ART. 26. A Sermon, preached at the Unitarian Chapel, in Effex-Street, London, Sunday, April 15, 1804, on Occafion of the Death of the Rev. Jofeph Priestley, L. L. D. F. R. S. Sc. Sc. who died at Northumberland, in Pensylvania, North America, Feb. 6, 1804. Published at particular Requeft. By John Difney, D. D. F. S. d. The Second Edition. 8vo. 15. Johnfon. 1804. The first eight pages of this difcourfe are very fuitably and piously occupied with juft fentiments on the frailty of life, and the neceflity of Chriftians following confiftently the obligations on religious duty. The remainder is an elaborate culogium on Dr. Priestley, with partcular anecdotes of his laft hours, which have appeared before in va rious publications. ART. 27. A compendious View of the Chriftian Doctrines. Being the Subftance of a Sermon, delivered before a Society of Proteftant Diffenters, at Newbery, in Berkshire. By David James. Publifhed by Requeft. Svo. 29 pp. 6d. Johnton. This is a plain and fenfible difcourfe, on Ephefians ii. 18, in which the Being of God, the atonement of Chrift, and the influence of the Holy Spirit are treated of, in a way very creditable to the author's piety, learning, and good fenfe. We forbear to make any extracts. The whole may easily be read; and whoever buys it for that purpose will not, we are perfuaded, have to blame themselves for any waite of money or lofs of time. ART. 28. Words of Eternal Life, or the Catechifm explained on a new and familiar Plan. With Notes. By B. N. Turner, M. A. Rector of Denton, in Lincolnshire, and Wing, in Rutland; and sometime Fellor of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Svo. 51 pp. 6d. or 5s. a Dozen. Spragg, &c. 1304. The Church Catechifm is here divided into five Sections, and the new plan adopted, for the explanation of it, is printing the Catechifm itfelf in one columa, in larger letters, and the Explanation in another, with notes fubjoined. "This little work", fays the author, " is calculated to affift and promote the inftruction of young perfons, at fchool or at home, in the principles of Chritianity, especially about the age at which they are to be confirmed by the Bishop; and it is alfo hoped and prefumed, that it will prove equally ferviceable, as an epitome of religious knowledge, for private families. The notes are intended for fuch only as are of riper years and judgment". The inftructions are certainly found, and the form appears to be convenient. We doubt not that the book will prove ufeful. ART. 29. Proofs of Holy Writ, or England's Triumph over Bonaparte and his Armada foretold in exprefs Terms Seventeen Hundred Years ago. 8vo. 19 pp. 6d. Badcock. 1804. Whether this be the ferious reverie, of fome perfon defirous of making a new application of a prophecy, or, as we should rather fufpect, a covert a covert ridicule of certain modes of interpretation, we cannot fay; but the author, by writing the name of the French ufurper Bowenapen, contrives to make it answer to the apocalyptic number 666. The ridiculously barbarous form of the name fo written feems a fufficient anfwer to the fpeculation, which, in other refpects, deferves no ferious confideration. The custom of applying thofe obfcure prophecies to every paffing event, fubverts the general plan of the vifions, and leads to evil rather than good, though it may be well intended. LAW. ART. 30. A compendious Lar Dictionary; containing both an Expla nation of the Terms, and the Law itself. Intended for the Ufe of the Country Gentleman, the Merchant, and the prof final Man. By Thomas Potts, Gent. formerly of Skinners' Hall. 12mo. 620 PP 10s. 68. Oftell. 1803. If to comprefs a prodigious quantity of matter into a very fmall compafs be to confult the accommodation of the public, the author of this Dictionary has done it in the completeft manner imaginable. The fmalleft and neatest type, without any unneceffary spaces, has fo condensed the matter of this book, that it might, with different management, be expanded to a handfome folio. With refpect to the utility of his book to the profeffion, Mr. Potts fpeaks with modefty, but with decifion. To the profeffional man, it is not meant to infift, that this production can poffibly answer all the purposes of the voluminous library of the lawyer; but, as the authorities recited in fupport of the authenticity of the refpective articles are particularly referred to, it will ferve him as a moft complete in. dex, whereby he may be enabled immediately to direct his attention to any point under confideration". To give a fingle article, by way of fpecimen, out of fo extensive a work, would be like producing a brick as a fample of a houfe; but we are clearly of opinion, from the examination we have made, and from the character of the author, that the book will be found extremely ufeful in the Library, in the Counting-house, and the Office". 66 POLITICS. ART. 31. A ferious and impartial Addrefs to all the Independent Electors of the United Kingdom, upon the recent Middlefex Election; in which the Proceedings and Tranfactions of that extraordinary Event are candidly and conftitutionally difcuffed and investigated; the fatal Tendency and deftructive Confequences of fuch a Precedent confidered; and the Whole viewed as a grand national Cause, in which that most invaluable Privilege, the Elective Franchife, and the Reprefentative Seftem felf, are most intimately involved. By Walter Honeywood rate, Efq. an ind pendent Freeholder of the Counties of Gloucester and Worcefter. 8vo. 47 PP• 28. Longman and Co. 1804. The well known adage, parturiunt montes, &c. was never better exemplified than by the contents of the work announced by this pompous title-page. We did not indeed expect much elegance or accuracy of expreffion from a writer who, in the front of his pamphlet, fpeaks of the proceedings and tranfactions of an event; and accordingly his ftyle is far beneath the notice of criticifm. But, as he professes to discuss and inveftigate, we concluded his performance would contain a statement of the point of law, on which the merits of the late return for Middlefes depend, and fore arguments to prove its invalidity. Inftead of thefe, the pamphlet confiits almoft entirely of the moft trite declamations on (what no one difpites) the bleflings of freecom, the excellence of the British Conftitution, and (what are fomewhat more difputable) the political merits and public fpirit of the Baronet in queftion, whofe popularity in the county of Middlefex this author confiders as a certain proof of his patriotifm. Yet, very different, in that refpect, from the reft of his party, this writer does not impute bad motives to the Sheriffs, nor load with abufe all who oppofed his favourite candidare. In fhort, he feems to be a well-meaning man, but fomething very like the fort of" tool which knaves do work with", &c. We were moft amufed by his doleful lamentations over the "feverely perfecuted, ferfaken Wilkes, whofe public feelings", fays the author, "were exqui fite". What a fubject of exquifite merriment would this writer have been to that witty and ingenious demagogue! who having, during the early part of his career, laughed in his fleeve at the dupes of his profeffions, treated them, in his latter days, with the moft open derifion; and particularly boasted, with much jocularity," that he had never been a Wilkite". What would he have faid to the author who places by the fide of a Sidney and a Hampden, John Wilkes, Alderman Beckford, and Sir Francis Burdett ? ART. 32. Letter to a Member of the prefent House of Commons. By W. H. T. 8vo. 15. 36 pp. Hatchard. 1804. This Letter contains chiefly a zealous, though rather declamatory, defence of Mr. Addington's administration; to which the whole country gave credit for perfect uprightnefs, and patriotic zeal. This credit will ever remain, though the conteft is now over, in which this tract was defigned to bear a part. In point of abilities, to be eclipfed by Mr. P. is only the common lot of ftatefmen. This author has alfo fome remarks on the volunteers, which are too general to be of much practical utility. His work was written evidently with good intentions, but does not rife to any high degree of elegance or vigour. MISCELLANIES. ART. 33. Literary Hours; or, Sketches, critical, narrative, and poetical. By Nathan Drake, M. D. In Three Volumes. Volume III. Svo. 9s. Cadell and Davies. 1804. By referring to vol. xiv. p. 598, of our periodical labours, the reader will perceive that we have given due commendation to the first edition of Dr. Drake's work. This is continued on the fame plan, and poffeffes the fame merits of elegant variety. The author has inferted twenty Twenty numbers or effays in each of his volumes, and this accordingly commences with the forty-first. The story of Sir Egbert, in the 45th, 46th, and 47th numbers, is remarkably well-told, and will amply repay the reader's curiofity. The criticifms alfo, which are interfperfed on poetical compofition, demon@rate a well-cultivated tafte. The author's obfervations on the writings and genius of Herrick will meet with many admirers; and we particularly thank him for affording us an opportunity of inferting the following elegant lines. "To ANTHEA. Bid me to live, and I will live A heart as foft, a heart as kind, A heart as found and free, Bid that heart ftay, and it will stay To honour thy decree; Or bid it languifh quite away, Bid me defpair, and I'll defpair Thou art my life, my love, my heart, And haft command of every part, To live and die for thee." The following Ode alfo to Zephyr, communicated to the author by a lady, must be confidered as highly beautiful. "Thofe plaintive ftrains, mild Zephyr, hear, Touch for the poet's raptured ear, Oh! fweetly touch yon mournful strings. Again may thy foft breath infpire Hh BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXIV. OCT. 1804. Ch, Oh, come, and gaily hover round, So may thy fweetly varied hours With much of the author's criticisms on the works of Du-Bartas we are well pleased; but do not think that he will prevail on many readers to toil through fo many harsh and unmufical pages for the comparatively few beautiful paflages, which are here and there fcattered through the bulky volume of Sylvefter. The papers relative to the Scandinavians, contain much original and impreffive matter, with many pleafing poetical fpecimens; and they who are poffeffed of the two former volumes of thefe Literary Hours, will think with us, that many acknowledgments are due to the author for this agreeable addition. An alphabetical lift is added of those authors and artifts, on whom any criticism or comment has been given in this volume. ART. 34. An Introduction to the Knowledge of rare and valuable Editions of the Greek and Latin Cloffies, including the Scriptores de Re Ruftica, Greek Romances, and Lexicons and Grammars: to which is added, a complete Index Analyticus: the Whole preceded by an Account of Polyglott Bibles, and the beft Editions of the Greek Septuagint and Teftament. By Thomas Frognall Dibdin, A. B. (late of St. John's College, Oxford). Second Edition, enlarged and corrected. 8vo. 644 pp. 125. Alfo 50 Copies on large Paper, with Four additional Plates. Dwyer. 1804. We certainly did well when we commended the first edition of this work (fee vol. xx. p. 445) fmall as it then was, and a mere sketch, in comparison with the prefent. A fhare of praife, fully proportioned to the increase of size, is abundantly due to this fecond edition: to which a very valuable and important acceffion is the account of Polyglott Bibles, and of the beft editions of the Scriptures in Greek. The introductory account of bibliographical works, confulted by the author, |