-the Diseases at Surinam, &c.

534
which was thicker and blacker on the back than the belly, ad-
hered only to the head, to the anus and to the feet. Within
this skin, particularly about the back, were disposed a prodi-
gious number of little cells, contiguous to each other, and
about half an inch deep; being separated only by a fine
membrane. On the back of the creature opened by our Au-
thor, and now preserved in his cabinet of insects, were no less
than 120 of these cells, or repositories for the eggs of this pro-
lific animal. He makes not the least doubt that each of the
is a real matrix, in which its egg is lodged and fecundated : al-
suring us that he discovered in one of these cells an embrio com-
pleatly formed, inveloped in a kind of placenta, accompanied
by two thin transparent membranes apparently analogous to the
Chorion and Amnios in other animals. The manner, in
which this creature was delivered of her young, was also the
fame as the former; so that, on the credit of our Author, there
remains not the least doubt that the young Pipas come fully
formed out of their mother's back, where they are inclosed in
separate eggs, each in a cell or matrix, with which nature
hath furnithed the females, in great numbers.

As to the manner in which the eggs fo situated are fecun-
dated, Mr. Fermin does not appear to have obtained any fatif-
factory.information. He diffected, indeed, several of these
animals of both sexes; but without being able to trace any
certain marks of the generative parts in either. He gives us an
ingenious conjecture on the fubjeci; but, as conjectures are
by no means admissible in physics, they afford but little fa-
tisfaction in matters of Natural History. The account here
given of this animal is nevertheless extremely wonderful and
curious; and may poflibly excite our industrious enquirers into
the secrets of nature, to solve, by future discoveries, those diffi-
culties which our Author found inexplicable. It has been long
admitted as a fact, that the male, of the common species of land-
toads, is always the accoucheur to the female; delivering her of
a long string of eggs with a surprifing dexterity : but we do not
know that any of our Naturalists has fully determined in what
manner they are fecundated.

It is currently supposed at Surinam, that the Pipa, when burnt to alhes, is a mortal poison: our Author, however, hath undeceived the inhabitants in this particular. To this end, he took three of these animals, and putting them alive into a receiver, hermetically sealed, calcined them. Then, pulverising the calcination, he gave it in various doses to several kinds of animals ; none of which betrayed any of those symptoms, usually imputed to this powder.

Instruc

M m 2

Infrullian Pastorale de Monseigneur L'Eveque du Puy, sur la pré

tendue philosophie des Incredules Modernes. A Pastoral Instruction from the Bishop du Puy, concerning the

pretended philosophy of Modern scepticks. 12mo. Amsterdam, 1765.

W

E should have permitted this pastoral instruction, of the

good Bishop of Puy, to have passed unnoticed, among the number of unaffeding remonftrances which are occasionally made to the public even on the most important subjects, did we not find it already taken too much notice of in those countries, where it is likely to do more harm than good t. Rank as the growth of infidelity is confessed to be in the present age, there are few Protestant governments, we presume, that would chuse to eradicate the doubts of Pyrrhonism in order to implant the errours of Popery. The labourers in the vineyard of infidelity are in general too idle, too contemptible, and too ill paid, to reap any great harvest from the straggling weeds that are found to shoot up, even in the best foil. The dignitaries and emirfaries of the Church of Rome are, on the other hand, too well rewarded, too ingenious, and too alliduous, not to embrace every opportunity of enlarging their sphere of credit and action; and thus to indemnify themselves by gaining that ground in one country which they lose in another. Hence it is that we are surprised to find that many advocates for the cause of Christianity, have fo little regard for Protestantism as to recommend this work as a falutary antidote against incredulity. Have we no Protestant Writers on these subjects? Or are their arguments less powerful and convincing than those of our insinuating Bishop? There is surely no need to import those Popish giants Infallibility and Superftition, to quell the puny dwarf of Scepticism, that labours in vain amongit us. Infidelity gains proportionably much greater ground in the Roman Catholic countries than in the Protestant; and hence the Bifhop of Puy had but acted consistent with his function in addreffing this paftoral charge to his diocefans. It appears to us however, not to have been written folely for their use, bcing artfully calculated as well to remove the objections which Protestants have made to the authority and discipline of the Church of Rome, as those which pretended philosophers or modern Free-thinkers have made to Christianity, Insidious designs of this nature are the

A new Edition of it being just publithed in Holland, whence it bath been imported into England, and recon.mended by some incorfiderate Proteftant divines,

more to be avoided, as in general we perceive their effcets before we are sensible of the danger : thus, a man may be easily stabbed to the vitals by a supposed friend, who might encounter safely, by keeping at a distance, a known enemy. The alarm, which hath lately been raised, on the progress of Popery in these kingdoms, is by no means so deltitute of foundation as some people would have it thought ; and we are sorry to say that we conceive it, in some measure owing to that unguarded and indiscreet zeal with which the Protestants have recommended the Writings of the Romish Clergy and others of that religion, against those supposed Infidels. It is well known that the Clergy of the Church of Rome make no scruple of fiding with any party to make converts, or indeed to attain any point they have a mind to carry. The readiness, however, which they have ever shewn to forsake and even oppress those, by whose assistance they have crept into power, should be a fufficient warning to Protestants, always to fufpect their most plausible offers of service, especially when they are not wanted. We do not pretend to say that it is necessary for Protestants to entertain, now, so terrible an idea of Papists, as they very justly did foon after the time of the reformation ; as we believe the present professors of the Popish Religion (except perhaps those in the interior parts of France, Spain, and Portugal) are much less persecuting, and more humanized, than their forefathers. But to what hath this been owing? To the loss of temporal power in their superiors, and that general diffusion of good-sense and benevolence, which hath spread itself, with the improvement of commerce and the sciences, over the face of Europe. It does not hence follow, however, that the tenets of their religion are become less erroneous, or even less dangerous with regard to civil policy, if they were encouraged to kindle the same zeal. Hence, though it may be no longer necessary to excite in Protestants a deteftation of those enormities of which the Roman Catholics are no longer guilty, we cannot be too much on our guard against those fallacious representations which their Priests are labouring to spread abroad, of the candour, humanity and truly Christian spirit of their mother Church. It is in their disputes with supposed Infidels that these misrepresentations are artfully introduced ; to which is ever added, by way of supplement, some reflection on the truth of its dogmas or fome argument respecting its authenticity and authority. They well know that a book, written professedly in the defence of the Church of Rome and its doctrines, would stand little chance to be read in a Protestant country; therefore, instead of Efrays on tranfubftantiation, on the immaculate conception, and other absurdities, they amuse us with refutations upon refutations of

Fres

Mm 3

Free-thinkers or Esprits-forts as they are called; who, it muf be owned give them many fine opportunities of preaching up Popery under the specious pretence of defending Chriftianity. We have known, ere now, a dissenting party entirely reconciled to their ancient modes of thinking, from judging themselves under a kind of necessity to join with their old antagonists against a third sect of opponents, that started up a-new. And indeed, what can tend more to reconcile Protestants to the er. rours of the Church of Rome *, than the plausible manner in which its clergy unite their friendly labours to ours, against the common enemy to religion in general ? But fatal experience, as we before observed, should teach us Timere Danaos et dona ferentes.

Should we undertake to display the justice or propriety of these reflections, as we might easily do, from the work before us, we should in. Some measure fall into the errour we have censured. We therefore dismiss it, as an insinuating and dangerous performance, better calculated to convert Proteftants to Popery than to make Christians of Infidels.

If any kind of reconciliation between the Reformed Churches and that of Rome should by these means take place, it must be by the conversion of Protestants to Popery; for, however ready we are to pesu fe the works of Popish Writers or adopt their arguments against infidelity, the Roman Catholic Governments take pretty good care that their subjects shall peruse none of ours. We dare say the Romish Clergy would as soon recommend Hobbes or Spinosa as Leland; for, what. ever they may pretend in their fervency of zeal for Christianity in genéral, or with a view to cloak their infidious designs, it is notorious that an Heretic has ever been accounted by them as bad, if not worse than an Infidel.

L'Espion Chinois, &c. The Chinese Spy, or secret envoy from

the court of Pekin, to examine into the present state of Europe. Translated from the Chinese. 6 vol. 8vo * Becket and De Hondt.

MONG all the nominal Asiatics, who have occasion

ally taken upon them the profeflion of fpies in the feveral countries of Europe, we know of none that hath more miftaken his own affumed character, as well as the national characteristics of the people he hath attempted to describe, than the Author of the letters before us. We shall say nothing of the

• Intimated, in the title pagę, to have been printed abroad. Instead of A Cologne, however, the printer should have inserted A Londres.

impropriety of a spy's blabbing his own secrets, and telling all
he knows, like a town-cryer ; this being an absurdity common
to moft productions of the kind ! it argues, however, in our
opinion, great barrenness of invention in their Editors that they
cannot devise, a more plausible method of becoming possessed
of such curious information. On second thoughts, indeed,
this appears to be a matter of little consequence; as it is ten
to one but the correspondence itself would give the lie to such
pretensions ; for, it is certain that the best of these Writings
too plainly appear to be, what they really are, more immediate-
ly calculated for the use of European thản Asiatic Readers.
The vanity of the Writer also to be thought an universal ob-
server, leads him not unfrequently to describe scenes and ob-
jects, which can by no means be fuppofed to come within the
bounds of his nominal commiffion, nor to prove interesting, or
afford any kind of satisfactory information, to those who are lup-
posed to have · sent him. We will admit, however, all this
to be' mere matter of form, and that it is very excusable for a
Chinese Spy to think and write exactly in the manner and stile
of an-European ; he ought not surely to be fo very a French-
man as to talk eternally in the paultry Atrain of a Parisian petit-
maitre ; by which means his descriptions are ten times more un-
intelligible than it is possible for them to be rendered by the most
.turgid rant of an Eastern Mandarin. An Englishman, who
knows all the circumftances hinted at in the following letter,
might pofiibly be able to decypherit; but we will venture to say
that all the decypherers of the East would not be able to explain
it to the court of Pekin.
The Mandarin Cham-pipi, to the Mandarin Kie-tou-na, at Pekin.

London. ..<< Since I have been in England, the attention of this speculative nation hath been mightily engaged by three considerable personages; the Cock-lane Ghoitt, the Queen's Afs, and Mr. Wilkes a Member of Parliament.

The Ghost amused the count and city for a long while ; a great number of people of both sexes going to visit and converse with it. It is true it did not express itself very diftinétly but it gave some sounds, which were sufficient for it to make a

great noise.

: The Queen's Ass had no little to do, on her arrival, to receive the visits of those whom.curiosity led to see her, At the fame time the was allowed a Guard, and sentinels were posted

+ Very intelligibly, rendered by this Writer Le Speare de Cokelir.