intelligent and perspicuous manner, though it cannot be distinguished by noA Confutation of Atheism, from the Laws velty. It occupies thirty pages. Then and Constitution of the Heavenly Bodies: follow four sermons, in which the arguin Four Discourses preached before the ments drawn from astronomical princiUniversity of Cambridge; with an Intro- ples, &c. are enforced, and improved. duction, Notes, and an Appendix. By Our limits do not allow us to do that justhe Rev. S. Vince, A. M. F. R. S. tice to this volume which it merits, but Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Ex-we shall insert a specimen, that our reaperimental Philosophy. 8vo. pp. 157. may judge for themselves of its Price 4s. 6d. Deighton, Cambridge, 1807. ders merit. In the motions of the heavenly bodies we ATHEISM is so degrading, as well see the existence of power acting under dif as abominable, that we scarcely know ferent circumstances; a power originally inhow to suppose its existence. There may pressed upon the bodies, and a power conbe various opinions on minor matters of tinually acting upon them, indicating an exreligion, but these we can tolerate; there ternal cause; for no internal powers of a mamay be much ignorance where we might terial body can give it motion, nor, when in hope for better information, but this we motion, alter it's state. "Give me where can pardon nations may even adopt difto stand," said Archimedes," and I will ferent systems of faith, yet the founda- receives a new impulse; where then shall we move the earth." The earth every moment tion of all is the existence of a Deity. The look for a footstool, but in some Being who sage and the savage agree in this:-but if exists independently of matter; but in Him, there be such a phenomenon as an atheist, "Who dwelleth not in temples made with where shall we look for it? Not among hands;" "Who maketh the clouds his the unlettered tribes of men, but where chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the the reasoning powers have been so highly wind?" The government of the system recultivated that we have pushed the genuine quiring some external controlling power, afoffspring of Nature to monstrosity. Hap-fords a perpetual memorial, a constant visible pily, however, monsters in nature do not propagate their kind; and monsters in morals seldom form lasting sects, the adherents of which are respectable by their numbers, or by their talents. Theoretical atheism would never rear its head, did not practical atheism infuse a something mistaken for vigour into those who are infected with it. Nevertheless, we are pleased with the appearance of works like the present, which demonstrate the being of God, from the operations of his hand. We might, indeed, be excepted against as not impartial judges on a question like the present, since we not only have yielded to the power of arguments like those adduced by the learned author, but have actually become hardened in our I conviction, and year after year has added to the habit of our confidence in the being, and the attributes, of Deity. argument for the existence of a God. We must not deceive ourselves with talking about word without meaning, if considered in any nature as a first principle." Nature is a other view than as a system of laws, by which God upholds the visible world, and produces the infinite variety of effects in it, according to an established and regular course of subor dinate causes and means; and hence, when the mind terminates its views in a supposed nature, as a self-moving agent or principle, and transfers it to an idol of its own mak it robs God of the honour due to his majesty, ing The vast distances of the bodies which compose our system, forbid us to think that like circumstances could be found to exist amongst them all, without considering them as the work of one agent. Similarity of ef fects in bodies totally unconnected, and where the circumstances might have been varied an design, which in no other case would be indefinite number of ways, affords a proof of questioned. And here, the following circumstances present themselves for our consideration. All bodies have a tendency to After this confession, we shall do no more than state, that Mr. V. in the first place proposes the more obvious princi-wards each other, and this tendency is regu ples of astronomy, the planetary system, the rotation, circulation, and other motions of the earth and its neighbours, the causes of the seasons, tides, &c. This part in our opinion is treated in a very lated by a fixed law. All the primary planets describe, about the sun, curves of the same kind. They all respect the sun as their cenbetween their mean distances from the sun, tre of motion. There is a fixed proportion and the times of their revolutions. All the sons. like circumstances obtain in respect to the motion of the Satellites about their respective primaries. The general system, and the particular systems thus included in it, are all under the direction of the same laws. All the planets are opaque bodies, and the central body luminous, dispensing thereby to each body greater uniformity of light and heat. Each body, so far as observations have been able to discover, revolves about an axis, and that axis is inclined to the plane of its orbit; by which, provision is made for day and night, and also for a regular return of seaThe phænomena of several of the planets shew that they have an atmosphere of the same nature as that of the earth. All the planets move in the same direction. The periodic time of the moon about the earth is exactly equal to the time of her rotation about her axis. Observations have also discovered, that the same circumstance takes place in all the Satellites of Jupiter, and in one, at least, of Saturn. Whether it be true of all the - rest, observations have not yet been able to discover; but, from the analogy which is observed in the other parts of the system, we may suppose that the same circumstances exist in all the secondaries. Of the bodies which accompany each other in their motions about the sun, we always find one very large in comparison with the rest, the former serving as a central body, about which the latter revolve; a circumstance which can hardly be imputed to chance, should you contend for the accidental formation of the bodies. And this is analogous to the case of the primary planets in respect to the sun. Where we see such an uniformity of effect running through so extensive a system, and where there was room for so much variation, are we to admit causes operating without direction, understanding, and wisdom? We may leave it to the common sense and judgment of mankind to determine, whether all such effects be not the result of design, and prove not the unity of the agent. A man must have a strong bias on his understanding, who does not discover the footsteps of a superintending power in all this. "By the strength of my hand have I done it, saith the Lord; and by my wisdom; for I am pru dent." The universe is also found to contain phænomena very unlike to any that we have hitherto described; of which, as they tend further to magnify the power of the Creator, is may not be improper to take notice. With the best glasses, objects have been discovered under the appearance of round, well-defined bodies, of a faint light; some of which have a luminous point situated in the centre; and in respect to their magnitude, they cannot be less in diameter than that of our planetary system. But the most remarkable and singu lar phænomenon is under the form of an elliptical ring, of a magnitude immense, and beyond the power of al calculation.* From a consideration of these stupendous works of the creation, we may observe with the son of Sirach, "There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works." Upon the phænomena here mentioned, Dr. Herschel has favoured the Author with the following observations: "From the angular diameters of my smallest planetary Nebulæ, we have reason to conclude, that, even on a supposition of their not being further from us than the nearest fixed star, and admitting the parallax of such a star to be only one second of a degree, their real diameters cannot be less than that of the whole Solar system, including the orbit of the Georgian planet. "With regard to the elliptical ring, as it probably consists of stars, which is however not perfectly ascertained, its magnitude must The remoteness of stars to be immense. make them appear almost like nebulosity, is such, that we cannot fix on any magnitude that may belong to them, and we are thus left entirely in the dark as to their distance." But whether we consider the ring as a solid body, or a collection of stars, the regularity of its figure affords a very satisfactory proof, that its formation was not a work of chance. The Exemplary Life of the Pious Lady Guion, translated from her own Account in the Original French, &c. By T. D. Brooke. 8vo. pp. nearly 500. Price 6s. Bristol, Mills, 1806. WE are such friends to real piety, that we readily respect it under every form; but we doubt whether piety so entirely supermundane as that of the Lady Guion is the duty of the human race. Is it founded on scripture? We doubt it: for what scripture says to one it says to al; but if all were conformable to this lady, the charities of father, son, and brother, of mother, sister, and wife, must stand still, and the world would suffer incalculably by the abstraction from it of those who now are its honour, its examples, and its blessings. Much as we abhor atheism, we do not affect to applaud excesses which yet, we admit, may be the offspring of good inten tions. We think it is much more commendable to endeavour in the fear and love of God, " to do our duty in that state of life into which it has pleased God to call us." In what sense it can be truly said of this pious lady that "she did not affect any thing singular or extraordinary," or with what propriety he can call on his readers to " go and do likewise," must be left to the ingenuity of the preface-writer to explain :-we cannot explain it for him. Some Account of New Zealand; particu- A PRETTY account enough of what the writer saw; but his title-page certainly raises expectations which his work does not justify. Those who could expect that so many particulars Mr. S. announces should be comprised in 110 pages of large type must know little of the properties of good description. In fact, his account is confined to the Bay of Islands, and does not include New Zealand generally. Mr. Savage lays down directions for approaching the coast of New Zealand, by North Cape, to which he adds very neat and useful views of that Cape and its neighbouring islands. In a country that has been described (says he) as being peopled by a race of cannibals, you are agreeably surprised by the appearance of the natives, who betray no symptom of savage ferocity, and by the patches of cultivated ground in the neighbourhood of the bay, on each of which is seen a well-thatched hut, and a shed at a little distance. These appearances, together with the abundant supply of fish and potatoes brought on board by the natives tend forcibly to remove the prejudices you have imbibed from former accounts of this country and its inhabitants. : general open they have a great aversion to spirits, neither have they any means of intoxication among them Mr. S. describes the women as pleasing, interesting, and soothing. This people have names for many of the stars, but the moon is their favourite deity, yet they worship the rising sun with much joy, and with a degree of elegant and reverential solemnity. They sing on this occasion a cheerful song; when the sun sets they sing a mournful one: the whole company join in chorus. They have ideas of rewards and punishments in a future state. Mr. S. reports accounts of a monarch in the interior, who is carried in a chair of state, and is on some occasions attended by hundreds, or even thousands of dauntless warriors, armed with spears and battle-axes, and decorated with war mats, feathers, &c. curiosity, and if correct, justifies the exThis certainly raises our pectation of our discovering a race of peo ple much more civilised than any we have yet met with. As to the cannibalism of this people, Mr. S. admits it, yet thinks it not so prevalent as has been reported. The introduction of potatoes, he says, has saved many lives, for they certainly give that flesh, under every circumstance, except a decided preference to human that of wreaking revenge on a chief of the foe, whom they have taken in combat. root Mr. S. brought to London a native, named Moyhanger, of whom he gives an interesting account, and whom he sent back after a few weeks residence in town, with an ample stock of tools:-real riches! The natives are tattooed; the men more than the women. Personal ornament is by no means neglected the hair of the head is loaded with decorations. Mr. S. describes the warlike apparatus of the natives; their mode of warfare, their defences, &c. Music seems to be natural to man: the as melodious voices. This bay lies in 35° 6' S. lat., 174° 43′ E. long. The capital, called Tip- New Zealanders have instruments as well poonah, consists of about a hundred dwellings, and is placed partly on an island capable of being easily defended. The dwellings of the natives are about five feet high; the walls are wattled and closed with rushes. The thatch is of strong bladed grass. Cooking operations are carried on in a shed at a little distance from the hut. The natives are of robust personal appearance; their countenances in part The music of their songs is generally well adapted to the theme. Many of these are of a pathetic nature, others amatorial, and a great nature are well suited to the subject. The of them humorous. Those of a pathetic amorous songs appear not so much to depend on the strain for communicating the sentiment as upon gesture and grimace, which in may instances are both extravagant and in decent. Their humorous songs afford them much entertainment, the subject being such, and the description so ludicrous, as in many instances to occasion a total suspension of the performance, by the laughter of the audience. Their musical instruments are similar to those of other islands of the vast Pacific. Mr. S.'s account of the behaviour of Moyhanger in London, with his remarks on what he saw and heard in this new world are not undeserving of attention; and on the whole we think this volume creditable to Mr. S.'s powers of observation, so far as concerns the Bay of Islands. Every addition to our knowledge, when properly authenticated, is welcome; and we doubt not but that when we are enabled to congratulate the public on the appearance of a truly general history of this extensive island, we shall find these savages in possession of many enjoyments which are well entitled to the esteem of civilised nations. 4 Still, under all these unfavourable circum. stances, there remained attached to me a number sufficient to give me a triumphant ma jority, and never will the sense of their kindness be erased from my heart: never can I forget the spontaneous zeal with which numbers of all ranks, by far the greater part of them before unknown to me, came forward, fatigue, travelling in uncomfortable vehicles; often subjecting themselves to great trouble and of them persons of small property, yo coming from considerable distances at their own expense, with other similar gratifying marks of esteem and attachment. Perhaps it may be thought, that in our election, we too much neglected pride, and pomp, and circumstance," the procession, and the music, and the streamers, and all the other purchased decorations which catch the vulgar eye. That our more sober system was recommended to me many by economical motives I will not deny. This economy may perhaps be thought to have been carried too far; yet, when it is recollected that it was not my money, but that of my kind and public-spirited supporters which was exThe plates are prettily executed, and do pending, no liberal mind will wonder at my credit to the talents of Mr. G. Cooke; having earnestly wished to be parsimonious! the principal is a portrait of Tiarrah, the But shall I also confess for my friends, as chief of the Bay. This serves as a frontis-well as for myself, that we acted from the piece. A Letter to the Gentlemen, Clergy, and impulse of our taste, no less than from that pous cavalcade. THE intention of this letter is, to clear Mr. W. from the imputation of having joined the interest of Mr. Lascelles in the last Election. We cannot help I hope to remember only the kindness of my friends, and to forget all which is of a being mortified at the thought that a contrary character. Indeed I should be unGentleman of the writer's respectability worthy of the favour with which you have so should have met with any thing which long distinguished me, if every trace of what bore the semblance of necessity for such a may have appeared at the moment unkind, windication of his conduct. It adds one because unjust treatment, were not swallowed to the list, already too long, of the in- up and lost in the accumulated mass of obliconveniencies which accompany contested gations, which, during three-and-twenty years, elections. The opposition was not per- I have been continually, and without intersonally, against Mr. W., but was a strug-ruption, receiving at your hands. In truth, gle between two opulent families of which Mr. Lascelles and Lord Milton were the representatives. They shou have honourably agreed to secure Mr. W's. election; for why should he suffer for their contention? There are, however, many particulars truly honourable to Mr. W. connected with this contest: he alludes, very handsomely, to some of them. would indicate a mind sadly irritable or strangely absorbed in its own individual concerns, if, in the present situation of public affairs, a situation almost unprecedently serious and critical, my thoughts and feelings were now disposed to dwell rather on the unpleas ant circumstances of the last election (abounding too as it did with incidents of the gratifying kind) than on the actual circumprospects of my country. stances and future most The Chimney-Sweeper's Boy: a Poem. 8vo. price 2s. 6d. Montgomery, Sheffield. 1807. THE reports of the society established in favour of this unhappy class of our youth, have been long lying by us, wait ing for admission into our Proposita Philanthropica: by way of making amends for the delay, we shall transcribe a part of the Introduction of this poem, as it states with perspicuity the reasons for the institution of that benevolent society. years ago in London for the purpose of better, with considerable success, the condition of Of all the children, demanding the helping hand of humanity, which this country exhibits, probably those who are employed by chimney-sweepers, as climbing boys, are ing been written in the country: for had As to the poem itself, it suffers by havthe most deserving of commiseration and assistance, whether we consider the distressing the author been informed of the fact of a and unjustifiable means by which they are discovery of a child, by the late Mrs. often obtained, the shocking and painful me- Montague of Portland Place, among the thods which are used to force them, at that chimney-sweeping boys, he could not tender age, to the performance of a task, not have failed of deriving much additional inonly the most horrid that can be conceived by terest to his story from that circumstance. the imagination of a child, but also one of It is sufficiently well known, that this inthe most difficult to be accomplished, whe-cident was commemorated during many ther we consider the hardships and misery to which they are in general exposed from the tyranny of ignorant and unfeeling masters, from cold, nakedness, hunger, and labour, at a period of life which demands the fostering care of parental affections and support, to render the body capable of hereafter discharging those duties which more advanced age will demand of them; or that total neglect of all learning, and moral and religious instruction, which is so absolutely necessary to fit the child to become a blessing to himself and to society; whether we consider the diseases and consequent deformity, if not death, to which they are perpetually exposed, or those habits of wickedness of every description which they are not only thrown in the way of witnessing, but in which they are too often encouraged to take a part, and it is to be feared to which they are even sometimes driven; we cannot surely avoid commiserating their deplorable situation, nor refrain from affording them every assistance in our power. Animated by these and other similar considerations, a society was formed some Here perhaps ought to be excepted those poor children who have been transported by their parish officers to distant cotton mills, compared with many of whom the West India slave enjoys happiness and freedom; this is a subject which greatly merits, and imperiously demands, the attention of the legislature, first of May, to as many of the sooty tribe years, by an annual dinner given on the as chose to attend. The poem supposes young Edwin to be stolen when about three years old, by a gipsey, who sold him to a chimney-sweeper for five guineas: going to sweep the chimnies of Alcander's house, his recollection was struck, by what he saw :-but he was discovered by his voice. This resembles the adventures of Mrs. Montague's child: but to the best of our recollection is an imperfect copy of the fact. The poet shall now speak for himself. Now to Alcander's hospitable dome The wondering Edwin silent stood, and threw dear Drew from his eyes the silent trickling tear, |