Now, we cannot, confiftently with the divine perfections, believe that the Being who implanted thefe paffions in our breafts, gave them folely with the purpose of exciting pain, and uneasy fluctuation. Reafon, therefore, looks forward to a future ftate with expectation, which revealed religion converts into affurance. And I will challenge an unbeliever to fay, whether he can conceive any purpose of greater importance and utility as the fubject of a revelation from God; or more: worthy of the Being by whose ministration it was effected, than that of afcertaining to weak and imperfect creatures a truth, without the know ledge of which they must be miserable, and which reason has been unable to establish upon any proper foundation.

To know, then, that there is an appointed time at which defires, that have the nobleft ends in view, will receive gratification, is to gaini information whereby hope is animated in her pursuit of happiness; the trials of life are alleviated; and even the era of diffolution, (whịch na-: ture fhudders, to contemplate as the period of exiftence) is viewed as the commencement of perfect felicity Nature affumes a new face as foon as this great doctrine is thoroughly cleared and explained, to the real difciple of Jefus. He confiders himself as a traveller going through the world, rather than as an inhabitant of it. The calamities of life are like rocks and precipices, which render a journey irksome and fatiguing, without difcompofing the mind that is animated by the hope of reward. The promises of fcripture are an unceasing fund of joy to a good man, who finds an internal and ineffable tranquillity arifing from his reflections on a well-fpent life, and his view of the glory that is to be revealed; which the world, with all its deceitful allurements, can neither confer, nor take away. While he beholds,1 through the mirror of faith, the mansions of the juft; while he views the glorious affembly, of which he will foon become a member; while he contemplates the happy land afar off, whither his fathers. have already gone, and hears their voice, as it were, from the hollow tomb, calling upon him to follow them; his fpirits, his foul, are on the wing to depart!

He longs

To have his paffport fign'd, and be difmifs'd!"

How are the trials of this tranfitory scene loft, as a drop of water in the mighty ocean, by him who has in view the interminable prospects that open beyond it! When confidered as introductory to this glorious ftate, instead of poison, that preys upon the vitals, they become a medicine, of which, although the operation be painful, the effect is falutary and beneficial. To the forlorn fceptic, indeed; to the folitary fpeculator; to the atheift, who, marked like Cain by his Maker, wanders as a vagabond and an an outcast among his fellow-men ; the troubles of life may affume a gloomy and a formidable afpect. Leaning upon the brittle thread of life, they fee the gulph of annihilation opening beneath them, and eternal darkness ready to fhield them in her bofom from the terrors that render it their refuge!

ENG. REV. Vol. IX. Feb. 1787.

'I with

I withhold from view, for the honour of human nature, the in ftruments wherewith defpair arms the miferable, as the means of fliding unperceived into the fhade of oblivion. Let us leave them to the mercy of that God, who pities the weakness, who pardons the offences of his creatures; remembering, in the midst of wrath, that they are fading flesh; a wind that paffeth away, and returns not any more. Let us turn from a fcene replete with horror to behold the peaceful exit of him, who, having gone through his ftate of trial with approbation, has its reward, its glorious reward, at laft in profpect. And, while we look back upon the tempestuous feas through which he has paffed, and forward to the land of feftivity and rejoicing that waits to receive him, let us remember that his example has a voice; that, while we behold, it fays emphatically to the furvivors," Be ye not flothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promifes."

༣

This paffage, which is highly animated and eloquent, is fupported by the general strain of these difcourfes, which give the author no inferior rank among the preachers of the age. We are happy to fee, that, from the zeal and activity of the refpectable parishioners of Egham, they are ushered into the world with the names of the firft families in England, and the highest dignitaries in the church. From fuch patronage we hope that a fecond edition will foon give

a more extenfive circulation to the excellent leffons of piety and virtue contained in thefe Sermons."

ART. XV. Lucinda Ofborn; a Novel. In Two Volumes. By a Young Lady. 12mo. 6s. fewed. Geary. London, 1786.

THIS

HIS novel is the compofition of a lady; and we love the works of the ladies. The authoreis, indeed, does not difcover, any profound knowledge of human nature; does not excel in drawing original or uncommon characters; or in weaving the incidents of her tale fo as to make an affecting, interefting, and perfect whole; but, by way of recompence, we have a great deal of talk about foftnefs, fentiment, fighing, dying, love, rapture, adoration, and all that. A fair incognita, two or three lovers, a confidante, a discovery, and a marriage, form the outlines of the ftory, as in most of the novels and comedies of the age. There is one incident in this piece which has the merit of novelty; Lucinda Osborn, the heroine, was on the point of being married to her own father. Her friend, Mifs Selwyn,

Heb, vi. 12.

defcrib

defcribing the important procefs of the toilette on the wedding-morning, proceeds to relate this fingular occurrence,

In this manner I ran on, in hopes to amufe her; and it had a tolérable effect. I next went to look at her jewels, which are fuperb, for a pair of bracelets, &c. &c. By the bye, this puts me in mind of the trinkets left you by your mother, my dear Lucinda, said I; and it actually did fo: You have a picture of your father, I think; come, produce him, child, as he fhall pofitively go on; fince we cannot have him with us on this joyous occafion, I am determined his refemblance fhall be of the party; fo get up and fetch it. The idea gave her pleafure. I am amazed it did not occur to me, cried the; yes, my be loved father, your resemblance, fince Heaven denies me the confolation of yourfelf to fupport my fpirits in this trying hour, fhall fupply your loved place." She took it from its cafe, with a locket, in which was fome of her mother's hair, mixed with fome of her father's; a ring too of confiderable value-they fhall all go on, my love, faid I; and then examined the picture. Wherever he is, Lucinda, continued I, he is, or at least has been, monftrous handfome: don't you admire that phrafe, child? Not very like you, I think, though; I fuppofe you resembled your mother more than him. I vow I could almoft fancy it like Lord Leinfter-pray look at the turn of that mouth-that smile, I mean: the forehead too-does not this, my dear, render it ftill more pleafing to you? I now looked at my watch-the started.

• What now, my dear!-did you then fimply imagine the hours were to ftand ftill to-day? My life for it, my lord is at this moment chiding them for the flowness of their motions. Come, come, every foul is waiting for us, and have been this hour. Never mind your gloves; for fhe was endeavouring to pull them on while I spoke but actually her tremor was fo great fhe could not do it. hurried her down, two or three meffages having been fent for us already. She was ftill fiddling about them, when we entered the drawing-room, glad of any employment, I believe, as an excufe for not looking at the company: Lord Leinfter flew to lead her to a feat.

Do, my lord, cried I, help my Lucinda to put on her gloves; fhe is a fad bungler this morning; I never faw her fo awkward. Every one fmiled at this fally, and faw my motive; I wished to break the formality of the fcene. But ah! my dear mother, it was foon put an end to in a very different manner. His lordship inftantly began to help her, yet seemed in no hurry to fucceed, unwilling to deprive himself of the fight of the finest hand in the world; he was preffing it to his lips with infinite tenderness; when, happening to caft his eyes on the picture, which she wore on her arm, he ftarted, gazed on it with wildnefs in his looks, fo ftriking, that we all obferved it at the fame in. ftant. At laft, having eagerly examined it, he greatly added to our furprize by fuddenly exclaiming, "For God's fake! tell me, my be-, loved creature, where you got this picture!" with fuch emotions, that his voice faultered as he spoke, and his colour changed at every word.

Lucinda was scarce lefs agitated than himself; but at once replied, "It is the picture of my dear, my unfortunate father, my

I 2

lord,

lord, left me by my no less dear, though equally unfortunate, mother."

"Your father!" exclaimed his lordship, raifing his eyes to heaven, and clafping his hands with the utmoft aftonishment in his countenance: Your father!" faid he, again and again, feizing her hand, and fixing his eyes upon it; " Good Heavens! is it poffible! can it be! Is your name really Ofborn, my beft beloved? Oh! speak to me; anfwer me quickly, left my reason forfake me ere I have power to clear up this wonderful myftery! tell me, my gentle, my lovely Lucinda, was your father's name really Osborn "

"Forgive me, my lord, for having fo long delayed to acquaint you with the truth; I referved it till after I had given you my hand; flattering myself revealing it then would be an agreeable furprize, not only to you, but fome other of my kind friends: it was not, my lord; his name was Afton."

"Afton, Afton!" exclaimed he, clasping the dear terrified creature to his heart; "Great God of heaven and earth! what do I hear! do I then live to hold thee thus, my darling child! my dear, my long-loft, my long-lamented daughter!"

Overpowered with the violence of their emotions, they were finking to the ground, had we not all ran to support them. It is not, my dear mother, in the power of language to give you an idea of the confternation we were all thrown into by this aftonishing event; I was the only perfon prefent who was acquainted with the fecret of her birth; but though I was informed of that circumftance, you may well believe I had still abundance of amazement.'

The reflection of the fame correfpodent on the above incident is very curious. "Lord Leinster [the father of the heroine] is abfolutely more the lover than ever. Heavens, "what a doating hufband the dear girl has loft by this wonderful difcovery!"

It has been commonly fuppofed that women have fome ideas of virtuous fenfibility, delicacy, and a moral nature; but, if we may judge from individual inftances, they are very different from thofe of men.

ART. XVI. General Regulations and Orders for his Majefty's Forces. Small 8vo. 1s. 6d. War-Office, printed. J.Walter. London, 1786.

MANY attempts have been made to introduce into our army that economy of establishment, and uniformity of difcipline, which are fo juftly admired in the Pruffian and Auftrian fyftems. In the first of these points great improve

* Page 171.

ments

"

ments have undoubtedly taken place. A ftop has been put to thofe infamous combinations in impofition which difgraced officers of every rank; the fituation of the foldier has been rendered more comfortable; and immenfe fums have been saved to the public: but even in this much still remains to be done. In the fecond, hardly any thing hast been attempted. Orders, indeed, have been repeatedly iffued, but were firft infringed with impunity, and are now totally difregarded. Hence the foldier is haraffed and fatigued with trifling changes in difcipline, and the best, we had almost faid the only clafs of good officers, those whose profeffion is their fupport, involved in expences their scanty pittance can by no means afford, to gratify the caprice of every fucceeding commanding officer.

us.

In order to rectify, in fome degree, these abuses, and at the fame time to pave the way for a general plan of discipline, the adjutant-general, by command of his majefty, has compofed, or rather compiled, the regulations now before In the "Introduction" we are informed that they are meant only as the bafis of a greater undertaking. To pafs a definitive judgment upon them would therefore be unfair; indeed they contain little to blame or to commend. The changes introduced are few and unimportant; and perhaps it may be prudent not to put obedience all at once to overrude a trial. The greater part of them is employed in orders for a review: which, we are forry to fee, will be gone through in as general and fummary a manner as before. What we can find in them befides, are fome instructions for forming recruits, and directions for marching in line, and in column. This laft we regard as the most useful of the whole. The maxims laid down," that all marches and movements "fhall be made in given lines, and all formations on fixed "and determined objects," are abfolutely neceffary to the performance of any manoeuvres where exactness and precifion are aimed at; and have not, we hope, efcaped thofe officers who were induced, by a laudable defire of improvement, to become spectators of the Pruffian and Austrian reviews *

If we may be allowed to form an opinion of the spirit of the fyftem going to be introduced, we cannot help fearing that fufficient attention will not be paid to the fupereminent

* In the "Eai general de Tactique" thefe marches and movements are treated of at full length; and it is from it that this, and most of the other novelties contained in the prefent publication, are borrowed.