in confumptive complaints. They were written, the Author informs us, laft winter, and intended to be laid before the Royal Society. Accordingly they were tranfmitted to the Prefident, with a letter, which here accompanies them. The account was however thought, by the Prefident and fome other gentlemen, to contain more of medical detail than was conformable to the plan of that inftitution; the defign was therefore relinquished; and the cafes are now laid before the Public, with fome obfervations on exercife and motion. The cafes, in number 14, are all of them, except the last, extraordinary cures but as in most of them, other remedies were ufed at the fame time, they are not therefore quite fo convincing as if swinging had been the only means employed. In many of them, the difease had advanced to a very great height; as in the first, where the patient expectorated a pint of purulent matter in a day, and the pulfe was 134 in a minute. Some readers may, here, perhaps, be ready to cry out, credat Judæus! We do not; though we are at a lofs to account for the toppage of fo great a difcharge; or how the motion of fwinging could produce fuch a change. The rational physician, in recommending a new remedy, ought furely to accompany his cafes with fuch reafoning as tends either to explain the phenomena, or to evince the propriety of the practice ;-otherwife it is mere empiricifm. MISCELLANEOUS. R m. Art. 42. The Romance of real Life. By Charlotte Smith. 12mo, 3 Vols. 9s. Boards. Cadell. 1787. A literary friend, whofe opinion I greatly value, fuggefted to me the poffibility of producing a few little volumes, that might prove as attractive as the most romantic fiction, and yet convey all the folid inftruction of genuine hiftory. He affirmed, that the voluminous and ill-written French work, intitled Caufes celebres, &c. might furnish me with very ample materials for fo defirable a purpose.'. .. My ambition will be fatisfied, if a number of candid readers allow, that, by dint of fome irksome labour, I have produced a little compilation, not inelegant in its flyle; and in the matter it contains, both interefting and inftructive.' CHARLOTTE SMITH. Such is the Editor's account of her undertaking; and it must be acknowledged, that fhe has fucceeded according to her wishes, the Romance of real Life' being a collection of interesting and wellauthenticated facts. On looking into the original work, which confifts of upwards of twenty volumes, we find that many of thefe ftories,' as the tranflator calls them, are Trials, and Cafes in law, and confequently they are not the objects of criticism. The few which are here felected, however, being ftripped of the judicial forms of proceedings, will no doubt meet with the approbation of thofe perfons who are fond of tracing the errors and wanderings of the human heart. Some of the circumftances recorded in them are really fhocking and difgraceful to our nature; and as the paffions of men, in every age and in every country, are nearly the fame, it is to be hoped that the volumes now before us may ferve as beacons to warn the reader of his danger; and to hinder him from ftriking on the rocks which others have been unable to fhun. A. B. Art. Art. 43. Obfervations on fome Parts of Natural Hiftory, to which is A prefixed advertisement to this treatife informs us, that it is the production of a very young man, written chiefly as a recreation from the laborious ftudies of medicine.' It is however a curious tract; we have here only the first part; the other three, which will complete the work, are to be published in a few months. * The Author apologizes for calling this part Obfervations on Natu ral Hiftory, fince it relates entirely to antiquities, the ancient cuftoms of the inhabitants, &c. &c. Mr. Barton has given an accurate defcription and a plan of fome ruins which have been discovered on the banks of the Muskingham, about a mile above its junction with the Obio (i. e. according to the latest maps we have, in Lat. 40° N. and Long. 82 E. nearly). The town, as it is called, is in a large plain, and the walls which encompass it form a quadrilateral figure whofe fides are from 530 to 480 yards long; they are about 10 feet high above the level on which they ftand, and about 20 feet thick at their bafe. Within the wails feveral elevations and buildings are obfervable, but the whole is overgrown with plants of various kinds, and trees,' fays the Author, feveral feet diameter.' Mr. Barton adds fome remarks on the first peopling of America; he does not however throw much light on this dark and difficult fubject. The Author concludes with fome confiderations on the ftate of civilization of the Mexicans, as given by Abbé Clavigero, in his hiftory of that empire; which work we noticed in our laft Appendix, R-m. page 633. Art. 44. An accurate and defcriptive Catalogue of the feveral Paintings in the King of Spain's Palace at Madrid; with fome Account of the Pictures in the Buen-Retiro. By Richard Cumberland. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Dilly. 1787. By a prefixed advertisement to this publication we learn that the Catalogue was made, at Mr. Cumberland's requeft, by the gentleman who has the fuperintendance of the Royal Collection in the Palace of Madrid; it was tranfmitted to the Author after his return from Spain, but came too late to be inferted in his Anecdotes † of R-m. Spanish Painters. Art. 45. A Collection of all the Papers relating to the Propofal for uniting the King's and the Marijcal Colleges of Aberdeen, which have been published by Authority of the Colleges. 4to. 2s. 6d. Evans. 1787. It is impoffible perhaps to agitate the moft falutary measure in any body of men, without dividing them into parties. To have two rival * Similar ruins have been found in other parts of N. America, for ́an account of which see our 60th volume, p. 281, from Capt. Carver's Travels. For an account of which see Rev. vol. Ixvii. p. 50. feminaries feminaries in fo remote a city as Aberdeen, when, by a union of plan and of means, the articles of education might be extended, and rendered more competent for the purposes of the country, feems to be a matter easily decided. Yet, as it was a treaty between A and Co. and B and Co. it has proved far otherwife; and altercation has fomented animofities to fuch a height, that what was first an amicable propofition among themfelves, from a conviction of expediency, may become abfolutely neceffary to be done for them, to prevent worfe confequences to both. Their counter-remonftrances are very long, and may be extremely important at Aberdeen, but the pro and con. is fo like a quarrel between man and wife, that we hold it prudent not to interfere. N. Art. 46. Efays on various Subjects, critical and moral: containing Remarks on Butler's Analogy; a Review of Locke's Philofophy; Grammatical Strictures; Letters on Wit and Humour: in which various Obfervations are made on the most celebrated Writers on the Subjects of Logic, Morals, and Metaphyfics. By William Belchier, Efq. Kent. Crown octavo. 2 Vols. 5s. Jamefon. There are writers who bid defiance to all the powers of criticism, fome by rifing above, and others by finking below, the level of common fenfe. To one or other of thefe claffes the Author of these Effays certainly belongs; but to which, it is impoffible for us to determine for after labouring through his tedious pages of unconnected matter, expreffed in inelegant and often coarfe language, we are at a lofs to difcover his meaning. If we do not therefore attempt to extract any articles of information, or amufement, from these volumes, our apology must be, that where there is no light, a reflector can be of no use. E. Art. 47. Some Reafons for thinking that the Greek Language was borrowed from the Chinese: in Notes on the Grammatica Sinica of Monf. Fourmont. By Mr. Webb. 8vo. 2 s. fewed. DodЛley. 1787. The learned Lipfius obferved a ftriking affinity between the old Perfic and the German language. Mr. Webb has remarked the fame between the Greek language and the Chinefe; and has ingeniously collected a variety of refemblances in fupport of his opinion, that the former is derived from the latter. Whether his arguments are as fatisfactory as ingenious, must be left to the determination of those who are better acquainted with the Chinese tongue, than we can pretend to be. E. Art. 48. Select Passages from various Authors. Defigned to form the Minds and Manners of Young Perfons; and at the fame Time to afford an agreeable Mifcellany for thofe of riper Years. 12mo. 3 s. 6d. Boards. Richardfon. 1787. These felections are from fome of the beft and most admired authors of our own country, and from a few of thofe of France. They are collected by a fenfible, and by no means unlearned lady *, and the choice does not difgrace either her judgment or her taste; but *We fay lady, because fome paffages in the Preface, &c. lead us fo to conclude, with tolerable certainty. The The has not done juftice to the beautiful and well-known lines made by the late excellent Dr. Doddridge on his family motto, Dum vivimus vivamus, as fhe has neither faid whence they are taken, on what occafion they were written, nor has the given the motto entire, fo that the point and meaning cannot be fully understood. Thefe moral and inftructive collections are generally useful, and we recommend the prefent publication as proper to be added to thofe of the fame fort already given to the world; but we were forry to fee fo very numerous a lift of Errata, which few will take the trouble to mark; we muft, however, especially as coming from a fair lady, accept the apology here made (great distance from the prefs), and we with others may be equally inclined to mark them as Errata, and to overlook them as defects. G2. Art. 49. A Treatife on the Wines of Portugal; and what can be gathered on the Subject fince the Establishment of the English Factory at Oporto, Anno 1727: alfo a Differtation on the Nature and Use of Wines in general, as pertaining to Luxury and Diet. By John Croft, S. A. S. 8vo. 1s. York printed; fold by Baldwin, London. 1787. This work gives a very circumftantial detail of the Portugal winetrade. The Author, who feems well acquainted with his fubject, enters minutely into a defcription of the feveral methods of making the wine, and the various ways of adulterating it, as practifed both in Portugal and in England. In the fecond part of this performance he defcribes the different kinds of wines, ufually imported in this country; enumerates the excellencies of each, and fhews how to diftinguish the good from the bad extending his obfervations to the Rhenifh, Hungarian, French, Madeira, Canary, Spanish, Italian, &c. We could have wifhed Mr. Croft had clothed his useful informa tion in better language; or given his readers an exhilarating glafs, to fuftain them under the fatigue of perufing a useful but dull pamphlet. THEOLOGY, &c. R - m. Art. 50. A Charge and Sermon delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Mr. John Deacon, April 26, 1786, at Leicefter. Together with the Introductory Difcourfe, the Questions propofed to the Church and the Minister, the Answers returned, and Mr. Deacon's Profeffion of Faith. Small octavo. Is. 6d. Buckland. This Ordination fervice, which was performed in a fociety of Baptifts of the Calviniftic perfuafion, is drawn up in a plain and ferious ftyle; and, notwithstanding the general character of Puritanism which runs through it, contains many hints not undeferving attention from young divines, of all profeffions. E. Art. 51. A Defence of the Doctrine of the Trinity, and eternal Sonfhip of our Lord Jefus Chrift, as revealed in the Scriptures; in Oppofition to a late Scheme of temporal Sonship. By a Baptift. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Buckland. A difpute in a fociety of Baptifts, at Edinburgh, concerning the eternal Sonship of Jefus Chrift, gave occafion to this piece of pole mical divinity; from which we learn nothing, but that it is written by one who has more zeal than knowledge, or candour. For, when the contending parties, for the fake of peace, agreed to a temporary forbearance on the point in difpute, till they fhould be farther enlightened, this zealous defender of the Trinity was highly displeased; declaring, in his preface, that this forbearance was inconfiftent with every view the Scripture gives us of Chriftian forbearance.' Alas! how little does this good man know of the gospel! E. Art. 52. Letters on Faith. Addreffed to a Friend. By James Dore. 12mo. Is. 6d. Buckland. 1786. Mr. Dore confiders the nature of faith, its grounds, its effects; the reasonablenefs of faith in Chrift; its importance, and the improvement of the fubject. The Letters are fenfibly and agreeably, though fomewhat diffufely, written. Faith is defined, in general, as credit given to a report; faith in Chrift, faith in the teftimony of Chrift, or a full perfuafion of the truth of what he has taught, properly understood and fully realized in the mind.'-Faith is certainly nothing or of no value, deftitute of its proper effects on the life and conduct. This Author appears to write very candidly and rationally on the subject. H. Art. 53. Man naturally inclined to Religion. A Differtation, by the Rev. John Steffe, Vicar of Little Baddow, Effex; Author of Seven Letters on the State of the Soul after Death, and other Subjects. 8vo. 61 Pages. Chelmsford, printed, 1786. No London Bookfeller mentioned, nor price. Had this writer afferted that mankind were in danger of being influenced and led aftray by imagination and paffion, instead of attending to the voice of truth and reafon; or that they are more affected by and inclined to pomp and pageantry than what is of real worth and excellence; or had he fubftituted the word fuperftition for that of religion, he might poffibly have been nearer the truth, in this hafty declamation. Superftition is chiefly created and directed by fear and terror, and has often been employed (politically) as one means of more eafily fubjecting and enflaving mankind. When a country is vifited by fome dreadful or threatening calamity, every place of worship is crowded: but religion is of a diftinct nature. Piety, and devotion, are of too rational, too noble, and ufeful a kind (if properly understood), to be thus degraded by ignorance and abject fear. They are excellent principles, which ought certainly to be manifested by external acts of worship, at the fame time that they have a much larger extent, and bould have their prevalence, and operate with energy, on the whole conduct of man. That he has a capacity for them, fome tendencies to them, and (in the Chriftian world) great advantages for their exertion and improvement, is alfo evident. Equally clear it is, that true devotion and piety are greatly distinct from that fuperftition which has overfpread all parts of the earth, and which has generally had fomewhat not only ignorant and terrific in its appearance, but also cruel and baneful in its effects. All this proves how requifite Chriftian principles are to correct the errors and mistakes of mankind; at the fame time that it must be deeply lamented that Christianity itself has, by the means of bigotry, fraud, and ambition, |