Our salt marshes, if fairly estimated, are in their present state a nuisance, in many cases a positive detriment, because they encourage farmers to neglect their fresh water meadows, and annually mow the coarse, miserable grasses they produce, as by the aid of salt hay, their cows and young stock are made to eat them, and thus preserve existence through the winter. In some instances they go ten or twelve miles to obtain this hay, which if they were without, they would be obliged to bestow the same labour on their wet, cold lands at home, and in a very few years, for a quantity of meadow and salt hay, would obtain an equal quantity of the best English hay. In all the maritime counties the salt marshes are an important, perhaps the most important portion of our lands. Attempts to dyke them out against the salt water have in many places been made, and in most without success, which must certainly be owing to the grossest ignorance, or mismanagement. An example of success may be seen on the westerly side of the Medford turnpike, near Medford, which [we speak of them as they were last year] are the most beautiful fields of grass in the state.

A succession of crops is one of the most essential parts of managing a farm in Europe. In this state it is hardly known or practised. Some experiments to ascertain what would be the best succession, where Indian corn is one of the products, would be of great service to every part of the state. But this, as well as our other observations, may have been anticipated; as we have only the publication of the present year before us.

On the whole, we may congratulate this most respectable society and the publick at large, that very considerable improvements have been made within a few years; and every man who has examined the appearance of the country must have perceived how greatly it is ameliorated. Still much, very much remains to be done; and we have no doubt that the efforts of this institution will stimulate intelligent individuals in different parts of the state to the most useful and honourable exertions.

ART. 4.

The Analogy of Religion, natural and revealed, to the Constitution and Course of Nature. To which are added Two brief Dissertations; 1. On Personal Identity; 2. On the Nature of Virtue. Together with a Charge, delivered to the clergy of the Diocese of Durham, at the primary visitation, in the year, 1751. By Joseph Butler, L. L. D. late Lord Bishop of Durham.

Ejus (analogiae) haec vis est, ut id quod dubium est ad aliquod simile de quo non quaeritur, referat, ut incerta certis probet. Quint. Inst. Orat. lib. 1. cap. 6. Second American edition. To which is prefixed the Life of the author, by Dr. Kippis, with a preface giving some account of his character and writings, by Samuel Halifax, D. D. late Lord Bishop of Gloucester. Boston; published by D. West, No. 56 Cornhill, 1809. It is now somewhat more than seventy years, since a copy of the first edition of the Analogy was presented by its author, then her majesty's clerk of the closet, to Queen Caroline.

In England, the character of this treatise is so well settled, that the number of the edition is no longer mentioned in the title page; and it is certainly no small proof of a sincere attachment on this side of the water to christianity, as she appears through the medium of the New Testament in the resplendent purity of her author, that this admirable work has within ten years gone through two large editions from the same press. Indeed Bishop Butler's Analogy is so well known, it is so much and so often read and admired by every lover of sound logick and sober piety, that we found no surprise mingled with the pleasure we felt on hearing of Mr. West's proposals for a second Boston edition.

This edition, though far enough from squalid, is by no means so elegant as the Analogy deserves. And though the press may, and indeed so far as our examination went, appears to have been carefully corrected, yet we fear that many will complain of the tawny paper, and some, perhaps, whose eyes are beginning to fail, may be even querulous enough to ask, whether a larger and clearer type than Mr. West has chosen would not have looked a little better. Such however as this edition is, we welcome its publication as an omen auspicious to the cause of truth.

If, instead of sending from their presses the extravagant memoirs and experiences of bigots and fanaticks, our printers would become competitors in attempting, by means of new editions of such books as the Analogy, to restore religion to her native and primitive rationality, cheerfulness, and benevolence, the sullen scowl, and the petrifick frown of superstition would vanish, and in their places we should see not only the marks of humility and penitence, but the smile of hope and the tear of joy opening on the cheek and glistening in the eye of every real christian.

It must be attributed to that deplorable ignorance of the essential nature of religion, which has so long darkened, and which still continues, with a moral eclipse of most portentous gloom, to darken and dismay the understanding, that the dogmas of Calvin, sublimed as they are and elaborated, by that great spiritual chymist, Dr. Hopkins, in his metaphysical alembick, to essences so pure and simple as, when sealed in his phials of wrath, to appear unpolluted by the smallest sediment or caput mortuum of common sense.....to this cause we think it must be attributed, that these principles ever found, and now find numerous favourers in New England. And indeed it is really astonishing, that sentiments which seem so contrary to the precepts and doctrines of our blessed Saviour, as delivered by himself in the gospels, and explained and enforced in their epistles and lives by his holy apostles and martyrs, should ever become the belief of any man who considers God in his paternal character. But since this system is embraced by many, and has its pensioners and advocates among us, its effects can be counteracted only by the diffusion of that kind of knowledge and reasoning which so eminently distinguishes the Analogy of Butler. Such then, and so solemn is the obligation, resulting from existing circumstances, and attaching with a sacred inviolable responsibility on those gentlemen who hold the office of printers.

The two dissertations on Personal Identity and the Nature of Virtue are among the finest specimens of metaphysical and moral reasoning.

The Charge, &c. as it subjected Bishop Butler fifteen years after his death to the suspicion of popish predilections, is worthy of something more than a hasty perusal.

Dr. Kippis's Life of Butler, though rather meagre, is perhaps as satisfactory as we ought to expect.

Bp. Halifax's preface contains a full account and a fair estimate of Bishop Butler's writings and character.

ART. 5.

An Oration, delivered before the Washington Benevolent Society in the city of New York, at Zion Church, on the 22d, day of February 1809, by Samuel M. Hopkins, Esq. Published by the Society. New York; J. Seymour, pp. 20. 1809.

The object of this society is to appropriate one day in the year, the day that gave him birth, to the celebration of the virtues and services of Washington. What object can be more worthy an association of Americans? The objects of the society are thus described. "We, who are here, occupy that middle space in time which connects the contemporaries of Washington with their successors. We begin, as to him, the age of history. Hence, my brethren of the Washington Benevolent Society, we have sought to establish an institution, in which a perpetual succession of men should preserve the memory of our hero, and hold up his example for imitation and instruction to each passing age. Be it ours to give an admiring posterity a just conception of what he was, to show them we are not wholly ungrateful, and to consecrate to fame and to glory a day which hereafter will be distinguished in the annals of the benefactors of mankind.

"Another duty also claims our attention. We have seen, that some who passed their youth in the field with Washington, pass their age in misery. Sometimes we see the wreck of an American soldier; he whose heart beat high with the love of liberty and the hope of fame; he who, proud of the array of splendid war, marched in the front and panted for the conflict; he who braved the battle and the storm, the summer's heat and the winter's frost, all ardour and emulation in the publick cause; see him now broken with misfortune, bowed down with grief, despoiled of the sword and the plume of war, and forgetful of the pride of victory, see him feeble and desponding, perhaps asking a pittance from a country which he so honourably defended and, like Washington, ready to breathe his last sighs in prayers for her safety. Can we who enjoy the fruit of his toils be indifferent to his sufferings? To you, my brethren of the Washington Benevolent Society, the appeal was not made in vain; you provided for the war-worn veteran; you lighted up a smile on the brow of despondency; you have

bestowed a blessing upon the last hours of him whose youth was spent in procuring blessings for you."

Such are the valuable objects of the society before which this oration was delivered; the execution is not unworthy of them. The reader has already seen that it is much superiour to the quotidian shadows, its kindred. One more extract.

"When the traveller, therefore, in ages to come shall inquire for the monument of Washington, the answer will be, "behold the empire which he founded." What other can we raise? Shall perishable marble, shall columns of brass, shall pantheons or triumphal arches affect to add to the durability of his fame? Presumptuous piles of dust! His example shall stand a light and a consolation to man, when statues and monuments and arches and temples shall have crumbled into ruins."

True, a monument could add nothing to the fame of Washington, but does not its absence reproach the gratitude of America? Will not posterity cast a doubtful eye on those written encomiums, when scarcely a marble stone attested the fervour of their writers. In our opinion, the first appropriation of revenue, which could be spared from the necessities of the state, should be made for a monument to our hero. There should be one spot to concentrate in more vivid recollection the virtues of that character, whose remembrance is diffused through a continent. Its solemn shade should invite to musing on magnanimity, and love of country. What scholar ever passed Pausilippo, and did not bless the hand that erected a tomb to Virgil and planted a laurel by its side? What American could lean on the tomb of Washington, and not feel his heart purified by the holy influence of patriotism and virtue almost divine?

RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW.

ART. 1.

New England's Memorial, or a brief Relation of the most memorable and remarkabe passages of the Providence of God manifested to the Planters of New England in America, with special reference to the first colony thereof, called New Plymouth. Published for the use and benefit of present and future generations, by Nathaniel Morton, Secretary to the Court of Jurisdiction of New Plymouth. Boston; reprinted for Nicholas Boone, at the sign of the Bible in Cornhill, 1721.

THE first edition of this work was published in the year 1669, and the preface to it is valuable. It is a review of Mr. Morton's narrative, and recommendation of the same by two worthies of that age, who have since been celebrated among the greatest divines of our country, John Higginson, of Salem, and Thomas Thacher, of Boston.

"It is much to be desired there might be extant A complete History of the United Colonies of New England, that God may have the praise of his goodness to his people here, and that the present and future generations may have the benefit thereof. This being not attainable for the present, nor suddenly to be expected, it is very expedient, that, while sundry of the eldest planters are yet living, records and memorials of remarkable providences be preserved and published, that the true originals of these plantations may not be lost; that New England, in all times to come, may remember the day of her smallest things, and that there may be a furniture of materials for a true and full history in after times.

"For these and such like reasons we are willing to recommend unto the reader this present narrative as a useful piece. The author is an approved godly man, and one of the first planters at Plymouth. The work itself is compiled with modesty of spirit, simplicity of style, and truth of matter, containing the annals of New England, for the space of forty seven years, with special reference to Plymouth colony, which was the first, and where the author hath had his constant abode. And, yet so far as his intelligence did reach, relating many remarkable passages in the several colonies; and also making an honourable mention of divers of the most eminent servants of God that have been amongst us in several parts of the country, after they had finished their course. We hope that the labour of this good man will find a general acceptance amongst the people of God, and also be a means to provoke some or other in the rest of the colonies, who have had knowledge of things from the beginning, to contribute their observations and memorials also; by which means, what is wanting in this narrative, may be supplied by some others; and so in the issue, from divers memorials there may be matter for a just History of New England in the Lord's good time. In the mean time, this may stand for a monument, and be deservedly acknowledged as an Ebenezer, that hitherto the Lord hath helped us.

March 26, 1669.

JOHN HIGGINSON.
THOMAS THACHER."

That the remarks are just, which are contained in this preface, will be readily believed from the use made of the "Memorial" by all succeeding writers. When Mr. Prince wrote his Annals, which will ever be a text book to those who wish instruction in the affairs of New England, he speaks of this "Memorial" as the first source of his own information. "The first book put into my hand," says he, "was The New England Memorial, composed by Mr. Secretary Morton, being the history of Plymouth Colony from the beginning to 1668." The work certainly contains a fund of interesting intelligence concerning the early events which happened in this country, and is worthy of perusal at this day, although the facts will not appear new to those who have read larger histories.

We have endeavoured to obtain a fuller account of the author than has yet been given to the publick. We know his character to be eminently pious from what is related in the preface to the first edition of his book, but we generally require more complete biographical sketches of a man who is so often quoted, and who did so much service to the community. From the Plymouth Records it appears, that he was secretary of the court from the year 1671 to 1685, the year of his death. He must, however, have acted in this capacity before the years mentioned, because he is styled secretary of this jurisdiction in the letters that passed between Massachusetts and New Plymouth, concerning the contest with the Dutch which agitated the united colonies a number of years. In this business Massachusetts acted a part which never would have been forgiven, had not events turned out more favourably than were then expected. Old politicians, grown grey in