We have only to add that, notwithstanding these free remarks, there seem to be some points regarded by him as essential to the truth and to the purity of Christian communion, in which he cannot have the concurrence of many well-disposed, and we may add well-informed minds.

Art. 58. The Call of the Jews. Two Sermons preached at the New Jerusalem Temple, in Red-Cross-street, near Cripplegate, London, October 2, 1796-40, wherein is manifested from the Word the true Nature and Quality of that People, from their first Origin to our Lord's Advent; and that the Expectation of their Call to accede to the Lord's Church as a peculiar People, and to go again to Jerusalem, is inconsistent both with Reason and Scripture. By Manoah Sibly, N. H. S. 8vo. pp. 60. IS. Hindmarsh, &c.

The expectation commonly entertained by Christians that the Jews will at length be called into the Christian church, and the idea of the Jews themselves that they shall return to Jerusalem, are in thèse sermons controverted; not by a critical examination of the meaning of the passages of Scripture on which these expectations have been founded, but by giving a spiritual interpretation to the whole Jewish history and prophecies, in accommodation to the New Jerusalem system. As the writer's method of reasoning is not likely to carry much weight, except with those of his own sect, it is altogether unneces sary for us to enter into any particular examination of the merits of the question. A publication of this class is sui generis, and not to be measured by ordinary rules.

Art. 59. Twelve Sermons preached at the New Jerusalem Temple, in Red-Cross-street, near Cripplegate, London, on the following Subjects: I. The Creation of Man by the Triune God, and his Prerogatives defined, Gen. i. 26, 27. II, The Christian's Golden Chain, or the Divine Human Titles of Lord, Is. ix. 6. III. The Lord's Thirst on the Cross, John xix. 28. IV. The true Nature of the Atonement, Is. liii. 5. V. Spiritual Magnetism, or the Nature of that Faith which removes Mountains, Mark xi. 22. VI. Simon sifted as Wheat, and upheld by the Lord, Luke xxii. 31, VII. The Sin against the Holy Ghost, Matt. xii. 31. VIII. Encouragement for Babes in the Church, Is. xxxv. 3. IX. Elijah fed by Ravens, 1 Kings xvii. 6. X. The Lord passing by before Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 11. XI. The utter Downfall of the Roman Catholic Babylon, Rev. xviii. 21. XII. Death a Continuation of Life, John xi. 23, &c. By Manoah Sibly, N. H. S. and Servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8vo. pp. 300. 4s. 6d. or 6d, each. Hindmarsh. 1796-40. The preceding large bill of fare wholly supersedes the necessity of our entering into any detail, for the information of our readers, con. cerning the contents and character of this volume of sermons. By a single glance over the author's list of titles, they will perceive that the spiritual entertainment provided for them is of that kind which all persons, but fanatics themselves, would call fanatical;-and if they attend to the appendages annexed to the author's name, and to the

dates

dates subjoined; and should they happen to agree with us in conjec turing that the initials N. H. S. denote Nova Hierosoluma Socius, and that the date, 40, marks the year of the New Jerusalem æra; they will conclude with us that the fountain, which has sent forth these twelve streams of holy water, is the Swedenborgian church. The sermons, as far as concerns the language, are not ill-written as to doctrines and sentiments, we acknowlege ourselves wholly incompe tent to form a judgment concerning them; not having yet been able to procure the key of analogy, by which the mysteries of this sect are unlocked; or, in the phraseology of this school, to understand the correspondences between natural and spiritual things. We leave 'good Mr. Sibly to edify his brethren, without any hope of being ourselves edified by his labours; and without much expectation that our readers, except such as may happen to be illuminated, will seek edification from the New Jerusalem Temple.

AMERICA.

Art. 60. The Discovery, Settlement, and State of Kentucky; and att Essay towards the Topography and Natural History of that im portant Country, &c. By G. Imlay, Esq. The 3d Edition. 8vo. pp. 638. 9s. Boards. Debrett. 1797.

Though it is not our constant custom to notice new editions of books, yet, as on particular occasions, and especially where the alterations are so important as to give a new aspect to the performance, we have mentioned them to our readers, we shall here just observe that to the present third edition of this useful book are added, besides a variety of valuable notes and observations interspersed throughout the work, ample accounts of the sugar maple-tree, with the method of preparing the sugar from it, the demand for it, and the capacity of supply; state of society in America, price of provisions, observations on the state of literature, of civil liberty, and religious rights; the culture of Indian corn, hemp, flax, hops, tobacco, indigo, cotton, senega root, esquine, madder, jalap, potatoes, silkworms, persimmon, various kinds of grapes, berries, &c. the candleberry myrtle, sumach, coffee, and other particulars in the vegetable kingdom with observations on the antient works, the native inhabitants, &c. of the western country. Likewise, an historical narrative and topographical account of Louisiana and West Florida; the soil, growing timber, and other productions of several lands. Remarks for the information of those who wish to become settlers in America, by Dr. Franklin. A topographical decription of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina; comprehending the rivers Ohio, Kanhaway, Soto, Cherokee, Wabash, Illinois, Mississippi, &c. by Mr. Thomas Hutchins. Mr. Patrick Kennedy's journal up the Illinois river, &c. Constitution of the state of Tenasee, established at Knoxville, 1796. Treaty concluded between the United States and the king of Spain. Plan of the association of the North American land Company, &c.

:

The merits of Mr. Imlay's work are sufficiently known to the

* See our account of the 2d edition of this performance, Rew vol. xx. N. S. p. 265.

public,

public, and these additions are undoubtedly of great importance to all who wish to inform themselves of the present condition of the United States, and of their progress in the arts and comforts of life. The description of Louisiana, West Florida, and the Mississippi, with their principal settlements, is rendered peculiarly interesting on account of the free navigation of the Mississippi, lately granted to the United States. This book seems particularly calculated for the use of persons who have entertained thoughts of embarking for America as traders, adventurers, or settlers.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 61. Il Passatempo Italico.

2 Vols. 8vo. 10s. Boards. Molini, London.

Each of these volumes contains three numbers of a periodical work, which was intended to appear monthly; chiefly for the use of masters in teaching Italian, who found it difficult to furnish their female scholars with entire works of classical authors, that are quite unexceptionable with respect to delicacy. We have here, therefore, extracts and specimens, in verse and prose, from the best writers in that beautiful language, well selected in point of diction and purity of sentiment.

No. I. for November 1795, contains Letters, Comic Scenes, Explanation of some particular phrases in the Italian language, Maxims in verse and prose; A short novel; Scenes from Metastasio's Attilio Regolo; A severe reply of Raphael the painter; The manner in which the English were armed and fought in Italy, under the Duke of Monferrat, and afterward in the pay of the State of Pisa, about the year 1363; The journey of a blind old man to visit Petrarca ; Ingenious means proposed by a citizen of Florence to increase the public revenue; Of the happy use of words; One of the requisites necessary to speaking and writing with clearness; Fables; Sonnets; Cantata from Metastasio; A precept of Socrates; Of the pleasing qualities of a gentleman; Ingenuity of a musician in poverty; Discourse of Lorenzo de' Medici to 300 Florentine citizens; Of the virtues and vices of men at different periods of their lives; National characters; Speech to Charles V., to excite him to compassionate his son-in-law and family; The lamentation of Cecco da Varlungo,

&c. &c.

By this table of contents of the first number, our readers may judge of the variety which this selection offers, in subject and style, in the subsequent numbers for December 1795, and January, February, March, and April 1796. Had not political writings so filled our libraries, and absorbed the thoughts of mankind, such a compilation as this might, perhaps, have more engaged the attention of those for whom it was intended,

In general, the specimens and extracts are well selected: but, as most of the detached pieces are given as models of writing on various subjects, we were somewhat surprised that, in choosing the letters, those of Metastasio were forgotten; which, for graceful ease, and beauty of language and sentiments, seem superior to any prose or

13

epistolary

epistolary writings in the Italian tongue. The short letters inserted in these numbers are, indeed, correct in language, but contain nothing very ingenious, elegant, and interesting.

We could select, however, had we convenient room, many detached pieces from this volume, which would be curious and amusing to English readers, if translated: but we must restrain our wish, and only give the following account of the effect of Petrarca's poetry on an old blind man, who could not die contented till he had visited the divine bard.

Petrarca went to Naples, to the court of king Robert. Thence he passed to Rome, where he was crowned laureat; after which solemnity, he went to Parma. When an old and blind school-master in Pontremoli (a city of Tuscany) heard that the poet was gone to Naples, eager to become as well acquainted as he could with him for whom he had conceived the highest esteem and reverence, he had the courage to undertake so long a journey; and, supported by his only son, he travelled to Naples. The king, hearing of his arrival, admitted him to his presence. Astonished at the sight of this old man, who, loaded with years and infirmities, more resembled a statue of bronze than a living creature, the king told him that, if he wished to converse with Petrarca, he must make haste to follow him; as he had quitted Naples some time, and was preparing to return to France. The old man, in reply, told his majesty that he would go to the farthest part of India after such a man. The king, still more surprised at his perseverance, treated him honourably, and furnished him with every necessary and convenience for travelling. The old man went to Rome; whence, being informed that Petrarca had left that city, he returned, in great affliction, to Pontremoli. Hearing there, however, that the poet was at Parma, he undertook a new journey; and crossing the Appenines, still covered with snow, he at length arrived in that city, and was conducted to the house in which Petrarca resided. It is impossible to describe the rapture of this old blind traveller, when he found himself in the presence of 30 great a man. He made his son, and one of his scholars who now accompanied him, lift him up by turns, to embrace the head which had conceived such beautiful thoughts, and to kiss the hand a thousand times which had written them. The good old man remained three days at Parma, constantly hovering about Petrarca. Many persons came to see his extraordinary adoration of the poet; and one day, finding himself in the midst of a crowd, he said to Petrarca, I fear I am troublesome; but I can never satiate myself with looking at you; and it is but just that you should grant me a pleasure for which I have travelled so far.' When the blind man talked of looking at the poet, some of the company burst into a loud laugh: on which, addressing himself to Petrarca, he said, 'I leave you yourself to judge whether it be not true that I, blind as I am, see you better than these buffoons with their two eyes?"-a question which completely silenced the scoffers.

* See Dr. Burney's "Memoirs of Metastasio," including his Letters; Rev. vol. xx. N. S. p. 373.

At

At length Azzo, the Lord of Correggio, filled with admiration at the zeal and respect for talents manifested by this extraordinary old man, dismissed him with suitable honours and rewards.'

12mo.

This fact is related by Petrarca himself, in one of his letters. Art. 62. Addresses to the People of Otaheite, designed to assist the Labor of Missionaries and other Instructors of the Ignorant. To which is prefixed a short Address to the Members and Friends of the Missionary Society in London. By John Love, Minister of the Scots Presbyterian Congregation, Artillery-lane, Bishops. gate-street, and Secretary to the Missionary Society, pp. 170. 2s. 6d. sewed. Chapman, &c. 1796. When Otaheite was discovered by the European navigators, its inhabitants were as happy as a delightful climate, a sufficiency of food, moderate labour, health, and all the animal enjoyments in their natu ral state, could render them: from their connexion with Europe they have already derived various mischiefs; and from the present publication it appears that they are destined, by a society confidently pretending to "the rich communication of wisdom and power from on high," to experience the horrors of civil war, lighted up and aggravated by theological zealots from Great Britain.

Art. 63. Memoirs relative to the History of Jacobinism. A Translation from the French of the Abbé Baruel. Part I.—Vol. I. 8vo. pp. 387. Booker. 1797.

As we have given a sufficient specimen of this translation, which we used for the extracts, in our account of the original, [see Appendix to our xxiiid volume, just published,] we have only to refer our readers to that article for the present; with the promise of some farther extracts as the work advances in the course of publication. The translator informs us that, having spent a great part of his life in foreign countries, and having been an eye witness to many of the extraordinary revolutions that have arisen from the plots delineated in this work, he thought he could not serve his countrymen more effectually than by giving them a translation of a book which had struck him so forcibly. We wait with some degree of impatience for the publication of the remainder of the Abbé's performance.

Art. 64. A Description of the Town and Fortress of Mantua, together with a true and concise Account of the Military Operations and Events attending its Blockade and Siege, till its Surrender to the French. Embellished with three Engravings. Translated from the German. 4to. 2s. 6d. Vernor and Hood.

This recital of the progress of the war in Italy, from the commencement of the campaign of 1796 to the cessation of hostilities after the capture of Mantua by Buonaparte, will be very acceptable to those who prefer,—and who will not prefer?-a connected account, to the scattered and often contradictory details of the newspapers. The translator informs us, in his preliminary advertisement, that this brief relation was originally published at Frankfort on the Main, and lately, by chance, fell into his hands;' and that, charmed with the impartiality of its author, he conceived the hope that a translation might prove an acceptable offering to those who participate in so memorable an event.'

REV. OCT. 1797.

R

The