time and attention, would, by cooling it down, to meet the taste of men of lower temperament, make a deeper impression, or be productive of more lasting good. The Editors of the Works of Mr. Burke, or Bishop Horsley, have not ventured to trifle with the reputation of those extraordinary men, by the interspersion of such lacunæ, to meet the variable tastes of their readers; nor have we: for thus might the Works of our inimitable friend have been reduced to a mere pamphlet, and a future age have derived no more benefit from an intellect so richly endowed, so admirably directed as his, to the best and highest purposes, than if it had never existed.

Finding, therefore, no ground for any reasonable, practicable, rule of selection, none has been adopted. The only article omitted is a letter published by Mr. Hall in a newspaper nearly forty years since; and that, because, on his subsequent reconciliation to the individual addressed, both parties agreed, in the presence of their mutual friends, that all should be cast into oblivion that had been previously said or written by either in reference to the points of controversy.

In selecting from Mr. Hall's manuscripts we have not referred to his morbid sensitiveness with regard to appearing before the world, as the rule of action. But, while we have kept his high reputation in mind, we have also had in view the religious instruction of the general reader. It is truly gratifying to know that the fifth volume, which consists entirely of Notes of Sermons and

Letters, has been as highly approved by the public as the first volume, constituted principally of Sermons prepared for the press by Mr. Hall; and that new editions of both of them have been called for, some months ago.

The following is a summary of the contents and distribution of these Works.

VOL. I. SERMONS, CHARGES, and CIRCULAR LetTERS, including a sermon on Isaiah liii. 8, not before published.

VOL. II.—TRACTS on TERMS of COMMUNION, and JOHN'S BAPTISM.

VOL. III.-TRACTS, Political and Miscellaneous, including an unpublished Fragment of a Defence of Village Preaching.

VOL. IV.-REVIEWS and MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, including several not before published.

VOL. V.-NOTES of SERMONS from the Author's own Manuscripts, with a Selection from his Letters; the originals of which have been kindly transmitted by various friends.

VOL. VI.-TWENTY-ONE SERMONS, preached by Mr. Hall, on various occasions, and communicated by friends who were in the habit of taking down his Discourses. These are preceded by a brief Memoir of Mr. HALL'S Life, by the Editor; and Observations on his character as a Preacher, by Mr. FOSTER.

The Sermons published in this volume, although given in different degrees of fulness, may unquestionably be regarded as presenting a more exact idea of the usual manner and substance of

Mr. Hall's preaching, than those which were laid before the world by himself. In all, the design, the argument, and the spirit, have been admirably preserved; while in most, the very language is so nearly caught, that it requires not a strong exercise of imagination to recall the tones, whether solemn and pathetic, or rapid and impressive, with which it was actually delivered. I know not whether Mrs. Hall or the public will be under the deepest obligation to the gentlemen who have thus richly contributed to the value of the Works.

I must now refer to that of which I should most gladly have been spared the necessity of speakingthe Biographical Memoir of Mr. Hall.

Immediately after the publication of the Works was decided upon, I suggested the expediency of soliciting Sir James Mackintosh, whose talents, judgement, taste, and delicacy, as well as his known attachment to Mr. Hall, gave him a peculiar fitness for the task, to undertake a sketch of the literary and intellectual character of his deceased friend. The letter which I received in reply to my application, will shew how promptly and cordially he acceded to our wishes.

MY DEAR SIR,

GREAT CUMBERLAND STREET, 7th March, 1831.

"A GREAT man is fallen in Israel." I have reflected much on the subject of your letter, and will frankly tell you what seems to me to be right. I consider myself as speaking confidentially, in all that I say, to the friend of my ancient friend.

The only point on which I am likely to differ from you, is respecting your own fitness to write a Memoir. I shall say no more than, that, if I had the selection, I should certainly choose you.

I should be glad to see you here to breakfast on Monday next. In the meantime I may say that I approve of your plan of publishing Hall's Sermons, and, if possible, all his writings. If your want of leisure absolutely prevents you from undertaking the task, and if it be thought likely to promote the interests of Hall's family, I do not think myself at liberty to withhold the contribution of a Preface to the Editor chosen by the Family. In that case I should require a few names and dates, and a perusal of his writings published or unpublished. I own to you that I prefer the old custom of prefixing such a modest preface by way of memoir, to the modern practice of writing huge narratives of lives in which there are no events; which seems to me a tasteless parade, and a sure way of transmitting nothing to posterity.

My paper would chiefly contain the recollections of my youth, and the result of such observations on Hall's writings as a careful perusal of them might naturally suggest.

I am, my dear Sir, with real esteem,
Your's very faithfully,

J. MACKINTOSH.

After the interview proposed in this letter, and two or three others which shortly followed, Sir James, having matured his plan, agreed to devote about twenty pages to the purely biographical part of the Memoir, and perhaps forty more, to the critical estimate of Mr. Hall's writings, of his literary attainments, and his intellectual powers. But the pressure of his constant attendance in

Parliament during the progress of the Reform Bills, and of his heavy occupations as chairman of the Committee on East India Affairs, compelled him to postpone this labour from time to time, until his much-lamented death, in May last, terminated his intentions, and our hopes and expectations.

Proportioned to Sir James's remarkable qualifications for giving a critical estimate of Mr. Hall's writings, and a philosophical view of the developement of his intellectual character, must be the regret of the public that his purposes were not accomplished, and the reluctance of every considerate person to attempt a similar undertaking. Indeed, the high expectations which were so generally formed, of the delight and instruction that would be imparted by Sir James's delineation, rested upon the assurance of a combination of qualities in him which cannot be looked for elsewhere: an early knowledge of the subject of the memoir; a close intimacy with him at the precise time when his faculties were most rapidly unfolding; incessant opportunities of watching the peculiarities of his intellectual constitution, and of measuring, by the application of power to power, the native and growing energy of his mind; a mind of nearly the same order, and possessing many of the same characteristics; a sincere affection for his friend, ripened into as sincere a veneration for his principles; and judgement, discrimination, and feeling, most beautifully attempered, and exquisitely fitted, to trace, classify, and describe.