triumph of their virtuous labours, Mr. Clarkson, whose individual exertions in this great cause have raised up for him, in the applause of every feeling heart, a monument of glory more durable than brass, has performed a most acceptable service, by the publication of a connected history of the measures and proceedings, which led to such a happy and gratifying result. His History of the Abolition of the Slave-trade is a detail, eloquent in its truth and simplicity, of some of the most singular and affecting incidents that have ever appeared on record in the annals of any country.

Upon the abolition of the African Slave-trade, a society was formed in the metropolis, under the name of the African Institution, for the laudable purpose of watching over the execution of the laws which had been passed on the subject of the Slave-trade, and of promoting the civilization of the native population of those countries which had furnished our slave ships with their cargoes. We have noticed the two reports which this society has published, as a proper supplement to our review of Mr. Clarkson's work.

An anonymous writer has published an account of Jamaica, and its inhabitants, which will be found to comprise much useful and practical information, relating to that important colony. The Mosquito territory has found a warm eulogist in Capt. Wright. The viceroyalty of La Plata has had a more faithful painter, in an author who has not favoured us with his His "Notes" contain much matter that is original, curious, and interesting. Nor has St. Helena cause to complain of its historian: the account of that important station, by Mr. Brookes, is drawn up with care, and an apparent regard to accuracy of detail.

name.

Mr. Comber has attempted the discussion of the important subject of national subsistence, as connected with the progress of wealth and population. He has not brought to the undertaking talents commensurate with its difficulty: his work, however, contains much valuable information, and many observations worthy of serious attention. Connected with this subject is Ingram's Disquisition on Population, a work which owes its production to Mr. Malthus's treatise, but is not sufficiently illustrative of the point in discussion, to refute the reasonings of that fanciful theorist.

Several pamphlets, on other branches of political economy, have appeared in the course of the year. Mr. Spence's visionary speculations, respecting commerce, which have been ably answered by Mr. Mill, have attracted considerable attention. Some tracts have also been published by Mr. Bell, Mr. Lushington, &c. on the policy of permitting the distilleries, in the present state of the sugar market, to substitute sugar and molasses for grain.

Mr. Leckie, in his Historical Survey of Foreign Affairs, has, under a title from which we should little have expected such information, furnished us with a valuable account of the state of Sicily, its constitution, and government, and the condition of its inhabitants. It is painful to learn from this intelligent writer, the miserable situation of that once fertile and populous island.

Mr. Roscoe's two

pamphlets on the subject of the War, deserve also to be noticed here. Whatever proceeds from the pen of this able and elegant writer, is entitled to consideration, and these tracts would, we doubt not, have effected a deeper impression on the public mind, had the author been able to emancipate himself, in their composition, from the trammels of party.

The glorious struggle of Spain has not produced any work of consequence. Mr. Whitbread's Letter to Lord Holland can be regarded only as an explanation of his speech in the House of Commons; and the "Exposure" of Don Cevallos loses its authority, from the political apostacies of the author, alternately the creature of the Prince of Peace, the minister of Ferdinand, of King Joseph Buonaparte, and of Ferdinand again!

On the subject of the Catholic question, the last year has produced no work entitled to particular notice, except a valuable tract by Mr. Parnel, entitled the History of the Penal Laws against the Irish Catholics.

Mr. Bentham, who, from his great learning and professional eminence, must always present a strong claim to our attention, has published an able pamphlet on the subject of the Scotch Reform, lately under discussion in the British Parliament.

BIOGRAPHY.

Our stock of Biographical Literature has been considerably enriched by the productions of the last year. Dr. Lempriere, who has secured to himself a well earned reputation by his excellent Bibliotheca Classica, has intitled himself to our thanks by the compilation of a General Biographical Dictionary in one volume, a work in every respect worthy of his talents. Dr. Aikin and his colleagues have published the seventh volume of their laborious undertaking; it contains several memoirs of distinguished value. Mr. Bankes's Dormant Baronage will afford much information to those who.feel interest in the history of the extinct noble families of the realm: and the Biographical Peerage will be found a very faithful and pleasing guide to the knowledge of the existing nobility.

The classical Buchanan has found an able biographer and critic in Mr. Irving. Mr. Cayley's Life of More is a work of less research and of less novelty of information; but from the peculiarly admirable character of that great man will be read with interest. Dr. Zouch has not been altogether happy in his memoirs of the pride of English Chivalry, Sir Philip Sidney. He writes however in love with his subject, and has therefore occasionally animated his narrative with a glow of enthusiasm which irresistibly transfuses itself into the breast of his reader. In our last volume we had to notice with approbation a Life of George Washington from the pen of the American Historian Ramsay. We cannot pass a similar verdict upon the more voluminous work of Mr. Justice Marshall. It is in truth a sorry publication, unworthy of the great man whose actions itprofesses to record, and whose character it

pretends to delineate. Mr. Bancroft's volume is merely an abridgment of Marshall's work, and is strongly tainted with its imperfections. Connected with American affairs we may here add, that Mr. Smith, of New York, has made an abortive attempt, in a silly publication, to exculpate himself from the imputation of treachery, in the part he took in the transactions which led to the unfortunate and disgraceful end of Major Andre. Mr. Gilpin has published some interesting particulars respecting Capt. George Rogers, which occurred during the American war; and the republication of the Memoirs of Capt. George Carlton puts us in possession of perhaps the best account within our reach of the campaign of the Earl of Peterborough in Spain. The narrative of Robert Drury, were it properly authenticated, would be truly curious. as a picture of the manners of the natives of Madagascar. Mr. Alexander Murray has republished the Life of Bruce before prefixed to the account of his travels, but has made some important additions to the original from the letters and journals of that enterprising man. We shall not here remark on the other biographical works, which will be found noticed in their proper places, except to observe that Mr. Pennington has in our opinion been guilty of a breach of decorum, in publishing letters of Mrs. Carter which were never designed to meet the public eye.

THEOLOGY.

Like the preceding, the last year has been fertile in publications in this department, and it would be extending this general retrospect to a disproportionate length to enter into a detailed account even of all the works that are deserving of public patronage.

It will we apprehend be readily admitted by every one capable of forming an opinion on the subject, that to the Christian world nothing is or can be of more importance than to obtain an edition of the original records of our religion in the most correct state possible; and that no man can perform a more valuable service than he who contributes his labours to the accomplishment of this end. This service. Griesbach has most ably performed. Our limits will not admit of our entering into a minute and critical investigation of what he has done, or even to a bare enumeration of the benefits resulting from his labours; but we can assure the Biblical student that his work is a treasure which cannot be too highly estimated, and entitled to the cordial acceptance, and elaborate study of those who are competent to follow the learned editor in the path he has pursued. We rejoice, however, that the benefits of this inestimable work are not now confined to the learned, but have been recently placed, to a considerable extent, within the reach of the mere English reader. In the course of the last year, a number of individuals, influenced by the most honourable considerations, undertook to revise Newcome's translation, made originally from Griesbach's text, and to publish it in a more accurate state. This Improved Version is truly an important addition to our

English biblical literature. It will be seen by our review of it, that we do not wholly accord with the judgment of the learned editors, but we nevertheless entertain the highest sense of the value of their labours, and have no hesitation in pronouncing their work by far the most correct and safe guide in our language to the understanding of the oracles of Christian truth and everlasting life.

The discussions which have lately agitated the public mind respecting the Irish Catholics have led to the republication of Ward's feeble and abortive attempt to impugn the general veracity of the protestant translations of the Scriptures, in his Errata of the Protestant Bible. This imprudent measure has, we presume, had little effect besides calling forth an able and complete reply from the pen of Dr. Ryan.

In the division of Biblical Criticism, Dr. Gerard's Institutes must be ranked in the highest order of the publications of the year. It is a candid, liberal, and erudite performance. The next in order, but different in its nature, we would place Mr. Jones's Illustrations of the four Gospels. The intimate acquaintance of this ingenious writer with the original languages of the Scriptures, and with other of the oriental tongues, entitles him to the respectful attention of every biblical reader. With his opinions, in some instances, we feel ourselves unable to coincide, and in our review of his work, we have felt it our duty to point out, in the spirit of liberal criticism, some things which appeared to us defective or erroneous. His work will, however, be read with pleasure and with advantage. It contains much that is curiou in remark, and original and striking in illustration.

Mr. Nisbett, of whom we have before had occasion to speak with approbation, has published another useful tract on the Mysterious language of St. Paul, supposed to apply to the circumstances of the church of Rome. The last year produced an elaborate work from the pen of Mr. Middleton, on the Greek Article, designed to contribute to the elucidation of some particular passages in the New Testament. We do not deem him to have been very successful in his disquisitions, but his work will afford some entertainment to the learned reader, who feels ininterested in the subject. Mr. Granville Sharp has also considered the subject of the Greek Article, in some Remarks on the two last petitions in the Lord's Prayer: these are more fanciful than solid. The same judgment may be applied to the publication of the same writer on the Etymology of the word Jerusalem. Dr. Lawrence has displayed much real learning in his treatise on the Logos, but has discussed the subject with a temper and spirit little accordant with the dictates of the religion of which he is a minister. The Prophecies have furnished Mr. Faber, and some other writers, with fresh materials for speculation, but with little advantage to the discovery of their true interpretation.

The most important work of the last year, relative to the evidences of Christianity, is Mr. Penrose's Bampton Lectures. This writer labours with great ability and success to prove the truth of the Chris

tian religion, from the wisdom displayed in its original establishment, and from the history of false and corrupted systems of religion. Mr. Cook has well illustrated the evidence of the important fact of the Resurrection of Christ; and Mr. Watson's intimations and evidences of a Future State, is a work that may be submitted to the perusal of all classes of readers, with a certainty of real gratification and profit.

The freedom allowed in this country for discussions on all religious topics, produces annually a great number of publications on subjects of controversial divinity. Mr. Wix has undertaken the formidable, and we will venture to pronounce, the impracticable task of proving by Scripture authority, the truth of each of the thirty-nine articles of the Church of England. The gross misapplication, and the perversion from their plain and obvious meaning, of numberless passages, render this a work of no authority, and to the unwary and indolent reader of dangerous consultation. Dr. Williams's strange hypothesis, on the subject of Moral Evil, is undeserving of the time and paper wasted in the discussion to which it has given rise.

We have to notice some important additions to our stock of Sermons. Dr. Paley's form the most valuable acquisition. As literary compositions, they are indeed less correct and finished than we may suppose they would have been, had the worthy author originally designed them for the press. In their present state, however, they display that happy talent for apt illustration and persuasive argumentation, which, without evincing any extraordinary profundity or novelty of thought, has so much delighted us in the other productions of this popular writer. The liberality of the sentiments comprised in this posthumous work, are truly honourable to the heart and the understanding of the author. The sermons of Bidlake, Skelton, Hazlitt, and Craig, are also respectable publications in their kind, though differing from each other in the theological sentiments which they maintain; and Mr. Bransby's selection will form an useful addition to the family library. It were an useless labour here to enumerate the single sermons we have reviewed in their proper place.

We have to class foremost in our division of Ecclesiastical History and Church Discipline, as the most remarkable performance of the year, Mr. Le Mesurier's Sermons at Bampton Lecture, on the nature and guilt of Schism. We have applied to this publication the epithet remarkable, from the extreme absurdity of gravely sitting down in the nineteenth century, to pronounce authoritatively on the infallibility and immaculate purity of a church, too obviously encumbered in its doctrines and discipline with many of the errors and fooleries of popery, and denouncing the guilt of those whose consciences will not allow them to rank themselves within its pale. We conceive that in adopting the line of conduct he has in the choice of his subjects, the reverend Lecturer has deviated widely from the design of the worthy founder, and sure we are that in their discussion, he has displayed extreme imbe