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"The greatest promises are made to fervent prayer. If the prayer, love, faith, &c. either of the sinner himself, or of any one else be sufficiently fervent, God will give him repentance unto a salvation. But how shall any of us say this of ourselves? This would be to depend upon ourselves, and our own abilities, instead of having faith in Christ alone." p. 411.

Once more; Hartley, in specifying "six things which seem more especially to threaten ruin and dissolution to the present states of Christendoin," states,

"Fourthly, The licentiousness and contempt of every kind of authority, divine and human, which is so notorious in inferiors of all ranks." P. 441.

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The last paragraph meets with an appropriate commentary, in Mr. Frend's exhortations to disregard those, whose opinions depend on the spot which gave them birth, or who, like the shrine-makers of old, pursue their sordid interest in making an outcry for their Diana,' in his preference of 'the chains of the body to the shackles on the mind,' in his revilings against the ipse dixits of priests,' the protestant would-be inquisitors,' the submission of the instructed to usurped authority,' &c.

Our author again weaves the web of sophistry, in the introduction of his Amusements' for May; where he speaks of the Jesuits Sueur and Jacquier, and their declaration respecting the falsehood of the Copernican system, in their edition of Newton's Principia. The train of his reasoning is this:

The decrees of the Popes against the motion of the earth are not more absurd, than the decisions of other divines on a variety of points. Yet what shall we think of these popes, and these divines, if the one threaten. with the inquisition the publication of a book, contrary to their decrees, and the other insist on an acquiescence in their opinions, under the penalty of their vengeance. It is evident, that both the popes and the divines feel equally, that they are maintaining a falsehood. pp. 78, 79.

The only remaining quotation for which we have room, introduces the lucubrations for June.

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I have been diverted from the purpose I had in view, at the close of my last year's work, by the attack that has been made upon it: but I am by no means sorry, that the attack has been made; as it has given me an opportunity of impressing on your mind, some awful and important truths,' p. 93.

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Awful and important indeed! Such, for example, as that 'sentiments are placed in the mouth, that victory is a scene'-that there are evenings in the heavens, that truths dispel mists,-that the shield of truth is recorded in the Scriptures,' that greater part of the European world' wor

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ship mortals with whom they have filled the heavens,'-that those who differ from Mr. Frend have a worldly interest in the support of opposite opinions,'-that Mr. Lindsey, (who was only known to the public as a controversial writer) en deavoured to call off Christians from anti-christian conflicts," -that Newton and Hartley preceded Mr. Frend in his theological opinions,-that the treatment which Galileo met with was of the same kind, and emanated from the same motives, as that more recently experienced by Mr. Frend, and that the said Mr. Frend is a second Abdiel!

These awful truths' we leave to make their full impres sion: and now,' to adopt once more this author's language, begging our readers to let Abdiel's conduct have due weight upon their minds, that they may preserve their characters as rational beings, we' retire from this our monthly employ

ment.

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Art. VI. The Patriot's Vision; a Poem. To which is added a Mo nody on the Death of the Right Hon. Charles James Fox. 4to. pp. 34. Price 2s. 6d. Gale and Curtis. 1810.

IN almost every age, it has been the favourite employment of querulous moralists, to represent mankind as having suffered a gradual deterioration. These ingenious declaimers please themselves with drawing invidious comparisons between the corrupt refinements of the times in which they live, and the virtuous simplicity of ages that are past. They turn with impatience from the rough ground beneath them, and deck out in the fairest colours of imagination the softened distance from which they are receding.

However idle or absurd such general and therefore unmeaning lamentations must be considered, it is yet undeniable that in the affairs of life and the government of empires, there are vicissitudes, which, if they happen from unforeseen calamity are intitled to pity, and if from obstinate misconduct deserve the severest reproof. To which of these causes the political disasters of nearly the last fifty years of English history are fairly imputable, is a question we must be excused from resolving. The writer, whose performance now lies before us, ascribes them without reserve to culpable improvidence; and whatever be the propriety or impropriety of his sentiments as a politician, we must at least pay a respectful tribute to his talents as a poet. The merits of this publication are indeed much more considerable than its bulk. It consists but of two poems; and, though the subjects are copious, they are both short. Of this condensation, however, we do not complain; for brevity is not among the vices of modern literature.

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The plan of the Patriot's Vision' is concise and simple. The thoughts naturally suggested to the mind of a staunch Whig by the boisterous loyalty of last October, dispose themselves into a sort of methodical dream. The poet is first carried back to the happy era of our beloved sovereign's ac cession to the throne. He imagines himself in presence of the guardian genius of Britain: he listens with delight to her spléndid recital of his country's greatness, and hears with triumph her bright anticipations of its future glory. Suddenly the scene is changed. To the day of coronation succeeds the memorable day of jubilee. The poet again recognizes the celestial visitant, but not arrayed, alas! in her 'original brightness! No longer encircled by admiring crowds, she mourns in solitary anguish over her faded prospects and disappointed hopes, and recounts in wild complainings' the melancholy story of baffled arms and distracted counsels,—of imbecility unfortunately enterprising, and bravery exposed to combat with impossibilities.

From this brief sketch of the design, we proceed to give a few specimens of the execution.

Now had indulgent sleep her poppies shed,
With gentle hand, around my pillow'd head.
From waking musings fancy's power supplies
A shadowy scene deck'd out in playful guise :
To former times my thoughts excursive stray;
'Twas youthful George's coronation-day.
I saw a multitude, in number more

'Than stars above, than sands on ocean's shore:-
For Erin's vales, and Scotia's bleak domains,
And Cambria's hills, and England's cultur'd plains
Pour'd forth their tribes, convened with one accord
To greet their native prince, and hail him lord.
Lo! in the midst appear a gallant band,
The princes, knights, and nobles of the land;
Whose marshall'd ranks around their sovereign wait,
In all the pomp and pride of glorious state:
Ten thousand glittering banners wave on high,
And shouts on shouts redoubling rend the sky.
When lo! a lovely form, celestial, bright,
Descending slowly, struck the dazzled sight.
In arms resplendent shone the martial maid:
A sun-bright halo round her temples play'd.
As, throned on radiant clouds, she nearer drew,
Her heavenly features, gradual, met the view.
Then could the multitude, admiring, trace
Mild dignity and awe-commanding grace,
And joy triumphant beaming in her face.
And now they see confess'd before them stand
The guardian genius of their native land;

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And softly swelling on th' attentive ear

Sublimely sweet, these awful strains they hear. pp. 6, 7.

Her strains' are animated and majestic; and the bright atchievements of English valour at Quebec, at Plassey, and at Minden, as well as the vigorous prudence of Lord Chatham, are sketched with a masterly pencil. Our limits, however, forbid us to enlarge; and we pass on to what may be called the second dream, which is connected to the first with considerable ingenuity. Having been suddenly awakened, the poet tells us,

Soon balmy sleep resumed her gentle reign,
Restoring Fancy's visionary, train.

But, ah! no glorious images arise
Of former days the fond illusion flies:
And heavy thoughts, to present times confined,
In gloomy contrast, crowd upon the mind.
'Twas eventide the memorable day
Of Jubilee was wearing fast away.
Methought I rambled forth in pensive mood,
And sad and slow my lonely walk pursued.
October's moon, with wan malignant light,
Gleam'd forth by fits, portentous, on the night:
While reckless, lost in thought, I wander'd wide
Wherever chance my devious steps might guide.
At length I start appall'd, and look around ;-
The place was strange, I trod on unknown ground,
And rising terror whisper'd that I stood
Lost in the depths of some enchanted wood.
What thrilling sound was that? The sullen breeze
Low muttering thro' the dark embowering trees?
No-hark! again the sound assails my ear:

Whence comes it? What dread power inhabits here?
Again? Ha! now, tho' changed, that voice I know;
From thee, from thee, those plaintive accents flow,
Angel of Britain! I thy presence hail,

And breathless listen to thy dreadful tale.' pp. 11, 12.

The principal effect of this performance will be observed to result from the skilful opposition of its parts. With contrast, indeed, poetry, like painting, has ever been delighted. The great difficulty is to distribute the light and shade in just proportion; and it may perhaps be questioned, if, in the counterfeit presentments' before us, there is not a little imaginary sunshine and a little fictitious gloom.

The Monody' on the death of Mr. Fox, contains a simple commemoration of the virtues of that illustrious statesman, and a pathetic lamentation for his untimely loss. It is at tempted partly in imitation of Milton's Lycidas:' but the imitation is neither constrained nor servile; and the author in

some of his happiest efforts has depended entirely on his own powers. The masked habit of a shepherd he has prudently declined, as well as the incongruous imagery of Milton, whose name, great as it confessedly is, can by no means reconcile us to the awkward appearance of St. Peter in company with Camus and Hippotades.

The character of Mr. Fox is drawn in the following lines with considerable judgement.

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Indulgent Nature, in her happiest hour,
With fond solicitude combined

The elements that form'd his manly mind;
Then on the master piece, complacent, smiled,
Where dignity with softness blended shone :
Her liberal hands, with lavish bounty, shower
Peculiar gifts to grace her darling child;
Her tender love and partial care impart
The rarest talents with the kindest heart,
An intellectual nerve of soul:

And o'er his high-wrought faculties was thrown,
With influence mild attempering the whole,

A veil of graceful candour all his own. pp. 28, 29.

The personifications of War, Slavery, and Corruption, are not without merit. The conclusion of the Monody is animated and impressive; but our remarks have already exceeded their usual proportion, and it is now time to refer our readers to the publication itself, which, though marked with symptoms of haste and carelessness, evinces respectable talents and a cultivated taste.

Art. VII. Synopsis of Geography, for the Use of the Junior Department of the Royal Military College at Great Marlow, Bucks. 8vo. pp. 58. Gloucester, J. Harris. 1807.

THE author of this Synopsis' must on no account ascribe

it to personal disrespect, that this ingenious performance has lain so long neglected. As he has thought proper, with that humility which generally characterizes a great mind, to publish his book anonymously, we have not the pleasure even of knowing his name: we can appreciate, however, the merits of the work, and this is all with which, as reviewers, we have to do.

It is with peculiar interest, that we turn to a book published under the authority of the governors of an institution of so much celebrity and importance as the Royal Military College. Here we naturally expect that the most able professors of the different sciences are employed, and the most skilful methods of tuition adopted; and if ever review ers can hope that they may increase their own stock of

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