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Art. 39. Obfervations on the Cure of the Gonorrhoea. By Samuel Foart Simmons, M. D. F. R. S. &c. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Murray. 1780.

This Pamphlet likewife contains fome judicious obfervations refpecting the Gonorrhea. On this fubject the Author very properly obferves, that although this complaint has prevailed in Europe for more than two hundred years, we find men of the greatest eminence in the profeffion ftill differing in their opinions concerning its nature, and in their methods of treating it.'-In fact, ftrange as it may appear after fo long an acquaintance with this disease, we have perused fome late performances, the Authors of which have undertaken to prove that the Gonorrhea and the lues venerea are two distin&t fpecies of contagion.

After defcribing the progrefs of the difeafe, the Author justly reprobates the practice ftill perfifted in by fome, of exhibiting draftic purges. Among the topical remedies, he too fpeaks favourably of a folution of opium, used as a fedative injection; or with a view to leffen the irritability of the parts, and to allay the local inflammation. When the inflammation has fubfided, he obferves that gently ftimulating and aftringent injections may be used with safety, and with confiderable advantage.' To the account of this laft quality alone, he afcribes the good effects to be expected from mercurial injections. His reafons may be collected from the following cxtracts :

The idea, fays the Author, of their correcting the venereal virus was originally introduced, and has been continued, upon mistaken principles.'-' Calomel, mixed with the mucus difcharged in a gonorrhoea, has no more power in deftroying the infectious properties of that mucus, than ceruffe or any other preparation would have. A diluted folution of fublimate injected into the urethra will, like a folution of verdegris, or blue vitriol, or any other flyptic, conftringe the mouths of the lacuna; but this is all that it will do, for it will never leffen the infectious nature of the virus. For the truth is, that mercury has no power over the venereal virus, until it has been introduced into the body, and undergone certain changes, &c.'

In these paffages, we think that the Author fpeaks too decicifively, on a matter in which he cannot have fufficient data to fupport his affertions. As he does not profefs to know the chemical qualities of the venereal virus, nor in what manner mercury, when introduced into the circulation, acts upon and corrects it; he is not warranted in denying that it can have the power of destroying its infectious properties,' on fimply coming into contact with it in the urethra. We fhould think it prudent therefore-waving other arguments founded on analogy, and, indeed, on experience to take the chance, at leaft, of its poffeffing a power of correcting the venereal poison, on being directly mixed with it; and accordingly should prefer it to ceruffe or vitriol: Calomel is certainly as harmless as thefe; and the Author is fo far from diffuading from the use of it in injections, that he declares, that he has frequently found it of confiderable efficacy; though his theory leads him to afcribe its good effects to its fimulus.

Art.

Art. 40. A Treatise on the Difeafes of the Eye, and their Remedies, &c. Illuftrated with Copperplates: By George Chandler, Surgeon. 8vo. 3 s. Boards, Cadell. 1780.

In this Compilation. which is divided into two parts, the Author has first drawn up a short anatomical defcription of the eye; which is followed by an account of the manner in which vifion is performed; and of the common imperfections of fight, fuch as Myopia, Prefbytia, &c. In the fecond part, he briefly treats of the diseases of the eye and eye-lids, and of the methods of cure, according to the latest observations and improvements. It will be fufficient to add, that the work is executed in fuch a manner, as to render it useful to thofe who cannot have recourfe to the various works in which the diseases of this organ are treated more particularly.

Art. 41. Medical Tracts: By the late John Wall, M. D. of Worcester. Collected and republished by Martin Wall, M. D. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Cadell. 1780.

The high reputation of the late Dr. Wall, both as a skilful phyfician and a man of fcience, fufficiently warrants, the propriety of prefenting to the Public a collection of his medical works, most of which are only to be met with in velaminous and mifcellaneous collections. The prefent Editor has been incited by an additional and very laudable motive, that of rendering juftice to the memory of an excellent father; and we doubt not but he will acquire equal credit, for the filial affection which prompted him to the undertaking, and the intelligent manner in which he has performed it. All the pieces in this collection have been before printed. The lift of them is as follows:

1. Of the extraordinary effects of Mufk in convulfive diforders. 2. Of the use of the Peruvian Bark in the small-pox. 3. Of the cure of the Putrid Sore Throat. 4. Mr. Oram's account of the cafe of the Norfolk Boy. 5. Obfervations on that cafe, and on the efficacy of Oil in Worm Cafes. 6. Experiments and obfervations on the Malvern Waters. 7. Letters to Sir George Baker, &c. on the Poifon of Lead, and the impregnation of Cyder with that metal. 8. A Letter to Dr. Heberden on the Angina Pectoris. 9. Supplement, containing an account of the Epidemic Fever of 1740, 1741, 1742.

As it does not come within our plan to give a particular account of pieces formerly published, we fhall only take notice, that the Editor has enriched his publication with various notes, which difcover an extenfive acquaintance with the fubjects in question, with a candid and liberal turn of mind. He has fubjoined to the treatise on Malvern waters, an Appendix of fome length, containing an experi mental inquiry into their nature; from which it appears, "that the Holy-avell Water at Malvern, does not contain any uncombined vitriolic acid, nor any volatile alcali, nor any metallic falt; that it is flightly impregnated with fixed air, contains fome common air, fome felenites, and fome unneutralized calcareous earth." He attributes its virtues, therefore, to "its extreme purity, affifted by the fixed air which it contains."

RELIGIOUS.

RELIGIOUS.

Art. 42. A Travel from Egypt towards the Land of Canaan. Where the Author, in his Way, met with a peculiar People: among which he met with many remarkable Occurrences and many Dif ficulties. Set forth in Parables, and addreffed to the People called Quakers, and the Sincere in general. By J. C. Schnebbelie. 8vo. 2 S. Printed for the Author, and fold by Crowder. 1780. This poor Writer's head is enveloped in the thickeft fogs of myfticifm. His production is a wretched compound of the wretched fyftems (if they may be called systems) of Jacob Behmen and George Fox.

This Author is not contented with playing at Parables; he muft needs turn commentator! and, like other crack-brained enthufiafts, he hath chofen a fubject which Nonfenfe hath long pleaded a kind of prefcriptive right to the poffeffion of, and on which it fancies itfelf privileged to take what liberty it thinks proper. The title of this part of his work will be a fufficient evidence of the state of our Author's mind: An explanation of the book fealed with feven feals, or a further inftruction to the fincere in the way from Babylon to the New Jerufalem.'

We have nothing farther to fay of this traveller, but that he is yet in the Wilderness!

Art. 43. Catechifm de la Bible, &c.-A Scripture-Catechism; or, an Abridgement of the Holy Scriptures, by way of Queftion and Answer: For the Ufe of the Church of St. John, Spitalfields. 8vo. 1 s. London, printed by Galabin and Baker; and fold by G. Wagstaffe. 1779.

Monf. Beazeville, the author of this French Catechifm, fpeaks very properly, in his Preface, on the neceffity of inftilling the principles of piety and virtue into the minds of youth, and the importance of fcripture knowledge for this purpose. He earnestly recommends attention and diligence in thefe refpects to parents and others, who have the charge of children and youth, This little volume is publifhed at the expence of the church for whose use it was principally defigned. It reaches no farther than the end of the Old Teftament; on many parts of which it prefents reflections which tend to implant and ftrengthen the love of truth, piety, and goodness. We cannot but remark the folicitude the Author fhews in his Preface, that these defcendents of French Refugees may preferve and adhere to the language of their ancestors, without adopting the English. Art. 44. The Divine Right of a Chriftian to Freedom of Enquiry, and Freedom of Practice, in Religious Matters, evinced from the Chriftian Records. To which are added, Some Motives to enforce the Exercise of that Right, and a few Directions relative to the proper Regulation of it. 12mo. IS. Hull printed, London

fold by Rivington. 1779.

The Author of this fmall tract has not announced his name in the title-page, but the Preface informs us it is Beaton. It is a fenfible and rational performance, in which we find little to object to, and much to approve.

For other performances of this writer, fee Rev. vol. liii, p. 363.

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It is of little concern to him,' this Writer fays, Chriftians may be called by, whether as terms of diftinction, or names of reproach, fince thefe make no alteration in the nature of Chriftianity. But he is concerned, nay even anxiously defirous, that every difciple of Jefus be able to give a feriptural reafon, both for what he believes and what he practifes; fince a deficiency in this, in his opinion, reflects difgrace on the Chriftian character. When a profeffor of Christianity, for example, is afked, Why he believes this doctrine, or practifes that duty, how low, how mean, how dif graceful is it for him to reply, It is contained in fuch a confeffion, or it is believed and practifed by this or the other man, who is eminent for his literature and piety! But when he can fay, Thus Chrift and his apoftles taught, and thus they have commanded, and therefore I fo believe and fo practife, it is at once fatisfactory, juft, and honourable!' The right for which this Author pleads, he tells us, fifls in a man's determining for himself in all matters of religion, by exercifing his own understanding on the Chriftian fcriptures; or, in other words, to embrace, profefs, and defend whatever he apprehends to be religious truth or duty, without difcouragement or reftraint from men. This right he calls divine, because he apprehends that a Chriftian is invested with it by credentials from heaven;' and this right, he adds, is built on the following ftable foundations, That religion, ftri&tly confidered, is entirely a personal concern, and altogether foreign to the nature, object, and use of civil magistracy:-That the Lord Jefus Chrift is the only fovereign of confcience, which authority he continues to exercife himself, and has not conftituted any delegates :-That the facred feriptures are a perfect rule in all religious concerns, containing whatfoever is neceffary for us as Chriftians, either to believe or practife :-And, That every Christian is, or may be, a competent judge of the various branches of revealed truth, at leaft fo far as relates to his everlasting falvation.'

I This Writer defends the propofition he has advanced by a variety of arguments from the New Teftament; to which he unites motives to the exercife of this right, and directions for the proper regulation of it. His little treatise discovers good fenfe, integrity, candour, and piety.

Art. 45. Emblematical Representation of the Paradife of God's fhewing the Nature of Spiritual Industry, in the Similitude of a Garden well ordered, dreffed and kept. With fundry Reflections on the Nature of Divine Knowledge. To which is added, a Treatife on the Righteoufnefs of Saints, as is recorded in Scripture: Delivered by Way of an Anfwer to a Letter from a Correspondent; by Alexander Clark, Gardener. 8vo. 3s. bound. Keith,

&c. 1779.

The nature of this performance will be fufficiently known from its Title-page. The most material confideration attending this business of fpiritualizing is, that the Author has found it no hindrance to him in his profeffion, but that it rather was a help to him, in order, as he expreffes it, to follow the fame with care and diligence. And he adds, But what is ftill more remarkable in these things, that the more close I kept to the business I profeffed, the more I found of

God's

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God's gracious prefence, as may be feen in the work, how wonderfully I was enabled to fpiritualize every thing belonging to the prac tical parts of gardening; a path, which, I believe (as to the plan), no man ever yet has trod before.'

Art. 46. An Abridgment of the History of the Old and New Teftament, interfperfed with moral and inftructive Reflections chiefly out of the Fathers. From the French. By J. Reeve. 8vo. 6s. fewed. Exeter, printed; London, fold, by Lewis. 1780.

In this abridgement of Sacred History the reflections, moral and religious, which are interfperfed, are fenfible, useful, and fometimes excellent: But it is neceffary to warn our readers, that the principles of Popery are fo interwoven with the hiftorical and other paffages of fcripture, that the unwary may be misled, and brought to imagine, that the tenets of the Church of Rome are founded on, or fupported by, the Sacred Volume; than which nothing can be more falfe and erroneous. We therefore wonder, that in books of this kind, if published by Proteftants, the exceptionable paffages fhould not be omitted; or, at leaft, accompanied by fome fatisfactory guard, and antidote, for the fake of general readers, in a Proteftant country.

SERMON

Preached at St. Edmund's Bury, Oct. 17, 1779. For the Benefit of the Charity Children in that Town. Publifhed for the Benefit of the Charity Schools. 4to. Crowder, &c.

Pathos, tenderness, and perfuafive eloquence, are the characteristics of this Difcourfe. The fuppreffion of the Author's name is a fingular circumftance.

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A letter has been received from the widow of the late Captain Jonathan Carver,' declaring, in juftice to the memory of her deceafed husband,' and to prevent impofition on the Public,'-that Captain Carver was author of no work ever yet publifhed, but his own "Travels through the interior Parts of North America," and his Treatife on Tobacco *". -Mrs. Carver further mentions fome circumftances relative to her late husband's tranfactions with the Bookfellers, in the hour of extreme diftrefs for his family,' &c. &c. -As to Captain Carver's private concerns with the trade, and their illiberality toward him,-thefe are matters which cannot be brought into our court. We are always forry for the diftreffes of ingenious men, or of their families; and fincerely wish we had the power of preventing or relieving them. We are particularly forry for Mrs. Carver, as the appears to have fuftained an irreparable lofs, in the death of a very meritorious and respectable husband.

* Of both thefe we have given our commendation: See Reviews Vol. LX. p. 90-281. Alfo Vol. LXI. p. 78.

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