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VARIETIES, LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL.
Including Notices of Works in Hand, Domeftic and Foreign.
Authentic Communications for this Article will always besthankfully reiecved.

E are happy to inform the Public,

W that pane valuable Manufcripts,

of

comprising various Letters from the pen Mr. RICHARDSON, the author of Clariffa, Grandifon, &c. are in the poffeffion of his family, and will speedily be publifhed.

An extenfive and valuable library of Chinese books has lately been received from Italy by Dr. MONTUCCI, and may be feen by the literati on applying to that gentleman at Pancras It is for fale, and confifts of nearly twelve hundred volumes, which the learned poffeffor has labelled and arranged under the eight following classes.*

I. KUON-HOA, or the Claffical Chinese Language, as written and fpoken at Court by the Mandarines, &c. This clafs is divided into the three following

branches.

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*Dr. Montucci follows the Portuguese orthography in writing the Chinese words, as the most approved by Dr. HAGER and others. The hyphens between the Chinefe words are only put to avoid confufion in pronouncing and reading.

It is to be obferved, that the title of Kim is given to all those works which have been collected fince the general conflagration of books, which was ordered by Xi-hoam-ti, of the Dynafty of Cin, 212 years before Chrift. So that the contents of them must have been written at least before the end of the preceding Dynafty Chau, which was extinct in the year 250. Before Chrift. Some of the third clafs are ftrongly fufpected to be fpurious.

This clafs is peculiarly interefting, as many of the volumes are interleaved with MSS. interpretations by the Mif fionaries.

1. Xam, or Upper Clafs; containing the celebrated five Kim, with various commentaries; called the 1. Ye-Kim. 2. Xu-Kim. 3. Xi Kim. 4. Li kì, and 5, Chun-çicu. To this clafs belongs alfo the Hi-çu, or Commentary, by Confucius, upon the Ye-kim, or Exagramms uppofed to have been written by Fo-hi about 2900 years before Chrift. This collection has no less than eighteen various editions and commentaries.

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2. Chum, or the clafs between the upper and lower; containing the other books of Confucius and his difciples. The ancient Gloffary Ulh bia. The Li-y; the Cheu-li; the Kia-li; and the works of the celebrated philofopher Chu çu.

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.108

105 3. Hia, or the Lower Clats; containing the works of Lao çu, and other philofophers of the fect Tao-fu. III. Y, or Mythology; containing the rites and fuperftitions of the Bonzes. Volumes

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IV. Su, or Hiftory, which is divided inte three main branches.

1. Su-ki, or Hiftorical Periods; embracing the Univerfal and particular Hif tory of the feveral Dynafties, and Chronology. Volumes

134

2. Yu-tu, or Geography, including Itineraries and Travels

32

3. Pe-kia, or Biography; which contains feveral interesting works, particu larly the Lives of the Seventy-two Difciples of Confucius.

89

V. LIU, or Law, containing the Code of Laws; the proceedings of the Six Pu, or Tribunals. Among thefe volumes is a manufcript in 12 volumes containing the Statutes of the Prefent Tartaric Dynafly Ta-çin.

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VI. SIM-li, or Natural Philofophy, includ ing the celebrated work published under Yum-lo, about 1400 years after Chrift; alto Mathematics; fingular Plates on all the Branches of Experimental Philofophy. The celebrated Cheu-pi-kim, or a Treatife on Geometry, fuppofed of the age of Yu the Great, about 2300 years before Chrift. Volumes VII. GA-XU, a Collection of Mifcellanecus Authors. Volumes 89 VIII. SI JUVEN

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VIII. SI-JU-VEN, or Works of the Miffionaries, called by the Chinele, Occidental Literature. This clafs contains fome works of Father Ricci, Aloifius, &c. and a learned Treatife on Astronomy in 10 vols. with MSS. Plates. Volumes 38 Total 1182 DR. MONTUCCI obligingly fhews in this collection a number of int refting volumes, of the remoteft antiquity, and the only copies in Europe;-at leaft they are not to be found in the printed Catalogues of the Chinese Collections, in the library of the National Inftitute, nor in the library of the Imperial Academy at St. Peterf burg. The following works are particularly curious:

1. Lo*-xu-chim-go, or the Ancient Claf fical Characters rendered into their perfect Chim form (fee above, clafs I. n. 2.) This work is in five large quarto volumes, twelve inches by feven, on fuperfine paper; every ancient character is exhibited upon a large fcale, and then reduced into its modern fhape.

2. Poei-ven iun-fu, or Combinations of Compofition and harmonic Similarities of Sound, being a Dictionary of Rhymes, wherein every Character is fhewn in all its poffible Combinations with Others, for which Authorities are always quoted.

3. Po-ku-tu, or Plates on Learned Antiquities; a work in 20 vols. Containing a numerous Series of Vafes, Musical Inftruments, Metallic Mirrors, &c. &c. with ancient Infcriptions exhibited afterwards in modern Characters. The whole is arranged in the order of time, commencing with the most ancient Dynatty down to the Han, about 200 years

before Chrift.

4. Cheu ye-çiuen-xu, or The moft perfect Writings on the re-kim, by Cheu Kum, a celebrated law-giver who flourished about 1122 before Chrift,

5. Lo-kim tu, or Plates on the Six Kim of the First Clafs, (fee above, clafs II. n. 1.) confifting of fix immenfe folios, fixteen inches by ten, wherein all fubjects mentioned in thofe Kim are exhibited in a fplendid feries of Engravings on Wood.

6. Tao te-kim, or the Rule of Virtue, a celebrated Kim by Lào çu, contemporary to Confucius. A manufcript Latin Verfion of this very curious work may be feen in the library of the Royal Society. 7. Yi-po-lo, or Defcription of a Fo

The collections of claffical characters are ftiled Lo-xu or Six writings, with an allution to the fix rules of conftructing characters, according to the method of the first inSee the Mem. des Millionaires. MONTHLY MAG, No, 111.

ventors.

reign Region. An elegant volume, containing an account of the Chinefe Embasfy, in the latter years of the reign of KAMHI, to PETER THE GREAT, at Mofcow. 8. Sin-chi-y-fiam-tu, or New Engravings, containing Plates of the most im portant Figures, being a Series of Prints on all Branches of Natural Philofophy.

Dr. FOTHERGILL, of the Western Difpenfary, has in the Prefs a Trea tife upon a very fingular and painful affection of the nerves of the face, called by certain French writers and fome others, Tic Douloureux.

Mr. DAWSON TURNER has now in the Prefs, and will publish in about a month, a fmall work on Botany, written in Latin, and accompanied with coloured engravings: it will be entitled Species Mufcorum Frondoforum Hiberniæ, and is intended as an Enchyridion of the Moffes.

The publication of the works of the late ARCHDEACON BLACKBURNE, the author of the Confeffional, in feven volumes, may be expected to appear in the course of a month or two, with the Archdeacon's Memoirs of his own Life and Writings; and feveral original letters and papers, by way of notes or appendix to the Memoirs; in which much curious and interefting matter will be brought to light. The editor, (F. B. Richmond, Yorkshire,) will be much obliged to any perfon, who can fpeedily communicate to him the Archdeacon's answer to the Propofal made to him from the Congregation at the Old Jewry, in November 1766, on the vacancy occafioned by the death of Dr. Chandler.

A work of fingular importance to the practical Agriculturift will make its appearance in a few days. MR. ARTHUR YOUNG propofes to favour the world with a fifth edition, corrected to the present time, of his well-known Farmer's Calen dar. This work has been out of print for feveral years; and copies have deen bought at a very enormous price whenever they could be met with: Mr. Young, has, however, been induced to prepare a new and enlarged edition, which includes every modern improvement and difcovery in the practice of agriculture.

The Trußees of the British Museum have juft purchased Dr. COMBE's invaluable Collection of early English Bibles, the only complete one in the kingdom.

A friend of the late Rev. HUGH FARMER is preparing for the prefs, Memoirs of that learned Author; to which will be added a curious piece of his, never before printed, being the only one of his manufcripts which was preferved from the flames.

K

An

An Effay, Medical, Philofophical, and Chemical, on Drunkenness, and its effects on the Human body, by Dr. TROTTER, of Newcastle, is in the Prefs, and will be published in a few weeks: being a comment on the Inaugural Differtation De Ebrietate, &c. Edin. 1788. This is the first attempt to treat the subject in a scien. tific form.

An enlarged-edition of The Elements of Science and Arts, a work formerly publifhed by IMISON, under the title of The School of Arts, will be ready for publication in a few days. It is a familiar introduction to natural philofophy and chemistry, fhewing their connection with the arts and manufactures; and the lateft difcoveries and improvements are pointed out. Thirty engravings by Mr. LOWRY, illuftrate the work.

Dr. MARTIN, minifter of Monimail, (the parish of the Earl of Leven and Melville) has fent to the Cupar Prefs a volume of Sermons, preached after the interment of the late venerable the Earl and Countess of Leven, &c. and on other occafions. The volume, dedicated to Lady Napier, will be elegantly printed on good paper; and is expected to be ready in March. It may not be improper to add, that a large appendix of delineation of characters, anecdotes, and illuftrations, will be added; and that the impreffion is a limited one.

The pofthumous Works and Life of the late Dr. HENRY HUNTER will certainly be published in the month of February.

The poetical Works of the Rev. Mr. BIDLAKE, collected in one volume, are in the prefs.

Three more numbers, completing the first part of Mr. DAGLEY'S tafteful work upon Gems are nearly ready for Publica

tion.

Mr. BYERLEY has in the prefs an enlarged edition of the Effay on Novel writing; to which he intends to prefix an Eflay on Romances, wherein he propofes to examine the merits of Mr. D'If raeli's Effay on that fubject.

The fecond edition of Mr. DAVID WAKEFIELD'S Effay upon Political Economy is in the Prefs, and will make its appearance early in March.

Mr. THOMAS GILL has found out a very excellent fubftitute for Indian ink, poffeffing all its valuable properties. Boil parchments flips or cuttings of glove leather, in water, till it forms a fize, which when cool becomes of the confiftence of

jelly; then, having blackened an earthen plate by holding it over the flame of a candle, mix up, with a camel hair pencil, the fine lamp black thus obtained, with fome of the above fize, while the plate is ftill warm. This black requires no grinding, and produces an ink of the very colour, which works as freely with the pencil, and is as perfectly tranfparent, as the best Indian ink: it poffeffes the advantage of furnishing artifts with a fubftitute for that article, which may be prepared in fituations where it might be difficult to obtain the ink itself.

A Philofophical Society has been establifhed at Glasgow, for the ensuing year. Dr. MICKLEHAM is prefident; John Robertfon, efq, vice prefident; Wm. Durham, efq. fecretary, and James Lindsay, efq. treasurer.

In the Appendix to Sir JOHN SINCLAIR'S Effay regarding Cattle, we find the following receipt for making hay tea. Take about one pound of red clover hay, well got in, and fix quarts of clear spring watir, boil them together till the water is reduced to four quarts, then take out the hay, and mix a pound of barley, oat, or bean meal, amongst a little water: put it into the pot, or cauldron, while it is boiling, and keep it conftantly stirring until it is thickened. Let it cool, then give it the calf, adding as much whey as will make a fufficient meal. This is a cheap way of rearing calves, and the valuable article of milk may be faved for other purpofes. When tattle are kept out in winter, it is recommended as an useful practice to rub fome tar at the root of the horn, which prevents the wet from getting between the root and the skin, and it is faid contributes to preferve the health of the animal, and to keep it free from various difeafes to which it may otherwife

be liable.

The following is an improved method of preparing Mineral Kermes. Reduce feparately into powder, and mix together 16 parts of crude antimony, 24 parts of purified potash, and three parts of flowers of fulphur, put the mixture into a crucible, and reduce it to a state of complete fufion. When cold, pulverize the mafs, boil it half an hour with 128 parts of water, filtre the liquid while boiling through a fine cloth, let it run into a pan containing 156 parts of water, and leave it expofed to the action of the air in a fhallow veffel, where it prefents a confiderable furface, from 48 to 72 hours, or till parts of a bright orange colour appear upon its

furface.

furface. The liquor is then to be decanted, the depofited matter washed in a large quantity of water, and removed to a filter; and then dried by a gentle heat. This procefs furnishes 12 or 14 parts of mineral kermes. Nearly the whole of the antimony diffolves, and is transformed into kermes.

The Bedfordean gold medal will be prefented to the author, who fhall, before November 1804, produce to the Bath and Weft of England Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, &c. the beft effay, founded on practical experience, on the nature and properties of manures, and the mode of preparing, and applying them to various foils; in which effay fhall be pointed out the beft and cheapest manner of collecting and preparing the different kinds of manures, and of the state, season, and quantity, in which they should be applied.

MR. JOSEPH HUDDART has invented an inftrument, which he denominates the Station Pointer, for readily afcertaining the fituation of the observer, after having determined the angular position of three known objects.

A new edition, being the fifth, of the animated and popular Sermons of PRESIDENT DAVIES, A. M. of America, is in the Prefs, and will be shortly published, by the proprietors of the former edition, in 3 vols. 8vo. a copy of which can now hardly be procured at any price.

The Lectures of the celebrated anatomist Boeger upon the diseases of the Bones, have been reduced to a fyftematic treatise by RICHERAUD; and will fhortly appear in an English drefs.

BERTHOLLET has lately published at Paris an interefting work upon the Laws of Chemical Affinity; a translation of which will be published early in the prefent month, from a copy tranfmitted from the author.

M. GUER has juft published at Paris a work entitled Confiderations fur les Finances, the object of which is to fhew the fallacy of the theories advanced and defended by the French economists.

Profeffor BERARD, teacher of the French, Italian, and Spanish languages, in St. John's college, at Hamburg, has finifhed his Practical Teacher of the Latin, French, Italian, Span fh, Portuguese, German, English, Dutch, Danish, Swedifh, Ruffian, and Polish; by means of

which any perfon may acquire thofe languages without a teacher, and merely by the examples on their rules of conftruction.

Mr. JOHN HAMILTON has announced at Hamburgh, an English Pocket Library, felected from the works of the most celebrated British authors of recent date, each number to be embellished with two engravings.

M. DE LA LANDE has prefented to the National Institute a new thermometer. He places zero at the temperature of 9, and 31 inftead of 26. He remarks that the numbers 30 and 40 are thofe of the degrees of heat in fummer and cold in winter, 30 for moderate fummers and mild winters: 40 for hot fummers and intense winters.

M. THENARD has difcovered a blue, equally beautiful, and as fine as that of lapis lazuli, or ultramarine.

M. DESCOTILS has difcovered a new metal in the ore of platina: it is thought that palladium may be an alloy of this new metal with mercury.

Profeffor PROUST has difcovered a new but very dangerous fulminating powder, which is a mixture of oxigenated muriate with arfenic: it takes fire with the rapidity of lightning, and he thinks it would be very dangerous to attempt to make any ufe of it. "If, (fays he,) two long trains be made on a table, one of gun-powder, and the other of this mixture, and they be in contact with each other at one end, fo as to be fired at the fame inftant, you will fee with furprize that one appears like a flash of lightning, while the other feems to burn with extreme flowness."

Another fhower of ftones is faid to have fallen with a tremendous noise, in France, on the 8th of last September. One of the ftones, which refembles thofe ufed in paving, and is about a foot in circumference, has been prefented to the National Inftitute, and by that body depofited in the Museum of Natural Hiftory. The ftone has a fetid fmell, refembling four milk, and when truck with fteel it yields a few fparks.

M. CHANCEY, in a Memoir upon the different fpecies of Wheat, contends, that there is no degeneracy of any of the forts but what results from negligence, and that attentive culture will greatly improve any fpecies.

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NEW ACTS OF THE BRITISH LEGISLATURE. Being an Analysis of all A&is of General Importance, pojed during the laft Seffion of Parliament.

"An Act for confolidating the Duties on Stamped Vellum, Parchment, and Paper, in Great Britain." (Paffed 11th of Auguft 1803, Cap. 127.)

IT

Tis enacted that the commiffioners for ftamps may provide one new ftamp to denote the feveral duties; that the feveral rates fhall be confolidated, and only one diftinct account of the monies arifing thereby be kept. § 1. C. 2.

"And, whereas, by an Act, 37 Geo. III. 136, it is enacted that it fhall be lawful for the commiffioners or their officers, upon payment of the duty and a penalty of 51. to ftamp any paper whereupon any inftrument (except bills of exchange or notes) thall be written, liable to be ftamped with a ftamp of a particular denomination, and whereon there is a stamp of a different denomination, but of an equal or greater value: And whereas, it is expedient to permit the fame to be done without payment of the faid penalty :" It is, therefore enacted, that it fhall be lawful for the commiffione:s, or their officer, to ftamp any fuch paper (except as aforefaid) without payment of the faid penalty of 51. required by the faid Act. § 5.

And every inftrument, although ftamped with any ftamp of greater value than required by law, fhall be valid, provided fuch ftamp fhall be of the denomination required by law for fuch inftrument. § 6. "An Act to amend an A&t paffed in the Forty-fecond Year of the Reign of His prefent Majefty, intituled, An A& to repeal an Act paffed in the Twenty-fifth Year of the Reign of His prefent Majesty, for granting Stamp Duties on certain Medicines, and for charging other Duties in lieu thereof; and for making effectual Provifion for the better Collection of the

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faid Duties. (Paffed July 4, 1803. Cap. 73.)

If any perfon who fhall receive from any proprietor, or his agent, any article whatever, fubject to duty, for the purpose of felling the fame again without the label, and fhall not within ten days return the fame, or within that time give information thereof to the commiffioners at the headoffice in Someriet place, and depofit fuch article with the nearest diftributor of ftamps, he fall forfeit twenty-pounds. $2.

And, upon the outfide of all parcels,

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in which fhall be contained one dozen or more of packets, boxes, bottles, pots, phials, or other inclofures, containing any article fubject to duty, fent by any original vender, or any agent, to any retail-vender, by any public conveyance, or which fhall be about to be exported, the word "Medicines" fhall be written; and alfo the name of fuch original vender, and of the perfon fending or exporting the fame, if not fuch original vender thereof; and any officers of the customs or excife, or any perion appointed by the commiffioners for ftamps, by authority under the hand of any magiftrate or juice of the peace, on information given to, and oath, that there is reason to fufpect that fuch parcel contains fuch articles not properly labelled, to open fuch parcels, and examine if the proper labels are affixed; and if fuch labels are not affixed thereto, to feize the fame, and lend the fame to the commiffioners at the head-office, who are to reward the officer. § 3.

It shall not be lawful for any perfon whatever to profecute any action, bill, plaint, or information, against any perfon, or to proceed before any justice or magif trate in a fummary way, for the recovery of any fine incurred by the former A&t, unless the fame be commenced in the name of the Attorney General, and by his au thority, or by and in the name of tome officer appointed by the commiflioners. $4.

"An A&t for granting to his Majefty until the Sixth Day of May next, after the Ratification of a Definitive Treaty of Peace, a Contribution on the Profits arifing from Prop ity, Profefiions, Trades, and Offices. (Palled August 11, 1803 Cap. 122.)

Of this verv voluminous A&t it is im. poffible for the Editors, confiftent with the general plan of the Monthly Magazine, to give more than an abstract detail of the duties, the deductions, the exemptions, the abatements on the ground of income, and the abatements in respect of children,

I. Duty on Landlords-For all lands, tenements, hereditaments, or heritages, there fhall be charged throughout Great Britain, in refpect of the property thereof, for every 20s. of the annual value thereof, the fum of is. and the faid duty fhall extend to all manors and messuages, to all quarries of stone, flate, limestone, or

chalk,

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