thofe favoured countries, the benefits that would be derived thereby to our commerce, and the addition that would accrue to our naval ftrength. But the Author does not ftop there. He would perfuade us to a more arduous undertaking, the deliverance of continental Greece from the Turkish yoke. We fhould indeed rejoice with him, fhould the natural courfe of events effect this change, without great bloodshed, or the horrors generally attending on revolutions, and without any acceffion to the dominion or influence of the common enemy But the expediency of our interference, either by arms or intrigues, to bring about fuch a revolution, is furely very questionable, even if the character and temper of the Greeks in the prefent age fhowed them to be ripe for the enjoyment of liberty.

Although on thefe, and feveral other topics (the difcuffion of which would far exceed our limits) we cannot agree with the recommendations of this Author; although, in our opi nion, he does not view the affairs of Spain, nor indeed the general conteft carrying on in Europe, exactly in their proper light, yet the abundant, and we believe authentic information communicated in this work, and the many important fuggeftions it contains, (in fome of which, particularly as to the affairs of Sicily, we in a great degree coincide) intitle the Author to the gratitude of his country, and claim attention not only from the ordinary fpeculators on political affairs, but from thofe who direct or influence the councils of the nation:

ART. XIII. Occafional Sermons, in two Volumes. By the Rev. Robert Lucas, D.D. Rester of Ripple, in the County of

The attachment of the Spanish nation to their King Ferdi nand (which is fo much questioned by this Author) has, we think, been amply demonftrated, as well as the advantage to the cause of Europe, in the diverfion of a confiderable part of the tyrant's force. As to the general conteft, it is not, we conceive, agairt France, as a nation, but against an armed and organized banditt, who opprefs that nation, and invade and plunder the rest of Eu rope. Nothing fhort of the defeat of that banditti, and the deftruction of their power, can, in our opinion, redeem Europe from Alavery and defolation.

Worcester,

Worcester, and Vicar of Pattibail, Northamptonshire. 8vo. 12s. Longman and Co. 1809.

THE character of thefe Difcourfes feems to be correctness rather than vigour, elegance rather than energy. They are in every respect unexceptionable, but it does not appear to us that our funds of theological knowledge, or our collections of fermons, which have defervedly become popular, will be importantly increased or improved by this publication.

The Sermons are only fourteen in number, and might eafily, and perhaps more properly, have been comprized in one volume. The three first are on Sunday fchools, and as thefe appear to us to be the best of the collection, we fhall felect from them a small specimen of the preacher's ftyle.

"But it is truly a ftrange idea, adopted, however, by fome, which fuppofes that knowledge, arifing from a decent and chrif tian-like education, indifpofes the poor for their respective call ings. That the knowledge of a man's duty fhould indispose him for the performance of it, is a problem not eafly folved. For I may appeal to the experience of thofe who hear me, whether fuch among the poor as embrace all opportunity of acquiring the knowledge of their duty, are not found to perform that duty, how laborious foever it may be, better for their employers, more beneficially for their families, and with more cheerfulness and fatis faction to themselves than fuch as wilfully neglect the opportunities that offer of enlightening their minds by instruction and knowledge. It is unquestionably therefore our bounden duty to obtain for the poor all poflible opportunities of acquiring a decent and religious education.

"But numerous as are the charity fchools eftablished for this benevolent purpose, in various parts of the kingdom, their influ ence cannot poffibly extend fo wide as the neceffities of the poor and the exigencies of the cafe require. Their benefits are usually confined to a fmall part of the poor of the metropolis, and the more opulent cities and market towns, while the children of the village are overlooked, and fuffered to grow up in ignorance and vice, without one effort to implant the feeds of virtue and religion in their hearts, without one ray of knowledge to enliven their paffage through this vale of tears. We have to lament therefore, that the moft liberal inftitutions, already eftablished, which owe their fupport to voluntary contributions, do not spread wide enough, and are wholly incompetent to reach, with any efficacy, the general mafs of the people. Thefe ftill remain overwhelmed in a fort of hereditary ignorance and floth, ftill uninftructed to avoid the paths of vice, ftill averfe from the performance of the duty they owe to the Supreme Being and to fociety. A condition like this

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calls

calls loudly upon us for generous and benevolent exertions, and urges us to adopt any probable mode of affording fufficient relief." Vol. I. p. 19, 20.

Thefe Sermons on Sunday Schools are followed by fome very fenfible hints on parochial clubs. The 4th Sermon was preached before the Severn Humane Society, at Worcester. The 5th before a Friendly Society at Hartlebury. The 6th was an Affize Sermon, continued in the 7th. The 8th was before the Mufic Meeting at Worcester. The 9th on the office of a Magiftrate, before the Mayor and Corporation of Northampton. The 10th at St. Mary, Cambridge, before the Vice-Chancellor and the Univerfity, on the ceffation of miracles. We looked to this Difcourfe with the greateft curiofity, expecting to fee, on fuch an occafion, and before fuch an auditory, the fulleft vigour of the preacher's mind, but were not particularly impreffed by any novelty or force of argument. This feems to be itself a mistake: perhaps it fhould be faid, "called the twelfth, whereas it is the tenth." two, which fucceed are Vifitation Sermons. The laft but one is a charity Sermon, preached at Birmingham, and the volume concludes with an Infirmary Sermon.

Thefe Sermons were preached at fuch various places, and upon fuch truly benevolent occafions, as fufficiently to demonftrate the amiable and pious mind of the Author. That they were heard with great attention, refpect, and impression, there cannot be the smallest doubt; but the multitude of Sermons which are defervedly become popular is fo great, that it is rather a perilous undertaking to attempt to increafe their number. The preacher's friends are doubtlefs very numerous, and to them these two volumes cannot fail of being particularly acceptable.

BRITISH CATALOGUE.

POETRY.

ART. 14. The Bees: a Poem, in four Books. With Notes, moral, political, and philofophical. By John Evans, M. D. F. R. M. S. Edinb. Book II. 4to. 95 PP. 7s. Shrewsbury, printed; Longman and Co. London. 1808.

Since Dr. Evans thinks proper to publish his books feparately, we cannot afford him a principal article for each. We noticed his

first book in our 30th volume, page 249, and in terms of praise and encouragement. The fondness of Dr. Evans for his medical predeceffor Darwin, feems to increase as he proceeds; his fimilies, his digreffions, his defcriptions, are all on the Darwinian model; the ftructure of his lines, the choice of his epithets, all denote the faithful pupil of that tranfiently admired school. This resemblance, as it is evidently the firft ambition of the author to attain, he will doubtlefs triumph to find fo fully acknowledged. To us, however, it is a strong objection; not only because we diflike imitation, but because we think the model fo extremely faulty: Nothing is beyond the reach of thefe magicians, the most incongruous fubjects are called together by their wand. Thus to illuf trate the hiftory of Bees, we have the maffacre of St. Bartholomew, the French revolution and emigrations, the seizure of the the King of Poland, Bofworth Field, the voyage of Prince Madoc to America, and finally the departure of the Braganza family to the Brazils: and thefe not in tranfient allufions, but in full, circumftantial, and often poetical defcriptions, if they were but placed where they would come in with propriety. In defcribing flowers we have Darwin actually revived.

"First to his lord [Man] the vernal tribute paid,
For you [the Bees] ASPARAGUS expands his shade,
Marthals his mimic groves in close array,
And hangs a pearl on ev'ry tufted fpray.

But firft to you [Bees] NASTURTIA loves to yield
The faffron tinted horn, and emerald shield,
Where twilight marks, with fuperftitious dread
The ftreams electric quiv'ring round her head.
"So, young Jülus, o'er thy temples play'd
Heav'n's lambent fire, and each fond beast dismay'd,
Till rapt Anchifes, with prophetic joy,

Hail'd in the happy fign a fecond Troy." P. 20.

.

If the "Loves of the Triangles" had never exifted, we fhould the lefs have wondered at this error of tafte; this mif placed devotion to a falfe model, which has led aftray a man so full of poetical powers as Dr. Evans appears to be.

ART. 15. La Fete de la Rofe; or the Dramatic Flowers; a Holiday Prefent for Young People. By Mrs. B. Hoole, 24mo. 22 p. 6d. Longman. 1809..

We have read thefe verfes with fingular pleafare; and young people, in their holidays, may be delightfully amused by them. A walk in the garden, with this book in the hand, will be a very interefting entertainment. The ROSE, Queen of Flowers, defigned to give a feaft to her friends; following the example of birds, beafts, and infeds; but the LILY perfuades her to have a theatre placed upon the lawn, and a tragedy performed, with a

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pantomime

pantomime following. Many of our readers (we think) will readily pay for a fight of the tragedy, interlude, pantomime, and concluding banquet; if we treat them with a view of the theatre.

"On a hill, near the lawn, with pale violets o'ergrown,
The Queen in full majefty fat on her throne;

In a robe of pink fatin this Venus was drest,
And a diamond of dew glitter'd bright on her breast :
-A mantle of green mofs around her was borne,
To foften the radiance it could not adorn;

Behind her as guards, the tall Holy-Oaks ftood,
The Carnation fat near her, a prince of the blood;

The white Rfe, and damask too, claim'd their high stations,
peers of the realm, and as royal relations;

As

For fupporters the Lilac and Jeffamine came,

And the flexile Laburnum bow'd low to the Dame;
But Geranium declar'd it was his place to stand
Earl Marshal, by heirship, at Majefty's hand;
And the Myrtle, with bloffoms all white as a bride,
Plac'd herself with great modefty, clofe by his fide.
Then powdered Auricula headed his coufins,
Cowflip, Primrofe, and Polyanth, walking, by dozens:
The flaunting Ranunculus, yellow, and red,
By the gentle Anemone foftly was led ;

Rich Stocks of all ages, behind them were plac'd,
Gay Pinks intermingled with infinite tafte;
Convolvolus open'd her eyes on the scene,
And Monkshood a moment forgot all his fpleen.
The Marygold gaudy, and Love in a Mist,
With Larkspur and Hyacinth, fhore in the lit;
Mezercon was there in his jacket of red,
And pining Narciffus, ftill hanging his head;
His dafhing relation the Daffodil came,

With fprightly Mifs Jonquil, a fweet-fcented dame
Poor Charity too, in her boddice of blue;
And low-bred Nefturtiums whom nobody knew.
Though none were invited fome Coxcombs were there,
And London Pride fimper'd to fee them appear;
The Sweet-briar and Hawthorn united to fcreen,
From vulgar intrufion the throne of their Queen;
But in fpite of their thorns 'twas befet at all hours,
By elegant Creepers, and Parafite flowers."

P. 7.

ART. 16. Renald, a Legendary Tale, with other Poems. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Hookham. 1809.

Every month, every day, nay, almoft every hour, produces elegant little volumes of finely printed poems, on wove paper, hot-preffed,