ga, alone a sufficient refutation M. Hale's reasonings, or rather speculations :

To suppose that a woman would commence prostitute because there is a possibility of her being received into an hospital, after the loss of her health, peace, and reputation, would be just as absurd as to suppose that a mason would be careless how he mounted a ladder, and indifferent whether he should or should not fall down and break his limbs; because, if he is not killed on the spot, there is an hospital, in which he may possibly be cured.'

and

Mr. Blair's publication next appeared. From the office he sustains, as the gratuitous Surgeon of the Asylum, and his having long been one of the Surgeons of the Lock Hospital, he was certainly more competent than most other gentlemen to write on this subject; he has written, not only with much ability, but con amore. For my heart,' says Mr. Blair,‘I feel it a point of conscience to add, that in no instance of my former or present employment, as the surgeon and friend of a public charity, have I ever derived greater heartfelt pleasure, and seen more solid ground for approbation than in this newlyestablished Institution.' P. 6.

After tracing the establishment of asylums of this kind, in different paris of the world, as far back as 1494, he proceeds to state the two distinct grounds of argument employed by Mr. Hale, which he combats, we think, successfully, in all their parts and windings. Mr. Blair proves how fallacious are Mr. Hale's proposals of a prompt reception of these women into workhouses; and, by quotations from the statutes, shews that they cannot legally be received there, but as diseased or impotent he also produces instances of such persous having in vain applied for admission. Mr. Blair considers the term distributive justice very fully, and its misapplication to the present case; and animadverts, with much propriety, on the injustice of punishing the female, while the seducer is suffered to escape.

This very able pamphlet closes with some most valuable hints, re

specting the best methods to prevent, or, at least, to lessen, in future, the growing evil of prostitution. Most sincerely do we wish that the Legislature may turn their attention to this important object, which is, undoubtedly, of great national importance; for, should the crimes of fornication and adultery continue to increase, as they have lately done, the utter ruin of our country will be inevitable. These are the enemies we have to fear; far more formida ble than those of France.

Mr. Hodson's is also a very acute and sensible performance. The author combats, at large, the chief argument of Mr. Hale's book, viz. that this Institution operates to diminish the dread of shame and punishment, and so encourages vice. As to shame,--the Penitentiary does not alter this; but leaves it just where it found it; and as to punishment, there is none from the laws, but in case of vagrancy. To the fear of anger from parents, expulsion from home, loss of character, &c. women of this sort are as much exposed as if no Penitentiary existed. • The sufferings then, as well as disgrace, the apprehension of which constitutes the only effectual check on the passions of females destitute of religious principle, still continue to be the consequences of criminal indulgence, notwithstanding the establishment of the Female Penitentiary; and is it reasonable to suppose, that a female, who is not restrained by the dread of disgrace and suffering, from the causes just described, would be checked by the suppression of such institutions; or, that the bare possibility of entering into one of them, as an outcast of society, would prove more than a counterpoise to the strongest and most affecting motives that can present themselves to the mind of a female, over whom religion has no power? Nor is it at all more reasonable to suppose, that the existence of Penitentiaries has any influence in determining the mind of a female to enter upon a course of general prostitution. If a female deliberately form such a determination, which is at least questionable, it is because

upon the whole, it appears most agreeable to her present inclinations, without adverting to remote possibilities. She is impatient of the restraints of authority, she longs to be free from the commands and

T

--

to en

caprice of superiors, to have her
time and her person at her own dis-
posal, to be able to gratify all her
passions without controul,
joy, as she lisis, the society of the
other sex,
to gratify her love of
dress, and to go to places of public
amusement when she pleases. Now,
Sir, to a female under the influence
of such desires, is it to be conceived
that a Penitentiary-House can have
any charms? Would it not, on the
contrary, be an object rather of
dread and aversion to her? Would
she not shrink from an anticipation
of the period in which she supposed
she might be immured within its

walls?'

Both Mr. Hodson and Mr. Blair completely refute the assertion of Mr. Hale, That the Penitentiary is not warranted by the precepts or examples of the Scripture: they refer very judiciously to the Prodigal Son, the Woman of Samaria, the Woman in the Pharisee's House, &c. The whole of Mr. Hodson's pamphlet discovers a thoughtful and judicious mind; and he has preserved a calmness of temper through out, which does him honour.

Mr. Clarke occupies new ground., He attempts to prove, that our Lord has clearly drawn a line of distinction between the system of retribulive justice, which marked the Jewish system, and that which he has established for his disciples, in the New Testament, a system of forbearance and mercy, which he argues was intended, not only as a rule for individual disciples, but for social bodies; and that the laws of Christian nations should be accommodated to it. This thought well deserves attentive regard.

Mr. Clarke shews that many of the female servants, for whose virlue Mr. Hale is so anxious, are more likely to contaminate the expenitent, than to be contaminated by her. Mr. Clarke also comments largely, and with much point, on

the parable of the Prodigal Son; and applies the spirit of that affecting story to the case in naed. This is certainly a sensible pamphlet, and will reward an attentive perusal.

The

Dr. Hawker, the last, not the least, brings up the rear. He treats Mr. Hale with the urbanity of a gentleman and the affection of a Christian. He observes, that his own opinion of the Penitentiary was derived, not from mere reporis, but from a visit to the house, and careful inquiry into its management. The account of his visit (p. 16, 17) is interesting; and the author says to Mr. Hale, I am convinced, Sir, that, with all your prejudices, were you to see the different articles produced for sale, from the united labours of those poor women, you would be constrained to allow that they are an active family, house at Pentonville, though not a parish-workhouse, is a house of industry. Referring to a law for exclusion, he says, 'I hope that this law hath never cause to be enforced. The seventy times seventh offence with me, I confess, should take place, before that I could consent to throw again into the gulph from whence she had emerged, a poor miserable creature, and thereby relinquish all hopes of any future recovery. Nay, were 1 at the door in the moment of the departure of such a ope, I should plead hard for further forbearance; and, before 'the master of the house had risen, and shut to the door,' methinks I should say, Yet, once more, let'a little space be given for repentance;' and as the master of the house hath done by me, so would I do by her: I should bring back the trembing sinner, fancying I heard his gracious voice, saying, ' Destroy it not, to a blessing is in it.'

What the Doctor says (p. 39) concerning the proper application of British benevolence, and h's reference to the subscriptions for rebunding Covent Garden Theairc, deserve notice. His suggestions (p. 52) to render the Poor Laws efficient, are not altogether new; but they are striking. His proposition is, Let there be but one parish of the whole

kingdom, considered as to the poor :' then would there be an equality of poor - rates! Farewell vexatious law-suits, removing families, passing vagrants, &c. But we must forbear to make extracts. The Doctor's pamphlet is replete with truly Christian philanthropy; and formis a st iking contrast to the Address, to which it is an answer.

On the whole, we think Mr. Hale completely answered; and are persuaded, that whatever temporary effects might be made by his specious Address, these impressions will be entirely effaced, and the Penitentiary receive the assistance of many new friends, and the redoubled assistance of its former supporters.

Hints to the Public and the Legisla-
ture, on the Nature and Effects of
Evangelical Preaching. By A
Barrister. Part the Third. 4s 6d
HAVING found the trade of book-
making more lucrative than he ex-
pecied, the Barrister has manufac-
fures another pamphlet ; and given
us 140 pages more, at the moderate
price of four and sixpence !
who admired the two former parts
of his effusions, will find this equally
admirable; for, in lack of argu-
ment, the same strain of invective
and abuse is continued. In defiance

Those

A considerable part of this pamphlet is employed in shewing the anti-moral tendency of the Pilgrim's Progress; the author of which he calls The Tinker, and a Dreamer of Dreams;' and his writings, unmeaning nonsense, the fooleries of a fanatic, - extravagant delusion,

stupid perplexity, — low - bred coarseness, ludicrous impiety, calculated to corrupt the innocence of the infant mind, and to make it familiar with the language of Debauchery and Prostitution.' P. 73.

Such are the effusions,' says he, of that miracle of theology, the Tinker of Bedford!!!' P. 59. May we not add, Such are the ravings of the Barrister, who, like a certain Pharisee of old, is exceedingly mad' against the Evangelicals?

It is seldom that we meet with

such abusive epithets bestowed upon an opponent by any writer, however angry, as we find in this pamphlet. We transcribe a few as a specimen of the author's talents in this line:

The Evangelists,' as he calls his adversaries, are Impostors, Fanatics, a new order of Pontiffs, vulgar, bigotted, Mechanic Teachers,

-an Anti-Moral Faction, struggling to become the predominant party; while their preaching and writing is insufferable jargon, stupid and contradictory gibberish, the trash of the Tabernacle, and senseless shuffling.' He is afraid that we shall soon have nothing but gloom and grimace, psalm-sing

of all the evidence which has been
adduced, to prove that the friends of
evangelical doctrine are equally
friends of morality and good works,
he s ill persists in calling them Anti-ing and dissimulation.'
Moralists. Although Dr. Hawker,
Dr. Collyer, Mi. Styles, and others,
have, in their replies to the Barris-
ter, quoted at length several pas-
sages from Mr. Cooper, Mr. Burder,
and other writers whom he condemns,
in which the absolute necessity of
good works is insisted upon in the
strongest possible terms, he still
boldly asserts, That li the evange
lical writers are Anti - Moralists;
and that those who maintain im-
puted righteousness, are enemies to
virtue and morality. We leave our
writers to judge, whether such a
writer can be, notwithstanding his
pretended pleas for morality,
honest man?

In a long note to page 61, the Barrister introduces a libellous and notorious falsehood against the character of a worthy minister ; on which we shall not make any remark at present, as we hope it will be reviewed in a court of justice.

an

In Dr. Collyer's Reply to the Barrister, he can find nothing which deserves notice; and, as to Mr. Styles's Vindication, &c. he says, ' It is written in a tone of drunken insolence, which can excite no feeling bu contempt; and he adopts the critique of his friend, who says, This fellow argues like a tool, and writes like a blackguard !' What a curt method is this of re

unsearchableness of Providence, Various Sources of the Christian's Joy, Christ's Power to protect and bless, -The Duties of Christian Ministers, The Possessions and Privileges of Christians, Christ, the unspeakable Gift of God, Self-denial,-Union with Christ,' &c. We can cordially recommend these Evangelical and Practical Discourses; and beg leave to add, that we understand they are printed for the benefit of his amiable and mournful Relict, deprived of a most affectionate husband, in the 32 year of his age, and in the fifth of his ministry. The account of his behaviour in sickness and death, as reJated in the Preface,-tends, more than a little, to recommend these Sermons, by which their worthy anthor, though dead, yet speak

eth.'

A Sermon, preached at St. Paul's, June 16, 1808, at the Yearly Meeting of the Charity Schools. By Dr. Wordhouse, Dean of Litchfield; to which is annexed, An Account of the Society for promoling Christian Knowledge.

FROM Matt. x. 8,' Freely ye have received, freely give,' the author takes occasion to recommend Missions to the Heathen abroad, and the support of Charity-Schools at home. In respect of the latter, he adverts to the new mode of leaching, according to the plan of Dr. Bell (and Mr. Lancaster); which he says promises to confer the neces sary acquisitions in knowledge, with

greater celerity, with less expence, and with more certain and substantial effect, than the ordinary practice of instruction.' P. 15. To excite due zeal in the prosecution of this method, he refers to the experiments already exhibited in many districts; and he adds, That the Dissenters are active, and, as it is said, successful, in adopting the new modes of teaching, which owe their origin to a Member of our own church, is an additional call upon our zeal and activity, which should be proportionate to the excellence of our cause.

Let not the Church of England he surpassed by any Christian community, either in the prompt supply of charitable funds, or in those personal labours which are necessary to their successful application.

This sentiment, every good man, whether Churchman or Dissenter, that Christians of various denomiwill cordially approve. It is thus nations should provoke one another to love and to good works;' and thus the general cause of reli-" gion will be far better promoted than by those invidious reflections which are too often thrown out on these public occasions.

SELECT LIST OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

Reflections on the Books of Holy Scripture. By P. Allix, D. D. A new edition, from the corrected copy of the Bishop of Llandaff, Svo, bds. 10s. 6d.

Pious Remains of the late Rev. Ja. Moody, with his Life and Portrait, 12mo, 5s.

A Gospel-Glass, representing the Miscarriages of English Professors. By the late Rev. Lewis Stuckley. A new edition, recommended by Dr. Ryland. 12mo, 53. boards.

Vol. I, of the History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches, Chapels, &c. in and about London ; with Biographical Anecdotes and Portraits. By Walter Wilson, 8vo, 178 (continued in Numbers).

Theological Dissertations, by the late Dr. J. Erskine. Second edit. with his Life, by Dr. Davidson. 12mo,

48. 6d.

Christ exalted and Gentiles saved ; a Sermon at Salem Chapel, Reading. By T. Wood, Is. 6d.