His Letters are very explicit in the accounts they contain of Danish Jurifprudence, and will give much fatisfaction to those who are defirous of understanding the various conftitutions of countries; but with refpect to the favourable opinion M. Roger fo fondly entertains of abfolute Monarchy, they only ferve to fhew that Danish defpotilm is felf-reduced to a legal method; being effentially vefted in WILL, as much as that of the tyrants of Morocco, Turkey, or Indoftan. 66 It is (fays he) a grofs mistake to imagine, that the revolution of 1660 destroyed the liberty of a kingdom, which had hitherto been free. Liberty, prope.ly fpeaking, was known only to the Nobility; the Clergy and Commons were of no fort of confequence in the Affembly of the States." It does not appear, however, that when the Commons and Clergy chofe to make a formal grant of unlimited hereditary power to their King, that it answered any better purpose to the people than to curb the Nobility who were compelled to accede to it. For when in his encomium on the Danish Laws, M. Roger remarks the small number of Law-fuits, and the readiness with which they are determined, he affigns the jufteft reafon for it, and it exhibits all the tokens of being a true one. When he fought the caufe, he says, It appeared evident enough that the want of property in the Pea fants was productive at leaft of this good confequence, that it prevented a multitude of difficulties which have arisen from the immenfe variety, that exifls elsewhere, in the manner of holding eftates." Cer. · tainly not to have any eftate at all, cafes a perfon entirely of the difficulties incurred by the poffeffion of one, and fecures him from the perplexities of Law-fuits; yet, though the Law in England fhould leave a man as pennylefs as the Law in Denmark finds him, there is fome degree of fatisfaction in having an eftate to be perplexed about, and fome degree of amufement in fpending it in our own manner: all which, with many other arguments that might be produced, determine rather in favour of property. It must nevertheless be acknowleged, that, if we attend rather to the information M. Roger has furnished concerning the State of Denmark, than to his theoretical Pofitions, Denmark is an improving kingdom; and the present King feems to confult the welfare of his people, by measures much to his honour. It is to be hoped that his example will be imitated by his fucceffors, and that the Danes may never have reafon to repent the power they have bequeathed to his pofterity. RELIGIO U S. N. Art. 25. A compendious Defcant of the Autogeneal and Theanthro- It was a threwd remark of an ingenious and learned Preacher at St. dern dern Fanatics, and the strange work which they make with Chriftianity, he said, a ftranger to its genuine fpirit might hence be apt to conclude, that inftead of turning their hearts, it was rather defigned to turn their HEADS. Art. 26. Letters on Religious Retirement, Melancholy, and Enthufiafm. By the Rev. Mr. John Langhorne. 8vo. Is. 6d. Payne and Cropley. These Letters are addreffed to a Lady of natural good fenfe, and fine accomplishments; but, unhappily, a little tinctured with the modern Enthusiasm, and inclined to that fort of Melancholy, and averfion to the rational pleafures of fociety, which naturally arifes from miftaken apprehenfions of the Divine Being, and the abfurd notion of Divine Impulfes and Illuminations. The Letter-Writer endeavours to reclaim his fair correfpondent, by a variety of striking arguments and obfervations, cloathed in elegant and pathetic language, not unlike the flowery ftyle of Mr. Hervey, though applied to a very op pofite purpofe. The Epiftles are generally fhort, and fome of them are more entertaining than the Keader would be apt to conceive, from a mere perufal of their title-page. Art. 27. A Letter of Advice from a Father to his Son, juft entering into Holy Orders. 8vo. 6d. Keith. A wretched attempt at Irony, in favour of Fanaticism. Art. 28. The Reformed Prodigal: Or the three most remarkable Stages of a penitent Sinner's Life. 1. His Departure from God; 2. His Repentance; 3. God's Acceptance of him thereupon. Exemplified in thirteen Difcourfes on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Dedicated to the Governors of the Magdalen Charity. By the Rev. James How, M. A. Rector of Milton, near Gravesend, Kent; and Minister of St. Margaret Lothbury, London. 8vo. 4s. Rivington, Whifton, &c. It is now become a common complaint that we are overstocked with Sermons; but furely if the fpiritual food which we daily receive from the Prefs, is good, it is no lefs abfurd to complain of the plenty of it, than it would be to grumble at the great quantity of corn which God fends in a plenteous harvelt. The truth is, we happily live in a fruitful country, in regard both to mental and corporeal provifion; and, according to the old proverb, our great plenty makes us dainty. However, if the Reader's palate be not extremely nice or fqueamish, the prefent Difcourfes may relifh very well with it. They have a plain nateral flavour, which will not fail to please a tafte, not vitiated with the high fauce of Enthufiafin on the one hand, or palled by the mawkish water-gruel of our dull Divines, who cook up their contant Sunday mefs from the orthodox larder of Patrick, Lowth, and Whitby, In direct terms, (to drop the figure) these pious and fenfible Difcourses are well calculated for the plain understandings of thofe, who form the bulk of moft Chriftian congregations. The Author very properly enforces the doctrines of Repentance and Reformation, from the parable of the Prodigal Son; which is admirably adapted to this great purpose, and tends to infpire us with the most amiable conceptions of the Almighty, and All beneficent Being! CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 29. A Letter to the Rev. Mr. Kennicott, in which his Defence of the Samaritan Pentateuch is examined, and his fecond Differtation on the State of the printed Hebrew Text of the Old Teftament, is fhewn to be in many instances injudicious and inaccurate. With a Paftfcript, occafioned by his advertising, before this Letter was printed, that he had an Answer to it in the Prefs. By T. Rutherforth, D. D. F. R. S. the King's Profeffor of Divinity in Cambridge, and Chaplain to her Royal Highness, the Princefs Dowager of Wales. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Richardfon, Beecroft, &c. Dr. Rutherforth, in this Letter, has taken a great deal of learned. pains in order to fhew, that Dr. Kennicott's fecond Differtation is, in many inftances, injudicious and inaccurate; but what he has advanced in fupport of this charge is, in general, extremely frivolous. A few inaccuracies, it must be acknowleged, he has pointed out; (and what. work can be named, that is entirely free from them?) but they are of fo trifling a nature, that we think them not worth mentioning. There is one point, however, which he has proved in a very clear and fatisfactory manner, and that is, his own want of judgment and accuracy; and not only fo, but his want of candor, and of that liberal turn of mind, which ought to be diligently cultivated by all those who apply themfelves to liberal studies, and without which learning only expofes him who is poffeffed of it to contempt and ridicule. R Art, 30. An Anfwer to a Letter from the Rev, T. Rutherforth, D. D. &c. By Benjamin Kennicott, D. D. Fellow of Exeter College. 8vo. 1 s. Dodsley, &c. We have here, in 65 pages, a clear, diftinct, and, in our opinion, fatisfactory Answer to what Dr. Rutherforth has advanced in his Letter of 14 pages. Dr. Kennicott, without entering into a minute examination of what his Adverfary has urged against him, (which was not indeed neceffary) has, with grea: fpirit and perfpicuity, confidered the principal and material parts of the charge, as far as it relates to inaccuracy, and given them fair and fufficient anfwers, He defires his Readers to confider his book as divided into two parts; one, as containing MATTERS OF HIS OWN OPINION; the other, as containing MATTERS OF FACT.As to the former, he readily allows himfelf fallible; and with his opinions he has given his reafons reafons, which he fubmits to the judgment of the Public."Whatever I have offered, (fays he) which contains matters of my own opinion, I readily fubmit to the judgment of all thofe, who are properly qualified to determine thereupon.-After long experience of my fallibility, I make no fcruple to grant, that I may have given my opimon improperly, in feveral parts of my laft Differtation, and I am very ready to own myfelf wrong, when I am fairly proved fo. I need not, however, trouble you, Sir, with many acknowlegements upon this head; and I fhall only add, that wherever an opinion may prevail in favour of your judgment, there 1 defire it may be remembered, -that I have been pronounced by you fingularly fugacious, and every way equal to the undertaking a critical Edution of the Hebrew Bible." Having thus difmified the whole charge of injudiciousness, our Author proceeds to that of inaccuracy; but for what he has advanced under this head, we must refer our Readers to the Pamphlet itfelf. We shall conclude this article with our fincere wishes that, as Dr. Kennicott is, even by the confeffion of Dr, Rutherforth himself, every way equal to the great undertaking he is engaged in, he may meet with nothing to interrupt him in the profecution of it, but fill continue to receive all the encouragement, of every kind, to which he is fo juftly entitled. R Art. 31. Two Letters to the Rev. Dr. Kennicott, vindicating the Jews from the Charge of Corrupting Deut. xxvi. 4. The first of which was published in the Library for July, 1761. The fecond is now first published, being an Anjwer to Dr. Kennicott's Remarks, in the Library* for Auguft, 1761, and a farther Illuflration of the Argument. 8vo. 6d. Waugh, Dr. Kennicott is engaged in a laborious and arduous undertaking; an undertaking likely to fubject him to perpetual interruptions from the doubts and objections of numberlefs Hebrew Critics, who are continually puzzling them!elves and others about fuch points as happen to frike their imaginations. The prefent Letter writer is very uneafy about an altar which was built either on Mount Gerizim or Ebal, but on which of the two is doubtful; a corruption of the text is fuppofed, and who were the corruptors, is the point of debate. Dr. Kennicott answered the first Letter, and the Letter-writer wants to continue the dispute; but if objectors are troublesome, it will be prudent in the Dosor to decline refolving their fcruples, and go quietly forward with his undertaking, which may be little profited by fuca contefts, N *Or, Moral and Critical Magazine, a Monthly Publication. MEDICAL. Art. 32. A Treatise on the King's Evil, fetting forth a new Theory of that Difeafe; and a new Method of curing indurated and ulcerated ulcerated Glands of the Neck. By T. Durant, Surgeon, London. To which are added, feveral Cafes cured by the Author. 8vo. I S. Waller. Long experience has taught us, it may often be as neceffary to caution the purchafers of Books as of Noftrums, to beware of counterfeits. Hence we cordially fubfcribe to that moral fentence or aphorifm, which a living medical Sage thinks it expedient to annex, in capitals, to the Advertisement of fome of his many immortalizing Medicines, viz. There is more reafon for this caution than good men would e fly believe. In the prefent Publication, for instance, a well-meaning purchafer might hope he had bought a full and true account of a new and effectual method to cure this, fometimes, incurable difcafe. The latter end of this Pamphlet indeed will inform him, that the Author begins his cure with a vomit; but long before this the Preface, p. z. will have inftructed him, that Mr. "has difcovered fome Medicines which have a specific virtue in this complaint;" yet prudently adding, p. 3. "If any fhould find fault with me for not difcovering the particulars of my practice, my comfort is in this reflection, that I fhall oblige many, by putting them in the way to be relieved." This means, in effect, that he fl oblige mady to comfort him, by putting them in the way to Fetter-lane. Now it feems fully as equitable, that our Author fhould have been at the fole expence of advertising his Manfion, according to the immemorial cuitom of all laudable Noftrum-mongers, as to add this Shilling Pamphlet to the expence of his future l'atients, or to expect our republishing this notice for him gratis. To convince his itrumous Readers it is in vain for them to apply elfewtere, he aifures them, that "What is faid by the Physical Writers concerning the S rofula is unfati-factory;"-and, he fuppofes, the reafon why Sydenham, Boerhaave, and Hoffman have made no mention of it, probably was, becau e they could not point out a rational and effectual method of cure." Our Author's fuperlative felf-fufficience then, to do what they could not, must have been his motive for writing on a fubject, upon which he fhrewdly remarks, "they chofe to be filent." We must not be furprized, therefore, when his Preface affures us, that Proficients in Phyfic may alfo be the better for this Treatife;" though it seems inconfiftent that he fhould employ 36 pages out of 42, of which it confifts, (exclufive of his Cafes) to inform his Readers of all forts, only of what method and medicines will not cure the King's Evil, which every medical one, at leaft, could have told him; and in concealing from them the only Med cines, which he, and he only knows, will cure it. Nor is it lefs unaccountable, that having pronounced "all the Writings of antient and modern Phyficians on this disease to be unfatisfactory," he should rummage them over, fo oftentatiously as he has, from Hippocrates and Avicenna down to Dr. Scott. However, as he has crudely interfperfed a little of his own theory of the difeafe, we leave the Reader to conjecture his notion of the cause of it, from a few fhort citations. We are taught, p. 18, 19, that "A ftate of vifcidity, accompanied with acrimony, are the parents |