magiftrate to enforce them in all their rigour; and as a late learned writer justly observes," it ought not to be left in the breaft of every merciless bigot, to drag down the vengeance of those occafional laws upon inoffenfive, though mistaken fubjects, in oppofition to the lenient inclinations of the magiftrate, and to the deftruction of every principle of toleration and religious liberty."

V.-Preached in the Church of St. Andrew's, Dublin, on Sunday the 6th of February, 1780, in aid of a charitable Fund for the Support of twelve Boys and eight Girls. By Thomas Campbell, LL.D. Published for the Benefit of the Charity, 4to. Is. Dublin printed.

It appears that, befide the annual collection, the funds for the fupport of this charity are only an eftate of twenty-four pounds a year, and a leafe of twenty pounds bequeathed by the late Colonel Paul, which lease is on the eve of expiration: it therefore feems greatly to need the recommendation it receives from Dr. Campbell. His difcourfe from Matt. v. 48, is ingenious and fentible. Towards the close he observes, a black and gloomy cloud has long hung over this, hitherto, unfortunate illand. The numbers of our poor grew greater, as the means of relieving them grew lefs; public confidence failed, and yet our charity was not chilled; but our hands could not obey the warm dictates of our hearts. These collections have of course, been every where smaller, this feafon, than in former years; but, happily, that alarming cloud is now difperfed, a political day-fpring hath vifited this land, public credit is already restored. Your barrel of meal will not wafle, neither will your crufe of oil fail.'

VI.-Preached before the Univerfity of Oxford, at St. Mary's, on the 25th of October, 1779; being the Anniversary of his Majefty's Acceflion to the Throne. By James Williamfon, A. M. Fellow of Hertford College. 8vo. 1s. Dodfley.

After speaking of the advantages which he fuppofes attend hereditary fucceffion, the preacher proceeds to contider an objection which has been fometimes advanced, that the chriftian religion is at variance with those principles by which human focieties are improved and brought to perfection.' The objection is stated at length, in the words of Monf. Bayle; the anfwer is neceffarily more prolix, and after other remarks, fummed up in the following terms: On the whole it appears, that thofe who adopt Bayle's notion of our religion, have never attended to Our Saviour's prophetic character, and the circumftances and expectations of the Jews; and are moreover misled by not distinguishing between the orders and directions given for propagating the Chriftian religion, and the Chriftian religion itself, than which no two things can be more diftinct; for the visible kingdom of Satan must be abolished in any nation, before it can have the lealt pretenfions to call itfelf Chriftian and while this work was carrying on, the most effectual aid which the pious Chriftian could lend must be derived from his prayers and works of charity. The ftrong holds of Satan were too well fortified to yield to the carnal weapons of human warfare. And the first chriftians were not nations of chriftians, but as fheep among wolves; and therefore a more than ordinary circumfpection would be neceffary and as human focieties would not protect them, it was alfo neceflary that they fhould be conftantly looking for fupernatural pro

:

tection

tection from God. But after this visible kingdom of Satan was abolished by the extirpation of idol worship, human affairs, we may fuppofe, returned into their natural channel; and it is agreeable to the general plan of God's dealings with mankind, to lend them no farther fupernatural aid than what their circumftances abfolutely require. Other confiderations are added to remove the difficulty, of which our limits will not allow a particular notice. In the clofe of the difcourfe it is obferved, what great advantage Chriftianity affords for rendering government eafy and beneficial to mankind. One remark we cannot avoid inferting; It is impoffible, fays he, that a Christian King could employ any other than pious chriftians in places of truft and confequence.' If this be true, what opinion must we form of kings and courts, almoft if not entirely, throughout Christendom! VII. A Vifitation Sermon.-Preached at Truro, Cornwall, May 18th, 1779; with a PREFACE PREFIXED, and a Dedication to the Eail of Dartmouth. By Samuel Furly, B. A. late of Queen's College, Cambridge, 4to. is. Dilly, &c.

This difcourfe will be highly acceptable to those who have learned to defpife the beggarly elements of human reason, and to value the doctrines of religion in proportion to the degree in which they are mysterious and incomprehenfible. By fuch readers the following paffage, though to the unenlightened it may appear little better than errant nonienfe, will be thought peculiarly fublime and edifying:

The word of God, we are by no means backward to affert, is replete with myfteries fo exceeding high, fo very abftrufe, fo fuperlatively ftrange, that could the veil which now in part covers them be wholly removed, their extreme fplendour might be infupportable to the foul with its prefent faculties, imprisoned in these tenements of clay. If excefs of joy, if height of furprize has been found to overpower, even to inftant diffolution, fome perfons, it cannot be thought impoffible, but that man in this life may be under an incapacity to endure fuch an extacy, in which all the thoughts would be abfolutely abforbed.'

It would be very kind, if these favourites of heaven, who are permitted to take a peep behind the veil of myfteries, would, in condefcenfion to the common herd of ignorant mortals, more plainly de. clare the wonderful things they have feen; or that, in compaffion to our blindness, they would fay nothing of things which we cannot comprehend.

VIII. The Example of Jefus in his Youth, recommended to Imitation.At St. Thomas's, January 1, 1780, for the Benefit of the CharitySchool in Gravel-lane, Southwark. By Andrew Kippis, D. D. F. R. S. and S. A. Printed at the Request of the Managers. 8vo. ód. Goldney.

A plain, ferious, practical discourse, recommending the early cultivation of piety and virtue, from the acount which is given of Our Saviour's childhood by St. Luke, ii. 52.

IX. The Perfection of the Chriftian's Character,—Confifting particu. larly in Sincerity, Uniformity, Progreffion, Comfort, Agreement and Peace. Preached at the Meeting-houfe in Barbican, May the 6th, 1779, before the Affembly of Proteftant Diffenters of the

General

General Baptift Denomination. By James Walder. 8vo. 6d. Buckland, 1779.

There is a pleafing fimplicity and plainnefs of fpeech in this difcourfe. The truths it recommends are of the greatest importance, and they are recommended in a manner which appears to indicate the integrity, piety, and benevolence, of the man who pleads in their favour. His text is 2 Cor. xiii. 11. In his advertisement prefixed, he afferts the right which every man has to make choice of and profefs what religion he pleases, and to worship the fupreme Father Almighty in what way and manner he thinks most acceptable to him, without the controul or interruption of any civil power whatever. Yet, fays he, I cannot omit this opportunity of expreffing my fincere gratitude and thanks to the worthy members of the British Parliament, for the relief granted to Diffenting Minifters by the late act, which I rejoice in as a great enlargement of religious liberty. The declaration, annexed to the bill, I can readily fubfcribe, not as believing or acknowledging the magiftrate's right to demand it, but as believing the matter and fubftance of the declaration to be true.'

X. Preached in the Parish Church of Richmond in Surrey, Feb. 4, 1780, being the Day appointed for a General Faft. By Thomas Wakefield, A.B. Minilter of Richmond. 4to. 1s. Davenhill. This is tolerably well written, and appears to be the production of a mind that is impreffed with pious and patriotic principles, and wishes to extend the good influence of them amongst his parishioners, to whom this difcourfe is infcribed, and who honoured it with their approbation.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The letter from Mr. C. G. of Penrith is acknowledged. We would not have the Writer give himself the trouble to fend the book mentioned in his letter; when we fee it advertised for fale, it will fall into our hands in courfe.

++ The Gentleman who fent his Proposals for printing by Subfcription, a volume of Essays, Letters, &c.' did not, perhaps, know, that all advertisements printed on the Covers of the Review, are to be paid for; and that they are fubjected to the duty, in the fame manner with thofe that are inferted in the news-papers.

+ We are obliged to G. H. for his information concerning the first edition of the "Effay towards attaining a true Idea of the Character, &c. of King Charles I." of which an account was given in our laft. We had recollected the original publication, in 1748, before the receipt of our Correfpondent's letter; and we can, in return for his favour, inform G. H. that the Eay, &c. is generally fuppofed to have been the work of a celebrated writer among the Diffenters at Exeter.

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For JUNE, 1780.

ART. I. The Dramatic Works of Beaumont and Fletcher; collated with all the former Editions, and corrected, with Notes critical and explanatory, by various Commentators: and adorned with.” Fifty-four original Engravings. In Ten Volumes. 8vo. 31. in Boards. Printed by Sherlock, and fold by Evans.

IN

N our remarks on the tragedy of Bonduca, we hinted our approbation of the prefent edition of Beaumont and Fletcher. On a more particular examination of its merit, we are by no means difpofed, either from a sense of juftice, or from a lefs worthy motive, to retract the opinion we have formerly given of it. That opinion, indeed, was only delivered in a tranfient way, and in very general terms. We fhall now attempt to justify it by a more particular inveftigation of the genius and writings of the Authors, and of the respective merits of their feveral Editors.

The rank which Beaumont and Fletcher ought to hold in the dra matic line hath been long adjusted. The decifion hath been made by time itfelf, which never fails to fettle all claims, by an impartiality which cannot be questioned, and by an authority from which there lies no appeal. Friendship that was unwilling, or ignorance that was unable, to fee objects in their true light, exalted thefe bards to the very fummit of poetic excellence, and, by a partiality that was equally abfurd and invidious, placed even Shakespear himself below them. Their poetical encomiafts lavished on them more applaufe than the fublimeft genius ever merited: and, in the rage of panegy ric, exhaufted their invention for hyperbole.

One of Fletcher's panegyrifts fays, that

His fcenes were acts, and every act a play.'

If this hyperbole had been carried as far as it would go, the author might with equal propriety have faid, that each sentence was a fcene, and every word a fentence!

Beaumont and Fletcher, though reduced from the rank to which they had been exalted by the partiality of their injudicious friends, or the envy of Shakespea. s enemies, must be confidered as writers VOL. LXII.

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of diftinguished merit, and will probably continue to be models to fucceeding dramatifts, while wit and good fenfe fhall be held in any eftimation on the English theatre. Their productions have been copied with abundant freedom by many writers whofe works are confidered as no mean acquifition to the ftage. The obligation hath been frankly acknowledged by fome: while others have left the more curious Reader to make the discovery for himself. This avowal or concealment of an obligation hath frequently been the effect of pride operating different ways: for we cannot avoid remarking, that it is often as decifive a characteristic of pride to point out the fource of our ideas when we can fhew a fuperior dexterity in the application and management of them, as it is an evidence of the fame principle to endeavour at other times to conceal it with ingenious care, in order to make the whole pass for a creation of our own fancy.

With respect to our dramatic bards, it is but juftice to acknowledge, that, in general, their plots are regular. Their characters are on the whole well drawn, and properly marked and fupported. Their language is eafy and elegant; clear and perfpicuous. Their plays abound with a variety of beautiful paffages; and a felection might be made out of them to illuftrate every species of compofition, and delineate every emotion of paffion.

Mr. Seward, the former Editor, devotes a large part of his preface to a comparison between the language and characters of Beaumont and Fletcher and thofe of Shakespear. The grand characteristic of Shakespear's language is energy-an energy which astonishes the imagination! That of our Authors is elegance-a diffufive elegance, which pleafes the fancy and foothes the heart. Shakespear will frequently give more expreffion by a word than Beaumont and Fletcher are capable of affording by many lines. A thousand instances might be given of this, if it were neceffary, to prove Shakespear's fuperiority to his contemporary poets in that which is the very firft excellence of dramatic compofition-an irrefiftible force of language. Mr. Seward hath produced feveral paffages to prove, that in many places Beaumont and Fletcher are fuperior in language, defcrip. tion and fentiment to Shakespear. We think, however, that he might have fupported his comparison by inftances that would have better ferved his purpose. The paffage quoted from the Maid's Tragedy, is indeed exquifitely beautiful, and a painter might well copy from the poet: but in long defcriptions it is not easy to fee the whole at once. The impreffion grows languid and faint, and the principal effect is either weakened or totally loft. An energetic, comprehenfive expreffion gives the whole at one glance, and produces a more powerful, because a more immediate effect. The rainbow is an object the more beautiful, because its impreffion is inftantaneously felt. Divided into fruftrums of a circle, and feen only in fmall parts, its principal effect would be entirely loft.

We fhall prefent our Readers with a fpecimen of Mr. Seward's tafle and fagacity in the line of comparifon, by a quotation of the paffages compared, at full length, with the critic's remarks on them. At the letter end of King John, the King has received a burning poison and being ask'd

-How