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Art. 10. Virtues of British Herbs. With the Hiftory, Defcription, and Figures of the feveral Kinds; an Account of the Diseases they will cure; the Method of giving them; and Management of the Patients in each Difeafe: Containing Cures-Q. the Gravel by a Tea of Golden Rod; of fcorbutic Blemishes by a Decoction of Eupatorium; and of the Piles by Yarrow. An Account of the eminent Virtues of Butterburr in peftilential Fevers, and the Plague itfelf. And of the Excellence of Flowers of Tanzy for the Cure of Worms. The ower of Confound as a vulnerary; and the original Receipt for Arquebujade water; with an Inftance of an inveterate Stomach-complaint cured by a Tea of the Flowers of feet Fever-few. The Whole illuftrating that important Truth, that the Plants of our own Country will cure all its Difcafes. To which is added, the Manner of raifing Yarrow, for increafing the Quantity of wholefome Pafturage in Grafs Grounds. A Work intended to be ufeful to the Sick, and to their Friends; to private Families; and to the charitable, who would help their Neighbours. Number II. To be continued occafionally, as new Virtues are difcovered in Plants; or neglected or doubtful ones afcertained by Experience. By John Hill, M. D. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Baldwin, &c. 1770.

TH

HIS loquacious title-page has fo great an appearance of puffing and quackery, that it may prejudice fome Readers againft the work which it defcribes. We are perfuaded, nevertheless, that the defign of the publication is very commendable. It were to be wished that the qualities and effects of the herbs defcribed, had been all attefted from the Doctor's own experience and knowledge; but there are fome inftances in which he feems chiefly to depend on what he has learned from other perfons. Of the first number of this work we took notice fome months ago: this fecond, like the former, befide a particular defeription of the different herbs, is attended with a print of each. In defcribing the matricaria fuaveolens, or fweet fever-few, we are told of a fingular and ftriking instance he had of its virtues fome years ago, when he was, we are informed, defired by the late Dutchefs of Richmond to vifit a farmer's wife, who was perishing from mere want of nourishment.' 'An averfion, fays he, to all food had poffeffed her for many months, not to be accounted for by any means, or equalled by all that has been written in medicine. It was fcarce poffible to get her to tafte any thing whatever; and a few minutes after the least morfel was down, the always threw it up again. I found her in the ufe of a tea made from this plant; and as her friends thought it promifed good, I recommended the continuance of it. The tea was made only from the yellow difks of the flowers clipped into boiling water. A clergyman in the neighbourhood had taught her the method, and fhewed her the plant. The infufion was the most grateful bitter that could be tafted. Her ftomach, that abhorred

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abhorred gentian and the like, bore this; and by a conftant perfeverance in it she was cured.'

After defcribing the achillea, or yarrow, it is obferved, that greater care is neceffary than men commonly use, to fhew what plants are and what are not valuable; becaufe the yarrow is a plant left standing always in fed paftures, therefore it has been thought unferviceable; but yarrow, fays our Author, ftill is useful. I fowed fome in a barren patch of grafs ground; and all the while the leaves were tender the cows and horfes eat them heartily; and it proved wholefome, and doubled the natural produce. On cutting down the ftalks as they rofe, it ftill kept in leaf and freshness, growing as it was eaten.' He proceeds afterwards to speak of its medicinal qualines and ufe.

The fenecio farrenicus, or faracens confound, is, we are told, the great ingredient of the Swiss arquebufade-water. Among the many receipts for making this famous water, the beft, the Doctor fays, which he has feen, he obtained by purchase from a perfon of veracity and knowledge, and is happy in this opportunity of giving it to the public, becaufe every one who has an alembic may make it with the greatest eafe.' The recipe follows, but for the particulars we must refer our Readers to the pamphlet.

The petafites ovatus, or common butterburr, receives great praises from this Author. "Tis, fays he, one of those innumerable instances that the providence of God, ever attentive to the good of man, has placed thofe things about us in great plenty, that can be of great ufe. This is an admirable medicine in fevers of the worst kind; and taken early it prevents the mischiefs that often rife naturally in the difeafe; and oftener from the errors of phyficians.' When a disease of the putrid kind prevailed, it is faid, in England about twenty years ago, the fame fever raged at the fame time in Germany; and while we died by bleedings, and by chemical medicines, they lived by butterburr.' He proceeds to fpeak very feriously of a heavier vifitation, with which a while ago it was imagined we were threatened; and adds, if that greatest of all calamities should come, there are few things from which we may expect fo great relief as from this herb. Tis no new or hafty observation. The Greeks ufed it with the greatest fuccefs; and the very name of the plant among the Germans, is peftilence-wort.'

He goes on to acquaint us in what method the root of butterburr is to be used, whether for this or for a lefs calamity; for putrid fevers, or for what is called the fore throat with ulcers, which is indeed, fays he, only one fymptom of a putrid fever, however otherwife it has been spoken of.' The account of this herb is closed by producing fome great authorities in its favour, and then he asks, Shall we go on-But it were needlefs to prove the fun gives light; 'tis fcarce lefs certain, or lefs obvious, that this root, beyond all things elfe, cures peftilential fevers.'

Under one article he laments the great confufion that has arifen about the names of plants, particularly of fome, of whofe ufe Diof corides had experience. We have, fays he, been falling into the fame mischief now; and all knowledge faded before it. I hope this publication may have its ufe in flopping the progrefs of a custom,

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which must in time deftroy every attempt to help mankind. The greatest forrow is, that the most respected names have given too much countenance to the practice. Linnæus, worthy of all praife, yet not without his faults, has given the names of Diofcorides's plants to new kinds found lately in America.' The paragraph is oddly concluded with faying, If fuch a method be not stopped, good night to all.'-Good night to you, Doctor.

POLITICAL.

Hi.

Art. 11. A Refutation of a Pamphlet, called, Thoughts on the late Tranfactions refpecting Falkland's Ifland. In a Letter addreffed to the Author, and dedicated to Dr. Samuel Johnfon. 8vo. 1 s. Evans. 1771.

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This publication fully refutes the fallacious reafonings employed in Dr. J.'s pamphlet, and expofes the difingenuity of its Author. St. Art. 12. The original Power of the collective Body of the People of England examined and afferted. Addreffed to the King, Lords, and Commons. Neceffary to be read at this alarming Crifis. 8vo. 1 s. Williams. 1771.

This appears to us to be an old tract; and it has evidently been indebted for its republication to its title, and not to its merit.

DRAMATIC.

St. Art. 13. He would if he could; or, an old Fool worse than any: A Burletta, as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drurylane, The Music by Mr. Dibdin. 8vo. 1 S. Griffin. 1771. Goes an eafy hand-gallop with the right foot foremost, in that kind of titupping burlefque rhyme which feems ridiculously enough, and, therefore, well enough adapted to subjects of this kind.-The old Fool marries his maid. L. Art. 14. The Fair Orphan: A comic Opera of Three Acts, as performed at the Theatre at Lynh, by Mr. G. A. Stevens's Company of Comedians. 8vo.. 1 s. 6d. Nicoll. 1771. The plot inartificial, the dialogue unnatural, the characters. ill diftinguished, the underplot impertinent, and the whole a heap of abfurdities.

POETICAL.

Art. 15. The Triumph of Fashion; a Vision. 4to:

Griffin. 1771.

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Is. 6 d.

Wit and Senfe are here reprefented as foolish enough to go to war with Fashion, and their campaign is, of courfe, unfuccefsful. Dulness is made one of Fathion's generals, in which appointment we do not fee much propriety; but poffibly the Author's connection with the Goddess might induce him to give her that preferment. L Art. 16. An Elegy written in Covent Garden. 4to. 1s. Ridley. 1771.

The progrefs of a thief to Tyburn, in a parody on the Elegy written in a Country Church-yard. Here and there the Parodist affords us a droll ftanza; but, upon the whole, it is a dull performance. L.

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See Review for April, p. 339. ·

Art. 17.

1771.

Boards.

Art. 17. Penferofo; or, the penfive Philofopher in his Solitudes;
a Poem in fix Books. By the Rev. James Foot. 8vo. 4 s.
Bathurst.
Mr. Foot, in this poem, introduces an imaginary perfon of the
name of Penferofo, reflecting upon the ftate of the moral and natu-
ral, the religious and civil world. He means very well, but he writes
unhappily. His poem affords innumerable inftances of the Bathos
and had it been published before the treatife on that fubject was
written, it would have faved the Authors the trouble of coining,
The Macedonian Prince, with glory drunk.

And fooping gods attentive hear his tale.
In him the direful work was but begun
For others bleed by droves.'

Give me to pass within this facred dome,
Where death is to be seen in highest tafte,

A warrior frowns in ftone, his legs across.

The grinders loft,

Or leffen'd, the digeftive power declines.
Such is the mifery of being toothless, and-tastelefs!

L.

Art. 18. The Proflitute; a Poem. The Author J. H, Wynne. 4to. 2 s. Wheble. 1771.

The old idea of a country parfon's daughter, debauched by a man of fortune, revived, and the story told in a very unequal manner; in fome places quite below mediocrity, trite and tedious; in others fpi. rited and picturesque.

How chang'd the fad Meliffa now appears!

How counts her fighs, and drinks her falling tears!
Tears vainly fhed for many a fecret crime
That ftains the rolls of her departed time!

Her waning form keen hunger's power betrays,
And fcorching thirft, which on ber entrails preys;
Deep marks of grief her faded vifage plough,
And gloomy care fits heavy on her brow.
Sorrow, remorfe, and fhame, a hideous train,
Sickness and want, and heart-diftracting pain,
With confcious guilt that fharpeft anguish breeds,
And fell defpair, that prompts to blackest deeds;
All these within her tortur'd bofom fwell,
Rage, and diffract her with the pains of hell,
Banish fweet fleep, or to her clofing eye
Ten thousand dreadful dreams of woe fupply.

The critical Reader will perceive, in this short specimen, the inequalities we have mentioned; and the fair Reader will see a true picture of ruined virtue.

1.

NOVELS.

NOVEL S.

Art. 19. Harriet; or, the Innocent Adulterefs. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. Baldwin.

The Author fteps forth-a champion for the ladies, against the principle adopted in the caufe between the D. of C. and Lord Gr-r, which convicts the Lady, on prefumptive evidence; and in the fuppofed fituations, which he has artfully ftretched to the utmoft, he brings off his heroine as innocent, notwithstanding the ftrong and almost irrefiftable circumstances which appeared upon the trial.-His manner is very fprightly; and the agreeable ftrain of his writing might entitle him to approbation, could we, with propriety, commend a work which the just severity of moral criticism must certainly condemn, as having too much the air of an apology for that heinous though fashionable crime, which feems, in thefe licentious times, and in the higher ranks of life, to need no degree of encouragement. Art. 20. Letters from Clara; or, the Effufions of the Heart. Izmo. 2 Vols. 5 s. fewed. Wilkie. 1771.

The Author of thefe Letters, unacquainted with real life, and poffeffed of no powers of imagination, has had the prefumption to imagine that he could compofe an affecting novel. But the heart has no concern in his Effufions. Cold, infipid, and devoid of cirmftances, they difplay neither intrigue nor paffion. The morality, indeed, which they inculcate, is pure and commendable; but though they have this advantage in their favour, we fcruple not to confign them to the peaceful regions of obscurity. 8t Art. 21. The Man of Feeling. 12mo. 2 s. 6d. fewed... Cadell, 1771.

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This performance is written after the manner of Sterne; but it follows at a prodigious distance the fteps of that ingenious and fentimental writer. It is not however totally deftitute of merit; and the Reader, who weeps not over fome of the fcenes it defcribes, has no fenfibility of mind. But it is to be obferved, that the knowledge of men it contains, appears to be rather gathered from books than experience; and that, with regard to compofition, it is carelefs, and abounds in provincial and Scottish idioms. It is probably a first work; and from the fpecimen it affords of the talents of its Author, we fhould not be difpofed to think that he will ever attain to any great eminence in literature. He may amufe himself at the foot of Parnaffus; but to afcend the fteeps of the mountain muft be the talk of thofe on whom their benignant ftars have bestowed the rare gifts of true genius. St. Art. 22. The Curate of Coventry: A Tale. By John Potter, Author of the Hiftory and Adventures of Arthur O'Bradley. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. fewed. Newbery. 1771.

The economy of this piece has fome degree of merit. In other refpects it is unworthy of attention. Readers of the lower claffes may find fomething to please them in it; but for those who have fenfibility, and who can distinguish the strokes of genius, it will have fewer charms.

St

LAW.

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