In fpeaking of Charges and Difcourfes feparately publifhed, our attention is forcibly called to that Charge of the learned Bishop of Gloucefter, Dr. Huntingford, which completes his inftructions to the Clergy, on the fubject of Ordination. In our 30th Volume, we spoke of a Charge, which was entitled "Preparations for the Holy Order of Deacons ;" the present is a fimilar book of inftruction for those who are about to receive the holy order of Priefts. Both are truly worthy of the learning, piety, and abilities of the Bishop, and ought to be studied with attention by every candidate. The Bishop of Carlisle's Fast Sermont is full of excellent advice, highly adapted to the neceffities of the time. Mr. Walker's Sermon, after the funeral of Bishop Strachan, contains much more than fuch a difcourfe can ufually comprehend; the hiftorical view of an Apoftolical Church, with an elucidation of the principles and conduct of its rulers. On the celebration of the royal Jubilee, we, have perufed feveral very good. difcourfes; but among them we ought undoubtedly to diftinguish that of the Principal of Marischall College, Aberdeen, Dr. Brown §. When we meet fo old a friend, we are happy to find him unchanged in principles and powers. Mr. Archdeacon Daubeny's Sermon at St. Paul's, fuggefts fome very important cautions on the fubject of general education; and the apprehenfions which he expreffes on the incroachments of latitudinarian fyftems, are fuch as no man can treat with levity, who is not himself infected with religious indifference. Other Difcourfes have been noticed, which might be mentioned here; but we must always fet bounds to an-enumeration which, though pleafing to ourselves, might to our readers appear tedious. No. II. p. 133. No. IV. p. 417. + No. I. p. 83. META METAPHYSICS. After celebrating various works of Dr. Kirwan, for utility and diligence of inveftigation, we find ourfelves obliged to enter into controverfy with him, on the first volume of his Metaphyfical Effays*. He there adopts, and ftrenuously contends for the ideal fyftem of Berkeley, which we had always been inclined to regard as the dream of philofophical genius. To the arguments of its prefent advocate we cannot yield our affent, but to deny our refpectful notice to a work of fo much acutenefs, from an author so justly esteemed, is not confiftent with our feelings of propriety. The felf taught Samuel Drew, in writing on the Identity and gene al Resurrection of the buman Body †, has ftrongly exemplified that talent which nature has made characteristic of his mind; and though we cannot affent to all his no tions, we are pleafed with the boldness of his attempt in a good caufe. It is not often that an anonymous' work deferves recommendation, but the Effays on the Pleafures of Literary Compofition form an exception: and though we do not agree with the author in all his opinions, we think, that if he has not already a name, he has at least the talents to acquire one. HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY. On the former fubject we have at prefent little' to fay: a Curfory View of Pruffia, containing the hiftory of its decline and fall §, being almost the only book of that nature which we have lately taken up. It is apparently written by a perfon well acquainted" No. V. p. 453. and VI. p. 587. + No. II. p. 112. No. V. p. 552. § No. 1. p. 73. A 4 with with the events. Obfervations on the historical Work of Mr. Fox, have alfo a reference to this clafs. They correct fome mifreprefentations, and give a new narrative of some facts; and proceeding from the pen of the Hon. George Rofe*, have the pledge of his well-known accuracy in their behalf, With Biography our prefent volume opens, and, what is unufual, with the Life of a Saint, the Cornish Hermit, St. Neot t. But, alas! the pen from which it proceeded will not delight or inftruct us with any new production! The perfpicacious, active, and well-ftored mind of John Whitaker is removed to another state of being; and affociates perhaps with the foul of the royal Saint, whom he honoured with his latest attention. Another divine, not fainted by a Pope, but worthy of much more veneration than Popes themselves have ufually deferved, is cele brated by Mr. Churton . Dean Nowell, the learned and pious Catechift, one of the fathers of our temperate English Reformation, is no longer deftitute of the honour which he had fo highly deferved; and the account of him will be found at once elaborate and fatisfactory. Of General Washington, we had already been fatisfied with a copious Life by Mar fball, an American Judge §; but the enthufiafm of his countrymen is not fo eafily contented. Two other lives of him, by Aaron Bancroft, a paftor, and by David Ramfay, a phyfician, have fince been offered to the world. They have both the merit of being more concife than Marfhall's work, and therefore more adapted to common circulation. Of. our English Claffics every new illuftration is acceptable, and Dr. Barret's Effay on the early Life of Swift, if it eftablish no very important facts, at leaf occupies the mind agreeably on the youth of a No. 1. p. 27. No. II, p. 181, both together, No. II. p. 161. + No. I. p. 1. mot moft original writer. Of a very different clafs was the Italian dramatift Alfieri, but his Memoirs written by himfelf* have at least a lively amufement to offer, and abound with fingular anecdote. The life of Apollonius, as written by Philoftratus †, has little reference to genuine biography; but, as an ancient work, it demands fome degree of attention, and gives fcope to learned illuftration. Prince's Worthies of Devon, long a scarce book, is now reprinted for the advantage of the curious. They to whom books are valuable, only in proportion as they are scarce, will hardly thank the Editors for their trouble. The Life of Dryden, by Walter Scott, will be mentioned when we speak of the edition to which it is annexed §. TOPOGRAPHY. Topography, to be feen in perfection, should anite the talents of the biographer, the antiquary, and the tourift; and when all have taken their turn, an inftructive and pleafing work is produced. In Mr. Illingworth's account of Scampton, in Lincolnfhire, the antiquary a little prevails; but the work is fuch as liberal readers of every clafs must infallibly approve. We have concluded in this volume our accounts of Mr. Polbele's voluminous works on Devonshire and Cornwall **; and we can fairly fay of them, that, in point of diligent refearch, and elegant illuftration, they have feldom been furpaffed. Mr. Meyrick has rendered to the County of Cardigan tt a fimilar fervice; and his volume will doubtlefs be commended by thofe who delight in * No. I. p. 88. p. 630. ვი. + No. VI. p. 569. See below, p. xvii. No. JV. p. 369. No. I. p. 23. No. VI. No. III. p. 306. See vol. xxxiii. ++ Na. IV. p. 342. copious copious information. Chelsea has at length found its hiftorian, and Mr. Faulkner has fhown, that even thofe things which are clofe at our doors, require fome antiquary to investigate, and fome hiftorian to record them. Leckie's Topography of London † is a work of mere reference, without defcription, and not profeffing particular refearch; but it is a guide to ftrangers, of the completeft kind, referring to the name of every place in London in alphabetical order. Mr. Bigland defcribes the World at large, and though the extent of his fubject gives more properly another name to his labours, yet, as he ftands alone in our prefent volume, we venture to introduce him here. VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. As our countrymen are at prefent either excluded from France, or fhut up in it, we muft rely chiefly upon foreigners for reports of its actual ftate. In this point of view, we are obliged to Col. Pinkney, an American, for the account of a tour made by him in 1807 and 1808 §; not that his materials are very important, but that fomething is contributed, where at prefent a fcarcity prevails. To other Americans, Captains Lewis and Clarke, we are indebted for a view of the interior of their own continent, and for travels by the Miffeuri and Columbia Rivers, where no civilized enquirer had till now intruded upon the retirements of the natives. Their expedition was the fame. which was lefs perfectly defcribed by Gefs, and their route entirely different from that of our countryman, Sir Alexander Mackenzie **. From the accounts of both it is evident, that the No, VI, p. 624. + No.. III. p. 311. No. IV. No. II. p. 247. ** See our xxth volume. |