to produce an even scale in the hands of impartial Justice.

In the discussion of the principle, so opposed by this author, he divides the subject into Two Parts :He maintains, 1st, That the result of the operation of the London Female Penitentiary will never lessen, but increase, the sum of prostitution ;' and, 2dly, That it cannot be supported by precept or example from the word of God."

After making some remarks on Letters published in this Magazinė in September and November last, from the pen of Dr. Hawker, which Mr. Hale supposes to have been applicable to the London Female Penitentiary, but which were written with reference to a similar Institution at Plymouth, our author thus proceeds: To those who have even but a very superficial acquaintance with the Poor Laws of England, it will immediately occur, that there is no necessity for any one woman, however desperate her character, to continue in prostitution a single hour, to secure her daily support : to insist upon the contrary of this, is to libel the Parish Officers, the Magistrates, and the Legislature of the kingdom.'

We most readily confess, that our acquaintance with the complicated system of the Poor Laws of England is but superficial; yet we feel no danger of being found guilty, either intentionally or in point of fact, of libelling the three august bodies of men referred to, in venturing to assert, That the position laid down by Mr. Hale is not tenable.

We are much obliged to Mr. Hale for having, in this part of his work, given the public an opportunity of anticipating the probable fallacy of his speculative opinions, by offering to their notice something of a tangible nature; the truth or falsehood of which they are as capable of judg

ing as he can possibly be, notwithstanding all his allowed knowledge of parochial matters, and of deciding, by a reference to the laws of the land and daily experience.

We do therefore, on our part, 1st, Maintain that Workhouses never were designed by the Legislature as asylums for this unfortuuate class of persons; 2dly, That, in point of fact, such persons would be, as they generally have been, refused admis sion into Workhouses, unless they were either diseased or unable to work; 3dly, From the most moderate computation of the number of prostitutes, compared with the number of Workhouses in and about the metropolis, we feel no fear of contradiction in asserting most positively, That all the Workhouses together would not contain two-thirds of the number of street walkers; and this, even to the utter exclusion of all other paupers +.

We are, therefore, apprehensive that Mr. Hale has himself, in his bold assertion, libelled Parish-Officers, Magistrates, and the Legisla ture' itself, who, if his statement were true, are highly blameable for not advertising, in the most public manner, where and how these unhappy women may find a shelter; and in respect to the parish-officers in particular, for being so culpable as, in many instances, they have been, in refusing these poor crea tures the refuge they have sometimes sought: but even admitting that there were room for them all in the Workhouses, we leave it to our readers to judge, how far a 'prompt admission' into them, so confidently recommended by Mr. Hale as practicable, would tend to their reformation!

Mr. Hale then states the object of this Institution, which is to afford an asylum to females who, having deviated from the paths of Virtue,

are desirous of being restored by religious instruction, and the formation of moral and industrious habits, to a respectable station in society. I would,' says Mr. Hale, here, in the first place, observe, That any Institution which embraces and proceeds upon this principle, should meet with every encouragement that is in my power to give it; but I never recollect meeting with a greater difference between the theoretical sketch of any system and its practical execution, than there is between the professed object of the Female Penitentiary and the plan upon which it is conducted. To evince this great difference, he remarks, Females, who having deviated from the paths of Virtue, and are desirous of being restored by religious instruction, are not to be found in the nocturnal walks of abandoned prostitution, nor in the brothels of iniquity;' for if they have been seduced, pregnancy,' he proceeds to state, is ge nerally the consequence; but the doors of this asylum are for ever closed against such, unless they descend into prostitution; then they can have immediate access into this promising asylum, by adding to all their other crimes the sins of hypocrisy and lying. Yes; these filthy adepts at deceit know,'says he, they have only to patch up a few falsehoods to procure admission,' &c. P. 12.

We are sorry to differ from Mr. Hale, for whose character we entertaifi much respect; but it appears to as a very extraordinary assumption indeed, that no poor females in the nocturnal walks of abandoned prostitution, or in brothels, sigh for deliverance from their wretched course of life! Mr.Hale should have known better than to have asserted any thing in the shape of a negative, which cannot possibly be proved. There exists, however, in the aunals of the Magdalen and other similar Institutions, abundant proof of the contrary; and to the Reports of those Institutions we must beg leave to refer.

A very little attention, on the part of Mr. Hale, to the Rules of the Society, in respect to the admission of pregnant women, would have pre

Mr.Hale next proceeds to shew the influence which he thinks this plan is likely to produce upon the youth of both sexes, destitute of the fear of God, especially female servants, who will, he imagines, be allured to vice, by seeing abandoned prostitutes fostered and rewarded, while the preservation of their own virtue goes unrewarded. He illustrates this part of his argument by observ ing, That there are two things which predominate in the youthful breast: A vain curiosity and

a

vain presumption that they can leave off sinning when they please; thus prompting them to give full swing to their desires; and fancying, after a long sinful course, they can at any time gain admis sion to the Penitentiary, and have better wages and rewards than they ever had before; and in like manner, that similar effects must be expected on those who live in a state of private prostitution.

In order to examine the strength of this argument (if an argument it may be termed) we should first examine the mighty lure held out by the Society to produce this appre. hended mass of evil. By the Rules of the Society, partly stated by Mr. Hale himself (p. 13) there are probationary wards, and wards for persons fully admitted after probation (the time of probation being two months); so that unless they continue to be penitent, they can never

be fully admitted at all; which would also be the case if there should be no room for them in the house; 2diy, Every female must submit to the discipline of the house; to work with her hands, to endure confinement, and to a parti cular dress, &c. 3dly, Such shel ter is afforded to them for a season only; and, 4thly, It can be but for once in their lives. Now, is there any thing so alluring in all this, as to induce a female, in the prospect of it, to venture the loss of health, reputation, friends, yea, life itself, and what should be dearer than all, her eternal peace? Verily, we think not and certainly we have as good a right to speculate as Mr. Hale; for he has not adduced a solitary fact in support of his fanciful hypothesis!

Mr.Hale has, however, attempted in part to anticipate the answer, by remarking, That whenever a temptation is suggested, which is suited to depraved inclinations, Reason will make but little impression upon the mind, when it has to contend with the enchanting prospect of present gratification; and he instances the Lottery, as a striking proof of this remark.

"

We think Mr. Hale has, by this suggestion, completely undermined his own argument, or at least supplied his opponents with artillery against it; for if, as he says, Reason will make but little impression on the mind, when it has to contend with Gratification, we may fairly conclude, without looking to the walls of a Penitentiary for an asylum, that they never think at all; and if, for the sake of argument, it were admitted that they do think at such a season, it is not consistent 'with the mode in which Mr. Hale has put the case, that a miserable end should obtrude. itself on a mind inflated with the enchanting prospect of present gratification; but, on the contrary, like those miserable Lottery adventurers alluded to, they dream only of liberty, pomp, and pleasures; and promise themselves that to-morrow shall be as to-day, and much more abundant.'

But should we concede to Mr. Hale what we think he has denied to

his own argument, That Reason may hold her seat, it is equally reasonable to suppose, that females, looking forward to such prompt admission' might view it to be uncerlain; and, if obtained, temporary, laborious, and degrading! Mr. Whitfield used to say, You may tie a carnal man to a post, and pray him to death; and we believe that lewd women, who have no wish to be reformed, would, if they think at all, dread the thought of the pious discipline of the Penitentiary, and, perhaus, prefer the house of correction to a house of prayer.'

As Mr. Hale has taken his stand by objecting to the PRINCIPLE OD

which the London Female Penitentiary is founded, we beg leave to submit it to the consideration of our readers, Whether his assertion of Workhouses, being the legal receptacle for these weinen, does not involve in it a recommendation of the same thing, in a parochial form, which he denies to others in the shape of a Penitentiary? Let our readers · consider, take advice, and speak their minds.'

We are sorry our limits prevent us from following Mr. Hale through all his devious windings; we, therefore, hasten to examine what he states to be The last and most important circumstance that he has occasion to refer to, viz. 2dly, That the principle of the London Female Penitentiary cannot be supported by precept or example from the word of God and here we must congratulate ourselves and our readers, that Mr. Hale now quits the airy regions of uncertain speculation, and brings us to the only infallible rule -‘The Law and the Testimony.'

By this principle, says he, I mean that no society is authorized by the gospel to open an asylum for those exclusively that have been guilty of the most flagitions crimes, without the least distributive punishment!'

The crime of prostitution, though flagitious in the extreme, is notwithstanding a moral evil; against which, as such, there is no definite punishment by our civil law. A streetwalker, indecently exposing herself, and wandering about, may, perhaps,

be considered as coming within the Vagrant Act, and as punishable accordingly, but every other idle disorderly person, refusing to work, and wandering about, though not chargeable with the crime of prostitution, comes equally within the statute! Indeed, unless a woman of the former description has committed an act of vagrancy, she is not punishable by our courts of judicature, nor regarded as an offender against the law. Such a person, therefore, entering into an Asylum, is no more screened from punish ment, than any other criminal would be, who should take refuge in a Workhouse from inability to labour, or from disease.

If the civil laws of our country had provided suitable penalties for the crimes of fornication and prostitution, the punishment would scarcely have been entitled to the appellation of Distributive, unless it had been founded upon the same equal mea sure of justice as is displayed in Deut. xxii. 24, respecting adulterers: Then ye shall bring them both out of the gate of the city; and Je shall stone them with stones, that they die,' &c. Therefore, until Mr. Hale appears equally zealous that his own sex should not escape pu Bishment, we trust he will see it necessary to omit the word distributive in the next edition of his book. If the man is to go unpunished, while the wretched woman is to be hunted down like the solitary hare, with the hounds in full cry, alone accused, condemned, unpitied, Where, it may be fairly asked, is to be found in all this any thing like distributive justice?

The woman taken in adultery is next considered by Mr. Hale; because,' he says, the advocates for the Penitentiary quote it as a case in point, which will alone justify the Plan of the Institution.' Upon the motives on which our blessed Lord decided her case, Mr. Hale comments freely and at large;—but had we not already exceeded our usual limits, we should not have ventured to discuss the motives which influenced our Lord's decision. Such frail, erring mortals, are incapable

of knowing the mind of God; who giveth not any account of his matters. Our Redeemer wrote with his finger on the ground in silence: he also wrote on the tablet of their hearts, in indelible characters of poignant conviction; but to us, in respect of his motives, he is silent still. Our Saviour has, nevertheless, recorded the FACT in letters of precept and example, sufficiently plain for us to read the following inscription: When Jesus had lift up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.' - See also Matt. ix. 12. James ii. 3.

We are also decidedly against the reasoning of Mr. Hale, That the principle would apply with equal propriety to the erecting of Asylums for Felons, &c. These cases are widely different; which we could shew, in various particulars, though we have only room to mention one, which is, That the crime of prostitution, so far as it affects the party immediately injured, involves. in it a consentaneous or voluntary act by the party so injured; which will not apply to the case of a felon.

We do not, therefore, think Mr. Hale has, by arguments or proofs, made good any of his propositions. Towards the close of the work, there are some useful hints suggested, for the better regulation of parochial matters; which, we hope, will be more seriously regarded by the prin cipal persons in our parishes than they have hitherto been.

It being impossible for us at present to notice the numerous Answers to Mr. Hale, mentioned at the head of this article, so as to do justice to the zeal and ability of their respective authors, we must reserve our attention to them until the next month, especially as we are told that there are others yet in the press.

The Works of Archbishop Leighton. A new and enlarged Edition: together with the Life of the Author.

By the Rev. G. Jerment. Six vols. 8vo. 21. 8s.royal, 31. 3s. THE writings of Archbishop Leigh ton are so well known to the religious public, that our eulogium is perfectly needless. They were first introduced to notice, after the manuscripts bad lain concealed for many years, by the amiable Dr. Doddridge, in the year 1748. A second edition appeared since, recommended by the Rev. Mr. Foster. The increased number of persons possessing an evangelical taste, has given occasion for two more recent editions; one of which we have now the pleasure of announcing to our readers; and, without wishing to depreciate any other, we can with confidence recommend this, which was edited by the Rev. Mr.Jerment, whose ability for the task none who know that gentleman will dispute. Beside the external advantages of good paper and printing, appropriate titles are, for the first time, prefixed to the several discourses of the worthy Bishop. This edition also includes some of his pieces never before published; and particularly Lectures on the First Nine Chapters of St. Matthew's Gospel: Lectures which possess intrinsic evidence of their authenticity.

We have often lamented that the Life of the excellent author had hitherto been given us in a very brief and imperfect manner. A character so uncommonly excellent as that of Abp. Leighton ought to be drawn by a masterly hand, and at full length. The honour of performing this acceptable service was reserved for Mr. Jerment; to whom we feel ourselves indebted for the able manner in which he has accomplished it. This Memoir is placed (we know not for what reason) in the fifth volume, and occupies nearly 100 pages. The editor has availed himself of the materials before published; and of a manuscript communicated by J. Coldstream, Esq. Principal Clerk of the diocese of Dunblane, both in stating facts and in delineating the character of the author. The arrangement, the style, and the reflections are his own.

The Editor's Review of his Writings is entirely new; and, we think, ve. y judicious. He represents his semiments to be purely evange lical; his language unexceptionable, and extremely guarded; his thoughts frequently sublime, yet always plain and simple; his matter' full of variety; and, what is still more valuable, possessing a quality which it is easier to conceive and feel, than to express or describe.' The word unction conveys the best idea of it, the union of seriousness and warmth, a certain heavenly penetrating strain in the turn of sentiment and expression. The Bishop's Discourses, Mr. Jerment observes, are always practical; but the crowning excellence is the rich and deep vein of experimental religion, which runs through them all, which justifies the opinion of a good judge, who says, 'There is in the Works of Abp. Leighton a spirit I never met with in any human writ-' ings; nor can I read many lines in them without being moved.'

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To those who are unacquainted with these admirable writings, we recommend them as a treasure of incalculable value; and which cannot be perused by a serious Christian without an eminent degree of pious pleasure and solid edification.

The Scripture Expositor. By the Rev. Samuel Burder, A. M. First Half Vol. 11. 148.-royal, 21.10s.

WE are happy to find that this Work has proceeded thus far, in consistency with its original plan; and that the embellishments, which are much superior to those generally given with Periodical Works, do not degenerate. They are chiefly historical; and copied from the Works of the most celebrated Masters; others illustrate the sacred antiquities of the Hebrews.

Our limits will not admit Extracts from the Explanatory Notes: but we give a short Extract from the Practical Reflections on 1 Sam. iii as a specimen of Mr. Burder's style and manner of improving the Sacred History:

Blessings suitably received and