their answering to their important trust, with the omission of what refers to the preceding part of the service. In the form of marriage the introductory address, and very frequently the whole of that part of it which follows the first benediction, are entirely omitted. On prayer days, for which an epistle and gospel are appointed, particularly those in the Passion week, I have noticed the omission of the communion service, when the collect, &c. for the day have been introduced previous to the general thanksgiving. As for the Athanasian creed, I have reason to believe it is not only often neglected, but in some instances by those who would be very sorry to encourage any licentious deviations from the worship prescribed by the liturgy. Another unwarrantable innovation of which I beg leave to complain, is the adoption of the latitudinarian doxology, "Now unto the only true and wise God, through his Son our Saviour Christ, be ascribed undivided power, honour and adoration, for ever and ever." or Now, Sir, if these glaring irregularities are to be tolerated, to what purpose, I wish to be informed, have the salutary restrictions of the church been prescribed, why have obedience and strict conformity to its canons been enjoined? Can these gentlemen presume to suppose that the tacit sufferance of their mutilation of the church service warrants their disingenuous abuse of their office, or exempts them from compliance with the requisitions to which they have so solemnly subscribed their assent? As a friend to order I cannot but think that it would be a truly fortunate circumstance were there to be found in every situation where such heterodox pastors are planted, some honest relation of Jon. Drapier to oppose and chastise their irregular conduct. I am, Sir, With sentiments of sincere respect, SPECTATOR. THE THE MAGDALEN HOSPITAL. I TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S SIR, MAGAZINE. WAS very much gratified with the "Short Account of the Magdalen Hospital," given in the Orthodox Churchman's Magazine for February 1805, p. p. 136-139," inclusive; and I doubt not many of your readers have received an equal degree of satisfaction with myself from the perusal of it. Your correspondent M. A. who furnished you with that account, was pleased to say on that occasion," Should the account be, as I am persuaded it will, well received, you shall very soon hear from me again on the same subject." As an individual I hope M.A. will have the goodness to send you a further communication on the subject as soon as possible; and I doubt not the generality of your readers will feel as much gratified as myself with reading it. To expatiate on the benevolent motives, or the great and widely-extended benefit arising from the institution abovementioned, whether we regard the unhappy objects of the charity themselves, the advantage which must accrue to the cause of virtue, from their being reclaimed and again restored to the paths of goodness; or to society in general, from the effects of this favourable change, would, I feel convinced, be altogether unnecessary: they are such as must powerfully and instantaneously strike every bosom wherein the smallest spark of goodness resides. The very favourable account which your correspondent has already given, induces me to wish for a further report from him on the subject; and I humbly hope that the countenance and favour of heaven will be extended to an institution, so peculiarly calculated to add at the same time to the sum of human happiness and human virtue. I am persuaded that your readers would be gratified with some account of that extensive charity the FOUNDLING HOSPITAL in London, from the hand of some of your numerous correspondents who, by situation or other circumstances may be qualified to give it: as I am of opinion that such an account, in the pages of your widelyextended L12 extended publication would be very likely to call forth the charitable contributions of the opulent and humane in the more remote parts of the empire, who from their distance from the metropolis, may not have hitherto had the opportunity of having the merits of that charity laid open to their view. I think also that some particular notice of the charity for the Sons of the Clergy, (so intimately connected with the cause of Orthodoxy, which you have espoused,) either on the anniversary commemoration at St. Paul's, or otherwise as you deem most proper, would highly become the pages of the Orthodox Churchman's Magazine. Not doubting but your candour will receive the above hints in the same friendly spirit as they are intended, I remain, Sir, Creech St. Michael, Your most obedient, And very humble servant, TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE. The HUMBLE PETITION of the AFFLICTED LETTER U. SHEWETH, THA HAT your petitioner hath,since time immemorial, been your useful and respectable adherent to the family of the vowels, but that she hath been, lately, through the capricious pedantry of divers university grammarians and elaborate lexicographers, deprived of her former respect and station, insomuch that she is neither in favour or honour, though she still remains in court. Conceiving you, by similarity of title, to be in some wise related, she, in all humility, layeth before your Orthodox wisdom and discretion her most deplorable case, praying your exertions to restore her to her pristine eminence and avocation. Various have been the disputations concerning the proper mode of pronouncing the title of her sister a, whom many wise heads of colleges would metamor phose phose into e, and dreadful have been the squabbles on that account; though no person in his sound senses would transmute the original alpha into elpha. Neither doth your petitioner see any good, cogent reason, why (in despite of any other usurping letter), she should not take the right of Urydice, ulogy, umour, as well as of Ulysses, urinal, or union. She cannot forbear smiling at such ridiculous innovation, though she is not so much in humour as she once was, nor can she think those great masters of languages have power to discard her from ac tual service, without electing another substitute, either better or worse, in her room. As she placeth her entire confidence in you, she requests you to introduce her complaint to the public; and to inform them, that though the Romans did not think fit to use her so well, or so often as they ought, yet that should not influence the moderns to annihilate the vassal of their forefathers, with whom she was in high estima tion, as will appear from all ancient records. Your petitioner further prayeth your endeavours to exert such critical castigation as may, in future, deter all verbal refiners from kidnapping, castrating, and transporting, at their will and pleasure, any of his gracious Majesty's liege letters: or from omitting them entirely in utterance, after the French manner, who frequently jump over whole consonants, and deem the melody of diction mended thereby. Hoping you will lose no time in this literary reform, and that, through your admonition, many of her unhappy family may be saved from destruction, who now wander about without house or home, so that the law against our evil-disposed persecutors may be, in time, as severe as that against clippers and coiners, she wish eth you all prosperity, success, and solace; and your humble petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c. &c. The Forlorn U. Criss-cross-corner, Alphabet-lane. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE. I SIR, HAVE been perusing lectures in divinity, lately given in the university of Cambridge by Dr. Hey, as Norrisian professor, and since published. I cannot hope an anonymous testimony in their favour will add much to their intrinsic recommendation; it still may be of some service, and I am sure, it is a tribute justly due to the worthy author of them. Were I to describe, in general terms, the effects of them upon an attentive reader, I should say, judging from experience, they were eminently calculated to improve the heart, enlarge the mind, and rectify the judgment. So much good sense added to so much diffidence and candour I have seldom met with. They discuss freely the opinions of all parties, and yet no party can take offence. They conciliate even where they oppose. Mutual forbearance and moderation are their leading features. These virtues, however, are not carried to a vicious extreme. Concession steers clear of an unmanly desertion, and charity is not suffered to infringe the laws of self-security. In short, the general adoption of their spirit, would supersede the necessity of sects, as well as, in great measure, obliterate their existence; and we might, were it to prevail, indulge a rational hope of seeing the "faith held in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace." To the candidate for orders I would particularly recommend the work in question. Besides giving the most rational and satisfactory explanation of each of the 39 Articles, it affords the best general instruction on the nature and grounds of subscription, The thirteen chapters, which by advertisement prefixed to the second volume, seem to have incurred the disapprobation of certain members of the university, appear to me to be misjudged. If they do wear the semblance of finesse and refinement, it is but the semblance. They are more in danger of suffering from a superficial inspection, than from a close examination; and in proportion as they are investigated, will the soundness of their principles be seen to sanction the justness of their conclusions, ནས་ After |