metropolis demands additional churches, which it is hoped the legifJature will foon take into confideration. In this cafe it is recommended, "that the churches be built upon a fimple and capacious plan; that the feats remain unappropriated, fo that the common people, as well as their fuperiors, may be well accommodated in the house of God; and that the falaries may be fufficiently liberal to engage the fervice of preachers of the fil ability." P. 3. With refpect to the fecond caution, we muft beg leave to recommend a modification; not that "the feats remain unappropriated", but a certain proportion of the feats; otherwife the indifcriminate mixture of all claffes will prevent as many perfons of the higher claffes from attending, as it can introduce of the lower. We come next to fome obfervations of great moment and humanity, on the means of providing for the reformation of those who have, on various accounts, been difcharged from prifons. Having, with great ability, confidered this fubject, the Bishop proceeds to that of the due execution of the laws, which the Society before which he preached make it their bufinefs to enforce. After fhowing that the promoters of fuch a defign will be odious only to those who "hate to be reformed"; and, after pointing out, that in many instances that depravity of our manners has but too far gotten the af eendancy over the goodness of our laws, the Right Reverend preacher thus proceeds. "Their vigour, however, never can be fully renovated till the rich and powerful fhall be compelled by penalties, or, which is more to be wifhed, fhall be induced by reafon, and their own sense of decorum and public duty, to fet an example of obeying them. Man is an imitative animal, going not where he ought to go, but where others have gone before. I fhould be afhamed to recommend from this place the Suppreffion of Vice amongst some, if I did not recom mend its fuppreffion amongst all; being fenfible, that the good example of their fuperiors would be of more efficacy in fupprefling the vices of the lower orders, than the very best execution of the very best Jaws can ever be. And if ever all ranks of fociety ought to concur in adopting fuch a Chriftian purity of manners as may avert from us the difpleafure of God, this is the time; now it is that the rod of God's wrath is upreared, to chastife not only us, but all Christendom, for its impiety, infidelity, and immorality," P. 14. We cannot too strongly recommend this excellent discourse, or the defigns of the Society for which it was compofed. ART. 25. The Principles of Chriftian Knowledge: confifling of 1. an Explanation of the more difficult Terms and Doctrines of the Church Catechifm and Office of Confirmation; 2. the Three Church Creeds exemplified and proved from the Scriptures. To which is prefixed an Introduction, on the Duty of conforming to the Established Church, as good Subjects and good Chriftians. By the Right Reverend Thomas Burgefs, D. D. Bishop of St. David's. The fecond Edition. 124 PP. 1s. 6d. Rivingtons, and Hatchard. 1804. Frequently have we had occafion to extol the pious and fagacious care of this learned divine, and now prelate, to draw up books of in 12mo. ftruction a concife account of the life of Dr. Priestley, with a panegyric on his endowments and virtues, which might be expected from a friend, who knew and loved him. We fhall not detract a particle from the catalogue, except it may be fo termed, when we intimate a doubt, whether Dr. Priestley was not already a Republican in fpirit before he left this country for America. His friend and panegyrist confefses, that after he had refided fome time in America there is reafon to believe he became a Republican."-A catalogue of Dr. Priestley's works is fubjoined, and they amount to the furprizing number of feventy-eight. LAW. ART. 28. Obfervations on the Caufes of Clerical Non-Refidence, and on the Act of Parliament lately passed for its Prevention. 8vo. 79 PP. 2s. 6d. Robinsons. 1804. This author thinks that the Legislature, in the A& lately paffed for the prevention of non-refidence," have with much good, enacted alfo much that is amifs: that they have in fome inftances defcended to nugatory particulars, and in other inftances have ordered that, which will never be executed." His intention in the prefent publi. cation is "to recommend a fyftem of ftrict residence, and further ftill to argue not merely for the refidence of a clergyman, but for the refidence of the incumbent himself." But he premifes a distinction, which "if the framers of the late Act had made, they would have found themselves at liberty to have enforced refidence in a much ftricter manner than they have done." This diftinction, so necessary in our author's opinion, is the exemption of the present incumbents from the regulations propofed. "To enforce," he fays, "a fyftem of indifpenfable refidence on them, would not only be unjust in the attempt, but impoffible in the execution; that is, it would be the fame as expelling many of them from their benefices." He then proceeds to confider the causes of non-refidence under the following heads: 1, the fmallnefs of benefices; 2, pluralities; 3, holding of benefices by Archdeacons, Deans and other dignitaries; 4, ill-health; 5, the want of a parfonage-houfe; 6, the house being in an ill-convenient or unhealthy fituation; 7. its being too mean or too fmall for the habitation of the incumbent; 8, the incumbent and parishioners being at variance on account of tithes; and, laftly, the incumbent being a chaplain or fchool-mafter. Under all these heads, we many fenfible and judicious obfervations, the author freely pointing out, wherein he deems the regulations of the late Act to be defective or ill-judged, and propofing others which in his opinion would be more efficient. We fhall conclude our account of this well-written pamphlet, with a fhort extract from what the author fays on the difcretionary powers vefted in the diocefan. find "That Bishops fhould have authority over their Clergy is truly to be defred; but by authority ought to be understood the power of enforcing the laws, not the arbitrary determination of particular cafes. tion of the three Creeds of the Church, executed with fingular clearnefs and ability; with an Appendix, from the Canons, Acts of Parliament, and other public authorities, relative to the government, difcipiine, and public worship of the Church of England. A more ufeful manual could not be prefented to the members of the Church. ART. 26. A Sermon preached on the Day appointed to be obferved as a Faft, Otober 19, 1803. By the Reverend John Clarke, LL. B. 410. 15 PP. IS. Baldwin. 1803. It is rather unusual that we are not told, in the title-page, either the place where the Sermon was preached, or the clerical situation of the preacher. If we may conclude any thing from names fo common, the fame author gave us a Thanksgiving Sermon in 1802, and fome other productions before that time. The prefent Sermon is on Nehemiah iv. 14, and is written with fpirit, as will appear from the following fpecimen. PATRIOTISM, he tells his hearers, is the virtue now required, and made the inftrument of our probation. "You are not to be told that you are at this moment called upon to exercite this virtue by every motive which can affect your interest, or animate you to the performance of your duty;-by your present happinefs; by your hope of an eternal reward. An enemy, a ferocious enemy, is at your doors, threatening devaftation and destruction; to convert this land of paradife into a land of defolation; to make freeborn Britons abject flaves. You are called upon at this moment to defend your country; to repel this infolent enemy; to teftify your loyalty to your king, and your fidelity to our happy conftitution"to fight for your brethren, your fons and your daughters, your wives and your houfes ;"-to difcard eafe for the most energetic exertion; partial, for the most enlarged, confiderations; ignoble fear for manly courage;-arming your minds with a fortitude fuperior to adverse circumftances;-and difpofing them to the most refigned ac quiefcence in the difpenfations of God, whatever may be his blessed pleature, in the event of the approaching conflict." P. 6. Other paffages might eafily be cited to confirm the commendation here given; but, this being in itself fufficient, we shall refer the reader who is pleased with this to the perufal of the discourse itself. ART. 27. A Sermon occafioned by the Death of the late Rev. Jofeph Prieffley, delivered in the Diffenting Chapel in Monkwell fireet, on Sunday Evening, April 15, 1804. By John Edwards. 8o. 1s. 6d. Johnfon. 1804. This is a very animated difcourfe, and evidently the production of a vigorous and well-cultivated mind. It commences with pointing out the excellence of intellectual, beyond all material diftinctions of form, or beauty, the bafenefs and miferies of vice, the prefent enjoyments and immortal hopes of virtue. Then, by a natural and proper tranfition, the preacher animadverts on the usefulness of that perfon,' who, by his doctrine, example, and accomplishments, is the inftrument of turning others to wifdom and righteoufnefs. Then follows a con a concife account of the life of Dr. Priestley, with a panegyric on his endowments and virtues, which might be expected from a friend, who knew and loved him. We fhall not detract a particle from the catalogue, except it may be fo termed, when we intimate a doubt, whether Dr. Priestley was not already a Republican in fpirit before he left this country for America. His friend and panegyrift confeffes, that after he had refided fome time in America there is reafon to believe he became a Republican."-A catalogue of Dr. Priestley's works is fubjoined, and they amount to the furprizing number of feventy-eight. LAW. ART. 28. Obfervations on the Caufes of Clerical Non-Refidence, and on the Act of Parliament lately passed for its Prevention. 8vo. 79 PP. 2s. 6d. Robinfons. 1804. This author thinks that the Legislature, in the Act lately passed for the prevention of non-refidence, have with much good, enacted alfo much that is amifs: that they have in fome instances descended to nugatory particulars, and in other inftances have ordered that, which will never be executed." His intention in the present publi. cation is "to recommend a fyftem of strict refidence, and further ftill to argue not merely for the refidence of a clergyman, but for the refidence of the incumbent himself." But he premifes a distinction, which" if the framers of the late A&t had made, they would have found themselves at liberty to have enforced refidence in a much ftricter manner than they have done." This diftinction, fo necessary in our author's opinion, is the exemption of the prefent incumbents from the regulations propofed. "To enforce," he fays, "a fyftem of indifpenfable refidence on them, would not only be unjuft in the attempt, but impoffible in the execution; that is, it would be the fame as expelling many of them from their benefices." He then proceeds to confider the caufes of non-refidence under the following heads: 1, the fmallness of benefices; 2, pluralities; 3, holding of benefices by Archdeacons, Deans and other dignitaries; 4, ill-health; 5, the want of a parfonage-houfe; 6, the house being in an ill-convenient or unhealthy fituation; 7. its being too mean or too fmall for the habitation of the incumbent'; 8, the incumbent and parishioners being at variance on account of tithes; and, laftly, the incumbent being a chaplain or fchool-mafter. Under all these heads, we find many fenfible and judicious obfervations, the author freely pointing out, wherein he deems the regulations of the late Act to be defective or ill-judged, and propofing others which in his opinion would be more efficient. We shall conclude our account of this well-written pamphlet, with a fhort extract from what the author fays on the difcretionary powers vefted in the diocefan. "That Bishops fhould have authority over their Clergy is truly to be defired; but by authority ought to be understood the power of enforcing the laws, not the arbitrary determination of particular cafes. cafes. The Act now before us will afford fufficient examples of this distinction: I should be the laft to complain of that extenfion of authority granted to the Bishop, whereby he is empowered to enforce obedience by monition and fequeftration :-it were to be wished, perhaps, that he had the fame power in fome other cafes: the complaint is, that matters of the highest importance to the individuals concerned, are not specified by pofitive law, but are left to the judgment of a single magiftrate. It must certainly be allowed by all, that if it be neceffary to establish a fummary decifion, the power cannot be placed in fater or more refpectable hands, than in those of our prefent fuperiors: nevertheless to juftify the grant of fuch a power by this argument, offends against one of the plaineft maxims of political prudence." The neceffity in this cafe is felf-evident: regulations for enforcing refidence would to many prove highly oppreffive, unless a power of difpenfation be lodged fomewhere: the authority given by the ftatute to the diocefan is neither arbitrary or unlimited; he is fimply conftituted judge of matters of fact, (as, for instance, whether the incumbent be in a bad state of health, and further refidence likely to aggravate his complaints or to impede their cure) he is strictly bound in fara confcientiæ to determine according to evidence; and if he errs, there is a fuperior tribunal to rectify the error. ART. 29. Thoughts on Non-Refidence and Farming. In a Letter to the Bishop of St. Afaph. By a Magiftrate. 8vo. 29 PP, 19. Cawthorn. 1803. Published while the Bill was ftill before Parliament, and had not yet paffed into a law. As it is not probable that the legislature should deem it neceffary to make any further regulations on the subject, we forbear entering more particularly into the contents of this publication, than briefly to remark, that it is fenfibly and acutely written. ART. 30. Obfervations on the Statute of the William and Mary, Chap. 18, commonly called the Toleration Act, and on the Statute of the 19 Geo. III. Chap. 44, intitled" An Aat for the further Relief of the Proteftant Diffenting Minifters and Schoolmafters," in reference is Proteftant Diffenting Miniflers of Congregations and others applying to qualify themselves under the faid Acts. By Jofeph Smith, Barrister at Law. 8vo. 50 pp. 25. James, Briftul; Buttons, and Butterworth, London. 1804. The extraordinary increase of perfons, uneducated for the miniftry, engaged in fome trade or manual occupation, and officiating only as occafional or itinerant preachers, who within the last eight or ten years have applied to the Courts of Quarter Seffions in various parts of the kingdom, with an intention of qualifying themfelves as Proteftant Diffenting Ministers, has induced a fufpicion, that the chief motive of their application has been to procure an exemption from the burdens, to which they, in common with their fellow-fubjects, were liable: the confequence of which in many inftances has been, a refusal by the magiftrates to adminifter the oaths. These circumstances have led Mr. Smith to think, that the Act of Toleration and the statute of the |