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ly placed on Dr. Priefley's reprefentations, even in cafes of the plaineft fact."

To determine whether this fewere conclufion be well founded, let the candid inquirer carefully attend not only to thefe letters, but to all which has lately been written on the fubject; particularly, to Priestley's hiftory of early opinions, and his letters to Dr. Horfeley, together with Dr. Horfeley's tracts and difquifitions, and the 2d volume of Jamiefon's excellent vindication.

The author concludes his letters by faying, "If I have advanced what is untrue, my ignorance or my wickedness can eafily be detected;" and by the following valuable quotation from Dr. Prieftley's letters to Dr. Horseley;

Above all, let TRUTH be our great object. Our readers will eafily perceive whether it be fo or not: we thall foonAnd leaft of all can we impofe upon that great Being, who is the God of truth, who fecretly guides all our purfuits, and whofe excellent purposes will be anfwered by them, with whatever views we may engage in them."

er deceive ourselves, than them.

Kgives Quos to peeλher. EURIP.

The Principles of Eloquence, contain ing Hints to Public Speakers, by T. KNOX. Alfo, Jerningham's Fay on the Eloquence of the Pulpit in England, printed for B. and 7. Homans, No. 50, Marl borough Street, Bolton, 1805. David Carlile, printer, Cambridge street.

In the first part, or principles of eloquence, are the following particulars worthy the attention of public fpeakers.

OF SPEAKING. How to make yourself heard without any difficulty; how to ftrengthen the voice. Faultering; how to get rid of it. Of bellow

ing, or fpeaking too loud; to be avoided. Mumbling, or speaking too much to yourself; to be corrected. The voice to be made foft, and agreeable to the ear. Never fpit or hem while fpeaking. Of varying the voice. How to cure yourself of a monotonoustone. Rules for varying the voice. Too great a volubility to be avoided. Speaking too flow. To vary the voice according to the fubject-according to the paffions. Efteem or admiration, how to exprefs them. Contempt, how to exprefs it by the voice. A grievance complained of, how to be expreffed. Exordium, Narration, Confutation, and Peroration, what tone to be used. FIGURES OF RHETORICK.

What tone to be ufed in fpeaking fome of them, Exclamation, Swearing, Profopopia, Apoftrophe, Epimone, Parrhefiæ, Climax, Antithefis. Breath, how to manage it; long breath neceffary; how to acquire it. Claufes of a period ; how to manage them. Short periods; paufes after them different from thofe after long ones. fequent period lower, than the clofe of the preceding one. Period that requires great force of voice. How to manage the fentences immediately preceding, Pronunciation. 'l'o keep your voice up te the end of a fentence.

ACTION.

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ble, to begin it when you begin to
fpeak. Motion of your hands to
fuit the thing spoken of. Action
muft fuit the figures ufed. The
hands feldom or never higher than
the eyes. Your arms not to be
Aretched out fideways from your
body; but a certain diftance.
Raife your hand in swearing, ex-
clamation, &c. Not to use too
much action. Some actions not
to be attempted by the hands.
When you talk for another perfon,
what action to ufe. Perfon; how
it ought to be managed. The
head; the face; the
how to
eyes,
regulate their motion. How to
draw tears from your own, as well
as your auditor's eyes. Of lift-
ing up your eyes, or cafting them
down. How to manage the eye-
brows, mouth, lips, fhoulders.

Thefe rules are just, and written in a perfpicuous and laconick tyle. A fingle example may be fufficient.

Period that requires great force of voice. How to manage the fentences immediately preceding," « When you have a period to pronounce, that requires a great elevation of the tone : you must moderate and manage your voice with care upon those periods, that juff precede it; left by employing the whole force of it upon thefe, you exhaust yourself, and exprefs this languidly, which requires more siger and vebemence.

An Effay on the Eloquence of the

Pulpit in England.

This Effay, written in England, and adapted to the state of pulpit oratory in that kingdom, may perhaps lofe fome degree of its pertinency and force, when read in this country; but fo fimilar are the defects of christian eloquence in the two countries; fo juft are the opinions in the ellay, and fo perfuafively are they expreffed, as to render it valuable to every clergyman in New England. No man we truft can read the first fentences without being frongly impreffed.

If terror and pity are the throbbing pulfes of chriftian oratory, as well as of the drama, the powers of the former unimpreffive. The form of facred eloare certainly in this country feeble, and quence appears fickly and inactive; the pulfe at her heart beats languidly, no expreffion flashes from her eye, and her pale lip attefts, that no Seraph has touched it with the live coal from the altar.

Sentences as juft as they are eloquent. The author's idea of molt modern fermons, may be collected from the following quo

tations.

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I am perfuaded that chopping logick in the pulpit is not the thing, but that imagination and warmth of expreffion are in their place there, as much as on the ftage, moderated, however, and chaftifed by the purity and gravity of religion.

The effects produced by the eloquence of Gregory, Nizianzen and others are mentioned; and feveral methods are fuggefted to give variety, and interelt, and effect to a gospel fermon; as an appropriate text, the introduction of a ftriking anecdote, seizing fome local circumftance, an abrupt diverfion of the difcourfe to another object, clear, concife, and forcible reafoning, addreffed to the heart, and inftances of fortitude, not ftamped with the image of religion, to mark its fpurious features.

The author wishes for one re

form, which we fear will by too many be thought an improper innovation. When the text is long, and adapted to roufe the imagination he would omit "the ufual form" of naming the chapter and verfe. He likewife difapproves long introductions, and quotes Mr. Gilpin.

Though a bort opening of a text may often be neceffary, there feems no occafion for a long preface. Whatever appertains immediately to the discourse had, perhaps be better introduced into the body of the subject.

An Italian monk cured of "in flated language," is mentioned in a humorous manner.

He began his difcourfe in a most exalted ftrain Having congratulated the temple on the honour of being immediately under the patronage of fo great a faint, he proceeded with faying, he knew not where to point out the refidence of a faint of fuch enlarged and complicated merit! Shall I introduce

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Religious Intelligence.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Ar a numerous and refpectable meeting, held at the London Tavern, March 7, 1804, Granville Sharp, Efq. in the chair; a fociety was formed for the fole and exclufive purpose of promoting the irculation of the Holy Scriptures in the prinipal living languages. The following is an outline of the plan of the fociety.

"1. A fociety fhall be formed, with this defignation: THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY; of which the fole object fhall be to encourage a wider difperfion of the Holy Scriptures. "2. This fociety fhall add its endeavours to thofe employed by o her focieties for circulating the fcriptures through the British dominions; and shall also, according to its ability, extend its influence to other countries, whether chriftian, mohammedan, or pagan.

3. Each fubfcriber of one guinca annually, fhall be a member.

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4. Each fubfcriber of twenty pounds, at one time, shall be a member for life. A fubfcriber of five guineas per annum, fhall be a governor; and a fubfcriber

not

of fifty pounds, or upwards, at one time, hall be a governor for life.

Governors fhall be entitled to attend, and vote at all the meetings of the committee.

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5. An executor, paying a bequest of fifty pounds, fhall be a member for life; or of one hundred pounds, or more, a governor for life.

"6. Each member fhall be entitled, under the direction of the committee, to purchase bibles and teftaments for the purpose of gratuitous distribution at the fociety's prices, which fhall be as low as poffible; but no English bibles or testaments fhall be given away in Great Britain by the fociety itself."

We have great pleasure in introduc. ing this fociety to the knowledge of our readers. And we think it must prove highly confolatory to every reflecting mind to perceive, that while the enemies of Great Britain are menacing her with deftruction, fuch varied and strenuous exertions are making by many of her inhabitants to diffufe over the earth the pure light of chriftian truth.

In the object propofed by this fociety, every fincere christian of every name, may cordially and confiftently unite. A liberal fubfcription has already begun, which amounted in a few days to about one thousand pounds.

It gives us much pleafure, fay the editors of the Chriftian Osferver, (Jan. 1805) toftate, that a gentleman well known in the republick of letters, and who has effentially ferved the caufe of religion by his writings, has prefented, to The Britife and foreign Bible Society, a very valuable collection of the Holy Scriptures in foreign languages, which he has been employed for many years in forming. We trust that his example will ftimulate other gentlemen who may be poffeffed of copies of the bible in foreign languages to make fimilar difpofitions; a circumftance, which would tend greatly to facilitate the benevolent defigns of this important inftitution.

At a fubfequent general meeting, held at the London Tavern, May 2d, 1804, a report of the committee was read, purporting that they had been occupied in opening communications with various perfons of influence in different parts of the United Kingdom and of the Continent, for the purpose of obtaining important intelligence, of aug: menting the funds of the fociety, and otherwife promoting its interests. A plan of the fociety was then unanimoufly adopted. The chief refolutions, differing from thofe given above, were the following:

"The committee shall confift of thirty fix laymen; of whom twenty four who fhall have most frequently attended, shall be eligible for reelection for the enfuing year. Six of the committee thall be foreigners refident in London or its vicinity; half the remainder shall be members of the church of England; and the other half members of other denominations of chriftians.

"Every clergyman and diffenting minifter who is a member of the fociety, hall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the committee.

"The treasurer and fecretaries for the time being, fhall be confidered as members of the committee.

"No perfon deriving any emolument or profit from the fociety, fhall be entitled to fit or vote in the committee.

"The committee fhall conduct the bufinefs of the fociety; appoint all offiVol. I. No. 3.

S

cers except the treasurer; have power to call fpecial general meetings; and fhall be charged with procuring for the focie y fuitable patronage, both British and foreign. (Signed)

G. SHARP, Chairman." President, Right Hon. John Lord Teignmouth.

Treasurer, Henry Thornton Efq.

M. P.

Secretaries, Rev. John Owen, M. A. Rev. Jofeph Hughes, M. A. Rev. Charles Frederick Steinkoffpt, M. A.

Afliftant Secretaries, Mr. Jofeph Tarn, Mr. Thomas Smith.

A committee of 36 refpectable gentlemen were appointed to atlift in managing the affairs of the fociety, among whom we obferve the name of WM. WILBERFORCE, M. P.

Extract of a letter from a Cleygyman in Ire

land.

"I am forry to mention that there is no part of the United Kingdom in greater want of bibles, than the fouthern part of Ireland. Not more than one third of the proteftant families have bibles; and the papift families, which are at least eight to one, have fearce a bible among them, perhaps not one in 500 families; and no exertions making to diftribute them, except by a few clergymen, who do not. go beyond their own parishes."

SOCIETY FOR MISSIONS TO AFRICA AND THE EAST.

THIS fociety was inftituted in the year 1800, by members of the established church, and is conducted in ftrict conformity to her doctrines and difcipline. It was inftituted not with the defign of interfering with other focieties, embarked in the fame caufe, but of cooperating with them. While, therefore, the society for promoting chriflian knowledge has confined its miffionary exertions to a part of the eastern dominions, where they now employ feveral excellent Lutheran minifters; and while the fociety for the propagation of the gfpel in foreign parts has extended its labours chiefly to the British plantations in North America, it appeared, that there was abundant room for the prefent inftitution, the precife object of which is expreffed in the title.

No English clergymen having engaged themselves to the fociety as iniffionaries, the committee opened a correfpondence with the continent, where they

procured two young men, who, after a courfe of previous training, having received ordination in the Lutheran church were accepted as miffionaries by the fociety. Their names are Melchior Bennier, a German, and Peter Hartwig, a Pruffian.

Thefe miflionaries refided fome time in England, with a view of perfecting themfelves in the English language; and acquiring alfo, by means of fome African youths, educating in England, the rudiments of the Soofoo language, which is spoken over a confiderable portion of the continent of Africa; and in which, by the exertions of the Rev. Mr. Brunton, the fociety has already been enabled to print fome useful tracts. This laft mentioned circumftance, together with the vicinity of the Soofoo country to Sierra Leone, determined the fociety to appoint the ftation of thefe millionaries among the Sooloos: in April, 1804, after a fuitable addrefs had been delivered to them, they embarked on board a veffei for Sierra Leone. one of them, (Mr. Hartwig) having previously married with the confent of the fociety.

The fociety has likewife under its protection, four other students, who are fupported and educated at the expenfe of the fociety, in the miffionary feminary at Berlin, where they are now attending to the study of the English, Arabick, and Sooivo languages, and to fuch other objects as may qualify them for conducting millions.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

IN the report of the London Miflionary Society, for, 18c3, we find the following interefting article of intelligence, which wil probably be new to fome of our readers, and which is worthy to be recorded in this publication.

During the two past years the fociety has manifefted the commendable defire of endeavou.ing to build, on the ruins of the papacy in France, the divine edifice of pure chriftianity; and as the moft powerful mean for that purpofe, within their reach, was the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, they devermined to confecrate a part of their fund to this object. Reflecting alfo on the awful effes of infidelity, they judged it might be of great ule to conned with the fcriptures a vindication of their di

vine authority. This important fervice has been achieved in the most fatiffactory manner, by one of their highly respected members.

The treaty of peace between the two countries having renewed the means of perfonal intercourse, it was concluded, that a deputation to France was of great importance, not only in determining on the beft mode of printing and circulating the New Teftament and the effay, but alfo in procuring fuch information on the state of religion in that country, as would enable the fociety to form a judgment on the best means of promoting the interefts of true religion there. The refult of this vifit is generally known, and has produced a hope that the proteftant cause may foon rise from its ruins. The directors have now the pleasure to announce, that the New Teftament, the effay, the affembly's catechifm, and fome tracts, are printed, and now in circulation ins France, and will fhortly be fo in Italy The neceffity of publishing the ferip tures in thofe countries is proved, from the great difficulty which the deputation found in procuring a fingle copy of them at Paris; and they are informed that this is equally the cafe in Italy.

The deputation having fully afcertained that an energetick and evangelicalminiftry would be likely to be well attended and well fupported in France, they conceived that the establishment of a proteftant church at Paris would be productive of the most beneficial effects. The Rev. Mr. Tracy, who was then there, was requested to continue on the fpot, to fuperintend the publications, and to make inquiries, respecting a fuitable church. Information has been obtained, which proves the almost unlimited extent in which the scrip tures and proteftant writings may be circulated. At Befencon, in the fouth, and at Arras, in the north, where till lately, no proteftants were to be found, applications for proteftant minifters and churches have been made, and figned by 12,000 perfons at the former place, and nearly as many at the latter; and although many churches have already been given to the proteftants, 900 congregations are ftill deftitute, both of churches and paftors. Even in Belgium, the fame difpofition appears

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