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the Epiftles.-Obfervations on the Resurrection of Jefus Chrift, by Gilbert Weft."

"VI. Eight Charges to the Clergy, by Arbp. Secker.Of the Corruption of Chriftians, by Oftervald.The Defign of Chriftianity, by Bishop Fowler.

Befide the above articles, thefe volumes contain a collection of Theological queftions, maintained in the University of Cambridge, in the earlier part of the laft century, and from the year 1755 to 1785. There is alfo an appendix, exhibiting a copious lift of publications in the various branches of Theology, with ftrictures on their refpective merits.

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Upon the general ftrain of the compilation we shall only obferve in one word, that an omiffion, which greatly fur prized us in turning over the contents of the volumes, is that of bishop Butler's Analogy of Natural and Revealed Religion to the Constitution and Courfe of Nature. We are perfectly aware, that the taftes of different men must always be expected to be different, and that perfons, equally found of understanding, and equally verfed in the fcience in queftion, must be expected to vary extremely from each other in a felection of this kind. But Butler's treatise has always been received with fo high applaufe, coincides fo much with the profeffed fentiments of our editor, and is of a merit fo far out of comparison with half the pieces in this collection, that fuch confiderations feemed wholly inadequate to the folution, and infufficient to juftify us in fuppreffing our aftonishment.

The preface of the compiler diftributes itself into two heads. The one, just and sensible reflections on the prefent ftate of Christianity, and the proper methods for its improvement; the other a leffon of moderation, liberality, and candour towards those who differ from us. The principles here delivered, appear to us unquestionably true; our only wonder has been, that it was thought neceffary to deliver them with fo much accuracy, prolixity, and labour. We have always thought that the garb of oftentation and parade, fat but ill upon the perfonages of liberality and truth. And we have been led to form fomewhat a more humble opinion of the progrefs of the prefent age, when we have obferved the appearance of the most natural fentiments of the human mind, thus accompanied with effort, and ftruggle, and a certain confcious fuperiority.

The quality of candour may be confidered as of two kinds. There is a mind, to which it is in a manner innate, and where it is perfectly at home. Here no ftudy is requifite to create it, and no difcipline to bring it to perfection. Like the fruits of a rich and generous climate, it burfts forth fpontaneous,

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fpontaneous, and cultured by no, hand but that of the al mighty Maker, difplays every attraction of form, and every exquifitenefs of flavour. So far from being accompanied with exertion in its energies, it poffeffes them unbidden, anđ brings them forth without any reflex perception of their beauty and worthiness.

But there are alfo minds, which, poffeffing no inherent comprehenfion of thought, and largenefs of fentiment, come by flow and weary fteps to the conviction of their merit. They accordingly afpire to their attainment, fome from a principle of honeft rectitude, and fome from an ambition to adorn themfelves with the characteristics of men of a fuperior order. With fuch the exercife of liberality and justice, will always have fomething of the laborious, and, unlike the men to whom the qualities originally belong, they will ever be rehearfing their praifes, and reminding you of the facrifices they make at their fhrine.

It will however be faid, that, granting all this, the liberal minded man will often find it neceffary to teach with earnestnefs thofe leffons to others, which he leaft of all needs to have inculcated upon himself. But for ourselves, we profess to have our doubts refpecting the utility of these grave lectures of forbearance and moderation. Let us fee the heads of our church and the expofitors of our holy religion, difplaying their gentlenefs and candour in the fimplicity of their language, the charity of their conduct, and the edifying philofophy of their conceptions. It is by fuch means that the leffon will be fpread far and wide, and the beauty of the pattern give birth to univerfal emulation. Am I a Socinian, a Mahometan, a Deift, an Atheist? You expect me perhaps to befpeak your indulgence, and pathetically to adrefs your generofity. But you are mistaken: I have not a word to lofe upon fo low minded a theme. I afk no favour, I demand no pardon, I am guilty of no crime. And I cannot stoop to the meannefs of afking that as a fuppliant, to which I have a claim of right as a man.

It is not neceffary to apologife for the freedom of these 'animadverfions. The difcerning reader will eafily perceive 'that they are dictated by a general fpirit of philofophy, and proceed from no difrefpect to the illuftrious compiler of this publication. It is faying little to his difcredit to confefs, that we cannot rank him in the very firft clafs of human minds; for, we are apprehenfive that forms a flender band indeed. But we have long enlifted ourselves among the fincereft of his admirers for independency of fentiment, integrity of profeffion, and a noble difdain of perfonal and felfifh confiderations. And, though we may believe that

his

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his character is not without all shadow of a blemish, we are however perfuaded, that he is an honour to the church of which he is a member, and fecond to no man that fits upon the bench of bishops.

ART. II. "An Efay on Medals. Small 8vo. Price. 4s. fewed. Dodfley, London, 1784."

THE

HE Study of medals, when conducted by real science, and a folid understanding, is of the utmost utility; it is likewife productive of much rational and pleafing entertainment: in both thefe views therefore a directory in this ftudy is to be confidered as an object of consequence. To hiftory, geography, chronology and the elucidation of the writers of antiquity, a knowledge of medals is of the greatest fervice. The advantages to be reaped from it by the architect, the fculptor, the poet, and the painter are fufficiently obvious. Nor will the natural philofopher find it a barren and unprofitable purfuit: while the conoiffeur, who colles and arranges his coins merely for the purpose of amusement, need not blufh at a comparison of his occupations with any of those which fill up the hours of gay or ferious idlenefs.

The prefent compilation appears to be the work of a perfon well acquainted with his fubject. The The arrangement is good, and the author briefly touches upon every thing that is neceffary for the study he means to recommend. Of this the reader may judge by the following fkeleton of the work. Rife and progrefs of the ftudy of medals-Utility of this ftudy-Connexion of the ftudy of medals with the fine arts of poetry, painting, fculpture and architecture-The various fources of delight and amufement arifing from it-Metals ufed in the fabrication of coins and medalsDifferent fizes of ancient coins-Their former valueConfervation of medals-Portraits to be found on them, of which different feries may be arranged-The Reverses of medals-Symbols obfervable on them-Their Legends -Medallions-Medals called Contorniati-Greek medalsRoman medals-Medals of other ancient nations-Modern coins and medals-Coins and medals of Great Britain and Ireland-Obfervations on the progrefs of the British coinage-Rarity of fome ancient and modern coins• Counterfeit medals, and the arts of diftinguishing them from the true-Directions for forming cabinets-Present prices of medals-An explanation of the more common ⚫ abbreviations occurring on Roman medals-A valuationTM · of

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of English coins from William the Conqueror-Brief no⚫tices from the Scottish acts of parliament with regard to the coins of that kingdom: and an account of the rarity of Scottish coins-An estimate of the rarity of all the coins ⚫ of Roman Emperors, with their prices.'

Such is the variety of matter treated of in the present publication; which as an introduction to the study, as an ele mentary book, poffeffes great merit: and the more so, as it points put the fources which lead to a complete knowledge of the fubject. The author frequently expreffes himself too strongly, and befides attempts an epigrammatic turn in many places which might have been better omitted. An inftance or two will confirin our animadverfion. "The feries of "English pennies extends therefore without any failure "from Egbert the first king, to the prefent reign; and will "in all probability, to the end of time." Confidering the various revolutions to which this Globe has been, and in all probability ever will be fubject, this is fpeaking rather pofitively, Of the filver halfpenny of Edward the fixth, he fays. "The fmallnefs indeed even of the filver halfpenny, "though continued down to the commonwealth, was of extreme inconvenience; for a dozen of them might be in "a man's pocket, and yet not be difcovered without a good magnifying glass." Had he been speaking of the coins of Lilliput, he might have obtained fome credit.

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Be this as it may, the coinage of England was, foon after the revival of the mill in this kingdom by Briot, carried to a pitch of perfection which it never had reached; and, in point of workmanship, never will in future attain. The reader will inftantly perceive that the miraculous works of Thomas Simon are meant; works which excell, and will ever excell any of the kind, either ancient or modern.?

Simon was truly a wonderful artist, but to say that he never has, nor never will have his equal, is carrying panegyric beyond all reasonable bounds. Should we be difpofed to allow that no medallic artift has come up to his perfection, we cannot poffibly fubfcribe to what may be called the author's prophetic encomium, as what may, or may not be, is beyond the reach of mortal decifion.

As a fpecimen of the work, we fhall prefent our readers with part of what is faid upon the British coinage, thinking it will be more interefting to Englishmen than any other portion we could have chofen, and as it will juftify what we have faid of the epigrammatic turn which appears without much propriety in feveral parts of the publication.

The whole coinage of Queen Ann, and part of that of George I. which is of this artist, is entitled to praife. It afterwards continued in a tolerable condition till the commencement of the present reign, when it fell into the deplorable state in which we now view

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it. In the firft gold coinage of this reign, the face was quite a model, deftitute of all feature and character: and another portrait has been given fince 1770, or a year or two before or after, with fuch grofs faults as to make our coinage a matter of laughter. For the head being moft fweetly and languishingly fcrewed about to the left, fo that a great part of it fhould appear, yet, to our astonishment, nó head is to be feen; fo that the malicious joke of Foote might jump into any one's mouth. Inftead of the due proportion of head and hair, we only perceive the face cut off from the head, and a few rude lines fcratched where the junction must have been, evidently put there that ladies might not be fhocked with the study of ana

tomy.

Our gold coin can only be rivalled by our copper. The first half pence prefent fuch a face as human creature never wore, jutting out fomething in the likeness of a macaw. The latter ones are improved a little; and in this our copper coin has a preference over our gold.

The state of coinage in any kingdom is commonly a barometer of its power, always of the state of its arts. Hence it is matter of na tional glory, that the coin be well executed; and the decline of the money is justly esteemed a fure fymptom of the decline of the state, Some grey-haired medallifts, from this circumftance, foretold the lofs of America, and all the calamities which, during this reign, have haftened the decline of Britain. Jefting apart, whatever may be the cafe with our glory, our coin may rank with that of the lowest times of the Roman empire.

'It is not therefore furprizing to hear that a noble Lord has projected a wonderful improvement upon our money, and has actually got pattern pieces ftruck upon this new plan. The intent of this

project is, that all our coin fall be in cameo, not intaglio; cut hollow, not in relief. Were it to take effect, what would be the nummi bracteati, or all the efforts of the politer Goths of antiquity, to our currency? May the noble Lord appear upon one of the first hollow coins, in all his glory!

But furely the whole plan of coinage is yet fufceptible of real and most important improvements. A far higher relief might be given to the impreffion, fo as to rival the ancient in this grand criterion of good coin; and this relief might with cafe be protected by a circle of equal height around the rim of the piece. This circle would not only ferve to preferve the coin, but might, in the whole coinage, bear a legend upon the edge; an operation fo fimple as to appear upon the tin halfpence, when they were in ufe. This circular legend, now used only upon the crown and half-crown, ought to adorn and protect every coin, from the five-guinea piece down to the farthing; for there cannot be fo eafy and fo effectual a guard against forgery. The legends ought to be placed within the circle, and that on the edge might extend over the whole surface, so as nothing could be taken from the coin without appearance. The copper coinage of 1717, and gold coinage of 1728, are fomething in the general ftyle of this propofed, but not of fufficient relief, and without the circular legends. Such as they are, however, thefe

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coinages

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