TO SYLVANUS URBAN: The Author, EDWARD, Lord THURLOW. NOW Spring has danc'd upon the bud- And follow Johnson in his Latian song: Verse, that can nourish Children's budding year, And every verdant branch of beauty bring, Of laurels, that in wintry gardens shine; And me they choose to make that gailand thine. If then, Respected Sir, some leaves you see, Which the lamenting Muse hath interwove, Yet are they leaves of immortality, Though softly pluck'd within a mournful grove: Cypress, that never fades; to speak of those, [crown'd, Whose pure fulfilled years with bliss are And earthly grief, for e'en the pure have woes, With everlasting psalms and harpings drown'd; Standing before the sempiternal throne, The children of most blessed light and love; [own, Whose virtues shall again become thine Beyond the power of Fate, or Time to move. These words the Muses bade me gently speak; Bade me their verdant laurel to presentAbove all Roman fame, above all Greek, Virtue alone is perfect argument. Laeken, near Brussels, Dec. 17, 1816. * Dr. Samuel Johnson, the glory of the last age, who wrote an Alcaick Ode, in honour of Sylvanus Urban, whieh may be seen among his Latin Poems in vol. I. of his works. See also the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. VIII. p. 156, or voľ. LIV, p. 11. A "Duc me, Parens, celsique dominator Poli, Ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt." WE may confidently appeal to the numerous Prefatory Addresses which bave introduced our Volumes for a long series of Years, for the truth of the assertion, that the tone of our sentiments and the tenor of our language have been invariably consistent and uniform; never too much elevated by the temporary advantages and prosperity of our Country, nor pusillanimously depressed and dejected by any incidental mortifications and calamities. We have reposed our hopes and expectations, not presumptuously, but firmly, first in that gracious Providence whose universal influence we feel with grateful sensibility; and, secondly, in that natural magnanimity which has ever been the proud distinction of Englishmen, and we trust will continue for ever.What! shall Britons, who have endured with patient fortitude, resisted with successful bravery, overcome with persevering resolution, difficulties and dangers, almost unexampled in the page of History-shall we shrink appalled and disheartened by temporary pressures? Shall we be so far misled by the clamours of the ignorant, or the fallacious misrepresentations of the seditious, as to forfeit our Character, long and honourably sustained for loyalty, firmness, and courage?-Most surely not. In the words of Shakespeare, "Let us play the men."-Let us endure the present evils with resignation, and look forward with cheerfulness and hope. As the word " Equality" was the howl of the Deinagogues of France, so is "Reform" the popular catchword of our Modern Patriots.-We also are staunch and avowed Advocates for Reform; but not of that proposed Political alteration in a Constitution, which has remained for ages, like the Pyramids of Egypt, firm on its base, unshaken and uninjured by the War of Elements, and the Scythe of Time. We would commence, as more consistent with our habits and compatible with our views, with a Reform in Literature. We would not have the Press, which has so long constituted the great Palladium of Britons, prostituted to base and unworthy purposes. We would not have it used to disseminate sedition, to make the poor discontented with the stations alloited to them by Providence, envious of their superiors, and ripe for perpetration of crimes. We would not have it em ployed to mislead the credulous, and impose upon the ignorant, by ioclining them to believe that the temporary distresses to which all alike must bow, are occasioned, not by the interposition of Providence, but by the ambition, or the avarice, or the misconduct of their Rulers.-We would not have this powerful and useful engine perverted from its design, by impressing the er roneous persuasion, that the benevolent spirit of the day, demonstrating itself by unparalleled effusions of the most public and most generous charity that ever distinguished any Nation of the world, originates in selfish the and and unworthy motives, tending to no ultimate good, and deserving no gratitude or praise. For a reformation of such glaring and destructive abuses, and many more might be enumerated, we are, and ever have been, strenuous advocates; and that we are so, we soberly adduce our continued series of Volumes as a test. It has been our endeavour to speak truth, not to misrepresent or deform it; to recommend that plain and well-beaten track, which by long experience, has been proved to lead to repose, security, and honour; but not to recommend new, untried and unknown ways, of difficult access, dangerous experiment, and uncertain termination. It has been our maxin to render honour where honour is due, and not Spargere voces In vulgum ambiguas. There are other reforms also, to which we would most willingly contri bute our assistance, and promote by our example. That individual Reform which must begin at home, in every man's own bosom, which, by moderating his desires and regulating his appetites, teaches him to view the actions of his neighbour with complacency and candour, to submit to the ordinances of his Country with humble acquiescence, and to regard the persons of his Rulers with deference and honour. We could also specify other instances which we deem so important and so necessary, that we would anxiously and zealously lend our aid to their effectual accomplishment.-We would, among other things, assist in rooting up the noxious weeds, the nettles, the thistles, and the thorns, which obstruct the avenues to, and involve in shades the pure light of, our Venerable Church. We would demonstrate our fervent indignation against the sacrilegious hands, which, with a sort of fanatical enthusiasm, are endeavouring to undermine its columns, and contaminate its chaste simplicity. In this respect, again we proudly challenge the strictest investigation of our Principles and Conduct. Friends to the Ecclesiastical Establishment of our Country, convinced at heart that both will endure or perish together; we have uniformly and consistently demonstrated our unshaken adherence to this branch of our Constitution. To fair and reasonable and moderate argument, where the object is the discovery or confirmation of Truth, we can have no possible objection. But we oppose with all our powers the false lights of Fanaticism, the overweening zeal of arrogant Enthusiasm, the cant of Hypocrisy, and the pride of acknowledged Heresy. This subject of Reform is exceedingly specious, and multiplies itself into numerous branches, upon many of which we could yet expatiate with considerable satisfaction. Enough perhaps may have been said to designate such Reforms as we would zealouly support and advocate. We now turn round to our Correspondents of every denomination, with a complacency arising from the consciousness of having to the best of our ability, discharged our duty to them and to our Country. To those, and there are many such, who for a long extended period, have honoured us with their confidence and correspondence, we offer our cordial thanks and acknowledgments. Professions of our Principles, or avowal of our future objects, would to them be entirely superfluous.-They who may hereafter be induced to unite with us in the cause of Literature, or in the promotion of the common good, from a slight inspection of our former labours may form an adequate judg ment of our impartiality, and from a careful examination of this annual Address may easily determine how far our Religious and Political Creed is in harmony with their own. We take our leave with universal good-will to each and all of our Countrymen; recommending, under the present temporary gloom, patient and pious confidence in that Power who can alone finally preserve us. "Sed quoniam renovata lues turbare salutem th, we ers the sm, the ( Blackb. Brighton fit bonJULY, Carli.2--Chester 2 Cornw.-Covent. 2 Hereford, Hull 3 Huntingd. Kent 4 Ipswich, Lancas. Leices.2--Leeds 2 Lichfield, Liver.6 Maidst, Manch. 4 Newc.3.-Notts. 2 Northampton Norfolk, Norwich N. WalesOxford 2 Portsea-Pottery Preston Plym. 2 Reading-Salisb. Salop-Sheffield2 Sherborne, Sussex! Shrewsbury Taunton-Tyne Wakefi,-Warw. Wolverb Worc.2 York 3. IRELAND37 SCOTLAND 24. Jersey 2. Guern.2. Review of New Publications. ..61 .62.64 ,are en Chelms. Cambria. mplicty Meteorological Diaries for May & July, 2, 94 ation of Miscellaneous Correspondence, &c. ment of On Emigrations from England to France...3,4 gether Tour through various parts of Flanders, &c. 6 herence The late F. N. C. Mundy, Esq. and his Poem. 8 oderate Pont Llyn Dyffws. Buildings at Rome......9 Mode of Teaching in Modern Athens.........10 Dr. Ebel's Description of Switzerland........11 James Duke of York to the King of Ardra.. ib. Sir E. Brydges's Edit. of Collins's Peerage.. 12 Means of Escape from Fire.-Insolvent Act. 14 If into The Speeches at Rugby School Anniversary. 16 nsider Roman Hypocaust at Duncton; Roads, &c. 17 ch Re One Cause of the Increase of Poor Rates...20. und to Intended Review and Sham Fight of Clergy.21 arising Sir C. Hedges?The Name of Cambridge..23 d our Subscription for a Church in Dean Forest...24 who Dr. Pinckard on the Emancipation of Slaves. 25 Slave Trade, since the Abolition Treaty.....27 Observations relating to the Tower of Babel,28 Scarce, Poetry-Inscription to Liberty......32 On the Monumental Bust of Shakspeare....33 with Great Malvern Abbey 35.-Antient Sport...36 good, Toddington Church.-Buckler's Cathedrals.37 udg. Thoughts on Ecclesiastical Residence........38 nual Release of Captives. Spectator, No. 159...40 Embellished with a View of the Romantic Scene of PONT Y GLYN, near Corwen, in Merionethshire; wood witiw gomis dra Plan of the Remains of a ROMAN HYPOCAUST at ] DUNCTON, in Sussex. dcor ssions Historical Chronicle. Proceedings in last Session of Parliament...65 Abstract of principal Foreign Occurrences..71 Country News 76.-Domestic Occurrences. 77 City Freedom presented to the Royal Dukes 78 Theatrical Regist. Promotions, Preferments. 79 Births, and Marriages of eminent Persons..180 Character of the late R. B. Sheridan, Esq...81 Memoir of the late David Willians, Esq....86 Edmund Calamy, Esq. and his Ancestors....90 Rev. Cooper Willyams 91 -Mrs. Jordan...93 Obituary, with Anecd. of remarkable Persons91 Bill of Mortality.-Prices of Markets, &c...95 Canal, &c. Shares.-Prices of the Stocks....96 By SYLVANUS URBAN, GENT. Je chobem si, mukilomeЯ sejasT Printed by NICHOLS, SON, and BENTLEY, at CICERO'S HEAD, Red Lion Passage, Fleet-str. London; where all Letters to the Editor are particularly desired to be addressed, PosT-PAID, |