as it may be poffible to remain in the current, long enough to be carried from a parallel that may be deemed a very safe one, to that, of the rocks of Scilly, in the courfe of fuch a night; it would appear prudent, after experiencing a continuance of strong wefterly gales in the Atlantic, and approaching the channel with light foutherly winds, either to make Ufhant, or at all events to keep in the parallel of 48°, 45, at the higheft. If they keep in 49°, 30', they will experience the whole effect of the current, in a position where they can leaft remedy the evil: but if in 48°, 45', they are affailed by the north-west current, they are ftill in a pofition from whence a foutherly wind will carry them into the channel. But all ships that cross the Atlantic, and are bound to the eastward of the Lizard, had better to make Ufhant, under the above circumftances, in times of peace. Or, at all events, why fhould they run in a parallel, in which they are likely to lofe ground?

3d. Ships, bound to the weftward, from the mouth of the channel, with the wind in the fouth-west quarter, so that it may appear indifferent which tack they go on, fhould prefer the larboard tack; as they will then have the benefit of the current.

4th. I understand that the light-houfe of Scilly is either removed, or to be removed, to the south-weft part of the islands; or of the high rocks. This is certainly a wife measure; as the light fhould be calculated more particularly for fhips that have a long, than a Jhort departure; like those from any part of the European coafts, to the northward, or eaftward. The light-houfe ought alfo to be built very lofty. I am forry to remark, that, as far as my observation has gone, this light has never appeared clear and bright, as a light to direct fhips ought to do.'

If the current fets round the shore, it is not probable that it would be fenfible after wefterly winds, for, as major Rennel has shown, the waters must then be accumulated, and the refiftance greater in the bay. Perhaps it then affumes, in confequence of this increased refiftance, a notherly courfe, while naturally it is loft in the bay, or broken against the fhore. Thefe fuggeftions, however, we leave to the author's confideration; but we must not leave him without the highest commendations of his skill, his accuracy, and humanity. Many of the wrecks on the Scilly Iflands, have, probably, been owing to feamen's ignorance of this current.

The Well-Bred Scholar, or practical Effays on the beft Methods of im proving the Tafe, and afifting the Exertions of Youth in their Literary Purfuits. By William Milns, M. A. 8vo. 75. Boards. Rivingtons. 1794.

A better title to this book would, perhaps, have been The English Claffic Scholar, fince the chief defign is to conduct the student through a course of English literature, and to form him to a habit of English compofition. The author, along with many others, we

think, erroneously recommends the beginning with English grammar; we fay erroneously, becaufe English grammar has fo few inflections, that there is very little to employ the memory, and as an exercife of judgment, it is of much too abstract a nature to be taken up with advantage by those who are as yet in the very porch and entrance of literature. Befides, if it is intended that at any time a youth fhould have two languages, he will ftudy the grammar of his own with more advantage when he can compare it with another. Rules for English composition are given under four heads, Letters, Fables, Themes, and Orations, and fome fables are analysed after the manner of Rollin in his Belles Lettres. Blair's Lectures are often adverted to. A courfe of reading is pointed out, beginning with the poets, and ending with profe writers (moft would reverse the order), which, in general, feems to be judiciously chofen; only that it is by far too extenfive for either the time or the abilities of fchool-boys. Blackftone's Commentaries, and Montefquieu's Spirit of Laws being of the number of books recommended; and that the tranflations of French works might, perhaps, have been omitted, fince scarce any one, in the culture of whofe mind fo much time and pains fhould be employed, would be ignorant of French-hardly of Latin. The bulk of the volume is taken up with fpecimens of rhetorical eloquence, chiefly from the ancients, given in the translations which the compiler of this book found ready done to his hands.-At the conclufion is a flight sketch of a course of French and Italian reading.-Among the French didactic poets the author of Les Jardins ought certainly to have found a place, and Ver-vert among the mock heroics. Voltaire is only mentioned as a poet.

A Defeription of Pocket and Magazine Cafes of Mathematical Drawing Inftruments; in which is explained the Ufe of each Inftrument, and particularly of the Sector and Plain Scale, in the Solutions of a Varity of Problems; likewife, the Defcription, Conftruction, and Ufe of Gunter's Scale. Illuftrated with Copper-plates. By J. Barrow, Private Teacher of the Mathematics. Svo.

Watkins. 1794.

3s. 6d.

An ufeful little tract, particularly to the ftudent of mathematicsThe author has fully executed what his title promifed.

Hiftory of the Government of the Island of Newfoundland. With an Appendix: containing the Acts of Parliament made refpecting the Trade and Fishery. By John Reeves, Efq. Chief Justice of the Iland. 8vo. 45. Boards. Sewell. 1793.

As the fubject of this work has been before the house of commons, it must prove interesting to perfons concerned in the trade

and

and fifleries. As a hiftory, the editor is entitled to the praise of industry, and he has thrown in a confiderable portion of the agree able to relieve the necefiary drynefs of his fubject. The profits of it are ordered to be given to the fuffering clergy of France, refugees

in the British dominions.

The Difcovery, Settlement, and prefent State of Kentucky. And an Introduction to the Topography and Natural Hiftory of that rich and important Country; alfo, Colonel Daniel Boon's Narrative of the Wars of Kentucky: with an Account of the Indian Nations within the Limits of the United States, their Manners, Cuftoms, Religion, and their Origin; and the Stages and Distances between Philadelphia and the Falls of the Ohio, from Pittsburgh to Penfacola, and feveral other Places. By John Filon. Illuftrated with a large whole Sheet Map of Kentucky, from actual Surveys, and a Plan, with a Defeription of the Rapids of the River Ohio. By Capt. Thomas Hutchins, Geographer to the Crongrefs. So. 25. Stockdale. 1793

As we have not Mr. Imlay's work at hand, we mean the Topographical Defcription of the Western Parts of America *, we cannot say how much is copied from that work, or, more properly, how. nearly the two works coincide. From our recollection, it appears, that they do not materially differ; and, fo far, they fupport each other. Our prefent author appears to be judicious and well-informed. Yet, in his Appendix, he copies the fabulous legend of prince Madoc, and the stories respecting the remains of ancient fortifications.

Letter addreffed to Sir John Sinclair, Bart. Prefident of the Board of Agriculture and internal Improvement. Refpecting the important Difcovery lately made in Sweden, of a Method to extinguish Fire, with an Account of the Procefs adopted for that Purpose; and Hints of Means for preferving Timber, ufed either in Houfes, or in Shipbuilding, from that deftructive Element. By Mr. William Knox, Merchant in Gothenburg. 8vo. 15. 6. Debrett. 1793.

The procefs recommended for extinguifhing fires, is diffolving a quantity of faline matter, of almost any kind, in the water which is projected from the fire-engine, with the addition alfo of calcareous or argillaceous earth. Of thefe materials, common falt and clay are recommended, as the cheapest and most attainable. From the following experiment, our readers will be able to judge of the nature and practicability of this contrivance, in the principle of which,

* Noticed in our 9th Vol. New Arrangement, p.53.

however,

however, there is nothing new, fince fubftances impregnated with, alum have been long known to resist the action of flame:

A house, 16 feet square, was raised of well feasoned and dry timber; the height of the walls, under the roof, was ten feet; the elevation of the roof five feet perpendicular; and the doors and windows of this building were fo placed, one oppofite to another, that the air had free accefs. It was tarred all over, both infide and out, and filled with faggots and tar-barrels; moreover the outside of this houfe was covered with bunches of tarred faggots. The building thus erected was fet on fire, under a violent storm of wind, by which means the power of the flames was doubled, and had acquired much additional strength; at which period, the extinction of the fire was begun with a small engine, whofe leather pipe was only one fourth of an inch in diameter, which nevertheless produced fuch an effect, that the fire-extinguishing folution no fooner reached the houfe, than the force of the fire was immediately diminished. The engine, during this operation, broke, and had to be repaired, which occafioned a delay of four minutes, for which reafon the complete extinction of the fire was not effected until the expiry of fourteen minutes; but if we deduct the four minutes loft, the time taken in extinguishing this fire was really no more than 10 minutes.

The folution ufed on this occafion confifted of fifteen kans herring pickle, fifteen kans red ochre, or the refiduum of aquafortis.

To which were added only 7 kans of water; and of this solution about 60 kans were expended. Afterwards fire was fet to eighteen barrels, tarred both without and within, which, in the fame way as the house, burned with the greatest violence; notwithstanding which, the extinction thereof was carried into execution, with a folution confifting of 1 part herring pickle, to 1 part gray lime, without the addition of any water.

And this folution proved fo powerful, that the fire of the eigh teen tarred barrels was extinguished in the space of about half a minute of time.'

CRITICAL REVIEW.

For JULY, 1794.

Sermons on feveral Subjects. By the Right Rev. Beilby Porteus, D.D. Bishop of London. Vol. II. 8vo. 7s. Boards. Cadell.

A

1794.

Sermon is by no means fo eafy a fpecies of compofition as is generally imagined, and of this the paucity of good ones is the most decifive proof. The French, who in the laft age cultivated with much ardour and induftry every fpecies of eloquence, and that of the pulpit in particular, can boast of but few preachers who have excelled, and whofe difcourfes will ftand the teft of criticifm; and though the English school of theology is rich in divines, it is comparatively poor in orators. Few have fallen into that happy track, which is equally remote from the dulnefs of the metaphyfician, and the rant of the declaimer; few have united the happy talent of interefting our paffions with that of enriching our understanding; few have known what it is to produce a difcourfe familiar, yet not trite; correct, yet not pedantic.

Among the most fuccefsful adventurers in this departraent of literature we have already had occafion to diftinguifh the refpectable and ingenious prelate, whofe fecond volume now lies before us. That writer is indeed peculiarly fortunate whose best literary efforts harmonife immediately with the duties of his profeffion; and who ranks fuperior to his competitors in that very line in which he is placed. Preferments conferred on fuch men as the prefent bifhop of London, reflect a luftre on the hand which confers them, and we have only to regret that such instances do not more frequently

occur.

If the alarm be real, and we are far from thinking it deftitute of foundation, that the established church, and even Christianity itself, is in danger from the innovating fpirit of the times, it is obvious that the evil can only be oppofed by arming in its defence the whole genius and learning of this nation; by liberally encouraging rifing talents, and by placing in the foremost stations of the church, those men whose C. R. N. AR. (XI.) July, 1794. abilities

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