ears of Lord Art. 62. The of Chefterfield and Parfon Goodman. Tranflated from the French of M. Voltaire, by J. Knight. 12mo. Is. 6d. Bern. Printed for W. Lavater and Son: fold alfo at the Hague, and at London. Imported by G. Kearfley. 1786. SCENE. A Reviewer's Apartment in Grubstreet. FREETHINKER. There is a great deal of wit in this little tract. REVIEWER. It seems very like Voltaire's manner; and, possibly, is the production of his pen-as the title profeffes. . MR. KNIGHT. I hope I have done tolerable juftice to it in the tranflation. BYSTANDER. From what you have faid, Gentlemen, I shall certainly call at Kearsley's, in my way to the Devil [tavern], and buy the book. Art. 63. Mifcellanies in Profe and Verfe, intended as a Specimen This volume confifts of pieces, which have been so often collected We noticed the two former volumes, in our Review for May, p. 397, and then obferved, that the expulfion of the Jefuits was, to fay the leaft, fo bold a measure, that it is not surprising it should bring much odium on the Pontiff under whom it was carried into execution.' Indeed, the Writer has no mercy on the memory of Ganganelli; whofe character and government he reprefents in the meanest and moft contemptible light. The Author wants not intelligence; his letters are well written; and if his veracity remains unimpeached, his book will merit the regard of the Public. We may expect a continuation; as this third volume of the sketch is not given as the last of the feries. THEOLOGY. R m Art. 65. Sermons preached in the Parish Church of St. Alban, Nicol. 1786. 55. Boards. Thefe difcourfes are fenfible, practical, and ufeful: the ftyle is agreeable, and the fentiments are juft. If they are not all equal, their tendency, on the whole, is certainly to advance rational piety and folid virtue. The fubjects are, I. The nature of God. II. III. The worship of God: John, iv. 24. IV. Neceffity of good works': Matth. vii. 21. V. VI. Religious education: Prov. xxii. 6. Gen. xviii. 19. VII. Shortnefs and vanity of life: Psalm xxxix. 5. VIII. Future ftate: Rom. ii. 7, 8. IX. Danger of impenitence: Luke, xix. 41, 42. X. Benevolence: 1 John, iv. 7. XI. Barzillai's reply to David: 2 Sam. xix. 35. XII. Kingdom of heaven: Luke, xii. 32. XIII. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. XIV. Death of the pious: Rev. xiv. 13. XV. Day of the Lord: Joel, ii. 1. We are pleased to obferve that the Writer does not always think it neceffary, when paffages from the Palms are recited, to produce them from the Book of Common Prayer rather than from the English Bible; an affectation into which many preachers are too apt to fall and certainly they are much mistaken in their general preference of the old version: though in fome inftances it is not unworthy of regard. H: Art. 66. An Abridgment of the New Teftament, in Question and Anfwer. The Anfwers exactly in the Words of our Lord and his Apoitles. Intended to imprint on the Minds of Youth, and revive in the Memories of Chriftians more advanced in Knowledge, the Doctrines and Precepts, and some of the most memorable Occurrences recorded in that Part of the Sacred Writings. By a Layman. 12mo. 3s. 6d. bound. Baldwin, &c. 1785. That this is a very good book, no one will doubt; but never was a good book made up with lefs fatigue to the Author, or with less profpect of benefit to the Public. Who will read the chapters of the Gofpels and Epiftles clipped into fhreds in the way of question and anfwer, when they can be read with fo much more pleafure and advantage in their original connection? RELIGIOUS. E. Art. 67. A new Concordance and Dictionary of the Holy Scriptures. Being the most comprehenfive and concife of any before publifhed. In which any Word or Paffage of Scripture may be eafily found: The Signification is given of all proper Names of Men, Women, Beafts, Birds, Fithes, Cities, Towns, Rivers, Mountains, precious Stones, and other Things mentioned in Scripture. Toge ther with the different Acceptations of Scripture Words, a Definition of Gofpel Doctrines, &c. By John Butterworth, Minifter of the Gofpel. The 2d Edition, with confiderable Additions. 8vo. Ss. Boards. Coventry printed, and fold by Robinfon in London. Having given an account of the first edition of this work in our Review, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 410, we have only now to add, that the Author has, in this fecond edition, made confiderable improve. ments and additions, which have much increafed the fize as well as the price. We recommend this work as ufeful to all families, particularly to those who cannot afford the purchase of Mr. Cruden's large quarto volume, of which this new Concordance and Dictionary is, in a great measure, an abridgment. In his next edition, we would with Mr. Butterworth to abridge his own preface. We did not want to be told, that the word of God is the believer's mufeum, fanctuary, hiding-place in a ftormy day, looking-glafs, perfpective-glafs, microscope,. &c. &c. which may chance to afford more diverfion than edification, to a reader who poffeffes but a tolerable degree of devotional tafte.' SERMONS. SERMONS. 1. Preached by the Rev. Thomas Jervis, and a Charge delivered by Difcourfes on thefe occafions are generally conducted on one plan. house. Mr. Jervis's Sermon on Acts, iii. 26. is not deftitute of animation; and Mr. Belfham's Charge contains fome juft and fenfible reflections on the nature and obligations of the paftoral office. B-k II. The Chriftian Paflor's Review of his Life and Labours;-at a Meeting of Proteftant Diffenting Minifters, at Hadleigh, in Suffolk, July 29, 1783, and elfewhere. By Samuel Palmer. 8vo. 6d. 1785. Acts, xxvi. 22. Having therefore attained help of God, &c. In the title-page, we are informed that this Sermon alludes to the evil report, which has been lately propagated against two loud clergymen, commonly called by their followers, GOSPEL PREACHERS, Neighbours, and Fellow-labourers, in the Suburbs of London.' This account is oddly.expreffed, and we know not to what it alludes: but we find the difcourfe, fenfible, candid, practical, and useful; though in fome inftances, perhaps, the language is not fo entirely clear and correct as might be wifhed. H. CORRESPONDENCE. The objections of a Learner' to an Article of our Review for July laft are ingenious; but a more intimate acquaintance with the fubject, and a due attention to the theory, we are convinced, will enable him to answer them himself. If, however, he would wish to fee his obfervations in print, we fhall, with his leave, communicate them to a refpectable Magazine, in which they will appear with more propriety than in our Review. R. ** We are favoured with a copy of M. de Warville's Examen Critique des Voyages de M. le Marquis de Chatellux. The ingenious Writer muft fee the impropriety of our giving an account of the Examen before we have noticed the Voyages, &c. to which it refers. That work we have not been able to procure; but fhall repeat our inquiry after it. The Examen will certainly be reviewed in its turn. p. 277. par. 2. Peter Primrofe's letter is received; but we can make no ufe of Month.297. l. 10/1. for "l.3.%. p. 277. note. for Hornebower. Hornebow. 31. l. 1. for the carl shesterfield, & The eard of Lord Chesterfield, X. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For NOVEMBER, 1786. ART. I. Cyclopædia: or, an Üniverfal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences; containing an Explanation of the Terms, and an Account of the feveral Subjects in the liberal and mechanical ARTS, and the SCIENCES human and divine. By E. CHAMBERS, F. R. S. With the Supplement and modern Improvements incorporated in one Alphabet. By ABRAHAM REES, D.D. 4 Vols. Folio. 418 Numbers at 6d. each. Longman, &c. 1786. F EW works in the English language have been more generally, or, in our opinion, more defervedly esteemed, than the Cyclopædia of Mr. Chambers. As a repofitory of univerfal literature and fcience, it comprehends, within narrow bounds, a great variety of fubjects; and, being in alphabetical order, it is adapted to readers of different defcriptions. A work that facilitates the acquifition of knowledge to the generality of the people,that is fuited to the convenience and occafions of numerous claffes of readers,-that fatisfies the doubts, and refreshes the memories of adepts, muft neceffarily be acceptable to the Public in general. The work before us is calculated to answer all these purposes, and, as far as we have examined (and we have not run haftily through it), it is executed in a manner that cannot fail of giving fatisfaction to every one. The learned and indefatigable Editor of this much improved body of science, gives the following account of the many alterations that have been made, in the feveral impreffions which it hath undergone: The fuccefs of the first edition, which appeared in 1728, enlarged the views of the author; and previously to the publication of the fecond edition in 1738, he had formed a defign of publishing a new work on a more extenfive fcale, and had actually prepared a confiderable part of the copy with this view. This defign, however, was fruftrated by a bill agitated in parliament (which paffed the Houfe of Commons, but was rejected by the House of Lords), containing a claufe, that obliged the publishers of all improved editions of books to print the improvements feparately. Accordingly, the fecond edition was published with corrections and additions, and with an apology to the Public for difappointing their expectations of a larger work. This fecond edition was fo favourably received as to require the pubVOL. LXXV. Y lication lication of a third in 1739, a fourth in 1741, and a fifth in 1746. Thefe repeated teftimonies of the public approbation amply juftify the character given of it by one, who well knew its value, and who calls it," The pride of bookfellers, and the honour of the English nation." The proprietors, therefore, were induced, by motives of refpect and gratitude to the Public, as well as by their own intereft in fo valuable a work, to correct the errors, and supply the defects of the original dictionary: errors and defects which time had dif covered, and which fubfequent investigations and improvements had occafioned. Accordingly, in the profpect of a demand for the fixth edition, they engaged the late George Lewis Scott, Efq. to prepare a SUPPLEMENT, in two additional folio volumes. This gentleman had not proceeded far in the execution of this defign, when he was diverted from it by other avocations; fo that the completion of the business was entrusted with Dr. Hill, whofe voluminous publications in natural history are well known. The Supplement undoubtedly contained many important and valuable articles, relating to fubjects that had been either wholly omitted or flightly mentioned by Mr. Chambers. But the rapidity with which Dr. Hill executed the province affigned him, and the freedom with which he transcribed from his own writings and thofe of others, were not favourable either to the reputation of the work, or to the intereft of the proprietors. The original work and the Supplement remained in this feparate state for many years. However, the inconvenience of a double alphabet continued to be the fubject of renewed complaints; and it was thought, that the Supplement, when properly abridged and corrected, might be incorporated, to the fatisfaction of the Public, with the original work. But the views of the proprietors extended much farther than to this fingle object. They were not unapprized of the rapid progrefs of fcience; and they wished that a work, in the reputation and fuccefs of which they were fo much interested, might be a complete and comprehenfive regifler of modern difcoveries and improvements. After fome unfuccefsful attempts to execute this laudable defign, the work was entrusted to the care of the prefent Editor. The course of his ftudies and official engagements had led him into a general acquaintance with the contents of the Cyclopædia: and having had frequent occafions for confulting it, he was not altogether ignorant either of its defects or its excellencies. Having been accustomed to scientific refearches, he was not unacquainted with the fources of information, to which he must recur in the progrefs of his work: he had alfo accefs to fome valuable libraries, that would furnish him with books, both ancient and modern, to which he might have occafion to refer : he was happy in the intimate acquaintance with feveral learned friends, by whofe advice he might profit, and of whofe affiftance he could avail himself on many occafions: and the habits of his life were fuch as would difpofe him to fubmit to the application and labour, which the execution of fuch a work muit unavoidably require.' Such is the Editor's account of the various impreffions which the Cyclopædia has gone through, and of the plan of the prefent edition. When we confider the variety and magnitude of a work, which, like this, is adapted to readers of every fort, and which contains every |