year preached as a fermon, and has been fince much enlarged. The text was 2 Peter i. 16-21. From thefe paffages Mr. Taylor, with equal perfpicuity and energy, endeavours to fhow that the Scriptures are true, and that they are written from the infpiration of God; that kind of infpiration which has been ftyled fuperintendency, or that the writers were fo far under the divine direction as to be preserved from mistakes,' in the facts, the doctrines, and the duties enjoined. This indeed must be admitted, if the Scriptures are for a moment confidered either as difpenfations of the divine will, or rules of conduct dictated by divine authority. On the whole, we think this Effay very able, clear, and convincing. Hißorical Memoirs of Religious Diffenfion; addressed to the Seventeenth Parliament of Great Britain. 8vo. 2. Murray. Our author's object is to contrast the present professions of the Disenters, in their attempt to procure the repeal of the teil and corporation acts, with their former political conduct. He appears an able and zealous fupporter of the church, but feems too irritable to be a wholly unprejudiced enquirer. There are fpheres of repulfion around every page, which will keep the cager Diffenter at a diflance; and it is impoffible that they can for a moment coalefce. But we think it incumbent on the Diffenters to examine the Hiftorical Remarks. The author of the Righ's of the Protefiant Diffenters afferted,' fhould certainly attend to the remarks of Camden, who obferves, it is faid, that a feparation had taken place, even in 1559; and the test was confequently not etablished previous to the public diffent. The conduct of the Dillenters, when in power, as we have often binted, requires an apology; and the affertion of Burnet, that James fent the fix bishops to the Tower, by the exprefs advice of the Diffenters,' requires fome confideration. In thort, many parts of this letter, though perhaps too much acrimony may be occafionally obfervable in it, requires ferious consideration: the author is able, intelligent, and learned, In the more modern part of the history he is lefs defensible; and it is certainly unjustifiable to impute the riots in 1780, in the remotest degree to the Diffenters. The republican principles in their late publications; the hints in the more violent refolutions that fome other requifitions are to follow, if the repeal is granted; and their attempts to bias the opinions of members by a previous promife in their favour, are properly enlarged on, though fomewhat invidioufly connected with fome of the more violent outrages of party in different periods of our national history. Some little circumstances, which feem to have influenced the opinions and the conduct of the Diflenters, are omitted. POETRY. POETRY. The Thespian Oracle; or, a new Key to Theatrical Amyfements. 150 The former collection of prologues and epilogues, in two volumes, may, perhaps, require a supplement from the works of modern bands. Our editor has fupplied this defect, and added fome others, beyond the era of that publication. We do not, however, recollect that any of the pieces or the former collection are reprinted in the Oracle. The accuracy of the title we might object to, if fome inftructions in the art of acting were not premifed. In the cays of Garrick, it was enough to feel, and to enforce feelings. We have now accurate mealures of the angle of the elbows, of the width of each flep, and the exact altitude to which each arm may be raifed, in admiration, furprize, or agony. The Gentle Shepherd, a Scotch Paftoral. By Allan Ramsay. Attempted in English, by Margaret Turner. 8vo. 55. Nicol. The merits of the Gentle Shepherd depend fo much on the fimplicity of its Doric dialect, and the peculiar manners ufually affociated with it, that we considered an English verfion as an arduous attempt. On comparing it with the original, which is printed in the oppofite page, we find, in a few instances, the force of the fentiment not perfectly preferved; but, in fome of thefe, it depends on a peculiar meaning of a Scottish word, which it was perhaps impollible to exprefs otherwife than by a circumlocution, and which could only be rendered by a fimilar phrafe. Sometimes perhaps a word or two might be changed with fuc cefs; but, in general, mifs Turner has fucceeded very happily. She has unfolded this pleafing paftoral to English eyes, and rendered its beauties more eafily acceffible: yer, as the legislature has restored the Scottish dress to the Highlanders, we know not how the will compound for her offence against the ftature in that cafe made and provided.' As fhe has taken off the kirtle, it is probable that, in her future life, the does not mean to monopolize the breeches. Letters from Simkin the Second to his dear Brother in Wales, for the Year 1790; giving a full and circumftantial Account of all the most material Points in the Trial of Warren Haftings, Efq. in the three laft Sessions of the laft Parliament. 8vo. 3s. Boards. Stockdale. Second parts ufually fall off; but in this we fcarcely find a veftige of the former fpirit. The meteor is burft, and even the brilliant fparkles are extinguifhed. Carmen Carmen Sæculare, pro Gallica Gente Tyrannidi Ariftocratica erepta. 4to. 15. Davis. We cannot compliment very highly the poetical fire, or the claffical elegance of this compofition; feveral of the ftanzas are deficient in each respect, and the flame of liberty alone is meritoriously confpicuous. It feems to be the effect of the fudden fervour afflatu fubito moveri Sentio pectus. Perhaps the two following ftanzas afford a better specimen of the merits and defects of the poem, than any other we could felect. Xage, ter felix Ludovice, Xage! Crimine fceptra! Te videt divus Ludovicus alter; Tandem aliquando !” NOVEL S. The Negro equalled by few Europeans. Tranflated from the French 3 Vols. 12mo. 95. Robinfons. We have already given a fhort account of this novel in one of our foreign sketches: it is only neceffary at prefent to obferve, that it is tranflated with care and accuracy, and affords a pleafing variety in this department of our reading. Elifa de Clairville. An Hiftorical Novel, written during the Reign of Philip Auguftus, King of France. 2 Vols. 120. Lane.. This is a very uninteresting French fiory, perhaps tranflated from fome work of an earlier period. If we can except any part from the general character of trite infipidity, it is the ftory of St. Clair: yet that is debased by a timid abject superstition. Edmund; or, the Child of the Cafle, a Novel. 2 Vols. 12mo. 5. Lane. Uncommon and unexpected incidents please by their novelty and the furprize which they occafion; but when what is un common is abfurd, and what is unfufpected is highly improbable, difguft takes the place of pleafure; and it is a Reviewer only, fteeled by frequent practice to inflexible perfeverance, who does not throw afide the work with contempt. The adventures before us are not only abfurd and improbable, but almoft wholly unintelligible. The 65. The Perfidious Guardian; or, the Viciffitudes of Fortuno, exemplified in the Hiftory of Lucretia Lawfon. 2 Vols. 1zmo. Wilkins, The ftory of a youthful pen, abounding in love, rapes, refcues, and matrimony. It is very trite, very infipid, and very improbable. The young lady, for we are told in the preface that the author is an unexperienced female, talks too knowingly of bagnios, of various modes of feduction, of keeping, &c. But, as a blind poet has defcribed vifible objects, fo we may fuppofe our young author fpeaks from imitation. POLITICA L. Leons to a Young Prince, on the prefent Difpofition in Europe to a General Revolution. 800. 2s. 6d. Simmons. The author of this pamphlet profcfs himself to be utterly unconnected with any political party; and it must be acknow ledged that he writes with the freedom and apparent impartiality of a man whofe principles are independent. To the prince whom he has in his view, he fuggefts a variety of fentiments, which are worthy of being inculcated, and will always meet with a candid reception from a liberal and ingenuous mind. Some ftrong, and not very favourable traits are delineated of a few of thofe men who are fuppofed to be politically connected with the prince. It would be improper for us to give any opinion on a fubject of this nature; and we muft, therefore, refer our readers to the pamphlet, which is far from being unworthy of a perufal. In the characteristical part of the fubject, we think we can recognize the author from a former production. Letters lately published in the Diary, on the Subject of the prefent Difpute with Spain. Under th; Signature of Verus. 8vo. 15.6d. Kearley. It is one of the inconveniencies attending a free government, that its measures can not only be difcuffed, however unfeafonably, but an attempt be made with impunity to mislead the minds of the people, even with regard to a fubject in which both the honour and interests of the nation are deeply concerned. We have not without indignation feen this remark lately verified by a writer who appears in the character of a Spanish advocate; but whose object, instead of afferting the claims of that nation, is evidently to traduce the measures, and injure the cre dit of our own government. It affords us pleafure to find that a conduct fo reprehenfible has excited the attention of the writer now under confideration; who developes with much force and perfpicuity, the various mifreprefentations, and expofes the fallacious arguments of that interested difputant. Thefe Letters may ferve to prove that the object of negociation on the part of Great Britain, is founded in fentiments of national justice and dignity; and with refpect to the conduct of, miuitters on that . bead, head, nothing furely can be determined with any degree of cettainty, until not only every tiep in the negociation, but the refult of it, be publicly known. Tranflation of a Letter from Monfieur de Tracy, Member of the French National Affembly, to Mr. Burke, in Anfwer to his Remarks on the French Revolution. 8vo. 15. Johníon. This Letter relates to fome obfervations made by Mr. Burke on the French Revolution, in a speech in the house of commons, on the ninth of February laft; and the author acquaints us, that he is indebted entirely for his information to extracts given in the newfpapers. It muft occur to M. de Tracy, that newfpaper-authority is a bad foundation for difpute. Mr. Burke's obfervations on the revolution in France are, we are informed by an advertisement, foon to be published under his own infpection. M. de Tracy, therefore, will then be better enabled to judge of his principles. In the mean time, we think he reafons plautibly, but perhaps with fome partiality, on the fubject. Mifcellaneous Propofals for increafing our National Wealth twelve Millions a Year; and also for augmenting the Revenue without a new Tax, or the further extenfion of the Excife Laws. By John Donaldjon, Efq. 8vo. 25. Murray. Thefe Propofals, which are, doubtless, in their nature very important, are Ipecified by the author under a variety of heads; the mott confpicuous of which are, to find employment for convicts, to put the fitheries on a folid foundation, to put an end to fmuggling, to prevent houfe-breaking, &c. The leading principle of Mr. Donaldfon's projects feems to be, to encourage industry in various ways; the beneficial confequences of which must be univerfally acknowledged. He addreifes himself particularly to the minifter, from whom only he can hope for any effectual attention to his Propofals. Philofophical Reflections on the late Revolution in France, and the Conduct of the Diffenters in England; in a Letter to the Rev. Dr. Priefley. By J. Courtenay, Efq. M. P. The Third Edition with Additions. 8vo. 25. Becket. : These ironical reflections are extremely humorous and entertaining they are replete with judicious remarks, in energetic, and elegant language, and difplay no little knowledge both of political and religious fubjects. Our ironical author recommends abfolute monarchy, as the only peaceable and quiet fyftem of government; tythes as the teft of religion; and hierarchy as the pureft model of Chriftianity. The revolution of France, and the attempts to abolish the flave-trade, hare equally our author's farcaflic fhrewdnefs. Be this as it may, it is inconteftibly proved by the celebrated author of Ancient Mythology, and univerially admit ted, |