viz. vol. xiv. p. 55. vol. xvi. p. 51, and vol. xxii. p. 138. Mr. B. certainly deserves well of his country, for his attention to a branch of rural economics which has been too much neglected.

NATURAL HISTORY.

Art. 21. The Birds of Great Britain, systematically arranged, accurately engraved, and painted from Nature; with Descriptions, in*cluding the Natural History of each Bird: from Observations, the * Result of more than twenty Years Application to the Subject, in the Field of Nature; in which the distinguishing Character of each Species is fully explained, and its Manner of Life truly described. With Figures engraved from the Subjects themselves, by the Author, W. Lewin, Fellow of the Linnean Society, and painted under his immediate Direction. In Eight Volumes. 4to. Vol. IV. 21. 2s. coloured. Johnson. 1797.

It is with pleasure that we mark the progress and infer the encouragement of this elegant work, by the frequency of its appearance in the regular succession of its periods of publication t. The present volume consists of ORD. III. Gen. xi. The warblers; of which there are 19 speciest. Titmouse; 7 species. Swallows; 5 species. Pigeons; 3 species. Many of the subjects are very beautiful. Of the eggs of each species there are seven quarto plates, neatly engraved, and, we believe, accurately coloured,

LAW.

Art. 22. The Defence of the Prisoners in York-castle, for not paying Tithes, against the Charges of George Markham, Vicar of Carlton in Yorkshire, contained in his Book intitled "Truth for the. Seekers." 8vo. 4d. Phillips. 1797.

On perusing this Defence, we were naturally reminded (as indeed we often are) of the Horatian maxim, audi alteram partem; the excellence of which is strongly exemplified in the remarks that have been made in the tract before us, on the pamphlet lately published by the Rev. Dr. Markham; see M. R. for Sept. p. 109. There seems to be, generally, something very powerful, if not invincible, in the simplicity, plainness, and perspicuity, of the Quaker-style; on which account it must ever be deemed a very hazardous adventure in any controversialist, who would, in an appeal to the public, take the field against an opponent, or opponents, of that sturdy sect. No abilities will avail him, if he have not the clearest, the most manifest truth on his side: TRUTH, to which, sooner or later, all opposition must bow.

The Quakers, late prisoners in York-castle, are indeed shrewd reviewers. In their cool and temperate manner, they are rigid and severe critics. They roundly charge Dr. Markham, at whose suit they were cast into prison, with having, in his Defence, grossly mis

* In French and English.

+ See Rey. N. S. vols. xix. xxi. and xxii.

Nightingale, red-breast, black-cap, wren, &c.

Five, in number, have signed their names to the present pamphlet,

5

represented

represented their cause and their conduct;-and we are of opinion that, if he does not clear himself from their accusation, the publie will conclude that these men of peace have, indeed, been very illtreated; and that the palm of victory, in regard to the present contest, ought to be adjudged to them."

We cannot enter into the points of disputation that are brought forwards in this little pamphlet ;-which every reader who is a friend to humanity will close with peculiar satisfaction, (as we do, and as does the editor,) with the following note of information: viz. The prisoners are now liberated from their confinement, by the kind interposition of the legislature. Last session of parliament, a clause was added to the insolvent act then passed, by virtue of which, the prisoners, on appearing before the justices, at the adjournment of the quarter sessions for the West-Riding of the county, held at the castle of York, on the 6th instant*, were then set at liberty.

On discharging them, the justices directed warrants to be made out for the amount of the sums decreed against them, respectively, by the Court of Exchequer; with the proportion of costs upon each.' Art. 23. Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Courts of Common Pleas and Exchequer Chamber, in Easter and Trinity Terms,' 37th George III. 1797. By John Bernard Bosanquet of Lincoln's Inn, and Christopher Puller of the Inner Temple. Folio.' Part I. pp. 92. 58. Butterworth. 1797.

Mr. Henry Blackstone began his valuable Reports of Cases determined in the Court of Common Pleas, in Easter term in the twentyeighth year of his present Majesty, and continued them down to the end of Hilary term in the year 1796. Since that time Mr. Abraham Moore has advertised a continuation of these Reports, from Easter term 1796 to Hilary term 1797; which work, however, has not yet appeared. The present publication commences at the period at which Mr. Moore's was to conclude, and it is proposed, we understand, to publish the numbers regularly till a volume is formed. We shall wait for the completion of the volume, before we enter minutely into its merits; observing only, for the present, that the cafes which are comprised in this part appear to be given in a distinct and accurate manner.-In the case of Kirby against Sadgrove, p. 14, we observe an erroneous reference to the same case in the 6 Term Rep. p. 683; that case is reported in p. 483.-Great care should be exercised in law publications, in respect to references.

Art. 24. A Summary of the Law of Bills, Cash Bills, and Promissory Notes. By John Bayley, Esq. Barrister at Law. Second Edition. 8vo. pp. 140. 5s. Brooke. 1797:

We are informed in the preface that the former edition of this work, (which we noticed in our lxxxth vol. p. 456,) was a collection of principles only, and did not state the cases from which those principles were deduced: that statement is now added, and extracts are supplied from such acts of parliament as relate immediately to the subject. This is done in the notes, and the text continues as before

except that in some instances principles which had no authorities to support them are expunged, and others which have since been estab lished are introduced.'The many modern determinations, on the subject of the present treatise, are alone sufficient to render this work very useful to the profession. We may add that Mr. Bayley has shewn the same accuracy and judgment in this publication, that we have noticed on former occasions.

Art. 25. A Treatise upon the Law of Usury and Annuities. By Francis Plowden, of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law. 8vo. pp. 599. 9s. Boards. Butterworth. 1797.

In a commercial country like this, in which the extensive circulation of property must affect so many individuals, both by heaping advantages on those who possess money, and by accumulating distresses and hardships on those who want it, a treatise on the subject of the present work must be an useful publication. An account of the laws which have been enacted in different periods of our history for the prevention of usury, or, in other words, for the regulation of national interest, with the decisions of the Courts on those statutes, is desirable both to the lawyer and the merchant. All this will be found in the present performance: but Mr. Plowden has not contented himself with giving that information which was necessary for the use of the practitioner, or the safety and direction of the moneylender; he has indulged himself in speculations which are interesting to the antiquary, and amusing to the philologist.

In the various chapters which compose the present work, Mr. P. has considered the nature of usury in general:' in which part many curious particulars, but not of a description to be practically useful, are brought together; he then proceeds to treat of usury by the common law of England;' and in his third chapter he gives an account of the Jews and Judaism by the law of England.' In this division of his work, he notices the introduction of the Jews into this country, with some observations on their state of vagrancy, the prejudices of our historians concerning them, and the oppressive laws which were at different times passed against them; for the last five hundred years, no acts have taken place in England respecting this persecuted people, but such as are of a beneficial nature. Judaism, as an object of the common law,' our author represents as consisting in the profession and exercise of the Jewish laws, rites, and cere monies. The offence (continues Mr. P.) which was punishable by the common law, was not the denial of Christianity; otherwise every heathen, infidel, or Mahommedan, would be equally objects of the rigour of the law with the Jews, which was not the case. It was truly therefore said, that Jew is a name of profession, not of country or nation. In this chapter, the author discovers much diligent investigation, and equal candour in his remarks on laws concerning religious belief. The fourth chapter treats of usury by the statute law; and the fifth and last section of this division of the work is upon the determinations of the courts in cases of usury.'-The reader will immediately perceive, from the subjects discussed, that this portion of the book is best calculated for use,

6

Mr.

Mr. Plowden proceeds to consider, in the second grand division of his performance, annuities in general; annuities for the lives of the grantors; the statute 17 Geo. 3. c. 26. commonly known by the name of the Annuity Act; and lastly, the determinations of the courts on this act of parliament. We have read the whole of the publication with pleasure, and can recommend it to our professional readers as containing full information on a subject more particularly addressed to them, but at the same time mixed with matter of a more miscellaneous and more generally entertaining nature. The history of the Annuity Act, as introduced by Mr. Wedderburne, now Lord Loughborough, in the year 1777, and the alterations which it underwent till it assumed its present form, we deem interesting and curious in a high degree.

RELIGIOUS and POLEMICA L.

Art. 26. Sermons on Practical Subjects. By Robert Walker, late one of the Ministers of the High Church of Edinburgh. To which is prefixed a Character of the Author, by Hugh Blair, D. D. Vol. IV. 8vo. pp. 382. 6s. Boards. Kay. 1796. This set of sermons (of which the last volume, as we suppose, is now presented to the public) has moved towards completion by steps uncommonly slow. The first volume passed under our notice in M. R. vol. xxxiv. p. 484. After an interval, the author published a second, which was announced in vol. iii. p. 90. On his death, his friends favoured the world with a posthumous volume, and a short memoir prefixed by Dr. Blair: this, in course, demanded our attention; and we gave to it the portion of commendation which we judged to be its due in our lxxiid vol. p. 476, without entertaining any expectation of farther communications from this quarter. Several years, however, having elapsed since the publication of the third volume, a list was discovered, in the author's own hand-writing, of sermons designed by him for posthumous publication; and sixteen of these, which were not among the number selected by the editor for the third volume, together with five others, inserted to make this volume nearly of the same size with the former, are now published.

To save our readers the trouble of turning back to the several references mentioned above, we shall repeat, in a few words, our idea of this collection of sermons. Though said to be on practical subjects, they are by no means to be classed with those moral discourses to which that epithet is now commonly appropriated; and they have a strong tincture of orthodoxy, according to the settled meaning of this term in the church of Scotland; nevertheless, the points of faith which the preacher introduces are not discussed argumentatively, but taken for granted as the grounds and motives of Christian obedience, and urged with a considerable degree of energy under that view, and therefore may be said to be treated practically. The discourses, in general, are not tediously long; and, though methodical, they are not often encumbered with subdivisions. The style is neat, unaffected, and sometimes animated. Through the whole, the author appears a sensible and pious preacher, teaching with earnestness that which he judges to be important truth; and inculcating, on these principles,

principles, the virtues of the Christian character. The publication therefore, we have no doubt, will be acceptable far beyond the limits of the author's personal connections.

Art. 27. Seventeen Discourses on several Texts of Scripture: addressed to Christian Assemblies in Villages near Cambridge. To which 8vo. are added Six Morning Exercises. By Robert Robinson. pp. 436. 7s. Boards. Vernor and Hood. 1796. Though this publication is not announced in the title-page as a second edition, it is our business to inform our readers that it is such, and that we believe it differs from the first only in the addition of another discourse; which, an advertisement informs the public, is printed from a copy prepared for the press by the author. We have had frequent occasions of expressing our sentiments concerning the talents, spirit, and professional character of Mr. Robinson; and the peculiar features of this publication our readers will find delineated in an account of the first edition, in our Rev. vol. lxxv. p. 77. We have therefore only to add that the single sermon, now first published, is a plain and spirited address on the subject of persecution, in Mr. Robinson's best manner.

We are glad to see a re-publication of a volume of discourses which, as a specimen (not altogether faultless indeed, but in many respects excellent) of the manner in which villagers, &c. may be addressed intelligibly, and with impressive effect, ought never to be out of print. Art. 28. Sermons on Important Subjects. By David Lamont, D.D. Minister of Kirkpatrick Durham, and one of the Chaplains to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for Scotland. Vol. III. 78. Boards. Cadell, &c. 1797.

8vo.

For the character of Dr. Lamont's pulpit discourses, our readers may be referred to the lxiiid vol. of the M. R. p. 476. and vol. Ixxviii. p. 266. Suffice it, therefore, that, on the present occasion, we repeat what we observed on the appearance of the first volume, that if the writer has not all that engaging and winning manner which renders some productions of this kind peculiarly acceptable in these days of refinement, his sermons are, however, plain, serious, and sensible.'

By N. Meredith. Matthews.

Art. 29. Select Essays on Scriptural Subjects. 12mo. pp. 185. 2s. 6d. Boards. The subjects of these essays are: 1. An inquiry into the nature of 2. On the office of the Holy Spirit. Our Lord's prophetic office. On the nature and design of the gospel ministry. 4. On fasting. 5. Reflections on the human nature of Christ.

3.

They are well calculated for the meridian of the Tabernacle; where, we have no doubt, they will be welcomed for their unction, and recommended for edification. In the essay on fasting, the author laments that believers, by the neglect of this duty, deprive themselves of some of the greatest advantages, not to say the sweetest enjoyments, that religion itself affords on which we find the following note: The author has been informed, that a judicious and pious minister of the gospel, now living, in discoursing on the subject not long since, exclaimed, "O the luxury of fasting!" It is

wel