linguæ ftudio. 2. Appellatio Cleri. 3. An earnest perfuafive. 4. Ad fcholarum Magiftros. 5. Jani Drufii teftimonium de infigni exemplo maturi profectus in linguis Orientalibus. 6. Examples of felf-taught Hebraifts. 7. Extracts from Mrs. Bowdler's Life of Mifs Smith.

PART II. I. Preface. 2. Teftimonia de facilitate linguæ Hebrææ. 3. Fragments of the hiftory of Hebrew Learning. 4. Account of Henry Wild, a felf-taught Hebraift. 5. Abælardi Epiftola ad Virgines Paracletenfes, de ftudio facrarum literarum, et Hebrææ linguæ.

From this article we fhall extract a part of Mifs Bowdler's ac count of that extraordinary young woman, Mifs E. Smith.

She began the ftudy of the Arabic and Perfian before He brew; and even before Latin or Greek. She acquired fome knowledge of the Arabic and Perfian languages during the winter of 1794, when a very fine Dictionary and Grammar, in the poffeffion of her brother, led her thoughts to Oriental literature. She be gan to ftudy Latin and Greek in the fame year. She ftudied Hebrew from my mother's Bible, with the affiftance of Parkhurst; but she had no regular inftruction in any language except French." P. 42.

She was first induced to apply herself to the study of the learned languages by accidentally hearing that the late Mrs. B. acquired fome knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, purpofely to read the Holy Scriptures in the original languages.

"For fome years before her death the Holy Scripture was her principal ftudy, and the tranflated from the Hebrew the whole book of Job, fome chapters in Genefis, many of the Pfalms, fome parts of the Prophets, &c. How far fhe fucceeded in this attempt I am not qualified to judge; but the benefit which the derived from thefe ftudies must be evident to thofe who witneffed the patience and refignation with which the fupported a long and painful illness, the fweet attention fhe always fhewed to the feelings of her parents and friends, and the heavenly compofure, with which The looked forward to the awful change, which has now removed her to a world, where (as one of her friends obferves) her gentle, pure, enlightened fpirit will find itfelf more at home than in this land of fhadows, &c." P. 44.

She died Aug. 7, 1806, in her thirtieth year. Of her Verfion of Job, which has been published, we shall foon give a detailed

account.

ART. 31. Early Devotion; or an Addrefs to Young Perfons, on the important Duty of Private Prayer; with fuitable Forms for a ferent Ages, chiefly in Phrafes taken from the Scriptures, and fr the Liturgy of the Church of England. By a Clergyman. 12. 87 PP. 2s. Seeley. 1809.

The prefe: to this fmall volume, contains a very useful adm.

tio..:

tion; "While books of every defcription are multiplying, for the inftruction and amusement of children; little feems to have been done to aid their devotions. Yet, if it is the duty of man to worfhip God; he cannot be inftructed too early in that most delightful exercise. A perfon, who has not been in the habit of fuperintending children, can form no adequate conceptions of the difficulties they labour under, on this head. Forms of prayer, in. deed, may be formed for them; but they are frequently in an antiquated style, or in language above their comprehenfion, or in fome other refpects objectionable. To remedy this defect, in fome degree, is the defign of the present little work, The following prayers are chiefly taken from the language of fcripture, or from the excellent forms of the established church. They were originally defigned for the author's own family and pupils." The author prefents us with a very impreffive Addrefs to young perfons, on private prayer: then morning and evening prayers for children from three to five years of age; from five to ten; from ten to fifteen: a general prayer, at fchool or on bufinefs: and prayers on many other occafions; concluding wth fuitable hymns. We have read this foundly. pious little work, with fingular fatisfaction; and we ftrongly recommend it to the attention of the heads of fa. milies and fchools. We lately noticed fome excellent Sermons for young perfons*, and this book of devotion is well worthy to ac Company them.

ART. 32. The Full of David; a Sermon, preached at All-Saints Chapel Bath, on Sunday the 4th of March, 1810: by the Rev. Lucius Coghlan, D. D. upon II Samuel, ch. 11. v. I. 8vo. 31 pp. 18. 6d. Barry, Bristol; Longman, London; Crutwell, &c. Bath. 1810.

This fermon is published on a fingular account; to vindicate the preacher's character from a charge that his difcourfe even bordered upon obfcenity. P. 3. In truth; his object was, to " prove the great and various dangers attendant upon that kind of indolence which feeks no employment for the mind or body; efpecially when fuch indolence is indulged in a ftate of retirement." This is ftrongly proved, by " the miferable ftate of guilt into which indolence, combined with feclufion, precipitated the once virtuous David." P. 10. That this difcourfe was well intended, and contains much useful admonition, every reader of it, we think, will allow; at the fame time perhaps agreeing with us in opinion, that fome points would better have been curforily mentioned, or alluded to, than difcuffed formally and at confiderable length.

See British Critic, vol. xxxvi, p. 89.

ART. 33. Sele Paffages from the Holy Scriptures; containing a Summary of Religious and Moral Inftruction, proper to be com mitted to Memory by young Perfans. Compied by Henry Tuke. Second Edition, 12mo. 32 PP. 6d. Blanchard, York,

1810.

The author is aware of fome advantages attending the catechetical mode of inftruction, above that here ufed; but he properly fates fome cafes, in which this mode may be preferable. This felection is well-made; and is calculated to inftil into the youthful mind feelings of piety towards God and of benevolence towards man, and to inculcate the practice of virtue. The very moderate price of this ufeful work, is a laudable example to publishers of the prefent day.

ART. 34. Spiritual and Univerfal Authorship; or the Historian, Prophet, aad Chriftian united: Two practical Sermons, upon Rev. chapter 1. ver. 19. By the Rev. G. Nicholson, late Curate to the Rev. Dr. Coulthurst", Vicar of Halifax: and Author of Evangelical Difcourfes," "Effays on Theological Subjects, "Anfewer to Stone's Vifitation Sermon," Vindication of the Scriptures," &c. &c. &c, Printed by particular Defire. 8vo. 20 pp. Dean, Stockport. 1810.

We have repeatedly commended the pious temper which pervades Mr. Nicholson's difcourfes, and the impreffive manner in which he ufually conveys inftruction. But we have intimated alfo, that we find too many indications of a lively fancy. Very pious are thefe two fermons; but the subjects of them are difcuffed fo ingeniously that the hearers would probably often look at one another in filent wonder.

ART. 35. The Advantages of Knowledge to the Lower Claffes. A Sermon Preached at Hervey-Lane, Liecefter, for the Benefit of a Sunday School. By Robert Hall, A. M. 8vo. 25 pp. Button, London; Come, Leicester. 1810.

The preacher's defign is, to offer "a few reflections on the utility of knowledge at large, and of religious knowledge in par ticular." He has done this with ftrong effect; and has proved the advantages of knowledge not only to the lower claffes, but to fociety in general. We recommend it to the author, on fome future occafion, to preach diftinctly concerning the kinds and the degree of general knowledge, which would be ufeful to the lower claffes of fociety. His ability to treat every fubject well, which he is in clined to undertake, has long been known to us, and often com mended t.

The conftant repetition of this defignation is rather curious. + See British Critic, vol. xv. 263. xxi. 55. xxiii. 201.

ART.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 36. Abolition of Tithes. A short Letter to the Rev. I. C. Munnings; expofing the Futility of his pretended Agricultural Improvements, and propofing a very fimple, but very efficacious Plan for ameliorating the Condition of the Farmers, by a gradual and general Abolition of Tithes. The ninth Edition, corrected and enlarged. 8vo. 12 pp. 15. Stockdale. 1810.

An attempt to be witty, in a mixture of profe and verse. Tithes are to be abolished, by an improvement in the construction of malkins; which will fright away from the fields, not only crows, but parfons alfo. The gentleman, to whom these lines are addreffed, will probably not condefcend to notice them by an anfwer; but if he should do fo; we have reason for believing that this author would be at least as much terrified, as the crows, or the tithingman, by his improved malkins.

On fecond thoughts; wefurmife, that there is what facetious per fons call a hoax, in this bufinefs; and that the perfon, apparently written to, is in fact the writer, who laughs at his agricultural adverfaries. But this point can be better afcertained in the neighbourhood of East Dereham, than in a reviewer's study.

ART. 37. Some Particulars of the Character of the late Charles James Fox; propofed for the Confideration of Philopatris Värvicenfis. In a Letter from Philotheus Antonienfis. 8vo. 18. 6d. J. J. Stockdale. 1809.

As in our notice of the publication here alluded to*, we purpofely abftained from entering into any confideration of the moral and religious character of Mr. Fox, fo neither shall we be tempted by meeting with this tract to deviate from that referve. We think upon the fubject much and strongly, but we are not inclined to fay upon it more than is obferved in the temperate remonftrance which we now extract from the pamphlet.

"But not to infift more fully on the aberrations of Mr. Fox's youth, if during the latter part of his pilgrimage "he never fwerved from the plain and ftraight courfe" of morality, which I understand it to be your intention to affert; (p. 311.) and if his repentance and reformation were fanctified by faith in the merits of the Saviour, let us humbly and charitably hope that the blood of Chrift will have atoned for his fins, and "blotted out the hand-writing that was againft him." Let us hope that he

* Vol. xxxv. p. 209, &c.

now

now refteth in Chrift. Yet let us be careful of expreffing this hope in terms, which may encourage erroneous opinions or vicious prac tices in those who furvive him. Let us beware of fanctioning diffipation by giving countenance to the notion, that the private vices of any man, however fplendid his talents or dignified his ftation, can be compenfated by great public virtues: and let us beware of violating the purity of evangelical truth by propofing any other atonement and propitiation for fin than the blood of the Redeemer; or any other conditions of everlafting happiness than repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift." P. 31.

There cannot be more important cautions than thefe: and when the writer of them proceeds to difclaim all fanatical propenfities, we are the more inclined to give him credit, because, throughout his tract, we rather felt in danger of being provoked by over fcrupulous delicacy, and excefs of candour, than by any fiery zeal or bigotted intolerance.

ART. 38. A Defcriptive and Historical Account of the Ifle of Man, with a View of its Society, Manners, and Customs, partly compiled from various Authorities and from Obfervations made in a Tour through the Island in the Summer of 1808, dedicated to his Majefty. To which is annexed a Map of the Isle of Man, with the Roads defcribed, and every Information necessary to the Conve nience of the pleasurable and commercial Traveller. 12mo, 6s. Printed at Newcastle upon Tyne. 1809.

Situated as the Ifle of Man is, in the middle as it were between England, Ireland, and Scotland, and as it is known to abound in many picturefque and beautiful fcenes, it is really a matter of furprise that it is not more frequently vifited for purposes of pleasure. But though we have Tours and Guides in. numerable to every place of refort within the British Dominions, our information concerning the Isle of Man is remarkably fcanty. This Author agreeably defcribes it as abounding with every thing which they who make excurfions for pleasure only would require, and his publication will be found convenient and amufing: it is alfo accompanied by a useful map. Whether what he says of the Herring, p. 173, be true or not, we pretend not to determine. "The herring is a very delicate fish, and when taken out of the water, it gives a faint fqueak and inftantly expires, and though immediately thrown again into the water before it can be fuppofed to be dead, it never recovers, from whence probably originated the elegant expreffion of " as dead as a herring." If we had difcovered, which we really have not, any material defects in this little volume, we should have been reluctant to cenfurė them, for the author, after having feen better days, published this tract for the benefit of his family, and has fince paid the debt of

nature.

ART.