fund of information, from which a judicious Reader can fo well form his ideas of the general History and Complexion of the Times, or of the Customs and Manners of a People: nay, we will not fcruple to affirm, that a difcerning Foreigner will become better acquainted with the Genius and Manners of a Nation, by a regular perufal of their public Prints for fome few months, than by rambling from one end of the country to the other, and holding an imperfect converfation within a narrow circle of acquaintance for as many years. There is one obfervation, however, it may not be here improper to make, by way of advice to those ingenious Writers, who occafionally exercife their pens in ridicule of the fingularities, foibles, or follies, of their cotemporaries; and who, by an error they are too apt to fall into, defeat in a great measure the end of their defign, as well as the useful purposes above hinted. This error lies in their mifmanagement of that beautiful figure, which they are nevertheless fo fond of affuming, the irony; either fwelling it out of all propriety, with prepofterous hyperbole on the one hand, or, on the other, leaving it fo feeble and equivocal, that the Reader is at a lofs to know whether the Writer is in jelt or earnest. We could point out fome pieces wherein this error is flagrant, in the Mifcellany before us; which, on the whole, however, is not injudicioufly compiled, but affords an agreeable fund of recollection and amufement. In juftice to the St. James's Chronicle we may also add, that no other Paper of intelligence, now fubfifting, could have afforded fuch a variety of fprightly and entertaining materials; for most of which, we are informed. the Public is obliged to

the very ingenious Authors of the CONNOISSEUR. K-n-k Art. 15. A familiar Explanation of the Poetical Works of Milton. To which is prefixed, Mr. Addifon's Criticism on Paradife Loft. With a Preface, by the Rev. Mr. Dodd. 12mo. 2s. 6d.. Tonfon.

May do well enough for children! Alas! poor Milton! Who knows but thou mayeit yet be transformed into a Spelling-book?

RELIGIO U S.

Art. 16. An Addrefs to the Deifts. Being a Proof of Revealed Religion, from Miracles and Prophecies. In which the principal Objections against the Chriftian Revelation, and efpecially against the Refurrection of Jefus, are confidered and confuted. In Anfwer to a Moral Philofopher. The fecond Edition, with large Additions; and a Preface, fhewing the Folly and Danger of Deifm. By John Jackfon, Rector of Roffington in the County of York, and Master of Wigfton's Hospital in Leicefter. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Whifton.

The Additions to this well-known and juftly-approved Work, are very confiderable; and we cannot too earnestly recommend it to the confideration of those who have any fcruples concerning the Evidence

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of the Chriftian Religion, which may be drawn from the Prophecies and Miracles.

Art. 17. An Account of the Converfion of a Deift. With an Ap pendix, containing Reflections on Deifm and Chriflianity. By E. Harwood. 8vo. Is. 6d. Griffiths.

The moderate and ingenious Writer of the Pamphlet now before us, publifhes it with a folemn affirmation of its being a true narrative: whatever opinion therefore, may be formed of the hero of the piece, affects not the Editor; who is only anfwerable in point of veracity. Matter of fact is to be related, not contrived.

This Deift was born in a remote country place, of fanatical parents, in whofe narrow tenets he was affiduoufly educated; and he was particularly grounded in the doctrines of election, reprobation, juftification by imputed righteoufnefs, fanctification, &c. It must be owned, that in the various particulars related concerning this family, a very juft picture is drawn of thofe narrow-minded, gloomy chriftians, who too much abound in country places, where knowledge cannot penetrate to correct the prejudices of education: as the peafants are wife in their ignorance; and like the deaf adder that floppeth her ear;-will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming ever fo wifely.

One incident in this narrative is fo humorous, and withal fo natural, that we are induced to treat our Readers with it, as well as ourselves.

The following incident may lead the Reader to judge of the ftrange temper of this man, and into what monfters of ferocity and uncharitableness, an itch for controverfy, and a paffionate zeal for fome opinions, that are once thought fundamental, are capable of transforming men. A neighbour, with whom the old man had held many a long and warm conference, and who, as it always happens in difputes, could neither convince nor be convinced, was defirous to fee Dr. TAYLOR'S Book on Original Sin, which then made a a great noife in that country, in order to furnish him with fome heavy artillery against the strong-holds of his opponents. A gentleman in the town had purchafed this Book, and the young Man + was defired by his neighbour to borrow it of him, and bring it home in his pocket, but not to acquaint his father. He accordingly spoke to the gentleman, received the Book, brought it home, and being tired, laid it carelefly upon a table, and went to Bed. The old man opened it-It was the book, he had heard fo much of-He knew not whether to read it, or to burn it-Down he fat, at eleven at night, and read, and fumed, and raged, in all the Variety of Paffions, that bigotted fury can throw a Perfon into. He read and read, till he actually thought, as he faid afterwards, that the earth would open under his feet, and fink him to hell. His principles, he faid, were fo unfettled, and fuch blafphemous thoughts fuggefted

* The Deift's Father.

+ The future Deift.

them.

themselves to his debauched mind, as he phrased it, that he was forced to fetch his beloved Owen on in-dwelling Sin, to restore Peace and comfort to his foul. But what should he do with this heretical, foul-deluding book? He durft not let it ftay in his houfe 'till the morning, for fear of fetting it on fire. He took it up in a violent rage, uttering execrations upon it as he went, laid it at the foot of an oak that grew before the door, and thought he did a wonderful act of Chriftian charity, in laying a cold stone upon it, to fave it from the rain and dew of heaven. The night he spent without closing his eyes, full of racking cares, and moft tormenting inquietude, lett his fon fhould have been infected with its principles; but was comforted in the morning, when he was affured, that the youth had never opened it, nor read a line in it.'

This young man, in process of time came to London; where, by converfation with perfons of different perfuafions, his principles began to waver; and by frequenting the Robin Hood Society, became entirely changed: in brief, he grew an infidel with respect to Revelation, and a votary to fenfual pleafures. Exceffes destroyed his health, to recover which, he returned to the place of his nativity. Here one of his fifter's children coming from fchool, and being queftioned concerning her proficiency in reading, he opened her teflament at random, and happened to read Heb. ii. 1, 2, 3, 4. the words ftruck him, and occafioned a ferious recollection; when a reperufal of the fcriptures, and Dr. BENSON'S vindication of the Chriftian Religion, made a found believer of him.

It is impoflible to avoid remarking in general, that this inftance is not perhaps fo happy a one in all its circumstances, as were to be wifhed, for the credit of the worthy cause it is published to serve. People frequently rush from one extreme to the oppofite; there is nothing therefore extraordinary, that a youth of vivacity, bred in fanatical principles, fhould be argued into fcepticifm, by the licentious difcourfes in a mug-houfe, where all religious topics are so familiarly debated. As little is it to be wondered at, that a perfon enfeebled with disorder, and returned to the place where he received his firft impreffions, fhould, by an accidental impulfe, find a returning propensity towards the principles he there imbibed in his youth.

To conclude our obfervations on this ftory, the conversion of an infidel member of any of the difputing focieties, however much to be wifhed, is undeferving the triumph of a public declaration; unlefs the motive to converfion had been more worthy infifting on, and likely to be generally ufeful in the converfion of others.

In the Appendix containing Reflections on Deifm and Chriflianity, which, in our estimation, is by far the best portion of the Pamphlet, Mr. Harwood appears as a rational and candid advocate for the Chriftian fyftem. Thefe Reflections we would feriously recommend, on the one hand, to the perufal of all arbitrary bigots to an establishment and religion they evidently do not understand; and on the other, to all ignorant bigots to fcepticifm and oppofition; who, if they are but difpofed to read, will affuredly profit by them.

DIX.

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The Remainder of the Catalogue will be inferted in our APPEN

APPENDIX

TO THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

VOLUME the TWENTY-SIXTH.

The Quarto and Octavo Editions of the Works of Henry Fielding, Efq; with the Life of the Author, by Mr. Murphy,

continued.

H

AVING, in our Review for May, recited the most material circumftances in the earliest part of Mr. Fielding's life, mentioned fome of his dramatic writings, and given an abftract of Mr. Murphy's difquifition concerning genius, we fhall here refume this entertaining effay on the life and genius of Mr. Fielding.

Our entertaining Biographer, purfuing his enquiry into the nature and properties of genius, obferves, "That he may be truly faid to be a GENIUS, who poffeffes the leading faculties of the mind in their vigour, and can exercise them with warmth and fpirit upon whatever fubject he chufes; that the imagination must be very quick and fufceptible, in order to receive the ftrongeft impreflions either from the objects of nature, the works of art, or the actions and manners of men; that the judgment also must be clear and strong, to felect the proper parts of a story or description, to dispose the various members of a work, fo as to give a lucid order to the whole, and to use such expreffion as fhall not only ferve to convey the intended ideas, but to convey them forcibly, and with that decorum of ftile, which the art of compofition requires; that invention must also concur, that new scenery may be opened to the fancy, new lights thrown upon the profpects of nature, and the fphere of our ideas be enlarged, VOL. XXVI.

I i

or

or a new affemblage be formed of them, either in the way of fable or illuftration. The power of the mind, adds he, which exerts itself in what Mr. Locke calls the affociation of ideas, muft be quick, vigorous, and warm, because it is from thence that language receives its animated figures, its bold tranflation of phrafes from one idea to another, the Ferbum ardens, the glowing metaphorical expreffion, which conftitutes the richness and boldnefs of his imagery; and from thence likewife fprings the readiness of ennobling a fentiment or defcription with the pomp of fublime comparison, or striking it deeper on the mind by the aptnefs of witty allufion. Mr. Murphy fuppofes, that what we call genius, might be ftill more minutely analyfed; but thefe, he concludes, are its principal efficient qualities; and in proportion as these, or any of thefe, fhall be found deficient in an author, so many degrees fhall he be removed from the firft rank and character of a Writer.

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To bring thefe remarks home to the late Mr. Fielding, an eftimate of him, fays our Biographer, may be justly formed, by enquiring how far these various talents may be attributed to him; or if he failed in any, what that faculty was, and what discount he muft fuffer for it. But though it will appear, perhaps, that when he attained that period of life, in which his mind was come to its full growth, he enjoyed every one of these qualifications, in great strength and vigour; yet in order to give the true character of his talents, to mark the diftinguishing specific qualities of his genius, we muft look into the temper of the man, and fee what byas it gave to his understanding; for when abilities are poffeffed in an eminent degree by feveral men, it is the peculiarity of habit that muft difcriminate them from each other.

"A Love of imitation, continues our Author, very foon prevailed in Mr. Fielding's mind. By imitation the reader will not understand that illegitimate kind, which confifts in mimicking fingularities of perfon, feature, voice, or manner; but that higher fpecies of reprefentation, which delights in juft and faithful copies of human life. So early as when he was at Leyden, a propenfity this way began to exert its emotions, and even made fome efforts towards a comedy in the fketch of Don Quixote in England. When he left that place, and fettled in London, a variety of characters could not fail to attract his notice, and of courfe to ftrengthen his favourite inclination. It has been already obferved, that diftrefs and difappointments betrayed him into occafional fits

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