without refpect, and at this moment not without re gret, Mr. Jones, the author of a Letter to three con verted fews*, has lately closed his laborious and exemplary life. One or two tracts, published fince that Letter, remain unexamined by us: thefe we shall perufe with care, affured of this, that whether we agree or whether we differ (as fometimes we have done, on particular matters of opinion) our esteem for fuch a character can neither require augmentation, nor will fuffer any diminution. Charus abis, oculis abeuntem perfequor udis. At In our notice of fingle Sermons, we are generally obliged to be more fummary, in this part of our work, than on fome accounts we could wifh. prefent we fhall mention only four, which appear to deserve selection, among many that are stamped with merit. These we shall take in the accidental order of their occurrence in our pages. They are the Thanksgiving Sermon of Mr. T. F. Middletont, the Affociation Sermon of Mr. Partridget, that of Dr. Cardews, for the General Infirmary at Truro, and the Difcourfe of Mr. Lambard||, at the confecration of the Bishop of Oxford. The difcrimination of their refpective excellencies may be deduced from the fubjects on which they treat; each being ftrictly and judicioufly appropriated to its occafion. Thefe difcourfes we noted in our progrefs; if there are others which may fairly ftand in competition with them, we rejoice in the fact, and in the inferences deducible. from it. Where merit ftrives with merit ἀγαθὴ ἔρις ήδε βροτοίσι MORALS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. The great fyftem of Ariftotle, on both thefe fubjects, having been developed by Dr. Gillies, with great * No. I. p. 79. No. IV. p. 436. + No. II. p. 193- No. IV. p. 435 clearness clearness and ability, in a work which may be confidered rather as an ample comment on the Morals and Politics of that Philofopher, than a strict tranflation of them, we opened fome of the learned editor's views to our readers in our preceding volume*, and concluded our examination in two numbers of the prefentt. So powerful an antidote to the fhallow and abfurd but dangerous doctrines of the prefent day, we have not elsewhere feen; and though authority is often fpurned with contemptuous ignorance by modern fpeculators, it is fitting they fhould know that, in the teftimony of Ariftotle, they have not only the acuteft reasoning, but the most extenfive experience against them. LAW. The eccentric, and in many points reprehenfible, will of the late Mr. Thellion, and the legal decifion upon it, produced fome publications, of which, by far the most judicious, was the report upon the Cafe by Mr.Vefeyt. The Obfervations on the Poor Laws, and the Duties of Overfeers, delivered by Dr. Nafmith, in the Ifle of Ely, as a Charges at the Quarter-Seflions, contain matter of confiderable value. Nor muft we omit to mention, though anonymous, thofe cogent arguments against changing the ancient tenure of tithes, publimed under the quaint title of Who'll Change old Lamps for new? The author appears to write from the best motives, and certainly after much confideration of the fubject. POLITICS. The chief publications belonging to this clafs have lately had reference to the projected Union between Vol. xiil, P. 457. + No. I. p. 56; II. p. 148. No. I. p. 81. ‡ No. II. Great Great Britain and Ireland. With no bias on our, minds, but that naturally arifing from the happy effects of the Union between the two kingdoms within this island, and the manifeft neceffity of fome radical improvement in the regulation of that beyond St. George's Channel, we have carefully examined the publications on that important fubject, and have fincerely thought, that the arguments in favour of the: measure greatly preponderated. They who wish to continue their collections on this topic, will not neglect to procure, in favour of the Question, Lord, Minto's Speech in the Houfe of Peers; a tract, entitled Ireland profiting by Example; Mr. W. Smith's. Addrefs to the People of Ireland; the parliamentary. Speech of Lord Sheffields; and, the Obfervations on the Union, by Mr. George Moore. On the other fide, the. chief publication which we have lately noticed, purports to be the Speech of the Right Hon. John Fofter, a zealous opponent of the measure. This is generally regarded as the most powerful production, of that party, yet has received two anfwers of confiderable force: the one in a tract, entitled Obferva-. tions on the Speech of the Right Hon. John Foster**; the other ftyling itself a Review of the Publication entitled the Speech,&c. written by Mr. Smith††, whose Addrefs we had before noticed and commended. The teft of experience, that infallible decider of all difficulties, is now likely to be applied to the Question, and our moft earnest wishes are, that all the good expected may be realized and exceeded, while the difadvantages fhall vanish and prove chimerical. To encourage this hope, it should not be forgotten, that the opponents of the internal Union of Great Britain, were even more alarming in their prognoftics, than any writers against the prefent defign. Yet their omens came to nothing. On a more general confideration of Irish Affairs, the Effays of Mr. Knox* are employed, and appear to deferve confideration. It contains also fome very excellent answers to democratic principles and arguments, often defeated by reasoning," but always most completely exposed when experimentally known. Of political tracts, referring feparately to our own island, we have examined only a few. The Second Part of the Thoughts on the English Government has produced a reply from a writer who thought himself attacked, and confequently a controverfy. The tract contains a powerful vindication of the author's principles, and a comment on his expreffions. The matter in dif pute, between him and a learned Profeffor of Oxford, we shall have occafion hereafter to notice. A diligent investigation of the circumstances of the Income Tax, by the Rev. H. Beeket, well deferves the attention of financiers; and, on a fimilar subject, an anonymous tract, entitled Tests of the National Wealth§, &c. fuggefts many useful and patriotic ideas. Befides thefe, there is little more that can require notice, excepting the French Letters to the Abbé Barruel, of which we recommended a tranflation to be made. They offer fome remarkable illuftrations on the fubject of the Memoirs, and mark fome characters on the continent in colours lefs pleafing than ftrong. HISTORY. Into this branch of fcience we are at prefent called by Mr. Maurice alone, who has now concluded his arduous undertaking of the Hiftory of Hindoftan, Sanfcreet and Claffical, in two extenfive volumes quarto. As far as he is concerned with the traditions of India, this animated writer continues the able defender of Christianity against the misinterpretations of Infidels. The claffical part of the Hiftory he has touched more rapidly, but with skill and spirit. United with his Indian Antiquities, which we should rejoice to fee alfo in a quarto form, this work contains a valuable treasure of Oriental knowledge. BIOGRAPHY. Works of General Biography have been increaf ing and improving in Europe, fince the time of Mos reri; and the inftruction as well as entertainment afforded by them, certainly makes it defitable that they fhould be encouraged. The work which lately commenced under the care of Dr. Aikin, promifes fome advantages, particularly a reference to its authorities; but it is lefs convenient in form, than either the French Dictionnaire Hiftorique, or the General Biographical Dictionary in English. It ap pears, however, to be executed with ability. Óf particular Biography, we have nothing at present to record but the Life of that excellent Divine, Dr. Comber, compiled by his great grandfont. Such a record must be received with pleafure by the nume rous friends of our Church; of which Dr. Comber was fo valuable a member, and so ablé a defender. ANTIQUITIES. The memorials of the ancient See of St. Andrew's‡ Scotland, will not be the lefs acceptable to the genuine antiquary, for having been compiled more than a century ago. They are published from the original manufcript, collated with three valuable copies. Befides its immediate fubjeét, this book offers many curious articles of general information. But the moft extentive and important treafure of fuch know No. VI. p. 589. + No. II. P. 206% + No. H. p. 1416 ledgé, |