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been rendered ftill more fatisfactory, had the preparation termed the Doctor, been explained particularly. There may however be good reafons against this communication, as pernicious fecrets ought not to be published; and to guard the Public against interested arts, by extending the ability to practife them, includes fomething like an abfurdity. The tricks of distillers and vintners have long been complained of, with fome rumours about the private ufes of the lapis infernalis, popularly called the Hell-ftone; but we are not in the fecret, fo can only imagine the name not ill adapted to the parties who ufe it, as well as to thofe who, perhaps by way of preparative, enure themselves to the fwallowing of liquid fire.

Art. 22. The Hiftory of Cheshire Containing King's Vale Royal entire, together with confiderable Extracts from Sir Peter Leycefler's Antiquities of Chefhire; and the Obfervations of later Writers, particularly Pennant, Grofe, &c. &c. The Whole forming a complete Defcription of that County; with all its Hundreds, Seats of the Nobility, Gentry, and Freeholders; Rivers, Towns, Caftles, and Buildings, ancient and modern. To which is prefixed an Introduction, exhibiting a general View of the State of the Kingdom previous to, and immediately after, the Norman Conqueft. 2 Vols. 8vo. Ios. 6d. Chefter printed by John

Poole and fold by Evans in Paternoster-Row.

In the progrefs of the Arts, that of book-making ought not to be overlooked, which has extended from the blind allies in London to every part of the country where a prefs is erected: though the country workmen have not yet attained the proficiency of their masters in the metropolis.

Whatever merit there may be in detached parts of these volumes, they are to be viewed merely in the light of a loose compilation; for befide the original writers acknowledged in the title page, the Jong introduction prefixed, is literally and filently copied from the beginning of Hume's Hiftory of England: an author, whom this grateful Compiler afterward fnatches an officious opportunity to depreciate in ftrong terms, derived perhaps from fome other quarter, both as an hiftorian and as a philofopher.

It might have occurred to a perfon offering a new History of Chefhire, that while he availed himself of every thing valuable in King's old Vale Rayal, there was neither merit nor neceffity, in adhering to either his method or language; where either was fufceptible of improvement: the deûrable object being, not to have antiquated works revived, but ufed with more recent materials in forming a good connected historical defcription of the county. Indeed we have only to guess at what this nameless book-maker proposed to do, from what he actually has performed; as he has not declared his intentions in any prefatory addrefs to the reader: but begins abruptly with above fourfcore pages of ancient English history, all taken, as before obferved, without the leaft ceremony, from the first volume of David Hume." Thus much however may be fafely inferred, that the plan was to bring together whatever could (with fmall trouble or expence) be collected, relating to Chefhire, with as little trouble as poffible; not even that of furnishing fome kind of map of she county! It is not doubted, but the very books printed from, are.

returned

returned to the book feller's fhelf for fale, with no more injury than they might receive from the printer's thumbs. To conclude, the whole is a crude hodge podge, from which an adroit London workman, in that branch, might make a far better book, with the ufual flender apparatus of a pair of fciffars, a quire or two of brown pa. per, and a bafon of paste.

Art. 23. The Hiftory and Antiquities of Shrewsbury; from its firft Foundation to the prefent Time. Containing, A Recital of Occurrences and remarkable Events, for above 1200 Years. With an Appendix, containing feveral Particulars relative to Cattles, Monaiteries, &c. in Shropshire. With Plates. By T. Phillips. 4to. 10 s. 6d. Shrewsbury printed by T. Wood, and fold alfo by G. Robinfon in London. 1779.

Among the various provincial hiftories which this country has produced, none, that we recollect, of any confiderable note, hath yet been given of Shropshire. Mr. Phillips, we hope, hath paved the way for fuitable defcriptions of a county which is, by no means, de. ficient in materials for gratifying the curiofity of the naturalist or the antiquary. The Salopians will, no doubt, be proud of the prefent performance, though neither a very learned, nor a very elegant production, as they have no other hiftory of this town, or their county; and, for the fame reafon, too, it will not be unacceptable to English readers in general.

Art. 24. Theatrical Monopoly; being an Addrefs to the Public on the prefent alarming Coalition of the Managers of the Winter Theatres. 8vo. 1 s. Fielding and Walker. 1779.

This pamphlet is not inelegantly written; but we think the fubject merits a more minute examination than the present Writer has afforded it.

Art. 25. Obfervations on the Tragedy of Albina. 8vo. 6 d.

Macklew.

There is fome fhrewdnefs, attended with much apparent acrimony, probably proceeding from perfonal ill-will, in thefe Obfervations.

NovEL.

Art. 26. Columella; or, the diftreffed Anchoret. A Colloquial Tale. By the Editor of the Spiritual Quixote. 2 Vols. 12mo. 5 s. fewed. Dodfley.

The defign of this colloquial tale is to expofe the folly of those who, after having been prepared by a liberal education, and a long and regular courfe of ftudies, for fome learned or ingenious profelfion, retire, in the vigour of life, through mere indolence and love of ease, to spend their days in folitude and inactivity, or even in thofe meaner occupations which perfons of inferior abilities, and unimproved talents, might difcharge with equal, or, perhaps, with fuperior skill.' That characters of this clafs are reprehenfible is what every one must acknowledge, yet we are far from thinking, in the prefent age at least, that they are common. We mean not that indolence and love of cafe make no part of the characteristics of the prefent age; but rather that they take a different form than that under which they appear in the performance before us. So far from fhewing any difpofition to injure fociety by retiring from the world, it feems to be the general study of all ranks to obtrude themselves

as

as much as poffible upon the Public, and to diffipate in active idle nefs, if we may fo exprefs ourfelyes, that time which ought to have been devoted to their own private concerns. Excepting in the late Mr. Shenstone (who probably might fit for the more amiable part of Columella's picture) and fome few others, we fhall not find many inftances of young perfons entering into life who fly to retirement and folitude as a refuge from the bustle and hurry of the world. And, indeed, in those few inftances of voluntary feclufion that may occafionally be met with, the motive for retirement is in general fo innocent and amiable, and the opportunities it may afford of being ufeful to mankind, are fo many and various, that we are of opinion fuch characters, though they claim not praife, ought at leaft to be exempt from cenfure.

Though we thus differ from our Author, as to the object of his fatire, yet with refpect to its execution, it is but juffice to acknowledge that it is worthy of the Editer of the Spiritual Quixote. His characters are, in general, drawn with truth and humour, and his wit, if we except a few fiale jokes, and a feeble attempt to ridicule Dr. Priestley and his fixed air, is neither unclaffical nor inelegant.

MEDICA L.

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Art. 27. Firft Lines of the Practice of Phyfic, for the Use of Students in the University of Edinburgh. By William Cullen, M. D. and P. Vol. IId. 8vo. 6 s. Vol. IId. 8vo. 6s. Murray, 1779 The prefent volume of this very useful work is divided into three books, the firft, treating of exanthemata or eruptive fevers; the next, of hemorrhages; and the laft, of profluvia, or Fluxes with pyrexia. The clear and accurate defcriptions of the difeafes, comprehended under thefe divifions, the ingenious reafonings concerning their nature, and the judicious obfervations refpecting their cure, cannot fail of being highly ferviceable to the medical ftudent; who will find in a fmall compafs, all the foundet principles, both in the theory and practice of his art. This volume is, in the main, truly practical. Experience and obfervation are guides from which the Author never ventures to deviate; and theory is only admitted as fupplemental or auxiliary to thefe. A rare inftance of caution and diffidence accompanying great powers of invention!

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The language, though ftill not entirely free from inaccuracies, is Jefs cenfurable than that of the former volume t. Art. 28. A Treatise on the Hydrocele. By Lawrence Nannoni, Profeffor of Surgery to the Grand Duke of Tufcany's Court, and Fellow of feveral Academies in Europe. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Elmfly,

&c.

The principal purpofe of this little treatife, is to compare the feveral methods propofed for the radicul cure of the hydrocele. This is done in a rational manner; but fo briefly, as not to afford any new infruction to one acquainted with the larger treatifes on this fubject, particularly Mr. Pott's. On the whole, he prefers the

* For an account of the Spiritual Quixote, fee Review, vol. xlviii. p. 38, May 1773.

For our account of the first vol. fee Review vol. lvii. p. 245. operation

operation by incifion. Some cafes are introduced by way of illustration, which may be read with advantage.

The language is not without inaccuracies, but fuch as are pardonable in a foreigner.

Art. 29. Seventy-four Select Cafes, with the Manner of Cure, and the Preparation of the Remedies, in the following Difeafes. 1. The Schirrus, Cancer, and Ulcers of the Breaft and Womb. 2. Scrophulous Swellings and Ulcers about the Neck and other parts; commonly called the King's Evil. 3. The Specks and Opacity of the Cornea of the Eye, in which Sight hath been restored, by internal Medicines only. 4. Old Ulcers of the Legs, cured in Perfons much advanced in years. The whole being an Appendix to the Treatifes already published on thefe Subjects. By William Rowley, M. D. 8vo. s. 6d. Newbery. 1779. Dr. Rowley is certainly the luckiest man in the world. Difeafes of the most obftinate and formidable nature fly before him, though he is armed only with weapons well known, and generally used by his lefs fortunate brethren. The only things to be wifhed in order to render these cafes as interefting to the faculty, as reputable to the Doctor, are, that they had been lefs jele, more circumftantially related, and better authenticated. As far as they are to be depended upon, they certainly afford great encouragement to the fteady and long continued ufe of medicines of the alterative class, in very inveterate disorders.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 30. An Apology for Catholic Faith, Morality, and Loyalty. Addreffed to the Counters Dowager of Huntingdon. Occafioned by a late Publication, intitled, Interefting Facts concerning Popery. By the Rev. Mr. Peckwell. 12mo. I s. Coghlan. Of all religious apologifts, the Catholics are perhaps the most evafive, the most addicted to quibbles, and in general, the most difficult to fix to a direct difcuffion of the actual points in conteft. The prefent writer, who figns his name R. B. Coghlan, having taken offence at fome attacks on his religion by one of Lady Huntingdon's miffionaries; and not having thofe more convincing powers of his church at command, by which her adverfaries are ufually filenced, steps forth in the character of a meek apologist. But according to the arguments he uses, it is impoffible to afcertain what are the real tenets avowed by that church, or where the infallibility of it refides. Some of the Catholic doctrines and ufages are very ingeniously explained away, fo as to place all the errors at the door of the Proteftants; while others are as effectually got rid of, by leaving them at the doors of particular popes or cardinals, as difclaimed by the reft. He acknowledges, that Catholics look back with a pious horror on the cruel acts of their ancestors; but at the fame time, they declare, that this was never the true fpirit of the Catholic church, nor done by her authority canonically exercifed.' He also retorts the charge of perfecution on the early Proteftants; but re

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By the manner in which this title-page is written, and printed, a reader might imagine that Mr. Peckwell was the author of this Apology. crimination

crimination is no juftification of the party that ufes it; and the principle of driving men to heaven by any particular road, fill remains to be juftified. It is fmall confolation to a convicted heretic, delivered over to the fecular power, that the doctrine by which he expires in tortures, is fhuffled from one to another, while the fad effects of it are inforced. But is, or is not, the court of inquifition, a canonical exercife of catholic power? Has not this fhocking tribunal its fecret dark feverities, and public celebration of acts of faith? Perhaps its canonical authority may be explained away with the reft; but does not the judicial power exift and act? Again, our Catholic friend gives us the following curious note. • Cardinal Bellarmine's treatife on the indirect power of the pope over the temporalties of kings, was condemned by the clergy and parliament of France, and publicly burnt by the common hangman: and whoever now should dare to advance fuch a doctrine in Paris, would receive a lodging in the Baftile; and yet the French are Papifts.” This Writer, however, has not told us how the court of Rome relifhed the cardinal's moderation, in allowing this power to be only indirect; nor how a man, who fhould dare to difpute the pope's power in Rome or Madrid, would be lodged!

Though Mr. Coghlan now chufes to claim the French nation as brother Papifts, he well knows, that they are not univerfally accepted as Papifts of the most found orthodox ftamp; and that on other occafions, the Gallican church would be as readily difowned by the catholic churches of other countries, as it is now convenient to acknowledge it.

Art. 31. A Letter to the Reverend Mr. Browne, Author of Sunday Thoughts, &c. On the Downfall of Antichrift: Wherein is confidered the Opinion of the Right Reverend the Bishop of Bristol, concerning the Seven Churches, in his Lordship's Differtations on the Prophecies of the Old and New Teftaments. the Reverend A. Maddock, of Creaton, Northamptonshire. 8vo. I S. Matthews. 1779.

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The particular topic on which this Writer contends with the Bishop of Bristol, regards the epiftles to the feven churches. His Lordship has obferved, that "the main fubjects of this book are comprifed in fevens; feven churches, feven feals, feven trumpets, and feven vials." But he contends, as many others do, that the feven epiftles to the churches are not prophetical of fo many fucceeding periods and ftates of the church, from its beginning to the end of the world, but only defcriptive of each particular church to whom the epiftles are addreffed. This point Mr. Maddock difputes, and his aim is to prove the contrary. The epiftles to the feven churches, he apprehends, are prophetical, and do most strik ingly divide themselves, and, in general, fix their own periods.

Thefe periods, he accordingly confiders, much-in' the fame way that fome other writers on this book have done before him, fuppofing, that we are now in the Sardian fate of the church, which commenced at the reformation, but is waxing old and wearing away, to make room for the Philadelphian flate, now about to appear, in which, it is faid, will be the glorious millenium. The epiftle to the church of Sardis, our Author obferves, is io ftrongly characteristic

of

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