Elevated, fays he, to fuch an extraordinary height, my compafs underwent no apparent variation. As I now perceived nothing but the heavens, and was equally ignorant where I was, and whither I was going, I fuffered myself to be carried away, at the mercy of the winds, without making the leaft attempt to refift. The obfervations, relative to the effential immobility of the needle, and the apparent immobility of an Aeroflat, who is borne along the current of the air, convinced me that, when he has loft fight of the earth, and has no longer any visible points of comparison, the compafs becomes totally ufelefs, for the traveller may be carried rapidly or flowly by the wind, in all poffible directions, without any variation of the needle, and without perceiving any change in his fituation, fince he may advance, retreat, or move obliquely, without being fenfible of the tendency of the balloon during each of thefe motions. The compass, therefore, can be no further useful than where we are enabled to compare the direction of the needle with terreftrial objects; and to form an idea of the way we are making, by obferving the earth, which then appears as retiring on one fide, and gives certain data refpecting the course we pursue.

At fea, the direction of the courfe is determined by the angle made by the needle with the keel of the fhip; but in the exalted regions of the air, there are no poffible determined points, unless one be within view of the earth. The compafs will always want an angle of comparison, when an Aeroftat is above the clouds."

With fubmiffion to Mr. Blanchard, we do not think he has properly explained himself here, or his tranflator has not done juftice to his account. He fhould have faid, without any apparent variations; for the needle might change its direction without his being fenfible of fuch change; for admit the needle pointed to the north, and he was going directly fouthward, not being fenfible of the direction he was going in, for want of fome object of comparison, he might conceive he was proceeding on as the needle pointed, though, in fact, he was carried the contrary way. So far, indeed, the compafs is useless, when out of fight of the earth; as, had he been able to have directed his course, he would never have known whether he was right or not. Neither is he able to fay, with certainty, whether, at fuch a distance from the earth, the needle might not have loft its magnetic power in the cold atmosphere; for that its polar tendency is influenced by cold is well known. Ellis, in his voyage to Hudfon's Bay, found, in the latitude of 62° north, that, on failing through the ice, the needles of his compaffes loft their magnetic qualities, fome acting in one direction, fome in another, and not conftant to any. He endeavoured to remedy this evil, by retouching them with an artificial magnet, but all to no purpose. Now, this he afcribed to the cold, by contracting the pores of the needle, for it was immediately remedied by carrying the compass into a

warm

warm place. Why might not then the fame coldness operate upon the needle in that region of the air, in which Mr. Blanchard was elevated; for, fays he, the cold I felt in this lofty region became intolerable; or the rarity of the air, or the diftance of the needle from the center of the earth, might operate fo upon it as to effect its magnetic qualities. Therefore it appears as impoffible for him to afcertain, whether its polar influence continued true or not.--It is fufficient for an Aeroftat to know, that at fuch a diftance from the earth it was ufelefs. Should balloons at any time be rendered useful, we presume it never will be neceflary to foar to fuch a prodigious height, where the compafs cannot be made ufe of.

: Mr. Blanchard's account is certainly entertaining and curious; and he has added, by way of appendix, the manner of filling his balloon with inflammable air.

ART. VIII. Theod:fius and Arabella, a Novel, in a Series of Letters. By the late Mrs. Hampden Pye. 2 vols. 12mo. 5s. Lane.

THIS

"HIS novel is rather of the narrative kind, almost devoid of fable, epifode, and character; but yet fenfibly penned, fhort and concife, and far from being tedioufly fpun out. It is free from that fulfome affected language with which the generality of modern novels is filled, and is dictated with a degree of plainnefs and fincerity that must please.

The story is that of a young couple, Theodofius and Arabella, bred up from children in the notion of their being brother and fifter, to keep them from encouraging an improper attachment. It does not however prevent it; though, from the fuppofed tie of confanguinity, they endeavour to conceal it from each other. Arabella is married, and with Theodofius's confent; but the inward flame deftroys his peace of mind, and it goes near to break his heart: and when they are made acquainted that they are only brother's children, it affects them both very fenfibly; as, had they known it a little fooner, they might have enjoyed the fummit of their wishes, and been closer united. An accident however foon after happens, that puts them both at their ease. Arabella's husband falls in a duel. She is again at liberty, and gives her hand to Theodofius.

The following letter, written by a young lady to Theodofius, with whom he is in love, under an idea that his modefty and flender fortune checked a propofal from him, is fo judiciously written, that we have tranfcribed it, from an opinion that it muft recommend the work.

SIR,

The fubject on which I am to addrefs you is of fo very extraordinary a nature, that I fcarce know in what words to clothe it. Yet ENG. REV. Vol. VI. May 1786.

Z

why

why fhould I hesitate ?-If to diftinguifh merit, and to value it as it deferves, be a crime, I am indeed highly criminal; but as I ftand acquitted by my own confcience, (that fevereft of judges) I doubt not but I fhall be fo by him, whofe opinion is of the greatest moment to me. Know then, Sir, that, accustomed as I have been to the flatteries of your lex, ever fince I came into life, you are the only one that ever made an impreffion on my heart. When I first knew you, I thought you the moft amiable and deferving man I had ever met with; your present fituation of mind, for I have lately feen Mr. Mordaunt) renders you now the most interesting.'

It will not be accounted vanity, if I fay that Augufta Beverly cannot be fuppofed to be reduced to the neceffity of offering herself; but her knowledge of your character has convinced her, that the only man fhe can be happy with is perhaps the only one to whom an explicit addrefs would be neceffary. To be plain with you, Sir, I am convinced, from what I know of you, that the trifling advantage of fortune on my fide would for ever keep you filent, (as it has to many others fpeak) were I not to affure you, that it is of no value to me, than as you confent to share it with me. I offer you with that fortune -a friend-a companion, who defires no other happiness in life than that of rendering you fo. The only favour I have to request of you is, in cafe of your declining my offer, that you will not wrong me in your judgment, by withdrawing your esteem from,

SIR, Your most obedient, and

'Moft humble fervant,

AUGUSTA BEVERLEY.*

There appears no impropriety or indecorum in this letter; and for want of that good fenfe and refolution, apparent in the writer of it, many a young lady has miffed an alliance with the object of her affections.

ART. IX. Differtations on the Origin, Nature, and Pursuits of intelligent Beings, and on Divine Providence, Religion, and religious Worship. In the course of which, the Honour and Dignity of the Supreme Being is vindicated from the abfurd, if not impious fuppofition, that by a particular, or partial providence, HE interferes, influences and directs the Thoughts and Determinations of Individuals, and the Political Govern ment, Changes and Events, of States and Kingdoms. To which is added, a neceffary and most equitable Suggeftion and Plan for the Relief of the prefent Exigencies of the State, the Burdens of the People, and a more honourable Mode for fupporting the Clergy. Also an effential Sketch for a more rational Form of Worship, a new Liturgy. By J. Z. Holwell, F. R. S. Crutwell, Bath. Cadell, London. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

F the writer of these Differtations be really a Fellow of the Royal Society, he is like a fcabby fheep in the flock,

* In a letter to this gentleman, Theodofius had expreffed himself as follows; Love, which is the fource of happiness to others, muft now become a fource of torments and mifery." This fhe conceives alluded to her.

and

and ought to be expelled; not for wanting parts, for he seems to have his fhare of them; but for making ufe of them fo improperly, and fo inconfiftent with a man of understanding and a good citizen. It gives us pleasure to meet with an eccentric genius, and to follow him in his arguments, when those arguments are fupported by plaufibility and any fhadow of reafon; but the greater part of the doctrine here advanced is fo wild and extravagant, as to tire our patience. He profefses himself an Arian, and is apparently tinctured with Deifm. The hypotheses on which he grounds his reafoning are as follow:

From these words in Paul's epiftle to the Romans, " And "David fays, Lord, thou shalt fave both man and beaft," he infers, that the rebellious angels, who were caft down from heaven, lay fome time in a dark abyfs, but that the Supreme Being, relenting from his feverity, determined to give them a chance of recovering their former fituation, and therefore created the planetary univerfe, and placed them here under the forms of men and animals, as in a ftate of probation, and that after a limited period, that is at the confummation of all things, they fhall regain their feats in heaven, and be for ever

bleffed.

He supposes that the apoftate fpirits, (who were one third of the angelic body) were not equally guilty, of course were not equally to be punished; that the moft atrocious leaders and abettors of the celeftial defection were doomed to animate the moft ferocious forms, as man, lions, tygers, bears, wolves, and every other fpecies known and fhunned as beafts of prey; that the leffer delinquents animate the lefs offenfive animals, fuch as the hoofed and horned tribes, &c. and the leaft offending of the apoftate fpirits, thofe animals that appear to us the moft inoffenfive, as the greateft part of the feathered tribe, fifh, &c. and in this clafs, out of compliment to the fair fex, he has placed the women; that as thefe fpirits exifted before their union with their respective bodies, fo will they exift after their Molution, and enter into fome other animals of a fimilar fpecies, ill the arrival of the laft day. That the fpirits of angel, man and brute, being one and the fame free agents, they are confequently accountable.

To eftabifh this free agency, he afferts that the Omnipotent never interfees, but leaves thefe fpirits optional and free; and endeavours to fhew the abfurdity of a contrary fuppofition, by the hiftory of all nations, who have been either openly or covertly the active promoters of perfecutions, blood and flaughter, rebellions and murders; nay, he does not fcruple to call fuch a fuppofition blafphemy.

Two neighbouring ftates' fays he, proclaim a diabolical war against each other, unded on ambition, pride, avarice, punctilio,

rr other pretences; in the course of which, deftruction dire falls on heir refpective countries, their people, and a large portion of their Fellows of the brute creation; and famine and peftilence, not an uncommon confequence! The religious worship eftablished in each of the kingdoms of thefe belligerent powers fupplicates the DEITY to fanction, affilt, and fupport their infernal operations, and Te Deum on each fide is fung for their various fucceffes and triumphs in the glorious and pious thirst and purfuit of blood and defolation. Can the peculiar providence of a benevolent God be poffibly conceived to act or interfere in fuch fcenes of horror?'

This argument might be readily answered, if it was our province to contradict and confute; but, as we profess only to give our readers a fair account of publications, we fhall leave the task of commenting to them.

To get over the objections that may be started against his hypothefis, from the existence of prophets, priefts, &c. he argues

thus.

• The fallen spirits animating this tribe (ftiled by themselves the men of God) we may, with the highest certainty, conclude, were the very prime projectors, leaders, and most active abettors of the revolt in heaven; and failing in their attempt against their God and Creator, but ftill influenced by the fame principles, namely, an infatiable thirst for power and dominion, they meditated how they fhould fubject their fellow-rebels to their fway and government here below: This they did by affuming an external fanctity of manners, pretending frequent and familiar intercourfe with the Deity, "inculcating the principle of God's peculiar and partial providence, perpetually interfering in the tranfactions of individuals, and that their daily interpofition was effentially neceflary to foften and deprecate his wrath and vengeance. Thus, by flow but fure degrees, they reached the fummit of their wishes, and retain their dominion until this hour over ninety-nine hundredth parts of this habitable globe.'

Permit us' fays he in another place, to expatiate on the varicus miferies, perfecutions, and cruelties, excited and perpetrated by the malignant leaders of the Chriftian church on every oppofer of the various changes they have rung on the pure, plain, fimple dictates and doctrines of Chrift, for the space of leventeen centuries back. The recollection pains the imagination; humanity starts at the idea of the numerous maflacres aud ruin poured on the heads of focieties and individuals; infomuch that a benevolent mind cannot avoid execrating e fatal dif tinction of Catholic and Proteftant, with their mifenievcus tribe of diffenters under every denomination. The subject is too ferious and important to provoke to mirth; but philanthropy may without offence beltow a pitying fntile on the early divifion and later fubdivifion of the Chriftian church, and its profeffors, into Catholic, Lutheran, Calvinilt, independent, puritan, prefbyterian, anabaptift, quaker, methodist, Moravian, Sandimcnian, with a long et catera; all harbouring bitter rancour in their hearts against each other; each of this motley tribe daiming infallibility from fcraps taken from the fame fcriptures, varioully interpreted by the vain, dark, defigning, felf-interested, malignant