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"That with its wearisome, but needful length
Bestrides the wintry flood,"

are all depicted with a precision and effect which the pencil will in vain endeavour to exceed. These objects, and several others introduced into the same poem, are chosen by Messrs. Storer and Greig for their illustration of Cowper; and, while they incontestibly prove the merit of the artists, they shew that the poet was an admirable painter of natural scenes. The engravings are entitled to great praise for their fidelity and beauty, and the account accompanying them is written in a very pleasing manner. The admirers of Cowper will have an opportunity of contemplating, in this volume, the places which delighted the fancy and exercised the powers of that original writer; those places which drew from him the following just sentiment:

"Scenes must be beautiful, which daily viewed
Please daily, and whose novelty survives

Long knowledge and the scrutiny of years.".

He adds, what we who have not unfrequently viewed the same spots acknowlege to be perfectly merited,

"Praise justly due to those that I describe."

Art. 46. Observations on the Importance and Necessity of introducing improved Machinery into the Woollen Manufactory; more particularly as it respects the Interests of the Counties of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset; with general Remarks on the present Application to Parliament by the Manufacturers, for the Repeal of several of the existing Laws. In a Letter addressed to the Right Hon. Lord Henry Petty. By John Anstie. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Stockdale. Though Reviewers are scribblers, they are not scribblers of wool; and therefore they will not be expected to enter warmly into a discussion of the present state and interests of the woollen manufactory. Mr. Anstie, who writes with a greater knowlege of the subject than we can be supposed to possess, represents the woollen business, in the county of Wilts in particular, as being in a depressed state; and he asserts that the introduction of machinery, for the abridgement of manual labour, is necessary in order to give it vigour, and to main tain our superiority in the foreign market. Objections are distinctly stated and answered; and he lays it down as a maxim, that the true seeret for retaining our manufactures must be sought for, not in restrictions on the use of new machines in manufactories, by which the efforts of ingenious men may be paralized; neither in contracted regulations, for the supposed benefit of trade, or in harassing and in judicious regulatious;-but in unfettered improvements, in the enlightening of the minds of the work-people, to discover their true interest; in the repeal of obsolete statutes, wholly inapplicable to the present state of the business, serving only for a pretext to interested men to deceive the people; and in freedom from oppression and inju

dicious taxes.'

Thus Mr. Anstie, as a strenuous advocate for the clothiers, makes, the most of his case; and, reasoning from experience, he probably reasons well: but his reply to the objection to the use of machinery,

especially

especially on a large scale, from its tendency to corrupt the morals of the working people, is not to us completely satisfactory. Under every regulation, this evil will be more or less the consequence of manufacturing institutions, where multitudes are crowded together; and it is not unworthy of the attention of the Legislature to consider how far it is proper to endanger the health and morals of numbers of the poor, in order to fill the pockets of private individuals. In all cases in which the poor are congregated, they are corrupted.

Art. 47. A Table serving to shew the Interest of any Sum, for any Time at Five per Cent. Also, A new, accurate, and expeditious Method of computing the Interest of a large Account. By Richard Watson. 8vo. 28. Hurst, &c.

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The principle of the construction of this table is similar to that which was adopted in Baird's card (see Rev. Vol. xxxvii. p. 218. N S.). If a sum A=a+b+c+&c., then the interest on A interest on a + interest on b + &c.; and again, the interest of a sum A for m days equals the interest of a sum Am for one day, equals the interest of a sum m for A days, equals the interest of a sum for n days, &c. Besides the table and its explanation, the author gives several methods for abridging the labour of computing the inrerests of many different sums: thus, suppose the interests of the several sums, s, s', s'', s'"', &c. for the respective number of days, n, n',n',n'", &c. are to be found; then, since n'≈n+ (n'—n), n"=n+ (n"—n), n" = n + (n"—n) &c, the sum of the interests = (s+s+s+s′′) 'n+s' (n−n)+s" (n ́—n)+s" (n"-n). This formula is useful in many cases for instance, if the respective numbers of days were 100, 107, 113, 97, &c. then the whole interest (sts ts" +5") 100+75+ 135-36"".

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In the latter part of his tract, the author gives an abridged method of computing the interest of a large account. In order to prove that his plan is more expeditious than the common mode, he took the pains of computing the interests of 100 sums, and of reckoning the time employed in the operation by a watch.

Art. 48. Part the First, of an Address to the Public, from the Society for the Suppression of Vice, instituted in London 1802. Setting forth, with a List of the Members, the Utility and Necessity of such an Institution, and its claim to Public Support. 8vo. Rivingtons, &c.

We have perused with much pleasure this well-written address, and most readily bestow our approbation on the object of the Society in whose name it is presented to the public. All the good and the wise, all who consult the interests of religion or those of society, must be anxious for the suppression of vice; and by the title of this Address, the public are solicited to encourage an Institution particularly directed to this end. We find, however, that it is not intended to admit members from different religious communions. To preserve unanimity, (observes the author,) the society has thought it prudent to confine its members to those who profess themselves to be of the Church of England as by law established,' All disrespect for the different

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different bodies of Dissenters is disclaimed: but, in the prosecution of an object so general and so distinct from religious controversy, there seems no occasion for adverting to articles of faith and forms of wor ship. If a Dissenter should express a wish to concur with a society instituted for the promotion of public order and decorum, is there not something illiberal in refusing him this gratification? The cause, it must be allowed, is common, and the endeavour should be common also. When lines of separation are drawn, as in the present instance, vice is created under the pretext of its suppression; and the mind is narrowed by the very act in which we seem to avow good will to our fellow creatures. We should be concerned to think that the warfare against vice required uniformity of religious faith or profession. The particular irregularities and crimes, of which this society will endeavour to effect the correction, are, the profanation of the Lord's Day, the exhibition and distribution of blasphemous, licentious, and obscene books and prints,-Frauds,-False Weights and Measures, Excesses in Brothels and Gaming Houses,-Profane Swearing, Cruelty to Animals, &c.

For an account of the means to be adopted for the accomplishment of these desirable ends, we must wait till the second part shall appear. The author, in the present address, details no plan of operation, but confines himself to those general views which serve to recommend the Establishment of a Society, on the most comprehensive basis, (how are we to understand this expression after the restriction above noticed?) calling together the wisdom, talents, virtue, and experience, of extensive individual co-operation, conducting its measures with moderation and caution, preferring prevention to punishment, and proposing to carry those laws into effect which were expressly enacted for the preservation of civil and religious order, by the suppression of daring, pestilent, and destructive vice.'

We lament the difficulties which so laudable an institution will have to encounter, and the obstacles which the passions and interests of men will oppose to their righteous zeal.

MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Art. 49. Movements and Changes of Position of a Battalion of Infantry, in strict Conformity to His Majesty's Rules and Regula tions; illustrated with thirty-three Copper-plates. By Captain John Russell, of the West London Militia; Author of Instructions for the Drill, and the Method of performing the Eighteen Manoeuvres. 8vo. pp. 216. 7s. 6d. Boards. Egerton. 1802. This is an useful elucidation of part of the "Rules and Regulations," and, at the present crisis, must prove particularly acceptable. The remarks on forming from en echellon are so important that we shall extract them, though they will occupy some considerable space. After having given the proper directions for this manœuvre, Captain Russell adds:

In the above Section, the battalion is thrown back the quarter circle, therefore the Captains can have no great difficulty each in forming his division on the line of formation (especially if the march is made in ordinary time), and of having the appui ready, and point of

dress

dress open, for the next following division; but if the battalion, instead of forming an angle of 90° with an original line, was only to form an angle of 45°, then as the left company would be wheeled only four paces backward, and the rest (after facing) would be wheeled no more than each two paces forwards, as in the fifth manœuvre, or as it is called wing thrown back, each Captain would feel (as is generally the case) the utmost difficulty in having his division dressed on the new line before the next following one arrived on it: supposing, therefore, the battalion to be perfectly well drilled and that of course the whole would conform correctly and minutely to the directions given in the Rules and Regulations, and that each Captain giving his command Halt, Front, Dress back, as one word only, and using every degree of activity, and every possible exertion, to have the point of appui ready for the next Captain, who arrived, and was to perform the same operation, yet would it be a difficult matter to have all the divisions arrive successively and correctly into line. And by referring to Plate No. XXXI. it may be seen that the more inconsiderable the change of direction is, the more would the difficulty increase.

If then, with all the energy of well instructed officers, so much difficulty is found in this changing front, what must be the confusion in those regiments, who, departing from positive and express orders, attempt this formation in a different manner? In such battalions, each Captain is instructed to march his company one pace beyond the new line, and then Halt, Front, Dress up.

Suppose a battalion of ten companies so instructed performing the fifth manœuvre, each company of course has its rear ranks in front; when the rear rank, therefore, of the eighth division touches the front rank of the formed company (the Light), the seventh division at that time is no more than two paces distant from the eighth; then if 8, instead of that instant fronting and dressing back, should take one pace to the rear, of course, after facing about, it must take one other pace to the front, that is, in all, two unnecessary paces; then it is evident, beyond contradiction, that 7, marching at the same rate, has also taken two paces, and therefore must be on the alignment as soon (if not sooner) than 8 can possibly be dressed; and thus 7 has no appui ready, and being on the alignment itself must obscure the point of dress from 8, or, in fact, prevent it from dressing at all; admitting that no farther confusion arises, each other division would be in the same predicament, and it is impossible to say in what direction the line of the battalion would run, nor what fatal effects it might have on other battalions, who were, perhaps, to align on this one; but it is seldom that the companies will be correct enough to take no more than one pace to the rear; two and three paces are generallytaken; what then is the consequence? when 7 (suppose) finds that his appui 8 is not ready, he may, thinking to remedy this, and to allow 8 to form, give his command,-Seventh Company, Mark Times the confusion now encreases, for the Captain of 6 does not, at the same instant, balt his company; if 6 does not hear the command of 7, it will be in a moment in line with 7; 5 will be in a line with 6; a number of companies will be in line together, perhaps a whole wing

and

and every feature of the echellon be lost. If this disorder appears in presence of an active enemy, total rout and deserved disgrace would be the inevitable consequence; the blame of which would fall properly on the Colonel, who alone should be responsible for the discipline of his regiment.'

The volume is patronized by a number of subscribers, of the Mili tary profession, in the line and in the Militia.

SINGLE SERMON S.

Art. 50. The Advantages of diffused Knowledge: Preached at Scarborough, Aug. 8., and at Kingston upon Hull, Dec. 5, 1802, for the Benefit of Two Charity Schools, instituted at those respective Places for the Education of the Children of the Poor. By Francis Wrangham, M. A. 4to. Is. 6d. Mawman.

This discourse enables us to add another tribute to the commendation which, on several occasions, we have bestowed on the intelligent and liberal writer. With a mind expanded by Christian benevolence, and unchilled by timid apprehension, Mr. Wrangham maintains the beneficial influence of the improved education of the lower classes on the general happiness of the community. He argues against the idea, which some persons have formed, that the religiov of the common people must be bottomed in ignorance; and he quotes Dr. Johnson's remark against the notion that their ignorance is essential to their being industrious:

*

Ignorance the mother of devotion! Yes; of devotion to the mandates of civil and ecclesiastical tyranny, to the Autocrats of Turkey and of Russia, to the Pontiffs of Rome and the Lamas of Thibet. But, of real devotion? No. Of Superstition indeed and her ghastly train, of ungodly presumptions and of unmanly terrours, of the savage idolatrics of Brahma and Mexitli, and the little less savage Auto-da-fés of the Inquisition, she is the faithful parent. But these are not models to be proposed for the imitation of Protestants, and of Englishmen; nor is the principle to be endured by those, who remember that Christ was eyes to the blind in a moral as well as in a physical sense, that to preach the Gospel to the poor was his express errand, and that to search the Scriptures is one of his emphatic injunctions.'

The moral state of the poor in North Britain, where schools are by act of Parliament maintained in every parish, affords a complete answer to those who are apprehensive that the education of the lower classes is a public evil.

* The insinuation, that a parish-school might have a tendency to make the people less industrious, was strenuously resisted by our late great Moralist, Johnson, with his emphatic "No, Sir: while learn. ing to read and write is a distinction, the few who have that distinction may be the less inclined to work; but, when every hody learns to read and write, it is no longer a distinction. A man, who has a laced waistcoat, is too fine a man to work; but if every body had laced waistcoats, we should have people working in laced waistcoats, &c.*? Boswell's Life of Johnson.*

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