Perhaps its want of a more general reception in the early ages of the church may in fome meature have been owing to the great difficulty, if not the impoffibility, of explaining it, while no events had contributed to clear and unfold it. It is certain, that the comments of the early fathers are very infignificant; and those of St. Ambrofe, Anfelm, Thomas Aquinas, Bede, &c. are defpicable productions.

When critical learning revived, and the reformation engaged the Chriftian world in religious controverfies, the Apocalypfe began to be investigated with great zeal and induftry. From this period it has become the prey of all forts of commentators, great and fmall, Proteftant and Papift, rational and fanatic. As in the opinion of every one this book contains the destiny of the church, every fect in particular has not failed to explain it in its own favour. Here the Lutherans find the troubles of Germany; the French refugees, what happened to them in France; and the English, the revolutions of Great Britain. In short, each church boafts of finding itself here, according to the rank, which it thinks it holds in the plan of providence; and which, we may be fure, is always the first place. There is only the catholic church, which hath circumscribed it within the limits of the three fift centuries; during which, the maintains, every thing was accomplished: as if he were afraid, left defcending lower, the fhould fee antichrift in the perfon of her metropolitan *,

The explanation is allowed on all hands to be attended with great difficulties, which have deterred many ferious commen-1 tators from the attempt. Scaliger was pleafed to fay, Calvinus fapuit, quia non fcripfit in Apocalypfin,' Calvin was wife, because he did not write upon the Revelation. Sir Ifaac Newton fays: The folly of interpreters has been to foretel times and things by this prophecy; as if God defigned to make them prophets. By this rafhnefs they have not only exposed themfelves, but brought the prophecy alfo into contempt. The design of God was much otherwife. He gave this and the prophecies of the Old Teftament, not to gratify men's curiofities by enabling them to forcknow things; but that, after they were fulfilled, they might be interpreted by the event, and his own providence, not the interpreters, be then manifefted thereby to the world.'

Seventeen hundred years are now elapfed fince the days of St. John; and therefore it is reasonable to fuppofe, that many parts of the prophecy is fulfilled. Here then is a field open for inveftigation. And if commentators can find any events,

perfectly correfponding with the prophecy, their discoveries are built upon a proper foundation, and are worth notice. But when the commentator launches into futurity, his interpretations can be nothing more than conjectures.

The author of the commentary now before us points out many great occurrences, which he thinks are revealed in this book, between the year 96 and the end of the world. Some of thofe events, which are paft, are the various revolutions of the Roman empire, the afflictions and errors of the church, the commencement of Mahometanifm, the Reformation, &c.

In the course of his remarks he takes occafion to expoftulate with his countrymen on the corruption of the church of England, with respect to thofe circumftances especially, in which the differs from the doctrine and difcipline of the dif fenters obferving, that England now gives its power to the beaft.'

Among thofe events, which he expecs hereafter he enumerates the following important revolutions, fpecifying the year in which they are to happen.

The converfion of the Jews begin 1816. The Jews return to their own land, the church puts off her fackcloth, and is clothed with the fun, the Mahometans become papal Chrif tians, and the Roman beaft becomes a dragon, 1866. The grand feignior calls himself the apostle of Chrift, 1872. The beaft's wound in one of his heads is completely healed; but the church flees probably into the wilderness of America, 1886. A temple built at Jerufalem, 1936. The ten horns of the beast begin to hate the whore, and burn her with fire, 1942. The millennium begins, 2016, and ends, 3016. The world ends, and judgement begins, 3125. The judging of the righteous ends, and all the wicked are raised, 3200. The judging of the wicked ends; and faints and finners are removed to heaven and hell, 3351.'

Mr. Reader appears to be a fedate, ftudious, and pious author, actuated by the laudable defire of contributing to the explanation of the fcriptures, and the hopes of warning his contemporaries of fome things which will be interesting to themfelves, and their pofterity. But how far his work is calculated to answer these valuable purpofès, we must leave our learned readers to determine.

Another

Another Account of a Transaction which pafed in the Beginning of the Year 1778. Rather more correct than what is called An Authentic Account of the Part taken by the late Earl of Chatham in that Tranfaction. 410. 15. Cadell.

THIS account, which is prefented to the public by fir James Wright, bears the ftrongest marks of ingenuoufnefs, and refutes, in the most fatisfactory manner, the narrative that has appeared under the name of Dr. Addington. After fome fenfible obfervations refpecting the credit of parole evidence, and the different meanings which may be ascribed to words uttered in converfation, according to the peculiar circumftances in which they are spoken, fir James proceeds to inform us, that he has been intimately connected with Dr. Addington from his youth, and that the latter has been always remarkable for a propensity to politics.

This trait of Dr. Addington's character, fays fir James, is not made with a view of fetting him right in a little point of chronology; for, at the very outlet of the Narrative, his me mory fails him. Long before the beginning of the year 1778 had the doctor converfed with fir James Wright of lord Bute and lord Chatham. He may remember, that fir James had a long fit of illness, which commenced more than a year before the æra from which the doctor feis out; that during that illnefs his vifits to fir James were frequent, almost daily; that in all these vifits, equally attentive to the conftitution of his country, as to the conftitution of his patient, he recurred to his darling topic politics; that the hero of his theme was lord Chatham; that the burden of his fong were the diftreffes of the nation. Let him recollect, and he furely will remember, that at this period, twelve months before the time which, for want of recollection, he so confidently fixes to be the "firft time fir James Wright talked with him refpecting lord Bute and lord Chatham," he frequently gave it as his own opinion, at leaft, that lord Chatham had no unfavourable opinion of lord Bute, but conceived him to be an honest man, to wifh well to his country, to be a man endued with many private virtues.

• Was it then fo very wonderful, that, in the beginning of the year 1778, fir James Wright should "talk with Dr. Addington refpecting lord Bute and lord Chatham," when lord Bute and lord Chatham had been the conftant fubject of the doctor's converfations with fir James Wright, at vifits fo frequently repeated, continued to fuch a length, during the course of the year 1777? Would it have been very wonderful, if, knowing how familiarly the doctor was received by lord Chatham; if, obferving how frequently he introduced his opinion of the point

of

of view in which lord Bute was regarded by lord Chatham; if, remarking the zeal with which he always entered on the subject, fir James had been led to conclude, that the doctor, under his own name, was delivering the opinion, was speaking from the inftructions, of his patron? That his patron was not averse to a negociation, but had fent forth his trafty Achates to found the land, left peradventure his pride (the friends of lord Chatham will allow that he poffeffed at leaft a decent pride) might be hurt by a refufal? Would it have been very wonderful, if, under that idea, fir James had communicated to lord Bute-not exposed to the public-the purport of fuch converfations?

But the fact is, fir James had no fuch idea. He confidered the frequency of the doctor's vifits; he confidered the length of his vifits as the pure effects of a warm and difinterested friendship; he confidered the introduction of political fubjects as kindly meant to beguile the tædium of a long and painful illness. He saw in the doctor, or he thought he saw, a skilful phyfician, and an affectionate friend. Wishing for nothing further, he looked for nothing further. It was a very worthy, a refpectable friend, who had been present at most of the conversations which preceded, and at all those which fucceeded the æra from which the doctor chufes to fet out, who first suggested to fir James, that the frequent inquiries of the doctor about the return of fir James to town in the beginning of 1778; that his frequent vifits when he was returned, indicated fomething more than the attention which an eminent physician has the leisure, or the most intimate friend has the inclination, to fhew. That friend it was, who comparing this frequency of vifits with the conftant recourfe to the fame topic of converfation, first suggested, that it was meant, and wifhed, that the purport of these converfations fhould be communicated to lord Bute.

Here then is the origin of the tranfaction, which the author of the "Authentic Account" is willing to call--and yet, it feems, afhamed to call---a negociation ;" and which, whatever it may be called, began on the second, and terminated (on the part of fir James) on the feventh of February."

Sir James next examines the written evidence, as given by the author of the "Authentic Account ;" and this he performs with fo much precifion and energy, that we are forry the limits of our Review will not permit us to lay before our readers the whole of the correfpondence, and the printed remarks upon it. We must not, however, omit inferting the following note from Dr. Addington to fir James Wright, on the 5th of February, the original of which is in fir James's hands.

7

"Dear

"Dear fir James,

There is no time to lose, in

"I beg you to come to town. the opinion of your ever faithful friend,

"A ADDINGTON."

In the correspondence published by Dr. Addington, this note has been fuppreff.d. But it will remain an indelible proof of the extreme officioufnefs betrayed by the doctor on that occafion, notwithstanding the indifference which he has affected to infinuate in his narrative.

This account, which is fupported not only by the clearest evidence, but the moft convincing arguments, fully vindicates lord Bute from the charge of having opened a negociation with lord Chatham; and of having pretended to the power, or expteffed a wish, of difpofing of offices, or conducting meatures. It alfo vindicates fir James Wright, in the most ample manner, from the illiberal accufation of having acted the part of an officious and infidious emiffary. But in proportion as thele propofitions are afcertained, the feveral charges recoil with irrefiftible force on Dr. Addington, whofe conduct through the whole tranfaction must be confi... dered as injurious to private friendship, to prof:ffional delicacy, and to the inviolable dictates of political integrity and honour.

FOREIGN

ARTICLES.

Rettung der Ehre und Unschuld des weiland koeniglich Schwedifchen Staats-Minifters Georg Heinrich Freyherrn von Schlitz, genannt Goerz, or, a Vindication of the Honour and Innocence of Baron G. H. de Schlitz, firnamed Goerz, formerly Minifier of State to Charles XII. King of Sweden. 8vo. (German.)

W

WHEN the once famous and unfortunate baron Goerz faw himself fuddenly arrefted, perfecuted, opp effed, and condemned to die; he in his lait will called on his relations and heirs to evince his innocence and vindicate his character. In compliance with this dying request, the prefent very init uctiv- and fatisfactory juftification of his conduct was undertaken and completed many years ago, though its publication has, for political reafons, been deferred to the year 1776.

Its anonymous author is faid to be a celebrated minister of state in Germany; and this farmife we think indeed strongly corroborated by the intrinfic character of the work itself. In his preface he profelles his intentions to be only to prove that baron Goerz, in his meatures and arrangements, fincerely ftudied and purfued the real interests of Sweden: and he appeals not only to a MS. recent teftimony of great northern monarch, but even to the very judgement of the Swedish dates themselves, as additional evidences in favour of the innocence of that unfortunate nobleman: for when the Swedish ftates intended to condemn the baron's heirs to a reftitution of three hundred thousand tilver dollars, thefe very ftates found, on a nearer enquary, the kingdom, on the contrary, bound to repay thefe heirs. a very confiderable fum advanced by Goerz for its fervice.

The