specified; but they are all represented, as only a chain, or connexion of effects, of which the divine agency is the ultimate origin. And when the influences of the heavens and the earth are combined to promote the destruction, as well as the preservation of man, the same agency is the origin of their power. Fire and hail, snow and vapour, and stormy winds fulfil his word. He reserves "against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and of war, the treasures of the snow and the hail: he lifts up his voice to the clouds that the abundance of waters may cover the earth: he sendeth lightnings, and they go, and say unto him, Here we are. "‡ pp. 9, 10. The whole sermon is worthy of attention: the exhortations which close it are judicious and devout. Art. XX. A Topographical History of England; Exhibiting the Names of the several Cities, Towns, Parishes, Tythings, Townships, and Hamlets, with the County and Division of the County to which they respectively belong, &c. &c. &c. &c. 4to. pp. 1900. Price 51. 5s. bds. Longman and Co. 1808. THE HESE enormous tomes may be considered as an alphabetical digest of all the dry parochial information of the county, histories and other works of local detail and antiquarian research; and also of the returns of population and poors' rates, under the late Parliamentary Inquiry. The official opportunities of the author, who assisted in arranging these returns, enabled him to supply many deficiencies of preceding writers, in other branches of the work, and to render it very nearly complete, according to the plan which he adopted, and of which the following extract from his preface contains the detail. 1. The Orthography of every name has been determined with the atmost attention; 2,after the name appears the Hundred or other Subdivision, and County, in which the place is situate; 3, if a Parish, the Valuation in the King's Books, and other Ecclesiastical Information, is next given; 4, then the Population; 5, Poors' Rate, [the amount and proportion in 1803]; 6, and the Distance and Bearing of each [every] place from the nearest Post Office Town, from the County Town, or the Metropolis. Other Information, applicable only to places of some importance, is then given in the following o.der; 7, Markets and Fairs; 8, Members of Parliament and Corporations; 9, Free Schools; 10, Petty Sessions, and Assizes. Finally, 11, is given Miscellaneous information of Monastic Foundations, and other matters of local History, not reducible to any head of the above classification.' p. xi. The comprehensiveness and general accuracy of the work will doubtless obtain it a place, as a book of reference, in the libraries of such opulent and professional persons, as must be acquainted with these particulars; but its price, and barrenness of amusement, will necessarily withhold it from general circulation. To point out the imperfections and errors that have occurred to us, would be a mode of occupying our pages, very far from agreeable either to our readers or to Mr. Carlisle. *Psalm cxlviii. 8. Job xxxviii. 22. 23. Art. XXI. The Duty and Advantage of remembering deceased Ministers. being the Substance of a Funeral Sermon, preached at the Church of St. Mary, Wallingford, for the Rev. Thomas Pentycross, A. M. during more than Thirty Years Vicar of that Parish. By Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston Sandford, Bucks. pp. 35. Price 1s. Buckingham, Seeley; Seeley, Hatchard. 1808. IT is a melancholy part of our duty to record those solemn events, which not only make a breach" among the faithful ministers of Christ, but infringe on the circle of our personal friendships. An event of this description is the occasion of this venerable author's re-appearance before the public; and to those who are acquainted with his valuable labours, a formal recommendation of this sermon will appear superfluous. We shall not object to that interpretation of Heb. xiii. 7, 8. which Mr. Scott adopts, and which represents "them which have the rule over you" to be deceased pastors, "the end (exas) of their conversation" to be their deliverance or escape from this world to a better, and the following clause as a consolatory admonition, “ (but) Jesus Christ (is) the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Instead of entering into the biography of the worthy, and now immortalized minister, whose moral and mental excellence is honourably acknowledged, or into the detail of this judicious and impressive sermon, we shall close the article with an extract. ; Some, in this large assembly, may be merely occasional hearers; and some may perhaps wonder what it is, which renders the death of one clergyman so much more noticed, than that of many others. I shall here only observe, that decidedly preaching man a lost sinner: Emmanuel, God manifested in the flesh, a divine, all-sufficient, most gracious Saviour yea, the only Saviour, for condemned sinners: the love, the cross, the resurrection of Jesus: his ascension, intercession, present glory, and future coming to judgement: and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit: in short, preaching Christ "the Way, the Truth, and the Life," "our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption;", is alone ef fectual to interest the feelings and win the hearts of the hearers. This preaching, connected with a suitable conduct, while the work of the ministry is evidently the great business and the pleasure of a man's life, and the minister is the friend and counsellor, as well as the teacher, of the people, and their servant for Christ's sake; secures affection from many, and respect from almost all, except determined persecutors. But nothing, short of this, can produce the same effects on the hearts, minds, and consciences of mankind. The ministers, thus briefly described, are the servants of God, who teach men the way of salvation. • Some among you may consider the whole of this day's solemnities, as a matter of course; and be ready to say in your hearts, I see no peculiar reason for mourning on the occasion, as many do. My fellow sinners, the unconscious babe, the thoughtless child, or the rebellious son who wickedly covets his father's property, may not mourn at the decease of a wise and good parent, which fills the heart of his elder, more prudent, and more dutiful brethren, with overwhelming sorrow. But the loss is far the greatest to those, who least lament it.' pp. 32-34. ART. XXII. The Objects accomplished by the Abolition of the Slave Trade. A Sermon preached at Launceston, May 1, 1807. By Richard Cope. 8vo. pp. 16. Price 6d. Williams and Smith. 1807. THIS brief and cheap discourse expresses the honest exultation of a pious and humane mind, on the exoneration of our country from a load of guilt and disgrace, by the abolition of the traffic in human flesh. From the proclamation of liberty to the captives, Isaiah Ixi. 1. the preacher takes occasion to discuss the subject announced by the title, and to excite attention to the more glorious liberty which is proclaimed by the Gospel. The sentiments manifested are honourable to the preacher's principles; and the manner in which they are developed, bring no discredit on his talents. With fewer apostrophes, and less poetical quotation, his style would have been more coherent; but, as we do not recollect to have before seen the author's name in print, we doubt not that superfluities of this kind will be sufficiently retrenched by experience. Art.XXIII. (A) Dissertation on Giftseys: representing their Manner of Life, Family Economy, Occupations and Trades, Marriages and Education, Sickness, Death and Burial, Religion, Language, Sciences, Arts, &c. With an Historical Enquiry concerning their Origin and first Appear ance in Europe. From the German of H. M. G. Grellmann. 8vo. pp. xiii. 210. Price 4s. 6d. bds. Wilson. 1807. THIS publication, curious as it is, can only be acceptable to superficial readers as it is not "burthened" with any of the notes and references which are to be found in the original, and in the translation published some years ago by Mr. Matthew Raper. The work contains a copious and amusing account of this singular people, who have penetrated into almost all countries, and especially abound in the frontier states of Europe and Asia. The author contests the hypotheses which have been offered concerning their primary seat, and labours to prove that they are of Hindoostanee origin He furnishes many instances of strong similarity between their dialect and the Shanscreet tongue. He takes much needless and fruitless pains, to ascertain in what century of the Christian era, they entered into those countries, which Herodotus assures (Terps. 9) they inhabited many centuries before. We have no doubt that the Sigyne of this historian, and the Zigeuner of the Germans, Sclavonians, &c. are the same people. He says that their name signified Merchants, which they still are in a low degree; and that they derived their descent from the Medes. So Strabo describes the Siginni or Siggini of Mount Taurus, as resembling the Persians. The subject of the performance, deserves an extended examination, which the plan of this edition precludes; but the information it contains is amusing, and the greater part of it we believe to be authentic. us Art. XXIV. Thoughts on Reason and Revelation, particularly the Revelation of the Scriptures. By Joseph Gurney Bevan. Second Edition. 8vo. pp. 23. Price 1s. Phillips and Fardon, Hatchard. THE objection we should have been disposed to make against this neat and judicious tract, that it is "deficient in duly developing the grand Scripture System of Christian redemption," is anticipated and superseded in the preface. It is intended, we imagine, and adapted, for a superior class of readers, who have but little regard for religion, and can spare but little time to think of their final and eternal destiny. It is clear, rational, and argumentative, and is written with much purity and amenity of style; with these recommendations, and especially as the production of a highly respectable layman and Friend, it may possibly obtain the notice of such readers, and awaken their reflections. The sections are intitled, On Reason, Revelation in general, Infidelity, Scripture, Faith, Experience. Is Mr. B. under no apprehension that these alarming words, and the preface also, may indispose the fastidious worldling to read much farther? We applaud the logical and well-articulated plan of the performance, but are inclined to think the author's purpose would be better served by omitting, or at least only subjoining, the enumeration of its parts. The author begins with complaining that the faculty of Reason has been injudiciously disparaged by some religious person," whom he excuses nevertheless as censuring "not the use, but the abuse, of this faculty." He proceeds to state, that Reason is often biassed by Custom, the Passions, and the Temperament, and remarks the desirableness of superior information, and the real nature of that infidelity which objects to it: he then alludes to the imperative evidence for the authenticity of the Christian Scripture, refers to its internal evidence in proof of its divine authority, and establishes the Old Testament on the recognition of it in the New. He then briefly refers to the principal doctrines, and the necessary consequence of a genuine faith. The justness of this faith, he observes, will be confirmed by experience; "the manifest is then accepted; and no attempt is made, with unhallowed hands to rend the veil from that which is more mysterious; or, failing in this, to consign it to the catalogue of the apocryphal." We earnestly hope that the just views and pious sentiments of this very estimable writer, will continue to prevail and increase in the Society of which he is an ornament. Art. XXV. An Essay on the Education of Youth, intended to unfold the relative Importance of the different Branches of Literature;-to point out the best Methods of communicating Instruction ;--and to impress on the Mind the Necessity of habitual Reflection. By Robert Goodacre, Master of Standard-Hill Academy, Nottingham. Svo. pp. 80. Price 2s. 6d. bds. Johnson. 1808. THE chief design, and indeed the chief use, of this book, appears to be to advertise the author's school. It explains his opinions and plan of tuition, in regard to the various branches of education; they are, for the most part, judicious, and in some instances deserve consideration from conductors of similar establishments. One of the author's main principles, the propriety of forming the mind to habits of thought, in preference to over charging the memory, is highly important. His objection to teaching the principles of book-keeping at school, for want of examples, is not consistent with the general tenor of the plan; this study might be prosecuted rationally, as well as any other. Neither do we approve the su perficial and indulgent mode of teaching the languages. On the important subject of religion, the performance is not very explicit; and we strongly VOL. IV. Uu Goodacre's Eudy on Edesertison ple over e. care of ets deemed A not confine a First Cause e evidence for ART. XXII. The Objects accomplished by the Abolition, Art. XXIII. (A) Disser ne 2s. Burditt. 1808. een suggested by Dr. ren. The letters are have not hitherto been pub given, stand high in the public dogan, and Cowper, could not be inquisite poetical Epistle by the latter, to is an ornament to the volume. Some of the ave reason to think, are the production of living o inferior rank in the Christian world. The work ance in Eurerenient; it may doubtless find access to those who are JPp. xiii. 210 in sorrow and unwilling to be comforted, when a visitor nor a large volume read. It will also be a good endured, benevolent visits to the sick, and a suitable present to the poor. letter of condolence by Sir W. Temple, and a very meagre Reid, are subjoined by the editor, as impressive contrasts to of the work; and they cannot fail to answer his intention, by the futility of all consolations in distress but those which are THIS pu reade ferences lished copi One barbed not be ampinion elegant by Dr. the rest exhibiting supplied by genuine Christianity. Art. XXVII. Lessons for Young Persons in Humble Life, calculated to promote their Improvement in the Art of Reading; in Virtue and Piety and particularly in the Knowledge of the Duties peculiar to their Station. 8vo. pp. 326. Price 3s. 6d. boards. York, Wilson and Spence; Longman and Co. 1808. IN appearance, cheapness, and moral tendency, this compilation resembles those of the excellent Lindley Murray. It includes Sentences and Paragraphs, authentic Narratives, Descriptions (of character,) Dialogues, and Miscellaneous Pieces, both in Prose and Verse. It inculcates the most useful sentiments in a very suitable form, and well deserves patronage. If the author were to introduce rather more freely, in another edition, approved extracts, developing the essential principles, as well as the duties and spirit of Christianity, we think the utility of the book would be much mcreased. The Cheap and Religious Tracts would afford unexceptionable materials. Art. XXVIII. A Sermon, preached at the Spring-Garden Chapel, Feb. 17, 1808, being the day appointed for a General Fast. Published at the Request of the Congregation. By Edmund Cartwright, D. D. Rector of Goadby Murwood, Leicestershire; and Prebendary of Lincoln. pp. 16. Price 1s. Longman and Co. 1808. THIS marks. HIS Sermon is a collection of just and profitable, but not striking re |