brought to the test of scripture, and cannot be determined by any other authority. With great respect I beg leave to subscribe myself, My lord, your lordship's affectionate brother in Christ, WILLIAM FREND.'

In a similar strain, Mr. F. continues from Alpha to Omega.In Letter 2, he maintains, against the Bishop, that dipping is the only true baptism; and consequently that neither he nor his Lordship ever was baptized-In Letter 3, he endeavours to prove that the necessity of baptism ceased with the apostolic age.-Letters 4 and 5 treat on Excommunication, and the mischiefs derived from it.-The subjects of Letter 6 are Heresy, and the Abuse of Authority.-We shall transcribe a passage rela-tive to a clause in the 20th Article of the Church of England, regarding the power of the Church to decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controversies of Faith.

These words stand in all the copies of the articles now printed by authority, and yet it is supposed, that they are a forgery: for, the original writing is still extant in Benet college library; and there are several printed copies of the articles about the same date, in which, as well as in the original, these words are not to be found. The controversy may be seen at full length in a book entitled, "Priestcraft in perfection," to which I beg leave to refer your lordship; and there is a gentleman now alive, who, if not engaged in more important pursuits, could throw additional light upon this extraordinary. transaction.

Your lordship accounts for the omission in the following manner. "This first clause is not in the MS. copy of the articles in the library of Benet college Cambridge, which is thus accounted for: that copy was left to the college by Archbishop Parker, and was the one signed by the bishops, &c. when they first met: they afterwards agreed to add this clause, and another copy including it was signed. The former copy remained in the hands of the Archbishop, and was left by him to the college; the second copy was deposited in the registercourt of the province of Canterbury, and was burnt in the fire of London *." Here are some point-blank assertions, in which it is possible, that your lordship may be mistaken. The Bishops may not have met as you assert; may not have made a second copy; may not have signed it, &c. &c. &c. Without any imputation on your fordship's veracity I have my doubts on your statement: for your lordship lives between two and three hundred years since the transac tion is supposed to have happened, and you have not referred your readers to a single authority in support of this very extraordinary history. What then am I to write in the margin of your work? Á simple query. How came the bishop of Lincoln to be so exact it his account of a transaction, which happened between two and thre centuries ago? Was it by inspiration, by tradition, or by historica evidence? In the next edition of your work I shall hope to be satis

Vol. II. p. 332.

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fied on these points, and in the mean time recommend most strenuously to your lordship to weigh in as equal a balance the authority of the early fathers, several of whom were addicted to the use of a figure in speech, which, however current in the days of credulity, is now reprobated in all good company.'

We shall now satisfy ourselves with giving the summary of the remaining Letters, in the author's table of contents, prefixed to each of them:

Authority. The famous fires in Alexandria and London-the writer takes a journey-is much abused on the road—finds the early fathers-different ways of travelling-some very strange strange parties galloped over a great number of people.

Episcopalians-Presbyterians. Derivation and meaning of the words church, bishop, presbyter-a long ladder-uninterrupted succession of bishops where -alliance of church and state-alliance of kirk and state-all Christians equally priests-but a public teacher or reader may be useful.

The Lord's Supper. Fables according to the bishop dangerous, deceitful, and blasphemous-the Lord's supper in its origin-how changed-not a supper, but a feast upon a sacrifice.

• Ditto. Invasion of the king's prerogative-attempt to restore it-objections to the perpetuity of the rite of the Lord's supper

use and abuse of it.

The Trinity. Unchristian disputes on the trinity-Jewish opinions of the oneness of God-belief nominal or real-archbishop Seckerartist's widow-Hindoo trinity.

Ditto. Erroneous judgment-singular use of language instanced in the Norfolk dialect-did not lead the Jews into errour-and is not an apology for the sons of Japhet.

Ditto. Search after the trinity in the New Testament-three passages examined-nine persons in the trinity-trinity not found by the bishop in either Old or New Testament.

Ferish Slanders. Jesus not God before he was thirty years old made himself God afterwards if we believe the Jews-denies that he ever made himself God-the Jews put him to death against their law.

The Son of God. Son of God an appellation common to a great portion of the human race- Adam and Jesus in a more appropriate manner sons of God-Jesus the son of God-but not the son of himself.

Beginning of Eternity. Eternity of the earth-form of Godhumiliation of God.

The Holy Spirit. A spirit brooding over matter not the Holy Ghost-the holy spirit a thing given-procession of the holy spirit -the holy spirit allowed by the bishop to be a quality.

"The Three Witnesses. A verse in the English bible spurious-hopes that the bishop will continue the examination of the scriptures.

Sin of being born. Predestination-newspaper heresy-mother and babe-bishop's babes-the women puzzled-suspicion of episcopal heresy-author's opinion on the five points.

Heresy. Heresy! heresy! heresy !-profane swearing a very idle custom-the bishop and the author agree-the church of England

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point-blank against them both-bishop's violent language against the church-it is safer for one man to steal a horse than for another to look over the hedge.

• Conclusion. The bishop and the author convicted-can any one be a member of the church of England-wisdom of the articles for christian communion-conclusion.'

From the contents alone, the reader will be inclined to expect at least some amusement from these half serious, kalf-jocose epistles; though he may disapprove the manner and differ from the sentiments of the author.

ART. XI. Annals of the French Revolution; or a chronological Account of the principal Events; with a Variety of Anecdotes and Characters hitherto unpublished. By A. F. Bertrand de Moleville, Minister of State. Translated by R. C. Dallas, Esq. from the original Manuscript of the Author, which has never been published. 8vo. 4 Vols. pp. about 450 in each. Il. 105. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1800.

A Supplement to the Annals of the French Revolution, &c. &c.; or Observations upon the critical Remarks of M. Mallet du Pan in his Review of that Work, &c. By the Author of the Annals. 8vo. 6d. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1800.

Correspondence between M. Bertrand de Moleville and the Hon. Charles James Fox, upon his Quotation of the Annals of the French Revolution, in the Debate in the House of Commons 3d Feb. 1800. With a Translation, by R. C. Dallas, Esq. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Jordan Hookham. 1800.

HETHER we consider the French revolution as a meteor W which, though vivid in its corruscations, blazes only to expire; or as a chaotic mass, of which the particles, however agitated and heterogeneous, must gradually subside, and ultimately constitute a well defined and regular whole;—in whatever light we view this event, its history must continue for ages to be extremely interesting; and both philosophers and politicians will have recourse to it, in illustrating the science of politics, and in superintending the affairs of nations. Yet of actions in which so many millions have been engaged, there will be a variety of reporters; and where the conflict has been maintained with every passion, in its fullest energy, that could inflame the human breast, we cannot expect from either party the calm decisions of impartiality. Whoever at present attempts to delineate this varied picture will throw over it the warm colouring of his own prejudices and passions; he will contemplate events through a disturbed medium; and a thousand strokes will discover undè movetur opus.

As

As M. Bertrand de Moleville had opportunities of seeing and knowing moch relative to the Revolution, his Annals will be consulted by the future historian; though he may not uniformly adopt the epithets by which the events are described, nor assign them to the same originating motives. We observe, however, an evident desire of stating things with accuracy; and the author has brought together and preserved many papers, speeches, and anecdotes, which will render his work a valuable book of reference *. It contains forty-five chapters, and includes a period of three years; commencing with the retreat of the Archbishop of Sens in August 1788, when Louis XVI. engaged to convoke the States-General; and concluding with the dissolution of the first National Assembly, on their passing and on the king's accepting the Constitutional Act, in September 1791.

This short period has produced more matter which is calculated to excite the passions of party-men, and to awaken the reflections of speculative minds, than ordinarily occurs in the history of nations in the course of a century.

The French Revolution is here ascribed to Philosophy, to the American War, and to the appointment of a Minister born a Republican, as its primary causes: but one of the events which immediately contributed to excite it and bring it into action, M. Bertrand considers to be the death of Marshal Biron, Colonel of the French Guards in Sept. 1788; who was so beloved by his men, that it is supposed that their affection for him. would have preserved them, while he lived, from every revolutionary impression and innovation. We are not competent to decide on the force and extent of military attachment. Soldiers will no doubt be greatly influenced by a commander whom they love and esteem: but in preventing popular and revolutionary ferments among them, more, perhaps, is effected by discipline than by affection; and mere regard to a leader is not likely to obstruct the progress of prevalent opinions, when ciscumstances contribute to agitate and convulse the minds of

men.

To the convocation of the States-General, and to that series of events which elevated the Tiers Etat into consequence, and in fact annihilated the two other orders by their union with it, we may attribute the more immediate progress of the French Revolution. Either through fear or bad advice, or both, the Monarchy at that critical period was betrayed into measures which it was afterward unable to retrieve, and which led to

See also a former publication by this author, Rev. vol. xxiii. N.S. p. 121, and 423.

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its complete overthrow. These measures are minutely detailed in the volumes before us; interspersed with such reflections as a writer of M. Bertrand's connections may be supposed to indulge. Considering the variety of ways in which this revolu tionary dish has been served up to the public, it will not be expected that we should follow M. Bertrand through the contents of every chapter; nor prolong this article by comments on each dubious fact or opinion: but we shall attend to a few important facts.

In his account of the attack and storming of the Bastile, the author has not mentioned particulars which have been related by other historians: but we cannot undertake to pronounce how far his correctness is to be impeached. The demolition of this prison was certainly accompanied with circumstances of horror and atrocity, which the advocates for strong or despotic governments are warranted in producing as proofs of the fickle and sanguinary temper of the mob. After having stated the cruelty and want of faith which were manifested in the butchery of the Governor, and in the treatment of the soldiers who submitted to the populace on the capture of the Bastile, M. Bertrand thus proceeds:

It was with great difficulty that the French Guards who had taken charge of these prisoners, saved them from the fury of the people, and carried them as far as the Hotel-de-Ville. They led them into the Hall where the Electors were holding their sitting. One of those pretended Magistrates, a worthy representative of the cannibals, who from the Place-de-Greve were roaring out for fresh victims, was brutal enough to say to these wretched prisoners, the moment he saw them appear, "You have fired upon your fellow-citizens; you deserve to be hanged, and hanged you shall be immediately."" Ay, ay," echoed a thousand voices," hang them all; away with all of them to the lantern!" This sentence of death, however, was not executed, being prevented by the interposition of the French Guards, one of whom addressing the Electors said, "These soldiers are our prisoners; we request they may not be taken out of our hands. If our services have been useful to you, now is the time we wish to receive the reward of them, by having our prisoners pardoned." The acclamation of Pardon! pardon! repeated by all the French Guards who had escorted them, was also vociferated by that very crowd who the moment before were making the Hall resound with the most sanguinary cries. The History of the French Revolution will furnish many other examples of the extreme rapidity with which the populace pass from the excess of barbarity to mild and humane feelings; they are ever tigers or lambs, according to the impulse given them, and never one or the other by halves; to do every thing for them and nothing by them is the counsel that wisdom gives to every Government; to

*This is one of the maxims of La Rochefoucault. Rev.