fchools have, in fome inftances, been perverted to the purpofe of diffeminating pernicious principles, and they, therefore, require legal fupervifion, as well as legislative encouragement."

We have been thus copious in our extracts, and thus diffuse in our remarks upon this Tract, from our full conviction of the immenfe importance of the subject which it difcuffes to the present and future welfare of the nation, aggregately and individually. We have to contend for a stake of unusual magnitude; the political independence, and the moral character of the country are the objects of contention; and the exertions to be made for their prefervation must bear fome proportion to the indelible difgrace that would refult from their lofs; in fuch a ftruggle conqueft is a duty, and defeat is ruin; yet that ruin we shall inevitably incur without an immediate and radical reformation of principle!

The last divifion of the book is devoted to a full difcuffion of the origin of the war, as it affects the queftion of aggreffion, between France and her continental enemies. But our remarks have already extended to so unusual a length, that we must now bring the article to a conclufion; obferving only, that thefe Reflections cannot fail to reflect additional credit on the character of the author, both as a politician and a moralift.

A Philofophical Treatife on the Paffions. By T. Cogan, M. D. 8vo. PP. 388. 8s. 6d. Cadell and Davies. London. 1800.

N the first part of this work, we are prefented with an ANAgeneral view of the fubject. Here, the author points out the ipecific difference between paffions, emotions, and affections; examines the old plans of arrangement; and proposes new, and particularly confiders, what he calls, introductory emotions. In the fecond chapter are exhibited the paffions and affections, which owe their origin to felf-love. This is the first class; in which there are two orders. In the first order, are the paffions and affections, &c. excited by the idea of good; joy, gladness, &c. contentment, fatisfaction, complacency, pride, &c. defire, hope. In the fecond order are paffions and affections excited by the idea of evil; forrow, grief, melancholy, &c. patience, refignation, humility; fear, confternation, terror, dread, defpair, &c. &c. anger, wrath, refentment, indignation, &c. &c. In the third chapter, claf the fecond, we have the paffions and affections derived from the focial principle. These are, in the first order, the paffions

and

and affections, in which good is the predominant idea; benevolent defires and difpofitions, focial affections, fympathetic affections; affections derived from good opinion; gratitude, admiration, efteem, refpect, veneration, &c. fondness, &c. In the second order, are treated the paffions and affections, in which evil is the predominant idea; malevolent defires and difpofitions; malignancy, envy, rancour, cruelty, &c. rage, revenge, &c. fufpicion, jealoufy; difplacency, indicated by unfavourable opinions, horror, indignation, contempt, &c.

Thus much for the analyfis. The fecond part of the work is divided, alfo, into three chapters. The first chapter contains obfervations refpecting the laws of excitement. Here we find furprise is the efficient caufe of paffion; the affections alone permanent; the relation of the paffions and affections to each other; and the feat of the paffions. In the fecond chapter_are enumerated the causes which create a diverfity in our affections; fuch as, experience, difference of fex, diverfity of temperament, &c. national cuftoms, force of habit, felf-love, education, novelty, fashion, love of fingularity, popular prejudices, affociated ideas, &c. &c. &c. &c, The third chapter treats of the influence of the paffions. It is divided into four fections, the fubjects of which are medical influence; influence on thought and language; influence on character; influence on happiness.

Such are the contents of this very elaborate performance; from which the following paffages, not felected for any peculiar excellence, muft leave on the minds of our readers, a very favourable impreffion of the whole.

DESCRIPTION OF FEAR.

"Fear produces an agony and anxiety about the heart not to be defcribed; and it may be faid to paralyze the foul in fuch a manner, that it becomes infenfible to every thing but to its own mifery. Inertnefs and torpor pervade the whole fyftem, united with a conftriction of the integuments of the body, and also a certain sense of being fettered, or of being rendered incapable of motion. The eyes are pallid, wild, and funk in their fockets; the countenance is contracted and wan; the hair ftands erect, or at least excites the fenfation, which every child experiences as often as he is terrified by ftories of ghosts, witches, &c. the bowels are strongly affected, the heart palpitates, refpiration labours, the lips tremble, the tongue faulters, the limbs are unable to obey the will, or fupport the frame. Dreadful fhricks denote the inward anguifh thefe are often fucceeded by fyncopies; which, while they manifeft that the fufferings are greater than nature can fustain, afford a temporary relief.

"Such are the external figns which indicate the wretched ftate of mind under this horrid paffion." NO. XXXI. VOL. VIII.

- D

The

THE SEXUAL PASSION.

"Some of the focial affections arife from the perception or pers fuafion of amiable qualities perfonal or mental, for which a strong predilection is formed; as in the conjugal relation. This predilection having alfo a fexual influence, may become a paffion the most impetuous and ungovernable. The fexual paffion is rendered remarkable for its contrarieties. It may be confidered as the most generous and the most selfish; at once the most interested, and the moît difinterested. It is ready to facrifice every thing, even life itself for the beloved object; but is anxious to appropriate the beloved object entirely to itfelf."

DIFFERENCE OF SEX.

It is maintained that men are most impetuous, but that females are moft deeply affected with the tender paffion: that if they have not a fpeedy recourfe to the piftol or the rope, they will probably furvive the agonies of difappointment, under which the fofter fex will gradually pine and die. These facts have induced a French author to remark, that women confider love as the ferious bufinefs of life, and men render it fubordinate to many others. It is however univerfally deemed to be the province of man first to declare his paffion; and it is univerfally expected that the female fhould receive the declaration with a modeft coynefs, and experience fome degree of struggle with her delicacy before the acknowledges the paffion to be reciprocal. The female has in general a ftronger affection for every thing the purfues than men, who are more frequently impelled to act from neceffity. She always follows her inclination in the difcharge of her focial and domeftic duties, as well as in the purfuits of pleasure, elegant accomplishments, or of literature: and thofe who are of a scientific turn compenfate for any defect in extent of erudition, or depth of invefti gation, with which they are fometimes charged, by brilliancy of language and beauty of fentiment, which fo frequently pervade and embellish their writings. They are supposed to be much fonder of ornaments than thofe of the other fex who are not reputed fops; and it is faid that they more deeply refent any neglect or flight of their perfons. They are warmer in their friendfhips, and their ftrong attachments can fcarcely be weakened by any thing but rivalships. If flighter incidents more eafily difcompose their tempers, this is abundantly recompenfed by their fuperior patience under feverer trials. In cafes of extreme danger and difficulty, they have not only been equal to the fupport of their own fpirits, but they have fet an example of heroic courage to their defponding lords. But it is alfo allowed, that when the female mind becomes thoroughly depraved, it greatly furpaffes the other fex in cruelty, revenge, and every enormity; which is justly fuppofed to elucidate the common proverb, Corruptio ope timi, eft peffima,"

THE ATTACHMENT TO OUR OWN.

"The ftrong attachment to whatever is our own because it is our own, is one of the happiest propenfities of our natures. It is the

recompence

Without this

recompence of all our defires, purfuits, and exertions. principle, every object in life would appear uninteresting and infipid; and the majority of our habitual affections would be annihilated. It is this which forms that intimate and pleafing connection with every thing around us; and enables trifles themfelves greatly to adminifter to our comfort and fatisfaction.

"But the diverfity which it creates in our individual affections is no lefs obvious. Every man has his own distinct atmosphere of good. A circle which is his own. Every particle compofing it, is viewed by another with eyes of indifference; but by himfelf with complacency and delight, which we ought always to confider, when we speak or judge of others, or offer them our advice."

"THE UNION OF THE PLEASING EMOTIONS AND AFFECTIONS."

"Were the imagination commanded to paint the highest felicity to be enjoyed by created beings, it would furely point out the union of the following emotions and affections. Ardent love for an object decidedly worthy of our love, chaftened with high veneration; aftonifbment infpired by the contemplation of the number and extent of its excellencies, and at the unremitted exertion of these excellencies in the diffusion of good; admiration at the wife means adapted to the accomplishment of the interefting purpose; joy and gratitude for benefits already received; lively bope of good incalculable in reserve for ourselves conjointly with others whofe welfare we ardently defire; accompanied with a confcioufnefs that we alfo have contributed a fomething to the general mafs of felicity according to the extent of our ability! Thefe are ingredients to conftitute the perfection of bliss! Love, joy, gratitude, furprife, admiration, complacency, hope, and benevolence unbounded, may thus occupy the mind in a transporting variety, or by exerting their united powers at the fame inftant occafion inconceivable raptures!!!"

In the revifion of this work, for a fecond edition, Dr. Cogan would do well to reconfider the following words and phrafes; "effectuate;" " amelioration of our state" " and he that has accomplishments, he pronounces to be perfection;"" having filled the connections of life;"" abnegation;"" habits introduced will infpire;" "wherewith we are clothed;" "enjoins brevity upon me;" fashion will render a garb fultry;" "in fuggefting of thoughts;" " "enftamps a value.'

།

Remarks on the Theory of Morals: in which is contained an Examination of the theoretical Part of Dr. Paley's Principles of Moral and Political Philofophy. By Edward Pearfon, B. D. Rector of Rempftone, Nottinghamshire. 8vo. PP. 234. 5s. Rivingtons. London. 1800.

"Tin the progrefs of a courfe of Lectures in Morality, delivered to

HE remarks, which are here prefented to the public, were made

D 2

the

the Students of a college in Cambridge, in which Dr. Paley's "Principles of Moral and Political Philofophy" was the text-book; that being the work, in which the public examination on moral subjects for a Bachelor's degree was then conducted. I indulge the hope, that, in endeavouring to facilitate the acquifition of clear ideas on thofe fubjects, in doing which I pretend to no more than the merit of a pioneer, I fhall not be fufpected of wishing to detract from the wellearned fame of Dr. Paley, or of any other writer, on whom I have had occafion to animadvert.

"It may be proper to mention, that the quotations from Dr. Paley's book are made from the 8th edition in 8vo. In the different editions, there are many verbal variations; but I am not aware, that there are any which materially affect the sense.

"Of a work like the prefent, which profeffes to open the way to a fyftem, and of which, therefore, the parts are juft, only as they contribute to the perfection of the whole, the reader, it is hoped, will have the candor not to make up his mind, until he arrive at the end."

Thus far the author. After the introduction, the subject is difcuffed in five Chapters; which treat of the Foundation of Virtue; the Rule of Virtue; the Obligation to obtain the Knowledge of Virtue; the Motive to Virtue; and the Divifion of Virtue.

"It seems evident (fays Mr. P. in his firft chapter) at first confideration, that the duty of all created beings muft depend on fomething, which has reference to their peculiar nature and fituation; and nothing ftrikes us fo forcibly, in this view, as the relation, in which they stand towards their creator. God, in all the works of creation, must have had fome defign, or exercife of his will, respecting the part to be fuftained by them. Under the implied condition, therefore, that this defign would be anfwered, all beings, whether animate or inanimate, were created, and are ftill preferved. Put the cafe, that we were made by a being, who was of a moral character fomething different from that, which we have every reafon to attribute to God, would our duty have been exactly the fame as it is now? It appears evidently to me, that it would not! not only because, in confiftency with fuch a fuppofition, our minds would have been differently formed, and therefore a different conduct would have appeared to us as our duty *; but because a different conduct would have been pleafing to fuch a being, and therefore the proper part and duty of his creatures. In that cafe also, the motives to action would have operated in a different way; fince we could not expect rewards from fuch a being, but by a conduct different from that, which it is now neceffary to purfue for that purpose. I do not fay, that thofe who have miftaked the real character of the Deity, and acted accordingly, are herefore excufable in acting wrong. This is a different cafe.

"See what is faid of the moral fenfe, in Chap. II."

The