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tical, or republican. There is nothing in the principles of a true christian, or a dissenter, to prevent him from being a good subject, under any form of government.

It appears to have given Mr. C. great offence, that the dissenters should have "gratuitously come forward with professions of "loyalty to their sovereign.". Now, although we abominate adulation as much as Mr. C. or any one else can, we conceive that so far from there being any impropriety on such an occasion in the acknowledgments of his Majesty's goodness, in declaring that "he would ever preserve the Toleration inviolate," (and let it be recollected, that it is to this declaration, that the language is to be applied, and to this only,) that there would have been a great impropriety in omitting it. To infer from such a profession of gratitude to the Sovereign for his repeated declaration that he would never suffer any violation of the toleration act during his feign, that the dissenters acknowledge the utility of a state religion, and that because Mr. C. boldly affirms what he can never prove, that "monarchy, and aristocracy," in other words, the government of this country cannot exist without “ a state religion,” is to attempt to revive the abominable, but favourite axiom of the high churchmen in the reign of the Stuarts," No bishop, no king;" but the libel thus attempted to be cast on the dissenters, representing them as enemies to the constitution of their country, or hypocrites in their professions of loyalty, is too contemptible to merit even refutation; and indeed the language of the different speakers in the house of Lords, and the conduct of that house, at the moment the dissen ters were avowing their principles, of allowing no human authority in matters of religion, and of consequence their disapprobation of all state religion, is fully sufficient to give the complete lie to Mr. C's calumny.

Mr. C. has on this occasion, as on former occasions, written without thought, or under the domineering influence of some prejudice or passion, which he is resolved at any rate to indulge. His libel on the principles of the Dissenters, and we might add on the constitution of our country, reminds us of his revilings of the friends to the Abolition of the Slave Trade,

of the promoters of Sunday Schools; and of the Americans. We hope that the alteration of his sentiments on these, as well as on some other points has been the result of conviction, and that further examination and reflection may lead him to a better understanding of the principles of the Dissenters. We partly agree with Mr. C. in what he says respecting the servility of different sects, and more especially of some who have been fond of the appellation of saints; we have already expressed our opinions on this point. These approvers of all the enormities of the system which has disgraced almost every administration during the present reign, with their representative Mr. WILBERFORCE at their head, have a most awful account to render to their consciences and to their God, for the scandal they have brought on their profession, and the calamities they have been so instrumental in heaping on their country. May their future lives testify their repentance and reformnation.

Harlow, May 29, 1811.

B. F.

THE

MONTHLY

MISCELLANY:

FOR MAY, 1811.

SCARCE AND VALUABLE BOOKS.

THE FIRST VISION OF CAMILICK. By Lord BOLINGBROKE. [2d. Ed. 1748.]

In Hoc Signo vinces.

Having as yet given the reader little besides grave discourses on public matters, and foreseeing that, during the session of parliament, I shall be obliged to continue daily in the same track, I am willing to take this one opportunity of presenting him with something, which has ne relation at all to public affairs, but is of a nature purely amusing, and entirely void of reflection upon any person whatsoever.

My friend Alvarez (a man not unknown to many here, by his frequent journies to England) did some time since make me a present of a Persian manuscript, which he met with while he followed the fortunes of Meriwes. An exact translation of the first chapter has been made, at my request, by the learned Mr. Solomon Negri, and is as follows.

CAMILICK'S VISION.

In the name of God, ever merciful, and of Haly his prophet. I slept in the plains of Bagdad, and I dreamed a dream. I lifted my eyes, and I saw a vast field, pitched with the tents of the mighty, and the strong ones of the earth in array of battle. I observed the arms and ensigns of either host. In the banners of the one were pictured a crown and sceptre; and upon the shields of the soldiers were engraven Scourges, chains, iron maces, axes, and all kinds of instruments of violence. The standards of the other bore the crown and sceptre also;

VOL. IX.

but the devices on the shields were the balance, the olive wreath, the plough-share, and other emblemati cal figures of justice, peace, law, and liberty. Between these two armies, I saw a King come forth, and sign a large roll of parchment; at which loud shouts of acclamation were heard from every quarter. The Roll itself flew up into the air, and appeared over their heads, encom‐ passed with rays of glory. I observed that wherever the second army moved, this glorious apparition attended them; or rather the army seemed only to move, as that guided or directed. Soon after, I saw both these hosts engaged, and the whole face of the land overspread with blood. I saw the King, who had signed and broken that sacred Charter, drink out of a golden cup, fall into convulsions, gasp and die.

I then saw another King take his place; who, in the most solemn manner, engaged to make the words contained in the Roll the guide of his actions; but notwithstanding this, I saw both armies again encounter. I saw the King a prisoner. I saw his son relieve him, and I saw the chiefs of the other army put to death. Yet that victorious son himself bowed his head to the parchment; which now appeared with fuller lustre than before. Several other battles ensued, with vast slaughter on both sides; during which the celestial volume was some times clouded over; but still again exerted its rays, and after every cloud appeared the brighter. I observed those heroes, who fought beneath it, though ever so unfortu

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nate, not once to abate their courage, while they had the least glimpse of that heavenly apparition in their view; and even those, whom I saw overthrown, pierced with ghastly wounds,, and panting in death, resigned their lives in smiles, and with eyes cast up to that glorious object. At last the long contention ceased. I beheld both armies unite and move together under the same influence. I saw one King twelve times bow down before the bright phænomenon; which from thence-forward spread a light over the whole land; and, descending nearer to the earth, the beams of it grew so warm as it approached, that the hearts of the inhabitants leaped for joy. The face of war was no more. The same fields, which had so long been the scene of death and desolation, were now 'covered with golden harvests. The hills were cloathed with sheep. The woods sung with gladness. Plenty laughed in the valleys. Industry, commerce, and liberty danced hand in hand through the cities.

While I was delighting myself with this amiable prospect, the scene entirely changed. The fields and armies vanished; and I saw a large and magnificent hall, resembling the great Divan or council of the nation. At the upper end of it, under a canopy, I beheld the sacred covenant, shining as the sun. The nobles of the land were there assembled. They prostrated themselves before it, and they sung an hymn. Let the heart of the King be glad; for his people are happy! May the light of the covenant be a lanthorn to the feet of the judges; for by this shall they separate truth from falsehood. O innocence, rejoice! for by this light shalt thou walk in safety; nor shall the oppressor take hold on thee. O justice, be exceeding glad! for by this light all thy judgments shall be decreed with wisdom; nor shall any man say thou hast err'd. Let the

hearts of all the people be glad! for this have their grandfathers died; in this have their fathers rejoiced; and in this may their posterity rejoice evermore!

Then all the rulers took a solemn

oath to preserve it inviolate and unchanged, and to sacrifice their lives and their fortunes, rather than suffer themselves or their children to be deprived of so invaluable a blessing.

After this, I saw another and larger assembly come forward into the hall, and join the first. These paid the same adorations to the covenant; took the same oath; they sung the same hymn; and added a solemn form of imprecation to this effect. Let the words of the roll be for ever in our eyes, and graven on our hearts; and accursed be he who layeth hands on the same. Accursed be he, who shall remove this writing from the people; or who shall hide the law thereof from the King. Let that man be cut off from the earth. Let his riches be scattered as the dust. Let his wife be the wife of the people. Let not his first-born be ranked among the nobles. Let his palaces be de stroyed. Let his gardens be as a desart, having no water. Let his horses and his horsemen be overthrown; and let his dogs devour their carcases! --In the midst of these execrations entered a man, dressed in a plain habit, with a purse of gold in his hand. He threw himself forward into the room, in a bluff, ruffianly manner. A smile, or rather a sneer, sat on his countenance. His face was bronzed over with a glare of confidence. An arch malignity leered in his eye. Nothing was so extraordinary as the effect of this person's appearance. They no sooner saw him, but they all turned their faces from the canopy, and fell prostrate before him. He trod over their backs, without any cercmony, and marched directly up to the throne. He opened his of gold; which he took out in hand

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fuls, and scattered amongst the assembly. While the greater part were engaged in scrambling for these pieces, he seized, to my inexpressible surprise, without the least fear, upon the sacred parchment itself. He rumpled it rudely up, and crammed it into his pocket. Some of the people began to murmur. He threw more gold, and they were pacified. No sooner was the parchment taken away, but in an instant I saw half the august assembly in chains. Nothing was heard through the whole divan, but the noise of fetters, and clank of irons. I saw pontiffs in their ecclesiastical habits, and senators, clad in ermine, linked together like the most ignominious slaves. Terror and amazement were impressed on every countenance, except on that of some few, to whom the man continued dispersing his gold. This he did, till his purse became empty. Then he drept it; but then too, in the very same moment, he himself dropt with it to the ground. That, and the date of his power, at once expired. He sunk, and sunk for ever. The radiant volume again rose; again shone out; and re-assumed its place above the throne; the throne, which had been darkened all this time, was now filled with the effulgence of the glory, which darted from it. Every chain dropped off in an instant. Every face regained its former chearfulness. Heaven and earth resounded with liberty! liberty! and the heart of the King was glad within him.

AREOPAGITICA:

A SPEECH FOR THE LIBERTY OF UNLICENSED PRINTING: TO THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND.

By JOHN MILTON.

[Concluded from p. 176.] Lords and Commons of England! Consider what nation it is whereof

we are, and whereof ye are the governors: a nation not slow and dull, but of a quick, ingenuous, and piercing spirit; acute to invent, subtile and sinewy to discourse, not beneath the reach of any point the highest that human capacity can soar to. Therefore the studies of learning in her deepest sciences have been so ancient, and so eminent among us, that writers of good antiquity and able judgment have been persuaded, that even the school of Pythagoras, and the Persian wisdom took beginning from the old philosophy of this island. And that wise and civil Roman, Julius Agricola, who governed once here for Cæsar, preferred the natural wits of Britain, before the laboured studies of the French. Nor is it for nothing that the grave and frugal Transilvanian sends out yearly from as far as the mountainous borders of Russia, and beyond the Hercynian wilderness, not their youth, but their staid men, to learn our language, and our theologic arts.

Yet that which is above all this, the favour and the love of Heaven, we have great argument to think in a peculiar manner propitious and propending towards us. Why else was this nation chosen before any other, that out of her, as out of Sion, should be proclaimed and sounded forth the first tidings and trumpet of reformation to all Europe? And had it not been the obstinate perverseness of our prelates against the divine and admirable spirit of Wickliff, to suppress him as a schismatic and innovator, perhaps, neither the Bohemian Husse and Jerom, no nor the name of Luther or of Calvin, had been ever known: the glory of reforming all our neighbours had been completely ours. But now, as our obdurate clergy have with violence demeaned the matter, we are become hitherto the latest and the backwardest scholars, of whom God offered to have made us the teachers. Now once again

by all concurrence of signs, and by the general instinct of holy and devout men, as they daily and solemnly express their thoughts, God is decreeing to bring some new and great period in his church, even to the reforming of reformation itself; what does he then but reveal himself to his servants, and as his manner is, first to his Englishmen? I say as his manner is, first to us, though we mark not the method of his counsels, and are unworthy. Behold now this vast city; a city of refuge, the mansion-house of liberty, encompassed and surrounded with his protection; the shop of war hath not there more anvils and hammers waking, to fashion out the plates and instruments of armed justice in defence of beleagured truth, than there be pens and heads there, sit ting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, révolving new notions and ideas wherewith to present, as with their homage and their fealty, the appraching reformation; others as fast reading, trying all things, assenting to the force of reason and convincement. What could a man require more from a nation so pliant and so prone to seek after knowledge? What wants there to such a towardly and pregnant soil, but wise and faithful labourers, to make a knowing people, a nation of prophets, of sages, and of worthies? We reckon more than five months yet to harvest; there need not be five weeks, had we but eyes to lift up, the fields are white already. Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity, will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making. Under these fantastic terrors of sect and schism, we wrong the earnest and zealous thirst after knowledge and understanding, which God hath stirred up in this city. What some lament of, we rather should rejoice at, should rather praise this pious forwardness among men, to reassume

the ill-deputed care of their religion into their own hands again. A little generous prudence, a little forbearance of one another, and some grain of charity might win all these diligencies to join and unite into one general and brotherly search after truth; could we but forego this prelatical tradition of crowding free consciences and christian liberties into canons and precepts of men. I doubt not, if some great and worthy stranger should come among us, wise to discern the mould and temper of a people, and how to govern it, observing the high hopes and aims, the diligent alacrity of our extended thoughts and reasonings in the pursuance of truth and freedom, but that he would cry out as Pyrrhus did, admiring the Roman docility and courage; If such were my Epirots, I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted to make a church or kingdom happy.

When a city shall be as it were besieged and blocked about, her navigable river infested, inroads and incursions round, defiance and battle oft rumoured to be marched up, even to her walls and suburb trenches; that then the people, or the greater part, more than at other times, wholly taken up with the study of highest and most important matters to be reformed, should be disputing, reasoning, reading, inventing, discoursing, even to a rarity and admiration, things not before discoursed or written of, argues first a singular good will, contendedness, and confidence in your prudent foresight, and safe government, Lords and Commons; and from thence derives itself to a gallant bravery and well grounded contempt of their enemies, as if there were no small number of as great spirits among us, as his was who when Rome was nigh besieged by Hannibal, being in the city, bought that piece of ground at no cheap rate, whereon Hannibal himself encamped his own regiment. Next, it

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