PREFACE.

WE

E cannot fuffer a Second Volume to go forth into the world, without a renewal of our grateful acknowledgements, for the continued protection and extended encouragement which our labours have experienced. It is by these that we have been enabled to ftem the torrent of Jacobinifm, and to refift, with fuccefs, the open attacks of avowed enemies, and the clandeftine manoeuvres of fecret foes. The Authors of the ANTI-JACOBIN REVIEW may adopt, with 'the addition of only two words, the obfervation of one of their opponents, that the fuccefs which they have experienced is "the more remarkable, as they have been, in a peculiar manner, exposed to virulent invective, flanderous infinuation, and other low arts of malice, practifed by authors (and critics) who have smarted from their animadverfions, and perfons who had an intereft in depreciating their labours.*" It is, however, no fmall gratification to us to have been honoured with the rancorous abufe of Mr. GILBERT WAKEFIELD; we have only to lament that we

* Preface to the first volume of the Critical Review. VOL. II.

a

364600

had

had not the fatisfaction of being prefent when he delivered his philippic against us in the Court of King's Bench, and that his fpeech fhould have been of fuch a nature as not to admit of publicationVERITAS ODIUM PARIT; and we fhall ever glory in the hatred of a man who can revile the head and heart of a Scorr, and impeach the integrity of a KENYON. Mifapplication of talent may excite pity; perverfion of parts may incur cenfure; but the frantic efforts of philofophic ambition, which, under the garb of religion, feeks to overthrow all religious eftablishments; and, under the mask of humility, labours to confirm its pre-eminence over all law, extorts abhorrence, and provokes punishment,

76

That the Jacobins continue their criminal projects, undifimayed by detection, unawed by defeat, the Report of the Secret Committee of the British House of Commons too clearly demonftrates. But, though not lefs defperate in their end, they difplay more caution and prudence in their means. Thus the difficulty of counteraction is enhanced, and the confequent neceffity of increased vigilance and circumspection established. We are particularly anxious to prefs upon the attention of the public the contents of an article inferted towards the conclufion of the prefent volume, relative to the diffufion of Jacobinical

* P. 450.

principles,

principles, through the medium of Children's Books. This truly diabolical effort to corrupt the minds of the rifing generation, to make them imbibe, with their very milk, as it were, the poifon of atheifin and difaffection, and fo to contaminate the very fources of focial order and focial happiness, fo to eradicate the very germs of public profperity and public welfare, is ftrongly characteristic of the genius of Jacobinism. Parents, being thus apprized of the danger that awaits their offspring, from the deep machinations of this malignant fiend, will now be careful to avert it.

Our readers muft, by this time, be convinced that, in the diftribution of our commendations and cenfures, we are actuated, exclufively, by an innate and deep-rooted principle of attachment to the genuine fpirit of the British Conftitution, and by a fixed determination to defend, to the utmost of our ability, and at all hazards, thofe laws which protect the church and the ftate, and which unite them in one indiffoluble band. Uninfluenced by party, regardless of individuals, in fupport of this principle, we have obferved the most complete independence, the moft rigid impartiality; and should that period ever arrive when our duty fhall be at variance with our intereft, we truft we fhall have fufficient refolution not to hefitate one moment in our choice, or fufficient honefty to relinquifh our undertaking.

We are

aware

aware that we have, by our ftrictures on fubjects of primary importance, given offence to many, whofe efteem we could have wifhed to conciliate; but when support can only be fecured by the facrifice of principle, it reflects equal difhonour on him who bestows and on him who receives it. Neither parafites of faction nor pandars of power, we fhall continue to exercise our judgement, weakly, perhaps, but honeftly, and never be feduced from the plain path of duty, either by the fear of exciting the difpleasure of those whom we refpect, or by the dread of incurring the reprobation of those whom we defpife.

It only remains to offer a serious admonition to the Clergy of the Established Church; to exhort them to unusual vigilance in performing the duties of their ftations, and in keeping intruders out of their folds; to recall to their minds the falutary adage-Principiis obsta-leaving its application to their own fenfe and penetration; to warn them that their enemies are indefatigable in their exertions to undermine the eftablishment, and that the defeat of every effort for this

purpose, from whatever quarter it may proceed, depends effentially, if not folely, on themfelves. On our unwearied fupport and affiftance they may repofe the fulleft reliance.

THE