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of new ones, provided they do not rise very considerably above the standard of those which have now been reviewed. We shall probably take occasion to look into the succeeding portions of this work; and we assure the conductors of it, that we shall have sincere satisfaction in giving our readers a favourable report of their progress. In the meantime we would give them our best counsel; and that is, "Be slow to print."

Reasons for separating from the Church of Scotland, in a Series of Letters. By WILLIAM INNES, Minister of the Gospel, Dundee. Chiefly addressed to his Christian Friends in that Establishment. Dundee; and London, Vernor and Hood. 1804. 12mo. pp. 156.

THIS is the production of a conscientious man, who has thought it his duty to separate from the Church of Scotland, and having so done to offer his reasons for his conduct. It gives us pleasure to bear testimony to the general temperance observed by the author, on a subject, and under circumstances, which beyond most others tend to draw forth the acrimonious passions.

We are not concerned to defend the church of Scotland against the attack of this writer, as being the form of ecclesiastical government exclusively prescribed by Scripture. As a species of government, however, in the church, and as constituting a part, one order, in the epis- copal, we consider Presbyterianism as entitled to our respect: nor do we feel ourselves wholly indifferent to an attack, which would level not only the professed object of hostility, but with it the venerable fabric of our own ecclesiastical constitution.

The author of these letters seems to be affected with a morbid sensibility of conscience, which, how ever commendable in its origin, when it has proceeded to this excess, obscures and distorts the duties which it would discover and per

form. The following sentiment we conceive to have been uttered under the influence of this state of mind. "A professing Christian should even blush in secret, if he could for a moment indulge the wish, that truth on any subject should not be brought to light, with whatever severity and in whatever direction its dictates may fall." p. 3. It is easy to imagine cases in which this principle, if acted upon, would produce effects highly detrimental both to religion and morality; and it will hardly be affirmed, that in such cases simple concealment, much less a wish to conceal, ought to be pronounced criminal. Let it be remembered likewise, that in some cases certain truths produce the effect of falsehoods. Should a person who had just sufficient knowledge to understand the nature of the fact, be informed, that the various readings in the New Testament amount to upwardsof 30,000, the result, there can be no doubt, in his mind would be unfavourable to the credit or integrity of that part of the Scripture; although to a competent judge this circumstance has directly a contrary effect. Of the same character with that which has been quoted is another assertion of this writer, which represents conviction as resembling the sensitive plant: "it shrinks," adds he, "at the gentlest touch of power, and the rude intruder must be completely withdrawn, before it again exerts its energy." p. 47.

Mr. Innes condemns the established church of Scotland, or Presbyterianism, as unscriptural, both in its constitution and in its administration; and he opposes to it the system of independency which he has embraced, as the only system founded upon scriptural authority, deduced from apostolic example as well as apostolic precept, and exclusively binding upon the Christian world. The principal Scripture adduced in support of independency is Matthew xviii. 15-17. A very slender foundation for so ponderous a superstructure.

In all controversies offensive operations are carried on with the great est advantage, because the general imperfection of human knowledge leaves many points vulnerable even in subjects the best established. Let ters iii. and iv. are directed against the constitution of Presbyterianism, the distinguishing feature of which is said to be the system of representation. And it is urged, that when the majority in the representation becomes corrupt, the whole body, under their influence, must become the same, unless the uncorrupt part obeys this summons to separate. This statement appears to us greatly overcharged, nor do we plainly see, that the corrupt majority has any constitutional influence sufficient to counteract the successful execution of duty in those who are disposed to perform it.

pendency as upon Presbyterianism. The unconstitutional influence in the one case is likely to be as great and as injurious as the constitutional in the other; and the remedy held out by the Independent system, in the liberty of secession, is of too desperate a nature to entitle it to any favourable opinion.

Concerning the second head of this author's charge against the established church of Scotland, the defects in its administration, this being a question of fact, we shall claim permission to be silent: observing only, that, from the acquaintance which we have with the state of discipline in that part of the united kingdom, it would give us pleasure if we could perceive the same in this.

We have only to remark further, that when two systems are compared In opposition to the representa- together, they should be compared tive system, the radical vice of Pres- upon equal scales. A very incorbyterian government, Mr. Innes as- rect and unjust judgment will geneserts the distinguishing feature of rally be the result of comparing a independency to be individual opi- novel society or sect with an ancient nion or conviction in every act of one, which has had time to acquire that species of government. It seems, corruption; or a small society or however, almost a contradiction in sect with an extensive one, in which terms to call that system of associa a greater proportion of corruption, tion a government, in which every agreeably to the encroaching nature member is left perfectly free to fol- of evil, will almost always be found. low the dictates of his own con- This remark is set in a very forcible science, on every subject. Every light by Bishop Warburton, when government implies a consent of combating Bayle's Apology for Epithe whole body to submit to certain cureans and Atheists. "As to the laws, the execution of which is de- lives," says he, "of his Epicureans, legated to a part, to whom authority and other Atheists, which we now necessary for that purpose is com- come to; the reader is first of all demitted: and this authority must, in sired to take notice of the fallacy he many cases, interfere with and con- would here obtrude upon us, in the troul private opinion. If the cases judgment he makes of the nature of are accurately defined, and appear the two different principles, by setto be calculated for the more effec- ting together the effects of atheism, tual execution, upon a general scale, as they appear in the majority of of the object of the society, no ob- half a score men; and those of relijection can be alleged against the gion, as they appear in the majority authority here spoken of, which of infinite multitudes: A kind of does not equally hold with respect sophism, which small sects in relito this object. It should be observed gion have perpetually in their likewise, and Mr. Innes has not re- mouths, when they compare their moved the difficulty, that the sup- own morals with those in large composition of a corrupt majority press-munities, from which they dissent." es with as much weight upon Inde Divine Legation, book i. sect. 5.

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, &c. &c.

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GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARING for the Press:-A History of the Military Operations of the British Forces in Hindostan, from 1744 to 1784; in two large vols. royal.4to.; with Maps, Charts, Plans, and Views; by Dr. JoHN MOODIE: -Elements of Elocution, or an Introduction to Pronunciation and Reading; in which the Pauses peculiar to Poetry are distinguished by particular Marks; by Mr. ROBERT HAMILTON, Teacher of Elocution in the Colleges of Old and New Aberdeen: A Review of the Reports to the Board of Agriculture, by Mr. MARSHALL.

In the Press:-A new and splendid edition of WALPOLE'S Royal and Noble Authors, by Mr. PARKE; in 5 vols. 8vo. :Mr. PARKINSON's second volume of the Organic Remains of a former World:-A new Edition of Dr. VINCENT'S Nearchus : -Caledonia; or, A Historical and Topographical Account of North Britain, from the most Ancient to the Present Times; with a Dictionary of Places, Chorographical and Philosophical; by Mr. G. CHALMERS:-A second volume, containing Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, and Cornwall, of Magna Britannia; by the Rev. DAN. LYSONS, and SAM. LYSONS, Esq.: also Part the Second, containing 24 Views in the said Counties, of Britannia Depicta:-Zoography, or the Beauties of Nature, displayed in Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Insects, Shells, Plants, Minerals, and Fossils; by the Rev. W. WOOD, of Leeds-A Practical Attempt towards freeing Individuals and Families from the Disposition to Scrophula, Consumption, and other prevalent Disorders; founded on Reports kept by several Medical Gentlemen at the Preventive Institution at Bristol; with an Explanation of the Design, and occasional Remarks by the Editor, T. BEDDOES, M. D.-A System of Chemistry, in 4 vois. 8vo.; by Mr. MURRAY, Lecturer in Chemistry, &c. at Edinburgh:-A new edition of the three volumes already published of MITFORD'S History of Greece, with a fourth volume entirely new:-A new Edition, with Additions and Corrections by the Author, of the Criterion, or Miracles Examined; by the Bishop of SALISBURY.

Mr. WOODFALL, in consequence of the death of his father, has become possessed of the copy from which, the genuine edition of Junius's Letters was printed, together CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 54.

with a great number of private letters written to the late Mr. Woodfail, from the Author, illustrative of his personal character, and many of his objects in writing and publishing those celebrated Letters. Mr. Woodfall proposes to print a new edition of the Letters, on the plan at first proposed by the author; but which could not then be put in execution, consistently with his views of having them published at a particular period. In this edition such parts of the private correspondence will be given, as may be deemed interesting to the reader; together with Fac-similes of several of the Letters; the publication of which, will, it is presumed, have a tendency to satisfy the curiosity of the public, with respect to the much contested author; as they will exhibit the hand-writing in which all Junius's letters were sent to Mr. Woodfall for insertion in the Public Advertiser.

Mr. M. GREGSON, of Liverpool, has lately published the result of some interesting Observations, relative to the Use that may be made of Articles consumed by Fires. He collected from the ruins of the warehouses destroyed at that place in 1802, a quantity of wheat, burnt sugar, rice, flour, and cotton. He reduced the sugar to a fine powder, and made it into a water colour paint: it also answered as a varnish ground, an oil colour, and a printing ink. The burnt wheat answered the same purposes: and the fine American flour he made into excellent paste. Thus, though the articles dainaged by the above fire sold for little more than £.13,000, Mr. Gregson expresses his conviction, that, had his method been adopted, a saving of £.44,000 might have been made on the grain alone. The Society of Arts and Manufactures have voted him their Gold Medal for his observations.

Since the opening of the Royal Infirmary for Diseases of the Eye, in Nassau Street, in March 1805, there have been received 1894 patients; of whom 1259 have been discharged cured, 60 pronounced incurable, and 575 now remain on the books of the

Infirmary. Within the period of nine months, among other operations, 76 had been performed for the extraction of the cataract, 69 of which were attended with perfect success.

Mr. ROYSTON is engaged in an extensive 3 D

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work on the Medical Literature of this country. It will contain a description and analysis of books published in the English language, on the science of medicine; beginning with the earliest works, and ending with the year 1800. It is intended to be given in the manner of a Bibliotheca, describing the editions, form, and peculiarities of every work; with an analysis of the contents of each volume; constituting a concordance of facts and opinions, arranged in a manner that will afford a ready reference for the student, the practitioner, and the man of science.

The late Mr. RUSSELL, celebrated amongst men of science for the production of the Lunar Globe, left, at his death, Two Lunar Planispheric Drawings, the result of numberless telescopic observations measured by a micrometer: one of which Drawings exhibits the Lunar Disk in a state of direct opposition to the sun, when the eminences and depressions are undetermined, and every intricate part, arising from colour, form, or inexplicable causes, is developed and delineated; the other, of precisely the same proportion, represents the eminences and depressions of the moon determined as to their form, producing their shadows when the sun is only a few degrees above the horizon of each part. The former of these was engraved by Mr. Russell, who had likewise very considerably advanced in the engraving of the latter, when death terminated his labours: it is, however, left in a forward state. Mr. William Russell, son of the late Mr. Russell, proposes to publish by subscription these lunar plates. The price to subscribers will be Five Guineas.

Mr. STOCKDALE is preparing Three Grand Imperial and Topographical Maps of the United Kingdom, on 48 large sheets of atlas paper, each sheet measuring two feet two inches, by two feet ten inches. The cost of the Map of Ireland will not exceed to subscribers 3 guincas; Scotland, 2 guineas; and that of England and Wales, 4 guineas.

Mr. JAMES HUNTINGFORD, formerly of Winchester, has circulated Proposals for An improved Map on the Plane of the Equator, designed as an Introduction to the Use of the Globes, and to initiate the Pupil into the Rudiments and Study of Geography, by a more ready and expeditious Method than any common Map can afford. One projection on the North Pole will be given; and another on the South Pole, on the reverse side of the paper. This map will have all the principal places; and it is said,

will be on such a plan, as to give the pupil a more scientific notion of a globe than can be acquired by any common map, and to enable him to solve the usual problems on the globes. It will be accompanied with a Treatise. The price will be 18s.

Mr. HAWKER, of Dudbridge, Glouces tershire, lately exhibited at Sir JOSEPH BANKS'S, Complete Drawings, and several Bones, of a large Fossil Animal, similar to a erocodile, which was found in a solid stratum of limestone, twenty feet thick. It was inbedded fifteen feet below the surface of the stratum. The skeleton measures ten feet and a half in length, and all the parts are wonderfully perfect. The jaws contained the teeth in high preservation, and still covered with enamel. One of them, which was broken, had so exactly the fracture of petrified wood, as to furnish strong ground for suspicion, that many fossils, generally held to be of vegetable, are of animal origin. In the same stratum of limestone are found many cornua ainmonis, muscles, and other shells.

Salt, it is said, has rendered barren apple-trees, in an orchard belonging to Mr. GILBERT, agent to the late Duke of BRIDGEWATER, highly productive of fruit ; by being spread on the ground, round each tree, at a small distance from the trunks.

Mr. DANIEL LAMBERT, of Leicester, the largest man probably in the world, is now exhibiting himself in Piccadilly. He is about 36 years of age, five feet eleven inches high, and his weight is upwards of 50 stone, 14 pounds to the stone. He enjoys perfect health and vigour; his breathing is free and easy; his sleep undisturbed, to which he has no extraordinary propensity; and he eats common food, and drinks water only. His unusual bulk arises from an immense accumulation of fat within the abdomen, and in the adipose membrane under the skin. The tumefaction of the thighs, legs, and feet, is enormous; while the arms and hands do not much exceed the usual proportion in fat persons. All the functions of the body are in good order. He never felt pain or uneasiness from the stretching of the skin. His bulk has increased gradually from 20 years of age. His father and uncle were both large men; but neither of them exceeded 30 stone.

FRANCE.

M. BIEMONTIER, Inspector-General of the bridges and roads in France, has paid much attention to quicksands found on the sea-coast and other places. He observes, that horses and other animals rarely fall of themselves into danger from them; and

that if at any time they do, they throw themselves instantly on their side. Hence he recommends to any person who should meet such misfortune, to extend himself nearly in the attitude of a swimmer, when he throws himself into the water.

Bonaparte has purchased, from his brother-in-law Prince Borghese, the celebrated Borghese Villa, at the price of 13 millions of franks. The valuable collection of antiquities which it contained, is to be transported to Paris, in order to enrich the Napoleon Museum.

The National Institute has proposed as a subject of a Prize Essay, to be adjudged in July 1808, To examine what has been the influence of the Crusades on the Civil Liberty of the People of Europe; -on their Civilization; and on the progress of their Learning, Commerce, and Industry. The discourse is to be written in French or Latin; and must be delivered in before the 1st of April, 1808. The prize is a Gold Medal of

1500 franes in value.

The French booksellers TREUTTELL and WURZ have announced a Collection of Original Works of Louis XVI. in 3 vols. 8vo. MSS. of the King, partly written by him, and partly dictated, and corrected with his own hand.

M. POIDEVIN, of Rouen, has published a warning of the Danger attaching to the use of Earthen Ware and Pottery of a bad Quality, on account of the metallic oxides used in the glazing, which are capable of doing much injury, being frequently soluble in fat or acid substances. The most noxious effects are the cavities or pits, and the underbaking. The cavities are occasioned by being too little acted on by the fire, and thereby not fused into a vitreous substance. By underbaking the enamel does not agglutinate, and is capable of being taken up by all the liquid with which it may come in contact.

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GERMANY.

The University of Gottingen has been threatened with a general desertion. Three hundred of the students, dissatisfied with their professors, and believing themselves injured, by a refusal of justice on their complaints against the burghers; retired to Minden; declaring they would not return, till their injuries were redressed. The Government of Hanover entered into a negotiation with them; and all difficulties were removed. The students received an amnesty for their insurrection, and are returned to Gottingen.

Dr. STRUVE has invented a machine, by means of which, without long preparation,

Galvanism may be applied to distinguish apparent from real death. He denominates.. it The Test of Life. He has published a Treatise on its use. The instrument is sold at Goetlitz, for 15 crowns.

M. KEHMAN, Physician to the Prince of Furstenberg, has received a letter from his sou, Physician in the suite of the Ambassa dor from Russia to China. It is dated from Kiatcha, frontier of China, Oct. 14, 1805. This gentleman had vaccinated a number of the children of the Monguls: and he assures his father, that, from the measures which had been adopted, Vaccination will be practised from Jekutzh to Jakuch.

ITALY.

A letter from Ragusa, inserted in the Vienna Court Gazette, says that the Vaccine Inoculation has in that country, through the zeal of Dr. STULLI, surmounted all lessness threw in its way. The Catechism the obstacles which prejudice and care-written by Dr. CARRO, of Vienna, having been translated into the Illyrian tongue, and circulated in Ragusa and its neighbourinhabitants to adopt the Vaccination. hood, had induced a great number of the It is likewise making progress among the Dalmatians and Turks.

Bonaparte has nominated a number of Italian Literati members of the Legion of Honour. He well knows the influence of anxious, therefore, to enrol all scribblers the press on public opinion; and seems who come under his authority, whether, natives or foreigners, in his favourite legion; where, like soldiers good and true, they must either by ink or blood, sustain and defend his cause, crown, dignity, and disorganizations.

RUSSIA,

The Imperial Russian Society of Arts and Sciences at St. Petersburgh, is em ployed in making arrangements for the future use of the Roman Letters in writing and printing the Russian language.

In the list of persons who died in the year 1805, in the Heptarchy of Pinsask, five of them were 110 years of age; one 113; four 120; one 128; one 130; and one of the uncommon age of 150 years.

AMERICA.

Col. LEWIS, who was commissioned, in 1804, by the President of the United States, to explore the sources of the Missouri, ascended this river for the space of 500 leagues; and stopped in 47° of latitude, in order to pass the winter. Here the tem

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