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duce their plan, and prove its practical fuperiority to the prefent fyftem. On this fubject he quotes the former ftrong declarations of Cobbett, fo completely at variance with his prefent doctrines.

Many more fenfible obfervations, and juft (though, as the author admits, not intirely novel) arguments, are to be found in this work; which deferves the public attention, as an antidote to the poifon fo induftriously infufed into the public mind, and fo dangerous to the peace of the country.

ART. 23. An Account of the Operations of the British Army, and of the State and Sentiments of the People of Portugal and Spain, during the Campaign of the Years 1868 and 1809. In a Series of Letters. By the Rev. James Wilmot Ormby, A. M. Chaplain on the Staff, &c. 2 Vols. Izmo. Vol. I. 238 PP. Vol. II. 278 pp.

125. Carpenter. 1809.

The transactions which thefe letters defcribe, and the chain of events which they relate, form a molt interefting period in the history of the prefent war; a period during which fuccefs was often attended by mortification, and victory had almost all the confequences of defeat. Thefe events the reader will find detailed with impartiality, and generally accompanied with judicious remarks, in the work before us.

The author commences with his embarkation for Portugal in Auguft, 1808, and defcribes his voyage, (in which there was nothing very uncommon,) his difembarkation in Portugal, which finally took place on the 26th of Auguft, five days after the battle of Vimeira, and four after the Armiftice which produced the Convention of Cintra. His account of the actions at Roleia and Vimeira accords with, and indeed feems to have been fince copied from, the letters from Sir A. Wellesley, which appeared in the Gazette. This, confidering the author's fituation, and that he could only have defcribed it from hearfay, was perhaps the fafcft method that he could have purfued. A defcription of the country through which the army marched in its fubfequent advance towards Lifbon occupies the next place in this narrative; and the writer takes ccafion to ftate the opinion of the army on the measure propofed by Sir A. Wellefley of a rapid purfuit after the battle of Vimeira, which, it feems, they, is general, highly approved. On this, and indeed on all military fubjects, he himfelf fpeaks with a becoming diffidence and unaffected candour. Yet, contrary to the opinion of the army in general, he pronounces in favour of the Convention of Cintra, on the fame grounds on which it was defended in this country. The author then purfues his narrative through the various tranfactions that took place in Portugal prior to the departure of Sir J. Moore's army for Spain; in which one of the circumstances that ftruck us moft is, the gallant defence of the French General Kellerman

by our British tars, when he was attacked by a Portuguese mob, and rescued by the boat's crew of a man of war at the im minent hazard of their own lives.

We pafs over the description of Lisbon and the adjacent country, which our limits would not permit us to detail; but we cannot help noticing (as a melancholy inftance of the afcendancy which the revolutionary intrigues of France have acquired on the continent) the confeffion of this writer, that, "notwithstanding all their offences, there was a strong French party in Lisbon after their departure. Neither outraged by their rapine, nor unde-` ceived by their perfidy, but too many" (fays the author,)" are dazzled by their conquefts, and duped by their promifes. The inherent love of change operates moft powerfully, and they flatter themfelves with the vain hope of regeneration from the tyrant of mankind."

The fubfequent campaign of Sir J. Moore, and the difafters endured by his army in Spain, are detailed by the author, in his fecond volume, with great candour, and with as much precision as could be expected from a writer not verfed in military science. The character given by him of that Commander is alike free from partiality and malignity, and accords, we believe, with the opinions of the moft judicious and unprejudiced witneffes of his operations. The author indeed afferts it to have been the almoft unanimous opinion of the army.

This narrative is judiciously interfperfed with defcriptions of the country, and remarks on the characters of the natives. Though not diftinguished by great acuteness of observation or profundity of reflection, it will be found, upon the whole, not only impartial and judicious, but entertaining and inftructive.

ART. 24.

Ferdinand Vindicated and Minifters Defended. 8vo. 29 pp. Hatchard.

1809.

The author of this little tract undertakes to prove, firft, "that the caufe of the Spanish patriots is founded on the bafis of justice and wifdom; and fecondly, that the conduct of the British Government towards the Spaniards has been judicious and politic." P. 5.

To maintain the firft of the points he alledges, that Ferdinand the Seventh is the lawful King of Spain, and that he has the requifite qualities to make him refpected and beloved. The title of Ferdinand is refted on the abdication of his father, Charles the Fourth; which the author contends, on the authority of Don Pedro de Cevallos, was fpontaneous and voluntary. We deem it fufficient (fo far as it refpects us, as the allies of Spain,) that the authority of Ferdinand is acknowledged in every town and village of that kingdom not occupied by the French armies. The author proceeds to how the character of king Ferdinand to be refpectable

and

and amiable. This alfo we deem immaterial to the queftion respecting the propriety and juftice of fupporting the Spanish patriots in the maintenance of their national independence. Confidering the foregoing points as proved, the writer next defends the conduct of Minifters in fending an army into Portugal, the deliverance of which country he justly (in our opinion) maintains to have been materially ferviceable to the Spanish caufe; inafmuch as it fet at liberty, not only the troops imprifoned by Junot, but (in effect) thofe Spanish armies which were employed in obferving his motions; for the author infifts fand, if we mistake not, is borne out by the evidence before the Court of Inquiry on the Convention of Cintra,) that it was in the power of the French General in Portugal to have marched into Spain and joined the army of Beffieres whenever he thought fit. He then, on the ufual grounds, defends the measure of fending the army of Sir John Moore into Spain, and afferts that force to have been adequate to the intended purpose. The foreign policy of the late Minifters, on the contrary, appears to him to be reprehenfible in feveral particulars; and he confiders them as having evidently failed in their plan of hoftility against France. With their errors he contrasts the con duct of the prefent Miniftry, especially their anticipation of the defigns of Napoleon, by the feizure of the Danish fleet, their protection of the Sovereign of Portugal, and efcorting him to the Brazils, and the liberal afftance afforded to the Spanish patriots. Yet he expreffes a wish for the acceffion of the Marquis Wellesley and Lord Melville to the Administration. His defire as to the former of thefe Noblemen has fince been fulfilled.

LAW.

ART. 25. Thoughts on Libels; and an impartial Inquiry into the prefent State of the British Army; with a few Words in anfwer to Cobbett's Critique on the Book before it was published!! Infcribed (without Permiffion) to his Royal Highness Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. By By a Patristic Loyalift. 8vo. 86 pp. 25. Egerton. 1809.

Events fubfequent to thofe which are the fubject of this pamphlet have occafioned the refignation of the royal perfon in whofe vindication this Author employed his pen. Yet we cannot but applaud the Author's zeal against the various libellers who had previously, upon flight grounds, (and in fome inftances refting on the most wicked falfhoods), attacked the character of the perfonage in queftion. The abominable libel by Hogan (who has fince fled from public expofure) is, amongst other publications, feverely, but justly, condemned by this writer; whofe good intentions

X

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXXV. MARCH, 1810.

tentions are not however fupported by adequate ability. His ftile is declamatory and abrupt, and his language often as coarfe (though not fo pointed) as that of Cobbett, against whom he directs a confiderable portion of his cenfure. He justly, however, reprobates the grofs inconfiftency and tergiverfations of that writer; which indeed had often been done before by abler pens. In the latter part of this work the Author ftates, we believe truly, the falutary regulations and great improvements in the army, introduced by the late Commander in Chief. Thefe, we truft, will long be remembered to his honour, when those writings in which his failings have been industriously blazoned and exag. gerated, fhall be configned to merited oblivion.

ANTIQUITIES.

ART. 26. A Topographical Account of the Parish of Scampton, in the County of Lincoln, and of the Roman Antiquities lately difcovered there; together with Anecdotes of the Family of Bolle. By the Rev. Cayley Illingworth, A. M. F. A. S. Archdeacon of Stow, and Relor of Scampton and Epworth, in the County of Lincoln. 410. 65 pp. l. 11s. 6d. Cadell and Davies.

1810.

The copies of the firft impreffion of this interefting work were not intended for fale, but were liberally prefented by the author to those among his neighbours, who were likely to be gratified by refearches of this nature. We had the good fortune to meet with a copy, and gave an ample account of it in our 32d vol. p. 386; offering three fuggeftions:-that fome appropriate additions might be made to the work, from certain parts of the Archeologia; that the reprinting it, for fale, would be acceptable to many perfons, whofe collections might be enriched by it; and that, as the profits of fale were not regarded by the author, they might be well applicd in aid of fome charitable institution in his neighbourhood.

We have the fatisfaction of finding these fuggeftions attended to, and the work improved in feveral refpects: fo that even they who poffefs copies formerly printed may be gratified by purchafing and attending to the history in its prefent form; and we can affure every purchafer, that he will contribute towards a charity most attentively conducted, and producing relief and comfort to many worthy objects-the Fund for the Widows and Orphans of diftreffed Clergymen in the County of Lincoln.

• We muft except the paffage, from Cobbet's Regifter, cited in this pamphlet; which is not only coarfe and vulgar, but stupid and almost unmeaning ribaldry.

The

The price will appear very moderate, when it is confidered, that here are fifteen maps and plates, by Bafire, highly creditable to him. The portraits of Sir John Bolle and Sir Charles Bolle are fingularly interefting; the painting of the former was by Zucharo, of the latter by Vandyke. We muft express our hope, not only that this work will be received with favour by antiquaries in general, and particularly within the county of Lin coln, where researches of this kind are much wanted; but alfo that it may animate literary men in other parts of the kingdom to devote fome of their hours to enquiries of the fame nature, interesting and delightful to every man of liberal education.

DIVINITY.

ART. 27. An Inquiry into the Caufe of the Holy Communion being fo little attended. By Thomas Pennington, M. A. Rector of Thorley, Herts, and late Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. 8vo. 55 PP. 1s. Rivingtons. 1809.

This author confeffes himself much obliged to thofe excellent Effays of Bishops Wilfon and Gibfon on the Lord's Supper.

"His chief aim has been, to take as much as he could from that awe which deters fo many from frequenting the Holy Table, and impress upon the mind the neceffity of a regular attendance at it."

Much wholefome inftruction is given on this fubject. Thofe words in the Exhortation, " we eat and drink our own damnation," do certainly require to be explained by Minifters to their parishioners. But furely, the words which foon after follow are fufficient to remove any unneceffary fears: " repent ye truly for your fins paft, have a lively and ftedfaft faith in Chrift our Saviour, amend your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men: fa fhall ye be meet partakers of thofe holy myfteries."

ART. 28. "The Fountain of Living Waters.” A Sermon preached before the University of Cambridge, on Sunday, May 14, 1809. By the Rev. Charles Simeon, M. A. Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. 8vo. 22 PP. IS. Cadell and Co.

1809.

The preacher here diftinguishes between the theory and the practice of Religion, and most juftly prefers the latter. He fays "To the former, your minds are now directed, from time to time, by a zealous and learned Profeflor, who is giving us the refult of his own laborious researches, and commendably exerting his talents to promote among us the too much neglected study of

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