Art. 23. The Utility of establishing human, fyftematical Confeffions of Is. 6 d. We have, more than once, had occafion to do juftice to the abilities of the ingenious and fpirited Writer, who has diftinguished himfelf, with honour, in the controverfy occafioned by The Confeffional §. The arguments in favour of the utility of fyftematical confeflions of faith have been often confidered, and are, many of them at least, extremely futile and trifling. It is not to be expected, therefore, that any thing new or ftriking fhould be advanced upon the fubject, however expedient or neceffary it may be to reply to thofe advocates for creeds and fyftems, who, in the warmth of their zeal to defend establishments, feem but too often to forget the fundamental principles of protestantism, and the unalienable rights of men and Chriftians. See Review, vol. xxxix. p. 233. § See Rev. vol. xxxvii. p. 316, art. 30. Art. 24. A short and fafe Expedient for terminating the prefent Debates about Subscriptions, occafioned by a celebrated Performance, entitled, The Confeffional, with a Letter upon a collateral Subject, and a large Appendix of Authorities, ancient and modern; calculated to promote Peace and Charity, in the Room of Speculation and Controversy. By a Friend to religious and civil Liberty. Published by Benjamin Dawfon, LL. D. Rector of Burgh, in Suffolk. 8vo. 4s. fewed. Dilly. 1769. The Author of this work appears to be in reality what he profeffes to be, viz. a friend to religious and civil liberty. His manner of writing is clear, eafy, and unaffected, and his manner of thinking rational and candid. Every reader who wishes well to the interefts of Chriftianity, and the honour of our church, will perufe his performance with pleasure. The established forms, fays he, to which fubfcriptions are hitherto required, being fuppofed to continue as they are, till authority fhall think fit to render them more fuitable upon the whole to the large and comprehenfive plan of the New Teftament, a declaration and promife, drawn up in fome fuch words as the following (extracted principally from the fponfions ordination in the church of England) might well be thought fufficient to anfwer all the reafonable purpoles, for which any engagements of this kind can be judged either neceffary or useful, before admiffion into the paftoral charge at firit, or removal to a new one afterwards. I profefs myself a Chriflian and a proteftant; fincerely believing the Chriftian religion, as delivered in the holy fcriptures, to be from God; and difclaiming all connection with the church of Rome, as having corrupted that religion, and deviated from the fcriptures, in matters, not a few, of the greatest confequence. "Being perfuaded that the fcriptures, without any human additions or innovations, do contain the whole will of God relating to the falvation of man, through faith in Jefus Chrifl, I am determined, with the help of God, to adhere invariably to thofe fcriptures, and out of them, them, and agreeably to them, to inftruct the people who are or shall be committed to my charge, in the true Chriftian religion, as there delivered; teaching nothing as the religion of Chrift, and neceffary to falvation, but what, upon diligent examination, and a careful comparing of the whole together, I fhall be perfuaded to be the true meaning and defign of thofe facred writings, as the fame are received, and acknowledged to be canonical, by the church of England. "And I do promise,— "That in order to a duc progrefs and improvement in the qualifi cations of a Chriftian minifter, I will be diligent in prayers, in reading and confidering the holy fcriptures, and in fuch other proper ftudies, as may help to the farther knowledge of the fame; laying afide the study of the world and the flesh, as unfuitable to fuch a pro. feffion and character. "That in regard to my more immediate duty towards the people of my charge, I will ufe both public and private admonitions, as well to the fick as to the whole, within my cure, as need fhall require, and occafion fhall be given. “ And finally; "That I will fet forwards, to the beft of my power, quietnefs, peace and love, among all Chriftian people, and especially among thofe, who are or fhall be committed to my fpiritual charge and care. "To thefe declarations and promifes, freely, voluntarily, and deliberately made by me, I fet my hand this year of our Lord — day of in the A. B." • Some declarations and engagements of this or the like kind, will, I prefume, appear to candid and unprejudiced men, to be not only unexceptionable, but fully fufficient to answer all the reasonable purpofes of admitting perfons into the miniftry, and committing to them the care of fouls; and that, in any church or community whatsoever profefling itself proteftant, and renouncing the errors and fuperftitions of the church of Rome.' MEDICA L. Art. 25. A Treatise on the Structure and Formation of the Teeth, and other Parts connected with them. Together with the feveral Disorders to which they are fubject; and an Enquiry into the most probable Method of preferving them found to an advanced Age. By R. Curtis, Apothecary. 12mo. I S. Oxford printed; and fold by Fletcher and Co. in London. Although this treatife is inferior to fome others which have already been published, yet Mr. Curtis appears to have given particular attention to his fubject, and to have acquired no inconfiderable skill in this branch of his profeffion. Art. 26. A Letter to Dr. Richard Huck, on the Conftruction and Method of ufing Vapor-Baths. By Thomas Denman, M. D. 8vo. 6d. No Bookfeller's Name. [Sold by Walter.} The veffel employed for conveying moift vapor, confists of a cylindrical body like that of a common tin tea-kettle, with the head drawn out into a cone, and from the top of the cone there iffues a tube to which other tubes may be joined, fo as to conduct and direct the vapor at pleafure.-When both dry and moift vapors are to be ap plied, a tube conveys the dry vapor fo as to unite with the moist above the surface of the fluid. IF If it is thought requifite,' fays Dr. D. to bath the whole body, a piece of oil-cloth is to be laid upon the inferior bed-clothes, and over that a blanket, on which the patient muft lie. A cradle, after the fashion of that in common uie, to prevent the disturbance of a fractured limb by the bed-clothes, is neceffary to allow the free access of the vapor to every part of the body. The cradle ought to be covered with another piece of oil-cloth, and over that what bed-clothes we choose, which must be tucked in clofe, especially about the neck, to prevent the efcape of the vapor; and thin flannel may be thrown loofely over the body, to avoid any inconvenience from the immediate heat. A fmall opening must be left at the feet for the admiffion of the tin tube. No other regulation of the heat is neceffary than what will occur to the operator, from the fenfations of the patient and his own judg ment. One or more lamps may be lighted according to the quantity of vapor we defire to raise. In bathing particular parts of the body, the fame method must be ufed, and even in this cafe it is better that the patient should be in bed, as an universal sweat is commonly brought on. It feems better not to continue the ufe of the vapour too long, the first time it is applied. The ufual time has been about fifteen minutes, but the moit vapour has been continued occafionally, with moderation, to particular parts, for three or four hours, after which the ipontaneous fweat which follows may be kept up at pleasure.' Art. 27. Two Papers on the Ufe of Ol. Afphalti in Ulcers of the Intef tines, Lungs, and other Vijcera: taken from the Verhandelingen van de Maatschappye te Haarlem, by Thomas Healde, M. D. Fellow of the Royal College of Phyficians. 8vo. 1s. Hingefton. Mr. Hofkens de Courcelles, the Author of the two papers here tranflated, oberves, that the Ol. Alphalti will remove the Hectic excited by the abforption of matter, and at the fame time heal up the ulcerated part. If the ulcer, however, is formed in confequence of any fault in the conftitution, or any predifpofition in the habit, fuch predifpofing cautes must be removed, before the medicine here recommended can effect the cure.-Suppofe an ulcer of the lungs, for instance, to be produced by acrimony, or a general fault in the habit; that acrimony must firft be removed, and the whole habit brought into a proper ftate, and then the ulcer may be healed by the Ol. Alphaiti-But when the cure is fo far advanced by correcting every thing wrong in the conflitution, we would ak Mr. Hofkens, Whether the ulcer would not heal without the afliftance of the Ol. Alphalti? The manner of preparing and adminiftering the oil, is as follows: • &. Afphalti fire Bitum: Judaic: Mj Salis decrepetati Wojs Avena para bis Put thefe into a retort, and difill with a strong fire. There comes ever firit a little water, which you may throw away, taking off the recipient, or let it remain with the oil, to be feparated afterwards with a funnel. There comes next a black oil, which is precifely what what I make ufe of. Continue to draw it off whilft it continues of a black, or deep brown colour. The manner of ufing it, is, to give from ten to fourteen drops in a morning fafting, and the fame quantity going to bed. I have given fourteen drops four times a day at the medical hours, without any oppreffion or confiderable diforder. Perhaps twice as much may be given. The dofe may be varied according to the age, and ftrength, the nature, and duration of the disease. It is moft conveniently taken dropp'd upon fugar.' For the cafes and obfervations, we must refer our Readers to the Papers themfelves. Art. 28. Pradical Thoughts on the Prevention and Cure of the Scurvy. Efpecially in the British Navy. By William Jervey, M. D. 8vo. 2 S. Nourfe, &c. The following hints for preventing the fcurvy in the navy are pointed out, as deferving the attention of government. To purchafe a piece of ground in a proper fituation to fupply a fufficient growth of vegetables for the ufe of the navy; to bake the fhip-bifcuit in fuch a manner as to render it more light and porous; to use oil inftead of falted butter, and rice instead of peafe and oatmeal. The contrivance for making tainted water fweet by ventilation, was never put in practice in the manner defcribed by our Author, and never exiited but in his own imagination. The late ingenious Dr. Stephen Hales, fays he, has propofed, with his fmall box-ventilators, ventilating the furface of the water, to fweeten it. But as. this takes up a confiderable time, it is more fpeedily and effectually done, by caufing the air pafs entirely through the body of the water. I fhall endeavour to fhew how I think this may, with leaft trouble, be put in execution. There fhould be a copper pipe of five feet and a half long, in diameter about an inch and a quarter, whofe lower end is joined to a circular flat box of the fame metal, about two inches and a half deep, whofe upper furface is made full of holes, and with a ledge opens and fhuts upon the lower part, for the convenience of cleaning it. The upper end of the pipe fhould be made to bend floping, to receive the nofle of a small box-ventilator, or of a large pair of bellows, fuch as are used for forges. When this metal pipe and box are plunged into a butt, into which the water has been ftarted, the diameter of the box being made nigh equal to the diameter of the end of the butt; or it may be made fquare to enter the fkuttle of a skuttle cafk. The bellows or ventilator then being applied to the upper end of the pipe and worked, the air, paffing thro' it, finds no refiftance till it comes to the lower part of the box; where being stopped, it paffes up the holes on its upper part, through the whole calk of water up to its furface; and by thus working the bellows or ventilator, for about a quarter of an hour, though the water ftunk never so offenfively, it becomes entirely fwect.' Is it not evident that part of the water to be ventilated muft pafs through the holes of the box, fill the box, and rife in the pipe to the height of the water in the butt?-How can it be faid then, that the air, paffing through the pipe, finds no refistance till it comes to the Q3 lower lower part of the box? or does Dr. Jervey fuppofe, that his fancy is to overturn the well-known laws in hydroftatics? Art. 29. A plain Account of the Difeafes incident to Children; with an eafy Method of curing them. Defigned for the Use of Families. By John Cooke, M. D. 12mo. 1s. Dilly. The best recommendation of this crude and unfavoury mess is contained in the following words :- To render the work still more ufeful, the price is but fmall, for the fake of the poor.-And if the circumftances of fome are fo very narrow, as unables them yet to purchafe, upon application, I will prefent them therewith for nothing.' Preface, p. 6. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 30. A Critical Differtation on the Character and Writings of Pindar and Horace. In a Letter to the Rt. Hon. the Earl of B-. By Ralph Schomberg, M. D. Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. 8yo. 2 S. Becket. 1769. A remarkable piece of plagiarifm. We have now before us a little duodecimo, printed at Paris, in 1673, and entitled, Comparaifon de Pindare et d'Horace. Dediée à Monf. le Premier Prefident. Par Monf. Blondell, Maiftre des Mathematiques de Menfigneur le Dauphin. From this work has r. Ralph Schomberg, of Bath, pilfered and tranflated what he has given to the public as HIS OWN Critical Differtation on the Character and Writings of Pindar and Horace: a procedure which requires no farther explanation !-But it is hoped we shall hear no more of this honourable gentleman, in the republic of literature. Art. 31. Additional Articles to the Specimen of an Etimological Vocabu lary; or, Effay, by means of the Analytic Method, to retrieve the ancient Celtic. By the Author of a Pamphlet, entitled, The Way to Things by Words, and to Words by Things. 8vo. I S. L. Davis. We have already mentioned The Way to Things by Words*, &c. and the Specimen of an Etimological Vocabulary +—In this additional tract on the fubject, the Auther farther explains the nature of his learned enquiries, gives us a more extenfive view of their importance, and modeftly reminds the public of the neceffity of their patronizing his labours, by promoting the fubfcription to his grand work, in two vols. 4to. entitled, The Celtic Retrieved 1, &c. which, he affures us, now waits for nothing towards its being carried into execution for publication, but a competent encouragement.'-Nothing, certainly, is more reasonable than his plea, that whoever confiders the vast comprehenfivenefs of this plan, and the aids, of all kinds, which it muft, to have justice done to it, indifpenfibly and implicitly require, will eafily allow the undertaking to be not only impoffible to a fmall private fortune, but even where there might be a large one, the work itfelf to imply fo much of propofed utility to the public, as not to be without fome right to folicit the affiftance of the public.' * See Rev. vol xxxv. p. 363, fcription-price, 21. † Vol xl. p. 80. + Sub Art, 32. |