Asiatic churches, is to divide each epistle into two lectures. The first lecture takes the following heads of division. 1. The emblematical representation of the Lord Christ, as be stands related to the church under review. 2. The good, bad, or mixed character of the church members. 3. The exhortation given them to repent, &c. 4. The threatenings and promises used as inducements to stir them up to attend to these exhortations. The second lecture consists of the grand use, as I conceive, of the epistle, which is to caution against, or recover from, a destructive vice on the one hand, or to induce to, and build up in the practice of a commendable virtue on the other." The author, moreover, conceives that each of the churches affords an instance of a peculiar character, and may be made the subject of a distinct practical improvement. Thus the church of Ephesus is characterised by declension in religious fervour; that of Smyrna by persecuted piety; that of Pergamus by instability; that of Thyatira, laxity of church discipline; that of Sardis, formality; that of Philadelphia, christian diffidence; that of Laodicea, spiritual pride. Mr. Kittle seems to be a well-meaning man, who has drawn his views from writers of acknowledged abilities, and states them with fairness and perspicuity.

"Prayers: composed by two clergymen for the use, chiefly, of their respective parishes: in which purity of doctrine, and scriptural simplicity of language, have been principally consulted." 8vo. 3s. The advertisement informs us as follows: "For the parishioners of Uffington and Shallingford the following prayers were prepared with brotherly love and anxiety for their temporal

and eternal happiness: they are pres sented to them by their ministers: that they may be found acceptable and useful, is the humble, yet devout wish of N. P. W. and T. M. Y." It is enough for us to add that we have been equally pleased with the intention and execution of this useful little manual, which consists of various forms of morning and evening prayers, and of prayers for particular occasions.

"Sermons, designed chiefly for the use of villages and families. By Thornhill Kidd." 8vo. 8s. We are modestly told by the writer that this volume of discourses, twenty-six in number, and chiefly devoted to practical subjects, was prepared for the press, at the request of various friends, during many months of illness and suspension from the public duties of the ministry. There is a mixture of simplicity and animation in them which has much pleased us, and, in our opinion, is calculated to answer, in no small degree, the author's serious and useful intention.

"Nine sermons, preached in the years 1718-19 by the late Isaac Watts D. D. now first published from MSS. in the family of a cotemporary friend. With a preface, by John Pye Smith D. D." 8vo. 6s. There seems little doubt of the genuineness of these discourses: the manuscript, indeed, is not an autograph of Dr. Watts, but of an intimate friend of his, the Rev. John Goodhall, who seems to have copied them with great care and accuracy. Dr. Smith conjectures from the colloquial forms of expression which frequently occur in them that they were delivered extemporaneously and taken in short hand: he observes, however, that Dr. Watts's usual manner of thought and style, of sentiment and expression, to

gether

gether with various other characteristic features, are numerous and remarkable. We subjoin the subjects: I. The prayer of Christ for his church. II. The Believer crucified with Christ. III. Christ the author of spiritual life. IV. The Believer living by faith. V. God the author of an effectual ministry. VI. Evidences of the efficacy of divine influence. VII. The carnal mind at enmity with Christ. VIII. The nature and duty of thanksgiving. IX. The same subject continued.

Foremost among the controversial subjects of the current year, as connected with religion, we may men tion that of catholic emancipation as it is usually called. The principal publications in favour of this subject are Lord Somers's "Reply to the Protestant Letter of the right reverend the Bishop of Gloucester," which letter it may be remembered by many of our readers this excellent prelate drew up in answer to his lordship's speech in favour of the Irish catholics in the course of the discussion of the question in the upper house and an historical account of the laws enacted against the catholics, both in England and Ireland, &c. By James Baldwin Brown, Esq. of the Inner Temple." Svo. 14s. which is an extended view of the question as already given by Mr. Charles Butler in his celebrated pamphlet, many of the documents slightly glanced at in the latter being here given in detail. On the opposite side we have to notice, in the first place, the learned, patriotic, and admirable bishop of St. David's pamphlet, entitled "Christ and not St. Peter, the rock of the Christian church; and St. Paul the founder of the church in Britain:" being a second letter from the right

reverend prelate to the clergy of his diocese on the independence of the ancient British church on any foreign jurisdiction, with a postscript on the testimony of Clemens Romanus." In this elaborate and liberal pamphlet the bishop not only warmly states his objections to the concessions demanded by the Irish oatholics, but boldly attacks' the' foundation of the pope's claim to supremacy, by contending that "the Christian church was not founded on St. Peter, but on the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner-stone;-that the first christian church was the church of Jerusalem, and St. James the first christian bishop;-that St. James and not St. Peter, presided at the first christian council;-that St. Paul was the first founder of the church of Rome;-that the church of Rome was first founded as a christian society, during St. Paul's first residence at Rome;-and that the first bishop of Rome was appointed by the joint authority of St. Peter and St. Paul, after St. Paul's return to Rome." After which he attempts to show "that St. Paul preached the gospel in Britain, and to ascertain, as nearly as possible, the time of the apostle's journey to Britain, on the authority of Clemens Romanus, Eusebius, Jerom, Theodoret, and two British records :”— the joint testimony and inferences of which render the assumed fact, in in our opinion, probable, though we cannot, with this highly esteemed prelate, bring ourselves to believe that they completely establish it. Dr. Haggitt's "Conduct and pretensions of the Roman Catholics, considered in a letter to the freeholders of Oxfordshire," is also entitled to attention on the same side of the question. It contains the sub

stance

stance of a speech prepared against the Oxford county meeting upon the subject, but which from some cause or other was not then delivered. Without entering into an analysis for which we have not room, we have no hesitation in declaring it to be an able and energetic address, challenging, from its perspicuity and force of argument, the attention of both parties. We have also received an anonymous pamphlet that is worthy of notice, entitled "A Full View of the Catholic Question-by a Country Gentleman;" who takes a pretty large field, and endeavours to show, both from principle and experience, that the claims of the Roman Catholics rest on no foundation of right or justice; and offers a reply to the Edinburgh Reviewers, Mr. Canning, Mr. Pitt's pledge, the prince's pledge, Mr. Burke's authority, and most of the popular arguments: in many parts of which, however, notwithstanding we admit that he has well studied the subject, we can by no means concur with him in opi

nion.

The institution of the Bible Society has been prolific in tracts pro duced by its provincial ramifications, containing lists of speeches delivered on their respective anniversaries. Many of these display considerable eloquence; but we are afraid that the greater number are the laboured productions of persons anxious for an opportunity of acting the orator, and of disemboguing in public, the contents they have privately and with much exertion committed to their memories. The chief point of controversy has been as to the expediency of more openly unfolding the doctrines of the bible to the Indian peninsula: and it is now well known

that upon this point they have suc ceeded by a clause specially introduced into the projected act for a renewal of the East India Company's charter. One of the objections started against the Institution in its home department has, in our opinion, been completely surmounted by the establishment of a "Common Prayer Book and Homily Society," by an asso ciation of many of its supporters who are members of our national church; upon the plan and principles of which a sermon was preached by Mr. Cunningham at Christchurch, Newgate Street, May 6, 1813, and has since been published. We are sorry to perceive that something like a dispute has taken a place between a few, though we apprehend only a few, of the more active members of the Bible Society and the catholics, on the subject of distributing the bible among the poorer of the latter community. The catholic clergy, it seems, are ready to allow it, and have been preparing for the purpose, out of their own funds, the Douay text, containing occasional comments explanatory of their own doctrines. This we well know cannot be done by the Bible Society, as being totally contrary to their first principle: but we see no good reason why any members of the institution should oppose its being done by the catholics themselves: it would be best indeed that the poorer catholics should have the bible without note or comment of any kind; but it is better that they should have it with the proposed notes than not at all: for when the practice has once become established it will be far more easy to introduce the former; while the comments, by assuming a tangible shape, may be easily replied to, wherever erroneous.

CHAP.

IN

N commencing this chapter, as usual, with the department of medicine, we shall first notice the "Medical Transactions, published by the College of Physicians in London, Volume IV." 8vo. pp. 415. It is now within four years of half a century since the royal college commenced their literary career, their first volume of transactions having been submitted to the public in 1767; so that the present is only the third production of this kind to which the half century before us has given birth; the grave and learned court having, within a fraction, doubled the Horatian rule, and allowed themselves, upon an average, not nine years, but nearly twice nine years for each volume of their transactions. In truth, it might have been much longer, if we may credit public report, before this fourth proof of their talents had been exhibited, provided they had not been goaded on by an accidental stimulus. Our readers are by this time well acquainted with the existence of a literary institution within the precincts of this metropolis, which has embodied itself under the name of the "Medical and Chirurgical Society of London ;" in offset, indeed, from the old Medical Society of London; but which, since its separation and independent existence, has exhibited a much greater degree of activity than either the College of Physi

1813.

cians, or the parent society from which it immediately emaned; and which, unquestionably, ranks amidst its members, many of the most distinguished physicians and surgeons of the metropolis. This infant establishment, although only in its seventh or eighth year, has already published three volumes of valuable materials, and with a laudable thirst after increasing honour and reputation, applied not long since to the crown for a charter of incorporation. The report is that his majesty's law officers, with the greatest propriety, consulted upon this occa sion, the Royal College of Physicians as to the expediency of advising his majesty to accede to the request, and particularly as to any chance of its trenching upon the long established honour and dignity of the college: it is added that antecedently to this consultation the new society had great reason to expect a favourable reply; but that his majesty has since been advised to withhold his gracious assent. The members of the Medical and Chirurgical Society have dropped occasional hints at the severity of this exclusive system, and especially on the part of a body, which at that time, had for nearly half a century, been only known to the great republic of letters, as the parent of two volumes of transactions, independently of two or three editions of their Pharmacopeia: and we are given to underZ

stand

stand that it is in some degree, with a view of rebutting this contumely that the college has harnessed itself for another circle of labour, and has produced the work before us.

In the articles of which the work is composed it evinces a various and multiform character: the chief contributors are Dr. Bailey, who has given three papers, two on hydrocephalus, and one on a peculiar increase in the pulsation of the aorta in the epigastric region, which has occasionally been mistaken for an aneurism; Dr. Latham, the president, who has furnished not less than five papers, the subjects of which are tetanus, abdominal tumours of a particular cast, and spurious angina pectoris; Dr. Heberden, who has presented three papers, one on nyctolopia, one on a supposed variety of scurvy, and one "on the mortality of London," which the learned writer calculates, from Dr. Price's principles, at one and a small fraction in thirty for the year; Dr. Powell, who has given an article on the beneficial internal use of nitrat of silver in certain convulsive cases, especially of chorea, and another on the prevalence of insanity at different periods, in which he apprehends that this dreadful disease has of late gained ground, though not in any very great degree; Dr. P. Warren, who has contributed a description of two cases of diabetes mellitus successfully treated by opium, the dose in the one instance being twelve and in the other twenty grains in four and twenty hours; and who has also contributed an equally valuable paper on headachs which arise from a defective action of the digestive organs. The whole number of articles is twenty-five; the last being the well known report of the col lege upon the subject of vaccination;

and which could scarcely, we think, have been thus reprinted after so late and general a circulation, if there had not been a palpable want of matter to render the volume of a respectable thickness. Many of the papers are valuable, some of them of considerable merit; but, as a whole, the volume has not answered our expectation; nor, as we are given to undertand, that of the public.

"Medico-Chirurgical Transactions: published by the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London." Vol. IV. The activity of this rising society continues undiminished. It now appears able to contribute a volume of useful matter annually; and the present falls in no respect short of those which have preceded it. The number of articles are twentyfive, besides a short supplement. The names of the contributors are as follows: W. Ferguson, Esq. Edward Percival, M. D. Dublin. Joha Mitchell, Esq. Kingston. Colin Chisholme, M. D. John Bostock, M. D. Liverpool. Thomas Martin, Esq. Reigate. Alexander Denmark, M. D. Haslar Hospital. Sir Gilbert Blane, Bart. M. D. James Woodrop, Esq. communicated by D:. Roget. A. C. Hutchinson, M. D. Deal. B. C. Brodie, Esq. Benja min Travers, Esq. Mr. Hodgson, Lewes. S. Barnes, Esq. Exeter. Thomas Chevalier, Esq. Mr. Freyer. Stamford. Charles Bell, E-q. Mr. Stewart. John Yellowly, "M. D. Astley Cooper, Esq. Of these, several writers have furnished two or more papers; but we perceive, with some surprise, that the society is much more indebted for productions to friends or strangers than to its owa members; for, of the twenty five numbers before us, only nine appear to have been actually written

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