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justly claims. Accidental circumstances, which we have lamented, but could not remedy, have alone occasioned the delay. Although we have hereby lost an opportunity of gaining credit by anticipating the judgement of the public, we enjoy a real gra ufication in reporting it, while we add our hearty suffrage. With pleasure we observe, not only that our critical Brethren have, with more than usual concurrence, borne testimony to the merits of Mrs. More's new work; but that even where exception has been taken to some theological remarks, (a subject, on which agreement of opinion was scarcely to be expected,) unqualified praise is given to every other part of this performance. Above all, we are truly glad to know, from unquestionable authority, that some who stand particularly connected with the interesting object of this valuable publication, have strongly expressed their sense of its worth; and acknowledged their very great obligation to their ingenious, pious, and patriotic fellowlabourer.

These volumes have already been so generally read, as to render any attempt toward a regular analysis of them, superfluous; and were such an attempt to be made, the nature of the work would prevent its success. In this, in the very first instance, we are bound to acknowledge the sound judgement of the author. It is a fault not seldom to be lamented, that writers are over fond of making out regular systems, where none but themselves can discover the grounds of the arrangement: not so Mrs. M. Aiming at utility alone, and despising all the petty arts of self-display, she communicates her store of widely collected knowledge and deeply digested wisdom, with a noble inattention to every artifice of modern authorship; and evidently feels no other concern, than that what she delivers be true, pertinent, and perspicuous.

That we, as far as in us lics, may avail ourselves of her excellent example, we also shall endeavour to be as simple in reviewing her work, as she has been in composing it. Influenced, we trust, by some real portion of the same desire, to be useful rather than ostentatious, we shall consider these volumes in only a twofold point of view; as containing special instruction for the illustrious personage whose benefit is primarily aimed at; and as conveying lessons of wisdom to all readers without exception.

Under the former of these heads, the historical observations Occupy the most important place; and clearly prove the writer to be well acquainted, alike with the political vicissitudes of countries, and the characters of statesmen and sovereigns. To say, that the various instances which she has adduced, from the vast expanse of ancient as well as modern history, are happily selected and luminously exhibited, would be to give the worthy author but a very small part of her just praise. What we chiefly

admire and value, is, that every observation on events appears to have been equally suggested by a glowing zeal for human happiness, and a just estimate of its essential compound; and that in every stricture or encomium on celebrated personages, much as there is always of sagacity, and very frequently of ingenuity, the most striking feature is, that unaffected solicitude with which every remark is pointed toward the best interests of the royal pupil, both as a human being, and as a sovereign.

In such reflections as these to which we are referring, we conceive that Mrs. M.'s own deep sense of religion has given her a most important advantage over the greater part of those authors whom she quotes. It is from self inspection alone, that any certain knowledge of human nature can be derived; and it is a sense of religion only, which gives a human being the master key to his own heart. Most cordially, therefore, do we subscribe to that consummate observation, in the chapter on the age of Louis XIV.

Voltaire,' says Mrs. More, has expressed his astonishment that decrees, which he himself allows to have been " cruel and merciless," should proceed from the bosom of a court distinguished for softness of manners, and sunk in voluptuous indulgences. We might rather wonder at any such expression of astonishment in so ingenious a writer, were we not well assured, that no acuteness of genius can give that deep insight into the human heart, which our religion alone teaches, in teaching us the corruption of our nature; much less can it inspire the infidel with that quickness of moral taste, which enables the true disciples of Christianity to appreciate, as if by a natural instinct, human characters." Vol. ii. pp. 102, 103.

Recent times have been peculiarly fertile in lessons to sovereigns; and the political events of the present day have thrown a new light on many past transactions. Of these advantages, the author of the work before us has not been negligent. Amidst the shocks and convulsions that have affected so many of the fabrics of earthly grandeur, she rejoices to recognize the matchless stability of that throne which Divine Providence has raised for the British monarch; and fully convinced that the continuance of this blessing must depend on the fidelity, with which both subjects and sovereign adhere to the genuine principles of the constitution; while she zealously maintains the entire allegiance due from the former, she no less honestly enforces the various and momentous duties incumbent on the latter. On these points, we conceive, no sensible stickler for Prerogative could accuse Mrs. M. of lessening any right of the crown; nor could any honest Whig find fault with her, as not being sufficiently alive to the interests of the people.

Without appearing to be infected with any species of party prejudice, Mrs. M. adverts to the political contest which agitated our country previously to the Revolution, in a way equally

creditable

creditable to her discernment and her temper. She neither palliates the real faults of the House of Stuart, with Hume; nor aggravates them, with Mrs. Macaulay. She points them out, wherever it is necessary, either to give force to admonition, or to illustrate the ways of Providence: but deep, as is her conviction of that depravity which taints all the offspring of Adam, she has evidently no wish to blacken her page with gratuitous details of either private or political enormity. In statements of this kind, she goes just as far as is requisite for exemplifying the detestable nature and destructive consequences of vices, to which, in particular, those who possess the trust of civil power are exposed: but she relies much more on a prevalent love of what is essentially good, than on a prudent dread of what is consequentially evil. She neglects nothing that could serve to recommend habits of external rectitude; but the chief object at which she aims, is, to establish an all-powerful principle of internal good

ness.

And here, we conceive, that in an eminent degree, Mrs. M.'s sentiments, respecting Religion, have added strength to her remarks on Royal Education. In her STRICTURES we find it admirably observed, that

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Christianity is neither a table of ethics, nor a system of opinions; but that it is a new principle, infused into the heart by the Word and the Spirit of God; out of which principle, will inevitably grow right opinions, renewed affections, correct morals, pure desires, heavenly tempers, and holy habits.'

This is, in fact, the key-truth in Mrs. M.'s scheme of divine philosophy. A root of virtue must, in her view, first be planted in the mind; else all external efforts will prove both painful and ineffectual. Such a root of every thing "lovely and of good report," she recognizes in our holy religion, when once rightly fixed in the heart; and in that alone. This, therefore, she invariably urges, as the sole and certain parent of every noble and happy disposition; just as these dispositions are the no less infallible sources of all possible instances of right conduct. It is not, therefore, on the mere tendency of repeated acts to produce a habit, that she relies for external propriety; nor is it to knowledge, however extensive, or to memory, however correct, or to intellect, however clear, that she trusts, for motives of rectitude. Her grand object is, to engage the affections on the side of goodness; and that, radically, and once for all; by leading the heart to that infinite Source of goodness, for which all its deepest faculties are formed, and from which alone it can derive genuine wisdom, consistent virtue, or substantial comfort. Having, therefore, these leading truths continually in view, Mrs. M.'s practical remarks do not become either superficial or

disjointed

disjointed. In the duties of a sovereign, she finds nothing else than a peculiar modification of the same right principles, an appropriate exercise of the same virtues, that are necessary for every sort and condition of men. Her knowledge of books and of the world, of events and characters, enables her to mark every distinction of duty with perspicuous accuracy: but her acquaintance with that "Wisdom which is from above," leads her no less studiously to connect every outward act with the disposition from which it springs; and all right dispositions, with their only genuine source, pure and undefiled Religion.

Hence it is, that throughout a course of observations, necessarily miscellaneous and uncommonly variegated, Mrs. M. is always at complete unity with herself. Her design precluded strictness of method; but it every where presents to us harmony of purpose. Her materials are collected from the most diversified sources; yet in her hands they assume such a just and happy identity of direction, that, we conceive, not one practical deduction of any moment could be found, to which every sound head, and honest heart, would not forthwith give its suffrage. Such uniformity of obvious rightness, has not been common in works of a similar kind: and we cannot but ascribe it to this cause; that in comparatively few instances, has the same depth of right principle been resorted to; and still more rarely, we fear, have authors sought to qualify themselves for their employment, by (what Mrs. M. evidently regards as the first of all requisites) that "quickness of moral taste, which enables the true disciples of Christianity to appreciate, as if by a natural instinct, both human characters,' and human conduct."

Much, however, as we value the appropriate parts of this work, and sincerely as we feel the obligations of the British public to so efficient a volunteer in such an interesting service; we conceive that we shall best perform our duty to our readers, by attending to those observations which are of more general coucern. And here we cannot but state it as our entire conviction, that, in offering her Hints toward forming the Character of a Young Princess, Mrs. M. has furnished lessons, of which no family in the empire should omit to avail itself. We could not point out a work, in which, within the same compass, so many important truths are brought together: or in which, the soundest sense is more perfectly united with the purest piety.

Amidst the multiplicity of topics that presented themselves, and in the view of bounds to which it was expedient that the work should be confined, there was a neccessity for selecting a few subjects, and omitting many; for enlarging on one, and touching more lightly upon another, respecting which, it can hardly be expected, that the same judgement will be formed by all the various readers of these volumes. As to those which are

enlarged

enlarged upon, it may be asserted, that scarcely any topic will be found, which is not, in some degree, instructive, as well as interesting; and in much the greater number of instances, we are of opinion, that all Mrs. M.'s intelligent readers will be cordially gratified, by being made acquainted with so many of the sentiments of a mind as wise as it is ingenious, and as tenderly conscientious as it is boldly discursive..

all

Examples of the kind to which we refer, will eminently appear, in the remarks on Shakespear, in the concluding part of those on Queen Elizabeth, and in the whole of what is observed respecting those two most opposite characters, Lord Bacon and Mr. Hume. Were we to pronounce on the instances in which the energy and perspicacity of the author's mind are most strongly manifested, we think we could hardly err in pointing to the passages last mentioned. A more happily compendious view of Bacon's excellencies, we apprehend, is not to be found, than is presented to us in the one: nor a more satisfactory exposure of Hume's malignant subtlety, than is afforded in the other. We cannot forbear to advert also to the just and beautiful character which is given, both of Telemachus, and its incomparable author; nor would it be just, to pass over the very fine piece of criticism contained in the comparative view of Addison and Johnson. To the well-weighed praise awarded by Mrs. M. to Addison's devotional papers, we give our cordial assent; nor can we at agree with a very respectable Reviewer, who has expressed a doubt whether" the pleasing and composed beauties," by which those papers are distinguished, may not, in part, be ascribed "to the classic gracefulness of the style." That the style is exquisitely sweet, we readily allow: but we conceive, that the effect so generally felt, as well as the particular encomium now before us, are to be attributed to a much deeper cause. clear, that all human minds agree in panting after happiness. He, therefore, who can best describe the happiness of religion, will be surest to engage the minds of his readers. Now, in this instance, Addison seems to excel many writers, who may be thought to have higher claims to orthodoxy. His pictures of a truly devout man, give the idea of such sublime mental enjoyment, such exalted intercourse with God, as must form an actual heaven upon earth. They cannot be contemplated without emotion, except the mind be sunk into brutal insensibility. It is then, we think, this" sterling excellence of inatter," much more than any "fascination of manner," that makes us “read those effusions with delight," We fully join with Mrs. M. in lamenting that any errors should have mingled themselves with sentiments at once so just and so sublime; and are perfectly of her opinion respecting the exceptionable parts to which she refers. Still, however, we cannot but feel peculiar satisfaction,

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