Hints to the Bearers of Walking Sticks and Umbrellas. Illustrated by Six Engravings. 8vo. pp. 32. price 2s. 6d. Murray, London, 1808. In recto decus is the motto chosen for the plate which serves as a frontispiece to this humorous and not uninstructive trifle. Happy is the man who can appeal to his own conduct in proof of its advantages, in his walks through life: whether it be his lot to jostle in the crowded city, or to enjoy more convenient elbow room in rural perambulations. Our author, determined to avail himself of the sanction of antiquity, attributes the invention of the walking stick to Adam, who "when weakened by sickness, or by age, might at first have leaned on the shoulder of Eve"-but surely, good man, the case is quite as credible, that Eve when weakened by age might have leaned on the shoulder of Adam. Milton seems to have been of this opinion when he describes our primitive great sire as the supporting elm, and our first mother as the dependent vine. We grant, however, that the walking stick is an antient invention: and had our author consulted us, we should have advised him to have ornamented his page with a few Hebrew words, as he has done with Greek; nothing strengthens. the cause of walking sticks so much (we appeal to the wearers of them) as proofs of their relation to early antiquity. We expected, that as Adam was the father of the walking stick, Eve would have been honoured with the contrivance of the umbrella; especially as this might have been proved, by a reference to the lightest umbrella known, that made of ostrich feathers, by the Boshuannas of South Africa. We even venture to affirm, without fear of contradiction, that Eve's first umbrella was no more than a bunch of these feathers tied to Adam's walking stick; and in commemoration of this invention it is that our ladies retain the ostrich feathers, placing them on their heads, though the walking stick they resign to the gentlemen. In China and Hindoostan our author finds traces of the umbrella; he might have found figures of it, as an attendant on Royalty among the sculptures at Perse polis; and if the learned Mr. Harmer be not mistaken, King David, among the Hebrews, had his umbrella also. After these much further fetched examples, the mention of umbrellas by Juvenal and Martial is modern, and near at hand: consequently not equally applicable to this recondite subject. We cannot possibly accompany this writer through his systems of reflections, axioms, and demonstrations: we recommend it to the attention of all peaceably inclined bucks, and beaux; they may learn by it what miscarriages to avoid, what mishaps to prevent, what misdeeds and misfortunes, a little foresight may usefully guard against, and we shall be happy to discover the PRACTICAL advantages arising from the pamphlet before us in the more correct motions of our fellow citizens, in walking, turning, and proceeding, wherever called, by business or by pleasure. Those who will not profit by purchasing the pamphlet, we advise at least strongly to retain the motto already alluded to, which we repeat, in order to fix it more firmly in their memoryin recto decus. On the Propriety of preaching the Calvinistic Doctrines, and the Authorities for that Purpose. A Sermon, preached at Leicester, May 20th, 1807, at the Visitation of the Reverend Archdeacon Burnaby; by the Honourable and Reverend H. Ryder, A. M. Rector of Lutterworth. pp. 38. price 1s. 6d. London, Payne, 1808. In a great part of this discourse we coincide heartily; as for instance, The articles of the church of England.On the doctrine of the Trinity, on the in carnation and atonement of Christ, on jus fication by faith, on the insufficiency of human effort, and the indispensable assistance of the Holy Spirit, they lay down a plain, precise, and authoritative decision. upon the doctrine of predestination, however satisfactorily the sentiments of our church may collected from other works published unde her sanction, they speak with a cautious reserve, and conclude by referring a point so controverted to the only genuine authority, the word of God. But when the reverend preacher uses expressions so very liable to be mistaken, as the following, we cannot but wish he had guarded them by judicious explana tion. It is our business to point out the means, by which they may regain the privilege of baptism, remission of sins; to shew them that, having been inade members of Christ, they should believe more heartily in him; that, having been born of the Spirit, by more earnest prayer they should draw down his assistance, repent of what is past, and amend in what is to come. They may thus, among the many that are called," walk worthy of their vocation," among "the few that are chosen," "make their calling and election sure," and become again, what they were once made at baptism, inheritors of the kingdom of Heaven. We We know, sufficiently well, that there is a sense of the words "Kingdom of Heaven," more correct than that in which they are popularily taken. know, too, that by inheritors, our reformers, and translators of the Bible intended participators. They are not answerable for fluctuation in the meaning of words, since their time; but, a modern divine, in treating a subject which required discrimination, would do well to consider it. We are surprized too, that our author should consider the sermon on the Mount, in St. Matthew, as a continued discourse : it is, evidently, a selection of passages from the discourses of Jesus combined into a specimen of his manner of teaching. The preacher observes, The minister, who makes this summary of the Gospel, the groundwork and standard of his preaching, will avoid two errors of dangerous consequence to genuine Christianity. He will neither, by omitting the corner-stone upon which the building rests, convert the Gospel into the baseless fabric of Heathen morality; nor will he, by dwelling upon dark and doubtful intimations of divine decrces, render it a speculative and unfruitful theory. He would on the contrary lay the foundation of all his preaching in the grace of God. He would make them experimentally sensible of their own personal need of a Redeemer, by dwelling upon the daily or even hourly proofs of sinfulness, which even the best of us display or experience. He would then expatiate on the wonders of redeeming love, the incarnation of the Son of God, his life and doctrine, his death and resurrection; and he would thus apply this astonishing scheme of divine benevolence to its object, by representing our conditional admission, through faith and repentance, to a share in the merits of Christ's atonement, and by shewing our ability to fulfil these conditions only by the aid of the Holy Spirit. To obtain that end, he would never omit to urge the necessity of frequent and earnest prayer, and thus prepare the instructed Christian to add to his faith" all the qualities of evangelical holiness. The text is Titus ii. 11, 12, 13. Serious Attention to personal Holiness, and Soundness of Doctrine considered, in a Sermon, preached June 1, 1808, at the Visitation of the Rev. Andrew Burnaby, D. D. Archdeacon, in the Parish Church o St. Martin, Leicester, and published at the request of the Clergy. By the Rev. Thomas Robinson, A. M. Vicar of St. Mary's, Leicester. pp. 37. price is. London Hatchard, 1808. The text is 1 Tim. iv. 16. We should have been glad if the preacher, discoursing ex cathedra to the clergy, had so far exercised his learning as to have examined the grammatical construction of his text. We confess ourselves not completely satisfied with the intermixture of singular and plural which it presents." Take heed unto thyself, and to the doctrine, continue in them[what them?] for in doing this-thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." If the sentence "continue in them," refer to the previous advice, to meditate, &c., there might have been no harm in hinting at diligent study as a mean of promoting stability in sound doc. trine. Waiving further remark, we shall introduce a few sentiments of this divine's discourse: we are pleased to see him appeal to the articles and to the homilies: those too much exploded, old-fashioned documents. We wish they were more favourite among both clergy and laity: when that disposition prevails, we shall think it a good sign for both church and state. Having laid the foundation of the Christian religion in the recovery of the sinner to God from his " sad condition, his extreme guilt, his total depravity, and his intire inability to contribute any thing to his own recovery," Mr. R. strongly insists on" the atonement of the Saviour," and "the strong and mighty energy of the Spirit." But he guards against the abuse and misapplication of his doctrine by observing that, A spurious christianity has been set up, which explodes all expectation of divine grace, and leaves man in his state of depravity and misery without a sanctifier and without a comforter. The cry of enthusiasm has been raised against all who profess a dependence on divine assistance, though they speak no other language than that of all our reformers. My reverend brethren, I am not pleading for the wild reveries and presumptuous boasts of visionaries and fanatics. I stand in abhorrence of those arrogant claims to extraordinary inspiration, which have been advanced by some designing or deluded men. But let us not relinquish the truth, because it has been perverted, or be deterred by any opprobrious names from maintaining our own principles. In other words, let us not be ashamed of being consistent churchmen. We should clearly understand what are the distinct provinces assigned to faith and to good works. The necessity of both is generally acknowledged; but the church of Christ has been harrassed and divided by some unhappy disputes, respecting the place which they should occupy. Kathleen, a Ballad, from an ancient TRADITION in Ireland as elsewhere has preserved the remembrance of events that otherwise would have been buried in complete oblivion. When relating to religious persons they have often been the occasion, in succeeding ages, of observan. ces for which little rational cause could be assigned. And not seldom do the benefits expected by votaries, differ essentially from those which the story would lead an unprejudiced auditor to expect. From the pamphlet before us, we learn that St. Keivan was a holy man, who to avoid the caresses of a young woman, his lover, worked himself a bed in the face of a mountain, hanging over a river; but, inaccessible as he thought his retreat, love discovered a way to it, and the saint saw the damsel looking into his cave: at which he was so vexed that he gave her a push, and she fell into the water. He prayed however, that she might not be drowned; and he afterwards saw her floating, and singing in dulcet strains. Now, what there is in this story, that should lead to the belief that this cave has the miraculous property of preserving in childbed the life of every woman who ventures into it, exceeds our conjecture. Yet we learn that many females venture on the dangerexperiment. No protestant should forget that our forefathers separated from the church of Rome, chiefly for their abhorence of the doctrine of human merit and of justification by good works. Let us not revert to those corrupt principles, which they resisted at the peril of their lives. We of the church of England should remember, with what pious care and holy zeal the framers of our articles and liturgy guarded against the fatal error of placing the least reliance on the righteousness of man, and how clearly they have established the doctrine that "we are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings.' Yet with the wisdom, strength, and perspicus cnity, for which these eminent men were distinguished, they have well guarded the doctrine from abuse, maintaining that "albeit good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, canuot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known, as a tree discerned by the fruit." We would urge the following advice with all our power: Let us study the writings of those holy men, the Fathers of the church, who laid our foundations; that we may know what are the real principles of our ecclesiastical constitution; and, imbibing their spirit, we shall be valiant for the truth, and rise, like them, superior to all opposition. This poem is an effusion in obedience to friendship: though not always correct as to language, or dignified as to phrase, yet it has merit, and the form of the versification being prescribed, must be considered as a disadvantage to the author. Mr. E. has done right in placing the " old Irish air, which is both pretty and plaintive, before it. We commend the preservation of whatever may acquaint us intimately and correctly with our ances tors; and for this reason we desire those who take traditionary tales for the subjects of their verse, to adhere as nearly to the story as they can. Would not a collection of such tales immortalize another Ovid? This ballad does not admit of extract. Mr. E. is also author of a trage dy entitled Abradatas and Panthea, LITERARY PROSPECTIVE. Mr. Southey has been employed eight years on a History of Portugal, arranged under three different heads: Portugal, Portuguese Asia, and Brazil. Bach part in itself forms a complete whole, and has no other connection than that of relating to the same people. The History of Brazil is the last in chronological order; but as public curiosity is now particularly directed towards that country, the author intends to put it to press immediately. A History of Portugal, in the Portuguese language, will shortly appear in three small volumes." The second volume of the History of Sussex, and the concluding volume of the History of Leicestershire, which were burnt at Mr. Nichols' late fire, are again put to press. In the press, and will be published in the Spring, of 1809, elegantly printed in one volume royal quarto, and a few copies in imperial quarto, an Account of the Kingdom of Nypâl; comprising a particular description of its geography and topography: Illustrated with a Map, and embellished with various engravings, from drawings made by A. W. Devis Esq. This publication is taken, with the permission of the Honourable the Court of Directors of the East India Company, from a memoir of the embassy, deputed in 1793, by the Marquis Cornwallis (then Governor-general of British India) to the court of Câtmondû : written originally by Colonel William Kirkpatrick, the British Envoy on that occasion, and prepared for the press, by Lawrence Dundas Campbell, Esq. This work is recommended to the notice of the public, as the account of a country singularly interesting, not only from the beauty of its scenery, the uncommon salubrity of its climate, the variety and value of its physical productions, the character and customs of its people, and the peculiarity of its government, but also from its contiguity to the British dominions in Bengal; and more particularly from the circumstance of its being at present a blank in our maps of Asia; and though partially noticed, having never yet been described by an European, or even any Asiatic writer. The above work is printing uniformly with Symes's embassy to Ava, Turner's to Tibet, and Lord Valentia's travels in India (now in the press.) The price of the small paper will not exceed three guineas, and the large four guineas and a half. The Rev. Mr. Bicheno has in the press a new and enlarged edition of the Signs of the Times, with a second appendix on the present aspect of public affairs, which will An Antidote to the Poetical works of the late Thomas Little, Esq. being an exposure of the sophistry and plagiarism of that publication, is preparing for the press. In the press, a new edition enlarged, in octavo, of Ludlam's Introduction to the Mathematics, with an appendix, by W. Fever, Superintendant of the Philosophical Institution, Bristol. In the course of this month will be published, a Supplementary volume of Birds to Barr's edition of Buffon's Natural History. The proprietors of that work have engaged a literary gentleman to collect all that has been discovered in ornithology of an interesting nature since the death of Buffon, and for that purpose procured the splendid edition of his work, lately published by Sonnini, in 114 volumes. From this has been selected every article of importance, or of curiosity from the additions of Sonnini, and J. J. Virey. Several new plates of rare birds will accompany the volume, the contents of which will bring down the era of discovery in this interesting branch of Natural History to the present day. Soon will be published, Theodore; from the French, after the manner of Paul and Virginia. Delworth, a Novel, by Mr. Southwold. A volume of Critical Notes and Observations, explanatory of the four gospels, and founded on circumstances peculiar to our Saviour and the Evangelists will shortly be published. Dr. Glasse is about to publish_another edition of the New Testament with Burkett's observations, to be comprised in a large octavo volume; containing such parts of the commentary as are most necessary for the explanation of the text, with short Annotations. The History and Antiquities of Cleveland by the Rev John Graves, is nearly completed at press, and will be ready for publication immediately. Owing to the great advance in the price of paper, printing, &c. since the proposals were first published, and there being an increased number of pages, and many additional Engravings, the price to Non-Subscribers will be advanced. Mr. Nicholson's New Chemical Dictionary will appear in a very short time, in one large volume, 8vo. ACollection of Farces and other After-pieces, as they are performed at the London Theatres, will shortly be published; designed to form a Supplement to Mrs. Inchbald's British Theatre. The Rev. David Blair, Editor of the Class Book, is engaged on a new English grammar. Mr. Crabb has in the press a second part of this work, called the Preceptor and his Pupils; in which a comparison is made of the syntax of all languages, and special rules, dialogues, exercises, and examinations, are given of the English language. An edition of Musee Seatoniane will apthis month, containing the pear which poems have obtained the annual prize, founded by Mr. Seaton, at the University of Cambridge, from the first institution of the premium in 1750, to the present time. Mr. Skurry is printing a volume of Poems, on rural and descriptive subjects. Mr. Mayne, author of the Poem of Glasgow, has in the press the Siller Gun, a poem in four cantos: founded on an ancient custom of shooting for a silver gun, given as a prize to the best marksman among the corporation of Dumfries. The poem will be illustrated by notes and a glossary. The Rev. Bland intends to publish another volume of Tales, in the course of the year. Mr. William Chapman, of Newcastle, has in the press and nearly ready for publication,a Treatise on the Progressive Endeavours to improve the Manufacture and duration of Cordage, with a discussion on the means of causing Ships to ride at Anchor with greater safety. The Rev. Mr. Furness, of Pontefract, Northumberland, is about to publish by subscription, a Treatise on Land Surveying, for the use of schools, to be called The Practical Surveyor. Mr. Allnutt, of Henley, has announced A General History of Inland Navigation of England and Wales, by the various existing Navigable Rivers and Canals; accompanied by Maps of each, with account of the Trade, Profits, Capital, &c. It will be published in twenty-five parts, at 78. each, and the first part will appear in January next. It is intended in the ensuing winter, to commence a Classical Journal, to be continued quarterly, which will contain original Essays, Remarks, and Communications, on subjects of classical literature, in English, Latin, French, and Italian. It will be undertaken by a member of the University of Oxford, and several distinguished Scholars of both Universities have promised their aid and active co-operation.. Mr. Parkes has for some time been engaged in revising the Chemical Catechism, in order to accommodate every part of that work to the new facts lately developed by the highly interesting and truly important dicoveries of Mr. Davy. A new Edition (being the 3d) thus amended, and with other very considerable additions, is in the press, and will be ready for publication in the course of the next week. In the press, and in a few days will be published, under the Patronage of, and dedicated to, the King, Part I. of the First Volume of a Chronological Series of all the most valuable, scarce, and faithful English Translations, in Poetry and Prose, from the Greek Poets and Prose Authors, (several never before printed,) with selected and new Notes, entirely English; Corrections, Prefaces, Lives, Maps, and Heads from Antient Statues, Busts, Gems, Medals, and Paintings; Chronological and Mythological Tables, &c. By Francis Lee, A. M. Chaplain in Ordinary to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Member of the Asiatic Society, &c.-The Work is printed in Royal Octavo, on a fine Wove Paper, and with new Types, in double Columns, compressing several Volumes into one. The Works of the different Authors may be had separately, as they are printed; or in Sets, arranged in Chronological Order. This First Part contains a Translation of Hesiod's Works and Days, and Theogony; with Notes, a Preface and Life; illustrated with a Bust, and Chronological and Mythological Tables. The next Work of this Series, speedily to be published, in English, is the whole of Pindar's Odes in Celebration of Victors in the Olympic, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmean Games, not one fourth of which have ever been published. The new Translation by a Person of Eminence, illustrated with a Bust, Life, and Notes. A new edition of the Greek Text of Herodotus, carefully corrected from the edition of Wesselling and Reitz, is now printing at the University Press, Oxford, and probably will appear early in Ostober next. This will be speedily followed by "Porti Lexicon Ionicum,' a work which has long since been extremely scarce and expensive; it is intended to be printed uniformly with the Herodotus, and to be adapted to the various editions of that Author. In the course of this month will be published, in three Volumes, crown 8vo. beautifully printed by Bensley, and embellished by upwards of Forty Portraits of the Persous mentioned in the Work, a new edition, revised and corrected, of Memoirs of Count Grainmont, by Count H. Hamilton: with Notes and Illustrations. At the press, and almost ready for delivery: A Revoluçam de Portugal. Tragedia. Dedicada a inseparavel memoria dos Portuguezes pellos seos legitimos senhores, e Reys da Caza de Bragança. Por I. A. C. H. . LITERARY PROPERTY. A bill proposing to extend the property of literary copyright from fourteen years to twen ty-eight, on the condition of publishers delivering (eleven) copies to public institutions, has lately been brought into the house of commons; but, at the request of the booksellers and printers has been postponed till the next session of parliament. |