eminently, is the temper, in which St. Paul addresses his Corinthian Converts; and numerous passages, penned in the same spirit, and expressive of the same train of thought, might readily be adduced from his other Epistles. Of his miraculous Conversion,-of the extraordinary Revelations, with which he was favoured, and the rich exuberance of his Spiritual Gifts, time would fail me in speaking. When we view him arrayed with dignity and rule, and deputed as the Ambassador of the Gospel of Christ, or accompany him in his perilous career, and meditate upon his faith, his patience, his devotedness, upon each surprising requisite for his great and heavenly work, we see all redound to the honour of God, all resolved into the mercy, and grace, vouchsafed to him from on high.' The lofty claims, which our Text announces, we instantly admit, and are constrained at once to acknowledge, that his suffithe ciency' was, indeed, of God,' sole, the exhaustless, fountain of all excellence, all virtue, all power."

In a long train of arguments, deduced from an attentive perusal of the writings of the most learned and the most pious of his predecessors, Mr. Burney investigates the "Nature and Purposes of the sufficiency which the Apostles claimed;"-ascertains" that, in a modified degree, it was imparted to others ;" and finds likewise the primitive institutions assumed as the legitimate pattern discusses for subsequent times;". very copiously "the necessity and appointment of that settled succession of Ministers, by which alone the great results of Christ's personal ministration on earth could ever have been perpetuated;" treats of "the credentials and authority which were originally granted, and speaks to the uniformity, which for many ages subsisted in the regulation and discipline of the Church;" and completes his plan, by examining whether the considerations, suggested by our inquiry, are at all applicable to ourselves, as a Christian society; and, especially, whether the present 80lemnity is in unison with the spirit of Apostolic usage."

For the masterly manner in which these various and important ar ticles are illustrated and combined,

we refer to the Sermon itself, as a rich treat to every well-wisher to that happy Establishment in Church and State, in which " the Civil and Ecclesiastical Polity are closely interwoven, and their union has long been productive of the very highest national advantages."

9.

The Mourner comforted: or, Consoling Reflections for Parents on the Loss of a Child. 8vo. pp. 52. Longman & Co.

IN a " Prefatory Address to the Mourner" the pious Author observes,

"The poignancy of grief may perhaps be softened, and its oppressive load be made somewhat lighter, by the humblest means of pitying Humanity. Behold those means the best their writer has to offer in the attendant pages. That they are suited to your case, he can only presume from their being the dictates of a heart wounded, like yours, by similar visitations of an All-wise and All-good, though mysterious Providence. If they soothe but one painful emotion, and awaken in the breast, resigned to sorrow,' but one consolatory or edifying thought, their author will think that he has neither suffered in vain, nor written in vain; and will give the praise to Him who so disciplined his own heart, as to be capable of comforting, or benefiting that of others."

These "Consoling Reflections" are evidently written by one who has felt the sorrow which he endeavours to alleviate, and are well-adapted to that purpose. We are given to un

derstand that the Author is the Rev. Dr. Booker, of Dudley.

10. The Temptations of a Watering Place, and the best means of counter acting their Influence; a Sermon, preached at Brighton, by J. Styles, D. D. pp. 40. Williams and Son.

THAT narrow spirit, which can welcome none but its own party to defend truths in which all Christians are agreed, is utterly unworthy every one but him who is not ashamed to be found among the ranks of bigotry or sectarianism. For ourselves in-. deed, the opinions of Dissenters, as such, are decidedly opposite to those which we have ever advanced yet by far the most important of our tenets we hold in common with them: we obey the same Master, and we acknowledge the same revela

addition to more than 20 likenesses of other individuals, whose exertions in the cause of benevolence have long been known to the world, which were given in the preceding edition.

A satisfactory Memoir of Dr. Lettsom is prefixed to the Work, which, however, has been in some measure anticipated in our Miscellany; we therefore hasten to the "Tribute of Respect to the Memory of James Neild, esq." more particularly as it cuables us to bring forward to the attention of our Readers Mr. Neild's highly-important work on Prisons, which has accidentally been hitherto unnoticed in our Review.

The death of this eminent Philan

thropist was recorded in our Magazine for 1814, Part I. p. 206.

"The benevolent character of Mr.Neild may best be learned from his own correspondence with Dr. Lettsom; which was from year to year inserted in the volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine. These accounts of the various Prisons [LXXVII in number] were ably supported by the Prefatory Addresses of Dr. Lettsom, and formed the ground-work of Mr. Neild's subsequent highly-valuable Works. The result of their publication was highly gratifying to both those Philanthropists, as well as to the Editor of the Magazine, as they excited general attention to the subject, and produced considerable additional subscriptions to the Society for Relief of Debtors. Accordingly, in 1808, when Mr. Neild published the Third Edition of his Account of the Progress and Presept State of the Society for Discharge and Relief of Persons confined for Small Debts,' in the Preface he thus notices this correspondence:

'I cannot present to the Publick another edition of this book on Debtors, without expressing my grateful sense of the great assistance which I have derived from my benevolent friend Dr. Lettsom; as also for the Pecuniary support in aid of the Charity, to a considerable. amount*, which appears to have been sent me in immediate consequence of my Remarks on Prisons appearing in the Gentleman's Magazine, with the introductory observations of his liberal and enlightened mind. I wish to give honour where honour is so justly due. Had it not been for his energetic strictures on my faithful communications, from time to time, I fear that the Pri

Amounting, when that Edition went to press, to 3281. 2s. 9d.'

sons, in many instances, would not only have remained without farther improvement; but, what is worse, that, in lamentable gradation, the improvement which had commenced in some of them, would either have dwindled, or have been wholly done away. After having tried, in various journeys, and during the space of thirty years, what private conference with ma gistrates could effect, I had the discour agement, in some districts, to find, that the alterations I had presumed to sug. gest, were omitted or forgotten. The great reformation produced by Howard, was in several places merely temporary. Some prisons that had been ameliorated under the persuasive influence of his kind advice, were relapsing into their former horrid state of privation, filthidungeons had aggravated the evils, ness, severity, or neglect; many new against which his sagacity could not but remonstrate: the motives for a transient amendment were become paralyzed; and the effect had ceased in the cause. At length, the arguments of my Friend prevailed; and I consented to the insertion of some of my Letters to Dr. Lettsom in the above Magazine, as the best channel, in order to ascertain the feelings of the Publick at large on so important a subject as Imprisonment.for Debt. The result was propitious and highly pleasing. Scarcely, three months had elapsed, when, upon my return home, I found many letters, urging me to go on; and success has exceeded my most sanguine expectations. The humane and considerate Magistrates of various districts have cordially adopted and enforced the plan of reform +. Their active energies have now, for five years past, been happily employed in effecting so salutary a change. Every journey I now take affords me the most reasonable hope that it will soon be completed. I esteem its advances among the amplest blessings of my life; and trust that I shall be able to relish the retrospect of them

+ "The late Mr. Justice Hardinge, in an Address to the Grand Jury at Brecon in 1804, whilst strongly reconmending attention to Mr. Neild's remarks and suggestions on the County Gaol and Bridewell, thus expressed himself: A gentleman, whose name is Neild, was the Sheriff last year for the county of Buckingham, An English Judge, of a serious and steady character, [Mr. Justice Grose] gave that County joy upon the Bench, for its acquisition of such a philanthropist in such an office. He bears a very high character. Like the immortal Howard, he visits Gaols in hopes to reform them.'”

even in the nearest views of Death itself."

"The following letter to Dr. Lettsom will be read with a mixture of admira tion and delight, and is in itself so impressive, as to render comment superfluous; for it is a disinterested effort of virtue, overcoming the allurement of personal interest.

'My dear Sir, Chelsea, March 25, 1801. No sooner had the Society published their Vote of Thanks, than I was surprized with the receipt of a Bank Note of One Thousand Pounds. It came by Penny-post, in a blank cover, neither by Name nor Signature, addressed,

James Neild, esq. Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. 'Having no doubt whatsoever in my own mind that it was intended for the Charity, I announced it as such at our next meeting.

'Lord Romney, and the gentlemen of the Committee, were of opinion it was intended for myself, not being addressed even in my official capacity; and a minute to that effect was about being entered on our books.

·

I solemnly declared, I would enter my protest against it; as, in foro conscientiæ, I believed it meant for the Society, and so far disclaimed all right or title to it, that, should it hereafter appear to be meant for myself, I declared it to be the property of the Society.

'Whatever might be the intent of the philanthropic donor, there was certainly inaccuracy, and even carelessness, to send so large a sum by Penny-post *. To you, my good Sir, I have no occasion to say the heart-felt gratification this act conveyed, or how much superior to pecuniary consideration is the

Mens sibi conscia Recti.
'God bless you Adieu,

JAMES NEIld.'

"Mr. Neild having given offence to 30me magistrates at Norwich, by the home-truths which he found it necessary to relate in his account of the Workhouse in that city, he was censured in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1805, pp. 1019, 1124.

"This produced a defence from his friend Dr. Lettsom, p. 1185, in which be observes:

'Mr. Neild has devoted 35 years in visiting the most miserable of human beings; in exploring dungeons in the highest degree dangerous to health; in liberating hundreds of incarcerated fel

*"This Bank-note could not be traced, as it had been issued from the Bank at least three years before it was received by Mr. Neild."

low-creatures; in laying down plans ofimprovement, as they respect the security, health, and morals of the prisoner; and in the most humane exertions to regu late the system of Bridewells and Work→ houses, the sources of a thousand future evils."

In the same Magazine is another able defence of Mr. Neild, in a Letter from Edward Rigby, esq. mayor of Norwich, to Mr. Gurney; in which the character of Mr. Neild is justly drawn, (see vol. LXXVI. p. 23.)

"In addition to the consequences na. turally attendant upon an advance in years," (we now use his own words) Mr. Neild long" laboured under painful infirmities, that threatened to plunge him into the awful, yet hopeful, gulph of Death." Yet his ardent zeal for the relief of human misery, and his anxiety to promote the success and stability of his favourite Society, overcame all obstacles; and he continued his journeys, to visit the gloomy mansions of distress in all parts of England, Scotland, and Wales.

"We well know the sincere gratification he experienced, on being allowed by Providence to finish the Quarto edition of his excellent Work on Prisons; in the preparing of which for the press, he was considerably assisted by his valuable friend the Rev. Weeden Butler +. It at length appeared in 1812, under the following title. 'State of Prisons in England, Scotland, and Wales, extending to various places therein assigned, not for the Debtor only, but for the Felons also, and other less criminal Offenders. Together with some useful Documents, Observations, and Remarks, adapted to explain and improve the Condition of Prisoners in general.'

"This highly-useful Work, calculated, on an enlarged and general plan, for the improvement of Prisons, and comfort of the Prisoners, is dedicated to the Society for Discharge and Relief of Debtors.

"Prefixed to the State of the Prisons will be found some valuable Observations on Civil Imprisonment, Remarks on Courts of Conscience, and Observations on Crimes and Punishments.

"Then follows the State of each Prison in England, Scotland, and Wales, in alphabetical order; containing an im

mense mass of valuable information, collected during many years' painful research into the actual condition of the several Gaols; and which will be of the greatest use to Magistrates and others to whose care and protection the Law has committed so important a trust as the government of its Prisons. By way of Conclusion,' Mr. Neild thus expresses himself; and our hearts cannot but rejoice with him in his benevolent exultation:

'Animated with the hope of giving permanency and improvement to that reform in our Prisons which was so ably begun by my excellent predecessor Mr. Howard, I now send forth this Book, the labour of many years, as an important subject for public consideration; and, however defective, deliver it to the world, with the spirit of a man who endeavoured to do well, and at length enjoys the luxury of having lived to see his highest earthly wishes accomplished. If it shall be found, as is very probable, that many things are omitted in this extensive work, which might greatly have added to its value, let it not be forgotten that much, likewise, is performed: that my numerous visits had not the patronage of Government to invigorate their ardour; that many Prisons proved to be difficult of access; that the information which I sought was not easily obtained; and that this massy collection of particulars is not published for general entertainment, but for the serious perusal of those distinguished Readers who have it in their will, no less than in their power, to soften the trials, and alleviate the sorrows of Imprisonment.'

"In March 1802, Sir Henry St. John Mildmay, bart. M. P. and Mr. Neild, volunteered their services, (which were accepted by Lord Pelham, his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department,) to examine and report on the state and management of the Convicts in Portsmouth Harbour, and also the same in Langston Harbour: which two Reports are annexed to this volume; to which are added three other Reports on the Hulks at Portsmouth in 1807, on the Hulks in Langston Harbour, and on the Hulks on the Thames."

possess the highest influence and authority in Church and State. The present condition of the greater part of our Prisons is, in several respects, dishonourable to a humane, a civilized, a Christian country and it would have. been becoming the paternal care of the Ministers of the Crown, to have taken the lead in reforming this important and extensive department of the National Police. For their encouragement, an opportunity presented itself, such as may not return for a century to come. They had at their command the services of a Magistrate, whose experience and distinguished exertions in this capacity recommended him as peculiarly qualified for the duty; a man of high character and independent fortune;-who had no party to serve; who sought for no place, no pension, not even his expenses, in the discharge of a task which was to be the painful and weary labour of many years; a man on whom the spirit had descended of the ever-revered and ever-memorable Howard. Yet the Ministers withheld from him all encouragement, all countenance, all facilities. He went forth, unauthorised, unaided, and alone; and, accordingly, as might have been expected, prisons proved to be difficult of access, and the information which be sought was not easily obtained.' But his heart was strong in a good cause; and his country is deeply indebted to him for his generous and important services. He has brought forward, to the praise and imitation of his fellow-citizens, many examples which evince what happy effects result when Magistrates are faithful to their duty. He has exposed to public view those dreadful miseries which there is no ear to bear, and no eye to pity, when the Magistrates desert the sacred charge of personal inspection, which the law has entrusted to their honour. He has pointed out all that appears to be still defective or erroneous in our present regulations and present practice. He has done his part; and, whatever return he may now receive from the world, his reward is sure and great."

14.

6 many

The History of England, in easy Dialogues for young Children; by a Lady. 12mo; pp. 88. Hailes.

15. Geography, in easy Dialogues for young Children; by a Lady. 12mo. pp. 72. Hailes.

Each of these little Volumes may be recommended as a valuable acquisition to the Juvenile Library.