fect knowlege of the language in which the author writes, and a taste for the harmony of numbers. Few men are so insensible as not to feel some emotion on beholding a prospect remarkable either for its high degree of cultivation, or for those more wild and magnificent beauties which nature exhibits in mountainous and barren countries: but to analyse this emotion, and to communicate it in terms clear, intelligible, and appropriate, is a task of more difficulty than is generally imagined. To this cause we may ascribe the ill success of most adventurers in this province of poetry. The following extract will serve as a specimen of the present attempt:

• Then let your thoughts to other prospects bend,
Where Storr's sharp beak, with sightless Naiads blend;
Toil now aloft, now mentally retire,

For new-seen features fan the poet's fire.
Do, mark! reflected by the glorious sun,
Those oozing streams, o'er rockey smoothness run.
Not all the blaze of lustrous diamonds rare
Can with these nat'ral brilliancies compare.
The heath's dun shade, the lately-wither'd fern,
The woods, all fancy, and the mountains stern,
Display the aqueous gems in such a light,
The orb which forms them only is more bright.'

Capt. Budworth was introduced to our readers in vol. xiii. N. S. p. 117.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 38. A Narrative of the Particulars which took place on an Application of the Author to the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Norwich, to be admitted a Candidate for Holy Orders. Containing original Copies of Letters, and his Lordship's Answers. By John White, of the City of Norwich, Gentleman, 8vo. Is. 6d.

Ridgway, &c. 1798.

Mr. White's case seems to be not unworthy of the notice of the public. He was bred to a branch of the Law, by serving a five years clerkship: but, disliking the profession, he turned his thoughts to the church, and applied to the Bishop of Norwich as a candidate for ordination. The Bishop, however, excused himself from complying with this request, 1st, because Mr. White had not "been, educated for the church;" next, as "a large portion of Mr. W.'s time had been dedicated to another profession;" and, lastly because Mr. W. " did not belong to either of the universities."

Not satisfied with these reasons, nor disheartened by this repulse, Mr. W. often repeated his application, by letter, to his Lordship of Norwich, and even personally. Every motive and every persuasive were urged, and even compassion was invoked, (on account of some family distresses,) - but in vain: he found the Eishop immoveable.

In this narrative of his case, among other arguments brought to prove the reasonableness of his application to the Bishop of Norwich, he endeavours to shew that there are qualifications for the

sacred office, of a nature paramount to those on which the Bishop grounded his refusal of the author's request; and on his avowed posses sion of these superior endowments, Mr. W. founds his pretensions to being admitted a candidate for holy orders. In a word, he ap pears determined, if possible, to push his way to the pulpit. -Yet, on the whole, we still think the Bishop of Norwich very justifiable. The character of the clergy for learning, and for respectability as rational and good Christians, with the possession of popular talents and useful adjuncts, ought certainly to be maintained, with the ut. most care and circumspection.

Art. 39. Sketch of à Voyage of Discovery, undertaken by Mons. de la Perouse, under the Auspices of the French Government. Drawn from the Original, lately published at París. 8vo. Is. 6d. Allen. 1798.

This sketch may serve to gratify, in some measure, the eager curiosity of such English readers as may not have an opportunity of consulting the original detail of the voyage of M. Pérouse, and may not choose to be at the expence of purchasing the translation at large. Our account of this very interesting work will be found in the Appendix (just published) to the 26th volume of our Review. Art. 40. An Inquiry into the Feasibility of the supposed Expedition of Buonaparte to the East. By Eyles Irwin, Esq. 8vo. IS. Nicol. 1798.

Mr. Irwin's personal acquaintance with the East Indies, joined to his known abilities, must have peculiarly qualified him for the investigation here offered to the attention of the public; and he has reduced the various floating conjectures relative to the object and design of Buonaparte's mysterious expedition, to three generally supposed schemes, so far as it seems to point towards the East: but he does not presume to determine, nor even to conjecture, which of the assigned plans * is the most likely to be the real object of the grand equipment.

Mr. Irwin's design, in this publication, appears to have been to evince the impracticability of every surmised plan that has been re ported in the news-papers and pamphlets of the times, the almost certain failure of every possible attempt of the kind, and the consequent destruction of the whole armament employed in this romantic undertaking. The pamphlet is well-written; as might be expected from the former specimens of Mr. Irwin's literary abilities which have been given to the public, and duly noticed in our Review: see, particularly, " Adventures in a Voyage up the Red-Sea, &c." Rey. vol. Ixiii. p. 401. and vol. lxxix. p. 518. O. S. also "Оссаsional. Epistles, a Journey from London to Busrah," Rev. vol. lxxi. O. S. p. 193.

Art. 41. A Letter to Sir John Scott, His Majesty's Attorney-General, on the Subject of a late Trial at Guildhall. By Gilbert Wakefield, B. A. 8vo. IS. Sold by the Author.

* For the plans themselves, as noticed by Mr. Irwin, we refer to

his pamphlet.

Nescit irasciis, according to Juvenal, one of the discriminating qualities of a wise man: but Mr. Wakefield, with all his knowlege of antient and modern literature, does not appear to have attained this characteristic of true wisdom. His Study, instead of being pro. pitious to mental tranquillity, is a region of storms; and he gives us the idea of loving to be angry, or at least of loving to give vent to anger. We acknowlege his genius and literary industry: but we do not hesitate to repeat our opinion of the intemperance of his late pamphlet, and our censure of the improper spirit with which some parts of it were written. Could Mr. W. learn to reason with calmness, and to "speak the truth in love," his discussions of all subjects might be acceptable, and his decisions might carry considerable weight: but if, on all occasions, he be disposed to substitute abuse in the place of argument, and to pronounce those persons stupid and bungling who do not give to all and every part of his writings an indiscriminate applause, he is very little qualified to reform the world; and we, in the faithful discharge of our duty, would rather be thought to invite than to deprecate his condemnation. Not that we ever wish to irritate Mr. W. for we have no desire to excite his wrath, and to have "the sun go down upon it;" we would rather " administer to his mind diseased" in this respect; and, since he makes so great a profession of superlative reverence for Christ, we would remind him that it is recorded of the Saviour of the world that-" when he was rewiled, be reviled not again."

It may not be amiss farther to remark, in general, that an adherence to the old maxim of soft words and hard arguments was never more necessary than at present. When the prejudices and passions of men are brought into violent action, when fear and suspicion are roused, the intemperate declaimer cannot expect to obtain a patient hearing. Let him reason with the utmost weight on his side, still he will reason almost entirely in vain.

3

Mr. W. may say, perhaps, that these hints should be addressed to his opponents, and not to himself:- he may think Sir John Scott guilty of most intemperate temerity in accusing him of a scandalous, malicious, and seditious libel against the peace of the king and country: but he did not see that Sir John may with equal justice charge him with intemperate temerity, when he roundly accuses the party to which Sir John is attached, of an impious conspiracy against the welfare and even the very existence of the whole human race (p. 33), After this, it cannot be said that his opponents think worse of him than he speaks of them.

The trial to which this letter refers was that of Mr. Joseph Johnson, for vending some copies of Mr. Wakefield's late Answer to the Bishop of Landaff's Address. Mr. W. here declares that, though he considers Paine's Age of Reason' as a most detestable publication, a most infamous compound of arrogance, effrontery, and wickedness, he would not forcibly suppress this book, much less would he punish by fine or imprisonment, from any possible consideration, the publisher, or author, of those pages; and the following are the reasons which he gives for such a determination:

• Prudentia

Prudential motives would prevent me: because such interdiction

serves only to excite the restless curiosity of mankind; and the restraints of law give fresh vigour to circulation.

• Motives of philosophy would prevent me: because enquiry and discussion are hereby provoked; and sparks of truth, which would otherwise have been concealed for ever, are elicited by the collision of debate; to the unspeakable emolument and illumination of mankind, in the promotion of mutual forbearance and esteem, in the furtherance of valuable knowledge, and in the consequent propagation of all happiness and virtue. Truth can never suffer from argu ment and enquiry; but may be essentially injured by the tyrannous interference of her pretended advocates. Impede her energies by the pains and penalties of law; and, like the FAME of Virgil, she will creep along the ground, diminutive in stature, and shrunk with apprehension: give free scope to all her tendencies; and she will soon collect her might, dilate herself to the fullness of her dimensions, and reach the stars.

• Parva metu primo; mox sese attollit in auras,
Ingrediturque solo, et caput inter nubila condit.

• Motives of justice would deter me. Why should I refuse another that privilege of thinking and writing, which I claim and exercise myself?

• Motives of humanity would deter me. I should think with horror on the punishment of any man for his belief: in which he has no discretionary power, but is necessarily swayed by the controlling despotism of arguments and reasons: and at what licence or patent shop shall I purchase a gag to silence him? Or what shall hinder him from forming the same unfavourable judgement of my opinions, and pursuing in his turn the same measures of intimidation and coercion with myself?

Heu! heu!

Quam temere in nosmet legem sancimus iniquam !

• Thus the fair and goodly creation of the Almighty is to be converted into a howling wilderness of savage beasts, alternately hunting and worrying each other.

Lastly, MOTIVES OF RELIGION would deter me from molesting any writer for the publication of his sentiments. No proposition in nature is more luminously depicted on the pages of the Gospel by the sun-beam of Revelation, than this before us. When the servants of the householder came to inform their master that tares were sprung up among the wheat; and enquired, whether they should go and pluck them up: he replied in these memorable words; words of intelligible purport and indisputable application: NAY; lest, awhile ye gather up the tares, YE ROOT UP ALSO THE WHEAT WITH THEM.LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER UNTILL THE HARVEST: and, in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.

Mr. Wakefield proceeds to give other reasons for a perfectly unrestrained liberty of the press, on all possible topics of investigation and debate; and he concludes with observing that

By

• By the late decision at Guildhall, [Mr.Johnson was found guilty, I have become, alas! the involuntary accessory to a complete annihilation of the liberty of the press in this country, as far as an oppo sition to the measures of the present administration is concerned; because your object is accomplished; and no bookseller of established fame and fortune well choose to interfere in future with publications of this complexion; nor indeed can a writer of humanity solicit such interference with satisfaction to himself. Our rulers must now be consigned, in silent hope or expectation, to the gradual, but unfailing, process of dissolution from innate radical depravity; a dissolu tion as sure, as the tendencies of vice and virtue to terminate reciprocally in prosperity or ruin under a divine administration of the universe. What I most cordially lament, as an evil for which compensation lies beyond my power, is the serious inconveniences, too probably impendent over those, who are totally guiltless of this ill-starred transaction in all its relations and dependencies.

• Me, me! adsum qui feci; in me convertite ferrum,
O! Rutuli! Mea fraus omnis :- nihil iste nec ausus,
Nec potuit-.'

From these specimens, the reader will be enabled to form a competent idea of the nature and contents of this publication.

Art. 42. Cary's New Itinerary; or an accurate Delineation of the Great Roads, both Direct and Cross, throughout England and Wales; with many of the Principal Roads in Scotland. From an actual Admeasurement made by Command of his Majesty's Postmaster General, for Official Purposes; under the Direction and Inspection of Thomas Hasker, Esq. Surveyor and Superintendant of the Mail-Coaches. By John Cary, Surveyor of the Roads to the General Post-Office. To which are added, at the End of each Route, the Names of those Inns which supply Post-Horses and Carriages; accompanied with a most extensive Selection of Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats; a List of the Packet-Boats, and their Times of sailing; copious Indexes, &c. &c. 8vo. 85. Cary, No. 181, Strand, 1798.

The utility to travellers, of publications of this nature, is universally acknowleged; and the peculiar circumstances of accuracy and authenticity, which recommend Mr. Cary's new Itinerary, are suffi ciently made known in the title-page. The names of inns, and lists of the packet-boats, are (we believe) additions to be found only in this book; and the distances from town to town are computed to the accuracy of furlongs over a mile: but of this we do not see the use to the traveller, as different parts of the town or village will sometimes make the alteration of a furlong or more. Another deviation from the usual computation of distances is, that all the roads from London are measured from the General Post-office in Lombard-Street: but when the traveller bears this circumstance in mind, it cannot be of any inconvenience; and as some standard must be taken, from which to compute the distances of roads leading from the metropolis, it is better to take one as a centre for all, than to reckon from various stations.

The