and think much, and who exert the fternest severity of truth over their minds.'

The obfervation in the note is new and ftrange; but we cannot affent to its truth,

Our author proceeds to the different kinds of poetry, and defcribes the Pictish, the Celtic, and the Gothic, in his ufual pointed manner; but, as ufual alfo, a little too decifively in the following paffage there is more than one mistake.

But the Pictish poetry furnished the language, and therein the chief fund, of Scotish poetry. From the ftormy heaths of Scandinavia feem alfo to have been tranfplanted feveral of these wild flowers which adorn the compofitions of the old Scotish minstrels. The Irish poetry is all gloomy, the Scotish deals more in merriment: the Celtic nations feem to have been ge nerally fevere; the Gothic riotous. The carousal of Odin never appears in Celtic mythology, where the ftern character of the Druids alfo influenced the people. The Celtic nations were in general peaceful and temperate; the Gothic, warlike and intemperate. Perpetual danger often begets luxury, from the defire of making the most of a perishable life. The Goths, with Regner Lodbrog, died laughing; and may be compared to the Egyptians, who, to promote hard drinking, had a skeleton put on the table. All the Celtic poetry, yet published, is grave; that of the Goths, chiefly heroic, because the beft is fuch; but the Danish antiquaries give us to know that much is ludicrous, though the jefts be now unintelligible.

The Pictish poetry feems alfo to have bequeathed to the Scotifh, a peculiarly wild horror, which frequently strikes the reader with the highest effect. But the antique force and fimplicity of the language, was the chief permanent gift of the Pictish poetry to the Scotish.'

The mufic of the Scots, which abounds with exquifite expreffion and fimple melody, is alfo, in our author's opinion, Pictish; and he is probably right. He purfues this subject in a concise manner, and then proceeds to the language: he thinks that the English, a fifter dialect, already written, was affumed by the Scotch; and that it has been extending to this day. His arguments are acute, and probably juft; but we fufpect that they will not be generally convincing.

We have followed our author at fome length, engaged, perhaps, by a partiality to the fubject. What remains will carry us too far, fo that it must be deferred to another Number.

Memoirs

Memoirs of the Literary and Philofophical Society of Manchester. 2 Vols. 8vo. 125. in Boards. Cadell.

WE

E cannot fufficiently commend thofe focial and literary inftitutions, where fparks of fcience are ftruck out by a friendly collifion of oppofite fentiments; and truth is adorned by the polished elegance of language. But we can commend only the meeting: the publication of crude, imperfect effays, though defigned to introduce a converfation, and to draw out opinions which may be ultimately ufeful, muft tend to degrade the institution, and to involve the defign, as well as the most imperfect branches of it, in the fame difgrace. If we were to judge of the fociety by their prefent volumes, we fhould not affign them an elevated rank in the world of fcience: a great part of their communications are, in themselves, infignificant and imperfect; perhaps well adapted to introduce useful conversations, but unfit for the public eye as distinct effays. We mean not to involve the whole in one undiftinguishing cenfure: the papers of Dr. Barnes are both judicious and elegant; Dr. Falconer is, as usual, exact and well informed; Mr. Delaval is instructive; Mr. Henry, in some instances, enlarges the bounds of fcience, though in others, he perhaps purfues vifionary refinements, or magnifies trifles into importance.

There is a rule in their inftitutions, which, at first view, feems an useful one, and which the fuperficial have commended, that no honorary member be admitted, who has not distinguished himself by fome publication. We need not examine its effects farther than in the lift of its honorary members, where it feems that this must have been the grand qualification to introduce fome of the affociates, who are very improperly placed with men of real science, and diftinguished merit. But they ought to learn, that modeft merit fhuns the glare of day; and that many might have inftructed them by occafional effays, who would not venture to be distinguished as the authors of a separate work. To rush with an indecent

hafte, before a venerable tribunal, to infult it with hafty and unfupported experiments, with trifling effays, or imperfect compilations, may entitle an author to the feat of an honorary member of this Society, but will not add to his character as a philofopher, or man of learning. We fhall tranfcribe the titles of the papers, and enlarge a little on thofe which may appear particularly interefting.

N° I. Some Remarks on the Opinion that the Animal Body poffeffes the Power of generating Cold. By George Bell, M. D.

VOL. LXI. March, 1786.

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II. On

II. On the Advantages of Literature and Philofophy in general, and especially on the Confiftency of Literary and Philofophical, with Commercial, Purfuits. By Thomas Henry,

F. R. S.

III. On Cryftallization. By Alexander Eafon, M. D.

IV. On the Prefervation of Sea Water from Putrefaction by Means of Quicklime. By Thomas Henry, F. R. S. To which is added, an Account of a newly invented Machine for impregnating Water, or other Fluids, with Fixed Air, &c.— It has been long known that fea water would putrify, and this quality has been frequently attributed to the exuvia of marine animals. Many have, however, fufpected, that it might arife from the earthy falts contained in it; and that the feptic property of culinary falt, in fmall quantities, was owing to the fame caufe. Mr. Henry feems to have fhewn very clearly, that it is the effect of the muriated magnefia; and that, when the bafe is changed for one which is calcareous, the confequences are very different. It was once proposed to preferve anatomical preparations in fea water, to which it was well adapted, by its clearnefs and brilliancy; but, from its feptic quality, the preparations were fpoiled. It might be worth while to repeat the experiment, after the magnesia is feparated. To this paper, the defcription of an useful machine to mix air with liquors, invented by Dr. Haygarth, is annexed. Mr. Henry propofed to preferve water fweet at fea by means of lime, which is afterwards to be precipitated by fixed air, and this machine was contrived for his purpofe. We fufpect, however, that it may be more effectually done by spirit of vitriol, which may be afterwards faturated with chalk. In this way, we should not have a greater proportion of felenite than in many hard waters, for a part of the earthy falt would fall down, and it is now well known, that the hardest waters are not injurious to health. If the ponderous earth, the terra ponderofa aërata, be ever difcovered in large quantities in England, which there is much reafon to expect, water may be preserved by the vitriolic acid, and the acidity afterwards deftroyed by the earth, with which it forms an infoluble compound.

V. On the Nature and effential Chara&ers of Poetry, as diftinguished from Profe. By Thomas Barnes, D. D.-We have already commended the effays of Dr. Barnes: they are diftinguished for their accuracy, their ingenuity, and their elegance. Our author examines the ufual diftinctions between thefe encroaching modes of compofition, and finds a difficulty in fixing a determined outline, fince the varying fhades melt im

imperceptibly into each other. His conclufion is, however, very judicious,

To finished and perfect poetry, or rather to the highest order of poetic compofitions, are neceffary, elevation of fentiment, fire of imagination, and regularity of metre. This is the fummit of Parnaffus. But, from this fublimest point, there are gradual declinations, till you come to the region of profe. The last line of feparation is, that of regular metre. And, in common language, not having fettled with precifion the nature or boundaries of either, we often apply the poetic cha racter with great latitude, to compofitions, which have more or lefs of the preceding qualities, but which are formed into uniform and regular verfe. Often, the name is given to works, which have nothing to diftinguish them, but mere number, What has not this metrical modulation, we call poetical; and what has it, we call profaic, folely upon account of the fentiment,'

This paper, fo far as it extends, is a finished piece of cri ticifm, and, though it fcarcely enlarges the bounds of the fcience, limits and diftinguishes fome of its parts with great precifion. We have been fo much pleafed with it, that we shall present another paffage to our readers.

We have already obferved, that, in the early ages of man kind, when their lives were filled with toils and dangers, and when new and interesting events were continually opening upon them, their paffions would correfpond to their fituation, and would be various, vehement, and active. Civilization and fcience have, as it were, minced into finer portions, the feelings of the heart. By this means, we enjoy a far greater number of pleasurable fenfations, and, upon the whole, I doubt not, a much larger fum of happiness. The life of an Indian confifts either of glare or of darkness. He is either tranfported with paffion, or funk into ftupor. These larger maffes have been broken, by the hand of culture, into smaller pieces, which are in perpetual currency, and which maintain, among us, a more equal and conftant enjoyment.

But, from hence it will follow, that the strong poetic character may be expected to decline, as tafte improves. We may, perhaps, hope to excel, in foftnefs, delicacy, and refinement But thefe are feeble graces, The mind foon tires with the per petual chime of smooth verfification, and with the unvaried flow of gentle and unimpaffioned fentinent. The bursts of honeft nature, the glow of animated feeling, the imagery, the enthufiafm-thefe are the charming properties which will for ever exalt the poems in which they are found, to the first order of poetic excellence, For thefe, no appendages of art can be deemed an adequate compenfation."

The next effay, On the Affinity fubfifting between the Arts with a Plan for promoting and extending Manufactures, by

N 2

en

encouraging thofe Arts on which Manufactures principally depend. By Thomas Barnes, D. D. deserves alfo to be particularly diftinguished. It points out, with great ftrength of argument, the utility of extending our acquaintance beyond one object; and illuftrates the advantages which the sciences mutually afford to each other.

It is in general said, that the knowledge, which, like the broad ftream, flows over a wider furface, must be proportionably fhallow; whilft that which runs in the narrow channel must be deep. But we are deceived by an image. We argue from a fancied refemblance. The mind, long poring upon ore object, grows tired and feeble. It is neceffary, fometimes, to change the object, in order to restore its tone and vigour. He, who can thus diverfify his pursuits, keeps up the fpring and energy of his powers, the ardour of his ftudies, the keennefs of his research. He borrows ideas, images, illuftrations, from kindred fciences. His mind widens with increafing knowledge. He fees every fubject, as it were, in a larger field of vifion. He views it round in a greater variety of aspects. His foul is expanded, his judgment strengthened, and all his powers affifted and improved.'

The force of the language is not more powerful than the juftness of the opinion; and the few examples within the fphere of our own knowledge would add a confiderable weight to it. The late lord Kaims lived to a great age, and preserved his faculties in uncommon vigour, chiefly by the variety of his ftudies. But, while this method is recommended, we ought to add fome warning against its abuse. A found judgment and clear intellects, an accurate comprehenfion, with fteady, deep reflection, can alone preserve the stream calm and pellucid, can only prefent the images free from distortion or confufion. There are not many minds who can foar beyond one science; but, when by a natural or acquired strength, the additional load can be borne with eafe, the greatest advantages are derived from the more extended view.

We must step out of our path, to pursue Dr. Barnes in his fubfequent refearches.

XXIII. On the Influence of the Imagination and the Paffions upon the Understanding. By Thomas Barnes, D. D.What he thinks of the acquifitions, he transfers to the powers of the mind, and supposes that the vigour of the imagination will give a correfpondent vigour to the judgment. To eftablish an opinion fo very different from what is usually maintained, Dr. Barnes changes the appearance of the question, and, instead of ranking the understanding, paffions, or will, among the diftinct powers, he fuppofes that they are only different modes of action, different exertions of one uncompounded

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mind.