The preacher takes for his text Luke xiv. 31. We cannot do better than ufe his own words; in which he infifts upon the ftrong fimilarity between the effential qualities of a brave soldier, and those difpofitions of heart and mind, without which our Saviour declared that no man was fit to be his difciple. Both profeffions demanded the fame felf-denial, the fame promptitude at the call of duty, and, on all great emergencies, the fame contempt of inconvenience, danger, pain, and death.

"This fimilarity fuggefted to the Great Founder of our religion the beautiful allegory contained in the text, and in many other of his difcourfes; and which hath fince been fo closely purfued, and particularized, by all the facred writers of the New Teftament, but especially by St. Paul, that the ideas of combat and warfare can hardly be de tached from the phrafes, by which we now moft commonly defcribe the course of life to which the follower of Chrift is called, and the feveral precepts and rules, by the obfervance of which, he is to prove the fincerity of his profeffion.

"The fingular and critical fituation to which the inhabitants of these iflands are now brought, caufes a fill ftronger affociation of thefe ideas, by blending the duties of the Chriftian, who is zealous to preferve the true worship of God, with those of the patriot, who would fpill the last drop of his blood to protect the threatened conftitution and liberty of his country."-Under these circumstances, the words of the text are confidered in their literal, as well as allegorical fenfe. The fituation of this kingdom, and that of our enemy, are then adverted to; and the fuperiority derived from our navy, riding in triumph at the mouths of the hoftile harbours, is ftated as infpiring Britons with a contempt of the menace of invafion. But here we are justly warned againit a prejumptuous contempt of danger, and an indolent reliance on the divine aid. The measures of government for the defence of the kingdom are then noticed; the calling out the mafs of the people to repel the enemy, unless a large proportion of the young and active fhould voluntarily undertake that fervice. "The latter mode has been adopted throughout thefe iflands, with a zeal, unanimity, and patriotifm, which has fo far exceeded the proportion required, as to render that an object of laudable emulation, and anxious ambition, which was once only confidered in the light of a neceffary burden and duty." The Volunteers prefent are now exhorted to do honour to the poft they have chofen, by an exemplary Chriftian conduct, as well as by their patriotic zeal; and their meeting for military exercife on the Lord's day is confidered as a pledge for their affembling more conftantly in his houfe. In a note, the application of any part of the Lord's day to military training is juftified by the twofold neceffity of imminent danger, and of the various calls of fociety, which cannot with fafety fuffer more interruption, until an actual invafion fhall take place. But a ferious warning is given, not to abufe this plea to the purpose of irreligion, diffolute mirth, and excess. The preacher now reminds his hearers in general, of their duty towards their more active brethren; to furnish, each according to his ability, things neceffary to their accommodation, comfort and fuccefs." In this, and in the whole profecution of this inevitable and critical war,

let

let our loyalty, union, and mutual affifiance demonftrate, to the admiring and envying world, that these islands, feparated from the rest of the globe by that element which brings and fecures their profperity, are to be confidered as containing only one great and happy family, whofe members, how much foever diverfified by accidental circumstances, will ever unite in brotherly affection for their mutual defence; and to effect it will spare neither pains, blood, nor treasure; and that in the fame degree in which they are fierce and terrible to an infult ing or invading enemy, they will be invariably kind, and effectually helpful one to another." The difcourfe is concluded by a very earnest, moral, and religious peroration.

The Addrefs of the Lieutenant Colonel infifts, with equal propriety and vigour, upon this effential point; that in order to the defence of our country, courage must be rendered effective by difcipline. The commiffioned and non-commiffioned officers are addressed on their respective duties; the pre-eminence of Britain above the reft of Europe is juftly affirmed to be a ground for national exultation; and the colcurs are delivered to the corps with ftrong wishes for a vigorous and successful defence of them.

ART. 27. A Sermon, preached for the Benefit of the Charity-School, at the Parish Church of Crediton, January 8th; and at the Chapel of Oakhampton, June 1, 1792. By the Rev. Res Price, Vicar of Lamerton. 8vo. 16 pp. 18. Trewman and Son, Exeter. 1803.

Difcourfing on Dent. xxxi. 13. the preacher fets forth the evils of ignorance; as exhibited in the wild notions, and the cruelties of uncultivated nations; and even in the fate of our neighbours in North Britain, above a hundred years ago; compared with the manners and habits of the peafantry there at this day, improved by the establishment of parochial fchools. He then urges his hearers to communicate the light they have received to the rifing generation of their poor, induftrious, and meritorious fellow-citizens. The influence of vicious examples; the propenfity of youth to "follow a multitude to do evil;" and the intereft of fociety are jufly infifted on. To thefe temporal confiderations, are added thofe of far higher moment, which affect their welfare in a future ftate. Thus, the inftitution in behalf of which the preacher is, fpeaking, (like all fimilar inftitutions) is fhown to have for its object the attainment of the happiness of this world, and of that which is to come. A fuitable addrefs to the objects of the charity concludes this impreffive difcourse.

ART. 28. A Letter to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London, humbly fuggefting a further Confideration of a Paffage in the Gospel of St. Matthew, 8vo.. 78 pp. 2s. 6d. Robfon. 1804.

With great delicacy towards the Bishop, and more humility in his own person than the cafe could, in any point of view, require, Mr. Dunfter, (who is understood to be the author of this tract) propofes an interpretation of Matth. xviii. ver. 10, different from that adopted by the Bishop of London in his excellent Lectures on St. Matthew. The Bishop, whofe interpretation is that of Origen, and most of the

Fathers,

Fathers, of Grotius, and the moft learned moderns, referring to these words of our Saviour:-" Take heed that ye defpife not oue of these little ones, for I fay unto you, that in Heaven their Angels always behold the face of my Father whieh is in Heaven;" fo explains them, that the most favoured Angels of the divine prefence are declared to guard and watch over little children. From the fame words, moft of the ancients always defended the doctrine of guardian Angels. But whether a diftinet Angel to each perion, or a general guardianship of Angels is implied, the Bishop's words do not exprefs.

Mr. D. endeavours to prove, and contends with fome force, that by ayyo, the Angels, in this place, fhould be understood the glorified fouls of fuch innocens. His beft fupport, exclufive of the paffage itself, is Waterland's explanation of Acts, chap. v. ver. 19 where the maid- fervant fays, on feeing Peter, it is his Angel, which that author fays, means his ghost. The great question is whether this in erpretation of aythos can be admitted. It would be very unjust not to say that Mr. D. argues ably in íupport of his interpretation, which has fome manifeft advantages. the only alloy to the reader's fatisfaction is that much more is faid than feems to be neceffary, and that some want of clearness is produced by the over anxious endeavour to illuftrate. Whoever has feen this author's very fenfible editions of fome of our British Claffics, will think it rather extraordinary that he should fup. pofe fo many apologies neceflary for a very respectable effort in the line of facred criticifm.

ART. 29. Reflections proper for the prefent Times. 12mo. 36 pp 6d. Hatchard. 1804.

By much the greater part of the following pages are extracts from authors of established reputation." We have only to fav therefore, that they contain fhort accounts, 1. of Gd's dealings with the nations of antiquity: 2. of the principal occurrences in the French Revolution; with fuitable concluding obferva ions: and that the Reflections are foundly pious, and very "proper for the present times.”

ART. 30. Elements of Religion, containing a fimple Deduction of Chrif tianity from its Source to its prefent Circumftances, in a Series of Letters to a young Lady. By Mrs. Marriott. 4 Vols. 12mo.

Rivingtons. 1804.

18s.

The pious author of thefe volumes conceiving that initiatory compo fitions on the fubject of religion, were ftill a defideratum in female education, was induced to prepare this work more immediately for the ufe of a young lady, her relation. She has certainly produced a ufeful and interefting publication, which we should be glad to find received in feminaries, where young women are educated. Where the historical part of the Old Teftament fails, Mrs. Marriott has taken Prideaux for her guide; in the order of the gofpel history fhe has followed Doddridge, and Mofheim in the ecclefiaftical hiftory. The Яtyle is not quite fo eafy and familiar as the profeffed object might feem to require, and the fentences are often too long; but the merit of the whole as a work, fufficiently preponderates over thefe fmaller defects,

and

and it has accordingly our approbation, with the flight exception above-mentioned.

LAW.

ART. 31. The Trial at large of William Sparling, Efq. late Lieute nant in the Tenth Regiment of Dragoons, commanded by his Royal Highnes the Prince of Wales; and Samuel Martin Colquitt, Efq. Captain of His Majesty's Ship Princefs, on an Indictment for the Murder of Mr. Edward Grayfon, of Liverpool, Ship Builder. Before Sir Allan Chambre, Knight, one of the fudges of the Common Pleas, at the Affizes beld at Lancaster on Wednesday April 4, 1804. Taken in Short-Hand, and collated with the Notes of other Writers. 8vo. 76 pp. or 35. Common Paper. Vernor and Hood. 1804.

3s. 6d.

It is a painful task to cenfure that misplaced tenderness in juries, which prompts them, in almost every cafe of death, arifing from a duel, to give verdicts not fully juftified by law or evidence. Whatever alleviations a murder of this kind may admit of, they are not, generally fpeaking, proper fubjects for the confideration of a jury, but are matter for the exercise of that humane difcretion which refides in the Crown, the only conftiturional fountain of mercy. We will not apply thefe remarks to what was proved on this Trial, further than by faying that perhaps ftrict law might have required a different verdict; but, Quid leges fine moribus? Till good fenfe and good principle shall dictate fome other mode of deciding differences on points of honour, we fear that little can be done to reprefs the horrid and unchriftian cuftom of duelling.

With regard to the report of this Trial, though it does not appear in the name of a short-hand writer, we fee no reafon to question its accuracy.

POLITICS.

ART. 32. Sketches on the intrinfic Strength, Military and Naval Force of France and Ruffin; with Remarks on their prefent Connexion, Political Influence, and future Projects. In Two Paris. Part I. 4to. 182 pp. 125. No Publifher's Name. 1803.

The defign of this publication, fo far as its defign can be collected from the part now before us, is to exhibit in a comparative view the refpective forces, and difplay the ultimate objects of the French and Ruffian empires. All the powers of Europe (England perhaps excepted) are exprefsly put out of the queftion. The two great empires, whofe ftrength is here examined and whofe policy is difcuffed, are defcribed by anticipation, as firft overwhelming every other ftate, and then engaging in a tremendous conteft with each other. In the Preface, we are told that the ftatements and facts may be relied on." Many of the author's statements, however, appear greatly exaggerated,

G

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXIV, JULY, 1804.

and

66

and many of his facts to feft on mere conjecture. A confiderable portion of the external refources of France, and of her means of aggrandizement, arofe (according to this author) from the poffeffion of Louifiana, which has been fince relinquifhed, and of St. Domingo, which is loft, probably for ever. The fame remark applies to Malta; which it is to be hoped the French will never poffefs. Many of this author's fpeculations are therefore out of date; and many of his affertions are, we think, very questionable. The work is, however, written with vigour, and, as it fhould feem, with good intentions. An outline is fubjoined of the fecond part intended to be published; which contains a general view of the politics and diplomatic history of Great Britain, from the peace of Utrecht to the prefent year of the French Confulate." In this paper are contained many juft and forcible remarks, and we highly approve the author's general propofition, if practicable, of confining the poffeffions and influence of France to Europe; though fome of the means by which he would effect it appear to us unneceffary and unjuft. Many of his opinions of men and measures are alfo very questionable. It is indeed impoffible for any man, efpecially if he has not been bred a statesman, to form an accurate judgment of all the tranfations on which he takes upon himself to decide. Yet we are curious to fee the work at large, of which an outline is here given, as the author has a bold and original turn of thinking. Should it be published, we recommend the omiffion of a low and unwarrantable farcafm against an amiable Lady of high rank, which is at the fame time incorrect.

ART. 33. Two Letters, addreffed to a Noble Lord, on the Manufactures, Agriculture, and apparent Profperity of Scoiland; with a few Strictures on the Speculations, Morals, and Manners of the Nineteenth Century. Svo. 1s. 6d. Longman and Rees. 1804.

55 PP. The principal object of this writer is to diffuade the people of Scotland, and especially the manufacturers and land-owners, from the wild fpeculations which they are apt to cherith, the eager defire of wealth by which they are animated, and the inordinate luxury in which (he tells us) too many of them indulge. In all these refpects the author afferts the Scotch to be far more blameable than the Englifh, and paints, in a very striking light, the infatuation of those who, prefuming on an increafe of trade and manufactures, or an advance of rents, arifing (as he thinks) from temporary circumitances, embark in hazardous and expenfive concerns, without the capital which fuch concerns require. The introduction of the great diftilleries he alfo confiders as a very pernicious meafure, both to the health and morals of the people, feverely blaming the minifter, who brought forward this meafure, and the Scotch members, who appear to have acquiefced in it.

The author argues ftrongly, and with fome apparent reason, that actual wealth in Scotland does not correfpond with the rapid increase of luxury, and he defcribes, with fome humour, the love of fhow and diffipation, which feem of late years to have taken poffeffion of most