embargoes and sealed orders, to keep the secret to the last moment. But the Athenians, though they may have been ignorant of the destination of the armament, must have been well aware of its general purpose. There was no Eldorado at hand, where abundance of unappropriated gold was to be had; they must have known that some one was to be stripped of it. We cannot indeed say that, as international law was then understood, they had not a casus belli against the Parians for having furnished a trireme to the Persian armament; we believe they had, though it might have been both merciful and wise to have waved it, or at least not to have visited the offence with so severe a penalty. The expedition failed; Miltiades, maimed and languishing, was brought before the court of judicature, and the penalty of death invoked upon him "for deceiving the people." But in what did this deception consist? Only in having deceived himself in fancying that Paros would be an easy conquest, and that he should speedily return with a hundred talents to pour into the treasury. It is evident that Miltiades was condemned because he had failed; that was his real "iniquity." A popular body, like an unreasonable individual, turns round upon the adviser of an unsuccessful enterprize, blames the counseller, and, if possible, makes him responsible. In modern times, the government which adopts a project, relieves the projector from responsibility; but it was not so at Athens. Had Cleon returned defeated from Sphacteria, it would not have fared better with him than with Miltiades indeed, notwithstanding the improvement in modern notions of responsibility, had Vernon been unsuccessful at Porto Bello, means might have been found to make him, like Byng, a scape-goat for administration.

Though we cannot always agree with Mr. Grote in regard to the colour which he gives to the events of Grecian history, the perusal of his work has convinced us that it has never been treated with such fulness of learning and critical sagacity; and that from none of his predecessors can so correct a conception of facts, institutions and character, be gained. A periodical critic has taken on himself to pronounce that it will not prove to be the Grecian History. Probably not; a man who writes in a living language, and cultivates a progressive science, must not expect to remain always on the summit; the rising tide of knowledge will be sure to float some one to a higher eminence. We regret that the popularity (by which we mean the general usefulness) of his work is likely to be impaired by the prolixity which his earnest desire to explain his own views and justify his own statements produces. Two thousand three hundred pages have only brought us to the threshold of Attic history. The reader now knows pretty well Mr. Grote's peculiar point of view-his standpunkt, as a German would say; and it will not be necessary to be perpetually re-presenting it. We hope he does not mean to keep up a running fire of criticism on Mitford through the whole history of Athenian democracy. Let him lay his own account before the reader, and support it by his documents, without troubling himself about those misrepresentations which are the result only of a political prejudice. Besides the diffuseness with which he writes on his favourite themes, we might take exception to his style as occasionally falling below his subject. Such phrases as, to "get up a prestige" (III. 20), "took hold of the Athenian mind by the vein of

romance equally with that of patriotism" (IV. 153), and not a few others, might pass in extempore speaking or periodical writing, but are not sufficiently pure or correct for a classic history. Nor is the English language so poor as to need the importation of adminicle (I. 98) from

the Latin.

K.

EXPERIMENTUM CRUCIS.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "A RHYMED PLEA FOR TOLERANCE."

WITH different colour glows each ray
That joins to feed the solar day;
Yet, each commingling as they pass,
They lose distinction in the mass,
Where iris hues, grown tintless quite,
Stand wondering at their own pure white.
Yet prove that white with shifting lens,
No more it cheats the dazzled sense,
But, re-transmuted to the view,
Beams back its red, or green, or blue.
Nor less in every Church gregarious,
Opinion's colours are as various;
Nor less each hue with other locks
To form the pure, white Orthodox;
Whiteness that shames each hue sectarian,
Plain Quaker drab or half-tint Arian.

But if (as philosophic use is)
We try the Experimentum Crucis,
To find if what so whitely beams
Be, in good sooth, the thing it seems;

From moral lens in coloured streak
How soon the lines diverge and break!
Observe how rule of faith refracts
From doctrine, here, and there, from facts.
How many a lurking tinge comes out,
What interesting rays of doubt,
And that broad stripe of scepticism,
See, how it flashes from the prism!
In prudence now I break the glass;
We must view Churches but in mass,
Nor split too nicely at the focus
Opinions jumbled hocus-pocus.

MORAL.

Established Churches! hence take heed,
And give the tolerance which ye
For if men feed your bright effulgence,
Costly as bright, 'tis for indulgence.

need;

J. K.

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE CONGREGATION OF PROTESTANT DISSENTERS, COMMONLY CALLED PRESBYTERIAN, ASSEMBLING AT THE OCTAGON CHAPEL, IN THE CITY OF NORWICH.*

In the year 1750, the Rev. Thomas Dixon was associated with Dr. John Taylor as assistant minister. This able young minister was the son of Dr. Thomas Dixon, of Bolton, at which place he was born, July 16, 1721. He was educated at Dr. Rotheram's academy at Kendal. He settled in 1743 at Thame, in Oxfordshire, with a very small congregation, who could only afford him the salary of about £25 per annum. He removed to Norwich in 1750, preaching his first sermon there on May 13, from Galatians vi. 7. He was a well-informed and liberal theologian, but not an eloquent speaker. He enjoyed the friendship of Dr. Benson, of London, and Mr. Seddon, of Manchester. While at Norwich, he began, at the suggestion of Mr. Taylor, a Greek Concordance, similar in plan to his colleague's Hebrew Concordance. Some small portions of the MS. still exist amongst Mr. Dixon's papers; but it was not apparently carried far. Mr. Dixon's settlement at Norwich did not add to his happiness; he was unable to satisfy the wants and gratify the taste of the more fastidious. The consciousness of this preyed on his health and spirits. He even contemplated returning to Thame; but not long after (in the summer of 1752) he received an invitation to remove to Bolton, in Lancashire, the pulpit of which place, occupied for ten years (1719-1729) by his father, had continued vacant since the death of Mr. Buck, in 1750. He died soon after his removal to Bolton, Feb. 23, 1754, aged 33. From his papers an excellent treatise was selected for publication, entitled, "The Sovereignty of the Divine Administration vindicated." The chief object of the treatise is to explain our Lord's temptation without the intervention of the devil. The MSS. are for the most part a mixture of short-hand and an abbreviated long-hand. In the valuable list of Dr. Rotheram's pupils communicated to the Mon. Repos. by Rev. W. Turner (V. 326), is a notice of Mr. Dixon, and mention is made of his Notes on the New Testament, in two 4to volumes, of which Mr. Turner then possessed the MS., written "in a not very intelligible short-hand." From MSS. of the same character, the following letters respecting Mr. Dixon's settlement at Norwich have been with difficulty, and in some passages with much uncertainty, deciphered.

To Dr. Benson.

"Thame, Oct. 12, 1749. "Rev. Sir, I am greatly obliged for your last, for the recommendation you have given me at Norwich. I put off returning an answer from day to day, thinking that when I did receive a letter from Mr. Taylor, I might acquaint you both with it and with my thoughts about a supply. But though I have not heard from Mr. Taylor, I am unwilling any longer to keep you in suspense, or to put you to any inconvenience or trouble about a supply; for I think two Lord's-days at Norwich will do very well. I think for two Lord's-days I can procure assistance near home. And though I should not doubt of a liberal allowance for my journey, yet even that will not bear me that expense so far

VOL. IV.

* Continued from Vol. III. p. 725.

C

as Norwich, and also procure a supply from London hither. If I should go there for two days, I imagine riding will be much the cheapest method of travelling, since I can have a horse for a shilling a day. This, and a shilling or two over for its keep there, will, I presume, be much less than coach-hire.

"I believe I shall comply with your advice in going to Norwich on trial when I am desired, yet not without much hesitation. I very much distrust my abilities and popular talents for so conspicuous a place, where I shall be liable to be viewed in comparison with a person of Mr. Taylor's great learning and reputation, and succeed Mr. Crane, unquestionably a much better speaker than myself. I should be glad if the people at Norwich were taught to expect no great matter from me in elocution, though I think I may say I am not by a great deal so bad in that respect as when you first knew me. Perhaps a young man of freedom might be had from Dr. Rotheram's or elsewhere, who would be willing to spend a few years in so small a place as this. For my own part, I think it has been much better for me to have been here as yet, rather than in the best place of the Dissenters; nay, further, could it be depended on, I should prefer an advantageous remove some time hence. After all, it is not improbable I may not go at all to Norwich; for though Mr. Rigby (Mr. Taylor's son-in-law) wrote to me on his journey from Norwich, saying (in a letter I received last Friday) he then was in hopes I should be sent to, yet some of the heads of the congregation had fixed their thoughts upon another person, which may be the reason why I have not yet heard from Mr. Taylor."

To Rev. Mr. Taylor.

"Rev. Sir, I received yours, and cannot but have a grateful sense of your past and purposed kindness. The invitation cannot but be acceptable to me on many accounts. Your conversation and ministry, if I am so wise as to improve them, will, I doubt not, be very serviceable to me. I presume every thing reasonable may be expected from the candour of the congregation, since the gentlemen have been pleased to approve of me, notwithstanding the disadvantages with which my services were attended when amongst them. I have long lived pretty much in retirement, and I am diffident of my prudence and skill how to behave in so public a station, which will be almost entirely new and strange. I hope, on aiming and endeavouring well, Providence will direct all for the best; that Christian piety and virtue may be in some degree the effect of my removal to Norwich. Your advice about spending some time in London for the improvement of my pronunciation is very agreeable and acceptable to me. As you seem to know more of the teacher of pronunciation than I do, I shall be glad if you will give yourself the trouble to inquire his terms for me. Your offer of supplying for me while I am in London is very kind and obliging. I hope I shall always be willing to do what I can in return for such favours."

"Norwich,

"Rev. Sir, I was here four Lord's-days in November as a candidate, when, notwithstanding great objections to my manner of speaking, I met with much civility and generosity. In January, much beyond my expectation, I had an unanimous invitation to settle here. But I was desired to attend a month in London upon a person who professes to teach pronunciation. I had no very great opinion of that matter. However, I attended him, and I believe I reaped some profit. I hope, by the blessing of God, my settlement here will be happy and useful. The people are pleased to declare their satisfaction with my abilities; and my delivery, so far as I am informed, is thought to be much improved. The candour and moderation of the people in regard to sentiments is, I presume, to be depended upon. Mr. Taylor has upon all occasions approved himself ready to serve and befriend me."

Mr. Samuel Bourn was the son of Mr. Samuel Bourn, of Birmingham, an eminent Dissenting minister. The rudiments of his education he

received at Stand school, after which he studied in divinity at the University of Glasgow; and having finished his education there with considerable reputation, he became, in 1742, minister of a congregation of Protestant Dissenters at Rivington, a village in Lancashire, near the seat of Lord Willoughby de Parham, who was one of his congregation, and by whom he was highly esteemed. Some years after his settlement at this place, Mr. Bourn was ordained by the Rev. Mr. Hardy, of Horwich (a neighbouring chapel), and some other divines. During his Rivington connection, he lived partly at Rivington and partly at Bolton: whilst at the former place, his residence was at Leicester Mills, a most delightful vale about a mile from the chapel, where, secluded from the din of commerce and of men, he would feel himself at full liberty to indulge his contemplative faculties, and to nourish and digest those beautiful sentiments of virtue and religion which, on being published, announced him to the world as the scholar, the philosopher and the Christian. But the vale of Leicester Mills could not long conceal talents of so fine a lustre: the Dissenting congregation commonly denominated Presbyterian at Norwich was at this time looking out for a minister, and its attention was directed towards Mr. Bourn, on account of a sermon preached by that gentleman before a provincial assembly of ministers, and afterwards published.* Being greatly esteemed by his congregation and much attached to them, he expressed great unwillingness to accept the offers made him from Norwich; but on consulting with Lord Willoughby, with whom he lived on terms of the most friendly intimacy, he was induced to alter his resolution. Accordingly, in the year 1754, he left Rivington, and became co-pastor with Dr. John Taylor at Norwich. In 1758, he published proposals for printing, by subscription, his two first volumes of Sermons, which established his reputation for this kind of composition, and encouraged him, in 1764, to print two more volumes upon the Parables of our Saviour. On these discourses it is unnecessary here to make any remark; they have been long before the public in high estimation, and they must continue to be held in esteem so long as elevated ideas of the Divine nature and government, and a rational and well-founded devotion, shall exist in the mind of man. In 1759, he published his Reply to Dr. Samuel Chandler, in which he ably defends his own objections to the notion of eternity of hell torments, which objections Dr. Chandler had publicly attacked. In 1777, he published two additional volumes of Sermons upon miscellaneous subjects, which, though they do not abound with that depth and originality of thought which characterizes the other four (being probably written when the force and vigour of his mind began to bend under the pressure of increasing disease), are yet very respectable compositions. The whole of these

The sermon was preached at Manchester to an assembly of Dissenting ministers and others, on May 12, 1752. Its subject is, "The Rise, Progress, Corruption and Declension of the Christian Religion." It is an admirable discourse.

"Though the doctrines maintained in them are not always accordant with the doctrines of the Church, yet their publication was encouraged by the subscription of more than thirty clergymen in Norwich and its vicinity, and more than sixty in other parts of the kingdom; a striking proof of the liberality of those times--the proud times of the Church!'-as Dr. Parr often exultingly called them."-Field's Life of Parr, I. 139.