"The reft lay in the heath of the deer, and flept beneath the dusky wind. The ghosts of the lately dead were near, and fwam on the gloomy clouds: and far diftant, in the dark filence of Lena, the feeble voices of death were faintly heard.” P. 51.

This doubtlefs was thought fublime by the author, and moft probably by many others, fince he wrote; but we hefitate not to pronounce it nonfenfe, and bad tafte: firft, be caufe the principal circumflance is impoffible, fecondly, becaufe the inferior circumftance, the diftant groans of the dying, is mentioned last.

We fhould write a volume if we were to collect, and expofe, the abfurdities which prevail throughout this pretended epic; and indeed all the other poems from the fame mint. Nor, though they have been fo abundantly admired, do we hefitate to fay, that they contain more bombast and nonsense, than can elsewhere be found, in ten times the extent of compofition. We are perfectly of opinion that poems fo full of falfe tafte, and forced, unnatural images, could not have been preferved for two centuries, in any country, without the aid of printing: and that, at all events, from their intrinfic demerit, the queflion whether they are ancient or modern, is not worth a difpute.

Thus we have unburthened our minds of an opinion long fettled in them and we hope have given proof enough that it is an opinion not idly taken up. How many admirers of the Offianic jargon we fhall have to cry out against us, we do not at all regard. If we fpeak with reafon, let our reafons be confidered, and not the authority of fafhion against us. If found critics agree with us, which we think they muft,

we are content.

The editor of the prefent volumes has filled his margins with imitations of modern writings, found in the pretended Offian. We do not think that the inftances are always fatiffactory or convincing. But we have no doubt, that from the body of those inftances, fuch a number of undeniable truths might be collected, as would in itself be fufficient to decide the queftion. Some of the most remarkable imitations would be found, as is natural, where Macpherson copied, perhaps unconfciously, his own ideas in former poems. This is a danger which few poets efcape; but it is ufually a proof of authenticity. In the prefent inftance it is a decifive proof of forgery.

*Macpherson must certainly have feen the wind, like a pig, for he always defcribes its colour. Rev. X x 2

Let

Let the poems of Offian go with speed, where we are con vinced they must go at laft," to the moles and to the bats ;" and let no literary labour be hereafter wafted, in tracing the origin of fuch puerile attempts at fublimity.

ART. VIII. A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocefe of Norwich, at the Primary Vifitation of that Diocefe in 1806. By Henry, Bishop of Norwich. 26 pp. 4to. 1s. Bacon, Norwich Payne, &c. London. 1806.

WE VE have lately heard, from all friends of the ecclefiaftical eftablishment, loud and numerous complaints of the great and conftant increase of methodiftical conventicles, and have perceived a difpofition also to afcribe this in part at leaft to the want of due vigilance in the heads of the church. That the fact of the increase of such conventicles is true, we know and we lament; but it is by no means true, that it is at all im putable to the neglect of our prelates. The real truth is, that as the act of parliament now ftands, it is not in the power of any bifhop to prevent a licenfe, duly applied for, to erect a conventicle from being granted. We well know, that where fuch places of meeting moft abound, no want of care or attention can be afcribed to the diocefan. Perhaps, however, one cause of fuch increase is, what too zealous obfervation may overlook, namely, the progreffive increase of popu lation in the country at large. We have been led to thefe obfervations by a careful perufal of the excellent charge before us, which at the fame time bas charmed us by its finplicity, and ferioufly impreffed us by its energetic force.

After a few introductory remarks on the duties of the epif copal office, and his own particular views and intentions, the good bishop directs the attention of his auditors to the particular fact of the increase of fe&taries, and points out the only means by which the mifchief can be effectually counteracted. This is by every particular clergyman in his immediate station and office, exerting himfelf, with zeal, activity, and perfeverance. The finest compofitions may iffue from the prefs, great learning, and piety, and zeal may be

We do not fay that Macpherson never fucceeded in thofe attempts: but it is one fuccefs to a thousand wretched failures. demonftrated

demonftrated in explaining the evil and pointing out its tendency, but it is the example alone of the paftor, which will call back his wandering flock, or in the firft inftance prevent them from going aftray. On this fubject the learned bifhop thus expreffes himself;

"That thefe mifguided enthufiafts are more numerous now than ever, is a fact which admits of very little doubt. The additional licences granted within these few years, in almost every part of England, clearly prove the truth of it. In many Counties, particularly in Yorkshire and in Lincolnshire, there is a fyftematic organization of thefe teachers, fome of whom are itinerant and others confined to a particular place, under the titles of Exhorters and Preachers. Their activity and zeal have been every where but too fuccefsful in diminishing the congregations of feveral regular Parish Priefts, far more learned and not lefs pious than the best of these felf-commiffioned Inftructors. If fomething be not done to check this growing evil, a ftanding Ministry will become, and at no very diftant period, an almost useless part of our Ecclefiaftical Conftitution. Should I be afked what is to be done? what means a Clergyman of the Established Church can make use of to bring back to their appointed Paftor his strayed flock, or at least to keep within the fold, those who, for the prefent, are lefs inclined to wander out of the way? I know of no means which a real friend to toleration or Chriftian charity can confiftently recommend but those which are infifted upon in fo solemn a manner by the great Apoftle of the Gentiles in his Second Epistle to Timothy. Et in Timotheo omnes paftores officii fui "commonitos effe voluit Spiritus Sanctus," fays a pious and learned Commentator on this Epiftle.

66

"I Charge thee before God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, who fhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his "kingdom; preach the word, be inftant in feafon, out of fea"fon, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long fuffering and doctrine; for the time will come when they will not endure found "doctrine, but after their own lufts fhall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they fhall turn away their ears from the truth, and fhall be turned unto fables. But do "thou the work of an Evangelift, make full proof of thy Mini"ftry."-That is,

"With encreafed diligence, with meeknefs, and with patience,. endeavour to reclaim thofe who, either from a mere love of novelty, turn away their ear from the truth," and liften eagerly to any thing new, or who, through ignorance of the very first principles of Chriftianity, are led aftray from their appointed Paftor by fome more cloquent, or perhaps only more confident Preacher. Explain to this deluded part of your flock, "with all long fuffering," the fimple tenets of Chriftianity; fhew them from Scripture the nature and defign of a true Christian Church;

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Church; point out to them the excellence of our own, the fuperiority of its Liturgy, the Apoftolical form of its government; imprefs upon their minds the danger and the fin of needlefs feparation from fuch a Church-befeeching them in the words of Chrift and his Apoftles, "to be perfectly joined together in the fame mind, and in the fame judgment." P. 15.

Good and found as this admonition is, and we are well aware that it cannot be too often repeated and too feriously impreffed, it is but juftice to fhow, that it had already been given, in fubftance, by the venerable and excellent bishop of London, in a charge delivered to his clergy in the year 1804. As this happens accidentally to be before us, we shall enable the reader to judge how minutely and how happily these two prelates coincide in opinion, on a fubject of fuch importance to the Church, over which they have been made fuperiors.

"It is, I believe, a fact which admits of little doubt, that when the itinerant preacher goes forth upon his miffion, he commonly looks out for thofe parifhes where either the fhepherd has entirely deferted his flock, and is employing or amusing himself elfewhere, or where he unfortunately pays fo little attention to it, is fo indolent, fo lukewarm, fo indifferent to its welfare, as to make it an easy prey to every bold invader. There that invader finds an eafy accefs, and a welcome reception; and foon collects together a large number of profelytes. But, in general, he very prudently keeps aloof from thofe parishes where he fees a refident minifter conducting himself in the manner I have above defcribed; watching over his people with unremitting care; grounding them early in the rudiments of found religion; guard. ing them carefully against the falfe gloffes and dangerous delufions of illiterate and unauthorized teachers; bringing them to a conftant attendance on divine worship in their parish churches; and manifefting the fame zeal, activity, and earneftness, to retain his people in the Church of England, which he fees others exert to feduce them from it. Into parifhes fo conftituted the felfcommiffioned preacher feldom, if ever, enters; or, if he does, he rarely gains any permanent footing, any fettled eftablishment in them. He is in most cafes forced to give way to the fuperior weight and influence of a regular, a learned, an exemplary, and a diligent paftor. This, then, is the true, the moft effectual way, of counteracting the progrefs of fchifm and fanaticifm. There are numbers, I am perfuaded, here prefent, who can, from their

"The reader will eafily perceive, that fome of thefe obfervations cannot, for obvious reafons, be strictly applied to the very populous parishes of London and its immediate vicinity."

OW!

own experience, and their own laudable exertions, bear teftimony to the truth of this pofition; and whenever this remedy is univerfally applied, (as I hope and truft it gradually will) I do not he fitate to predict that the evil complained of will be confiderably leffened, in fome inftances entirely fubdued."

We are greatly pleafed to learn from this interesting charge of the bishop of Norwich, that it appears from the reports delivered to the privy council, that the residence of fpiritual perfons on their benefices, is more ftrict and frequent than from the mifieprefentations of thofe who do not wish well to the eft blifhment, the public were taught to believe. What the bifhop adds on the fubject of an affluent clergyman taking pains to make a good bargain with his curate, entitles him to the thanks of the lower order of clergy in his diocefe; and indeed the whole difcourfe is in our judgment admirably calculated to produce the most beneficial effects among thofe for whofe inftruction and advice it was intended.

ART. IX. Leonora. By Mifs Edgeworth. In 2 Vols. 8vo. Ss. Johnfon.

1806.

WE are induced to give this novel a place among our principal articles, from the refpect we bear to the talents of the author, from the excellent moral conveyed in her work, and from its general tendency to counteract a poifon the virulence of which we have always difcerned, and the circulation of which we have conftantly deplored. The flory is this:-A high bred Englishwoman returns to her country from the Continent, with fome little flur upon her character, but with great talents, impofing manners, and exquifite fenfibility. A former friend of noble rank, happily established in domeftic life, deceived by her franknefs, and confident that though indifcreet, fhe never has been vicious, undertakes to ftem the tide of prejudice against her, and accordingly invites her to her houfe. She is cautioned by her mother, who had been brought up in the old English fchool, against the mifchievous qualities and fufpicious principles of her fufceptible friend, but the caution is adminiftered in vain. Very foon does the unhappy hoftefs difcover that her Frenchified friend, though as it was fuppofed, the had left her heart on the Continent, by way of amufe

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