immediate power to favour or torment him, was the proofs of the progress of learning, of liberality, and most substantial religion of all. Whether by this of rational Christianity among the dissenters. The scheme of religion, Mr. G. wishes us to get back author of this sermon is already known to the public again as quickly as possible to the solid idolatry of our as an eloquent and enlightened defender of christianity. German ancestors, or whether by shewing that reli- Few sermons in the English language have been regious impressions are strongest when men are most ceived with more universal and deserved favour by barbarous and ignorant, and that they grow weaker as all descriptions of Christians, than that on Modern men improve in civilization, he does not rather mean Infidelity. In the recommendation of the religious to infer, that as society advances, the religious nerve sentiments proper to the present crisis, which occupies will become less and less susceptible, and at last cease the first part of this sermon, there is nothing which to vibrate at all-we leave to our readers to determine. is not sufficiently common. The language besides is After the ideas of Religion with which our author has several times too much in the cant of a particular, set out, we need not wonder he proceeds to cele- and in our opinion, a bad theory of Christianity, to In the middle of the sermon brate and adorn with all the fairest colours of fancy be agreeable to us. the various appendages of the popish worship. The there are some ingenious and striking observations on religious edifices and processions, the monasteries and the practical state of religion and morality in this: convents, the masses for the dead, auricular confes- country; and we most cordially assent to the author's. sion, and days of abstinence are successively set forth remarks on the tendency of that philosophical doctrine in the most attractive form: extreme unction, indeed, which makes utility the principle of moral determinadoes not meet with the same favour, being considered tion. The candid sentiments which the author inculas stretching too violently the religious nerve. To cates towards opposite sects, and public rulers, do enable our readers to judge of the sentimental style him great honour. The conclusion of the sermon which Mr. Godwin affects on this occasion, we ex- refers to the political state of the country with regard tract the following eulogium of masses for the dead: to foreign nations, and is emphatically beautiful. Of "When I have lost a dear friend and associate, my all that has been said or written, upon this extraordifriend is not dead to me. The course of nature may nary topic, we regard this passage of Mr. Hall's be abrupt, but true affection admits of no breaks. I sermon, as by far the most eloquent. The passage is. still see my friend; I still talk to him. I consult him long, but it would be impious to curtail it: in every arduous question: I study in every difficult proceeding to mould my conduct to his inclination and pleasure. Whatever assists this beautiful propensity of the mind, will be dear to every feeling heart. In saying masses for the dead, I sympathise with my friend. I believe he is anxious for his salvation; I utter the language of my anxiety. I believe that he is passing through a period of trial and purification; I also am sad. It appears as if he were placed beyond the reach of my kind offices; this solemnity once again restores to me the opportunity of aiding him. The world is busy and elaborate to tear him from my recollection; the hour of this mass revives the thought of him in its tenderest and most awful form. My senses are mortified that they can no Jonger behold the object of their cherished gratification; but this disadvantage is mitigated, by a scene of which my friend is the principle and essence, presented to my senses." Such is the sentimental cant by which Mr. Godwin endeavours to gloss over one of the most glaring abuses of the church of Rome; an abuse which destroys the fundamental principle of religion, the just reward or punishment of virtue and vice in a future state; which enables the wealthy villain, who can pay for an hundred masses, to buy off the vengeance of the Almighty, while the poorer sinner must continue to expiate his offences amidst the tortures of purgatory!

(To be concluded in our next.)

Ω.

The Sentiments Proper to the Present Crisis. A Sermon preached at Bridge-street, Bristol, October 19, 1803: Being the Day appointed for a General Fast. By Robert Hall, AM. 8vo. pp. 61. London 1803. Though attached to the established church, it is with pleasure, not with envy or regret, that we see

"How it may please the Ruler of the universe to dispose the destinies of the two most powerful nations of the earth, which are at this moment laid in the balance, it is impossible for us with certainty to say. But when we consider how many of his sincere worshippers, how large a portion of his church, together with how rich a fund of wisdom, of talents, and of all those elements of social order which he must approve, are inclosed within the limits of this highly-favoured land, we cannot believe he intends. to give it up a prey to its enemies. Our insular situation is. favourable, our resources prodigious, and the preparations which have long been making, apparently every way equal to the danger of the crisis; but still we would place our ultimate reliance on him who abases the proud, and exalts the lowly. It would be presumption to imagine it in my power to add any thing to those considerations, which havealready produced such a general movement in defence of our liberties. The cause speaks for itself: it excites feelings. which words are ill able to express; involving every object and motive which can engage the solicitude, affect the interests, or influence the heart of man. After a series of provocations and injuries, reciprocally sustained and retaliated, the dispute betwixt us and our enemies is brought shall have the ascendant, but which shall continue a nation: to a short issue: it is no longer which of the two nations it is a struggle for existence, not for empire. It must surely be regarded as a happy circumstance, that the contest did not take this shape at an earlier period, while many were deceived by certain specious pretences of liberty into favourable opinion of our enemies' designs. The popular delusion is passed; the most unexampled prodigies of guilt have dispelled it; and after a series of rapine and cruelty, have torn from every heart the last fibres of mistaken partiality. The crimes of those with whom we have to contend are legible in every part of Europe. There is scarcely a man to be found who is not most perfectly acquaintedwith the meaning of that freedom they profess to bestow; that it is a freedom from the dominion of laws to pass under the yoke of slavery, and from the fear of God to plunge into crimes and impiety; an impious barter of all that is

a

any much less calamitous than utter externtination. Our present elevation will be the exact measure of our future depression, as it will measure the fears and jealousies of those who subdue us. While the smallest vestige remaine of our former greatness, while any trace or memorial exists of our having been once a flourishing and independent empire, while the nation breathes, they will be afraid of its recovering its strength, and never think themselves secure of their conquest till our navy is consumed, our wealth dissipated, our commerce extinguished, every liberal institution abolished, our nobles extirpated; whatever in rank, character, and talents, gives distinction in society, called out and destroyed, and the refuse which remains, swept together in a putrifying heap by the besom of destruction. The enemy will not need to proclaim his tritheumph; it will be felt in the more expressive silence of extended desolation.

in every valley, and in every plain, what the prophet beheld, by the same illumination, chariots of fire and horses of fire. Then shall the strong man be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.”

We know nothing either in ancient or modern eloquence to surpass this; and if any man read it without the strongest emotions, we do not envy him his M. feelings.

Genus Pinus. Folio. White..

in you it is to determine (under Gon) in what condition the latest posterity shall be born; their fortunes are entrusted to your haud, and on your conduct, at this moment, depends the colour and complexion of their destiny. If liberty, after being extinguished on the continent, is suffered to expire here, whence is it ever to emerge in the midst of that thick night that will invest it? It remains with you, then, to decide, whether that freedom, at whose voice the kingdoms of Europe awoke from the sleep of ages, to run a career of virtuous emulation in every thing great and good: the freedom which dispelled the mists of superstition, and invited the nations to behold their God; whose The superb work on the Genus Pinus lately pubmagic touch kindled the rays of genius, the enthusiasm of poetry, and the flame of eloquence; the freedom which lished by Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq. Vice-Presipoured into our lap opulence and arts, and embellished dent of the Linnæan Society, is a most valuable aclife with innumerable institutions and improvements, till it quisition to the science of Botany. Mr. Lambert had became a theatre of wonders; it is for you to decide whe- observed the confusion that unavoidably prevailed in ther this freedom shall yet survive, or be covered with a this point, from the want of distinctness of arrangefuneral pall and wrapt in eternal gloom. It is not neces- ment and accuracy of description, which necessarily sary to await your determination. In the solicitude you rendered our ideas upon the subject imperfect, and feel to approve yourselves worthy of such a trust, every was a material obstacle in the way of further improvethought of what is afflicting in warfare, every apprehensionment. To remedy these defects Mr. Lambert for of danger must vanish, and you are impatient to mingle in several years turned his attention particularly to this the battle of the civilized world. Go, then, ye defenders branch of Botany, consulted the most eminent authors of your country, accompanied with every auspicious omen; advance with alacrity into the field, where God himself muswho had written on the genus pinus, and by a compariters the hosts to war. Religion is too much interested in son with each other, arranged and corrected the inforyour success not to lend you her aid. She will shed over this mation which they afforded. He examined specimens enterprize her selectest influence. While you are engaged of the several species found at Surrey Hill, Kew, in the field, many will repair to the closet, many to the and other gardens, and caused figures to be drawn of sanctuary; the faithful of every name will employ that all of them on a large scale, in the different stages of prayer which has power with God; the feeble hands which their growth, which are the most distinct of any we are unequal to any other weapon, will grasp the sword of have ever seen. The result of Mr. Lambert's labours the spirit; and from myriads of humble and contrite has been the work in question, in which the Genus hearts, the voice of intercession, supplication, and weeping, Pinus is divided into thirty-two species, each of which will mingle in its ascent to heaven with the shouts of battle and the shock of arms. is traced through all its known varieties. The accuracy of the plates, and exactness of the description, distinguish these species in a manner that almost precludes the possibility of mistake. Then follows a description of the various climates in which the different species grow naturally, the particular soils where

The situation in which they should be placed whether soil most suited to the planting and cultivation of each. high or low, and the method of rearing best calculated to bring them to the greatest perfection are also described.

"While you have every thing to fear from the success of the enemy, you have every means of preventing that success; so that it is next to impossible for victory not to crown your exertions. The extent of your resources, under God, are equal to the justice of your cause. But should Providence determine otherwise, should you fall the struggle, should the nation fall, you will have the satis-they are originally found, by which is pointed out the faction, (the purest allotted to man,) of having performed your part; virtue will atone for the outrages of fortune, by conducting you to immortality: your names will be enrolled with the most illustrious dead; while posterity, to the end of time, as often as they revolve the events of this period, and they will incessantly revolve them, will turn to The Pinus Silvestris, or Scotch fir, Mr. Lambert obyou a reverential eye, while they mourn over the freedom serves, is the most generally cultivated in our gardens, which is entombed in your sepulchre. I cannot but though very far from being the most beautiful or useimagine the virtuous heroes, legislators, and patriots, of ful, which he thinks must proceed either from ignoevery age and country, are bending from their elevated seats to witness this contest, as if they were incapable, till with success, or from not knowing their value. rance of the method of cultivating the other species it be brought to a favourable issue, of enjoying their eternal repose. Enjoy that repose, illustrious immortals! your Having obviated the first difficulty by describing the mantle fell when you ascended; and thousands, inflamed method of cultivation, he proceeds to consider the with your spirit, and impatient to tread in your steps, are value of the deal-boards acquired from the different ready to swear by Him that sitteth upon the throne, and species, which is done by inserting a letter of commuliveth for ever and ever, they will protect freedom in her nication on this point from a person who had attended last asylum, and never desert that cause which you sus- to the subject. This, he observes, he considered as tained by your labours, and cemented with your blood. And thou, sole Ruler among the children of men, to whom work might be still more complete, he applied to an an object of no small national importance. That the the shields of the earth belong, gird on thy sword, thou eminent physician who at the author's request has desMost Mighty: go forth with our hosts in the day of battle,cribed the substances obtained from this genus, together Impart, in addition to their hereditary valour, that confidence of success which springs from thy presence: pour into their hearts the spirit of departed heroes: inspire them with thine own; and, while led by thine hand, and fighting under thy banners, open thou their eyes to behold

with the various uses to which they may be applied, especially their distinguished utility and importance in the science of medicine. Upon the whole, those who know how essentially distinctness of description, and

accuracy of arrangement contribute to facilitate the treble the number described by Da Costa, who had acquisition of any branch of knowledge, and to pave collected more of the British shells than any other the way for further improvement, must be sensible of writer, till the time of Mr. Montagu's publication. the value of a work which unites both in a very high || He has adopted the Linnæan system of arrangement, degree. To the planter, it will be an object of im- and distinguished the different genera by the form and portance; as it describes the soils most suited to each structure of the shells, as the best method that has species, and the proper method of cultivation, whilst been hitherto discovered. The attempt to arrange the usefulness of many of the substances derived from them according to the different animals by which they the Genus Pimus, in the department of medicine, are inhabited, can scarcely be expected ever to sucmust render the work in question, an acquisition of ceed; partly from the difficulty of finding the shells no common value to the medical profession. The in a fresh state, and partly because the same animal price of the book is 10. 10s. There is also another often inhabits different sorts of shells. The division of copy coloured in a most superb style, which is sold the shells is as follows:-The whole are divided into for 25 guineas. two parts, including those divisions. The first part contains the two first divisions and part of the third. The first division is formed of the multivalve shells, the second, of the bivalve, and the third of the univalve shells. This last division includes some of the first part; and, with one or two exceptions, the whole of the second-Each of these divisions includes several genera, amounting in all to the number of 'x and thirty, each of which contains several different species,. making in all, about four hundred and seventy species, of shells. The following are the names and order of the several genera :-

п.

Testacea Britannica, or Natural History of British Shells, Marine, Land, and Fresh Water, including the most Minute, systematically arranged, and embellished with Figures. By George Montagu, F. L. S. 2 vols. in one. 4to. White.

The study of Natural History in all its branches has of late years been prosecuted with peculiar ardour and success. Linnæus, the Newton of this science, did not perhaps oblige the world so much by his own extensive and important discoveries, as by his lucid and comprehensive arrangement, which removed the grand obstacle to improvement out of the way of future naturalists. That great master having reduced the chaos into order, established a sun in the middle, by the light of whose rays, his successors were enabled with comparative facility, to explore the recesses of the natural world. Conchology, or the history of shells, appears to be that part of the science which has least attracted the attention of Linnæus, as well as of subsequent naturalists. Shells being considered merely as the external covering or exuvia of animals, were deemed less worthy of attention; while the silly prejudices of an ignorant world contributed by senseless ridicule to discourage the investigation of this as well as other minute branches of the science. But in the progress of improvement conchology has lately been cultivated with a great deal of assiduity by several eminent naturalists. Many celebrated men of our own country applied themselves to the investigation of indigenous conchology, where a vast field was opened by the discoveries of the microscope. Da Costa, Lister, Walker, Dale, Pennant, Pulteney, Donovan, Ellis, and others, turned their attention to the study of the conchology of Great Britain, some examining different parts of the coast, others the whole island. But the subject from its nature was, and still is involved in considerable obscurity, and this must be considered perhaps as the most imperfect branch of natural history. But though much confessedly remains to be done, the work under consideration has thrown a great deal of light upon the conchology of our island, both in point of arrangement and new discoveries. Mr. Montagu has laboured with the most persevering assiduity in his arduous and intricate undertaking, as will be evident when it is known, that he himself actually collected from different parts of the coast, nearly the whole of the vast number of species of shells described in his book, which amount to no less than 470. This, as the author observes, is more than

||

All the animals as yet discovered that inhabit these || of the First Consul, and his poisoning the sick of his different genera of shells, are only nine-viz. the own army, we eagerly anticipated some additional Doris, Triton, Ascidia, Tethys, Limax, Spio, Am-information tending either to confirm or refute these phytrite, Terebella, and Nereis. A short description charges. The author however, has done little else on of each of these animals is given, and the generic this point, though he had previously told us that he characters of the shells are described with as much had many friends in the French army, than transcribe distinctness and precision as the nature of the subject the words of Sir Robert Wilson and Doctor Wittman. would admit. Several figures are also subjoined to These might indeed, when joined with many collatethe work which appear to be accurate. The author ral circumstances, be considered as rendering any makes an apology because these are not coloured, further proof unnecessary, were not the mind almost which appeared to us unnecessary, as accuracy of de-irresistibly disposed to be sceptical with regard to lineation is more requisite in such a subject than atrocities from the contemplation of which human beauty of colouring. As Mr. Montagu has examined nature turns with horror. From a person who had all the most celebrated writers on British Conchology, such opportunities of information, one would and availed himself of their labours, the present work naturally look for some proof respecting the murder may be considered as containing what is most valu- of Bonnier and Roberjot, the French plenipotentiaries able in all these writers; and considering the vast at the congress of Rastadt, though this fact was not, number of new discoveries made by the author him- from its nature, so open and capable of proof as those self, this may be regarded as the most complete view to which we have above referred. Every circumof the British Testacea that at present exists. The stance and consideration seem to fix the suspicion of style simple and perspicuous, and such only is the that refined piece of wickedness upon the Directory. sort of style which can be expected, or even endured To add to these suspicions nothing is mentioned by our in a work of this kind. Upon the whole, we think author, except that a letter was published by the widow that the present work is a most valuable acquisition to of Roberjot, expressly charging Jean Debry with the conchological science, and we have a sanguine expec- murder of her husband and his colleague, to which tation that the success of Mr. Montagu, will stimulate no answer was ever returned. M. Barré observes, others to apply themselves to the discovery of shells, that it will be easily perceived that he is no party so that this branch of Natural History may in a short writer. We could not avoid, however, perceiving the time attain a considerable degree of perfection. II. direct contrary from almost every page of his book. We are sensible that it must be difficult for a patriotic mind to restrain its feelings of indignation in record

History of the French Consulate under Napoleon Bonaparte, being an authentic Narrative of his Adminis-ing the transactions of the enslaver of his country tration, including a Sketch of his Life, until the renewal of Hostilities in 1803. By M. Barre. 1 vol. 8vo. Hurst.

A work which purports to be a history of the life and administration of a character who has played so remarkable a part on the stage of the modern world, is well calculated to excite general attention, especially in this country, whose political situation is so materially affected by the influence of that character. From a native of France (as we suppose the author to be) who was an eye-witness to many of the facts related, who has but a few months ago arrived in England, and who brought over many valuable documents upon which his narrative is grounded, we expected a close, distinct, explicit, and regular view of those topics, which lie loosely scattered among the pages of various writers, together with an account of many interesting facts which had before escaped observation. But impartiality obliges us to confess that our expectations were most grievously disappointed. The author has neither brought any new facts to light, nor placed those already known, in a more luminous point of His narrative which he has chosen to dignify with the name of a history, is in truth, nothing else than a dry, irregular detail of facts and anecdotes already notorious, relating to Bonaparte, and those, who, in the course of his eventful progress through the revolution till his establishment on the throne of France, were by any tie connected with him. On some alledged facts which, from the singular atrocity of their nature, have occasioned no small sensation, we mean the massacre of the Turks at Jaffa, by order

view.

and the murderer of his countrymen. But he ought to have recollected that the ear must be disgusted and offended with the constant and invariable repetition of the epithets of " execrable villain," "Corsican scoundrel" "atrocious murderer" "infamous assassin" &c. &c. which, though no doubt intended to excite the just detestation of mankind against the guilty usurper, must defeat their own object, when inju diciously employed. The Chief Consul is moreover represented as so insatiate in his thirst of blood, that the minutest of his actions are directed by a love of murder and assassination, and that it is with murderers and assassins alone, that he delights to associate. Whoever has read of a Nero or a Caligula, will scarcely venture to affirm, that men cannot exist who may be wicked from a pure love of wickedness, but this appears evident, that Bonaparte, whether equally sanguinary or not, is much more cunning than either Nero or Caligula, and that his situation, if not his disposition, must force him to restrain his bloodthirsty propensity, so far as in some measure to act as if his conduct was the result of a more amiable principle. At any rate, the author's indignation against the First Consul, transports him beyond all bounds of reason, and often causes him to debase the dignity of his history or narrative, by the adoption of a style not unlike that of the placards which were lately stuck up on every wall, to rouse the resentment of the rabble. We must however in justice observe, that this might in a great measure be owing to the necessity under which he laboured, of writing in a language with which he may not be particularly acquainted.