he fays: "Like the lava of Vefuvius or Ætna, wherever they directed their course, they would give a hardness of feeling to the minds of the populace, and prepare them to act in the tragedy." He evidently means, that, as the lava of volcanos harden the foil, fo do feditious harangues tend to harden the minds of thofe to whom they are addreffed. But this is not expreffed. Again, in p. 112, alluding to fe ditious affemblies, he observes, that "the breath of their orators, like the poifon of the bafilifk, may pervade thousands, and incite them to pull down that which has been the work of ages." We can eafily conceive that the breath of reforming orators might be attended with fuch deftructive confequences; but how the poifon of the bafilifk could produce fuch an effect, we are yet to learn! ART. 44. A Short Defence of the prefent Men and prefent Meafures; with occafional Strictures on fome recent Publications of democratic Notoriety; in a Letter to a Friend in the Country: including Thoughts on - War, Expences, Taxes, France, Negotiation, Emigration, Spain, Invafion, &c. By T. Kennedy. 8vo. 99 pp. Is. 6d. Rivingtors. This is a fenfible tract, containing many fhrewd, though not very profound obfervations, on the different topics fo amply enumerated in the title page. The two points which the author undertakes to establifh to the fatisfaction of his friend, are thefe:"1. The caufe you have to fufpect the writers in favour of the French revolution, the abettors of French principles, and of the writers in favour of the revolution. 2. The duty incumbent upon you, as an Englishman, in Chriftianity and prudence, not to hazard the public fecurity, and private domeftic profperity; either by a defire of innovation in the government, or by a change of the administration." Upon the whole, though he must not be claffed among the firft-rate advocates on the fide of government, he makes out a strong cafe; and brings forward a variety of pertinent remarks, well deferving the attention of the public. He expofes the abfurdity of the author of a production, entitled Utrum Horam, who makes no fcruple to affert, that the best peace which can be rationally expected from the prefent ministry, would be a greater calamity than even the continuance of the war.' The true meaning of this, Mr. K. fays, is, "the best peace which can be rationally expected from the prefent miniftry, would be a greater calamity, to us of the Oppofition, than even a continuance of the war." The author had before observed, that the duration of the war is ruin, therefore, according to him, the nation may be reduced to a worse ftate than that of ruin! A curious fpecimen this of Hibernian rhetoric! In defcanting on the defperate defigns of the feditious clubs, at the elofe of the year 1792, he pays a tribute of juftice to Mr. Reeves, the father of the Loyal Affociations." It was in that gentleman," he fays, "a crime indelible, never to be forgiven; to have formed an aff ciation of peaceable independent citizens, for the defence of the king and conftitution, and in oppofition to the dangerous fyftems of modern agitators." Mr. K.'s obfervations on the effects of Gallic freedom are particularly juft. The The ftyle of this publication is very unequal: in fome parts nervous and forcible; in others languid and incorrect: nor is it wholly exempt from grammatical errors. The author is temperate in his cenfure of public characters, but too lavish and indifcriminate in his praife. With thefe drawbacks, however, we can recommend the work as a well-intended and an ufeful performance. ART. 45. The British Lion, or Britain's Value afferted at the prefent Juncture. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Hatchard. 1798. A fpirited pamphlet, written with the feelings of a true Englishman, fenfible of the energies and efficacy of his country's refources, when properly drawn forth and exerted. ART. 46. Earneft and serious Reflections on the Urgency of the prefent Crifis, and on the two only Alternatives which it offers. By a Layman. 8vo. 19. Hatchard. 1798. This production partakes much of the caft and colour of that mentioned above, except that it is of a more religious turn. It is exceedingly well written, and not improbably propofed as its model the excellent publication entitled Reform or Ruin, noticed in one of our late numbers with the praise it so justly merits. ART. 47. The Crifis, and its Alternatives, offered to the free Choice of Englishmen. 12mo. 3d. Hatchard. 1798. This is a judicious abridgment of the preceding pamphlet, published in more convenient form and price, for the benefit of inferior readers. ART. 48. The Progress of Delufion, or an Addrefs to all Parties, expofing the Influence and Efforts of popular Credulity and Indolence, and pointing out the only Means of being preferved from National Ruin. 8vo. Is. 6d. Rivingtons. 1798. This is a fubject not eafily exhausted. We could with the fame pen to investigate and exemplify this matter more in detail. The prefent is a well-timed effufion; and we with it could be univerfally read, and efpecially by thofe whofe principles are moft in danger of corrup tion. ART. 49. A Letter to the Right Hon. William Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the Claims which Practitioners in Medicine have to be exempted from the new Duties on Horfes and Carriages. By a Friend to Phyfic. 8vo. 18 pp. 6d. Sealey, Paternoster-Row. 1798. The claims the author fets up for his brethren are very great indeed, fuperior to what he thinks any other clafs of the community are entitled to; and the exemptions he propofes in their favour, are proportionably large. But he should have recollected, that, in thefe momentous times, there is a call upon all good citizens to make facrifices. and confiderable ones, for the prefervation of the country; and he furely could not wish to fee that large, opulent, and refpectable body Да BRIT. CRIT, VOL. XI. MARCH, 1798. of of men he is pleading for, degrading themfelves by fhrinking from a burden to which they fee their fellow fubjects fo readily fubmit. It may rather perhaps be expected, that the three incorporated bodies of phyficians, furgeons, and apothecaries, will be found following the examples fo gloriously fet them by other corporations, in raifing additional contributions for the benefit of the state. This letter, which is as barren of argument as of patriotism, was printed, the anonymous author fays, before the exemptions in favour of medical practitioners were introduced in the affeffed-tax bill. These exceptions do not, we find, come up to the wishes of the author; but we have reafon to believe they are thought to be abundantly fufficient by a great majority of his brethren, if he is of that profeffion. ART. 50. Trois Memoires fur les Affaires de France. Ecrits dans les We here announce a complete translation of Mr. Burke's Three Memorials, with the preface of his editors, &c. It will be fought, of courfe, by thofe foreigners who have not fufficient knowledge of our language to qualify them for enjoying the original. As we do not venture to extend our critical jurifdiction to French writing, we shall not prefume to pronounce refpecting the execution of this tranflation To publish a bad one, at a time when fo many perfons in the kingdom are qualified, by their knowledge of both languages, to perform the talk in the best manner, would be a negligence unpardonable, and almoft inconceivable. ART. 51. Alternatives compared; or, What shall the Rich do to be Jafe? To which are prefixed, Remarks on the Management of the Navy, and on feveral recent Occurrences. By Thomas Beddoes, M. D. 8vo. 59 PP. Is. 6d. Debrett. 1797. The object of this tract is thus ftated at p. 51: "to prove to the rich, that their beft, or only chance of emerging from their prefent dangers, is to join the reft of the people in attempting to procure a change of miniftry." But the whole pamphlet is almoft one continued invective, coarfe and tedious beyond the Doctor's ufual measure, against Mr. Pitt. By whom the prefent places of Minifters ought to be supplied, it is not pofitively faid; but, from a note at p. 48, we collect, that the author would recommend, for this purpose, "a Shelburne and a Fox, Grey and a Lauderdale." Why a Sheridan, &c. fhould not find a place in this illuftrious lift, we cannot conjecture. But perhaps it may be queftioned, whether either rich or poor would place the confidence, which is here fuppofed, in this projected ministry. ARTA ART. 52. An impartial and comprehenfive View of the prefent State of Great Britain: containing, I. The Advantages we enjoy, and which are from natural, moral, or political Caufes; and have occafiond, or tend to promote, cur Strength, Wealth, Health, and Virtue, and Liberty, as a Nation. II. The Difadvantages which we Labour under, and which affect our National Strength, Wealth, Health, and Virtue, or Liberty. III. Methods of improving our Advantages, or turning them to the best Account. IV. Methods of removing or mitigating our "Dijad vantages, particularly for repairing our Finances; with an Appendix, on the prefent Scarcity of Gold and Silver. By the Rev. G. S. Keith, M. A. Author of Tracts on the Corn Lars, Weights, Meajures, and Coins, &c. 90 pp. Is. 6d. Robinfons. 1797. The title-pages of the publications of political writers, feem lately to have been drawn up very much in imitation of advertisements to quack medicines; and the practice is furely very juft, when the political practitioner, as well as the medical, has his noitrum to recommend. Mr. Keith is among the advocates for an alteration in the conftiturion of the House of Commons; but what he has faid on it, had loft all pretence to originality, at the very commencement of the controverfy. He afferts alfo, that the increase of our trade is falfely inferred from the Ledger of the Infpector-General: because the exports are over-rated through vanity, and the imports diminished by fraud. We admit that there may be fomething in this fact, but yet deny the conféquence. The principles of fraud and vanity have, it is probable, always acted equally; the error, therefore, on each fide of the account, has always been nearly at a conftant rate per cent. and thus the real exports will have increafed nearly in the proportion exhibited in the Ledger, which he denies. He ftates the amount of the tithes at four millions; and fays, that Dr. A. Smith eftimated it higher. Having our doubts on this head, we referred to the parts where that author exprefsly treats on the subject*, and there we found nothing to confirm Mr. K.'s citation. If he had followed the computations of Bishop Watson (for whom he profeffes the highest esteem) he would have affigned a more moderate amount to this charge; but he goes further, and declares, that by this payment, eight millions a year are loft to the farmer, and an additional fixteen millions to the nation. This is a curious fpecimen of what we are to expect in the fytem of political philofophy, which this author announces to the public! We found ourselves better fatisfied with what he has faid on the increafe of the burden of the national debt. Here he rightly follows thofe, who have shown that it has not increafed as the charge of intereft; but as that charge, divided by the national income. The plan he has laid down for a direct tax upon income, is fo conftructed as to be impracticable. No writer was ever more attentive than Mr. K. to give fummary views of his work; the first is given in the contents, of more than five pages, which is an analysis of every fection, and fubfection of it; his fecond " fumming up," is literal, and contains four full *Ed. 3rd, v. 3, P. 273 A a z and 274. printed printed pages; it is addreffed to our fenators and reprefentatives; and the third, of eight pages, is allegorical, for thofe " readers who may not be able to follow" him through the former; under the title of Sketches of the Hiftory of John Bull, Farmer and Manufacturer. But in the allegory, John Bull fhould have been confined to thofe occupations: whereas, the grounds of this farmer were bounded by marches, which implics, that he had among his fervants, Lords Marchers, or Marquiffes; he had alfo great boats for the defence of his lands. An allegory may be corrupted, in the fame manner as a metaphor, by becoming mixed. This honeft farmer thould have had none but farmer's retainers about him. Delphinum fylvis appingit, flu&tibus aprum : a writer might as well introduce dolphins grazing in a paddock; or zebras, monkeys, and marmozets, fluttering about in an aviary, as a farmer with ships and military fervants. MEDICINE. ART. 53. A Differtation on the Chemical and Medical Properties of the Briftol Hot-Well Water; to which are added, Practical Obfervations on the Prevention and Treatment of Pulmonary Confumption. By A. Carrick, M. D. 8vo. 167 pp. 2s. 6d. Cadell and Davies. From a variety of experiments, conceived with much ingenuity, and which appear to have been made with as much accuracy as is perhaps practicable, a wine gallon of Bristol Hot-Well water is found to contain 47 grains of folid matter. Muriated magnefia Muriated foda 71 grains 472 Carbonic acid gas 30 cubic inches. And of gafeous fluids, 33 cubic inches, namely, Bristol waters act as mild tonics. They invigorate the ftomach, and improve the appetite and digeftion. They are faid to be eminently ferviceable in diarrhea, dyfentery, and diabetes. Of their efficacy in diabetes, the author feems to entertain no doubt, as he talks of numbers of diabetic patients having been cured by drinking them; yet it does not appear that he has had opportunity of feeing them tried in that complaint. But the greater thare of their celebrity has been ac quired by their fuppofed power of curing confumptions. Where they fail in effecting a cure in this difeafe, the author thinks it has been almoft uniformly owing to the patients having recourfe to them at too late a period of the complaint. In an incipiant pthifis, he fays they are always beneficial, and, if perfifted in, rarely fail of effecting a cure. How much fhould be attributed to the water in these fortunate cafes, it may not perhaps be easy to determine. We have no doubt that |