the royal forests. None of thofe plans, the author informs us, have been acted upon in any material degree; and he fhows, that the confumption of timber, under each of the three heads to which it is referred, has very materially increased fince thofe commi fioners made their report, His Lordship then adverts to the 14th Report of the commif fioners of naval revifion, in which this fubject is fully confidered, and urges an immediate attention to the measures recommended by them, Those measures (as the report has not yet been made public) are not detailed by the noble author, but may. be prefumed to be nearly the fame which he himself recommends. The firft of thefe is, to "hufband and preferve, for the ufe of the royal navy, as much as poffible of the timber now remaining in the kingdom;" the fecond is, "begin without delay to to provide within the kingdom for the means of fupplying the future wants of the navy, when the timber now growing fhall be exhausted." The noble author proceeds to point out the collateral resources that may be reforted to, in order to enable us to husband the remaining ftock of home timber. Thefe are, the fupplies that maybe obtained from our North American colonies, the aid that may be derived from the teak timber of India, (by building men of war in that country,) and the formation of a temporary buildingyard at the island of Trinidad. In a poftcript to this Letter, the author states that material fteps (as he is informed,) have been lately taken, and that others are in contemplation, connected with the fubject of it. We will therefore only add, that the public fpirit which prompted this publication deferves the highest praife, and that (fo far as the noble author deemed himself at liberty to go into the detail,) the statements contained in it afford clear information on the very im, portant fubject to which it relates, POOR. ART. 28. An Efay on the Poor Laws, as they regard the real 13. Coxhead, Interefts both of Rich and Poor. 8vo. 52 pp. 1810. This is a tract of fome importance; in which we find many things that have our ftrong concurrence, and others of a different kind. We shall produce a fpecimen of each. "Among the na tions of the civilized world, while others boaft of their establish. ments for the relief of the fick, the aged, and the young; Eng land, befides rivalling them in thefe and other partial inftitutions for the relief of fuffering humanity, provides for every contingency by one general fyftem; holding out an affurance of fubfiftence to all her inhabitants; and this, not as a boon for which they may fue in vain, but as a right which they may claim from the hour of their birth, whenever they can prove their wants." X 4 P. 3 At At the very next page, we find a statement contray (we think) to fact. When we compare their moral and phyfical state with that of the fame clafs of men, in places where this refource does not exift; we may doubt whether it tends to the promotion of their virtue or happiness." P. 4. If, by juch places, be meant Scot. land; (and we cannot imagine any other) the author's informa. tion, as to the non-e: iftence of this refource, must be very defective. See British Critic, vol xxxiv. p. 8o.. In the next page; English overfeers of the poor, and the fpirit of our poor-laws, are fpoken of in a harth manner, which they by no means generally deferve. Some following pages are in the fame ftrain; and are wonderfully inconfiftent with the quotation we have given from P. 3. At p. 10, in order to the framing of a fyftem which may con ciliate the interefts of all parties; it is propofed to confider ft. How the neceflary funds are to be raised? 2dly. By whom they are to be adminiftered? and laftly, The mode of their diftribution." Our limits will not allow us to discuss, or to ftate, the many points on which we differ from the author, and thofe on which we agree with him. We must therefore fay generally, that his work well deferves attention; and we hope that in another edition we shall find proofs of much more correct information. DIVINITY. ART. 29. Motives to the Study of Hebrew. Part I. 12mo, 46 pp. IS. Carmarthen printed; Rivingtons, Lunn, &c. 1809. London. ART. 30. Motives to the Study of the Hebrew. Part 11. Cou fifting of Fragments of the Hiftory of Hebrew Learning in England, from the Middle of the Eleventh Century, to the Middle of the fifteenth. 12mo. 36 Leaves, not paged, Is. 6d. printed; Rivingtons, Lunn, &c. London. 1819. Bath Both thefe Tracts are by the pious and learned Bishop of St. David's, and form a part of his plan for prometing, extending, and facilitating the ftudy of the facred language, to which we have before adverted *. We are happy to be able now to add, that these efforts have been attended with confiderable fuccefs. Many perfons who had not the previous advantages of a learnededucation, have taken up the ftudy of Hebrew, and made much progrefs in it; and even fmall focieties have been formed, for the mutual encouragement of the members in this laudable pursuit. Thefe tracts contain the following articles: PART I. 1. Melanchthonis et Lutheri fententiæ de Hebrææ See Brit. Crit, vol. xxxiii; 425, and xxxv. 423. lingus ftudio. 2. Appellatio Cleri. 3. An earneft perfuafive. 4. Ad fcholarum Magiftros. 5. Jani Drufi teftimonium de infigni exemplo maturi profectus in linguis Orientalibus. 6. Examples of felf-taught Hebraits. 7. Extracts from Mrs. Bowd. ler's Life of Miss Smith. PART II. 1. Preface. 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. 2. Teftimonia de facilitate linguæ From this article we shall 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 studied Hebrew from my mother's Bible, with the affiftance of Parkhurft; but the had no regular inftruction in any language except French." P. 42.. She was first induced to apply herfelf to the study of the learned languages by accidentally hearing that the late Mrs. B. acquired fome knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, purposely 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 she derived from these ftudies must be evident to those who witnessed 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 fhe 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 spirit will find itself more at home than in this fand of fhadows, &c." P. 44. She died Aug. 7, 1806, in her thirtieth year, Of her Verfion of Job, which has been published, we fhall 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 dif ferent Ages, chiefly in Phrafes taken from the Scriptures, and from the Liturgy of the Church of England. By a Clergyman. 12mo. 87 pp. 25. Seeley, 1809. The preface to this fmall volume, contains a very useful admoni 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 moft delightful exercise. A perfon, who has not been in the habit of fuper. intending children, can form no adequate conceptions of the difficulties they labour under, on this head. Forms of prayer, indeed, may be formed for them; but they are frequently in an antiquated ftyle, or in language above their comprehenfion, or in fome other refpects objectionable. To remedy this defect, in fome degree, is the defign of the prefent little work. The follow. ing 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 farisfaction; and we strongly 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. u. 1. 8vo. 31 PP. Is. 6d. Barry, Bristol; Longman, London; Crut. well, &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; especially 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 ufeful 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. ART. 33. Sele Paffages from the Holy Scriptures; containing a Summary of Religious and Moral Inftruction, proper to be committed to Memory by young Perfons, Compiled 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 states. 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 Hiftorian, Prophet, aad Chriftian united: Two practical Sermons, upon Rev. chapter 1. ver. 19. By the Rev. G. Nicholfen, late Curate to the Rev. Dr. Coulthurst, Vicar of Halifax; and Author of Evangelical Difcourfes," "Effays on Theological SubjeЯs, "Anfwer to Stone's Vifitation Sermon," " Vindication of the Scriptures, "&c. &c. Fc, 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 these two fermons; but the fubjects 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. 4 Sermon Preached at Hervey-Lane, Liecefter, for the Benefit of a Sunday School. By Robert Hall, A. M. 8vo. 25 pp. Button, London; Come, Leicefter. 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 fo ciety in general. We recommend it to the author, on fome future occafion, to preach diftinctly concerning the kids 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 inclined to undertake, has long been known to us, and often com. mended t. The conftant repetition of this defignation is rather curious. ART. |