Page images
PDF
EPUB

recommend him to our respect or admiration, are an old goat and a young antelope, which are represented as gifted with speech and reason. In the dénouement of the fable, we recognise Reason personified in the one, and Passion personified in the other; the various changes of fortune to which the hero is exposed, being brought about, by these imaginary personages, who act as his monitors. These allegorical personages, are but uninteresting substitutes for the genii and faries of oriental story; of which, however, the author makes some use, though not sufficient to relieve the tediousness of his moral.

ART. VIII. An Address to the Public on the Commencement of a New Year, &c. pp. 42. Hatchard. 1815. A Letter addressed to an English Lady of Fashion at Paris. pp. 46. Hatchard. 1815.

HAVING nothing favourable to advance on the subject of these productions, we would be wholly silent respecting them, but that we wish to give their authors, who are probably wellintending men, a little advice-not to set up for reformers. Nature has not intended that either should figure, unless in a very contracted sphere; and there, we have our doubts, that their busy interference would be rather productive of good than mischief. The framer of the "Address to the Public," has, however, earned a much harsher reproof, than we mean to give the inditer of the "Letter to a Lady of Fashion;" before he undertakes to write on the subject of Regeneration, we would recommend him to consult his Catechism, for the definition of a Sacrament; he will then probably learn to speak of Baptism, in terms more respectful, than to represent it, as a mere outward ceremony." P. 29.

[ocr errors]

ART. IX. Select French Idioms, alphabetically arranged; intended to facilitate the Progress of Youth in the Acquisition of that Language. To which are subjoined, Notes critical and explanatory, on Scot's French Recueil; containing a Translation of every Idiomatical Expression, or difficult Phrase, in the whole of that Work. By an Amateur of the French Language. Hill, Edinburgh; Berthoud, Wheatley, and Co. London. 1816.

A COLLECTION of French Idioms was a school-book very much wanted, and we have no hesitation in recommending this

little work for supplying the desideratum; it appearing well calculated to facilitate the progress of youth, in the acquisition of that fashionable and elegant language. The notes on Scot's Recueil, must no doubt prove useful to such teachers as prefer that selection of pieces, as the manual for reading. Still it strikes us that it would have been better to have extended the list of idioms, and thus to have rendered the publication of more general utility. The form is convenient, and as books sell at present it is not dear. We give a specimen of the plan and manner, under the verb FALLoir.

"Il me faut-I want.

Tant s'en faut-So far from it.

Ou peu s'en falloit-Or nearly so.

Peu s'en falloit qu'il ne m'arrivât une autre-I had nearly met with another.

Il s'en faut bien qu'il en soit ici le même-It is far from being so here.

Il ne s'en faut guères-It wants but little.

Tant ne s'en faut que ma douleur soit diminuée-So far is my pain from being lessened.

Peu s'en faut que je ne le batte-Little prevents me from striking him.

Il faut le voir-It is worth seeing.

Il auroit fallu s'y prendre anisi-You should have gone to work this way."

ART. X. Travels at Home, and Voyages by the Fire-side. For the Instruction and Entertainment of Young Persons5 Vols. 16mo. Longman. 1815.

THIS is capable of being made an amusing and useful production. The author has ingeniously sketched out a plan which cannot fail of conveying instruction to young persons in the most pleasing manner.

"It is supposed that suitable Maps and Globes, where they can be had, are spread on the table, and that some one takes the lead in performing the journey or voyage to be perused."

The first volume contains Europe, and the succeeding volumes treat of the other quarters of the habitable Globe. The anonymous author, whom we suspect to be a lady, frequently indulges in political reflections, which savour much of the new school of philosophic liberty, and is a decided friend to Catholic emancipa

tion. We shall present our readers with the observations made on the Revolution by King William.

"The Prince of Orange landed in Torbay, when he came to assist the English to expel James the Second, who wished to establish Popery and arbitary power in England; for this service the Houses of Lords and Commons made William King. This change which was very important in many respects, is called the glorious Revolution of 1688. Much good and some evil arose from the Revolution, though the evil did not begin exactly with it It was in the reign of King William the Third, for so he was called, that the National Debt and our paper currency commenced, and the violence of party spirit gave rise to the extension of the duration of Parliament to Seven Years, from all which a good deal of harm has proceeded, and no one can tell what will be the end of these things. But our liberties were considerably confirmed by the Revolution, although the Catholics against whom the nation was angry on account of King James, have had reason to deplore the bigotry which was then raised against, and the hardships which they have endured ever since, especially in Ireland. King William did not keep faith with them, though perhaps the times ought to be blamed more than he, who was, however, himself a bigot with respect to the Catholics."

We totally dissent in opinion with the author, neither can we conceive what occasion there was to introduce into a juvenile work political discussions, which to say the least are very irrelevant; or to pay a compliment to Sir S. Romilly, when speaking of the French protestants, which might at least have been as well omitted.

"Not many of them have arrived at great eminence, but one man must not be overlooked who has distinguished himself greatly by his talents; Sir Samuel Romilly is a descendant of the banished Protestants of France. As a Lawyer and as a Senator, he has acquired a renown that will never die; and there is little doubt of his attaining in time, if not to the highest preferment in his profession, at least to the highest reputation which its honourable practice can bestow."

The following passage is a specimen of a style of writing (a little too energetic in our opinion) which the author has occasionally adopted.

"Let us keep both sides of the Mediterranean in view as we proceed, which is easy to us voyagers on maps and travellers in the parlours. On the left are, Spain, France, Italy, Elba, Sicily, Malta, the gulf of Venice, formerly called the Adriatic, then we come to the land of ancient heroes, and arts, and literature,

which we would hail with an enthusiasm similar to that which seized the ten thousand as described so grandly by Xenophon, when they saw the Black Sea, after so far compleating their retreat from Persia. It is impossible to forget their shout of the sea! the sea! which they set up on reaching the top of a mountain that gave them the first view of it. We seem to hear them rend the air with their enthusiasm: Greece excites in us a similar enthusiasm though it be not our country; and though it is interesting principally for what it has been. Hail country of the arts, and muses! Land of our love and devotion! Birth-place of Lycurgus and Solon, of Miltiades and Leonidas, of Epaminondas and Phocion, of Aristides and Socrates, and Plato, and Xenophonof poets-of orators-of philosophers-of every thing that could elevate man as a creature of reason capable of imitating the divinity." Vol. I. p. 144.

We hope the author of these little volumes will in another edition expunge much dangerous matter, besides some inaccuracies of expression, such as the following,

"James was discovered while attempting to fly to France, and brought back to London, where nobody wished to see him." Vol. I. p. 32. The hand of God had no where there, scattered blessings so profusely." Vol. V. p. 92.

We disapprove also of the political principles, which with more wisdom at least the author night have kept to himself.

ART. XI. Progressive Exercises, adapted to the Eton Accidence, with easy Examples to teach Boys to construe or translate from the Latin. 2s. 6d. Longman and Co. 1815. THE author of this useful little work was the late Rev. James Winfield, of Chester; and it was originally composed for the use of his pupils. The advantages to be derived by the scholar by these Progressive Exercises, are unquestionably considerable; it is therefore no matter of surprise that this auxiliary to the Eton Accidence, should have rapidly passed through four editions. Į

NOTE upon p. 259, line 42.

We are bound, in justice, to inform our readers that, before the birth of the child. Mr. Godwin was united, by a legal cere mony, to Miss W.; but with how good a grace we shall refer them to his own biography of that lady to discover.

MONTHLY

MONTHLY LIST OF PUBLICATIONS.

DIVINITY.

The Personality and Office of the Christian Comforter asserted and explained, in a Course of Sermons preached before the University of Oxford, on the Lecture founded by the Rev. J. Bampton, M.A. Canon of Salisbury. By Reginald Heber, M.A. Rector of Hodnet, Salop, and late Fellow of All Soul's College. 8vo.

13s.

A Treatise on the Records of the Creation, and on the moral Attributes of the Creator, with particular References to the Jewish History, and to the Consistency of the Principle of Population with the Wisdom and Goodness of the Deity. By John Bird Sumner, M.A. 2 vols. 8vo.

11. 1s.

The Origin of Pagan Idolatry, ascertained from historical Testimony and circumstantial Evidence. By the Rev. G. S. Faber, Rector of Long Newton, Yarm. 3 vols. 4to. 61. 15s.

Conciliatory Suggestions on the Subject of Regeneration, founded upon a recent Occurrence. By J. W. Cunningham, M.A. Vicar of Harrow, &c. 1s.

Observations on some Controversies respecting Baptism. By Joseph Holden Pott, Archdeacon of London. 2s.

Two Sermons on the Occasions of the public Thanksgiving for Peace in the Years 1815 and 1816, the Former having been composed in the prospective Contemplation of a future One. By the Rev. Thomas Hewitt, Curate of Chesham, in the County of Buckingham. 3s.

A Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of St. Anne, Kew Green, on Thursday, January 18, 1816, being the Day appointed for a general Thanksgiving for the Peace. By the Rev. Thomas Tunstall Haverfield, A.M. Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, and Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 1s. 6d..

A Thanksgiving Sermon, delivered at Newberry. By John Kitcat. 1s.

A Discourse, preached in the Episcopal Chapel, Cowgate, Edinburgh, January 18, 1816, being the Day appointed by the Prince Regent for a Thanksgiving for Peace. By Arch. Alison, L.L.B. Prebendary of Sarum, Rector of Rodington, Vicar of High Ercal, and senior Minister of the Episcopal Chapel, Cowgate, Edinburgh. 1s. 6d.

St. Paul's Comparison between the Law and the Gospel, considered in a Sermon. By Joseph Holden Pott, Archdeacon of London, and Vicar of St. Martin in the Field.

1s.

The French Preacher, containing select Discourses, translated from the Works of the most eminent French Divines, Catholic and Protestant; with biographical Notices of the Authors, &c. To which is prefixed an historical View of the reformed Church of France, from its Origin to the present Time. By Ingram Cobbin. 8vo. 14s.

Remarks on the holy League, lately entered into by their Majesties the Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia, wherein they openly proclaim and recommend to their own Subjects, and to the Christian World at large, the two essential and distinguishing Articles of the New Church, called . the New Jerusalem. By Robert Hindmarsh, Author of Letters to the late Dr. Priestley, &c. 18.

A Letter to the Unitarian Christians in South Wales, occasioned by the Animadversions of the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of St. David's, &c. &c. By Thomas Belsham, Minister of the Chapel in Essex-street. 4s. 6d.

The Common Prayer Book of the Sect of the Thirty-nine Articles (still whimsi cally enough styling itself the Church of England) made Scriptural in Point of Language, if not in its Mode of Address to the one only true God, &c. 2s. 6d.

8vo.

Postscript to the "Rejection of Reason," consisting of further Arguments against the Unitariaus.

Horæ Subsicivæ, or a Refutation of the popular Opinion that Peace will ultimately prevail over the whole World. By Jeremiah Jackson, A.M. Vicar of Swaffham-Bulbeck, and late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. 4s. Reasons for not answering Mr. Gisborne's Letters to the Bishop of Gloucester, in a Letter to a Friend. By a Clergyman of the Diocese of Lincoln. 2s.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Scripture

« PreviousContinue »