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of the clergy will be benefited, and the higher will not be disgraced by actions from the poverty or baseness of informers. The exemp, tions from these penalties are judiciously stated; and, as the writer possesses considerable property and rank in the church, we are not without hopes that his suggestions may receive encouragement from both church and legislature.

ART. 21,-A Sermon preached in the Chapel of the Foundling Hospital, on Sunday, the 25th of January, 1801. By the Rev. H. B. Wilson, A. M. &c. 8vo. Is. Cadell and Davies. 1801.

A eulogy on the institution; with a digression on the spirit of innovation, infidelity, treason, and sedition, &c. of the present times. The visit of the king to the hospital is, by a bold figure, supposed to be a subject of great satisfaction to the spirits of just men made perfect. As, by the preface, however, it seems that the author was a candidate for an office in this excellent institution, and as this discourse was intended to display his qualifications for it, we will not minutely criticise its contents, which, at the least, prove his loyalty, and were, we cannot doubt, thought well calculated ad captandos vulgus et præsides.

ART. 22.-A Sermon, preached in the Cathedral Church of Winchester, at the Summer Assizes, 1801, holden for the County of Southampton, before the Honorable Sir Simon Le Blanc, Knight, and the Honorable Sir Robert Graham, Knight. By John Davies, A. B. &c. of St. Mary Hall, Oxford. 4to. No Publisher's Name.

On our theatres is introduced a character denominated Dr. Pangloss, who cannot utter a sentence without an authority; and, however trivial the remark, all the writers from Aristotle to Cocker become vouchers for its truth. In this discourse, Stillingfleet, Jortin, Beccaria, Ashton, Archer, Hoole, Sheppard, Porteus, Squire, Beattie, Wilberforce, Cotes, Grove, Leland, are introduced at the bottom of the page, to confirm an assertion in the text, evident in general to the meanest capacity; and the writer leaves the curious reader to find out the passage in the author quoted; for no reference is given to page or volume. Thus, that the patience of God is not to be measured by man's fretfulness, is to be learned from Stillingfleet; that a man of feeling laments the number of executions, is derived from Beccaria; Ashton teaches us, it seems, what we all learned in our schools that Nemo repente fuit turpissimus; and Hoole is referred to for (what is so much better described by Pope) the hope of a savage in a future life. If the sermon should come to a second edition, we recommend that it may be enriched with a quarto volume of notes from the different authorities.

ART. 23-A Sermon occasioned by the Death of John, Earl of Clare, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and Vice-Chancellor of the University. Delivered in the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, on Sunday the 7th of February, 1802. By the Rev. William Magee, D.D. &c. 8vo. Is. 6d. Cadell and Davies. 1802.

A panegyric on the late lord Clare, with some well-deserved encomiums on several members of Trinity-college, lately deceased. The

principal character panegyrised is so differently spoken of, that time must allay the feuds in which he took so active a part, before the flattering picture here presented to the public can be acknowledged (if it ever can) as an accurate resemblance. It is ably drawn; but it must be recollected also that even the duke of Alva has been celebrated for his virtues in a funeral oration.

ART. 24.-A Charge to the Reverend the Clergy of the Archdeaconry
of Bedford, delivered at the Easter Visitation, 1801, by the Reverend
R. Shepherd, D. D. &c. 4to. 25.
Mawman. 1801.

The success of the French in the late unhappy contest is very justly attributed by this sound divine, not to the trifling conspiracy of pretended philosophers, according to the superficial conjectures of the abbé Barruel, but to the just decrees of Providence to overthrow a religion in opposition to the doctrines of the Gospel. This great truth should be ever kept in mind by the protestant; and the warnings given in the course of the last hundred years, by those, whether believers or unbelievers, who reasoned on the state of religion in France, ought to have better prepared the inhabitants of this country for an event which was necessarily to precede the total destruction of popery. The inferences and exhortations drawn from the history of the last ten years deserve to be deeply fixed in the breast of every clergyman and minister of the Gospel, of every denomination, that they may attend to the doctrine which they teach, and make both their teaching and living correspond to its divine precepts.

ART. 25.-A Sermon, preached before the Honourable Society of Lin coln's Inn, on Friday, February 13, 1801; being the Day appointed by his Majesty's Proclamation for a general Fast. By William Jackson, D. D. &c. 4to. 1s. 6d. Elmsly. 1801.

The former part of this discourse was calculated for the Sunday previous to the fast, as it enters into the justification of national intercession--a -a justification rather out of place-the moment after the act which could not be recalled had been performed. The exhortations at the conclusion, to every individual to attend to his personal conduct, are more appropriate; and we may add, that the discourse was published at the request of the society.

LAW.

ART. 26.-Review of the Statutes and Ordinances of Assize, which have been established in England from the fourth Year of King John, 1202, to the thirty-seventh of his present Majesty. By G. Atwood, Esq. F. R. S. 4to. 5s. Egerton. 1801.

Restrictions on the manufacture of bread have been established for so many centuries, that the prejudice is now current among us, that," without such restrictions, the public would be in danger of material injury from the venders of an article of prime necessity. This preju dice has, however, of late been opposed by men of enlightened minds; and, even in the house of commons, the utility of continuing the restrictions has been called in question. In fact, what reason can be given that the article of bread, any more than any other, would not,

if left to itself, find its own level? And how is it possible to draw up regulations which shall, with any tolerable degree of exactitude, settle. the profits of a baker, when it depends upon so many circumstances as the price, the weight, the quality of wheat, the conversion of it into flour, the demand for bran and pollards, the price of salt, labour, the capital of the persons employed in the different processes necessary before the bread can reach the hands of the consumer? The first ordinance for fixing the price of bread was established in the 4th of king John, 1202. This was naturally very imperfect; and, in the 51st of Henry III., it was superseded by one which has been the basis of subsequent regulations. With great care and attention the author of the work before us has examined every act relative to this subject, and, with his usual mathematical accuracy, placed it in the clearest light before the reader. It was probably drawn up with a view to the information of people in power, and will, we doubt not, meet with a favourable reception from the legislature to every member of which we recommend it, as deserving his most serious consideration. We have no doubt ourselves, that it will be for the advantage of the community in general that the restrictions should be removed, and all the acts on the subject repealed; but if this should appear too bold a step, the simplification of the present process, which is not easily to be understood by our legis lators, should be attempted.

It is evident that the system of regulating the assize of bread, which had subsisted previously to the beginning of the 18th century, was much deranged by the reference to a market for flour, in fixing the assize of bread by the eighth of queen Anne. In consequence of which, although the baker has been authorised to receive the allowance of 125. for baking a quarter of corn, including the expenses of peparing flour; yet those expenses are now, and have been for many years, defrayed by the mealman; who, on the other hand, receives the profits arising from the sale of the bran and refuse, which the former regulations of assize made a part of the baker's profit, These, and other circumstances, plainly indicate the propriety of adjusting the derangements which have taken place in the laws of assize now in force, either by abolishing those laws altogether, or by substituting, instead of them, some regulation by which each allowance for manufacturing bread, and the principle of granting it, may be distinctly defined; with such provisions as are best suited to the circumstances of the times, and likely to form an efficient and permanent law.

If the provision had been omitted in the statute of queen Anne, which enjoins the magistrates to have respect to the price of meal or flour in fixing the assize, the price of bread would have depended wholly on the price of wheat-grain: on which principle it had constantly been regulated during the five preceding centuries.

This system would have been no less efficient, in consequence of a market for flour, which about this period had began to be esta blished, provided the price of it had no influence in setting the assize of bread; for the baker might chuse whether it would be more to his advantage to purchase corn at the market, and to send it to

the next mill, where it might be ground and converted into flour, or to purchase the flour ready manufactured from a mealman.

In this case, as in all similar dealings, each party would endea vour to make the most advantageous bargain in his power; from which competition alone it may reasonably be expected that the price of flour, considered as a market-commodity, would find its true level of price.' P. 54.

ART. 27-A full Report of the Proceedings on the second Trial, in the Cause Kerslake against Sage and others, Directors of the Westminster Life Insurance Office: including the Evidence and Opinions of Drs. Carmichael Smith, Crichton, Willich, Reynolds, Latham, and Blane, on Cases of Pulmonary Consumption. Faithfully taken in Short Hand. With an Appendix of Documents. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Row. 1802.

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We are not again to try this cause; nor is it becoming in us to question the verdict of the jury, as we are not informed on what principles it was given: yet, as physicians, we must contend that a man who had had two hemorrhages from the lungs, and was of a spare thin habit,' could not be pronounced in a perfect state of health; nor, in our opinion, was the warranty complied with. There is a pathological distinction, which we are somewhat surprised did not occur to the medical gentlemen examined. A person may be within the limits of health, and yet have the seminium of a dangerous disease. Can this person be said to be in health?? By no means; for common causes, to others innocent, may in time produce a fatal disorder. On the other hand it will be said, how do you define health? We reply, that the term imports a power of resisting common causes of disease. If, for instance, a person be warranted to be in health, he is warranted to be proof against common colds; in general, against a temporary irregularity: at least it is implied that these shall have only the usual temporary effects of illness. The effects may be more lasting and formidable; but if this do not arise from some previous fixed cause, the warranty will still hold good. Were it otherwise, it would be necessary, as in the case before us, that Mr. Robson should not only have been certified as in good health, but that he should also have abstained from shooting, from wet, and from drinking. In fact, we are surprised how the positive assertions of Mr. Howard, to which Mr. Robson tacitly assented, could have been evaded.

MEDICINE.

ART. 28.-Practical Observations on the Gonorrhea Virulenta: and a new Mode of treating that Disease recommended. By Robert Barker. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Rivingtons. 1801.

Mr. Barker considers the gonorrhoea as a local disease not connected with syphilis, and disapproves of the general practice. In his condemnation, however, of laxatives and diuretics, he is somewhat unfair; for his arguments apply only to the active stimulating medicines of these classes. To astringent or sedative injections' his objections are, we think, unsatisfactory. He contends that they produce stricture. This may indeed be said of the former, if vio

lent and active, but not of the latter; and with respect to his su spicion of their conveying the virus into the bladder, it has not the slightest support: this effect has never been hinted at by the most violent opponents of injections; and those who have used them know how difficult it is to force any fluid far into the urethra. We find too, after all, our author recommending injections of tartarised antimony with camphor, on the principle of increasing the discharge, and thus throwing off the poison. This is exactly the same foundation on which the caustic alkali was formerly employed, and which we have often found successful. A scruple of camphor is united with six ounces of water, by means of a drachm and a half of gum. arabic, to which as much tartarised antimony is added. Some cases of the efficacy of this solution, used as an injection, are subjoined; but we think we have succeeded full as well, perhaps more quietly, in the common way.

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ART. 29.-A Companion to the Medicine Chest, or plain Directions for the Employment of various Medicines and Utensils contained in it, and for the Treatment of Diseases. By a Medical Practitioner. 8vo. Exton. 1802.

This little compendium is useful for the purpose designed, and does not overstep common sense and common reason. The doses, however, notwithstanding the hints in the preface, are by no means small. Some of them, on the contrary, particularly of calomel, are

rather rash than moderate.

AGRICULTURE, &c.

ART. 30-On the Appropriation and Inclosure of commonable and intermixed Lands: with the Heads of a Bill for that Purpose. Together with Remarks on the Outline of a Bill, by a Committee of the House of Lords, for the same Purpose. By Mr. Marshall. 8vo. Nicol. 1801.

2s. 6d.

Our author traces with sufficient accuracy the origin of commonable and intermixed lands; adds the outlines of different acts for the purpose of inclosure, and recommends the adoption of the plan. We have often had occasion to offer our opinion on this subject, and of deprecating the very general and rapid attempts of eager projectors in this line.

ART. 31.-An Enquiry concerning the Influence of Tithes upon Agricul ture, whether in the Hands of the Clergy or the Laity. Together with some Thoughts respecting their Commutation. To which are added, Remarks upon the Animadversions of Mr. A. Young and his Correspondents relative to the Subject of Tithes; as well as those of the County Agricultural Surveyors employed under the Direction of the Board of Agriculture. By the Reverend John Howlett, Vicar of Great Dunmow, Essex. 8vo. 35. Richardsons. 1801.

In the first part of this inquiry Mr. Howlett is anxious to defend himself from the suspicion of being interested in the result, by a detail which we read with regret; for those who preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel.' He considers the subject, in many dif

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