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collection of notes, which are not uninteresting, though suffi-
ciently trite, is appended to the volume. In these, Mr. Stewart
is sometimes guilty of his favourite poetical sins;—he says, in
one place," the chaplet of roses equally intertwined the brow
of voluptuous pleasure, and hung the commemorative urn.*
We give the author credit, however, for some improvement:
there is nothing in his present specimen of prose to equal the
following matchless fustian, from his former work; "Fancy
images new creations: and Hope, whilst she fashions the ener-
gies of fortitude, weaves the brow with her brightest roses."
Something like this might be expected, perhaps, in a young
lady's novel, or a young gentleman's sermon; but in a Poet's
preface it is intolerable. We must also do Mr. S. the justice
to add, that his rhymes are respectably correct, and that his
versification is, on the whole, smooth and even brilliant.

Art. XV. The Christian Spectator; or Religious Sketches from Real Life.
Part II. By the Rev. W. Wilton, M. A. Rector of South Stoke,
Sussex; and Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
12mo. pp 180 Price 2s. 6d. Hatchard. 1808.

THE popularity acquired by the former part of the Christian Spectator,

has, we are happy to find, been so considerable as to elicit from the worthy author a continuation of his work, and an avowal of his name. The claims of the present publication are, in our opinion, more than equal to those of its predecessor, and will doubtless find patrons equally numerous and friendly; "the same object." Mr. Wilton observes, "has been kept in view, and the same attempt been made to teach the art of turning the most common occurrences of life to some good account." It would not be difficult to specify instances in which there is too much appearance of effort in this attempt, or in which the expression is less. commendable than the sentiment. But this we think would be unnecessary; the work has general merits which intitle it not only to the candour, but to the warm encouragement of every Christian reader. All the anecdotes introduced in this part, to suggest or exemplify pious reflections, are said to be founded on fact; some of these are highly interesting. The character of Maria is particularly beautiful. We shall copy one short anecdote, rather to gratify the reader, than to afford a satisfactory specimen of the work.

Not many days had elapsed since the foregoing event, (a meeting of some soldiers for devotional exercises) when a very remarkable instance occurred of the Divine blessing upon such social prayer as we have just described. Two soldiers, having quarrelled, determined to fight till one should fall. The sun, which, when it rose upon the world, saw them both breathing the breath of life, it was resolved, should behold one of them at least, ere it set, a lifeless corpse. In this murderous state of mind, they retired to an adjoining wood, to execute their fatal purpose. But here immediately upon their arrival, their attention was arrested by some sounds, as of men talking, issuing from a spot at no great distance from them. They listened the sounds still continued, one while growing more faint and feeble, and again waxing

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louder and louder. Curiosity led them towards the place from whence the voices proceeded, and there, to their great surprise, they beheld a party of their fellow-soldiers assembled together, not like themselves, for the purpose of murder, but of prayer! No church opened its sacred doors to admit them into "the place where God's honour dwelleth,” "the habitation of His house," which they "loved" better than silver or gold; nor had they any private chamber, wherein to prostrate themselves before their Redeeming Lord. In the deep recess, therefore, of the wood they had sought a sanctuary, where no eye might see them, but the eye of Him who sees all things, and where they might, without interruption and distraction, pour out their hearts in His presence. Thus were they engaged, when the two combatants were attracted to the spot. Suspending awhile the execution of their fell resolve, these sons of violence drew nearer and nearer still, and hearkened to their pious comrades❜ words. But what were their feelings, when they heard them praying for their sinful fellow-soldiers, of whom they themselves formed so sinful a part! They continued listening-they were melted into tenderness→→→→ they were shaken from their murderous purpose-they were convinced of the guilt of their conduct-they embraced as brethren, joined their fellow-soldiers in their devotions, returned in peace, and have not only ever since lived in friendship and fraternal love, but, from the most profane and profligate characters, have become conspicuous for piety and virtue.' Art. XVI The Importance of Personal Religion, in Times of National Calamity: A Sermon preached at Orange street Chapel, Leicesterfields, and the Union Chapel, Islington, on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1808. being the day appointed for the General Fast. By the Rev. I. Cobbin. pp. 32. Price 1s. Williams, Ogle. 1808.

THE sentiments of this plain, but serious discourse, are worthy of general reception. They are deduced from Ezek. xiv. 20. and arranged under the following heads. "Eminent saints have great influence with God-the influence of saints is of no avail when guilty sinners are ripe for judgement-in the midst of a desolating judgement, God's people are the subjects of his peculiar protection-God's people owe their protection to the distinguishing mark of personal holiness-God does not overlook outward evidence; good works will not save you, but they will testify for you---the personal holiness of one will not do for anotherthe solemn truth is confirmed by the oath of God." The sermon will be found to contain many important and solemn admonitions, amply supported by quotations from Scripture.

Art. XVII. Athas 'Oupános, The Calestial Atlas; or, A New Ephemeris for the Year of our Lord 180; being Bissextile, or Leap Year. Wherein are contained the Heliocentrick and Geocentrick Places of the Planets, the Eclipses of the Luminaries, and other remarkable Phonomena that will happen this Year. Carefully computed, &c. &c. &c. By Robert White. 8vo. pp. 48. Price 2s. 3d. Greenhill, Stationers' Hall, 1808.

THIS comprehensive and convenient publication is so well known to our scientific readers, that there is much less necessity for describing

its nature and use, than for explaining the motives which induce us to notice it. It is indeed a work of no little importance in the pursuits and amusements of astronomy; for, though it cannot boast the advantage of minute detail, the special adaptation to nautical purposes, and the sanction of the Board of Longitude, which are peculiar to the "Nautical Almanac," yet, being considerably cheaper, and more commodious, it is much better suited for general circulation. It is highly desirable that a work of this kind should be compiled and edited by com etent and careful persons. A regular perusal of the successive impressions enables us to assert with confidence, that, in both respects, there is ample room for amendment; and it is partly from feelings of vexation at the continual mistakes into which we have been led by consulting it, and partly from a s nse of our duty as guardians of the interests of science, that we now advert to the unpardonable inaccuracies with which this Ephemeris is, year after year, presented to the public.

We are far from imputing blame to the Worshipful Company of Stationers, who are the proprietors of the work, or to Mr. Hansard, the printer. The paper is excellent, much better, indeed, than formerly; and the typographical execution is highly respectable. it will gratify us to perceive, in the next impression, that the more important requisites are supplied with equal propriety.

As we have been at the pains to draw out a List of the principal errors that have attracted our notice in the Ephemeris for 1808. and shall insert it at lengt, for the satisfaction of the public, it will be unnecessary to make many comments on particular instances of carelessness. Several of them are not of primary importance, and some might easily escape the observation of a negligent editor. But we are completely at a loss to frame any excuse for such an omission as that of the Signs in the table of Mercury's heliocentric longitude, for nine months together, from the first of April to the end of the year! and are unable to imagine any neglect half so gross and ridiculous, except the omission of the years in a table of chronology. It is impossible there should be one blunder more obvious and disreputable than this; yet the reader will observe several others of no little importance. In the Speculum Phenomenorum, for instance, Herschel is said to be stationary, Jan. 8th, instead of Feb. 8th. In the last three days of the year, there is an error of a degree in Jupiter's longitude An eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite, Jan. 8, is promised at 57 min. 34 sec. past 12 at noon, which should have been 59 min. 34 sec., a difference that would produce an error of not less than half a degree in determining the longitude. of a place. There are some other inaccuracies which we could not so well notice in a list of errata. There are twenty or thirty, we suppose, of one class; we mean those, where he times of sunrise and sunset are stated differently, in periods of the year when the sun's declination is nearly or precisely the same; a flagrant ex niple will be found in the difference of three minutes between Feb. 16 and Oct. 26, on which days the times should correspond to less than a minute. It is rather curious, too, that these discrepant risings and settings disagree also with those deduced from the tables of the Sun's semi-diurnal Arcs, pp. 40-43.

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Art. XVIII. Strict Fidelity and Holy Fear: a Sermon on the muchlamented Death of the Rev. Cornelius Winter, preached at the Interment, in the Independent Meeting, Painswick, Jan. 19, 1808. By William Bishop (Glocester.) Published at the Request of the Church. 8vo. pp. 35. Price 1s. Williams and Co. 1808.

THIS is an animated and very interesting sermon, though not wholly

free from literary or logical inaccuracies. The venerable servant of God to whom it refers, was of that order of human beings which it is delightful and salutary to hear celebrated. His character is described with a warmth of reverential friendship that forcibly excites the reader's sympathy, and in language that, in reference to most other persons, would be liable to the suspicion of flattery. The biography of this excellent man, who shared, at an early period of his life, in the friendship, the journeyings, and the labours of George Whitfield, is in the hands of Mr. Jay; we shall therefore make no other remark, at this time, on his character, or his death, than that they are eminently adapted to awaken the emulation of the Christian and the envy of the Sceptic. He died Jan. 10, 1808, aged 65.

The text of this impressive and sensible discourse, is Nehem. vii. 2, He was a faithful man, and feared God above many. The distribution of the subject is copious; and several of the passages, if we had room, could not fail to gratify our readers.

Art. XIX. A Dialogue between a Lady and her Pupils, describing a Journey through England and Wales; with a Detail of the Manu factures of each City and Town, and Descriptions of Natural History. Designed for Schools in general. By Mrs. Brooke. Second Edition, considerably enlarged; together with an introductory Account of England, and of the British Empire, by John Evans, A. M. 12mo. pp. 374. Price 6s. Symonds. 1808.

THE journey here described is supposed to be made over a map. To

suppose the possibility of making an actual tour through England, without procuring more accurate and more useful information, than that which is contained in this volume, would be utterly impracticable. The sole point of intelligence that our readers may depend on finding, concerning" each (every) city and town" that is here named (for some market towns are not mentioned) is, the computed distance from London; and this is often notoriously wrong. The writer's ignorance of manufactures, and the unparalleled obscurity and confusion of the style, usually render the descriptions unintelligible, and frequently ludicrous. A few hearty laughs, on occasions of this kind, are the only recompence that we have obtained for our trouble in perusing the volume; and, therefore, the only gratification that we can promise our readers, if they are inclined to undertake the same labour.

Art. XX. Essays of the London Architectural Society, Royal 8vo. pp. 150. 4 plates. Price 7s. J. Taylor, 1808.

THE Society from which this respectable publication originates, is but of recent institution; we commend the principles on which it is formed, and have no doubt its productions will be increasingly popular as it proceeds. The Society meets once a fortnight. Each member is ex

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