accumulated, that the crimes of individuals, the effects of circumftances and fituations have occafioned, blended with the real errors of a fect, and the dictates of a religion which be, gins to be forgotten. An Effay on the Origin, Character, and Views of the Proteftant Diffenters. 8vo. 15. Rivingtons. This author too applies the fcourge, but with more calmnefs, propriety, and good fenfe. He argues on the inconfiftency of the Dillenters' defign, and on the impropriety of their mode of carrying it on. His argument, in anfwer to the ob jection of profaning the facred office, is ingenious and plaufible. The best part of this Eflay is his expoftulation with the Diffenters, that their great argument leads them to include the Roman Catholics in this relief, it no one is to be rejected from civil offices on account of his religion. Yet the Diffenters have hitherto been the most violent enemies of the Catholics, and they must relinquish their farmer tenets or their prefent argument. Perhaps they may alledge, that the Catholics are no longer what they have been, enemies of civil liberty and the houfe of Brunswick. They are pot perhaps lefs dangerous on the other hand, as wild enthufiaftic innovators. A Dialogue between Bishop Hoadly and Bishop Sherlock, on the Corporation and Test Acts. 8vo. 15. 6d. Davis. Old arguments in a new form; but they are arguments of men diftinguished by their learning and abilities-& decies repetita placebunt. The author gives the bias to Dr. Sherlock. Theodofius; or, a folemn Admonition to Proteftant Diffenters, oz the propofed Repeal of the Teft and Corporation Acts. 8vo. 15. 6d. Buckland. Theodofius, though a Diffenter, is an antagonist of the repeal, as it is urged, with unbecoming violence, by the warm zealots of the prefent day; yet he recommends, at a future time, an attention to the fituation of the Protestant Diffenters, and feems to with for an alleviation of the prefent teft. His apprehenfions are confiderable from the increale of Popery, which, he thinks, must be affifted by an open conftitution, and will end in the destruction of the prefent establishment, and in the depofition of the house of Brunswick. On this fubject he is feelingly alive; and to the fyftem of Dr. Priestley, which is general and comprehensive, he is equally violent in his oppofition. In reality, the prefent queftion is only remotely connected with Dr. Priestley's tenets, and, if Silas Deane was an Atheist (a fact which our author fays that he knows, and which we believe from other circumftances to be true), it ought not to be attributed to the champion of the Unitarians. His fyftem is that of Mirabeau, a very different one from that of Dr. Priestley. There are fome curfous political obfervations, which we cannot on this occafion particularly notice: if they can be well fupported, the author, we think, fhould appear without difguife. In the prefent form, they must fall unregarded. Though we have not hitherto indulged ourselves with tranfcribing any paffages from the works in this controversy, we cannot refift felecting the following short paragraph: I fhould be happy to be informed, why this gentleman (Dr. Price), in his printed difcourfe, touches fo lightly on the qualifications of a Prime Miniller, that no particular defigna tion of perfon is difcoverable, though, in the delivery of his fermon, he was fo pointed in his defcription of a Gambler-a Spendthrift-and an Infidel, that the audience immediately recogized the portrait of Mr. Fox? Was my venerable friend apprehenfive let any of the Members of the Whig Club, or of the Conftitutional Society, fhould advise a profecution in the Crown Office!' Afhort Reply to the Speech intended to be Spoken by the Right Hon. C. J. Fox, in favour of the Repeal of the Corporation and Teft Ats. 8vo. 15. Stockdale. We find nothing very able and pointed in this fhort reply: unfortunately too, it is a reply to what was not faid, and we muft difmifs it, as one of the numerous ricketty race of the once famous Anticipation.' The Speeches of Lord North, on a Motion for a Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts. 8vo. 15. Walter. Dean Swift's Tracts on the Repeal of the Teft A. 8vo. 15. 6d. Walter. Other republications fufficiently known and valued. A Review of the Cafe of the Proteftant Diffenters; with Reference to the Corporation and Teft Acts. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Robfon. This pamphlet, it is faid, was written in 1787, but printed too late for publication at that period. Though written feemingly in hafte, and not highly polished in its language, it is, on the whole, a candid and able review of the cafe.' The author confiders first the foundation of the claim, and next the different arguments in favour of the repeal, either as they are of a political or a religious complexion. If he had annexed the observations, which the late publications of fome of the Dif fenters might have fuggefted, they would have added to the force of his argument, where he endeavours to fhow, that their republican principles render the repeal of the teft dangerous to the conftitution. The answer to the argument, refpecting the profanation of the ordinance from bifhop Sherlock, is urged with great force and ability. A Plea for the Sacramental Teft, as a juft Security for the Church eftablished, &c. 8vo. 15. Rivingtons. This excellent work was first published in the year 1736: the circumstances and the state of the question are so much changed, changed, that a fmall part of it is only applicable to the prefent times. The whole, however, difplays strong sense, a found judgment, and well connected argument. Letters to the People of England, against the Repeal of the Teft and Corporation Acts. 8vo. 15. Bell. The author difplays, we think, more zeal than knowledge; more rancour than charity, and more florid declamation than found argument. Letter and Queries to Dr. Priefly, relative to the Principles of the Corporation and Teft Acts. 8vo. IS. Bew. Thefe Queries are fhrewd and important: they chiefly relate to the political view of the question, and to Dr. Priestley's particular opinions, as well as in fome instances to his intemperate language. The Teft Laws defended. A Sermon preached at St. Philip's Church in Birmingham, on Sunday, Jan. 3, 1790. By G. Croft, D.D. 8vo. 1s. Baldwin. We have good authority to fupport the opinion, that the pulpit is an improper place for the contefts of party, and its purity is fullied by the language of controverfy. If Dr. Croft had confined his views to the objection of the profanation, we fhould have listened to him with more complacency. We do not perceive that he adds any thing new to arguments often repeated; and his facts in the preface, though tinctured with a little feeming prejudice, are much more valuable than his reafoning. SUCH is nearly the evidence on both fides, fo far as the different pamphlets, which after the most diligent fearch we have been able to procure, have informed us. If we found those in favour of the repeal too farcaftic, the others are undoubtedly too virulent; and truth often fuffers in the hands of defenders, who have for a moment loft fight of candour and reafon. In our review of the defenders of the test, we have feen much reafon to doubt of the ftability of the ground, which appeared at first a strong one; and, in the pursuit of the question, it will be neceffary to fhow, that king William had really in view the repeal of the test act, and not the pains and penalties only; that the act withdrawn from the table of the house of lords, in the time of Charles II. related to the repeal of the teft. Another part of the answer, very ably urged, is alfo of importance; that if there were no established church, there would be great danger in the different fects contending for pre-eminence. Whatever may appear to be the cafe in Holland or America, the late conduct of the Diffenters has made us feriously apprehenfive of danger in this fituation. The connexion between church and state, as it has been usually explained, may be objectionable; but, as we have had occafion to confider the fub ject, ject, in reviewing the pamphlet on the Spirit of the Constitution, and that of the Church of England compared,' we think there is no little force in the argument. On the whole, we are fully of opinion, that the repeal is at this time inexpedient; and it will depend on the conduct of the majority of the Diffenters, whether it will be found admiffible at a future period. With the ftate of France before our eyes, innovation would be madness, for, though freedom will in the end prevail, it must be purchafed probably by years of anarchy and diftrefs. Liberty, it may be justly faid, cannot be bought too dear, but we ought not furely to encourage the danger, when we have in view no fuch reward. What is the object now to be obtained? That perfons, whofe refpectability and general importance we may fafely allow, and can chearfully bear witness to, be admitted to fome public offices of trust and honour. The end is certainly of importance; and, at first view, every one would join in the with. But when, on the other hand, it be confidered that this is no new exclusion; that the Diffenters have affumed their stations in fociety, and followed their own opinions, with this difqualification in their view; that neither opulence, refpectability, learning, or abilities are exclufively confined to their fociety; that perfons, at least as well qualified for the different offices abound; and that there is some reason to fear, from their political opinions, that the constitution, under which the nation has fo long flourished, and which has been the admiration of the whole world, may be in danger from the indifcriminate admiffion contended for, every impar tial perfon must conclude, that the late decifion was wife and judicious.. The Debates in the House of Commons, on the Repeal of the Corpo ration and Test Acts. 8vo. 15. Stockdale. The Debate in the House of Commons on the Motion of Mr. Fox, for a Repeal of the Corporation and Teft Acts. 8vo. Walter. These reports appear to be authentic; and it is unneceffary to enlarge on what has been the fubject of general attention, and brought within the reach of every person through the medium of a newspaper. A Collection of Teftimonies in favour of Religious Liberty, in the Cafe of the Diffeniers, Catholics, and Jews. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Johnion. Our author has brought into one view whatever has been written in favour of religious liberty, or rather has collected the most popular extracts from different works and fpeeches on this fubject. The only original article is on the Jews; it is hittorical, and relates not only to the pains and penalties' laid on them by the legislature, but the different attempts made to relieve them. This part of the work feems to be executed with accuracy and ability. A Con A Controverfial Letter of a new Kind, to the Rev. Dr. Price from a Clergyman of the Church of England. 8vo. Stockdale. Obfervations on Dr. Price's Revolution Sermon. 8vo. per Stockdale. 13. 6d. Is. 6d. Thefe works are connected only remotely and incidentally with the controverfy on the test act. The first is a mild expoftu latory letter on the fermon of Dr. Price, as improperly introducing political fubjects into the pulpit, and fpeaking of the king with too little refpect. There is fcarcely any novelty in the fubitance or in the manner: the author writes with temand candour; he is content to dwell in decencies for ever.' The fecond is a work of greater ability and importance. Di. Price is reprehended with temper, but with feverity, for his ob fervations on the late revolution in France. If we furvey only the prefent moment, the fcene is gloomy and deftructive. Anarchy, a fouler fiend than defpotifm,' is the principal figure in the group; and in the back-ground is an exhausted treafury, infufficient finances, a mouldering commerce, and a mutilated empire. Is this the picture to infpire rejoicing and triumph, to entice us to emulate the glorious conduct which has occafioned it? is this the picture held out to countenance innovation, and to encourage the dreams of vifionary (peculators ? It is well contrafted by the author with our own conduct at the revolution. The remarks on the other part of the fermon appear equally able and acute; the test act and the attempts to procure its repeal are but fhortly noticed, nor do we perceive that this part of the fubject is greatly elucidated by our author's labours POETRY. Exalted Affection; or, Sophia Pringle. A Poem. By the Rev. W. Cole. 8vo. IS. Printed for the Author. The heroine of the tale was tried and condemned about a year or two fince for forgery. Mr. Cole affures us, the was offered free pardon on the condition that the impeached her accomplice her lover.' But this the refufed to do, and was exccuted according to her fentence. Our author's arguments, and her own contrivance for averting or poftponing that fatal event, will, we fear, in fpite of poor Sophia's melancholy fituation, and his talents for the pathetic, of which he evidently appears to have no contemptible idea, excite more mirth than fadnels. ་ Yet, the first man death-fentenc'd, did not die, As firft,-ah! then, Sophia, why not thee? * Offence's gilded hard may shove by justice.' Hamlet. No! |