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Review .--Shepherd , Joyce and Carpenter ' s Systematic Education , 519
toryt he thus ^ characteri ze s ( perhaps in i somewhat too sweeping a way ) the two principal English writers , Gillies aod Mitford : " The former is the more popular , the latter the more
learned . The . formfer is fluent in styles the latter abrupt . By the perusal of the one , the reader is more amused than instructed ; by the study of the other , he is * more instructed than
amused . * ' In his account of two great Roman historians , Hooke is characterized-.. " copious , accurate and precise in the detail of fae ^ s , and display iug considerable acumen in stating the balance of evidence ; candid and impartial , except in the case of
Middleton , who had offended his feelings as a Roman Catholic , by his celebrated Letter from Rome . * If his style is not remarkable for its brilliancy , it is even in its tenour , clear and perspicuous . In consequence of its prolixity , his work is not known in proportion
to its merits ; but it may be safely recommended , as containing a rich repository of facts , collected with industry , and arranged with judgment /* Gibbon is praised for u the immense mass of his materials , the minuteness
of his references , his patience and sagacity in the investigation of facts , his elevated and dignified language : but hk desire to vary his phrases , and to say common things in an Uncommon way , frequently betrays him into affectation ; the unremitting pomp of his
periods becomes fatiguing to the ear , aod in the midst of his luxiirtancy * f diction his reader often sighs for the simplicity of Addison . ' * After giving the history 4 > f the steps Which led to the formation of Mr . G . * s peculiar opinions , he proceeds , " While he
prof esses the utmost plenitude of belief , tie aims an artful thrust at the system of Christianity , by attempting to account for its progress merely from the influence of natural causes , independently of its truth and divine original , and by covertly endeavouring to discredit the evidence of the miraculous
powers delegated to the apostles . By the disingenuous manner in which he has insinuated fyia animadversions on thie Christian ireiig ^ n /* lie has deserved 1 y incurred a severe impeach- ; .. .. y . fi ,, , ' i , „„ C . . j . .. L . . ¦" . ¦ , 1 . . " / "" i /> .: ; i . ' ji . ' . i i .... i ~ 7 T i ¦ . ' i' ' ; . : ¦ ¦¦ - ¦ ¦¦ ¦ i ¦ ;
. * gapping a splemn cr ^ etf vntb « alemn paeeiv > >; Fhe Lord l ; o £ irony , © Wide Ha ^ rolde , CantoHui . : f
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trieiit on his fchatacfer . Hiafrlie openly attacked ttie evidence of the Ghriistftiiii faith , the great body of his readers would have been $ ware bt the . necessity of vreighiDg * his arguments , abd deciding-oti their worth . But he so skilfully intermix . es correct statements of facts with conclusions , or father
hints of conclusions , which are ge ~ nerally esteemed unwarrantable aiid mischievous , that it will be proper for every oiie wh 6 peruses his work to read some of the aiiswei ^ tliat liave been written to that portion / of bis work which is most strongly tinctured with infidelity . Of these the ablest
is that of Bishop Watson . * Sotrtfe very judicious reinarks will also be found in the first part of the Gerteriil Conclusion of Priestley ' s History 6 f Corruptions , t After allowing , how * ever , for every deduction , Mr ; G / s history must be acknowledged to be one of the most correct and elaborate
works which grace the annals of English literature . " The chapter concludes with a Sketch of a Goufse of Ancient History : a& ] ft may be pursued in the original authors themselves 5 -abridged from Whearfe ' s Lectures on History .
In the xixth chapter , on Modern History , the author recommends Millot , but more especially Russell , as the most judicious compendium ; and then proceeds to point put a series of modern historical reading , which
may amply reward the diligencfe of those who may undertake it , viz , the latter volumes of Gibbon , for the subdivision of the Roman empire } and thfe foundations of the modern kingdoms , Gaillard ' s Histoire de CH ^ riemagiie , Berington , Sade , Shepjierd , L'Ehfti i ^ Roscoe , Robertson , Watson ,
Thomson , Hartfc , Voltaire , &c . ; and , for the History of EnglJaSid , Rapin , Hunie He ^ ry , Andrews , M&caulay , &c . ; ; for Scotland , Bach ^ tnan , Robertison , G $ o 1 c ,
* Perlpps on the whole It tnay : firtd it is un douttedly that which is tLfc nibst proper to be recommendtd tq the g *« heral rc ^ idiff r ! Bii t the inaaterly Ci "Fhonghta on the Grand Apqstapy /* > l ? y Mf * . Henry Taylor , tlie editor of Ben Mordeca ^ al ^ ttep * , was the puhl ication which ' ^ n ^ twithsta nd ing ^ his affected contempt , flj | tei » I- J 9 rf )» g-raveiled , atid provok e d mf * Gi Dboj ^ thc inpsL and plight c&ftaiirilf * to $ be caieftiilv i ^^ ^ eV ^ y ^ cliol ^ V ><•* , ' V ¦ ¦ '; : > !" f ¦¦ ¦ ¦¦
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1818, page 519, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2479/page/47/
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