note on a curious article of this work, concerning a dispute between Lord Chief Justice Holt and the House of Commons, (P. 542,) summary justice seems to be recommended by the editor; without reflecting that there may be as much injustice in trials which are too short as in those which are too long. About 40 years ago, when the king of Prussia's celebrated Code, Frederic was much approved and desired in England, by many who had suffered by the law's delay," it was proved by a great civilian that, if a trial for life, honour, or property, were to be determined in a certain short and stated time, before the arrival of distant essential witnesses, or hearing the depositions of a sufficient number of those who were present, it would occasion great oppression and injustice, and give opportunity for the operation of favour and partiality in the judge. Yet, however incompatible we may imagine the Prussian Code to be with a free Government, we do not mean to say that the trial of Mr. Hastings, to which the editor alludes, was not protracted to an immoderate length.

The new and original articles, chiefly in the second volume, are the following: letters of Lord Peterborough, Sir Robert Walpole, and Sir Luke Schaub: Characters of Purcell, Handel, Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, and Dr. Farmer: Letter of Dr. Johnson to a young clergyman: Sketch of the life of Mr. Hastings, a long and curious article, from documents furnished by Major Scot; and a character of Dr. Warren, from the editor's personal knowlege. With the last article, we shall close our account of this very judicious and entertaining comSpilation: not omitting to mention the engravings which embellish the books, amounting to five, on interesting subjects, and well executed; nor must we pass unnoticed a song, set by an ingenious lady to music of no vulgar kind.

RICHARD WARREN, M. D.

This celebrated physician being asked one day what was the best school of physic, replied, "The best school of physic that 1 know is a large London hospital." Lord Mansfield said of Lord Craftcellor Hardwicke, that Wisdom herself would have chosen to speak by his mouth; Sagacity itself would have chosen that of Dr. Wairen to record its observations; his expressions were neat and toreible, and plainly evinced that they arose from a mind pregnant with information and acuteness. Of every subject on which he conversed he always went to the leading feature, the discriminating

**This however, like every other aphorism, must be understood with allowance. The great physician who made it supposed that a · certain portion of medical reading and lectures had been gone through, before the student observed the practice of that useful and arduous

trait; and left every hearer convinced, that, had he pursued the Law, had he studied Theology, or had he taken to Politics, he would have been as distinguished in them as he was in his own partisular science. In this he verified what was said of the illustrious Marshal Catinat to Louis XIV. "Does your Majesty want an archbishop, a chancellor, a general, or a prime minister? You' may take Catinat for any of those great situations; he will fil either of them with honour to you and to himself." ·

Much more might have been added to the character of this great physician and enlightened man; whose professional skill and experience, however successful and justly renowned, were much aided in restoring the health of his patients by his captivating manners and conversation. What is said, however, is according to the truth; and let but the truth be told of him who traced the preceding slight sketch, and whose hand will never trace another, then will his character shine bright before the eyes of posterity, shaded by as few imperfections as are generally known to obscure the reputation of Man."

ART. VIII. A Journal of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and the Arts. Illustrated with Engravings. By William Nicholson, Vol. I. 4to. 600 Pages, with 25 Plates, Price 11. 135. 6d. in Boards. Published in Monthly Numbers, Price 2s. 6d. each (the last Number of the present Volume having been published in March 1798). Robinsons.

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HE intellectual character of society, and the nature of its literary works, have a reciprocal influence on each other. In the times when knowlege was confined to a few individuals, books rarely appeared; and those which did appear, containing the accumulated stores of profound research and extensive reading, were accessible to a few only, who had leisure, capacity, and perseverance. From such a state, the transition was not easy; the unequal distribution of knowlege determined the nature of the books in which it was stored; and the nature. of the books prevented a more uniform diffusion of knowlege. When presses multiplied, and restraints were removed. from them, when writing became a trade, and the love of gain operated with the love of fame as motives to author-.. ship, the number of literary productions increased, and their. nature was changed: the serious and unremitted devotion of twenty or thirty years, to the study of a particular science, was no longer considered as a necessary preparation for a work; and when a person imagined that he had some informa-, tion to communicate, the means were ready. He might not indeed acquire fame, but he might depend on escaping een-: sure. When so much therefore was to be gained, and so little,

was risked, it was no wonder that many adventurers in authorship appeared and hence arose a great variety of small publications, which might be procured at a trifling expence, and understood by moderate capacities or with little previous information. The desire of knowlege thus soon spred itself through all ranks, and was quickly gratified; and the large masses of science and learning, when broken down, diffused a more uniform fertility over the whole soil.

The facility of publishing, and the temptations to it, are indeed adverse to the great accumulation of knowlege which was formerly observed in certain individuals. The vanity of an author is soon gratified: the present applause of the world is the motive which impels him: the reward which posterity can bestow is too remote to operate; for few write as Zeuxis painted," in æternitatem.”

There are also other causes which prevent individuals from acquiring the same depth of learning which they formerly attained. The circle of human intelligence has been greatly extended the objects of curious speculation and of useful pursuit have multiplied: many new branches of abstract science have been invented; many theories in physical philosophy have been established; the mechanical arts have received prodigious enlargement and improvement; criticism has had its principles rendered more evident, and its application more exact: the analysis of the human mind, almost unknown to former times, is now generally an object of inquiry; and modern authors, in voluminous metaphysical treatises, in histories, poems, and in novels, "unfold the seminal principles of virtue and vice, and sound the depths of the heart for the motives of human action." Of these objects of mental occupation, every man who is elevated above the lower orders of society is obliged to know something, either by the love of novelty or by the shame of ignorance. By the multiplicity of these objects, the attention is frequently distracted, and the powers of the mind are dissipated. To these causes, we may add one other, derived from the more frequent intercourse of men in advanced civilization. In this intercourse, learned and ingenious conversation has arisen, and the natural desire of superiority impels men to excel in it: but, in collecting means for acquiring excellence, the, specious rather than the useful are sought: facts are stored, not for the exercise of rational criticism, nor - for the deduction of important truth, but that they may be again distributed learning hopes to oppress with the weight of its authorities; and wit, which means to perplex by its sophistry, and to surprise by the dexterity of its argumentation, neglects Truth in order to furnish itself with the weapons of dispute.

The

The intellectual character of society, being modified by the Causes which we have enumerated, requires that the nature of books should correspond to it; and if the objects of inquiry be various, each cannot be particularly investigated we cannot search thoroughly and range extensively; the powers of the human mind are finite, and the union of accuracy and universality of knowlege is a chimæra. If, then, the objects of intellectual pursuit be many, the quest will not be for profound and systematic treatises, which examine a subject on all sides and in its minutest parts, detect it in its most obscure beginnings, and trace its influence in the remotest consequences: but for books of less tremendous bulk and importance, which exhibit the subject in its most material points, preserving general outlines and principal features.

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The books of the latter description have appeared under the titles of Epitomes, Abstracts, Synopses, Abridgments, Magazines, Journals, &c.; which are not only necessary because the turn of the public mind demands them, but in some instances claim higher distinction: for, when executed with ability, they prevent time from being unprofitably spent on. worthless books, rescind useless matter, collect what is unnecessarily diffused, illustrate what is obscure, and familiarize what is abstruse.

That these publications occasionally furnish matter for reprehension is not to be denied: the little portion of ability with which some epitomes have been executed justify the reproof of Bacon *; and, in the abridgment of scientific and philosophic treatises, the most essential parts have been sometimes omitted, or negligently treated. It is not to be forgotten, also, that works which are of a superficial rather than of a profound nature may produce an undue elation of the mind, when it finds that knowlege is acquired so soon, and with so slight an exertion of its powers..

Yet, if we attend to the true design of these publications, their defence is easy. The evil with which they are charged is not so inherent in their nature, but that it may be remedied by skill. They are not meant to contain every thing relating to a subject; and although they do not pretend to be profound, they still penetrate beyond the surface. If they were to cease, the great majority of the people would remain in ignorance, and be miserable; and is such a sacrifice to be risked for the chance of producing again a Bacon or a Newton?

"Epitomes are the moths and corruptions of history, that have fretted and corroded the sound bodies of many excellent histories, and wrought them into base and unprofitable dregs"

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The idea of a scientific journal is not original; the philosophers of the continent have long used such publications, for the purpose of communicating and diffusing their knowlege. Among others, Le Journal des Sçavans, first published in 1665, is well known. It comprehended a vast variety of subjects, gave an account of all books which appeared in Europe, contained eulogies on deceased celebrated men, and announced whatever had been invented that was useful in art or curious in science. Experiments in physic and chemistry, celestial and metereological observations, discoveries in anatomy, the decisions of ecclesiastical and, secular tribunals, and the censures of the Sorbonne, were all proposed to be noticed.

A journal on such a plan, in the present state of the arts and sciences, would be impracticable; since the objects of inquiry have multiplied so exceedingly, that, if it attempted to embrace all, it could treat none properly. The work now before us is the first of its kind, and for introducing it Mr. Nicholson is richly entitled to the thanks of the public. It comprehends whatever comes under the heads of chemistry and natural philosophy; and surely the field in which the author proposes to range is sufficiently extensive, and full of objects of useful pursuit and rational curiosity.

We have remarked that works on plans somewhat similar to the present have failed through the want of skill in those who executed them but, though we are disposed to take nothing on trust, we must remark that the researches of Mr. Nicholson, in chemistry and natural philosophy, afford good ground for presuming that the present undertaking will not fail from want of care and ability. If we turn to the author's preface, we shall perceive that his views of the duties of his undertaking are just; and that the means by which he proposes to overcome its difficulties are adequate to that effect. He informs us that the contents of his work will consist of whatever the activity of men of science or of art may bring forwards, of invention or improvement, in any country or nation, within the possibility of being procured by means as respectable as the motives which call for them ;'--that the relative magnitude of each object will determine whether it shall appear in the form of a short notice, a full description, or an ample report grounded on visitation and inquiry ;-that strict accuracy, and the minutest reference to his authorities, are absolutely neces sary to inspire confidence and render his book worthy of being quoted by other authors of credit ;-that the leading character of preferable objects for insertion must be utility, and, nextto this, novelty and originality. He hopes, from his own researches and collections, as well as from an extensive ac

quaintance