I79I. RE%'IEW STATIfiTICS. 297 



Too much praife cannot be beftowed upon the reverend 

 and worthy members of the church who have fo liberally 

 and judicioufly furnlfhed the materials for this work. Ma- 

 ny perfons, on feeing the queries that were put to them, 

 were appreheniive, that forae might be induced, from a de- 

 lire to difplay much reading or depth of refearch, to enter 

 into long conjectural fpeculations on fubjefts which had 

 not come fully to their knowledge ; and although Sir John 

 took care to warn them againft this, yet few perfons could 

 have formed a priori, fuch an idea of the judicioufnefs of 

 this body of men, as not to be afraid that fome of them 

 would run wild in the mazy road of fpeculative theory. 

 The prefent volume however, gives an agreeable proof that 

 thefe fears were groundlefs. The writers of thefe memoirs, 

 have, witli great judgment, in general, confined themfelves 

 Itriftly to the recording of fuch fadls as fell under their 

 own obfervation, leaving ideal hypothefes on other 

 fubjeifls to thofe who choofe to engage in them ; and if oc- 

 cafionally fome uncommon phenomena of nature are ac- 

 counted for, it is done with an ingenuous modelfy that iswor- 

 thy of a high degree of applaufe ; as we fliall illuftrate on 

 lome future occalion, by examples drawn from this volume. 

 It is to be regretted, that on account of the little attention 

 that lias hitherto been bellowed on fubjedls of this nature, it 

 was not poflible, on many occafions, to compare the part with 

 the prefent ftate of this country : but in all cafes where it 

 could be done, the compilers have made the bell ufe for 

 that purpofe, of the few fa(?ls that have been preferved to 

 them. Future obfervers will not have this difficulty to en- 

 counter, fo long as this work fliall be preferved, which will 

 throw a ftill clearer light upon the future fpeculations of 

 the patriotic politician, than we yet can boait of, notwith- 

 llanding the unequalled care and attention of the clergy- 

 men of the prefent day- 



Hitherto, unfortunately for Britain, our attention has been- 

 almofl exclufively applied to the marking the progrefs and 

 improvements of our external poffeflions, while the ftate of 

 our domeftic concerns has been entirely overlooked, as if 

 they were unworthy of any regard. Some recent event* 

 Vol. Ill f O o 



