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"Those who are in elevated rank, by leading so diftinguifhing an example; when they laid aside the gewgaws of equipage, and gave the overplus to their country, would be hailed as they paffed along the street, by the acclamations and prayers of millions. Nobility and greatnefs would then be confidered by the multitude not objects of envy, but admiration; they would be looked up to with a reverential respect, as the agents of benevolence, who employed the fuperfluity of wealth, to relieve the labouring artizan under the preffure of war, to dry the tear of the orphan, or fmooth the brow of the widow.

"Thefe are acts which would impart a grace and dignity to human nature.

"The nobility are expected to come forward generously in the moments of danger: if they lead the example, thousands will follow; war will become but a momentary evil, and Great Britain be enabled to meet the united menaces of the world with the exclamation of the poet,

"Our ifland's ftrength can laugh their fiege to fcorn."

It will be readily perceived, on a perufal of the above extracts, that Mr. Hughes is no hackneyed writer. And though we do not entirely agree in many of his ftatements, to fome of which we have ventured to object; yet we think these " Reflections" highly creditable to his talents. That they are seasonable, no one will deny: we are convinced that they are temperate; and that the language in which they are conveyed, is manly, graceful, and energetic.

ART. III. An Apology for Human Nature, by the late Rev. and Learned Charles Bulkley-with a Prefatory Addrefs to William Wilberforce, Efq. by John Evans, A. M. Johnson, Longman, and Cottle, Bristol. 2s. 6d. FEW deferved better of the public in their day and

generation than the Rev. C. Bulkley. His numerous theological works are all of them rational and useful. This little pofthumous publication is evidently of

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the fame origin. It abounds with marks of an enlightened and liberal mind.

The purport of this Apology is to flew that human nature is not innately depraved, which is a favourite pofition with fome denominations of chriftians. Mr. Bulkley contends, that man being the workmanship of God, is defigned by the very conftitution of his nature, not for vice and mifery, but for virtue and happiness. Mr. Bulkley explains and defends his hypothefis with great ingenuity and ability. Mr. Evans, in his Prefatory Addrefs, remarks," From this Apology for "Human Nature the unbeliever, the worldly-minded and the follower of Jefus, may derive valuable

66 man,

"leffons."

This excellent tract is diftributed into feveral chapters. The ftyle is perfpicuous and flowing. Indeed it contains many eloquent paffages, and cannot be read attentively without confiderable improvement. Of the manner in which it is written, take the following fpecimen: "What glorious effects of this original

frame of our natures have been apparent in every 66 age and part of the world! Notwithstanding all its "diforders, tumults and follies, is it not obvious that "mankind in general have been a pleased and happy "race? What perpetual entertainment pours in upon "the contemplative mind, from every region of the "univerfe, from its various hiftory, and from the "feveral fcenes that have been exhibited upon its "auguft theatre? What mutual fatisfaction in con

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verfation and friendship? What contentment and joy, what glorious enterprizes, what noble deeds “have refulted from the leagues and alliances of man "with man? And what an elevated happiness muft "thofe have enjoyed within `the peaceful retreats of "their own breafts, whofe generous virtue, whose "invincible integrity, whofe untainted honour, have "been to others the inceffant fubject of admiration "and of praife? And if the imperfect virtue of our

"fellow

"fellow creatures thus excites our veneration, if we "think it a debt owing to their generous characters, "which on our part it would be infamous not to pay "--what esteem and love muft be due to the great "PARENT MIND, from whofe original creation and "prefiding providence we derive every other fource of confolation, and all thofe virtues which adorn and felicitate human life ?”

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With this fpecimen, though fhort, we doubt not our readers will be pleafed. We could easily multiply fimilar quotations. But we recommend the perufal of the whole, particularly to young people, perfuaded that both the nature and tendency of the Apology, are well calculated to fubferve the best interefts of the rifing generation.

Mr. Evans's Prefatory Address to Mr. Wilberforce, is conceived in the true spirit of that gospel of which he is a minifter. It enforces a perufal of the "Apology" on Mr. Wilberforce, as an answer to the principles which are contained in his late publication. On the doctrine of original fin, we forbear any comments of our own. This is an able tract, in oppofition to that doctrine; and we recommend it to the serious confideration of chriftians of every denomination.

ART. IV.

The Knights, or Sketches of the Heroic Age. 3 Vois. 9s. fewed. Ogilvy. DOES this book fell? For the credit of the 18th century, we hope not! The Ofbornes, Sigeforts, and Leofrida's, firut about like fo many opera hero's; they are all fing-fong and rant, milk and mustard. We fhould not with to offend the talents of the authorefs, but we are afraid, that nature rather defigned her for a drefs and decoration-fancier, as in defcriptions of that fort the peculiarly excels.

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Character of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke
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