The Victim of Intolerance; or, the Her- Gale and Co. London. 1814. applicable to the varying scenes of religious party and national prejudices? Will the confessions of a man, who acknowledges that he headed rebels, though, as he affirms, by accident, be admitted as evidence of what is demanded by justice and equity on a great and momentous question of state policy? If the writer really intended to " produce liberality of sentiment on one hand, and moderation and tranquillity on the other," he would have depicted the happiness consequent on cultivating these lovely dispositions, and after having placed them amid difficulties and trials, demanding the utmost energy of mind to bear, or to surmount, he would have shewn them triumphant; and then we might have recommended his hero to regard and admiration without reluctance. Parnassian Wild Shrubs; consisting of Odes, &c. By W. Taylor. 12mo. price 5s. Wilson, London, 1814. To declare our hatred of intolerance is perfectly unnecessary. Every volume of our work bears witness that this is not, and never was, the sin of the Literary Panorama. But, we confess, that the passion of toleration, is in our judgment very distinct from the grave and orderly view of the principle that we have been accustomed to take. We heartily disapprove of all movements dictated by heated imagination; of all motions, speeches, and resolutions, not supported by cool argument and rational induction; of every thing affirmed that exceeds our powers of belief, in point of fact; of every thing denied that is inconsistent with our better knowledge. We cannot consent to suffer our discretion to become A neatly-printed little volume; that is the victim of our credulity; and much some commendation to begin with :-of a as we respect the right of every man to fair moral tendency, that is more comconsult his own conscience, and to judge mendation to proceed with:-as to the for himself, unterrified, uninfluenced by correctness of the poetry, the spirit, or apprehension of political pains and pe- elegance of the versification, the turn of nalties, yet we must be allowed to re- thought, or what is sometimes scarcely commend prudence, where imprudence less pleasing, the turn of expressionwould be injurious, forbearance, where who would be so unreasonable as to look rashness would counteract its own pur- for those old-fashioned ingredients in poses, and headstrong vehemence, where Wild Shrubs of Parnassus? whereas, we mild and gentle behaviour would in- pledge our credit on the affirmation, not sure a much more honourable and all the cultivated plants of that barren effectual issue. We are afraid we shall mountain (Arrah, honey!) can truly boast offend Major Torrens, by honestly con-of possessing them. Take an instance, fessing, that the opening of his work gentle reader, of Mr. Taylor's genius, was too evidently destitute of truth to from his "Vicissitudes of To-day and allow us to peruse the continuation of To-morrow.”his novel with that share of disposition to believe, which is absolutely necessary to impartiality. Once persuaded that the story did not happen, could not happen, the critic asks, cui bono? Will the im passioned sentiments vented in a novel, moderate the fervour of any living man, woman, or child? Will arguments on political questions, discovered among the papers of a hermit, which he buried when he buried himself in a stone tomb, amid the ruins of a monastery, be thought VOL. I. New Series, Lit. Pan, To day the Politician's schemes, Possess his vain and subtle breast; Chill'd by neglect and indigence. Tween hope and fear, to-morrow sad; 83] Dartmouth Parsonage.-Reflections of a French Constitutional Royalist. A pretty involution this; we cannot greatly blame his fair for proving false to-day, when he is so near stark madness A religious novel, written with the best intentions. No reader need to rise, after perusing it, in any respect the worse. It clearly appertains to that class of friends to piety which exerts itself in the many projects of benevolence, major and minor, now extant among us; and from us extended to different countries, and foreign tribes of men. This removes it some what from general nature, and leads to the introduction of a greater proportion of good characters, than the world at large will justify, as we believe; though certainly not so many, as in our hearts and souls, we wish, were the common average among our fellow men. Reflections of a French Constitutional [84 many others, which must be left to the meliorating hand of Time; and to the exercise of good sense, when the French nation shall have returned to it. Already have some of the evils feared by this Advocate been eluded; and we trust that most of his other formidables, will prove to have been little other than shadows of his fancy. We are much gratified by observing England.-The English constitution is the place of comparison assigned to SO or so:-in this it surpasses the French.-Only those who have been in France, can justly estimate the difference necessary for France; or those who have been long in England can perceive the finer pins and connections by which the British Constitution is held together, in an operative condition. much whether this Advocate of Grenoble, We doubt though learned enough in the Code Na poleon, is sufficiently acquainted with the practical effects of principles silently bly powerful, though secret to most, and operating among us, and almost irresista assuredly not perceptible by foreigners, Among others, no Frenchman, as Frenchmen are now, or lately were, can comprehend the effects of morals throughout our country: it exceeds by far all that they can imagine. in that most laudable intention the re The proceedings of the King of France, storation of his subjects to moral feel this author, with others of no mean note, are strongly canvassed by many of them; declares and declaims against it. He says: The Constitution formed for the Frenchings, in the present early state of things, nation, the spur of the moment, by those who swayed the Legislative Body of France-a body not elected for that purpose, nor on which such a duty could have been expected to devolve-was so constructed, that no King of France could execute it with comfort to himself, or benefit to his country. It was therefore set aside, by royal Veto.-His Majesty then took on himself the formation of another Constitution, which, though not faultless, yet may be classed among those regulations which are as good as the nation could bear, at the time when they were enacted. This writer examines the royal production with severity. He has pointed out some things in which it might be improved; but he peevishly censures sitive usurpation of legislative authority, and Having proved this ordinance to be a pothat it is a violation of our social compact, I will shew, that it is inexecutive in many of its dispositions. The peasantry, for instance, who frequent cities on a Sunday to make their little purchases, will, in future, be obliged to come on a week day, which is positively robbing them of their own labors; and it is equally injurious to travelling dealI may also affirm, that a prohibition of dancers, who rarely traffic except on Sundays.— ing, until after five o'clock in the evening, seek worse employment, &c. &c. &c. amounts to this evil-it invites the people to This pamphlet was suppressed by the police of Paris: in London it would have been forgot after eight and forty by Fabricius; and various other perfor hours. Nieuwe Verhandelingen, &c. New Metnoirs of the Society devoted to the defence of the Christian Religion against its Modern Agressors. Vol. III. 8vo. pp. 272. At the Hague. 1813. mances, equally instructive and pleasing. For this reason we notice it, from a foreign communication: the work itself has not reached us. M. Van Gelder discourses on the va rious kinds of animals, in their order; the first three of his lectures include those which he denominates beasts of prey, by which he intends all which eat flesh The existence of a society in Holland, placing him at the head of his list, as generally. He does Man the honour of having for its object the defence of the first of his beasts of prey! He deChristianity, is not generally known scribes the nature, the manners, the among us. The conduct of such an inproportionate numbers, &c. of these stitution demands great wisdom and creatures; also their existence and proprudence, or it may sometimes contend with shadows, and give them an impor-finds proofs of their usefulness to man in perties. Contradictory as it may seem, he tance of which they are unworthy. The object of the only memoir contained in object of the only memoir contained in this volume, is to demonstrate, that whatever the various systems of philosophers, whether prior or posterior to the days of the Gospel, contain of excellent, and of fer as most suitable to ensure the welfare of man, by means of Religion, and religious principles or practices, the same has been taught in the highest degree of perfection, and without any mixture of error, by our Lord and his Apostles. The points particularly expatiated on particular, as well as of their general utility. This work shews much reading, observation, and research in the author, who has been induced to publish it, in conformity with the wishes of the auditory to whom it was addressed. It is supposed that the continuation will also be published, having met with the same favourable reception. LITERARY REGISTER. by M. Valk, the writer, are God, Provi- Authors, Editors, and Publishers, are particularly dence, Religion and Virtue, Conscience, future Retribution in another state: all articles of the highest importance. Redevoeringen, &c. Discourses on subjects taken from Natural History. By A. H. Van Gelder, Anabaptist Pastor in Amsterdam. 8vo. pp. 134. Leyden and Amsterdam. 1813. This volume is the result of several discourses pronounced in the respectable Dutch Society, known under the appellation of Tot nut van 't Algemeen, (General Utility). The intention of the author is to shew the wisdom and good ness of the Creator in the creation.The writer partakes of the spirit to which we owe the Astra-Theology of Derham, with other works by the same pious writer; the Theology of Insects, requested to forward to the Literary Panorama Office, post-paid, the titles, prices, and other particulars of works in hand, or published, for insertion in this department of the rk. [68 peace, unvisited by the spirits of their | sical, confused by a jargon of terms and authors, it might be inconvenient, per- subtleties, too refined or too abstruse haps, to him to confess. for comprehension. The "fault of the age" may be pleaded in excuse for some; We acknowledge a predilection for these elegant labours of the Muse, in the volumes before us; arising in part from their general nature, from the reputation of their compiler, but, principally, from the first lines of the Preface: "The Collection here offered to the public has been slowly formed."—It is twelve years since it has commenced." This slow process is equally commendable and beneficial; in the course of this time, Mr. L. has, doubtless, seen cause to correct many things which he had admired, and to reject many articles which he had inserted. The communications of friends have been tried, in later days, by other tests than that of friendship; while the compositions of the author-a respectable and extensive contribution-have been read with a fresh eye, and retouched with a less timorous hand, both originals and translations, The work could not have fallen into better hands. The whole is an assemblage of one thousand articles; each filling its owu page, and not a few em- Poesy, of which it is an instance. but others must endure their welldeserved condemnation. Mr. L. like an expert pleader, has kept these deformities out of sight; and we, having no inclination, so much as to revive their memory, shall recall our thoughts to what are before us; and commend these volumes, as containing not only the most extensive, but the most respectable series of Sonnets which have issued from the British press. bellished with various illustrative notes. Nor are these our only obligations to the We select as specimens a few marked by some peculiarity, which forms the distinction. whatever attention be exerted, the siIn so great a number, milarity of features, is felt at length, as a drawback from delight. Some are more beautiful, taken singly, than they appear to be among others; yet we acknowledge, with pleasure, the anxiety of the author to comprize variety, among other recommendations of his thousand examples. The first is in honour of that form of ON THE PECULIAR CHARACTER OF THE SONNET. such (brief) memoirs of the authors, Prais'd be the Poet who the Sonnet's claim, (Italians) whose works he adopts, as may satisfy, for the moment, the reader who combines inquisitiveness with taste. Severest of the Orders that belong From HIM deriv'd, who shunn'd the city And warbled sweet thy rocks and streams among, Lonely Valclusa-And, that Heir of Fame, Our greater MILTON, hath, by many a lay, That English verse may happily display Mr. L. has given the name "Laura" to his selection, in affectionate and respectful remembrance of Petrarch, and of that mysterious passion, to which the Sonnet owes much, perhaps, most of its celebrity. What we cannot credit does not affect us. Subjects founded on nature, on real events, are best suited to this stile of poetry, as to all others; and if we allow superior bards to struggle with the difficulties of the sonnet, the occasion must be justified by some tribute paid to friendship, or some effusion of grief, that interrupts for a moment their pursuit of graver labours. Besides, being recommended by the For, we are not ignorant, that most completeness of the composition, and the unsuitable and incongruous ideas have harmony of thought, as well as of verbeen tortured into Sonnets: that na-sification, the following derives an additure has been violated in a thousand tional claim to insertion, from having different modes, mystical and metaphy- been the favourite of Dr. Warton, Deserve the name of SONNET, and convey TRAVELS. A Narrative of the Travels of the Rev. John Campbell in South Africa, at the request of the Missionary Society to promote the Knowledge of Christianity among the Hottentots, is in the press. DRAMA. Three Dramas: viz. the Ball Ticket; the Mysterious Packet; and the Heiress. 18mo. 3s. half bound. ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY. Mr. Campbell visited some tribes of the A Comparative View of the Churches of Africans who had never seen an European. Rome and England. By Herbert Marsh, He crossed the Peninsula from east to west, D. D. F. R. S. Margaret Professor of DiviDearly in the course of the Great Orange ri-nity in the University of Cambridge. 8vo. ver, and had the felicity of discovering the junction of several rivers before unknown. -The work is expected to be comprised in one large octavo volume, and to be published about Christmas next. 7s. 6d. EDUCATION. A Description of Prints, relating to the History of France, from the time of the Romans, to the end of the Reign of Louis the Sixteenth. By Mrs. Trimmer. 2 vols. 24mo. 5s. bound. A Practical View of Christian Education in its early stages. 12mo. 5s. Original Letters of Advice to a Young Lady. By the Author of the Polite Reasoner. 12mo. 2s. 6d. bound. Juvenile Arithmetic; or, Child's Guide to figures, being an easy Introduction to Joyce's Arithmetic, and various others now in use. 18mo. 1s. Five Hundred Questions, deduced from the Abridgment of Goldsmith's History of Rome; to which is prefixed, a brief sketch of the Roman Polity, and of the principal constituted authorities of the Romans, in the most flourishing times of the commonwealth, and a table of the Roman emperors, together with a chronological table of the most celebrated Roman authors, and an account of most particular works. By J. Gorton. 18mo. 1s. FINE ARTS. Thurston's Illustrations of Lord Byron's Poem, "The Corsair." Royal 8vo. 5s. 6d. 4to. proof impressions on India paper, 10s. 6d. HISTORY. The History of Toussaint Louverture: a A Literary History of the Middle Ages; comnew edition, with a Dedication to his Im- prehending an account of the state of learnperial Majesty the Emperor of all the Rus-ing, from the close of the reign of Augustus, to its revival in the fifteenth century. By the Rev. Joseph Berington. 4to. 21. 2s. sias. 3s. A Biographical and Critical Dictionary of Painters and Engravers. By Michael Bryan. Part IV. Demy 4to. price 15s. Royal 4to. 11. 6s. CLASSICAL LITERATURE. Poeta Minores Græci, Precipua Lectionis varietate et Indicibus locupletissimis instruxit Thomas Gaisford, A. M. Edis Christi Alumnus, necnon Græcæ Linguæ Professor Regius. Vol. I. 8vo. 15s. sheets. Florilegium Poeticum, ex Operibus Ovidii, Tibulli, Propertii, Martialis, &c.in usum Tironum castissimâ curâ selectum. Recognita atque emendata Rev. Georgio Whittaker, A.M. 18mo, 2s, bound. A Historical View of the State of the Protestant Dissenters in England, and of the progress of Free Inquiry and Religious Liberty, from the Revolution to the accession of Queen Anne. By Joshua Toulmin, D. D. 8vo. 12s. An Abridgement of the History of Rome. By Velleius Paterculus. Translated from the original, by George Baker, A. M. the translator of Livy. 8vo. 8s. JURISPRUDENCE. Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Courts of Common Pleas, and other Courts, containing the Cases in Michaelmas |