the Divine perfections, from the necessary existence of the Deity, is a masterly piece of metaphyfical reasoning, carried on, and expreffed, in a manner fo eafy and natural, that it is rendered level to almoft every capacity. The third chapter contains inferences, or confequences, deduced from the infinite goodness of God: thefe are divided into two claffes, as they relate either to the theory, or the practice of religion. The first of thefe inferences is, that infinite goodness must be incomprehenfible to finite intelligences; by which is meant, not that it is obfcure or unintelligible; not that we are incapable of forming diftinct and juft ideas of it; not that we cannot comprehend by the most fatisfactory evidence that God is infinitely good; but that this attribute is inexhauftible, and can never be fully comprehended in all its extent and energy. The fecond inference is, that it is abfolutely impoffible that there fhould be any thing in God inconfiftent with infinite goodness. Here our Author examines, at large, the feveral attributes afcribed to the Deity in fcripture; he explains the paffages in which they are mentioned, and fhews their perfect harmony with each other, and with God's goodness, if rightly understood. In this examination, we meet with abundance of juft criticism, founded on a close attention to the scope and tenor of revelation in general, and to the particular defign of the paffages adduced. The third inference is, that whatever God does, must be the refult of his infinite goodness; and that nothing can poffibly happen to any individual creature, throughout the univerfe, which will not be productive of the greateft poffible good to that creature. The objection drawn from the exiftence of moral evil, is there judiciously obviated by observing, that holiness, or the moral perfection of the will, must be the refult of a degree of underftanding and knowledge, which must be gradually acquired by the exercife and improvement of our faculties; that till this is attained, the will muft fometimes err; and thus moral, together with natural evil, which may be confidered as a remedy neceffary to its cure, muft inevitably take place in man. Should it ftill be afked, why God did not create us as perfect in holiness as we fhall one day be in heaven? he acknowleges, that to give a fatisfactory anfwer, would require a much more intimate knowledge of human nature than we can at present attain. But that God, in creating the world, has not excluded moral and natural evil, is a fact, and we need nothing further to convince us that its admiffion into the fyftem of the univerfe was inevitable. The fecond fection of this chapter concludes the volume with inferences of a practical nature: these are fuch as obviously arife from the doctrine here inculcated, and recommend the moft amiable and rational fentiments of love to God and benevo lence lence to man, manifefted in all the various branches of piety and virtue. Such are the outlines of this excellent work; from which we make no extracts, being informed that an English translation of it is now in the prefs. A regard for the interefts of genuine religion prompts us to recommend it to the attention of the Public, as we have never feen Chriftianity so ably cleared from the rubbish with which certain theologians have fo wretchedly encumbered it, nor the glorious Gospel of God reprefented in a more rational, amiable, and enlarged point of view. The Author's manner is entirely his own, and is peculiarly adapted to his fubject: his order is luminous, and his expreffion remarkably clear and plain; negligent of the artificial beauties of ftyle, he is more folicitous about the juftnefs of his ideas, than the arrangement of his periods. The whole appears to be the refult of long and close meditation; it bears evident marks of the utmoft fimplicity and integrity of mind, of the most fervent, yet benevolent zeal for the honour of God, and of that calm and cheerful fortitude, which fuch fublime ideas of religion naturally tend to inspire.· MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For MARCH, 1788. POETRY. Art. 15. 4 Trip to Parnaffus; or, the Judgment of Apollo on Dramatic Authors and Performers. A Poem. 4to. 2 S. Bew, &c. 1788. T HE plan of the "Seffion of the Poets," by Sir John Suckling, hath been adopted by many of the fons of Apollo, with vatious fuccefs, from Rochester and Mulgrave, down to the author of the “Children of Thefpis," and the fair writer of this poetical dream: who is not the leaft fuccefsful of Suckling's imitators; and is a much better verfifier than was Sir John,-though Congreve styled him natural and eafy.In appreciating the refpective merits of our prefent race of dramatic authors, and actors, fhe is careful to throw out.no reflection on private characters; but, as public performers, whether in the closet or on the boards, fhe confiders them as proper objects of critical inveftigation.-As a fpecimen of her judgment, as well as of her poetic ftyle, we have felected her opinion of an amiable and promifing young actress: Next BRUNTON, fweet maid, who fo easily caught "Oh! fhame, (faid APOLLO) oh! shame on the town, This This fair bud of genius, if rear'd by their hand, Then return with new vigour, the Town fhall adore, So Sol the damp mifts which at morn hide his face, } Art. 16. Mont Blanc: An irregular Lyric Poem. By the Rev. Thomas Sedgwick Whalley, Author of Edry and Edilda*, &c. 4to. 3s. Baldwin, &c. 1788. In our laft Appendix, we gave, from M. de Sauffure, an ample account of Mont Blanc. Mr. Whalley's poetical defcription of the fame Giant of the Earth, appears to have been drawn from his own perfonal furvey of this immenfe and grand object, fomewhat aided by M. Bourrit's obfervations. The poem, like its fublime fubject, is wild, and irregular, as it profeffes to be; but, generally, well fuftained by the genius and Fancy of the Author: and the notes will contribute not a little to increase the Reader's entertainment. We fometimes meet with incongruous metaphors, as · vapours, drinking brilliance from the fount of day,' p. 10. The orbit of the eagle's radiant eye drinks new fire from the fount of light,' p. 24. The fummer breeze Shakes the pofition of the icy pinnacles,' p. 26. With fome others. But, notwithstanding the flight imperfections which a critical eye may difcern in Mr. Whalley's performance, the poem has confiderable merit.It would be difficult to give an extract from a compofition fo fingular in its nature, and fo various in its parts, without injury to it as a whole. We fhall, therefore, only add our thanks to the ingenious Author, for the pleasure we have received in the perufal of his animated and (in general) harmonious performance. Art. 17. Edward; or the Curate. A Poem; in Three Cantos. By the Rev. S. Hoole, A. M. 4to. 3 s. Dodley. 1787. This poem may afford pleasure to thofe of our Readers who love a melancholy tale, delivered in easy verfe. Mr. Hoole has imitated the fimplicity of Spenfer, without adopting his obfolete phraseology, or forgetting the harmony and elegance which modern poetry demands. After the example of Milton, in the beginning of the 3d book of his Paradise Loft, he has introduced his fubject with an affecting reference to his own misfortune, a defect of fight, to confole him *For our account of Edwy and Edilda, fee Rev. vol. Ixi. p. 76; and for a poem, to Mrs. Siddons, lxviii. p. 185. felf felf under which he appears to have undertaken this poetical détail of Edward's woes: • And thou whofe verse a brother's woes would tell, From thy faint heart thofe reftlefs thoughts expel, Juft fhewed fair learning's book, and bad thee read no more." But if Mr. Hoole's nerves of fight be decayed, the faculties of his mind are strong and vigorous, and he appears to poffefs a power not only of amusing himself, but also of entertaining others. Art. 18. Jekyll: a Political Eclogue. 4to. 1s. 6d. Debrett. 1788. On the death of Alderman Townshend, which happened in the course of the laft fummer, Mr. Jekyll fucceeded to the vacant feat in Parliament for the borough of Calne in Wiltshire, where it is fuppofed that a noble Marquis has confiderable influence. By daring to reprefent a body of electors, who have a right to fend their deputy to the great council of the nation, it seems that he, who never gave umbrage before, is now guilty of a high crime and misdemeaTo place him and his patron in a ridiculous light, is the scope of this poem. To wait till Mr. Jekyll had taken a decided part in the Houfe of Commons, would have been an act of forbearance, to which the impatient fpirits of the time would not fubmit. A laugh was to be raised as foon as poffible, in order to prepare the new member for the miseries of a maiden fpeech. nor. " In point of compofition, it must be allowed, that this political fquib has fomewhat higher than every-day merit: but we think it has met with more than its due measure of praise. To him, who writes for a party, the cafe is not uncommon; and the party, which at prefent tries all its efforts, feems to understand the art of puffing, beyond any that we remember in this country. To the Rolliad, and the Probationary Odes, nothing must be compared. A knot of critics and. minor poets clubbed their talents to produce those wonderful pieces, and the authors are determined to crown themselves with laurel. All genius is centered with them: they are a faction in poetry, as well as politics. The editor of Bellenden us writes better Latin than Cicero ; and Prior is furpaffed by every fcribbler of a tale or a ballad. We do not find that the miniftry have as yet formed a board of poetafters. Should they be driven by self-defence to adopt the measure, we shall have a nation of libellers: Bella per Æmathios plufquam civilia campos. The poetical war is waged, at prefent, by one fide only. With the fmall fhot of Odes, Paftorals, and Elegies, they have peppered their adverfaries for fome time paft; but their powder is of the fort complained of in the last war; it fpends its force in a little time, and never carries home to the enemy. We have said that the lampoon, now before us, has its degree of merit the falt is fometimes Attic: we have here and there a sprightly thought; the verfification is always fmooth, and now and then S 2 rifes rifes to vigour. The honour of this production is now generally given to a perfon of rank, defervedly admired in the circle of his acquaintance for his agreeable qualities; but to us it seems a piece of Mofaic work, inlaid by different hands. It puts us in mind of the old batchelor's child in the play: "It has the air, and turn, and manner of Lord : when the devil and the politician knows, it is a little compound of a whole junto of wits." Mr. Jekyll, however, needs not die of his wounds :-as Dryden says, Half wits are fleas, fo little and fo light, We scarce fhould know they live, but that they bite. Art. 19. In olentem Bellendeni Editorem Carmen Antamabæum. With an Epiftle Dedicatory to the free Tranflator of the celebrated Preface to Bellendenus. 4to. Is. Bell. An English preface to a copy of Latin verfes is not very common; but that is not the only unufual exhibition displayed in this Carmen Antamabæum: for it is ftyled a Cento, though it has not the flightest pretenfions to the title. It is called a Carmen, though it has lines which defy fanfias. It is meaned to be Latin, though it offends against grammar, The Preface to Bellendenus is faid to be the production of a man, whofe profeffion obliges him to correct the errors of ftupidity; to his care, therefore, we earneftly recommend the Author of thefe lines, which may prevent future difgrâce in future publications. At prefent, the critical rod is not the only one, from the Lash of which he ought to receive the reward of his deserts. Art. 20. The Parriad, addreffed to the Editor of Bellendene, upon his elegant, but illiberal Preface. By William Chapman, A. M. 4to. Is. 6d. Bew. 1788, There is a greater deficiency in the decency, than in the poetry of this attack on the Preface to Bellendenus. The charge, however, of want of argument, we do not think juft; and we are certain, that it may be retorted very fairly on the prefent production of Mr. Chapman. Art. 21. Poetical Efforts, By George Saville Carey. 12mo. 2 S. Jamefon. 1787. At page 33 of this collection of poems we meet with- An Ode by` Apollo. Whether this piece be really written by Apollo, or not, we cannot take upon us to determine. It is certainly a very trifling performance for the God of Song ;-but it might be compofed when he was preparing for fleep. In the fuppofition, therefore, that Mr. Carey's veracity is not to be queftioned, and from a perufal of his "poetical efforts,' we muft obferve,-that he is not a little bold in trying his ftrength with fo powerful a deity: at the fame time expreffing our fears that should he fall into the hands of any critical inhabitant of Delphi, who is lefs inclined to mercy than ourselves, he may chance to undergo the panishment of Marsyas *, who was equally prefumptuous. *He challenged Apollo in Mufic; and was flayed for his rafh nefs. Art, |