male writer, whofe name was almoft the fame with that of the prefent author. This was entitled, "A View of Reli gions. By Hannah Adams* :" and after paffing through several editions in America, was here republifhed, and noticed by us in our 27th vol. p. 457. But that was all comprifed in 500 duodecimo pages. The old work of Alexander Rofs, though it had fome merit in its way, is now chiefly known by the reference made to it by the author of Hudibras.

That the author has drawn up his work with candour, and expects to difplease those who wifh only to fee abuse of all opinions which they do not hold, is certainly much in his favour; for though we deteft that pretended candour which really means nothing but indifference, we agree completely in the opinion, that he who either cafts reflections, or thunders anathemas, against all who differ from him, does more harm to true religion, than he could poffibly do good by making converts. The methods which Mr. A. defcribes himfelf to have taken in forming his compilation, are such as deferve praise; and when he looks towards a fecond edition, chiefly for the fake of correcting the unintentional errors, which he may have committed in this, we cannot but unite in the wish.

"On the principle of Flexry," he fays, "that every one ought to be believed concerning his own doctrine, and the hiftory of his own fect, I have not only had recourfe to various works, wherein the practices of the feveral denominations, fects, and parties are detailed by themselves-but I have alfo invited to my affiftance living authors, or other learned and diftinguished characters of most denominations: and I am happy to fay, that there are very few inftances in which, on my stating the object and plan of the work, the invitation has not been very readily and chearfully accepted." P. xi.

Of these volumes, the firft, to page 87, treats of Judaism and Jews; to page 157, of Paganifm and Pagans; to page 215, of Chriftianity and Chriftians; to page 289, of Mohammedifm and Mohammedans. The author then proceeds to the grand divifions of christianity, which he thus ftates:1. The Greek and Eaftern Churches, p. 291. 2. The Church of Rome, and Roman Catholics, vol. ii. p. 1–3. Proteftantifm, and Proteftants, p. 81. Thefe, with their

* Of Hannah Adams's work, the prefent author fpeaks well, and mentions that he avoided the word view, in the opening of his title, that he might not interfere with it.

fubdivifions, fill the remainder of the fecond volume, and the whole of the third; with the exception of a fmall part of the latter, in which the author treats of deism and deifts, p. 449, and of atheism and atheists, p. 484.

A better arrangement than this cannot eafily be imagined; and as the author every where cites his authorities for what he writes, the reader always has it in his power to afcertain how far his report is worthy of credit. As it is difficult in fo great a variety of objects to make a felection of one part for a fpecimen, we will allow this author to speak of that which he perfonally knows beft, the epifcopal church of Scotland, to which he belongs.

"DISTINGUISHING DOCTRINES.-The church of Scotland had no regular confeffion of faith, nor any articles of religion in the beginning of our reformation; but in 1561, John Knox, affisted by fome other divines, drew up a confeffion of faith, which was adopted, and afterwards ratified in 1567; and it continued to be the universal standard of her doctrine, under all her forms, for upwards of 80 years.

"This fyftem, comprised in twenty-five articles*, differs little in effentials from the articles of moft other reformed churches; in every thing unconnected with popery is moderate, if not unexceptionable; and in thofe points, which are difputed among Proteftants, is certainly lefs dogmatical than that of the Weftminfter affembly, which fucceeded it, and which is now the legal andard in Scotland.

"It was indeed fo well received by all parties, that it was conftantly fubfcribed, both by epifcopalians and prefbyterians, till 1645, when fome of the Scotch members of the Westminster affembly, who were violent in their tempers, and high in their notions, objected to it as favouring the Arminian fcheme, but certainly without reafon. The Westminster Confeffion was in confequence adopted, and was ratified by the parliament of Scotland in 1649, but was rejected at the restoration; though, when epif. copacy was re-established in 1662, it is fomething remarkable. that nothing was faid concerning a fyftem of articles; and yet this neglect was never called in queftion till 1682, when the TeftAct was propofed, and carried through Parliament by the influ ence of the Duke of York. It was then proposed in council, that afyftem of faith fhould be fixed on, to afcertain the religion by law established; and after much debate, that of 1561, which was all along acknowledged by the epifcopalians, though not formally

* See "Knox's Hiftory of the Reformation.”

F

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXXVIII. JULY, 1811.

adopted

adopted and fubfcribed, was made choice of, and continued to be the public formulary till the revolution.

"From that period which forms a memorable æra in the hiftory of this church, no fubfcription was required from her clergy, to any regular fyftem of chriftian principles, for upwards of a century. They were only required, at their ordination, folemnly to profefs their belief of all the canonical books of the Old and New Teftaments, and to declare their perfuafion, that those books contain every thing neceffary to falvation, through faith in Chrift. This practice continued till 1792, when the act of parliament, which was paffed in their favour, required them to fubfcribe the 39 articles of the Church of England; in dutiful compliance with which, as well as to exhibit a public teftimony of their faith, and of their agreement in doctrine with the united Church of England and Ireland, they unanimously and heartily fubfcribed them, in a general convocation, called for that pur pofe, and hoiden at Laurence-kirk, in the county of Kincardine, on the 24th of October, 1801.

"No one, therefore, who is acquainted with the 39 articles can be any longer a ftranger to the avowed principles of this Church. Or, if any thing further may be added on that fubject, it is that her clergy fubfcribed them, I believe, to a man, in the Anti-Calviniftic fenfe; so that, whatever weight their opinion may be allowed to have in the fcale, it is added to that of the AntiCalvinists in England." Vol. ii. page 419.

That this work is the refult of much research, and gives proofs of refpectable learning, is obvious on infpection; and we have every reafon to believe, from a further examination, that the author is a man of excellent principles and fincere piety.

ART. X. An Account of the Introduction of Merino Sheep into the different States of Europe, and at the Cape of Good Hope; defcribing the actual State of thefe Animals, the Number of them, the different Modes of Treatment which they ex.. perience, and the Advantages which they render to Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce. From the French of C. P. Lafteyrie, by Benjamin Thompson. With Notes by the Tranflator. 8vo. pp. 245. Harding. 1810.

THIS is, indeed, a very full and fatisfactory ac

count of the Spanifh fheep naturalized in Europe; beginning with Sweden, into which they were firft introduced, by M. Alftroemer, in the year 1715. It appears

from the tranflator's dedication of this work, that the exertions of the Prefident of the Royal Society," in furtherance of His Majefty's gracious and paternal views, first brought this valuable race to Britain; where it promifes to become of fuch incalculable benefit." The author, M. Layfterie, fets forth very clearly the fuccefs which has attended the naturalization of this breed, in countries materially differing from each other; and alfo explains the obstacles which at firft were opposed to a general adoption of this race. The tranflator, in his own flyle, fays:

"The filly oppofition to this race, founded on the idea, that Merino wool would degenerate for want of the Spanish climate, pafturage, and journeys, has dwindled into infignifi cance while the afperfions on the quality of the mutton, refuted and crushed by the test of actual experience, have funk into merited contempt." P. v.

The fubject of this work being highly important to the agriculture of our United Kingdom; and having, therefore, moft justly occupied a confiderable fhare of the royal attention; we shall not hesitate to notice it at fome length; producing fuch extracts as may induce our readers to perufe carefully the whole book; in every page of which, they will find useful and curious information.

4

"The Merinos preferve in Sweden their original form. Their fleeces are clofe and thick. The wool lofes nothing in point of fineness, length, or elafticity; and the quantity of it is greater than in Spain, if the animal has had fufficient food. There are

inftances of rams, whofe fleeces have weighed 13lbs. I have remarked that this naturalized race is larger and stronger than the sheep are in Spain.

"On Mr. Schulzenheim's farm, at Gronfoe, in the province of Upland, I found a flock, derived from theep which had been imported from Spain 55 years before, the wool of which, on a comparison with that of Merinos recently brought from the fame country, was not inferior to it either in beauty or finenefs." P. 14.

Upper Saxony is the country, into which, after Sweden, the Spanish race of fheep is of moft antient Introduction; and it is in Saxony that this naturalization has been marked with the completeft fuccefs, and has produced the most advantageous re Tults. The different indigenous breeds of that country, fome of which produce valuable and others very coarse wool, have been equally improved by the Spanish fheep imported at two different periods, viz. in 1765 and 1768." P. 25.

"I must confefs that I have feen fheep, which had palpably degenerated; but this was the refult of bad felection, want of care, infufficiency as well as improper quality of food, and unwholefomenefs of the fheep-houfes, where, according to the cuftom of the country, the litter and dung are left throughout the whole year." P. 28.

"The price of Merino fheep has materially rifen at Rambouillet, in the courfe of the two lat years. It has even reached a height which appears extraordinary in a country where we are not accustomed, as in England, to take confiderable fums on the acquifition of animals calculated for our purposes. There are many owners of pure Merino flocks, who will not, at prefent, part with a fingle fheep for lefs than 150 or 250 francs. The applications, which are made on every fide, juftify the belief that thefe prices will, for a confiderable time, be maintained. They may even be expected to increase, as the prejudices, ftill exifting in the minds of many, die away, and make room for better calculations of profit.

"I must here make mention of a deception introduced into this fpecies of commerce, against which buyers ought to be on their guard. Many breeders fell fheep as being of the fourth or fifth crofs, when they are only of the fecond or third, or even the firft, and again deeply croffed fheep, under the falfe appellation of pure. Thefe frauds may effentially retard the amelioration of our French breeds, as has been the cafe in other countries. Imperfect animals, however they may be apparently gifted with. the requifite qualities, cannot impart, perfection, when put to fheep of any common breed, or even to the pureft Merinos *.'

P. 59.

"The fame deceptions are not unfrequently practifed in this country; and cannot be too feverely condemned. The breeder, who, in beginning his experiment, relies on the purity of the ram, which he has purchafed, is, perhaps, ufing a MerinoRyland of the fecond crofs. The confequence is,, that the offfpring do not produce wool of the quality, which he was led to expect; the price offered for it is not fatisfactory, even if quite as much as it is worth, and the breed finks into unmerited dif. repute, not only in his eftimation, but, from his report, among his neighbours. Every perfon, who thus impofes upon indivi. duals, and through them the public, ought to be publicly expofed; in order that thofe, who wish to give this race a trial, but are not completely acquainted with its diftinguishing features, may not be the dupes of this narrow-minded traffic. He, who would really found a good Spanish flock, muft, at the outfet, refolutely put his hand into his purfe, and pay his money at a market, where purity is indifputable."