more than one author. And they are intended to draw the attention of philofophers to a new and curious field of fpeculation, and to promote a fpirit for farther researches into the grand fcheme of nature.

The authors introduce their conjecture, by obferving, that the laws of motion, with regard to all bodies, are laid down by Sir Ifaac Newton in four generai propofitions. The three firft he lays down as axioms; but the fourth, commonly called the law of gravitation, he proves by a large and particular induction, founded on the phaenomena of our planetary system. And the discovery of the law of univerfal gravitation will ever be regarded as one of the nobleft exertions of the human faculties.

That gravity, which is indifpenfable to the condition of every individual world, does, in reality, extend to the greatest affignable distances, is the great hinge of the Newtonian philofophy, and is therein fully evinced by the moft perfect induction. The authors of this treatise conclude, that fuch an extenfion of the power of gravity is incompatible with any fyftem of bodies in a quiefcent ftate. For, were they in this condition, as foon as gravitation began to act, they would

begin mutually to approach, and univerfal deftruction would enfue.

In confequence of an admirable contrivance, introduced by means of projectile forces, combined with those arifing from general gravitation, the planets revolve round the fun, and neither have a continual approach to it, nor to each other. Our authors, therefore, conclude, that as gravity is effential to the constitution of all great bodies in the univerfe, periodical motion must be neceffary to the permanency and order of every fyftem of worlds whatsoever. And, as projectile force is fitted to counteract the tendency of general gravitation in a small fyftem, fo they conjecture, that it will have effect alfo in the grand system of the universe, round whose centre they fuppofe, that this folar fyftem of ours, and an inconceivable number of others like to it, revolve according to the law of gravitation. On this idea, in place of apprehending disorder and confusion from its general influence, it leads us to contemplate an endless number of harmonious motions, all of which loudly proclaim the fustaining hand of the Deity.

The conjecture thus attempted to be established by reasoning, is, we are informed, in fome measure

measure proved by facts. For, our authors observe, that, agreeably to what has been said, certain proper motions of the stars begin actually to be discovered by the nicety of modern obfervations. Sirius, Caftor, and feveral others, are found to be moving through abfolute space, with incredible velocity. They add, that the whole fixed stars of the firmament are fufpected to do fo by the first aftronomers of this age. And they conclude, by faying, that pofterity must determine how far the obferved laws of these celeftial motions fhall favour these hints of one grand universal system.

SECT.

The Hiftory of a Cafe, in which the Left Arm of a Child was torn off by a Miln, without any fucceeding Haemorhage. By Mr James Carmichael, Surgeon at Port-Glasgow, communicated

to Doctor Monro:

CTOBER 7. 1776, a healthy girl, three years and a half old, was entangled, with an apron pinned about her fhoulders, by the fpindle of a barley-miln, going at its full career, and twisted round with it with equal velocity. The father did not perceive her, till her legs

ftruck

1

ftruck him behind. He inftantly threw the water off the miln; ran down one pair of stairs, and removed the wedge which keeps the miln-stones affunder, before the miln could be fully stopped. On getting back, his child was thrown to a confiderable distance, was motionless, and the left arm tore from her. She recovered a little, was fenfible, and spoke readily.

In less than an hour from the accident, I found her, though lofing no blood, to all appearance dying. The extremities were cold; pulse very low and tremulous; convulfions over the whole right fide of the body and face; fymptoms I attributed to loss of blood, as well as to irritation on the system; but I was astonished, when I was told she had not loft a fpoonful of blood. The left arm was off an inch and a half above the elbow. The stump had a fhocking appearance.. All the foft parts were mangled and torn, and stripped from the humerus up to the joint, which was in view. Several lacerations went beyond the joint, through the muscles and common in teguments. The body of the deltoid mufcle was divided up to the clavicle. The pectoral muscle was confiderably injured; its tendons were detached from the humerus. A third laceration

ftretched