more than equal to its charges. Late inftances teftify the avidity with which fubfcriptions are entered into, although the fpeculations of private individuals. Many fchemes might be proposed for this parpofe, but that which appears to me the readieft and most feafible, is to divide the property into a number of fhares; each fhare to be entitled to a box in perpetuity. Suppofe, for example, the theatre to contain 165 boxes, and 65 to be the number of preprietors; a fubfcription of 1500l. each would produce 97,500l. and each proprietor, by holding a box, would poffefs equal to an anBual intereft of 1261. for the 1500l. The proprietors would have it in their power to choose a fit perfon for the manager, to whom the theatre might be let for fhort terms at a pepper corn rent; the manager to keep it in repair, and produce a ftated number of exkibitions, for which there would remain the receipts for 100 boxes to be let to yearly fubfcribers, and the receipts for admiffion into the pit and gallery, which at a moderate computation would amount to 40,000l. annually*, befides other contingent advantages; a fum that would command the most magnificent reprefentations."

Art. 51. The Principles of Duelling; with Rules to be obferved in every Particular refpecting it. By Lieutenant Samuel Stanton, of the 97th late Regiment. 8vo. pp. 8o. 2s. 6d. Hookham.

1790.

Mr. Stanton is, in fome degree, an advocate for duelling; and, as the court of chivalry exifts no longer, he has favoured the world with this manual; which may, in fome measure, fupply its place. In treating of firing, the most effential point of all, he recommends, laftly, that a furgeon fhould be in attendance at a little diftance; and this, we think, is not the worst observation in his well intended performance.

Art. 52. Emblems of Mortality; reprefenting, in upwards of Fifty Cuts, Death feizing all Ranks and Degrees of People; imitated from a Painting in the Cemetery of the Dominican Church at Bafil, in Switzerland: with an Apoftrophe to each, tranflated from the Latin and French. Intended as well for the Information of the Curious as the Inftru&tion and Entertainment of Youth. To which is prefixed a copious Preface, containing an historical Account of the above, and other Paintings on this Subject, now, or lately existing in divers Parts of Europe. 12mo. 2 s. bound. Hodgson.

PP. 80.

The editor, in his preface, gives an account of the famous painting at Bafil called the Dance of Death; and proves, (if the fact be true,) that it could not be the work of Holbein, because he was not then born.

Some of the cuts, we think, are rather too ludicrous for fo folemn a fubject: but perhaps the editor might think this would induce young people to read the verfes underneath, which contain good moral leffons in poetry that rivals the fublimity of Sternhold and Hopkins.

The yearly expenditure has been ufually confined to 18,000l."

Art. 52. Fugitive Pieces, by M. de Montefquieu: confifting of the Temple of Gnidus, and Arfaces and Ifmena. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. pp. 225. Longman. 1789.

Montefquieu's Temple of Gnidus is a romantic love ftory, written fomewhat in the ftyle of Fenelon's Telemachus: we have had an unfuccefsful English translation of it in verfe; fee Review, vol. xxix. p. 154. Another tranflation of it, in profe, appeared in 1768; fee Review, vol. xxxvi. p. 239. The prefent publication is much to be preferred to thofe which preceded it.

The other romance contained in this little volume, entitled Arfaces and Ifmena, an Eaftern Story,' is thus characterized by the editor of the original French edition; and, we think, with tolerable juftice:

M. de Montefquieu had been at great pains to afcertain the limits between defpotifm and a well-regulated monarchy, which feemed to him the true ftate of the French government. But as monarchy is always in danger of running into defpotifm, he wished, if poffible, to render even defpotifm itself ufeful. With this view, he has delineated a most agreeable picture of a defpot who makes his people happy. Perhaps he flattered him felf that fome king or queen, or minifter, might read his book, and wish to refemble Arfaces, Ifmena, &c. or to be themselves the models of a picture equally delightful.-Be this as it will, men may become defpots in their own families, in fociety, in the common affairs of life: we may all reap inftruction from the Spirit of Laws, and from this work.'—The tranflation is free from the stiffness and aukwardness which usually attend the rendering of one language into another. Art. 54. Commercial Tables. Exhibiting a view of the Weights, Measures, Coins, and Monies of France, compared and equalized with thofe of Great Britain; containing Tables of French and English Weights, of English and French ditto, of French and English Cloth Meafore, of English and French ditto, of English and French Dry and Liquid Meafure, of Coins and of Money. Exchanges, comprehending 81 different Rates, being all the Variations which occur in the Practice of Exchange, from 27 to 32 inclufive, from 1 Livre to 30,000; and a general Table from 40,000 to 1,000,000 A ready Reckoner in French Money. A general Table of Duties payable on Goods and Merchandize imported from France. Forms of Bills of Exchange, French and English. To which is added, an ample Extract from the Commercial Treaty concluded with France, September 25, 1786, in the French and English Languages. By a British Merchant, formerly refident in France. Small 4to. 4s. 6d. Boards.

Wilkies, &c.

1790.

To a title fo ample, of a book of fuch a nature, confifting more of figures than of letters, what can a reviewer be expected to add? It certainly must be acknowleged that he has little to do befide tranfcribing the title; and of this circumftance, the calculator of the publication feems aware: for he fays, in his introduction, it is not likely that a work of this nature can undergo more than a

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general review, from thofe gentlemen whofe particular bufiness it is, to point out the merits, or defects, of literary performances.' Under this conviction, the author has given the following infor mation, which will enable the reader to judge what confidence he may place in thefe tables, without which, they could be of no, material utility in bufinefs."

Having devoted a large portion of time, together with a confiderable expence, in purfuit of the neceffary information, he now Aatters himfelf that the book will be found free from any material mittake. The 96 different rates of exchange, including the general tables, are the fubject of 190 pages, which, exclufive of the neceffary corrections and comparisons, could not be composed by the operation of lefs than 20,000 lines of figures; and the author refpectfully affures the public, that he does not believe there is any error to the amount of 1d. British in thefe exchanges.''

The utility of the work is fufficiently obvious; and the exceffive labour attending its compilation is, alfo, very evident. With refpect to its correctnefs, which is the fine qua non, the author's word must be taken as proof pofitive.

THEOLOGY and POLEMICS.

Art. 55. An Addrefs to the Right Reverend Dr. Samuel Horley, Bishop of St. David's, on the Subject of an Apology for the Liturgy and Clergy of the Church of England. By Gilbert Wakefield, B. A. and late Fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge. 8vo. pp. 41. 6d. Deighton. 1790.

Never did we meet with any one, who called more loudly for liberality in others, nor with one who fet a worfe example of it in his own writings, than Mr. Wakefield. He does well to fay that he is a beadle in the court of controverfy; for no poor, inoffenfive, imaginary culprit can ever come in his way, without being dragged, with favage fury, to the house of correction; nor ever get out of it, without a most fevere and unmerciful flogging.

Of the torrent of fcurrility and abufe which he has here poured forth againff Bishop Horley, as the fuppofed author of the "Apology," he affirms, that no part is to be afcribed to perfonal vexation. Alas! then, what need he be fo boiferous-rough? Why weaken the effect of powerful arguments; why hurt a good caufe; by rude and indecent language? Such modes of controverfy difguft and revolt a civilized mind; and instead of conciliating, only tend to prejudice, thofe whofe opinions are yet unformed on the fubject. If Mr. W. be thus when he is calm and unvexed, we hope never to fee him in a rage.

To do justice, however, to his mortification and felf-denial, (exotics, which are not the natural and ordinary produce of the foil, fhould never país unheeded,) we muft declare that our beadle does, now and then, forbear to indulge the luxury of his ideas,' in the exercife of his critical whip;' that, while he offends us by his fevere perfonalities, he excites our approbation by his fpirit and his

acuteness; and that he entertains us, occafionally, with pleafantry and good humour: witness the following fcruples of a country clerk, which we select as no bad supplement to those of a country curate, given us by the noble author of the "Hints, &c."

From the many little particulars attending it, the ftory feems to be more authentic than most things of the kind. It is fcarcely ne ceffary to fay, that Mr. W. is fpeaking of the creed of that ́ puzzlepated mortal', as he aptly terms him, whoever he was, that made the canonized bones of Athanafius, many centuries after they had been hearfed in death, burft their cearments, in order to obtain the fanction of another's name, to his own incomprehenfibility and intolerance:

Here at Nottingham we had a bookseller (lately deceased) endued with a portion of charitableness and tender feeling, worthy to be remembered. He occafionally officiated for the clerk of St. Mary's; and, to the great fcandal of fome, uniformly foftened the rigour of this creed by a qualifying interpolation. This is the catholic faith: (faid honest Sam) which, except a man believe faithfully, he can HARDLY be faved.'

Art. 56. A Treatife of Civil Power in Ecclefiaftical Caufes: fhewing that it is not lawful for any Power on Earth to compel in Matters of Religion. The Author John Milton. First printed in the Year 1659, and now reprinted. 8vo. pp. 47. Johnfon. 1790.

IS.

When thofe, who contend against the repeal of laws fubjecting perfons to civil incapacities and difabilities, on account of their religious fentiments, profefs themselves, at the fame time, friends to a perfect and complete toleration; it is a pretty clear proof that the true nature and principles of toleration are either mifunderfood, or misreprefented. Under fuch circumftances, therefore, it feems not improper, unfeafonable, nor ufelefs, to republish whatever may tend to elucidate the fubject, and set it in its proper light. At the fame time we must obferve, that however excellent Milton's treatise might be for the time when it was written,-and, this being confidered, it is certainly admirable, and worthy of its great author-yet, many fuperior pieces have been given to the world fince his days.

Not only that legiflature, which inflicts pains and penalties, but that alfo, which with-holds privileges and emoluments, on account of religious opinions; nay that, which even, by a profpect of fuperior advantages, tempts a man to violate his confcience, and act the hypocrite; can never be faid to allow a full, free, and complete toleration.

We object to the fentiments of Milton; who, though he would tolerate all other Chriftians, yet grants no indulgence to the catholics; who, we really think, have now been kept in purgatory long enough to expiate the foul crimes of former days, and to burn out thofe impure ftains which, with more prejudice perhaps than truth, have been supposed to be of fo much deeper and blacker dye in them than in any other men. As they have demeaned themfelves fo well for fome time paft, we rather incline to the opinion that they

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they are fufficiently purged and purified; and that they might be fafely let out, and put on the footing of other good fubjects, without any great danger of their cutting our throats, burning us in Smithfield, or making us all papists.

Art. 57. A Proteftant Catechifm for the Ufe of young Perfons; originally published in French, and tranflated by S. Catlow. 12mo. pp. 57. 6d. Johnson. 1789.

This little piece gives a plain account of fome principal facts in the Old and New Testament, and may draw the attention of children to those subjects of religion and daty which are of acknowleged importance among all parties. Difputable points are wholly avoided; infomuch that fome may poffibly think that fome effentials are omitted. There is, however, room for a catechift to fupply what remarks he may judge proper. The author confines himself to fuch truths as are fimple, clear, and weighty. He may perhaps be of the Socinian caft: but concerning that we enquire not:-If his catechifm tends to form the young minds to that religious and virtuous conduct which, according to the discoveries of Christianity, will fit them for a better and happier life, it anfwers the neceffary and the nobleft purpofe; and whatever falls short here, though extolled for orthodoxy, is indeed of no worth. Art. 58. Four Sermons on Conformity to the World; addressed principally to Proteftant Diffenters. By B. Carpenter. 8vo. pp. 71. 1s. 6d. bound. Baldwin.

The first of these fermons is against a conformity to the principles, language, and practice of the men of this world. The fecond is against that conformity to the prefent age, which is in itself finful, or which has fuch a tendency. The third represents the danger and bad effects of carrying a fpirit of conformity and compliance too far ;-and, the fourth contains a brief view of the primitive Chriftians and the Puritans, with an addrefs to diffenters of the prefent age.

The difcourfes are well adapted to the prefent times; and the fubjects are treated with judgment, propriety, and candour. It would give us pleasure to gratify our Readers with extracts from each difcourfe: but this our prefent limits will not admit. We shall therefore confine ourselves to the laft fermon, which, the Author, in a note, informs us, was delivered at a lecture intended to commemorate that day, on which 2000 minifters of the church of England, refufed to comply with the act of uniformity; which required them to declare their unfeigned affent and confent to every thing contained in a compofition merely human. On this occafion, the author breaks out in the following apostrophe.

• Venerable shades! whofe noble facrifice to the cause of liberty. and to the dictates of conscience, this religious fervice was inftituted to commemorate; we revere your characters, we regard you as a part of that illuftrious cloud of witneffes with which we are encompaffed; we would emulate your piety and zeal, and imitate your courage in withstanding the enticements of the world.".

Mr.