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"The first buds of trees," he fays, note, p. 52, "die annually, and are fucceeded by new buds by folitary reproduction, which are larger or more perfect for feveral fucceffive years; and then they produce fexual flowers, which are fucceeded by feminal reproduction. The fame occurs in bulbous rooted plants raifed from feed: they die annually, and produce others rather more perfect than the parent for feveral years, and then produce fexual flowers. The aphis is in a fimilar manner hatched from an egg in the vernal months, and produces a viviparous offspring with out fexual intercourfe for nine or ten fucceffive generations; and then the progeny is both male and female, which cohabit; and from thefe new females are produced eggs, which endure the winter: the fame procefs probably occurs in many other infects."

Now, the gradual improvement of animals which this hypothefis fuppofes is a continually advancing procefs, in which the fteps, once made, are not repeated, but lead on to others nearer to perfection. And the Doctor has artfully ftated the facts in this note in fuch a way, as to imply that the fame progrefs takes place in them. But, in truth, thefe aphides of the tenth generation, which produce eggs by cohabitation that endure the winter, do not procreate an offspring more perfect than themfelves, or even fo perfect; for the aphides, which are hatched from their eggs in the fpring, do not cohabit, but produce nine or ten generations without fexual conjunction, in the fame way as their progenitors had produced them, for any thing we know to the contrary, from the firft exiftence of the fpecies. The fame obfervation applies to the buds of trees, and to the bulbous and tuberous rooted vegetables.

If we allow ourselves to infer a fimilarity of operation, in two cafes

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where the feries of phenomena have fo little refemblance to each other; or if we arrange together facts well afcertained, and imaginary proceffes, where even imagination can difcover but flight points of relation; we may bid defiance to the Baconian philofophy, entangle ourfelves again in the whirlpools of Defcartes, or, with the naturalists of the fixteenth century, give fapient recipes for the chemical manufacture of maggots and flies by means of honey and water: yet this is the Doctor's philofophy.

The improvement of the individual in the common and neceffary developement of its faculties is confounded with an improvement of the fpecies, which obfervation has never difcovered. The improve

ment of individuals of one peculiar clafs and conftitution is adduced to confirm the improvement of a species of conftitution and functions different in the greateft poffible degree.

Why did the poetical logician refer to the minute and obfcure proceffes within tulip roots and buds, and among the little infect tribes? There are many analogies much lefs exceptionable, becaufe much more open to obfervation. Such are thofe of frogs and butterflies, and he might have thus produced his incontrovertible inference." The first state of a frog is a little round mafs, called an ovum or spawn; it next becomes a tadpole, has a tail, and fwims, and lives in water: by folitary production legs are generated, its ufeless tail difappears, it acquires lungs, and breathes air. We know this to be true refpecting the frog: we believe that man fprung from a little microfcopic animalcule, independent of the Creator: ergo, he must have improved in this froglike gradation, being firft an ganifed point, then a water infect, then an amphibious animal, and, laftly, a land animal! Q.E.D.”

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The Doctor hints in two different

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notes, although the Prieftefs of Nature is filent on the fubject, that the first formation of the two fexes occurred in the fame individual, conftituting an hermaphrodite; in which ftate it appears probable that mankind and quadrupeds formerly" exited, becaufe all the males at prefent have breafts and nipples; and becaufe "it is affirm ed, that fome men have given milk to their children in defert countries, where the mother has perished:" and, in a third note, he fancifully enough fuppofes, that the hiftory of the converfion of Adam's rib into a female was an apologue of the Egyptian magi, by which they had taught Mofes, who was educated in all their learning, their opinion that mankind were formerly hermaphrodite, and afterwards feparated into dinct fexes.

In the two first cantos, the production and tranfmiffion of organic life, and the functions more ftrictly corporeal, having been defcribed, the Poet proceeds, in the third, to defcribe the progrefs of the mind.

The author then proceeds to verfify his Zoonomia, and to tranfcribe it in the notes; in which, of courfe, we are again prefented with his doctrines of irritation, fenfation, volition, and affociation; into which four faculties he refolves all the imental qualities. This arrangement has been fo long before the public, that it is unneceflary here to difcuts it. If we were to add any fuggeftion, it would be, that the faculties of irritation and fenfation feem to be in reality the fame, differing only in degree; irritation being a leffer degree of fenfation, or a fenfation, which, from the occupation of the mind at the moment, is fcarcely or not at all attended to. The Doctor's notion, that our ideas of perception arife in confequence of certain motions in the organs of fenfe, excites no correfponding motions in the organ of our underLanding. We cannot, indeed, but

exprefs our regret, and fome indignation, that philofophers, whofe bufinefs it is to arrange, and whofe powers are entirely limited to the arrangement of phenomena according to their obvious connection, fhould fo unphilofophically employ themfelves in fancying connections where obfervation is foiled, and in thrufting in ethers, and fluids, and vibrations, to fill up the vacuity of an imperfect feries; at once mifleading themfelves and their difciples, and impeding as far as pofiible the advancement of knowledge. We cannot comprehend how the caufe of an idea of an external object is to be the better understood by the intervention of these motions of the organ; because it is impoffible to conceive how any mo◄ tions of the optic nerve can either refemble the idea or the external object; for example, St. Paul's Church. But when the Doctor afferts that ideas of memory are merely repetitions of thefe motions in the organs of fenfe, through the medium of which the idea was originally received, we think that facts are altogether decifive in the refutation of the affertion. The inftances of Homer, Milton, and Dr. Blacklock, have been adduced, as poets, who, although blind, have depicted in the most vivid and accurate "language of vifion" the forms and colours of the external world. It might be faid, that probably the optic nerve was in there inftances uninjured, and fill capable of repeating its former motions. But we have particularly enquired of perfons afflicted with the "drop ferene," and have been invariably informed, that in their dreams they experienced as vivid ideas of vifible objects as ever.

The importance of the hand, as an accurate inveftigator of form, is well defcribed; and that excellent faculty of the vifual organ, by which, after fome experience, we are enabled to afcertain the varieties

of form in bodies, independently of the touch, is mentioned in energetic language.

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We have always confidered the Doctor as particularly unhappy in his difquifitions on tafte, and efpecially in his opinion refpecting the origin of our ideas of beauty. These difquifitions from his Zoonomia he has tranfcribed verbatim, and the principal paffages twice in the fame words, left we should overlook this precious doctrine, That all our ideas of phyfical beauty (which he conceives to confift exclusively in waving or fpiral lines) are deduced from the pleafure we experienced in our infancy from our thers' bofoms. "And hence in our maturer years, when any object of vition is prefented to us, which, by its waving or fpiral lines, bears any fimilitude to the form of the female bofom, whether it be found in a landscape, with foft gradations of rifing and defcending furface, or in the forms of antique vafes, or in other works of the pencil or chifel, we feel a general glow of delight, which feems to influence all our fenfes; and if the object be not too large, we experience an attraction to embrace it with our arms, and to falute it with our lips, as we did in our early infancy the bofom of our mother." Of what fize thofe hillocks, haycocks, vafes, or other objects are, which attract the Doctor's embraces and kiffes, he has unfortunately omitted to tell us. His theory, however, is moft unphilofophical. Because the pleafures of fmell, tafte, and touch, and the appetites of hunger and thirt in the infant, are gratified by the milky fountain, the figure of that fource of pleasure is afterward pleafing to the eye of the man! What is this, but acknowledging that our ideas of beauty are derived from affociation? and if fo, why muft we confine the affociation to a pleafure of which no man has any recollection, when a thoufand other affeciations, of which every individual VOL. I.

is confcious, may be fhewn to have influenced us all in our ideas both ,of beauty and of fublimity? For the truth of this affertion, if it be not fufficient to appeal to every reflecting mind, we thall merely refer to Mr. Alifon's inimitable effays on taste. But, in truth, we muft ultimately trace all the pleafurable feelings, which beautiful and fublime objects excite, to certain qualities of the mind; call them a fense of beauty, or by any other term; and by tracing them back to infancy, we only come nearer the commencement of their exiftence, but do not in any degree explain their nature.

The fourth canto commences with the complaints of the Mufe of the immenfity of evil in the world; the warfare and flaughter among all animals, the difeafes, the moral depravities, and the phyfical accidents, to which created beings are fubject; and the thus concludes her diimal

detail:

“Ah! where can fympathy reflecting
"find

"One bright idea to confole the mind?
"One ray of light in this terrene abode
"To prove to man the goodness of his
"GOD?"
C. IV, L. 131.

The Hierophant, in reply to this,
enumerates the abundant fources of
pleafure which living beings pof-
fefs in the variety of their fenfes,
and in the arts and comforts which
ing.
man efpecially is capable of invent-

goodnefs, for which the Mufe enBut the grand proof of divine quired, the informs her, is the mul◄ tiplication of terreftrial happiness, which is produced by the innumerable births of infects, and the fpontaneous production of microscopic animals, from the remains of larger animals which die. What an immenfe field this charitable doctrine opens for the fympathies of the tender-hearted philofopher! Every fpeck of organic matter claims a hindred feeling for its happiness!

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eyes with tenderness all living forms, "His brother-emmets, and his fifter"worins." C. IV, L. 4. Y y y

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"" flames."

We shall leave the reader to interpret in his own way the blushes of the frames and fenfes of panting infects and microfcopic plants; and fhall at length take a final leave of the Hierophant.

It feems unneceffary to add, that, on the whole, this poem will contribute nothing to the fame of Dr. Darwin; fince, as a poem, it is far inferior to the Botanic Garden; and, as a fyftem of philofophy, it contains but a repetition of the doctrines which he has advanced in all his other works, fupported by the fame defective and erroneous evidence, and exhibiting the fame general contempt for the authority of eftablished facts, and the procèffes of inductive philofophy. The novelty, fingularity, and boldness of his fpeculations, marked him a man of genius, and obtained for him a confiderable fhare of public attention. To the praife, as to the cenfure of the world, he is now equally deaf:

Peace to his manes.

ART. XXXVII. Galatea: a Pafto ral Romance. From the French of Monfieur Florian. By Mifs Highley. Dedicated, by permiffon, to the Countess of Salisbury,

1 col. 8vo. 1804.

CRITICISM must here difarm herself of her wonted severity, and yield her place to good humour and indulgence. We are informed in the preface, that the translator of the prefent work has only just completed her fifteenth year, and that it was first undertaken with the view of retaining her knowledge of the French language after the had left fchool. As fuch, we really think it good; though it will be no difparagement to Mifs Highley to fay, that there

are a few of thofe vernacular inelegancies which the pen of her editor ought to have corrected. We can readily give her the very rare praise of prefenting fewer gallicifms than the tranflations of more experienced writers; and her periods partake in no degree of the French conftruction. We fmiled (but with great good-humour) when we read in ber dedication the following fentence: "It will not be confidered at all furprising that I should have been anxious to fhelter it from the feverity of criticifm, and procure for it that favourable reception which it must receive from the patronage of that illuftrious perfonage to whom thefe lines are addressed !”—Should our fair writer continue to tread the path of literature, fhe will find that great names are nothing in the court of criticism.

We are compelled to fay, that the "Introduction," which, judging from the other part of the work, we do not think was tranflated by Mifs Highley, is the worst part of the book; and from the confused manner in which it is written, clause involved within claufe, and the total neglect of right punctuation which it betrays, we should be apt to confider it as the production of a foreigner.

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THEATRICAL INFORMATION.

COVENT GARDEN.

TUESDAY, May 1ft. A Bold Stroke for a Husband-the Rival Soldiers-and Mistake upon Mistake, or Appearance is against them; for the Benefit of Mr. Munden. It is to be regretted that the comedy of this evening is not oftener performed; for in point of dialogue, wit, incident, fituation, and intereft, it is very far fuperior to the vapid productions of Dibdin, or the mawkith fentimentality of the Soldier's Daughter. Lewis, Cooke, and Munden exerted themfelves to great advantage; and Mrs. Litchfield spoke powerfully to the feelings of the audience, in the interefting, innocent, but wronged Victoria. Emery fung a quaint and characteristic fong, entitled, "A Yorkshire Concert, or, Madam Fig's Mufical Gala;" which, though ftupid enough as a compofition, proved, in his hands, an object of merriment to the audience.

Thursday, May 3d. Inkle and Yarico-The Village Lawyer-and The Death of Captain Cook (revived); for the Benefit of Mr. Fawcett. The principal novelty of this evening was Mr. Braham's first appearance in the character of Inkle, in which be introduced three additional fongs. Of the wonderful vocal powers of this gentleman it is needlefs to fpeak those who have heard him know how impoffible it is for language to convey an adequate idea of his excellence; and thofe who have not, can derive little real advantage from the most laboured encomiums:-we wish we could fpeak in terms of commendation of his acting; but that is frigid, dull, and tirefome. Mrs. H. Siddons played the character of Yarico with a fweetnefs, feeling, and propriety, nothing inferior to the original reprefentative, Mrs. S. Kemble, whofe performance is doubtlefs in the remem

race's Wowfki was lively and agreebrance of every one. Signora Stoable. Mr. Fawcett fung a filly fong, between the play and entertainment, called, "A Woman has One Fault:" the fong itfelf had every fault which a compofition can have. The "Death of Captain Cook" is an uninterefting, fpiritlefs, pantomimical ballet.

Plough, and the Prize; for the BeTuesday, May 15. Speed the nefit of Mr. Knight. We were this evening highly gratified by the appearance of the original Farmer Ashfield; a character which Mr. Knight play he delivered an addrefs, in sustains with vast ability. After the which he took his farewell of the audience, and of the ftage; affigning ill health as the caufe: it was badly written, but contained, as ufual, fentiments of eternal gratitude. In the afterpiece, he performed the character of Lenitive, and, we think, very badly; there is not a fingle point of comparison between him and Bannifter. Blanchard, in Label, Signora Storace certainly eclipfed was greatly inferior to Suett; but Mifs de Camp in the character of Caroline.

in the bills, that Mr. Knight's perIt was rather ridiculously stated formance of Lenitive was for the first and ONLY time!

DRURY LANE.

and the Review, or the Wags of Monday, April 30. The Rivals, Windfor; for the Benefit of Mr. of Sheridan's was to-night well reJohnstone. This excellent comedy prefented: Johnstone, H. Johnston, Bannister, and Mrs. Jordan, performed with all their ufual excellence. In the afterpiece, however, we were forry to fee Bannister again attempt the character of Caleb Quotem: we really think he performs it very badly.

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