To this, he has himself paid particular attention in the Sermons now before us, in which the reader will fometimes meet with bold and vehement figures, and generally with a warm and coloured ftyle.' Some of them were preached at Cambridge, but the greater number at Tichfield Chapel, in the parish of Marybone, and are on the following fubjects:

Serm. I. is on the Civil, Moral, and Religious Advantages derived from Chriftianity, from If. ix. 2. Among the civil advantages derived from Chriftianity, the Author reckons the abolition of flavery. We heartily with that the Negroe-trade (that opprobrium of the Chriftian world) did not militate against his affertion. Serm. II. is on Death, from Heb. ix. 27. Here speaking of the pang which fome apprehend is to release the foul from the body, he makes the following remarks:

The apprehenfion is not only unwarranted, but contradicted by reafon. When death is not hurried on by accident or excefs, it is merely the repofe of wearied nature,-the termination of decay. Its near approach is ufually covered with infenfibility, and of the man who comes to his grave in a full age, like as a fhock of corn cometh in bis feafon, it may with propriety be faid, that he fell asleep. Even where the confummation is haftened before infirmity gives the fignal to depart, we may reasonably fufpect that the ftruggles, which are fo alarming to the beholder, are very little felt by the expiring,-as it is certain, that in many fpecies of fits, when every limb is ftretched and haraffed by the most frightful spasms, the patient himself is altogether unconscious of pain.'

Serm. III. is on Human Difcontent, or the Duty of Submission to God, Rom. ix. 20. Serm. IV. and V. on the Death and Atonement of Chrift, 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. Serm. VI. is on the Refurrection, Rev. ii. 8. Serm. VII. has for its fubject, the Natural and Spiritual Man, 2 Cor. vi. 10. Sermons VIII. and IX. are on the Difpenfations of God, and the Christian Dispensation, 1 Kings, xix. 11, 12. Serm. X. relates to the temporal Advantages of a religious Life, Prov. iii. 17. Serm. XI. is on the Birth, Dignity, and Character of the Meffiah, If. ix. 6. In this difcourfe we were furprised to find Mr. S. declaring against what is called the Double Senfe of Prophecies as a notion deftitute of proof;' when, in his firft Sermon, he explains and brings forward the text to our notice as a prophecy of double afpect. Serm. XII. and laft, expatiates on the Neceffity of conftant Attention to the religious Improvement of Life, If. lv. 6.

As a further fpecimen of our Author's manner, we shall give the following extract from the 10th Sermon, on the temporal advantages of a religious life; which we think one of the best in the volume:

In this world, pleasure and happiness are evidently diftin&t, and the high tones of the former will not melt into concord with the fweet, flow, grave modulation of the latter. The leffon of temperance

17

is

is forcibly inculcated by our nature. Prefcribing to the appetites their limits of indulgence, to their tranfgreffion fhe annexes immediate punishment; and bidding furfeit invariably follow excefs, and depreffion every riot of the fpirits, fhe intimates with fufficient clearnefs, that we are not born to folicit our principal gratification from the fenfe.

• To be more affected with this truth, let us contemplate the man, who, expatiating over the wide field of pleasurable licence, defpifes the narrow fobriety of life; who, calling moderation weakness, and prudence fear, applauds himself on his triumph over those prejudices, as he is pleafed to call them, under which we tamely stoop.

*

But in what ftage of his luxurious progrefs are we indeed to envy him the pre-eminence of his delights of him it may properly be faid, that in the fulness of his fufficiency he is in ftraits. In the high tide of youth and of health, his fatisfaction is never genuine and unmingled,—even at this fanguine period, he muft experience fome anguish, and much fatiety and in the very fountain of enjoyment fomething of bitter will bubble up, and dash it with diftaftefulnesseither he has violated the peace of families:-or (if the diftreffes of others cannot touch him), he has embarrassed his circumftances:-or he has endangered his perfon :-or he has fullied his reputation. Has he fortunately escaped these causes of uneafinefs ?-others prefs on him which he cannot evade.

When the furrounding activity of life feizes on his attention, he fees the thousand hands of fociety in motion; each by contributing to the general, advancing a right to its particular advantage.-His natural equals have left him behind his inferiors are by his fide, and pushing beyond him.-While useless and ftationary he meets with neglect from the worldly-with pity and desertion from the good. In the purfuits of others, exercife is rewarded with ftrength; and fuccefs ufually with refpect-in his the firft is debility, and the laft contempt.-To others, fucceeding years, if they yield not all that may be fondly expected from them, ftill bring with their hours fomething that is valuable.-To the bufy, more experienced wifdom.-To the ftudious, larger information.-To the virtuous, eafier felf-command, and brighter hopes.-To the voluptuary alone they offer no compenfation for their decay. To him they fupply nothing new they open no fresh fources of ideas :-they give no better profpects to hope,-but, converting appetite into fever, they affociate inflammation with weaknefs.-And if they bring amendment nearer to his with, they remove it further from his power. As over a blunter palate they pour the fame lufcious cup, they repeat the fame fad tale of life wafted; improvement loft;-degradation incurred;

friends abandoned.'

We cannot take our leave of this work without pointing out a few novelties of expreffion, which, we are perfuaded, the Author, when he confiders them, will not attempt to vindicate. Superagation of neighbouring excellencies-The Great Creator remained undetected (a word exciting a very improper idea) amidst

* Job, xx. 22,

+ We know of no fuch word.

his works-The fighting attributes of God-Severity an accident of the Divine Nature-Flashes of the Saviour's Divinity-Mortality liable to diffolution-To difplay religion by a happier attitude.

We have alfo obferved a number of typographical errors, especially in the punctuation, which the Author afcribes to a careless Printer.

But these are all trifles, which cannot deftroy the merit of the work, and Mr. Symmons may ftill be the means, under the bleffing of God, of turning more than ONE* from the error of their ways to righteousness, and thus fave fouls from death.

* See the conclufion of the Preface.

ART. XI. The Wrongs of Africa. A Poem. Part the Firft. 4to. 2 S. Faulder. 1787.

FICTION is fometimes faid to be the foul of poetry. There

are fubjects, however, in which fancy can scarcely pass beyond nature;-in which, confequently, the poet's office is rather to describe than to invent. The wrongs of Africa afford us a subject of this kind. So numerous and horrid are the miferies created by that cruel fpecies of commerce, the flave trade, that the poet, in order to produce the ftrongest impreffion on the imagination and feelings of his readers, has only to follow the track of the hiftorian, and clothe plain facts in the dress of fimple and eafy verfe. This talk the Author of the prefent Poem has executed with judgment, tafte, and genius.

The following extract may ferve as a fpecimen of this Writer's defcriptive powers, and elegant diction:

Deep in the fhady covert of a wood,

That fcreen'd from noon-day rage the flight-built bowers,
And distant far from ocean's heaving tides,
Lay a fmall hamlet; whofe inglorious fons
Were ftrangers yet to war; fave when provok'd
By hunger's call, the monsters of the wafte
Attack'd their dwellings. O'er the lone retreat
Sail'd the dim cloud of night, and thro' the trees
Sigh'd the foft gale, and hufh'd to deep repose
The guiltless tenants; when a fudden fire
Involv'd their habitations; thro' the flames
They rush'd for fafety; but a numerous throng
Of native ruffians from a distant shore,
Attack'd the helplefs crew, and bore away
Their trembling victims: loudly rose the voice
Of anguish, whilft the mother for her child
Struggled with frantic violence, and dar'd
Th' extreme of danger; whilft the lover clafp'd
The mistress of his choice, and rais'd his breast

To meet the threaten'd blow; whilft youth, alarm'd,
Trufted to flight for fafety, and the tear

Of fupplicating age was pour'd in vain:
REV. Feb. 1788.

L

-Fond

-Fond tears, and vain attempts! fhall Mercy reft
In favage bofoms, when the cultur'd mind

Disclaims her influence? From their peaceful home
For ever torn, and chain'd in long array,
The mourning fufferers move along the plain,
A fpectacle of woe; and frequent turn

Their tear-dimm'd eyes towards the fav'rite spot
That gave them birth, and faw their youthful sports;
Whofe ftreams had cool'd their thirst, whose forests dark
Had fcreen'd their flumbers, and whofe varied scenes
Had witness'd all their joys. They turn, and mourn
Their fimple threshold, now with kindred blood
Defil'd; their roofs of rapid flames the prey;
The partners of their pleasures now condemn'd
To share their lot, or pouring out their lives
Beneath untented wounds.-They turn and weep,
Whilft o'er the burning fand the frequent goad
Haftens their lingering fteps, till on their fight
Opens th❜extended ocean: hovering near,
Like fome dread monfter, watchful for its prey,
The veffel glooms portentous; soon to seize
Her living victims, and to whelm them deep

In the dark cavern of her loathfome womb.'

The Author's concluding address is a happy example of good fenfe, expreffed in the animated language of poetry:

• Nations of Europe! o'er whose favour'd lands

Philofophy hath rais'd her light divine,

(A brighter fun than that which rules the day)
Beneath whose piercing beam, the spectre forms
Of flavish fuperftition flow retire!

Who greatly struggling with degrading chains,

Have freed your limbs from bondage! felt the charms,
Of property! beyond a tyrant's luft

Have plac'd domeftic blifs! and foon fhall own'
That nobleft freedom, freedom of the mind,
Secure from prieftly craft and papal claims !
-But chiefly thou, the miftrefs of the main,
Who fits ferene amidst thy fubject waves,
That bring thee hourly tribute; Queen of Ifles,
Of faith unblemish'd, of unconquer'd foul,
And prizing freedom dearer than the blood
That circles round thine heart! O Albion, fay,
And fay, ye fifter kingdoms; why remains
This univerfal blot, that marks your brows
With black ingratitude; and tells high heaven
You merit not your bleffings? Why remains
This foul and open wound on nature's limb,
Wafting its healthful powers? (and who fhall tell
How far may fpread th' infection?) Blush ye not
To boaft your equal laws, your just restraints,
Your rights defin'd, your liberties fecur'd,

Whilft with an iron hand ye crush to earth
The helpless African; and bid him drink
That cup of forrow which yourfelves have dash'd
Indignant, from oppreffion's fainting grasp?'

The poem is introduced by a well-written preface, which, as it treats on a subject highly interefting to human nature, and at present an object of general attention, we shall make no apology for tranfcribing the greateft part of it.

It muft afford pleasure to every benevolent mind to obferve, that the progrefs of knowledge, while it improves the understanding, leads to the establishment of virtue, freedom, and happinefs. A great æra is opening on the earth; difcoveries in science are very rapidly increafing the power, amending the condition, and enlarging the views of mankind; and the clofe of the eighteenth, like that of the fifteenth century, will probably be marked in future times, as a period in which a fudden acceffion of light burft on the human mind. Happily thofe important truths which are the refult of reafon and reflection, are no longer confined to the receffes of philofophy; they have spread widely into fociety, and begin to influence the councils of statesmen and the conduct of nations.

Hence it is not improbable, that the principles of political science may foon undergo an univerfal change; that probity and good faith may take place of fraud and chicanery in the intercourfe of ftates; contiguity of fituation prove the fource of friendship instead of hoftility between nations; and hatred and bloodshed be exchanged for confidence and peace. Such must be the confequences, when the laws of truth and juftice, which are impofed on the tranfactions of individuals, fhall be extended to the conduct of governments towards each other, where kingdoms are at flake, and the happiness of millions involved in the iffue.

But though many agreeable effects will moft probably 'flow from this important change, there are other confequences that may enfue, which are greatly to be dreaded. The fpirit of trade may degrade the national character, and endanger our facrificing the principles of justice and the feelings of humanity to the acquirement of wealth. It becomes us therefore to guard against the introduction of those base and fordid maxims which reprefent every thing as fair that is lucrative, and feparate infamy from villany, provided it be fuccefsful.

'Britain has been highly favoured of heaven in all the gifts of nature and the acquifitions of art; and the temple of Liberty, firft reared by the labour, and cemented by the blood of our ancestors, has now its foundations eternally fixed on the bafis of fcience and philofophy. But the principles on which the liberties of Britain are eftablished, are of univerfal application, and may one day extend from the centre of this ifland to the extremities of the earth.

It is time for those who direct the councils of the nation to turn their eyes on the trade to Africa. This traffic in the human species, which is fo direct and daring an infringement of every principle of liberty and juftice, has attracted the public notice. The more it is examined, the more horrid it will appear; and the voice L 2

of