Jume before us. It confifts, chiefly, of a fummary of what he had advanced in the preceding volumes, and is divided into four books. In the first book the author enters into a comparison of the natural and civilized states of man: in the fecond he explains the differences in the minds of men in the natural and civilized states: in the third he describes the advantages derived from civilized fociety, and how its ills may be alleviated; and in the fourth fhews the end of the civilized ftate of man. "The Syftem of Nature, or the Laws of the Moral and Phyfical World, tranflated from the French of M. Mirabaud," in four volumes, was compofed with the profeffed defign of bringing man back to nature, by rendering his reafon dear to him, by making him adore virtue, and by difpelling thofe mifts of prejudice that hide from him the only road that can really conduct him to that felicity which he defires. In pursuance of this defign, the author endeavours to conftruct a fyftem of morals totally unconnected with any religious doctrines, or, in other words, on the bafis of atheism; which, he contends, "is only fo rare because every thing confpires to intoxicate man, from his moft tender age, with a moft dazzling enthufiafm, or to puff him up with a fyftematic and arranged ignorance, which is of all ignorance the most difficult to vanquish and to root out." That the author has advanced fome useful truths in this work, it would be injuftice to deny; but they have not the merit of originality, nor are they enforced with any peculiar recommendations on the judgment or attention of his readers. The leading principles for which he pleads, as far as it is poffible to underftand them, and the arguments made use of in their fupport, we can no more reconcile with common fenfe, the deductions of analogy, and calm philofophy, than we can the myfticifm of the moft abfurd theologians. Dr. Okely's" Pyrology, or the Connexion between Natural and Moral Philofophy, &c." is the production of a man of confiderable reading, and no mean talents; but it is fo defective in arrangement, and comprifes fo many topics, that our account of its contents must be confined to a very few obfervations. Not fatisfied either with the Ariftotelian or the Baconian mode of philofophifing, the author wishes to introduce a middle method, which he conceives an event to which we may with confidence look forwards, the perfection of the moral and philofophical sciences, will ultimately render completely fuccefsful. To contribute to this event, he fixes on a "subftance well known, very common, and probably the leaft concentrated state of power with which we are acquainted, which we may take for a standard of other powers," and to which he gives the name of calorique. And he endeavours to prove, "that it is the continuity, and a diftribution in fome measure equable of calorique, which renders any mafs or body a natural unit." To this fubftance, or power, he attributes life and fenfe, perception and motion; and applies his theory in explaining the relation of caufe and effect, the nature of deity, and Divine power. But we cannot pursue him any farther. We shall only remark, that were his hypothefis and conclufions fo demonftrably true, as they are fanciful and paradoxical, the interefts of religion and morality would receive material material injury from his fpeculations. The difquifition which he has introduced on the origin of Chriftianity we include under the fame cenfure. "The Principles of Critical Philofophy felected from the Works of Emanuel Kant, &c. and expounded by James Sigifmund Beck, &c. translated from the German by an Auditor of the latter," will not afford the English student much alittance in his endeavours to become acquainted with the Kantean Philofophy. For independently of the clouds and darkness in which to our comprehenfion the fyftem itfelf feems to be involved, the translator's language is often exceedingly obfcure and confused, and fometimes totally incapable of being decyphered. The next work which calls for our notice is "the Enquirer: Reflections on Education, Manners, and Literature, by William Godwin." This volume is divided into two parts, containing a variety of eflays," each intended in a confiderable degree to ftand by itself," which" are prefented to the contemplative reader not as dicta, but as the materials of thinking." The object of the author is declared to be the fame as what he had in view in his treatife on political juftice; viz. to force truth from her hiding place, but by a variation in his mode of approach. "An inceffant recurrence to experiment and actual obfervation, is the method adopted in the prefent volume." The fabjects difcuffed in the effays that relate to education are, the awakening the mind; the utility of talents; the fource of genius; an early tafte for reading; the ftudy of the claflics; public and private education; the Pppinels of youth; the communi cation of knowledge; cohabitation; reafoning and contention; deception and frankness; manly treatment and behaviour; the obtaining of confidence; choice in reading; and early indications of character. The effays on manners treat of riches and poverty; avarice and profufion; beggars; fervants; trades and profeffions; felf-denial; perfonal reputation; pofthumous fame; difference in opinion; and politenefs. The literary effays are two only: the first on learning, unfolding the advantages which it gives to a man over the felf-educated, and fhewing that it is the ally not the adverfary of genius; the fecond on English ftyle, exhibiting an hiftorical review of it from the age of queen Elizabeth, and intended to prove that the English language was never in so high a state of purity and perfection, as in the prefent reign. On thefe various topics Mr. Godwin has prefented his readers with much original and ingenious matter, the refult of accurate obfervation, and clofe reflection, which cannot fail of affording them uieful inftruction. They will alfo find his effays interfperfed with numerous friking and beautiful remarks, appofite illuftrations, and interefting defcriptions, which will afford them pleafure and entertainment while they are informed and enlightened. But with all its excellencies the Enquirer is by no means an unexcep tionable publication. Some of the author's pofitions and opinions we confider to be extravagant and fanciful; others at least difputable; and others illiberal and unwarrantable. Among the latter we must clefs his too general and indifcrimi nate cenfures on trades and profei fions, and his dogmatical and unjuft attack on the Chriftian reli C gion. They disfigure his work, and muft neceffarily leffen its influence on difpaffionate and ferious readers. The ftyle and language of thefe effays are generally correct and perfpicuous, frequently energetic, and fometimes highly eloquent. The "Examination of the leading Principles of the new Syftem of Morals, as that Principle is ftated and explained in Mr. Godwin's Enquiry concerning Political Juftice," is a temperate and judicious performance, which merits the deliberate attention of that writer, and of the advocates for his theory. The fundamental principle which the author undertakes to refute is the following: that virtue is that courfe of conduct which tends to promote the general good, and that to the acquifition of that grand object all domeftic and local relations ought to be facrificed. That principle he contests with great ability and force, maintaining that man is a creature of fympathy; that from his fympathy arife originally all his moral feelings; that he cannot fympathise with thofe unknown. to him; that he cannot fympathife with the general good; that a fyftem of local relations is the only fyftem adapted to human nature; and that as virtue takes its character from the motive, not the tendency of the action, fo it should be defined, that courfe of conduct of which the motive is benevolence, or the good of individuals. We wish to fee the queftion more fully difcuffed by both the combatants. Dr. Zimmermann's" Effay on National Pride, tranflated from the original German, by Samuel Hull Wilcocke," is an interefting and amufing publication, in which fatire, tempered by philofophy, is fuccefsfully employed in expofing the foi bles and characteristics which tar nifh the qualities of the inhabitants of the most confiderable nations, and in pointing out their ridiculous or vicious effects. It confifts of a variety of anecdotes, arranged under different heads, fuch as imaginary advantages, reputation for arts and fcience, peculiar conftitution of government, and accompanied with philofophical and ironical remarks; which are well calculated to thame mankind out of their prejudices againft one another, and to promote a fpirit of philanthropy and benevolence. The tranflation appears to be executed with fidelity, and is preceded by memoirs of the author's life and writings, which will be ac ceptable to the English reader. Mr. Gisborne's "Enquiry into the Duties of the Female Sex," is a proper fequel to his " Enquiry into the Duties of Men in the higher and middle Claffes of Society in Great Britain," which we announced in our Regifter for the year 1794. As the latter was diftinguished by good fenfe, liberal opinions, and ufeful precepts, delivered in a pleafing and impreffive ftyle, fo the fame characteriftics are difcoverable in the work before us; and the female world, at leaft the fenfible and accomplished part of it, will be thankful to the author for his acceptable and valuable prefent. If they enter their proteft against any part, it will probably be againft the feverity of his cenfures on public and private amufements. They will readily fubfcribe to the general excellence and importance of his remarks and advice on the fubjects of education; the mode of introducing young women into general fociety; female converfation and epiftolary correspondence; drefs; the employment of time; confiderations antecedent to marriage; the duties of the matrimonial life, with a view to the fituation and circumftances of different indivi. individuals; parental duties; the duties of middle life; and the duties of old age. What the author enforces on these several fubjects, he fupports not only by an appeal to reafon, but to revelation. Dr. Croft's "Short Commentary, with Strictures on certain Parts of the Moral Writings of Dr. Paley and Mr. Gisborne," embraces a variety of fubjects, on fome of which his remarks are trivial and unimportant, but on others they merit the attention of thofe authors. But it fhould feem that the principal objects of his work are, to convey to the public his protefts against the unlimited right of private judgment, and the leaft innovation on the established religious fyftem; to caution diffenters against the deep rooted malignity of Dr. Prieftley, and to fhew with what zeal, had he but the power, he would inflict awful punishment on thofe bold and prefumptuous men who fpeak with indecent liberty of the myfteries of religion; to announce his own political orthodoxy, and his deteftation of modern reformers; and to apologize for the flave trade, and for the ftrict difcipline under which flaves are kept. These topics occur in the body of Dr. Croft's commentary, in two fermons which are added to it on purity of principle, and the penal laws, and in an extenfive preface. We flatter our felves, that a part of the compliment conveyed in the following remark on those who hold different opinions from the author was intended for us. "We have at leaft two Reviews, and one of the Annu al Registers, under the conduct and infpection of thefe liberally minded men, for fuch they delight to be called. Whatever can fow difaffection and difcontent they induftrioufly collect. Whatever is done or faid in defence of our establishment, they mischievously traduce, and impute to others ill intentions and abfurdities, which have no origin but in their own malevolent hearts." Among the publications of the year, that relate to government, law, or political economy, we meet with a new edition of "the Principles of Government, in a Dialogue between a Gentleman and a Farmer, by the late Sir William Jones," which we mention in this place on account of the numerous notes which accompany it by T. S. Norgate. This annotator is a fenfible and fpirited writer, who ably fupports the principles laid down in that celebrated treatise, both by argument, and an appeal to incontrovertible hiftorical facts. And he has done fervice to the cause of freedom, by the manly, yet temperate manner, in which he has endeavoured to revive the public attention to them in these days of political torpor and delinquency. Mr. Ely Bates, in his " Curfory View of Civil Government, chiefly in Relation to Virtue and Happinefs," undertakes the office of moderator to discontented politicians and fpeculative reformers, and endeavours to check that frenzy which would lead them" to facrifice real bleflings to fanciful hopes," by teaching them what government can, and what it cannot do, and by pointing out the real caufes of thofe vexations and mife. ries, which they are too ready to attribute to its radical defects, or mal - administration. From the doctrines which he inculcates it would follow, that our happiness as a body politic has but a flight connection with the nature of our government and laws; that in the improper indulgence of our own paflions or refentments, we fhall find the causes of most of our misfortunes; and that "a quiet fubmiffion to the powers that are," is the duty of every member of the community; particularly of those "who ftand excluded from its public honour and emoluments, merely for what they deem a purer faith or worship, left the genuineness of their profeffion fhould be called in queftion." This work is written with great calmness of temper, and in correct eafy language; but the author's affumptions will not ftand difcuffion, and the tendency of his reafoning is degradation and fervility. The author of " Vindiciae Regiae, or a Defence of the Kingly Office, in two Letters to Earl Stanhope," writes in the character of a clergyman, who is defirous of reclaiming from the errors of democracy one of his parishioners, whom the noble lord's inferences, in one of his fpeeches in parliament, from the narrative in 1. Sam. 8, had convinced, that the kingly office is forbidden in fcripture. As far as his arguments go to prove the nullity of his lordship's conclufion, they are ingenious, and fuccefsful. But when he proceeds to found on the facred books the claims of kingly right, his reafonings are equally invalid with thofe of his opponent. The fcriptures neither prefcribe any particular form of government, nor, by fair implication, countenance any one mode in preference to another. The author's sketch of the hiftory of republics, his comparison of the conduct of the French republicans with that of the Romans, and his general inferences, are written with spirit and eloquence, but will not materially benefit the cause which he has embraced. Of the contents of the next work which calls for our notice, our readers will be able to form fome idea from its ample title. "Hiftory of the original Conftitution of Parliaments, from the Time of the Britons to the prefent Day; fhewing their Duration and Mode of Election, the various Innovations and Alterations which have taken Place in the State of the Reprefentation of the People in the Reigns of the feveral Kings and Queens of England, the Period at which Cities and Boroughs firft fent Members, the Times of their discontinuing to exercife that Privilege, their Reftoraration, &c. To which is added, the prefent State of the Reprefentation: containing an impartial Account of the feveral Contefts which took place at the last Election, Names of Proprietors and Patrons of Boroughs, contradictory Rights of Electors, Charters, and local Privileges, Number of Voters, State of Factions in Cities and Boroughs, &c. by T. H. B. Oldfield, Author of the History of Boroughs." The last mentioned work was announced in our Register for the year 1792. The volume before us abounds in valuable and interefting information, which is peculiarly feasonable at a period when the enemies to parliamentary reform infift fo much on the dangers of innovation, and, without any precife knowledge of the fubject of their panegyric, are lavish in their praifes of the fyftem tranfmitted to us by our ancestors. For he fhews that the charge of innovation "reverts to thofe who have caufed, and to those who fupport the prefent abufes of the conftitution." In the system of our ancestors he finds the fundamental principles of annual parliaments, and equal reprefentation arifing from univerfal fuffrage, or at leaft the extenfion of the right of |