Welcomes it soon. There England's King and Queens
Her Nobles, Merchants, and accomplish'd Fair
Become its Parents, its Protectors kind;
Till, by their Bounty bless'd, he issues forth,

Himself a Blessing to the social world.' The subject of this poem is briefly but comprehensively stated in the first three lines :

• The Spiral Hop, high mantling, how to train
-No common care to Britain's gen'rous sons,

Lovers of “ nut brown ale”-sing, fav’ring Muse!' In two books, the author pursues this design ; pointing out the aspect and situation of the Hop Garden; what soil is most congenial to the Hop; the management of different kinds of soil; seasons for planting ; time and method of planting; directions concerning Poles; troops of Hop-pickers delineated; the vintage described, &c. &c.--A'Sequel Poem' treats,

for the most part, of the liquor in which Hops are a constituent ingredient ;' branching out into a variety of illustrative remarks and descriptions; and concluding with an exhortation to Sobriety.

We shall copy the description of a day's labour during the vintage:

• Hail, joyous Season! with auspicious smile
Approaching, lovely. 'Mid the flutt'ring vines
Morn's light-wing'd breezes, whisp’ring softly, plays
And shake the dew-drops from the pendant flow rs.
See, see, unsummon'd, blithesome now advance
The willing Pickers to the Garden's bound;
Where, plac'd to meet the moisture-drinking ray,
They plant thc Crib capacious. Soon commence
Their various tasks. All emulous to please,
Some, loos’ning to and fro the wreathed poles,
Extract them from Earth's bosom, and them bear
To others, station'd at the ready crib;
Who soon with nimble fingers them divest
Of all their blossom'd pride.—The spiral bines,
A seeming load, behold! the youngster-tribe
Hug in their little arms, and high compiled,
Devote them to the flame. Consum'd, these yield
The soil nutritious aliment saline,
And aid its future need. From bin to bin
Assiduous hies the Planter, and surveys
The gen'ral work ;-commends, instructs, reproves
As Industry, and Ignorance, and Sloth
May sev'rally require,-bids, for the Kiln,
Load mercifully Dobbin, now grown old,
That has for many a season lent her [qu. bis??] aid,
And, conscious, seems to share the festive joy.

. The

• The blossoms, newly pick'd, behold convey'd
To the domestic kiln, which nicest Care
: Heats to extract from ev'ry fragrant leaf
The vegetable moisture, unexhal'd
By Summer's fervid pow'r. O Planter! now
At stake is all the Produce of thy Toil.
If Heat excessive scorch thy gather'd store
Worthless as arid chaff, by winnowy sails
Out cast deceptive to expectant birds,
No flavour'd essence to the tepid vat
Will it impart, and to thy purse no gold.

• By slow degrees when parch'd to th' inmost core
The sever'd clusters thence to ampler space
Convey, and let thy swains with shovel broad
Throw them, alternate, long, from side to side,
Fast flick’ring, countless, like soft flakes of snow.

• Now, dry as leaves which rustle to the tread,
When Autumn, frosty-bright, disrobes the groves,
And strews their golden honours o'er the glade-
The last concluding task, they claim, is thine.
Thy hempen sacks, capacious, high suspend,
Till, satiate, each (close trod by pressing feet)
Swell to its measur'd bulk rotund, and wait

A welcom'd journey to the neighb’ring mart *.' The story of Emma and Osmund in the second book seems to be a copy from Celadon and Amelia in Thomson's Seasons; and we cannot say that the comparison is favourable to the imitation. As the author describes the following instance of generosity in a soldier as founded in truth, it deserved to be recorded in the pleasing and impressive manner in which he has related

• Beside a path, worn bare by frequent feet,
Sat--shiv'ring in the blast-an hoary wretch,
On whose quench'd eye-balls the meridian sun
Wasted its beams. A weather-beaten cap
He, silent, held; and left his piteous case
To tongue his woe. But few more falt’ring steps,
Thro' the dark world, he lonely had to tread,
And then find shelter in the peaceful grave.
-Speechless he sat ; but sat not long, in vain,
A brave Defender of old England's Isle
Came where he was; and, with observant eye,

Beheld and pitied him. On furlough bent, 1 * The method of bagging the Hops is this: a hole being made in an upper-floor large enough to receive the mouth of a bag or pocket (as it is usually called) a handful of hops is tied in each lower corner, to serve as holdings; the mouth is then fastened securely round the hole; when the hops are thrown in by one person, while another continues to tread them down till the bag is full."

A knap

A knapsack o'er his belted shoulders lay,
Containing his attire-soon told ; small wealth
He boasted else : yet, of that little, cast
A lib'ral portion to the Suppliant old, --
Unseen, he ween'd, by ev'ry mortal eye.
But one, not less with Admiration touch'd
Than He with Pity, saw the gen’rons deed,
And thus him instant hailid: “Well pleas’d, brave Youth!
Witness'd have I thy Bounty ; which but ill
A Soldier's purse can spare. ---Allow me thus
Such Goodness to reqnite :---be this thy meed,”
He said,--presenting, with his courteous speech,
A piece of silver. Grateful, this, receiv'd
The youthful warrior, and, receding straight,
The splendid coin bestow'd where late he threw
His former off'ring: then the donor kind
Accosted thus--" Forgive, too gen'rous Sir!
My rude appropriation of thy gift,
Which that poor Suff'rer's Wants more urgent need
Than do my own.”—This said, he hied away-
Swift, az if marching to the battle's call,
Debarring further converse ; cr afraid
To hear the voice of praise. Unknown, he fled,
Defeating ev'ry purpose to promote
Him in the martial ranks which Freedom's Isle
Guard from each hostile arm.-But, where pale

Want
Compassion's willing mite no more shall claiin,
The King of kings near his leternal throne
Will place the Christian-hero: for the deed
Approving Spirits, on aerial wing;
To heav'n's high chancery, delighted, høre ;
And the recording Angel * it inscrib’d
On monumental adamant and gold,
In glorious characters of living light,

Bright as the sun, and purer than his fires.'
We must now finish our remarks on this

poem ;

of which a judgment may be formed from the quotations that we have made. On former occasions, we have expressed a favorable opinion of Dr. Booker's poetical talents, which is not lessened by the perusal of the present work t.

«* The accusing Spirit, and recording Angel mentioned by Sterne will not fail here to occur to the mind of the reader.'

† An account of Dr. B.'s poem descriptive of Malvern will be found in our Review for December 1798. The volume before usi forms a kind of supplement to that publication.

Art, Arr. XV. The Pastoral Care. By the late Alexander Gerard,

D.D. F. R. S. E. Professor of Divinity in the University and King's College of Aberdeen, and one of his Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary for Scotland. Published by his Son and Successor, Gilbert Gerard, D. D. 8vo. PP. 427. 75. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1799.

it is to instruct the rest of mankind, in the duties of religion, have themselves often need of improvement, admonition, and reproof; and early in the history of the Christian church, works designed for this purpose were deemed expedient and necessary. Among the most eloquent compositions of the eloquent Chrysostom, are his six books on the Priesthood; and the Cura Pastoralis of Gregory, called the Great, is inferior to none of his other writings. In latter times, particularly in France, au incredible number of volumes have been published, in various forms and under various titles, on the same subject: which has not been neglected by the writers of our own country, although those who have professedly written on the duties of a Pastor are not very numerous : unless we take into the account the many Episcopal Charges which are almost yearly given by our vigilant and zealous Prelates. Among these, the chatges of Secker hold a distinguished rank; and, with the Pastoral Care of Bur. net, and the Ecclesiastical Cases of Stillingfileet, form a good body of pastoral instructions, adapted to our established system of religion, and to the situation of the English clergy.

The posthumous volume before'us is chiefly calculated for the situation of the Scottish clergy: but, as the editor observes, it (may not be unprofitable to those also of other persuasions ; who will find it throughout breathing a spirit of rational and elevated piety, and marked with that candcur and moderation which distinguished the character of the writer.'-To this we willingly subscribe, after we have read the whole volume with attention ; and it is with pleasure that we now sit down to give a more particular account of its contents.

It is divided into Three Parts; of which the first treats on the Importance of the Pastoral Office,- the second on the Duties of the Pastoral Office, and the third on the Requisites for performing those Duties. All these subjects are discussed in a plain, easy, methodical manner; and although the style is neither animated nor elegant, it is never embarrassed nor obscure: two defects which are far from being uncommon in the writings of the present day.

The Importance of the pastoral office arises from two circumstances; its dignity and its difficulty. By some, the dignity of this sacred office has been displayed in all the pomp of eloquence, and exaggerated by an accumulation of the boldest figures : but the present age would give no indulgence to that sort of declamation. To raise the dignity of the pastoral station above the naked truth is indeed not only useless but hurtful also, in the apprehension of our author: 'what has feal dignity and importance stands not in need of exaggeration ... a simple exposition of its intrinsic moment is sufficient for procuring it that degree of honour which it merits, and will most effectually

procure it.'

The Christian ministry, according to Dr. Gerard, is truly any holy office, but only in this sense that it is occupied about holy things. In every case, the dignity of an occupation depends, in a great degree, on its end, and in this view the Christian ministry possesses the greatest dignity : for the pastoral office is concerned not about the temporal fortunes of men, but about their immortal souls. Not only from the sublimity of its end, however, but also from the nature of its functions, it derives honour and weight. It is the business of ministers to inculcate the noblest truths; and to form the souls of men to that din vine temper, which will fit them for the everlasting society of God. The real dignity and importance of the pastoral office, therefore, ought to impress, both on those who occupy it and on those who aspire to it, sentiments which are truly and uni. formly becoming it. By setting out with a high sense of the dignity and importance of their profession, and constantly maintaining that sense, they will best preserve themselves from thinking or acting beneath it, will-refine and elevate their views and aims in choosing, in undertaking, and in executing it; and add spirit to all their endeavours,' in all these respects.

From the people, also, the nature of the pastoral office demands respect. A value for the office itself, and esteem for those who worthily exercise it, are inseparable. Every instance of disregard to the functions of a minister betrays a defegt in men's value for their office, and every failure in improving by their functions shews some perversion in the manner of conceiving the importance of their office.'

Such is the subject of the first three sections of ch. 1. In sect. 4. the Doctor treats On the Contempt of the Clergy: which spirit shews itself in different ways. Sometimes it breaks out against the office itself. • In establishments, where it leads to riches or political pre-eminence, it is reproached as prostituted to worldly views; and in others where it can scarcely raise the occupiers above poverty, it is despised as low, and unreputable, by artfully confounding its natural and primary tendency, with the abuses of it, after this tendency has been resisted and de