neceffary for us to make any extracts from the details comprehended in the prefent volume. Suffice it, therefore, that we add our opinion, so far as readers, fituated as we are, at so immense a diftance from the fcenes defcribed, can be deemed capable of judging, that Mr. Mackenzie's narrative is conducted with impartiality and fidelity.

The papers in the Appendix are arranged with a fingular contempt of chronological order.

According to the following defcription, we may say that it is not oriental hyperbole when the Hindoos call their country the paradife of nations:

To account for the high ftate of cultivation at which Coimbatore had arrived will be found a lefs arduous than interesting tafk. The mountains called Ghauts, whilft they deeply indent the plains at feveral diftinct points, do not terminate, but, in their range they frequently advance and recede without any break or diminution of height: confequently they give rife to an incredible number of ftreams. The Cauvery, the Bevany, and the Noel rivers, too; from their interfection of the country in fo many different directions; from the various branches that are forced out of them into feparate and distinct channels, as well as from the fupply of water that they receive from a double monfoon, contribute in a high degree to the fertility of the foil, and, though the religious tenets of the Bramins have a strong tendency to forward cultivation, the moral and political doctrines of that feet are not lefs calculated to encourage agriculture.

Quiet, fober, diligent, and abftemious, though corrupt as vice can make him with respect to fome other duties, the Hindoo cultivator more than compenfates for the want of that active induftry which characterises the chriftian hufbandman, by a degree of patient perfeverance unknown amongst the inhabitants of other countries; accuftomed through every stage of life to bend his body or to fquat on the ground, he readily becomes an excellent cultivator of the earth, and, from the minute attention with which he regards whatsoever is the object of his purfuit, no weed is fo trifling as to escape his obfervation, no tendril fo concealed as to avoid his research. The land too, as if grateful for fuch extraordinary attention, yields a return beyond any equal fpace on the furface of this globe. Without any manure whatsoever, and folely dependant on water to fertilize the foil, Hindoftan, in general, produces two, three, and fometimes four harvests. Tanjore annually produces five, nay fix fucceffive crops have been reaped in that country.'

The march of the army from Singanellore to Erroad offers to view one of thofe fingular temples which are paralleled only in the antient accounts of Syria:

< Avanashee, near one of the grounds of encampment on this march, is a well built village, with a fmall yet ftately pagoda, about one hundred and fifty feet in height. A ftaircafe incapable of admitting two men abreaft, or even one bulky perfon, winds to its top; and as innumerable (warms of Batts fly about in every direction, the

afcent

afcent is not lefs offenfive than dangerous to the eyefight. A fubftantial wall, twelve feet high, furrounds the pagoda. Three well built fwamy houses, or temples with arched roofs, and doors at one end, ftand in the enclosure; and, at no confiderable distance several brass and copper images that had been concealed with much caution were difcovered in a deep cell. Thefe, doubtlefs, in times of peace, occupied the temples, and fymbolically reprefented certain attributes of the Supreme Being, to whom alone Gentoos confecrate places of worship.

In front of this building ftands an obelisk, forty-five feet high, on the top of which there is a lamp that is only light on certain feftivals. In the nearest street, two unwieldy carriages attracted the notice of every paffenger. Each of them fupported a huge and irregular frame of teakwood, on which were carved figures of the most disgusting appearance. When the lamp is lighted, thefe carriages are put in motion by men and bullocks. Bramins and others in the hopes of obtaining remiffion of their fins affift by pulling at the traces, and many infatuated females proftrating themselves before the wheels, meet a death alike certain and much more terrible than the funeral pile. A clear stream that empties itself into the Noel river feparates the village from the fanctuary; but, the communication is rendered eafy by means of a strong but inelegant ftone bridge.

From the top of the Pagoda there is a view that can never fail to please; the mountains here, forming an immenfe arch, which stretches from the fouth towards the north, of a fudden rife in one grand and majestic wall, that ranges at the distance of from twenty to thirty miles; jungles eternally verdant completely overfpread the furface of thofe mountains from their bafe to their fummits, and the plains around as far as eye can reach are fertile in the extreme. Large clumps of trees with extenfive fheets of water protect and enrich the country; villages defended by walls, hedges, and ditches, are to be feen in every direction, and however bold the affertion, it is nevertheless true, that no part of Great Britain exhibits a higher state of cultivation.'

It is characteristic of this writer that he uniformly gives a very unfavourable idea of the moral character of the Hindoos; and that he ascribes this general depravity not to the habitual defpotifm, under which they have fo long toiled, like bees, not for themselves, but to the objectionable tendency of their reli gious opinions.

The ftyle of Mr. Mackenzie frequently borders on the òriental manner; particularly at the clofe of the fecond and at the opening of the third chapters. The ufe of whither for whether, and some other folecisms, may be scarcely worth noticing. The notes are often very interefting.

For the errors of the prefs the author apologizes, by defiring his readers to recollect that the workmen are, chiefly, ftrangers to the English language.

ART.

ART. V. Lectures on Electricity.

By G. C. Morgan.

12mo.

2 Vols. pp. 784. 10s. 6d. Boards. Johnfon. 1794: T is a question whether the eager paffion for accumulating experiments in the popular branches of natural philofophy be, on the whole, favourable to the advancement of genuine fcience. The tedious research is apt to degenerate into mechanical labour; the memory and imagination only are employed; and the fublime faculty of reafon, from the want of due exercise, remains feeble and contracted, ready to adopt any fuperficial hypothefis. Experiment is intended to fharpen and extend the indications of the fenfes, and to furnish materials for the exclufive application of the understanding. In the efimation of the true philofopher, a few fimple-perhaps neglected-but diftinct -appearances have more value than a multitude of recondite fas extorted from nature by artificial combinations. When the powers of the mind are thus concentrated, they act with their full energy and effect.- Mere experimenters bewilder themfelves with those metaphyfical prejudices, which arise from our early and habitual attention to material objects. Of caufation the most inaccurate conceptions are frequently entertained, which influence the general train of fpeculation. The prefent fyftem of things refults from the arbitrary appointment of the Supreme Architect; and it is the bufinefs of the philofopher to discover, at least to approach, thofe laws or ultimate facts which connect the various changes in the universe :-nor will he plunge into obfcurity by employing the agency of fubtle matter, which eludes the grafp of the fenfes, and derives all its properties from the creative power of fancy.

Such reflections are peculiarly applicable to the prefent state of electricity. Scarcely was the empire of reason restored, and the principles of found philofophy diffufed over Europe, when a new and brilliant fcene of difcovery opened to view. Men were delighted, aftonifhed! they trod in a fairy-land; and, after the first tranfports of admiration were fubfided, the explication of the phænomena feemed to mock the fober efforts of the understanding. Hence that charming fcience has generally been neglected, as trivial or unprofitable, by the more profound philofophers. It has become the favourite department of fuperficial inquirers, who amufe their leifure or exercise their ingenuity by varying the appearances, or by inventing plaufible hypothefes. Our fentiments on this fubject coincide with those of Mr. Morgan:

Electricity is in its infantine ftate. Its language is imperfect and obfcure. Its appearances are most frequently difplayed to amufe the fenfes, or to aftonifh the ignorant. The empiric or the itinerant only obtrude it upon the eyes of the world, and it is known by philofophers

only as a curious detail of facts, infulated by very peculiar properties, and confused, owing to a want of arrangement or reference to general principles. In fhort, electricity is confidered as deftitute of all stimu lants, either to provoke our vanity, or to inflame our ambition. For this reafon, it is rarely made an object of eager and complete attention, or of that perfevering activity by which alone it ean rife to its proper confequence and maturity.'

The author's fuccefs does not wholly correfpond, however, with the ardour of his expectations. He appears to poffefs more vigour than correctnefs of conception. Had his fagacity the abfolute government of his fancy, had his caution. always equalled his induftry, he might perhaps have effected a memorable revolution in electrical fcience. With a tone of dogmatifm, he too frequently rejects one hypothefis only to frame another; and he seems contented if, by the help of metaphorical language, he can picture to the imagination fome diftant refemblance to the phænomenon fubmitted to inquiry. His theories feldom arife out of the facts; and what appears to be an affectation of fimplicity has led him into a labyrinth of difficulties. Having appropriated, poffibly without due examination, certain elementary principles, he labours ftrenuously to extend them; and, in the profecution of this view, he fcruples not to employ various modifications, and even to adopt auxiliary applications: hence that obfcurity both in thought and expreffion which pervades the theoretical part of the work. While we cenfure the general execution of this treatife, however, we must applaud its ingenuity. It is diftinguished from ordinary performances by an originality in the arrangement and felection of the materials. Principles are more kept in view; feveral curious researches are inftituted and new inftruments exhibited; and that idle collection of experiments, calculated merely for amufement, is altogether omitted.-The fpirit of innovation is univerfally beneficial. Every attempt to fhake the blind acquiefcence in fashionable fyftems excites inquiry, and prepares at a distance the establishment of truth.

In reviewing this work, we will not attempt to correct any errors into which the author may have fallen, nor to place the queftionable points in a clear light. The experiments and obfervations, which it is our fortune to have made in electricity, would poffibly exhibit this science under a new aspect :- but to explain our ideas fully would lead us into difcuffions foreign to the nature of our work, and beyond its boundaries. We fhall therefore use the ordinary language of electricians.

The introductory lecture is written with spirit, and contains fentiments and reflections calculated to rouse the attention of the ftudent. Mr. Morgan defcribes the origin of artificial electri

city, difcriminates its effects, eftimates the extent and law of its influence, and hints at a general theory. He next explains the elementary apparatus, and confiders fully the qualities of the electric fpark. The properties of the Leyden jar, and the varieties in the appearances arifing from the different forms of the veffel, from the quality of the coating, and from the nature of the difcharging rod, are difcuffed at confiderable length. On this important fubject, he introduces fome refinements of the common theory. The principles advanced are likewife extended to the Electrophorus and Doubler. The nature of electrical light is then confidered with much accuracy, and several new and interefting obfervations are detailed.

The fecond volume commences with an inquiry concerning the conducting power of bodies. This is determined in five different ways, but not with fufficient precifion. Some complex inftruments are employed in the research. The fubftances examined are particularly water, alcohol, the oils, the acids, the gafes; alfo lac, fulphur, glafs, lignum vitæ, charcoal, and the metals. The theoretical explanation follows.

The exiftence of an electric fluid has generally been taken for granted. This fundamental principle Mr. Morgan attempts to demonftrate, and he conceives that the ftriking ef fects exhibited on bodies under the electric influence afford indubitable evidence of the prefence of fome corporeal agent. We cannot admit the legitimacy of this argument. As well might he conclude that the phænomena of gravitation and magnetifm are produced by certain fubtle intermedia; nay, that the com munication of motion from one body to another is performed by the operation of a peculiar ætherial aura:-but how much foever we refine on the fenfes, the agent is ftill material; and the real difficulty, we fhould fay impoffibility, of accounting for the origin or continuance of motion fubfifts in its full force.

It is curious to obferve the efforts made in different periods of society to emerge from fenfible objects, in order to attain an adequate idea of mind. The conceptions, were usually borrowed from thofe material, but almost invifible and intangible, fubftances, which we recognize principally from their effects. In the antient languages, the terms which denote mind primarily fignified a wind or breathing. The fame prejudice, the fame darkness of apprehension, has directed the views of modern electricians. At the fame time that they reprefent their darling. fluid as material, they afcribe to it all the qualities of mind and not of that lower fpecies of mind, the fource of animation, but of that fublime principle endowed with the sensitive and rational faculties. The electric fluid is capable of volition and reflection; nay, it decides with infallible certainty. Yet it is

not