and prepares death and deftruction, perhaps at the moment it is breaking out, and is about to annihilate all that is within its reach.

"How looked this eye when Bonaparte refolved on the deftruction of the throne of Naples, the degradation of Austria, the extinction of the Germanic empire, the humiliation of Pruffia? How looked this eye when Bonaparte refolved on the exile of his benefactor Barras ?-the death of Moreau ? How, when he ordered the young D'Enghien, juft entering the fuburbs of Paris, to be hurried away to Vincennes, and when Madame Bonaparte was drowned in tears at his knees? I fhould like to fee this eye when it wants fleep.-Does it ever close?-How fleeps Bonaparte?" P. 118.

As what is called the Annual Expofé of the French Empire, under the direction of Bonaparte himself, has lately reached this country, we earnestly recommend the above work by M. Faber to be perufed with it as a commentary. What is related in the above public inftrument of the national works, inftruction, finances, commerce, and the other articles there oftentatiously specified, will then be feen in their real colours, and excite commiferation for a people fo deluded and oppreffed, and a juft indignation againft their unfeeling tyrant. The chapter on the Con feription, more particularly, might well be printed in a cheap form by itself, to fatisfy our countrymen how small are the facrifices which they are called upon to make, compared with their degraded and infulted neighbours.

ART. IX. The Religious World difplayed; or a View of the four grand Syftems of Religion, Judaifm, Paganifm, Chriftianity, and Mahommedifm; and of the various exifting Deno minations, Sects, and Parties, in the Chriftian World. To which is fubjoined, a View of Atheism. In three Volumes. By the Rev. Robert Adam, B.A. Oxford; Minifter of the Epifcopal Congregation, Blackfriars Wynd, Edinburgh; and Chaplain to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kellie. 473, 453, and 504 pp. 11. 11s. 6d. Longman. 1809.

A WELL digefted and candid view of the principal reli

gions of mankind is a work, which many perfons must be defirous to poffefs, for reference or perufal, and the prefent is drawn up on a better plan than any we have yet feen. Smaller compilations of the fame kind have appeared before, particularly one which was produced in America, by a fe

male

1

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 fe veral editions in America, was here republifhed, and no ticed by us in our 27th vol. p. 437. But that was all comprifed in 500 duodecimo pages. The old work of Alexan der 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 himself to have taken in forming his compilation, are fuch as deferve praife; 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 wifh.

"On the principle of Fleury," 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 themfelves-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 ftating the object and plan of the work, the invitation has not been very readily and chearfully accepted." P. xi.

Of these volumes, the first, 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 Mohammedism and Mohammedans. The author then proceeds to the grand divifions of chriftianity, 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 small part of the latter, in which the author treats of deism and deists, p. 449, and of atheifin and atheifts, 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 ascertain 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 Ipecimen, we will allow this author to fpeak 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, affifted 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 ftandard 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 scheme, 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 question till 1682, when the Teft. A was propofed, and carried through Parliament by the influ ence of the Duke of York. It was then propofed 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 History 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 his tory of this church, no fubscription 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 Christ. This practice continued till 1792, when the act of parliament, which was paffed in their favour, required them to fub. fcribe 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 unanimoufly and heartily fubfcribed them, in a general convocation, called for that purpofe, and holden 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 subject, it is that her clergy fubfcribed them, I believe, to a man, in the Anti-Calvinistic fenfe; fo 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 refearch, 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 Agricul ture, Manufactures, and Commerce. From the French of C. P. Lafteyrie, by Benjamin Thompson. With Notes by the Tranflator. 8vo. pp. 245. Harding. 1810.

THIS

HIS is, indeed, a very full and fatisfactory account of the Spanifh fheep naturalized in Europe; beginning with Sweden, into which they were first introduced, by M. Alftroemer, in the year 1715. It It appears

from the tranflator's dedication of this work, that the exertions of the Prefident of the Royal Society," in furtherance of His Majesty's gracious and paternal views, firft 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 obitacles which at firft were opposed to a general adoption of this race. tranflator, in his own ftyle, fays:

The

"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 crufhed 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 roval attention; we fhall not hesitate to notice it at fome length; producing fuch extracts as may induce our readers to peruse carefully the whole book; in every page of which, they will find useful and curious information.

"The Merinos preferve in Sweden their original form. Their fleeces are close 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 fheep 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 fine. nefs." P. 14.

"Upper Saxony is the country, into which, after Sweden, the Spanish race of fheep is of most antient introduction; and it is in Saxony that this naturalization has been marked with the completeft fuccefs, and has produced the most advantageous refults. The different indigenous breeds of that country, fome of which produce valuable and others very coarfe wool, have been equally improved by the Spanish fheep imported at two different periods, viz. in 1766 and 1768." P. 25.