rent facts related by the evangelifts are collected; and those circumftances in the narration, which are incompatible with the idea of forgery, are judiciously pointed out. Exercifes of this kind are very useful to the theological ftudent; and, as the author hints an intention of dedicating himfelf to the miniftry, the fpecimen here, given of his attention to the fcriptures cannot fail of recommending him for the fervice of the church. A Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of Swindon, at the Vifitation, and published at the Request of the Rev. Arthur Coham, A. M. Archdeacon of Wilts. By the Rev. J. Hare, A. M. &c. 4to. 25. Rivingtons, 1797. This is rather a learned differtation, than a fermon, on the utility of revealed religion in the promotion of every advantage connected with our present and future happiness. In thè illuftration of this point, great use is made of the Roman and Greek histories, as well as of the early parts of our ecclefiaftical hiftories; and the author has well eftablifhed, in favour of the fuperiority of the Chriftian fyftem, fome of those arguments which it is the fashion in our days to impugn. The Univerfal Reftoration; exhibited in a Series of Extracts, from Winchester, White, Siegvolk, Dr. Chauncy, Bishop Newton, and Petitpierre: fome of the most remarkable Authors, who have written in Defence of that interefting Subject. 12mo. 2s. Boards. Lee and Hurft. 1798. This is the moft copious and cheap collection that we have feen of the arguments in favour of univerfal restoration; a doctrine which, in fpite of its apparent allurements, has yet made a flow progrefs among the religious of this nation. In North-America, it is faid to have been more favourably received. A Sermon, delivered in the Parish Church of Sheffield, to the original United Lodge of Odd Fellows, on Monday July 9, 1798 (being their fecond Annual Festival). By George Smith, M. A. &c. 8vo. 6d. Matthews. 1798. The fociety of Odd Fellows in Sheffield having been fuspected of hoftility to the religion and government of the country, their purpose in going to church on this occafion was to convince the world, that they did not affociate to encourage anti-chriftian or antimonarchical principles. There is much good advice in the fermon that was preached before them, though it was delivered, we think, with an air of fufpicion, which, however, the odd fellows did not take amifs, as they requested that it might be printed. CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PHILOSOPHY. Outlines of a Courfe of Lectures on Chemistry. By T. Garnett, M. D. &c. 8vo. 4s. Cadell and Davies. 1797. The author's view in publishing this work will appear from a part of the preface. It was printed At the request of his auditors, who wished to have a text book which might contain the most ftriking facts. This text book was intended to be confined to thofe who attended his lectures, but it having been fuggefted by fome friends, whofe judgment and advice he refpects, that fuch a work might be useful în refreshing the memories of others, he has ventured to make it more public.' P. i. The laws of chemistry are briefly ftated: "the different metals, and other fubftances, are defcribed at greater length; and a variety of ufeful information is given, A Lecture on the Prefervation of Health. By T. Garnett, M. D. &c. Svo 25. Cadell and Davies. 1797. In late years, medical writings have affumed a more popular drefs, and the principles of the fcience have been exhibited in more eafy and attractive points of view. However this may be condemned by fome, as a dangerous innovation, we cannot but rejoice that knowledge is diffufing itself generally among the different claffes of fociety. In matters of fcience, indeed, fome flight inconveniences may arise from fuch general information; but we are confident that they will be confiderably overbalanced by the proportion of good that muft ultimately be produced. The lecture now before us has much of this caft, and is chiefly intended for the use of the public. It contains little new matter; but what is given is well introduced. It is placed in fuch a light as must render the fubject more clear and intelligible to the ordinary capacity, than it has hitherto been. Dr. Garnett begins his lecture by fhowing the laws which govern life; and he thence proceeds to thofe which regulate the action of external powers on living bodies. He infers, that there are three ftates in which bodies exift: Firft, a state of accumulated excitability. Second, a ftate of exhausted excitability. Third, when it is in fuch a state as to produce the strongest and moft healthy actions, when acted upon by the external powers.' P. 30. Life therefore depends upon the conftant action of external powers on the excitability; and good health, in a great degree, depends on the due operation of these powers. The effects of air are well explained: on colds, and the means of preventing them, the reader will find judicious obfervations: on food, liquors, and exercife, many confiderations of importance are enforced; and the effay may be very ufefully perufed by thofe who think the prefervation of health an object that deferves their conftant attention. BOTANY. Select Specimens of British Plants. Folio. 21. 10s. Boards. Nicol. Eager to encourage not only every work of genius, but every effort to engage the mind in elegant and useful amusement, we take an early opportunity of noticing this firft number of select specimens of British plants. With this fpecimen we are much pleased, though the editor, by an injudicious preface, has raised a fmile, which might have been fatal to a work of inferior merit. The drawings, we find, are by two ladies. The engraver and colourer are diftinct from the editor, who recommends himfelf to the notice of the public, as having fuperintended the engravings for illuftrating the mechanism of a horse's foot.' This and other informa tion might have been fpared; and the engravings of the horfe's foot, which can have little connection with botanical plates, might have refted on their own merits.. The plan of this work shall be selected from the preface. The plan of the work is this: to publifh in periodical numbers, each containing five plates, fuch plants, natives of this kingdom, as, on account either of their beauty or their rarity, are moft likely to recommend themfelves. In the execution of this work, the most minute attention will be paid to a faithful delineation of the figure, the fize, the colour, and habit of the plant. They will all be drawn from nature, and chiefly upon the spot on which they grew in their wild ftate. The representation of each will generally contain the root, and ftem; the leaves, flower, and fruit. The parts which conftitute its characteristic distinctions will be delineated apart, and magnified when neceffary. Each plate will be accompanied, by a concife botanical explanation. This will begin with the generic and trivial names: thofe of the clafs and order will follow next; after which the generic and specific characters will be given. The technical terms will be taken for the most part, if not always, from the last edition of the Syftema Natura, by Gmelin. A few of the fynonyms, and a reference to the plates, will follow. The general habit and appearance, the places of growth, tine of flowering, and whatever other circumftance may ferve to illuftrate the hiftory of it, will conclude the whole, in a more diffufe, but lefs fcientific defcription.' The letter-prefs will contain merely fuch concife definitions, and fo plain and fimple a defcription of each plant, as, by afcertaining to the reader its proper station in the Linnæan fyftem, may enable him to have recourfe to more detailed accounts for fuch, farther information as he may require. This is the utmost merit which the writer of the following defcriptions lays claim to.' The plates reprefent the faxifraga granulata and hypnoides; the ferapias latifolia, and the brafica oleracea. The generic and trivial names are thofe of Linnæus; the fyncnyms are thofe of Ray, Withering, Hudfon, Curtis, &c. The defcriptions are fufficiently full and appropriate. The drawings are executed with fpirit, elegance, and accuracy; and the colouring is managed with great delicacy. A water-colour, which, in few inftances, has been applied to botanical prints, feems to have been used. Its effect is ftriking, as its tranfparency fhows the finest ftrokes of the burin. A Collection of Exotics from the Island of Antigua. By a Lady. Numbers I. II. HII. Folio. 21. 25. White. 1798. It is with pleasure that we notice the elegant labours of a young lady from the Weft-Indies, whofe pencil feems to be free and spirited, and whofe drawings have been well copied by the engraver. The work is, we believe, published by subscription only; and we do not think ourselves at liberty to mention a name added with the pen to the copy which has reached us. The first number contains fix plates. In the firft we obferve the filk cotton tree. The flower refembles the peach bloffom, and is very beautiful; the filaments are long and very fine. In the fame plate is reprefented the wild ipecacuanha; a ftrong poifon, fometimes ufed in fmall dofes medicinally. The fecond plate exhibits the flower fence of Antigua; the third, the medicinal guaiacum; the fourth, the roucou, whofe clustered feeds produce an oily matter, and whofe large beautiful leaves render it very ornamental; the fifth, the ricinus palma Chrifti (whofe feeds, not unlike beans, furnish the castor oil), of which we had not before fo accurate a representation; the fixth, the plant called the cut-leaved lilac: from its habit and flower,-however, it is evidently a hemlock, which it resembles in its fell and ftrong poisonous quality. In the fecond number are three plates only. The plants are the wild cinnamon, the canker-berry, the papaw tree, and a fpecies of fenfitive plant. The third number difplays the female papaw tree, the potatoe vine (the root of which differs from the American potatoe, now naturalifed among us), and the coffee tree. EDUCATION. The Plan of Education purfued in Mrs. Landen's Academy, No. 48, Hans-place, Sloane-fireet. 12m0. 15. Ridgway. 1798. This scheme, upon the whole, is well digested; but, as it ap pears to be a boarding-fchool puff, it is doubtful whether the plan is ftrictly followed. Abrégé de la Grammaire Françoife de M. l'Abbé de Lévizac. Abridgement of the French Grammar of the Abbé de Lévizac. 12mo. Dulau. 1798. This abridgement is well executed; but it will not be so generally Acceptable to learners as if the rules had been given in the English language. Keeper's Travels in fearch of his Mafter. 12mo. 1s. 6d. Newbery. 1798. This narrative, of which a dog is the hero, will not only amuse but instruct children. The moral is, that one error, though trivial in itself, may expofe us to the whole train of vices and for rows.' POETRY. Poetry. By T. Morgan. 12mo. 1797. 25. 6d. Lee and Hurft. The pieces which compose this small volume are of the lighter kind. None of them can be faid to surpass mediocrity; and few of them even rise to that point. The verses on wit are dull and inelegant.. 'When polish'd wit refines the foul But dullness is a chequer'd beaft, That poifons life and glee; Then come bright wit, for all that's bleft, For ever follows thee !' P. II. The Paftoral Ballad was written in imitation of Shenflone. The fentiments are natural; and some of the stanzas are pleafing. The addrefs to Laura, who lamented that none of her numerous friends had ever addressed her in rhyme,' is not calculated to please a lady who has a good taste for poetry. The four last stan zas are thefe : Ah! where fhall the wretches, devoted by love, Seek their cares, their diftreffes to hide ? Shall they fly from this spot? from thy prefence remove, While remembrance in our fond bofoms shall live, So deep are the wounds,-hapless beauty, you give, 'Tis a maxim in language, undoubtedly true, When words cannot reach it,-as praise cannot you, Thus I who a tribute to merit wou'd pay, Sufficiently great your bright charms to difplay, |