The fubject of the cafe was a woman, above thirty years of age. She died when he was fuppofed to be in the feventh month of her pregnancy. On diffection, a female foetus was found, weighing about four pounds and a half avoirdupois. This was contained in a fac, which, on examination, was thought to be the ovarium; as, on the most accurate infpection, no left ovarium could be found.For farther particulars, we refer to the publication. Art. 21. An Efay on the Vitality of the Blood. By James Corrie, 2s. 6d. Elliot and Kay. 1791. PP. 100. M. D. 8vo. This long difquifition is intended to prove that the blood of animals is poffeffed of a living principle. Without entering into arguments concerning this theory, we may venture to predict, that Dr. C.'s labours will not gain many converts to his party; nor give much additional confidence to thofe, who may be already engaged in his caufe. Art. 22. A Treatise on the Strangles and Fevers of Horfes: with a Plate reprefenting a Horfe in the STAGGERS, flung. By Thomas Proffer. 8vo. PP. 142. 3s. 6d. fewed. Grant. 1790. Mr. Proffer has employed himself more in animadverting on the errors of others, than in giving a plain hiftory of his own practice: fo much is this the cafe that, in treating of the ftrangles, he neither gives us a fatisfactory account of the nature of the disease, nor inftructs us how to cure it. The remainder of the pamphlet, if we except that part which adviles us to fling horfes in the staggers, contains nothing that is worthy of particular attention in our Review. Art. 23. Efays on Fractures and Luxations. By John Aitken, M.D. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, &c. &c. Illuftrated with eleven Plates. 8vo. pp. 173. 4s. Boards. Cadell. 1790. From the promifes, fo confidently made in the preface, we expected to derive greater advantages from this treatise, than we have actually reaped. The author's attention appears to have been 1 principally directed to the invention of machines to retain the ends of bones, obliquely fractured, in a proper fituation; and he seems to have been fuccefsful in adapting them to particular cafes, where the treatment was difficult: but he is too fond of their ufe: complex machines, and thefe are fuch, are feldom neceffary, and ought, if poffible, to be avoided. With respect to the structure and management of his machines, as they cannot be explained without the plates, we muft refer to the book. As this part of the work chiefly engaged the Doctor's thoughts, fo it is the best: but we meet with nothing of the fimplicity in doctrine, and perfpicuity in ftyle,' that is mentioned. It can neither be called a very fimple nor a very intelligible method of accounting for the occafional fragility of bones, to fay that the venereal, fcorbutic, and other diseases, vitiate the gluten and marrow of the bones: that this vitiation generates acrimony, and acrimony produces the fragility in question!-We wave, however, farther cenfures on unmeaning words, which are harmless, to notice a practice, which is dangerous; we mean the use of the mechanical powers, as they are here here recommended, in reducing dislocations: nor is the mere steady exertion of powers, which may be called immenfe, fufficient in the author's opinion; they are to be affified by jerks of any degree, to destroy concretions, or other obitacles.' The defcription of his jerking ambe is, indeed, more horrid than any thing that we have feen in any of the old furgeon's magazines of torturing engines; than the rack of Procruftes; or than, perhaps, Quicquid habent telorum armamentaria cœli. Other parts of the effay on luxations are vague and inexplicit; particularly thofe which treat of diflocations of the fhoulder and ancle joints. No accurate defcription is given of the different fituations of the head of the bone in the former cafe, nor of the different modes of extenfion in confequence neceffary for its reduction; and no mention is made of the dislocation of the latter, accompanied with fracture of the fibula. The ftyle of thefe effays is far from being fimple or perfpicuous: To regale a patient with an alternation of pofture, and fimilar expreffions, frequently occur. The printing is likewife very inaccurate: for it is impoffible to fuppofe that the repeated errors, in ufing anatomical and other terms, could originate with the author. Art. 24. The Utility of Medical Electricity illuftrated, in a Series of Cafes, and Practical Oofervations: tending to prove the Superiority of Vibrations to every other Mode of applying the Electric Fluid. By Francis Lowndes, Medical Electrician. 8vo. pp. 46. 15. Johnfon. 1791. The occafional ufe of electricity in removing difeafes, is here attefted by a reference to cafes, which admit no abftract, and require no remark. NAVAL AFFAIRS. Art. 25. A Letter to the Right Hon. the Earl of Sandwich, on the actual State of the Malter's Mates, Midshipmen, Inferior Officers, and Seamen of his Majefty's Navy; their Wives, Children, Executors, and legal Reprefentatives; wherein the Power of the Bishops and Ordinaries, in granting Probates of Wills, and Letters of Administration, is confidered: the whole tending to fhew, that the Statute of the 26th Geo. III. Cap. 63. intitled, "An Act for the further preventing Frauds and Abuses attending the Payment of Wages, Prize-money, and other Allowances due for the Service of Petty Officers and Seamen, on board any of his Majefty's Ships," is impracticable, and highly injurious. By T. Evans, Attorney at Law. 8vo. PP. 120. 2s. 6d. Ridg way. 1791. The late act, mentioned in the above title, and which is recited at large in the letter, is reprobated, as requiring formalities in making feamen's wills, which their uncertain circumstances frequently render it impoffible to fulfil; and afterward, in proving them, which the ignorance of the parties will find equally vexatious and ineffectual, in recovering their fmall properties. A cafe is related, extremely hard in the refult; which, as it comes before the public with the fanction of the writer's name, will difpofe every reader to with that the merits of it may be taken up by fome friend to justice, of too much confequence to be over-awed and baffled in a praileworthy undertaking. ARTS, &c. Art. 26. An Efay on the Art of Dying, adapted to the general church-ftreet. This publication may be useful to all thofe good housewives who defire to have any garments new dyed. It does not, however, teach them how to dye, but what they may expect the dyer to perform; what new colours a garment of any given colour and materials will or will not take, and in what colour it will look beft; what fpecies of manufacture (with refpect to thread and weaving,) is most favourable, or otherwife, for receiving dyes; and in what cafes the dye will or will not be communicated to the lining. Mr. Martin chats with the ladies, on thefe fubjects, agreeably and fenfibly enough; and concludes with a hint to the dyers about the faded parts of curtains, which cannot, it feems, be made to take exactly the fame dye with the reft; and therefore he advifes to palliate the imperfection by rubbing them with coloured crayons. FRENCH REVOLUTION. Art. 27. A Letter from the Abbé Raynal to the National Assembly of France, on the Subje&t of the Revolution, and the Philofophical Principles which led to it. Reprinted from a correct Copy of the original Letter read in the Affembly on the 31ft May 1791; and now first published in England; with a faithful Tranflation, and fome prefatory Obfervations, by the Tranflator of Rouffeau's Social Contract. With the original French. To which is added the Declaration of the Chevalier Bintinaye on the Refignation of his Commiffion and Penfion. 12mo. PP. 90. 25. Robinfons. 1791. All that we learn from this publication is, that the Abbé Raynal, like every other humane man, feels himself much hurt at thofe diforders and tumultuary outrages, which attended the French Revolution; and that, like Mr. Burke, he admires "grand fwelling fentiments of liberty," and "rhetorical common places in praife of freedom," while they decorate the page, or gild the oratory, of the declaimer, but lofes all his affection for them, when reduced to practice, and tranfplanted into common life. The Chevalier De la Bintinaye, who was fecond in command on board of the Surveillante frigate, when the engaged the Quebec, and who lost an arm in the action, thinks that his merit and fervices have been neglected; and that his character and conduct in quitting France have been alperfed. In vindication of himself, therefore, and in defence of the privileges of Brittany, and of the rights of the church, he difcharges what, perhaps, he may think a piece of great ordnance against the Revolution: but what the Revolutionilts themfelves probably confider as a mere pop-gun, Art. 28. Lettre d'un Democrate, Partifan de la Revolution, aux Arifts. theocrates Français. Septieme Edition. A Orléans. 8vo. pp. 34 15. Reprinted at London for Stace and Maids, Haymarket. 1791. This writer tells us, that, after living for fourteen years in voJuntary exile, in order to efcape the vengeance of a defpotic minifter, whom he had offended by fpeaking rather flightingly of his facred character; he was induced to return to his native country, by the unexampled Revolution which he here celebrates. He reprefents himself, on his return, as dining at a tavern where fome of the anti-revolutionists were aflembled, and were expatiating on what they called the ruin of their country. After hearing their argu ments, as fummed up by a man of the gown, and a man of the fword,-an Abbé, and a Knight of St. Louis,-he, on two fucceffive days, replies to every thing that had been urged; and, with much vivacity, and competent knowlege and ability, vindicates the Revolution. This forms the fubftance of the pamphlet; which, though it abounds more in that brilliancy which often diftinguishes the productions of our lively neighbours, than in that folidity which is more fuitable to an English tafte, will be perufed with confiderable pleasure by all thofe readers who are on the same side of the queftion with the author. Art. 29. Fragment of a Prophesy lately difcovered in the Cell of a French Hermit; containing divers Matters relating to the prefent Disturbances in Europe. Faithfully tranflated from the Original, by a Convert from the Society for Revolutions. 8vo. pp. 60. 25. Shepperfon and Reynolds. 1791. This champion attacks the liberty-boys with a two-edged fword; text and notes; wit and argument: but his weapon is not fitted to do much execution with either edge. One is not keen enough to enter the tough hide of a reformer; and the other has been fo hack. ed by the adverfaries of former combatants, who have used the very fame inftrument, that it is become more like a faw than a sword. Art. 30. A Letter to a Member of the National Assembly; containing Remarks on the Proceedings of that Legislative Body; Strictures on the political Doctrines of Mr. Burke and Mr. Paine; and a View of the Progrefs of the British Conftitution. 8vo. pp. 41. 1s. 6d. Jordan. 1791. This writer, though a zealous, is not an indifcriminate, panegyrist of the French Revolution. He is a warm friend to liberty: but he claims and afferts, as every friend to liberty fhould do, the privilege of thinking for himfelf. He praifes the French for not eflablishing a democracy; which tho' fpeculatively the best,' he fays, is practically the avort form of government.' He evinces this affertion from a thort examination of the most eminent republics that have existed in the world. He condemns the abolition of all titles of nobility; and he greatly approves of taking away the right of making war and peace from the monarch. The ftrictures on Mr. Burke are fenfible and liberal: but the praise of Mr. Paine is, we think, carried rather too far. Our readers readers may judge of the manner in which this letter is written, by the following fhort fpecimen, which, at the fame time, contains a juft obfervation : Mr. Burke has been dignified by the title of philofopher; the application of this term is very loofe and indefinite: there are fome philofophers (and Mr. Burke now appears to be one of the number) who, to obtain applaufe, are fond of exalting liberty in the abtract; but when it is improved from a principle into an exiftence; when it is worshipped as a living deity, and the joyful fhouts of an adoring people difturb the repofe of lazy fpeculation, these verfatile philofophers iffue forth to decry the unexpected ceremony: with affected horrour they call it idolatrous, and haftily recant from the doctrines they formerly profeffed to believe, but which they never fincerely intended to vindicate.' Whether Mr. Burke will be contented to be enrolled among the fect of versatile philofophers, we know not: but it is pretty clear that he would not wish to be numbered among the fect of modern philofophers, from the defcription that he has given of thefe laft, in his "Letter to a Member of the National Affembly." See Rev. New Series, vol. v. P. 322. POETRY. Art. 31. Mifcellaneous Poems, by the Reverend Luke Booker, Minister of St. Edmund's, Dudley, Worcestershire. Small 8vo. pp. 167. Sewed. Rivingtons. To be pleased with no productions in literature, excepting with thofe of the first order, betrays a degree of faftidioufnefs, which, in a reader, is indifcreet, because it deprives him of fome enjoyment, and, in a critic, is unfair, because it withholds from merit, of whatever degree, its deferved tribute of praife. The author of thefe poems may not be entitled to rank with a MILTON, nor with a THOMSON but he is not on this account to be configned to oblivion with the herd of fcribblers, with whom rhyme and poetry are fynonymous terms. However deficient thefe poems may appear, to a reader of correct tafte, in original invention and creative fancy, they must not be denied the praise of natural and tender fentiment, unaffected language, and a flow of verfification, by no means in harmonious. The firit and principal poem, The Highlanders,' intended to exhibit an affecting picture of the neglected poverty and wretchedness of many of the inhabitants of North Britain, is truly pathetic: it was first published in 1787; and an account of it will be found in our 77th volume, p. 439. To the extracts already given from that poem, we fhall here add a pleafing example of our author's talent for defcribing fcenes of diftrefs, contained in the following lines, which we have extracted from a defcriptive poem, of confiderable length, entitled "Knowle Hill :" * In what other way can we account for the fpeeches delivered by Mr. Burke in feveral parliamentary queftions; and for the Abbé Raynal's late defertion of the fentiments in favour of liberty, which are fo plentifully fcattered in his writings Great |