will not interfere in controuling affociations which do not appear, from any evidence which has as yet been laid before the public, to be adverfe to economy, good morals, or public tranquillity. I have, indeed, more than once heard it infinuated, That friendly focieties. are apt to degenerate into debating clubs; and that convivial meetings on a Saturday might become the apteft vehicles for diffeminating principles fubverfive of fubordination and fubmiffion to the laws of our country. I have alfo heard it afferted, that the members of friendly focieties, from being accustomed to affemble at ale-houfes, are not only stimulated by interested landlords, but encouraged by the contagion of ill examples, in the habits of drunkennefs; that the money which is fpent on a club-night, is entirely loft to a labouring family; and that there are various ways in which the earnings of induftry might be applied more advantageoutly to the morals of the labourer and the comforts of his family. Friendly focieties, it is true, like all other human contrivances, have their defects. It is, however, though a short, a sufficient anfwer to fuch objections as I have noticed, and to fome others which it is unneceffary to enumerate, that these inftitutions do not aim at perfection, but improvement. They are not

intended to be

"That faultless monster which the world

ne'er faw."

But it is a fufficient proof of their excellence, that they are congenial to the focial latitudes and prejudices of the labourer; and that, if they cannot correct he inclination (which is too often caufed by hard labour) for conviviality and diffi, pation, they, at least, convert a vi

cious propenfity into an ufeful inftrument of economy and industry, and fecure to their members (what can feldom be purchafed at too dear a rate) fubfiftence during sickness, and independence in old age."

The whole of the fecond, and nearly a half of the third volume, are taken up with 181 parochial reports, the refult of his enquiries; the other half of the laft volume confifts of a voluminous appendix, containing a great variety of important and authentic documents. On the whole, we cannot but congratulate the public on a work, the refult of fo much labour and unwearied induftry, which is calculated to do a great deal of good, and reflects great honour on the author.

Thoughts on the Structure of the Globe; and the Scriptural Hiflory of the Earth, and of Mankind; compared with the Cofmogonies, Chronologies, and original Traditions of ancient Nations an Abftra&t and Review of feveral modern Systems; with an Attempt to explain Philofophically, the Mofaical Account of the Creation and Deluge, and to deduce from this laft Event, the Caufes of the actual Structure of the Earth. In a Series of Letters, with Notes and Illuftrations, by Philip Howard, Efq. 4to, 1797.

THE fubftance of this work was,

as we are informed, by the author, published in two letters in the French language, toward the end of the year 1786: he has fince revifed, corrected, and confiderably enlarged it. In it we are brought acquainted with the outlines of thofe fcientific fyftems which, keeping pace with numerous publications in every path of literature, were calculated to tear up in the Hh 4

public

public mind every remaining at tachment to Chriftianity. Among the principal fupporters of thefe deftructive fyftems, Mr. Howard points out the names of Buffon and Bailly; the tendency of whofe cofmogonical writings appear fufficiently to fubflantiate his charge. With a zeal worthy of his caufe, he detects the fallacies of thefe celebrated men, and most ably employs both diftinguished talents and erudition in proving the compatibility of the fcriptural narrative with the principles of modern philofophy, and in cafting additional light on the obfcure traces of ancient chronology. Each letter is followed by explanatory notes; in which he brings forward the proofs neceffary for him, either to confute the arguments of his opponents, or to fupport his own. Thefe difplay profound learning and great ingenuity. To make extracts from a work of of this nature, is fcarcely poffible, within the compafs of thefe pages: we must therefore take our leave of this powerful advocate for the fcriptural account of the creation of the world, with the following fpirited account of the rife, progrefs, and confequences of the frightful combination formed by the Encyclopedifts against all religion.

"Mr. Bailly was not only an aftronomer of great celebrity, but a very elegant writer. He was the diftinguilhed difciple of Mr. de Buffon, who, in conjunction with Voltaire, d'Alembert, Condorcet, and others, was at the head of the whole philofophic fect and men of wit in France, by whom a real plot had been formed, and was carried on for forty years, to root out Chriftianity. Refigion of any kind, it feems, fhackled both their inclinations and their genius. Each agreed, in his fepa

rate department, to contribute to the glorious work. For many years, in France, to be a man of science or letters was a diftinct profeffion, and a diftinguished title, which introduced the affumer to the fashionable circles of profligate nobility, and to the tables of ignorant and ftill more profligate publicans, fattened on the fpoils of the people. The luxurious repafts of the rich were not complete without the prefence of fome of these fons of Epicurus. There, amidst their admiring auditors, and a crowd of gaping valets, they expounded in fallies of wit and farcasms on religion, their pernicious doctrines, interlarding them with fentimental phrafes of philanthropy and humanity. How much of these was in their hearts, they have fince fully hewn during the fatal reign of their philofophy. At the houfes of every lady, young or old, whofe ambition it was to be celebrated for wit, they held their conventicles; where they ftill more freely difcuffed their philofophical principles, and expatiated on the abufes of religion and governments. Whoever coincided not with them was, by univerfal acclamation, held up as a man devoid of fenfe or wit. The effect of this general cry is fcarcely to be conceived: - with youth it was all-powerful, and with the more advanced in age it required very folid principles to be withflood. They had actually by degrees excluded from all the acade, mies whoever dared not to be of their opinion. Though co-operating with thefe confpirators againft religion, Mr. Bailly was diftinguished as a man of benevolence, of modeft and placid manners. He has been lately still better known to all Europe as the firft mayor of Paris in 1789. The fpirit of party pro

bably

bably carried him beyond his natural bent; but he became a fellowlabourer with the heads of the conftituent affembly, who, under a fhadow of monarchy, called in the mob, whom they acknowledged the fole fovereign; and enforced the fuccefs of their revolution by calumny, terror, and partial murders, by the demolition of property, and the confifcation of churchlands. At laft, with every other chief of that faction who faved not himfelf by timely flight, Mr. Bailly fell a victim to more atrocious vil lains who had made use of these as tools, and to the ungovernable fury of that populace whofe bloody reign they had eftablifhed, in order to pull down regal authority, and level with the duft the religion and morality of their country. Many were, no doubt, furprised to hear of Pagan feftivals and rites inftituted by the convention, in honour of the fuppofed goddefs of Nature, reprefented by a female; but the furprise will ceafe when they are informed that these rites were, thirty years ago, fecretly practifed by a fociety of philofophers, to whom France owes what they have been pleafed to ftyle its regeneration.

"Warned by the fatal effects thefe feducers have produced in one great kingdom, it is to be hoped that thole who fhall hereafter afpire to the refpectable name of Philofophers, will henceforth abjure thefe infidious attacks on the principles of religion; and that governments will be cautious how they countenance or patronize thofe who fhall thus aim to poifon the trueft fource of public and private happiness. Without religion, that virtue which fophifts with to ifolate from it, is a mere abftract idea, which has nei,

ther bafe nor real end: without it, no curb on vice remains, either over fovereigns, or over the headftrong multitude. Wifdom itself, without it, is only egotifm well underftood; and for the understanding of it the paffions are the judges. Religion will ever be the fole folid fupport and ftrength of laws and public order; counterpoife to the inevitable inequalities amongst men, confolation of the poor and weak; it can alone dignify poverty, and fubdue the pride of riches and of grandeur. Ever ready to pour its healing balm on the wounds of the body or of the mind, it is the fureft folace of the afflicted, and the last refuge of the culpable. In vain would fophifts feek to sap foundations rooted in the very inmost receffes of human nature; the intimate fenfe of every man of rectitude, and the heart of every man of fenfibility, will, at times at least, triumph over their acuteft reafonings.

"Fulminate, ye philofophers (we will applaud you) religious perfecution and reftraint of confciences; with you true religion reprobates them. If every predominant fect of Chriftians has at fome period invoked their aid, either under the pretext of danger to the ftate, or on the fpecious pretence of guarding from corruption the weaker part of the flock, none has dared to approve, them in direct terms, because they are clearly repugnant to the fpirit and doctrines of their divine legiflator. As the judicious Dr. Paley obferves, the erroneous judgments of intemperate zeal, almost ever originating in human paffions, have too often produced intolerance and perfecution, nowife chargeable on Chriftianity; but the unbeliev

ing

ing rulers of France have proved that, in order to be a perfecutor, it is not neceflary to be a bigot-that, in rage and cruelty, in mifchief and deftruction, fanaticifm itself can be outdone by infidelity. Amidit equal horrors, one effential difference is alfo to be remarked between these two kinds of perfecutors. By the one, all the connections which bind mankind together are not diffolved:-the ties of blood are fometimes trodden under foot; but against adverse tenets all his rage is directed; towards the brethren of his creed, the bonds of amity, fidelity, and benevolence are ftrengthened. The other knows no brother; and every man who ftands in the way of his idol paffions, is alike facrificed with ftoical indifference.

"If philofophers with to combat the moit fatal and destructive error of mankind, it is against warlike phrenzy that it becomes them to employ their ftrongest arguments; and their moft touching eloquence to eradicate from the minds both of princes and of people, that rage of mutual deftruction for fenfelefs jealoufies and mistaken interefts. It was the Christian religion which first taught man to love man, without diftinction of race or country, by fhewing all men to be the equally cherished children of one common father. Simple but fublime doctrine! which, if ancient philofophers ever felt, they never durft produce. Let philofophy unite to its mild voice the force of reafon, to make the whole world liften to the leffons of true philanthropy. Whilft religion reveals to each individual eternal felicity attached to the accomplishment of this great precept of love, let it de

monftrate to nations temporal happinefs and profperity, dependent on univerfal concord.".

The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Knight, late Prefident of the Royal Academy; containing his Discourses, Idlers, a Journey to Flanders and Holland, and his Commentary on Du Frenoy's Art of Painting, printed from his revised Copies (with his laft Corrections and Additions) in Three Volumes; to which is prefixed an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author, by Edmund Malone, Efq. one of his Executors.

1797.

HIS elegant edition of the

TH

works of that admirable artist and amiable man, Sir Joshua Reynolds, contains no matter that has not before met the public eye, except the journey to Flanders and Holland, which was performed by Sir Jofhua, in company with his friend Mr. Metcalf, in July, 1781, for the purpose of viewing the most celebrated productions of the Fle▾ mifh and Dutch schools: it contains a very pleafing account of their journey, with remarks on the pictures preferved in the various churches and cabinets that he vifited; to which he has fubjoined a character of Rubens, done in fo mafterly a manner, that we cannot refift giving it to our readers at length.

The works of men of genius alone, where great faults are united with great beauties, afford proper matter for criticifm. Genius is always eccentric, bold, and daring; which, at the fame time that it commands attention, is fure to provoke criticifm. It is the regular, cold, and timid compofer who ef

capes