method of cure in each is fo diametrically oppofite, as fully to evince their different nature and origin.

As to Mr. Harrifon's method of cure, we can only obferve, as we have done on a former occafion, that relieving a colic by means of a large dofe of diffolved verdigreafe, is driving out one devil by means of

another*.

The remarkable effects of fixed air, and the worm cafes, have been fufficiently noticed in our Review for September laft, p. 225.

LAW.

Art. 30. The Marriage Law of Scotland flated. Wherein the Doctrines of Confent de præfenti Cohabitation, Acknowledgment, and Reputation, and that Marriage may be entered into by Minors, without Confent of Parents or Guardians, are refuted: And it is proved, that Solemnization, by a Minister of the Church, in confequence of Proclamation of Banns, and Confent of Parents or Guardians obtained, is in Law neceffary, without which Marriage cannot be conftituted. With Reports of Cafes, &c. By John Martin, of Lincoln's Inn, London, One of the Solicitors of the Court of Seffion, &c. in Scotland. 8vo. 1s. Jamefon. 1787. Mr. Martin endeavours, with great ingenuity, to prove that no marriage is legal in Scotland, but fuch as is folemnized according to the rites of the church; but unfortunately for his argument, the decifions of the courts in Scotland have, for a long period paft, fupported the oppofite doctrine, and thefe decifions of the Scotch Judges have been almost uniformly confirmed by the Houfe of Peers in England, except in a few cafes where the confent of parties has been obtained by fraud or circumvention. Mr. Martin has not endeavoured to trace the origin of that deviation from the forms of marriage prefcribed by the canon law, which has long been fuftained as valid by the courts of Scotland, though we think fuch an investigation would give rife to feveral important remarks on the progrefs of manners, and the state of civil fociety in that part of our island.

MATHEMATICS.

4r-:

Art. 31. A Compendium of Arithmetic; wherein the Rudiments of that noble Art are made easy to the weakest Capacity: To which is added, the Art of Numbering by Numbering-rods, called Napier's Bones. By John Imifon. 12mo. 7 s. 6d. with the Rods. Nicoll, &c. 1787.

This Compendium fhews that the Author is well acquainted with the fubject. The defcription of the rods is clear, and the directions for their use are concife. The rods themselves are neatly executed.

BIOGRAPHY.

R-m

Art. 32. Outlines of Human Life, fketched by Hercules Cramond, M.D. in the thirtieth Year of his Age,-and exemplified by fome genuine and well-attefted Memoirs of the Author and his Family. 3 s. Boards. Barker.

8vo.

Dr. Hercules Cramond is a real character, and fuch a one as is frequently met with in life. Wavering and irrefolute in all his pur

* Vid. Month. Rev. vol. lii. p. 533.

fuits, he is fubject to a thoufand calamitous incidents, which the more prudent of our fpecies will avoid. He appears, however, to be perfectly fenfible of the errors and follies of his youth.

Sweet are the ufes of adverfity;

Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,

Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.'

If this obfervation of the poet - which intimates that we may profit by the leffons that adverfity furnishes to us--be juft (and few, we believe, will difpute it), the Dr. will have little occafion to repine or murmur at his fate.

The introductory part of the Work contains fome good and useful obfervations. It is addreffed to the young and thoughtless; they who, with our Author, are toffed on a "fea of troubles," unable to gain the haven which they may have in view. He admonishes them, in a kind and philanthropic manner, to guard against the rocks by which they are furrounded,-affuring them, that by induftry and perfeverance they will feldom fail of gaining a port at last, in which they may be sheltered from every storm.

EDUCATION.

B

Art. 33. The Polite Reafoner: In Letters addreffed to a young Lady at a Boarding-fchool in Hoddefdon, Hertfordshire. 12mo. 2 S.

Thefe Letters are written with the laudable View of exciting the attention of youth to natural objects; and, by contemplating them, to admire the wisdom and power of the Creator. The defign is not new, but we do not remember to have feen any book on the fubject fo well adapted to the capacities of boarding-fchool learners: we are, nevertheless, forry to obferve in fome parts of it, that feveral moft excellent fentiments and juft obfervations are clothed in a language which is not entirely free from faults. In the first page of the Introduction, wrote is ufed for written. Page 7, The real difficulties which have been furmounted by attention is abfolutely, &c. not to mention others--but none of them are of great magnitude. Books intended for the inftruction of youth ought to be perfectly grammatical; and the Author, or the Authore is, we hope will, in a fecond edition, correct what is faulty in this.

The Volume concludes with a Catalogue of books proper for the inftruction and amufement of youth: the choice fhewn in felecting thefe books is a fufficient proof of the Author's tafte and judgment. Art. 34. The Neceffity and Advantages of Education: In three Sermons preached before the Trustees of the Charity-schools of Shinfield and Swallow field, in Berks. By W. Jones, Clerk, Curate of the faid Parishes. 8vo. 2 S. Robinfons. 1786.

Mr. Jones difplays, with great propriety, the neceffity of educa tion, by exemplifying the barbarous and unhappy ftate of uncultivated nature, and by pointing out the many advantages arising from due inftruction. He urges, as the neceffary duty of all parents, an early and vigilant attention to the minds and difpofitions of their children. All parents are not qualified for the discharge of this duty, especially the laborious poor. True benevolence, and a real concern for the good of the rifing generation, have established cha

14

rity

rity-fchools for the inftruction of fuch children. Thefe inftitutions are commended, and the fupport of them by the affluent and generous Christian is inculcated as a neceffary duty.

Mr. Jones then proceeds to fhew in what manner charity-schools ought to be conducted, in order to train up a child in the way be frould go;' and how fuch an education will fo affect the child's future conduct ir. life, that when he is old he will not depart from it.” The Difcourfes are well written; and the zeal of the worthy Author, in fo good a caufe, merits the commendation of every friend to religion and virtue. R Art. 35. Elements of Punctuation: Containing Remarks on an Effay on Punctuation;' and critical Obfervations on fome Paffages in By David Steel, Junior. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. Robinsons.

Milton. 1786. This performance contains fome remarks on an Effay, of which we gave an account in our 73d volume, page 123. We have likewife a few quotations from our beft writers, both in profe and verse, punctuated, according to our Author's opinions. Some uncommon and difficult paffages are culled from Dr. Newton's edition of Milton;' to the opinion of various commentators on which, Mr. Steel has appended' his own ;-and the book is concluded with Twenty general Rules.'

The remarks on the Effay are fuch as feem to merit the confideration of the ingenious author of that work. As to the Notes on Milton, many of them are ufelefs and trifling. With refpect to Mr. Steel's rules for just punctuation, we wish he had favoured us with a greater variety of them, fince thofe he has given are too few for the nemerous cafes that occur.

The style of this Writer is fometimes disgusting, on account of his affectation; as he is a young man, we hope his propensity for calling hard words will not append by him.

D Art. 36. A Plan of Reform, in the Mode of Inftruction at prefent practifed in English Schools. And also a Propofal for the Improvement of public Speaking. By Henry Macnab. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Glafgow, Foulis; London, Jamefon. 1787.

Mr. Macnab's plan is briefly as follows: In every city and principal town in Britain, it will be proper that the profeffors of univerfities, the magiftrates, the clergymen, and gentlemen, make choice of three men of diftinguished abilities in teaching English; that these men be united as members of the fame fociety, called by the name of an English Grammar School, or rather an English Academy. The reason why three teachers fhould be appointed is, that a complete English courfe of inftruction may be divided into three different branches, viz. ft, A knowledge of letters, fyllables, and words; or, as it is commonly expreffed, a knowledge of the fpelling-book. zdly, A knowledge of a course of reading. And lastly, A knowledge of grammar, and the meaning of the words in the English language.'

We do not apprehend that the above plan can make better public speakers than are at prefent to be found in parliament, in the pulpit, at the bar, and on the ftage. It will certainly be attended

with great expence; and teachers properly qualified (fuch, for inftance, as would write, Courfe of inftruction in the English language, and not, as in the preceding extract, English course of inftruction ), might obtain more lucrative employments in other departments, and perhaps be of more fervice to fociety.

Art. 37. The Juvenile Speaker; or, Dialogues, and Mifcellaneous
Pieces in Profe and Verfe: For the Inftruction of Youth in the
Art of Reading. By the Author of The Polite Reasoner.' 12mo.
I s. 6d. Bent. 1787.

The Compiler of this little book has given it to the Public as an Introduction to the Art of Reading. The Pieces felected, however, are fo very incorrectly printed, that he who fhould ftudy by them would be likely, inftead of deriving advantage from it, to remain a juvenile Speaker all his life.

X A.B.

Art. 33. Rudiments and Practical Exercifes, for learning the French Language, by an eafy Method. By A. Scot, A. M. Fellow of the University of Paris. The fecond Edition, greatly enlarged and improved. 8vo. 3 s. 6d. bound. Edinburgh, Creech; London, Longman, &c. 1786.

We gave our opinion of the first edition of this Work in our Review, vol. lxvii. p. 74. The prefent impreffion has, as the titlepage truly fays, many improvements.

POLITICAL.

D:

Art. 39. An Essay, containing a few Strictures on the Union of Scotland with England; and on the prefent Situation of Ireland. Being an Introduction to De Foe's Hiftory of the Union. By J. L, De Lolme, Adv. 4to. 3 s. 6d. fewed. Stockdale. 1787.

This work confifts of two parts, though not fo divided. The firft part gives a plain, concife, perfpicuous view of the relative itate of England and Scotland, from the time of Edward the First to the Union under Anne, in 1707. This part is written entirely by Mr. De Lolme, and is a molt excellent introduction to the hiftory of that Union by De Foe f. But the reader who expects to find Strictures on that Union will be aifappointed. -The fecond part relates to Ireland, and is written partly by Mr. de L. and partly by another hand. The introductory Hiftorical Sketch of the State of Ireland, from the first invafion of that country by the English under Henry the Second, till the beginning of the late Rockingham adminiftration,' is likewife written by Mr. De Lolme. It deferves the fame character for brevity and perfpicuity with the former; and it will be read with pleasure by every impartial inquirer, who wishes to gain a distinct notion of the political fituation of Ireland during the period above mentioned; as fuch a diftinct view of that fubject is no where else, that we know of, to be found. What follows (near one fourth part • Course of For an account of the late edition of this hiftory, fee p. 459 of this Number.

* Or, as our Author elfewhere repeatedly expresses it, English inftruction."

of

of the book) by another hand, gives us a view of the procedure refpecting the Irish propofitions, and fubfequent events; with many obfervations tending to recommend an incorporating union between Great Britain and Ireland. We have here, alfo, quotations from several authors who have pointed out the expediency of the fame measure. Art. 40. Profpects on the Rubicon; or, an Investigation into the Caufes and Confequences of the Politics to be agitated at the Meeting of Parliament. 8vo. Is. 6d. Debrett. 1787. Whatever may have been the opinions of diffatisfied individuals, the prefent minifter hath fully juftified his conduct refpecting the late armament, for which, however, he is railed at by the Writer of this Pamphlet,

The Author defcribes England as a ruined country, funk in debt which can never be paid, and whofe harmony with France has been destroyed by the pettish vanity of a young and unexperienced minifter.' The wealth of the nation is a topic on which he enlarges ; and he labours to prove, that it ought only to be estimated by the quantity of gold and filver in circulation. In treating this subject, he reflects on the credit of the Bank, and, among other ftrange whims, he hints, that the neceffity of weighing guineas was adopted and perfifted in for the fake of forcing paper currency into circulation: That the Bank is only a difguife in which government iffue paper :-That————

We should have proceeded to have given more of this heated Writer's opinions, did we not apprehend that our Readers are already fatisfied. R--m

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 41. Tables of Intereft, from one Pound to five hundred millions for one Day; by which the Intereft of any Sum of Money within thofe Limits may be found with more Expedition than by any Tables hitherto published. By Thomas Hurry. 12mo. 3 s. bound. Robinfons. 1786.

The utility of tables of this kind, to perfons who have frequent occafion to calculate the intereft of money, is felf-evident. Mr. Hurry has computed a table of intereft for one day only, at 1,,, 3, 4, and 5 per cent. per ann. The method of ufing the Table is explained in the Preface. It is extremely eafy in those cafes by which it is exemplified. To find the intereft of any fum, for a number of days, a multiplication must be performed; and when the number of days exceeds 10 or 12, the operation becomes laborious; and much more fo when it exceeds 100. Now, tables ought to be fo contrived, as to exclude, if poffible, all calculation: and as cafes may, and often do occur, in which the intereft is required for upwards of 100 or 200 days, the multiplication must be tedious, and the purpose of having a table will be fo far defeated.

We have examined the book in feveral places, and have conftantly found the articles exactly computed, to within half a farthing; we can therefore recommend it as correct.

*Our paper currency is, with this Writer, a fubject of much harth invective.

Tables