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cause, and of a body to which I was bound by every tie of duty and attachment. We are seldom good judges of our own productions: but I am assured from all quarters, that there was nothing in my Vindication which ought to have occasioned such bitterness of resentment, or indeed any personal feeling at all: and I must therefore conclude, that the real provocation has been, the very different reception which our two publications have experienced in the world."

120. Practical Observations on Telescopes, Opera-Glasses, and Spectacles. By William Kitchiner, M. D. 12mo. pp. 163. Bagster.

THIS useful publication (two Editions of which have been sold without a single Advertisement) was before spoken of, in the manner it deserved, in vol. LXXXV. ii. 55.

Dr. Kitchiner's observations on the Double Stars, p. 25, will be perused with great interest by the scientific; as will his remarks on Sectacles, p.61, by all who have the misfortune to be near-sighted.

One remark on this latter subject,

shall be transcribed:

"It is a very general vulgar error, that near-sighted persons who use concaves, as they get older become less short-sighted: on the contrary, every optician and nearsighted person I have consulted on this subject have assured me, that as the eyes become impaired by age to see distant objects sharp and distinct, they require deeper concaves; and at a very advanced age commonly complain they cannot see to read so well as formerly, and require the assistance of the common Preservers of 50 or 36 inches focus.-Dr. Parker, the late Rector of St. James's, Piccadilly, had from his youth a short sight, and when almost fourscore years of age, complained he could not read so distinctly as he wished: with the help of convexes of 36 inch focus, he was enabled to read and write with comfort to himself for several years · after."

121. The Diary of Jacob Bee, from 1682, to 1706. 8vo. pp. 26.

THIS little Tract is certainly a Bibliographical curiosity, as only TWENTY copies of it are in existence, and it is neatly printed on fine paper. Prefixed to it is a regular Life of the Author, with Jacob Bee's Autograph, and pedigree of his family.

"Jacob Bee [a native of Durham] was baptized at the chapel of St. Margaret's, Framwellgate, on the 19th day of June,

1636. He was the son of Nicholas Bee, by his second wife, Barbara Ussie.

"Of his childhood no particulars have reached the present day; and the Editor joins his unceasing regret with the lamentations of all Biographers past, present, and to come, that so little attention is paid to this interesting portion of the lives of their heroes, by which it might appear how those who are born great' are to be distinguished from those whoachieve greatness.'

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"The name of Jacob Bee would not have descended to the nineteenth century but for the indefatigable diligence, industry, and antiquarian research of that worthy citizen Mr. Thomas Woodmass, of Durham, who has collected innumerable

records which otherwise would have perished; and who, with a care truly paternal, cherisheth the Diary of Jacob Bee as one of the most valuable possessions: and although it hath now great need of a new covering, yet its worthy possessor is still loth to trust so valuable a manuscript into the hands of any maker of bookbacks of the present day.

"The descent of the Diary from its Author to its present happy possessor, will be clearly perceived by the pedigree an

nexed.

"Jacob Bee was brought up to the sister arts of skinner and glover, and flourished in his native City for three quarters of a century.-He was buried January 15, 1711."

The notices in the Diary are principally such as relate to the births and bours; but events of a public nature deaths of Jacob's friends and neighare occasionally introduced.

An article or two shall be taken from his obituary:

"1683-4. Jan. 8. Robert Hilton, esq. Justice of ye Peace in Westmorland, came to Durham, and lived in the Coledge: he died very suddenly, having been abroad at supper the night before, and went very well to bed y night before. - Feb. 29. Richard Hutchinson, son to Richard Hutchiuson, commonly called little Dick."

"1684. Sept. 28. John Richardson, senior, and Maltman and Tanner, in Framnwelgate, departed this life, being Sunday this year, being excommunicated and buried in his owne garden, at Caterhouse, near Durham; being denyed by being his desire. The grave was opened the Bbp. to bury him in the Church, it in the quire but shut up again by orders as above, buried 29th."

"This identical Grave-stone still remains there, but a garden wall having been built upon it, a part only of the inscription is legible.- -Parted this life September anno

ætatis suæ

"1691. Aug. 26. Sir John Duck, bart. departed this life, being Wednesday at night, and was burried upon Monday after, being the 31st of August."

"The wealthiest Burgess on the Civic Annals of Durham. Of Sir John's birth, parentage, and education, the two first have hitherto remained veiled in impenetrable obscurity, as to the third, he was bred a butcher, under John Heslop, in defiance of the trade and mystery of Butchers, in whose books a record still exists, warning John Heslopp that he forbeare to sett John Ducke on worke in the trade of a Butcher. John Duck however grew rich, married the daughter of his benefactor, and was created a Baronet by James II. He built a splendid mansion in silverstreet, where a pannel still exists recording his happy rise to fortune. The Baronet, then humble Duck, cast out by the Butchers, stands near a bridge in an attitude of despondency; in the air is seen a raven bearing in his bill a piece of silver, which according to tradition fell at the feet of the lucky John, and was naturally calculated to make a strong impression on his mind. He bought a calf, which calf became a cow, and which cow being sold enabled John to make further purchases in cattle, and from snch slender beginnings to realize a splendid fortune. On the right of the picture is a view of his mansion in Silver-street, and he seems

to point at another, which is presumed to be the hospital he endowed at Lumley. He died without issue, and was buried at St. Margaret's, where his wife Pia-Prudens-Felix lies buried beside him. On Duck the Butchers shut the door; But Heslop's daughter Johnny wed: In mortgage rich, in offspring poor,

Nor son, nor daughter crowned his bed," Of the picture above described, a neat wood-engraving accompanies this remarkable narrative.

122. A Treatise on the General Principles of Chemical Analysis. Translated from the French of L. J. Theuard, Member, of the Institute of France, Professor of Chemistry, &c. &c. By Arnold Merrick, 8vo. pp. 333. Longman and Co..

THIS elegant translation of a popular and scientific work was first announced, by us and even advertised in "Thomson's Annals." It is therefore surprizing that any other person should undertake the very same, as now reported. It is generally thought

that the use of such notices of works in preparation is to prevent two or more from hurting themselves by competition.

The Translator's Preface unfolds the nature of the work; and his explanation of the chemical nomenclature may be useful to our readers:

"The object of the following work is to explain the means by which the practical chemist, unaccustomed to analysis, may discover and separate the constituents of a gaseous, liquid, or solid combination or mixture, and ascertain the weight or volume of each constituent. In the original French, this treatise forms the concluding volume of Thenard's Chemistry, published in Paris in 1816.

"Possessing as we do the excellent works of Dalton, Davy, Henry, Murray, and Thomson, a translation of the whole of Thenard's elementary and practical Treatise on Chemistry, though one of the most récent and valuable works on the -science in the French language, seems to be quite unnecessary. But as we have no separate and convenient work in English on Chemical Analysis, the Essays of Bergman and Kirwan having been long since out of print, it has been judged that a translation of Thenard's treatise on that subject would be a valuable acquisition to the practical chemist. It is hoped that the present translation will be found sufficiently perspicuous, faithful, and concise. It pretends to no other kind of merit.

"With regard to nomenclature, to some it may be useful to state that chemical names of compound bodies are contrived to give an idea of the nature of the combinations, by uniting the names of the constituents, and varying their terminations. According to the author a combustible is a body which can combine with oxygen. All the simple bodies, excepting oxygen, are combustible. A burnt body is a combustible combined with oxygen.

An acid

is a burnt body possessing a sour taste, and reddening an infusion of litmus; an oxide, a burnt body not possessing a sour taste nor reddening litmus. Protoxide, deutoxide, tritoxide of lead or any other combustible, denote, the first oxide or oxide least oxidized, the second oxide, the third oxide of lead. &c.: the name peroxide is likewise given to the oxide containing the most oxygen. When a combustible can combine in several proportions with oxygen and form two acids, the most oxygenized is distinguished by mak. ing its name terminate in ic, and the less oxygenized, by making it terminate in

ous.

There are no general rules for namunion of two oxides or two acids, or of ing the compounds resulting from the

an acid with an unmetallic oxide. Hitherto they have been denoted by the names of oxides and acids of which they are formed. But there are exact rules important

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important to be known for naming the compounds resulting from the union of a metallic oxide and an acid. These very numerous compounds, bearing in general the name of salts, are denoted by varying the termination of the acid, and making it precede the name of the oxide which enters into the composition of the salt. If the acid terminates in ous, the salt terminates in ite; and if the acid ends in ic, the salt terminates in ate. All the salts are arranged in groups, or genera, denominated from their acids.

"With respect to the compound combustibles, if these bodies are metallic, the compound is called an alloy, and the names of the metals composing it are subjoined; as, an alloy of lead and tin. When the compound results from the combination of a metal with an unmetallic combustible, the name of the latter is made to terminate in uret and precede the name of the metal: hence the names of sulphuret of lead, carburet of iron, &c. given to the combinations of sulphur with lead, carbone with iron, &c. When the compound consists of two unmetallic combustibles, either name is made to terminate in uret and precede the other, as most agreeable to the ear.

"Most of the metallic oxides are capable of absorbing and solidifying a certain quantity of water, and forming compounds possessing peculiar properties; these compounds are denominated hydrates.

"The compounds of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, and those of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and azote, the former constituting vegetable and the latter animal substances (some of which are oxides and some acids), bear names in general which have no relation to their elements."

To a performance like the present, any encomium is unnecessary. Its evident utility is a sufficient and most appropriate recommendation.

123. The Child's Introduction to Thorough Bass, in Conversations of a Fortnight, between a Mother and her Daughter of Ten Years old. 410. pp. 96. Baldwin and Co.

THE mode of instruction by Dialogue, when skilfully managed, is of all others the most pleasant, and most likely to command the attention of children.

In the present case, the Author ingenuously observes, that

"The first six conversations are exactly the same in substance, and nearly the same in language as some I have held with two little girls both under seven years of age. The last six may, perhaps, require the understanding to be rather more

The

advanced, though I am willing to hope that they will not be found difficult to be understood at almost any age, by a child in any degree capable of reflection. progress made by those who have already learned Thorough Bass in this manner has been so rapid, that I have been urged to communicate my method of teaching it to the publick, by many good judges who have witnessed its effects with surprise."

On the rules laid down by the Anthor as "first principles,” he says,

"In almost every instance, I have taken for my authority, in them, some Rawriter of acknowledged reputation. meau, Rousseau, Alembert, Pasquali, Callcott, Corfe, and Dr. Busby, have been those whom I have generally followed."

Two or three of the Questions and Answers will give some idea of the nature of the work:

1 "Is Thorough Bass a science, then?
"Yes.
It is the science of Music. It
contains the rules for composition, and
shows how harmony and melody are pro-
duced.

"What do you mean, mamma, by harmony and melody? I thought they were

the same.

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the writer represents Mr. Fox as a learned and an eloquent Preacher, who has "not merely been a spectator, but as an actor, known the transition from the gloomy and contracted sphere of Calvinism to the boundless liberty of his present creed."

The subjects of the Letters are. 1. "On Difference of Opinion among Christians." 2. "On Religious Persecution." 3. "On Freedom of Inquiry." 4." Grounds of Admission into the Christian Church."

After some introductory remarks, the Inquirer says,

"I would not waste either your time or

my own in empty declamation; let me rather strive to strip your argument of its glosses, and thus expose its futility, if not to you, at least to those whom it might beguile to their undoing."

125. Early Piety; or, Memoirs of Children eminently Religious, interspersed with Familiar Dialogues, Emblematical Figures, Prayers, Graces, and Hymns. By the Rev. George Burder. 12mo. pp. 72. Collins.

Mr. Burder is the respectable Minister of the congregation of Independent Dissenters in Fetter-lane; and this little Work is well adapted to the peculiar tenets of his flock.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE TO THE ADELPHI OF TERENCE,

Performed at Westminster School, on Monday Evening, Dec. 13, 1819.
PROLOGUE.-Mr. Webber.

Bis universa patriæ necessitas,
Ut fas et æquum fuit, hanc Regiam domum
Vacare ludis prohibuit solennibus :
Nec nos acturos hanc de more fabulam,
Nec vos spectatum sivit intromittier.
Id ægre passi et fortiter tamen sumus,
Pietate deplorantes hoc tacita malum-
Adeon' enim ignavus quisquam aut ferus
siet,

Ut nec moveret Illa spes Britanniæ
Desiderata, abreptumque Imperî decus,
Vel Illa, quam recentiorem'plangimus,
Regina, Mater, et fidei et constantiæ
Exemplar, et morum, ingenique liberi?
At heu! quo rursus auspicamur omine?
Quid hoc lugubre, quæso, vult silentium ?
Quid ora circumquaque fertis, Hospites,
Humique meeste declinatis lumina ?
Quos quæritis nusquam inveniuntur, et
simul

(Si cujus ergo huc advenistis) gaudium
Evasit omue in mentis ægritudinem.
O Sors iniqua! O duplex infortunium,
Nec alterum anteponendum alteri-tamen
Fas est, te, te, tuis alumnis, O Pater,
Prius vocari, nunc eheu! novissimum:
Quem inexpectata mortis invidæ manus
Etatis occupavit in meridie.

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SYRUS.-Comitantibus Dæmonibus.

Remedio non caret, novo sub Auspice!
At liberos, ademto Patre, parvulos,
Viduamque matrem quis adeo solabitur?
Palam est tametsi (et ideo habemus gra-
tias),

Quæ in hoc curavit Regia liberalitas,
Satisque vestra testis est quid "Indoles
Nutrita faustis sub Penetralibus" valet-
Dehinc, Verende, ad te revertimur, senex
Valere te jubemus ultimum tui,
Quos tu solebas præter omnes' unice
Fovere; alii, quibuscum tu consortia
Propiora agebas; alii, ad Isidem quibus
Sub te magistro contiget succrescere ;
Aliique, quos tandem, negotiis procul,
Et spretis, quos plerique avent, honoribus,
Recipere amabas ruris angulo latens.
Ibi otiosus, at non idcirco tamen
Humaniorum obliviosus munerum,
Super senectæ tramitem facillimum
Devectus ævum traduxisti leniter,
Uti ministrum Evangelî dignissimum,
Uti probatum Philosophiæ diu ducem,
Civem, patronum, Pauperis patrem decet.
Felix qui ita omnibus bonis amabilis
Vixit, ita flebilis periit, ut denique
In se vetusti non immemores beneficî,
Circa cubile lacrymantes viderit
Ipsos verendi Regis ire filios.

Ergo valete, et ite nunc animæ piæ,
Ite in pace ad beatiora limina-

Quid plura? ludos nos acturos funebres
Putate, quales Roma dedicaverit
Bene meritis olim de Patria viris.

EPILOGUE.

Tunc Eschinus, Demea, Ctesipho, Sannio.

Syrus-Pulebre equidem procedo hodie: Proh Jupiter! artem

Divinam! et nostro convenit ingenio.

Ipse olim servus, sceptrum et nova regua potitus,

Pennatus volito victor in ora virum.

Namque novum occepi quæstum ; chartaeque diurnæ
Editor, hic vestrum quæro patrocinium.

GENT. MAG. Suppl. LXXXIX. PART II.

F

1

Omnia

Omnia providi-sunt omnia promta-ministri
Dæmones; et nunc, Dis gratia, fervet opus.
Edoceo quonam Respublica more geratur,
Quæ leges, et quæ bella ferenda meis:
Stat, cadit arbitrio nostro, et submissa veretur

Curia me, Cathedræ, Rostra, Theatra, Forum.
Nil hodie est quod non prælo committitur-Ecquis
Ambulat, aut equitat, navigat, orat, edit,
Fit nostri juris: nihil est quod condere possis,

Nil recitare! palam vivitur, atque agitur.

Sed quis adest? Ni fallor, herus; charissime, salve,

Echine! (Esch.)-Salveto tu quoque, amice; novum
Hocce tuum ancupium vortat bene; sed mihi vestro
Nunc opus auxilio est-Pamphila amata diu

Jam mea conjugio facta est-tu scis bene; at iste,
Qui mihi contulerit gaudia tanta, dies,
Laude sua careat, nolo-tu rite, quod actum

Et qualis fuerit pompa Hymenea, edoce :

Ordine rem totam narra. Tua charta-(Syrus)-paratum est
Quod petis-ausculta-formula namque mihi

Verborum certa est, longo jam tempore et usu

Sancita, et tantæ quæ siet apta rei

66

(Legit) “ Pamphilam, ut audimus, deduxit ad aram Hymeneam "Eschinus, ipse ortu clarus, opumque potens :

"Egregia forma nupta et virtutibus aucta

"Omnigenis (semper quas sibi vellet Hymen).

"Simplex munditiis ipsa, et velamine operta

"Quod Bruxellenses implicuere nurus.

"Quadrigæ ad portam : et qua primus mensis agatur
"Offert delicias villa propinqua suas."

Esch.-Sufficit; isthæc res est: et nihil amplius opto;
Nil quicquam audivi pulchrius aut melius.

Syrus-Gaudeo magnopere, at quidnam sapientia juxta quem video!
Demea et Ctesipho.

Quid vult? (Dem.)-Euge; caput lepidum

Hem! quam mutatus! Salve: tibi munere honesto

Jam fungi, et patriæ consuluisse placet:

Ausculta paucis; natum volo visere gentes

Externas (hominum mos jubet omnigenum)

Sumat ut exemplum ex aliis sibi; quod fugiendum,
Quod laudi discat, quodque siet vitio!

At proficiscenti soli discrimina quanta!

Febris, Prædones, Alea-(Sy.)-Ohe teneo;
Vis quendam, ut levibus fallat sermonibus horam,
Commissatorem, participemque viæ.

Dem.-Immo etiam insignem Sophia, veterique fide qui
Virtutes possit constabilire-(Ctes.)-Meas?
Dem.-Temperet ut juvenis ferventem-(Sy.)-Ah! desine, tcto
Cœlo erras-Hæc jam vilia-Principio,

Non opus est docto nimium, nisi Gallica dictis
Concinne hinc illinc inseruisse suis;

Saltare, aut cantare; aut sorbillare Falernum,

Et scite in patinas inspicere, atque jocos.

Dein placidus, clemens, ne quot male consulat ætas,
Clamitet indignans crimina-Flagitia

Intolerabilia! At domini arridere facetis

Noverit, inque loco desipuisse velit ;

Hæc præceptori-(Dem.)-Juvenique accommoda credo-
Sy.-Sed te, vir sapiens garrulitate.—(Sannio.)—Syre!

Heus; audit nemon'? ubinam est chartæ iste diurnæ
Editor? Is saltem plebis amicus erit.

Hiccine libertatem aiunt esse omnibus æquam?

Æschinus is nobis vincula, lora feret?

Tu populum meliora doce: tu lumina tandem

Pande nova. (Syrus.)-Hoc satis est, improbe Leno, tace

Non ego de grege sum vestro-nec nostra querelis

'Pagina, nec probris dedecoranda tuis.

Sit mea laus quicquid carum et solenne vetustas
Fecerit, aut Patrum mos, geniusve soli-

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