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PART 1.]

REVIEW.-Preservation of Lives.-Freemasonry.

reflecting on our vanity and presumption, to think of our conceit and self-importance. We frequently pretended to lecture on points of which we had scarcely any knowledge, and to discuss subjects which overwhelm the intellect of men and angels. Reed's lectures were on "the Introduction of moral Evil, Cherubim," &c. Thus foolish boys "rushed in where angels dare not tread." Vol. I. p. 11.

We warmly recommend Mr. Barnett to consult some learned and amiable divine of the Church of England, and be no longer the dupe of wretched quacks in sacred matters.

121. An Appeal to the British Nation on the Humanity and Policy of forming a National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck. By Sir William Hillary, Bart. 8vo. pp. 25. 122. The Forty-ninth Annual Report of the Royal Humane Society for the Recovery of Persons apparently drowned or dead. 8vo. pp. 113. 1823.

123. The Herald of Peace for the Year 1822. 8vo. pp. 256.

WE have classed these publications together, though the two first are very different in high reason and character from the last, because they have all one laudable object, prevention of the waste of life; a principle which has always a grand operation upon legislation and morals. The proposal of Sir William Hillary seems to us one which may be well grafted upon the excellent Humane Society, by enlargement of its object, and bounties from the County Rates to fishermen and other mariners on the sea coasts, for saving lives.

As to the "Herald of Peace," we peremptorily deny, that, in the language of p. 9, "defensive as well as offensive war is Antichristian, and that the military profession is incompatible with the Christian character.' We solemnly believe, that such a fancy as that recommended, would render all the good part of society slaves to the wicked; and that in the end oppression would compel the former to take up arms, and a bellum internum civum follow, of ten times more slaughter than now ensues in the bitterest conflicts. Under the present system, a small body of citizens devote themselves to the profession of arms, that the rest may live in peace; and in all countries where no such profession GENT. MAG. Suppl. XCIII. PART. I.

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exists, whole nations take the field, and extermination ensues. The wretched philosophy of fanatics may clination to spare thieves; nor do we excite mutiny in the army, and an insee any thing but mischief and absurdity in such doctrines, because they preclude man from the justifiable exercise of self-preservation.

124. The Antiquities of Freemasonry, &c. &c. By George Oliver, Vicar of Clee, County of Lincoln, P..G. C. for the same County 8vo. pp. 366.

THAT the admirable art of Architecture was professed by a body of men, who united with it a collegiate institution, practising various fraternal and social virtues, is attested by written documents of the Middle Age. That also the customs, then and now observed, were, mutatis mutandis, according to the alterations of the times, borrowed from the most remote periods, cannot reasonably be questioned by those who have only a superficial knowledge of classical antiquity; and of the commonness of secret mysterious institutions ; nor will the profound scholar deny that from Asia, India, and Egypt, have emanated numerous rites and ceremonies, of which no further history or explanation can reasonably be produced. As to the particular Society under our notice, we can safely say, that it is very religious, harmless, and benevolent; and various parts of its secret rites sublime. We who have assisted in the consecration of a Lodge know, that in grandeur and solemnity

it surpasses the finest theatrical efforts; and is yet so chaste, so pious, and so glorious, that, one interesting part excepted (which we know was practised among the Druids,) it would be a beautiful model even for a Protestant Liturgy; because the Genevism of our Reformers has, in our opinion, gone rather too far, in regard to things of show and effect. They allow us clean table-cloths and clean body linen; but in all other matters, are rigid as Quakers. Mr. Oliver's work is an enlarged disquisition upon Freemasonry, in its modern sense, as an ancient and genial institution, not an operative art, but a system of piety, wisdom, and philanthropy, symbolized by Architectural Emblems, and supported by Historical Traditions. We warmly recom

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125. Report of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 8vo. pp. 19. THE Society continues with unremitting zeal to prosecute the laudable objects of its Institution. One new thing of high moment appears, that is, a translation of the Scriptures into Irish (see p. 25). That such a measure did not accompany the establishment of a Protestant Church in Ireland, is to us astonishing. Religious matters in India are progressive, God be praised; for Superstition, and of course the most serious defects in ideas and principles, there lord it supreme. Of the importance of religious instruction we are happy to bear the following testimony from the fourth Report of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline.

"For the last twenty months, the Ladies have kept an account of the number of convicted women, who, on being placed under their care, were found to have received some degree of education. From this useful register it appears, that of 119 prisonersbeing the whole number who were able to read-not one had attended a school on the British system, and one only had entered a National school: in the latter case, the individual confessed, that she had remained

there but two weeks, so that it may be fairly excluded from the account. It also appears

that but three had been in the habit of attending at Sunday schools. These simple facts speak volumes, and furnish incontestable proof of the supreme importance of religious instruction." p. 43.

We are able to attest this from personal knowledge of the good effects of the religious instruction indefatigably pursued in the Forest of Dean, by the Rev. Henry Birkin. We shall notice this subject in our Review of the Report, which we have quoted; but cannot forbear adding one more extract, which will place the diabolical exertions of the friends of Paine and Carlisle in their true light, viz. the tendency of such exertions to fill our prisons.

"Religious instruction forms in fact an indispensable branch of prison discipline. It is a component part of the system. Without reformation, the object of prison discipline cannot be attained: without religious impressions, reformation is utterly hopeless. The prevention of crime will never be effected by the influence of fear alone. For

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the truth of this sentiment, the Committee may confidently appeal to the page of History." p. 16.

126. The Fourth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders. 8vo. pp. 172.

THIS excellent Society reports progress in a most satisfactory form, and promises ultimately to place Prisondiscipline in a state of perfection. We have no room, however, for general remark; the particulars being of great

instructive moment.

1. It appears that men who have been taught a trade in a jail, have been since industriously at work, maintaining a good character. p. 22.

2. That where the Prisoners are not classed, the corrupt association occasions a quick return of discharged criminals. (p. 25.) The following incident is curious.

"Two men were lately apprehended for robbing their master; one of whom, on his entrance, was admitted as king's evidence. He associated indiscriminately with the other prisoners; and when the trial came on, he refused to recapitulate his testimony; his accomplice escaped, and justice was defeated." p. 25.

3. By judicious regulations of labour, the average cost of each prisoner to a county has been reduced to little more than 5d. per man per week. p. 26.

4. That the Tread-wheel has received considerable improvement at Edinburgh.

"Each wheel is in a separate compartment, and the machinery strikes a bell every minute and a quarter, as a signal for the changes, one man on the right extremity of each wheel coming off, and another on the left stepping on at each stroke of the bell. By these means, all have an equal portion of labour: on a wheel, containing eight persons, each man works ten minutes at a time, and where the relays are four in number, has a rest of five minutes." p. 29.

It

appears that this automatical precision is essentially important, for,

"If the revolutions of the wheel are performed too slowly, or if the number of prisoners, as relays, form too large a proportion to those on the wheel, the labour to every prisoner may become so slight as to fail entirely of its intended effect. With regard to the motion of the wheel, the rate imposed on a prisoner at Brixton is about from forty-five to fifty steps per minut.

The

PART I.]

REVIEW. Society for Improving Prison Discipline.

The proportion of prisoners resting, to those on the wheel, ought not to exceed onethird." p. 33.

5. That the use of fetters is illegal, and has a tendency to relax the vigi lance of Prison-officers, and that they are only allowable under attempts to escape. p. 30, seq.

6. That no share of earnings should be allowed to prisoners during confineinent, because

"These earnings are generally expended in food; and thus the efficacy of restricted diet-a punishment of the highest value, is counteracted, and frequently wholly lost." p. 37.

7. That Prisoners, who have behaved well during confinement, should on their discharge have pecuniary aid; and here we are glad to observe that the Chapter of Durham, so shamefully aspersed, because they are loyal men, raise, among other good institutions, a fund for this purpose. See p. 38.

3. That schools and religious instruction have been attended with infinite advantage. p. 43.

"A great many prisoners, who when first committed [at Abingdon] were ignorant of the alphabet, have, at the time of their discharge, been able to read; and of many of these the gaoler states, that he has received good characters, especially of the younger ones, since they have left the prison." App. 8. Similar instances are reported from Ireland. p. 80, &c.

Having thus gone through the sub stantials of this gratifying Report, we have only to state our deep regret "that its funds are exhausted." We hope not, and we think not, that such an appeal can be made in vain. If by moral and religious education society is vaccinated against the small pox of vice, the next merit is that of stopping the contagion of it; and as the advantage of this excellent Institution is prominently conspicuous, the good and the opulent ought to need no other exhortation to induce them to support it. We strongly recommend that support to Magistrates in particular, who derive much valuable information from its labours, and to Philanthropists in general.

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127. Dr. Robinson's History of Enfield.

(Concluded from p. 538.)

WE here commence the Second Volume, which includes the Church and Parochial concerns.

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As to the Church, we are of opinion, that it received some very important repairs in the reign of Henry VIII. Mr. Gough tells us (Introd. Sepulchral Monum. vol. II. p. 28) that no County Historian thought of describing Churches before Mr. Blomefield, and the same Author adds (p. 53) that in the Church of Stoke Albany, co. Northampton, was the figure of a man in armour, with this inscription, as given by Mr. Bridges, vol. II. p. 340.

"Hic jacet Johannes Ross le bonne compagnon, supposed to refer to John, grandson of Robert Ross, first Lord of that Manor; but the destruction of the monument by the express direction of the present Rector, puts it out of our power to ascer tain him with exactness."

We

way of Theses, for our subsequent rethese two remarks by quote

marks.

Notes are but of recent invention; First then, it appears, that Churchand, of course, that prejudice is not established in regard to them, by the appearance of an unimproveable oracle, on the particular subject. We therefore hint, that it is impossible, (fresh facings excepted) so to amalgamate new and old courses of Masonry, that junctions and alterations shall monstrated the necessity of this obnot appear. A particular instance deservation in a striking manner. The Castle of Berkeley, a fine exterior, was built at a period, when the Keep was the only family habitation, that is to say, it was the family fortress, as the Church-tower was the Incumbent's, under danger to the owner and his establishment, and such fortresses were annexed to British Settlements for the Lord of the Clan, his household and

vassals.

This was necessary if they resided in the country. The problem was this. Contrary to all precedent, the Keep is open, roofless: and in substitution of the grand vaulted guard room, is a side-range of rooms, of which the windows are in the style of Henry VII. to Edward VI. all facing the interior. By examination of the courses of Masonry, stair-cases and arches appear half-stopped up, and various other changes. At Godrich Castle, water-tables show where pendicu lar roofs have been raised upon sloping

This was a most essential quality to a Gentleman of Antiquity.-Rev.

ones;

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REVIEW, Dr. Robinson's History of Enfield.

ones; and so de cæteris. In the same manner, it is necessary to investigate the courses of the Masonry on the walls with regard to Church-Notes.

The second point is the licence taken with Church-Monuments. Under the population of certain parishes, it is utterly impossible that the deceased of continuous generations should find room. The rich should have Mausolea, regularly consecrated, which might be made ornamental to the country.

In the repairs of Churches, through want of interest in the minds of the refined laity, the same vulgar taste is

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often applied to a Church, as would be to a scullery.

"There was formerly over the South pier, a shield supported by angels, which bore three escallops, and some pateræ, and over the North stairs several ornaments were painted in black arch-work, but they are now whitened over." vol. II. p. 4.

Whitened over!-in p. 6. we find again.

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During this last repair (1789) on the outside of the East battlements of the vestry, a stone was found covered with plaster, on which there was (in capitals) [we add Lombardick] the Inscription "A. Domini, 1531," thus:

AOOM 1111 IS? 1

We shall make only short index remarks. Whitened over! Covered with plaster! Barbarism and havock! For the delection of superstitious legendary trash in a bad style, as were wallpaintings, there may be a fair excuse. The painting is not worth preservation, as to the general execution; but the carving and sculpture in Churches are often matters of high curiosity, or fine execution, or both. Why plaster over an innocent unoffending date? Why not grey-wash the interior of Churches? Nature abhors white, and always destroys it as fast as possible. We only make these remarks, because we seriously wish that the Gentry would superintend the repairs of Parish Churches. They are always important relics of antiquity, often great national ornaments. No man should be utterly devoid of public spirit; and in that which costs him nothing, there can be no excuse for his withholding

an interest.

In p. 9 we have a wood-cut of an ancient painting of the Resurrection, executed certainly about 1531 (see opposite page), when the Church, from the date quoted, appears to have undergone great alterations. Here Hell is represent

ed as the mouth of a Monster *. It is treated largely by Hone in his❝ Ancient Mysteries" (p. 173), as well as other forms of Hell. Of the Mediæval description of Hell, all in abstract (See Lindwood's Provinciale, p. 7. n.g. in anima) it was impossible for the Painters to make a figure, though the representation accompanying the Bridge of Dread in Matthew Paris, was perfectly suitable to the ideas of the age; and

the lake of fire and brimstone in the Revelations. To represent a bottomless pit was equally impossible; and if it had been so, there would still have been no vestibule. Professor Vince could have told them, that there are enormous regions of darkness and vacancy, between several pre-eminent celestial worlds, for which Astronomers can give no reason, and which must be bottomless and interminablet; but of this the ancients knew nothing, and therefore prudently substituted the whale of Jonah for the mouth of Hell. "Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord

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PART 1.] REVIEW.-Dr. Robinson's History of Enfield.

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