ART. 33. National Calamities the confequence of National Guilt; a Sermon preached at the parish Church of Chertsey, in Surry, on the 25th of February, 1795, being the day appointed for a public Feft. By the Rev. E. W. Whitaker, Rector of St. Mildred's, and All-Saints, Canterbury. Published at the Request of the Parishioners, for the Benefit of their Sunday Schools. 4to. 15 PP. 1s. Rivingtons.

Very weighty and important are the fuggeftions of this discourse. The general course of Providence with refpect to nations is, fays this author, "that if the evils at first inflicted, produce not that alteration of conduct to which they were directed, they are fucceeded by others ftill more, fevere," proceeding thus in regular gradation till the offenders, being proved incorrigible, are finally fwept away. Under this confideration, he examines how far this nation improved under the frong admonitions of the American war. We then affembled for fupplication, "But while we thus drew near to God with our lips, what was the reformation really wrought among us? The particular alterations in the conduct of each individual may, in fome meafore be known only to himself. The amendment of fome parti cular habits, and the introduction of a more ferious turn, among fome claffes of fociety, might be noticed by thofe immediately connected with them. But any thing like a general return to the paths of temperance and piety, must have occafioned a change in the manners of the nation at large, that could not have escaped general observation, nor have left ground for those reflections which may juftly be made, on the progrefs of voluptuoufnefs and irreligion among us, fince the conclufion of that war." p. 6. He then particularizes the instances in which he conceives cenfure to be most deferved. This is taking the subject in a new, and truly religious light; and the remainder of the fermon is formed of fuitable warnings and admonitions. Among the many discourses thefe days of humiliation have produced, we have not feen any that were animated with a fincerer fpirit of piety, or more likely to produce useful reflection, and effectual amendment.

ART. 34. An earnest invitation to the Friends of the established Church, to join with feveral of their Brethren, Clergy and Laity, in London, in fetting apart one hour of every Week, for Prayer and Supplication, during the prefent troublesome Times. 12mo. pp 23. id. or 6s. a hundred. Mathews and Pridden. 1795.

This "little tract was made very useful in all former wars from the year 1756, and has gone through a great number of editions." p. 8. It contains one of those defigns at which infidelity and profaneness will fcoff, but which appears to us very commendable. They will call it enthufiaftic, we call it pious and devout. One thing is certain; whether fupplication of this kind obtain fuccefs against our enemies in war, or not; yet, being made in the true fpirit of chriftian charity, they cannot fail to obtain the divine bleffing upon the fincere and humble fuppliants.

ART. 35. The mournful and pleasing Viciffitudes of Life. A Sermon preached at St. Thomas's, Jan. 1, 1795, for the Benefit of the Charity School, in Gravel Lane, Southwark. By Robert Winter. Printed at the Request of the Managers. 8vo. 28 pp. 6d. Knott. 1795. A fenfible difcourfe, inculcating not indeed by new, but by effectual arguments, the abfurdity of devoting ourselves to this world; and written in a ftyle of fimplicity, perfpicuity, and energy.

ART. 36. A Difcourfe on the Duty of making a Teftament. By Samuel Charters, D. D. Minifter of Wilton. 8vo. Longinan. 1794.

IS.

This is a very ufeful fermon, on a subject of much importance. The text is Ifaiah xxxviii. 1. In the first part are fet forth, the reafons for making a teftament without delay; in the fecond, the things which should be attended to in making one. The difcourfe abounds with religious and moral, as well as prudential, instructions; conveyed in language very perspicuous and forcible, and generally correct and pure. At p. 73 the character of "a mother taken from young children, and the husband of her youth," is deferibed in a moft eloquent and affecting manner.

A minifter, whofe years would give propriety and add weight to leffons of this kind, might extract from this long difcourfe one or two fermons, very serviceable to any congregation. He would, probably, not agree with the author in all points; and would think, with us, that fome things might well be altered, and some omitted.

The following fact may be useful to our readers, as well as curious. It has happened within our knowledge, that, within a very few years, 189 perfons have died in a certain district, poffefed of fome property. Of thefe, 69 died inteftate; and a great portion of the remainder made their wills in their laft illnefs, figning them with a trembling hand, and in characters almoft illegible. This is no mean proof of the utility of difcourfes like that before us.

ART. 37. The gracious Errand of Chrift; or, the Chriftian Religion unfpeakably beneficial to Men; wifely adapted, and ultimately defigned, to be an univerfal Bleffing to the World. A Sermon delivered at an Affociation of Minifters, held at Coggeshall, Effex, Sep. 9, 1794, and published, with jome Additions, at their Requeft. By Richard Fry, Teacher of Languages, &c. at Billericay. 8vo. 40 PP. 68. Johnfon.

This difcourfe does credit to the judgment of thofe who requested its publication. From Luke ix. 56, the author takes occafion to prove the beneficial nature of Chriftianity: 1. By the testimony derived from Chrift's teaching; 2. from his example; and, 3. by the evidence which may be expected at the grand confummation of his kingdom in this world. Though we have met with a few things in this difcourfe, to which our approbation cannot be extended, yet, upon the whole, we pronounce it to be the work of a well-informed and pious man.

ART.

ART. 38. A Sermon preached in the Church of Wye, in Kent, on Monday, March 2, 1795, at the Funeral of John Sawbridge. Efq. of Ollantigh, in the fame Parif. By Philip Parfons, A. M. Minister of Wye. Published at request. 4to. pp. 15, 1s. Simmons, &c. Canterbury, Johnton, London, 1795.

We lament with an able writer*, that difcourfes at funerals are fo much out of ufe. He gives, briefly, fome ftrong reafons for them; together with a good fpecimen of the plain and inftructive manner in which they fhould be preached,

But the queftion of printing is very different from that of preaching. Friends are apt to defire that the refpect paid to the deceafed may be made as public as poffible; the preacher is perhaps an old acquaintance, as in this cafe of more than thirty years; he is called to his office at a fhort notice; and he writes and speaks agitated and averpowered by his prefent feelings. It is therefore a delicate point to call upon him to print his difcourfe. For our part, we should have heard fuch a difcourfe as this with emotion, because it is in fome parts of it pathetic, and we truft, with improvement, because it is found and inftructive; but poffibly we might not have thought it fo important in its matter as to be induced to join in a request for its publication. The account given of Mr. Sawbridge is rather a general panegyric than an accurate delineation of his character.

ART. 39. Athaliab; or, The Torfin founded by Modern Alarmifts, Two Collection Sermons towards defraying the Expence of the Defend ants in the late Trials for High Treafon, preached on the Nineteenth of April, 1795, in St. Paul's Chapel, Norwich. By Mark Wilks, a Norfolk Farmer. 8vo. 106 pp. 1s. 6d. Robinfon, 1795. We are at a lofs which to admire moft in this publication, the titlepage, the occafion, the text, or the context. This preacher thinks the principles and measures which called for the trials of Meffrs. Hardy, &c. not only innocent, but commendable. The profecuted he ranks among the moft virtuous of mankind, the profecutors among

the most abominable. If Mr. Wilks does not cultivate his own fields with more skill than he does the fields of politics, and behave to his immediate connections with better temper than he does to the public, he must be alike reprehenfible as a farmer, a preacher, a writer, and

a man.

LAW.

ART. 40. The Law refpecting Horfes. By A. Stovia. Small 8vo. Butterworth. 1794.

IS.

The author of this little tract, in his advertisement, gives the following account of its object-" All that is meant is to give a general

* Mr. Jones: Sermons on moral and religious fubjects. vol. i. p. 73.

idea of the law refpecting horfes, fo far as is neceffary to be known by those who are in the daily habit of trafficking on those noble animals, and to whom queftions of law will frequently occur, the folution of which may be defirable, when it may neither be convenient nor worth their while to afk profeffional affiftance."-What Mr. Stovin has thus projected, he seems to have accomplished with sufficient fuccin&tnefs and perfpicuity.

ART. 41. A full Report of all the Proceedings on the Trial of the Rev. William Jackfon, at the Bar of his Majesty's Court of King's Bench, Ireland, on an Indiament for High-Treafon, felected from the Notes of William Ridgeway, William Lupp, and John Schooles, Efqrs. Barrif ters at Law. 8vo. 142 pp. 3s. Debrett. 1795.

The above is feemingly a faithful and accurate account of the proceedings against an unfortunate man whofe guilt was but too apparent; and whofe melancholy fate we earnestly hope may operate as a warning against all who may have been induced to countenance fimilar nefa rious enterprises.

ART. 42. The Laws refpecting Wills, Tftaments, and Codicils, and Executors, and Adminiftrators, laid down in a plain and eafy Manner; in which all technical Terms of Law are familiarly explained; and in which the Statute of Wills, and fuch parts of the Statute of Frauds and Perjuries, as relate to the Subject of Devifes, are particularly confidered and expounded, with proper Remarks and Directions for the Confideration of thofe who wish to make their own Wills. Also the Methods of Defcent and Diftribution of Property, where no Will is made. As collected from the feveral Reports and other Books of Autho rity, up to the Commencement of the prefent Eafter Term, 1795. Containing like wife an Account of the necessary Expences attending the Probate of Wills, and obtaining Letters of Adminiftration; with the Stamps on which Difcharges for Legacies and Diftributive Shares of Inteftates Effects are to be written. And an Appendix of Precedents; comprifing a great variety of the most approved Forms of Wills, Teftaments, and Codicils, relative to every Species of Property. The whole interfperfed with Notes and References, adapted to the Ufe of the Profeffion. By the Author of the Laws refpecting Landlords and Tenants. 8vo. 25. fewed. Clarke and Son.

It is an old law adage, copied from the Italian proverb of Che s'infegna, &c. that the man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client. If he undertakes, of choice, to become fo in making his will, he feems to us to verify the proverb in the most obvious and ftriking inftance. For the ill confequences of his ignorance fall upon those whom he loves beft, and wishes to benefit moft. As in many cafes, however, a professional affiftance can not be had fo foon as it may be requifite, a competent knowledge of the legal forms of conveying property by will, becomes highly ufeful to men of various ranks in life. Such a degree of information may be well enough collected from this familiar little treatise.

ART.

ART. 43. The Laws refpe&ting. Mafters and Servants; Articled Clerks, Apprentices, Journeymen, and Manufacturers. Comprifing as well the Laws refpecting Combinations amongst Workmen, as all other Matters relative to Mafters and their Servants, laid down in a plain and eafy Manner; and in which all technical Terms of Law are familiarly explained. Collected and digefted from the feveral Reports and other Books of Authority up to the prefent Eafter Term, 1795. Alfo a com plete Abstract of the late Act relative to the Admiffion of Articled Clerks, as practifing Solicitors and Attornies in his Majesty's Courts at Weftminfter, and the Courts of the Great Seffions in Wales. Together with an Appendix of Precedents; comprifing a great variety of the most ap proved Forms of Articles and Indentures of Clerkship and Apprenticeship, Agrements, Alignments, and other Inftruments relating to the above Subject. The whole interfperfed with Notes and References adapted to the Ufe of the Profeffion. By the Author of the Laws respecting Landlords and Tenants, and the Law of Wills. 8vo. 2s. fewed. Clarke and Son, 1795.

The compiler of this and the preceding pamphlet, feems to think, that though a great book may be a great evil, an overgrown titlepage cannot be fo. To a thing of about ninety-fix pages, he has prefixed a title longer than would ferve for an Encyclopædia. Our author reminds us of those itinerant exhibitors of monitrous curiofities, who tempt the gazing multitude with difplaying refemblances of thefe rare works of nature, upon the outfide of the vehicle that contains them. Whether our fhowman has, by this trick of the times, tempted many to walk in and view his collection, at the price of two shillings a piece, we are unable to determine. But, as for ourselves, we must declare that we have not received the worth of our money, either in entertainment or inftruction. It is but a flimfy performance.

We cannot, however, help feriously reprobating the practice of annexing an appendix of precedents to a familiar treatife like the prefent. It can anfwer no end, except to fwell the bulk and enhance the price of the book. To a profeffional man, thofe forms which are added here can be of no ufe. For, even taking it for granted that they are correct, he may find them in a hundred books befides. We feel it a point of conscience to diffuade other common claffes of people from attempting to use them; fince, for one inftance in which they might be enabled to purfue them with fafety, there would be twenty where they would inevitably draw them into mittakes.

ART. 44. A concife Treatife on the Courts of Law of the City of London. By Thomas Emerson, an Attorney of the Court of King's Bench, and One of the Four Attornies of the Lord Mayor's Court. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Nichols. 1794.

Mr. Emerfon has here given a clear and concife account of the origin, conftitution, practice, and jurifdiction of the four courts in which the City of London exercifes her judicial franchifes. It does not feem to have been his object to give his readers a minute view of his fubject, or to confide to them all that knowledge which would be

requifite