ment, a tafk, or a confolation; but never, for many years paft, an object of ambition."

We will take upon us to fay, that, though the Poems publifhed in thefe volumes may add nothing to his fame, he has no cause to be afhamed of any one of them; and that the man who fhall put the previous queftion, which he seems to apprehend: "Why were thefe volumes printed at all ?" must be deftitute, not merely of tafte, but of all literary curiofity. The differtations on the Demon of Socrates, and the ancient fable of Cupid and Pfyche; with Man's Beft Right, and the Principles of Government would do honour to moft writers, and are of themfelves worthy of the patronage of the learned Dean of Westminster, to whom this collection is dedicated in a style of affectionate regard and refpect.

ART. VIII. Obfervations on various Paffages of Scripture, placing them in a new Light; and afcertaining the Meaning of feveral not determinable by the Methods commonly made Ufe of by the Learned; originally compiled by the Rev. Thomas Harmer, from Relations incidentally mentioned in Books of Voyages and Travels into the Eaft. In Four Volumes. Fourth Edition. With a new Arrangement, many important Additions, and innumerable Corrections. By Adam Clarke, LL.D. 8vo. 21. 8s. Johnson. 1803.

IT T has been the fate of one complete edition of this useful work to fall a victim to that violent inflammatory diforder, which has of late proved aloft epidemical among the printing-offices of the metropolis. In a word, the whole of it was deftroyed by a fire. That edition, the editor fays, was nearly on a fimilar plan with the prefent, but to this many valuable materials have been added, which were not then procured.

Mr. Harmer's original work appeared at different periods. The first two volumes arrived at a fecond edition in 1776*. The two laft in 1787, following the arrangement of the former, and adding new information on the fame fubjects. This being the cafe, a new arrangement was evidently wanted to amalgamate the 1ft volume with the 3d, and the 2d with the 4th, which was accordingly undertaken by the prefent editor.

We are not certain of the date of the first edition.

< But

"But this," fays he, "I found an extremely difficult task, as multitudes of the Obfervations had to be variously tranf pofed, to bring them into connection with thofe of a fimilar denomination, without which a heterogeneous mixture must have been the confequence. With this both the printer and myself were often puzzled; and, notwithstanding all the care that has been taken, I have obferved a few that have got out of their proper places; and probably the reader may find out more." P. xii.

The following circumftance is alfo of importance to be made known to our readers.

About the time I began this work, fortunately the two first volumes of the former edition, once the property of the late Dr. Ruffell, fell into my hands. Thefe I found to contain a great number of valuable notes, written in the margin with his own hand, generally confirming, and farther elucidating the obfervations of Mr. Harmer. Dr. Ruffell had read Mr. H,'s work with great attention, had reconfidered not only the facts for which he was quoted by Mr. H., but likewife the general tenor of the work; and from his long and extensive acquaintance with the natural hiftory, customs, manners, &c. of the Eaft, and his reverence for the facred writings, he was qualified, beyond moft, to cast light upon every fubject difcuffed in the OBSERVATIONS, His invaluable, though fhort remarks, I have taken care to introduce in their proper places, referring thein always to their author. For this part of my work, I doubt not, I fhall have the thanks of all my readers. Befides what I have inferted from Dr. Ruffell's MS. notes, I have introduced many important matters from Dr. Shaw, which Mr. Harmer had pro feffedly left untouched, from the fuppofition that Shaw's Travels were in the hands of every reader! However [How] this might have been in Mr. H.'s time, I cannot fay; but at present the work is very fcarce and very dear. I have borrowed alfo, from a variety of authors (who are referred to in the notes) many of the materials with which I have endeavoured to enrich this edition. Much of the matter concerning Egypt is entirely new; as are many articles in the department of Miscellaneous Matters. Thefe have been chiefly furnished by Shaw, Sennini, Anquetil du Perron, Bruce, and Dr. Buchanan's Travels in the Myfore. From Mr. Jackfon's Journey overland from India I have alfo collected fome valuable materials." P. xii.

Every reader will allow, that thefe acceffions must be altogether of great confequence, and the work therefore, befides its new arrangement, incomparably fuperior to what it ever was in the original editions. To the care and attention of Dr. A. Clarke, in thefe points, much public gra.

titude is due. Nor is this all. He has also enriched the work with citations in the original languages of the East or in Greek, where his author had only given tranflations. In a word, he feems in all refpects to have fulfilled the office of a judicious as well as diligent editor. His own notes are every where diftinguifhed. Of thefe, we fhall give one by way of fpecimen. The fubje&t is the defert ftate of the country, bordering on the Tigris Eallward. Harmer concludes, in the text, by faying, however, it will give me great pleafure to find hereafter, this affair afcertained, by fome curious and accurate perfon." Dr. C.'s note adds,

"I have no doubt of the correctness of Rauwolff's account [which Harmer had cited]: Mr. Jackson, who afcended the Tigris from the Perfian Gulph to Baghdad, gives nearly the fame account. This part of the country, except about fifty yards by the river fide (Western bank) is a perfect defert, though it appears to have been once cultivated." P. 73.Again: "It did not appear that this part had ever been cultivated (the Western -bank), nor did I perceive any figns of vegetation, except near the banks of the river, which are in general covered with a thick jungle of willows and fhrubs." P. 78. And again: "Without the walls (of Baghdad) to the Weftward is entirely defert, not having the leaft traces of vegetation, except on the banks of the river (Tigris). Behind the city to the Northward the same barrennefs prevails; there is no water, nor any cultivation. The city, however, is chiefly fupplied with fruits and vegetables from the oppofite fide (the Eastern) of the river, where there is much cultivation! Journey Overland, &c. The affair is thus afcertained by a gentleman, who probably never knew that Mr. Harmer, or any other, had expreffed a with of this kind. The fact may therefore be confidered as completely eftablished." EDIT. Vol. I. p. 249.

We had thought of introducing, into this fhort account of a new edition of fo valuable a work, Dr. Symonds's ftrong and juft eulogy of the original author. But Dr. Clarke has alfo been aware of it, and has introduced it among the prefatory matter in the first volume, p. xl. He has however omitted to say, that it was taken from the Poftfcript to Dr. Symonds's tract," On the Expediency of revifing the prefent English Verfion of the Golpels and Acts,” which is dated Feb. 12, 1789. He indeed feems to have had it from the European Magazine. It is, in truth, a noble teftimony to the fingular worth of the author of one of the moft ufeful books in our language, and we had accordingly, many years ago, tranfcribed it into our copy of the work. The value of the prefent edition is completed by five In

dexes. 1. Of Hebrew and Chaldee words.

2. Of Arabic

and Perfian words. s. Of Greek words, &c. 4. Of texts more or less illuftrated. 5. Of general matters. Alfo by an accurate engraving of the famous Præneftine Pavement, often referred to by Harmer, which is fubjoined to the fourth vo. lume.

ART. IX. The Pathology of the Membrane of the Larynx and Bronchia. By John Cheyne, M. D. Edinburgh. 8vo. 204 pp. 10s. 6d. Edinburgh, Mundell, Doig, and Stevenfon; London, Murray. 1809.

WE

E willingly acknowledge, that this fecond edition of Dr. Cheyne's Elay on Croup, contains fome new matter, which cannot fail to be confidered as an addition to its value; but whether this addition be proportionate to the confequent increafe of price, we find fome hesitation in deciding. It is fomething, however, to have a new title-page, and a number of nicely finifhed cuts, which, as they may be faid to reprefent difeafe in general, as well as they do the peculiar appearances they are meant to illuflrate, muft not be -overlooked in our calculation. For thefe latter, however, it appears, we have to thank Mr. Charles Bell, with whofe extenfive practice, as an anatomical draftsman, the public has already had fufficient opportunities of becoming acquainted. Dr. Cheyne has been rather unlucky in the choice of his new title-page, for the book is certainly any thing, excepting a work upon Pathology. We are not difpofed to quarrel with its remaining an Effay on Croup in fpite of the titlepage, but the change reminds us of a certain fign-painter, who when defired to paint the fign of the George and the Dragon, was (and we think with propriety) particularly anxious that it fhould be called the Red Rofe; for, faid he, though I fhall, with all the pleasure in the world, paint the George and Dragon, I fear it will, after all, look so very like a Red Rofe, that the bye-paffers will be apt to mistake

66

The fection entitled "an Attempt to explain the Pathology of Croup," is a strange jumble of hypothetical reasoning. We cannot take for granted, "that debility of the trachea is the predifpofing cause of Croup," nor do we confider that the nature of the effufion" thrown out, by the internal membrane of the trachea, in this dileafe, is by any means "determineď to confift of a puriform fluid." To us it appears more probable, that at least “that part of it which forms the adventitious membrane,"

93

membrane," is derived from the coagulable lymph of the blood, feparated from it by fome peculiar vafcular action, with which we are not thoroughly acquainted.

The author's Hiftory of Croup is concife and good; and his treatment not only coincides with that which at present is eftablifhed as the most fecure, but appears to poffefs the additional recommendation of his own experience and attentive obfervation. When, however, he fpeaks of the employment of Calomel, he does not appear to do juftice to the merits of Mr. Ramfey's paper upon that fubject. Dr. Cheyne's work clearly fhows that there is confiderable variety in the form of Croup, and fufficient credit is certainly due to Mr. Ramsey, to afford reason to admit, that under the form in which that gentleman has met with the difeafe, Calomel may be employed with advantage; particularly as we believe this practice has lately been confirmed by fome northern writers of confiderable celebrity.

Dr. Cheyne has introduced fome well defcribed cafes of thickening and ulceration of the membrane of the larynx, and he has given the following defcription of the symptoms produced by thefe difeafes.

"The fymptoms induced by thickening of the membrane of the larynx, are, pain in the larynx, not very acute, unless on preffure; fome degree of fullness externally; a change in the found of the voice; difficult, and even crowing infpiration, but flow rather than quick; an altered, and fometimes ftridulous voice; fits of fuffocative coughing; and all thofe general fvmptoms which arise from obftructed circulation of the lungs." P. 161.

"In ulceration of the larynx there does not exift much fwelling externally; but there is tendernefs, particularly when the head is. turned round, and upon preffure with the finger. There is a change in the found of the voice; it is no longer deep and full, it becomes fmall and whispering, fometimes peculiarly harsh, and it cannot be extended. There is a correfponding change in the found of the cough, which is dry and tridulous. The cough often rifes to an alarming height. When brought on by fwallow. ing any thing, particularly fluids, incautiously, it fometimes be comes convulfive, threatening inftant fuffocation. The breathing is as if the air were violently drawn through a dry and narrow tube. The expectoration is generally feanty, and confifts of mucus mixed with purulent matter. To the appearance of the expectoration we muft chiefly truft in diftinguishing ulceration. from mere thickening of the membrane. There is hectic fever and emaciation; and, I believe this affection, in a great proportion of cafes, terminates only with the death of the patient.' P. 178.

ART.