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As if our Prophet from above,

To prompt you, had dispatch'd his dove.
Not Abubeker could cement

Thefis with founder argument.

Texts, well wove in, fupport your scheme,
And prove our Paradife no dream.
We look for't in a higher sphere,
But you have realiz'd it here.

We think (for we're of your perfuafion)
Vows make not marriage, but occafion.
Fous!-what are vows before a priest
But obstacles to nature's feaft?

While grace is faid, who but a fool

Would leave a fav'rite difh to cool?'

The Author of this humorous piece takes notice of Mr. Madan's worthy forerunners in the glorious caufe of polygamy, among the people called Chriftians.

Your light is not quite new,

Hall and Ochinus faw it too.

Of the latter we gave fome account in our Review for November 1780. The former, though not fo learned in the theory, was deeper in the practice of polygamy than the apoftate Capuchin. He realized his own lyttem, and gave the credit of example to the fubtilty of argument.

This Mr. Wesley Hall was originally a clergyman, but having married a fifter of Mr. John Wesley (after a moft fhameful breach of faith to another fifter) he connected himself with the Methodists, and became a faint of the first order!

In Bishop Lavington's tract, entitled, "The Moravians compared and detected," we have the following account of this famous gentle. man: "Mr. Wefley Hall preached publicly at Salisbury in defence "of a plurality of women, under the name of wives, and afterwards A printed and publifhed his infamous juftification of bigamy: dif "perfing it about with his own hands:-a treatife, not putting in

any decent plea for having a multiplicity of women, but audaci"oufly condemning the defenders of the matrimonial contract between "one and one, as weak and wicked men; traitors to God; guilty "of folly, falfehood, and a religious madness: and he calls it the "moft horrible delufion that the Devil and his emiffaries can propa"gate."

This is fo much in concord with Mr. Madan's fentiments and language, that one would be apt to imagine that these two modern he. roes of polygamy had conferred on the fubject, and communicated to each other their reciprocal ardor of affection for this Lady of the Koran.

There is however a certain anecdote preserved respecting Mr. Madan which fhews, that his paffion was of a much later date; and that Mr. Hall had the glory of entering the lifts in behalf of the Lady, long before Mr. Madan could reconcile himself to any good opinion of her or her champion.

The anecdote comes to us well authenticated by one of Lady Hun fingdon's Chaplains, and we will prefent it to our Readers in his own words:

"Som!.

"Some years ago, a clergyman, Mr. Wy H-11, happening "occafionally to officiate as a Reader, where our Author, Mr. Ma"dan, was the Preacher, and having been famous, or rather infa"mous, in respect of Polygamy, the latter appeared to be out of all "patience, and enquired how that abandoned fellow could be employed who had done fo much mischief in the religious world by "his principles and his practice? Mr. Madan was not then fo much "enlightened as to this doctrine, and having been lately reminded, ་ as I have heard, by one that knew this anecdote, his answer was, "My Jentiments are altered now: or words to that effect.”

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It is but juftice to Mr. Wefley, and the Methodists, to remark, that this Mr. Hall and his principles were equally the objects of their abhorrence and contempt.

Mr. Charles Welley, in particular, refented his treachery to his fifter; and lashed it with the most poignant severity, in an Epistle, addreffed, in the year 1735, to Mifs Martha Wesley (who was afterwards Hall's wife) in which are the following very striking lines, which we have transcribed from an original MS. of the late Mr. Samuel Welley, of Tiverton school:

"I fee thy fiery trial near,

I fee the faint in all his charms appear;
By nature, by religion, taught to please,
With conqueft flufh'd, and obftinate to prefs.
He lifts his virtues in the cause of hell,

Heav'n with celeftial arms presumes t'affail ;"
To veil with femblance fair the fiend within,
And make his God fubfervient to his fin."

Mr. Samuel Wesley, who hated Hall, and ever suspected him, even in the very zenith of his faintfhip, for an arrant hypocrite, predicted, in a letter to his brother Charles, that "the marriage could not come to good." Nor did it. The curfe of Heaven followed it: for the woman who shared in betraying her filter, was punished by the PoLYGAMY of her husband!

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Art. 10. A Poetical Epifle to the Rev. Dr. Robertfon, occa fioned by his History of America. 4to. 1 5. Richardfon and Urquhart.

The nature of this Epiftle may be learned from the Author's

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Author of the following verfes ftates a comparison between the elegant Hiftorian to whom they are addreffed and Livy. Both writers are diftinguished by the mufic of their periods, and their skill in pathetic defcription. The Roman historian is also eminent for his attachment to the cause of liberty. Nor is there any reason to apprehend, from the writings of the English hiftorian, that his principles are oppofite. Yet the hiftory he has promifed of British America, is, in this refpect, become exceedingly critical. Therefore the Author of the following Epistle, anxious for the fame of a Writer whom he refpects, and for a caufe which he thinks equitable, hopes he has not tranfgreffed against propriety, in hazarding what has the appearance of an admonition. The verfes were written fome time ago, and are now offered to the Public with the greatest deference.'

The veries are liberal, elegant, and ingenious.

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Art. 11. Parnaffian Weeds. 4to. 2s. 6d. Wilkie, &c. This benevolent Writer affures the Public, that the produce of this pamphlet, after the expences of publication are paid, will be devoted to the affiftance of the fufferers in the West India Islands. In this cafe, he hopes, the Critics will let him pafs with impunity, and the Public at large, no lefs partial to the caufe, fuffer their charity to fupercede their judgment, and let humanity approve where fenfe would condemn. We feel no difpofition to cenfure what is published from fuch a laudable motive; it was unneceffary, therefore, to wish that, as Critics, we would let him pafs with impunity. He would, indeed, have been intitled, to the indulgence he pleads for, had his motives of publication been different. His Parnafian Weeds, as he has modeftly called them, were produced, if our information be right, at eighteen. Time and cultivation may exalt them into flowers. ct

Art. 12. Poems by George Keate, Efq. 2 Vols. 12mo.
Dodiley. 1781.

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The principal poems in this collection have been already printed, and are too well known to be here enumerated. The pieces that are added bear the fame marks of a cultivated tafte and an amiable mind that uniformly diftinguish the productions of this Writer's pen: its fole object being,' as he himself juftly boafts, either to spread to the imagination, the beauties of nature, or of art; or to bring forth, in an amiable point of view, thofe excellencies which he hath found in private characters, with whom it has been his happiness in life to have been connected ;-ever aiming in all his compofitions to deduce from them fuch moral fentiments as might naturally arise out of the subject before him." Art. 13. Xfmwhdribunwlxy: or, the Sauce-pan. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Richardfon. 1781.

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What various arts do Authors make use of to excite curiofity, and force themselves into notice! Would any one fufpect from the filly title of this piece that its principal contents are, an imitation of "Juvenal, and another poem of general fatire? The Address, Introduction, Preface, Advertisement, and Explanation, are unmeaning and nonfenfical imitations, as we fuppofe, of Sterne: there is, at leaft, the frivolity of that fantastic and original writer, without any of his wit. If this Author would fubmit to be himself, his productions might, poffibly, be not unworthy of notice. ct Art. 14. The Temple of Fashion: a Poem. In Five Parts. By S. Johnfon, M. A. 4to. 2 s. 6d. Bew. 1781.

A fuperficial and apparently hafty performance. The fentiments are trite, and the verification is of that equivocal cast, that fluctuates at mediocrity; at one time finking into meanness, at another endea vouring to fwell into dignity. To excel in moral fatire, qualities are required that are dispensed but to the few: the present Writer is one of the many.

Art. 15. A Pindaric Ode, infcribed to the Right Honourable
Lord North. 4to. 6 d. Rivington.

This Ode is confeffedly written on the plan of Horace's Quem virum aut Heroa, &c, the heroes that are here celebrated are, as may be fup

pofed,

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pofed, taken from the English hiftory. The piece concludes with a panegyric on Lord North. Neither the compliment, nor the lines in which it is conveyed, are inelegant. &t Art. 16. An Heroic Epiftle from Monfieur Veftris, Sen. in Eng land, to Mademoiselle Heinel, in France: with Notes. 410. I s. 6 d.. Faulder.

An attempt at wit; too dull to divert, and too feeble to offend. ct Art. 17. Tabby in Elyfium, a mock Poem, from the German of F. W. Zachariae, by R. E. Rafpe. 4to. 1s. 6d. Cadell. 1781.

Of humour there are two kinds, the one general and univerfal the other local and particular. Not attending to this distinction, writers are too frequently mortified in finding that, what affords exquifite pleasure to a limited circle, is received by the Public with coldness and indifference. With respect to the performance before us, with whatever delight it may be read in the original by thofe who are intimately acquainted with the manners it defcribes, and in a country where, perhaps, humour of this kind may be in its infancy, it feems not much calculated for the meridian of England, where humour in all its varieties has been cultivated with peculiar fuccefs. As a Tranflator, Mr. Rafpe has acquitted himfelf with credit. He feems to have acquired a knowledge of our language, and its idioma, tical peculiarities, which foreigners feldom arrive at. ct Art. 18. Superflition, Fanaticism, and Faction; a Poem. By William Burton. 4to. f S. Flexney. 1781.

The Oppofition are a fet of fuperftitious, fanatical, and factious knaves to whom William Burton will give no quarter, and of whom he records, that

In the Channel they are pleas'd to fee
England renounce the empire of the fea,
That they may undermine the Miniftree!

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Had this honeft gentleman no friend to interpose between him and the prefs?

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 19. Journal of Capt. Cook's last Voyage to the Pacifick Ocean, on Difcovery. Performed in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779. Illuftrated with Cuts, and a Chart, fhewing the Tracts of the Ships employed in this expedition. Faithfully narrated from the original Manufcript. Svo. 6s. Boards. New. berry. 1781.

This account has the appearance of being fabricated from the journal of fome petty officer, or other inferior perfon, whofe fcanty records afforded the book-maker little more than the common nautical obfervations of an ordinary feaman. Some embellishments there are; but these feem rather to excite the reader's fufpicions concerning the authenticity of the whole. Those who have made the voyage, affirm that the journalist, or the compiler, has (befide many other mifreprefentations) grofsly traduced the character of poor Omais who, as we are affured, conducted himself with fo much propriety, from the time of his leaving England, to his arrival at his own country, that he gained the good-will of every person on board,

from

from the highest to the loweft, and particularly of the worthy Capt. Cook, who had conceived almoft a fatherly affection for him. On the whole, the Public must wait for the journal of the voyage, which (as we are informed) will be published by authority, as foon as the numerous and expenfive engravings can be got ready, to accompany the prefs-work.

Art. 20. An Effay on the Seduction of Women. Written by Edward Relfe, Sadler at Lewes. 4to. 1 s. Lewes, printed. This honeft fadler makes many just obfervations on a subject which demands a very ferious attention. The misfortune is, that tho whom he wishes to reclaim, will not eafily be prevailed upon to read his arguments. ct Art. 21. A Letter to the Authors of the Monthly Review; occafioned by their Strictures on the Pofthumous Works of Dr. Watts (Dec. 1779), and on Dr. Gibbons's Memoirs of Dr. Watts (Octob. 1780.) 8vo. 6d. Nicol..

As the point in difpute between this Letter-writer and ourfelves is chiefly a matter of mere tafle and opinion, we must be content to let it reft where it is. We are not likely to convert one another: and we are perfectly well-pleafed that our antagonist hould regard us as bad Critics, while he esteems Dr. Gibbons as a good Writer! Art. 22. The Speeches pro and con in the Houfe of Lords, upon the Sunday Bill; with the Bill itfelf; and alfo an Advertisement to the Reader, and fome few Explanatory Notes, by the Editor. 4to. 6 d. Johnfon, &c. 1781.

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N.

Profeffedly taken from the newspapers, where, being published as copies of parliamentary fpeeches, the collectors are only anfwerable for fidelity. It may, however, be obferved, that the Earl of Abingdon's fpeeches on this occafion are the principal objects in this republication; that there is more wit than found policy in them; that the notes are but few and trifling, and written by fome one not over well affected to the bench of Bifhops; poffibly as feeling the restraints impofed in the Sunday Act. Art. 23. Confiderations on the Principles of Naval Difcipline, and Courts Martial; in which the Doctrines lately laid down in the Houfe of Commons on thofe fubjects are examined; and the Conduct of the Courts Martial on Admiral Keppel and Sir Hugh Pallifer, are compared. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Almon and Debrett. 1781. A very bitter and acrimonious review of the two trials of the Admirals Keppel and Pallifer, evidently calculated to revive with redoubled force the obloquy thrown upon the latter, and to flimulate those heartburning party feuds from which the public fervice of this country has already fuffered sa severely. N. Art. 24. Obfervations from a Gentleman in Town to his Friend in the Country, relative to the Sugar Colonies, proving their Importance to England; and explaining the Tendency of the Request - made by the Refiners to manufacture foreign Sugar, and to put it on a footing with the British. 8vo. 1 s. Becket, &c. 1781. After ftating the importance of the fugar planters to the trade of this country, and the dificulties they labour under from the war now carrying on, the Writer fhews, that even a temporary admiftion of

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