Such preachers and fuch fermons do, I doubt, But wafte our time, and tire our patience out.' Strange that moral inftruction fhould always be confidered, by thefe people, as vafte of time! And yet fome noted ones among them feem to have stood much in need of it. Art. 26. Verfes occafioned by a Poem entitled, "The Gray's- In the Review for November, p. 387, we condemned the Apprentice's poem,'-the Gray's-Inn Affociation. The verfes now before us are ftill worse, and were, no doubt, written by the Porter, or the Errand Boy.-Melancholy confequences, thefe, among others, of the decay of trade! In former days, the fhop-keepers could find their fervants better employment. Art. 27. La Bagatelle. On the Ufe and Abufe of Satire ; occafioned by the Guildhall Orators, and other (fo called) “ Satirical Poems." 4to. 6d. Fuller. 1780. This beadle of the court of Parnaffus (for fuch is the title which the Writer has ufurped) has much over-rated his own powers, in thinking himself qualified for any office in that court. NOVEL S. C-t-t, Art. 28. Gilham Farm, or the Hiftory of Melvin and Lucy. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. fewed. Noble. 1780. This trifling novel, which for the fize of the type, and the extent of the fpaces, hath few equals, even in this book-making age, is fabricated to introduce fome feemingly original accounts of India. Allured by the fuccefs of Emily Montague, and the pleafing defcriptions of Canada in that agreeable novel, the Author hath followed his original with unequal teps. The defcriptions are meagre and fcanty, with little colouring; and the reflections vague and trite, without novelty or acuteness. It contains an oriental vifion, which is faid to be original, and deserves in fome degree to be exempted from the common cenfure to which the reft of the performance is jully entitled. It is, however, very inferior to the luxuriant reveries of Hawkesworth, which, if they are not entirely in the oriental ate, are in many refpects fuperior to it.This novel alfo contains defcription of the famine in Bengal; and the Author endeavours to exculpate the COMPANY from the load of infamy that hath been cast on them and their fervants, by obferving, that the moft liberal participation of their treafures could have only warded off the fatal catastrophe for a very short time. The ftory of Melvin and Lucy is highly improbable, and scarcely worth relating; and the language, though on the whole not inelegant, is frequently incorrect.The poetry (for feveral little pieces in verfe are interfperfed for the fake of variety) fcarcely rifes above infipidity. In short, this production is too flimfy and uninterefting to merit praise, while the most experienced critic can hardly point out its particular faults. "We cannot blame indeed, but we may fleep." B--k. Art. 29. Sketch of the Times, or the Hiftory of Lord Derville. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. fewed. Bew. 1780. If the times are in reality fo bad as they are here represented, we hall no longer condemn the gloomy pictures drawn by difcontented moralifts and fplenetic divines; nor attribute to the dictates of difappointment F 4 pointment what may have been the effect of obfervation. This in PHILOSOPHICAL, &c. Art. 30. A Differtation on Rivers and Tides. Intended to demonitrate the Effect of Bridges, Cuttings, removing of Shoals and Imbankments; and to investigate in particular the Confequences of fuch Works on the River Thames. By Robert Erskine, Engineer, &c. Refpe&tfully addreffed and recommended to the Confideration of the Nobility, Gentry, and Public at large; particularly the Proprietors of Lands on the Banks of the Thames, between Cricklade and Gravefend, with a View to the Amendment of the ruinous Condition of the Navigation, the putting a Stop to the intended Lockwork between Staines and London, and the Ufurpation of City Power, in imbanking and railing Paths on the Side of the River. 8vo. 15. Wilkie. 1780. As Mr. Erskine appears to underfiand, very perfectly, this important fubject; what he has here offered upon it certainly merits the ferious attention not only of our engineers, but of all who are peculiarly interested in the navigation of the Thames. MATHEMATICS. Art. 31. The Elements of a new Method of Reasoning in Geometry: Applied to the Rectification of the Circle. By Thomas Taylor. 4to. 2 s. 6 d. Denis. 1780. We honeftly confefs, that we do not understand the method of reafoning here made ufe of, and therefore the Author will, we hope, be pleased to excufe us from giving any opinion whatsoever of his pamphlet, SCHOOL-Boo K. Art. 32. A bort Sketch of English Grammar; intended for the W. Ufe of fuch as ftudy that Language only; confifting of a few Rules, abftracted chiefly from Johnfon, Lowth, Ah, &c. by the Obfervance of which a Perfon wholly unacquainted with any other Language may learn to fpeak and write English; not only intelligibly, but with tolerable Propriety. To which is added, A Table, exhibiting at one View, the declinable Parts of Speech, with their Subdivifions. By Wells Egeifham, Printer. 12mo. 8 d. Kearf Jey. There appears to be nothing, either in the plan or the execution, of this Grammar to entitle it to particular notice: its chief excellence is its cheapnefs. In an English grammar, it is an unpardonable inaccuracy to fay, in one page, There is alfo a kind of fubftantives,' &c. and in the next, There are also a kind of verbs, &c. Whether the blame belongs to the Printer or to the Author we leave Mr. Egelfham to determine. LAW. E LAW. Art. 33. Cafes on Appeals, concerning the Duties on Houses and Windows, Servants, and inhabited Houses; with the Determinations of the Commiffioners, and Opinions of all the Judges thereon, as also an Abstract of the Statutes. 8vo. 25. Fielding and Walker. 1780. The Publisher's advertisement will fufficiently explain the defign and usefulness of this collection of Cafes, &c. In the following Appeals, the Reader will find the cafes ftated fully, the determinations of the commiffioners, and the opinions of the judges very clearly and very concifely given; by means of which circumftantial relation of the cafes, and perfpicuity of the determinations and opinions, thefe Appeals will be found of the greatest utility to clergymen, gentlemen in the commiffion of the peace, tradefmen, farmers, fhopkeepers, and all thofe perfons who refide altogether in the country, as they will prevent them much trouble and expence of journeys for advice, refpecting their complaints of grievances impofed on them by the commiffioners or furveyors, be the fame occafioned by ignorance or defign; as they may, by these precedents, find out their own respective cafes, and remedy their own injuries, by only confulting this book, without farther application. And in order to convince the purchafer that his expectations will be readily answered, he may be affured, that almost every poffible cafe of difficulty or doubt that may occur refpecting the faid duties, is truly fet forth, and fatisfactorily refolved, by the above opinions. A concife extract of the claufes from feveral acts of parliament, whereon the above cafes, determinations, appeals, and opinions are grounded, is prefixed to the respective subjects,' Art. 34. The Trial of the Rev. Henry Bate for a Libel*, &c. fol. 2s. 6d. Kearfly. 1780. This trial was in confequence of the information exhibited against Mr. Bate by the Duke of Richmond. The previous proceedings in the court of King's bench are here alfo given; and the whole is publifhed from the fhort-hand notes of Mr. Gurney. Art. 35. Reports of Cafes upon Appeals and Writs of Error in the High Court of Parliament. By Jofiah Brown, Efq; fol. Vols. III. and IV. 11. 11 s. 6d. in boards. Uriel. The first and fecond volumes of Mr. Brown's Reports were noticed in our Review for August 1779 (the 6ft volume of our Reports): thofe now published in continuation, bring the cafes down to the year 1749 inclufive.-The advertisements inform us, that two volumes more are to be expected. As this work advances, the caufes grow more interefting; and as moft of them are appeals from courts of equity, they contribute to mark out the fyftem of thofe courts, and particularly of the court of chancery, which may be faid, about that time, to have expanded into its full extent and importance. T. Art. 36. The History and Antiquities of the Four Inns of Court. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. Kearfly. 1780. This is a mere extract from Sir William Dugdale's Origines Judiciales, prefaced with fome fplenetic obfervations on the difufe of the In the Morning Poft. Λ Published ancient ancient academical exercises in the Inns of Court; to which caufe the preface-writer imputes the great number of ignorant unprincipled impoftors, counsellors at law, who corrupt the morals and difturb the peace of fociety in England, Ireland, and the Plantations.'We do not approve of thefe harsh terms. So general an afperfion on the members of a liberal profeffion, is moft foul and illiberal; but as this truly polite writer vouchfafes to inform us, that be too is a counsellor at law, we can with less propriety difpute the accuracy of his defcription,- as far, at leaf, as concerns himself. But really the caufe is too flender for the effect. That the old habits of mooting or bolting cases (i. e. of public disputations), might make the ftudent more subtle and acute, may be admitted, and that the neglect of this practice may (in one fenfe) occasion the ignorance here fuppofed; but that the profeffors of the law fhould hence become unprincipled impoflors, is certainly not a very obvious infer ence. The fcheme of appointing perfons to fuperintend the education of gentlemen intended for the bar (which this Author recommends), and of enforcing the regulations of an univerfity in the Inns of Court (which indeed he does not exprefsly recommend, but without which the former would be nugatory), has been often canvaffed. Its expediency, fuppofing it practicable, is extremely doubtful; its practicability, fuppofing it were expedient, is ftill more fo. On one hand, it would be investing a set of men with a power which would degenerate into tyranny, and be productive of innumerable intrigues and difputes. Tefts and examinations have often disgusted or deterred men of real genius from a profeffion, but dunces never: Gentle dulnefs finds a passport every where. On the other hand, the idea of keeping up any thing like academical difcipline in the heart of this opulent and licentious metropolis, is too wild and chimerical. It is found fufficiently difficult in our two univerfities, though at the diflance of fifty or fixty miles from the grand feat of dilipa toa. MEDICA L.. T. Art. 37. Syftematic Elements of the Theory and Practice of Surgery: By John Aitken, Fellow of the College of Surgeons, &c. and Lecturer on Chirurgical Anatomy and Pharmaceutic Chemistry in Edinburgh. Svo. 6s. Boards. Murray. 1779. In our 46th Volume [April 1772, pag. 446.] we had occafion to fpeak favourably of a volume of Effays on Chirurgical Subjects, published by the Author of the prefent Performance; in which his object is to difplay furgery as a diftinct science, in a concife and fystematic manner, and to facilitate its ftudy, upon a liberal and radical plan. He accordingly, in purfuance of this plan, methodically arranges thofe difeafes which fall within the province of furgery, under the twelve following heads :-Tumor, Hernia, Prolapfus, Vulnus, Ulcus, Ruptura, Luxatio, Fractura, Meatuum Obftrudio, Deformitas, Profluvium, and Mifcellanea, or fuch affections as are not reducible to any of the former. These heads are afterwards branched out into their respective fubdivifions. Little original matter is to be expected in an elementary work like the prefent; which confifts of definitions or defcriptions, accom 7 panied panied with the fynonyms and defcriptions of Vogel, Linnæus, Sauvages, Cullen, and others; together with fhort practical remarks, or aphorifms: fo as to constitute a work proper enough to ferve as a text-book for a student who attends the lectures of a Profeffor of Surgery. From the fingular manner, however, in which the typographical part of it is executed, we thould not have imagined that it was intended for the young eyes of Tyro's. We, who extract the quintessence of other Writers, and fometimes throw in a little of our own, make it our monthly practice to condense into one page, of our largest type, what the Author, or rather, we hope, his Printer, has thought fit to expand into five, or fix, or more; by means of a large type, and margin, two running titles, with a line drawn between them, broad ftaring intervals between each fection, and other devices. B. Art. 38. An Essay on the Gonorrhoea, &c. By William Thomas, Surgeon, &c. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Donaldfon. 1780. In this Effay the Author endeavours to fhew that, in general, a gonorrhoea arifes only from an increafed fecretion from the urethra: though an ulceration may fometimes take place, and in time produce a confirmed lues. After offering fome ftrictures on the more ufual practice of purging and exhibiting cooling falts, in all habits and cafes indifcriminately, with a view to fubdue the inflammatory fymptoms; or that of applying ftimulating or aftringent injections; he propofes what will appear to the generality of practitioners a new method, the exhibition of opium, both internally and in injection: as being equally efficacious in appealing the irritation produced by the venereal virus, as in the numerous other cafes in which recourie is fuccessfully had to the fedative power of this valuable medicine. The Author, however, does not wholly rely on opium, for the cure of this disease. We should not entertain a very favourable opinion of his method, if he did not, in the proper feafon, avail himself of the well-known and unquestionable specific against the venereal virus.But for the particulars of his practice-for this new mode does not appear to be founded on mere reafoning-we muft refer those concerned to the pamphlet itself. We wish, however, that the Author had been fomewhat more explicit with refpect to the conveniences or inconveniences attending the exhibition of a grain of opium, and two grains of calomel, taken every night, and, in urgent cafes, every night and morning, for a confiderable length of time though, he obferves, that it will feldom happen, that a long continuance will be necessary ;'-efpecially as fome of his medical readers, bigotted to the old routine, may afk, why there should be occafion to continue the use of so efficacious a remedy as he reprefents this to be, for a long time? and may exclaim, we too can cure the gonorrhoea, by means of purges, cooling falts, and calomel internally and externally exhibited; and our patients, in general, do not fuffer, though they are fometimes obliged to fubmit to our procefs for a confiderable length of time.'-We do not mean, however, to derogate from the merit of the Author's propofed method: but in recommending fo novel a practice, we "y. think that he ought to have been somewhat more circumftantial. B..y. Art. |