pofition,—that the fentence of the Ecclefiaftical Court.*, is definitive in all caufes, and with refpect to all perfons whatever.-The Lords were of a different opinion.

DRAMA.T I C.

Art. 49. An Occafional Prelude, performed at the Opening of
the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden, on the 21ft of Sept. 1772.
By George Colman
8vo. 6d. Becket. 1776.

A theatrical tit-bit from the managers' own kitchen! somewhat in the manner of the prologues in dialogue of the French theatre. This Prelude is a diverting trifle. The fcene of the Irish chairmen in the Piazza is droll and humorous; and the picture of the manager's levee, particularly the converfation with the young actress, is fprightly and entertaining.

Art. 50. Valentine's Day, a Mufical Drama, in Two Acts. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. 8vo. I S. Lowndes. 1776.

The Author of Valentine's Day,-to Mr. Garrick, for his affent to the reprefentation, returns all that the warmest gratitude can fuggeft.' The Reviewers do not overflow with equal gratitude to Mr. Garrick on this occafion: for this musical drama (as the AuthorTM is pleased to call it) feems calculated to excite as much difguft, as Mr. Garrick ever communicated pleasure to his auditors and fpectators-An affertion, however bold, not exceeding the truth.

NOVELS and MEMOIRS.

C.

c. Art. 51. The Husband's Refentment; or, the Hiftory of Lady Manchefter. 2 Vols. 12mo. 6 s. Lowndes. 1776.

We have often been surprised that, among the great multitude of novels which come under our notice, we meet with so few that venture out of the beaten track of love, into the walks of humour and character, which are capable of affording fuch an endless variety of amufement. From the fpirited defcription of the confequential airs of rank, and the humiliating mortifications of dependence, with which this novel begins, we were in hopes of meeting with fome employment for our rifible faculties, and of being able to recommend the work to novel readers as fprightly and entertaining. But we foon found our Author's comic powers either exhausted or afleep; and were not a little diffatisfied, through the remainder of the piece, to meet with a tale, fufficiently natural indeed, but neither capable of interefting the paffions, nor improving the heart.

Art. 52. Emma; or, the Child of Sorrow. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s.
Lowndes. 1776.

This is indeed, as the title intimates, a tale of woe. The fair fufferer is placed in fituations, and meets with events, of the most distressful nature: nor is the Reader, at the close, relieved from the pain which the story has given him, by a fudden reverse of fortune. Emma lives and dies the child of forrow. Thofe gentle spirits, who ⚫ take a ftrange delight in tears,' may here find entertainment fuited

In the famous jacitation-fuit, Mifs Chudleigh was declared not the wife of Mr. Hervey.

1

RELIGIOUS.

to their tafte. And let not criticism deftroy or interrupt the pleafing effect of the story, by pointing out defects and blemishes in the manner in which it is written. E. Art. 53. A Homily to the Somerfetfhire Septuagint; or, a Letter of Advice to the Seventy Proprietors of the new Affembly-Rooms in Bath with a laconic Addrefs to the Gentry of the Bon Ton, the Gay and Giddy, of this diffipated Age. 8vo. 6d. Newbery. 1774.

This pamphlet having been little, if at all, advertised in the London papers, efcaped our notice, at the time of its publication. The Author's defign was, chiefly, to admonish the gentlemen to whom it is addreffed, and offer them fome hints toward reforming their plan of operations,' particularly in reference to the unwarrantable liberty taken by them, of keeping their rooms open on the Sunday, and, by public advertisement inviting the company reforting to Bath, to mif-fpend their facred time;'-in violation of both divine and human laws.'

Although the admonitions of this pious and rational Author were calculated for the meridian of Bath,' they may, as he rightly obferves, be equally fuitable at other places, where the fame licentious fpirit of diffipation prevails: as, Weymouth, Southampton, Margate, Brighthelmftone, &c.-His Homily, as he has chofen to ftyle this letter, is, indeed, a very good difcourfe against the inordinate love of pleasure, which is too much the characteristic of the prefent age: and can at no time, and at no place of general refort, in this coun. try, be unfeasonable, or improper.

SERMO N.

I. The Chriftian's Strength.-Preached at Wrexham in Denbighshire, and published at Request. By Jofeph Jenkins, A. M, 8vo. 6d. Buckland.

1775.

This is a ferious yet lively difcourfe, from 2 Cor. xii. 10. ; and is founded on Calviniflical principles. The Author hath introduced a note or two, which might, perhaps, have better been spared, till he had become more verfed in philofophical difquifitions. To us it appears that the influence he hath afcribed to watchfulness and prayer, is fcarcely confiftent with what he hath advanced concerning the abfolute incapacity of man, in religious concerns.

Mr. Jenkins, we find, is the Author of the Reflections on Mr. Lindfey's Apology,' and of the orthodox diffenting-minister's reafons for a farther application to parliament,' both which performances have been noticed in our Review,

CORRESPONDENCE.

WE

K.

E have received an ingenious and candid letter, relative to a criticism at the clofe of our account of Mr. Jebb's reafons for a late refignation. None can have a greater regard for the character of Mrs. Barbauld than we have, or entertain a higher opinion

*See Review for January laft, p. 68.

of

of her admirable talents. But we ftill think, after a calm and ́attentive confideration of what has been alleged by her able friend, that the paffage was exceptionable, and that our ftrictures on it were juft, The very ingenuity and ability difplayed in its defence, are a proof that it requires no fmall degree of refinement, to preferve it from being misapprehended. The Author's character, as a fincere proteftant and a friend to reformation, we well knew; and, therefore, were the more diffatisfied with what we thought an unguarded manner of writing, and the more folicitous to prevent its evil effects. Let it, however, be remembered, that we had no idea of afcribing to her an approbation of the church of Rome. Such a thought never occurred to us, nor had we any conception that a conftruction of that kind might be put on what we had faid. It was admiration which we spoke of, and that in a fingle inftance; wherein we believed, and do ftill believe, that beauty of imagination and elegance of taste prevailed over true philofophy and found judgment.

Befide, the principal object of our remarks was the other part of the paffage, in which it is afferted, that we learn to refpect whatever refpects itself, and are easily led to think that fyftem requires no alteration which never admits of any;' and in which a dignity is afcribed to this circumftance. Allowing that the Author did not fpeak this in her own perfon, (though furely it might have been more cautiously expreffed) we are perfuaded that what the hath advanced will by no means hold good, excepting with regard to the Toweft of the vulgar, and the moft contemptible bigots. Let us appeal to a fact or two. Was it true of the church of Rome, that her fyftem was thought to require no alteration, because it never admitted of any? The direct contrary was the cafe. Because the refufed to alter any thing, when, perhaps, a few flight amendments might have preferved her power much longer, fhe provoked that grand feparation, which is fo illuftrious an event in the hiftory of mankind. Nor can it, at this time, be very generally afferted, of those who continue in the Roman catholic communion, that they are eafily led to think that her fyftem requires no alteration, becaufe it doth not admit of any. There is, in fact, fo prevailing a fenfe of her abfurdities and fuperftitions, that almoft all perfons of any rank or fashion, or who apply themselves to philofophical inquiries, are infidels; and if they do not attempt, or even aim at, a reformation, it is owing to their indifference about it, or to the danger they apprehend in it, or to other political and perfonal reafons which might be affigned, and not to their having a perfuafion that she stands in no need of changes, because she never allows of any.

This is the cafe, likewife, in a lower degree with regard to the church of England. There are few clergymen of reputation, who will not confefs that our established forms of worship might, in fome respects, be amended. But they are not for fuch great alterations as have lately been contended for; and they are afraid of the confequences that might proceed from attempting any alterations. The laity, we mean fuch of them as are members of the church, and have no thoughts of departing from it, either concur with the clergy in thefe fentiments, or go much farther. In proportion to the bad

opinion

opinion which numbers have of the system, is their fear of innova tions. We are well fatisfied, that the warmest oppofers of reformation are not thofe only, or chiefly, who have a frong conviction of the rectitude of our ecclefiaftical conftitution, but those whose notions are entirely the reverse.

We are at a lofs to conceive from whence the elegant writer we refer to, could have been induced to deliver the paffage criticised by us, as a philofophical view of the actual ftate of mankind; at least, in a country like ours, where liberal fentiments and polished manners have pervaded the middling ranks of people. The paffage, we are certain, could not be the refult of an extenfive knowledge of the world; and that, perhaps, is the best apology that can be made for it. Ingenious minds, who fpeculate in private, are too apt to form fyßems that are plaufible in theory, but which are not confirmed by experience. There is nothing in which Authors fhould be more cautious, than in advancing general maxims and obfervations. For our part, we have contracted fome kind of diflike to them; from finding the many exceptions they are liable to, when triatly examined.

As to the place in which our remarks were introduced, we think that the fubject we were treating of afforded a proper and natural occafion for them. When the greatest applaufe is defervedly beftowed, in the review, on any performances, the Reviewer cannot reasonably be fuppofed to give his final fanction to every fingle fentiment contained in the work. The accidental errors of eminent and valuable. writers, whether of an earlier or later date, are the fittest and most useful object of occafional criticism.

In one refpect we are juftly blameable, and that is, for not having inferted the whole paffage. This did not arife from any uncandid intention, but merely from the hurry of compofing, at the latter end of the month, when the prefs waited for our contributions. We foon became fenfible of this omiffion, though, unfortunately too late: we fhall, therefore, fubjoin the entire paffage in question:

"We learn to refpect whatever refpects itself; and are easily led to think that fyftem requires no alteration, which never admits of any. It is this circumftance, more than any other, which gives a dignity to that accumulated mass of error, the church of Rome. A fabric which has weathered many fucceffive ages, though the architecture be rude, the parts difproportionate, and overloaded with ornament. ftrikes us with a fort of admiration, merely from its having held fo long together.'

K.

The Reviewers cannot follow the prescription of an old gentleman in the country.'

The novel, intitled Difinterefted Love,' is procured, but too late for this month's Review.

We have not yet met with the pamphlet intitled Subscription, in relation to which a Letter has been received; but farther inquiry will be made concerning it.

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For M A Y, 1776.

ART. I. A new Syftem; or, an Analysis of Ancient Mythol gy Wherein an Attempt is made to divest Tradition of Fable; and to reduce the Truth to its original Purity. In this Work is given an History of the Babylonians, Chaldeans, Egyptians, Canaanites, Helladians, Ionians, Leleges, Dorians, Pelafgi: Alfo of the Scythæ, Indo-Scythæ, Ethiopians, Phenicians. The Whole con tains an Account of the principal Events in the first Ages, from the DELUGE to the DISPERSION: Alfo of the various Migrations which enfued, and the Settlements made afterwards in different Parts: Circumftances of great Confequence, which were fubfequent to the GENTILE HISTORY OF MOSES., Vol. III. By Jacob Bryant, formerly of King's College, Cambridge, and Secretary to his Grace the late Duke of Marlborough. 4to. 11. 2 s. Boards. Payne. 1776.

TH

HE ample account we have given of the two former volumes of this work will prepare our Readers to receive, with pleasure, the notice of the publication of another volume; and will induce them to expect a great variety of new and entertaining matter, in the prefent performance. We can af fure them that, in this refpect, they will not be disappointed." The volume before us is as extraordinary as those which have preceded it, and contains furprising proofs of the Author's ingenuity, and fagacity, as well as of his erudition.

In the preface, Mr. Bryant informs us, that, through the whole process of his inquiries, it has been his endeavour, from fome plain and determinate principles, to open the way to many interefting truths. And as he has fhewn the certainty of an univerfal Deluge, from the evidence of moft nations to which we can gain accefs; he comes now to give an history of the persons who survived that event, and of the families which were immediately defcended from them.-It may be asked, if there VOL. LIV.

A a

were