ficient ingenuity and acutenefs to fecure a portion of our approbation, but it alfo manifefts too much afperity to obtain that full share of applaufe, which we ever wish to bestow on all who present themfelves before our tribunal.

Pear.e.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 43. An Hiftorical Report on Ramfgate Harbour; written by Order of, and addreffed to, the Trustees. By John Smeaton, Civil Engineer, F. R. S. and Engineer to Ramfgate Harbour. SECOND EDITION. 8vo. Large Paper. 1s. Sewell. 1791. We gave an account of the first edition of this Report, in our Review for April;-and we notice this fecond edition, purely for the fake of an important paragraph now added; viz.

I have the pleasure of informing the public, that on the 17th July 1791, at a high fpring tide, the New Dry Dock, built in the Bafon, for repairing fhips, was tried in the prefence of the Chairman, for the first time fince it was found neceffary to build it with a timber floor, which is of a new and peculiar conftruction, on account of the fprings rifing from the chalk, fo powerfully under it, that the ftone floor with which it had been twice tried formerly, was forced up. The experiment answered in the completeft manner; the Dock remaining perfectly dry till low water, when the fluices of the Bafon were opened for fcouring the Harbour: fo that this very defirable object, that has been fo much defpaired of, is now fully obtained, and must prove of great utility to the public.'

In a paper, of four folio pages, diftributed gratis, ( Observations and Facts relative to Ramfgate Harbour, &c.') we have an addition to the lift of fhipping that have been fheltered in Ramsgate harbour, from 1780 to 1790, inclufive; viz. in 1791, not fewer than 459 fhips took fhelter there in formy weather; of which number 356 were bound to and from London. We are here farther informed, that the register-book of those veffels which have taken shelter in this harbour, proves that it has already been the means of saving property, to the amount of FOUR MILLIONS fterling, and near EIGHT THOUSAND LIVES, that might otherwife have been loft to their friends and country.'-In this fugitive paper, are feveral remarks and facts which merit the attention of the public.

Art. 44. An Address to the Public, from the Philanthropic Society, inftituted in 1788, for the Promotion of Industry, and the Reform of the criminal Poor. To which are annexed, the Laws and Regulations of the Society, &c. 8vo. pp. 30. 6d. White, &c.

1792.

We are pleafed to find that this new inftitution, for the fober and induftrious education of vagrant children, is in a promifing state for

As I obferved a confiderable ftream of water continually iffuing from under the Apron, at low water, I ordered this water to be drained therefrom, by a chain pump, and found that this spring (which was falt) vented at the rate of 160 barrels an hour; which vent expofed the bottom to the action of the tides water.'

7

permanent

permanent establishment; it being a juft obfervation in this Ade
drefs, with reference to many of our public charities, that while
the hand of liberality is expanded, too often the ftimulus to honeft
industry is relaxed.'
N.
Art. 45. The Flights of Inflatus; or, the Sallies, Stories, and Ad-
ventures of a Wild-goofe Philofopher. By the Author of the
Trifler. 12mo. 2 Vols. 58. fewed. Stalker. 1791.
Stulta eft clementia-at leaft it would be fo in the prefent inftance.
Indelicacy, improbability, and affectation of wit, fhould meet,
from impartial and honest Reviewers, an unqualified condemnation.
Let then Mr. Inflatus know, that we think his Flights do him no
credit, and had better never have taken their flight from the prefs.

For our account of the Trifler, by this author, (for there are more

publications than one with this title,) fee M. R. vol. liii. p. 269-Mooy. Art. 46. An Apology for the Life of Major General G. Writ ten by himself. Containing a full Explanation of the G-nn-g Mystery, and of the Author's Connection with Mr. D-ber-y's Family. 8vo. pp. 114. 35. Ridgway.

A piece of authorship,-of which we find ourfelves almoft provoked to speak with fome degree of feverity: but, reflecting that, poffibly, the writer may have a wife, with a garret-full of children, depending, for their fubfiftence, on his industry and invention, we drop the pen.

Art. 47. The Fashionable Preacher; or Modern Pulpit Eloquence difplayed. 8vo. 6d. Symonds. 1792.

The author of this little effay offers fome juft and fprightly remarks on the prefent ftate of pulpit eloquence, which is certainly open to confiderable objections, and of courfe is capable of great improvements. Our preachers are rarely orators, though they have every advantage in point of fubject; which deficiency our author attributes, in general, to the learning and refinements which the fafhionable preacher is folicitous of displaying, but particularly to the practice of reading his fermons, which he pointedly, and, perhaps, with juftice, reprobates. The orators in the fenate and at the bar practice extemporaneous eloquence; and the effect which they produce on their audience is often aftonishing; fo that it seems to merit the confideration of the public advocate for religion, whether he ought not to adopt, in fome measure, this mode of addrefs. At prefent, extempore preaching is rarely practifed in England, except by the moft ignorant and illiterate; while men of learning and talents, instead of fpeaking immediately from the heart to the heart, content themselves with reading the correct and frigid compofitions of their retired hours. Of this practice, our author thus contemptuously speaks:

He lays open his performance at large in the face of the whole affembly; like a boy at school, he reads and blunders, and blunders and reads: he ftands in the pulpit like a fpeaking ftatue, without life and motion; his eyes are fixed down to the fpace of a few fquare inches, as if he ftared at a ghoft: he hangs his logger-head over his dirty fcroll, like a thief receiving fentence of death. If the poor

drudge

drudge could look around him, he would fee the half of his audience
dozing over his dull repetition; not a foul affected, unlets perhaps
an old beggar gives a groan from a dark corner when he hears the
found. An honeft countryman happening to hear one of these
paper-geniuses preach, was asked by his wife, when he went home,
how he liked the preacher: "Alas! faid he, he was a poor preacher,
as ever I faw, woman: he was just like a crow picking the corn; for
he always put down his head for a pick, and then looked about to
fee if any person was coming near him."

Let our clergy, who ought not to think contemptuously of the common people, take the fame pains to qualify themselves for public orators, which the gentlemen at the bar appear to do; and it is more than probable that they would foon acquire that felf poffeffion and that prompt elocution which are fo much admired in our courts of law.

Moo-y.

Art. 48. Accounts of the Ten Tribes of Ifrael being in America;
originally published by Manaffeh Ben Ifrael. With Obfervations.
thereon, and Extracts from Sacred and Prophane, Ancient and
Modern History, confirming the fame; and their Return from
thence about the Time of the Return of the Jews. By Robert
Ingram, A. M. Vicar of Wormingford and Boxted, Effex. 8vo.
PP. 56. 1s. Robinsons, &c. 1792.

Mr. Ingram is ftrongly perfuaded that great numbers of the Ifraelites, after their difperfion, in confequence of the Babylonish Captivity, &c. retired into a remote and uninhabited country, where their defcendants, a numerous and diftinét race, remain to this day; and that this (to us unknown) country, is a portion of North America, fomewhere in the vicinity of a part of California, to the fouth of Hudson's Bay, and from 53° to 60° N. Lat. where they still are, unconnected with the reft of mankind. How thefe wanderers originally made their way from Afia into those remote regions, muft be matter of furprize to many readers: but the rev. author of this tract easily removes all the difficulties by the aid of miracles; by means of which, the greatest rivers, the Euphrates, for inftance, and even the Sea, are divided, or dried up, to facilitate the paffage of the emigrants. The author has fhewn great diligence in fearching and applying the Jewish prophecies, and other authorities, in fupport of his opinion, and of the evidence of Rabbi Manaffen.

Art. 49. A Sketch of the Life and Projects of John Law of Laurifton,
Comptroller General of the Finances in France. 4to. PP. 48.
35. Kearfley. 1791.

In our Review, vol. Ixv. p. 183, may be found a brief account
of the principal events in the life of Mr. Law, extracted from the
Private Life of Louis XV. tranflated by Mr. Juftamond.

The

It was once remarked, (in a private converfation, at which the writer of this article was prefent,) by the late Dr. Gregory Sharpe, master of the Temple, that "with fome people, and in fome countries, miracles were not miraculous, fince they were as common with them, as mackrel are with us, in goofeberry time."

sketch

5

fketch now before us being materially the fame, in a detached form, there is no reason for our enlarging on the subject at this time. N. Art. 50. The Hiftory of the Royal Circus, introductory to the Cafe of Mr. Read, late Stage Manager of that Theatre. In a Letter to a Friend. 8vo. pp. 138. Is. 6d. Parfons, &c. 1791. Nothing will probably tempt any uninterested person to perufe a narrative of this nature, but a curiofity to ftep behind the curtain, to fee how matters are managed there. That perfon must be ftrangely at a lofs for objects of attention, who can take a part in the private difputes of proprietors and managers, quarrelling about the public as their property. The lawyers are bufy among them, and will not leave them till they have exhausted the fubject, and have reduced the contending parties to a ftate of quietifm.

N.

THEOLOGY and POLEMICAL.

Art. 51. The Aged Chriftian's final Farewell to the World and its Vanities. A pious Meditation, compofed in the laft Century, by that truly benevolent Patriot, and Compaffionate Friend to the Poor Citizens of Bristol, John Whitfon, Efq. Alderman of the faid City, and Member in feveral Parliaments. Collected from the Author's Manufcripts. To which is prefixed, fome Account of the Author, collected from authentic Records, by George Symes Catcott. 8vo. pp. 62. 1s. 6d. Palmer, &c. in Bristol.

Though this be only the republication of a very old tract, and though, from its not appearing in London, it has for fome time efcaped our attention, yet it deferves notice, as well for the fake of the worthy writer, a diftinguished merchant of Bristol, in the reign of James I. and a great benefactor to that city, as for the found fenfe and unaffected piety of his fentiments at the clofe of a well spent life, untainted with the growing fanaticism of that age.N. Art. 52. A Letter to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Landaff, containing Remarks on his Lordship's Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Landaff. 4to. 15. Debrett. 1792.

This letter-writer, who fubfcribes himself a Country Curate, expreffes his difapprobation of the opinions advanced by the Bishop of Landaff in his admirable Charge, and thinks that the opportunity which his Lordship took for conveying his opinions was an improper one. We, on the other hand, regard the fentiments advanced by Dr. Watson as fo juft, liberal, and politic, that we are difpofed to applaud him for embracing the earliest opportunity of inculcating them on his clergy. The Country Curate writes with the fame good wishes toward the Establishment that actuated the Bishop: but he does not feem to us to poffefs his Lordship's enlarged and penetrating mind.

For our account of the Bishop's Charge, to which this letter relates, fee Review for March laft, p. 293.

Moo-y.

Art. 53. The Religious Principles of a Prefbyterian, founded on his
Knowledge of Nature, and prescribed Authorities. 12mo. 6d.
Robinfon. 1792.

There

There is an oddity of manner in this petit performance, united with good fenfe and liberality of fentiment. How far the account. of Prefbyterian principles will accord with thofe of our fellowfubjects of Scotland, and with their religious practices, we fhall not pretend to determine. The author's ideas do not wholly correfpond with their offenfible creed, or, rather, perhaps, with their confeffion. Meffrs. Pitt and Dundas, to whom this little morfel of divinity is immediately addreffed, will, no doubt, perufe it with edification and comfort!

Art. 54. Ledures on the Lord's Prayer; with an Introductory Dif-
course. By the Rev. Richard Taprell, of South Molton. 8vo.
- pp. 373. 5s. Boards. Dilly. 1792.

A courte of plain, ferious, and affectionate, difcourfes, on those
important fubjects which the Lord's Prayer fuggefts, is here pro-
vided for the use of religious families. They appear to be com-
pofed with a strong fenfe of piety, and with a fincere desire of
impreffing on the minds of men the truths which concern their
everlasting falvation. They are written on the orthodox fyftem,
and in a ftyle which will afford little entertainment to the elegant
fcholar but they may be of ufe in impreffing lefs cultivated minds
with a conviction of the importance of religion. The work is in-
troduced by a very fingular dedication, To the Father of Angels
and men, the God of Univerfal Nature, Author of Grace and
Giver of Glory.'

E.

Art. 55. A Lift of Books intended for the Ufe of the younger Clergy,
and other Students in Divinity, within the Diocese of Chefter.
8vo. pp. 51. IS. Rivingtons. 1791.

The defign of this publication will be best explained in the Right
Reverend Editor's own words:

With regard to the diftinguishing character of these books, my principal object has been in the two first claffes to felect fuch only as are most obviously employed in maintaining the fundamental doctrines of our faith, and in vindicating and illuftrating the articles, rites, and ceremonies of the Church of England, avoiding carefully fuch as avowedly controvert thofe doctrines, rites, and ceremonies, or indirectly oppose them.

If to the philofophers of the prefent day, it should feem, that I wish to narrow the grounds of liberal inquiry, and to prejudicate questions of importance, I beg it may be obferved, that this lift is intended for their ufe chiefly, who, upon a conviction already formed, have engaged, or are defirous to engage themfelves" to preach the faith and discipline of the Church of England against all opposers *."

I am not, it will be remembered, giving my directions or advice upon the means and mode of acquiring this conviction, nor am I laying down the first principles and inftitutes of Divinity. They, who have been educated in an Univerfity, have neither wanted the means of information, nor the affistance requifite; and literate per

• Wotton on the Method of studying Divinity, p. 14.'
REV. MAY 1792.
I

Hi...s.

fons,