Art. 19. Thoughts on the Residence of the Clergy, and on the Pro- 28. As Dr. S. has neatly recapitulated the argument of his pamphlet, we shall first exhibit his summary, and then subjoin our own remarks, as well as notice those of his observer: By the foregoing observations I have endeavoured to shewThat the residence of the clergy is in itself highly expedient and proper to be enforced, but that there are many cases, in which this rule will admit of exceptions-that these cases should be specified by law as far as they can, but that many of them must depend on circumstances, which cannot be so specified, and are proper to be determined only by the discretion of some superior-that the bishop or ordinary is the superior, on whom such discretionary power would naturally devolve-That the statute of Henry VIII. enforcing residence is a harsh law, severe in its penalties, and unequal in its operation, and less applicable to the present times than to those in which it was enacted-That the other provisions of the same statute against taking to farm and buying and selling, are carried to an unreasonable extent, and would interfere (if put rigorously in force) with the common rights of clerical owners in the management of their ecclesiastical, as well as of their private property-and that it is ill-suited to many forms of property in the present times-That the whole statute has in a great measure become obsolete and lain long dormant, but that its revival at the present time appears to have produced already much inconvenience and hardship, and will produce still more, if its operation be continued-And, that it is therefore become a fit, and almost necessary, subject for the interposition of the legislature, to repeal or to amend it.' In this view of the subject, Dr. S. evinces a considerable degree of judgment and experience: but he is rather the mild apologist and advocate for the non-resident clergy, than the serious investigator of the duties which are imposed on them by their spiritual engagements. While, in the mere abstract view of the question, he allows that residence ought to be enforced, he contends for such exceptions, in addition to those made by the statute of 21 Henry VIII. c. 3.; and complains so heavily both of its harshness and of the rigor with which it has been lately enforced, that it seems as if he secretly wished to persuade the reader to regard the statute above mentioned as honoured in the breach than in the observance." He undoubtedly does not mean this: but, in pleading the cause of his non-resident brethren, he certainly attends more to the convenience of the clergy than to the moral and religious benefit of their parishes. more The author of the Observations combats Dr. S. on this ground. He reminds the Doctor that a parochial benefice is not an uncondi tional freehold ;-that the station of a parochia! incumbent is his parish; and that we need not, from motives of policy, relax the REV. MARCH, 1802. Y law law which requires the clergyman to live on his cure, since the enforcement of parochial residence never will exclude from the service of the church, any one man, who shall be worthy of admission into it.'-He would contract the extent of lay patronage. If it should be thought proper to make exceptions in behalf of the poor clergy, the Observer is of opinion that these exceptions ought to be clearly specified by law; and he strongly reprobates Dr. S.'s advice, to kave the enforcement of residence to the judicial dis cretion of the Bishops; wisely remarking that judicial discretion is an abomination.' We have placed these pamphlets together, because we wish them both to be perused by those to whom the subject is interesting. Both are written in a gentlemanly style, and deserve attention. If residence be enforced by any mulct, it should not be through the medium of informers, but of the vestry of the parish which is deserted by its legal spiritual guide. It should also be decided how far the circumstance of a curate being accepted by the bishop, and approved by the parish, may exonerate the rector or vicar from regular resi dence. Where a parish suffers no injury, it ought not to complain. BLAGDON CONTROVERSY. Art. 21. Animadversions on the Curate of Blagdon's three Publi 1802. 2 s. Hatchard. One of the later disputants in this paper-contest predicted that the breach might remain unclosed as long as the ever-memorable war of Troy; and, truly, we now begin to dread the fulfilment of his prophecy. Here comes forth a formidable champion on the side of the celebrated Lady whose fame has been so freely canvassed, in the course of this unfortunate war of embittered words; and he comes forth armed at all points, and breathing the most determined vengeance against the hapless curate of Blagdon, who has dared to re-kindle the flames of discord, which were thought and hoped to have been happily extinguished by his undisturbed return to the situation from which he had been so unfortunately removed. This fresh combatant attacks Mr. Berwith-we had almost said, ferocity, as well as with the utmost contempt and ridicule; and we should, on this account, perhaps, have passed over his acrimonious performance with only a glance of disapprobation but we are prevented from contenting ourselves with so slight a notice of his animadversions, by a due consideration of his merit and talents as a writer, which must be allowed by critical justice; at the same time that we shall ever condemn all appearance of literary scurrility among gentlemen, who ought never to lose sight of the respect which is due to liberality and good manners. Many facts are brought forwards in this pamphlet, which will not. fail to attract the attention of those readers who take any interest in the causes or consequences of this very peculiar controversy. The present writer's principal aim seems to be the defence of Mrs. More from the imputation of having, whether through design or inadvertency, taken any steps in favour of Methodism. Mo-y. Art. 22. [More Combatants!] Illustrations of Falsehoods contained in Mr. Spencer's late Publication. By the Rev. Thomas Drewitt. 8vo. pp. 16. Cadell jun. and Davies. In very serious and becoming language, Mr. Drewitt defends not only his own character, but that of the established clergy in general, against those remarks in Mr. Spencer's pamphlet *, which he deems altogether unfounded and injurious. He justly laments the long continuance of the Blagdon contest; and therefore, with perfect consistency, he has confined this his own part in the warfare to as narrow a compass as seemed compatible with his very reasonable purpose of self-defence, and the vindication of the truly venerable order of men to which he has the honour of belonging. Art. 23. Elucidations of Character. Occasioned by a Letter from the Rev. R. Lewis, published in the Rev. T. Bere's Address to Mrs. H. Moret; with some Remarks on a Pamphlet lately published by Edward Spencer, of Wells. By the Rev. John Boak, Rector of Brockley. 8vo. pp. 19. Cadell jun. and Davies. The Blagdon warfare seems now to have extended its fury among the adherents to those who have been considered as principals in the dispute. Mr. Boak sustains his part in the operations against Mr. Bere and his partizans, with considerable force; and he appears to have defended himself against the attacks of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Spencer with good success: on Mr. Bere he is also particularly severe, in point of language. Art. 24. An Alterative Epistle addressed to Edward Spencer, Apothecary. By Lieutenant Charles Pettinger. 8vo. Hurst. 1802. PP. 16. This terrific man of war seems to have intruded himself into a contest in which his friends, we suppose, will be surprized to see him engaged. He assails the apothecary of Wells with fire and sword, hell and furies! death and destruction! Adad! we do not like such outrageous proceedings, and we will therefore have nothing more to say to him! Fighting, as the man says in the play, is his trade :-but it is not ours; and there is no knowing where Mr. Pettinger may turn his arms next, now that he is unemployed against foreign foes. MATHEMATICS, &c. Art. 25. The Principles of Bridges containing the Mathematical Demonstrations of the Properties of the Arches, the Thickness of the Piers, the Force of the Water against them, &c. Together with practical Observations and Directions drawn from the Whole. The second Edition, with Corrections and Additions. By Charles Hutton, F. R. S. Professor of Mathematics in the Royal Military Academy. 8vo. pp. 104. 55. sewed. Robinsons. 1801. The first edition of this small tract was published in 1772; and the second is now offered to the public in consequence of the magnificent * See our last month's Review, Cat. + See our last Review, p. 203. Y 2 project project of throwing a bridge of a single arch over the river Thames. "Men of the pen (says a great writer) have seldom very great skill in conquering kingdoms, but they have strong inclination to give advice." The same may be said of speculative men. However inefficient in the actual formation of machinery, they have still a great inclination to instruct the mechanic and architect: but the instruc tions are generally slighted, and the suggestions treated as mere airy speculations, as the serious triflings of a theorist, claiming rank only among those unsubstantial systems which the pride of calculation is continually erecting, and which time and experience are constantly overthrowing. The appellation speculative men, when thus applied, is intended as a term of reproach, because a neglect of experiment has frequently led theorists into absurdity: but, on the other hand, we may observe that it is on record that many of the great improvements in the arts are due to the investigations of "men of the pen." The mathematical conclusions in the present work, whether or not they may be confirmed by the results of experiments, do not appear to us to have any reference to the construction of such a bridge as is now proposed to be thrown over the Thames. If we at all understand the model which has been exhibited to the public, the cast iron bridge will not derive its strength from the same principle which prevails in common arches. As opinion fluctuates, however, perhaps the present plan of the iron bridge may be abandoned; and even if it be adopted, it will still be no unprofitable task to notice Dr. H.'s remarks, since his reasonings and deductions apply to the construction of all bridges that have arches formed in the usual manner. Proposition 1st, Section 23, of this tract, is the same with that of Emerson, p. 149. Miscellanies.-Prop. 3d and 4th are likewise nearly the same as those of Emerson.-Section 3d treats on Piers; and the first four propositions are premised in order to establish the general one by which the thickness of the piers necessary to resist the shoot of any given arch is determined. Section 4. relates to the force of the water; and here it is inquired, what form the ends of a pier ought to have, in order to be the least subject to the force of the stream of water. Section 5. gives an explanation of the terms or names of the various parts peculiar to a bridge, and the machines, &c. used about it; disposed in alphabetical order. We must forbear a particular examination of the contents of the present work; partly because it is only a re-publication, and not (as we think) answering the purpose for which it has been re-published, but chiefly because we defer our criticisms in expectation of a much larger and improved treatise, with which the author (in his advertisement) proposes to indulge us. POETRY. Art. 26. Idvis; in two Parts. By Edward Atkyns Bay. Crown 8vo. 4s. 6d. Boards. Rivingtons. 1800. The simplicity essential to a pastoral poem, the necessary absence of variety in its action, and the familiar nature of the objects of its scenery, all contribute to render this species of poetry very difficult to be managed with any degree of merit or excellence. We have, 6 however, R.Wood however, read the Idyls of Mr. Bray with pleasure; since, notwithstanding the difficulty of the undertaking, he has accomplished it with some success. His versification is generally harmonious; and, though it may not possess the Doric simplicity of Theocritus, it is not marked by any affected and unappropriate ornaments. We present the reader with the following Idyl: As aged Lacon, erst a sturdy hind, Beneath a walnut's cooling shade reclin'd, "No more, ye gay! my hallow'd trunk surround; Ere long the shepherd, with a plenteous store, "Those lines," he cry'd, "that round this walnut wind, To tell that Innocence lies buried here! Alas!" he paused, and sigh'd, and dropp'd a tear, That few with rapture to a sire's embrace, Who on the plain oft join'd our infant play. Tho' me, they thought, she view'd with partial eyes; Once to behold our sports this plain she sought, To |