Writer, we read with fome pleasure, the account he gives of the harmony which fubfifts not merely in his own immediate flock, but in the town of Hull; and which,' he fays, I truft, is more than the fhadow of ceremony, or the found of report.'

SCHOOL-BOOK.

Art. 44. A complete Syftem of Practical Arithmetic, and Three Forms of Book-keeping: The Two first of which are upon a more useful Plan for Retail Trade than any extant, and the last by Double Entry. By William Hedley, Mathematician. 12mo. 2 s. 6 d. Newcastle upon Tyne printed, by Saint. Sold by Macgowan ia Paternofter-Row, London. 1779.

We recollect to have heard it repeatedly afferted by a Master Reviewer (not our own), that he never met with a mathematician who knew any thing of fine language." To the fame purport, though not in fuch direct terms, we recollect an expreffion of the famous John James Rouffeau: his words, as near as we can remember, are, "none but blockheads and geometricians write without epithets." To convince the latter, if he had fortunately been living to be convinced, that there are mathematicians (for all geometers are mathematicians) who do not write without epithets; and to strike the former gentleman dumb for ever (on this fubject), we bring forward into public view Mr. William Hedley, of Cambo, mathematician; who, in the preface to this COMPLETE Syftem of Practical Arithmetic, thus writeth;

Apologies for fwelling the number of fuch publications are petuliar to the generality of authors, both ancient and modern; and conformable to the prevalence of custom, it will be natural from fo imbibed a fashion, to expect, and even be deemed neceffary, that this treatife should be ufhered into the world in the fame hackney'd ferpentine alleys of its predeceffors.

But from what fource arifeth apologizing inevitable, when confcious the undertaking refts upon the bafis of public weal, unprejudiced by principle or pecuniary expectations?

Such is the motive of my inducement; yet notwithstanding the juftness of the perfuafion, I am well aware that it will fink far beneath the fummit of perfection (an elevated precipice the most ambitious cannot attain) in the eyes of the judicious; but particularly fo to thofe whofe misfortune it is to be the poffeffors of a lens incapable of difplaying the objects of their fellow-labourers in any other light but deformity.'

If, after reading this extract, there remain any Reviewers (maflers Or men, no matter which) who yet doubt that mathematicians ufe epithets, and can, when occafions require it, write fine language, may they be obliged to read not only Mr. Hedley's preface, but also his Complete Syftem of Practical Arithmetic, and Three Forms of Book-keeping, Wafte Book, Journal, &c. quite through, even to the last page of his Ledger by Double Entry; where they will find Balance D' to Spontaneous Farm for value remaining 1800 1.'

The Complete Syftem of Practical Arithmetic is chiefly made up of the" fhreds and clippings" of other completa fyflems which have been formerly ushered in, in the fame hackney'd ferpentine alleys' with itself. We fpeak not this out of any difrefpect to the modern method of making books with fciffars and paste, initead of pens and

ink: very good books may have been made by this method; and fo, perhaps, might a very good book of arithmetic, provided the clippings were done with fkill, and the fhreds collected with judgment: but we are forry to add, Mr. Hedley muft neither clip nor felect for us.

As to his three forms of book-keeping, it will be fufficient to obferve, that fometime ago the author of a book of arithmetic, for the ufe of fchools, wanting a pretence for adding fix-pence to the price of his book, bethought him of putting a form of book-keeping at the end of it; foon after another author adds two to his publication: and Mr. Hedley, that he might exceed all who have gone before him, has added three.

SERMONS on the late GENERAL FAST, Feb. 4, 1780. Į. Preached before the University of Cambridge. By Richard I. Watfon, D. D. F. R. S. Regius Profeffor of Divinity in that University. 4to. 1 s. Rivington, &c.

We give the precedence to this difcourfe, becaufe, from the peculiar excellence of the Author's fentiments, and the force and elegance of his language, we think it intitled to this diftinction.-We here behold the manly freedom and refolution of the honest Briton, fo admirably blended with the moderation and piety of the good Chriftian, that while we are animated by the spirit of the one, we are improved by the principles of the other. The learned and ingenious Profeffor deals not in that ftrain of loofe and empty declamation, fo common on fuch occafions. He does not facrifice fenfe to found; nor fupply the want of argument by the abundance of metaphor. He delivers his opinion with a decency which does credit to his manners, and with a firmnefs which is confiftent with integrity. An ancient Roman would have applauded his zeal; and a primitive Chriftian would have acknowledged the juftnefs of it. He hath not funk religion into politics: he hath founded politics on religion. In a word, for dignity and liberality of fentiment-for energy and perfpicuity of language-and for an unaffected spirit of honesty and plain-heartednels, which infpires the whole, we, without hefitation, rank this difcourfe in the firft clafs of pulpit productions.

We think the following quotations will pleafe all but the flaves of a corrupt flate, who, under the pretence of national glory, will fa crifice every duty of common juftice and general benevolence; though, indeed, national good is only the pretence, the real motive is private intereft.

The councils of princes are ufually governed, either by the princes themfelves, or by a few individuals of their own appointment, who being in most countries free from human animadverfion, and the fear of punishment, too frequently fuppofe themfelves faperior to all controul. Men of this tamp, if they do not look upon religion as a human contrivance, invented by ftatefmen to keep the ignorant in awe, are apt to confider its influence as limited by the concerns of private life. The profperity of the itate, or, which is with them, the fame thing, the gratification of their ambition, or any other paffion, they think, may be profecuted by all poffible means. In public tranfactions they acknowledge no justice but what fprings from utility, and is regulated thereby. The fanctity of

treaties

treaties is defpifed: guaranties are broken as foon as made: and they confider him as a forry politician indeed, who expects that any nation will adhere to its engagements longer than while it is their interest not to break them. There can be no doubt, that individuals profelling principles fuch as thefe are not Chriftians. They may be potent princes; experienced ftatefmen; able generals:-but they are not Chriilians. Christianity, in its regards, fteps beyond the narrow bounds of national advantage in quest of univerfal good. It doth not encourage particular patriotifm in oppofition to general benignity; or prompt us to love our country at the expence of our integrity; or allow us to indulge our paffions to the detriment of thoufands. It looks upon all the human race as children of the fame father, and withes them equal bleffings:-in ordering us to do good; to love as brethren; to forgive injuries; and to itudy peace. It quite annihilates the difpofition for martial glory, and utterly debafes the pomp of war.

It is not here infinuated, that a nation of Chriftians is bound to give way to the depredations of an unjust invader. That would not be doing good, but harm. It would be encouraging the wicked to oppress the innocent. But though the right of juft defence be certainly allowed us, upon the principles of Chriftianity, yet woe be to that man who puts us to the neceffity of using it!-who, from motives of pride, ambition, intereft, or refentment, commences, or carries on an unjust war! He may chance to meet with the favour of his prince; be extolled by his fellow-citizens; admired by furrounding nations; yet muft he answer for his conduct at a tribunal, where princes cannot protect him, nor the praises of the people follow him ; nor reafons and neceffities of ftate, much lefs prejudices and paffions, be urged in his defence. Divefted of the pride of office, and the infolence of power, he must there ftand a defolated, unprotected in. dividual. The tears of the widow and the orphan will be produced against him, and the blood of thousands will cry aloud for venge

ance.

There is fcarcely a court or council in Europe, in which private interest has not made fhipwreck of men's confciences. This is a fore evil every where, beyond the example of former times. It is faid to be a national evil amongst our felves: and on a day, fuch as this, when we confefs a nation's fins, want of political principles fhould not be overlooked. I mean not to offend any party but if truth can be offenfive, I fear not in fpeaking truth to offend them all. He, who from apprehenfion or expectation, from gratitude or refentment, or from any other worldly motive, fpeaks or acts contrary to his decided judgment, in fupporting or oppofing any particular fyftem of politics, is guilty of a great fin, the confequences of which no worldly intereft can compenfate.'- Probity is a uniform principle: it cannot be put on in our private clofet, and put off in the councilchamber, or the fenate. And it is no inconfiderable part of probity to fpeak, as occafion offers, with boldness, and to act with firmnefs, according to the dictates of confcience. Did all men do this, which it is unquestionably each man's especial duty to do, and which, but for fome dirty profpect of intereft, every man would do, the world would be much better than it is. He who acts contrary to convic

tion as a public man, let him boaft what he will of his integrity as a private man, fill he is not the honeft man he ought to be:-if he doubts the affertion-let him lay his hand on his heart :-it will throb with conscious fhame, and tell him it is true.'

We have made larger extracts from this fermon, than we are accustomed to do from a fingle difcourfe. Their excellence and pro priety will be our best apology.

II. Preached before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in the Abbey Church, Westminster. By John Lord Bishop of St. David's. 4to. Is. Davis.

This fermon bears few traces of profound judgment, and discovers very little skill in compofition. It is calculated to flatter the haughtinefs of authority. The reft is nought but what might have been the production of any Curate in his Lordthip's diocefe-a loofe, general, and indefinite harangue on the trite topics of fin and reformation: -rebellion and loyalty!

III. Preached before the Honourable Houfe of Commons, at the Church of St. Margaret's, Weftminster. By George Horne, D. D. Prefident of Magdalen College, Oxford, and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty. 4to. 15. Rivington.

Dr. Horne is an ingenious writer; and his fermons abound with the beauties of fentiment and language. He is, however, too much inclined to a myftic method of interpretation; and he frequently pays his orthodoxy a very poor compliment, by feeking a refuge for it in allegory, when it lofes its fupport in plain fcripture, and common fenfe. If we had not known Dr. Horne to be a churchman at all points, we should have fufpected that he had been indebted for many of his Scripture allufions to the Prefbyterian fermons preached before the Parliament, in the last century. Their political principles, indeed, are quite at variance with each other: but their theological fentiments have a very near affinity: and references to the Old Teftament-to Lot and Affur; to Ifrael and Reuben; are as common with the one as with the other.

But Dr. Horne might have dealt in mystery and metaphor, if his fancy had led him to an amufement of that fort. We might have fmiled at feeing a grave divine playing with texts of Scripture before the House of Commons. But we think the Doctor had fomething worse than a play toy in his head, when he penned and delivered the following paragraph.

He [viz. Jehovah] looketh on all the inhabitants of THIS, land, and confidereth all THEIR works. And when he thus looketh, what doth he behold? He beholdeth the faith once delivered to the faints, deferted for the dregs of Socinianifm ;-a fet of men, ftyling themselves philofophers, wantoning in all the paradoxical abfurdities of fcepticism, leaving us, between them, neither matter nor Spirit, neither body nor foul, and doing their best endeavours in their lives, and after their deaths, to render us a nation literally without God in the world."

This jingling and affected allufion to Dr. Priestley is equally uncandid and unjuft. Styling themselves philofophers!" No, Mr. Prefident the Doctor never affumed the title. All Europe hath given it to him. Leaving neither matter nor spirit!' He hath left

what

what will effectually answer every purpofe of the Gofpel. He hath. left man, whatever he may be compofed of, in the hands of the God who created him out of nothing:-he bath left him to be judged by the everlasting Gofpe! at the Great Day, when his "corruptible fhall put on incorruption, and his mortal be clothed with immortality."

IV. Preached in the Cathedral, Canterbury. By the Honourable and Rev. James Cornwallis, LL. D. Dean of Canterbury. 4to. 6 d. Robion.

A ferious and candid difcourfe, containing many juft and pious reflections on the interpofition of divine Providence, in the various revolutions of states and empires. The text, as well as the occafion, led immediately to fuch reflections. Job xii. ver. 23. "He encreateth the nations and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations and traiteneth them again." The following remarks are ingenious and pertinent. Amidit the univerfal cenfures upon our enemies, we are not to forget our own fituation, or be blind to our own failings and neither the flagrancy of their public offences, nor the ftriking licentioufnefs of their manners, ought, in the smallest degree, to shake our belief in the Supreme Governor of the world. These, their iniquities, do not at all leffen the probability of their being employed as inftruments to humble us. The Babylonians, at the time of the Jewish captivity, were inferior to the Jews in morality; and the most horrid and unparalleled crimes ftain the annals of the Romans, about the time of the destruction of Jerufalem But as thefe events had been foretold, there can be no room for thinking that they were not directed by the immediate hand of God. They evidently were fo. To the Jews much had been given, and of them, therefore, the more was required.' The application of these reflections to our own country, privileged to fo high a degree, is obvious and striking.

V. National Depravity, the Caufe and Mark of Divine Judgment apon a Land, &c. from Luke xiii. 3. By Benjamin Dawfon, LL. D. Rector of Burgh, in Suffolk. 4to. 6d, Wilkie.

Contains fome good obfervations on the propenfity, too common with mankind, to conclude from particular events, that great fufferings are the immediate consequences of divine judgments. The conclufion, when it relates to individuals, is generally the effect of ignorance, bigotry, and perfonal hatred. After guarding his hearers, according to the example of our Saviour, in the verfes which precede the text, against rash and uncharitable judgment, the Doc< tor obferves, that though we have no right to pronounce when, and on whom, the judgments of God are brought from any calamities that befal others, yet that fin and wickednefs tend to bring them upon a land and nation, and that the text fhews us, in a very awful declaration, how afflictive vifitations of heaven fhould affect us, and be improved by us." Except ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perish."

The concluding part of this difcourfe is lefs of a practical, and more of a political nature. Neither the church nor the flate (i. e. as they now are) will conclude much on the Doctor's orthodoxy. In a note, he makes an apology for the freedom he hath taken with the latter in this difcourfe. The perfons the molt ready to make a com