action, the result of an inquiry before a regularly constituted court at Halifax; and the deposition on oath of two witnesses who were on board the American frigate before and during the action. All these documents go to establish the fact, that Commodore Rodgers fired first, and that the conduct of the British commander in the engagement was purely defensive. We have no opinion to give upon this part of the subject; but it is certainly suspicious that the American government persists in keeping out of sight the original orders of Captain Rodgers, and it is, we apprehend, perfectly clear, that the act of chasing and placing the frigate in an offensive position was decidedly and beyond evasion, hostile.

Art. XX. Cottage Poems, by the Rev. Patrick Brontë, B. A. Minister of Hartshead-cum-Clifton, near Leeds, Yorkshire. 12mo. pp. 136. Price 3s. 6d. Halifax, Holden. London, Crosby and Co. 1811.

THESE poems are, as the title imports, intended for the amusement

and edification of the lower classes, and they bear ample testimony to the piety and good sense of their author. In one important respect, however, he has been most unaccountably injudicious. The expence of a publication exclusively designed for the use of the cottager, should obviously have been calculated on a plan of cost and sale adapted to the poverty of the intended purchaser,—and the whole of the contents of this little volume might have been legibly and even neatly printed in a shilling pamphlet. Instead of this, the paper is expensive, the type unusually large, and the price three shillings and sixpence.

The Irish Cabin would, we think, make an excellent subject for the Tract Society.

Art. XXI. An enquiry into the nature and cause of the Resp, or that disease which is so destructive among Sheep, especially Lambhogs, on being first put to cole-keeping, with Proposals for publishing by Subscription, a Recipe, containing Directions effectually to prevent and cure the Resp, and to promote the increased Safety of Cole and Turnip feeding Sheep throughout the year. [By Benjamin Holdich.] 8vo. pp. 70. Longman and Co. 1811.

THE immediate object of this tract is to promote a subscription, (by

five hundred contributors of a guinea each,) in consideration of which Mr. Holdich engages to put his subscribers in possession of a medicine, and a mode of treatment that shall effectually preserve sheep from the ravages of one of the most destructive of the numerous diseases to which they are liable. While, however, he proposes an empirical remedy, he neither writes nor thinks like an empiric; his style being plain and correct, and his observations on the diseases of cattle, and the errors of preceding writers, (whether just or not,) singularly shrewd. Some of his suggestions respecting the simplification and arrangement of animal nosology, appear to us deserving of attention.

Art. XXII. Divine Revelation variously communicated. A Sermon preached before the Baptist Board, in London, April 1811. By John Ryland, D. D. 8vo. pp. 38. Price 1s. Button. 1811.

Art. XXIII. The Harmony of the Divine Perfections in the Work of Redemption. A Sermon preached before the Western Association at Portsea, June 6, 1811. By John Ryland, D.D. 8vo. pp. 26. Price 1s.

Button. 1811.

THE text on which the first of these discourses is founded, is Heb. i. 1 ; "God who in sundry times and in divers manners," &c. We more than suspect the correctness of the common rendering of this passage; Thugs should not, we conceive, be rendered at sundry times-but rather in sundry parcels, or in different parts, intimating the gradual unfolding of the grand scheme of redemption, rather than the various modes in which it was communicated. Iegs we believe to be compounded of nous and Egos, and that it bears no relation to, as our translators appear to have supposed. Whatever opinion may be formed of the justice of this criticism, to which Dr. R. has not adverted, it can have no effect in estimating the general merit of the sermon, which is worthy of the author's established character for talents and piety, being highly judicious and instructive. He has accurately traced the progress of revelation through its several stages, and raised such reflections from each, as evince a profound acquaintance with Scripture, and much of a devotional spirit. The perusal of it will be, particularly beneficial to young ministers.

The second is upon a topic which, though often discussed, will never be exhausted, nor ever cease to be interesting to serious minds. The wonderful display of the attributes of Deity, in the work of redemption, which forms the study of angels, is unquestionably well intitled to become the favourite theme of Christian ministers; nor will the intelligent reader fail to perceive, on his perusal of this discourse, how deeply it has engaged the attention, how thoroughly warmed the heart of its excellent author. Instead of occupying his time with an analysis of these discourses we beg leave to refer him, for his satisfaction and improvement, to the discourses themselves.

Art. XXIV. Bannockburn, a Poem, in four Books. 8vo. pp. 250. Price 8s. Turnbull, Glasgow. Longman and Co. 1811. THE author of this war song is exactly one of those persons who would be most likely to profit by the advice, so often given and so seldom adopted, of suffering a considerable term of years to elapse between the aras of composing and publishing. Even now he occasionally writes with spirit, and by the time his manuscript had undergone the appointed term of durance, we have no doubt he would have acquired a tolerable familiarity with English grammar, together with some slight notion of versification, and a capacity of distinguishing between the pathetic and ridiculous. How much he is at present deficient in these pre-requisites, will appear from a few examples, taken almost at random,

And of her children's deeds, fame's roll, that swell
The farthest corners of the earth, can tell.

p. 25.

And Stranger say," he cried,
"Who art thou, whence, and where thy road,
Say, tell, or by the holy rood

Versification:

Low on the earth thou lyes."

P. 36.

Nay more: to honour Edward will thee bring,
If thou will fealty swear, to him our powerful king.'

Full merrily we pass the day,

With hound and horn we take the way

To chase the fallow deer

On Cheviot's hills-while to our hand
The good folk of Northumberland
Supply my merry men with-beer.'
Kilpatrick doff'd his bonnet then,
And said, "" My lord behold your men,

And men behold your lord,

The rightful sovereign of your land,

For whom ye fought; here see him stand!
And Bruce believe my word,' &c.

Sweet is the battle bugle's call
Unto the warrior's fiery soul...
Sweet is the ocean battle's roar

Unto the hardy son of war...

He who for country long in bondage lyes

p. 61.

P. 43.

Unto that country shall be ever dear.'

p. 55—6.

P 9.

O Bruce, this made thee often mourn,

Oft made thee with due vengeance burn,

'Twas this that made thee triumph at the field of Bannockburn.'

<Thus on he mus'd, waiting death's dread command,

His manly form in London Tower, his soul was in his native land.' Pathos:

The chief undaunted look'd around,
And smil'd to see the death-bell sound,
And smil'd at murder's blocks.'
'Twas nothing new, 'twas nothing base,
He oft had look'd death in the face,

And oft had ta'en him by the locks.'
A trumpet! 'twas the death note's sound.
The orient sky had purpl❜d round;

The sun, as if asham'd to shew his head,

Blush'd at the shameful deed.

Yes, 'twas a shameful deed! 'twas foul, O foul!
Shame on thee, Edward, and thy little soul!

p. 17.

For reasons, that our readers will be fully prepared to anticipate, we shall not trouble them with any remarks on the plot, incidents, or characters.

Art. XXVI. Memoirs of the firincipal Events in the Life of Henry Taylor, of North Shields: wherein are interspersed the circumstances that led to the fixing of the Lights in Hasboro' Gatt, the Godwin, and Sunk Sands. Appleby, North Shields. Darton and Harvey. 1811.

WE E have been so much pleased with the unaffected piety and good sense of the biographical part of this volume, that we are almost tempted to regret that, for the sake of more extensive circulation among seamen, it was not printed apart from the numerous documents in proof of Mr. Taylor's claim to be considered as the projector of the • lights' mentioned in the title page. The memoir was originally drawn up, it appears, for the use of the author's sons, who were sailors, to point out to them their duty as men, and as Christians.' Conformably to this intention, every occasion is made use of to introduce nautical instruction, and inculcate moral sentiments. The navigation of the eastern coast is that in which Mr. T. seems to have been most practised, and the documents above alluded to, appear fully to establish, that, at a very considerable expence to himself, he has been the means of improving it materially. We hope this publication will attract attention to his merits, and procure him some sort of compensation. As an example of the reflections interspersed' in the narrative, the following may be given.

6

'The highest degree of human happiness is not always the portion of the affluent, who eat and drink and sleep, when and where they please. Gratification of any kind palls the appetite, and a continued sameness of indulgence creates disgust. A chequered life is the best and safest; it makes men thankful for prosperity when they are favoured with it, and when by too much indulgence they are nearly lulled asleep, dangers and personal hardships rouse, and more loud than a human voice tells them, "This is not their rest."

Art. XXVII. Introduction to the Memoirs of Prince Eugene of Savoy: to which are added, Notes, Historical, Biographical, Military, &c. 8vo. pp. 100. Colburn, 1811.

AS contributing to throw light upon several particulars which Prince Eugene had touched upon hastily or obscurely, and supplying an account of his family history and the early part of his life, this publication will not be unacceptable to the purchasers of the "Memoirs." A considerable part of the introduction is occupied in recounting the scandalous intrigues of the Prince's mother, the Countess of Soissons, who is even accused of having poisoned the Queen of Spain. No authority, however, is adduced for any of these anecdotes, and, on a moral account, they had much better have been left untouched,

It has been loudly asserted in several quarters, that the " Memoirs" are a fabrication: but the evidence hitherto brought in proof of the charge is by no means convincing.

جم

ART. XXVIII. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION.

*** Gentlemen and Publishers who have works in the press, will oblige the Conductors of the ECLECTIC REVIEW, by sending information (post paid) of the subject, extent, and probable price of such works; which they may depend upon being communicated to the public, if consistent with its plan.