664 
incongruous, in making a novel a me- 
dium for conveying to the world disqui- 
sitions on controversial divinity. We 
~ will not veuture to touch on those points 
of Mrs. Moore’s religious faith, which she 
has introduced into her. work. Such 
topics, as they are unsuitable to the 
place where she has introduced them, so 
it would be indecorous to mention them 
here; where we could not have an op- 
portunity to discuss them with a gravity, 
a decency, and solemnity, equal to their 
importance. We shall confine ourselves, 
then, to a very brief outline of the story 
itself, and leave the parts that are ab- 
jectionable in the management of it to 
those, to whom subjects so grave more 
naturally belong. The great object kept 
in view, throughout the whole of Miss 
_Moore’s novel, is the enforcement of 
certain religious principles; of which, it 
is well known, she has long been one of 
the -most adinired, and indefatigable 
supporters; and next to that, the con- 
demnation of certain fashionable. plea- 
sures, and relaxations; which, from the 
first appearance of the sect, to which 
Miss Moore belongs, have always been 
peculiar objects of the disapprobation” 
of that sect. We have imposed upon 
ourselves a restraint from going into the 
thorny paths of controversy, otherwise 
we could very easily shew, that in the 
best times, in what we may call the pri- 
mitive and apostolic age of the English 
church, there was none of that rigour 
and sourness which Miss Moore recom- 
mends. But again, the present is not a fit 
place for such controversies; at the same 
time, we must observe, that methodism, in 
religion, is synonimous with empiricism 
in medicine; and that the quacks im one 
profession, areas dangerous and mis- 
chievous as those in the other. The 
hero of Miss Moore’s piece, ‘ Celebs,” 
Is a young man of independent fortune, 
in search of a virtuous partner, with 
whom he may unite himself for life. He 
meets with various ladies of different 
qualities, but none suitable for a wife, 
till he finds Miss Sraniey, “ho had been 
educated in that sort of religious me- 
thodism, which Miss Moores, inher 
works on female education, has recom- 
mended; and who is a perfect model 
of that system. ‘The story is simple, and 
the characters that are introduced, are 
hot numerous, but they are well and 
skilfully drawn. As a general specimen 
of the work, we are tempted to introduce 
the following description, protesting, 
however, for ourselves, as well as for all 
Retrospect of Domesite Literature—Novels. 
fathers‘and mothers in the United King 
dom, against that fastidiousness, which 
would banish from our desserts the 
sweetest flowers of our houses, and the 
‘best pearls and jewels, with which our 
wives can be adorned. Of his first in- 
troduction into fashionable life, Coslebs 
tells his own story in the following 
words : ; 
*°On the tiptoe of expectation, 1 went to 
dine with Sir John Belfield, in Cavendish- 
square, I looked at my watch fifty times. 
I thought it would never be six o’clock. I 
did not care to shew my country breeding, by 
going too early, to incommode my friend; 
nor my town breeding, by going too late, and 
spoiling his dinner. Sir John is a valuable, 
elegant-minded man, and, next to Mr.Stanley, 
stood highest in my father’s esteem, for his 
mental accompiishments, and correct morats. 
As I knew he waa remarkable for assembting 
at his table, men of sense, taste, and learn-- 
ing my expectations of pleasure were very 
high. ¢Here, at least,’ (said 1) as I heard 
the name of one clever man, annofinced after 
another, ¢ here, at least, I cannot fail te 
find 
The feast of reason, and the flow of soul: - 
Here, at least, all the energies of my mind — 
will be brought into exercise. From this 
- society, I shall carry away documents for the 
improvement of my taste; I shall treasure 
up hints to enrich my understanding, and 
collect aphorisms for the conduct of life.’ 
“6 At first, there was no fairopportunity to 
introduce any conversation beyond the topics 
of the day, and to’ those it must be confessed, 
this eventful period gives a new and powerful 
interest. 
to have had my country politics rectified, and 
any prejudices, which I might have con- 
‘tracted, removed, or softened, could the dis- 
cussion have been carried on, without the 
frequent interruption of the youngest man in 
the company. This gentleman broke in on 
every remark, by discanting successively on 
the merits of the various dishes; and, if it be 
true, that experience only can determine the 
judgment, he gave that best right to pe- 
‘remptory decision, by not trusting to delusive 
theory, but by actually eating of every dish 
at table. }. 
‘¢ His animadversions were uttered with 
the gravity of a German philosopher, and the 
science of a French cook. 
nions happened to be controverted, he quoted, 
in confirmation of his own judgments 
P Almanac des Gourmands, which he assured us 
was the most valuable work that had ap- 
peared in France since the revolution. The 
author of this book he seemed to consider 
as high authority-in the science of eating, as 
Coke or Hale in that of jurisprudence, or 
Quintilian in the art of criticism. ‘To the 
credit of the company, however, be itepeleepe ; 
I should have been much pleased - 
If any of his opi- — 
. ti 
