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We have heard of a bird, a native of the fen-countries, called, by the country people, a dotterel: when this bird thinks itfelf in danger, it thrufts its head among the fedges, fagely concluding that as this part is hid, its tail is in no danger of being feen.

Art. 47. The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D. Vol. XIV. 8vo. 7s. Boards. Stockdale. 1788.

This volume confits of feveral mifcellaneous pieces, viz. various prefaces and dedications; letters originally written for dif ferent periodical works; controverfial tracts; the famous Jacobitical pamphlet entitled Marmor Norfolcienfis, for which Johnion would have been taken into cuftody, had he not abfconded; forty-one letters to different perfons; fix epitaphs; and a few small poems.For the two former volumes, published by Mr. Stockdale, making the XIIth and XIIIth of Johnson's works in Octavo, see M. REV. for Sept. 1787, p. 250.

Art. 48. A Letter to the Rev. Mr. T. Warton, on his late Edition of Milton's Juvenile Poems. 8vo. 1 s. Bathurk.

This letter, which is evidently the production of a scholar, contains many remarks, worthy the attention of the learned and ingenious writer to whom it is addreffed.-In one or two inftances, the author of the Letter has, perhaps, been mistaken; but from the learning and good fenfe which he difcovers, Mr. Warton will, probably, be of opinion, that every hint here thrown out, ought to be maturely weighed before he gives to the public a new edition of his notes on Milton's Juvenile Poems.

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This letter would have appeared much earlier in our Journal, had we not waited for the long-protracted review of Mr. Warton's publication for which, fee our Apology, M. R. før July 1788, p. 1. Art. 49. Animadverfions on the prefent Government of the York Lunatic Afylum; in which the Cafe of Parish Paupers is diftinctly confidered in a Series of Propofitions. By W. Mafon *, M. A. 8vo. is. Printed at York; and fold in London by Robfon and Co. 1788. The York Lunatic Afylum, we understand, is an extenfively beneficial inflitution; by which fome hundred individuals, fince it was opened (in 1777) have received relief. The number of infane patients now refiding in it is fo great, and the applications for more are fo frequent and urgent, as to render an extenfion of the building neceffary; and an addition containing 24 rooms, is now in actual forwardness. This circumftance alone feems fufficiently to indicate that the charity is conducted in a proper manner, and that the Public has already derived great advantage from the benevolence of thofe by whom the plan was propofed, and by whofe exertions it has been enabled to attain its prefent degree of importance to the community.

Mr. Malon, however, has, in this publication, feverely cenfured most of the measures that have hitherto been adopted, in the conduct and management of this charity. He intimates that the emolument of the attending physician, and of the apothecary, rather than the

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fpirit of the inftitution, is confulted in the regulations by which it is now governed; which opinion, fanctioned by Mr. M.'s refpectable name and character, may, no doubt, have a great tendency to prejudice the minds of compaffionate perfons again it this Afylum, and fuch muft unavoidably be the effect of the prefent publication, if the Writer's remarks are well-founded.

We further understand, that at an early meeting of the governors, and before any patients were admited, it was refolved that all objects fhould pay the weekly fum of eight fhillings, a fum fuppofed adequate to the expences incurred by board and medicines. This regulation was continued for fome years, but was at length difcovered to be disproportioned to the circumstances of the perfons relieved. It was then enacted, that the weekly payments of the more affluent fhould be increased, while that of the indigent fhould be diminished, fo that the furplus of the first clafs fhould be made to compenfate for the deficiency of the fecond. This, furely, was an improvement; and if the perfons fupplying the deficiencies occafioned by the poorer individuals, objected not to the innovation, we fee no caufe of complaint. The parish paupers, for whom Mr. M. is a ftrenuous advocate, are ftill relieved in the fame measure as they originally were. To us it appears more confonant with the idea of charity, though not with Mr. M.'s idea, to afford affistance to a diftreffed individual unable to relieve himself, and unpatronized by a parish, than to give the fame degree of affistance to an object that has elsewhere an undeniable claim. In the one cafe, fupport is given to him who has no other helper, and the charity proves friendly to the friendlefs; and in the other, you only diminish, in a degree almoft imperceptible, the rates of a parish.

The Governors, we find, have determined to persevere in their former measures; and this perfeverance, it is natural to conclude, can arife only from their experience of the advantages refulting from the regulation; as fo refpectable and numerous a body cannot be fuppofed to be influenced by finister motives *.

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To the attack which Mr. M. has made on the character and views of the attending phyfician, that gentleman will naturally oppose the acknowlegements made by the Governors, for his difinterested conduct, in their laft refolution, the Archbishop of York being then in the chair, viz. Refolved, That the thanks of this court be given to Dr. Hunter, the Phyfician, for his great attention to all the interests of this inftitution, especially for his affiduous care and fuccessful treatment of the patients, and particularly at this time, for the difinterestedness of his whole conduct, from the first establishment of the Afylum to the prefent day +.'

Art. 50. A Letter from a Subscriber to the York Lunatic Afylum, to the Governors of that Charity. 8vo. 1 s. Printed at York; and fold in London by White and Son. 1788.

This Letter is occafioned by the preceding publication. The Au

In the lift of the Governors of this Afylum, we difcover the highly respectable names of the Archbishop of York, Lord Fitzwilliam, Lord Fauconberg, Lord John Cavendish, the Dean of York, &c. &c.

+ See Letter from a Subfcriber,' &c. p. zo.

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thor fets out with giving an account of the present state of the Afy lum: he then compares it with fimilar inftitutions in England and Ireland; and concludes with pointing out the different regulations that have been enacted fince its eftablishment. He alfo rectifies, with temper and good-breeding, the errors into which (as he contends) Mr. Mafon has (involuntarily, we apprehend) been betrayed. Art. 51. Eays, Hiftorical and Moral. By G. Gregory, F. A. S. The fecond Edition, with confiderable Additions and Alterations. Svo. 6s. Boards. Johnfon. 1798.

In this Edition, thefe ingenious Effays are improved by a new arrangement, and by two new effays; the first of which contains a concife view of the hiftory of the earlieft ages; wherein the Author follows Mr. Bryant's fyftem of mythology: the Second is a brief review of the arguments commonly urged to fhew the good policy of the flave trade; in which the Writer difcovers an extenfive acquaintance with his fubject, and advances many facts and confiderations worthy of attention, in the prefent ftate of that important inquiry.

THEOLOGY.

Art. 52. A plain Account of the Ordinance of Baptifm; in which all the Texts in the New Teftament, relating to it, are produced, and the whole Doctrine concerning it drawn from them alone. In a Course of Letters to the Right Rev. Dr. Benjamin Hoadley, late Lord Bishop of Winchefter, Author of "A plain Account of the Lord's Supper." By William Foot. The third Edition, with the Author's laft Corrections and Improvements; by Joshua Toulmin, A. M. 12mo. Is. 6d. Johnfon. 1787.

The work here republished was firft printed anonymously in the year 1758, and then met with general approbation as a fenfible and candid performance. Bishop Watfon gives it a place in his catalogue of books proper to form the library of a clergyman. It ftates, with great perfpicuity, the arguments against pædo-baptifm.

Art. 53. A Letter from a Lady to her Daughter, on the Manner of paffing Sunday rationally and agreeably. 12mo. 6d. Marshall. 1788.

A late popular piece, on " the Manners of the Great," has given rife to this fmall publication. It contains fome useful hints; but in ftrength of thought, depth of reflection, and elegance of language, falls far fhort of its model. The fubject is worthy of an abler pen. Art. 54. The Beauty of a Believer's Baptifm; being an Attempt to explain its Meaning, as the best Evidence of its Propriety, and clearest Argument in its Defence. By Jofeph Jenkins, A. M. Izmo. 2d. Sold at No. 48, Jewin-ftreet. 1788.

A recapitulation of thoughts and obfervations which have been frequently laid before the Public. To thofe who approve of immerfion and adult baptifm, this little tract may prove very acceptable.

• Vide Letters on Baptifm, Rev. Vols xiv. and xix.

Art.

Art. 55. Thoughts on Subfcriptions to Religious Tefts, particularly that required, by the Univerfity of Cambridge, of Candidates for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts. In a Letter to the Rev. H. W. Coulthurst, B. D. Fellow of Sidney Collège, and Member of the Caput Senatus. By William Frend, M. A. Fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge. 8vo. 1s. St. Ives, printed; and fold by Johnfon in London. 1788.

This Letter, written by a gentleman who has lately, from confcientious motives, refigned his office as a minifter in the Church of England, is prefaced with the following declaration:

Whereas I, WILLIAM FREND, did at feveral times, within the years 1780 and 1784, subscribe to the Articles and Doctrines of the Church of England, as by law established, being now convinced, by an attentive study of the holy Scriptures, that many things, contained in the faid Articles, have no foundation whatever in the holy Scriptures, I do hereby declare my disbelief of many of the faid Articles and Doctrines, particularly of the fecond, the fifth, and the eighth Articles of that Summary of faith, commonly called the Thirty-nine Articles and whereas from November 1780, till June 1787, I did officiate as a Minifter of the Church of England, I do moreover declare, that there are many parts of its Liturgy, to which I have infuperable objections, particularly to the Prayers addreffed to Jefus Chrift, and to the Trinity; and as univerfal benevolence feems to me to be the striking character of the religion of Jefus Chrift, I cannot conclude this Declaration, without expreffing my abhorrence of a tenet inculcated in one part of the faid fervice, by which every perfon differing in opinion, as to fome obfcure points of an obfcure Creed, is doomed to everlasting perdition.'

The integrity difcovered by the above declaration, ought to be admitted as a full apology for the warmth with which the letter is written. It contains feveral weighty arguments for the abolition of fubfcription in the Univerfities, among which it is not one of the leaft, that a confiderable part of the body, both of preceptors and students, are diffatisfied with this encumbrance. How much is it to be lamented, that any reftrictions upon free inquiry fhould in this enlightened age be fuffered to remain in Societies, whofe profeffed object is, to propagate found learning and ufeful knowlege!

Art. 56. Thoughts on Satisfaction; and Free Grace afferted. 12mo. zd. Printed at Exeter. 1788.

Art. 57. The Harmony of Satisfaction and Free Grace in the Salvation of Sinners in a Letter to John Pinfent, Sen. of Moretonhampftead; occafioned by a little Piece, entitled, Thoughts on Satiffaction; and Free Grace afferted. 12mo. 6d. Printed at Exeter by Brice.

Art. 58. The Gospel Doctrine of Free Grace maintained: with fome Strictures on the Rev. S. Rowles's Letter to Mr. John Pinfent. By J. Ifaac. 12mo. 6d. Printed at Exeter; fold by Johnson, in London.

These three pamphlets are a contest between plain good fenfe and vulgar mysticism, in which the intelligent reader will have the pleafure of feeing the former triumphant,

Art.

Art. 59. The Royal Edict given at Versailles in November 1787, for granting Toleration, throughout his Moft Chriftian Majefty's Dominions, to Diffenters from the Established Church. Registered in Parliament, January 29, 1788. 8vo. 6d. Robinfons.

Of this publication, it is fufficient to fay, that it is a correct tranflation of an Edict which cannot but prove interefting to every friend of liberty.

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I. The Defign of the Gospel Hiftory confidered and improved. Preached at the Chapel in Effex Street, Strand, London, May 11th, and at Chowbent, in Lancashire, on May 25th, 1788. By Joshua Toulmin, A. M. Svo. 6d. Johnson.

After offering a brief comment on the text, John xx. 3r. Mr. Toulmin deduces from it the following obfervations; --that Chriftianity does not require faith without evidence; that the Chriftian creed is couched in few words, and comprehended in one short article, viz. believing that Jejus is the Chrift the Son of God;-that in the first planting of the Gofpel, believing in five points, or thirty-nine articles, was not confidered as effential to a man's being a Chriftian; — that the hiftory of the Golpels is excellent and valuable; -and that the hope it fets before us is noble and fublime.

Each of thefe particulars is illuftrated with much good sense; and we do not doubt that every rational Chriftian will perufe Mr. Toalmin's difcourfe with entire approbation.

II. Written by the late Samuel Johnson, LL. D. for the Funeral of his Wife. Publifhed by the Rev. Samuel Hayes, A. M. Usher of Weftminster School. 8vo. 1s. Cadell. 1788.

Worthy, in every refpect worthy, the head, and heart, and pen of Samuel Johnfon.

CORRESPONDENCE.

** We thank D. N. for his information concerning the antiquity of watering meadows in England, and particularly on the borders of Wales. The most ancient trace of the practice which he could difcover, in print, is in a book entitled "Water Workes," written by Rowland Vaughan, who feems to have been the inventor of the art, and practifed it with great perfection, and on a moft extenfive fcale, in the Golden Valley, in Herefordshire, during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James the Firft.

+++ The packet from Duo Calfonienfes' is received.

* The parcel from Berwick upon Tweed, dated Sept. 15, came duly to hand.

**Our greatest objection to the packet from Exeter, figned H. Dn, is, that the poftage amounted to one filling and fixpence ! The poem, from its local and circumfcribed nature,

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