be measured in fhorter intervals. The first year from birth should be divided into interfticcs, from birth to fix months, when teething commences; from fix months to one year; from one to two; two to three; three to four; four to five; five to ten; ten to twenty; and fo on to one hundred and upwards. Exclufive of abortions and ftillborn, those who die in the first month before baptifm, and of courfe cannot be included in the chriftenings, should be diftinguifhed, in order to determine more accurately the amount of the births. Separate columns fhould be affigned for the name of the difeafe or cafualty; for the cáufe, if known; and the duration of the affliction. Annexed to each difeafe fhould be the numbers dying at different ages of that malady. Males grown up to maturity who die, fhould be diftinguished, either as married, widowers, or bachelors; and females alfo of this defcription, either as married, widows, or virgins. Thofe carried out of London, or into it, for interment; the parochial children who died at nurfe in the vicinity of the metropolis; the rank, profeffion, or trade; whether native or foreigner; fhould all appear in the general annual report in feparatę columns. The annual reports of all the hofpitals, difpenfaries, and prifons, and of the executed, fhould alfo be made to the hall, and included in the general annual register.' "Our curtain being now ready to fall," to use the author's own expreffion, we fhall only recommend to him that, in the other work which he is about publifhing, he would avoid that fuperfluous amplification fo confpicuous in the present, which may ferve for the display of industry, but adds nothing to medical knowledge. ART. V. The Olla Podrida; a periodical Work, complete in Forty-four Numbers. The Second Edition. 8vo. 6s. boards. Dilly. London, 1788. TO expofe the follies of the times, to eradicate error, and to promote the interefts of virtue and focial happiness, have been the great objects of all thofe authors who have favoured the world with periodical lucubrations. Whether they have proved equally fuccefsful with Cervantes in their laudable efforts for abolishing the extravagancies among their contemporaries, we will not take upon us to affirm; but that they have, in many cafes, enlightened the understanding, improved the tafte, and corrected vulgar prejudices, are effects which cannot be denied them. Of every fpecies of writing, thofe mifcellaneous productions are the beft adapted for the inftruction and entertainment of the public. They afford a juft and interefting difplay of the prevailing fashions, opinions, and practices of the times; they hold forth to general view the fantaftic fingularity of characters; characters; and they abound with a variety of fubjects that are fuited to the gratification of every reader. The gentleman to whom we are indebted as the projector and promoter of the Olla Podrida, is Mr. Thomas Monro, A.B. of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford, who informs us of all his ingenious affociates, excepting one, who have contributed to the work. It appears that out of the forty-four numbers, of which the volume confifts, fixteen are the production of Mr. Monro. At entering on the fecond number we began to fufpect that we had got into the company of a group of academical gentlemen, who had fummoned our attention to convince us of their proficiency in the Greek language. The smell of the lamp, however, foon diffipated, and we recognised the authors to be not men immured in a college, and devoted entirely to the habits of learned fpeculation, but who were converfant with life and manners, and drew their fubjects chiefly from the capital, which, in every work of this kind, must be the principal scene of obfervation. Though it is difficult to felect a fpecimen from a periodical work, we fhall, for the gratification of our readers, present them with the following extract, which relates to a subject of ge neral ufe, and of no small importance in society': • That converfation may anfwer the ends for which it was defigned, the parties who are to join in it must come together with a determined refolution to please, and to be pleased. If a man feels that an east wind has rendered him dull and fulky, he fhould by all means ftay at home till the wind changes, and not be troublesome to his friends; for dulnefs is infectious, and one four face will make many, as one cheerful countenance is foon productive of others. If two gentlemen defire to quarrel, it should not be done in a company met to enjoy the pleasures of converfation. Let a ftage be erected for the purpofe, in a proper place, to which the jurisdiction of the Middlesex magifirates doth not reach. There let Martin and Mendoza mount, accompanied by Ben and Johnfon, and attended by the amateurs, who delight to behold blows neatly laid in, ribs and jaw-bones elegantly broken, and eyes fealed up with delicacy and addrefs. It is obvious, for thefe reafons, that he who is about to form a converfation party fhould be careful to invite men of congenial minds, and of fimilar ideas respecting the entertainment of which they are to partake, and to which they must contribute. With gloomy perfons, gloomy topics likewife fhould be (as indeed they will be) excluded, fuch as ill health, bad weather, bad news, or forebodings of fuch, &c. &c. To preferve the temper calm and pleasant, it is of unfpeakable importance that we always accuftom ourfelves through life to make the best of things, to view them on their bright fide, and fo reprefent them to others, for our mutual comfort and encouragement. Few things (efpecially if, as Chrif tians, we take the other world into the account) but have a bright fide; fide; diligence and practice will eafily find it. Perhaps there is no circumstance better calculated than this to render conversation equally pleafing and profitable. In the conduct of it, be not eager to interrupt others, or uneafy at being yourself interrupted; fince you fpeak either to amufe or inftruct the company, or to receive those benefits from it. Give all, therefore, leave to speak in turn. Hear with patience, and answer with precision. Inattention is ill manners: it fhews contempt; and contempt is never forgiven. Trouble not the company with your own private concerns, as you do not love to be troubled with thofe of others. Yours are as little to them, as theirs are to you. You will need no other rule whereby to judge of this matter. Contrive, but with dexterity and propriety, that each perfon may have an opportunity of difcourfing on the fubject with which he is best acquainted. He will be pleased, and you will be informed. By obferving this rule, every one has it in his power to affift in rendering converfation agreeable; fince, though he may not choose, or be qualified, to fay much himself, he can propose questions to those who are able to answer them. • Avoid ftories, unless fhort, pointed, and quite a-propos. He who deals in them, fays Swift, muft either have a very large stock, or a good memory, or must often change his company. Some have a fet of them ftrung together like onions; they take poffeffion of the conversation by an early introduction of one; and then you must have the whole rope; and there is an end of every thing elfe, perhaps, for that meeting, though you may have heard all twenty times before. Talk often, but not long. The talent of haranguing in private company is infupportable. Senators and barrifters are apt to be guilty of this fault; and members, who never harangue in the houfe, will often do it out of the house. If the majority of the company be naturally filent, or cautious, the converfation will flag, unless it be often renewed by one among them who can start new fubjects. Forbear, however, if poffible, to broach a second before the first is out, left your stock fhould not laft, and you should be obliged to come back to the old barrel. There are those who will repeatedly cross upon, and break into the converfation, with a fresh topic, till they have touched upon all, and exhausted none. Oeconomy here is neceffary for most people. Laugh not at your own wit and humour; leave that to the company. • When the converfation is flowing in a ferious and useful channel, never interrupt it by an ill-timed jeft. The ftream is fcattered, and cannot be again collected. • Difcourfe not in a whifper, or half-voice, to your next neigh-bour. It is ill breeding, and, in fome degree, a fraud; converfation-stock being, as one has well obferved, a joint and common property. In reflections on abfent people, go no farther than you if they were prefent. "I refolve," fays Bishop Beveridge, would go " never to to speak of a man's virtues to his face, nor of his faults behind his back" a golden rule! the obfervation of which would, at one stroke, banish flattery and defamation from the earth. • Converfation is effected by circumftances which, at first fight, may appear trifling, but really are not fo. Some, who continue dumb while feated, become at once loquacious when they are (as the fénatorial phrafe is) upon their legs. Others, whofe powers languifh in a close room, recover themfelves on putting their heads into fresh air, as a Shrovetide cock does when his head is put into freth earth. A turn or two in the garden makes them good company. There is a magic fometimes in a large circle which fafcinates thofe who compofe it into filence; and nothing can be done, or rather nothing can be faid, till the introduction of a card-table breaks up the fpell, and releafes the valiant knights and fair damfels from their captivity. A table, indeed, of any kind, confidered as a centre of union, is of eminent fervice to converfation at all times; and never do we more fenfibly feel the truth of that old philofophical axiom, that nature abhors a vacuum, than upon its removal. I have been told that, even in the Blue-flocking Society, formed folely for the purpose of conversation, it was found, after repeated trials, impoffible to get on without one card-table. In that fame venerable fociety, when the company is too widely extended to engage in the fame converfation, a custom is said to prevail (and a very excellent one it is) that every gentleman, upon his entrance, felects his partner, as he would do at a ball; and, when the converfationdance is gone down, the company change partners, and begin afresh. Whether these things be fo or not, most certain it is, that the lady or the gentleman deferves well of the Society who can devife any method whereby fo valuable an amufement can be heightened and improved.' Z. In the delineation of characters this mifcellany is not defective; but its merit confifts chiefly in a variety of judicious observations and reflections, interfperfed with wit and humour. The fubjects are generally interefting; in point of moral tendency, the whole work is unexceptionable; and we must be of opinion that the reader would betray a very faftidious taste who fhould not rife fatisfied with the wholefome and favoury entertainment afforded by the Olla Podrida. ENG. REV, VOL. XII. SEPT. 1788. M ART. ART. VI. The Connexion of Life with Refpiration; or, an Exe perimental Inquiry into the Effects of Submerfion, Strangulation, and feveral Kinds of noxious Airs, on living Animals; with an Account of the Nature of the Difeafe they produce; its Diftinction from Death itself; and the most effectual Means of Cure. By Edmund Goodwyn, M. D. 8vo. 3s. boards. Johnfon. London, 1788. A Period perhaps the most active in experiment, and fruitful in discovery, that is recorded in the history of natural science, has elapfed fince the immortal work of Haller, eftimated the progrefs, abridged the ftudy, and extended the limits of physiology. By appealing to it as a standard, we clearly afcertain what fucceeding inquirers have added to the fum of knowledge. Thus, for example, we are enabled to judge of the admirable experiments of Spalanzani on digeftion; nor has the author of the volume before us, whether we confider the number or the importance of those questions which he has folved concerning the function, to the illuftration of which, he has dedicated his labours, any reason, we apprehend, to dread the fame trial before a candid or competent judge. Its immediate object is to investigate the nature, and difcover the remedies, of thofe difeafes, and that fufpenfion of the vital functions, which are produced by fubmerfion, ftrangulation, and the breathing of noxious airs. In the progrefs of this difcuffion, the author is led to inquire into the nature and ufe of refpiration. In this double research his philofophy is not a fpecious and barren speculation, but conciliating intereft, and justifying conviction by its utility; it widens the sphere of fcience, while it arms benevolence to combat the most afflicting calamities which are incident to humanity. The experiments are ingenioufly conceived and accurately conducted. The order of his investigation is luminous and fcientific; the spirit of inference chafte and correct; and the work, upon the whole, argues a mind too wife to be the dupe, and too candid to be the advocate, of hypothefis. A preliminary problem neceffary to determine was, Whether death in fub * It is remarked by Lord Bacon that we may eftimate, in fome measure, the truth of theories in natural fcience by their utility: "Inter figna nullum magis certum aut nobile eft quam quod ex fructibus. Fructus enim et opera inventa pro veritate philofophiarium tanquam fponfores, et fide juffores funt. Atque ex philofophiis Græcorum vix unum experimentum adduci poteft quod ad hominis ftatum levandum et juvandum fpectat."-Verul. Nov. Org. Lib. 1. § 73 merfion |