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Review-Taylor's Letter to a Daughter. Fox's Sermon for Dr. Powell.

public. Subscriptions are invited for the sake of enabling the Society to make a gratuitous distribution of their publications; these will not we dare say, be withheld; but they cannot be expected to any great amount, unless the several officers of the Society give their names to the world. This step, therefore, we recommend them instantly to adopt; taking it for granted that the names are wisely selected, so as to preclude the suspicion of party views and interested motives.

The Solemn Review, as we learn from our correspondent, Mr. Scargill (see p. 332), is an American publication, the first-fruits of the Massachusett's Peace Society. The English Society could not have chosen a better tract

their politics into morality, and sublimating the spirit of party into pure philanthropy.

The Society announce for publication on the first of August a second Tract, consisting of Extracts from Grotius on Peace and War, in the same form and at the same price, as the "Solemn Review."

ART. IV.-The Value of a Child; or,
Motives to the good Education of
Children. In a Letter to a Daugh-
ter. By John Taylor, D. D. of
Norwich. 12mo. pp. 34. Printed
by Richard and Arthur Taylor.
Sold by R. Hunter, St. Paul's
Church Yard. 1816.

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to head their publications. It is well-to the public in a very elegant THIS treatise, now presented anew written and ably argued, and though temperate, contains such appeals to the better feelings of mankind in favour of peace as can scarcely be resisted. We hope that there are few of our readers who will not procure it and put it in circulation.

The American Peace Societies (for we reckon that they have multiplied since the date of the last dispatches from America) have originated in New England, amongst that part of the people of the United States, who opposed the late war with England, and who have generally been distinguished from the majority of their countrymen by their Anglican predilections and politics. If in England the same institutions should be established by persons not usually concurring in the public policy of the government, the dair conclusion will be, not that peace and republicanism are kindred objects of desire (history has shewn them commonly dissociated), but that the objection, on whatever grounds, to any particular war, sharpens the understanding and quickens the feelings, to a perception of the injustice and an abhorrence of the iniquity of all war, by whomsoever and wheresoever and for what purposes soever waged. The English have for years been accustomed to extol the wisdom and virtue of the American New Englanders, and we trast that they will not abate in their admiration and esteem of that portion of the population of the United States, now that they are happily converting

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form, by the hand of filial piety, was written by Dr. Taylor in 1748, and addressed to his daughter, Mrs. Rigby, of Chowbent in Lancashire, and his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Taylor, of Norwich, on the birth of their first children. It has been long out of print and sometimes anxiously inquired after. In so small a compass, it is impossible to imagine more sound moral instruction. We recommend the tract especially to those who are entering, or have but lately entered, into the parental relation.

The following maxim is worthy of Dr. Taylor's well known liberality of spirit:

"The justest notions attended with the virulence of bigotry are but as generous wine turned into the sourest vinegar." P. 28.

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Poetry-An Aspiration.-Evening of an Unimproved Day.-Vale Crucis. 349

That erst, by Tigris' or Euphrates' stream, Bloom'd life unwith'ring o'er the favour'd ground:

Since hope, illumin'd by a ray divine,

Can the new Eden's verdant bow'rs explore:

Say,-could'st thou, fearless, yield thy breath,

And, tranquil, lay thee down in death?
Say,-in that future hour, unknown,
When justice shall assume her throne,
Couldst thou affirm, with steady pace,

There shall, again, earth's sever'd pilgrims Thy feet have run th' appointed race?

join,

To fear, to suffer, and to part no more.

FRATERNUS.

An Aspiration.

If 'twere but to retire from woe,

To undisturb'd, eternal restHow passing sweet to sleep below,

On nature's fair and flow'ry breast! But when faith's finger points on high From death's decaying dismall cell; O, 'tis a privilege to die

To dream of bliss ineffable!

In balmy sleep our eyes to close,

When life's last sunshine gilds our ev'n; And then to wake from long repose, When dawns the glorious day of heav'n!

A.

The Evening of an Unimproved Day. Beyond the western bound'ry bright, The radiant sun retires; And fading with the fading light,

Another day expires.

Now deep'ning shadows veil the sky,
And night and sacred sleep are nigh;
Yet, ere I count the midnight hour,
Or yield me to the slumb'rous pow'r,
Let truth's unfalt'ring hand pourtray
The features of the parted day.

And if in fair proportion just,

The pictur'd form appear;

Thou, conscience! faithful to thy trust,
Wilt yield the joy sincere.

If passion's wild distorted mien
Deform the visionary scene;

If sloth be there, with languid eye,
With nerveless hand, with coward sigh;
O! faithful still, thy pow'r shall dart
Reproof and anguish to my heart.
The heav'nly pencil, dipt in flame,
Unerring takes its way;

And forms of sorrow and of shame

Its rapid touch obey.

Lo-thrall'd by sloth, enchantress strong,
Each hour dejected moves along;
No graceful deed to virtue dear,
No vows to wisdom paid, appear:
Life droops, in weak pursuits employ'd;
And time is wasted--not enjoy'd.
Thus year by year, in mercy lent,
All unimprov'd have past;
What if this day, so vainly spent,
Should be decreed thy last?

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O rouse thee yet! while yet from heav'n
Is lent a day-an hour!

Thou know'st that not to thee was giv'n
A mind of meanest pow'r.

Spell-bound, in death-like sleep it lies;
Awake, command its energies!

Burst with strong hand the galling chain,
Nor shrink from salutary pain.

Bow to the rod ;--the tears that start
Fall blest-they fertilize the heart.

Look up to thy Almighty Friend,

His sov'reign aid implore;
All good, all perfect gifts descend

From his benignant pow'r.
And may his strength new grace impart ;
Guide in the way of truth thy heart;
And guard, indulgent to thy pray'r,
From weak'ning sorrow, from despair,
From rash presumption, cold delay,-
Misleaders of thy early day.

Now to thy silent couch retire,
And sink in soft repose;

And may these thoughts thy breast inspire

When new-born morning glows.
Nor may thy nobler purpose fail,
Nor sloth's unhallow'd charms prevail;
Proceed, instructed by the past,
Each day improving on the last;
And humbly in his presence move,
Whose pow'r is boundless as his love.

VALE CRUCIS,

S.

Written for The Welsh Songs, by William Stanley Roscoe, Esq.

Vale of the cross, the shepherds tell,
"Tis sweet within thy woods to dwell,
For there are sainted shadows seen
That frequent haunt thy dewy green;
In wand'ring winds the dirge is sung,.
The convent bell by spirits rung,
And matin hymns and vesper pray'r
Break softly on the tranquil air.

Vale of the cross, the shepherds tell,
'Tis sweet within thy woods to dwell,
For peace hath there her spotless throne,
And pleasures to the world unknown;
The murmur of the distant rills,
The sabbath silence of the hills,
And all the quiet God hath giv'n
Without the golden gates of heav'n.

OBITUARY.

On Tuesday the 28th May, at Belvedere House, Bath, aged 12 years and 9 months, FRANCES, youngest daughter of Mr. TнoMAS FISHER, of Dorchester, a child in whose ingenuous mind the opening buds of every virtue had promised an abundant source of comfort and enjoyment to her, affectionate parents and friends. She was for the first time absent from the paternal roof, and had been under the tuition of Mrs. Broadhurst only two months, when, apparently in good health, she experienced an attack of epilepsy, which soon terminated her happy life: two days after the first seizure, unconscious of the presence of her affectionate relatives who surrounded the dying pillow, her pure spirit bade an eternal adieu to the sorrows of mortality, and returned to God who gave it. Her afflicted parents do not-cannot murmur that this choice blessing is withdrawn from them; it is the will of heaven, and they desire calmly to resign her to her God.

It is not wished ostentatiously to eulogise the memory of so young a person, by describing the attractions of a peculiarly amiable disposition, engaging manners, and a sweet susceptibility to all that was endearing, virtuous and good, but the recollection of these interesting characteristics is highly consolatory to her parents. Over such a tomb mature and affection are allowed to weep, and longer would they weep, but, thanks to the infinite goodness of our gracious God! the san of righteousness arises to dissipate the sepulcbral gloom, and the exulting hope of immortality leads parents, children and friends to anticipate the glorious morning of that eternal day which will reunite them in the regions of permauent and purer love.

An additional consolation would it afford them, if this instance of sudden removal from the bosom of earthly affection, should induce any young persons so to regulate their tempers and habits, so to cultivate a fitness for the future state, as to ensure their surviving relatives the delightful hope of witnessing and enjoying their progressive improvement and perfection in another and a better world, which is to them the greatest possible source of comfort.

Long as the memory of this lamented object of their affection will be cherished by her parents and their surviving children, they cannot fail to associate with it the kind and sympathizing attention of those to whose care she was entrusted, and the affectionate solicitude, the maternal tenderness of her instructress, which so well compensated for an own mother's love, will ever claim their warmest gratitude and respect.

June 14, after a short illness, at inkfield Green, near Bradford, aged 67, the Rev. DAVID EVANS, of Bath, upwards of forty years Minister to the Society of Unitarian Dissenters at Marshfield, Gloucestershire. A correspondent says, "the remembrance of his virtues through life, and pious resignation in the hour of death, is the only consolation that can be offered to those now mourning his loss. His life was spent in the acquisition of liberal and useful knowledge, and in the cultivation of those strong and vigorous powers of intellect with which he was endowed. He was a firm believer in Christianity, not upon the authority of creeds and councils, but from an attentive and diligent perusal of the Sacred Writings. In bim civil and religious liberty, and freedom of inquiry, have lost one of their most zealous and enlightened advocates." Examiner, June 23.

We have the melancholy task of inserting among the Deaths of the month, that of our respected friend and valued correspondent, the Rev. JEREMIAH JOYCE, of Highgate, Minister of the Unitarian Congregation, Hampstead, Secretary of the Unitarian Society, and Author of many useful and popular Works. He died quite suddenly on Friday evening, the 21st instant. In the morning of the same day, he had written to us a friendly letter on the subject of the article on Natural T'hcology, of which he was the author, and which he, promised to continue, next month! How strikingly is vanity written upon all that is We shall hereafter, doubtless, human! insert a more full account of our lamented friend.

INTELLIGENCE.

DOMESTIC.
RELIGIOUS.
Unitarian Fund.

The Anniversary of this Society was held on Wednesday the 5th instant. The religious service was carried on as

has

usual in Mr. Vidler's Chapel, Parlia ment Court, Artillery Lane. In the absence of Mr. Vidler, through ill health, which we lament to say been of long continuance, Mr. Rees officiated in the desk. Mr. B. Goodier, late of the Unitatarian Academy, prayed

Intelligence.-Unitarian Fund.-General Baptist Society.

and read the Scriptures. Mr. Fox, of Chichester, the preacher-elect, delivered the second prayer. Mr. Broadbent, of Warrington, preached the sermon, and concluded the devotional exercises. The sermon contained an able and energetic defence of the duty of avowing and supporting the truth. It was received with great interest by the Society, who resolved, with the permission of the preacher, which has since been obtained, to publish it: in a little time, it will come under our notice, in another part of our work, and therefore we shall say no more of it at present, than that it was truly appropriate and will form a suitable addition to the valuable discourses by Doctors Toulmin and Carpenter, and Messrs. Lyons, Butcher, Kentish and Madge, which the Unitarian Fund has already given to the world. The collection at the doors exceeded that of any year except the last.

The Society proceeded to business after divine service, Mr. Edward Taylor, of Norwich, in the chair. The Treasurer's Report was satisfactory. The Report of the Committee was read by the Secretary-an abstract of it shall be given in the next number. It was shorter than on most former occasions, the business of the Society being, in a great measure, the same every year, and there being of course less novelty in their proceedings. The Committee express themselves delighted with the openings of trath in every direction, and recommend persevering and increased labours in the great and good cause. Mr. Christie was re-chosen Treasurer, Mr. Aspland, Secretary and the following gentlemen were appointed the Committee, viz. Messrs. Bailey, Eaton, Gilchrist, S. Hart, Ives, Hurry, John Taylor and William Titford.

After the Unitarian Fund business was concluded, there was a general meeting of the governors, subscribers and friends of the Unitarian Academy, Mr. William Cooke, of the Isle of Wight, in the chair: a report of this meeting will be given in our next number.

The subscribers to the Unitarian Fund and their friends afterwards dined together, in number two hundred and sixty, at the London Tavern. By request of the Committee and the Stewards, Mr. Prend took the chair,

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and he ably supported his station. Many admirable sentiments were brought forward and enlarged upon by the chairman and other gentlemen. The meeting was throughout harinonious and pleasant. Considerable additions were announced to the list of subscribers. Amongst the contributions we heard with great pleasure of the sum of £2. "from a few persons in humble life, at Leeds, who wish prosperity to the doctrine of Unitarianism." We cannot close this brief account without saying that much of the agreeableness of the afternoon is to be ascribed to the judicious arrangements and the activity of the Stewards.

General Baptist Society.

The Annual Assembly of the Old General Baptists was held, as usual, on Whit-Tuesday, June 4th, in the Meeting-House, Worship Street, Lon

don.

The Elders and Representatives of the churches in connexion with the Assembly, met early for business. At eleven o'clock the public service commenced. Mr. Evans, of Islington, read the scriptures and gave out the hymns; Mr. Treleaven, of Dorchester, offered up prayer; and Mr. Samuel Dobell, of Cranbrook, Kent, delivered the sermon, and concluded the devotional service. The preacher's text was Ephes. iv. 15, 16, "But speaking the truth in love," &c. The discourse was delivered with an animation which excited great attention. The authority of Jesus Christ as Supreme Head of the church was proved by a judicious appeal to the sacred scriptures; the equality of all the members of a Christian church zealously vindicated; and that equality shown to consist not only in a com mon right to participate in the pri vileges and blessings of Christianity,

but also in an indispensable obligation to advance by individual exertion the interests of truth, and to promote to the utmost in their power, each other's welfare.

The letters from most of the churches were of a satisfactory nature-the dif ferent congregations are rather increas ing than diminishing, the accession of their new members being, on the whole, more than adequate to compensate for their losses by deaths or removals. The General Baptist church

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