CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 151 



their own feather" that his truly liberal and philosophical discourse 

 contains both " false and dangerous" doctrines. Far different, how- 

 ever, will be its reception at the hands of honest, intelligent and en- 

 lightened inquirers after truth and true wisdom ; and, that this is 

 greatly the reverse of a vain conjecture, there already exists abun- 

 dant and gratifying evidence in the document which procured the 

 Doctor's assent to a requisition, that the principles advocated in his 

 " introductory address" might be disseminated in a convenient publi- 

 cation. After " tendering their best acknowledgments" to the lec- 

 turer in a special communication through the secretary, the commit- 

 tee of the Chertsey Institution prefer their request, accompanied with 

 these observations : — " From the many topics of local interest, you so 

 happily introduced ; from the successful way in which you demon- 

 strated the great benefits to be derived from Literary and Scientific 

 Institutions : and the good counsel you gave us as to the government 

 of our own, the committee feel it would be doing important service to 

 their cause, if you would permit them the pleasure of printing and 

 publishing your Lecture, being desirous to perpetuate the memorable 

 occasion which produced it ; also to enable those of their friends who 

 were unavoidably absent, to enjoy the same gratification in reading it 

 as they experienced on its delivery : they feel convinced that its cir- 

 culation is calculated to do essential good, to convert by its arguments 

 the disaffected, to support the wavering, and to encourage the promot- 

 ers and members of our Institution to persevere in their good work :" 

 and sincerely do we offer our most devout aspirations for the prospe- 

 rity of this and all such Institutions as rest their foundations on the 

 sublime truths of Science harmoniously and indissoiubly co-operating 

 with the divine precepts of Revelation. 



Having opened his discourse with some kind and candid remarks, 

 Dr. Jones proceeds to expatiate, with a fervid eloquence, on the in- 

 creasing desire for knowledge which gives its bright character to the 

 present age. On all sides, he says, we hear a cry for knowledge : 

 the universities widen their orb of usefulness, and yield to the mental 

 pressure ; men of rank, whose easy fortune might entitle them to the 

 choice of hereditary indolence, are now zealous and foremost in pur- 

 suit of scientific honours : they engage in the laborious drudgeries as 

 well as the lighter gaieties of literature : the merchant and the trades- 

 man, leaving the hitherto omnipotent allurements of the ledger, now 

 attend the literary and scientific lecture : the spread and sway of cot- 

 tage learning now enters the humble habitations of the poor : an ar- 

 dent, unquenchable thirst for knowledge, pervading all ranks, now 

 reaches to all topics of inquiry. Unfortunately, however, there is 

 much alloy in the aliment supplied, in the intellectual pabulum 

 offered, to this urgent and devouring appetite. Many who pander 

 to the unsuspecting innocence of youth and ignorance, either in the 

 open avowal or in the insidious tale, would fain prove that truth is 

 error, that religion is a cheat and delusion. Therefore it is, that 

 the generous Vicar of Bedfont, as a minister of the gospel, comes 



