communication, fo that cannon-fhot from a frigate, or other fmall veffel, lying at a common distance from the shore, can de them but little harm; now, tho' the enemy's cannon cannot reach the frigate, no more than the frigate's guns can reach them, yet the enemy's guns may eafily reach the water-fide with Tufficient force to annoy the troops, both in landing and when landed. Indeed, if fuch a difpofition be made by the enemy, and they perform their duty well, it is impracticable to land, according to the common method, without confiderable lofs. But fuppofing rolling breaft-works provided, twenty feet in length, and fix feet in diameter, as before defcribed; rafts may be made of them by fastening five of them together to every raft, which rafts will confequently be thirty feet long, and twenty broad..

Across the five rolls fo lafhed together, lay ftrong planks, thirty feet long, to make them bear alike in the water, with other planks twenty feet long, and two or three inches thick, across thefe; thus there will be formed a good platform for cannon to reft or recoil upon, fhould there be occafion for firing from the raft; fome of thefe upper planks fhould have irons fixed near their ends, fitted to receive and hold faft other rolls of fix feet diameter, to ferve for a parapet to cover the men from the enemy's fire, whilft landing, or firing their own

cannon.

Being furnished with a fufficient number of these rafts, any body of troops may approach the fhore under a good defence; having, at all events, a fufficient number of cannon to answer thofe of the enemy; but fhould there be no need of firing the cannon at fea, the rafts may be pushed afhore about high water, or upon the ebb, and when the fore-part is laid-aground, fufficient planks must be laid from the rafts to the shore, and the parapet rolls rolled off first, and placed in proper order on the shore or beach, and the cannon landed next, and brought up to the parapets; all which may be fo quickly difpatched, fuppofing the water smooth, that in about half an hour, from many fuch rafts, an hundred cannon may be landed, and made ready for action, covered with the rolling breaft- works, under which the troops may advance in tolerable fafety, to attack any place or enemy, with as many cannon as may be judged proper, whereby fuch advantages may be gained, as will reafonably affure fuccefs with very little lofs.'

Little lofs, doth Mr. Robson say? Why a moderate army, fo effectually fecured, would be invulnerable. They might fafely challenge all the troops in the French King's fervice, and destroy them all. For inftance, we will fuppofe twenty Englifh battallions fo fortified; they would challenge twenty French battallions,

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battallions, which challenge the French, who pique themselves fo much on their military abilities, could not, in honour, refufe. Well, Sir, the English battallions kill them.-Challenge twenty more; kill them.-Twenty more; kill them too.In fhort, they might all be thus killed, by a reasonable compu tation, to speak in the phrafe of our Author's above named anceftor, in a moderate fpace of time.

After this particular account of the first part of our Author's work, we prefume the Reader will not expect us to dwell on the latter. We beg leave, therefore, to refer those who are curious to fee Mr. Robfon's improvements in fortification, to the work itfelf. We cannot clofe this article, however, without obferving, that as by adopting Mr. Robfon's fchemes, we muft infallibly deftroy all our enemies, if ever we fhould engage in another war, the French nation, could they peruse this book, would be very cautious how they provoked us to take up arms again. Would it not be advisable therefore, in the English Miniftry, to have this work tranflated into various languages, and difperfed over the continent? For, as it would certainly strike terrour into all Europe, and as fear is well known to operate more than love, it might prove a more effectual fcheme for a perpetual peace than either that of the Abbe de la Pierre, or Mr. Rouffeau. Nor need we be under any apprehenfions of their adopting thefe fchemes, and turning them upon ourfelves, as the truly patriotic Author hath no lefs artfully than judiciously, concealed all the means of rendering them practicable. When his King and country, however, require it, it is not to be doubted, that he will throw off all referve, and inftruct our Engineers and Shipbuilders how to effect all thofe things, which are to him fo very eafy in which cafe, we doubt not alfo, of his being amply rewarded out of the royal treasury, for his confummate ingenuity and profound skill in the art military.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For MA Y, 1764.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL.

Art. 1. The Nature and Evidences of Saving Faith; being the Subtance of Four Sermons; Two of which were lately preached at the Merchant's Lecture, Pinner's Hall; and the other Two prepared for the Pulpit, and promifed to the Audience; but the preaching of them prevented, by the Expulfion of the Author from the Lecture.

With a Preface, containing fame Account of the Proceedings in that Tranfaction. By Samuel Pike. 8vo. 1 s. Dilly, &c.

Idifputation which had arifen between Mr. Pike and his Heaters.

N our twenty-third volume, page 2:0, we gave fome account of a

This Gentleman, it feems, had been accused of a change of fentiments, with refpect to certain doctrines. A change of fentiments is, with fome men, a mortal offence; even though it were from an erroneous to a more orthodox opinion; and of this truth Mr. Pike has had fufficient experience. The Subfcribers ballot for his expolion or continuance, was grounded on the following queftion- Whether it is your opinion, that the Rev. Mr. Pike has fo far changed his fentiments fince his being chofen to preach in this lecture; that he should continue one of your Lecturers or not? He had only one vote for his continuing, and fortyfour against him. Our Readers may, perhaps, imagine, that nothing Jefs than fome dreadful charge of herety or immorality had been brought against him; but no fuch thing appears in this publication: nor, indeed, any direct or pofitive accufation whatever. All the information that we can gather on this head, is contained in the following extract from his preface. The reafon why they have not specified any article againft me is, because they are confcious I fhould give a direct denial to it. They have, indeed, afferted abroad, that I deny the work of the Spirit, the saints perfeverance, and all Chritian experience: the e are all the charges that have come to my ears, which have any relation to the doctrines of the Lecture-and all utterly fale.—If the Reader wants to know what really are Mr. Pike's religious fentiments, they are thus expreffed in his Confeffion of Faith, inferted in this preface.

I am fully perfuaded of the doctrines of the ever bleffed Trinity, the true Divinity and Humanity in the perfon of Chrift, the perfection and vicariousness of his righteoufnefs and atonement as a substitute for finners: the doctrines of particular election and particular redemption; of original fin imputed, and the universal corruption of human nature; the entire neceffity, the abfolute fovereignty, and uncontrolable efficacy of the holy Spirit's work in the converfion of a finner; together with the doctrine of the Saints perfeverance.'—If all this will not fatisfy the learned Gentlemen that support the Merchant's Lecture at Pinner's Hall, what the mischief would they have?—With respect to what Mr. Pike has advanced in his four Sermons, about Evidences of Faith, Peculiar Intereft, &c. &c. our firm belief is, that our enlarging on these points, will not be for the intereft of our Review.

Art. 2. The Cafe between Gerizim and Ebal fairly stated. By Richard Parry, D. D. Rector of Wichampton, and Preacher at Market-Harborough, 8vo. 1s. Whiston.

The Learned have agreed in pronouncing that remarkable variation, in the book of Deuteronomy, where the Jews read EBAL, and the Samaritans GERIZIM, a wilful corruption; and that either the Jews have falfely inferted Ebal instead of Gerizim, or the Samaritans have falfly inferted Gerizim instead of Ebal.

Dr. Kennicott is an Advocate for the Samaritans; Dr. Parry, on the contrary, has taken pains to fhew, that the Samaritans have defignedly

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corrupted

:

corrupted the law in favour of Gerizim he endeavours to give a true flate of the whole affair, as it may be drawn from both copies of the Pentateuch, not forgetting what affiftance may be had from the Prophets, Jofephus, and the New Teftament.

On which fide the truth lies, the learned Reader must determine; all that is neceffary for us to fay is, that Dr. Parry writes in a lively and confpicuous manner, and has advanced fome things which deferve the attention of thofe who think the fubject important.

Art. 3. The Companion or Spiritual Guide at the Altar; containing Prayers, Ejaculations, Meditations, and the Order for the Adminiftration of the Lord's Supper; according to the Ufage of the Church of England: Directions and Devotions at the Lord's Table and at home, after receiving the Sacrament. And an introductory Difcourfe, explaining the Nature and End of this Sacrament, and the Obligations we are under to receive the Lord's Supper. By a Clergyman of the Church of England. 12mo. 6d. Dilly.

This little piece feems better calculated for the ufe of plain, pious Christians, than most performances of the kind, that we have looked into.

Art. 4. The Divine Miffion of the Meffiah demonftrated, from the Eleventh Chapter of the Prophet Daniel: For the Conviction of Jews and Deifts. By a Clergyman in the Weft of England. 4to. 1s. 6d. Caflon.

If the title of this piece does not render an account of it unneceffary, the following Advertisement annexed to it, certainly will Nearly ready for the Prefs: AN ESSAY ON THE REVEALED SYSTEM OF THE WORLD: demonftrating THE MOON'S LIGHT AND THE SUN'S MOTION. By the fame Author. From which principles he has happily difcovered, the Method for finding the LONGITUDE AT SEA: with which he hopes to attend the Right Honourable and Honourable the Commisioners of Longitude, as foon as the Effay can be printed.

Art. 5. Corpus Legum Sacrarum de moribus reformandis. Being a Collection of feveral Texts from the Old and New Teftament, against the most predominant Vices, and ruling Paffions; and for the Encouragement of their oppofite Virtues. Alphabetically di gfted under their proper Heads. In Two Books. 8vo. 2s. Byth.

The onl remarkable thing in this performance, is the uncommon medeity of the Editor, whole preface we fhal lay before our Readers. There Collections, fays he, for the convenience of reference, pre divided into two books; the firft containing PROHIBITIONS against the most predominant Vices, and ruling Paffions, digefted into an alcabetical or 'er, the fecond, EXHORTATIONS to their oppofite Virpars, and other qualifications, tending to fecure not only our prefent, but future happiness in the world to come.

◄ This work was originally begun by Sir T- H— near eighty years ago, and intended only for his own private ufe, and was therefore left amongft his papers, very imperfect, and incorrect; which falling into the hands of the prefent Editor, and he having taken no fmall pains in carefully revifing the fame, and making feveral additions thereto; has now ventured at the interceffion of many of his most intimate friends, to offer them to the public-hoping, that their general utility, will fufficiently apologize for their publication.

Numbers there are, who are ambitious of being known to the world, in the character of an Author, tho' of ever fo trifling a performance; but for my part, I defire to remain in fuch a degree of obfcurity, as is confiftent with the sphere of life in which I am placed; and therefore will beg leave that my name may remain a fecret; and I subscribe myfelf,-THE EDITOR.'

MEDICA L.

Art. 6. Salivation not necessary for the Cure of the Venereal Dif eafe, in any Degree whatever, and all Glects curable, &c. &c. By Charles Hales, late Surgeon to the Hospital at the Savoy, &c. 8vo. 1s. Almon.

Notwithstanding our averfion to whatever has the appearance of empirical Puffing, and all Noftrum mongers, we think the prefent pamphlet ought to be exempted from that general cenfure, fo juftly applied, by fenfible perfons, to a great majority of them. Mr. Hales's fuccefs has been legally authenticated by a verdict, which, after a trial of ten hours, gave him fix hundred pounds with costs and damages. He informs us, page 25, That during one year only fix of his venereal Patients died, tho' he had within that time near eight hundred under his care; of which number fix hundred and feventy were ordered by the exprefs command of General Carr; and the rest by the order of the Commander in Chief; one hundred of which whole number, while under the venereal disease, had also malignant ulcerous throats, with a fever much like the Jail fever.'

Mr. Hales felects, in a very fummary manner, the chief symptoms occurring in the cafes of forty foldiers whom he cared in the Savoy Hofpital: but none of these seem to have been formerly falivated. He gives, as briefly, the cafes of twenty others, whom he cared [without falivation, we are to fuppofe] after fome of them had been falivated once, and others oftener. His Appendix contains twenty other cafes, in his private practice, all affirmed to be cures, befides, two cures of two leprous Patients, and another of a fcorbutic one: but he does not inform us, whether thefe cures were effected by his antivenereal Remedies and Regimen or not: none of the three, however, are mentioned, as having had any venereal infection. Our Readers will of course reflect, that this Gentleman is telling his own ftory; though, from the fame principle, it is natural to credit him when he affirms, page 19, that fome of his Brethren afperfed him as an Impoftor, which they might conceive it their intereft to do. With respect to the language of this pamphlet, which ferves to advertise its Author, we are difpofed to pardon fuch inaccuracies in writing, as do not render it unintelligible: for Certainly, when Mr. Hales means to fuppofe, p. 20, fome noble Lord's

friendship