ritual worship,.which reafon could not difcover, are yet, when difcovered, fo congenial to reafon, and learnt fo early, that we do not know the time when we had them not; they are engraven fo deep, that neither depravity of life, nor perverfenefs of difpute, can totally efface them.

There are fome remarks on these points, by one who certainly was wellinformed, fo appofite to the whole of this letter, that I truft I fhall be excufed in quoting part of them: "The invifible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly feen, being underfood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe; because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind," or rather, perhaps, as the margin has it, "a mind void of judgement," erring about matters in themfelves moft evident, and of the laft importance. See Rom. i. 20, Yours, &c. R. C.

21, 28.

P. S The notion combated in your Magazine, p. 38, &c. I find is no new idea, but an ancient Pagan fentiment; which is thus expreffed by Lucan, on the principles of the Stoics, whofe concit it was:

Victurofque dei cclant, ut vivere durent,
Felix effe mori.
Pbarfal. lib. iv. 519.
We're all deluded, vainly fearching ways
To make us happy by the length of days;
For cunningly to make's protract his breath,
The Gods conceal the happiness of death.
Rel. Med. fect. 44.
50, for fight read

In p. 38, col. 2, 1. light.

Mr. UREAN,

April 4. HE book referred to in Dr. DuTH carel's letter, p. 195, is intituled, Korte Befchryvinge van eenige vergetene en verborgene Antiquiteten van't oude Vrieflandt & Annales Drenthia. Johan Picardt. Amft. 1660." 4to, with cuts. The defcription of the Stonebenge, as the Dr. calls it, is in c 5, p. 22, from whence the following account is taken by Keyfler, in his " Antiqui

* He gives the book this title: "Joh. Picardti Antiquiteten der Provincien en Landen gelegene tuffchen de Noord Zee de Yflel, Emfe, en Lippe.",

tates Septentrionales, 1720," p. 5: "In Drenthe in Over Yffel near Coeworden, on the borders of East Friesland, is a collection of ftones of immenfe weights, the heaps of which are 16, 18, 20, 25 paces long, and 4, 5, 6 broad. Upon fmaller ftones are laid others of much larger dimenfions, fome of which are 56 feet in circumference, fome 40, 36, 30, 20." Compare alfo Schaten Hift. of Weftphalia, vii. p. 487. The print, as copied by Keyfler, reprefents 3 or 4 of thefe piles of tones in a confufed indiftinct manner, ruder than our Stonehenge. Key fler adds, "fuch ftones are more numerous in this tract than all other kingdoms put together. There is one of very large dimenfions near Anlo, two near the village of Ann, one near Balloo, feveral near Benthem, nine of different fizes at Borger, near 16 at Drowen, one of amazing fize at Embfbuir, others near Ounen, two in the neighbourhood of Rolden, a very large one at Salzberg," &c. &c. If in thefe feveral inftances the number of ftones form but one mafs, it is only a cromlech, and not to be compared with that at Drenthe, which feems to come nearer to our Stonehenge.

Picardt from certain obfervations determined it to have been erected by the heathen Saxons, who afterwards came into England, conquered the nation, and left many monuments erected, without inferiptions. Mr. Vertue, in a letter to Dr. Ducarel, in my poffeffion, fays, “he remembered a gentleman of the Dr's acquaintance faying, that he lived in Friefland near this ftone monument, and had often feen it, and had the printed account," which was fo difficult to be got, but which Dr. D. afterwards procured, and which was fold at the fale of his library, Apr. 8, 1786, N° 1211, for 19s. 6d. to Mr. G. Nicol. I know not whether this monument appears in the maps of Drenthe by De Wit, Schenk, or Valk. It is not in one which I have by Pynacker, nor is it noticed by Bufching, xiv. ii. 213— 217, or by any of the general defcriptions of the country.

Picardt wrote alfo a Hiftory of Drenthe, printed 1659, and re-printed at Groeningen 1732.

Your correfpondent the Country Rector, p. 225, seems to be poffeffed of the very letter, of which a copy was before Mr. Walker when he penned his Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 23. Mr. W. adds, that, "notwithfianding this

letter,

land, for near fourfcore years, has been deprived of the privilege (which every petty club enjoys) of approving or cenfuring its members, or regulating its difcipline; nor can fhe, as a Church, take any notice of the many horrid attacks made on the religion of the Bible. Yet fuch are the good effects of an established Liturgy therein, and of the great proportion of Scripture which enters into its daily offices, that, except we reckon as a deviation Methodism, which, indeed, is wrong in the manner, rather than the thing, the fame doctrine continues to be preferved; our Saviour is honoured, and we truft in his merits for falvation.

and of fober exemplary manners, and furely nobody ought to grudge them the poor pittance, which they retain of the ancient revenue of the Church. They are not anfwerable for the factious fpirit or intrigues of their predeceffors. There is no going back to the first fettlement of things, under pretence of reftoring juftice; they are in fair poffeffion of the law. Still the fpirit of Calvinism is to fplit into parties, and oppofe itself to authority. But as every thing is made to co-operate for wife and good purpofes, perhaps their establishment which attaches them to government was permitted for the quiet of the reft of the British empire. For, had the Calvinifts been reduced to your state, their reftlefs fpirit would have given fuch conftant exercife to government, as would effectually have prevented it from taking that part on the theatre of Europe which for wife, though perhaps. hidden purpofes of Providence, we hitherto have been made to act. In like manner, your unprecedented ftate of oppreffion, and your exemplary perfeverance in your religion, may yet have the beft confequences, if you follow up the gracious defign for which they have been permitted. The Church of which you are a part, established in the feat of government, and profcribed among you, forms a circumftance not eafily to be accounted for on any principles of found reafoning. When any profane blafphemer, in both kingdoms, is allowed to broach his opinions, and make difciples, you are obliged to meet by ftealth, and owe to the indulgence of individuals that permiffion of worshiping God which the law denies you. The difcipline of the Kirk, which has affumed your place, is admirable in theory for preferving decency and order amongst its members. But the want of a Liturgy is a radical defect in its conftitution, which draws after it the most untoward circumstances. Every private clergyman is left at li berty to form his inftructions and his doctrine according to his own particular notions. He reads and comments only on fuch portions of Scripture to his hearers, as be judges may fuit them. Hence that variety of opinions, and feparate affociations, which have fprung up in it, and broken the peace of it. Hence Dr. Prieftley's boaft of the number of followers he has gained in Scotland, to affift him in his attempts to degrade our Bletled Saviour from his office of Redeemer. The Church of Eng

Now, Sirs, after premifing all this, if you, by taking the oath of allegiance, will entitle yourselves to the protection of government, and thereby fecure and make legal the continuance of your congregations in the different quarters of the kingdom, especially in the feveral towns, by your being in poffeffion of a Liturgy, and keeping up a fpirit of emulation in preaching the true Gospel of Chrift, you would be of the utmost fervice to your country in particular, and to religion in general. I dread the annihilation of Epifcopacy among you. Nor can the good effects of it to government and religion be preferved by those who are called qualified clergymen in Scotland (perfons ordained by Englifh Bifhops). They have no bond of union, and they are in circumstances too dependent on their congregations to divide the word of God on all occafions fincerely. Were I indeed a Scotch Calvinift, I fhould pray that you might be directed to this ftep, that your Church might ever be preserved, to keep me and my Church right. For the confeffion of faith, as its doctrines of eternal decrees and predeftination are generally underflood, reprefent a good God in too harfh a light to be much infifted on, or ftrictly adhered to, in thefe our days. When the fubject is confidered in one particular point of view, there is a folecifm in government's allowing any perfons to continue, as hitherto you have done (I will not fay under its protection, but) within the limits of its authority, who refufe, as you do, to acknowledge obedience to it. Nothing can account for the indulgence, but a confcioufnefs of the extreme hardship, I would rather fay, the Dioclefian profcription, exer cifed on you at the Revolution.

It is full time that Britain should be

firmly united within itself. Its foreign dominions have lately been much contracted. Perhaps it would have been well for it, had they never been fo far extended. But its fifter-ifland, meant by nature to be under one law and government with it, is now, by the machinations of intriguing men, effectually detached from it, and, inftead of a ufeful member of one cominon ftate, is become a jealous rival. United in itself, I trust Britain is ftill able to be the bulwark of Liberty and the Reformation. And by facrificing (I will not fay your prejudices, for I trust there are no ferious wifhes for a revolution among you) your fufferings and your perfecutions on the Altar of Union, you may have the credit of completing the work. If you do this, all good men will applaud you, government must attend to you, your own hearts will approve of your conduct.

I know not whether there be any funds left in your country, at the difpofal of government, which could be allotted for your provifion. But certainly the good and political purpofes to be ferved by your eftablishment well deferve this care. Ways and means may cafily be found, by difpofing of waste, or Crown, or forfeited lands, to fettle fome small maintenance on you, which, together with the voluntary contributions of your hearers, would place you in more eligible circumftances than you can be in at prefent. In every reasonable application to government, you may certainly expect the countenance and affiftance of the Church of England, which muft fympathize with your fituation, and wish for ability to change it.

What then hinders but that you have folemn meetings, to afk counsel from on high, and deliberate on a fubject of this confequence to your own reputations, and of this importance to your country. Let your fubmiffion to government be unconditional and free. Among all our public faults, we yet poffefs generofity, and can fee the merit of fuch a fiep, and, I hope, reward it in propor

tion to its value.

May a good God direct your refolutions, to the fulfilling of your own duty, the uniting and improving of your country, and the promoting of his glory, prays one who is fincerely the friend of your good name and true interefts. GENT. MAG. April, 1788.

Mr. URBAN,

Feb. 15.

entertaining Magazine relative to O much has been faid lately in your

the petrifaction of human bones, that I am induced to fend you a fketch (fee plate II. fig. 2, 3) of two ftones brought me by a Somersetshire quarrier a few days fince. They weigh about twentyfive pounds each, are of extreme hardnefs, and richly charged with animal bones, but of what animal I am not anatomist enough to determine. I think the bones are not perfectly petrified; but they are much harder than in their boney ftate, and they are fo intimately united with the ftone, that there is no poffibility of feparating them. They were taken up at a confiderable depth from the surface, and have, I think, the appearance of the ribs of lambs; but that they are animal bones, is as certain as that the rock which holds them was once in a foft ftate to receive them. N° 1. is a beautiful marine fhell. 1 intend

fawing them down the middle; and if they difclofe any thing fill more curious, I will communicate it to you.

P.S. Upon a clofer examination, I think I may pronounce the bones to be a perfect petrifaction; but to the eye they feem fo perfect a bone, that they deceived me. They are of a fine polish, P.T. and of a dark brown colour.

I

WISH, among your many ingenious correfpondents, the following phænomenon could be explained. Upon the coaft of Suffolk, from the high cliff (which we defcend to Landguard Fort) to Baudfey Ferry, the cliff is a compofition of marine fhells, among which are found a great number of the fpiral wilkfhells. Time, and the want of an animated inhabitant, has given them a yellow coat; but they are exactly the fame, as to fize and form, with the life-fhell on the beach beneath, of which a cart might be filled in an hour, with this very fingular difference, that every fhell in the cliff has its fpiral turn contrary to that of the life-fhell.. I have dug in that cliff, at times, for years, and never could find a fingle fhell in it that did not twift as in plate 11. fiș. 4, while all the life-fhells are as in fig. 5. We call the yellow ones ante-diluvians; but did the deluge invert their nature, Mr. Urban? Yours, &c.

are

A.

**Fig. 6. and 7. in the fame plate, Kentifh fhells copied from Mr. Thorpe's "Cutumale Rollente,” an i will be explained next month. SUM

Debates in the Fifth Seffion of Parliament.

T

(Continued from p. 232.) Thursday, January 31. HE Houfe having met this day, pursuant to adjournment; Charles Gould, eiq. took his feat for the borough of Brecon.

Sir Rob. Clayton, bart. took his feat for the borough of Blechingley. And

Sir John Goodriche, bart. for the borough of Rippon, in the county of York.

A new writ was moved for the borough of Totnefs, in the room of Sir Philip Jennings Clerke, deccafed.

Alfo, a new writ for the borough of Wilton, in the room of R. Gold/worthy, efq, who had accepted the ftewardhip of the three Chiltern hundreds.

The Right Hon. Frederic Montagu, on the motion of Mr. Burke, was added to the committee appointed to manage the impeachment of Warren Haftings, efq.

Mr. Alcock, from the commiffioners of excife in Scotland, attended, and prefented two accounts of the number of licences taken out by diftillers in Scotland.

Mr. Paton, from the excife-office, prefented two accounts of fpirits ditilled from coin imported into this kingdom from Scotland.

Several private petitions were prefented, and the Houfe adjourned.

Friday, February 1. Lord Galway prefented a petition from Yorkshire againft the flave trade.

Notice was given, that the bill for regulating the trade between the United States of America and Newfoundland, &c. would be read a fecond time on Monday.

Sir Gilbert Elliott moved, that certain witnefles, whom he named, thould attend at the bar of the Houle on Monday, in order to be examined refpecting the conduct of Sir El jah Impey in the affair of Patna, &c. which was unanimoufly agreed to.

Sir John Sinclair prefented a petition from the malt-difillers of Scotland, which was ordered to be read. The preamble fisted the charges, exhibited against them the latt fellion by the London corn-difhilers, to be unfounded; and the petition prayed for permition to be held by counted at the bar against thofe charges; which was granted.

Mr. P., after declaring that it was

his earnest wish to do juftice to both parties, propofed, that on Tuesday next each might be heard by their counsel; and that the merits of the question fhould be then decided on in a committee of the whole House.

Ald. Watfon did not by any means object to granting the prayer of the petition; but wished that the bufinefs might come on as foon as poffible, the fmalleft delay being extremely prejudicial, as well to the revenue as to the country in general.

Sir Wm. Cunynghame thought Tuefday too fhort a day, confidering the importance of the queftion: but as the Rt. Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Pitt) had fixed on that day, he would make no farther objection to it. Adjourned.

Monday, February 4.

John Robinfon, efq. who had vacated his feat for Harwich, on account of his appointment to the office of furveyor. general of his Majefty's forefts, and who had been fince re-elected for that borough, this day took the oaths and his feat.

It is the rule of Parliament, that no petition can be received unless a motion is made by fome member for leave to bring it up, and leave is accordingly granted: but this rule does not extend to the city of London, which enjoys the privilege of prefenting petitions through the hands of their fheriffs, without leave having been previously asked. The form used on the occafion is this-Notice is given to the ferjeant at arms, that the fheriffs of London are attending the Houfe, and defire to be admitted. This notice is communicated to the Speaker, and by him to the Houfe. He then puts a queftion, that the fheriff's be called in, which paffing in the athimative, they are accordingly called in.-1 hefe forms having been complied with this day, the two theriffs, in their fcarlet gowns, walked up to the bar, and, being asked what their bufinefs was, the senior deli vered a petition from the corporation of London, praying for the abolition of the flave trade. It was read, and, on motion, ordered to lie upon the table.

The fheriffs then reted; but were foon after introduced again with the fame formalities, and delivered another petition, praying the repeal of the fhoptax. The ire is then withdrew; and the fecond petition was difpofed of in the fame manner as the fift.