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te this ftupid objection is, that it notoriously returned, not by any defign or error of Ministers, but in confequence of a mifunderstanding between that fovereign and the commander of our troops, the late Sir John Moore; the circumftances of which have never been made public, probably out of respect to our unfortunate ally. It is impoffible, therefore, for the author to wound the Adminiftration, but through the fides of that general, whom he af terwards (when it fuits his views,) fo warmly panegyrizes, and fo feelingly laments.

The reft of this pamphlet confifts chiefly of empty declamations against Ministers; whom the author accufes of being "Poets, Pleaders, and Dotards ;" as if no man of genius, or of legal education, (with which, by the way, Mr. Pitt, and feveral other Minifters, commenced their career) could be qualified to direct the political concerns of this country.

ART. 26. British Liberty and Philanthropy: a Work intended to place the Liberty of the Prefs in a true Point of View; to maintain Good Order, and to protect Bookfellers and Printers from Unjuft Profecutions. Also pointing out, in few Words, the most practical Method to render all Nations free, united, peaceable, and happy. By a Philanthropist. 8vo. 41 pp. 1s. Hughes. 1808. The familiar fentence of Parturiunt montes, &c. was never (as the reader may anticipate) more completely illuftrated than by the pamphlet before us; which confifts principally of a Speech at one of the Debating Societies, on a question respecting the Liberty of the Prefs. Such an affembly is a fit arena for every wild and abfurd, and every democratic and mischievous orator. This writer, or speaker, however, undoubtedly belongs to the former, not the latter clafs: for his reveries, though fantastic enough, feem well-intentioned and harmlefs. The greater part of this curious Speech confifts of loose and defultory remarks on former fpeakers, expreffed in vulgar language, and here and there interlarded with an oath. The fcheme, however, which is to “render all nations free, peaceable, and happy," is neither more nor less than to set on foot a newspaper, to be intitled The Philan thropist; a name, the charm of which alone is to fecure it's being always conducted with perfect impartiality and diftinguished ability. Indeed this cannot be doubted; as we learn that the author himself will condescend to be a large contributor to its contents. The profits of this publication (which is, of course, to have an immenfe fale and circulation,) are to conftitute a Philanthropic Fund, and to be applied to the fupport of bookfellers or printers unjustly profecuted; a measure which, could it be carried into effect, would, (we think), be liable to grofs abufe, and probably produce very mischievous confequences.

The author's name is not in the title page; but, in the con

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BRIT. CRIT, VOL. XXXV. FEB. 1810.

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tents we are told it is Ruffel; an eccentric writer, who has pub lished feveral works under the ftrange title of a Verbotomist. this, and we believe his other writings, his head, not his heart, seems to be in fault: though we cannot but condemn the paffage in which he endeavours to depreciate the Literary Fund; the more particularly, because (if we are not mifinformed) he has been more than once a partaker of its bounties.

ART. 27. The Principles and Conduct of the War. 8vo. 55 PPHatchard. 1809.

That, in the prefent fituation of Europe, the war in which we are engaged is equally juft and neceffary, is a truth fo generally acknowledged as to require, in the opinion of the present writer, no further proof. His object is to enquire and ascertain whether that war has been properly or improperly carried on, and to defend the meafures adopted by the prefent minifters. He begins by attacking their predeceffors and opponents for the inefficacy of their measures during their short administration, and particularly for omitting to fend, at a critical period of the war, (when Buonaparte had been checked at Elau) a British force to the Baltic, the Elbe, Holland, or Flanders; and impairing our naval as well as military force, by armaments fent to Egypt, the Dardanelles, and Buenos Ayres. He alfo opposes a doctrine imputed (we prefume erroneously) to Lord Grenville, that "we fhould leave the continental nations to fight their own battles, and only oppofe, by a vigorous internal defence, the undeviating advancement of the French towards an univerfal monarchy."

The Author then proceeds to fhow, that the refources of this country are ftill unimpaired, and adequate to all the exertions that may be required, and, having ftrongly urged the neceffity of carrying on the war by continental co-operation, examines the measures purfued by the prefent Minifters for that purpose, particularly during the late campaigns in Spain and Portugal.

On the fubject of Spain, he juftly, we think, reprehends the defpondency which has lately prevailed, and the cry for giving. up the Spanish caufe. We cannot, however, agree with him, that our operations were upon as large a fcale as we were war. ranted in adopting. It would, on the contrary, appear to us, that when once the determination to aflift that people, not merely by fupplies of arms and money, and by coafting expeditions (which method would, poffibly, have proved the most judicious) but by an army marched into the heart of the country; that army fhould have been powerful enough to form a principal arm of the united forces, and a rallying point for the Spaniards in the event of their defeat. Yet appearances certainly juftified, in a great degree, the attempt, even on a confined scale; and perhaps we condemn measures which we should ourselves have adopted, judging, as is too frequently the practice, wholly from the

event.

We coincide, however, with this Author that, should the univerfal hatred of the French, and the abhorrence of Bonaparte's treachery, and their religious enthufiafm, remain in the breafts of the Spaniards, the conteft will end in the re-establish. ment of their national independence. The Author proceeds to fhow the wide difference between "the war of the fucceffion," (as it is called), and the prefent conteft in Spain; and argues, with fome fpecioufnefs, if not juftice, against the policy of fending large armies into that kingdom. He inclines to blame the advance of Sir John Moore to Sahagan, deeming it would have been more prudent, immediately on the defeat of the Spanish armies, to have applied his whole attention to the defence of Gallicia. To this opinion we strongly incline. He then explains, and upon very probable grounds, the motives which Minifters must have had for reinforcing the troops in Portugal, fo as to form an army competent to the defence of that kingdom, or (if favourable circumftances should recur) a fecond attempt in favour of Spain. That there was much to encourage fuch an attempt, is, we think, diftinctly shown; and the advance of Lord Wellington into that kingdom, after the expulfion of Soult from Portugal, appears to have been founded on fair prospects, and to have produced feveral advantages to the common caufe, though it failed of complete fuccefs.

The reft of this pamphlet is employed in defending the policy of Minifters, in attempting at the fame time the relief of Spain, and diverfions in Italy and Holland. This appears to us to be one of Sir Roger de Coverley's queftions, and we therefore refer the reader to the work itself for the Author's arguments; which require to be perufed in detail, and are certainly worthy of attention.

DIVINITY.

ART. 28. A Letter from a Country Clergyman to his Parishioners; in which are confidered, a few of the Arguments and Practices of fome of the Modern Diffenters. By the Rev. John Nance, M. A. Author of Sermons on various Subjects, &c. 8vo. 33 1s. 6d. Rivingtons. 1809.

pp.

A very feasonable and interefting admonition; warning the party addreffed, against "mifchiefs incalculably pernicious in their confequences;" which, in thefe days, call for a degree of vigilance much greater than feems to be directed towards them. The fallacy of the doctrines, taught by itinerant and unfettled preachers, is first pointed out; the doctrines and the fervice of our Church are then ftrongly vindicated; very wholefome admonition is offered (pp. 25, 26), to the clergy, against ill

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example on their part; the infinuating practices, and artful expedients, of many fectaries are difclofed; and the work concludes with this charitable and wife advice: "Whenever therefore we perceive a fincere difpofition in our opponents to conciliation or friendly union, let us embrace it with ardour and cordiality; as we have an opportunity let us be willing to do good unto all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith.' But let not this inclination weaken or fuperfede the wife man's advice: My Son, fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change'.”

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ART. 29. Britain's Acclamation; a Sermon, preached at the Parif Church of St. Lawrence, Reading, Berks, on the 25th of October, 1809, being the Anniversary of his Majefty's Acceffion to the Throne, and the Entrance on the 50th Year of his Reign. By William Marsh, A. M. Vicar of Bafildon, Berks, and Chaplain to the Worshipful the Mayor. Published by Request of the Corporation. 8vo. 32 PP. Is. Reading printed and fold; London, Hatchard, &c. 1809.

This very loyal and animated difcourfe is founded on the favourite fentence "God fave the King," as it ftands connected with other words in 1 Sam. x. 24. The preacher has no fooner introduced his fubject, by a proper notice of the text, than he calls the attention of his hearers, "Firft, to the glory of our conftitution, of which the King is the head;" afterwards to the "peculiar bleffings attendant on the prefent reign."

Under the former head he pronounces a fhort, but clear and difcriminative eulogy on the British conftitution; one in which he will be joined by all who are not perverted by Jacobinifin, or that cloke for Jacobinifm, Refromifm, if we may be allowed to coin fuch a word.

Under the fecond, he recapitulates the well known acts of his prefent majesty, favourable to our civil and religious liberties; his patriotic declaration, that "he gloried in the name of Briton;" and another more recent expreffion of his fentiments. He then expatiates, with lefs ftrict propriety, on feveral bleffings which have arifen in his Majefty's time, though without his particular interference and he concludes, as the cafe certainly required, with direct notice of his many and exemplary perfonal virtues.

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In the close, he calls the attention of his congregation from time to eternity, and places them in imagination at that awful period, when all worldly diftinétions fhall be done away, and faith and obedience can alone avail. Our readers will fully perceive from this analyfis, that this is not one of those difcourfes, whofe publication was requested through mere compliment, but that it well deferved to be made public: and happy are we to say that "Gop

"GOD SAVE THE KING" was the general acclamation of Britons on that memorable day.

ART. 30. A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Bofton, on the 25th Day of October, 1809: being the first Day of the fiftieth Year of his Majefty's happy Reign. By the Reverend Samuel Partridge, Vicar. 8vo. 14 PP. 1s. 6d. Boston, printed : Lackington, London. 1809.

Mr. Partridge, whofe loyalty and attachment to our conftitution have been evinced on many other occafions, particularly in his various charges to the Grand Juries of his district*, here touches. of course very fimilar topics to thofe handled by other preachers, on the fame occafion. To unanimity, in the prefent arduous truggle, he thus exhorts his hearers.

"In the prefent moft awful fituation of the kingdom, long and laboured exhortations to ftand forward manfully, in fortune and in perfon, for the defence of it, need not be addreffed to British hearers. It is enough to remind them, that it depends, under the divine Providence, upon the fpirit which our prefent' dangers, and the example of our Sovereign-who has folemnly declared his refolution to ftand or fall with his people-shall excite in the public mind; whether our independence as a nation, and our individual lives, liberty and property, fhall be preferved; or whether we fhall bend our necks to the most in tolerable foreign yoke, that was ever impofed upon any people.”

P. 10.

ART. 31. Apoftolical Injun&tions. A Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of St. Mary, Stoke-Newington, Middlefex, on Wednesday, October 25, 1809; being the Day of his Majefty's Acceffion to the Thrane. By George Gafkin, D. D. Rector of that Parijb. 8vo. 26 pp. Printed by Law and Gilbert, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell.

As this fermon does not, on its title page, appear to be published by any bookfeller; and as it is affectionately addreffed and prefented to the congregation to which it was preached, we are doubtful whether it be a proper fubject of our criticifm. It is however fo plain, fo pious, and fo practical, that we cannot refuse ourselves the pleasure of recommending it to the ferious perufal of the middling and lower orders of the people in other parishes than that of Stoke-Newington. The apoftolical injunctions, which are fo earnestly enforced by Dr. Gafkin, are (1 Peter ii. 17.) Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the King; and

* See our Review for Nov. 1809. p. 517.

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