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American edition.

REES'S CYCLOPÈDIA."

ว

Mr. Abernethy was justly considered as the head of the non-subscribers, and he became of course a principal subject of censure and discipline.

In an early period of this controversy, viz. in 1719, he published a sermon from Romans xiv. 5. in which he professed to explain the rights of private judgment and the foundations of christian liberty.

From that time the excluded members formed themselves into a separate Presbytery. Mr. Abernethy found that his former reputation was no security to him against the evils which he was now to experience.

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He continued his labours in Woodstreet for ten years. But a sudden attack of the gout in the head, to which disorder he had been subject, frustrated the expectations of his friends, and he died December 1740, in the 60th year of his age. Mr. Abernethy was twice married; first soon after his settlement at Antrim, to a lady of excellent character, of whom he was deprived in 1712, and again after his removal to Dublin, another lady, with whom he lived to his death..

Mr. Abernethy was justly considered he became of course a principal object as the head of the non-subscribers, and of reproach and persecution.

In an early period of this controversy, viz. in 1719, he published a sermon plained the rights of private judgment from Romans xiv. 5. in which he exand the foundations of christian lib.

erty.

From that time the excluded mem Presbytery, and prepared to encounter bers formed themselves into a separate many difficulties and hardships. Mr. Abernethy found that his justly acquired reputation, which he had uniformly maintained by a most exemplary life, was no security to him against these evils.

He continued his labours in Woodsatisfaction in the society and esteem of street for ten years, and enjoyed great his friends. From the strength of his uniform temperance of his life, there was constitution, the vigour of his spirit, and the reason to hope that his usefulness would tack of the gout in the head, to which have been prolonged. But a sudden atdisorder he had been subject, frustrated died Dec. 1740, in the 60th year of his the expectations of his friends and he age. For this event he was fully prepar ed, and he met it with great composure and firmness of mind, a cheerful acquiescence in the will, and a fixed trust in the power and goodness of the Almighty. Mr. Abernethy was twice married; first soon after his settlement at Antrim to a lady of excellent character, of whom he was deprived in 1712; and again, after his removal to Dublin to anotherlady with whom he lived in all the tenderness of conjugal affection to his death.

thy's writings were his two volumes of "The most celebrated of Mr. AberneDiscourses of the Divine Attributes which were much admired at the time of their publication and honourably recommended by the late excellent archbishop Herring; and are still held in the highest esteem by those who are disposed to approve the most liberal or manly sen timents on the great subject of natural res ligion. Four volumes, &c.

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American edition.

He also left behind him a Diary of his life, consisting of six large volumes in 4to. of which the author of his life has given a large account, and from which he has made many extracts. Biog. Brit.

English edition.

He also left behind him a Diary of his life, consisting of six large volumes in 4to. of which the author of his life has given a large account, and from which he has made many extracts which bear ample testimony to the singular excellence of his disposition and character. Biog. Brit.

Taking this whole article together, and comparing it with the real character of Abernethy, as attested by the united voices of biographers, we do not recollect a more insidious attempt to rob the defenceless dead of a well-earned reputation, and to exhibit a mere corpse of character (if we may use the expression) stripped of all animation and of every positive quality, than here discovers itself. If it was of importance to know any one circumstance of Abernethy's life, it surely was so to be distinctly informed, that his excellent heart, as well as head, secured him the esteem of all to the last," even when a change of his religious sentiments had excited the opposition of many violent antagonists." Yet the paragraph, which expressly exhibits this part of his character, is expunged from the American edition! If, too, it was of -consequence to know, that Mr. Abernethy's "sentiments" differed from many who were around him, we ought to be informed what sentiments are alluded to. Yet the American editors, instead of informing us that they were "sentiments of religious freedom," (as is done in the original) suppress these last words, and leave us to infer what sentiments are intended, from our acquaintance with the Bangorian controversy: a controversy, of which, we venture to say, not one reader in a hundred knows any thing. Nor is this all the English work tells us, that these sentiments were not merely the result of his attention to the Bangorian controversy (which makes them in a degree the consequence of party-bias), but also " of the exercise of his own vigorous faculties." This last, and, we should say, this material circumstance if A.'s authority is to have any weight on these questions, is wholly suppressed in the American edition !

Our second extract from the English edition says: "this laudable design [of bringing things to the test of reason and scripture] was probably suggested by Mr. Abernethy." What could be more unexceptionable than this expression? What, we ask every liberal man, can be more laudable than "to bring things to the test of reason and scripture"? Do they then really mean to insinuate, that reason and scripture are not to be the test of things? If so, what must we think of the principles of the men, who conduct this new edition of the Cyclopedia, and of the manner, in which they intend to republish the work? Yet our American editors expunge the word laudable, and leave us to presume, that, in their judgment, such a design was not laudable.

In the next extract the latter part of the sentence, which speaks of Mr. A.'s" justly acquired reputation," is partly altered and partly sup pressed. Instead of fairly presenting to the reader, what kind of repu tation Mr. A. enjoyed and how long he had maintained it, they just tell us coldly of his former reputation." Gracious heaven! is this the

treatment deserved by this eminent man? is this history is this biography?

But the first of our two last extracts discovers more of the motives and temper of the American editors, than any of the preceding. They suppress the passage, expressive of the high estimation, in which Abernethy's works are said to be held at this day; and though they admit that formerly these works were honourably recommended by archbishop Herring, yet, apparently lest the reader should think the archbishop's recommendation was worth something, they do not forget to strip the venerable prelate of a little epithet (the epithet "excellent"), which liberality would allow after death to any man, who possessed a little more than common honesty and common abilities.

to confess the difficulty of procuring suitable assistances to the task of criticism. This obstacle we have formerly stated, and we are again called upon to acknowledgeits continuance. We have inquir ed, but in vain, for the poem of Boiardo, and its refaccimento by Berni; and we have not been able to procure the subordinate auxiliaries of Crescembini and Tiraboschi. Of course, we were forced to consult the accessible author-": ities of other writers, who merely reflect a feeble heat and cast a faint illumination on the decaying poetry of an Italian author, once highly distinguished. These circum-” stances demand an attention to the state of our publick libraries ;* they exact the solicitude of men" of riches and rank, to promote the establishment of large collections for the service of literOne more remark shall finish ature. The patrons of learning' what we have to say upon the should be found among the favourhighly reprehensible manner, in ites of fortune and the dispensers which this article is republished. of power. If these cannot settle The important words of the last pensions, or bestow offices, they extract, which mention the singu-can at least accelerate the progress lar excellence of A.'s disposition and character, are wholly suppressed in the American edition. And yet, after such unwarrantable mutilations,...such criminal supprespressions of historical facts,...these gentlemen cite the Biographia Britannica, as their authority!

of knowledge, and direct its exertions, by exhibiting, what has formerly been ascertained, to the researches of the literary missionary, Poetry may continually delight in the study of nature, may find 'sermons in stones, and books in the running brooks'; but scientifick criticism must dwell in the cabinets of the curious, and range through" the alcoves of literature.

The work we are about to review is a translation from the polittle known. In this country it etry of an old Italian author, now may well be considered a singular production, and therefore we shall make no apology to our readers for introducing the review of it by some account of the life of Berni, of his character as an author, and

of the Italian heroick poetry as connected with him; and we shall also offer a few remarks on the expediency of a complete translation of his Orlando Inamorato, Indeed we feel justified in pursuing, this course, because it is necessary in order to render intelligible any criticism of the Enchanted Lake.' Besides, we poor reviewers are so often obliged to traverse barren ground, where not even an heath flower blooms, that we willingly turn aside into a foot-path, which may lead to cool waters and bow ers of enchantment.

intrigues. One of them endeavoured to bribe Berni to poison the other, but the poet having the virtue to resist, was himself poisoned in 1536, as a reward for his gratitude and magnanimity. This account, however, is not free from suspicions of falseness; and from Monnoye's construction of a playful letter, written by Nicolo Franco to Petrarch, in 1538, it would seem that the physicians of Flo rence, being called to him when sick, had, by their neglect or bad treatment, designedly avenged themselves for the railleries and satires, which their patient had composed, against them, their instruments, and their profession. But as this construction rests on an equivoque, in the expression i Medici, it is but doing justice to the illustrious family of Florence, and to the honourable profession of medicine, to quote the letter, as it is printed in Monnoye's notes to the article Berni, in Baillet's jugemens de Savans. Hora del Bernia non vi posso dar altro avviso se non che havendo fatti, non se che capitoli e baie de gui orinali i Medi. ci l'han mandato via di Firenza, Dove egli si trove mo non si sa.

Francesco Berni, the Italian poet, was born of a noble but indigent family at Amporecchio in Tuscany, towards the close of the 15th century. Till the age of twenty, he lived in distress and poverty at Florence. He was afterwards pat ronized by his relations, cardinal Bernardo of Bibiena, the cardinal's nephew, Angelo, and by the datary Giberti, bishop of Verona, with whom he lived seven years. But neither from his noble friends nor from his own talents could he derive much advantage, for in his disposition he was careless and imprudent; he hated every kind of restraint and delighted in plea-At present I cannot tell you any sure, satire, jokes, and buffoonery, Yet his talents and literature secured him an high esteem among the learned, and at Rome he was a valuable and illustrious member of the academy de Vignajuoli. In that city, then so celebrated for its poets and scholars, he passed some years, and at length sought retirement in Florence, as a canon in the cathedral, and lived under the protection of cardinal Hippolito de Medici and the duke Alexander. These patrons, however, having honoured his talents with a valuable establishment, involved his life in misery by their quarrels and

other news about Berni, except that having made I know not what satires and jokes upon urinals, the physicians (or, the Medici) have sent him away from Florence.Where he now is, nobody can tell.' Some biographers credit neither of the accounts, and place his death towards 1550, and others mention that he published his great poetical work in the middle of the 16th century. Mis death was certainly obscure, and perhaps it was tragical. The name of Berni must be added to the list of scholars, who exemplify the unfortunate truth, that genius is not necessarily allied