Mant's Edition of the Prayer Book, suggested to me the adoption of the first prayer, on the Sunday preceding, and the second on the Sunday succeeding, the Ember days. I need not call the attention of your readers to the efficacy of united prayer, nor remind them that one of the great characteristics of our Established Church is its uniformity of practice, but I cherish a hope that they will not take offence at the suggestion of one, whose earnest wish it is that as danger from without approaches nearer to our sanctuary, we may be found more and more prayerful, and may gather strength from our Great High Priest, wherewith to resist the assaults of the irreligious, and the artifices of the designing. One of the means of gaining strength, may, I think, be found in a scrupulous adherence to the Rubric, as this would do much towards the maintenance of that spirituality which pervades our Liturgy, leading us constantly to look to Him who can alone bestow "grace to help in time of need ;" and, if a Country Curate may, without presumption, offer such a hint to his superiors, would not as scrupulous adherence to the 31st Canon, as is possible, be most desirable also? A spectacle would then be exhibited before that Providence whose all-seeing eye "looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth,” which could not fail to be acceptable, viz., a whole nation simultaneously imploring the Divine blessing upon the visible church, and upon those labourers who are on the point of receiving their commission to labour in it.

H.

LETTER FROM MR. OFFOR.

To the Editor of the British Magazine.

SIR,*-Among many answers in my examination before the House of Commons, one, relative to the Oxford Editions of the Bible, made a deep impression: that in a Bible, printed at that University, there existed 12,000 errors-that a copy of it had been shewn to me, fifteen or sixteen years ago, by Mr. William Randall, which had that number of errors marked in it. To this, Dr. Cardwell has replied in a statement, which you, Mr. Editor, call "a flat contradiction," terms which led me to anticipate that the Dr. had denied the existence of such a Bible. But, much was I surprised to find, that his statement contains so many admissions confirmatory of mine. He acknowledges, that an Oxford Bible was shewn to me with a multitude of errors marked in it; that it was twenty years ago, and not fifteen or sixteen as I had stated; that it was in posses

• What follows is an extract from a long letter from Mr. Offor. The Editor is bound, in fairness, to give any person mentioned in this Magazine an opportunity of explaining himself; but he entirely declines giving place to such matter as the remainder of Mr. Offor's letter, which consists of declamations against the monopoly of printing Bibles, and complaints of the tyranny exercised in virtue of it. There are so many "Liberal" journals open to this sort of matter, that there can be no hardship in refusing it admittance in one, where the truth and justice of the complaints gain no credit.-ED.

sion of Mr. James, and not Mr. William Randall, his brother, a matter of no moment; (but I have good reason to know, that it was the latter of these gentlemen who first introduced this book to me;) that I was mistaken in the size, and that the number of errors marked in it were under 1000, instead of amounting to 12,000, as I had stated. Why the former of these objections were introduced I cannot conceive; the last is the only one worthy my reply. All that I state is from memory, after a lapse of many years, but it is a subject which made a most lasting impression on my mind. The errors I did not count, but took the word of Mr. Randall, a most respectable gentleman, as to the number: that there were nearly 1000 errors which affected the sense of the text, and that, including typographical errors of every description, they exceeded 12,000. It was a most wretched specimen of typography. Still, should the production of this Bible prove, that only 1000 errors exist in it, as admitted by Dr. Cardwell; that it was published by the authority, and under the sanction of the University of Oxford, in 1802; that 3000 or perhaps 5000 copies were circulated, it is enough. These are appalling facts, which ought to make a serious alteration in the patent, or even put an end to it altogether.

My second statement, impugned by Dr. C., relates to the Bibles printed during the Protectorate, by Calvert and John Field. Both these Printers published editions of the Bible, which, for that age, were peculiarly beautiful, so highly esteemed, that Field's genuine edition of his smallest Bible, in fine preservation, has been sold for the enormous sum of 107.; and long after Field's death, his editions were printed in Holland, and incorrect Bibles, in his name, were circulated in England.

On this subject Dr. C., with apparent gratification, introduces the London Printers' Lamentation, in 1660. This laments that Hills and Field, (at least, so says Dr. Cardwell; Dr. Cotton says, that it was Bill and Barker,) not John Field, Printer to the Protector, but Hills, who was King's Printer to Charles II., and, as such, held the patent right to print Bibles.+ Alas! Dr. Cardwell, did you not know that Hills, by virtue of his monopoly as King's Printer, did publish editions of the Bible, abounding with errors? The quaint language of that rare tract is worthy a second quotation. Hills, or Bill, or Barker, all of them having held the patent, had, in the exercise of their exclusive privilege, printed " in several editions of Bibles (consisting of great numbers,) such egregious blasphemies, and damnable erratas, as have corrupted the pure fountain, and rendered God's holy word contemptible to multitudes at home, and a ludibrium to all the adversaries of our religion."

Dr. Cardwell has discovered, in one of Field's Bibles, three errors in Romans vi. I have collated all the copies which my extensive collection of Bibles furnished me with, viz. the pocket editions of 1655, 1657, 1658, and the splendid folio of 1659; these errors do not

* Dr. Cardwell admits that 1000 errors were stated to be in it.-ED.

This sentence is given as in the MS.-ED.

exist in

any

of them. So that I must infer, that Dr. C.'s copy is one of the pirated editions, vulgarly called among booksellers, "The Bastard Field's Bible."

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

GEORGE OFFOR.

To the Editor of the British Magazine.

DEAR SIR,-In reference to your review of Mr. Exton's Sermon in blank verse, in your January Number, p. 75, I beg to inform you, that an entire volume of similar compositions was published some years ago, by the late Mr. Davison, curate of Damerham, near Cranborne, Dorset.

And with respect to the ancient table destroyed in the chapter house of Sarum cathedral, I may as well mention, that a tolerably accurate representation of it may be seen, both in the History by Dodsworth, and also in that of Britton.

Your's very faithfully,

Sarum, March 19th.

NOTICES AND REVIEWS.

P. H.

Scenes in Our Parish; by a Country Parson's Daughter.
Hatchard. London.

Second Series.

THE public have ratified the judgment of the merits of the fair authoress of this little work past in this Magazine, and encouraged her to publish a second edition of her first volume, and also to proceed with a second series of her unpretending, but well-principled and agreeable parish chronicles and reflections. No lengthened extracts from the work can be given; but one passage, not by any means in execution the best, but at the same time so connected with recent events, and expressing sentiments of approbation so well merited by the individual to whom they are addressed, must be given, as the heart of every reader will be carried along with the Parson's daughter in her admiration of Bishop Gray.

She happened to reside in the neighbourhood of Bristol, and had reason to apprehend that the fury of the misguided mob who set fire to that wealthy city, would be directed towards her humble dwelling. She paints in strong colours the horrors of her situation, and that of her friend, interspersing her account with reflection which do credit to their hearts, and tend to the edification of the reader. She then speaks of the Bishop of Bristol's conduct on that remarkable occasion.

"Our various thoughts were often interrupted by the awful and agitating news that every fresh messenger brought. There were two hundred rioters on their way to burn down the church, we were told. Why should we doubt it, when the flames within a mile and a half shewed how near they were bringing the work of destruction? A friend, who was come immediately from the scene of desolation, entered, and from him we learned that the bishop's palace was in flames. My mother covered

her eyes with her hands, but did not speak. It seemed to us now as if our doom was sealed. We understood why they should burn the jails. The convicts there would be helps meet to strengthen their bands. Political feeling might give some shadow of reason for the outrageous and misguided attack on public buildings. We questioned our informant again. I have seen the bishop's palace burning,' he repeated, and the mob are shouting for the king and no bishops!' Ha! we have lived to strange times. Men are so mad for freedom, that none but their own party are to dare to be free, and our property is ruined, and our lives in danger, because we act according to the dictates of a conscience which dares to differ from theirs. Their conscience!-poor, wretched, misguided creatures; when they burnt the Bible on the communion table in the chapel, to shew their contempt as for the servant so for the master ;-when they drove women and children from their homes, and delivered the houses of those who had no thought of evil towards them, to fire and plunder-what consciences have they? But a sense of our immediate danger pressed upon us. Have we lived to perilous times? Then let us recollect where strength lies, and let our spirits rise to the emergency. Our bishop is an old man ; and at the consecration-and it was a peaceful and pleasant consecration two days ago-his voice trembled, and there were tears in his eyes, as if he knew of a gathering storm; but now in the time of need he has found strength, and set us an example which, by God's help, we will follow, and our children's children shall learn, with the seven bishops of the days of James, to join the name of good Bishop Gray, whose palace was burnt at Bristol, and who, being urged not to preach, because the infuriate people were mad against him, answered, (and how should a bishop of the Church of England have answered otherwise?) I will preach if I die there!' I cannot be charged with time-serving now, to write thus. The parson's daughter shall, from her heart, thank the God of might, that in these days of trouble, and reproach, and blasphemy, he gives strength and energy where they are needed; still raising up in the persecuted church, whose trust is in Him, some rulers who are willing to suffer for conscience' sake, and are followers of them, who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. But our danger recurred to our mind, and our hearts sunk. The bishop's palace was burnt-then the houses of the clergy would presently follow. One we already knew to be in flames, and our own was singled out.'

Expository Discourses on the Gospels for every Sunday and the Principal Festivals. By the Rev. John Hall, B.D., Rector of St. Werburgh's, Bristol. 2 vols. 8vo. London: Hamilton and Adams. 1832.

THE larger portions of these sermons appear to be plain, sensible explanations and enforcements of the doctrines and duties contained in the Gospel of each Sunday. But, occasionally, they want revision. For example, vol. ii. p. 68, what authority has Mr. H. for saying, that Nicodemus's question-" How can a man, &c. ?" was "evidently an attempt to set aside the doctrine, by pretending not to understand it in any other than a literal sense?" Our Lord's words would induce us to suppose that Nicodemus was ignorant, but not disingenuous. The writer has no intention of entering into controversy about regeneration, but he must observe that Mr. H.'s language appears inaccurate. In vol. ii. p. 71, he says, "Of the new birth of which our Saviour speaks, Baptism with water is the outward and visible sign, &c." Now, as the church calls (in the Catechism) Baptism a Sacrament, and makes it consist of two parts, surely they who refuse to acknowledge the doctrine of Baptismal regeneration would, to avoid confusion of language, do well rather to use washing than baptism, when they mean to speak of the mere outward sign. Mr. Hall thinks that the water, spoken of in John iii., has no reference to baptism, in which the writer cannot agree.

In vol. ii. p. 153, Mr. H. says, "the convinced sinner says in his heart, Oh! that there were no God to call me to account for my sins," and refers to Psalm xiv. 1. Surely the person there spoken of is not a convinced sinner. Mr. H. will probably, on reflexion, agree with the writer, that it is never advisable to use Scripture phrases, as remarkable and as definite as this, in any sense but their own. The lax application of Scripture has been a dreadful evil of latter years, and one sees with great fear and pain very frequently quidlibet deduced a quolibet, and the most momentous doctrines of Christianity, VOL. III.-April, 1833. 3 M

even the whole system indeed, deduced from a single text in the Old Testament, which had perhaps no reference to the Christian scheme at all. Mr. Hall's style is pleasant, and very many of the sermons would be useful for family reading. But they must first be carefully examined.

Domestic Portraiture, or the successful application of Religious Principle in the Education of a Family, exemplified in the Memoirs of Three of the Deceased Children of the Rev. Legh Richmond. London: 1833. Seeley and Burnside. 8vo. pp. 409.

MR. LEGH RICHMOND's opinions are so well known, that there is no necessity to touch on that subject. The present volume will, however, be interesting to those who disagree as well as those who agree with him in opinion on religious points. Having had the misfortune to see one son turn out ill who had been sent to school, he resolved on private education for the rest, and this volume contains the details of his plan and its results. The question is one of great importance, and perhaps, in theory, a better case can be made out for private education. But it seems to be forgotten, that, in a great majority of cases, it is impossible. How many parents in middling life have leisure? how many have fortune to have a private tutor, and give their sons all the advantages which Mr. R. gave to his? Alas! how many parents are unfit, by the state of their own hearts and minds, to superintend their children's education. All this must be considered when we are reading Mr. R.'s plans. There are some portions of the book which it is not easy to understand. Mr. R. is represented as the persevering and anxious instructor of his children, and yet he is spoken of as constantly absent. Such changes of habits as the frequent absence of an instructor would cause, must be injurious to education. Again, it is said, that if a friend brought a child into the house on a morning visit, Mr. R. was in a state of nervous anxiety lest his children should be left alone with the stranger, and thus be corrupted. Surely this is going on a false view. To expose a child willingly to associate with those, about whose principles you doubt, is one thing; but to feel that your child is unsafe from speaking for a few minutes to another child, is a wild fear,-if for no other reason, for this, that human intercourse could not go on if such chance intercourse were to be prohibited, and no reliance could be placed on religious principle to prevent mischief.

There is another thing too, which particularly deserves consideration. Looking abroad to the world, is there less real religion in men educated at a public school than in private? Individual experience is perhaps little, but the writer could say distinctly, that among men of his own time of life, whose conduct he could speak of confidently, the public-schoolmen were, to say the least, as exemplary in their lives as those brought up at home, and as truly religious.

The Text of the English Bible Considered. By T. Turton, D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge, &c., &c. Cambridge: 1833.

pp. 41.

THE Controversy about the state of the text of the English Bible may be almost said to be entirely finished by the pamphlet just published by Professor Turton. The reply of Dr. Cardwell, as far as Oxford was concerned, was entirely satisfactory; but Dr. Turton has entered on the question of the editions of 1611 at length. He has incontestibly shewn, by an inductive process of reasoning on a variety of texts, the principle on which the Italics (or what were equivalent to Italics) were used in that edition, and that, in every instance, the modern Italics (in the texts on which the Sub-committee of Dissenting Ministers founded their Report), are only used in order to carry that same principle into effect uniformly throughout the Scriptures. The Italics