application of that doctrine to the extent in which it has now been stated, does not remain a matter of choice to any man who admits the doctrine itself;if the principle be admitted, the conclu

sion is irresistible. Mr Leslie indeed says, that the misapplication of Mr Hume's premises has already been well pointed out by Dr Reid. But every man, who has read Dr Reid's essays, must know that his object in replying to Mr Hume, is to resist the premises themselves, and the very doctrine which Mr Leslie has approved and supported as contained in the essay on necessary connexion. Sh. St. Page 113.

They concluded,

It is but candid to admit, that his religious professions are sincere, and to suppose that, at the time of his writing the Note objected to, he was not duly aware of the dangerous import of the language he has employed; But, if

the doctrine, of an author cannot be vindicated from such a charge as has been, in this instance, laid, the stronger that his sense of religion is, the stronger obligation should he feel himself under to withdraw, and discontinue to publish what is subversive of religion; and more than this, in the case of Mr Leslie, has never been expected or desired. Page 115.

About the same time a paper was circulated, which is termed by Mr Stewart, "A Memorial clandestine ly sent to various Members of the ensuing General Assembly," but which, the Ministers assert, was only a confidential letter circulated among their private friends." Here, after a view of Mr Leslie's doctrine similar to that in the former paper, they add,

66

Looking to the publication of this doctrine in connexion with the circumstances of the times, when there appears an infidel party arraying itself, with increasing confidence, against the religion of the country, they cannot but consider the appointment of Mr Leslie to be a Professor and a teacher of youth, as a measure of very unfriendly aspect to

our Christian faith, and our Church establishment for its support.

Page 118.

They then state their claim of avisamentum, which, they observe, will naturally fall to be discussed in a civil court.

But they would account themselves deficient in the dutythey owe the Church if they did not also take the proper steps for bringing the whole of this interesting case, if it shall be found necessary, under the consideration of the General

Assembly. In the mean time, they are disposed, if they shall err, to take their chance of erring on the side of lenity and forbearance, rather than on that of severity and rigour, and upon this principle they have resolved, that if Mr Leslie shall consent to withdraw either by cancelling the leaves of the what is offensive in his publication, book which contain the note referred to, or by any other means equally effectual, that may be more agreeable to himself, they will,in that event, cease their proceeding as far as concerns him individually, and content themselves with fol. lowing out the necessary measures against the Town Council, for establishing their right of avisamentum in future Page 120.

cases.

They were conscious that their own motives had been misrepresented, as influenced by a regard for the interest of their brother Mr Mac

knight. But only one or two of

them had ever solicited an individual

in his favour; and, besides, were they actuated by any view, either to Mr Macknight's or their own future interest, the measures they were tak ing would be the most effectual for defeating their own purpose, They conclude with hoping

That the laity connected with the Church, will not, in this instance, refuse, to a question more immediately religious, that candid and attentive consideration which the clergy have so often [given] to the views of their lay brethren, in cases which more immediately involved the civil interests of the country. And it is not doubted

that

that the Clergy, even in the most dis. tant corners of the Church, will feel a commanding interest in the discussion of a question, in which the credit of religion and the ecclesiastical establishment appear so deeply committed.

66

Page 122.

In consequence of these, which he deemed anonymous and clandestine attempts to influence, extrajudicially, the opinions of those who were afterwards to sit as judges of the question to which they relate," Mr Stewart considered himself as called upon to publish "a statement of the principal facts connected with Mr Leslie's election, and some critical remarks, calculated to remove the unfavourable impression which the papers referred to might have produced." Of the facts and documents contained in this publication, we have now exhibited a concise summary: the reasonings will of course fall to be analysed under our second head.

As this article has already swelled to so great a length, we shall refer, for a concise summary of the proceedings in the Synod and General Assembly and of the final decision

ber for May 1805; reserving for our next a view of the leading arguments urged by both parties in that memorable debate.

New Works published in Edinburgh. JOURNAL of the Transactions

in Scotland during the contest between the adherents of Queen Mary and those of her son, 1570, 1571, 1572, 1573. By Richard Bannatine, Secretary to John Knox. 8vo. 540 pages. 14s.

The Beauties of Scotland, containing a full and clear account of the agriculture, commerce, mines, and > manufactures; of the population, cities, towns, villages, &c. Vol. III. Part I. 8vo. 7s. 6d. I. p. 10s. 6d.

increasing sale of the Edinburgh Review, a new edition of all the former numbers is now in the press. Several of the first numbers are Dow reprinted for the sixth time. The superior degree of ingenuity and ability, with which this journal is conducted, will doubtless secure to it a continuance of the same unrivalled extent of circulation." Mr Walter Scott has in the press a volume of ballads, which will be expected with peculiar interest by the readers of poetry: a fourth edition of the Lay of the Last Minstrel, a third edition of the Border Minstrelsy, and a second edition of Sir Tristrem, are also in the press. A new edition of Barry's History of the Orkney Islands, with notes supplemental and explanatory, by the

HE Rev. Mr DUTENS, known to

DR WILLIAM NELSON proposes to publish by subscription an introduction to the Irish Language. The work is divided into three parts, viz., 1. An original and very comprehensive Irish Grammar; II. Familiar Phrases, and Dialogues on a great variety of subjects; III. Extracts from approved Books in the Irish Character; and a Fac-simile of a fine old Manuscript; with Explanations, and English Translations. Dr N. has also nearly ready for the press an Irish Dictionary, which he intends to publish immediately after the Introduction.

An Almanack has been printed for

matical Works of Leibnitz, author of an Inquiry relative to the Ancients and Moderns, and of other learned works, proposes to publish Memoirs of his long and active Life, embracing a period of upwards of half a century, and including anecdotes of nearly every Court in Europe. The work will appear in London early in May, under the title of "Memons of a Traveller, now in Retirement, and will extend to five volumes, similar in size to Kotzebue's Travels in Italy.

which is the first of the kind ever published in that city, although a printing office was established there so long ago as the year 1716, from which many books have been issued from time to time.

The Elector of BAVARIA has caused an observatory to be erected in the neighbourhood of Munich. The situation chosen for its construction takes in an extensive horizon. Professor SEY

SER, of Gottingen, is nominated director of this establishment.

The rich land-owners in the Ukraine and Volhinia have contributed liberally for the establishment of Lyceums devoted to the teaching of natural philoso

The Second Part of Dr GREGORY'S New Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, which is to be completed within twelve months, will make its appearance in regular course on the first day of April.

A new History of England, in a Series of Letters to a Young Lady at School, will make its appearance in a few days, from the pen of Mrs CHARLOTTE SMITH. This work has been delayed several years in the press, owing to the ill health of the authoress; and at length, in order to complete the work, some late reigns have been necessarily written by a female friend, under her superintendance.

Dr ARNOLD, of Leicester, intends to publish immediately a new and enlarged edition of his Treatise on Insanity, which has been out of print many years, and had become very scarce.

The library and philosophical apparatus of the King of Poland have been purchased for this purpose. M. SNIADECKI has received a sum equal to 500l. to procure telescopes and clocks, and no expence is to be spared in properly furnishing the observatories with

instruments.

M. GOLDBACH, an able astronomer of Leipsic, has been nominated Professor of the University of Moscow. He is to have the direction of the construc tion of a new observatory, to furnish it with instruments, and to instruct young men in practical astronomy. This uni versity possesses already a large collection of mathematical instruments, made by the most scientific opticians, and other artists, in London.

A letter from Ragusa inserted in the Vienna Court Gazette, says: "the vaccine inoculation has at length triumphed here through the zeal and the efforts of the indefatigable Dr Stulli, who, at

the

the repeated invitations of Dr Carro of Vienna has happily surmounted all the obstacles which prejudice and carelessness threw in his way. The Catechism written by Dr Carro, being translated into the Illyrian language, and circulated in the town and adjacent country, induced a great number of the inhabitants to adopt inoculation. The matter transmitted from Vienna produced the best effect. In a few days Dr StulHi inoculated one hundred children, which is a considerable number for this country, in which of late years, and even in 1804, more than three hundred children died of the natural small-pox. This discovery is likewise making progress among the Dalmatians and the Turks."

The journey which M. KOHLER, of Petersburg, intended to make last year in the Crimea, was prevented by the duties of his situation at the Hermitage. He is employed at present in writing an account of his journey of the preceding year, and in arranging a very considerable collection of engraved stones, brought from France by General Hitrof, and purchased by the Emperor for thirty thousand ducats.

An engraving has been published of the statue of Madame, mother of the Emperor Napoleon, one of the principal productions of the chisel of Canova. She is seated on a chair of antique form, with a diadem on her head; her hair flows gracefully: she has a double garment, the tunic and the stola, like the Roman Empresses. The drapery is treated with exquisite art, and the likeness is said to be particularly striking.

M. SILVESTRE DE SACY, a member of the Institute of France, has arrived at Genoa. He is commissioned by that learned body to examine all the antique monuments of Liguria, and particularly the manuscripts relative to the establishments and the commerce of the Ligurians in the Levant.

Madame LAVOISIER has collected in two volumes, under the title of Memoirs on Chemistry, all that is left of a work which her husband was printing when France and the sciences had the misfortune to lose him. She has pre

fixed to this collection the following preface:-" In 1792 M. Lavoisier conceived the design of forming a collec tion of all his Memoirs which he had read to the Academy for the last twenty years; which would, in a manner, have composed the history of modern chemistry. To render this history the more interesting and the more complete, he proposed to introduce into it the Memoirs of persons, who, having adopted his system, had made experiments in support of it. This col lection was expected to form about eight volumes. Europe knows the reason that prevented the accomplishment of this design. Almost the whole of the first volume has been found, together with the whole of the second, and a few sheets of the fourth. Several men of science have expressed a desire that they should be made public, but I long hesitated to comply. It is scarcely possible for a person not to experience a certain fear when he undertakes to publish works which have not been completed, by a man who enjoys with justice a high reputation, It is after the loss of him that friendship should begin to be severe, and not suffer any thing to appear which is not calculated to add to the glory of a character beloved and revered. These fragments would not have seen the light, had they not contained a Memoir by M. Lavoisier, who, in consequence of the facts which are there stated, claims the new theory of chemistry as belonging to him. The indulgence of men of science is requested for the errors which may have crept into any other parts of this collection. This they will be disposed to grant, when they are informed that most of the proofs were revised in the last moments of the author, and that in those moments, M. Lavoisier, courageous and composed, engaged in a work which he thought useful to the sciences, afforded a sublime example of the serenity which knowledge and virtue are capable of preserving even amidst the most trying situations." This collection has been presented to all the scientific societies.

POETRY,

ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR, 1806.

BY HENRY JAMES PYE, ESQ. P. L.

WHEN ardent zeal for virtuous fame,

When virtuous honour's holy flame, Sit on the gen'rous warrior's sword, Weak is the loudest lay the Muse can sing,

His deeds of valour to record; And weak the boldest flight of Fancy's wing

Far above her high career,
Upborne by worth th' immortal Chiet
shall rise,

And to the lay-enraptured ear

Of seraphs list'ning from th' empyreal sphere,

Glory her hymn divine shall carol thro' the skies.

For tho' the Muse in all unequal strain * Sung of the wreaths that Albion's warriors bore

From ev'ry region and from ev'ry shore, The naval triumphs of her George's reign

Triumphs by many a valiant son

From Gaul, Iberia, and Batavia won
Or by St Vincent's rocky mound,
Or sluggish Texel's shoaly sound!
Or Haffnia's + hyperborean wave,
Or where Canopus' billows lave
Th' Egyptian coast, while Albion's ge-
nius guides

Her dauntless Hero through the fav’-
ring tides,

Where rocks, nor sands, nor tempests' roar,

Nor batt'ries thund'ring from the shore, Arrest the fury of his naval war, When glory shines the leading star; Still higher deeds the lay recording claim, Still rise Britannia's sons to more exalted fame.

The fervid source of heat and light.
Descending thro' the western skies,
Though veil'd awhile from mortal
sight,

Emerging soon with golden beam
shall rise,

In orient climes with brighter radiance shine,

And sow th' ethereal plains with flame
divine,

So damp'd by Peace's transient smile,
If Britain's glory seem tofadeawhile,
Yet when occasion's kindling rays
Relumine valour's generous blaze,

Terrific as th' electric bolt that flies With fatal shock athwart the thundering skies,

By the mysterious will of HEAVEN On man's presuming offspring driven, Full on the scatter'd Foe he hurls his fires, Performs the dread behest, and in the flash expires;

But not to fame-while Chiefs who bleed

For sacred duty's holy meed, With glory's amaranthine wreath, By weeping Victory crown'd in death, In History's awful page shall stand Foremost amid th' heroic band! NELSON! So long thy hallow'd name Thy country's gratitude shall claim; And while a people's pans raise To thee the choral hymn of praise, And while a patriot Monarch's tear Bedews and sanctifies thy bier, Each youth of martial hope shall feel True valour's animating zeal; With emulative wish thy trophies see, And heroes yet unborn shall Britain owe to thee.

THE