a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

The general aversion which Mr. Hall entertained for periodical literature, and especially for periodical critique, is generally understood; nor could he be prevailed upon to assist in such an undertaking, except from some peculiar circumstances, in which the interests of religious and moral truth might seem to demand it, or to gratify the feelings of a pure and elevated friendship. He spent much of his time in exploring the Greek fathers, and thought but little of modern critics in comparison of them. Occasion was given however for calling into exercise a portion of his critical acumen, which afforded no ordinary treat to the lovers of elegant literature, and added not a little to the brilliance of his other performances.

The Eclectic Review had recently been established for the ostensible purpose of counteracting the prevailing scepticism and licentiousness of the day, and to procure for all orthodox writers, what they had not heretofore obtained from any of the public journals, a just and candid notice of their publications in favour of the doctrines of divine revelation. After the appearance of the first series, the editorship of this work was consigned to Mr. Dan Parken, a young man of considerable attainments, with whose family Mr. Hall had long been acquainted. He was also so much pleased with

the talent displayed in the management of the work, that he was prepared to yield to the solicitation of his amiable friend, who presently availed himself of the fairest opportunities for gaining a little of his assistance.

Mr. John Foster, author of the celebrated Essays bearing his name, was the early friend of Mr. Hall. The editor of the Eclectic, with consummate prudence, immediately endeavoured to lay under tribute this mutual alliance, by inducing Mr. Hall to write a critique on some second or third edition of the essays, which had already found a rapid sale. Mr. Foster, with his redundant stores of original genius, was little known to the literary or religious world, previously to the appearance of his essays, which suddenly burst upon the public with a meridian effulgence, without any of the usual of the usual presages

of morning light or evening shade.

Mr. Hall's review, which forms the first article he wrote for the Eclectic, in January 1809, added not a little to the celebrity of his friend's performance. On receipt of the manuscript Mr. Parken was so delighted with the success of his application, that he could not forbear expressing himself, in a letter to his friend Dr. Styles, in the following romantic and agitated manner. "I inform you by

these presents, that one of the articles in our new number is written by Robert Hall; and I command you to discover, of your own sagacity, which article it is! You cannot imagine how foolishly joyous I was, at receiving the precious manuscript. An

intermittent laugh came on me, which lasted five or ten minutes; and then I set to work and wrote the author an egregious letter, stating how glad I was, and how I thanked him, and how good a review it was, and how I hoped it would not be the last." The writer's enthusiastic admiration of Mr. Hall, the deep interest he felt in the work of which he had lately become the editor, and the triumph he had in this instance achieved, very naturally account for the exultation in which he indulged; especially as he had now engaged, as he hoped, for a correspondent and contributor, one whom he afterwards described as "the most extraordinary of men, on whom the loftiest scholars have been proud to lavish their praise, and to whom the audience of Cicero or Bossuet might have listened with astonishment and rapture; a man, whose pure and redundant eloquence, the sublimest emanation of mind, resembles in its attributes the noblest element of nature, rivalling in grandeur, in beauty, and in energy, the light which fills the firmament, the tints that adorn the dew, and the rapid and irresistible flash that pierces and melts while it illuminates."

Mr. Hall, proceeding with his critique on the celebrated essays of his friend, introduces the author in the following just and appropriate manner. "Mr. Foster's name is probably new to most of our readers; but if we may judge from the production before us, he cannot long be concealed

from the notice and applause of the literary world. In an age of mediocrity, when the writing of books has become almost a mechanical art, and a familiar acquaintance with the best models has diffused taste, and diminished genius, it is impossible to peruse an author who displays so great original powers without a degree of surprise. We are ready to enquire by what peculiar felicity he was enabled to desert the trammels of custom, to break the spell by which others feel themselves bound, and to maintain a career so perfectly uncontrolled and independent. A cast of thought original and sublime, an unlimited command of imagery, a style varied, vigorous and bold, are some of the distinguishing features of these very singular essays. We add with peculiar satisfaction, that they breathe the spirit of piety and benevolence, and bear the most evident indications of a heart deeply attached to scriptural truth."

In noticing the Title of this masterly performance, calling it "Essays in a series of Letters to a Friend," the reviewer seems to have considered it as inappropriate, and apprises the reader that he must not look for any thing in the epistolary style, for that these "letters" resembled regular dissertations, rather than familiar epistles. Probably Mr. Hall was not at that time acquainted with the singular fact, that these profound dissertations were originally addressed to an endeared and intimate female friend, to whose inspection and approbation the author was anxious to submit such a train of

philosophical reasoning as could not have been duly appreciated by an ordinary mind; and it is well known that in this the writer gave full proof of his discernment. Had there unfortunately been a breach of contract, as in some other flagrant instances, the attorney general would have been strangely puzzled in making out a charge from these extraordinary letters, to convict the writer of a breach of matrimonial engagements.

The reviewer has selected from the essays a passage so forcible and original, so recondite and convincing, that no apology can be necessary for its reinsertion on a subject of such infinite importance. It is an argument derived from the ubiquity of the divine nature, which exposes the intolerable arrogance and presumption of Atheism, in pretending to an extraordinary degree of heroism in rejecting the general belief of the existence of a deity. "But it is heroism no longer," says the essayist, "if the atheist knows that there is no God. The wonder then turns on the great process by which a man could grow to the immense intelligence that can know that there is no God. What ages and what lights are requisite for this attainment! This intelligence involves the very attributes of divinity, while a God is denied. For unless this man is omnipresent, unless he is at this moment in every place in the universe, he cannot know but there may be in some place manifestations of a deity by which even he would be overpowered. If he does not know absolutely every