theirs. Apply the æolipyle to the aeroftatic globe,' fays the Author, and the bufinefs is done.' Three of thefe inftruments, one about three feet in diameter, and the other two fomewhat fmaller, are to be adapted to the poop of the machine, and by modifying the evaporation of the water they contain, by increafing, decreafing, er removing the fire under them, an effect is expected fimilar to that which caufes fky-rockets to afcend.-The thought no doubt is ingenious, but experience muft evince the practicability of it.

Both Montgolfier's and Charles's experiments continue to be repeated all over Europe; but we hear of no real improvements.-The first balloon that has croffed the fea has been Mr. Boys's of Sandwich, which fell at Warenton, near Lifle-the particulars have been published in most of our daily papers.

*We have been favoured with MS. copies of two Memoirs of M. DODERET, read at the French Academy of Sciences, propofing two methods for fteering the aeroftatic machine. The one is founded on an hypothesis that the velocity of the wind is not equable, but always acts by intermittent blafts, which muft affect variously the paris of a body fufpended in it, according as they prefent more furface relatively to their quantity of matter. Of this an inftance is given in the clouds, which not only do not move with the fame velocity as the wind, but fome of which are also observed to move fafter than others, though impelled by the fame force. On this principle the Author proposes to govern the machine by fpreading a fail on either fide as occafion may require; and admitting the principle, we must allow that the means appear to us effeaual. The other method is to alter occafionally the center of gravity of the machine by fhifting, by means of a large vertical hoop furrounding the globe, the place of fufpenfion of the car. By this means it is expected that the direction of the machine in afcending or defcending, inftead of being perpendicular, will become oblique, and other advantages are also pointed out, which our limits will not allow us to dwell upon here. Should either of the expedients be tried and fucceed, thefe Memoirs will effectually establish the claim of the Author to the invention.

MISCELLANIES.

35. Difcours prononcés à l'Academie Françoife.-Difcourfes delivered at the French Academy, on the 26th of February, 1784, at the Reception of the Count de Choifeul Gouffier. 8vo. Paris.

The praises of d'Alembert are the chief topics of these difcourfes delivered by the Count de C. G. his fucceffor in the Academy, and by the Marquis de Condorcet the Director. We are happy, on this occafion, to learn, that the Count, the author of the elegant Voyages pittorefques de la Grece, is appointed French Amballador at the Porie. Of what fervice a man of fuch tate and learning, in fuch a fiation, may be to science, need not be fuggefted to thofe who are aware how much remains yet to be known of most of the countries now under the Ottoman dominion.

36. Recueil de Plaidoyers et de Difcours Oratoires.-A Collection of Pleadings and of oratorical Difcourfes, intended as Examples for young Men, and proper to form them for Eloquence in general.

and

and for that of the Bar in particular. Vol. I. 12mo. pp. 545Paris. 1783.

This volume is likely to be fucceeded by two more, the whole is to confift of orations of feveral Profeffors of Rhetoric in the College of Louis le Grand. In the prefent we find those of the Father Geoffroy We have read fome parts of thefe Rhetorical Exercifes on various interefting topics, and think them well calculated for the purposes for which they are intended.

37. Oeuvres pofthumes de MONTESQUIEU.-Pofthumous Works of Montefquieu. 2010. pp. 239. London (a falfe date). 1783. Although this publication may not add to, yet, we are affured, it will not derogate from, the reputation of the illuftrious Author. It confits of four articles: 1. Arfaces and Ifmenia; a political novel. 2. A Difcourfe held on the refloration of the Parliament of Bourdeaux, in 1725. 3. Confiderations on the Caufes of the Pleasure we derive from the Works of Genius and the Productions of the Fine Arts. 4. Sketch of an hiftorical Elege of the Marshal Berwick. 8. Traité fur la Conftitution des Troupes légeres.-A Treatife on the Conflitution of Light Troops, and on their Ufe in War. To which is added, a Supplement on Field Fortification. 8vo. pp. 398. with 27 Plates. Paris. 1784.

There feems to be enough of practical knowledge in this book to deferve the perufal of all thofe concerned in the conduct of military operations.

39. Allgemeiner Zolltarif, &c.-Rates of Duties of all the Harbours and Custom-houses in the Ruffian Empire, except those of Aftracan, Orenburg, and Siberia. Compiled by the Imperial Board of Trade, and confirmed by her Imperial Majefly, Sept. 27, 1782. 8vo. pp. 208. Petersburg. 1783.

This authentic publication will no doubt be equally interefting to the merchant, the fpeculative politician, and the flatefman. The tariff of the year, 1766 is hereby repealed; and in the framing of the prefent code, just notions of trade and policy feem to have been confulted.

40. Ausführliche Abhandlung und vorschlage die Feuerfbrunfte zu verbuten.-A Complete Treatife and Propofals for preventing Fires, and for extinguishing them much fooner than is ufually done. By J. F. GLASER, M. D. &c. 8vo. pp. 413. Deffau. 1783.

We have as yet received nothing but the title of this book. The fubject is too important not to announce its publication as foon as poffible.

ELECTRICITY.

4. Recherches Physiques fur l'Electricité. i. e. Philofophical Inquiries concerning Electricity. By M. MARAT, M. D. &c. 8vo. pp. 461. Paris. 1782

The reputation of the Author is already fo well cftablished by his former works on light and fire (See our Review, Vol. LXII. p. 546. LXIV. p. 300. and LXVII. p. 293.) that we shall fcarce add to it by an ample review of the prefent, with a copy of which we have been favoured. As it is already of fo old a date, and as foreign ar

ticles prefs hard upon us for our next Appendix, we, though with rea luctance, think ourselves obliged to dismiss this work with a bare an

nounce.

have not.

CORRESPONDENCE.

*. Dr. Priestley hath accufed us of ufing an improper liberty, in bringing forward any part of Mr. Wife's Letter, which he fuppofes was not intended for publication. Mr. Wife, however, is the best judge of his own intentions. Since the appearance of our laft Number, we have received another letter from that gentleman, in which he finds no fault with us for publishing what we have, but for what we The length of his former letter was our only objection to the prefenting it to our Readers in its full and original state. As we wish to give the most perfect fatisfaction to every learned and candid Correfpondent, we will tranfcribe a paffage from his latt favour, which he judges neceffary, in order to give the Public a clear idea of his fentiments. Juftin thought (as did all true Chriftians) that the Maker of the univerfe (by which phrafe he diftinguishes the only true God), was the God of the Jews, the only God of the Jews, in the abfolute and incommunicable fenfe; and that the Logos, who afterwards was the Chrift, was his principal Angel, who appeared for God as God, and THEREFORE was called God; and in a fecondary fenfe was God; partaking (as another writer expreffes it), in the bomour paid to God. That this is Juftin's fenfe, is declared in fo many places, that to produce them all would require much trouble in tranfcribing.'

The paffage which our Correfpondent produces as much to our purpofe, against the conclufions of Dr. Priestley, hath been confidered very much at large, both in our Review of his Reply, and his Vindicator's Remarks. (Vid. M. Rev. for Sept. and O&t. 1783.)

N. B. The Reviewer of the prefent controverfy had never the pleafure of reading Mr. Wife's former publication, intitled "The Syftem."

§§ Our thanks are due to W. T. who, in a letter dated Feb. 17, has favoured us with fome hints on the use that might be made of air balloons for the purpose of practical aftronomy. Before we infert it, we beg leave to fuggeft to him, that the vapours in our atmosphere are not the only obftacles to the ufe of great magnifying powers of telefcopes, but that the diminution of light which decreases in the inverse ratio of the fquares of the powers is a much greater impediment to the application of thofe powers, and which will not be in the least obviated by the obferver being fituated in a very rarefied and pure atmosphere.

As to balloons being made to rife merely by forming a vacuum in their cavities, we mult obferve, that if the balloon confift of flexible materials, there must always be an elasticity in the infide to counteract the preffure of the external atmosphere, and that a vacuum has no elasticity whatever. As to making globes of folid fubflances, fuch as copper, which was Lana's fcheme, it has already been found imprac ticable, fince, if made fo thin as to enable it to float when exhaufted, it will hardly be strong enough to refift the preffure of the atmosphere,

nor

nor indeed can it ever be formed with fo mathematical an accuracy as to render it equally ftrong in every point, which is abfolutely requifite if the experiment is to fucceed.

14 Mr. Thickneffe's favour is received. It has been often faid, that this gentleman is rather "captious, and frequently involved in difputes;" and he has honeftly acknowledged the charge*. Confiftently with this propenfity, he now feems difpofed to quarrel even with his old friends the Monthly Reviewers. But they will not quarrel with him; and when his next work comes out, they will certainly review it; though he warns them to keep off. Surely this hafty Correfpondent does not mean to fright the poor critics from their duty!-He thinks they have not preferved their wonted impartiality, in mentioning the Citizen's anfwer to his Defence of Pere Pafcalt. But, is Mr. T. himfelf an impartial judge in his own caufe ?-Oh! but he tranfmits to the Reviewers a letter from a MEDICAL WANDERER; who coalefces with him in the charge exhibited against them, of inconfiftency, as well as partiality. His brother Wanderer, however, addreffes them with that politeness which entitles him to an anfwer equally decent and temperate; and it may be conceived in a few words.

When we perufed Mr. T's. pamphlet, we heard only his own account of the matter in difpute, between him and the nobleman to whom it was addreffed. In reviewing matters of perfonal altercation, we make it a rule to bear in mind, not only Horace's audi alteram partem, but Solomon's, "He that is firft in his own caufe feemeth juft; but his neighbour cometh and fearcheth him." And fo it was with respect to Mr. T's anonymous anfwer. We conceived that the “Citizen's" not ill-written vindication of the noble lord, deferved a candid perufal, and a fair report of its merits. We thought it our indifpenfable duty to "hear all; and then let Juftice hold the fcale." But if it be true, that Juftice is blind, it is poffible that he may err; and Mr. T. is welcome to console himself with the conclusion, that this was the cafe, when the allowed any degree of weight in the scale of his antagonist. Poffibly, too, this may hereafter be inferred in rereturn, by the Citizen, if Mr. T. fhould vouchfafe him a reply, and fhould the fame candour be manifefted towards our old friend, which we always wish to preferve, in regard to every honeft and well-meaning writer. And may it ever be borne in mind, by our candid readers, that when an advocate has well pleaded his caufe, it is the defire of the Monthly Reviewers to do juftice to his abilities, without intrufively, and over-officioufly, entering into the merits of that cause.

++ The Correfpondent who, obligingly, figns his Letter " A Cordial Well-wisher to the Monthly Reviewers," will not wonder at our frequently configning works of MERIT to the Catalogue part of our Review, when he reflects on the unequal proportion of our limits, to the increasing multiplicity of the publications which our plan obliges as to notice a circumftance which renders it abfolutely neceffary for Vide our account of "Pere Pafcal, a monk of Montferrat, vindicated," &c. Rev. Aug. 1783. p. 168.

:

See our very fhort mention of "A Letter to Philip Thickneffe, Efq. By a Citizen." Rev. Feb. last, p. 16c.

us to embrace every opportunity, not only of abridging our growing labours, but of making room for fome mention, though ever fo brief, of those productions of the prefs which have too long waited for a place in our Journal.

We are glad to meet this Correfpondent's hearty approbation of the propofed enlargement of our Appendixes, as well as of our new plan of a Foreign MONTHLY CATALOGUE. Our acknowledgments are likewife due for his intimation of fome new editions of Claffical Authors, which he juftly confiders as proper objects of a Reviewer's attention. If those editions do not efcape our Collector's affiduity, we shall certainly notice them.

USA Correfpondent at Oxford charges us with misrepresenting Dr. Woodefon's meaning, in a paffage in our remarks on his Elements of Jurifprudence: See Review for laft Month, page 170. 1. 36. In juftification of the paffage on which we there animadvert, this Correfpondent fays, that we have wholly mistaken the writer's meaning, and that we have been led to the mistake by understanding the phrase all the fubjects of a state, as fynonymous with the prefent members of the community: he afferts, "that it would have been fairer criticism to have faid, that this doctrine plainly fuppofes, that if all the members, rulers as well as fubjects, agree together, fuch confent is then revocable-that the whole community, as it exifts entire at any given time, is equal in power to the whole originally, and therefore may alter, and even change entirely, the conftitution they established."-We honestly confefs, we did understand the terms all the subjects of a flate, as fynonimous with the prefent members of the community; for we fuppofed it to be an agreed point, that, where political freedom is enjoyed, all the members of the community, both rulers and ruled, are fubjects of the ftate, that is, of the laws and conftitution. If we were right in our idea of the meaning of this phrafe, and understood it in the fenfe which Dr. W. meant to convey, our inferences, though certainly not intended by the Author, appear to us fairly deducible from his pofition. If we mistook his meaning, and the Dr's. apologist has given the true one, the writer has advanced in this paffage, if not an ill-digefted, however, a dangerous principle: for, if it be true that the governed cannot, when they find it neceffary, revoke the truft which they have delegated to their governors, and new-model their political conftitution, tyranny and defpotifm are evils which admit of no remedy; fince it is not to be expected that tyrannical rulers will make a voluntary furrender of their power. The truth is, that in a free ftate the notion of an oppofition of interests between the governors and the governed is fruitful of mifchief, and is wholly without foundation; for the whole body is under the authority of the laws and conftitution, and each member fills up his station in the community, be it higher or lower, for the good of the whole.

A. B.'s favour was returned April 28; and directed, as defired, to be left at Mr. Becket's, No. 82, Pallmall.