An Inquiry into the Opinions, Ancient and Modern, concerning Life and Organi zation. By John Barclay, M.D. Lecturer of Anatomy, &c. 8vo. 14s. Rivingtons' Annual Register; or, a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1820, being the First Year of his present Majesty's Reign. 8vo. 188. Thoughts on the Defective State of Prisons, and Suggestions for their Improvement, together with Hints for the Discipline, Police, and Labour of Prisoners, with the Plan of a Gaol and House of Cor LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Debrett's Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, corrected to the present Time, with a set of Plates entirely new, and a Portrait of his present Majesty in his Coronation Robes. A Tour through Belgium, by His Grace the Duke of Rutland, embellished with Plates after Drawings by the Duchess. A Comparative View of the Mineral and Mosaical Geologies. By Granville Penn, Esq. 1 vol. 8vo. The Beauties of Jeremy Taylor; with a Memoir of his Life, and Observations on his Genius and Writings. By Mr. Melmoth. Mr. Bridgens's Work, containing coloured Representations of the Customs and Manners of France and Italy, with a descriptive Account of the Plates, by the late Dr. Polidori, is now complete. It forms an interesting Volume of 50 coloured Plates, and is particularly illustrative of Italian Customs. Elements of Self Knowledge; or, a Familiar Introduction to Moral Philosophy, in 1 Volume, 12mo., principally adapted to Young Persons entering into active Life, By the Rev. Thomas Finch. A Technological Dictionary; containing Definitions of all Terms of Science and Art, drawn from the most approved writers, ancient and modern. By Mr. Crabb. In two Quarto Volumes. Illustrated with numerous Plates, Diagrams,&c. The Martyr of Antioch; a Tragic Drama. By the Rev. H. H. Milman, Au thor of the Fall of Jerusalem. The First Volume of Mr. Southey's History of the late War in Spain and Portugal, is nearly ready. The Book of Genesis and the Mosaical History of the Creation, vindicated from Unitarian Misrepresentation; in a Letter to the Lord Bishop of St. David's, and in Reply to a recent Discourse of Mr. Thomas Belsham, delivered at Warrington, Augnst 19th, 1821, and published at the Request of the Ministers and Congregation. By John Garbett, M.A. Curate of St. Bartholomew's, Birmingham. 1s. 6d. A Synoptical Review of the Religious Systems and Opinions, propounded and advocated by the Philosophers of the ancient World; intended for the Use of the Junior Students in the Universities. By a Graduate of the University of Oxford, 4to. 4s. POLITICAL RETROSPECT. ALL eyes are fixed upon the approaching session of Parliament, and politicians busy themselves in predicting the course of future events. We shall confine ourselves to the humbler task of shewing what, in our opinion, ought to be done. The loudest and most important discussions may naturally be expected to arise upon the subject of agricultural distress; and the great weight of the landed interest in both Houses of Parliament, the language that has been held at various county meetings, the rumours that are afloat of taxes to be put on, and taxes to be taken off, together with the nation's entire ignorance of the plan of its rulers, have combined to fill one portion of the community with hope, and another with alarm. We trust that the uncertainty which prevails upon these subjects will be removed by the united protest of our statesmen against every proposal for giving relief to one sort of property at the expense of the rest, against every recommendation of breaking the public faith by the plunder of the public creditor. Lord Cochrane was the first man who recommended such a scheme in the House of Commons; the advice was worthy of a ruined and convicted swindler, and to such we would fain hope that it may be restricted. What then, it will be said, are the farmers to get no relief? By no means; we heartily desire that they may be relieved with the least possible delay-and we believe that though not immediate, their relief is certain. All we mean to affirm is, that it will not and cannot come from an Act of Parliament. In courts of justice such acts are omnipotent; but it would be as reasonable to expect that tides and eclipses might be arranged according to the will and pleasure of the legislature, as that the country gentlemen and their tenants may be released from their embarrassments by the fiat of the House of Commons. Whence do those embarrassments arise?- From taxation? In that case they should have been most severe when taxation was at its height -not now when the nation has been relieved from considerably more than a third of its burdens. From general impoverishment and distress? All Then distress should have been most conspicuous four years ago, when the poor were starving, the revenue failing, and commerce and manufactures were at a stand. From importation of foreign grain?—Then it could not have been concealed until that importation ceased. these explanations are unsatisfactory, and futile. The real cause of the agricultural difficulties must be traced to the resumption of cash payments by the Bank of England. They were foreseen and foretold by the most enlightened advocates of that necessary measure; and they will be gradually removed by the accumulating capital, and returning commerce of the country. As long as country bankers could rely upon procuring paper at the Bank of England to answer any sudden demand, they were ready and willing to make advances to the farmer. His rick-yard was considered an unexceptionable security; and when it did not suit him to sell his corn, he borrowed the amount of his rent, and waited till he could get a better price. This practice, however, had its danger. It enabled him to employ the whole of his capital on his land and so far it was beneficial; but in many instances, he proceeded to employ more than his whole capital and became accustomed to draw upon his banker not only for temporary but permanent loans. If high prices had continued twenty years, he might have secured his profits, and repaid what he had borrowed. But when the country with one voice demanded a return to cash payments, it became the duty of the Bank to diminish their issues of paper. Ten millions were withdrawn at once from the circulation of the country, and it was evident that the Bank would be obliged to regulate its issues, not merely by the responsibility of the party borrowing, but also by the quantity its notes already in circulation. Being no longer at liberty to ex of change paper for paper, but being bound to pay in gold, it had to contemplate the possibility of a run upon its Treasury, and was compelled not to put out more than it would be able to pay off. Hence the country bankers were deprived of that safe and commodious harbour which had enabled them to weather so many storms; and were obliged in their turn to limit their issues and loans, and to receive the farmer who was disposed to borrow with a coldness to which he had long been unaccustomed. He had now no choice but to sell his grain, and his cattle, and his wool-and, as soon as this operation commenced, the banker invited him to clear off former scores; as it was obvious that when the ricks disappeared, the security which had been relied on failed. Here, therefore, the distress commenced. Rents had been paid for several years in anticipation; borrowed capital had been sunk on the land, and could not be got out again within a reasonable time. Alarm and doubt began to spread--every creditor was in a hurry to be paid; and the unfortunate debtor could neither borrow nor sell. Numbers who have been placed in this situation are irretrievably ruined. Their property is seized in default of payment, and sells, as a matter of course, for one fourth of its value. Where rent only is due, the farmer may escape at the expence of his landlord. Let the latter renounce the arrears, which in all probability are irrecoverably gone; and the tenant, setting out afresh, may be able to pay a reduced and moderate rent. Any thing more than this, we confess, that we can see no ground to expect our reasons for expecting thus much shall be stated.. The cry against the exorbitant profits of the merchant, and the fundholder, is, at this moment, loud. We forget that both the one and the other have been on the brink of ruin three times within the memory of many of us. The American War, the French Revolution, and the last Peace, beggared more merchants, manufacturers, stockholders, and artizans, than there are distressed or complaining farmers in the land. The individuals were ruined-but the class survived, increased, accumulated wealth, and flourished. And why should it be otherwise with the agriculturist? He is reduced now, for the first time, to a degree of distress, decidedly less severe than that from which others have thrice recovered. Four years ago, there seemed some pretence for saying that our manufactures would not flourish again, under the severe pressure of our taxationthe other nations of the world could work cheaper, and therefore they were expected to undersell us. This was very plansible-and very fallacious. For already our exports are greater than they were during the war all the looms are employed-and there is a demand for more hands. The error arose from underrating the united effects of British capital, skill, and enterprise, which enable our manufacturer to sell his goods cheap, although the wages of his workmen are comparatively high. And is not the same thing true of agriculture? Is it not at least probable, that the predictions which threaten its permanent depression, will prove as unfounded as those more reasonable predictions which have been so happily falsified by the event? Do the taxes cramp a farmer in a greater degree, or in half so great a degree, as they cramp a master-manufacturer? Is it not certain, that the artizans who have recently returned to full work, and full wages, will return without loss of time to full meals? We remember an unfortunate workingcutler, who was recommended, three years ago, to have patience, and trust that times would mend. He replied, "that he had set up with a considerable stock of patience, but that it was nearly all gone." For having been accustomed, during the war, to earn three pounds a week, (of which he had never laid by a farthing,) he had been reduced by the decay of his trade to something very like starvation. Now if this honest cutler, and the millions who were similarly situated, once begin to receive, not three pounds, but, let us say, one pound a week, will they not infallibly consume more bread, more meat, more butter, cheese, gin, and every other article that the earth produces? The general employment of the poor will afford as good a market to the farmer, as the opening of South America has afforded to the mer chant. Consumption will soon be raised to the level of production: old times will come round-and all classes, and all parties, enjoy the blessings of peace. With this view of the internal state of the country, we need not say that we deprecate parliamentary interference, as worse than useless. Our senators, no doubt, will produce plans in abundance, and each will admire and extol his own. The wisest thing that ministers can do, will be to declare that they are all excellent, but all inconsistent; and so to postpone them en masse. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Remarks on the Life of Brainerd; and A. shall appear, I. P. has been received, and is under consideration. We do not understand the precise grounds of Catholicus's objection; if he will be so good as to state it shortly, and give the necessary references to the passages upon which it is founded, his communication shall receive our best consideration. SERMON ON OFFENCES OF THE the tree corrupt and his fruit cor TONGUE. MATT. xii. 36. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. OUR Saviour's language, recorded in this chapter, is marked with peculiar solemnity and force. The perverseness and hypocrisy of the Pharisees had excited his indignation, and had even induced him to declare that their offence should "neither be forgiven in this world, nor in the world to come." This dreadful offence is called by our Saviour blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. It consisted in rejecting the most palpable testimony of our Lord's divine mission, and ascribing his mighty works to the agency of evil spirits; an aggravation of guilt which must ever be regarded with horror, and which perhaps can hardly have been committed, in its full extent, since the cessation of miracles. We may infer from the tenor of the narrative, that these unhappy Pharisees flattered thremselves, by some delusive mode of reasoning, that they should not ultimately be punished for the wicked sentiments they had expressed. fir order, perhaps, to put an end to such arrogant and fallacions hopes, our Lord assured them that the language of men will always be con sidered as an indication of their mind."Either make the tree good and his fruit good; or else make REMEMBRANCER, No. 39. rupt, for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth'speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things." This was enough to warn the Pharisees that by whatever arguments they might now delude themselves, the depravity of their hearts was manifest to God, and that he would infallibly punish their profane and blasphemous language in the day of judgment. But the precepts of the Gospel, on this subject, are carried far beyond the mere prohibition of blasphemy; "I say unto you," continued our blessed Saviour," that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." st Some difference of opinion has prevailed as to the precise interpretation of this text. Some expositors think that the erime of scandal and defamation is here especially condemned. Others imagine that our Lord's admonition is rather di rected against vain and arrogant pretensions of whatever kind. Others affirm that the word idle is to be regarded as equivalent to wicked; and that this explanation S |