Retrofpect of Domeftic Literature....T heologys 
4 Survey has been publifhed of the 
province of Moray, in which are very 
ably deiineated its hiftorical, geographical, 
and political features: this work is the 
joint produétion of two clergymen, ap- 
pertaining to the diocefe, both of whom 
are well verfed in the hiftory of their na- 
tive country: the two firft chapters, the 
former treating of the ancient inhabitants, 
and the latter of the antiquities of the 
province, are written by the Rev. Mr. 
Grant, of Elgin, a gentleman acknow- 
ledged to be one of the bett genealogifts 
and antiquaries of the north. The two 
Jaft chapters, the former treating of the 
prefent ftate of rhe province, and the lat- 
ter of the ftate of agriculture, roads, &c. 
are furnifhed by the Rev. Mr. LESLIE, 
of Darkland, a gentleman who, to the 
knowledge of the theory of agriculture, 
adds the beft information refpecting its 
progrefs in his own neighbourhood. Mr. 
Leflie tells us, (under the head of the 
Parifh of Speymouth) that the pooreft of 
the people have all their children taught 
to read, and moft of the boys are taught 
alfo arithmetic, and to write. Such care 
of the inftruétion of the poor excites the 
wonder of us South Britons, many of 
whom, if we contribute a parfimonious 
fubfcription to have the children of our 
parifhes taught finging at a Sunday {chool, 
felicitate ourfelves on the progreflive im- 
provement which our venerofity has ex- 
cited! This is not meant as a general re- 
fie€tion on Sunday fchools ;. but we know 
that many of them are conduéted on fuch 
narrow principles, that their moft obvious 
effe&t isto make the children hang down 
their heads when the clergyman or the 
clerk paffes by them. The Rev. Mr. 
OLERENSHAW’s opinion as to the mode 
of managing Sunday {chools, we have 
too much reafon to believe is not fingu- 
Jar*: it is the wretched policy of this 
country to keep the lower orders in ig- 
norance, left they fhould be unfitted for 
their fituation in life. Mr. L. adds, “ that 
poor-rates are not known in this country 
(Scotland); yet with fuch labour as 
themfelves are ab'e for, all are, by volun- 
tary charity, provided with the necefflaries 
of life : very little is fuffered by want, 
there is no abufe, and little temptation to 
idlenefs.” 
THEOLOGY. 
Mr. LupLam’s Six Effays upon theo- 
logical, to which are added, two upon moral 
Subjedis, evince fome acutenefs and inge- 
- nuity. Does not the worthy reétor pro- 

#* Sce our lait Retrofpect, page 513s 
525 
voke the thunders of his church, whea 
he fays, that ‘‘ fuch perfons as rejeét the 
application of reafon do, in fact, make 
religion utterly impoffible ; and if reafon 
is to be ufed im religious fubje@ts, then, 
as fay as any matter is unintelligible, 
far it cannot be any part of religion?” 
We look upon this as a very judicious and 
found remark, bur furely it is dangerous 
and heterodoxical from a clergyman of 
the church of England. | 
Mr. Jesse, in his Differtation on the 
Learning and Injpiration of the Apofiles, \a- 
bours earnefily, and we think fuccefsful- 
ly, to prove that the apoftles were by no 
‘means fo ignorant as has been generally 
fuppofed: what he fays concerning the 
infpiration of the apoftles, may by fome 
few perfons, perhaps, be deemed deficient 
in orthodoxy. 
A paftoral Charge delivered by the Bi- 
fhop of Salifbury to the clergy of his dio- 
cefe, lamenting the aétivity of Diffenters, 
and the increafed number of licenfed 
preachers, regiftered in the diocefe within 
the laft year, has excited a number of po-= 
lemic pamphlets. 
Mr. WaNsEvy, a very refpectable Dif- 
fenter, publithed A Letter to the Bi/hop, in 
Defence of what he confidered to be the in= 
jured and infulted Caufe of the diffenting In- 
tereft. 
This letter has been replied to by a 
“Country Curate,’ who publifhed fome 
Remarks on it, contending, not indeed that 
the clergy of the Eftablifhed Church have, 
or ought to have exclufively, the right of 
communicating public inftruction, but that 
they have a right to oppofe zeal to zeal in 
whatever concerns the miniftry of Chrift. 
One cannot but obferve that the country 
curate is fighting agatnft a fhadow, for no 
one has denied the right of the clergy to 
oppofe zeal to zeal. ‘This defence of the 
alarmed diocefan is conduéted with very 
becoming refpeét to the able author of 
the letter againft him. 
We cannot fay fo much of the Ssric- 
tures on a Letter, Sc. vy a Critic, wha 
{peaks with an arrogance and contempt, 
which recoil on himfelf. 
A gentleman, who figns himfelf G. W. 
has addreffed to Mr. Wanfey A Rowland 
for an Oliver. This is a lively ani- 
mated letter, but is very deficient in point 
of argument: the author labours hard 
to defend the ceremony of confecrating 
colours from the charge which has been 
preferred againft it,of impiety and prota- 
nation. We are of that number, who, 
in contempt of the decrees of an epifco- 
pal fynod, confides the offering of a 
blood- 
