ed thefe temperaments not only as characteristic of different natural conftitutions, but as what conftitutions can be in fome measure changed into, by the difference of feafons and the fituations of places. It is very certain that many of these diseases, which were once accounted for by predominacy, or vitiation of the bile; fuch as fevers, quartan and other intermittants of bad types, are autumnal ones: and it feems alfo certain, that great and long continued heats have a tendency fome how or other, to imprefs the bile with an unfavourable character, with fome kind of malignancy or other, however it may be explain

ed.

The laft fhort effay is profeffedly phyfiological, or rather fpeculative. The reafoning is, however, founded upon two facts certainly existing in the human conftitution: these are the ultimate fibres, and the fubftance of animal heat, and their conjunct longitudinal or progreffive influence in fupporting both the involuntary and voluntary functions of life. When, fo far as can poffibly be traced, one perceives the most accurate and refined mechanism in every part, it is even more than plaufible, to presume that it fubfifts and is carried on far beyond the limits of our grofs fenfes, which are confined to a very contracted horizon. Though I never called in question the union of foul and body, in every rational creature capable of receiving the knowledge of a Creator, yet I cannot persuade myself that mechanifm is any neceffary link of the chain which connects either Occult quality, general law, or what is truly immaterial, to what is material. When I am confcious that every organ of fenfe is a piece of inimitable mechanism, I cannot help concluding, that the exercife of every fense must be the direct ef fect of that mechanifm. The exquifite refinements with which all the operations of nature are carried on, and the mechanical adjustment of all the parts, fo far as the connection between caufe and effect can be either traced or neceffarily inferred, teaches us both to fuppofe, that the progreffion of mechanism is to us at least interminable in the conftruction of things; and at the fame time, that limited creatures ought not to be dogmatic, in taking upon them to define the manner of its exiftence too peremptorily: feeing mechanism may hold out, and yet be carried on in a manner quite different from our best conjectures; which can be no standard for judging infallibly, of the method in which an infinite artist may adjust and terminate his machinery. It follows, that even the moft plaufible theory. ought neither to be confidered as abfolutely certain, nor trufted to as a fufficient guide in practice, further than it is either a neceffary inference from certain fact, or fupported by experience and obfervation, evident fymptoms and their natural indica

tions, which are juft and true, and the only fure foundation of practice, whether we can explain them fatisfactorily or not. Therefore any obfervations which are to be found in this paper, particularly towards the clofe of it, are offered as no certain inference from the reafoning; but as hints intended to be ufeful, though the reft of it fhould be no more than a piece of fpeculative entertainment,'

From this quotation, the reader will fee what he has to expect in the perufal of the performance, which is not, we apprehend, of fuch confequence as to require from us a particular difcuffion; we fhall only obferve, that the language is neither very correct nor perfpicuous, nor free from Scotticifms, fuch as predifponing for predifpofing, and thefe continually mistaken for thoje, through the whole extent of the pamphlet. With respect to the matter, there are fome few practical obfervations which may be useful; as for the theory of the nerves, the bile, the animalized venous blood, the balance betwixt the two motions of the circulating fluids, animal heat, fire, electricity, irritabi lity, volition, fenfation, and vital action; thefe are all very ingenious fpeculations, which may ftand like fo many gay landfcapes in the clouds, till the next puff of fome other theorist blows them away, ' then they fleet;

12. The Temple of Gnidus: a Poem.

From the French Profe of M. Secondat, Baron de Montefquieu. By John Sayer, M. A. 4to. Pr. l. 15, Woodfall.

INCE we undertook the office of Critical Reviewers, we

have had frequent experience that it is far more dangerous to tickle an afs than to drub him. Two animals of that kind have fallen under our cognizance within thefe few months, the authors of Electra and the tranflation before us. Indeed the treatment we have received from both is enough to make us forfwear good-nature. We put our invention on the rack to find fomewhat to say that could serve them, without our departing from the justice we owe the public. We thought we had fuc ceeded; but, behold! inftead of feeing the animals lick our hands, both fet up a-braying, kicked out, and threw dirt in our faces, only for ftroking, instead of threshing them.

The reader, from what we have faid, is not to imagine that we are at any time partial in favour of the long ear'd breed ; but, to let him into a fecret, we are very apt to indulge the

milk of humanity by favouring diftrefs; nor do we think, as critics, we are obliged to the rigid obfervance of the rule Cicero lays down for hiftorians, Ne quid falfi audeat, ne quid veri non audeat; for though we never venture upon an untruth, yet we confefs it with fhame and forrow, that when diftrefs has pleaded in behalf of an author, we have not told all the truth; and we now begin to fee our fin in our punishment. We knew nothing of this fame tranflator, Sayer; nor did we ever, to the best of our recollection, fee his perfon or hear of his name, before the publication in queftion brought it to our knowledge. But what a rebuff has the furious animal given us with his fternchafe; verily he has lifted up the heel against us for the good natured things we faid of the firft Canto of his translation of the Temple of Gnidus (fee vol. xv. pag. 389) to which we must refer our reader. As nothing but diftrefs can have prevailed upon him to demand of the public a guinea for the remainder of the fame paltry publication, it is our will and pleasure, that the author fhould receive from our readers a full and complete pardon for all the dulnefs, malice, ftupidity, and falfe tafte, he has thrown out against our authority, in an advertisement prefixed to the tranflation before us; and that any person who hall bring him before our court of Criticism, shall receive for reward a complete fet of the Ledgers, which contain a like series of abuse, thrown out against us, for the fame good nature which, for the like caufe, we fhewed towards the author of Electra; provided, nevertherlefs, and be it understood, that this, our pardon, extends only to offences done against our dignity, and not for thofe committed against the memory of our departed friend the author of the Seafons, one of the greateft and most amiable characters, both as a poet and a man, that ever adorned the British nation; for this offence we give the faid Sayer up to public juftice and deteftation, which we make no doubt will more than revenge the infults he has offered to us.

13. A Pair of Spectacles for short-fighted Politicians; or, A candid Answer to a late extraordinary Pamphlet, entituled, An Honeft Man's Reafons for declining to take any Part in the New Adminiftration. 8vo. Pr. Is. Williams.

This is an addrefs to the people (that is the mob) in favour of the prefent m -y; and as it is an appeal to that venerable, juft, candid, and infallible tribunal, the author has found it neceffary, in the midst of his recriminations, to extol the great commoner, and reprobate the unpopular favourite. He even declares that the faid favourite may think himself extremely

happy

happy if his retreat, acquiefcence in, and fubmiffion to, the measures of the prefent m- -y, fhould be allowed to attone for the evils occafioned by his too-afpiring ambition.—This remark puts us in mind of a very juft, tho' a very coarse repartée, made by Jobfon the Cobler, in the farce, to the lady, whom the conjurer had metamorphofed into the figure of his wife Nell. Finding herself lying in a truckle-bed in a wretched apartment not over sweet and clean, fhe begins to flounce, and scold, and rave, and exclaims Mercy! what a ftink is here.' · Anan, ftink! (replies honeft Jobfon) here is no ftink but of your own making, huffey.' In good footh, after having calmly and dif paffionately confidered every thing that has been done and faid fince the earl of B—e first assumed the reins of administration, we cannot perceive any fort of evil this nation has fuffered or fuftained, except what immediately arofe froin the envy, malice, and prejudice of the men, who formed a most iniquitous and abfurd oppofition to his measures.

14. An Ode to the People of England. 4to. Pr. 6d. Langford. This ode is a very dull ballad on the m

of B

-. 8vo.

-y..

15. A Letter to the EPr. 6d. Wilkie. This letter-writer, like all the reft of the fame honeft tribe,, has taken fome pains to blacken and afperfe the character of a nobleman, who feems to look down upon them all with filent. contempt.

If thofe authors would convince us that the favourite is really guilty of those enormous crimes they lay to his charge, let him be boldly impeached at the bar of that tribunal whofe province it is to do national juftice upon fuch delinquents. Till this step is taken, or at leaft fomething more than fcurrilous abuse and general affertions without proof or probability, brought against his character, all honeft unprejudiced men will confider his anonymous accufers as a set of vile calumniators, who act upon, the most wicked, infamous, and abandoned principles.

16. The Hiftory of a Corporation of Servants. Difcovered a few Years ago in the interior Parts of South-America. Containing Jome very furprizing Events and extraordinary Characters. 8vo. Pr. 15. Dilly.

Thefe American fervants are Englishmen in the service of their country. The author's defign is to ridicule and expofe their indolence and rapacity, and to fhew that an easy post and an exorbitant falary do not always produce a good effect.

7. A Harmony of the Four Gofpels, fo far as relateth to the Hiftory' of our Saviour's Refurrection. With a Commentary and Notes. By Richard Parry, D. D. 4to. Pr. 6d. Whifton and White.

As the hiftory of our bleffed Saviour's refurrection has been ftrangely embarraffed, both by friends and enemies, our au-, thor, in order, if poffible, to fatisfy the one, and to filence the other, lays before the reader, in one view, the feveral accounts of this important tranfaction, as we find them recorded by the four evangelifts.-These accounts he ranges in the following manner :

The women which came with Jefus from Galilee, Mary Magdalene and others, faw him buried at the close of the preparation day. They then go into the city, and prepare as many fpices and perfumes as the fhort interval would permit, and reft on the fabbath. Just before the fabbath ended, two of them go to fee the fepulchre; but, being frightened by an earthquake, return back. When the fabbath was past, they buy more fpices and unguents, with which they set out early the next morning, and go to the fepulchre. As they are going, the guards, being driven away by the appearance of an angel, come into the city, The women enter the fepulchre, but find not the body. Mary Magdalene returns to inform the difciples of this unexpected event; and Peter and John go directly to the place. Before they arrived, the other women. who had ftayed there, fee a vifion of angels; one of which. commanded them to tell the difciples that Jefus would go be-. fore them into Galilee. As they were returning to deliver this meffage, Jefus bimfelf appeared, and gave them the fame directions. About this time, or a little fooner, John and Peter arrive at the fepulchre, observe the fituation of things, and return. But Mary Magdalene, who had followed them thither, stays behind, weeping; is accofted by two angels, and afterwards by Jefus himself. Peter and John return to their companions foon after the other women had delivered their feveral meffages. This would neceffarily occafion a repetition; for one of the metfages was addreffed particularly to Peter. Mary Magdalene now arrives, and informs the difciples of what the had feen and heard. Peter, upon this, goes again to the fepulchre, and in his return is perfectly convinced by the appearance of his master. Soon after this Jefus appears to two of his difciples on the road to Emmaus, &c.

This, if we mistake not, is the fubftance of our author's commentary, fo far as there is any difficulty in the narratives of the four evangelifts. The reader will perceive that this account is in feveral refpects like that of Dr. Macknight, parti

cularly