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yet, in his inftructions to the man' and his mate', he condefcends to relax his reverend muscles, and, opening his cloke, flips out fomething that looks like a jeft:

Should the wife drop a bitter word

Let not the hufband's wrath be ftirr'd:
If ever the fool's cap appear,

One, and but one, the bells must wear.'

The Author feems ready to excufe one perfon's wearing thefe bells: and we will readily excufe his wearing them once in his life-time. But will he be always tinkling them in our ears? Because he himself is fond of the noife, he imagines, no doubt, that it is melodious to others!

Art. 41. An Heroic Epifle, from Cunning Little Ifaac, to to the Modern Congreve. 4to. 1 s. Faulder. 1781.

Intended to ridicule Mr. Sheridan; but the fatyrift's abilities are too mean even for the compofition of the bellman's annual verses. Art. 42. Life reviewed; a Poem founded on Reflections upon the filent Inhabitants of the Church-yard of Truro, in the County of Cornwall. To which is added an Elegy on the late Rev. Mr. Samuel Walker, who was many Years Curate of that Borough, By E. Smith. 4to. 2 s. 6 d. Exon, printed for the Author.

178c.

Alas! poor man, thou art going the way of fome of thy brethren -fast-very faft! Even Reviewers, noify as fome of them might heretofore have been, muft mix with the filent inhabitants of the Church-yard' and their works will follow them!

Art. 43. The Ancient Briton, a Poem. Humbly addreffed to his Royal Highness George Prince of Wales. 4to. 1 S. Kearf ley. 1780.

The idea of this poem originated, as the Writer informs us, in confequence of his acquiring the poffeffion of a gold coin, which was found in a field near London, on which is rudely expreffed the head of an ancient British Prince. The Author perfonifies the coin, and makes it fpeak the language which he fuppofes would be natural to the ancient British Prince it reprefents, were he now in actual existence.' The whole, or at least the principal, defign of this uninterefting piece is to pay a compliment to the prefent reigning family. Art. 44. Philanthropy: a Poem, infcribed to his Grace the Duke of Northumberland. 4to. I S. Faulder. 1781. Common-place ideas methodized and hitched into very paffable verfe. One thought, however, feems to be an exception to the former part of this remark: namely, that philanthropy dictated the Ame

rican war.

Art. 45. An Hymn to Efculapius. 4to. 1 s. Faulder. 1781. A fquib, lighted by an electrical fpark at The Temple of Health, and audaciously thrown at the fublime Divinityship himiel, who prefides there.

HUSBANDRY, &c.

Art. 46. The Farmer. Comprehending the feveral moft interesting Objects, and beneficial Practices, &c. &c. By Jofiah Ringsted, Efq. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Dixwell.

Squire Ringfled is but a bungler at the bufinefs of bock making

Cc 4

The authors he has borrowed from, besides being (many of them) obfolete, are, for the most part, as ignorant and uninformed as himself. His work, in short, is a wretched compilation, put together without judgment, or even a knowledge of the fubjects on which he has attempted to treat.

PHILOSOPHICAL.

Art. 47. Obfervations on Dr. Hugh Smith's Philofophy of Phyfic, and his two firft Chapters of Philofophical Inquiries. 4to.

Macgowan, &c.

I s. 6 d.

This gentleman muft, we apprehend, have had abundant leifure, and not have fet any very high value on his time, when he fat down to do that voluntarily, which we may be faid to have done through compulfion: for it is well known that we have undertaken the tafktoo often alas the drudgery-of giving an account of all kinds of works that iffue from the English prefs.

If the author of the Philofophy of Phyfic, and of the Philofophical Inquiries, be a very modeft man, we think he must blush, and feel fomewhat awkward, on perufing the obferver's dedication addreffed to him; in which he accofts him in a ftyle of diffidence, and even with a degree of reverence, that does not appear, palpably at least, to be ironical; or, if he be of an irritable habit, he will not much relish the liberties which he takes in the performance itself, and particuJarly in the introductory preface to it.-But after what we have al-ready faid, and have been obliged to fay, on the prefent fubject, we fhall not mifpend our readers, or our own time any longer, on a matter fo very uninterefting and unedifying to every one of them.

MEDICAL.

Art. 48. Medical Anecdotes of the laft thirty Years, illuftrated with Medical Truths. By B. Dominiceti, M. D. Noble of the Holy Roman Empire, &c. &c. 8vo. 7 s. 6d. Bound.

&c. 1781.

Davis.

The fole fubject of thefe Medical Anecdotes and Truths, is Dr. Dominiceti, and his medicated baths, fumigations, &c. He attempts to eftablish by reasonings, authorities, and hiftories of cafes, their extraordinary efficacy in venereal and fcorbutic complaints, the gout, rheumatism, the palfy, dropfy, ftone and gravel, fevers, and female. diforders in general. The virulent abuse with which he treats the regular members of the faculty, and the exceffive and exclusive commendations he bestows on himself, cannot fail to offend every liberal and candid reader, who might otherwife be inclined to afford fome credit to the merit and efficacy of his inventions. It is not our province to enquire into the authenticity of his facts. The diftruftful and cautious reader may fufpect that many of them are at least dif. torted, and overcharged;-for us, we think enough may be admitted to excite the attention of the Public, towards a clafs of remedies, which, either in Dr. D.'s or other hands, may produce important effects in many oblinate and inveterate difeafes.

See M. REVIEW, September, 1780, page 237, CORRESPON.

PENCE.

Art.

12mo.

Art. 49. Heads of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Medicine. By Andrew Duncan, M. D. Fellow of the Royal College of Phyficians, Edinburgh, &c. &c. Second Edition. 3s. Boards. Elliot, Edinburgh; Dilly, London. 1781. The purpose of Dr. Duncan in this publication, is to give a brief view of the fubjects which are treated at length in his course of medical lectures. It is indeed, a mere enumeration of topics on which the lecturer is to speak; and therefore, we prefume, is intended almolt folely for the ufe of his pupils. The advantage of fuch a text book to refresh the memories, and preferve a train of thinking in the minds of students, is obvious. With refpect to the fcheme of medical inftruction here sketched out, it appears to be formed on the most enlarged and scientific plan; and we think the ingenious author has, in his introduction, very juftly fated the advantages that may accrue from his fpirited and laborious undertakings, even in the bofom of academical establishments for the ftudy of medicine.

Art. 50. Every one his own Phyfician; or, the prefent Practice of Phyfic. Wherein the Definition and Symptoms of Diseases are laid down, and the prefent Method of Cure delineated. By R. Dalton, Efq. 12mo. 2 s. 6d. Dodley, &c. 1780.

This worthy Efquire acquaints us in his preface, that "his genius led him to commence the phyfical fcience;-that he fettled at Liverpool, where no fooner had he got into good repute, fuccefs, and encouragement, but he was called away by the death of his brother, by whom he became heir to a good eftate,-that, nevertheless, he has ever fince retained a particular attachment to the study of phyfic; and that lately the fudden and unbiaffed fuggeftions of his mind excited him to publish this treatife, wherein his intention is entirely levelled at the public good.'

We are glad to find, that a gentleman, who apparently means fo well, has not his fortune to make by the practice of his profeffion, In what fenfe his publication is levelled at the public good we will not pretend to fay; but we apprehend it is not likely to hit it, any way. Art. 51. Obfervations on Fevers: wherein the different Species, Nature, and Method of treating thofe Difeafes are reprefented in new and interefting points of view. By John Roberts, Surgeon; late of the Royal Navy. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Robinson, &c. 1781. The writer of this pamphlet introduces his fubject with a good deal of vague declamation about antient prejudice, errors in theory, and the like, which are to be all fet right by the modern fashionable principle of common fenfe. He gives fome theory of his own too; but we apprehend he would be much more in his element by a patient's bed-fide, than in his employment of pulling down and building up medical theories. It certainly can only proceed from unacquaintance with the writings and practice of the most eminent modern phy ficians, that the free ufe of bark and wine in malignant fevers is reprefented as a kind of novelty, confined to himself and a few of his friends. What shall we think of a writer of the prefent day, who af ferts that C an opinion of the bark being pernicious in all fevers prevails univerfally among the medical tribe;' and that the bark is excluded in putrid fevers?'

If

If it were worth while to expend any criticifm upon a trifling performance, we might obferve, that his divifion of fevers into two claffes only, totally oppofite in their nature and cure, the inflammatory and putrid, is a more dangerous error than any he has attempted to explode, and contradictory to univerfal experience in this country. Writers much fuperior to himself have, perhaps, contributed to miflead practitioners, by the application of facts drawn from the obfervation of difeafes in hot climates, and among particular claffes of men, to the very different ftate of morbific caufes and effects among us. Art. 52. Hints on Difeafes that are not cured: addreffed to the Faculty only. 4to. I s. 6d. Murray. 1781.

From the cautious addrefs of this piece, it might be imagined that the writer has fome mighty fecret to communicate to his brethren; but the fact is, that in 40 or 50 quarto pages of flowing gentlemanlike language, he has contrived to tell them-nothing. We have heard much of the ufe of fuch negative oratory in the Senate House, but we do not readily conceive the purpose of addreffing the faculty in this manner.

RELIGIOUS.

Art. 53. The Progrefs and Establishment of Chriflianity, in Reply to the Fifteenth Chapter of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. By George Laughton, D. D. 4to.

Law. 1780.

I s. 6d. The only thing that can recommend this performance to the attention of an intelligent and judicious reader, is the Author's regard for the interests of chriftianity, of which we have no reason to question the fincerity. In every other refpect, it deferves very little notice; the ftyle is in general affected, and often obfcure; an air of pedantry appears through the whole, and the fentiments, when juft (as they commonly are), must have frequently occurred to every competent judge of the fubject.

Art. 54. Comments on the Ten Commandments. 12mo. 6d. Chichester, Printed. London, Sold by Crowder. 1781.

This fmall tract is immediately defigned to be difperfed by a fociety in the city of Chichefter for promoting Chriftian Knowledge. The anonymous author pleads for himfelf, that he fhould not have added to the numberlefs publications on the subject, had he not apprehended that fomething was ftill wanting, eafy to be purchafed and easy to be underflood, which might inftruct the young and inexperienced, without creating difguft or languor. The intention will we hope in fome measure be answered by this little performance. The comment is judicious and useful; perhaps, at times to concise, as particularly in regard to oaths taken before a magiftrate. The flyle, though far from being low, is on the whole plain; but words and expreffions which are quite eafy and familiar to perfons converfant with books and language, are often difficult, and even unintelligible, to the greater numbers who have very fmall pretenfions to learning. We mean not by this remark, to derogate from the merit of this wellintended production, which, we believe, is in a good degree calculat ed to answer its defign.

Art.

Art. 55. The Catholic Proteftant; in three Parts. By R. Harrifon, M. A. 8vo. 1 s. 9d. York, printed for Johnfon. 1781. This Author hath the vanity to call his fermons popular and critical. If by popular, he means fuperficial, affected, flimfy, and fo forth, he hath given a true account of them. If by criticism, he means any thing more than plagiarism,-the lowest and most hackneyed fpecies of plagiarism,-he can only be confidered as :he dupe of felf

conceit.

Art. 56. A Companion for the Chriftian in the Field and Garden. Recommended by the Rev. Mr. Romaine. Izmo. I s. 6d. fewed. Buckland, 1780.

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From the recommendation, our readers may eafily imagine what are the prevailing principles of the Author. Of him, and of his former works (fays Mr. Romaine to the reader), I need not profefs to thee my high esteem. Read and judge for thyfelf. Perufe his bora folitaria, a treatife, upon the godhead of the Lord Jefus Chrift, far more convincing, eftablishing, and edifying than any thing published upon the fubject in our day. If thou art defirous of knowing the truth, thou wilt find, upon reading it, the true Chriftian doctrine, and will thank him for writing, and me for directing thee to it. Neither he nor I have any view herein, but the glory of our Great Master. and the good of his church. He wants no profit; he feeks none. He hath very generously given this book on the feasons, to a widow and four little children. Whatever fum may arise from the fale of it he hath devoted it to her ufe. May it anfwer his charitable purpose !

The call of charity is fo irrefiftible, that every leffer call is loft in it; and was this little manual more reprehenfible than it really is, we fhould be inclined to fufpend the rigor of criticism, and join with Mr. Romaine in wishing that it may answer the Author's charitable purpofe.

As a fpecimen of this work, we shall prefent our readers with the following reflections. 'Some trees in the garden make a great shew, but bear no fruit. They are fplendid in leaves, and perhaps in bloffoms, but they yield either nothing fit to eat, or fomething not worth eating. The largeft fpecies of tree, known in the world, is baobab, or calabash tree of Senegal, which often exceeds 70 feet in the circumference of the trunk, and covers with its bows a circle of about 130 feet in diameter; but yields a fruit, which, while it is unfit for food, does not exceed the fize of a common kidney-bean. With this enormous fubftance it hath large and handsome leaves, and looks at a diftance rather like a grove than a fingle tree.--O what a picture is here of many a fpecious foul! How many have looked tall, like cedars in Lebanon: how many have promised fair like the fig-tree in the gofpel, who, when the mafter looked for fruit, have yielded none?" The Author difcovers fome invention and ingenuity in his reflections on the seasons; and though his fancy is not fo exuberant, nor his obfervations fo fprightly and acute as the ious Mr. Flavel's of the last age, in his "hufbandry fpiritualized," yet they are vaftly fuperior to fome late attempts in this way, and may be very edifying to thofe good Chriftians for whofe ufe they were intended.

SCHOOL

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