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Lady, mentioning the ill-behaviour of her servant, and the mother's consequent fears; as I recollect, I received almost an immediate answer, to beg that I would make the young woman's mother quite easy, as the footman was instantly discharged.'

The young and the old, the rich and the poor, may derive many useful hints from this little volume. The style is easy, familiar, and pointed; but it betrays in some instances, a want of correctness, that will render desirable the revision of a literary friend, in any future production of the same author. We hope that she will not remit her benevolent efforts for the moral advantage of the public.

The title is the most exceptionable part of her present volume. The maxins which she designs to inculcate, though too little adopted in modern practice, are as much so, we apprehend, as they were a century ago. No period of authentic history affords much ground to boast of the moral purity of our ancestors. Religious ceremonials are, indeed, less observed now, than formerly, both by the great vulgar, and the small: but this may be 'attributed to a growing discovery of the incompatibility of a religious profession with a vicious conduct; which leads some to reject the belief of Christianity, and others to divest themselves of its appearance. The rising generation enjoy greater advantages for mental instruction than their predecessors: and we hope, that the small volume before us will concur with many other publications, to impress their minds with proper sentiments of Christian morality.

Art. XIII. The Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain, displayed in a Series of Select Engravings, representing the most beautiful, curious, and interesting Ancient Edifices of this Country; with an Historical and Descriptive Account of each Subject. By John Britton. Part I. Quarto, with Eight Engravings. Part II. With Seven Engravings. Part III. With Eight Engravings. Price 10s. 6d. each. Longman and Co., Taylor, and the Author. 1805. A Part is published every three Months.

WE E willingly include in our Review, the notice of an undertaking, which has for its object, the illustration of our National Antiquities; those, especially, which relate to the edifices, sacred or civil, of our forefathers. No country has more interesting remains of the manners, and the magnificence of former ages, than Great Britain: and to many of them the character of "great even in ruin," may be justly applied. We do not, indeed, wish that our civil structures should resume those formidable marks of the necessity for self-defence, the towers and battlements of our ancient Castles; nor do we wish to ascribe to that solemnity and awe inspired by the ecclesiastical

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edifices of former times, greater effect in promoting genuine devotion, than to the lighter churches of the present day. Yet we think an acknowledgement of merit of whatever kind, in ages long since expired, is perfectly consistent with a grateful and exquisite sense of the blessings of providence, in our actual enjoyments. We are no friends to gloom and superstition; but can distinguish those excesses of the human mind, from the sedate cheerfulness of true Religion, with equal decision and certainty, as we distinguish the darkness visible" of a Gothic hall, half enlightened by a slender crevice, from the blaze of day admitted through the well-proportioned windows of a modern palace. Nevertheless the construction of some Gothic buildings has in our opinion, great merit; and the grandeur of their style of architecture impresses, though in different degrees, almost every

spectator.

There is a legitimate curiosity which enquires into the character and manners of distant countries, and this, when judiciously directed, is confessedly laudable by parity of reason, the desire of information respecting distant ages, is equally commendable; and inay be considered, as one of those sources of mental gratification, which no wise man will treat with contempt; especially when directed toward our national history.

The Numbers before us are the first of a series, intended to elucidate the Ancient Architecture of Great Britain; and by presenting the buildings from which the principles are drawn, to support opinions, which without such proofs, would be little better than nugatory. The first subject, in the first Part, is St. Botolph's Priory, at Colchester, in which the intersections of the arches form a curious feature. Of this building there are three plates, accompanied by a concise investigation of the Ancient History of Colchester, which, the editor concludes, is the Camalodunum of the Romans. This conclusion, however, is liable to exception. That Colchester was a Roman station, may be granted, without granting that it was Camalodunum; the remains of whose name are easily traced in the present Maldon. history of this priory, its early erection, its present state, and the peculiarities apparent in its construction, occupy the principal part of this dissertation. It was of Roman brick, coated over with stucco. The second subject is Dunstable Priory, of which we have a good view; but the plate representing the door ways ⚫is much too black; no such deep shadows could be cast by the projecting parts. The peculiarity of the arches in this building is properly illustrated; they are partly Saxon. Layer Marney House, in Essex, is a specimen of domestic architecture, and though not very ancient, may serve as an instance of the manner, in which a numerous family with its attendants, was formerly

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accommodated. A view of the church of St. Nicholas, and the Abbey Gateway, at Abingdon, closes this Number.

The Second Part comprises King's College, at Cambridge; a structure which has always been considered as the ne plus ultra of Gothic art, whether in construction, or in magnificence. It is the subject of peculiar admiration, and Mr. B., though he will not believe, that Sir Christopher Wren' went once a year to sutvey and praise it, yet declares, that the architect has successfully executed one of the most difficult tasks in Architecture. It has stood the test of centuries; is the astonishment of professional men, and is, at this day, perfect and secure. The history of the crection of this building; an extract from the will of Henry VI. its founder, in which he provides for its establishment; with other documents, compose the elucidatory portion of this Num

ber.

The Third Part consists entirely of round Churches, and forms a curious and interesting article. The subjects are, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, at Cambridge; of which, are given, an external view, an internal view, and a plan the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, at Northampton; the same number of Plates, of the same kind: and the Temple Church, at London. The accompanying dissertation includes remarks on circular Temples, as well as Christian edifices of this form.

The plates are well executed, the typography, paper, &c. is good; and the whole work is highly respectable.

Art. XIV. Commercial Arithmetic; with an Appendix upon Algebraical Equations being an Introduction to the Elements of Commerce. By Christian Dubost. Symonds. 1805. pp. 228. price бs.

"THE

HE number of modern treatises upon Arithmetic," says Mr. Dubost," is infinite, but there is not one composed exclusively for the purposes of commerce." We are at a loss to discover the force of this remark; or what is the real deficiency in our best general systems, which this volume is calculated to supply. In our opinion, it possesses neither the clearness of illustration, the neatness of arrangement, nor the copiousness of examples, necessary in an elementary work; while, to an ordinary proficient, its details must appear trite and tedious. It is, indeed, difficult to guess for whose use a treatise could be intended, in which it was judged needful to give four, out of 228 Joosely printed pages, in explanation of the Numeration Table, and three more in elucidation (if it can be so called) of the well known operation of proving a multiplication question, by rejecting the nines!

In the midst of redundancies, we observe some culpable deficiencies: thus, in the tables of weights and measures, termed by our author, "Table of certain Kind of Units," the liquid measures are overlooked.

In short, if there really was any need of a judicious praxis of commercial calculation, we think that it still exists: at the same time, we do not call in question Mr. Dubost's ability to produce a work worthy of public approbation, provided he consult his judgement and taste more, and the art of authorship less.

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Art. XV. The Duellists: or, Men of Honour; a story; calculated · to shew the Folly, Extravagance, and Sin of Duelling. By Wm. Lucas. price 3s. 6d. pp. 183. 12mo. 1805. J. Cundee. THE practice of duelling is the savage production of a barbarous age, in which (as Mr. L. justly observes) laws were imperfectly established, and partially administered.' When society became more refined, and especially in a country like Britain, where jurisprudence has risen so near the acmé of human perfection,' it might have been hoped, that so irrational and pernicious a custom would of itself have become extinct: but, alas! nurtured as it has been by courts, and defended by heroes, not only has its existence been hitherto prolonged, but with matchless effrontery, in spite of laws, it exists; in spite of common sense, it is admired; and while other vices retire into caverns, this stalks across our fields, and pervades our courts and our cities, glorying in our national shame.

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Mr. Lucas is aware that others, whose piety and talents he acknowledges to be beyond his own humble powers,' have preceded him in opposing, by argument, this formidable foe; and thinking that their arguments have failed to make any impression, he transformed his work from a pamphlet to a novel; thus hoping to excite the attention of those who would deem plain sentiment a laborious task.'

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Mr. Barclay, the christian hero of the tale, is led by the sound of pistols, to a spot near the metropolis, where Mr. Stanway, an aged gentleman, and Mr. Freeman, a military officer, were pointing their fatal weapons at each other. Notwithstanding his attempts to prevent it, Stanway fires, but without effect, and Freeman discharges his pistol in the air, Mr. Barclay returns from the field, with the old gentleman and his second, and maintains a well-conducted debate with them, on the practice of duelling; in which, of course, the christian gains the advantage. Mr. Stanway, however, attempts to vindicate his conduct from the nature of the offence committed by his antagonist, the seduction of his only daughter. Mr. Barclay, on his return to London, meets with a widow and an orphan, who had lost their

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supporter and protector by a duel, and were now literally in want of bread. He, generously relieves their present distress; and is so much impressed by the appearance and manner of the mother, as to engage for their further assistance: but this is not to be wondered at, when we find, as soon as he loses sight of the widow, a chasm is felt in his peace,' and he cries to his heartwhat means this beating!! On the following day, he receives a challenge from Capt. Freeman, on account of the frankness with which he had spoken against duelling. Barclay visits Freeman, and, instead of fighting, they discuss the propriety of the practice. Freeman, on the principles of a man of honour, defends it, to the utmost; Barclay, on those of a christian, as strenuously opposes it. Towards the close of this conversation it comes out, that the widow whom Barclay found in such distress, had been deprived of her husband by Freeman's own fatal hand. He is struck with remorse at this seasonable discovery, and resolves both to provide for the widow, and as far as possible, to repair Mr. Stanway's wrongs. To the former he makes over a moderate estate; to Miss Stanway he offers his hand; and Mr. Barclay avows his intention of marrying the widow. After some unforeseen impediments, and some hair-breadth escapes from intervening destruction, the story closes, amidst scenes of domestic felicity and exemplary usefulness. When things are brought to this happy issue, Mr. Barclay and Freeman are attacked by three footpads, and the former is deeply, though not mortally, wounded : after manifesting the consolation of the christian religion amidst pain and affliction, he gradually recovers, and soon afterwards is united to Mrs. Mountain, as Mr. Freeman had been before to Miss Stanway. These friends resided near together, and continued long to promote each others comfort, and the welfare of all around them. But one day, when they were all in company at Freeman Hall, the door opened, and a person appeared who, Mr. Freeman and Mrs. Barclay agreed could be no other than Mr. Mountain, the former husband of Mrs. Barclay. He turned round in silence and left them; but, being followed by Mr. Barclay, declared himself the brother of Mountain, who came to revenge his death, and mistaking Barclay for Freeman, he fired at him, and slightly wounded him. Discovering his mistake he apologized, and withdrew, but declared he would be revenged on Freeman; notwithstanding all Freeman's attempts to avoid it, he is forced to meet, and at first upon Mountain's drawing his sword, unsheathes his own; but, recollecting himself, swears by the duty he owes his God, that he will not fight; and, standing on the defensive, disarms his adversary, who departs, and leaves Freeman Hall to resume its harmony,

Our readers will form their own judgement of the tale. We cordially recommend the arguments against duelling, of which...

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