the flightest doubt of Dr. Weffels' genuine meaning ourselves; but he must be convinced, there are Cavillers, whom it would be expedient to filence. With regard to Dr. Weffels' other Noftrum, for the speedy multiplication of Doctors, which were better deferred perhaps until a peace, we apprehend, that although it may prove falutary, and even nutritive to the inventor, yet the pupils, when graduated, would not find their account in it; fince it must leffen the number of patients, in proportion to their extradinary inaugurations: efpecially, as fome fuperlative improver of this Noftrum, for making doctors out of moderate talents, might extend its operation to subjects of very moderate talents indeed. Now, as the truly wife and capable are fuppofed a pretty general minority, and are often a cautious generation, fuch doctors muft foon be left to practife only on themselves, or each other, without fees of courfe. Hence ftarving, or fome premature death, would prove the ordinary confequence; and no ways leffen that Suicide, which has been thought already too endemic in this island. RELIGIO u s. K Art. 19. An humble Enquiry into the Nature of the Gospel Offer, The reafons (given by our Author in his preface) for publishing this Enquiry, are, the apprehended importance of the fubjects themfelves;-a willingness to offer his poor affiftance (as he himself ftiles it) towards the refolving the doubts, and clearing the perplexities, with which the minds of many are intangled; and a defire of being an inftrument in the hand of God, for defending the truth, and guarding against error. Tho' the above reafons are very good ones for a man's writing well, upon any important fubject, yet we are forry to say, that we have found none of our own doubts and perplexities, refolved or cleared, by a careful perufal of Mr. Lavington's Enquiry.But, probably, fuch Readers as are friends to the Calvinistical doctrines of abfolute Election, and Reprobation; as well as enemies to, what our Author calls, the Arminian doctrine of Free-will, will meet with greater fatisfaction from the prefent treatise. I. TH SINGLE SERMONS. P HE Signs of the Times, illuftrated and improved; preached at the Evening Lecture in the Old Jury, on the furrender of Quebec to his Majesty's forces. By Charles Bulkley. 6d. Noon. 2. The Oppofition between the Gospel of Jefus and what is called the Religion of Nature;-at St. Mary's, Oxon, July 1, 1759. By Thomas Patten, D. D. late Fellow of Corpus Chrifti College. 6 d. Rivington. 3. Unity recommended;-before the Religious Socities in and about London, at their annual meeting in the church of St. Mary le Bow, on Eafter Monday, 1759. By William Dodd, M. A, 6 d. Davis and Reymers. or 4. The Guilt of doing Evil, that Good may come ;-at St. Paul's, before the Lord Mayor, &c. Nov. 5, 1759. By John Green, M. A. Curate of St. Saviour's, Southwark, and Lecturer of St. John, Wapping. 6d. Scott. 5. Provifion for Eternity, the beft ufe we can make of a short and uncertain Life; at St. Martin's, Oxford, before the Corporation, November the 4th, being the day of interment of Thomas Rowney, Efq; one of their late Reprefentatives. By John Bilftone, M. A. Chaplain of All Souls' College, Oxon. 6d. Rivington. 6. A Thanksgiving Sermon,-at the Rolls chapel, December the 9th, being the day appointed to return thanks to Almighty God, for the Victory over the French Fleet, on the 20th of November laft. By Edward Clarke, M. A. Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and Rector of Pepperharrowe in Surry. 6d. T. Payne, Whiston, &c., THANKSGIVING SERMONS, preached on Thursday Nov. 29, 1759. 1. At St. Anne's, Weftminfler. By John Duncombe, M. A. affiftant Preacher at St. Anne's, and Rector of St. Andrew's Canterbury. 6d. Whiston. 2. The Divine Goodness, and human Gratitude properly confidered; at Weft Horfley in Surry. By Nathaniel Ball, Curate of Weit Horf ley. 6d. Buckland. 3. At St. Vedaft, Fofter-lane, London. By R. Wynne, M. A. Rector of Ayot St. Laurence, Hertfordshire, and Curate of St. Vedaft. 6d. Field. 4. At the Chapel in Long Ditch, Westminster. To which is added, an Hymn. By Andrew Kippis. 6d. Henderson. 5. At New-Court, Carey street. By Richard Winter. 6d. Buckland. 6. The Wicked taken in their own Net ;—at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. By John Mafon, A. M. 6d. Buckland. 7. Britain revived, and under the Smiles of Mercy, fummoned to the Work of Praife;-at Northampton. By Robert Gilbert. 6d. Buck land. 8. Britain's Happiness, and the proper Improvement of it ;—at Newington Green, Middlefex. By Richard Price. 6d. Millar and Griffiths. 9. The Favours of Providence to Britain in 1759;—at Wokingham, Berks. By J. Williams. 6d. Henderfon. 10. Before the Houfe of Lords. By James Lord Bishop of Wor cefter. 6 d. Hawkins. 11. Before the Houfe of Commons. By Richard Dayrell, D. D. 6 d. Walter. 12. At the new Meeting in White-Row, Spittal-fields. By Edward Hitching. 6d. Buckland. 13. At Farnham, and at Edmondsbury. By Peter Stephen Goddard, M. A. Rector of Farnham, and Chaplain to the Bishop of Norwich. 6d. Crowder. 14. To a Congregation of Proteftant Diffenters, at Sidmouth in Devonshire. By J. Hogg. 6d. Buckland, Author of the Review of the Principles, Queftions, and Difficulties in Merdis. See Review, vol, XVII, p. 513, APPENDIX TO THE MONTHLY REVIE W, VOLUME the TWENTY-FIRST. The Dramatic Works of Aaron Hill, Efq; containing, 1. The Life of the Author. 2. Elfrid; or, the Fair Inconftant. 3. 3. Walking Statute; or, the Devil in the Wine-celler. 4. Rinaldo. 5. Fatal Vifion; or, the Fall of Siam. 6. King Henry V. or, the Conqueft of France by the English 7. Fatal Extravagance. 8. Merlin in Love. 9. Athelwold. 10. Muses in Mourning. 11. Zara, to which is added, an Interlude, never before printed. 12. Snake in the Grafs. 13. Alzira. 14. Saul. 15. Daraxes. 16. Merope. 17. Roman Revenge, 18. Infolvent; or Filial Piety. To which are added, LoveLetters, by the Author. 8vo. 2 vols. 10s. 6d. in Boards. Lownds. WE E are truly forry to meet with an occafion of re commending the Works of fo eminent and a Writer as the late Mr. Hill, from any other motive than worthy that of mere respect to the merit of his productions; but it is the misfortune of his pofterity, that they have been reduced to afk of the Public, Subfcriptions to the Works of that hand which had been too generally liberal, to lay up for those whom he was more particularly obliged to provide for. Benevolence, therefore, as well as a high regard for Mr. Hill's Writings, now prompts us to introduce this edition of his Dramatic Works, to the notice and favourable reception of our Readers. As to the merit of thefe pieces, in particular, or of this Author's works in general, as they have all been fo long before APPEN, VOL. XXI. PP the the public little remains for us to fay on that head, Every one knows that Mr. Hill was a Genius of no ordinary ranks that he was a fine Scholar, and a very confiderable Poet; that his profe-writings, like his verfe, indicated a vaft imagination, and that in the former he manifefted the Gentleman, while the latter fhewed fuch a profufion of poetry, and of fentiment, as might fuffice to fet up a dozen of our prefent race of Town-Wits. That he had his defects. is certain; he was apt to run into affectation, and sometimes into obfcurity; but, notwithstanding thefe, or other smaller blemishes, the public is greatly indebted to him, on the balance, for a large fhare of its most improved and most rational entertainment. A very authentic account (as we are well informed) of the Life and Writings of Mr. Hill, was given in Cibber's Lives of the Poets. His Life is alfo prefixed to this edition of his Plays; and therein we find fome curious and entertaining anecdotes, befide what are contained in Cibber's account. We fhall, therefore, oblige our Readers with an abftract of this little piece of Biography; as compofitions of this kind are rarely unacceptable to Readers of any class. Among the literary world, fays our Biographer, there is not, perhaps, a fubject more worthy the public attention, than the Life of Aaron Hill, Efq. Whilst he had being on earth, his virtues procured him many admirers, and his beneficence not a few for as long as he poffeffed property, fo long the indigent. fhared it with him, and more particularly, that part of kind who had any pretence to poetical skill. man With his humanity, had he poffeffed an equal fhare of that common virtue called oeconomy, or rather had he not been too profufely generous, heaping his bounty on every perfon in whom diftreffed merit appeared, he might have left behind him wealth, the produce or fruit of his genius, more than ever was acquired by his cotemporary, Mr. Pope; tho' his publications were many, the profits arifing from them were (except his laft play, Merope) all given to relieve perfons he thought, in unhappy circumstances. In his earlier days, Mr. Richard Savage, fon of the Earl Rivers, was introduced to him by fome of his acquaintance,: as a young Gentleman whose uncommon circumstances, and intrinfic merit, were deferving of pity. Mr. Hill for many years kindly compaffionated his unhappy birth, that seemingly intitled him to hope paternal care (alike) from two great Peers, yet made him deftitute of either Friend or Father, thro' the unnatural cruelty of her, who did not blush to prove herfelf herself the worst of mothers to get him difinherited by both. Mr. Hill in a manner adopted him out of mere humanity, and ferved him for a confiderable time with his purfe; nor did he forfake Mr. Savage when made more unhappy, by a fudden fray, where he had the misfortune to kill a Gentle man; for which he took his trial, and was condemned to die, and had even bespoke the cloaths in which he was to fuffer, not having left fo much as hope to obtain a pardon. There his friend proved one indeed; by fetting forth his. miserable case, in the best light it would bear; fuch as ('twas faid) drew tears from royal eyes; and induced her Majesty to intercede in his behalf, and procure his pardon. The Poem called the Baftard, Mr. Hill wrote to ferve Mr. Savage, and at the fame time drew up a letter of dedication, both which were fent to Sir Robert Walpole. And in order the more to promote Mr. Savage's intereft, Mr. Hill, in a pathetic manner, in the Plain Dealer, publifhed the particulars of his unhappy ftory, with a copy of verfes to his mother; which being put into the hands of her Majefty, the late Queen Caroline, fo influenced her gentle nature, that the Countefs found herfelf obliged to fend for her fon, and fhew fome little of the parent towards him. But as her kindness neither lafted long, nor was effectual, fome time after, Mr. Hill affifted him in publishing a Miscellany by fubfcription; which he likewife in the Plain Dealer, No 73, warmly recommended to the patronage of the public. And fome years after, in hopes of raifing for him a more excellent and powerful friend, she wrote a poem called the Volunteer Laureat which was likewife prefented to the Queen, and had fo happy an effect upon her great humanity, that it procured Ma Savage gold with the liberty of acquiring an→ nually the fame fum by the fame means. Mr. Hill was born in the year 1685, in Beaufort Buildings, and was heir to an 'eftate of 2000l. a year; but his father, George Hill, Efq; of Malmbury Abbey in Wiltfhire, by various methods, difpoffeffed his fon of the hereditary eftate, tho' intailed on him, and foon after left his infant family to the care of their grandmother Mrs. Gregory, who put Mr. Aaron Hill, when he was nine years old, to school at Barnítable in Devonshire, from whence he was removed to Westminster; where, under the care of Dr. Knipe, genius early supplied the place of fortune, for he filled his pockets by doing the tasks of young Gentlemen who had not Pp 2 equal |