cumftances, &c. confining himself to a plain and fimple narration of the occurrences, and as faithful a report of the parliamentary debates, on the occafion, as could be collected:' hoping, and confidently prefuming, that nothing of moment has been omitted.'. The judicious and impartial reader will not value this compilement the lefs, for the editor's abstemioufnefs, in the refpect here mentioned. The Appendix contains copies of Mr. Pitt's Letter to the Prince of Wales, with his Royal Highness's Anfwer; Extracts from the Examination of the Phyficians; Tranfactions at the Meetings in London and Westminster; A Lift of the Addreffes; Proceedings of the Parliament of ireland; and other particulars.

Art. 50. An Oration, delivered on the Secular Anniversary of the Revolution. By William Sharp, Junior, Prefident of a Society devoted to Public Freedom, at Newport, Ifle of Wight; with an Appendix. 8vo. pp. 31. 15. Johnfon. 1789.

In this oration are many fenfible obfervations, and fome things which might as well have been omitted. We here refer to what the author lays, page 13, Not a fingle fpot appears to stain the Snowy ermine of the elder GEORGES. No illegal invafion of civil property: No infringement of the facred rights of private confcience, are to be traced in their amiable memoirs. And, though the prefent reign has not uniformly fhone with fuch propitious beams; we hope the clouds are for ever diffipated, which obftructed its luftre.' We have nothing to object either to George the Ift or IId. They were patrons of liberty: the friends of mankind; and we are much indebted to their falutary adminiftration. But why caft a flur on George III? Surely Mr. Sharp forgets that to him we are indebted for a full and free toleration, and the independence of our judges, which is the beft fecurity for our liberties.

As to the fongs in the Appendix, though we cannot say much in favour of the poetry, yet we approve the fentiments.

NEGROE SLAVERY.

Br.....w.

Art. 51. The Speeches of William Wilberforce, Efq. &c. on the Abolition of the Slave-Trade, in the Houfe of Commons, May 12, 1789. 8vo.

PP. 32. Is. Stockdale.

This publication contains, likewife, the fpeeches of Meffrs. Fox, Pitt, Gafcoigne, Grenville, Burke, Dempfter, Lord Penrhyn, &c. &c. to which Mr. Wilberforce's twelve propofitions are added.

Art. 52. No Abolition; or, an Attempt to prove, to the Conviction of every rational British Subject, that the Abolition of the British Trade with Africa, for Negroes, would be a Measure as unjust as impolitic, fatal to the Interests of this Nation, ruinous to its Sugar Colonies, and more or lefs pernicious in its Confequences, to every Defcription of the People 4to. pp 51. 2s. Debrett. 1789.

To thofe who would impartially view the fubject of negroeflavery, in a commercial light, with refpect to this country, the prefent publication will appear to be of great confequence. The author feems, as far as we can pretend to judge, to have made his estimates, and stated every circumftance, with the utmost exactness; and to have given due fanétion to the whole, by a number of important extracts

004

from

from the report of the Rt. Hon. Committee of Privy Council. His concluding paragraph runs thus:

I leave it now to every honeft and confiderate man in Great-Britain, who is at prefent unwarped by prejudice and paffion, to put thefe ftubborn facts and figures which I have difplayed before him, in competition with all the oratory and all the merits of Mr. Wand his followers, however tranfcendent they may be; and then let him calmly decide, not without a fair and candid examination of evidence on one fide, as well as the other, whether he recollects that there ever was propounded to this nation, any measure so rash and puerile; fo enormously unjust and abfurd; fo advantageous to foreign powers, particularly France; and fo hoftile and mifchievous to our nation and its colonies, as that of the Abolition of the British Trade with Africa?'

We cannot quit this publication without noticing fome flips of paffion in the writer; who, forgetting what is due to candour and Christian charity, has difgraced his performance by the following paragraph:

When the prefent mania abates, the public will judge of the fitnefs of men to conduct the concern of a great, a powerful and wife nation, who would facrifice its most important intereft, and rob fifty-eight thousand of our fellow fubjects of the means of existence, to humour the cant of hypocrites, and the folly of projectors; or to serve a temporary, felfifh, political purpose, which fooner or later will difgrace all its abettors.'

For a confirmation of the prophetic part of the last paragraph, we must refer to time.

Art. 53. An Efay on the comparative Efficiency of REGULATION or ABOLITION, as applied to the Slave Trade. Shewing, that the latter only can remove the Evils to be found in that Commerce. By the Rev. T. Clarkfon, M. A. Svo. pp. 82. 1s. 6d. Phillips. 1789.

Thofe who are acquainted with the former writings of Mr. Clarkfon, refpecting the flave trade, and with the ample extent of his knowlege of the fubject, will need no affurance from us, of his ability ta make good the pofition advanced in the title-page of the present tract. We have not room, nor is it any longer neceffary for us to enter into particulars relative to this almost exhaufted topic. Suffice it, therefore, with refpect to the prefent article, only to add our general opinion, that Mr C. has clearly fhewn, that no bill of regulation for carrying on the negroe-trade, will effectually remove the enormous evils, of which we have heard fo much complaint; and that a total difcontinuance of that trade can alone prove efficient for the accomplishment of the great and defirable purpose, contended for by thofe fiends of human liberty, who wish to fee an end of the negroe flavery.

This pamphlet is full of curious information and cogent reafoning Many repetitions of eftimates, facts, reports, and arguments that have been formerly adduced, are neceffarily again brought forward; but, at the fame time, it must be obferved, that much new matter will be found in this elaborate and valuable performance :which, therefore, deferves to be attentively perufed, and well con

fidered,

fidered, by all who wish to become thoroughly acquainted with the real state and merits of this GREAT QUESTION OF HUMANITY.

Art. 54. Confiderations on Trade, upon Grounds of 8vo. pp. 169. 2s. 6d. 1789.

the Abolition of Slavery, and the Slave
natural, religious, and political Duty.
Printed at Oxford.
Printed at Oxford. London, Elmsley.

We have here one of the most capital of our modern publications on the fubject. The learned and humane author warmly espouses the abolition scheme; and among other able exertions of his great ability, he gives a complete refutation of Mr. Harris's Scriptural Refearches. This elaborate work is written in the form of a Letter to a Friend, and the fignature, at the end. is T. Burgess. C. C. C. Feb. 1789.'

Art. 55. Scripture the Friend of Freedom; exemplified by a Repetition of the Arguments offered in Defence of the Slavery, &c. 8vo. Is. 6d. Phillips, &c. 1789.

PP. 79.

Another refpectable opponent of the author of the Scriptural ReSearches. The prefent writer being a foreigner, as well as Mr. Harris, apologizes for any defects of ftyle, &c. in his compofition. He was chiefly folicitous to detect what he conceives to be mifconftructions of fcriptural paffages, artfully fabricated for the purpose of giving fanction to a trade, the pursuit of which muft deeply wound the feelings of every true Christian.'

THEOLOGY.

Art. 56. The Right of Proteftant Diffenters to a complete Toleration, afferted; containing an hiftorical Account of the Teft Laws, and fhewing the Injustice, Inexpediency, and Folly of the Sacramental Teft, as now impofed, with respect to Proteftant Diffenters; with an Answer to the Objection from the Act of Union with Scotland. By a Layman. The second Edition, corrected *. 8vo. 25. Johnfon.

The narrative part of this piece states, fully, and we think, fairly, the hiftory of the teft laws; the argumentative part reafons clearly and forcibly on the injuftice and impolicy of excluding from public offices a part of the community, who have given every poffible proof of loyalty, and are as able, and as well difpofed, to ferve their country in civil capacities, as the reft of their fellow-citizens. In the following paffage, the writer refutes the notion of danger to the church from the propofed repeal ;

The repeal of the test laws, while it would be a relief to many of his Majefty's faithful fubje&s, would in no way affect the church. It was established long before thefe acts were made, and fo would continue, if they did not exift. Its doctrine, difcipline, revenues, and preferments, would remain exactly the fame as at prefent. Not one article of its doctrines, not one rule or ceremony of its difcipline, not one particle of its revenues, or the fmalleft preferment, would he turned out of its prefent channel. That repeal would leave them where they are, fully protected by ftatutes, and fenced in by canons.

See Rev, vol. lxxvi. p. 348.

No

No legal power or privilege would be taken from the church, nor would any thing be introduced which could pave the way for future danger. On the contrary, the friendship of a refpectable body of men, rendered contented by fuch a measure, would add to their fecurity; efpecially if there is the leaft colour for pretending, that the diffenters have it in their power to become formidable.

If questions of late have been agitated concerning ty thes, has it not been by the landed intereft? or if concerning ecclefiaftical courts or powers, has it not been in the legislature only? Have not the dif fenters been filent as a body, except when attacked, or as mere controverfial writers on points of doctrine, and not of power or poffelfions?-And on the other hand, have they not fought the general caufe of religion against deifts and atheifts, and, by the confeffion of many dignitaries in the church (who have made the circumftance matter of reproach to their own inferior clergy), have they not done it with great zeal and effect, and has not this ultimately itrengthened the establishment ?-In fhort, they have founded their chief comfort in tranquillity; and manifefted every mark of fatisfaction in the civil and religious conflitution of their country, their own hardships excepted. Their minifters have made no ill ufe of the enlarged toleration lately granted; nor will their laymen of that now fought for. The church may therefore reft affured, that the diffenters are never likely to attack their rights, unless it fhould be indifpenfable for the restoration of their own; and that the moft effectual way of difarming them as foes, is by making them friends.'

The facts and arguments, ftated in this publication, fo decifively establish the expediency, as well as the juftice, of the repeal of the teft acts, that we cannot fuppofe that it will long be in the power of the obfolete cry," The church is in danger," to prevent it. E. Art. 57. An Addrefs to the Diffenters, on the Subject of their political and civil Liberty, as Subjects of Great Britain. By Samuel Catlow, of Mansfield. 8vo. pp. 19. 4d. Johnfon. 1788. The fame fubject curforily treated, in a way which is rather more declamatory than argumentative.

D!

Art. 58. Hints fubmitted to the ferious Attention of the Clergy, Nobility, and Gentry, newly affociated. By a Layman; a Friend to the true Principles of the Conftitution in Church and State, and to religious and civil Liberty. The fecond Edition, revifed, with Additions. 8vo. Is. White. 1789.

The first edition of this very refpectable tract was noticed in our Review for February last, Art. 73. of the Catalogue. The unknown author continues to urge, with zeal tempered by moderation and candour, the long-wifhed revifal of our Liturgy; and he has here made confiderable additions to his former arguments. The following advertisement is prefixed: The public affliction affecting all orders of people (but now most happily removed), caufed the first edition of this pamphlet to be called in, when few copies had been fold; for fuch a publication would then have been ill-timed. As the alterations are confiderable in this fecond, any one poffeffed of the first edition may have this in exchange, by bringing the former to the bookfeller.'

* By the Duke of Grafton

Art.

Art. 59. A Hiftory of Chrift, for the Ufe of the unlearned: With fhert explanatory Notes, and practical Reflections. Humbly recommended to Parents, and Teachers of Youth in Schools. By Will. Dalrymple, D.D. one of the Minifters of Ayr. 8vo. pp. 600. 6s. Boards. Printed at Edinburgh. London, Robinfons. 1787. It muft afford the pious reader great pleafure, to fee a faithful minister of the gofpel, who has worn himself out in his Master's fervice, and might well claim the privilege of an Emeritus miles, employing his laft moments, as it were, in compiling an Hiftory of his Saviour's Life and Actions, for the benefit of his hearers in particular, and pofterity in general. It is not eafy to determine which is moft confpicuous, the humility and modefty, or the zeal and affection of the author. His humility and modefty, if there were any imperfections in this work, would, in a great meafure, difarm criticifm. His zeal for promoting the Chriftian religion, and his affection for the objects of his pastoral care, are fuch as might be expected from one who had confecrated his youth and riper years, and is now devoting his old age, to the fervice of the fanctuary. The notes and reflections are fenfible and pertinent, and will be very ufeful to young ftudents in divinity, and others who have not an opportunity of confulting various authors. An index is added, to the chapters, verfes, and fections. We heartily with the good Doctor may live to fee this publication anfwer his warmest wishes. By way of appendix are added, Telimonies of early Chriftian writers, of Jewish and Heathen writers, and of fceptical writers. This is not the leaft valuable part of the book. In compiling it, the author has not failed to avail himself of the labours of Lardner, Newcombe, &c. &c. Br..... w.

Art. 60. Leons of Moral and Religious Inftruction, for the Benefit of the Poor in general, and the Ufe of Sunday Schools in particular. 18mo. PP. 74. 4d. Rivingtons.

Thefe leffons confift of eafy dialogues, many of which are rendered interesting by the introduction of natural incidents. They are, both in fentiment and language, well adapted to the purpofe for which they were written.

E.

Art. 61. Remarks on Dr. Horfley's Ordination Sermon: in a Letter to the Lord Bishop of Glouceiter. By Gilbert Wakefield, B. A. and late Fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge. Small 8vo. pp. 15. 4d. Deighton. 1788.

A very free, but, in our opinion, not entirely an ill-grounded cenfure of fome of the leading fentiments of a difcourfe, which has already paffed under our notice.

Do Art. 62. A Letter to the Lords Spiritual of Parliament, with Anecdotes of the Character and Vices of the prefent Clergy. 12mo. PP. 79. Is. 6d. Stockdale. 1789.

The chief objects of cenfure in this pamphlet are, the fuperficial manner in which candidates for holy orders are examined, the inequality of the provision made for the fupport of the clergy, and the

Though the date of this volume is two years old, it did not make its appearance in London till very lately. prophaneness