but the change has not been general, nor have the variations been numerous or important. We fhould think (obferves Mr. Palmer in his particular defence of the Diffenter's views) with abhorrence of feeing any one denomination of Diflenters advanced to ecclefiaftical power, and enjoying those emoluments of yours, for which you and your brethren are fo fadly apprehenfive. And the great divertity of fentiments which there is at prefent among us, and the number of parties into which we are divided, would alone be a fufficient fecurity against ours becoming the establified religion of this country, whatever power we might contrary to all human probability) acquire in the ftate. It would be an absolute imponibility in the nature of things, that fo many and fuch he terogeneous bodies of men as compofe the prefent Diffenters, hould ever be united in one church-establishment, As no one of them would ever be fuffered by the rest to establish itself, ncither is there any one that wishes it, or that would not much rather fee epifcopacy remain for ever where it is. And while there is a church-eftablishment at all, fo long as the Epifcopalians are the majority, we are ready to admit they ought to have the preeminence; it being a univeral principle among us, that the voice of majorities fhould always determine,' This is the fame view which we have taken of the subject, and fuch is the perverfenefs of human nature, we have from it contended that it would be dangerous to take off the test, as it would introduce anarchy and contention, and must at last necef farily terminate in raifing one church to the fupreme authority. Power is a fafcinating phantom, and the afpiring mind of man will never be at rest while it is to be obtained. To the author of the Review,' Mr. Palmer replies rather in the words of Abernethy than in its own. He remonftrates with the right reverend reviewer on the unfairness of arguing from partial extracts and unconnected paffages; but we could have wifhed that he had attempted to extract the poifon of fome late publications and refolutions, or at leaft difowned his being infected with the fame virulent fpirit of republicanifm and equaljty. Thefe conceffions would have come with peculiar propri ety from Mr. Palmer, to whofe candour, moderation, and good fenfe, we have, in more than one inftance, had occafion to pay a chearful tribute of applaufe. A Series of Remarks upon a Sermon preached at St. Philip's Church in Birmingham, on Sunday Jan. 3, 1790; entitled, the Tef Las Defended, by George Croft, D. D. By the Rev. Joba Hobfon. 8vo. 15. Johnfon. Ja our laft Review, p. 350, we spoke of Dr. Croft's fermon with fome refpect, though we thought the dignity of the pul pit fullied by the language of controverfy. Mr. Hobfon follows she preacher in his preface and fermon with fome afperity, occa Lonal pleafantry, but with an eager perfecuting fpirit. We can can commend the spirit of the remarks rather than the temper which dictated them; and are more pleafed with the author's humorous farcafms than with his ferious arguments. The oppressive, unjuft, and prophane Nature and Tendency of the Corporation and left Als exposed, in a Sermon preached before the Congregation of Proteftant Dissenters, meeting in Cannon-Street, Birmingham, Feb. 21, 1790. By S. Pearce. 8vo. 6d. Johnson. Mr. Pearce's text, or rather the motto of his pamphlet, is the 161ft verfe of the 119th Pfalm, which he applies to the pre1ent time with the most perfect propriety, if we could fuppofe, for a moment, David to be a Prefbyterian and Saul an archbifhop; or, David a follower of Calvin, and the rulers and counfellors, as fome have tranflated the original word, which in out verfion is rendered princes,' to be the upper and lower houfe of convocation. At present—but fhall we confefs the truth? the flame burns fo fiercely, the furnace is feven times hotter than it is wont to be heated,' that we are unwilling to approach it. The next text that relates to perfecution may be hurled af our own heads. 6 Teleration and Charity peculiar to the Chriflian Religion. Tranf lated from the French of A. B. Bijkop of, in Languedoc. 8vo. Is. Murray. This is an admirable effay, full of candour, mildness, mo deration, and good fenfe. The author is well acquainted with the human heart, with its prejudices, predilections, and antipathies; and his decifions deferve great attention: his letter too is written with much fpirit and addrefs. Unfortunately, he difapproves of any test, and in his views we may allow it to be improper, for not one of his arguments will apply to the footing on which we endeavoured to put the question, in the conclufion of our account of the subject in our laft Number. We canno relift tranfcribing a few lines from the dedication: the bishop's purtuits were, it feems, interrupted by the late disturbances, which produced the fame effect (the diffufion of a spirit of toteration) without any farther efforts from him. - The bishop writes me, that, though extremely fhocked at the enormities committed by the mob, he is, in general, fatisfied with the conduct of the national affembly. He regrets the long fufpenfion of the executive power, the indecent manner in which their good king has been treated, though he by no means throws the blame of this upon the affembly; and he is afraid left the union of all the orders, originally intended to be temporary only, fhould become perpetual. He exprefles no anxiety or regret about any measures that have been, or may be, taken refpecting the clergy.' A Sermon on Religious Toleration, preached in the Church of Bars nfs upon Windermere, Wifimoreland. By Samuel Beilby, D. D. 40. 1. Baldwin. A mild and benevolent difcourfe on the fubject of toleration its chief connexion with the test appears in the pieface, where the the author tells us, he hopes it may tend to convince the more moderate of them (the Diffenters) that whoever disturbs the religious establishment of his country without a divine commiffion, is not acting the part of a good fubject.' He concludes with declaring his firm opinion,' that the existence of the church depends on that of the test act. DIVINITY, RELIGIOUS, &c. A Sermon on Education, including a Difplay of Parental Duty, and the proper Objects of liberal Inftruction: preached before a Society of Proteftant Diffenters at Bradford, Yorkshire, June 28th, 1789. By S. Catlow. 4to. 6d. Johnfon. Mr. Catlow, in elegant and often highly polished language, recommends an attention to the culture of the mind, whatever may be the future plan of life, as it enlarges the views, matures the judgment, may fugget improvements,, or fupply a fource of the moft rational entertainment, after profeffional labours. The religious improvement, and the more liberal accomplish'ments are attended to with equal care. We apprehend Mr. Catlow fuperintends a fmall feminary at Mansfield; and he feems fo well acquainted with the utility of education, and fo fully aware of its great and important objects, that we have no doubt of his fuccefs. A Proteflant Catechifm, for the Use of Young Perfons, originally publifted in French, and tranflated by S. Catlow. 12mo. 6d. Johnfon. We have read this Catechifin with great fatisfaction: it is clear, explicit, and rational. It is, however, on the Unitarian fyftem, and we must praife it with that referve; but Unitarianim is not rendered obvious or glaring: it is once only and flightly mentioned. The great object of the author is to give a plain account of the contents of the Bible, with the history of religion, and to inculcate the different duties towards God, our neighbours, and curfelves. An Exhortation to all Chriftian People, to refrain from Trinita rian Worship. The fecond Edition. 12mo. 4d. Johnfon. The title expreffes the object of this plain, serious Addrefs. If the writer thinks it of great importance to turn people from the error of their ways, we would commend him for the confcientious difcharge of what he thinks his duty. We ought, however, to tell him, that comparing different paffages of the Liturgy of the Church of England, with fingle pailages from the Gospel, is neither candid nor proper. If we allow then his fincerity, it must be at the expence of his underflanding or his integrity. A Vindication of Speaking openly in favour of important Truths, fpecially thofe refpecting the Divine Unity. 12mo. 2d. Johnson. We always refpect Dr. Toulmin's ability; and to him, we apprehend, we are indebted for the prefent Vindication.'— But we have had occafion already to oppofe this moft pernicious fyftem, unless the arguments are addrefied to men of science or judgment. judgment. There can be but one reafon for these very general popular addreffes; to engage those who cannot reason, and to prejudice thofe who cannot examine: the ultimate object certainly lies deeper. The Speech of the right hon. William Pitt, in the House of Commons, on Tuesday the fecond of March, 1790, respecting the Repeal of the Corporation and Teft Als. 8vo. 15. Stockdale. This fpeech, like Mr. Fox's, has been generally circulated; but its effects, or the refult, like the good feed, depends on the foil in which it is to germinate. POETR Y. Female Characters in Married Life: an Epigrammatic Satire. 4to. 2s. 6d. Stalker. We could have wished our author had given a defcription of one good character, if it were only to have flown that women, in his opinion, ever acted properly; but, as he profeffes to hold out the errors of fome as examples to the reft, we will excufe his want of gallantry for the fake of his good intention. It is a remark, we believe, of the late excellent Dr. Gregory, that no one ever abused the fex, who was confcious that he deferved the regard and attention of the most virtuous part of itHis lines run familiarly; they are not polifhed into, elegance, or fliffened by too much labour. We shall felect one of the fhorteft characters: The Houfe-wife ftill her cookery relates, And starves her hungry husband with her treats; At length exclaims-" Oh stop this gush of rivers!" The Struggles of Sheridan, or the Miniftry in full Cry. 4to. 15. Kerby. If poets fuccced best in fiction our author fhould be excellent; for that the prefent miniflers either applied to Mr. Sheridan for affistance, or deprecated his Philippics, we may eafily allow to be poetical invention. The different fpeeches made to him on this fubject are, however, characteristic and humorous: his reply is more firm, and in fome lines indignant; we mean not to fay that it is not in character. It is enough for us to felect a thort fpecimen of the oratory of the fupplicants, for fince it is more purely fictitious, it ought to be the best: With looks important and a folemn bend, But But now, I trust, thofe hateful things are o'er, Or if my brother's place you'd rather have, Something of novelty and humour appeared in the preface, and the doggrel lines difplayed a fpisit, which might have shone to more advantage on another fubject. Yet the novelty, the fpirit, and the humour were mifapplied, or improperly conducted, fince we laid down the book, without a wish to refume it. The concluding lines convey a good leffon: In's fermon, once o'th' fifth o'November, "Who with the Rhodian coloffus The author is a friend of Dr. White's, but does not engage in the merits of the difpute: it is a laughing fquib to engage the attention on what was a popular fubject. MEDICA L. A Treatise on the Caufes and Effects of Scirrhous Tumors and Cancers, &c. By Henry Saffory. 8vo. 15. Egertons. The author's Treatife is flight and fuperficial; his Apology -trite; and his Eulogium on the conduct of the furgeons of the army in America, injudiciously exaggerated. Their credit could only be hurt by fuch panegyrics, for it was not within the reach of cenfure. The ufe of a fecret medicine can never add any luftre to the character of a regular furgeon or physician. A Review of the Medical Department in the British Navy, with a Method of Reform propofed. By Thomas Trotter, M.D. 8vo. 25. Bew. It is but paying a debt of gratitude for the inftruction we |