. Rector of Hanwell, Honorary Chaplain to the Corps. Pp. 15. Price 1s. Norbury, Brentford; and Rivingtons, London. 1798.

HOUGH it be profeffedly foreign from our purpose to extend our obfervations to any confiderable length, on fingle fermons, unless the matter of them is particularly interefting, we cannot but feel an immediate fatisfaction in allotting to fuch difcourfes as the prefent a diftinguished place in our Review, where it is the evident and laudable defign of the author to add his tribute of deferved praise to those true friends of their country, who "have familiarized themselves to the weapons of honourable warfare, that, in cafe of danger from either foreign or internal enemies, they may raise a bulwark around us and our dwellings, and expofe their lives for our defence." Too much cannot be faid in commendation of thofe men who have thus become "a wall unto us both by night and day," and to whofe manly fpirit and perfevering efforts this kingdom is fo largely indebted for its internal prefervation, and the continuance of our invaluable privileges. Such, indeed, is our ftrong conviction of their utility, that we regret

* We were furprized to find fo refpectable and regular a clergyman as Mr. Glaile fanétioning, by his own practice, the reprehenfible custom which prevails among many modern Divines, of omitting the proper profeffional prefix (Reverend) to their names. If we had not known the principles of the Rector of Hanwell we should have fufpected he was of that fashionable fchool whofe indifcriminate liberality would confound the molt ufeful diftinctions, and affimilate the clerical character as nearly as poffible to that of the laity.

to

to have heard a hint thrown out in any respectable circle that the motive for affociating has been wholly and effectually removed by the late glorious atchievements of our gallant officers and feamen. We ardently hope, however, that they will not relax in their exertions under this deceitful fuppofition Our naval fucceffes, no doubt, have the most powerful claim upon the national gratitude: they ftand unrivalled in the annals of history; they are the juft admiration of the prefent time, and they will tranfmit the British name with unexampled luftre to pofterity. But while we are exulting in these proud triumphs over a foreign foe, we must not forget on what authority we are told, that "the worst enemies are those of a man's own household:" and, as we have been kindly forewarned of the ufe which it was intended, by fome perfons, to make of the arms entrusted to them for the general defence, when the menaces of invasion should once fubfide, it would be madness to indulge a falfe fecurity, and to leave ourselves unprepared and unprovided for the attack. When fuch strong intimations are thrown out it is not a time, furely, to abandon the best means of prevention: we fhould rather with to remind our brave protectors, that if, under fuch circumstances, they once fuffer themselves to fleep upon their pofts, the hour may unexpectedly steal upon us, when "refiftance will no longer be thought a queftion of prudence," but become, by a very easy procefs, (and, to adopt the fame feditious jargon,) the "holy right of infurrection."

While, therefore," fays the learned author of the difcourfe before us, "we lament the neceffity which calls for thefe proofs of devoted attachment to our country, let us form a juft eftimate of our happiness, who thus, from among ourfelves, fee fuch defence and protection raifed up to us, and, in the prefent perilous time, have in view fuch means of deliverance." We have given thefe fhort extracts rather as the corroborating fentiments of a found divine than as fpecimens of Mr. Glaffe's compofition; which is, however, elegant throughout, and contains feveral paffages marked with confi

See a late inflammatory harangue (as ftated in the public prints) on the cenfure attempted to be paffed on the Lord Lieutenant of Surry, for a precaution which entitles him to the thanks of every loyal fubject: for, when we hear such an unguarded boast of the meditated views of abused confidence, we cannot too highly commend his Lordflip for his manly refufal to commit the defence of the country to those who are continually arraigning its inftitutions.

derable

derable animation. The fubject did not call for profound difquifition, which, on fuch an occafion, would have been unfeasonable. We would willingly have clofed our observations here; but we cannot (confiftently with that regard to truth, of which we hope never to lofe fight,) forbear to express our doubts, whether the advertisement to this fermon would not have been better omitted: for, defirous as we profess ourfelves to be upon all occafions, to pay every becoming refpect and commendation to eminent worth, we are not fure that we should have seen the fame propriety with Mr. Glasse in complimenting, even the moft diftinguished Prelate on the bench, fo unneceffarily at our own expence.

We have received a prayer, compofed by the author of this fermon, and read at the confecration of the Colours of the Brentford Armed Affociation, in Ealing church, on the 18th of October laft, which we willingly publish, at the request of a refpectable body of men, though not perfectly compatible with the plan of our work. It may well be confidered as an appendix to the fermon :

"O, thou great Judge of Heaven and Earth, in whofe hand are power and might, and in whofe hand it is to give strength to thy people, look down from the habitation of thy holiness, and of thy glory, and behold thy fervants who come before thee this day, de voting themselves to thee, and to their country.

"To thy munificence, O Lord God, we stand indebted for every bleffing we receive; for all the comforts, all the enjoyments of this prefent life, and all thofe exalted hopes which lead us to afpire after immortality. We blefs thee for the word of thy truth-for the light of thy gofpel; for this good land in which thou haft appointed us to dwell; for our civil ftation; for our political privileges; for those wife and judicious laws, which, while they check licentioufnefs, eftablish and maintain true liberty; for the fpirit and mild admini ftration of those laws, under the governance of thy fervant, our Sovereign; for our religion, which renders the Church of England a praife among Christian nations; and for our conftitution, the admiration of the world.

"Thou haft given us thefe bleffings, gracious Lord; and it is thy will that we should ufe all diligence to preferve them-that we fhould labour earneftly to guard and to defend our precious inheritance against all the affaults of our enemies: they have faid, Come, and let us root them out, that they may be no more a people, and that the name of Britain may be no more in remembrance!" But wilt not thou plead our cause, O Lord, with them that strive with us? Wilt not thou, O God of hofts, wilt not thou go out with our armies? Without thine aid, vain are our means of Lafety-fruitlefs our attempts at deliverance. Avert from us the meditated evil;-oh, let not rapine, plunder, violation, maffacre, facrilege, regicide, pollute our

NO, VII, VOL, II,

K

country!