Art. XI. The Power of Religion in the Mind, in Retirement, Affliction, and at the approach of Death, exemplified in the Testimonies and Experience of Persons distinguished by their greatness, learning, or virtue. By Lindley Murray, 12th Edition, improved.—12mo. pp. 286. price 3s. 6d. bound.-Longman and Co. Darton and Harvey.

1805,

THIS judicious biographical selection is already too well known, to stand in need of our recommendation; but we nevertheless avail ourselves of a corrected and augmented addition, to add our approbation, to that which it has justly received from the most respectable classes of the public.

Youth, vain and voluptuous, carried down the stream of fashion, or buoyed up on the surface of conceit, is apt to despise religion, as the dream of enthusiasm, if not as the fabrication of imposture. To the inexperienced, and the superficial, is here, presented, the united evidence of many among the greatest and noblest of mankind, to the reality and necessity of heartfelt piety. That their witness, in some cases, appears to have been tardily and reluctantly borne, is so far from lessening its force, that it calls the more loudly for a serious and timely attention to the "things that make for our peace." Such instances are very properly interspersed with those of persons in humbler stations, but of more profound and exalted devotion. Few of these, probably, are new to the greater part of our readers; but the manner in which they are stated and combined, in this volume, conduces to give them at the same time an air of novelty, and an accession of interest.

The most valuable addition to the present impression, is an account of the eminent and excellent Haller. The language is in several places improved. It is with deference to the author's acknowledged grammatical attainments, that we suggest a hint, whether it would not be a farther amendment, to make some slight alterations in those sentences which begin with conjunctions? To us it appears, also, inconsistent, that, after being introduced to a few heathen philosophers and Jewish writers, we should be transported into the midst of the Christian church, without taking any notice of those unparallelled proofs of the power of Religion, which are exhibited in the New Testament. If the splendour of the Sun of Righteousness," though shrouded in humanity, be esteemed too dazzling for general contemplation, would not the martyrdom of Stephen, the preservation of Peter and John, and the labours and afflictions of Paul, afford patterns of Christian virtue, of the greatest utility? We are aware, that reasons may be assigned for stopping short of such testimonies; but we recommend it to the worthy author,

to

to reconsider them, in the prospect of another edition; and if he judges it inexpedient to cite apostolic authority, to reflect, whether he should not, in that case, limit the scope of his work to the period subsequent to the promulgation of the gospel.

The price affixed to this neat and comprehensive volume, demonstrates, that Mr. M. aims to extend its usefulness, by its cheapness. In paper and print, as well as in size, his book, is not inferior to many that are published at twice the cost.

Art. XII. A Summary of Modern Geography. For the Use of Schools Third Edition. 12mo. pp. 200 price 3s. 6d. Mawman, Cadell and Davies. 1804.

Art.XIII. Classical Geography, being the Second Part of a Summary of Geography, Ancient and Modern. A new and improved Edition 12mo. Pp. 250. price 3. 6d. ib. 1805.

THESE compends, as we are informed by advertisements

prefixed to them, were originally drawn up for the use of Dr. Thomson's school at Kensington. They are, in many respects, well adapted to the use of schools; especially the Classical part, which is called the second, seemingly because designed for the higher forms. Not having seen any former edition of either of these volumes, we cannot judge of the improvements, which have been made in them: but Geography is so fluctuating a · science, especially in the present turbulent state of the world, that there always remains room for amendment in works on the subject; and more vigilance and exertion are requisite, to keep pace with terrestrial changes, than authors usually seem disposed to bestow on new editions of their works. Thus in the Modern part of the work before us, we find Poland still ranked as a kingdom, and even its mode of government referred to by way of elucidation; Switzerland is made still to retain its old constitution and divisions: the Netherlands, Savoy, &c. are still separated from France; and the Jansensits are still chief Sectaries among the Roman Catholics. Mistakes in names of places occur too frequently. The little knowledge which boys acquire, or can acquire, from books of this kind, ought to be correct.

As the Modern part is hardly new enough, so the Classical part does not appear to us sufficiently antique. We do not blame the author for making ample use of Ptolemy; but, in order to render the book serviceable to pupils who are reading the best antient poets and historians, the divisions of countries, and the names of places should have been traced upward as high as possible, from a system comparatively so late.

In this volume, quotations from Latin and Greek writers, that tend, in some measure, to illustrate the countries described,

VoL. II.

X

are

A Summary of Modern Geograp

der them, in the prospect of another edits; 2.

inexpedient to cite apostolic authority, to reflect,

Art.

Horrors of Negro Slavery; existing in our West refragably demonstrated from Official Documents, to the House of Commons. pp. 36. price 1s.

If it were possible for us to doubt of the ng this infernal traffic, the facts disns from Lord Seaforth, the Goverbart, would be fully sufficient to le as is the following authentic ert it, to enhance, if possible, de, is held by multitudes of

er them, in the prospect of another edition

A Summary of Modern Geograp..

this neat and comprehensive not, in that case, limit the scope of his work to the promulgation of the gospel.

volume,

xpedient to cite apostolic authority, to w

s well as in size, his book is not

jms to extend its usefulness, by its

at twice the cost.

the Use of Schools

wman, Cadell and

r of

parish, is the wretch who finement. The circuming to be related. On his wife's escape,

Jing

voard, to which he

her in that situation

ngue by the roots.' p. 11.

vernor Prevost, in answer to the

at the act of the legislature, (of DoAct for the Encouragement, Protection, ent of Slaves,' appears to have been considay it was passed until this hour, as a POLITICAL

o avert the interference of the mother country in the

ement of slaves,' affords a decisive proof that measures of ation will ever be unavailing. A price is still put upon human blood! a Negro may still be murdered, at the rate of cleven pounds four shillings!

The concluding pages of this short, but able pamphlet, are devoted to a satisfactory refutation of the views and assertions contained in the Report of the Assembly of Jamaica.

Art. XV. The Secret History of the Court and Cabinet of Saint Cloud; in a series of Letters written in 1805. 3 vols. 12mo. pp. 1006. price 11. 1s. Murray, 1806.

W E have no hesitation in expressing our opinion that this is an attempt to indulge the curiosity of the public, at the expense of its credulity. The eagerness with which every thing is sought after, which pretends to disclose the private history of great actors on the theatre of human life, whether the object be Master Betty, or the Emperor Bonaparte, will always find hungry wits and indulgent booksellers, ready to afford its gratification. Many of the traits here given appear to be characteristically just; and most of the incidents have, doubtless, been derived

X2

from

66

are occasionally introduced. We are informed, that they are offered only as hints to the classical teacher, for exercising the recollection of his pupils, and illustrating the subject by means of their collateral studies." Of these hints, so far as they go, we fully approve: but as Geography is now very generally taught in schools, we wish the instructions that are given, to assuine a more systematic form, and to acquire more solidity, than can commonly be attributed to them. A school book on Geography should serve as a syllabus of well digested lectures on the science; and instead of incidental quotations from the classics, full references should be given to all those antient writers, who have described the countries under consideration. It could not, indeed, be expected, that every pupil would make the utmost use of such references: but to young men who thirst for genuine knowledge, it would afford a high gratification, and an incalculable advantage; while it would teach the superficial, that in order to get at the kernel- of science, they must crack the shell.

In a few instances, we have observed inaccuracy of statement in this part of the work. Britannia prima is said p. 6. to lie between the Severn and the Thames, instead of being bounded by those rivers. From p. 27. a school-boy must have supposed that the Roman province in Gaul was unknown to Julius Cæsar, if he had not read, in the Commentaries, so much of provincia nostra: at p. 206., we are told, that Bagdat and Seleucia are the same: whereas, the seat of the latter was, doubtless, that of the ruins of Tachtkesra, twenty miles lower on the left bank of the Tigris, as Cauré, on the opposite side of that river, if examined, will probably appear to be the remains of Ctesiphon. The latter place is said to have been built by the Parthian princes, with a view of weakening Seleucia; which we apprehend to be no more true, than that Westminster was built with a view of weakening the City of London. Strabo, lib. 16. affirms that the Parthian monarchs wintered at Ctesiphon, in order to spare Seleucia; lest the citizens should be oppressed by the military retainers of the court.

The importance of accuracy in abridgements, that are designed for the use of those who cannot judge for themselves, has prompted us to take notice of these defects: but we do not consider them as derogating essentially from the general merit of these volumes, which may be characterized as comprising much useful matter arranged with suitable perspicuity.

Art.