Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

posed; and the equivalent expressions in the other languages are placed in the succession mentioned in the title, to make up the line. Whoever will charge his memory with these hexameters will certainly furnish himself with a vast copia of words, and facilitate the acquisition of the languages. Those teachers, therefore, who may chuse to put this book into the hands of their pupils, will be under great obligations to the author for his laborious exertions in the cause of literature.

MEDICA L.

Art. 27. A Popular Essay on the Disorder familiarly termed A Cold, in which the Means of obviating the various Causes which are liable either remotely to contribute to the Production of this Complaint, or which more immediately excite it, together with the most effectual Method of removing it when present, are explained in a Manner familiar to the meanest Capacity; and to which are added a Collection of approved Receipts, and Observations on the most popular Remedies; principally designed for the Use of Families; and composed with a View of rendering more extensively known the insidious Nature of a Disorder, which, to the Inhabitants of the variable Climate of Great Britain, too often proves the Bane of Health and Comfort; and thereby diminishing its Frequency, and preventing its pernicious Effects. By E. L. White, Surgeon, &c. 12mo. 58. sewed. Cadell and Davies. 1807. Mr. White has confessedly written this essay for popular use, and certainly, if popular medicine may be admitted in any case, it is allowable in that of catarrh. This is a disease so frequent, and often so unimportant, that we cannot expect that medical assistance will always, or even generally, be sought; and yet it unfortunately happens that colds, when neglected, or improperly managed, lay a foundation for some of the most formidable complaints to which the human frame is subject. It becomes, then, highly desireable, if it could be accomplished, to prescribe some rules which may be generally intelligible, respecting the method of treating catarrh; and still more to point out, in a perspicuous manner, the symptoms that indicate the presence of that state of the disease, which is likely to require professional assistance. Mr. White's treatise contains many judicious observations; and it is, on the whole, well calculated to answer the purpose for which it is designed.

The author enters at some length into the consideration of the predisposing and exciting causes of catarrh, which he thus enumerates:

The predisposing causes of catarrh are, 1st, original peculiarity of constitution; 2dly, an acquired morbid irritability of the pulmo nary system; 3dly, a morbid delicacy of frame, induced by ener vating pleasures, or weakening occupations, or occasional and acci. dental debility. Its exciting causes are, 1st, alternations of temperature; 2dly, the application of chemical or mechanical stimuli to the mucus membrane of the air-passages; 3dly, moisture applied, in a certain way, to the surface of the body; 4thly, occult intemperics of the atmosphere. These it will be necessary to consider separately." We deem it unnecessary to follow Mr. White through his illustrations of these different topics; his remarks are not intitled to the

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, Politics.

435

praise of novelty, but they are not therefore the less adapted for popular instruction; and we observe very few against which any objec tion can be alleged.

With regard to the cure of catarth, Mr. W. begins by pointing out the opposite methods that have been proposed by scientific prac. titioners, one party recommending warmth, and the other as strenu ously advising the application of cold; and he endeavours to prove the impropriety of adopting either of these plans of treatment in their full extent. In the commencement of the disease, and when any in Aammatory symptoms are present, the antiphlogistic regimen, to a certain degree, is to be adopted, but this is by no means generally admissible. A remedy, in which the author places great confidence, is antimony, given in small doses, and diluted with a large quantity

of cold water.

POLITICS.

Art. 28. A Letter from Mr. Whitbread to Lord Holland, on the present Situation of Spain. 8vo. IS. Ridgway. 18c8.

We are told in this Letter that the noble person, to whom it is addressed, contracted during his residence in Spain an attachment to its inhabitants; and that he bears testimony to the grandeur and energy of their character,' obscured as it for a time has been by the faults and oppre sions of the government.' Mr. Whitbread speaks of the grand effort now made by Spain, with that warmth of interest and glow of sentiment which might be expected from so zealous and steady a patriot. He denominates it a struggle against tyranny and oppression, as glorious in all is circumstances, as any that has ever yet been exhibited on the face of the earth.' Adverting to the intelligence then recently received from the same country, he says, News has arrived as cheering to the heart of man a ever was announced to an admiring world; and he clsewhere observes that the whole undivided heart of Great Britain and Ireland, nay of France itself, and of the world, must be with Spain.'

[ocr errors]

:

This upright and independent senator professes his adherence to his former sentiments, in regard to the persons constituting our administration but he bestows praise on their conduct as it regards Spain. The part of the king's speech (says he) which relates to Spain has my unqualified approbation. The policy is sound, and the expressions could not have been better chosen.'He expresses his regret, and we think with great reason, that Parliament has had no opportunity of hailing the glorious cause, and of testifying its zeal and alacrity to assist and support it. He vindicates his opposition to Mr. Sheridan's motion, on the ground of its being an improper interference with the province of ministers, and as being premature. He then re-states and adds to the reasons which made him think that, even in the then crisis, pacific proposals to the French Emperor would not have been morally wrong, nor impolitic; and he resents, with becoming spirit, the insinuation thrown out against him that, because he sought peace, he was ready to purchase it at the expence of abandoning the heroic Spaniards to their fate.' This makes him exclaim: Ff2

6 God

436

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, Politics.

'God forbid ! A notion so detestable never entered my ima gination. Perish the man who could entertain it! Perish this country, rather than its safety should be owing to a compromise so horribly iniquitous! My feelings, at the time I spoke, ran in a direction totally opposite to any thing so disgusting and abomin

able.'

We must request our readers, in justice to Mr. Whitbread, to revert to the moment of penning this little tract, while they reflect on the following passage:

I am not afraid to say, that the present is a moment in which I think negociation might be proposed to the Emperor of the French by Great Britain, with the certainty of this great advantage, that if the negociation should be refused, we should be at least sure of being right in the eyes of God and man. An advantage which, in my opinion, we have never yet possessed, from the commencement of the contest to the present hour; and the value of which is far beyond all calculation.'

If we cannot literally subscribe to these remarks, we own that we so far coincide with the author as to admit that we have taken great pains to be in the wrong.

No one can impeach the views of Mr. Whitbread; the only question is respecting the efficacy and eligibility of the means. It was his wish to seek the most glorious results of war by the means of peace; and the friends of Spain cannot hope to attain more by war, than he proposed to secure by negotiation.

[ocr errors]

If,' he says, the emancipation of Spain, the enthronement of Ferdinand VII. and the amelioration of the government of that country, through the means of the legitimate organ of their Cortes, or any other of their own chusing, could be effected without bloodshed, is there a man existing who would not prefer the accomplishment of these objects by the means of negociation, rather than by the sword? If Mr. Fox were happily alive, and had power commensurate with his ability, I see a bare possibility that his genius might turn this crisis to such great account. Nothing should be done but in concert with the Spaniards; and the complete evacuation of Spain by the French armies, the abstinence from all interference in her internal arrangements, the freedom of the royal family, might be the conditions of the negociation. There is no humiliation in such a proposal. What a grateful opportunity would at the same time present itself of making a voluntary proffer of restitutions, which, when demanded, it might, perhaps, be difficult to accede to! What a moment to attempt the salvation of Sweden, and the re-establishment of the tranquillity of the North !'--

I should be desirous of conveying these terms to the court at Bayonne, and of proclaiming them to the world. If they should be accepted, is there a statesman who could doubt of their propriety, of their justice, of their honour? If rejected, is there a free spirit in the universe that would not join in applauding the justice and moderation of Great Britain, in condemning the violence, the injustice, and ambition of the Emperor of the French.'

MISCEL

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 29. Reasons for rejecting the presumptive Evidence of Mr. Al mon, that "Mr. Hugh Boyd was the Writer of Junius." with passages selected to prove the real author of the Letters of Junius. 8vo. 28. Highley.

Junius has told us that he was the sole depositary of his secret, and that it should die with him. This declaration, and the caution with which he concealed himself, excited a general wish for the discovery of the author: but conjectures have been made, and claims have been set up, hitherto with little success. At last, we are informed that the real author of these celebrated letters has been revealed by his own confession. A Mr. Rodney, an American, has asserted in the Wilmington Mirror, (a Columbian periodical work) that the late Major General Charles Lee of the American army confessed to him in conversation that he was the real author of these letters; and the object of this pamphlet is to establish at least the probability of this evidence, by comparing the letters of General Lee with those of Junius in point of sentiment and style. This laboured attempt appears to us to be far from satisfactory; and the author will more easily persuade his readers that Mr. Hugh Boyd was not than that General Lee was the writer in question. Who this Mr. Rodney is we know not but we may safely assert that the comparison, which he desires us to institute, would never lead us to the conclusion that General Lee and Junius were the same person.

Art. 30. An Exposition of the Circumstances which gave Rise to the Election of Sir Francis Burdett, Bart., for the City of Westminster, and of the Principles which governed the Committee who conducted that Election. To which are added some Documents not hitherto published. By order of the Committee. 8vo. IS. Tipper.

All the circumstances which attended the recent election of Sir Francis Burdett were rather extraordinary: but those in which the late Mr. Paull was concerned have been well known, and are no longer interesting, and they are also but scantily stated in this pamphlet. It is chiefly remarkable, however, for the very unusual re cord which it contains respecting the expences incurred by the Committee, who conducted the election of Sir Francis. It appears that the disbursements up to the close of the poll were only £780 169. 4d.; those of the subsequent procession on the 23d May, and some printing, £118 9s Ed.; those of chairing Sir Francis, £365 18s. od.; fees paid at the House of Commons, £6 os. 6d.; repairing the triumphal car, and expences attending the presentation of it to Sir F., £2, os. od.: making altogether £1296 28. 6d.;-and that the amount of the subscription was £1215 148. 3d. leaving a balance due to the treasurer of 80 89. 3d. -A small fee being due at the House when Sir Francis took his seat, that expence also was defrayed by the Committee; and their representative actually sits without having paid a shilling for his elec tion, and at the very moderate cost to his constituents, considering

Ff3

the

the nature of the contest, of 730 149 4d. as far as the election itself was concerned. We should 1 ke to see a few more such instances of recurrence to former principles and practice between the represented and the representative.

Art. 31. Brother Abraham's Answer to Peter Plymley, Esq. In Two Letters to which is prefixed a "postliminious" Preface. 8vo. Is. 6d. Craddock and Joy. 1808.

No, Abraham, thou art not Peter's brother. None of the Plymley blood flows in thy veins, nor has an atom of the family wit ever exhilirated thy pericranium.-Instead of replying to Peter with temper and pleasantry, this pseudo-Plymley grows angry and scurrilous; and by way of enforcing conviction on the mind of Peter, he, with all brotherly love, wishes to have him tied up to a whipping post. Abraham sees every thing through a distorting medium: he converts the saints of the papists into Gods, and then he asserts that, as long as they retain image-worship, they will always, under similar circumstances, com nit greater atrocities than the pro testants.' In perfect accordance with this novel position, he maintains that the absurdities, which exist in the creed of the Catholics, prove them to be deficient in the qualities necessary for Generals and legislators; but let us ask this gentleman, whether, if Unitarians were in power and were to ue the same argument to justify the exclusion of Trinitarians, he would acknowlege its validity? In order to justify the distribution of the plumbs out of the civil pudding according to the nature of a man's creed, he sagely observes, Suppose a man instead of saying,-I believe in God - should say I believe in the Devil and Buonaparte, would such a fellow deserve any plumbs out of the pudding? This and similar stuff is called an answer to P P-Alas, Abraham cannot measure lances with the gentleman whom he presumes to call his brother, and is no more to be compared to him than a cinder to a diamond.

Art. 32. A more extended Discussion in Favour of Liberty of Conscience recommended by the Rev. Christopher Wyvill. 8vo. IS. Johnson.

This respectable and well-informed friend of Liberty, being dis satisfied with the partial efforts which have been made or are now making to relieve this and that sect from the pressure of civil dis abilities on account of religion, with a noble liberality of mind pro poses to extend the discussion of the question, that its merits may be more generally known, and that an application may be made to parlian ent for the repeal of every law against liberty of conscience Our persuasion is, that howmuchsocver the point is contested at present, the time is not very far di tant when the different modes of faith will no more be regarded as pretexts for inflicting civil disqualifications, than the different modes of cooking our victuals; and when Test and Corporation Acts will be considered as the remuants of that barbarism which once consigned heretics to the flames. Mr Wyvill's remarks are so sage and temperate, that they must afford general satisfaction.

Art.

« ПредишнаНапред »