ers have the fecret of reducing trees and fhrubs of all kinds to a dwarfish fpecies. The millionaries affure us they have seen pines and cedars, forty years old, no more than two feet high, yet proportionate in trunk, branches, and leaves.

The most extraordinary of the animals of China, is that which refembles the rat, but which is of the fize of the elephant. Its haunts are in obfcure caverns, and it carefully avoids the light. It fupplies an ivory as white as that of the elephant, but which does not fplit, and is more eafily worked,

One of the most beautiful birds of this country, if not of the whole world, is the golden pheafant; as remarkable for the beautiful proportions of its body, as for the brilliancy, vivacity, and variety of its colours. A bright red and yellow fhade its wings and tail, and it bears a fuperb tuft on its head. The fleth of this bird is more delicate than that of the European pheafant.

The most fingular of their fifh is that mentioned by the emperor Kien-long, in his panegyric on Moukden. This animal ap pears to be only half a fifh; it is flat, and, in form, resembles the fole of a fhoe; its fcales are fine, its colour dark; it has only one eye, and has fcales and fins only on one fide; fo that it cannot fwim fingle, but muft join itfelf with its companion, and the two thus united feem to form but one animal.

In the forefts of Tartary, north of the great wall, a fpecics of flying fox is found the wings are nothing more than thin membranes, which extending from one foot to the other terminate at the tail, and the animal can fly only from a high tree to a lower, he cannot mount.

China contains a precious animal which, though common enough there, is found no where elfe; it is the mufk-deer, the perfume of which is perfect, The bag which contains the musk is closed by a very thin fkin, and covered by fine hair. The flesh of this roe-buck is good to eat, and is ferved at the most delicate tables. The female has no musk, or, at least, what she has is without odour. This animal ufually feeds on ferpents, for though the ferpents here are enormous, the mufk-deer finds no trouble in killing them; they being fo ftupified by the fcent of the mufk,

as to remain motionless.

The handfomeft quadruped of China is a ftag, which never grows larger than a common dog. Mandarines and princes purchase them at a dear rate, and keep them as curiofities in their gardens. They have another fpecies exceedingly large, which they call the horse-flag.

The Chinese horfes have neither the beauty, ftrength, nor fpeed of ours, nor do the inhabitants know how to break them: they are obliged to geld them, after which they become gentle and fami liar. The military horfes are fo timid, as to fly at the neighing of their Tartarian brethren, and this timidity is characteristic of their riders; it is not therefore aftonishing that the Chinese, have been fo often conquered by the Tartars.

A fpecies of tyger, without tail and with the body of a dog, is found in China; this of all animals is faid to be the most feroci

ous

ous and fwift: but the Chinese have lately found a method of deftroying them. They affemble towards evening, and, enclofed by a ftrong palifade, imitate the cry of the tyger, which brings together all that are in the neighbourhood, and while the tygers endeavour to root up the palifading, the Chinese kill them with their arrows.

The fecond part of this valuable work, in which the govern ment, manners, and customs of the Chinese are described, we fhall endeavour to give fome account of, in a future Number, if our numerous engagements to the public will permit.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE.

DIVINITY.

The Benefit of early Inflruction in Religion, illuftrated and evinced: in a Sermon, preached at St. Thomas's, January 1, 1787, for the Benefit of the Charity-School in Gravel-Lane, Southwark. By Abraham Rees, D.D. F. R. S. 8vo. 6d. Cadell.

THIS

HIS is a clear, correct, and judicious difcourfe, from Pfalm lxxi. 17. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wonderous works.'-On the subjec of early inftruction it is not eafy to advance new arguments, or to adorn a difcourfe with new obfervations. Dr. Rees acts very properly, in not aiming at refinements, or pursuing vi fionary plans he has laboured to enforce what is already known; and to elucidate a common fubject, by viewing it in different lights. It is a very useful and practical Sermon, and merits our fincere commendations.

A Sermon, in which the principal Doctrines of the Gospel are enumerated, and the Neceffity of believing them with a true Heart, proved. By R. Houfman, A. B. 8vo. 6d.

A Letter to the Rev, Mr. R. Houfman, occafioned by his late Sermon. 8vo. 6d. Johnson.

Mr. Houfman was late of St. John's college, Cambridge: we can eafily perceive of what college he is at prefent. He reproaches the clergy for preaching dry morality, and preferring fuch ufelefs trash to heart-cheering divinity. He would have all the fermons which are preached contain doctrines confonant to the Articles of Religion and the Homilies; in short, in the language of his text, he thinks minifters fhould not avoid declaring the whole council of God.' It is impoffible that opinions can be more diftant than thofe of Mr. Houfman and Mr. Bretland; yet both contend for the neceffity of publicly declaring the faith that is in them. To whom fhall the unlettered peafant then have recourfe for a decifion? or on what foundation can he determine, who is the proper interpreter of God's word? We fcarcely wanted this ftrong contraft to inforce the

6

im

impropriety of introducing uncertain, at least difputed tenets, in the pulpit. The fupporters of thefe opinions are not, however, very numerous; and we hope that they will not increase.

The author of the Letter to Mr. Houfman anfwers his ob jections in many refpects, and fhows that the Liturgy of the church of England is not at variance with its Articles. He properly reproves Mr. Houfman for fome of his doctrines, and difcovers both good fenfe, and a knowlege of his fubject.

A Charge and Sermon, together with a Confeffion of Faith, delivered at the Ordination of the Rev Mr. George Birley, on Wednesday, October 18, 1786, at St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. 8vo. 15. Buckland.

Thefe are the ufual exercifes, on the ordination of diffenting minifters; and the fubjects have always fome connection with the defign of the ceremony, or the fituation of the preachers. Novelty is uncommon in circumftances fo trite, and in paths fo beaten; but we ought to expect an elegance of language, if nothing peculiarly attractive appears in the argument. Thefe exercifes are deficient in both refpects; and there is too great affectation of employing Scripture-language, and minutely quoting the refpective paffages on common occafions. Both from form and fubftance, we were led to fufpect that we had acci dentally taken up a pamphlet, published in the early part of this century.

The Union of Love to God and Love to Man, a Sermon. By James Wright, A. M. 8vo. Printed at Edinburgh.

The author tells us that this is the first fermon preached to the free-mafons of Scotland, on their great anniversary, St. Andrew's day. The text is from 1 John iv. 21. ' And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God, loveth his brother alfo.'-The author, with great propriety and becoming earnestnefs, enforces the duties of love, benevolence, and candour. His addrefs is mild and persuasive; and his good fenfe enables him to urge his arguments with fuccefs.

We think the following affertions are juft; nor can we allow that, if fome masons are not benevolent, if others are unfaithful friends, bad citizens, or unkind husbands, that thefe exceptions can injure the credit of the inftitution. There are some minds which no culture can soften, which no precept or example can bend from the ways of vice.

The best things may no doubt be abufed in fome inftances; but the principles of mafonry confidered in themselves, are fo far from having the most diftant tendency to hurt either public or private virtue, that, on the contrary, they have a direct and well-contrived tendency to promote both piety toward God, and friendship among men ; two things which, as I have fhewn, cannot be feparated. No evil defign againft either the church or the ftate, or against the peace and good order of families,

or

or of fociety, ever did, or ever could arife from the principles of mafonry.'

In the Addrefs to the Mafons we find a little of the jargon of the craft. If fecrecy be a key-ftone to keep the arch from finking, we fhould not difapprove of it; if it be a facred ruft, to ward off the rude touch of an unhallowed finger, or to imprefs the diftant beholder with the awe diffufed around what is ancient, we should make no objection; but it appears to be of little fervice in any view. We fhall fele&t fome of our author's obfervations in this way.

Amidst the fucceffive revolutions of kingdoms, and the alterations of forms of government, and the many changes of Jaws and cuftoms, mafonry has always remained the fame, except in the cafe of a few improvements made upon it by the great and the wife king Solomon. Its permanency hath arifen from its being built, not upon mutable and perishable circum#tances of an exterior nature, but upon fome of the best affections of the human heart. Piety towards God, the glorious mafter-builder of the univerfe, and love to mankind, are the two grand immoveable pillars which fupport the fabric of mafonry.'

On the whole, the defign of promoting brotherly love is commendable; and our author's execution of it does credit to thole by whom he was appointed.

Sermons. By the late Rev. Dr. James Paterfon. 8vo. 65. in Boards. Robinfons."

It is the lot of genius to foar above the things of this world, and to defpife the neceffary methods of fecuring a permanent eftablishment for those who may furvive, when death puts a period to the labours of the parent or the hufband. There are other fituations where the fame confequences occur, without any charge of imprudence or inattention. The liberal profeffions do not always afford a fuitable emolument; death intervenes, and blafts, at once, the eager hopes, the fanguine expectations even of the fuccessful and the careful; or unexpected accidents blight the laurels which the youthful candidate for public favour was, in imagination, twining round his brow. From fome of thefe caufes, Dr. Paterfon's furviving relations are compelled to bring his labours forward to public view. While we regret the occafion, we are not difpleased with the event. Thefe difcourfes difplay a manly vein of rational piety: they feem to have been dictated by a fincere defire of being ufeful; and they inculcate, in a forcible and perfpicuous ftyle, without the affectation of misplaced ornament, fome very wholefome leffons. The fubjects are mifcellaneous; and it would be of little confequence to felect them: they chiefly relate to the conduct of life, and the moral duties fometimes enforced by the example of our bleffed Lord.

We fhall felect a fhort fpecimen of thefe Sermons, which, from their good fenfe, and the clearness of the language, we

think

think very well adapted to be read in families. The specimen we have chofen, to show the force of our author's manner, and the purity of his precepts. Dr. Paterfon is addreffing himself to Chriftian parents, on the advantages of early piety, and the neceffity of inculcating proper inftructions on youthful minds.

The greatest good you can do your children is to train them up in the fear of God. Direct their foft and tender minds to the love of juftice,, integrity, and humanity. At that age their pliable hearts eafily admit and retain any impreffion; and if, on your part, you are faithful in the management of their education, their after-lives will abundantly recompence you. Endeavour early to inftil good principles, and do not bewilder their weak judgments by propofing things beyond their capacities; but let your inftructions be conveyed in fuch an eafy and familiar manner, that they can readily comprehend their force and meaning. Be at the utmost pains to infpire them with a love of truth and honesty, and a thorough deteftation of all trick and meannefs, falfhood and deceit: endeavour to make them bold in the truth, that the words of their mouth be ever the thoughts of their heart; and cultivate in them fuch an inoffenfive behaviour, as the most generous fpirit of Chriftianity requires then fhall you have every cause to hope that they will be happy in themselves, an honour to you, and to all who have any intereft in them.

But that you may fucceed, it is neceffary that you practise whatever you require of them. Without examination children believe every thing is right which they fee done by their parents. If you are a fincere, devout, plain-dealing man, from the time your children can obferve any thing, they will efteem virtue; they will have their firft prejudice in favour of truth, if I may be allowed the expreffion; and they will fee that fuch a conduct is proper, before they can affign a reason why it is fo but if you yourself are a fwearer, a cheat, and a liar, they will think thefe vices fanctified by their parents example.'

CONTROVERSIA L.

A Difcourfe on Baptifm: containing Remarks and Obfervations on Dr. Priestley's Chapters on the fame Subject. By Philalethes. 8p. 1s. 6d. Brown.

This is an able and difpaffionate reply to what Dr. Priestley has advanced on the baptifm of infants. Our author, of course, contends for adult baptifm. We have not perceived, however, that Philalethes has advanced any new arguments, or that he has very fatisfactorily established fome of the pofitions which he has fupported with the greatest anxiety; yet he has given the former arguments in an advantageous form: he has anfwered Dr. Prieftley with mildnefs and good temper; and is, on the whole, an able advocate for his caufe.

Re