reached the Author, both of which are lost irrecoverably; nor does a trace of the MS. remain. Neither Ballantyne nor Longman (to whom the London copies were sent) think proper to inform me why they wish to consign to oblivion a poem which critics, perfectly unknown to its Author, consider as deserving a place

by the side of Shenstone's School-mistress.' In the British Critic occurs the following notice of this little essay; attended with specimens both of the poetry and the prose. - The Deserted Village School; a Poem. 8vo. 2s. Longman and Co. 1813. The ingenious author of this well-written poem, in the style and stanza of Spencer, is of opinion that the ardour of the new systems of public education, as described by Dr. Bell and Mr. Lancaster, is carried to too great excess. He thinks that they cause eventually much injury by the desertion of what he calls the good old schools, viz. the reading and writing schools established in most parishes. He expresses his dissent, however, with much good humour'."

Mr. Polwhele adds in a note,

"Though "a trifle light as air," the poem rises daily in importance in the Author's mind, from the circumstance of his unsuccessful enquiries with a view to its recovery. He would readily give in exchange for a copy of it, a set of his Cornwall History in seven volumes quarto, or of his Devonshire History in three volumes folio."

118. Annual Report of the Royal Humane Society for the Recovery of Persons apparently Drowned or Dead. 8vo. pp. 125. Printed for the Society.

WHEN the commencement of the French Revolution (then pronounced a discovery, like that of the compass, indispensable for all future political mariners) was celebrated in this country, by a grand exhibition of Jacobinical fireworks, every body recollects the famous apostrophical climax (not Congreve) rocket, let off by Dr. Price, in proprid personá. After discharging various mirabilia, as it ascended, it at last exploded with the following most superb fireball, viz. that by means of this very valuable revolutionary discovery, the progress of science would probably be such, that the necessity of dying would ultimately be removed, and mankind exist upon this earth, like the heathen Gods, in immortal youth; a most consoling prospect for posterity! Now, though the said Revolution inverted the Doctor's position, by actually introducing a frequent

necessity of dying sooner than even our present imperfect nature required; yet, in sober truth, the Humane Society has realized the Doctor's hypothesis, as far as it was ever founded upon reason, and that too, beyond sanguine expectation. We need only quote the following pas sage of the Report, p. 16.

"Of thirty-eight instances of attempted suicide, thirty-four have been restored. The addition of the successful cases of the present to those of past years, presents a total of four thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine persons saved and restored in the Metropolis and its neighbourhood, since the commencement of the Institution. And it is a fact important to be known, that the number of persons actually restored has borne, since its establishment, a continually increasing proportion to the number on whom its resuscitating processes have been tried. This pleasing circumstance connects in one harmonious result, the progress of science with that of philanthropy."

It does indeed! and, to limit the benefits of this Institution to its ostensible object would be to prevent the possibility of the most important discoveries. Conducted as it has hitherto been, comparatively upon a small scale, we think that its benefits might hereafter be found to extend to cases of acute disease, wounds, &c. where death is only apparent. No persons can deprecate cruelty in experiment more than ourselves; but, if a theatre for experiment formed part of the Institution, and the experiments were conducted in the ingenious manner of John Hunter, we prognosticate, from what we have already seen, that the accessions of knowledge would be so great, as to render the processes of the Society an indispensable part of Medical and Veterinary Instruction; and cause the apparatus to be part of the tradestock of every practitioner in the Empire. The present Report is strongly indicative of the reasonableness of our hope. In p. 20 we have the recovery of a person, after Hanging-another p. 26, of the successful application of Galvanism. In p. 55, we find the possibility of recovering persons apparently Frozen to death, after a lifeless state for several hours. In short, the Report abounds with most valuable information; part of which, alluding to the pernicious practice of drinking cold water when we are warm, we shall quote:

"Avoid drinking whilst warm, or drink only a small quantity at once, and let it remain a short time in the mouth before swallowing it; or wash the hands and face, and rince the mouth with cold water before drinking." p. 54.

The accounts of Mr. Cook's Life

Buoy, and Capt. Marryat's Life Boat, both very ingenious and efficient, are interesting. Of the latter, our Readers were euabled to judge by the extracts already given in p. 444.

We still, however think, that the Society will never do justice to its grand purpose, until the scale is enlarged, as before suggested, by a school of experiment, &c. tried upon vermin. Franklin's flies, imbedded toads, &c. lead to strong inferences, concerning suspended animation.

A

119. The Sin of Schism demonstrated, and the Protestant Episcopal Church proved to be the only safe means of Salvation. Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of Frome, Somerset, Aug. 8, 1819. By the Rev. Stephen Hyde Cassan, M. A. Chaplain to the Earl of Caledon. Second Edition, with an Appendix of Notes, in which the Principles advanced in the Sermon are more fully maintained; together with some correspondence to which they have led. 8vo. pp. 162.

WE are of opinion with Mr. Cassan, that Schism cannot be ascribed to laudable or even justifiable motives, and we think highly of Archdeacon Daubeny's excellent work upon the subject. We also think that the various fanatical forms of religion, now prevalent, propagate an infinity of nonsense, which has the bad effect of throwing into disregard the masterly theology of our immortal Divines, Hooker, Butler, Barrow, Pearson and others; but we cannot think with Mr. Cassau (p. 39.) that "the present disaffected state of the country is mainly attributable to the spread of Methodism;" for we know that the advocates of it are friendly to Government. Though it be only a vulgar mode (from its neglect of Theology) of exhibiting Religion, what a puppet-show is, compared to regular drama, yet there are thousands who would sooner attend to Punch than Garrick, and many such persons does Methodism impregnate with some kind of religious sentiment. But, when the National Education has become universal, we trust that far superior taste will prevail; aud that the higher ranks will in the

mean time reflect, that all Fanaticisı produces intellectual degradation, and a dangerous neglect of the arts and sciences essential to national well-being; besides introducing misery into civil life, by bigotry, contracted ideas, enmity to innocent pleasures, and very serious bad human passions. We really do not think Me thodism to bave that intrinsic meritorious character, which can alone make it the universal Religion," though it may have the effect of teazing Clergymen, who, from high education, and real knowledge of Divi nity, will not, from conscience, bumour vulgar conception, by hypocrisy, cant, and dereliction of principle.

In the Appendix will be found a very curious Correspondence between the Curate of Frome, the Vicar, and the Bishop.

120. The Life of Wesley; and the Rise and Progress of Methodism. By Robert Southey, Esq. Poet Laureat, &c. 8vo. Longman and Co.

IF ever Craniology become a science, it will be a matter of regret for its professors, that the sculls of the Wesleys, Whitefield, Zinzendorf, Oliver, Fletcher, the Countess of Huntingdon, and the celebrated Mrs. Guyon, could not be compared with those of Rolland, Gibbon, Hume, Paine, and Mrs. Woolstoncraft. In the former, the seat of insanity, bordering on madness, ought to be seen prominently in opposition to the protuberances of the bold and undaunted philosophy of the latter; or, if no sensible marks of such opposite capacities could be visibly traced either outside or inside of the sculls, it would, at once, give a mortal blow to the followers of Spurzheim, and to the whole system of Gall, his friend and master. That a man like Whitefield, who was born in a low situation, and had actually been a pot-boy, should at once embrace a system of spiritualization, which presented to the wicked as well as to the good, to the poor as well as to the rich, the immortal crown of Salvation, without any other preparation than a moment of enthusiastic fit, no one can be at a loss to explain: for the inward feeling that, by that single step, you raise yourself, not only above the low class to whom you belong, but also above the highest of the higher, is an enticement which is not easily

resisted.

resisted. But how to account for the same enthusiastic spirit in a gentleman like Wesley, brought up by respectable parents, sent from the Charter-house to Oxford, where he distinguished himself in such a creditable way, that he was elected fellow of Lincoln, Greek Lecturer and Moderator of the Classes; that such a man, perfectly versed in the Holy Scriptures, with an unusual share of logic, should pervert the reading of the Sacred Books, and force their meaning, to correspond with, nay even to surpass, the absurd and fanatical language of the Moravians, and thereby enlist himself as a disciple of a mad German Baron,-is a case which must necessarily perplex the mind of an honest, sober, and reasonable inquirer. Such philosophical disquisition would make a curious accessory to the Life of Wesley; but, as it is not consistent with the plan of our Magazine, we must content ourselves by presenting our Readers with a slight sketch of the book before us.

Mr. Southey, the Author of the Life of Wesley, assures us in his Preface, that he had not any private sources of information; but has taken bis materials in various publications, the list of which he gives. When we took up the book, we were almost afraid to lose ourselves in the perusal of two large octavos, of about 1100 pages; but, as we turned over the leaves, we found such a mass of interesting matter, that, instead of being angry at the prolixity of the Author, we found ourselves much indebted to him for the handsome and liberal manner with which he has treated his subject.

Speaking of the two Wesleys, of Whitefield, and the other eminent coadjutors who assisted in erecting the fabric of Methodism, Mr. Southey does it, not in the contemptuous manner of a high Church Divine, jaundiced by the result of their extraordinary success; neither does he contemplate his subject, as a Deistical Writer, who would most willingly embrace the opportunity of sneering and laughing at the gross ignorance and mad eccentricities, which contributed to the fame of its Preachers; nor even like the Northern Reviewer, who brought against the Methodists of our time pretended enormous

"their being of

charges, such as an active disposition; having a powerful party in the House of Commons; possessing considerable sums of money for the purchase of livings; hating pleasure and amusements, such as theatre and cards, and getting power over the poor;" charges in which they glory, and which, if true, can by no means impeach the respectability of the sect. But, whenever there is occasion for it, Mr. Southey like a Christian Philosopher (if these two words can be matched together), gently reproves and censures the extravagancies and absurdities of some of their dogmas, and always shows to advantage the best parts of those truly good, sincere, honest, and pious men. If he acquaints us with the infirmities of the mind of Wesley when young, he shews us how, when in a maturer age, he retracted what he had formerly supported: he follows him from his birth, to his instruction by his mother, at College and University; at Savannah, in love with Sophia Causton, persecuted by Williamson; in London where he forms the Methodists into bands; at Marienborn, where he goes to visit Zinzendorf; at Herrnbut, the seat of the Moravians; at Bristol, at Blackheath; at the Foundery in London; at his Conference with Boëler; again with Zinzendorf, from which he sepa rates; explains his differing from Whitefield, from whom he also separates; treating them both with equal respect and tenderness.

As a proof, and not being able to follow our Author in his copious and welldigested information about Whitefield, we beg the attention of our Readers to the following extract. Whitefield was preaching at Bristol with an uncommon success; yet ha ardently wished for martyrdom, upon which we find the following remark:

"Such fears, or rather such hopes, were suited to the days of Queen Mary, Bishop Gardiner, and Bishop Bonner ;they are ridiculous or disgusting in the time of George the Second, Archbishop

Potter, and Bishop Gibson. It might be suspected that Whitefield had grown deranged by the perpetual reading of Fox's Martyrs, like Don Quixote over his books of chivalry, and Loyola over the Lives of the Saints. But it was neither by much reading, nor much learning, that Whitefield was affected. His heart was full of benevolence and piety.-bis feelings were

strong

The second volume opens with the death of Wesley's mother, and the subsequent troubles caused by the marriage of his two sisters; an event which, as not unfrequently happens in other families, brought much distress amongst them all. It must be imagined that the founder of such large establishmentswas obliged to take assistants; and from thence the necessity of being introduced to the most eminent among them. Such were the Countess of Huntingdon, who, like Madame Guyon above mentioned, a widow, young, rich, and independent, found it easy to gain followers, and put herself at the head of the sect; the Olivers, Pauson, Mather, Haime, Staniford, Story, and (perhaps the best of them all,) Fletcher, an anecdotical life of each of them enhances the value of the book.

Wesley's doctrine consisted in three principal points; viz. instantaneous regeneration, assurance, and sinless perfection. His casting lots for passages in Scriptures, and attributing every minute circumstance in his favour to Providence, could not but be considered as discreditable to his judgment among the sensible and good people; but by the illiterate mob of his enemies, he was accused of hypocrisy and imposture."

"The strangest suspicions and calumnies were circulated; and men will believe any calumnies, however preposterously absurd, against those of whom they are disposed to think ill. He bad hanged himself, and been cut down just in time; -he had been fined for selling gin;-he was not the real John Wesley, for every body knew that Mr. Wesley was dead. Some said he was a Quaker, others an anabaptist; a more sapient censor pronounced him a Presbyterian-Papist. It was commonly reported that he was a Papist, if not a Jesuit; that he kept Popish priests in his house; nay, it was beyond dispute that he received large remittances from Spain, in order to make a party among the poor, and when the Spaniards landed, he was to join them with 20,000 men. Sometimes it was reported that he was in prison upon a charge of high treason; and there were people who confidently affirmed that they had seen him with the Pretender in France."

Although Wesley knew that these accusations came from the lowest of the lower class, yet he preferred to mix among them, to any intercourse with the higher orders of society.

"To speak rough truth, I do not desire any intercourse with any persons of quality in England. I mean, for my own sake. They do me no good, and, I fear, I can do none to them.' To another correspondent he says, I have found some of the uneducated poor who have exquisite taste and sentiment; and many, very many of the rich, who have scarcely any there is so strange a mixture, that I have at all.'-In most genteel religious people seldom much confidence in them. But I love the poor; in many of them I find pure genuine grace, unmixed with paint, folly, and affectation.' And again,How unspeakable is the advantage in point of common sense, which middling people have over the rich! There is so much

paint and affectation, so many unmeaning words and senseless customs among people of rank, as fully justify the remark made 1700 years ago, Sensus communis in illâ fortunâ rarus.'

To those who are curious of know

ing what Wesley meant by the word Faith, we recommend page 176, and the two following, of vol. II.; which we would have most willingly inserted if our limits could have permitted. But we cannot resist showing how perfectly satisfied he was that he had worked miracles.

"We desire no favour,' said he, 'but the justice, that diligent inquiry may be made concerning them: we are ready to name the person on whom the power was shown, which belongeth to none but God (not point out their places of abode; and we one, or two, or ten or twelve only),—to engage they shall answer every pertinent quired, shall give all their answers upon question fairly and directly; and, if reoath, before any who are empowered to receive them. It is our particular request, that the circumstances which went before, which accompanied, and which followed after the facts under consideration, may be thoroughly examined, and punctually noted down. Let but this be done, (and is it not highly needful it should, at least by those who would form an exact judg ment?) and we have no fear that any reasonable man should scruple to say, this hath God wrought.""

His system of Full Assurance be retracts, page 182; and modifies and softens down the doctrine of Perfection, which he had preached with inconsiderable ardour. He marries,

and

and has no reason to be satisfied with his choice. At the death of his friend Whitefield, he forgets all disputes about Calvinist opinions, and preaches his funeral sermon. He himself dies in the 88th year of his age, on the 2d of March 1791; leaving no other property behind him, but the copyright and current editions of his works. We could lengthen our extracts by the circumstances of the death of this truly good man; but we fear we have already trespassed on our limits. We cannot, however, terminate this article better, than by transcribing the opinion of our Author, on his Hero, and on Methodism in general: it is a compendium of the whole work, and reflects immense credit on Mr. Southey, whose present book will amuse, entertain, and instruct, both the friends and enemies of Methodism.

"Such was the life, and such the labours of John Wesley; a man of great views, great energy, and great virtues. That he awakened a zealous spirit, not only in his own community, but in a Church which needed something to quicken it, is acknowledged by the members of that Church itself; that he encouraged enthusiasm and extravagance, lent a ready ear to false and impossible relations, and spread superstition as well as piety, would hardly be denied by the candid and judicious among his own people. In its immediate effects the powerful principle of religion, which he and his preachers diffused, has reclaimed many from a course of sin, has supported many in poverty, sickness, and affliction, and has imparted to many a triumphant joy in death.

What Wesley says of the miracles wrought at the tomb of the Abbé Paris, may fitly be applied here; in many of these instances we see great superstition, as well as strong faith: but God makes allowance for invincible ignorance, and blesses the faith, notwithstanding the su perstition.' Concerning the general and remoter consequences of Methodism, opinions will differ. They who consider the wide spreading schism to which it has led, and who know that the welfare of the Country is vitally connected with its Church Establishment, may think that the evil overbalances the good. But the good may endure, and the evil be only for a time. In every other sect there is an inherent spirit of hostility to the Church of England, too often and too naturally connected with diseased political opinions. So it was in the beginning, and so it will continue to be, as long as these sects endure. But Methodism is free from this.

The extravagancies which accompanied its growth are no longer encouraged, and will altogether be discountenanced, as their

real nature is understood. This cannot be doubted. It is in the natural course of things that it should purify itself gradually from whatever is objectionable in its institutions. Nor is it beyond the bounds of reasonable hope, that conforming itself to the original intention of its founders, it may again draw towards the Establishment from which it has seceded, and deserve to be recognized as an auxiliary institution, its Ministers being analogous to the regulars, and its members to the tertiaries and various confraternities of the Romish Church. The obstacles to this are surely not insuperable, perhaps not so difficult as they may appear. And were this affected, John Wesley would then be ranked, not only among the most remarkable and influential men of his age, but among the great benefactors of his Country and his kind."

121. The Glory of Regality; an Historical Treatise on the Anointing and Crowning of the Kings and Queens of England. By Arthur Taylor, F. S. A. 8vo. pp. 420.

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AS the Coronation, the Glory of Regality,' and the most splendid ceremonial of a Monarchial Government approaches, the public interest becomes more intensely excited. gratify in some degree the curiosity felt on this subject, Mr. Thomson gave to the publick a circumstantial account of the last Coronation, and of which we made favourable mention in our last number, p. 434. Since that work was published, Mr. Taylor's "Glory of Regality" has appeared, in which he does not confine himself to one Coronation only, but gives an historical account of the ceremonies practised at the Coronation of all our Monarchs, as well as the origin of the ceremonies themselves. To say that, in this work, Mr. Taylor has displayed considerable erudition and unwearied research, would scarcely do him justice, since he has exhibited a very comprehensive view of the most curious and untrodden department of antiquarian studies.

The French have an Historical Treatise of their Coronations by M. Menin; but in England we had no work of the kind, nor any thing on the subject, but what was to be found scattered in the voluminous productions of our early Historians, many

of