on the present occasion. The reader is here presented with an impression in octavo, in which the additional notes chiefly relate to some unfair and uncandid' statements on the part of Mr. Milner, of which the author has just reason to complain. We are not surprized that the learned Prebendary should determine to discontinue a controversy, which would certainly not produce conviction in either of the parties immediately concerned, and to others would be uninteresting." Mr. M. and the Doctor are hardly enough agreed in commou principles to be qualified to reason together.' I will now (says Dr. S.) finally close this controversy on my part, by assuring Mr. M. that I should not have esteemed any thing he could have said in my favour so honourable to me, or felt it so gratifying, as the censures which he has most liberally bestowed on me in common with such men as Father Paul, Giannone, Locke, Tillotson, Burnet, Stillingfleet, Clarke, Hoadley, Balguy, and Watson.'

Art. 45. Reflections concerning Religious Divisions; affectionately addressed to the People of England. 8vo. Is. Rivingtons, &c. The author of this pamphlet, which the sincere friends of Christian peace are desired to take into consideration, professes himself to be much alarmed at the progress of Methodism and religious insubordination; and he endeavours to resist these incroachments by urging the advantages of Episcopacy, and of an established and endowed church. Viewing these alleged evils through the medium of fear, they are greatly magnified; and the writer strangely concludes that, if the establishment were removed, and latitudinarianism were to prevail, men might in the end need another Paul to declare unto them the God whom they ignorantly worship ;'-' every authentic document may be lost, and the ancient languages may want an interpreter.' A man who apprehends such consequences, from the supposed removal of an episcopally governed and richly endowed clergy, does right to plead their cause before the People of England, that the phalanx around them may be strengthened: but he should have considered that wild and extravagant positions seldom assist argument, or facili tate conviction. Let him caution Christians against religious divisions, and let him chastise those who would promote them by illiberal reflections against the established clergy, as not being preachers of the gospel: but let him at the same time discover a spirit of charity and moderation, and avoid expressions which may irritate while they can

not convince.

Art. 46. Six Sermons, preached at Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh, by the Rev. Sidney Smith, A. M. and Fellow of New College, Oxford. 12mo. Pp. 212. 3s. 6d. Boards. Longman. 1800. The dedication of this little volume, to Lord Webb Seymour, is expressed in the following terms: I dedicate these few sermons to you, as a slight token of my great regard; because I know no man who, in spite of the disadvantages of high birth, lives to more honourable and commendable purposes than yourself.' In the preface, we also find these words, which may assist the reader to form a judg ment of the work :- I wrote these sermons, (says Mr. Smith,) in the exercise of my profession, to do good; and for the same reason I

make

make them public. That they cannot do much, I am well aware, because they are hasty and imperfect specimens of an unpopular species of composition. Some little good, however, they may do; and why should I give way to an immoral vanity, and do nothing in my vocation, because I cannot do much: the sum of public opinion is made up of the sentiments, as the sum of public revenue is from the contributions of individuals; and we become a rich or a prudent nation, by adding together many trifling quotas of wisdom and of gold.—As long as God gives me life and strength, I will never cease to attack, in the way of my profession, and to the best of my abilities, any system of principles injurious to the public happiness."

Of these discourses, three are intitled, The poor Magdalene,' The conversion of St. Paul,' (which stands last in the book,) and The best mode of charity.' From the latter, one short extract may not be unacceptable: It is surprising how many men are cheated by fighty sentiments of humanity into a belief that they are humane; how frequently charitable words are mistaken for charitable deeds, and a beautiful picture of misery for an effectual relief of it. There are many who have tears for the chaste and classical sorrows of the stage, who have never submitted to go into the poor man's cottage, to hear his tedious narrative, or to come close at hand with poverty, and its dis mal and disgusting attendants. Pure moral misery wrought up into an artful tale, is a luxurious banquet for the refined mind, which would turn away from the gross unhappiness of real life, where the low and the ludicrous are mingled with the sad, where our delicacy is offended, while our feelings are roused, and we are reminded not only of the misfortunes, but of the infirmities of man.'

The three remaining sermons are of a political kind; and to these, we apprehend, the author had a more direct view in the above paragraph taken from the preface. The titles are, Love of country;' Scepticism; The predisposing causes to the reception of Republican opinions.' From some parts of the first of these discourses, as when the preacher descants on public dishonesty ;'-' public fraud;' - public corruption ;'- magnificent villainy ; boundless pollu tion,' &c.-the reader might, prima facie, be inclined to hesitate concerning the subject on which the reasoning is employed, or the party (if we may use an unpleasant term) against which it is pointed :shall we hence conclude that similar descriptions may be given on cach side of a question?

Mr. Smith possesses a command of words, and he is a spirited and sensible declaimer. The sermons which we first mentioned engage the attention by useful, as well as occasionally striking or affecting remarks; and those which are political, though they do not so well suit the pulpit, which does not permit a free and judicious discussion, yet manifest ability in the author,

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 47. A Treatise on Land-Surveying, in Six Parts. Part I. Contains Definitions and Problems in Geometry. Part II. Rules for finding the Content of Land without using a Chain, but hy stepping the Dimensions, by which any Husbandman who knows

the

the first five Rules of Arithmetic may find the Content of his own Work. Part III. To survey with the Chain and Cross. Part IV. To survey with the Chain only. Part V. Rules for parting off any given Portion of a Field, in form of a Triangle, Square, or Parallelogram. Part VI. A full Explanation of the Method used by the most eminent Surveyors, in measuring and planning a Farm or a Lordship, with a Chain only. Illustrated with Five CopperPlates, and an engraved Fac-Simile of a Field Book. The Plates exhibit the progressive Steps of planning a small Farm, and point out the Appearances of the Plan in six different Stages. By Thomas Dix, of Oundle. The Whole illustrated with 180 Diagrams, and 10 Copper-plates. 8vo. pp. 200. Boards.

Seeley. 1799.

The Advertisement prefixed to this work says: In the following treatise the author does not pretend to any new discovery, or to convey instruction to the experienced Land-Surveyor: his only aim is to supply the deficiency of a book, proper to be introduced into schools, to instruct boys in the first rudiments of land-surveying by the chain and cross only; and as he wishes to render it as useful as possible to young persons, he will thankfully receive any information, from per sons conversant in subjects of this nature, to render a second edition more complete.'

The volume contains a variety of examples, with directions well adapted for the intended purpose; but we do not see the necessity of augmenting the expence of a book of this kind with fifty pages on the definitions and construction of geometrical figures; a subject with which the student must be supposed to be previously informed, in the regular course of instruction.

Art. 48. Description of the curious wooden Bridge across the Rhine at Schaffhausen in Switzerland, &c. &c. to accompany the Print of the Bridge. 8vo. Pamphlet and Imperial Folio Sheet.. 12s. Taylor, Holborn. 1799.

This extraordinary bridge, extending 364 feet, with only one support in the middle, has been noticed in the various accounts of travellers into Swisserland, but more particularly by Andreæ, Coxe, and Ebel. It was completed by Hans Ulric Grubenman, at the close of the year 1758, and stood without receiving any injury till the year 1789, when a few decayed beams were replaced by new wood: after which trifling repair, the bridge was as sound as ever but it was destroyed by the French in April 1799. some small consolation, after this misfortune, that we are now presented with a well executed print of the bridge, detailing the several parts of its curious construction, and accompanied by a satisfactory description.

It is

Respecting the different opinions of this structure, Andreæ and Coxe describing it as being supported by a pier in the middle of the river, ' while Ebel and others contend that it had no dependance on that pier, a reference to the construction exhibited in the plate will easily explain that the bridge was intended to be sustained by the two ex

* See M. Rev. N. S. vol. xxvi. p. 489.

treme

pre

treme abutments, to the surprising extent of 364 feet :-but the vident designer, aware of the variations to which wood was subject, carefully framed his work so that it should ultimately settle on the middle pier. A farther object was undoubtedly in his view, viz. in case of that pier being destroyed by violent torrents and ice, that the bridge might be supported at the abutments while the restoration of the central pier was executing.

We remark in this bridge, besides its unrivalled excellence and ex. tent, what we think is of infinite importance to those concerned in structures of this kind; viz. the judicious means taken to preserve it from that decay and perpetual expence, to which wooden bridges are usually liable. In this structure, no part is laid in contact with the water, but rests on the abutments at each end, and over one pier of stone in the middle: besides which, the timbers are protected from the destructive action of the weather, by being inclosed and completely roofed over.

Art. 49. Remarks on a Tour to North and South Wales, in the Year 1797. By Henry Wigstead. With Plates, from Rowlandson, Pugh, Howitt, &c. Aquatinted by J. Hill. 8vo. 15s. Boards. Wigstead, Charing-cross. 1800.

A short introduction informs us that these remarks were not origi nally designed for the public eye, and are now merely intended (the writer says) as a sort of Vade Mecum to stimulate the readers to farther and more important inquiries; and in order, if possible, that they may, by being apprized of many inconveniencies we experienced, be enabled to avoid them.'-If, however, Mr. W.'s readers deem the nature of their food and accommodations as important as he seems to have done, we imagine that his book will not excite many new peregrinations in Wales. Seldom, indeed, have we met with a traveller who was so uneasy under the temporary inconveniencies of his situa tion. Not all the beautiful and romantic scenery, with which he was surrounded, could make him forget that his bed was hard and his fare homely; nor soothe that vexation of spirit which these circumstances produced.

The following passage will exemplify Mr. W.'s usual mode of describing Welsh repasts:

At Llannon, much dirt and little provision is to be had the cook on our arrival here was in the suds, and, with unwiped hands, reached down a fragment of mutton for our repast: a piece of ham was lost, but after long search found amongst the worsted stockings and sheets on the board: a little child was sprawling in a dripping pan, which seemed recently taken from the fire: the fat in this was destined to fry our eggs in. Hunger itself even was blunted, and we hastened to Swansea, leaving our delicacies nearly untouched. I devoted my attention to a brown loaf, but on cutting into it, was surprized to find a ball of carrotty coloured wool; and to what animal it had belonged, I was at a loss to determine. Our table cloth had served the family for at least a month, and our sitting-room was every where decorated with the elegant relics of a last night's smoking society, as yet unremoved.'

The

The principality of Wales is not altogether unknown to us; yet we cannot say that our experience has accorded with this representation; nor with some other anecdotes related by Mr. W. (pages 40, 41. 48, &c.)

Our readers will see, from the subsequent extract, that the author can occasionally fill his pages with better materials than the preceding; and we think that he might have more frequently presented the latter and suppressed the former:

From Llanwryst to Conway, the road is romantic in the extreme. At almost every two or three hundred yards a foaming torrent is seen dashing from incredible height on one hand, and an extensive and fertile vale on the other; with the gently gliding river Conway meandring through its enclosed pastures. Conway has many enticing properties to the traveller. Food for the pencil is to be found in abundance. On approaching it, the towering, venerable and extensive remains of the castle appear majestically above the town, which is surrounded with the ancient wall, very entire in many places. It is by no means a large town, but clean, with two very good inns. The river is here a mile broad. The castle was built by Edward I. in 1284. Its form is oblong, and placed on the verge of the solid rock. Whole turrets on one side have given way, and their tremendous fragments in gigantic masses have rolled from their rocky base to the strand, where they now lay. The passing traveller can but admire and tremble, lest, by a similar (and perhaps equally instantaneous) crash, he may be overwhelmed by another partial dissolution of this venerable remnant of antiquity.'

The travellers passed by Aberystwyth, yet not a word is said of Hafod, the celebrated seat of Mr. Johnes ;-and they did not go into any part of Pembrokeshire!

We observe that the author gives the same name to the rivers which, pass through Caermarthen and Cardigan: but the one is the Towy and the other the Teifi. Perhaps he apprehended that they were one and the same.

Twenty-two views decorate this volume. They are drawn with spirit, and tinted with great truth and effect: but in some of them. (e. g. the view in Coventry) there are too many strokes of the caricaturist's pencil, when we consider the plates as designed for correct representations of nature. The views of Llangollen Vale, Snowdon, Nantz-Mill, Tintern Abbey, and Ragland castle, (near Monmouth,) are particularly pleasing and well executed.

Since the above was written, the newspapers have informed us of the death of Mr. Wigstead.

Art. 50. Critical Remarks on Pizarro, a Tragedy, taken from the German, Drama of Kotzebue, and adapted to the English Stage by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. With incidental Observations on the Subject of the Drama. By Samuel Argent Bardsley, M. D. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Cadell jun, and Davies. 1800.

We had hoped that the rage of the Pizarro was over, and that our attention would not again be solicited to its merits and defects. It seems, however, that the frenzy went down to the country with the

6

spring