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The village of Fouchardiere, in the opric of Mans in France, was deftroyed by fire.

22. The county of Glatz in Germany was vifited with a dreadful florm

The Emprefs of Ruffia took poffeffion of the Crimea, and figned a treaty of commerce with the Turks.

24. The Ifland of Iceland received great damage from eruptions from Mount Ecla.

The king fent a meffage to the comPons, of his intention to establish the beuthold of the Prince of Wales.

25. The Dublin bank opened. 26. Prince William Henry and Lord Hood arrived at Portfmouth from the. Wed-Indies.

July 1. Sir George Brydges Rodney was created a peer of Great-Britain, with a penfion of 2,000l. per./annum. Sir George Auguftus Eliott was granted a penfion 1,500 1. per. annum. Sir Samuel Hood was created a peer of ireland.

A new island made its appearance near Iceland.

13. Admiral Pigot, in the Formidable, arrived at Portfmouth from the WeftIndies.

The Hoy alongfide the Royal George at Portsmouth was weighed up. The town of Attendarn in Weftphalia was deftroyed by an accidental fire.

14. A violent form near Birmingham, Leeds, &c. which did much mischief. Another in France.

17. A confiderable fire near the king's brewhoufe, Wapping, which burnt down upwards of 15 houfes &c.

The first veffel under American colour's arrived at Briftol.

18. A ball of fire, or meteor, was feen in the greateft part of England, and at Oftend, at the fame time.

19. A proclamation iffued for reftraining American fhips from conveying the produce of the Wefl-India iflands.

23. Advice was received of the death of Hyder Ally, the Nabob of the Maráttas, December laft, and the peace concluded on February 17, between his fon and the Eaft-India Company.

24. Violent ftorms in different parts of England, as well as Switzerland.

25. Prince Willian Henry fet off for Germany.

29. The Spaniards began the bombardment of Algiers.

Tripoli, in Syria, was vifited by a dreadful earthquake.

Aug. 2. A violent ftorm of hail in Yorkshire, where the hail-itones measured five inches in circumference.

The town of Berolzheim, in Anfpach, had 138 houfes deftroyed by fire.

The town of Shelburne was named at Port Rofeway in Nova Scotia,

A violent ftorm throughout Orleans in France.

5. Prince William Henry arrived at Stade.

7. The Queen was delivered of princefs Amelia.

An earthquake was felt in different parts of Cornwall.

9. The Spaniards defifted from the bombardment of Algiers.

12. The Prince of Wales came of age.

An account was received that the island

of Formofa, in China, was, in December. laft, in a great part deftroyed by an inundation of the fea, occafioned by an earthquake, wherein 40,000 fouls were loft.

14. A terrible fire broke out at Porton in Bedfordshire.

17. The quarantine was taken off the fhipping coming from the Pruffian domi

nions.

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Disturbances arofe between Dantzick and the King of Pruffia,

28. A florm near London, which damaged the King's Bench.

30. The King of Pruffia abolished the cuflom of kneeling to his Majesty's perfon.

31. A violent form of rain in the environs of London, and counties adjacent. Sept. 2. The preliminary articles with the Dutch were figned.

The embargo on the fhipping for America taken off.

The princes of Georgia voluntarily declared themfelves vallals of the Ruffan Empire.

3. The definitive treaty with France and Spain, and the United States of America, were figned.

A lady of Konigsburg was brought to bed of five living children.

10. Violent form at Liverpool. eo. The king created eight new peers of Ireland.

The Jews, at Mentz, in Germany, were forbid ufing any other language to carry on their trade but German.

21. A great fire at Biggleswade in Bedfordshire,

23. The ratification of the definitive treaty arrived in London.

24. A terrible fire at Bell-dock, Wapping.

28. A French naturalift discovered a method to convert the lava of a volcano, to the purpose of making bottles, &c.

O. 2. The Caifle d'Efcompte, at Paris, flopped payment.

4. Two of the convicts were fhot in a mutiny, in the lighter that was conveying them to the transport.

5. The Dutch concluded a treaty of amity and commerce with the American States.

6. Peace was proclaimed in London and Westminster."

9. An unfuccefsful attempt was made to remove the Royal George at Port

mouth.

11. Peace was proclaimed at Paris. The Dutch prifoners in England were released.

The Royal Society of Scotland received their charter.

13. Peace was proclaimed at Edinburgh.

15. The Bifhop of Ofnaburgh took poffeffion of his bishoprick.

19. Further experiments were made by air balloons, when Monfieur Rofer, and a gardener, were elevated in one of them upwards of 300 feet.

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11. The Prince of Wales first took his feat in the House of Peers.

17. Accounts received from India, that Mangalore had furrendered to Tippo Saib and General Matthews, and his whole army taken prisoners.

Colonel Humberstone was flain, and Sir Evre Coote died at Madras..

21. The Prince of Wales fwer of the Privy Council.

The Marquis d'Arlandes, and Monfier Rofier, mounted in a gallery to an air balloon, at the Chatteau de la Muette; their route was four or five thousand toifes or fathoms.

22. Accounts received at the India Houfe, of the lofs of the Duke of Athol and Fairford Indiamen, outward bound.

24. Chriftopher Atkinson, Efq; expelled the Houfe of Commons for wilful and corrupt perjury.

The Court of King's Bench ordered the rule abfolute, for a Mandamus, on the removal of Alderman Wooldridge from his office in the City of London.

25. An air balloon of ten feet diameter, was fent up from the Artillery Ground, by Monfieur Biaggini, and fell at Petworth in Suffex.

Dec. 1. Meflrs. Charles and Robert, afcended in an air balloon at Paris, and defcended above a league from the place they fer out from.

6. Order from the College of Arms, that no baronet in future fhall have his name and title inferted in any deed or other inftrument, until he fhall have proved his right to fuch title in the Herald's Office.

9. Ten malefactors were executed oppolite to Newgate, on a feaffold erected for that purpofe.

17. The India Reform Bill rejected in the House of Lords without a divifion. The Houfe of Commons addrefs his Majefly not to diffolve his parliament.

18. Lord North and Mr. Fox, the two Secretaries of State, difmiffed from their offices.

19. Mr. Pitt accepted the premierfhip. 23. Lord Thurlow a fecond time appointed Lord Chancellor.

30. Mr. Thomas Pitt created Lord Ca melford.

THE

THE

LONDON RE VIEW,

AND

LITERARY

JOURNAL.

Quid fit turpe, quid atile, quid dulce, quid non.

Sacred Biography: or, the Hiftory of the Patriarchs from Adam to Abraham inclu fively: being a Courfe of Lectures delivered at the Scots Church, London Wall By Henry Hunter, D. D. continued from Vol. IV. page 437.

TH

Lecture XII. Hiftory of Melchizedec. HE particulars recorded of this moft extraordinary of men are fo few in number, that one is ready to wonder why the author fhould call his account of him "An Hiftory." It is, however, the fulleft history of him that is to be found. It was impoffible to fay any thing new of Melchizedec. Mankind had long fince been over fruitful in their conjectures concerning him. That impenetrable veil which limits the view of mortals, muft drop before we can discover his real charafter. From the little that is recorded, however, the author finds means to make out a very agreeable difcourfe, in which feveral important leffons are taught. The two principal claffes of his difciples are bilhops and kings. The bishops are defired to look up to him as a pattern of humility, benevolence, and piety; and the first who had the happiness of receive ing tythes kings are defired to regard him as an example of condefcenfion, liberality, and fympathy, and one who knew no equal on earth-and for this rea fon-that he was at once King of Salem, and Prieft of the Moft High God." The Hiftory of Abrahain forms the fubjects of all the remaining difcourfes. "The hiflory of Abraham," fays the author, " occupies a larger fpace in the facred volume, than that of the whole human race, from the creation, down to his day. Hitherto we have had only sketches of character; but the infpired penman has gone into a full detail of Abraham's life: and marks with precifion the whole fucceffion of events which befel him."

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"What renders the hiftory of this patriarch fo very useful, is the exhibition of private life therein prefented to us, and the leffons of virtue and wifdom thereby taught to ordinary men." EUROF. MAG.

66

This is the true reafon of its utility, and it certainly is a weighty one. We hope, however, that ordinary men, and chriftians in general, will not be contented with Dr. Hunter's word; but take the volume itfelf, and judge of it by its merits. Dr. Hunter afks, Why may we not fuppofe the call given to Abraham to depart from his native country, (p. 2141) to be the impulfe of an honeft and enlightened mind?" If the author meant to infinuate that the call really was an impulfe of the mind, his infinuation gives room to helitation. Is it not allowed in this very hiftory, nay, almoft certain, that the angel which appeared to Hagar, and one of thofe which afterwards appeared to Abraham, was none lefs than the fon of God-that is, God himself? And has not his voice been often heard to thunder in the clouds, and to dictate ufeful leffons, and utter tidings of great joy to the fons of men? why then interpret the paffage before us in this manner; and by taking away that which conftitutes the fublimity, and the validity of the call, thus reduce it to the mere fuggeflions of an old man's imagination?

On the fubject of Abraham's denial of his wife, the author is copious, and very fevere on the old man's conduct: but by no means more fo, than the inconsistency and perverfenefs of his behaviour had rendered it neceffary for him to be. The wedded reader will find in the difcuffion of that point, many hints which tend to beget conftancy of affection, fortitude under impending misfortunes, charity to wards our fellow-creatures, and love and perfect obedience towards our maker. There is one light in which this able and worthy divine has not viewed the pa triarch's conduct with fufficient attention. We mean, as it respects his truft in God, to make him the father of the promiled E

feed

feed. It does not feem to have been the mortification of feeing his beautiful, his beloved Sarah's chaflity proftituted to ftrangers, that induced him to deny her, but the mean and impious dread of lofing his own life: that life which he who cannot lie, bad promifed to protect. Herein, then, the father of the faithful fhewed his unbelief, and left his pofterity, a precept which our author has defired them to mark, namely, "That perfection of any kind belongs not to man." It would appear from the hiftory, that Abraham and Saral must have been mutually complaifant. Abraham had given his confent to his wife to accept the favours of the Egyptian king: by way of return, Sarah offers her handmaid to her husband. We need fay nothing further here. The effects of that rafh fep are fully and pathetically related in the fourteenth of thefe lectures. The inference which the ingenious writer draws from the domeftic troubles which enfued on the birth of Ifhmael, is, "That the experience of fuch wretchednefs militates more ftrongly against polygamy, than a thoufand volumes written profeffedly to fubvert it."

The next thing to be taken notice of, is, the feparation which took place between Abraham and Lot, on account of a difference between their herdfimen. All we fhall fay of it, is this: the author has handled it in his ufual maflerly man ner: and has drawn feveral important conclufions, which teach us to confider Abraham as a proper model for humility, moderation, and forbearance.

The facrifice of Ifaac contains many tender, many beautiful, and many inftructive circumstances. Before we take our leave of this hiftory, we obferve, that if the author's plan had allowed him to keep out of this printed work, the preludes and perorations of the feveral lectures, the narration would have been regular and uniform, and the chain of incidents undivided and firm.

We are now to conclude. The author's language is not unexceptionable: it prefents us with feveral inaccuracies; but for thefe he has fufficiently apologized in his preface. We think ourfelves, however, very fafe in saying, that it is ftrong, flowing, fpirited, and fonorous: that his arrangement is fimple, eafy, and unaffected; and that his periods, though fometimes long, exhibit a very pleafing vanety. Wherever any focial paffion or affection is concerned, the doctor describes it with a matterly pen and we think him peculiarly happy, in his using quotations

from holy writ: we could point to leveral paffages of his book, that owe much of the impreffion they leave on the mind, to their being clofed with fome pertinent, and beautiful text.

To the flock of moral knowledge, Dr. Hunter has made no inconfiderable addition. He feems to be well acquainted with the workings of the human heart: and he has fhewn much judgment in applying the knowledge of the heart to the explanation of the actions of intelligent beings; which is the proper office of morals. We have already taken notice of feveral excellent precepts and leffons which he has delivered for the benefit of his fellow-creatures.

As a theological teacher, he would have had more merit, had he been more adventrous. It is true, fpeculation was not his object, (Lect. v. p. 100,) nor does it always contribute to the intereft of religion. It often fubjects the enquirer to the labour of a tedious and painful reTearch, and then leaves him ungratified with difcovery, and expofed to doubt. But this will not be the end of a good man's researches. He may mifs of difcovery; but will fuftain no injury from doubt. Where the ways of his God exceed his comprehenfion, he will fit down in filent and refpectful admiration. This will be the procedure of a good man in his closet: in the pulpit, fomething more will be requifite. In treating of different points, he must not only fhew his hearers that it is in vain to enquire concerning what they are; but must point out to them what they are not. By these means he will gratify curiofity, prevent injudicious enquiry, and remove all occafion to doubt. Cain's mark; Enoch's tranfla tion; the cause of the flood; and the manner of God's appearing to Abraham, are proper fubjects for fuch exercises.

To convince the reader of Dr. Hunter's tafte, and claffical abilities, we need only refer him to the ingenious and original remarks which he will find on the word "Nod," p. 106; on the "making of covenants," p. 288; "on the media of exchange in ancient times," p. 456.

By way of defert, we fhall prefent our readers with the following paffage from the fourth lecture.

"Adam, with the partner of his guilt, and of his future fortunes, being expel led from Eden, and tumbled from all his native honours, enters on the poffeffion of a globe, curfed for his fake. He feels that he has fallen from a fpiritual and divine life, from righteoufnels and inno

cence;

cence; that he is become liable to death; nay, by the very act of disobedience, that he really died to goodnefs and happiness. But the fentence itfelf which condemns him, gives him full affurance, that his natural life, though forfeited, was to be reprieved; that he fhould live to labour; to eat his bread with the fweat of his brow; and not only fo, but that he fhould be the means of communicating that natural life to others; for that Eve fhould become a mother, though the pain and forrow of conception and child-bearing were to be greatly multiplied. In procefs of time, the accordingly brings forth a fon; and pain and forrow are no more remembered, for joy that a man-child is born into the world. What fhe thought and felt upon this occafion, we learn from what the faid, and from the name the gave her new-born fon. With a heart overflowing with gratitude, fhe looks up to God, who had not only fpared and prolonged her life, but made her the joyful mother of a living child; and who in multiplying her forrow, had much more abundantly multiplied her comfort. Eafe that fucceeds anguish, is doubly relifhed and enjoyed. Kindness from one we have offended, falls with a weight pleafingly oppreffive upon the mind. Some inter preters, and not without reafon, fuppofe, that the confidered the fon given her, as the promifed feed, who fhould bruife the head of the ferpent; and read her felfgratulatory exclamation thus, "I have gotten the man from the Lord." And how foothing to the maternal heart muft have been the hope of deliverance and lief for herself, and triumph over her bitter enemy, by means of the fon of her own bowels! How fondly does fhe dream of repairing the ruin which her frailty had brought upon her hufband and family, by this firft-born of many brethren The name the gives him, fignifies "poffeffed" or a "poffeffion." She flatters herself that he has now got fomething fhe can call her own; and even the lofs of para dife feems compenfated by a dearer inheritance. If there be a portion more tenderly cherished, or more highly prized than another, it is that of which David fpeaks, Pfalm cxxvi. 3-5. "Lo children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; fo are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they fhall not be aflamed; but they fball fpeak with the enemies in the gate," But O, blind to futurity with

how many forrows was this "possession," fo exultingly triumphed in, about to pierce the fond maternal breaft! How unlike are the forebodings and wifhes of parental tenderness and partiality, to the destina tions of providence, and the difcoveries which time brings to light." And the again bare his brother Abel." The word denotes vanity, or a breath of air. Was this name given him through the unreafonable prejudice and unjust preference of a partial mother? or was it an unin-. tentional prediction of the brevity of his life, and of the lamentable manner of his death? But the materials of which life is compofed, are not fo much, days and months and years; as works of piety, and mercy, and juftice, or their oppofites; he dies in full maturity, who has lived to God and eternity, at whatever period, and in whatever manner he is cut off: that life is fhort, though extended to a thoufand years, which is disfigured with vice, devoted to the purfuits of time merely, and at the clofe of which the unhappy man is found unreconciled to God."

The eminent character of Dr. Hunter as a preacher, and the variety of powers he has difplayed in this curious and inte refling performance, will, we doubt not, apologize to our readers for our copions details on this subject,

ANECDOTES of the AUTHOR.

Dr. Henry Hunter was born at Culrofs a royal borough in Perthshire, in the end of the year 1741. His anceflors were plain, decent trades-people, zealous whigs, and prefbyterians; and confiderably above mediocrity in point of understanding. His father filled the office of magiftracy in his borough, in that difficult and trying period, the year 1745 and with much moderation and wildom.

Dr. Hunter difcovered an early taste for claffical learning, and the belles let tres; which he had the good fortune to improve at the university of Edinburgh. Having gone through the ufual rotine of academical ftudy, with the friendship and efteem of his fellow ftudents, and the reputation of diligence and ability among the profeffors, he loft no time in prepar ing himself for being admitted to holy orders, In May, 1764, he was licenfed to preach by the prefbytery of Dunfermline; and in January, 1766, ordained minifter of the gospel at South Leith; here he continued to exercife his clerical function till Auguft, 1771, encouraged by all that attention, and all that refpect which

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