ART. 60. For the Benefit of the Fund, towards erecting the FreeChurch in Bath: A Sermon, recommending frugal and œconomical Management in Articles of Subfiftence. By John Methuen Rogers, L. L. B. Rector of Berkeley, Somerfet. 4to. 23 pp. Is. Hazard, Bath; Rivingtons, London. 1796.

The author of this difcourfe, has judiciously selected the text of John vi. 12, 13; wherein the Evangelift records the miracle of the fiye barley loaves, as fuggefting reflections peculiarly proper at the prefent feafon.

The heads of the difcourfe are thefe: Enquiry of the Legislature into the exigencies of the times; refult of that enquiry, and the deficiency of wheat; the goodness of Providence in having given us an abundant fupply of other grain; neceffity of making bread from portions of fuch other grain; the laudable example and humane confideration of the Legislature, in their engagement to diminish the confumption of wheaten flour; the example of the Royal Family in fuch diminution, and the duty of imitating it; the prejudices of the common people againft barley and oaten bread, corrected by a remark, that fuch Bread, not many years fince, was the food of half the inhabitants of this island; a further proof that barley bread is nutritious, arifing from its having been the food of the poorer and more induftrious Jews; another proof rather (ingenious than found) from the multiplication of the Barley loaves; obfervation on Chrift's begging the Divine bleffing, on the food to be diftributed, as a lesfon for our faying grace at meals; the infenfibility of the Jews to this aftonishing miracle, equalled by our own infenfibility to the uniform bounty of God's providence in giving daily food; from Chrift's bidding his difciples gather up the fragments that nothing might be loft; reflections on the fin of wafting, particularly in a feafon of comparative fcarcity; admonition to fervants and domeftics not to murmur at the economical regulations to which their masters fubmit; the happy state of fervants, who enjoy fufficiency at the expence of their masters; economy recommended to the lower claffes, particularly in the article of drinking liquor made from the grain which they difdain' to use in bread; caution against drunkennefs, as the fource of rioting; fpiritual application from natural to mental food; the doctrines of Chrift are the food of the foul. . From this analyfis, the reader will perceive that the matter of the fermon is copious. The manner in which it is written is, with evident intention, adapted to the plaineft understanding. Both the occafion for which it was written, and the application of the profits to be derived from the fale of it, convince us, that benevolence as well as ability, must be among the merits of the writer.

ART.

ART. 61. The Life of the Ju, exemplified in the Character of the late Rev. W. Romaine, A. M. Rector of St. Ann, Blackfriars, and Lecturer of St. Dunstan's in the Weft. Preached by C. E. De Coetlogon, A. M. 8vo. 36 pp. Is. Rivingtons, &c. 1795.

ART. 62. The continuance and conftancy of the Friendship of God, as a Covenant God with his People, confidered in a Sermon preached on the Death of W. Romaine. By W. Bromley Cadogan, A. M. Rector of St. Luke's, Chelfea, c. Svo. 39 pp. 64. Rivingtons, &c. 1795.

ART. 63. Faith triumphant in Death. A funeral Sermon, occafioned by the Death of the Rev. W. Romaine. By the Rev. W. Goode, A. M. late Curate to Mr. Romaine, &c. 8vo. 34 PP. 6d.

Rivingtons, &c. 1795.

It was not to be expected, nor to be wifhed, that a man like Mr. Romaine, who had been eminent during a very long life for his preaching and his piety, should pafs out of the world without fome friendly commemoration of his talents and virtues. Three panegyrifts here offer themselves to our notice; whofe productions we include under one account, partly because they are very fimilar in their plan and ideas, and partly because no one of them is important enough to require that we fhould speak of it at much length.

Each of thefe three difcourfes is more impaffioned and declamatory, than fuits the reserve and the calm judgment of English audiences in general. Mr. De Coetlogon's, on Rom. i. 17, is a declamation of a coarser texture than the other two; and he endeavours, like many other writers of his clafs, to fix the Calvinistic doctrine, adopted by Mr. Romaine, upon the Church of England.

Mr. Cadogan declaims, with a greater fhow of learning, from Pfalm xlviii. 14. He afferts that Mr. Romaine" revived the doctrines of the Church of England, at a time when they were almost forgotten." P. 27. We confefs that we are at a lofs, in conjecturing what time is here alluded to. But the fact is, as appears from feveral other parts of this discourse, that these perfons, who profefs to be humble beyond all other Chriftian teachers, arrogate to themselves, exclufively, the honour of preaching the Gospel?

Mr. Goode, difcourfing on Heb. xi. 13, fpeaks, 1ft. concerning faith in general: 2dly. its peculiar advantages in death: 3dly. he illuftrates and confirms his obfervations by an account of Mr. Romaine's character, and of the conclufion of his life: and, laftly, he addreffes his hearers, of different characters, with advice suitable to each, drawn from the folemn occafion of his difcourfe. This fermon has a competent share of matter and of argument. But faith, which is the chief topic of it, feems to be confounded with the fruits of faith); PP. 4, 5, 6, 7. It appears that Mr. Romaine was indefatigably active, during a miniftry of near fixty years, in difcharging the duties of his profeffion, and in promoting charitable defigns. Whatever peculiar theological notions he might entertain, his piety appears to

ve been moft fervent and fincere; his charity ever watchful for Opportunities of doing good; his literary attainments refpectable, and his knowledge at all times wholly devoted to the advancement of religion. To fuch a man, furely, without prefumption, we may apply the words

of Eliphaz, "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a

fhock of corn cometh in, in his feason." Job. v. 26.'

MISCELLANIES.

IRELAND PAPERS.

ART. 64. A Letter to George Steevens, Efq. containing a critical Examination of the Papers of Shakspeare, published by Mr. Samuel Ireland; to which are added, Extracts from Vortigern. By James Boaden, Efq. Author of Fontainville Foreft, c. 8vo. 72 pp. 2s. 6d. Martin and Co. 1796.

Mr. Boaden was, if we remember rightly, the earliest public affailant of thefe papers; and certainly, if we except Mr.Malone, the most acute. He confefles having been deceived at first, through mere zeal to have the ftory true, but the publication of the volume opened his eyes. He collated fome part of the Lear, and specified fome of the most unpardonable blunders, fuch as accent tears, for cadent, &c. and justly expofed the fpelling, and the offences against verfification, with many, other important points. His own imitations of the ftyle of Shak fpeare have fome merit.

66

ART. 65. Free Reflections on miscellaneous Papers and legal Inftruments, under the Hand and Seal of William Shakspeare, in the Poffeffion of Samuel Ireland, of Norfolk-street. To which are added, “Extracts from an unpublished MS. Play, called the Virgin Queen. Written by, or in Imitation of Shakspeare. 8vo. 55 PP. 2s. 6d. Waldron. 1796.

This tract, by Mr. Waldron, contains a few observations in confirmation of those by Mr. Boaden, but seems chiefly intended as a vehicle for the fuppofed extracts from the Virgin Queen, which is intended as a fequel to the Tempeft, and evidently written by the editor. All thefe volunteer imitators of Shakspeare fucceeded better than the perfon who would have paffed his writings on the public for those of the great bard himself.

ART. 66. Precious Relics; or the Tragedy of Vortigern rehearsed, a dramatic Piece, in Two Acts. Written in Imitation of the Critic. As performed at the Theatre Rogal Drury-lane. 8vo. 62 pp. 1s. 6d. Debrett, &c. 1796.

The title, we prefume, fhould be understood to fay" in imitation of the Critic, as that play is performed at Drury-lane": not as this is, which the words and punctuation feem to imply. It is a farcical sketch of fome humour, and contains fome parodies which, by all account, are little more ridiculous than thofe that really were in Vortigern.

ART.

ART. 67. A comparative Review of the Opinions of Mr. James Boa den (Editor of the Oracle) in February, March, and April, 1795, and of James Boaden, Efq. (Author of Fontainville Foreft, and of a Letter to George Steevens, Efq. in February, 1796, relative to the ShakSpeare MSS. By a Friend to Confiftency. 8vo. 59 PP. 25. Seal,

&c.

This is rather an attack upon Mr. Boaden than a defence of the papers; but, in both points of view, exhibits fome fhare of acuteness, though on the wrong fide of the question.

ART. 68. Vortigern under confideration; with fome general Remarks on Mr. James Boaden's Letter to George Steevens, Efq. relative to the Manufcripts, Drawings, Seals, &c. afcribed to Shakspeare, and in the Poffeffion of Samuel Ireland, Efq. 8vo. 67 pp. 2s. Lowndes. 1796.

Another proof how much enmity Mr. Boaden excited, for a time, by his attack upon the Ireland papers: there being much cenfure of him, with very little defence of the points in difpute, except by the medium of affertion.

ART. 69. Shakspeare's Manufcripts, in the Poffeffion of Mr. Ireland, examined, respecting their internal and external Evidences of their Au thenticity. By Philalethes. 8vo. 34 pp. 1s. Johnson. 1796. Philalethes argues very boldly in favour of the papers, but his arguments are fuch as might be expected in such a case.

ART. 70. Familiar Verfes from the Ghoft of Willy Shakspeare to Sammy Ireland. To which is added, Prince Robert, an auncient Ballad. 8vo. 1S. White, Piccadilly. 1796.

A humourous fquib, in verfe, against the faid manufcripts, of which this is a fpecimen.

Samples of hair, love fongs, and fonnets meete,
Together met by chaunce in Norfolk-street;

Where, fruitful as the vine, the tiny elves
Produce young manufcripts for Sammy's fhelves.
Dramas in embryo leave their lurking holes,
And little Vortigerns ftart forth in fhoals.
To work, ye lawyers! ranfack all your deeds,
The bait is fwallowed, and the public bleeds.
Freely the cash comes down-lead boldly on,
The book complete :-Four guineas!-Prefto!-gone!
More papers found!!! a neighbour here hard by
An antiquarian wight, of curious eye,
Deep skill'd in pedigrees, well known to Fame-
Has found fome writings in an hand the fame,
The very dots, the stops-the self-same sak,
That foon must lay each quibbler on his back:
None fhall their fanction to the truth refuse;

For, if they'll not believe, they must be Jews." P. 2.

ART.

ART. 71. The Conclufion of the late Dr. Hartley's Obfervations on the Nature, Powers, and Expectations of Man; ftrikingly illuftrated in the Events of the prefent Times. With Notes and Illuftrations by the Editor. 8vo. 31 PP. Is. Johnson.

No man can be confidered as deferving better of his country, than he who frankly rebukes its vices, and labours, by exhortations to perfonal amendment, to avert the judgments confequent upon national corruption. The afpect of fociety at the prefent crifis gives to these undertakings an additional propriety and value, in proportion to the increafing influence of irreligion and vice. The writings of Dr. Hartley are fo characterized by strong fenfe and nervous piety, that an extract could fcarcely have been made from any writer with a fairer profpect of producing good effect. It is at the winding up of his celebrated obfervations on man, that Dr. Hartley delivers thefe ferious remarks on the figns of approaching judgments to the states of Chriftendom. He lays down fix propofitions, which contain the refpective characteriftics of kingdoms tending to diffolution; on each of these he expatiates with the energy and modelty of a man, who is rather anxious to awaken than to irritate, to improve than to fatirize the manners of mankind. The notes of the editor are judiciously written, and partake of the fpirit, the temper, and the piety of the text. To the public we recommend it as worthy of their ferious perufal, and offer our beft and most cordial wishes for its general and complete success.

ART. 72. An Effay on the Progrefs of human Underflanding. By J. A. O'Keeffe, M. D. A. M. 8vo. 58 pp. 1s. 6d. Griffiths. 1795.

In human undertakings there is, or ought to be, à definite end to every defign. Whether there be any, or what, to the prefent publication, we have not penetration enough to difcover. Our forefathers judged ill, difcovered their error, relapfed into it, and the world is now obtaining its fecond cure. Such appears the outline of the author's intention. The teachers of chriftianity made no ufe of Ariftotle; their object was to curb the mind and debafe man." Cromwell was "too enlightened for his times." Such are the pofitions which Dr. O'Keeffe advances, with as much gravity, as if he expected that the bare affertion of fuch paradoxes was itself a fatisfactory fpecies of demonftration. Catalogues of authors who have written upon the fcience of human understanding, are interwoven with this effay; and these are not always free from exception. If (as the author has acquainted us in his preface) "the prefent miniftry might be apt to take offence at any publication that tended to enlighten or inftruct mankind," we think he may be justly complimented upon the caution he has used to avoid giving fuch caufe for displeasure, in this effay on the progrefs of human understanding.

ART.