port of charity alone, we may find there is lefs real poverty and fewer crimes, and perhaps not more real mifery, than we meet with in this country. Yet I must allow that in this country, where riches and plenty corrupt the heart, and the selfishness arifing from these fteels the best affections, it would not be fafe to troft the relief of the miferable to feelings alone; laws muft compel what charity cannot effect; only great care must be taken, that these laws, whil humanity is the object, encourage not idleness and diffipation, Houfes of industry, under proper regulations, for the idle and vagabond, might be the means of correcting fome of these abuses, which the numerous and complicated poor-laws unavoidably

create.'

This reafoning is eftablished by the circumftances of all countries around us but we cannot fee why selfishness should be affumed as the diftinguishing attribute of this nation in particular! Should the accufation be unjust, the conclufions formed on it are deftitute of premises.

Art. 54. Nobility against Clergy or a Letter to Lord Lanfdown, upon his Ufage of Bithop Barrington, in the Houfe of Lords, on the Queftion of Mr. Haltings's Impeachment. 8vo. pp. 21. 15. Ridgway. 1791.

An idle quib, not calculated to do any good, and too infignificant to do any harm. The matter has been fufficiently agitated in the newspapers. It confifted only of a fneer, (in the course of debate,) on the one fide, relative to Bishop Barrington's preferment, and a retort courteous, on the part of the juftly offended prelate. A fpark of this kind will always be fufficient to light the farthing candle of a catch-penny garreteer.

Art. 55. Profpes and Obfervations; on a Tour in England and Scotland: Natural, Oeconomical, and Literary. By Thomas Newie, Efq. 4to. pp. 437. 11. 1s. Boards. Robinsons. 1791. This is the fecond edition of a work first published in 8vo, about two years ago, without the author's name; and the account that we gave of it is to be found in Rev. vol. ixxix. p. 311. The author profeffes to have made very great additions; which, without more particular information, we cannot pretend to diftinguifh. The work is now become a handsome and valuable 4to volume, well printed, and embellished with a large contour map of Scotland, several good landscapes, and other picturefque objects. Mr. Newte is a fenfible, intelligent, obferver; and his work abounds with a very great variety of entertaining details, defcriptions, &c.

Art. 56. A Selection from the Works of Daniel Defoe. 8vo. 3 vols. About 360 Pages in each. 18s. Boards. Walter, Piccadilly. This felection confifts of the well known Adventures of Robinfon Crufoe; his Serious Reflections, with a View of the Argelic World; the True Born Englishman, a fatire; and the Original Power of the People of England, examined and afferted:-Of all which, we need fay no more than that they are handsome, well printed volumes.

Art,

Art. 57. Memoirs and Anecdotes of Philip Thicknesse, late Lieut. Gov. of Landguard Fort, and, unfortunately, Father to George Touchet, Baron Audley. Vol. III. 8vo. pp. 189. 55. fewed. Fores.

1791.

The character which, with ftri&t impartiality, we gave of the two former volumes of Mr. Thickneffe's Memoirs, will justly apply to the prefent volume. A print of the author is prefixed; and we are affured by thofe who are perfonally acquainted with the original, that it conveys a very just idea of his profile.-At the end of the volume, Mr. T. (always a rambler) bids" adieu to little England;" being refolved once more, to make a vifit to France: which, at the age of 72, he naturally fuppofes may prove his laft journey: a reflection which feems to give no more concern than it ought to give to every thinking man at fo advanced a period of life. Befide, he thinks (and he may be very right,) that old age is not an improper time for travel. On the contrary, (fays he,) it seems to lengthen rather than shorten a man's days. Time, (he adds,) never paffes fo rapidly as with those who have nothing to fee, nor nothing to do, but to rife, eat, and lie down.'--The obfervation is certainly founded in fact, and in human nature.-We learn that he has fince carried his defign of revisiting France into execution; where, we hope, he finds himself happy in the fociety of children who love him.'In England,' fays he, [and it is a melancholy declaration for a parent!] I have children from whom I have good reason to retire.' Art. 58. An Hiftorical Dictionary of Love: containing interefting Anecdotes of diltinguished Perfons, eminent for their Virtues or their Vices. From the Creation of the World to the prefent Time. Tranflated from the French. 12mo. 3 Vols. pp. about 240 in each. 9s. fewed. Butters. 1791.

Among the numerous follies and vices which we have hitherto been accustomed to import from France, we have beheld, with much regret, the readinefs of our book-makers to tranflate and retail the reprehenfible productions which the Parifian preffes, in common with others, have fent forth in fuch abundance. Surely we have enough of fuch frippery of our own, without the trouble and refinement of feeking that of foreign countries! Indeed, when we reflect on the fubject, we can find no epithets too fevere for thofe who thus endeavour to haften and increase the general corruption of manners and morals. We have seen publications tranflated from the French, which may be compared to weeds poffeffing qualities of the most poisonous nature; and if it be the duty of every man to root out fuch weeds, when he finds them in his native foil, what fhall be faid of the conduct of him, who not only encourages their growth, but adds to their vigour, and increafes their flock, by fedulously transplanting new fpecies, of foreign culture? If we be not contented with our own productions, let us import what is beneficial, not what is baleful.

The work before us is caft in the mould which we have been condemning: but the impreffion is not fo bad as many which

Rev. vol. lxxxi. p. 374•

we

we have feen. Poffibly, indeed, the intention of it was good, viz. to point out the evil confequences of error and of guilt: but the moral may be given in few words, without a perufal of thefe volumes; and they record anecdotes, in which some ele@ric fparks may catch more attention, and produce more mischief, than can be counterbalanced by the benefit that might be derived from them. The exceffes of love are delicate fubjects to depict; and the painter, who wishes to warn us from its dangerous delusions, by a lively reprefentation of them, mut take care left he produce the contrary effect; for the nearer he approaches to reality, the greater is the danger of his caufing thofe very evils which originate in that reality. Can a man take fire in his bofom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?" SOLOMON.

Art. 59. A picture of Italy. Tranflated from the original German of M D'Archenholtz, formerly a Captain in the Pruffian Service. By Jofeph Trapp, A. M. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. fewed. Robinsons. 1791.

We endeavoured to form fome idea of the character of this gentleman, as a writer of books of travels, in our account of M. De Bilderbeck's French tranflation (from the German) of his work, entitled, Tableau de l'Angleterree et de l'Italie: fee Rev. vol. lxxx. P. 599. For a farther account, we may alío refer to the 3d vol. of Our New Series, (number for Sept. 1790,) p. 29, where we reviewed an English translation of the Tableau de l'Angleterre, from the French. See, likewife, M. D'Archenholtz's letter to the Monthly Reviewers, New Series, vol. 5th, art. Correspondence, at the end of the number for May 1791; in which our traveller makes great complaint of the faults committed by his tranflators: this performance by Mr. Trapp will make him little amends.

Art. 60. An Inquiry into the Truth of the Tradition concerning the Difcovery of America by Prince Madog ab Owen Gwynedd, about the Year 1170. By John Williams, LL. D. 8vo. pp. 85. 2s. 6d. White, &c.

The purpofe of this pamphlet is to fhew that the Spaniards have not an unquestionable right to the continent of America, as the first discoverers among the Europeans, by proving that the Ancient Britons landed on the coaft of America about 300 years before either Bahaim, Columbus, or Americus Vefpucius. Dr. Williams maintains, contrary to the opinion of Lord Lyttleton, Dr. Robertfon, and most other modern hiftorians who have noticed the tale, that there are fufficient memorials of the emigration of Prince Madeg ab Owen Gwynedd and his colony, to America, about the year 1170. His chief authorities are certain registers kept in the abbies of Conway and Strat Flur, copied by Guttun Owen, a bard, about 1480, and published in Caradoc's Hiftory of Wales, in 1584, wich fpeak of Madog's failing from Wales, leaving Ireland to the north, and visiting an unknown country to the welt, to which he afterward conducted a colony. He alfo lays much ftrefs on a letter from Morgan Jones, written in 1660, and inferted in the Gentle

man's

man's Magazine, 1740, which afferts, that he met with a tribe of Indians in America who understood the British language. The inquiry has been made by our author with great induftry: but, after all, the story feems inveloped in obfcurity; for it remains inexplicable, how Madog, without the affiftance of the mariner's compafs, could firft vifit America, and then return to Wales, and back again to his colony. Those who are curious to examine the matter more fully, will at least find amusement in perusing this publication.

THEOLOGY and POLEMICS.

Art. 61. Sacred Biography; or, The History of the Patriarchs: Being a Course of Lectures delivered at the Scotch Church, London-wall. By Henry Hunter, D. D. Vol. V. 8vo. 6s. Boards. Murray. 1791.

After the accounts which have been already given of this work, it is unneceffary to add many obfervations*. This volume finishing, we apprehend, the author's defign, is confined to the history of Mofes, excepting the introductory fermon; which, after the view that had been taken of the inhabitants of this globe in the very early and diftant ages, carries us forward to the last judgment, when the whole race fhall be affembled for the most momentous purposes. In the eleventh lecture, fpeaking of the great Jewish leader, the preacher fays to his audience, I mean to preach a funeral fermon; and one accordingly follows; the chief part of which is formed by the Eulogium of Mofes, extracted from the writings of Saurin.

We have fometimes thought that the author found it rather difficult to accomplish this volume, and introduced fome extraneous matter, on that account. If it be not equally animated, or fluent and eloquent, with fome parts of the former, it is ftill inftructive and entertaining: but, with the others, liable to fome objections, which have already been mentioned. We find a copious index at the end of this volume, confiiting of feventy pages, which will prove, if correctly executed, as we préfume it is, a very convenient and ufeful addition to those who, on many occafions, may wish to confult particular parts of the work.

Art. 62. Expofitions on fome of the most highly picturefque and interesting Paffages of Scripture; wherein feveral of the strongeft Emotions and finer Feelings of Human Nature are attempted to be delineated. By Daniel Turner, A. M. Woolwich. 8vo. pp. 4136s. Boards. Cadell. 1790.

It is with reluctance that we obferve, that this writer's title-page does not prepoffefs us in his favour: authors, who are capable of awakening ftreng emotions, or finer feelings, do not generally fet out with informing us that fuch is their defign.

This volume contains eight expofitions, under the following beads: Parental Affection, in the cafe and character of Abraham, Gen. xxi. 1-15. Conjugal Affection, in the conduct of Jacob, Gen.

* Monthly Rev. vol. lxxi. p. 434. lxxvii. p. 11. lxxix. p. 184.

xxxii. 24th verse to the end. Fraternal Affection, in the inflance of Jofeph, Gen. xlv. 1-16. Jewish and Chriftian Church contrafted, Ifaiab, xii. Parable, of the Sower, Matth. xiii. Parable, of the Prodigal, Luke, xv. Of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke, xvi. 19. Zaccheus, Luke, xix. 1—11.

We agree with Mr. Turner in confidering expofition as a method of inftruction attended with many advantages, and we readily allow that his work contains a number of pertinent and useful obfervations and reflections, on the whole, properly and agreeably introduced. He acknowleges that he has given a great scope to fancy, in which we think he has exceeded, as alfo in his refpect to the Jewish Targum, &c. Although he rejects, in fome inftances, the chimeras which writers of this stamp have advanced, it is questionable whether those which he retains are any better founded. It is but feldom that paffages of fcripture, or even of history in general, receive real advantage from the fuppofition of what might have paffed, or from conferences which the actors may be conjectured to hold with themselves or each other. Myftical and enigmatical interpretations of historical narration, alfo, unless clearly warranted by fcripture itself, together with a folicitude to deduce resemblances and inferences from the leffer circumftances of a parable, are, in our opinion, unjustifiable and pernicious. Commentators, it is true, ancient and modern, have often amufed themselves and their readers with hidden meanings, fimilitudes, and conceits: but let it be remembered, that however refpectable, on fome accounts, their names may be, they were men, therefore fallible, and fometimes weak, foolish, and fantastical. The learned Rollin has, if we recollect aright, confidered Joseph as typical of our Saviour; and has run through many or molt parts of that beautiful, fimple, and inftructive story, with this needlefs and awkward application; as does the author before us: but Mr. Turner gives no authority to fuch a procedure, and only reminds us of the power of fuperftition, weak credulity, and popifh prejudices, with which Rollin was, in fome refpects, confiderably tinctured. We fhould add, concerning this volume, that though myfticifm and fancy are often introduced, Mr. Turner ufually dwells more on the practical inftructions and clear inferences which his fubjects afford. He appears, fometimes, as a man of confiderable reading and learning, and prefents us with feveral of the great names of antiquity: but we remark, that he does not make references to particular parts of their works.

In one place, he obferves concerning Mount Moriah, that the name literally means, fear of the Lord; at a few pages farther, we are told it fignifies the Lord will be seen, or hath feen: now, though the Hebrew word may be capable of each fenfe, this feems to indicate fome inconfiftency, or negligence, in the prefent writer. In the difcourfe on the parable of the Sower, we meet with judicious and useful remarks on the 13th, 14th, and 15th verfes of the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, together with fome parallel paffages, tending to leffen, or remove, the difficulty with which they feem to be attended; and to destroy the painful, or we might almost fay, the blafphemous imagination, that men are ever, by their Creator, laid

under