A Charge to the Clergy at the Primary Visitation in the Month of August, 1806, of the late Right Reverend Father in God Samuel, by Divine Permission, Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. London, Hatchard, 1806. Price 28, 6d.

THIS discourse is marked with the genuine characters of its author: it is commendable for ability, acuteness, and information; but censurable for a certain hauteur, which partakes of assumption. The subjects on which it treats, are important; some indeed are local, but others are general, and the Bishop's remarks on these cannot be too extensively known. This will justify our abstracting the contents, more fully than can be our general custom in regard to publications of this description. We have ever highly respected the talents and learning of Dr. Horsley; and some of us stood very fairly with him, even though he knew we some times differed from him in opinion,

His Lordship reprimands his clergy, in the beginning of his discourse, for engaging officiating curates without a license: this he insists on being reformed. Secondly, he exposes the error of pub

sony But, a much more serious error has been committed on this subject.

By the 8th section of the marriage act, no-marriage can be lawfully solemnized, unless by virtue of special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury, in any other place than a church or chapel, in which banns had been usually published antecedently to lemnized after Lady-day 1754 in any other the passing of that act: and all marriages soplace than a church or such public chapel, unless by virtue of such license, are made null and void to all intents and purposes whatso ever and any person who, after the said 25th day of March 1754, should solemnize matrimony in any other place than a church of such public chapel, unless under the authority of such special license, is to be deemed and adjudged to be guilty of felony, and is to be the laws in force for the transportation of transported for fourteen years, according to felons." Lumle

Now it is a notorious fact, that many churches and chapels have been erected and consecrated since the time when this marriage act was passed; and in such chapels there could have been no usage of publication of banns anterior to the marriage act, which was itself anterior to their existence. And yet in many of these chapels the officiating clergy have perpetually solemnized matrimony, lawful. A short time before I was removed not aware that they were doing any thing unfrom the see of St. David's, it came to my knowledge, that in a very considerable town in that diocese the irregularity of marrying in a chapel, in which, though indeed it was an ancient chapel, banns never in any one instance had been published, had gone to such an extent, that there was hardly a couple in selves to be man and wife, were not actually the town, who, while they conceived them living in the eye of the law in concubinage nor a child in any family born in lawful wedlock; nor a clergyman in the place, though the clergymen in the place were highly res pectable, who had not, not once or twice, but repeatedly, for many years of his life, been committing acts of felony.

However, this error is set to rights by 44th Geo. III, cap. 77, which confirmed all such marriages, as had been solemnized before March 25, 1805, but no further which may be of consequence to some clergymen, &c. to know.

The Bishop very properly recommends to the clergy an acquaintance with the laws under which they officiate, adding the further information, that,

A book has been published by the University of Oxford, under the title of "The Clergyman's Assistant," very moderate in size, and cheap in price. It contains almost all the laws prescribing the clergyman's duty in the public offices of the Church, with some others in which the clergy Hare much interested. I would advise every clergyman to posses himself without delay of this "Clergyman's Assistant.” ardion A

Of all things I entreat you to avoid, what is now become very common, acrimonious abuse of Calvinism and of Calvin. Remember, I beseech you, that some tenderness is due to the errors and extravagancies of a man, eminent as he was in his day for his piety, his wisdom, and his learning, and to whom the reformation in its beginning is so much indebted. At least take especial care, before you aim your shafts at Calvinism, that you The Bishop proceeds to notice the in- know what is Calvinism, and what is not: crease of Methodists, a sect which he de-that in that mass of doctrine, which it is of scribes as not dissenters from the doctrine of the church.

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late, become the fashion to abuse under the name of Calvinism, you can distinguish with certainty between that part of it, which is nothing better than Calvinism, and that which belongs to our common Christianity.

This address concludes with the foltowing advice to the clergy.

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the glad tidings of Christ's pacification. Sound the alarm to awaken to a life of righteousness a world lost and dead in trespasses and sins. Lift aloft the blazing torch of revela tion to scatter its rays over then that sit in darkness and the shadow of death: and guide the footsteps of the benighted wanderer into the paths of life and peace.

We presume that this advice will be found suitable, beyond the bounds of St. Asaph; and we hope it will be followed with diligence, as certainly it is entitled to serious and careful consideration.

It may seem strange to some that I should have said, that none of the Methodists are dissenters from the established church in doc trine, when at the same time I have said, that they consist of two principal branches, the one Arminian, and the other Calvinistic; Apply yourselves with the whole strength since it has been the fashion of late to talk of and power of your minds to do the works of Arminianism as the system of the Church of Evangelists. Proclaim to those, who are at England, and of Calvinism as something openmity with God, and children of his wrath, posite to it, to which the church is hostile. That I may not be misunderstood in what I bave said, or may have occasion further to say pon this subject, I must here declare, that I use the words Arminianism and Calvinism, in that restricted sense in which they are now generally taken; to denote the doctrinal part of each system as unconnected with the principles either of Arminians or Calvinists, upon church discipline and church government. This being premised, I assert, what I often have before asserted, and by God's, grace I will persist in the assertion to my dying day, that so far is it from the truth that the Church of England is decidedly Arminian, and hostile to Calvinism, that the truth is this, that upon the principal points in dispute between the Arminians and the Calvinists, upon all the points of doctrine characteristic of the two sects, the Church of England maintains an absolute neutrality. Her articles explicitly assert nothing but what is believed both by Arminians and by Calvinists. The Calvinists indeed hold some opinions relative to the same points, which the Church of England has not gone the length of asserting in her articles. But neither has she gone the length of explicitly contradicting those opinions.... Any one may hold all the theological opinions of Calvin, hard and extravagant as some of them may seem, and yet be a sound member of the Church of England and Ireland; certainly a much sounder member than one, who, loudly declaiming against those opinions, which, if they be erroneous, are not errors that affect the essence of our common faith, runs into all the nonsense, the impiety, the abominations, of the Arian, the Unitarian, and the Pelagian Heresies, denying in effect" the Lord who bought him."

The Beneficial Effects of the Christian Temper on Domestic Happiness. 8vo. pp. 91. Price 2s. 6d. Hatchard. London, 1807.

WE commend without hesitation, the intention, the execution, and the tendency, of this pamplet: which we have perused with much satisfaction. It appears to have originated in a desire to enforce certain arguments, on which the Bishop of London in his late valuable treatise on the Beneficial Effects of Christianity, did but slightly touch. It is not, however, conducted on the Bishop's plan, which demonstrated, by admitted facts, the point intended to be proved in his work. The present author adduces the precepts, and the principles, which should influence Christians, and shews what they should effect; the Bishop shewed what they had effected; and, as all competent judges must admit the force of such

proofs, his lordship had an advantage, which, in our opinion, may very fairly be carried into domestic life, and its undenia ble importance appreciated, in the various relations of consanguineous society.

We believe that the effects of Christianity have softened the human heart, have made better fathers and children, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, than were so frequently met with before this divine dispensation visited our earth. But, the work which should prove this, must expose the deficiences of Pagan (and merely natural) conduct, as well as motive, and must contrast these with the powerful results actually produced by the unrestrained operations of gospel princi-ples in those who have affectionately received them:-good seed falling on good ground.

This work describes the duties incumbent on parents and children, brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, the general temper of Christians in society, the importance of humility, Christian conduct under injury, and in near views of death.

We discern a inasterly hand in this performance; and though it is not, (as what is?) faultless, yet we regard the author as a man of sense, and a gentleman, as an able writer, and, what is still better, as a Christian. After these commendations he shall speak for himself.

Envy, says our author, may be called a weed of the human mind, which, like other weeds, grows with far greater rapidity, than useful and wholesome plants; it is a weed too of that rancorous quality, that it poisons every thing within its reach; and, if not rooted up to the very foundation, it destroys, eventually, every seed of virtue, and every germ of human happiness.

On the subject of marriage, the writer makes a sort of apology for digressing: we see no necessity for this apology. His sentiments are judicious.

It rarely happens, that wisdom is taught by any means but experience; and in those unfortunate cases of inclinations, where the wishes of young persons are in direct opposition to those of their parents, it is the duty of the latter to remonstrate, with all Christian gentleness-If that fail, it then becomes absolutely necessary to exert the authority which Providence has given, to prevent every thing that threatens to be injurious to the happiness or virtue of the child.-But there the parent's authority ceases; though he has a right forbid one connexion, he has no right to urge another, though it is happy for both parent

and child, where the wishes of each can be brought to coincide: and here the Christian precepts will have their effect, by disposing both parties to bend as much to the wishes of each other, as the happiness of the object in question will admit.

The following portrait of that most estimable of human blessings, a good wife, is worth any woman's studying. It appears to be drawn from nature, and we believe that it may be, very frequently, verified, by appeal to the life, among the

ladies of Britain.

What then is the summary of the duties of a Christian wife?

Constant subjection to her husband, in every thing which is not inconsistent with her duty to her Maker; the highest respect for his character and conduct, to the utmost extent she can preserve it; forbearance with his faults, follies, and failings; mildness and cheerfulness in her manners and conversation; and a minute attention to every article connected with his happiness, comfort, and interests regular precepts and example, to train his children and servants in the paths of holiness, and daily prayers to Heaven for his welfare, and grace to perform the duties of ว good and Christian wife.

To husbands our author gives this ad vice;

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Let a husband therefore who, would pos sess himself, and communicate to his wife, that happiness, with which Providence has blessed the married state, attend to all those rules of Christian equity, which subdue selfishness in the human breast; let him consider his wife as a part of himself; and make her comfort, interest, and character, equally dear to him with his own; let him treat her with tenderness, gentleness, and attention, administering his reproofs with candour and indulgence, and with the sole view of her happiness and improvement; always feeling and expressing the highest value for her virtues, and approbation of her good conduct.-Let him comfort her in sickness and distress, protect her from injury and calumny, and conscientiously discharge the duties he promised at the altar in the presence of the Almighty, to love, comfort, and cherish her.

We add an extract, from another part of the work, but on the same subject.

If a married couple unite themselves, from interested motives only; if they set out in life, with the hope of drawing all their comfort from wealth and splendour; let them extract from those sources all the good they are capable of bestowing; but let them not expect to find their happiness, where they did not intend to seek it or, if they have

THIS long title sufficiently expresses

Books

the purport of the work before us. of this description are useful, because, it often happens that the judgment of a parent, in itself undecided, is determined by a trivial occurrence, as to what profession may best suit his child. Among the infinitely varied situations of life, circumstances not to be controuled by wishing, or even by endeavour, almost necessitate youth to the adoption of such Occupations as are within their attainment. Nevertheless, at a period when enquiry is duty, a work like the present may be consulted with advantage; and choice, if a choice be permitted, may be made by prudence assisted by good information. There are also, at all times, a considerable number of men grown up to maturity, who have not been regularly trained to any business; others, whose businesses have failed them, or who wish to change those which they have followed; to these such works are useful; and by consulting them, they may be less at the mercy of crimps and kidnappers, with which most of the lower kinds of employments abound, at least in the metropolis, no less than in too many branches of the public service.

The author introduces his work, by advice to parents of rank and fortune, in which he discusses the relative advantages of the learned professions; and of navai and military employments. After this follows advice to parents of the middle classes, to which the author refers the Arts, Agriculture, &c. in alphabetical order. His endeavour is, to give a general idea of the capital necessary for beginners in each profession, and of the emoluments deriveable from it. He also distinguishes such as are peculiarly injurious to health, and introduces various cautions, the observance of which would prove highly beneficial.

It could not be expected that the modes of conducting businesses, or the unpleasantnesses inseparable from them, should have been communicated even to the most careful enquiries of a stranger to such businesses: these can be taught by nothing short of experience. It is evident, therefore, that a general notion is all which can be obtained from this volume; and under that view of it, it is intitled to praise.

The author considers himself as having taken advantage of a hint derived from a friend; and professes to give us the result of personal enquiries. He might have known, that many years ago, forty, perhaps, or more, a work of this nature was published, of which the editor, we believe, was Mr. Collyer. This, (or others of the same nature) has been since reprinted, from time to time, so that the present volume is not the only one from which similar information may be derived. Account of the Introduction of the Cow. Pox into India. 8vo. pp. 111. Bombay. Printed by Moroba Damother. jee Prabhoor, 1803.

WE register this little volume, with no other intention than that of recording a history of the transmission of the Cow-Pox to a country so remote as India. This fact alone, demonstrates the impor tance of commerce, and the powerful effects of intercourse between distant nations. Had not commerce induced Europeans to settle in India, this event could not have occurred: an enlightened nation only could manifest such zeal in promoting what was understood to be so great a public blessing, or could have produced the means of conveyance, and the persons capable and willing to take advantage of its powers.

Dr. Keir, the author of this work, as serts, that "there is no country where the small-pox proves so great a scourge as it does in India, owing to the climate, as well as to the prejudices of the inhabi tants," p. 7; and the Medical Board at Bombay, write, August 4, 1801.

"The small pox from inoculation is certainly here a much more dangerous disease than in Europe; for a greater proportion die of it, and of those who escape, great numbers suffer severely from it. We think that one third of those who get the disease naturally, are destroyed by it; at times, indeed, it appears under a much milder form, but occasionally, the mortality from it is still more deplorable."

Circumstances so distressing most sure. ly justify the anxiety of these gentlemen to obtain whatever preventive they had reason to hope was salutary. Many attempts were made to send the virus to India, by sea; but from the length of the voyage, they failed. After various miscarriages, the matter was received at