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neatly, as neither to offend the laws of the land or of the stage. This farce is generally given to the Author of the Weft Indian. Art. 28. Airs and Choruffes in the Entertainment of the Sylphs; or, Harlequin's Gambols, at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Gar den. The Mufic entirely new, compofed by Mr. Fisher. 8vo. 6 d. Becket.

The chief merit of this minikin performance confifts in the fprightlinefs of fome of the airs, and the beauty of fome of the fcenes. For the reft, it is well known that Monf. Harlequin is a privileged perfon, and amenable to no court of criticifm in the univerfe.

POLITICA L.

Art. 29. The Letters of Governor Hutchinson and Lieutenant Governor Oliver, &c. Printed at Boston; and Remarks thereon. With the Affembly's Addrefs, and the Proceedings of the Lords Committee of Council. Together with the Subftance of Mr. Wedderburn's Speech relating to those Letters, 8vo. 2 S. Wilkie.

1774.

The nature and purport of the Letters here published, are already we prefume, well known to our Readers, in general. They have been retailed in most of the news-papers; together with such occafional remarks, letters, invectives, and altercations, as an affair fo very interesting to this country and the colonies, could not fail of producing and much do we fear that Mr. Wedderburn's rude attack on a character which has long, and justly, been deemed an honour to the prefent age, will not be the worst confequence of an event which every lover of liberty, of fcience, and of virtue, may have reason to be forry for.

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 30. A Letter to Sir Fletcher Norton, Knt. Speaker of the Houfe of Commons, on the Petition of Thomas De Grey, Efq; and others, as inferted in the Public Advertiser, on the 11th of February; for which the Printer was ordered to attend the House on the 14th. 8vo. 6d. Wheble. 1774.

The fubject of this pamphlet hath fo much occupied the newspapers of the month, that there is little left for us to add. Nor, indeed, can any one judge of the fact, to which it alludes, who was not prefent in the Houfe of Commons when Mr. De Grey's petition was prefented, and thereby enabled to fee and hear every thing that paffed on the part of the Speaker, whofe behaviour was fo grossly impeached by the fpirited Author of the Letter: who that Author is, the Public are, now, at no lofs to infer.

Art. 31. The Journal of a Voyage undertaken by Order of his prefent Majefly, for making Difcoveries toward the North Pole, by the Hon. Commodore Phipps, and Captain Lutwidge, in his Majesty's Sloops Racehorfe and Carkafe. To which is prefixed, an Account of the feveral Voyages undertaken for the Discovery of a North-Eaft Paffage to China and Japan. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Newbery. 1774. This appears to be the real Journal of fome perfon on board one of the fhips above-mentioned, and it contains many curious partiulars; one of which, however, is incredible, viz. That about lat. 80 deg. 47 min. N. and long, 21 deg. 10 min. Eaft from London, they met with bears on the ice, larger than the largest oxen!" Per

haps

haps the magnitude of these animals was in proportion to the im preffions they made on the Journalist, when they passed in review before him.-Capt. Phipps's own account of this voyage is expected; and we are informed that the Public will foon be gratified with it. Art. 32. Memoire pour Moi, par Moi, Louis De Brancas, Comté de Lauraguais.-Count Lauraguais's Memorial, &c. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Elmfley. 1773.

The focial and decent fentiments of hofpitality and refpect due to a foreign nobleman, who has honoured this country with a particular attachment, would preclude us from every indulgence of the rifible vein, were there any fources for fuch indulgence in his pamphlet.

The particulars of a private quarrel can hardly be confidered as an object of public criticism; and we have nothing more to add, than to express our very natural wishes, that the palladium of Liberty, which, in this nobleman's idea, does us fo much honour, may not be in worse repair than he at prefent fuppofes it,

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 33. A Practical Difcourfe on the moral Ufes and Obligations of Baptifm, defigned to affift a ferious and judicious Obedience to it. 12mo. 6d. Johnson. 1773.

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This little tract appears to be written by a pious man, whose in tention is, as he expreffes it, to promote the practical ufes of chriftian baptifm by explaining them, and by infifting on the obligation to obferve it.'. He is an advocate for adult baptifm, and it is queftionable whether he would allow that of infants to be called by the name; and though he profeffes to wave every thing of a controverfial nature, he cannot avoid sometimes propofing a few questions on the point: this, however, appears to be done with moderation and candour. In urging the obfervance of this rite, he fuppofes that fome perfons may neglect it through a fenfe of fhame; and here we have the following paffage, which we infert without thinking it neceffary to add any remark concerning it: The only reafon we can alledge for our shame must be this; that it wants the fanction of the generality and the great. By this the best caufe frequently fuffers: to this it is owing that the cause of liberty daily lofes its fupport among the Proteftant Diffenters in general; when the wealthy, when perfons of diftinguished rank, and who make a figure in the polite world, when fuch forfake any caufe, they draw numbers after them, who are afhamed to appear on that fide which the great, the noble and the fashionable have deferted. Hence it is, that a rite, reasonable, use. ful, and divine, is neglected by thofe that fecretly avow its facred authority. Though the generality blush not, in compliance with eftablished forms, and the practice of the many and the great, abfurdly to promife what an infant fhall believe and practife, even men of fenfe and judgment are not ashamed to use and join in the office of infant baptifm, as retained in the Church of England, though fo much weakness, abfurdity, and nonfenfe, (I fpeak with regret) run through it. But the inftitution of baptifm, as it lies in the New Teftament, is not liable to any fuch charge.'

Though numbers of chriftians will not entirely agree with this Author, in his account of the nature of baptifm, and of its fubjects, yet every pious perfon will approve of his practical obfervations and

advice,

advice, which require the very careful attention of those who are arrived at years of maturity without having been baptized. ART. 34. An Account of the Occafion and Defign of the pofitive Inftitutions of Chriflianity. Extracted from the Scriptures only. By Richard Amner. 8vo. 2 S. Buckland. 1774.

From the acknowledged dependence of Chriftianity on the Jewish religion, this Writer fuppofes that the pofitive Inftitutions of the christian scheme may be illustrated by viewing them in connection with thofe of the Mofaic difpenfation, which they most resemble: allufions of this kind have sometimes been carried to fanciful and extravagant lengths; but Mr. Amner confiders his fubject in a more rational and intelligent manner. He writes with caution and modefty, and appears very folicitous to advance nothing for which he has not a fufficient foundation. The Lord's Supper is naturally contrafted with the ordinance of the paffover; the Lord's Day with the Jewish fabbath; and here we obferve, that he lays no ftrefs on the inftitution of the fabbath immediately after the creation. His reafon for this is given in the following lines:- Suppofing the books of the Pentateuch to have been reduced and difpofed into that form in which we now have them, by either Samuel, or any other and later Prophet, to whom the fabbath was not unknown, (fee Sir Ifaac Newton's obfervations on Daniel, ch. i.) would it not be reasonable to believe that fuch an account of the creation was purposely prefixed, as was conformable to it, and would tend to enforce the obfervation of it? And the argument will be much the fame even though Mofes were allowed to be the writer of them.'

But this Author chiefly enlarges on the fubject of chriftian baptifm, which he fuppofes to have fucceeded the baptifm of Profelytes among the Jews. He illuftrates feveral paffages of Scripture in the courfe of his argument, and offers fome pertinent confiderations, to fatisfy the mind of the Reader in refpect to the practice of infant baptifm. This pamphlet is, on the whole, to be regarded as a fen-` fible and useful performance.

Art. 35. A farewell Addrefs to the Parishioners of Catterick. By Theophilus Lindfey, M. A. 8vo. 6d. Johnfon. 1774.

This fmall tract, the Author informs us, in his prefixed advertisement, was drawn up folely for the ufe of a country parish, and never intended to go beyond it; but that the kind reception it met with there, from an affectionate and grateful people, and their entering fo intirely into the cause and fubject of it,-added to the fuggeftion of serious friends, that it might be of fome general ufe,has been an inducement to make it more public.

We have already fpoken fo largely concerning Mr. Lindley's Apology, that it will be fufficient to add, with regard to the prefent difcourfe, that it is plain, fenfible, and pathetic; and that the pious Author writes with fuch an apoftolic fimplicity, humility, and af fection, that we cannot wonder at his parishioners having been greatly moved with this farewell Addrefs of their confcientious and excellent paftor.

• In the Reviews for the last and present month.

SERMON S.

SERMONS.

1. Revelation the most effectual Means of civilizing and reforming Mankind.-Preached before the Society in Scotland for propagating Christian Knowledge, at their Anniverfary Meeting, Jan. 5, 1773. By Robert Henry, D. D. 8vo. 6d. Printed at Edinburgh, and fold by Cadell, London.

The importance and usefulness of divine revelation are here judicioufly stated, enforced, and fhewn to be the most effectual means of enlightening men in the knowledge of religion, and at the fame time convincing them of its truth, and perfuading them to the prac tice of it.

H. A Charge and Sermon delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Mr. John David, O&. 7, 1773, at Frome, Somerfetfhire; the Charge by Daniel Turner, M. A. the Sermon by Caleb Evans, M. A. 6d. Cadell.

III. Compassion to poor Children, recommended, from the Example of Pharaab's Daughter.-At the Meeting-Houfe in St. Thomas's, Southwark, for the Benefit of the Charity-Children in that Place, Jan. 1, 1774. By Samuel Palmer. 6d. Buckland.

IV. The encouraging Prospect that religious Liberty will be enlarged: confidered and applied to the Cafe of the Protestant Diffenters; in a Sermon preached at Kidderminster, Nov. 5, 1773. By Benjamin Fawcet, M. A. 6d. Buckland.

The encouraging profpect exhibited to the view of Mr. Fawcett's audience at Kidderminster, is that of the late happy progrefs of religious freedom throughout the Chriftian world in general, and in our own country in particular. The candid and liberal spirit of the prefent age is justly praised by this Preacher. He hath taken occafion to introduce an account of the Diffenters late application to parliament; and he feems to entertain ftrong hopes of future fuccefs, thould his brethren unite in the renewal of their conflitutional endeavours to free themfelves from thofe legal reftraints which they deem incompatible with their Chriftian liberty. There is a becoming moderation in this difcourfe; which will be read with fatisfaction by thofe confiftent Diffenters who are well-wishers to the cause; and it can give no offence, we fuppofe, to the unprejudiced members of our established church.

V. Preached in the Parish Church of Newbury, Berks, Jan. 14, 1774, at the Funeral of the Rev. John Geree, LL. B. Fellow of Winchefter. By the Rev. Thomas Penrose, Curate of Newbury. 4to. Walter.

This brief oration (for the difcourfe is not a long one) merits fome diftinction from the common run of funeral fermons, on account of its fuperior eloquence. It is rationally pious, and foberly pathetic and while the Author has fufficiently attended to the propriety of -compofition, he has not loft fight of that plainnefs which ever ought to bring down palpit-difcourfes to the level of common capacities:— thofe in which the preacher foars above vulgar apprehenfion, are feldom found to be extenfively useful; and are generally to be regarded as little better than “ founding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For MARCH, 1774.

ART. I. British Biography; or, an accurate and impartial Account of the Lives and Writings of eminent Perfons, in Great Britain and Ireland; from Wickliffe, who began the Reformation by his Writings, to the present Time: Whether Statefmen, Patriots, Generals, Admirals, Philofophers, Poets, Lawyers, or Divines. In which the * feveral Incidents and remarkable Actions of their Lives, and the Particularities of their Deaths, that could be collected from Hiftory, Family Memoirs, and Records, are related; a Catalogue of their Writings given, with occafional Remarks; and their Characters s delineated with Freedom and Impartiality. 8vo. 6 Vols. 11. 11 s. 6d. Boards. Baldwin, &c. 1773.

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T has been faid that of the various kinds of narrative writing, biography is that which is moft eagerly read, and most eafily applied to the purposes of life.' Perhaps this is true; but we ufe the half-affenting perhaps, because the writer of other branches of hiftory may conteft the point of popularity, at Feast, if not of utility alfo, with the biographer; notwithstanding the preference given to the latter by the ingenious Author of the IDLER, No. 84. The examples,' fays he, and events of hiftory press, indeed, upon the mind, with the weight of truth; but when they are repofited in the memory, they are oftener employed for fhew than ufe, and rather diverfify converfation than regulate life. Few are engaged in fuch scenes as give them opportunities of growing wifer by the downfall of statesmen, or the defeat of generals. The stratagems of war, and the intrigues of courts, are read, by far the greater part of mankind, with the fame indifference as the adventures of fabled heroes, or the revolutions of a fairy region. Between falfehood and ufelefs truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot fpend will make no man rich, fo knowledge which he cannot apply will make no man wise.' M

- VOL. L.

Should

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