Art. 22. An Attempt to ascertain the Nature and Cause of the Pulse, in a State of Health, &c. &c. By J. Rumball, Surgeon, Abingdon. 8vo. Is. 6d. Johnson. This little work appears to have been composed by the author during the course of his studies, and might then do him credit as proving his attention to them: but, had it been suffered to remain in manuscript, we imagine that the medical world would have sustained no great loss. Art. 23. A short Treatise on the Glanders and Farcy; by a Lieute nant of Dragoons. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Nicol. 1797. The leading idea in this brief publication is that the diseases in question are not to be considered as local but as general affections. The treatment proposed is therefore directed to the clearing of the whole system of cutaneous glands, either by sudorifics, in the incipient state of disease, or by mercurials and other alteratives in the confirmed state. The writer's notions on the subject appear to be rational: but the very concise form, in which they are exhibited, entitles them to be considered as little more than hints for farther examination. Art. 24. Medical and Chirurgical Reform proposed, from a Review of the Healing Art throughout Europe, particularly Great Britain. With Considerations on Hospitals, Dispensaries, Poor houses, and Prisons, &c. &c. By T. Champney, Member of the Corporation of Surgeons, &c. &c. 8vo. 3s. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Johnson, &c. 1797. That numerous abuses prevail in the medical department, in this country, is a fact which must be sufficiently obvious to every one who is conversant with the subject. These, in general, proceed from that original want of a systematic plan in its regulation, which pervades so many of our institutions; together with the operation of the spirit of commercial rivalry, so certain a concomitant of the advanced period of a trading nation. Whether it will be possible effectually to Counteract these causes, without radical and very extensive changes. in the character and civil economy of the country, we think very questionable; in the mean time, while the topic is under consideration, all candid and rational hints for amendment may have their utility. The writer before us has brought together a mass of informa tion relative to the present state of medical practice, which, though not well digested, nor accompanied with much depth and clearness of remark, may merit attention from persons who are interested in promoting this branch of reform. Art. 25. A New and Compendious Treatise of Anatomy, and Proportions of the Human Figure, adapted to the Arts of Designing, Painting, and Sculpture, illustrated with Copper-Plates. Designed principally for the Information of such Ladies as practise the above/Arts. By W. F. Wells. 4to. 5s. Hookhain and Carpenter. 1796 The necessity of a degree of anatomical knowlege, as a foundation for all the arts of design, is sufficiently obvious; and we presume that the acquisition of it is not at present neglected by any who wish to attain real excellence. The female sex, it is true, labour under some disadvantages. disadvantages in this respect; which may be the cause of their cor." rectness of drawing not being in general equal to their neatness of execution. The present work may be of use to beginners, in giving a general notion of the bones and muscles; though we conceive that, for the practice of anatomical drawing, much larger and better exeeuted plates would be requisite as models. RELIGIOUS and POLEMICAL. Art. 26. The Nature and the Causes of Atheism, pointed out in a Discourse, delivered at the Chapel in Lewin's-Mead, Bristol. To which are added, Remarks on a Work entitled " Origine de tous les Cultes, ou Religion Universelle, par Dupuis, Citoyen François." By John Prior Estlin. 8vo. pp. 86. 25. Johnson. 1797. The present unsettled state of opinions may be considered as a call on the friends of religion to exert their utmost endeavours to support its credit and authority in the world. By every means, except that of civil coercion, which has always been found ineffectual and mischievous, the minds of men should be kept under the control, and in possession of the consolations, of religion. While the faith of the general mass of society remains unshaken, interesting representations of religious truths, in popular discourses addressed to the imagination and the heart, may be sufficient :-but, when infidelity is rapidly spreading from the higher to the lower classes of the community, it becomes necessary to oppose its progress by the united weapons of reason and eloquence, and to shew the inconsistency of atheistical principles with sound reason, and their pernicious influence on the state of society. The ingenious author of the discourse before us has already done himself great credit by his able defence of revelation, in "A Discourse on the Evidences of Revealed Religion," in reply to "The Age of Reason;" which we accidentally overlooked. In the present sermon, with a degree of zeal worthy of the subject, Mr. E. vindicates the reasonableness and maintains the necessity of religion. The popular argument for the existence of Deity, from the marks of design visible through nature, is maintained as strictly conclusive; since these evidently indicate, in their cause, comprehension, contrivance, and execution, which can only exist in an intelligent mind.' Against practical atheism, or the want of a sense of religion,' weighty considerations are energetically urged. The author appears to be no enemy to reformation: but he gives reformers good advice: Let those who hate confusion and violence, and every evil work, who wish for PEACE internal and external, order, virtue, and happiness, be upon their guard. Let them strive indeed to reform-but let them not cut down with too ferocious and indiscriminate a hand, Let them strive to mend the outward state of the world by correcting the hearts and principles of all with whom they are connected; and by making them wise, benevolent, humble, pious, and religious. It is the obstinate retaining of abuses which is the cause of violence in the civil world, and the general prevalence of superstition, which is the prime cause of infidelity and a disregard to God in religion.' Dupuis "Origine de tous les Cultes," (see our App. to vol. xx.) a work at present but little known in this country, is the subject of some judicious strictures in Mr. E.'s Appendix. The absurdity of that writer's opinion that Jesus Christ had no personal existence, but was, like Hercules, Apollo, Mithra, &c., the Sun, which was worshipped in remote times in Persia and other nations, and afterward in Judea, is fairly ridiculed. Mr. E. candidly imputes M. Dupuis' notions of Christianity to false associations of ideas formed in early life: Accustomed from the earliest period of life to consider Superstition as Religion, and Popery as Christianity, it is not to be wondered at, that the association in his mind should have become indissoluble; and that, disgusted with whatever had appeared to him under the form of religion, he should have rejected it altogether. The period of implicit reception, in France, appears to be over; the period of implicit rejection, as might naturally be expected, has succeeded; the period of discrimination is yet future. When this intellectual process shall be completed, we may reasonably expect that the result of the whole will be a soil favourable for the reception of the seeds of truth.' Some curious extracts from Dupuis, and many good observations on the causes and cure of infidelity, will be found in this Appendix; and the whole performance merits the particular attention of young persons. Art. 27. A System of Divinity, for the Use of Schools, and for instructing Youth in the essential Principles and Duties of Religion. By J. G. Burckhardt, D. D. 12mo. pp. 186. Boards. Ro binsons. 1791. Formidable as the idea of a system of divinity may appear to young people, it is very certain that, if they are to study religion at all as a science, it cannot be studied to any good purpose, otherwise than systematically. A system is a methodical arrangement of propositions and proofs; and without such arrangement, no distinct and certain knowlege of any subject can be obtained. The thing to be desired in instruction is not to lay aside systems, but to simplify them. Systems (or bodies) of divinity, particularly, have been encumbered with a vast mass of heterogeneous matter, which even the divine by profession has not been able to digest. It is very evident that such systems are not proper even for the higher seminaries of learning, much less for common schools. Elementary books of divinity, notwithstanding all that has been done, are still among the desiderata of literature. Dr. Burckhardt undertakes to supply this defect by providing a book, which shall ⚫ treat the subject in a proper and systematic order, suited to the capacities of youth, and the necessities of the times.' He professes to comprehend in his system only those plain, undoubted, and essential points of religion, in which all parties agree; and to offer to young people only such knowlege as is clear, certain, and convincing. The system here furnished so far agrees with the author's 's prope sal, as to exclude several points of theological controversy, which have loaded many former systems: but it still retains many things REV. SEPT. 1797. G which which are not received as common principles by all parties of Christ ians, and-which is a still greater fault-teaches young people many things by rote, without giving them any proof of their truth.-The work is divided into three parts, Historical, Dogmatical, and Moral; of which the first and the second contain many assertions which the scholar must receive on the authority of the teacher:-but the most material defect of all is, that this system of divinity omits the proofs and evidences of the divine authority of the Mosaic and Christian revelations, and therefore teaches implicit faith rather than religious knowlege. The scholar is taught to believe that the Scriptures were inspired and dictated by the Spirit of God, but is not instructed in the grounds of his belief. This is not the method of Protestants and rational Christians. The general language of the system is that of orthodoxy: it does not, however, teach the doctrine of the Trinity; for God is said to be one, and to have taken the names of Father, Son, and Spirit, not to describe his manner of existing, but his manner of acting as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. Questions, after the Socratic manner, are given under each head, and left for the scholar to answer. Books are quoted, but, we think, not always judiciously selected. Altogether, we are sorry to say that we cannot recommend this performance as a very successful attempt to systematize religion, nor as a very proper book for the use of schools. Art. 28. A Discourse, in two Parts, on the Nature of Truth and Falsehood in general; and against each particular Species of Lies; the Pernicious, the Jocose, and the Officious Lie. By the Rev. Edward Stone, A. M. formerly Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford. 8vo. pp. 36. 18. Rivingtons. 1797. This double sermon has several excellencies: it treats on an useful moral subject; it goes beyond the general declamation, so usual in modern sermons, into particular details; it adopts a rigorous, rather than a relaxed system, on a point of morals in which the general propensity is to indulge a mischievous latitude; and it is drawn up in a clear, unaffected, and impressive style. The writer appears to be a man of good sense, who has made judicious observations on life and manners, and who is well qualified for the office of a moral preceptor. Young preachers may peruse it with advantage, as an example of a good style of practical sermons; and young people, in general, may receive from it very important and seasonable instruction. Art. 29. An Essay on the Resurrection of Christ; in which Proofs of the Fact are adduced, its Import is explained, and its beneficial Influence is illustrated. By James Dore. 12mo. IS. Gur ney. 1797. As a brief summary of the evidence, and a practical application of the doctrine, of the resurrection of Christ, this small tract will be very acceptable to Christians of different denominations. It is written in a plain and clear style, and with evident marks of a devotional spirit. POETRY POETRY and DRAMATIC. Art. 30. Acsi Pertu (the reflected Sun-beam). A Series of Poems, containing the Plaints, Consolations, and Delights of Achmed Ardebeili, a Persian Exile. With Notes historical and explanatory, by Charles Fox. 8vo. pp. 306. Ss. Boards. Robinsons. 1797 In the introduction to these poems, we are told that the author was a native of the city of Ardebil in Persia, and that he flourished for a time at the court of Shah Seffy II., a cruel, superstitious, and voluptuous prince, who succeeded to the throne of the Persian empire in A. D. 1664: but the mind of Achmed being ill-constructed to stoop to the arts by which the favour of such a monarch could be either acquired or preserved, he was disgraced and banished; and the greater part (if not the whole) of these poems were composed during his exile. "Exul eram; requiesque mihi, non fama, petita est." Ovid. With all his philosophy, however, Achmed does not appear to have borne his exile with greater fortitude than other philosophers and poets in the same situation: for, though he repeatedly assures us of his being perfectly contented in his solitude, the information is always given in the most querulous tone imaginable. As a favourable specimen of the poems, we select an ode to the Sun-flower, which grows wild in the plains of Persia, where it obtains a larger size and deeper glow from the genial climate. The Ignicolists of that country hold it in singular veneration, To the Sun-flower. • Where is the man who thus can nobly say: The breeze that wakens with the orient dawn, • And when the burning blaze of summer noon, Darts from the mid-way heaven's etherial height; Thy daring eye, broad as the rising moon, With transport gazes on the king of light; O'er the pale relics of departed day, Dost |