- Art. 63. A descriptive Account of the Isands lately discovered in the

South Seas. Giving a full Detail of the present State of the Inha-
bitants, their Government, Religion, &c. &c. from the first Dis.
covery to the present Time, &c. By the Rev. Dr. John Trufler.
8vo. 6 s. bound. Baldwin. 1778.

This detail is very scanty and unsatisfactory; nor is it void of
blunders both in sense and grammar, colloquial barbarisms, pleo-
nasms, and contradictions. Thus we read of an island that had
tbrown of its independency on 0-Taheite.'-—' The women in general
are handsome ;-—but if any thing they are more indolent and lazy,'-
The natives are exposed to the rigour of the sun, the air, and
cold, reafon enough for burning up their kins.'— The dogs of O-Taheite
are said to be a heavy sluggish animal, &c.'— Physicians they have
none.'- Land birds they have scarcely any.'— Lessons they have none,
&c.'- Birds they catch, Eri'- seem to be favourite modes of con-
fruction with our Author; but they are highly unbecoming a
Doctor, and an Historiographer, even of voyages. The natives of
0. Taheise, the Doctor tells us, live under no regular form of go.
vernment; and then he immediately proceeds to inform us that a
kind of feudal lyftem subfifts among them ;--that each of the penin-
sulas has a sovereign; and that every one of the forty-three distries
contained in the island is superintended by an earee or chief, &c.-
Surely this looks something like a regular form of government;
though they may not have King, Lords, and Commons: and yet, to
the best of our remembrance, they seem to have a police, as quick in
its operations as that of Bow-fieet t. --Once more,—' Though a bar.
barous people they seem in general well disposed.'-But we have dwele
too long on this meagre and fulile performance.
Art. 64. The Case of Easter Offerings, stated and considered.

Proving the enforcing the Payment of iheni to be illegal, and con-
trary to the Statute of William III. from whence the Claim is
pretended to be derived. Together with an introductory Account
of the Causes that led to this Inquiry. By T. B, an Inhabitant
of Westminster.

5d. Noble, &c.

1777.
Confits, chiefly, of letters originally published in the Daily Ga.
zetteer. This controversy broke out in the parish of S:. Martin,
Weitminster. Several of ihe inhabitants objected to the payment of
Ealler offerings to the clergyman, whose claim upon them they ap-
prehended to be illegal; but the clergyman, and his friends, being
of a different opinion, recourse was had to compullion. The mat-
ter came to a hearing before Sir John Fielding, and some were pre-
vailed on to comply with the deinand; while others, more refrac-
tory, and, perhaps, better informed, persilled in their refusal of
payment. The affair growing more serious, an appeal was made
to the Public; and both parties figured in the news-papers; but
the clergyman's adherents seem to have come off second best. For
farther particulars we refer to the pamphlet, the subject of which
merirs, in particular, the attention of the inhabitanis of London,
Wellminster, and all other cives or corporations, where tyrbes, ob-
+ Vide Hawkesworth, Cook, &c.

Boy.

I 2 mo.

I 2mo.

A

lations, &c. are settled by act of parliament, and to which the sta-
tute of W Dian III. does not extend.
Art. 65: Three Epiry's, on the following Subjects; a Defence

of the Women ; Church Mulic; a Comparison becween ancient
and modern Music ; translated from the Spanish of Feyjoo. By a
Gentleman 8vo. 35. sewed. Becket. 1778.

Having already expresied our general sentiments concerning this Wriser (in our Review for Sepiember, page 241) we have only to semark concerning thele Effays, that the first, though written in a more grave, and, consequently, kss entertaining manner, than might be expected from the nature of the subject, contains some curious facts, and many good obfervations; and that the two latter (the chief intention of which seems to be, io correct the 'alle tafte which has appeared in modern church music) discover an acquaintance with the history and the principles of the art, which will render them very acceptable to those who study as well as practise music.

E.
Art. 66. The Man of Experience, or the Adventures of Honorius.
By Mr. Thitlethwait.

2 vols. 68. Booley. 1778. An unmeaning, unnatural, and ill written sa.ire on mankind.

น. L Art. 67. A Digest of the Laws of England. Being a Continua

tion of Lord Chief Baron Cony Ns's Digeit, brough: down to the present Time.

By a Gentleman of the Inner Temple. Fol. il. 16s. Longnian. 17-6.

Of Lord C B. Comyns's digeft, in five vols. folio, we gave sufcient accounts, at the several times in which the separate publications of that very valuable work appeared. In this continuation, brought down to the year 1776, the compiler adheres to the method of con.mon-placing which the Lord C. B. thought fie to use; and he des clares that he ha: inserted nothing from any of the books published in his Lordship’s life time; thai no books have been used, but fuch as are of good authori:y, and allowed to be cited in the courts ; and that no manufcrip: reports have been consulted.

SCHOOL BOOK.
Art. 68. Principies of English Grammar. By William Scott,

Teacher in Ecinburgh. ramo. 15. Od. 1777. Elliot, Edinburgh ;
Richardson and Urquhart, London.

The chief merit of this Grammar seems to be, that it gives the fundamental principles of the English language in a concise form, without mixing with them fuperfluous ruies, or observations of se. condary importance. This is a circumstance which will render this publication useful to those who are employed in teaching English grammar.

E. S E R M 0 N. S. 1. The Necessity and Truth of the Three PINCIPAL REVELA

TIONS Demonstrated from the Gradations of Science, and the Progress of the Mental Faculties, in a Sermon, preached before the Universily of Cambridge on Commencement Sunday, June 29, 3777. By Samuel Cooper, D.D. formerly Fellow of Magdalen College, now Rector of Morley and Yelverston in Norfolk, and

Chaplain

Chaplain to the King's own Regiment of Dragoons. '4t0. 1777. Cambridge. Woodyer and Merril; and fold by Becket, London.

Though the leading pofitions maintained in this discourse will admit of much debate, the original as well as the liberal turn of thought which prevails in it, entitles it to particular attention.

Dr. Cooper considers the progreis of knowledge through the fuccessive ayes of the world, as analogous to its gradations in individuals. in both, he conceives the progreslion to be firit írom sensation and perception to imagination and memory; and afterwards from the vigorous exertions of these faculties, to the cool and cautious operations of reason. From hence he infers that the science of mind, or metaphysics, is placed on the summi: of human knowledge. To this gradual developement and advance of the human faculties, he judges chat infinite wildom has suited the succesive periods and progressive discoveries of divine revelations. In the first, thadowing forth himself, who is pure intellect, to our first parents, under visible appearances, the sole objects of their faculties, and giving them the knowledge of the qualities and powers of sensible objects by a supernatural communication. In the second, adapting himself :o the capacities of men, at a period when “ reason, yet unrouled by intellect, instead of rif. ring io the contemplation of one supreme cause, was lethargized in polytheism; and by addresling himself to their senses, imagination and memory, making known his omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. -- In the third, at the cime when reafon had formed Somne notion of a divine mind, of goodness, of wisdom, and of power, discovering himself to the human understanding as an intellectual object, or pure fpirit, and enjoining as the worthip due from man to his creator, an adoration in spirit and in truth. The Christian religion, according to this view of the subject, our Author difirguithes by the appella:ion of, the Religion of Intellc&t; and remarks, that as both its nature and genius are peculiarly adapted to that faculty, it is evident that till reason had been employed upon the objects of intellect, the appearance of this revelation, would have been unsuitable to the state of man's knowledge, or the progress of science. In explaining the Christian fyltem upon th's theory, he says:

• The intellectual system of morals revealed in the gospel admits no habit or action into the roll of viriues which has not for its object the univerfal welfare of mankind, independent of, and even contrary to, all the partial attachments to individuals, which are formed' from the ties of blood, neighbourhood, friendship, opinion and country; and which is not likewise diverted of all the aversions which flow from enmity, and every contrariety of sentiment, interest and pallion. So likewise, it refuses to dignify with the name of virtue any action or habit, however unlimited as to its object, whicle has not for its motive the hope of that happiness which revelation promises us hereafter; in opposition to the gra.ification of all thore desires (though within certain bounds innocent in themselves) which arise from the conftitution of our nature, such as intereit, ambition, pleasure or fame. Though some actions therefore, whatever their motives or their objects may be, are univerfa!!y called moral, because they are useful to mankind, from heathen systems alone they can arfert a right to that title. For Christian ethics disclaim them, unless they are generated from the proper motive, future happiness, and directed to the proper end, universal good.- A scheme of ethics which however, even the multitude of the learned are not perhaps yet fitted to receive in its utmost purity: because no fyftem so perfect, was ever before offered to the human heart, nor could be suggested by the human intellect, amidit all the various suggestions which have fioated upon the waves of doubtful disputation."

Those who are not yet fitted to receive this system, will probably be inclined to question its perfection, and consequently to doubt whether it be the fyflem of Christianity. They will apprehend, that it has too much of the appearance of refinement to loit the limplicity of the gospel. And they will perhaps be of opinion, that a system which Thould banish all the partial attachmenis of domestic life, of friendthip and of patriotism from the train of virtues, and enjoin the facrifice of these to the superior principle of universal benevolence, would require from men that which their present conititution renders impracticable, and wouid rob them of some of the most lovely quaJities of their nature, and some of the sweetet pleasures of life, They will also probably be disposed to ask, 'why those actions which are performed from a regard to future happiness mould be dignified with the name of virtue, while this appellation is refused to those actions which are performed with the view of gratifying the natural desires of interest, ambition, pleasure or fame, since the object in both is the same, namely, personal enjoyment. • The difficulties which unavoidably attend those sciences which immediately respect mind, will lead many to think that Dr. Cooper has placed metaphysics in a rank of importance and dignity to which

E, they have no just claim. II. Caution recommended in the Use and Application of Scripture Lan

guage. Preached July 15, 1777, in the Cathedral Church of Carlille, at the Vilitation of the Right Reverend Edmund, Lord Bishop of Carlisle. By William Paley, M. A. late Fellow of Chritt College, Cambridge, and Vicar of Daliton and St. Lawrence in Appleby. 410. 6d. White.

An ingenious and sensible discourse; but the question may reafonably be asked, whether it doesnot prove too mucn'? and, farther, whether, according to Mr. P.'s method of arguing, the greater part of the New Tetament may not be supposed to have no relation to the present times ; from whence it may not be very difficult to perSuade ourselves that we have in truth no concern with revelation. It cannot well be doub:ed that in some instances the expresions of scripture relate to the state of things at that time when they were written ; but if the first Christians were chosen, elect, adopted, &c. fo surely are those of this or any age, called by divine, mercy from heatheoith ignorance, idolatry, and vice to the knowledge of God, the promises of pardon, the hope of future happiness, &c. which benefit and honour they may or may not improve. If the first Chriftians were an boly priesthood, does not the same denomination belong to those of this and every age ; the gospel oblicerating the diftinction of any particular order of men under the character of pries, by con

ferring

at

E.

ferring it on every private Chriftian, who is to presept fpiritual of
ferings by the one and the only High Priest, Jejus Chrijl? Such re.
Alections have arisen in our minds on perusing this fermon ; which,
though of a liberal calt, may poslibly have some dangerous tendency,
Should we be mistaken, it may not be amiss to propose these hinis;
which we do with real deference to the abilities of the author. H.
III. The Dying Christian's Triumph in a Living Redeemer,

Alhfield, Nottinghamshire, on the Death of Matthew Butcher,

Jun. Dec. 1777. By John Barret, 8vo. Bell, near Aldgate.
IV. Preached at Carter-Lane, Feb. 22, 1778, on the much lamente

ed Death of the Reverend Mr. Edward Pickard, who departed this
Life Feb. 10, 1778, in the 64th Year of his Age. By Thomas
Tayler. Published at the Desire of the Congregation. 8vo. 6 d.
Buckland, &c.

A serious and well written discourse on mortality; in which is
introduced a decent and respectful, and as far as we can judge from
general report, a juft encomium on the character of Mr. Pickard, a
clergyman of confiderable eminence among the disenters.
V. Written and preached in 1750, on the Death of the late Reverend

Dr. John Pelling, Senior Canon of Windsor, and Rector of St.
Ann's, Soho. By the late Reverend Dr. Church, Afternoon Lec-
turer of the said Parish; but never before published. By the Re-
verend William Scou, M A. With an elegant Copper-plate of
the Doctor, well known to have been a very Itriking Likeness of
him. 8vo. Bew.

This sermon, now published at the request of a friend of Dr. Pel-
ling, in respect to his memory, is a sensible practicable discourse on
the words, “ Go thou and do likewise.” It inculcates doctrines not
the less important for having been preached near thirry years ago ;
and exhibits a character which deserves to be rescued from oblivion.
-The engraving is elegant.

E,
VI. Liberiy the Cloak of Maliciousness, both in the American Rebellion,

and in the Manners of the Times. Preached at Old Aberdeen, Feb.
26, 1778. Being the FAST-DAY appointed by Proclamation, &c.
By Alexander Gerard, D. D. Profefior of Divinity in King's Col-
lege. 8vo. 1 s. Cadell.

Dr. Gerard is very warm, with respect to the Americans. On their
part, all is undutiful and criminal; on ours, all is fair and just.
Whether things will appear exactly in the same light in HEAVEN and
in ScoTLAND,—what weight either cause will have in the scale of
Divine PROVIDENCE,-and how far (setting reason and argument,
and passion and prejudice aside) we are, hereafter, to form any judge-
ment from events, the present fashionable mode of judging, --we
must not now presume to determine. Time, and that ai no great
distance, will, probably, clear up the mists in which our understand.
ings seem, at present, bewildered. Mean while, we are sorry that
there should be any occasion for our recommending moderation and
caudor, and a more intimate acquaintance with the true principles *

of

This is not meant in reference to the peculiar claims of America, but to those general principles which are inherent in :he Erge