MONTHLY

CATALOGUE,

For APRIL, 1802.

MILITARY,

Art. 16. Duties of an Officer in the Field; and principally of Light Troops, whether Cavalry or Infantry. By Baron Gross, Field Officer of the Dutch Brigade in his Majesty's Service. 8vo. 4s. Boards. Egerton. 1801.

NOTWITHSTANDING the number of publications on this subject, which we have examined within the last nine years, we have found many useful hints in the work before us; particularly on opposing cavalry,-on the more general use of howitzers,-and on the great advantages of rallying, even in apparently the most desperate circumstances. The author's sentiments against capitulating, until the last extremity, are also spirited and soldier-like; and his opinion of deserters, his suggestion of an useful precaution to prevent traineurs, and the humanity recommended towards the inhabitants of the seat of war, are particularly worthy the attention of the Military. On the whole, therefore, though we have not the pleasure of knowing Baron Gross, we must presume that he is a brave and intelligent officer.

Art. 17. Military Observations. By Captain Aylmer Haly, of the King's (own) Infantry. 8vo. PP. 33. Six Plates. 35. 6d. Boards. Egerton. 1801.

Captain Haly very candidly acknowleges that, during the last year, he corrected many of the sentiments which he entertained in the preceding; and we have no doubt that, in 1802, he will see the fal lacy of several of those which he published in 1801. Among these, we reckon the idea of infantry, taken up behind hussars, continuing their fire as they retreat; and the drawing up of the tirailleurs in the form of a crescent. If Capt. H. will try the experiment, he will be immediately convinced of the impracticability of the first operation, particularly at a gallop, as expressed in plate 4. The objections ta the crescent are very obvious: it would be extremely difficult to preserve that position in advancing; and, even when stationary, the fire becoming oblique, the range is considerably increased, and the chance of execution proportionably lessened.

Captain Haly appears, however, to be a young officer of abilities; and he pays a modest deference to the opinions of those who may be supposed to possess superior judgment, while he very properly exerts his right of thinking for himself. His ideas of fixed objects for rallying points are perfectly just; and he shews the weakness of a battalion of only two ranks, and at the same time the inutility of a third as now armed: but we question whether the disposition, which he proposes, be preferable to those which are already in use.

Like all modern military writers, Capt. H. is a strong advocate for light troops, the advantages of which he enforces by reciting a conversation with General Humbert, after that officer was taken prisoner in Ireland; he says that the French commander assured him that,

at

at the memorable battle of Castle Bar, he had considered the day as lost, when, to his great surprise, he saw our army in confusion, and giv. ing way to the tirailleurs, whom he had ordered to cover his retreat.

The author concludes with a description of an ingenious invention; a kind of net with chausse-traps for obstructing fords, and for defence against cavalry.

NOVELS.

Art. 18. Percival; or Nature Vindicated. By R. C. Dallas, Esq. 12mo. 4 Vols. 18s. Boards. Longman. 1801.

If ever it be pardonable for the rigor of the critic to yield to the feelings of the moralist, it must be in such a case as the present; when his attention is called to a publication, the tendency of which is to support the purest laws of society, and to defend one of its most valuable institutions. Occasional improprieties of style, a few deviations from the strict rules of composition, a casual want of poetical truth in the conception of character, or a deficiency of art in the management of the fable, appear light faults, when weighed against the importance of the end designed. The interest of the nar rative is also sufficient to hurry most readers past its faults, unseen, and to carry them smoothly over its inequalities.

Art. 19. Dorothea; or, a Ray of the New Light.

10s. 6d. sewed. Robinsons.

12mo. 3 Vols.

An Anti-Godwinian production, exhibiting a story so constructed as to place sometimes in a ridiculous but mostly in an odious point of view, certain strange principles originally laid down by Mr. Godwiu in his "Political Justice;" and to induce mankind to regard with suspicion and hatred the disciples of what is pompously and sarcastically called the New Philosophy. Novels having been employed as the vehicles of these opinions, it will be deemed fair to have recourse to the same means for their refutation. On both sides, the fable of the Lion and the Statue will be applicable; for it is easy, when invention is invoked, to imagine characters and incidents that shall honour or expose almost any system. Here it is attempted to delineate the folly of making a regard for the general good the leading motive of individual action; of cherishing wild notions of the advantages of unsophisticated nature; and of diffusing Mr. Godwin's ideas respecting property, promises, and gratitude, among the vulgar; a task which the author has executed with some ingenuity, though not with absolute correctness. Dorothea, the heroine, daughter of a rich merchant, is an amiable young woman, whose mind has been early inflamed with the enthusiastic idea of living for the general good; she is conducted through a variety of adventures; becomes acquainted with and the dupe of a philosopher, who professes the same disinterested sentiment, but who proves to be a mean, unfeeling, selfish villain; marries Sir Charles Euston, and, from the impracticability of her opinions, for a time causes her own and her husband's misery at last, however, she sees her folly, the new light becomes extinguished, and Sir Charles and Lady Euston pass the remainder of their days in the duties and pleasures of domestic life.

RELIGIOUS.

RELIGIOUS.

Art. 20. Sermons on the Doctrines and Duties of Christianity: addressed to a Country Congregation. Crown 8vo. pp. 246. 5s. Boards, Cadell, jun. and Davies. 1801.

These sermons are very short, extremely serious, and minutely practical; being expressly designed for the poor, and for the use of Christian families in the lower classes of life. The doctrines of the Established Church are uniformly inculcated, and her rites and ceremonies are warmly recommended: the preacher exhorting his hearers and readers not to follow strange teachers,' nor to listen to those who intrude into another man's fold.'

The volume contains 18 Sermons-On the Revelations of God in the Old Testament - the Nature and Office of Christ-his Character and Example-Baptism-Lord's Supper - Sabbath-Festivals of the Church-Glorifying God on Earth-Duty to Parents-Duty of the Young to guard against and resist Temptations-Duties of Married Persons-Duties which belong to humble Stations-Mutual Kindness and Charity-Resignation to the Divine Will-Forgiveness of Injuries-Duties of the Aged and of the Young towards themDeath of the Righteous-and the Coming of Christ to Judgment.— They are well fitted to answer the end of their publication, as uniformly illustrating that most important principle, that by the high and the low, the rich and the poor, true happiness can be found only in the paths of piety and virtue.

Art. 21. An Appeal to the Society of Friends, on the primitive Simplicity of their Christian Principles and Church Discipline; and. on some recent Proceedings in the said Society. Part I. 8vo. pp. 42. Johnson. 1801.

It appears from this publication that the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, is disturbed by a kind of schism: but to what extent it has proceeded we are altogether ignorant. A reflecting and intelligent member of that body here accuses the modern Friends of a declension from the simplicity and purity of the Christian faith, as professed by the early brotherhood; and in order to cure the evil, he details and discusses the opinions of some of the founders and heads of this sect. He quotes from the writings of Penn, Fox, Pennington, and Barclay, in order to establish the opinion which was entertained by them respecting the simple Unity of God, &c.;. and he labours (not always, however, with success) to reconcile one part of their works with another. Though William Penn has em ployed expressions and arguments which prove him to be an Unitarian, yet, as he was afterward induced to say of our Saviour, "I call and believe him really to be the mighty God," we cannot be persuaded by any ingenuity of this writer, to ascribe to him the merit of perfect consistency.

Long extracts are also made from the works of Penn and Barclay,. to shew the sentiments of the early Friends' respecting the insuffi ciency of the written Scriptures; and great stress is laid on an observation of the former, "that Christ left nothing in writing:' which it is contended he would certainly have done, had he designed

that the rule of his followers should have been a written rule. If this be the general sentiment of the Quakers, however they may believe in the inspiration of the primitive Apostles of Christ, they do not admit the inspiration of those writings which have come down to us under their names. They regard them only as antient writings, possessing all the imperfections of other compositions under similar circumstances. Christians in general will not be satisfied with so low an estimate of the Scriptures: but this author may plead that he did not write for Christians in general, having expressed a wish that the circulation of his pamphlet might be principally confined to the members of his own sect. The Friends will certainly respect him, if they be not convinced by his arguments.

Art. 22. The Revelation of St. John the Divine, compared with itself, and with the rest of Scripture; with occasional Corrections of the Translation. 8vo. 28. Hurst. 1801. Also an Appendix. Price 6d.

From the motto to this pamphlet," It is vain to argue about the superstructure, so long as the foundation is disputed, either through ignorance or disaffection,"-we might be led to conclude that the authority of the book of Revelation had been questioned, as it undoubtedly has, and that it was this writer's design to appear in its support: -but he has no such intention; and, judging from the tract alone, it must be difficult to determine what is his purpose. The corrections, or amendments, if they may be called such, are not generally new, nor of great moment; nor are they supported by criticism: but a note on the 15th verse of the eleventh chapter is somewhat peculiar, and perhaps worthy of attention: The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ. The author remarks, It is not said that the kingdoms of the world are become Christian, but the property of Christ, to be broken in pieces as potters' vessels, the tenth part of the city excepted.? Many references, interlined with the text, are made to different passages of the Scriptures, which may prove of use to attentive readers. The mysterious book is divided into eight visions: but we apprehend that general readers will find little here to elucidate the subject, whatever may be the effect of a more laborious perusal.

In the appendix, conclusions are drawn from comparing the Revelation with the rest of Scripture;-one is, that all the visions of the book may conveniently fall within five periods which are mentioned ;'-the other, that by this mode a key has been formed to the symbolical language, and the meaning of the symbols ascertained." If this be satisfactorily accomplished, an advantage is no doubt gained. The writer, however, adds a few and brief remarks on the subject, followed by a short symbolical dictionary. It is very de sirable that sonte explication of the hieroglyphics should attend the treatises on this subject, and by the best writers this is done withi care;-the present author proceeds to inform us that he should have added remarks on the completion of the predictions, had he not been convinced that little is to be effected for this purpose, after the discoveries of a Mede, a More, and a Juricu: to which are united,

particularly in respect to fixing the epoch of the 1260 prophetical years of the Romish apostacy, the names of Sir Isaac Newton, and Mr. Whiston.

On the whole, these pamphlets teach us that the writer is not unacquainted with the subjects on which he treats, and with the accounts that have been given by others; while his industry appears in referring to a variety of texts ;-a comparison with which may prove very useful; for, he observes, the very events foretold in the Revelation are enlarged on, and even often interpreted by the old prophets, which is another advantage in the comparison of the Revelation with the rest of Scripture.'

Art. 23. 4 Charge to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Bedford, delivered at the Easter Visitation, 1801. By the Rev. R. Shepherd, D.D. Archdeacon of Bedford. 4to. Mawman.

The topic principally introduced in this discourse is an inquiry whether the revolutions and confusion, which have been lately wit nessed in a neighbouring kingdom, were directed by unerring wisdom against Christianity, or against a mass of errors grafted on Christianity, which have sadly deformed and disgraced it.'-Doth it result, Dr. Shepherd asks, from the French disavowal and rejection of revelation, that God no longer willeth that worship of himself which he once ordained? or does it not rather follow, that the worship which he hath permitted to be abolished, is not the worship which he originally willed, and by revelation ordained?'-There can be no doubt, as to modes of worship, that, though others much more consonant to divine revelation than that of France should be subverted, Christian truth would still remain on the same stable foundation which it had before, and will ever have.-The subject is here discussed in a plain and sensible manner, and is very pertinently at the present time offered to consideration. The author mentions (but does not enlarge on) several of the principles, which, to a person willing to be guided by the Scriptures, most clearly evince that popery cannot be the religion of Christ: a distinction to which the French, unhappily, did not advert; and therefore they appear, for the greater part, to have rushed heedlessly into infidelity: on which side, indeed, many or most of the principal people are, with just reason, thought to have been engaged long before. Such is likely to be the effect, when superstition, imposition, and human policy, are made to pass for religion.

It might, perhaps, have been wiser if English declaimers had sometimes allowed greater attention to the distinction mentioned above. Consistent protestants must rejoice at the decline of Popery, and of the arbitrary power which is its concomitant, wherever they find it take place; while, at the same time, they cannot fail to lament those atrocities and miseries with which, from different causes, such an event may be or has been accompanied. Notwithstanding, however, the assertion of the respectable Mr. King here quoted, or the assertions of any others, it does not yet, strictly speaking, seem to be a truth that Babylon is utterly fallen;-she still raises her head,-feebly indeed, but it may revive, and perhaps for a season prevail; since there is little reason to doubt her having some dextrous

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