Printed for the Proprietors by G. SMALLFIELD, Hackney, And sold at the MONTHLY REPOSITORY OFFICE, No. 3, Walbrook Buildings, Walbrook, and by R. HUNTER, St. Paul's Churchyard. PROSPECTUS. The utility and importance of Periodical Works are now universally recognized by all classes of the reading public; and different parties in Religion, in Literature, and in Philosophy, have employed them as suitable and efficient instruments for diffusing a knowledge of their respective systems. In the Unitarian body, the Monthly Repository has long been the principal, and indeed the sole, periodical publication which could be considered as the organ of their sentiments; and its value in this point of view has been generally acknowledged. The time is, however, arrived when a work upon a somewhat different plan, and aspiring to higher excellence of literary execution, seems to be called for; and it has been thought that in the hands of several joint Proprietors, and under the superintendence of Conductors whose names should not be divulged, the impediments which have necessarily restricted the powers of the Editor might be effectually avoided, the work raised in its literary character and reputation, and its circulation very considerably extended. With this conviction, the copyright has been purchased by a number of individuals, under whose auspices a New Series will be commenced on the First day of January next. The objects contemplated in the New Series of the Monthly Repository are substantially the same as those which were aimed at in the original work. It will, like its predecessor, combine the twofold character of a Theological and Literary Miscellany, and be made a REPOSITORY for the productions of men of learning and talents of all sentiments, on the different topics of Literature, Religion and Morals. The Conductors intend that it should stand in the foremost rank of those journals which are zealously devoted to the cause of Liberty. Their pages will always be open to the free discussion of all controverted subjects which may properly fall within their province, so long as the discussion is conducted with that ability and courtesy which ought ever to distinguish the writings of the Scholar and the Christian. The New Series of the Monthly Repository will of necessity convey the opinions, and be imbued with the feelings and prepossessions, of the persons from whom it emanates; but this circumstance will not be allowed to degrade it into a merely sectarian publication, the exclusive vehicle of party prejudice and intolerance. If to a certain extent it will be employed in the exposition and defence of Unitarian tenets, (the denomination Unitarian being here understood in the most comprehensive and catholic sense,) the Conductors will always give insertion to papers avowedly intended to controvert them, with this only reserve, that they display a competent knowledge of the subject, and be kept within the legitimate boundaries of fair and liberal discussion. The first department of the work will be devoted to ORIGINAL PAPERS and GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, and will open a wide field for the admission of the most interesting topics of Literature. This portion will embrace the important subjects of Metaphysics, Biblical Criticism, Doctrinal and Practical Theology, Morals, Jewish and Christian Antiquities, Church History, ancient and modern, Civil History, Biography, Philological and Classical Disquisitions, Bibliography, with illustrative extracts from rare and curious books; besides numerous other matters of a more miscellaneous kind. The want of a liberal Review in which the merits of works not in unison with the popular opinions, especially on religious subjects, might be impartially examined, has long been generally felt. This deficiency in our Periodical Literature it is meant that the New Series of the Monthly Repository shall supply, as far as its limits will permit. The second department will, for this purpose, be assigned to the REVIEW.-Out of the numerous works perpetually issuing from the press, the Conductors will select for criticism those which bear on the great controversies of the day, affecting Biblical Knowledge and Religious Liberty, together with others which may appear to possess peculiar interest from the nature of their contents, or the acknowledged talents and celebrity of the authors.-Besides the more elaborate reviews of important books, there will be inserted shorter Critical Notices of publications of inferior consequence. It would greatly facilitate the labours of the Conductors in this department, and extend its usefulness, if authors and publishers would favour them with copies of their books as early as possible after their appearance. A portion of the Monthly Repository will be allotted to RELIGIOUS, LITERARY and MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. This is department will comprehend announcements of books in the course of preparation for the press, interesting facts relating to Religion or Literature, and remarkable discoveries in Science; occasional proceedings of Learned Societies; notices of contemporary British Periodicals, with selections from their contents and extracts from Foreign Journals illustrative of the state of religious inquiry, and of literature and science, in various parts of the world, Particular attention will be paid to American publications, which are rapidly rising in interest and importance. In the department of INTELLIGENCE will be inserted accounts of the public proceedings of Congregations and of Religious Associations; together with notices of Parliamentary debates and measures, and of the acts of other deliberative bodies, which may relate to subjects of theological inquiry and of the rights of conscience. A place will likewise be assigned here occasionally for the proceedings of Foreign Churches, as well as for the insertion of abstracts of the Reports of the principal Religious and Philanthropic Societies in Great Britain and Ireland and our Colonies. The Conductors will feel grateful to intelligent Foreigners for any communications with which they may from time to time favour them on the state of religion and... of theological literature, and on laws relating to the promulga tion of opinions and the exercise of public worship, in their respective countries. The OBITUARY department being found deeply interesting to the majority of readers, in every Periodical Miscellany, the Conductors of the New Series of the Monthly Repository purpose devoting to this part of the work a proportionable measure of their attention and care. To the communications which they may receive from Correspondents, they will occasionally add original biographical notices of eminent persons recently deceased. From its circulating among an opulent and reading portion of the public in every part of the British dominions, on the continent of Europe and in America, the Monthly Repository will present an eligible channel for ADVERTISEMENTS, especially of Books; a circumstance to which the Conductors respectfully invite the attention of Authors and Publishers. In mechanical execution it is intended that the New Series of the Monthly Repository shall not be inferior to the most respectable Periodical Publications. The price of the New Series will be the same as that of the old, although the number of pages will be increased. The literary merits, and the general value, of the New Series of the Monthly Repository, must essentially depend upon the co-operation of those friends of the work who are qualified to enrich its pages with their productions; and the Conductors earnestly solicit their prompt and continued patronage. They trust, however, they may remark without offence, that the interest and the credit of the publication, and their own responsibility to the public, render it expedient that their powers of choice should be unrestricted, and that they should be at full liberty, in the exercise of their discretion, to decline the insertion of articles which may to them appear unsuitable to their purpose, without being expected to assign their reasons. The Conductors will only add, that it will be their steady aim to render the New Series of the Monthly Repository worthy of the denomination to which they belong, by the Christian liberality of spirit it will display, and the learning and talents that will be enlisted in its execution; peculiarly acceptable to those who concur with thein on the great principles of Religion and Morals, as the faithful expositor and advocate of their faith; and interesting also, in no small degree, to the reading public of all classes and opinions, from the nature and importance of the subjects it will comprise and discuss, and the various and useful information it will periodically communicate. Whilst they scruple not to avow that its primary purpose is to exhibit and recommend their own sentiments, it will be their anxious endeavour to exclude from it whatever is offensive in the bigotry of party spirit, and to dedicate it, to the best of their judgment and ability, to the furtherance of the sacred cause of Religious Freedom, of Christian Truth and Virtue, and, as the result of the whole, of the permanent Happiness of the human race. It is requested that all Communications should be addressed to the Conductors, at the Monthly Repository Office, No. 3, Walbrook Buildings, Walbrook, London. G, SMALLFIELD, PRINTER, HACKNEY. On French Oaths. By MARIA EDGEWORTH. [From "The Amulet, or Christian and Literary Remembrancer," for 1827; a beautiful little volume, designed for a New Year's Gift. See Mon. Repos. for October, pp. 616-620.] AMONG the many baneful effects of the French Revolution, the disregard of oaths which it has produced in France, is the most deplorable. On every new revolution there was a new oath. This seems to have been the grand resource of their politicians, the favourite amusement of their populace, till at last the words "I swear-We swear!" repeated so frequently by the French on every change of government, or caprice of political fashion, have lost all power, all use, all meaning. In the Champ de Mars, at the commencement of the Revolution, at what they called the Grand Federation, they took an oath to be faithful to their constitution and their King. How this oath was kept we too well remember! Then a new oath was taken to the Directory, another to the Consulate, another to the Emperorto the great Emperor of the French, and to the little King of Rome! When Bonaparte was defeated and dethroned, and Louis the Eighteenth-Louis le desiré, returned, fresh oaths were eagerly sworn to their legitimate sovereign, and he was hailed as the best of kings; and to all the Bourbons fidelity was vowed voluntarily and vehemently. But no sooner did Bonaparte return from Elba, than all their oaths, though made with the most theatric enthusiasm, the most tremendous adjurations, were all violated and forgotten. Those very persons who had sworn to devote themselves to die in defence of their lawful sovereign-to stand to him to the last-to spill the last drop of their blood in proof of their loyalty-deserted him at his utmost need. Princes, dukes, marshals, senators, soldiers, all hurried to give a new oath of fidelity to Napoleon; and now the emperor himself has been called upon to take an oath of adherence to the constitution, and Bonaparte swears to Carnot, and Carnot to Bonaparte, and the whole nation resolve to act VOL. XII. 2 N |