they know how to purchase with the money thus extorted by a tyranny to which they willingly submit; the artist gains his livelihood, the general amount of talent in the arts of decoration is increased and raised to a higher standard, and in proportion as the luxuries of life are more curiously elegant, the comforts are rendered more comfortable, and the necessaries more abundant. There must be a gradation in the ranks and enjoyments of mankind; and in proportion as the highest possess a superfluity of means, the lowest, under a free government, obtain a sufficiency. The utensils and habitations of the peasant become commodious, in the same degree as those of the nobleman are tastefully formed and exquisitely finished. Mr. Tatham's work is designed to assist in decorating the mansions of the opulent. It comprises fragments of various descriptions, which perhaps Mr. T. would not have published, had not a former volume of the same nature, which appeared in 1803, price 31. 3s.) been very well received. The specimens in that volume were considerably more beautiful and interesting than most which are contained in the present; yet many of these are very handsome, and will furnish valuable hints to the judicious artist. The manner in which these etchings, as well as the former, are executed, does credit to Mr. Tatham's talents; many subjects have occurred to us, which his etchings represent to the eye with far greater spirit and fidelity, than some of the elaborate engravings in Italian collections. The late ravages and revolutions under which Italy has been overwhelmed, have added much to the ideal value of every ancient relic which has been rescued from the general wreck. We have been glad to see some of these safe among us; especially as it is likely, that the dispersion of so many specimens of art, may diffuse, in various nations of Europe, a superior discernment of excellence, and delicacy of taste. We cannot but desire that Britain should retain her present pre-eminence in the esteem of the world, on subjects of ingenuity, and skill; and are perfectly sensible of the advantages, which her manufactures have derived from the co-operation of the arts. In this view, therefore, the caprices of the wealthy are not wholly useless to the prosperity of the state. These considerations must be very consoling to the consciences of those persons, who are gratifying their vanity, while they ought to be exercising their benevolence ; or whose modesty would rather expend a thousand guineas in this secret and indirect advancement of the general good, than ostentatiously devote a single one to the duties of certain and obvious charity, to the relief of vulgar distress, or the encouragement of humble merit. ART. XXI. Designs for Ornamental Plate, many of which have been Price 11. 11s. 6d. ABOUT fifty years ago the French endeavoured to give the ton to taste, in silver ornaments, and published various works containing designs for plate. The ecclesiastical decorations which are coveted by the catholic re ligion, gave employment to many workmen, and furnished the designer with opportunities of displaying his abilities in this branch of the decorative arts. The most considerable publication that occurs to our memory, is the folio of Meissonnier; whence it appears, that at that time very splendid and massy pieces were cast, and chased, in our rival country. Some of them were compositions, containing figures of angels and saints, crucifixions, resurrections with their appendages, and glories, of immense size. These difficult subjects were calculated, not only to elicit talent, but at the same time to encourage and extend emulation; for the applause they received, was, no doubt, a stimulus to the exertions of the whole profession. In a country so opulent as ours, vanity must be expected to execute the same office, which superstition, happily, has been compelled to relinquish, with her many other sources of influence; and it is much to be wished that all the expensive gratifications, among the higher ranks, were as innocent and as useful, as that of furnishing their apartments with costly decora tions. Mr. Tatham has displayed much taste and ingenuity, in his designs for supplying these artificial necessities of a highly civilized age; some of them are intended for silver waiters, others for lamps, branches, chandeliers, candelabras, columns, table-lights, and various other ornaments. Many of these we think very clegant, and doubt not the dignity of their appearance when executed. Others are much less pleasing, in their general forms, and are occasionally incongruous in point of proportion. But the incon gruity of some of the parts, is still more obvious and uncouth. That there is classical authority for all the varieties of masks, and all the combinations of sphinxes, chimeras, hippogriffes, and eagle-winged lions, may be admitted, without admitting their beauty or propriety. It would lead to some curious speculations, indeed, to examine the nature and origin of that taste for the grotesque, which is so remarkable in some of these designs, and in their prototypes. It may be difficult to prove the absurdity of a predi lection which is so general; but some of the mixtures in this volume, such as a lion's foot for the root of a flower, a female head fixed on a lion's leg, or by contrast the lion's head dressed in an Egyptian head-dress, are certainly, "strange, passing strange." Mr. Tatham has given two or three designs composed on the same prin ciple as the famous Candelabrum in the Hebrew Sanctuary. We do not perceive that these have been executed; and we doubt whether they would equal the original in richness of effect: but the pattern, cor sidered simply as a piece of decorative and useful furniture, is capable of being made as hand. some and superb, as any that ever was wrought by the hand of art and the very execution of a subject so magnificent, is a testimony in favour of the advanced state of this branch of workmanship in the Mosaic age. We distinguish also a costly and capital article presented by a gentleman to Lord Nelson, after the battle of the Nile: memorials of such events may pro. perly be splendid. We recollect, that a like present was made to Dr. Willis, by the late Sir Richard Arkwright, on his Majesty's recovery. Art. XXII. An affectionate Reception of the Gospel recommended; in two Sermons delivered to his Congregation on the Mornings of the 9th and 16th Nov. 1806. By the Rev. George Clayton, Minister of the Meeting at Lock's Fields, Walworth. pp. 57, price 2. Black and Co. Conder, &c. 1806. THE imperfections of these discourses, both in nature and in amount, are far outweighed by the merits: the former, arising from inattention and inexperience, occur incidentally in different parts of the performance. the latter, the result of piety, zeal, and good sense, pervade the whole. The subject is divided into two sermons for the sake of convenience, and is derived from 1 Thess. i. 5. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. The discussion is arranged under four heads; the meaning of the term Our gospel,' the manner in which it was received, by what means such a reception of it may be secured to ourselves, and the urgent considerati ons by which we should be incited to receive it. Two of these heads are considered in each of the Sermons, which are both completed by a suitable application to the hearers. The difference between the reception of the gospel in word, and in power, is stated with much propriety and force; the allusion, however, to a polished but pointless dart, is not quite apposite, neither is the anecdote adduced in illustration, correct; the prince concerning whom it has been related, was Louis XIV. We cheerfully approve the request, by which the preacher was induced to commit these discourses to the press. Among the principal causes of that request, we are convinced, were the attention and skill which are discovered in the arrangement of the subject. We profess ourselves partial to a more copious and systematic division, especially in oral addresses, than we sometimes find in the compositions of modern preachers. A higher merit of this publication, is, that it abounds with important truths, and useful practical exhortations. The style is, with some exceptions, chaste and correct, and the diction is usually choice and appropriate. Many of the thoughts, the preacher acknowledges, are derived from an old Divine; and he takes the opportunity to express his preference of the scarcely-portable volumes of the 17th century, before the ephemeral productions of the present age. He also delineates with much feeling, and with the amiable warmth of filial gratitude, the domestic scenes of the Sabbath evening, in which he has participated; and takes this opportunity also, to censure, though with some restriction, the assembling for public worship in the evening. On both these topics there is room for discriminative animadversion; but as he is himself the author of a pamphlet, and the preacher of evening lectures, Mr. C. will not wish us to enter into the discussion with him. Many persons would remind him of a passage in Romans ii. 1.; but we will not affirm that he is quite "inexcusable." We must, however, remonstrate, as a general principle, against the use of the plural pronoun, when referring to the minister simply. In addition to our remarks, (Vol. III. p. 80.) it may be observed, that though the frequent recurrence of the pronoun I, is undoubtedly disagreeable, and betrays great negligence or self-conceit in the preacher, we is quite as offensive in this respect, and moreover is a ridiculous affectation of dignity, and a glaring affront to common sense, from which, too, the most eloquent and judicious preachers have constantly abstained. One instance of this will be enough; after speaking personally of the family exercises 'mentioned above, in the singular number, Mr. C says ministerially, "On this account, as well as for many other reasons, which to us appear cible, we do decidedly prefer, &c.". -Who would not think he was reading a royal charter, or a papal bull? We shall therefore shew no mercy to any individual who is found thus offending, except he can plead that he is a man beside himself. for In parting with Mr. Clayton, which we do with sincere good-will, we would hint, that too much figure in a Sermon is more hazardous to the reputation of a sensible man, than too little; it was mortifying to discover at the bottom of an excellent page, this phrase, "a tear dropped from the sluices of penitence, or distilled from the cisterns of love." Art. XXIII. Preparation for Death, and the Parable of the Sower: two Sermons, by the late Rev. W. Alphonsus Gunn. Taken in shorthand by a Friend. pp. 32, price 1s. Williams and Smith, 1807. THE circumstances which led to the publication of these sermons, have given them an interest, which, as literary compositions, they do not intrinsically possess. The preacher has been lately removed from the scene of his indefatigable labours, to the enjoyment of the rewards which await such faithful ministers; and these are, it appears, the only fragments which have been committed to the press, of those discourses which gratified and edified multitudes. To criticise them with rigour, would neither be just nor liberal to the memory of the deceased author; for they are merely a transcript of the short hand notes of an admirer, who must be accountable for the manner in which, by publishing them, he has consulted the reputation of his friend. He asserts, that they "faithfully represent his plain, simple, affectionate, and pointed manner of address," and if, as he piously hopes," with the divine blessing, they should be instrumental to that end, to which he consecrated all his labours, the salvation of immortal souls," an object will be attained, to which we are sure the departed preacher would gladly have sacrificed all the fame, that the most perfect compositions could have procured for him, from the highest sources of literary distinction. Art. XXIV. A Sermon, preached at St. John's Church, Blackburn, Lancashire, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1807; being the Day appointed for a Public Fast. By the Rev. Thomas Stevenson, M. A. Incumbent Curate. pp. 34. Price 1s. 6d. Rivingtons. Hatchard. 1807. IF there is one verse in the sacred volume, which, for the credit of our country, we could wish to obliterate, it is this; (Isa. lviii. 6.) Is not THIS the fast that I have chosen ? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break EVERY YOKE? It is a memorable circumstance, that, in this age of the world, such a verse should be nationally recognized as the genuine declaration of the Almighty, that a fast should be solemnly enjoined, year after year, in order to propitiate his favour and protection, and that the trade in human blood should at the same time be deliberately sanctioned, and obstinately supported! While such inconsistency, and such impiety, stained the public character of our country, it was absurd to talk about common sense, or make any pretences to religion. We have already congratulated our readers or the fatal blow which this iniquitous traffic has received; and, being willing to consider the reproach as washed away, from the moment when Parlia ment expressly admitted the claims of justice and humanity, we shall contemplate the sermons preached on the first fast day that was not a mockery, with peculiar satisfaction. on Mr. Stevenson's discourse, the first that has reached us, is founded on Isa. lix. 1, 2, which he considers as declaring the government of God, and the cause of the afflictions which he suffers to befal his people. Under the Arst head he establishes the doctrine of particular providence, as derived from revelation alone; under the second, he proves, by scriptural facts, the correspondence of national distress with national iniquity, ascribing our comparative exemption from general calamities, in a great measure, to the piety, not of the nation, but of very many individuals, both in and out of the esta blished church. His sermon is serious, sensible, and appropriate we regard it as an excellence, that it abounds with quotations from Scripture, manifesting a degree of acquaintance with the living oracles, which, we fear, is not universal among his brethren. The following remarks from the application of the discourse, deserve general attention: And let not those who are poor and unskilled in worldly wisdom, imagine that their scanty attainments and humble lot render them totally incapable of conferring any substantial benefits upon their Country. There scarcely exists an individual, who hath it not in his power to advance the public weal in a very considerable degree. By his religious and orderly behaviour, by his dutiful obedience to the laws, by training up his children and dependents in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, by striving to maintain" a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men," he may do far greater good than, perhaps, he is aware. At all events, he may essentially serve his country by HIS PRAYERS. Numerous are the instances recorded in the Scripture, of the powerful prevalence and astonishing effects of "men's lifting up holy hands" to Heaven, "without wrath and doubting." It is no where said, that the supplications of the rich, the noble, and the learned alone are efficacious; but that "the prayer of the UPRIGHT is God's delight ;" that " the fervent prayer of a RIGHTEOUS MAN availeth much. The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." Since then, the meanest person on earth knows not, on the one hand, to what extent his zeal and services, rightly employed, may benefit his Country; nor, on the other hand, how largely his sins may contribute to the filling up measure of its iniquities;-let each resolve so to regulate his conduct, that he may be nowise instrumental in hastening its downfal, but may rather assist in upholding and confirming its freedom and prosperity.' pp. 31, 32. the Art. XXV. The Christian's Review of Life, and Prospect of Futurity: A Sermon, preached at Warwick, Dec. 7, 1806, on account of the much-lamented Death of the Rev. James Moody. By George Burder. Published at the Request of the Church, and for the Benefit of the Family of the Deceased. pp. 38. Price 1s. Williams and Co. 1807. We have not for some time read a discourse, more pleasing and more. useful, or less ostentatious, than this. It is remarkable for the vigour and neatness of the thoughts, and for the clear and artless style in which they are expressed. Free from all superfluity, however, in the one, and from nearly all amplification in the other, it resembles the model of an extensive, well arranged, and handsome structure, rather than the structure itself. This was doubtless occasioned by the narrow limits into which what is strictly the sermon, was necessarily compressed, by the introduction of a copious and interesting memoir, to the extent of half this publication, |