to several of the common principles of the Newtonian Philo fophy; and, confequently, but indifferently qualified to account for the many furprifing Phænomena of Electricity. But notwithstanding this, his book may, at least, be of as much advantage to Society as many others that are written in a more fcientifical, and more elegant manner; the removing those diftempers to which human nature is fubject, being of infinitely greater confequence than many of our moft refined philofophical fpeculations. Of this application of Electricity, Mr. Lovett has treated very fully; enumerating the cautions neceffary to be obferved, in order to ren der the Electrical Shocks ufeful; obviating the feveral objections made to the medicinal uses of Electricity, and accounting for the miscarriage of the several attempts, of that kind, made by others. The following inftances will fhew what fuccefs Mr. Lovett has had in curing difeafes by Electricity; and we could wish they would excite others to make experiments of the same kind, that it might be finally determined, whether Electricity may, or may not, be rendered useful in medicinal intentions.

A young Lady was very much afflicted with fits, for near feven years, which feized her without giving any warning, and threw her flat on her face; for which reafon it was dangerous to go near the fire, or even walk abroad by herself; notwithstanding fhe fcarce ever, excepting once, continued in that infenfible ftate fo long as a minute, and oftentimes not half fo long.

Their returns were very frequent; fometimes twice in a day; tho' fometimes, perhaps, after beginning with a fresh medicine, fhe would find fome relief; but nothing could be ⚫ found which was likely to prove an abfolute cure, till Electricity was advised, and complied with: what rendered the cure the more difficult, was a very great coldness in her feet; and phyficians were of opinion, that the fits would not be eafily conquered, except the coldness of the feet could be firft removed: this I did not know till afterwards; but as she told me it fometimes feemed to begin in her ftomach, I was ⚫ not much at a lofs to know how to convey the fire through both ftomach and head at the fame time; for, whatever be the part affected, and I have a defire to pass the fire thro' ⚫ that particular part, it is only to form a circuit, as in the manner described by Experiment the fourth, and to cause that particular part to make a part of the circuit, and it is done: and fince it is equal, by the fame experiment, whether the circuit be long or fhort, the most eligible way must

• be

be, to have her ftand upon the wire or chain coming from the leaden coat of the condenfing-phial, and then to com• pleat the circuit, by laying another wire to any particular • part of her head; by which means the fire will be conveyed to that particular part of it; for as the line of direction of the fire, is always the shorteft poffible, by always taking the nearest way, as is evident by that experiment, it may be guided to a very great exactnefs: this being the method that was taken, and the fire going thro' the feet, as well as the • ftomach and head, all feemed to receive an equal share of ⚫ the benefit; and a compleat cure was effected, both of the 'fits, and coldness of the feet; and both appearing to be con* quered at the fame time.

The operation was fhocks only; and the Subtile Medium < performed the circuit, from the fole of the feet, through the crown of the head.

A young Gentlewoman of the parish of Clifton, about • ten miles from Worcester, fome time after being recovered of a fever, was feized with violent hyfterics; the effects of ' which were fo bad, as very foon to deprive her of both memory and understanding; and fo continued for a confiderable time, notwithstanding the best advice of two eminent phyficians.

In this melancholy ftate fhe was brought to Worcester, to try the effect of Electricity: I told the person who brought her, it would be neceffary to perform the operation at first, in a very flight manner, left it fhould ftartle her, and by that means fo intimidate her, as to prevent her coming again: but the replied, there was no danger of that, ⚫ for the could not remember half an hour to an end.

As the head was the part affected, I guided the fire chiefly to that part, in as plentiful a manner as I well could, and caufed it to pafs quite through, feveral times • each day, so long as fhe ftaid in town, which, tho' scarce a week, yet it feemed to have the defired effect; for, altho' ⚫ before the came to Worcester, fhe could not remember half an hour to an end, yet, foon after her return home, the • could remember the most remarkable things she saw done in • Worcester; and not only her memory, but her understanding alfo, returned, and the very foon became perfectly well. The operation was fometimes fhocks, fometimes drawing off fparks from the head.

Mr. Perkins, Surveyor of the roads, a year or two àgɔ, • had a flight touch of what he thought a palley, or fomething near a-kin to it; for, all on a fudden, his arm drop

002

'ped

•ped down, as effectually as in any paralytic ftroke; but, by rubbing it, the ufe of it was again foon restored.

The fame day he had another; and in fome little time after he had a third; which ftill, after it had been well rubbed and chaffed for a time, became fo well again, as to have the use of it, particularly at the upper and middle joint; but the lower part of it was by no means fo ftrong as before, nor could he have wrote his name, if he might have gained the Indies by doing it: after this he had a defire to try the effect of the Electric Shock; which relieved him fo effectually, as that he was very foon perfectly well again. The operation was fhocks in the arm.

The fame perfon had lately a much worfe ftroke of the fame kind; all the right fide was fo affected, that he could not walk without the affiftance of two to fupport him: when it first happened he was out of town, fo that it was two or three days before he could apply for help again the • fame way. After he had made ufe of Electricity two or three times, he was able to walk with the fupport of one only; and, in a fortnight, or three weeks, without any one to affift him; and foon became well again.

The operation was performed thus-First standing with his right foot on the connecting-line, coming from the condenfing phial.-Then, at bringing a finger of the right-hand to the apparatus, the fhock was given, and the circuit of Æther continued from the foot, the nearest way thro' the body, to the arm, and each finger: this was feveral times " repeated.'

The Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of England, to the Eighteenth Century. In two Volumes. By Ferdinando Warner, L. L.D. Rector of Queenhithe. Folio, Vol. I. l. 4s. in Boards. Of il. born, Payne, &c.

F Experience be the furcft guide to Wildom, and if all Sciences are from the contemplation of Nature, as moft certainly they do, the progress of Knowlege, confidering how limited the life, the powers, and the capacities of men are, muft needs be very flow; and would be alfo very imperfect, were individuals left entirely to their own researches, without means of improving one another by a communication-and comparison of difcoveries and observations. And altho' we

cannot

cannot boast of abilities adequate to a thorough comprehenfion of Nature; yet, by the proportion of time allotted us, by the faculties, with which we are naturally invested, by the means of communication we enjoy, one with another, whilst alive, and of lettered converfe with the dead, we have reafon to be very thankful, that our powers are fuited to our fituation, and capable of extending knowlege, fo far, at least, as to be not only fufficient for our well-being, but conducive to our amusement.

The proper ftudy of mankind, is man; fays a great Poet, in one of his moft philofophical works: and true it is, that a right conception of human Nature, fo as to comprehend not only wherein its dignity confifts, but alfo its depravity, is that bafis on which alone we can raife any juft scheme of Politics, Morality, or Religion. Man, or Human Nature, as an object of contemplation, must be that subject, which, above all others, deferves our utmost attention.

On other fubjects we are left to our cwyn obfervations, and the experiments made by others; and have it in our power, by renewing our own efforts, and reiterating theirs, to afcertain the degrees of our knowlege, correct mistakes, separate the certain from the uncertain, and thus gradually enlarge the boundaries of fcience. But on this fubject, and this alone, we have not only all the advantages which can arise from our own application, and the affiftance of others, but fuch a confcioufnefs of the fubject itself, and fuch a connection and intimacy with it, as places it not only nearer us, but in a stronger and fuller light, than any other.

True it is, however, that we cannot with hiftorical facts, as we may with philofophical enquiries, recal the events, and put them again to the teft: but we need not, therefore, be impofed upon by them. We can, and where no divine authority interpofes to the contrary, we furely ought, to reduce all human evidence to the standard of probability. We know the extent of human power, its adventitious aids, the manners of men, the courfe of providence, the turns and accidents that may happen; all these we know, not only by our own experience in prefent times, but by the concurrent report of the best and wifeft men, who have tranfmitted to us the hiftory of former ages; and we find human abilities, and propenfitics, fo much the fame, and Providence fo regular and uniform, that all acounts too much magnifying the one, or divertifying the other, y juftly appear romantic and fabulous; elpecially when

Oo 3

we

we direct our judgment, concerning History, by that maxim which Horace places as a boundary even to fable;

Nec Deus interfit, nifi dignus vindice nodus.

From this, or a fimilar view of things, it poffibly was, that the judicious Author now before us, refolved on attempting the Naturalization, as it were, of our Ecclefiaftical Hiftory; and, as far as we may prefume from that part of his work which hath yet appeared, the manner in which it is executed, will bring him no difcredit.

This first volume contains eight books. The work itself is dedicated to the King; and from the Dedication we may select this paffage.

-Notwithstanding all your Majefty's pious care, an indifference to Chriftianity, among the higher order of your people, is getting fuch an afcendant, and among the lower there is fuch an increase of Popery and Enthusiasm, that so far as thefe ways of thinking have any influence, there is reafon to fear, that our Liberty may become Licentiousness, and that our pure Religion may be turned into Superstition.

Under this alarming apprehenfion, to which the breast of no good man can be a stranger, I thought I could not acquit myself of my duty to your Majefty, and my Country, in a work of more utility-having already contributed my endeavours towards stopping the growth of Infidelity-than to lay open the errors, the mifchiefs, and the iniquities of of Popery, in a clear and true detail of its tyranny and ufurpation over the English Church.'

Our Author, in the parenthefis above, feems to allude to a late piece of his, intitled Bolingbroke; for fome account of which, fee our Review, vol. XII.

All that we fhall lay before our Readers, from the Preface, is what follows.

There are some particular periods of our church history, it must be owned, which have been wrote by men of great abilities and character; fuch as the Antiquities of the British Churches, by Bishop Stillingfleet; Dr. Inet's Hiftory of the English Church, to the death of King John; and that moft excellent Hiftory of the Reformation, by Bishop Burnet.-I have had very little affiftance, from any other modern writers, in compiling the following work. But then these Histories reach only thro' fome certain periods, and are intermixed with many tranfactions in the state; or tranfactions which relate to different nations, and to other affairs foreign to the hiftory of the church. Mr. Collier's, indeed, is a

⚫ general