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that he enjoyed many peculiar distinctions. From his éloge, he appears to have been a man of great suavity of manners and considerable erudition. We regret, from what has occurred to us in the perusal of his work, that he has not been sufficiently attentive to the later authors. His authorities are generally of an early date, and not always without suspicion of detailing stories more marvellous than true. For this, however, we can by no means vouch; and whatever may be the character of the authors at large, we perceive nothing improper or doubtful in the facts recorded.

Some right observations are premised; and in the first volume we find chapters on the following subjects :-impotence; copulation, which the laws of some countries strangely decree shall be public, to acquit the parties of impotence; castration; hermaphrodites; violation; sodomy; protracted deliveries; illegitimate births; abortions; monsters; molæ; doubtful state of the mind and body,' viz. imbecillity, madness, dissembled and imputed complaints.

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The second volume contains an account of wounds in general, and particularly those of the neck, extremities, arteries, breast, belly, intestines, mesentery, pancreas, epiploon, liver, gall, bladder, umbilical cord, kidneys, bladder, womb, the fetus, and private parts; remarks on mutilation; apparent and violent death; dissection, poisons, umbilical cord, particular examination of the lungs (docimasie pulmonaire), and dissection

of the fetus.

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The last volume contains the other subjects of forensic medicine, and what the author styles medical police; viz. the methods of preserving the health of the people and of animals-in other words, the public hygieine. The first part con. tains what relates to people apparently drowned, and those who have been hanged. To these are added some very excellent observations on reports, the relations of cases, and the manner of drawing them up. A curious consultation is subjoined, a little like the law-suit of Stradling versus Styles.' A man of fifty-eight, his wife of fifty, and daughter of seventeen, were drowned in the same wreck; and, as some property depended on the survivor (for this was the reason of the consultation, as we well recollect, though not mentioned in the present volume) it was the subject of minute disquisition. The consulters were Payen and Lorry; and we shall add, as a specimen of the work, Dr. Mahon's remarks on this intricate subject, in the words of his editor.

Dr. Mahon has not thought proper to consider this subject of priority of death. He saw that the forensic physician could often give only presumptions, and frequently unsatisfactory ones, instead of proofs; yet, in his course, he remarked that

there were cases in which the judges, from the common rules of philosophy and physiology, might suppose a priority of death.

I state, for example, a house on fire, in which were a man and a woman. Might not one suppose that the woman, more irritable, timid, and weak, would die first. The same supposition will apply if the house should tumble: yet how many circumstances may alter this ideal progress! A beam falling may kill the man, and the woman die long afterwards, suffocated by the ruins. How therefore can a succession be determined by such unfounded presumptions?

Another case is quoted of a man, a woman, and a child, attacked and killed by robbers. It is supposed that the woman and child were killed after the man had been destroyed, as he was the most formidable, and would draw on this account the attention of the villains, or would press forward in defence of his wife and child. This would likely be the most common course; but can we be certain that this would always happen? I think not. Previous to the attack the robbers might fire, and the woman and the child might fall; or one might massacre these feeble creatures to assist his comrade in the attack of the man, &c. Dr. Mahon therefore advises the physician to decide only on certain well-attested facts. It is often wiser to doubt than to support opinions which, when plausibly discussed, might be creditable to the author, but which, in the eye of the philosopher, would want the principal recommendationtruth.'

The subject of medical police is considered under the following heads - celibacy, cohabitation, contagion, marriage, pregnancy, delivery, cæsarean operation, painful punishments, and inoculation. We need not enlarge farther on a work which will not be very interesting to the English reader, and probably will not merit a translation.

ART.XI.-Mémoires de Henri Louis Le Kain, publiés par son Fils ainé; suivis d'une Correspondence (inédite) de Voltaire, Garrick, Colardeau, Le Brun, &c. Paris. 1801.

Memoirs of Henry Lewis Le Kain, published by his eldest Son; to which is added an inedited Correspondence of Voltaire, Garrick, &c..

LE Kain was an actor of no common fame, introduced to the public in the early youth of Voltaire, and patronised by him with a steadiness and constancy which reflect on him no inconsiderable credit. Among a crowd of publications, we have taken up the Memoirs of Le Kain, as opposed to the author of the Polemic Life of Voltaire;' and in this view, viz. audi alteram partem,' we shall select his eulogium on the poet of Ferney.

Whoever reads these details, and observes their connexion, will remark that I have little resemblance to those ungrateful men who blush at a favour, and who, to complete their villany, basely calumniate their benefactor. I have known more than one of this race, with respect to Voltaire. I have been a witness of numerous injuries done to him by men of different kinds. He has complained of some, tacitly despised others, but took vengeance on none.

The booksellers, whom he has enriched by his works, have publicly attacked him; but no one could, with justice, accuse him of deceit; for they were wholly in fault. M. Voltaire has been always faithful to his friends. His character was impetuous; but his heart was good; his soul full of compassion and sensibility. He received with peculiar modesty the praises which were profusely lavished on him by kings, by men of letters, and whole nations, united in admiration of him. Profound and accurate in his judgement on the works of others; gentle, polite, and graceful in common life; inflexible toward those who had offended him-such is his character, drawn from na

ture.

'No one can reproach him with having begun an attack; but, after the first hostilities, he appears like a lion roused from his den, and fatigued with the barking of those dogs which he has silenced by shaking his mane. Some he has crushed with his majestic paw: others have fled. I have heard him say, a thousand times, he was sensibly grieved that he could never be the friend of Crébillon; that he had always esteemed his talents more than his person; but he could never pardon his refusing to approve of Mahomet.

I shall say nothing of the sublimity of his talents in every kind of literature. There is no subject which he has not adorned with considerable erudition, grace, taste, and philosophy. In other respects, the whole of Europe must repeat his eulogy: his works, scattered from pole to pole, are a sufficient subject. Happy the man who can appreciate them, and speak with justice of an author so celebrated and so rare!'

This is the acmé of sublimity;-but the reader will perceive some little inconsistency in different parts, and some passages not very distant from the representations of M. G―y.

Le Kain was the son of a cutler, and,'' stage-struck,' was acting in a private theatre when seen by M. Voltaire, who immediately patronised him. His features were not prepossessing; his voice was harsh and mournful; and his stature short. These seemed to be considerable obstacles; but when the feelings of his heart were developed, his whole person was animated, his attitudes were peculiarly striking, and expressed the great cha-racters of passion. Hurried away by these advantages, it is said

that the ladies would exclaim, How beautiful he is!'-This actor, however, did not please the higher ranks till he played Orosmanes at Versailles. Louis XV highly applauded him, and remarked that he had drawn tears from his eyes, who seldom wept. This fixed his credit; for the royal favour then decided every taste, and no one afterwards dared to criticise. He and mademoiselle Clairon first disused the ridiculous dresses of the French theatre, and appeared in habits suitable to the characters they represented. Le Kain generally ordered his own, and they were usually brilliant. In his performances he was as minutely attentive as Garrick. In private life he was simple and unornamented. He had an extensive knowledge of many subjects unconnected with the stage, joined with good sense, genius, and sometimes cheerfulness; though his disposition was, on the whole, gloomy. He died at the age of fortynine, of an inflammatory fever, in consequence, it is said, of some imprudences.

There are few events recorded of the life of Le Kain; and, indeed, had they been more numerous, they would not be very interesting to the English reader. We find some anecdotes of Voltaire which we had not before seen, and a few which are generally known. To these succeed some little pieces of Le Kain; such as memorials, addresses to the audience, criticisms, proposals, apologies, &c. The letters of Voltaire follow; which, as may be supposed, relate chiefly to theatrical representations. They are lively, badinantes, and always affectionate.

The letters of prince Henry of Prussia show that he regarded Le Kain, whom he had entertained at Rheinsberg, with the warmest esteem. They are written with singular good sense and propriety: and are truly complaisant, without the slightest particle of fulsome flattery, so often found in the epistles of Voltaire. The letters of Garrick are also warm and affectionate, though written in bad French. Le Kain visited him in England. But what does Garrick mean by his having asked permission of the king to drink the waters of Bath?' Perhaps, like sir Joseph Banks, when writing to a Frenchman, he thought he must employ the French manières de parler.

Various miscellaneous letters follow. Those of madame Denis, mademoiselle Clairon, MM. Colardeau, La Harpe, and Saurin, particularly interested us; but they might not interest the reader, to whom the events to which they allude, long since passed, are probably unknown. The language is often peculiarly elegant.

Le Kain's own letters are inferior as compositions; but they display a benevolent heart, with sound good sense. His account of what passed at Ferney, on his rehearsing before Voltaire the part of Gengis Khan, in the Orphan of China, amused us Le Kain owns that, though he excited great applause, he

had mistaken the author's object. When he again played it after the conceptions of the author, one of his comrades, who had perceived his first error, could not conceal his astonishment at the superior effect which he produced; and said to those near him, We can easily perceive that he has been at Ferney.'— Without examining the motive which dictated this eulogy,' adds Le Kain, I was not the less sensible of it.' The letters, however, are few: those to the prince of Prussia are most striking. Some critical remarks and papers, illustrating different parts of the volume, conclude the whole.

While writing the above, a pamphlet reached us, entitled Jugemens sur Le Kain, par Molé and Linguet'—Opinions respecting Le Kain, by Molé and Linguet; or a supplement to the memoirs of this great actor, followed by some remarks on Garrick by Linguet. We chiefly notice this work as it is a supplement to the former, though it adds nothing very important. The panegyric of Molé panegyric of Molé is extravagant; but there are some remarks on acting, and on Le Kain's manner, that appear to be judicious. Linguet is more moderate, though he represents Le Kain as the French Demosthenes. Like the Grecian orator, also, he had many natural defects to conquer. The reflexions on Garrick are highly reprehensible, and wholly unjust.

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