ence to their former opinions ; known any thing which tended to which, they say, have been con- invalidate it, that would have refirmed by events and researches ceived equal publicity. subsequent to the former declara- In this account it appears, that tion of those opinions. In this the first instances of the disease part we have some letters from were in S. Crisman's family. respectable physicians and others, Three of this family visited the which deserve consideration.- quarantine ground on July 21st ; There are also some 5 minutes of at which time unclean veasels were the sitting managers of the Penn. lying there. One of these vessels sylvania Hospital,” tending to to had put two persons, on shore -shew, by events in that hospital, there nine days before, both of that the yellow-fever is an infec- whom were dangerously ill of the tious, if not a contagious disease. yellow fever. On the 27th of There follow letters from Dr.C. July one of these persons in Crise Wistar, and Dr. G. Bensell. They man's family, and on the 28th the relate “ facts tending to prove the other two were attacked with yellow contagious nature of the yellow- fever. The one, first seized, died fever at Germantown in the year on the 3d of August ; the others 1798." These are such as must recovered. From these three permake the incredulous hesitate. sons the disease seems to have “ The history of the origin and been communicated, by intercourse progress of the yellow fever in more or less direct, to others in New Haven, 1794," is extracted succession. If nothing is omitted from the N. York Evening Post, in this account, we must conclude and is corroborated by private let- that the disease originated from ters. In fact, almost the whole the imprudent exposure of certain was originally derived from Drs. persons to infection at the quaranEneas and Elijah Munson. This tine ground. history traces that disease to in- We recommend this work both fection from a chest of clothes im- to physicians and to all persons, ported from the W. Indies in the who have any concern in making sloop Iris. On this subject there or in executing quarantine laws. has been a strange contradiction If our commerce is subjected to of evidence. From the whole to- embarrassments from quarantine, gether, which this volume contains for God's sake let us have this on the subject, it is fair to con process so perfect as to secure us clude, that the chest of clothes from foreign disease. It is a was the source of disease. strange sort of respect for the libWe pass over other things less erties of the people, which subjects important to notice “ an account merchants and mariners to great of the rise and progress of the pecuniary and personal embarrassfever, which prevailed in South, ments, and at the same time perwark, during part of the summer mits any idle boy to take from us and autumn of the year 1805, by the benefit of such sacrifices. Dr. W. Currie." As this account Well aware that the discussion is published by the College with of this subject will not interest a out comment, it has all the weight large portion of readers, we omit of their reputation in its favour. many remarks, which the occaFor we ought to presume that if sion presents. any fellow of the College had tune. To the romantick it offers no gorgeous displays of sentiment, NOTICES. and indeed nothing but fine de scriptions of the wild and picturof Northern . Summer, or travels esque. And a political theorist round the Baltic, through Den would probably be disappointed in mark, Sweden, Russia, Prussia, not finding the order and uniforniand part of Germany, in the ity of the work interrupted and year 1804. By John Carr, Esq. disfigured by the introduction of author of the Stranger in France, dry and useless calculations. The Uc. c. 8vo. Philadelphia, only strange and unusual trait S. F. Bradford. which distinguishes this work, is, that we may glean from it more When an English traveller knowledge of individual and natells us that he went abroad fortional character, and more topohealth and spirits we very natur- graphical information than gazetally conclude, that a narrative of teers or geographical compilations his adventures will exhibit little generally afford. If there is any else than a severe caricature of fault sufficiently great to he noticthe various subjects of his obser- ed, it is, that his descriptions of vations. But the most invidious works of art are sometimes too inexamination will discover in this complete to gratify a connoisseur, work very few of those misrepre- and not always clear to one who is sentations which would be expect not. Here his periods are some ed as the usual effect of strong na- times prolonged, till they become, tional prejudice operating on the what they generally are not, obimpatience, of ill health. The au- scure and confused. thor travelled in the exercise of a singular indulgence for foreign peculiarities which earlier travels The Shade of Plato ; or, a defence had so matured, that his avowed of religion, morality, and governand honourable predilection for his ment. A poem in four parts. native land in no instance intrudes By David Hitchcock. To which itself to degrade the character of is prefixed, a sketch of the au. any other. This work presents to thor's life. Hudson, H. Cros. the reader much of that kind of well. 12mo. price 25 cents. minute, local information, which is amusing to any one, and to an inex- The Muses, like most other laperienced tourist indispensibly ne- dies, have long had the reputation cessary, but which many travellers of being somewhat capricious in disdain to notice,and still more want the distribution of their favours, skill to manage. The lounger may and since their favourites join in find in it much to wile away an the accusation, we are compelled idle hour with, and, if his heart has to believe that it must be just. If, not been cankered and corroded, however, they were formerly caand his mind unnerved by sloth, pricious, they have of late become will feel himself quickened into lawless. The inspiration of poesomething like life, by some well try which was formerly reserved wrought scenes of woe, drawn for those minds, in which refinefrom history, and several striking ment and feeling had been nourinstances of the mutability of for- ished by solitary thought and un phrafes on the thirty-ninth Pfalm, the latter part of the first chapter of Luke, and others of a serious complexion These he compofed principally in the night, while watching with his father in his laft fickness. In the 26th year of his age he married; and though he may be ground more clofe by penury on this account, ftill he enjoys peace and contentment, and has the addition of three children to his family, upon which he doats almost as much as the opulent do upon their riches. Such has been the origin and progrefs (to the thirty-fecond year of his age) of a man, who struggling under all the dif advantages of want of education, indigence, obfcurity, and the contumely of the world, has produced, by the aftonifhing efforts of his genius, the following Poem, besides a number of smaller pieces of a fatirical caft. broken study, has of late been felt even at the work bench, and the plough. What mysterious connexion, what secret analogy there is between stitching shoes and making verses, we are at a loss to discover; but certain it is, that the cobler's stall has lately been remarkably fruitful of poets. Our own country is not without her claims to a share in the honour which England may assume from this fecundity in "self-taught bards;" and Mr. Hitchcock, the author of the book, whose title we have just quoted, is to be the supporter of our renown. Our bard, we must acknowledge, is yet unfledged, and indeed has scarcely broken his shell; but we doubt not that if he should be warmed by the incubation of some American Capel Loftt, he will hereafter rise on as strong a wing, and sustain as daring a flight as either of the Bloomfields. We have the following account of Mr. Hitchcock prefixed to the volume. David Hitchcock, the author of the following poem, was born at Bethlem, county of Litchfield, ftate of Connectieut, in the year 1773. His father, who, was an honeft and industrious fhoemaker, after being reduced by a series of misfortunes, to the lowest state of poverty and wretchedness, died in the year 1790; leaving fix children, of whom our author was the eldest, and a weakly and bereaved widow, dependent upon the world for protection and fupport. His inability to educate his children will readily be perceived; but as the eldeft difcovered an early disposition to learn, he fpared no pains to gratify it, both by inftructing him and fending him to school, (when want of money or cloathing did not prevent) from the fifth to the thirteenth year of his age. By these small materials our author acquired enough of the rudiments of learning to enable him to make further improvements by his own application, at fubfequent periods of his life.. Some of his first productions were para It It cannot be expected that we should undertake either a criticism or analysis of this production. is an essay, in eight-syllable metre, on Religion, Politicks, and Morals, which the author put into the mouth of Plato; and, though his style is hardly such as the Gods would adopt, if they should visit the earth, yet as every man possesses some rank in intellectual dignity, whose mind is superiour to his circumstances,this writer's merit must be admitted,and his poetry endured. The author has a right to one extract. While Fhabus from the human race Stranger, forbear, be not dismay'd ; O'er earth, where'er a God is known, Mankind, their destiny bemoan; They all fome fpecious pretext frame, For which the hapless race of men MONTHLY CATALOGUE OF NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THE U. STATES, FOR MAY, 1806 Sunt bona, sunt quædam mediocria, surt mala plura.-MART. NEW WORKS. Trial of Samuel Chase, an associate juftice of the fupreme court of the United States, impeached by the house of reprefentatives, for high crimes and mifdemeanors, before the fenate of the United States. Taken in fhort hand, by Samuel H. Smith and Thomas Lloyd. In two large octavo volumes-Vol. 2, in boards, price, to, fubfcribers, 4 dols. and a half, and to non-fubfcribers 5 dols. Wathington. S. H. Smith. An inaugural Effay on the different theories that have been advanced on the THE object of this little work is to give a bird's-eye view of the geography,statisticks, &c. of the United States of America. In the following extract we have the design of the author. This compend, in which nothing more than a sketch can be given of the geography, and existing state of the united territories, is divided into two parts: the first contains a general account of the foils, climates, winds, mountains, lakes, rivers, bays, capes, mines, and minerals; and the fecond, confifting of eighteen geographical and statistical tables, comprifes a brief view of the extent and population of the whole empire, as well as of the individual ftates, their trade and fhipping, conftitutions and military force, revenues and expenditures. As far as we have examined, the work appears accurate, and will be found particularly useful to a traveller through the country. fubject of the proximate caufe of conception in the human female. By Daniel Newcomb, A. B. of Keene, N. H. member of the Philadelphia Medical Society. 8vo. pp. 32. Philadelphia, John H. Ofwald. Twelve Letters addreffed to Rev. Samuel Austin, A. M. in which his vindication of partial washing for Chriftian Baptifm, contained in Ten Letters, is reviewed and difproved. By Daniel Merrill, A.M. paftor of the church of Chrift in Sedgwick. 12mo. pp. 96. Boston, Manning & Loring. A new Map of the United States of America, including part of Louisiana. Drawn from the latest authorities; revised and corrected by Ofgood Carlton, Efq. teacher of mathematicks in Boston. 6 dols. in sheets to fubfcribers. Boston. John Sullivan jun. A Speech, delivered in congress, on the 15th April, 1806. While the house, in committee of the whole, were difcuff ing the bill for fortifying the ports and harbours of the United States. By JoGiah Quincy, Efq. member of congrefs from Maffachusetts. 8vo. Bofton, printed by Ruffell & Cutler. 1806. Eight Difcourfes on Baptism. 12mo. pp. 156. Boston. D. Carlisle. A discourse delivered in trinity church, in Newport, on thursday 27th November, 1805, an appointed day of publick thanksgiving and praife. By Theodore Dehon, A. M. rector of Trinity Church. Published by particular defire. Newport, R. 1. 1806. An address on Mufic, delivered to the First Baptist Singing Society, Boston, on the evening of the 15th May inft. By Ferdinand Ellis, A. M. Boston. NEW EDITIONS. Volume I. part 1. of The New Cyclopædia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. To be completed in 20 vols. quarto. By Abraham Rees, D. D. F. R. S. Editor of the last edition of Chamber's Dictionary ;-with the affiftance of eminent professional gentlemen. Illustrated with new plates, including maps, engraved for the work, by fome of the most diftinguished artifts. The whole improved and adapted to this country, by gentlemen of known abilities, by whofe aid it will be rendered the most complete work of this kind that has yet appeared. Price of each half vol. to fubfcribers 3 dols. Philadelphia, Bradford. A treatise on the Diseases of Children, and management of Infants from the Birth. By Michael Underwood, M. D. Licentiate in Midwifery, of the Royal College of Phyficians in London, &c. &c. Second American from the fixth London edition. 8vo. pp.270. Boston. D.Weft. Reflections on the Rife and Fall of the ancient Republicks,adapted to the prefent state of Great Britain. By Edward W. Montague, jun. 12mo. pp. 336. Philadelphia. C. P. Wayne. IN THE PRESS. Walker's Critical Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language. Vol. III. No. 5. 2K From the third London edition; con. taining the last improvements and correc tions of the author. 1 vol. 8vo. New York. S. Stansbury & co. The 2d vol. of Judge Cain's Report. New York, Riley & Co. Powell on Devices. 1 vol. 8vo. New York, Riley & Co. Part 3d of Cain's New York Term Reports, which completes the 3d vol. New York, Riley & Co. Elements of geometry, containing the first fix books of Euclid, with a supplement on the quadrature of the circle, and the geometry of folids. By John Playfair, F. R. S. Edin. profeffor of mathematicks in the university of Edinburgh. Price 2 dols. Philadelphia. A new work entitled Elenora, by Mifs Pilkinton. New York, Riley & Co. The Enchanted Lake, a beautiful poem, tranflated from the Italian, by Richard Alfop, Efq. New York, Riley & Co. A Portraiture of Quakerifm, taken from a view of the education and difcipline, focial manners, civil and political economy, religious principles and character of the fociety of Friends. By Thomas Clarkson, A. M. author of feveral effays on the flave trade. 3 vols. 8vo. To fubfcribers 5 dols a fet, bound; coarse copies 5 dols. New York. Stanfbury. Charnock's Life of Admiral Nelfon. 1 vol. 8vo. New York, Riley & Co. PREPARING FOR THE PRESS. A celebrated work entitled, The Civil History of Chili,tranflated from theItalian of the abbe Molina. 2 vols. 8vo. with plates. New York, Riley & Co. INTELLIGENCE. Brifban & Brannan have just put to prefs, and will publish by the first of June, a highly interefting work, entitled, "Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Richard Cumberland," with Anecdotes of many of the principal characters during his time We haveperufed the above work with fenfible pleasure. In point of intereft it is little inferior to Bofwell's Life of Johnfon, in point of ftyle it is very far above it. In iffuing this edition, Meffrs. Brisban and Brannan will make a valua ble prefent to the American public, and we have no doubt will find themselves handfomely remunerated. We know not the work of a late date which we think will be fo popular.-NY. Ev. Pof. David Hitchcock, author of the Shade of Plato," and the " Knight and Quack," is preparing another work for the press. |