Howard, Earl of Suffolk; for James Ley, Earl of Marlborough; for Anthony Browne, Viscount Montague; for Anne, Countess of Arundel; and for many others of our old nobility, some of whom we may venture to assert never dreamed of being entered on the rolls of literary fame. Among our nobles of more recent date, we find short memoirs of Baptist Noel, Earl of Gainsborough; Richard Edgecombe, Lord Mount Edgecombe; Henrietta Louisa Jeffreys, Countess of Pomfret; George Bubb Doddington, Lord Melcombe; and John Boyle, Earl of Cork and Orrery. This last mentioned nobleman was not only a respectable author, but felt and appreciated the value of letters, as the following extract will evince, which we transcribe with pleasure, since it cannot be 100 often perused. In his commentary on Lib. viii. epist. 19. of the younger Pliny, he says The observation in the beginning of this letter, et gaudium mihi et solatium in literis: nihilque tam lætum, quod his latius; nihil tam triste, quod non per hos sit minus triste, is not less remarkable than true and although Pliny confines it to himself, yet it may be admitted as an aphorism applicable to all mankind, that our sorrows are alleviated, and our joys increased by study. Books, when properly used, are our truest friends, and our most comfortable companions. They teach us in what manner to enjoy pleasures, and in what manner to bear adversity. They visit us without intrusion, and they converse with us without constraint. So that if it were possible for us in our childish and most youthful state of life, to foresee the future benefit and satisfaction that must arise in our minds from a thorough application to arts and sciences, our diversions would not engage our whole attention, but would become accessary amusements, and our studies would give us delight. Learning cannot be acquired too soon, or sought after too extensively. "Get knowlege, search it wheresoe'er you can: This from the brute discriminates the man; And trace th' Almighty's works with mortal eye." We find also accounts of Charles Wyndham, Earl of Egremont; Philip Yorke, first Earl of Hardwicke; George Parker, Earl of Macclesfield; William Pulteney, Earl of Bath; Charles Sackville, Duke of Dorset; Charles Yorke, Lord Morden; Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield; George Lord Lyttelton; Henry Fox, Lord Holland; Eliza beth, Duchess of Northumberland; Anna Chambers, Countess Temple; John West, Earl Delaware; William Pitt, Earl of Chatham; Chatham; John Dunning, Lord Ashburton; George Viscount Sackville; John Montague, fourth Earl of Sandwich; Thomas Pitt, Lord Camelford; Charles Pratt, Earl Camden; David Murray, Earl of Mansfield; Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of Rosslyn; and William Petty, Marquis of Lansdown. We have not space for continuing our enumeration from the Scottish and Irish lists, but must close this article with an ab. breviated extract from the notice of George, Earl of Macartney, which terminates the work: • This nobleman was born in 1737, and educated as a fellowcommoner in Trinity college, Dublin. In Feb. 1768 he married Lady Jane Stuart, second daughter of the Earl of Bute.-In May 1792 he was named Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Emperor of China;-and he died March 31, 185, and was privately interred at Chiswick, in compliance with his will' Some lines follow which form part of a poem ascribed to him and addressed to Hugh Boyce, Esq.; and among the Addenda we found a Latin inscription by Lord Macartney, written after his return from China, which was placed on the gate of Lissanoure-castle in the county of Antrim, and concluded with the following lines: "Nosmet Erin genuit, vidit nos Africa, Gangem Tartaricos montes, magnum et transcendere murum, Turbidaque impavidi tentavimus alta Pechele Hactenus Europe nullis sulcata carinis : Casibus et variis acti terráque marique, Sistimus his tandem, atque Lares veneramur avorum.” These lines are elegantly classical, and do credit to his Lordship's taste. In reviewing works of the kind now before us, we experience considerable mortification, since we can afford our readers so very limited a view of their multifarious contents. Many errors may exist respecting references and quotations, which we have not time and opportunity to examine, and some pieces may be assigned to persons who never wrote them f We can only repeat that no pains have been spared to render this compilation extensively amusing, and that the plates form a valuable series of portraits. Mr. Park will probably therefore be encouraged to extend his irregular colonnade.' A bay to the north of the Canton river, into which the river falls, through which Lord Macartney went to Pekin.' For instance, the lines on Will Abdy, the Huntsman, written by the late Thelyphthora Madan, are here given to to Frances Manners, Countess of Tyrconnel. MONTHLY MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For AUGUST, 1807. RELIGIOUS. Art. 10. Discursory Considerations on the supposed Evidence of the early Fathers that St. Matthew's Gospel was the first written. By a Country Clergyman. 8vo. 3s. eewed. Payne. NEVER were critical diligence and assiduity more completely thrown away than on the present occasion. We were led on, through more than a hundred pages, with the expectation of being finally rewarded by some notable theological discovery: but, after the mountain had laboured, and streams of Greek lava had been emitted Vast from its crater, something less than a mouse is brought forth. preparation is made for subverting the commonly received opinion that St. Matthew's Gospel was first written, and for proving that the honor of Protography (what a pretty word!) belongs to that of St. Luke. Early authorities are examined, and every attempt is made. by cross-examination to weaken their evidence, but with little success. At last, and as a dernier resort, the author fixes on a pas age in Papias; and by objecting to the version given by Lardner, and by substituting one of his own, he hopes to effect something. Here, however, he as completely fails as in his former attempt; unless the reader will allow him to render ἡρμήνευσε δ' αυτα ὡς ηδύνατο έκατος, “ And Had he translated them, so that every one was enabled to read them" Lardner made such a version, he would indeed have merited this. clergyman's censures : who now seems to have criticized the author of the Credibility in too much haste. However, he grows modest and doubtful of himself before he concludes; observing that he' scarcely knows how to say to the learned reader, his utere mecum, and that his purpose has been rather to inform himself than to indoctrinate' others. A singular confession, at the end of so critical a disquisi tion ! Art. II. A Catechism for the Use of all the Churches in the FrenchEmpire to which are prefixed the Pope's Bull and the Archshop's Mandamus. Translated from the Original, with an Introduction and Notes. By David Bogue. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Boards. Williams and Smith. English Protestant readers will feel obliged to Mr. Bogue for this curious morsel of Popish Faith and Devotion, and will not be un grateful for his introductory remarks on the errors contained in this catechism, though to all persons versed in the N. T. it carries its own antidote. They will perceive on the perusal of it, that on the continent the modern system of Popery differs little from the antient; and if it be shorn of its beams of worldly opulence and powers it retains its high spiritual pretensions and all its revolting doctrine, and superstitions. Here not only is the Infallibility of fe Church of Rome roundly asserted, but even its right to grant Indulgences. Rev. AUG. 1807. Confession Ff Confession to the Priest is also urged; though, as Mr. Bogue observes, this practice is one of the most shocking breaches of mental modesty;" and the worship of created Beings is also recommended Mr. B. seems astonished that not a word is said of the obligation to read the sacred Scriptures; but, as the above doctrines find in these records no countenance, it is at least prudent not to recommend their perusal. In the enumeration of moral duties, great fairness and precision are manifest as far as the Catechist proceeds: but, as Mr. B. judiciously remarks, we are presented with only one side of the picture; the obligations of inferiors to superiors are minutely detailed, but not a word is added on the obligations of superiors towards inferiors. In the Lesson on the 4th (our 5th) commandment, the pupil is taught the duties which he owes to princes in general, and to Napoleon in particular but nothing is addressed in the catechism to the young princes of the new dynasty. This part of the composition is so curious, as expressive of the flattery with which the Church endeavours to ingratiate herself into the good graces of her new protector, that we shall transcribe it : 2 What are the duties of Christians in regard to the princes who govern them, and in particular what are our duties towards Napoleon the first, our emperor? A. Christians owe to the princes who govern them, and we owe in particular to Napoleon the first, our emperor, love, respect, obedience, fidelity, military service, and the tributes ordained for the preservation and the defence of the empire and of his throne; besides, we owe him fervent prayers for his safety, and for the temporal and spiritual prosperity of the state. 2. Why are we bound to all these duties towards our em. peror? A. First, because God who creates empires, and who distributes them according to his will, in loading our emperor with favours, whether in peace or war, has established him our sovereign, has made him the minister of his power, and his image on earth. To honour and serve our emperor is therefore to honour and serve God himself. Secondly, because our Lord Jesus Christ, as well by his doctrine as by his example, has himself taught us what we owe to our sovereign; he was born under obedience to the decree of Cæsar Augustus; he payed the tribute prescribed; and in the same manner as he has commanded to render to God what belongs to God, he has also commanded to render to Cæsar what belongs to Cæsar. 2. Are there not particular motives which ought to attach us more strongly to Napoleon the first, our emperor? A. Yes: for he it is whom God has raised up in difficult circumstances to re-establish the public worship of our fathers' holy religion, and to be the protector of it; he has restored and preserved public order by his profound and active wisdom; he defends the state by his powerful arm, and is become the anointed of the Lord by the consecration which he has received from the chief Pontiff, head of the universal church. 2. What are we to think of those who should fail in their duty towards the emperor? ་ A. According A. According to St. Paul, the Apostle, they would resist the order established by God himself, and would render themselves worthy of eternal damnation.' A fact is mentioned at the end of Mr. Bogue's Introduction, which consoles him under this re-establishment of Popery in France. At present the Protestants enjoy full liberty of conscience and worship, and a provision from the state, at least equal to that of the parochial Catholic clergy, &c. and there is no law to hinder them from propagating their system to the utmost of their power, and attempting to draw as many converts to their communion as they possibly can. If they therefore be what they ought to be, and do what they ought to do, and exert themselves with the energy which is employed by the lovers of Christ in England, the present regulations and publications will do them no harm,' As the religion of the Church of Rome must now stand on its own merits, and openly meet Protestantism in the field of argument, unassisted by her quondam auxiliaries, it is for the advantage of the latter that the former has obstinately adhered to every objectionable part of her system. It may fairly be presumed that, under these circumstances, Protestantism will make advances in France; and we may add that, if Popery, in consequence of this equal toleration, loses ground on the other side of the channel, the apprehensions which are entertained here on the score of Catholic emancipation must be groundless. The Protestant religion, resting on the basis of reason and scripture, needs not avail herself of the aid of the state, either by positive or negative persecution, in order to promote her interests. Indeed, we indirectly vilify her, when we contend for the necessity of disabling statutes for her protection. NOVELS. Art. 12. Popular Tales. By Miss Edgeworth. 3 Vols. 128. Boards. Johnson. The object of these tales being to shew the good effects of virtue in the humbler stations of life, a strict adherence to truth, honesty, industry, prudence, economy, unity among families, &c. are represented as meeting with peculiar advantages; and the narratives are intitled Popular, from a wish that they may be current beyond circles which are sometimes exclusively considered as polite.' The work is certainly calculated to be of great benefit to those for whom it is more particularly designed; while, on the other hand, the more po lished reader, when satiated with the intricacy and high-colouring of elaborate fiction, will experience pleasure in attending to these simple representations. We mentioned Miss E.'s Moral Tales in our 39th vol. N. S. p. 334. Art. 13. Leonora. By Miss Edgeworth. 2 Vols. Cr. 8vo. 1os. 6d. Contemplating in this work a much more important object than merely the amusement of the reader, Miss Edgeworth endeavours to shew the bad tendency of some of the principles of the modera Ff 2 school; 4 |