appears to prefer to Damnonians or Dumnonians; although, if it be fact that a part of Bretagne in France was antiently called Dumnonium, the latter word may be the moft proper; nor can we think ourfelves at liberty to load him with heavy and fevere cenfures, whatever may have been his mistakes. His learning, his ingenuity, and his application, place him above this kind of treatment. Every man has an equal right to form and communicate his fentiments: if indeed this be done with a magisterial tone, or be the mere refult of ignorance and inattention, or of oftentation, conceit, and folly, fuch a writer will defervedly meet with chaftifement and contempt:-but who will affign fuch a rank to Mr. Polwhele? If he has allowed his imagination to range too freely, it must be admitted that he is not deftitute of plaufible argument. The Etymologift and the Antiquary ftand in need of very correct attention to direct and affift their inquiries; and even Mr. Bryant, who has obtained fo much merited applaufe, is not exempt from objection.

We could have wifhed that it had fuited our author's fituation to have beftowed a larger type on his ingenious lucubrations for this volume, apparently fmall, far exceeds in its contents many of greater bulk. He has chofen the Longprimer type, very clofely printed; and the notes, which are abundant, have a yet fmaller character. This, however convenient in fome refpects, must prove unpleafant to the reader.

We are now expecting farther parts of thefe Hiflorical Views; which, we fhould imagine, must be perufed before the folio volumes can be properly noticed.

ART. XI. The Elements of Medicine of John Brown, M. D. Translated from the Latin, with Comments and Illuftrations, by the Author. A new Edition, revifed and corrected. With a Biographical Preface, by Thomas Beddoes, M. D. and a Head of the Author. 2 Vols. 8vo. 12s. boards. Johnson. 1795

IT T is well known that the late Dr. Brown, whofe opinions have figured fo much in the medical world, died after a life of penury and difappointments, leaving behind him a totally deftitute family. A fubfcription, fet on foot by those who were attached to his memory, and forwarded by other benevolent perfons, produced a confiderable but temporary relief to them; and the prefent republication of his works has been undertaken chiefly with a view of farther extending this charitable affiftAs this is a defign to which all men of liberality, whatever they may have thought of Dr. Brown, or of his opinions, cannot but with fuccefs, it will give them fatisfaction to find that the execution of it has been committed to a person of fuch acknowleged powers for augmenting, from his own ftores, the

ance.

value of what comes from his hands as an editor; in fact, the introductory matter prefixed to thefe volumes will afford a high treat to those who are in the habit of speculating on human life in general, and profeffional character in particular.

It commences with obfervations on the character and writings of Dr. Brown. This biographical sketch is diftinguished by its great candour and impartiality, as well as by its deep and fagacious remark on a variety of circumftances relative to mind and manners. The hero of the piece is represented as he' was, under no falfe colouring of panegyric, or veil of delicacy. It is therefore an entertaining and interefting picture, from which we could with pleasure extract fome traits ferious or humorous, but that we prefer keeping the reader's curiofity. entire.

A fubfequent fection in Dr. Brown's private practice introduces a curious kind of effay on Reputation in Phyfic, which contains much folid reflection and fevere fatire, expreffed in the manly nervous language which is appropriate to the writer. It is concluded by an appendage entitled Jatrologia, in which, after the manner of Baron Born in his well-known Linnæan claffification of monks, Dr. B. arranges the feveral fpecies of the genus Doctor of Phyfic. From this humorous performance we will indulge our readers with an extract:

SECT. II. D. Mere collectors of fees, regardless of medical science, given to artifice and intrigue, each species after its own manner. 3. The bullying DOCTOR. D.

Inexorabilis, acer, looks big, ftruts, fwaggers, fwears.

Obf. Surgeons, in our times, more frequently bear thefe marks. According to a moit acute contemporary author, the famous RADCLIFFE was a compleat fpecimen of the bullying D. "With small fkill in phyfic, and hardly any learning, he got into practice by vile arts. He would neglect a nobleman that gave exorbitant fees ;" and to heighten the infult by contraft" at the fame time carefully attend a fervant or mean person for nothing-he was furly and morofe; treated his patients like dogs-extended his infolence even to the Royal Family-fcorned to confult with his betters on what emergency foever; looked down with contempt on the most deferving of his profeffion, and never would confer with any phyfician who would not pay homage to his fuperior genius, creep to his humour, and never approach him but with the flavish obfequioufnefs of a court flatterer."

The bacchanalian DOCTOR. D. given to fottishness, if not to drunkenness-generally fomewhat of the Bully.

4. The folemn DOCTOR. D. with garb, voice, geftures, and equipage, contrived to overawe weak imaginations, and hide the futility

of his art.

Obf. 1. D. of this remarkable fpecies first practifed phyfic with pomp: they invented or borrowed from the other profeffions those REV. Nov. 1795.

X

barbarous

barbarous habiliments, of which ridicule has but lately stripped phyficians. In times, when an huge wig, or a flowing gown, could more effectually command refpect than found morality, fubftantial justice, or ufeful skill, the ftratagem fucceeded to admiration.

Obf. 2. D. of this fpecies, when a pretext offers, speak oftentatiously of their experience-never fufpecting any of their hearers may know that there are understandings which multiplicity of appearances

ferves but to confound.

5. The club bunting DOCTOR. D. frequenting the crowded haunts of men; pushing himfelf forward, faluting all he knows, and all who will know him; talking much and loud.

Obf. In England, D. of this fpecies have of late been frequently feen in paroxyfms of frantic loyalty, and of civisme in France.

6. The burr DOCTOR. D. faftening himfelf upon you as tenacioufly as the heads of the noifome weed (centaurea calcitrapa), from which the trivial name of the fp. is taken, fix upon your cloaths.

Obf. Nothing in art, but the juggler's addrefs in making you take what card he pleafes out of a pack, equals the dexterity with which D. of this fp. force themfelves on patients.

7. The wheedling DOCTOR. D. with an everlafting fmirk upon his countenance-frequent at the polite end of large cities, and at places of fashionable refort.

Var. a. The Adonis wheedling D. D. with an handsome face, joined to the wily addrefs, characteriilic of the fp.-flourishes at watering places; fometimes joias to his profeffion the trade of a fortune-hunter; and if he fucceeds, gives phyfic to the dogs."

Obf. 1. D. of this fp. when moit moderate, prefcribe for every rich patient two draughts a day, and one night draught, befides pills and powders. Hence needlessly to fwallow naufeous drenches may be numbered among the curfes of wealth.

Obf. 2. The Adonis D. has fooner or later a patient of note, ill of a fever or fome difeafe, that ufually terminates favourably; in case of recovery the female bufy-bodies of the place exert their spirit of cabal in behalf of the wonder-working youth, and his fortune is made. 8. The cafe-coining DOCTOR. D. publishing forged or falfified cafes.

• Obf. "A very fertile fource of falfe facts has been opened for fome time pall. This is, in fome young phyficians, the vanity of being the authors of obfervations which are often too hastily made, and fometimes, perhaps, were entirely dreffed in the clafet. We dare not at prefent be more particular; but the next age will difcern many inftances of perhaps the direct falfehoods, and certainly the many miftakes in fact, produced in the prefent age, concerning the virtues and powers of medicines." CULLEN. Mater. Med. I. 153.

A-kin to this flagitious abufe is the practice of purchafing falfe atteftations, on oath, for advertisements; and what is ftill worfe in effect, though not in intention; a custom beginning to prevail among perfons of diftinction-who cannot be fuppofed capable of difcriminating difeafes, or deciding on the efficacy of drugs-but who, neverthelefs, permit Quacks to use their names in teftimony of cures, which they fuppofe themselves to have witneffed.

9. The

9. The good-fort-of-man DOCTOR. D. a good fort of man, armed, by fome mistake, with a diploma.

Var. a. The goffiping good fort-of-man D. fetches and carries fcandal.

• Obf. Varieties numerous as the hues of the chamæleon.

10. The Sectarian DOCTOR. D. dwelling among his own people at first; and by them often pushed on to spread devaftation among the

best of mankind.

Obf. Varieties manifold; each diftinguishable by the livery of its fect-one is too curious to be omitted.

Var. a. The infpired Seat. DocTOR. D. believing himself to be infpired with the knowledge of difcafes and remedies.

In civilized countries not much more frequent than witches. Among rude tribes, as, among the Tartar hordes, a kindred variety is univerfally found. See Gmelin's Travels. But these feem rather to pretend to infpiration, than really to believe that their deity ferves them in the capacity of Prompter: and they conjoin the characters of priest and conjurer with that of phyfician. I have not been able to afcertain whether our variety receives the afflatus, except in its medical capacity and the miracles it has wrought in this are not fo perfectly authenticated, as to filence cavillers."

Some ferious matter follows, introductory to the ftudy of the Brunonian doctrine; which, it must be acknowleged, requires, beyond moft fyftems, the efforts of a clear head and an exercised understanding to prepare the way for its full comprehenfion. An ingenious illuftration by Mr. Thomas Chriftie is made a part of this preliminary matter. Dr. B. has added ftrictures on the origin, and on the imperfections and errors of the fyftem; and he gives the following fummary account of what he conceives to be its principal excellencies:

The diftinguishing merit of Brown is obvious; he avoided all falfe analogies, and confined himself within the proper fphere of obfervation for a phyfician. Hence at a time when I could not be fufpected of that difpofition to diminish the faults, and magnify the exceilencies of his fyftem, which my fhare in the prefent publication may be fuppofed to produce; I was led to remark, that if he has not always difcovered the truth, he is feldom forfaken by the spirit of philofophy." Before him, inveftigations relative to medicine had been carried on just as rationally as if to difcover the qualities of the horfe, the naturalift were to direct his attention to the movements of a windmill. There exifted no fyftem which was not either entirely, or in a great measure, founded upon the observed or fuppofed properties of fubftances, deftitute of life. Thus Boerhaave taught that difeafes depend upon changes of the blood, fimilar to thofe which certain oily, watery, or mucilaginous liquors undergo; I have already had occafion to fhew that Cullen referred the phænomena of life to an imaginary fluid, endowed with the fame properties as the electric Auid, of which the very existence is ftill problematical. His predeceffors having in this manner left man entirely out of their fyftems,

or affigned him an unimportant place, Brown atchieved the important fervice of restoring him to his proper station in the centre.'

The improvements in the tranflation of the Elements themfelves confift in corrections of the language throughout, in order to render the meaning plainer,-in fome typographical alterations, and in a table of contents prefixed to each chapter.

ART. XII. An Elegy on the Death of the Honorable Sir William Jones, a ludge of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal, &c. By William Hayley, Efq, 4to. pp. 40. 2s. 6d. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1795.

ANOTHER cafket of fweet-fcented incenfe, burnt at the shrine of science and virtue :-a fecond funeral panegyric on the moft illuftrious oriental scholar, and one of the best of men. We have recently given our juft tribute of praise to Mr. Maurice's very poetical elegy *; and we are now called to appreciate the real and comparative merit of the work before us.

We are not ignorant that the very name of Hayley is a fufficient paffport for any poem, and we have often had occafion to testify our high efteem for his elegant productions: but we muft not be deterred from giving our candid opinion of this laft performance, even though it fhould be lefs favourable than former decifions. It was rather unfortunate that the present elegy fo foon followed that of Mr. Maurice; and of this Mr. Hayley himself feems to be fenfible. There is fo much poetical merit (fays he) in the animated and graceful tribute which Mr. Maurice has paid to the memory of Sir W. Jones, that had I feen it before the completion of thefe ftanzas, it might have induced me to relinquifh a fubject pre-engaged + by a writer peculiarly qualified to treat it with fuccefs.' We ad mire this candid and well-turned compliment from one poet to another, which naturally calls to mind the words of Tully: Ea eft enim profectò jucunda laus, quæ ab iis proficifcitur, qui ipfi in laude vixerunt. Nothing is to flattering to human vanity, nor fo great a ftimulus to afpire at excellence, as the praise of those who are our rivals in the fame purfuit, and have fucceeded in it. We are glad, however, that Mr. Hayley did not relinquish the fubject, though pre-occupied by Mr. Maurice; and we heartily join with him in thinking that the literary excellence of Sir W. J. appears to require fome kind of homage from every man of letters."

See Rev. N. S. vol. xvii. p. 194.

We very much doubt the propriety of this expreffion. We engage in an undertaking: but an undertaking can hardly be faid to be engaged by us. Pre-occupied feems to be the proper term.

I

Having