marked that, though it confers no right to exclufive privileges, there may be reafons why fome fhould be granted to it. By making the poffeffion of a certain quantum of property a qualification for voting at elections, or for being eligible, we offer a ftimulus to prudent induftry; and, provided this quantum be not large, the number excluded must be very inconfiderable, and fuch probably as ought to have no fhare in the government of any country. Mr. P. however pays no regard to motives of prudence. He would yield to property no privilege, and, as it fhould feem by a fubfequent objection, to valour no honour-but they order thefe things better even in France. MEDICAL, &c. Art. 42. A Supplement to Medical Botany; or Part the Second: containg Plates with Defcriptions of most of the principal Medicinal Plants not included in the Materia Medica of the Collegiate Pharmacopoeias of London and Edinburgh; accompanied with a circumftantial Detail of their medicinal Effects, and of the Diseases in which they have been fuccefsfully employed. By William Woodville, M. D. F. L. S. Phyfician to the Small-pox and Inoculation Hofpitals. 4to. pp. 169. Plates 64. Plain, 14s. Boards. Coloured, 11. 13s. 6d. Boards. Phillips. 1794. The former parts of this agreeable and ufeful Work, of which we have already given accounts, were confined to those medicinal vegetables which are received into the catalogues of our two national difpenfatories. On quitting thefe limits, it was not an easy matter to establish others; fince botany and the materia medica have in various periods and countries been almoft co-extenfive; and, notwithftanding the rejection of numberlefs articles which credulity or fuperftition had introduced, there are ftill fo many retained in the practice of the feveral medical schools in Europe, as to furnish a very formidable lift to the writer who fhould undertake to give figures as well as defcriptions of them. Dr. W. began the prefent fupplement with an intention of illuftrating all the natural orders with an adequate number of medicinal plants: but even this plan he found, on inveftigation, to be too extenfive for utility; and he has therefore comprized all his additions within 63 articles; of which 11 are lately admitted into our own difpenfatories, and were not contained in the former parts of the Medical Botany. We believe that few practitioners in this country will think he has too much contracted his lift; which, as far as we can recollect, contains all the remaining medicinal plants concerning which it is of importance to be particularly informed. The first article of the volume is a correction of a former one; defcribing and figuring the Clutia Eluteria, as the true fource of the Cafcarilla Bark, instead of the Croton Cafcarilla before given on the authority of Linné. Of the new articles, we think it unneceffary to fay more than that the writer and the artist have performed their tasks, in a manner not unworthy of the reputation acquired by their former labours. A fmall appendix is fubjoined, containing difpenfatory articles of which no figures could be given, from the want of authorities; and Vide Rev. N. S. vol. viii. p. 160. and vol. xiii. p. 136. the the volume clofes with a general index of the plates in all the parts, arranged according to their natural orders. Art. 43. A new Inquiry into the Sufpenfion of Vital Action, in Cafes of Drowning and Suffocation. Being an Attempt to concentrate into a more luminous Point of View the fcattered Rays of Science refpecting that interefting though myfterious Subject, &c. &c. By A. Fothergill, M. D. F. R. S. &c. &c. 8vo. pp. 189. 2s. 6d. Rivingtons, &c. 1795. This work is an answer to the prize queftions proposed by the Humane Society. 1." What is the proximate caufe of death in the various kinds of fuffocation? 2. What are the most judicious means to be employed to restore animation." The honorary medal was unanimoufly adjudged to the author for the manner in which he fatisfied thefe queries, and such an approbation was naturally confidered as a fufficient imprimatur for his performance. Nevertheless, as no new experiments are related in it to determine points yet in doubt, and as the merit of the work chiefly confifts in the mode in which borrowed matter is arranged and reafonings are drawn from it, we shall be very concife in our account of it; referring thofe, who wish to enter fully into the author's ideas, to the publication itself. With refpect to the first queftion, concerning the proximate caufe of death in these cafes, the writer, after having refuted all the opinions which have been holden on this fubject, and in which a fingle caufe has been maintained, lays down the following train of caufes and effects: drowning or fuffocation first excludes the vital air, and thereby fufpends refpiration; the fufpenfion of refpiration ftops the paffage of the blood through the lungs, and confequently through the whole fyftem; whence the brain ceafes to exert its functions, and animal heat is no longer generated; the principle of irritability now gradually forfakes the fibres, and the animal dies. How far this enumeration of phænomena tends to remove any difficulties concerning the operation of causes, our learned readers will judge for themselves. In answering the fecond queftion, as to the practical part of re-animation, Dr. F. eftablishes two principal indications, that of restoring refpiration, and that of renewing the action of the heart. In confidering particulars, he reprefents venefcétion and emetics as very dubious remedies, lays much ftrefs on artificial refpiration, efpecially with vital air, and recommends electricity to accompany it, as the most powerful ftimulant. He farther treats on heat, agitation, friction, cordials, &c. but his remarks, though fufficiently judicious, afford nothing new. As to the difputed queftion of the effects of tobacco fmoke injected, he leaves it as he found it. Various phyfiological and practical points are treated in this effay,fuch as the nature of vitality, its connection with fenfibility and irritability, the part acted by vital air in the fyftem, the refemblance between nervous influence and electricity, &c. which, though difcuffed with ingenuity, are not illuftrated by any new facts that we could lay before our readers. Mere hints, on topics which cannot be brought to any thing like certainty without the most accurate and laborious investigation, do not appear to us to be of the value in which they feem viewed by Dr. Fothergill. Art. Art. 44. A Differtation on the Universe in general, and on the Procession of the Elements in particular. By Richard Saumarez, Surgeon to the Magdalen Hofpital. 8vo. pp. 266. 5s. Boards. Egertons, Dilly, &c. 1795. The author of this neat volume is an admirer of antient metaphyfics, but he entertains little esteem for modern science. To give the reader an idea of his work is an easier task than often falls to the lot of the reviewer. The following extract will fufficiently develope its character to the intelligent. Many quotations, equally curious, might be felected. The whole phenomena of fociety are carried on by two ideas that have nothing in common with organic matter; I mean the idea of time and the idea of number: with regard to the first, Mr. Harris in his Hermes has fully investigated its nature; and as to numbers, none understood them better than Pythagoras and his followers. I fhould not however do juflice to the fubject I have inveftigated, did I neglect to point out to the reader, how univerfally I found the number three to pervade the whole creation. The first Great Triad is that in whole name every Chriftian is baptized, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft.' But to defcend from God to Nature, let us now obferve, that there is a First Triad, with refpect to this world. Firft Proceffion.-1. Providence, 2. Nature, 3. Univerfe. Second Proceffion -1. Element of Light, 2. Element of Water, 3. Element of Earth. Third Proceffion.-1. Of Fire, 2. Of Air, 3. Of Cold.' Again. 3. Materialist. General Divifion of Religion.-1. Chriftian, 2. Unitarian, Refult.-1. The Chriftian worships the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 2. The Unitarian, the Father, 3. The Materialift, total privation. Hence it follows that,-1. The Chriftian is a Royalift, 2. The Unitarian, a Republican, 3. The Materialist an Anarchist. Thus we have traced No. 3. through every part of nature : happy will it be for thofe who know how to diftinguish it in themselves: the whole foul may be divided into truth, confcience, and common fente -that principle of divinity which is common to all men, who have derived it from one common and immortal Father.' Mr. Saumarez is apprehenfive that he may have fallen into very glaring mistakes.' In his ftatement of fome well-known chemical experiments, inaccuracies, we believe, may be difcovered: but, with a writer of this clafs, it would be idle to wrangle about trifles, His intelligibles, his univerfals, and his triads, are not affected by flight errors in point of fact. Art. 45. Hints refpecting the Chlorefis of Boarding Schools. By the Author of Hints refpecting the Diftrelles of the Poor. 8vo. 1s. Dilly. 1795. These hints, which chiefly relate to the prevention of the difeafe in queftion, contain much good plain and practical advice as to the management of females at an early age. We are perfuaded that few per-` fons would deferve better of the rifing generation, than those who should fhould introduce an effectual reform in thofe fashionable feminaries, in which the health and usefulness of the future mothers of the land are facrificed to affected graces, formal habits, and frivolous accomplishments. For Hints on the Poor, &c. fee Rev. for Sept. last, p. 112. Art. 46. A Copy of the Appendix and Notes annexed to the Third Edition of Remarks on the Ophthalmy, Pjerephthalmy, and Purulent Eye. By James Ware, Surgeon. 8vo. Is. Dilly, &c. 1795. It will be fufficient for us to announce the feparate publication of thefe valuable additions to Mr. Ware's esteemed work, fince it cannot be doubted that the poffeffors of the former editions will gladly avail themfelves of the opportunity, fo properly offered, of rendering their copies complete. POETRY, &c. Art. 47. The Imperial Epistle from Kien Long, Emperor of China, to George the Third, King of Great Britain, &c. &c. &c. in the Year 1794. Tranfmitted from his Imperial Majefty in a Box made of beautiful black Wood, carved curiously and of great Value, and prefented to his Britannic Majesty by his Excellency the Right Honourable George Earl Macartney, of the Kingdom of Ireland, K. B. Ambaffador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of China, in the Years 1792, 1793, and 1794. Tranflated into English Verse from the original Chinefe Poetry. With Notes by various Perfons of Eminence and Diftinction, and by the Tranflator. 4to. pp. 37. 2s. 6d. R. White. 1795. We are much mistaken if the author of this poetic laugh be not indebted to Peter Pindar, Efq. for the hint of it, as a proper subject for the inventive mufe. Our readers will, no doubt, on this occasion, recollect P. P.'s humorous ODEs to the Chinese Emperor KIEN LONG; of which we gave fome account in our Rev. for November 1792. In that publication, the jocofe efquire propofed a friendly correfpondence with the Imperial bard of the East; and, encouraged, as we may reafonably conclude, by the fuccefs of fo happy a thought, he (on the return of Lord Macartney from his late fplendid embaffy,) avowed his defign, as we were informed, of tranflating the poetic epiftle from KIEN LONG to GEORGE THE THIRD, faid to have been brought by his Lordfhip: but having, for reafons best known to himfeif, abandoned (as has been faid) this project, it feems to have been adopted by the writer of the prefent performance. Of the fuppofed tranflator's identity, we have received no information; nor can we conjecture to whom we are obliged for the half hour's entertainment which his production has afforded us. His manner, which is not very fimilar to that of P. P. has been thought, by certain fhrewd gueffers, to bear fome resemblance to the style and turn of that cutting fatirift who, a few years ago, entertained the public with the wellknown DIABOLIAD*, &c. &c. In a long preface, the writer attempts to fupport the fpecious and droll pretence of the title-page. The poem and notes bring into view a long ftring of public characters, with more humour than fidelity of delineation but the allufions to Chinese customs are often more hap See Rev. vol. Ivi. p. 255. and vol, Iviii. p. 306. pily introduced. We quote the following paffage. After having defcribed a proceffion of the British Minifter, with a long train of state attendants, the poet proceeds: While thus they país, my Mandarins should bend, Air thunders, rolls the drum, and groans the Gong i The clustered radiance of the fields above, The checquered veft‡‡ by learned fingers wrought; While "Drummers and trumpeters march before the Emperor (blowing) with their trumpets, which are three feet long, and made of a wood called outong-chu, and ornamented with rings of gold." Grofier, v. 2. p. 330. +"Behind these march a hundred foldiers armed with halberts,. the points of which terminate in a crefcent; with mace bearers, &c." Grof. v. 2. p. 331. "The gong is an inftrument of a circular form made of brass, which the Chinese ftrike with a large wooden mallet covered with leather; the found is heard to a great distance. "Four hundred large lanterns of elegant workmanship next make their appearance, borne by the fame number of men; and four hundred flambeaux, made of a kind of wood which burns long and diffufes a great light." Grof. as above.-N. B. For an account of the famous Feaf of Lanterns throughout the empire of China, fee Grofier, v. 2. p. 323. "After thefe twenty-four banners upon which are painted the figns of the zodiac; and fifty-fix other banners, on which are reprefented different clusters of fars, according to their arrangement in the heavens." Grof. v. 2. p. 331. "The fouthern gate of the palace is never opened but for the Emperor himself." Du Halde Hift. v. 2. p. 24. English ed. 8vo. "There is a causeway paved with white marble, and none but the Emperor may walk in this path." Du Halde, v. z. p. 26. ++ The patents and imperial acts are all fealed with the Emperor's own feal, which is a fine jasper, near eight inches fquare, and is taken from the mountain n yu Chan, that is, the mountain of the agate feal." Du Halde, v. 2 p. 19. 11" The Literari among the Mandarins pay a peculiar honour to a good Governor of a province. They caufe a drefs to be made for REV. Nov. 1795. hin A a |