Upon whofe verdant banks fweet violets grew, Sooth'd by their gentle murmurs fhepherds dream, Another very worthy fubject of panegyric is feized by this author, in the highest female name among us: and he has written upon it with force, elegance, and truth. Male heroes fill the fecond book of his Epics, as female had the firft. But here we do not find the fame deviation into praife. In Satire he is often fevere, but not coarfe. We are not fure that we are tonnif enough to guefs at all the fubjects, either of his male or female book, from their mere initials, but many are fo marked as not to be mistaken. The notes are fometimes witty, but more often characteristic. There is in particular a character of Mr. Pitt, which, with exception of a very few touches, is the most correct and mafterly that we have seen. POLITICS. ART. 18. The Policy of reducing the Property Tax, and of carrying on the War for the next Five Years without any additional Taxes; recommended in a Letter to a Noble Earl, by a Friend to the prefent Administration. 8vo. 48 pp. 1s. 6d. Symonds. 1806-7. The plan of this writer (which feems to have been preffed ftrongly by him upon the late administration) was, inftead of raifing the Income Tax from a fixteenth to a tenth, to lower it from a fixteenth to a twentieth. He eftimates the produce taken at a twentieth, at three millions five hundred thousand pounds a-year. Prefuming the minifter to require ten millions, he propofes to raise this fum by a loan, and pay the intereft of the first year out of the Income Tax; then borrow the next year only feven millions, taking the three millions that remained of the first year's Income Tax to make up the ten millions wanted for the fecond year. Thus he would go on for five years, paying at the end of each year the intereft of the fucceffive loans from the Income Tax, and applying the remainder of the produce of that tax in aid of the loan for the fucceeding year. As a totally different plan has been adopted, and there seems no probability of this author's fuggeftion being again taken into confideration, we fhall not here difcufs the merits which it claims, or the objections which may be brought against it. We cannot, however, avoid entering our protest against fome of this author's opinions, particularly as to the finking fund established by Mr. Pitt. He feems not to be aware that the commiffioners for redeeming it are, in effect, truflees for the public, and that the debt redeemed redeemed may be at any time annihilated, fhould such a measure be deemed more expedient than that of receiving the intereft for the purpofe of further redemptions. We conceive alfo, that this author erroneously afcribes to Mr. Fox the plan of raifing one per cent. more than the intereft of each loan towards the redemption of the principal. Mr. Fox indeed did offer a fuggeftion for the improvement of the Sinking Fund; but, if we do not much miftake, it was of a different nature; and the measure of adding one per cent. upon all loans to the Sinking Fund, originated with Mr. Pitt himself. It is needlefs, however, to difcufs the collateral opinions of an author whofe plan appears to have been rejected by an adminiftration to which he was attached, and with fome of the members of which he feems to have been connected. We deemed it right, however, to ftate the fubftance of his fuggef tion, as it is ingenious, and differs from any which we recollect to have seen. A letter to a Member of Parliament (dated February, 1807) is added, by way of Appendix, refpecting Lord Henry Petty's plan of Finance; which, the author fays, was borrowed from him, and which he propofes to amend, by a mode not likely, we think, to be adopted by parliament. ART. 19. The Fallen Angels! A brief Review of the Measures of the late Adminiftration, particularly as connected with the Catholic Question; to which is added, Advice to the Yeomanry and Volunteers of the Imperial Kingdom, to whom this Work is addreffed. 8vo. 135 PP. 45. Hatchard. 1807. This is a very zealous work of fome perfon, equally a friend to the Proteftant establishment, and to the volunteer fyftem. It does not fo much contain arguments or difcuffions, as collections of facts and ftatements relative to the great questions juft agitated at the time of its publication, which was early in the last fummer. After an Addrefs to the Yeomanry and Volunteers, the following fubjects are diftinctly taken up. Diffolution of Parliament in 1806.-P. 23. Slave Trade.-P. 29. Abolition or Commutation of Tithes.-P. 33. Catholic Emancipation; or Extenfion of Immunities.-P. 37. Where is diftinctly stated what has been granted to the Catholics in this reign, and what is further required by them. Particulars relating to the Irish Rebel-lion in 1798.-P. 48. Particulars relating to the Measure propofed by the late Miniftry immediately before the Change.P. 102. Advice to the yeomanry and Volunteers.-P. 119. These are chiefly of a military nature, to which profeffion the author fays he was bred, and therefore may deferve, probably, mere particular attention. A portrait of his Majefty, furrounded by mottos and emblems, ftands oppofite to the title. It is engraved with fpirit, and is full of loyalty. The book certainly deferves commendation, as ufeful both for reference and admonition. ART. ART. 20. A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of D***, on the political Relations of Ruffia, in regard to Turkey, Greece, and France; and on the Means of preventing the French eftablishing a permanent Control over Ruffia: with Strictures on Mr. Thornton's prefent State of Turkey, &c. By William Eton, Efq. Author of "A Survey of the Turkish Empire," of terials for a Hiftory of the Maltefe, &c. Svo. 135 PPCadell and Davies. 1807. “ Ma The Survey of the Turkish Empire," by this author, was noticed by us foon after its appearance, as a work containing much important and apparently authentic information: nor have we fince feen occafion to retract that opinion. ; It has lately, however, been attacked in a publication intitled, "The prefent State of Turkey," by a Mr. Thornton * who calls in queftion the accuracy of Mr. Eton, in many particulars, and holds political doctrines oppofite to his. The pamphlet before us contains a reply to this antagonist; whom Mr. E. accufes, and (we think) in fome inftances convicts, of mif quoting and mifreprefenting his book. For thefe particulars we muft refer our readers to the pamphlet itfelf; which the poffeffors of Mr. Eton's former work will do well to procure. În regard to the great political queftion, in controverfy between thefe writers, we cannot hefitate in adopting as a general principle, the opinion of Mr. Eton, that we ought to cultivate the alliance, and promote the interefts of Ruffia, in preference to those of the Ottoman government. We fay, as a general principle, becaufe under particular circumftances, and more efpecially in the prefent state of Europe, it may be a different queftion, whether, or not, we should countenance the fuppofed plans of Ruffia for the difmemberment of the Turkish empire. The character and manners of the Ruffians in general are alfo vindicated in this letter from certain afperfions of Mr. Thornton; but the chief object of the writer is to fhow that no danger, and indeed that great advantage would arife to Britain from the preponderance of Ruffia on the continent of Europe. We have always inclined ftrongly to this fentiment: but, unhappily for Europe, there is at prefent little occafion for fuch a difcuffion, Ruffia having thrown itfelf into the arms of France. Mr. Eton notices this circumstance in a poftfcript, and confiders it as rendering our poffeffion of Malta of the higheft importance, as our fleets from thence may block up the French in the Adriatic. "Our exertions," he fays, " must be directed to liberate Pruffia. At Malta we muft ftand between her and France." There are many other remarks in this publication; which, though thrown together without ftrict order, feem well deferving of attention. * Mr. Thornton's own book we fhall notice very foon.. DIVINITY. DIVINITY. ART. 21. On the Doctrines of final Perfeverance and Afurance of Salvation: A Sermon preached at Leiceller June 6, 1806, at the Vifitation of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Lincoln. By the Honourable and Reverend H. Ryder, M.A. Rettor of Lutterworth. 8vo. Is. 6d. Payne. 1806. Surely there never was a time in which found theological learning, with ftrenuous activity in diffufing its benefits, were fo much required in the minifters of the established Church, as the age in which we live. With great fatisfaction on our part, and to the honour of our Universities, we atteft that the Clergy are neither deficient in fach leaning, nor failing in fuch activity. Among numberlefs proofs of this which have come before us, (and not a few from the diocefe of Lincoln, animated as it is, no doubt, by a strong example) the Sermon now to be noticed holds a respectable rank. The preacher ftates briefly thefe tavo legitimate deductions from the text, "that peculiar moderation in worldly pleafures becomes the minifter of a pure and fpiritual religion;" and that "moderation in exacting our temporal rights is a matter of high expedience, if not of ftrict daty, left we offend our weak brethren, and thus hinder the due influence of our doctrine." P. 1. Forbearing to dwell upon thefe inferences, the preacher brings forward one of a different kind, to be drawn from the text, which has not been overlooked by the ancient commentators." P. 2." If St. Paul, fay they, who had preached and laboured fo much, ftill feared, left he should be a caft-away; what caufe have Chriftians in general to dread, left this should be their lot. Confidered in this point of view, this paffage becomes of peculiar importance. If the inference be fairly drawn, is it not in direct oppofition to that doctrine of indefectible grace, which has been fet up as the ftandard of orthodoxy, and as the test of faving faith? May it not well be made the ground-work of a contrary opinion:That, as far as human knowledge is concerned, there is in this life no abfolute certainty of the perfeverance of any individual: that doubt of fulfilling the duties neceffary to falvation, is the proper feeling of a being fill fubject to inward frailty and outward temptation: that this apprehenfion of final failure will differ infinitely in degree, according to our progrefs in holiness, and vary according as our tempers are fanguine or defponding; but that no common Chriftian can have juft reafon wholly to lay afide that fear, which as it is the beginning, fo is it, under divine grace, the prefervative of human virtue and wifdom." Pp. 2, 3. To afcertain the juft meaning of the text, and to make it bear with its full weight upon the doctrine in queftion, its connection is traced with the part of the Epiftle which immediately precedes. This is done in a manner very fatisfactory; including a found note of Hammond on this fubject; and a confutation, at some length, (further enlarged in a note to the Sermon) of Beza, the friend of Calvin. Mifconftructions of fome paffages in the Old Teftament are then rectified, and the preacher returns to the New Teftament, "particularly ftyled, the covenant of grace." Having thus difproved, by Scripture, the doctrine of inde fectible grace, Mr. Ryder fhows that it was rejected by "the Fathers of the four first centuries, and the venerable chiefs of our reformation." P. 27. The 16th Article of our Church, and the Homily on the dan-` ger of falling from God, are then properly adverted to. As the question here difcuffed is in thefe days efpecially interefting, we shall make no apology to our readers for prolonging our account of this very useful difcourfe, by an extract from the two laft pages, the matter of which is equally juft and charitable. "It must be allowed that perfons in our Church, whose claims to literary diftinction have been indifputable, whofe attention to their duties has been exemplary, who no doubt have taught in integrity and finglenefs of heart, have adopted and diffeminated this doctrine; but our high refpect for their characters fhould not deter us from pointing out the errors in their opinions. It will not be denied, that fome Chriftians have, under the influence of this opinion, perfevered unto the end, and been ready on their death beds to exclaim with St. Paul, "Henceforth there. is laid up for me a crown of righteoufnefs." But this is a conceffion which cannot be denied even to Papifts, under the burden of many other authorized additions to Scripture. As, how. ever, the abuse of a doctrine is no argument against its truth; fo neither are a few inftances, in which it has failed to be injurious, decifive proof of its innocence and fafety. It must be granted that, if unfounded, as I have endeavoured to prove it, this doc trine has a strong tendency to encourage prefumption, or to create defpondency. Thofe who think they feel the certain affurance, will be but too apt to rest in fecurity, and to neglect the means neceffary to perfeverance; thofe who find that they cannot attain it, will conceive that they want the earneft of God's favour, and abandon the purfuit in defpair. Let us, therefore, relinquifhing all vain expectation of preternatural conviction, purfue the plain path which the Gofpel points out, and to which our Church will lead us: let us walk with the fear of God on the one hand, and the comfort of the Holy Ghoft on the other; with fuch a fear of being caft away, as, keeping us steadfast unto the end, will be changed into awful reverence; with fuch a hope of the prize of our high calling, as brightening gradually to the Jaft, will be loft in the vision of celeftial glory,-in the poffeffion of the fulness of joy,” |