ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Candour may fometimes fancy that the reconciles things not capable of reconciliation; and fuch is the fate of our correfpondent who has affumed that fignature. The following intimation, from an unknown correfpondent, we infert exactly as we received it. The refpectable Editors of the British Critic, Who have, in fo candid and liberal manner, given their opinion on the feveral publications concerning a Cow-pox, and impartially re'lated the various accounts, juftly commending the medical writers for their activity and diligence, are informed, That the extraordinary Caw-pox, fo generally and minutely defcribed, is in fact no other eruptive fever than the Chicken-Pox, appearing commonly every spring and autumn with the SMALL-POX, particularly at the seasons of Inoculation; and first applied in the Western Counties of ENGLAND, when inoculating the Horned Cattle; for the Variolous Contagion, in thofe Counties, was abfolutely forbidden by authority, to prevent that diftemper among the Horned Cattle from being naturalized, and becoming endemial in GREAT BRITAIN. An authentic testimony of which event is expected to be foon published. Cantab is informed, that the book of which he enquires hás been received, and will be duly noticed. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. A fecond volume of Mr. King's Munimenta Antiqua is in great forwardness at the prefs. A fecond volume of the Fabliaux verfified, will foon be pub→ lifhed, from the MSS. of the late refpectable Mr. Way. The Tragedy of the Father's Revenge, by the Earl of Carlisle, will appear in the courfe of the winter; with fine engravings, from defigns which were exhibited this year at the Royal Academy. We understand that Dr. Anderfon is preparing an improved edition of bis Lives of the British Poets, to be publifhed feparately, with great additions and improvements. In confequence of the extraordinary encouragement given to Chauchard's Map of Germany, &c. Mr. Stockdale intends to prefent his fubfcribers with a quarto volume of explanatory matter. We hear from Dublin, that Mr. Magee, of that city, fome of whofe publications have been honourably noticed in our volumes, is preparing a volume of Difcourfes on the Scriptural Doctrines of Atonement and Sacrifice. ART. I. Munimenta Antiqua; or, Obfervations on Antient Caftles, including Remarks on the whole Progress of Architecture, Ecclefiaftical as well as Military, in Great Britain; and on the correfponding Changes in Manners, Laws, and Customs, tending both to illuftrate Modern Hiftory, and to elucidate many interefting Paffages in various antient Claffic Authors. By Edward King, Efq. F. R. S. and A. S. Vol. I. Folio. 31.13s. 6d. Nicol. 1799. Τ TO recapitulate this author's works, would be to mention fome of the most important and ufeful publications of modern times. In whatever point of view we contemplate his talents, he is entitled to our warmeft praise. His labours, which tend to elucidate the Scriptures, although we do not always accord in his conclufions, carry with them not only the marks of the most exemplary piety, but of acute remark, diligent investigation, and extensive reading. A kind of Profpectus of the prefent work was publifhed fome years fince, under the title of Vestiges of Oxford Caftle; and we are happy to know, that the whole defign of the author is now perfected, Ii waiting BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XIV, NOV. 1799. waiting only his convenience and his health, for which he has our moft unaffected good wifhies, for their entire publication. As this work, whether we confider its extent, its importance, its fplendour, and confequent expence, but, above all, the intereft and inftruction it involves, is one of no common occurrence, it will certainly be thought right that we fhould beftow upon it a more particular attention. This first volume is confined to the reprefentation of Architecture in Britain, and to the elucidation of the manners which prevailed here previous to the invafion of the Romans. The language in which Mr. King explains his object and motives to the reader, is remarkable for an unadorned and manly fimplicity, alike creditable to his tafte, his fincerity, and his learning. He thus expreffes himfelf: "The original intention of writing thefe fheets was, to apply the ftady of antiquities to the elucidation of the hiftory of the ways of Divine Providence, in gradual fucceffive difpenfations: and of his dealings with the fons of men, in leading them from strength to ftrength, till his wondrous work and purpose in the very first creation of the human foul, fhall be finally accomplished. And this ftrange change of human manners, which has now, fo fuddenly, and fo dreadfully taken place checking apparently, for a fhort time, the progrefs of improvement, does only render the important hiftory even ftill more interefting. "The tale therefore of antient deeds, and of antient modes of living, begun in these pages, may ftill be allowed to go on, without interruption; though modern barbarity of manners, becomes fuch a fad refinement of the antient, and more execrable barbarifin, as to render the tale fomewhat lefs furprifing and ftriking. "The beginning of our narration and which is contained in this volume relates folely to the earliest periods in Britain, before the invasion of the Romans. The days of primæval fimplicity and rudeness; the days of Druidif; and of Patriarchal manners. "And here, with regard to fuch of the Druidical structures as were indeed unquestionable temples, I have carefully avoided as much as poffible, the repeating or interfering with what has been written fo inuch at large by Doctor Stukely leaving the curious ftill to draw their own conclufions from his learned differtations; though it cannot but he obfervet, that in the courfe of this work, conclufions even on different grounds, have led me very much to agree with him. My object it will be found has been to add, if poffible, by fair obfervations, new and additional light to the interefting fubject; by an investigation of circumitances, which had before efcaped due notice. And in other points, with regard to Rowland, Borlafe, and other able writers to whom we are much indebted, it will be found that I have as much as poffible obferved the fame rule." One of the great and praife-worthy inducements which has led the venerable author to thefe purfiiss, and this publication. is is the illuftration of paffages in the Holy Scriptures, in which he has been in a very high degree fuccefsful, and of which we fhall give pertinent examples in our progrefs through the work. The prefatory addrefs we in a particular manner recommend, as being one of the happiest differtations of the kind which it has been our good fortune to perufe. It not only perfpicuously explains what is propofed to be accomplished, but, confidered in the abstract, is a valuable tract, of great use to those who shall be inclined to follow a fimilar courfe; and fatisfactorily demonftrating, that whatever talents, whatever learning, whatever views could be required of an individual engaged in fuch purfuits, evidently diftinguifh the author of this curious publication. Among various ftriking and brilliant paffages. this which follows is not the leaft worthy of ferious confidera tion. "Now then it only remains to be faid that antient ruins are in this latter period of the world, become fome of the beft means of aiding us to trace out by their different peculiar ftyles, the different peculiar characters, difpofitions and acquirements of different fucceffive ages; for almost every age has had its peculiar marks and character, left ftrongly impreffed on the ftyle, and manifeft defign of all its buildings. And in these sheets, juftice has been endeavoured to be rendered to all; neither afcribing merit from an idle veneration of antiquity to fuch æras and structures as abcanded with rude blunders; nor depriving any, of the credit of thofe extraordinary exertions, which were wonderfully made in the midst of the greatest disadvantages, and under circumstances in which a fierce, hardy race of men dwelt in ignorance, and fometimes almost literally in darkness wifible; ferving an hardy warfare with few comforts of life, and with still fewer improvements of mind. "The gloomy manfions of Saxon and of Norman days, strike the mind often times with awe and reverence; but however wondered at, they cannot often be fincerely praifed, nor be compared with the admired elegance of Grecian and Roman ftructures. They have, however, frequently fuch a rude fublimity of thought and defign manifefted in their architecture, as produces uniformly an effect upon the mind far furpalling any ideas of grandeur that could poffibly be excited by the more regular rules of Grecian art, even when aided by Roman greatnefs. They were unhappily, in general, moft horrible manfions, either of war and defolation, or of blind fuperftition and of impofition. And indeed their best recommendation was, that they were occafionally protections alfo againft ferocious and favage barbarity; which could hardly have been avoided any otherwife; and refidences, where fometimes were nurtured and cherished, thofe admirable spirits of intelligence, by whofe honeft labours, fcience was not only restored in the world, but made at last to rear its head with redoubled vigour. Much oftener however were they the cradles of that very ftate of ferocity, and fepid ignorance that generally prevailed, and that bore I i2 down down all before it; and, indeed, the very inftruments of maintaining violence and oppreffion. Much does it import us, in these days to be watchful, left a licentious difpofition on the one hand, artful impofi tion on the other, and an abuse of the advantages we have enjoyed, fhould infenfibly drive us back to a fituation, wherein again may be wanted fuch caftellated manfions, to protect us in like manner against almoft forgotten cruelties; againft revived barbarity; and againft modern favages. And left again fhould, no lefs gloomy dens, to preferve and cherith whatever real fcience, and good meaning may be left in the world. For all that has been good in the world, appears very much to have been in its first root merely derivative; and only the due cultivation of divine inftruction, and of certain principles of rectitude and ingenuity, first imbibed from the information and guidance of thofe who went before us, and then brought to maturity by reflection and diligence. And even what are called inventions, are (when fully confidered) found to be only additional branches of improvement, proceeding from the first vaft ftem. Whatever may be philofophically (as it is called) fancied or concluded, concerning the innate faculties of the human foul, and its own powers of exertion, experience has now taught us, in every age, and in every climate, that it is totally unable of itself, and by its own energy alone, to emerge from barbarism or ignorance; or to produce, without external affiftance and borrowed light, the boafted improvements of art and of civilization. The New Hollanders; the South Sea Islanders; the Kamtfchadales; the Indians, both of North and South America; and the Negro inhabitants of Africa; are all standing proofs of this fact; having advanced very little, if at all, during to many centuries beyond the bare fupply of the wants and neceffities of nature, in the rudeft manner, as first taught them by thofe wretched, wandering, ignorant parents, from whom, in thofe refpective countries, they derived their antient descent." The volume commences with an inveftigation of the History of the Works of the Ancient Britons: we think proper to make this extract from the author's introductory obfervations. "The examination of what remains in our own country, and the confideration of its gradual improvements in all the fe particular refpects, is indeed what belongs moft peculiarly to ourselves, and demands the moft properly our first attention. But the modes by which several other civilized nations, have at various periods, in all ages, arrived to fuch advantages as they obtained, are fo exceedingly fimilar to, and fo much connected with, what has paffed on this spot which we inhabit, that in carrying on the enquiry which relates to ourselves, we cannot but unavoidably find much light flung upon the hiftory of the whole world; and upon feveral curious details in the antient records of many other regions. Records, which though continually perufed by the learned, have too often for want of the illuftration that might have been derived from fuch fort of inquiries, been much misunderstood. What kind of poor favages dwelt in this ifland, in some of the very early ages in the world, in the days of Mofes or of Solomon, or of Numa, or Nebuchadnezzar, or Cyrus, or Darius (if this ifland had at |