with animal mucus, the yolk of an egg, the white of an egg, blood and its ferum, fresh animal bile, ifinglafs, mucilage of gum arabic, gum tragacanth, the feed of quinces, the powder of the root of marshmallows and ftarch, manna, honey, fimple fyrup, linfeed oil, and fat. From the whole it appeared, that mercury was fooner extinguished, and more firmly united with human mucus, than with any other animal fubftance; but that with the mucilage of gum arabic, the extinction of the mereury was ftill more expeditious, and the union more strong. For this reafon he concluded, that of all vegetable, gummy, or plaftic fubftances, gum arabic is that which approaches the nearest to animal mucus, and ought to be preferred for extinguishing of mercury, as the most proper vehicle, by which as a medium the metalline particles may be rendered mifcible with the fluids of the body. The author proceeded then to try the effects of fuch a preparation, in those who had the venereal difeafe, in order to afcertain whether it could pass the prime via in fuch a form, and thereby cure the discafe more effectually than any other mercurial medicine. He relates the cafes of feveral patients to whom it was fuccefsfully adminiftered, in various quantities in folution: and found that no falivation was excited by this preparation, although given in very large quantities, unless there was another mercurial antecedently in the body, or, during the cure, another befides the gummy mercurial was taken. When we confider this fingular property, and that this medicine is perfectly mild, and free from all the faline acrimony which adheres to the other preparations of mercury; we must applaud the generous and difinterested fentiments of the medical faculty at Vienna, who fo readily facrifice their own private emolument to the good of fociety; and we congratulate the public on the difcovery of a remedy of fuch importance to the happiness of mankind.

17. An Essay on the Nature and Cure of the King's Evil, deduced from Obfervation and Practice. The third Edition, with a great Variety of Cafes and their Remedies, now firft published for the good of Mankind, particularly the Common People. By John Morley, Efa; of Halftead, in Effex. 8vo. Pr. 1. Buckland.

The first edition of this gentleman's Effay afforded us an opportunity of applauding his benevolence; the present publication, which contains the discovery of his grand arcanum for the cure of that dreadful diferler the king's evil, fills us with ftill higher ideas of his generofity and philanthropy. May the public-fpirited author continue to order amulets of vervain to be worn upon the breaft with a white fatten ribband, and no

* See Crit. Rev. Vol. X. p. 244.

Gg3

other;

other; and while he puts the root about the neck of his pa tients, we repeat with him his pious ejaculation, give his bleffing to thefe his endeavours."

66

Pray God

18. Obfervations on Specific Medicines, &c. and most other Difeafes incident to the Human Body; efpecially thofe that proceed from fome Disorder of the Uterus; or, the Difeafes peculiar to Women, &c. By a Phyfician in the Country. 8vo. Pr. 2s. 6d. Fletcher.

Though this publication is ushered into the world with a very patriotic introduction, and the profeffion of liberal mo tives; yet the plan of it affords reason to suspect that it is conducted upon principles which cannot eafily be feparated from a latent attention to private interest. For in every disease there is a noftrum recommended as infallible: but whether or not that fpecific confifts of a farrago of medicines, of which he declares is difapprobation, we thall leave to the determination of thofe who will be at the pains to analize them. Our author might have omitted to mention, that John of Gaddefen recommends in epileptic cafes, a boar's bladder boiled, and a cuckow; and have acknowledged that Hoffman had formerly condemned the ufe of bitter medicines in the jaundice, without feeming to ar rogate that discovery to his own experience only.

19. An Account of Inoculation for the Small-Pox. Wherein the Conflitution, Age, and Habit of Body, moft favourable to Inocu lation, are particularly pointed out; the various Methods that have been adopted by eminent Phyficians, before the Introduction of the prefent prevailing Practice, are difinally laid down; their Sueceffes or Failures impartially recorded; interspersed with Remarks on the Writers that have treated of this Distemper; and a Variety of Cafes which happened in the Author's Practice. Concluding with a Summary of all the Arguments for and against Inoculation, By David Schultz, M. D. 8vo. Pr. 25. Payne.

An old pamphlet with a new title-page.

20. A Regular English Syntax. Wherein is exhibited, the whole Variety of English Conftruction, properly exemplified. To which is added, the elegant Manner of arranging Words, and Members of Sentences. The whole reduced to Practice, for the Use of private young Gentlemen and Ladies, as well as of our most eminent Schools By James Buchanan. 12mo. Pr. 2s. 6d. Wren. We beftow no extraordinary encomium upon this author when we affirm, that be understands the fubject he treats of, as well, if not better than any of his brother grammarians. Though from the nature of his work, great part of it

is fuperfluous, because it contains matter obvious to common fenfe, yet in many paffages he discovers tafte, and a confiderable degree of critical knowledge. We have read with particular attention his fifth chapter, which lays down rules for the proper arrangement of words in a period, beginning with at natural ftyle, and proceeding gradually to the most inverted.

In the arrangement (fays he) of a period, the first and great object is perfpicuity, which ought not to be facrificed to any other beauty. Ambiguities occafioned by a wrong ar rangement are of two forts; one where the arrangement leads to a wrong fenfe; and one where the fenfe is left doubtful.

The firft, being the more culpable, fhall take the lead, beginning with examples of words put in a wrong place.

"How much the imagination of fuch a prefence muft exalt a genius, we may obferve merely from the influence which an ordinary prefence has over men." Characteristics, volume I. page 7.

This arrangement leads to a wrong fenfe: the adverb merely feems by its pofition to affect the preceding word; whereas it is intended to affect the words an ordinary prefence ; and therefore the arrangement ought to be thus: How much the imagination of fuch a prefence muft exalt a genius, we may obferve from the influence which an ordinary prefence merely has over men. [Or better] which even an ordinary prefence has over men.

"The time of the election of a poet-laureat being now at hand, it may be proper to give fome account of the rites and ceremonies antiently used at that folemnity, and only discontifrued through the neglect and degeneracy of later times."

GUARDIAN.

The term only is intended to qualify the noun degeneracy, and not the participle difcontinued; and therefore the arrange ment ought to be--and difcontinued through the neglect and degeneracy only of later times.

"Sixtus the Fourth, was, if I mistake not, a great collector of books, at leaft." Bolingbroke."

The expreffion here leads evidently to a wrong fenfe: The adverb at least ought not to be connected with the fubftantive books, but with collector, thus: Sixtus the Fourth was a great collector at least of books.

Again, fpeaking of Lewis XIVth, he fays, " If he was not the greatest king, he was the best actor of majesty at least, that ever filled a throne." Better thus: If he was not the greatest king, he was at least the best actor of majesty, &c. This arrangement removes the wrong fenfe occafioned by the juxta pofition of majesty and at leaft?

Gg 4

Thefe

Thefe are obfervations by which the greateft writer may pro fit; and Mr. Buchanan has given us several very just animadverfions upon the works of our most celebrated authors, for which, were they now alive, they certainly would, or ought to, thank him. Correctness is not always the characteristic of a great genius, and this grammarian proves it in many flagrant inftances.

t

21. Hiftorical EfJays upon Paris. Tranfiated from the French of M. De Saintefoix. In 3 Vols. 12mo. Pr. 95. Burnet.

The greatest part of the firft volume confifts of anecdotes upon the edifices in Paris, many of which are both curious and entertaining. The remainder of this volume, and the whole of the fecond, contains ingenious and sarcastic strictures upon the manners and cuftoms of the French, under their different races of kings; M. de Saintefoix is, however, fometimes miftaken, and frequently hurried away, by his zeal for his countrymen, into partial errors. The whole of the third volume under the title of The Wars between France and England, is an attempt to refute Rapin de Thoyras in fuch paffages of his History of England, as do not flatter the fuperior courage and warlike skill of his countrymen. This volume, which has no immediate connection with the general title or defign of the book, will be little fatisfactory to an English reader, especially if he hath perufed Rapin's Hiftory, as he will moft frequently find the quoted text from that author falfified to favour M. de Saintefoix's refutation.

The tranflation seems to have been executed by different hands, as the style is not the fame throughout, though it is not in geperal cenfurable.

Z2. A Voyage round the World, in his Majefty's Ship the Dolphin, commanded by the Hon. Commodore Byron. In which is contained a faithful Account of the feveral Places, People, Plants, Animals, c. Jeen on the Voyage: and, among other Particulars, a minute and exact Description of the Streights of Magellan, and of the Gigantic People called Patagonians. Together with an accurate Account of feven Iflands lately difcovered in the South Seas. B an Officer on board the faid Ship. 8vo. Pr. 35. 6d. Newbery.

This performance has the air of being a real journal of the voyage mentioned in the title; and contains many particulars which we believe are new to the public. Tnat a race of very tall men exists near the Straits of Magellan, cannot now admit of a doubt. They are here particularly defcribed; but the

editor or author of the journal has been fo tender of giving umbrage to his fuperiors, that he has left blanks for the degrees of latitude; fo that the precife places which he describes cannot be ascertained.

23. A Letter to Doctor Maty, Secretary of the Royal Society; containing an Abstract of the Relations of Travellers of different Na. tions, concerning the Patagonians; with a more particular Account of the feveral Difcoveries of the latest French and English Navigators, relative to this gigantic Race of Men; including a full Reply to the Objections made to their Exiftence. By Abbé Coyer, F. R. S. Small 800. Pr. zs. Becket and Hondt.

This abbé alternately affects a fceptical and a decifive air. Sometimes the exiftence of Patagonians is ridiculed, fometimes it is affirmed, but without any degree of wit, humour, or reasoning on either fide. At laft his performance lands in an Utopian fyftem of propagation, religion, government, the civil and military arts, education, police, and all that, which he fuppofes the real Patagonians to enjoy. The only remark we shall make on this Letter is, that had an Englishman's name been prefixed, the publication of it would not have defrayed the expence of paper and print.

24. An Appendix to Dr. Swift's Works and Literary Correspondence. Improved from an Edition printing by Mr. Faulkner: and now first published, April 1767. 8vo. Pr. 6d. Bladon.

The contents of this pamphlet are the gleanings of a great man's study, many of which, had they not efcaped his obfervation, he would have configned to the flames. We find nothing in them which can interest a reader so far as to peruse them, excepting three letters to Mr. Archdeacon Walls, written in 1713, when a defign was on foot to make the dean prolocutor of the clergy in Ireland. The publication of the other pieces in this small collection does no honour to the dean's

memory.

25. A short View of the Laws now fubfifting with respect to the Powers of the Eaft-India Company to borrow Money under their Seal, and to incur Debts in the Course of their Trade, by the Purchafe of Goods on Credit, and by freighting Ships or other Mercantile Tranfactions. 8vo. Pr. 6d. Nicoll.

This little pamphlet, we think, fully anfwers its title, by juftifying the proceedings of the company in purchasing goods on credit, and incurring debts by freights, and fuch other circum

stances.

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