particularly the cafe with refpect to the choice of fubjects of preaching, and the manner of treating them. This confideration not only excufes, but juftifies, the familiar, or, if you please, the humble ftyle, in which thefe Difcourfes are written: for they were, for the most part, delivered extemporé to illiterate auditories, and are printed, as nearly as could be recollected, as they were spoken. In fuch a fituation, the Author might be vindicated in adopting a mode of addrefs very different from the ufual forms of regular compofition. And in committing fome of thefe difcourfes to the prefs, he has given a fpecimen of popular eloquence, which, notwithstanding fome peculiarities, and fome extravagancies, may be of use to preachers in a like fituation. The Author, with fome zeal for orthodoxy, appears to poffefs a candid fpirit, and a great defire of doing good. Several of thefe fermons are plain addreffes to country people, on industry, caution, frugality, covetoufnefs, and other moral fubjects, which, though perhaps too low to please a cultivated tafte, could not fail to be interefting and useful to the people to whom they were delivered. Art. 37. Confolation to the Mourner, and Instruction both to Youth and Old Age, from the early Death of the Righteous. In two Difcourfes. By Samuel Cooper, D. D. Minister of Great Yarmouth. Occafioned by the Death of his eldest Daughter (who had only just entered into her twenty-first Year). To which is fubjoined an Appendix, containing her Character, and two Elegies on her Death. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Becket, &c. 1786. If the maxim be true, that Triftia mæftum Vultum verba decent,' the style in which these discourses are written is by no means fuitable to the occafion. Instead of that modeft fimplicity of language, which is the natural expreffion of grief, we meet with a magnificent difplay of opinions and fentiments in all the decorations of metaphorical and declamatory diction. On any fubject an unneceffary profufion of words, and especially a redundancy of figures, dazzles more than it enlightens; but if ever it be unfeafonable and improper to approach toward the turgid, it must be peculiarly fo when the foul is oppreffed with forrow. In marking this impropriety we would, however, by no means be understood to imply the moft diftant infinuation refpecting the fincerity of the Author's grief on the occafion of this discourse. We only mean to express our regret, that his ge neral manner (which we have formerly had opportunities of noticing) fhould have led him, in the prefent inftance, so far out of the road of nature and correct tafte. It is impoffible that the lofs of fo accomplished and perfect a pattern of excellence as Mifs Cooper was, fhould not have occafioned much distress to her friends: for her father (and he declares that he does not fpeak it from the partiality of a parent) fays of her If ever human being was perfect, he was a complete model of all the perfection the Deity can require; because it was all humanity can attain. She was not only spotless, but, befides being in pofeffion of all thofe other ornaments of nature, which moft forcibly atract the attention, and moft firmly engage the efteem of the world, he was endued with every moral virtue, and every Christian grace, and altogether refined from every the leaft alloy of any earthly foit le or human frailty.' Without at all depreciating the R the real merit of this excellent young woman, we may be allowed Much laudable pains appear to have been taken by the Rev. Mr. 1s. 6d. 12mo. 12mo. This controverfy, on Gofpel Faith, Grace, &c. is enveloped, on all fides, in fuch a cloud of mystical language, that we acknowledge ourfelves wholly incompetent to the task of forming a judgment on its merits. The initiated will, doubtless, read thefe pieces with delight, and will think, at leaft, that they read them with understanding and far be it from us to interrupt their pleafure or edification, by the troublesome intrufion of unhallowed criticifm. SE RMON S. E. I. The Importance and Extent of Free Inquiry in Matters of Religion: In this difcourfe, and the fubfequent remarks, Dr Priestley afferts -See his Sermon on this fubject, Rev. for May. 3 left left without reftraint ;-that, if free scope be given to inquiry, truth The friends of free inquiry and truth (fays our Author) may reft The general principle, fo well expreffed in this paffage, is undoubtedly right. There feems great reafon to expect, from the prefent progreffive ftate of knowledge, that truth will, at length, fo far prevail over error, that, on all queftions which lie within the compafs of the human faculties, there will be a general agreement in opinion. But to predict what particular fyftem of opinions will, in the result of this progrefs, be admitted as true, is certainly to give a premature judgment on a matter which is, by fuppofition, as yet undetermined. In reply to the ftrictures on Socinianifm in Mr. White's Sermons at the Bampton Lecture, Dr. Priefiley maintains, that Christianity lofes none of its value upon Socinian principles; and that Socinianifm is not an advance towards Deifm, but tends to establish Christianity by removing fome of the principal objections which have been made against it. In his remarks upon Mr. Howes's Difcourfe, he flatly contradicts his reprefentation of facts, and refents his infinuations that Dr. P. only pretends to believe Chriftianity. The remarks upon "Primitive Candour" contradict the Author's reprefentation of the doctrine of the Gnoftics, and endeavour to invalidate his arguments, deduced from thence, to prove that the first Chriftians were Unitarians. II. Preached at Kingston upon Thames, February 19, on the Death of Captain Richard Pierce, Commander of the Halfewell EaftIndiaman, which was loft off the Island of Purbeck, January 6, 1786. By the Rev, Matthew Raine, A. M. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. 4to. 19. Kearfley. Of this difcourfe it will be a fufficient recommendation to fay, that it is exceedingly well adapted to the affecting event which occafioned it. The moral leffons taught by fuch events are plainly reprefented, and urged with manly energy, from the words of St. James, What is your life? It is even a vapour, &c. E. **The Critique on the laft edition of Shakespeare, will appear in our next. tit S. is mistaken in his CONJECTURE:-and, with refpect to his valuable PUBLICATION, our account of it (which was drawn up before we were favoured with his letter) will appear in the Review for Auguft. Erratum in our laft, viz. P. 474, par. 3, 1. 9, for tracts,' r. traits E. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For AUGUST, 1786. ART. I. The Plays of William Shakspeare. With the Corrections and Illuftrations of various Commentators; to which are added Notes by Samuel Johnfon and George Steevens. The Third Edition, revised and augmented by the Editor of Dodfley's Collection of Old Plays. 8vo. 10 Vols. 31. 10s. bound. Bathurst, Rivingtons, &c. 1785. IN N the courfe of our periodical labours, we have frequently obferved, that Fashion exerts her influence over the literary, as well as over the gay world. No fooner does a writer of acknowledged merit enter any walk of literature, than numerous authors are eager to pursue the fame path, without ever flopping to confider, whether their predeceffor may not have selected all the flowers in his way; whether the Public tafte may not be fufficiently gratified with thofe which have already been prefented to it; or whether (which indeed, though most neceffary to be confidered, it is leaft of all likely that they would confider). they themselves have abilities and difcernment to add to the felection. We have feen the example of a Sterne turning every pen to the writing of fentimental journies; that of a Percy exciting a general rage for collecting old ballads; and that of a McGregor filling the town with "Heroic Epiftles." But, perhaps, there is no inftance where the power of fashion, and the prevalence of example, are more confpicuous than in the cafe of of the work before us. The Commentators on our immortal Bard now amount, as appears by the lift given in the public papers, to upwards of fifty; moft of whom have fprung up within these few years. Indeed, fo formidable is their number and their bulk, that, we know, many admirers of Shakspeare are apprehensive that their favourite Poet is in danger of being made to resemble a Dutch edition of a CLASSIC. But, for our part, when we reflect on the great names and talents of most of the Commentators, and when we review the effect of their labours, we are filled with gratitude for what has been already done; and freely acknowledge, that we with the zeal of others, as well fitted for the task as thofe who have hitherto engaged in VOL. LXXV. G it, it, may be effectually called forth being well convinced, that by a diligent perufal of the old writers; by a careful attention to the customs, manners, and language of the times in which Shakspeare lived; and, above all, by a penetrating judgment, many of the great Dramatift's obfcurities, which have hitherto refifted the united efforts of all his Annotators, may be happily elucidated. The prefent edition of our great Poet is given to the world by Mr. Reed of Staple's Inn, who has proved himself well qualified for the undertaking by his former publications; and who, we will venture to predict, will receive no fmall addition to his literary credit, from the work under confideration. In his advertisement, the Editor modeftly informs us, that he did not intrude himself into his prefent fituation;' but entered on his office in consequence of an application which was too flattering, and too honourable for him to decline: Mr. Steevens, after withdrawing himself from a repetition of thofe labours which he had exerted in fuperintending the two former, having committed to him the care of this third edition. The following extract contains a fummary of thofe particulars wherein the prefent differs from the preceding editions: tators. As fome alterations have been made in the prefent edition, it may be thought neceffary to point them out. These are of two kinds, additions and omiflions. The additions are fuch as have been fapplied by the last Editor, and the principal of the living CommenTo mention thefe affiftances, is fufficient to excite expectation; but to fpeak any thing in their praife will be fuperfluous to thofe who are acquainted with their former labours. Some remarks are also added from new Commentators, and fome notices extracted from books which have been published in the course of a few years past.' The Editor then proceeds to inform us, that the most important of the omiffions are fome notes which have been demonftrated to be ill-founded, and fome which were fuppofed to add to the fize of the volumes without increafing their value.' He has alfo diminished the number of quotations which had been produced to exemplify particular words, or explain obsolete cuftoms; because when the point is once known to be establifhed, there is not the fame neceffity for them, that there was, before the matter had been fully fettled and in vindication of this part of his conduct he appeals to the authority of Prior, "That when one's proofs are aptly chofen, Four are as valid as four dozen." As to his own obfervations, Mr. Reed tells us, that he has added but little to the bulk of the volumes, having, upon every occafion, rather chofen to avoid a note, than to court the opportunity of inferting one.' Among |