With thine own strength each kindred arm endow, 'Twas proud, 'twas genuine, for 'twas ENGLISH blood!' p. 65. How unspeakably patriotic! 'Twas proud, 'twas genuine, for 'twas ENGLISH blood!' And this incomparable nonsense has been praised, and this has been reprinted. Perhaps our estimate of this volume may be thought somewhat rude and contemptuous: but we can honestly assert, that it has been biassed by no plebeian prejudices. At a time when so many of our young men of birth and fortune, seek to be distinguished only by their follies or their crimes, it gives us sincere pleasure to perceive in the noble author of this poem so many indications of good principle, and so marked a predilection for pursuits, which are at once honourable to himself, and ornamental to his station. Nor are we by any means" slow to admit, that the production before us displays some random gleams of sense and feeling. In proof of this last observation, we may produce the following expostulation with the sceptic. And thou poor hopeless wretch, if such there live, Yet let one lingering hope remain behind, And leave, oh leave, a future to mankind!' pp. 22-24. There is some little merit, too, in the author's address to his native island--which is personified of course. I see thee faint,thy rick, thy generous blood, And Europe's shores are but thy soldiers' grave! For manly courage mourn, untimely lost, Yes, 'tis thy firmest hope, for 'tis thy last l'-p. 82, 83. But unfortunately these deviations occur too infrequently to weigh much against the manifold imperfections of the poem. We have in truth seldom seen so many rhyming absurdities committed in so short a compass. With scarcely any opulence of fancy-scarcely any perception of the finer and less obtrusive graces of poetry, the noble author is perpetually attracted by what is glaring and exaggerated, mistaking hyperbole for grandeur, and tricking out his little modicum of meaning, in a profusion of tawdry and fantastic finery. The models to which he has attached himself, are radically vicious; and he cannot forswear them too soon. ART. XIII. Geographical, Commercial, and Political Essays; including statistic details of various countries. Longman and Co. 8vo. price 8s. 6d. 1812. THIS volume comprises the results of extensive and multifarious read ing, and minutes of conversations, which the intelligent author has at different times, held with sailors, soldiers, travellers, and traders. These are stated with perspicuity, and commented on with spirit, though in a manner rather too dashing and emphatic. So varied are the materials of the book that it would be a hopeless task to undertake their arrangement and analysis: they differ, of course, in interest and importance; but there are very few from which some share, either of amusement or instruction, may not be derived. Several of the papers, the composition of different individuals, are on the subject of our expedition against the Spanish settlements of La Plata, and the state and commerce of Buenos Ayres. But the most curious article in the selection, is the account of a convict's ship on its transit to New South Wales. It shews in strong, but not overcharged colouring, the character and consequences of vice, and suggests to the shocked and agitated mind the consideration of questions which the legislature is bound never to lose sight of. The arrangements for health, cleanliness, and order appear to be unexceptionable, and if the same system were pursued throughout, the whole would be as conducive to the reformation of VOL. VIII. 5 C the convict, as his punishment is unhappily necessary to the well being of tsociety. But although the sexes are forbidden to mingle, and any, even the slightest, intercourse is nominally proscribed, yet the whole establish ment is in fact a continual scene of the grossest sensuality. The discipline by which these miserable wretches are crushed into reluctant subordita tion, is, as may well be imagined, of the severest and most terrific kind. Chains tied round the body, and fettered round the ankles, confine and distress each male convict, by the clanking sound, and by annoying the feet. This image of slavery is copied from the irons used in the slave ships in Guinea; as in these, bolts and locks also are at hand in the si'es and ribs of each transport, to prevent the esc pe, or preclude the move ments of a convict. If he attempt to pass the sentry, he is liable to be stabbed for the attempt. A convict was lately shot, an his executioner was applauded by his officer, for a faithful, though severe discharge of his duty. If a felon kill his companion, a case very frequent in the qu rels with these highwaymen and robbers, the murderer is hung at the vard arm, and his body is slowly carried through the ship, and launched into the deep. For the theft of provisions, or of clothes from his nei_hbour, a case yet more common, and more natural to footpads, the convicted depredator is shot. For inferior crimes, as riot or quarrels, a soldier is commanded to whip the offender with martial severity; the first stroke leaves a deep impression of the wire, the second causes the blood to trickle, the thud draws a stream of gore: under several faintings, the debilitated and disordered convict receives two dozen of lashes. On the slightest appearance of a mutiny, the ring leader is cast headlong into the sea, in his irons and his clothes. We commit this body to the deep, the chaplain repeats'— This is too horrible. The necessity of prompt and severe execution is not to be questioned; but for the profanation of the most sacred rites of religion, no excuse whatever can be offered. Indeed the whole picture is so disgusting, so sickening to the better feelings of human nature, that although we do not presume to arraign the motives of those who invented the system, we cannot but condemn the system itself. Why are not the convicts distributed on board a greater number of transports? A larger expence would certainly be incurred; but the advantages of security, decorum, and morality, which would result from it, ought assuredly to outweigh every inferior consideration. Art. XIV. Apostacy. A Discourse delivered at Red Cross Street, January 23, 1812, before the Monthly Association of Baptist Ministers and Churches and published by Request. By F. A. Cox, A. M. 8vo. pp. 41. Gale and Curtis, 1812. THE merit of this sermon, and the extreme importance of the subject to which it relates, render it proper for us to give a rather fuller analysis than we usually allow to the ordinary kind of discourses delivered from the pulpit. The text which Mr. Cox selects as the basis of his sermon is, Hebrews vi, 4-6, x. 26-29, 38: from an examination of which he is led to investigate the nature of apostacy, to trace its causes, and to develope its consequences. To enable his hearers to ascertain the nature of apostacy, which, the preacher truly observes, is rather characterised by a course of conduct, than by the perpetration of any particular crime, he first marks the lead ing features of the different species, as apostacy of spirit', apostacy of sentiment', (manifested in a renunciation of the peculiar scriptural truths once professed,) and apostacy of conduct; and then describes few of those methods by which apostates attempt the concealment of their real characters,' such as, the misapplication of terms, claiming esteem for certain excellencies which may exist where the character is by no means consistent, and glossing over the deformity of their conduct by a falsely assumed literary lustre." From this part of the discourse we venture to quote the following passage on the misapplication of terms. Their defection from the peculiar truths of the gospel is denomi nated an emancipation from popular prejudice. They profess to have ac quired a superior degree of wisdom. They pretend astonishment that any persons of sense should seriously maintain dogmas which their own intellectual superiority contemns. Adverting, indeed, to the period when they were equally misled, they acknowledge that even men of genius and research ma sometimes be biassed by popular opinions, or deluded by personal feeling, but congratulate their own prowess in soaring with eagle flight above the mists of vulgar ignorance, into the purer ether, and more enlightened regions of knowledge. In proportion, however, to their ascent, they have obviously becoine cold and inanimate, a state which they never fail to dignify with the epithets sober, discreet, and rational. The sentimental apostate represents his interpolations of scripture, his wholesale rejection of large portions of the inspired pages, his numerous perversions, mutilations and endless misconstructions as a judicious biblical criticism, demanding that you should call his audacity sense, and his dogmatism learning. The apostate in spirit denominates his supineness, sobriety, his backwardness, abhorrence of parade, his formality, order; and even the apostate in conduct, in the first stages of his presumption, will attempt the concealment of his own depravity, by the abuse of sincere christians as unnecessarily precise; affirming that innocent amusements, and trifling compliances are by no means incompatible with the unfettering, benign, and benevolent principles of genuine christianity. Thus they are 66 given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie." pp. 19-21. Among the causes of apostacy' Mr. Cox takes notice of an immoderate fear, or love of the world, a light airy turn of mind, a conceit of superior endowments, and the agency of Satan As it is of late the custom, even among persons of well inclined minds to feel litle if any dread of Satanic influence, we trust we shall need no apology for quoting the passage. Our author observes that, The agency of Satan must not be omitted in enumerating the occasions of apostacy. Doubtless, he stimulated our first parents to their transgression, and he fans the flame of rebellion that burns in their posterity; but as in the former case, the unhappy delinquents suffered the penalty of transgression, though tempted to commit it, so in all subsequent instances, the occasion of our guilty indulgences or agrant transgressions furnishes no satisfactory extenuation of them. This arch-fiend is represen ted as "going about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" -he is "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." The severest contests of the christian are with this grand adversary, who being possessed of insinuating subtlety, powerful resources, constant vi gilance, distinguished sagacity, and invisible means of operation, com. bined with infernal malignity, must be acknowledged a most formidable foe. It is a felicity not to be "ignorant of his devices." He studies human nature, ascertains our vulnerable points, aud seizes our unguarded moments. Satan is represented by our Lord, as "catching away the word that is sown," like a rapacious bird which watches the footsteps of the sower, and robs the field. This prevention of the due effect of the ministry is produced by suggesting evil thoughts, and diverting the attention, or by perplexing the mind with worldly cares. By these means religious impressions are often weakened, sometimes obliterated. It is both needless and un scriptural to assign ubiquity to Satan, but by himself and his emissaries he undoubtedly possesses a very extensive range in this lower world, and his favourite employment is to cherish the rebellious principle, to perpetuate the backsliding character, and thus to form the finished apostate. He observes with a vigilant inspection every tree planted in the garden of the Lord, and provided there be no real fruits of righteousness, he is not displeased at the leaves of profession. He knows this will never prevent the decree," Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground!" pp. 28-30. In pointing out the consequences of apostacy, Mr. Cox remarks, that it leads to a debasement of character and conduct, as well as to a miserable state of mind, that its influence in society is deeply baneful, that an apostate's restoration to repentance is impossible, and that apostacy is a fatal and damnatory sin. Each of these particulars is confirmed by appropriate references to scripture; and the solemn truths inculcated in the discourse are pressed home upon its hearers and readers by some powerful appeals while persons of diffident minds and tender consciences are instructed how they may distinguish between apostacy and backsliding.' Altogether, the discourse, we think, is a very excellent one; it contains much, very much, to commend and nothing which we are at all inclined to censure, except now and then a rather showy deviation from that simplicity, which, in conjunction with fervour and piety, should always be the inseparable characteristic of a minister of Christ. Art. XV. Remarks on Two Particulars in a Refutation of Calvinism, &c. 8vo. pp. 67. Rivington. 1811. WITH the main principles of the Bishop of Lincoln's Refutation of Calvinism the writer of this pamphlet professes cordially to coincide. But he thinks that the learned divine has laid too much stress on Faith (to the disparagement of obedience) in the matter of justification and he is also of opinion that the Bishop hath incautiously objected to that scheme of harmonizing the apparently different statements of St. Paul and St. James, which supposes the former to speak of works ⚫ under that notion of them which is proper only to a covenant of works,' and the latter to speak of them as they are required in the terms or conditions of the covenant of grace.' These are the two particulars in dispute: but we shall not attempt to adjudge the victory. Et vitula tu dignus, et hic. The Remarks are worthy of the Refutation, and the Refutaion of the Remarks. |