fa dramatick author, or in what manner fuch a one fhould fpeak in their own perfons, are circumftances the audience have no right to enquire. If the characters presented to them fpeak the language of nature, and thofe characters are proper objects of dramatick reprefentation, The candour and good fenfe of an English audience fhould be reminded, that to conceive and fill up a Comedy is a task of no fmall difficulty, and every allowance ought to be made for any defects. Of this fpecies of compofition how few have reached the point of excellence. It is a remarkable circumft nce, that prefixed to Mrs. Behn's original play is a defence againft charges of indecency, and complaints of malevolence in fome part of the audience, in the fame manner as there is before the prefent performance. The Afiatick Mifcellany; confifting of origiral Productions, Tranflations, Fugitive Picces, Imitations, and Extracts from curious Publications, No. I. and II. 4to. Printed at Calcutta, by Daniel Stuart, 1785. Price a Gold Mohur each. THE defign of this Mifcelany is, as We think it ircunibent upon us to take particular netice of the prefent publication, as it can fall under the notice of but few of our readers. In the month of January 1784, úr William Jones delivered a difcourfe at Calcutta on the inftitution of a Society for enquiring into the hiftory, civil and natural, the antiquitics, arts, fciences, and literature of Ala; in which, after ftating the advantages which might probably rife from fuch a meeting regularly held, he fays, Let us, each year, we should be fupplied with a fufficiency of valuable materials to fill a volume, let us pretent our Afiatic Mifcelly to the literary world, who have derived fo much pleafure and information from the agreeable work of Kempfer (than which we can fcarce propofe a better model) that they will accept, with eagerners, any frefh entertainment of the fame kind." The prefcut publication feems to be formed upon the above plan, and is probably executed by the gentleman who threw out the above hint. In the infancy of any Society there ught to be no confinement, no trouble, no expence, no unneceffary formality. it you pleafe, for the prefent, have weekly evening meetings in this hall, for the purpose of hearing original papers read on fuch fubjects as fall within the circle of our enquiries. Let all curious and learned men be invited to fend their tracts to our Secretary, for which they ought immediately to receive cur thanks; and if, towards the end of It is intended to be continued four times a year, and every four numbers to compofe a volume. Each number is fold for a gold mohur; and the following are the contents of the firft and second numbers. No. I-1. The Bishop of Landaff's difcourfe to the clergy of Ely, on the importance of the ftudy of Oriental Lite rature. 2. A Hymn to Camdeo. By fir William Jones, fince reprinted by Payne, 410. 1784. 3. A Hymn to Narayena. By the Same. See page 47 of the prefent Magazine. 4. Reflections on viewing the Mauloleum at Sufferam. In a poetical epiftle to a friend. By Thomas Law, Efq. 5. Thevenot's account of his journcy from Cairo to Suez, in the year 1638. 6. An account of the Arabian Astronomy Extracted from Coftard's Hiftory of Aftronomy. 7. The fatal effects of precipitation. From the Ayer Danifn of Abulfazel. 8. An account of the Preadamites, and the Hiftory of the World to the death of Adam. Extracted from the Khelafut ul Akhbar of Khondemur. 9. An account of Embaffies and Letters that puffed between the Emperor of China and Sultan Shakrokh, fon of Ami Timur Timur. Extracted from the Matla us Sadein, and tranflated by William Chambers, Eiq. 10. A ftory from the Guliftan of Sadi. 11. A tale from the Bahurian of Janii. 12. Softly: an Ode from Hafiz. By the late captain Thomas Ford. 13. Ode from Khoofro. By W. K. 14. Extracts from the Youfef Zelikha of Jami. By Thomas Law, Efq. 15. Lines from Khoofro. By the faine. No. I. contains: 1. Mujnoon; or the distracted Lover. A Tale, in imitation of Jouini. By captain William Kirkpatrick. 2. The Hiftory of the World continued. 3. The voyages and travels of M. Cefar Fredericke, merchant of Venice, into the East Indies, and beyond the Indies. Traflated from the Italian in A. D. 1598. 4. An Hymn to Serefwaty. 5, The Enchanted Fruit; or the Hindu Wife. An antediluvian tale. Written in the province of Bahar. 6. A hort account of the Mahratta State. Written in Perian by a Munfhy that accompanied colonel Upton on his embany to Poonah. Tranflated by William Chambers, Efq. This and the third article have been lately reprinted by Kearfley. 7. Extracts from Yufef Zalikha continued. A concife Account of the Kingdom of PEGU, its Climate, Produce, Trade, and Government; the Manners and Customs of its Inhabitants. Interiperfed with Remarks moral and political. With an Appendix, containing an Enquiry into the Caufe of the Variety obfervable in the Fleeces of Sheep in different Climates : To which is added, a Description of the Caves at Elephanta, Ambola, and Canafa; the Whole being the Refult of Obfervations made on a Voyage performed by Order of the Honourable Eaft India Company. By W. Hunter, A. M. Surgeon. 8vo. Printed by John Hay, at Calcutta. 1785. Sewell. 5s. T1 HIS is one of the productions of the Calcutta prefs, and does no difcredit to the infant art of printing in that quarter of the world. The author, in an advertisement prefixed, fays, that the fubject of his book began to be digefted in 1783, and fome changes having hap pened in the state of the country fince that period, a few anachronifms may be obferved, which it would be difficult and perhaps not very eafy to guard againft. He adds, that to delineate the prefent ftate of a country where revolutions are fo frequent and fo fudden as they are in Pegu, is next to impoffible; and therefore what is contained in his work must be confidered as relating to the ftate of affairs as they were in Auguft and September 1782, except where the contrary is expressly mentioned. After this advertisement follows an introduction, wherein the author points out the reafons which have operated to render Pegu fo imperfectly known, and difplays the advantages which might refult from better acquaintance with that country. "The information, he adds, we have been able to collect, with regard to this country, is a inatter of fome importance to the politician; but differently confidered, the philofopher may perhaps find fomething in it not unworthy of his attention, as furhifhing materials for com pleating the hiftory of the human mind. Since an emulation arole among the nations of Europe, for making difcoveries in countries before unknown, this mot noble of all fciences, as well as almoft every other, has received great improvements. The moral philofopher has been furnished by thofe uncultivated nations with facts which he would have looked for in vain among people whofe minds had been made by habitual intercourfe to deviate from their natural bent, and conform themfelves to the artificial rules prefcribed by cuftom. "It is a curious and a pleafing task to trace a refemblance between fome of the customs that prevail in these remote and uncivilized countries, and those of nations to whofe manners we have been more habituated; and it is also a task from the prefecution of which we may derive no contemptible improvement. There are many things etablished by custom, nay, in fome inftances, itamped with the fanction of law, and practifed every day ` amongst us, which, in the eye of an impartial obferver, are unreafonable and abfurd: having been accustomed from our infancy to fee them, we become totally infenfible of their impropriety; yet place before our eyes the practice of a dif. tant and barbarous people, which agrees with our own in every eflential point, and FA only only varies in a few inconfiderable circumstances; the, abfurdity ftrikes our fenfe at once, and is thence reflected on that custom of our own which we had formerly looked on without any disapprobation. It is alfo in the hiftory of thofe nations where fociety is yet in its infancy, that we must look for the natural and undifguifed operation of the human paffions; for in vain fhould we expect to find the genuine effect of thofe emotions in a race of men among whom refinement has introduced a ftudied uniformity of conduct on all occafions." This work is divided into eight chapters, of which the following are the con tents: Chap. 1. Situation and extent of Pegu -A fhort account of the revolutions of its government-Defcription of the capital-Of the coaft-Face of the country Climate. Chap. 2. Defcription of the inhabitants Their perfons-A remarkable badge worn by their Birmahs-Drefs-Manners and difpofition-Military character. Chap. 3. Of the religion of Pegu Its objects-Of the Priefts or Talapoys Of their places of worship-Anniverfary festivals. ture, they refemble the Malays; their face is broad; the eyes large and black; the nofe flat; the cheek-bones prominent; and the mouth extremely wide: They wear, on the chin, a tuft of hair, of unequal lengths; and fhave the rest of the face. Their teeth are always of a jetblack, which, however disgusting it may be to an European eye, is, among them, efteemed a great ornament; and accordingly they are at very great pains to accomplish it. They wear various ornaments in their ears, many of them in common with other eastern nations; but one that appears to be peculiar to this people, is a thin plate of gold, rolled up in the form of a quill, about the thickness of a finger, which is thrust into a hole made in the ufual part of the ear, large enough to receive it. The foregoing defcription is chiefly applicable to the Birmahs, that is the natives of Ava, or their defcendants, who are now very numerous here, as the government is entirely in their hands. The original inhabitants of Pegu have faces more nearly approaching to the oval form; their features are fofter, more regular, and feem to exprefs greater fenfe and acuteness than thofe of the Birmahs, with whom, in other refpects, they nearly agree. The Birmahs, however, who pique themfelves on being defcended from the conquerors, and with to be diftinguished from the nation they fubdued, ufe a badge for that purpofe, which we must conclude they value very highly, from the fufferings they undergo to obtain it. The thigh of every Birmah, including the hip and knee, is of a jet-black; which has a very fingular appearance; and this mark they receive in their childChap. 7. Of the product and commerce hood. It is made by the repeated appliof Pegu-Trade of teak-wood-Tin- cation of an inftrument with a great numBees-wax--Gold-Nitre-Areca--Ca- ber of fharp points, placed clofe togechow-Petroleum---Grain-Animals- Chap. 4. Of the government of Pegu -Its form-Regulations of the policeOf the four principal magiftrates-The Meoon-The Recon-The CheckawThe ShabundarOf the dignity and power of the king of Ava-Hiftory and character of the prefent king. Chap. 5. Some account of the lawsOf punishinents-Trial by ordealLaws regarding marriages and debtors. Chap. 6. State of the arts in PeguLanguage of the Birmahs-Their manner of writing-Their mufic. Fruit-Money. Chap. 8. Of the treatment of foreigners who trade to Pegu-Reasons for the conduct of the Birmahs in this refpect -Propofal for putting the commerce on a better footing than at prefent. As a fpecimen of our author's manner, we fhall extract the fecond chapter. "The inhabitants, as I have obferv. ed, are of a muscular make; their ftature is about the middle fize, and their limbs, in general, well proportioned. Their complexion is fwarthy, being a medium between that of the Chinefe and of the inhabitants of Bengal. In fea ther, fomething like that used in carding wool, 'till the part is entirely covered with drops of blood. After this, they apply a liquid, of which galls is a principal ingredient. This excites a confiderable degree of fever; and it is computed by the natives themselves, that about two children out of five perish, in confequence of the operation. Some perfons of a higher rank have, instead of this, their thighs covered with the reprefentations of tigers, and other wild beafts, imprinted by a process fimilar to the former. I would not be meant by any thing that has been faid, to infinuate that this practice was firk instituted on the the conqueft of Pegu by the Birmahs; on the contrary, I believe it to be of much greater antiquity; and all I mean to fay, is, that the accidental circumstance of its preferving a feparation between them and the original natives of the country, has undoubtedly enhanced its value in their efteem. It is not easy to conjecture what has given rife to an operation which occafions fo much pain and danger to the perfon who undergoes it; but it is not altogether peculiar to this people; for we meet with practices fimilar to it among other nations: that which resembles it the most, is the operation of tattauwing, ufed by the natives of Otaheite. "The men have long black hair, tied on the top of the head; over which fome wear a white handkerchief, in form of a turban; others go with their heads bare and decorated with flowers. They wear about their loins a piece of party-coloured filk, or cotton cloth, which is afterwards paffed over the shoulder, and goes round the body. Those of higher rank have this cloth fo long as to hang down over their thighs and legs; which, among the lower clafs of people, are bare. The women have a kind of short jacket to cover the upper part of their bodies; and the remainder of their drefs is a piece of cloth, which is fastened round the loins, and hangs down to the ankles. This is doubled over a few inches at the fore-part, where it is open, so that the thigh is dif covered, in walking, through its whole length. This mode of dreis, they tell us, was first introduced by a certain queen of Ava, who did it with the view of reclaiming the hearts of the men from an unnatural and deteftable paffion to which they were, at that time, totally abandoned; and fucceeded fo well, that the is remembered at this day with gratitude, as a public benefactress to the kingdom. In their behaviour to ftrangers, they are obliging, and fhew a degree of franknefs that one would by no means expect to meet in a nation, whom we have been accustomed to look upon as barbarous. They exprefs a great curiolity to fee the manners of ftrangers, which makes them often come into their houses, and obferve all that is doing, without appearing to be under any constraint. They also take pleafure in imitating the dress and behaviour of those who come among them, and appear highly delighted when a franger imitates any of theirs. In re turn, if you go into their houses, you are received with great hofpitality; the people are eager to find fomething that may give you fatisfaction, and feem very happy when you fhew any marks of being They have none of that ftrictpleafed. nets which diftinguishes the other eaftern nations; but will themselves conduct you, with the greatest alacrity, through every The merit of part of their dwelling. their complaifance is fo much the greater on this account, that it cannot, in any degree, be afcribed to fear, as a stranger is here entirely in their power, and the people have a very high idea of their own military force and prowefs. "And not without reafon; for they are in reality, a formidable nation: numerous, brave, poffefling great ftrength of body, and capable of iuftaining fatigue; they only want a regular discipline to render their power truly refpectable. Their principal weapons are the fpear and fcimetar, both of which they handle with great dexterity. powder is not unknown to them, for they often employ mufkets with match-locks. They are frequently at war with the Siamefe, over whom they have been often victorious. The prifoners taken in thefe expeditions they detain, and employ in the occupations to which they were brought up. Many of the hip-builders at Rangoon are Siamefe, who have been taken in But the use of gun. war. For carrying any defperate enterprize into execution, they have a set of people, who very probably have been criminals referved for the purpose, to whom it is death to return without hav ing effected the bufinefs that they were This appears a strange piece fent on. of policy, as one should imagine that thofe men, whom we cannot fuppofe to be bound by any principles of honour, or actuated by any affection for the state to which they belong, lie under great temptations to join the enemy. What means are used to prevent fo probable a confequence; whether they are accompanied or commanded by men who are more worthy of truft, and able to reftrain them; or encouraged by the hope of rewards on their return with fuceefs, I have not been able to learn. But be this as it will, it is very well known, that the Birmahs are not fingular in this practice, which is adopted by many of the other defpotic powers of the Eaft," The The London Medical Journal. Vol. VII. For the Year 1786. Svo. Johnfen. THE fame degree of praise, which we have bestowed on foriner volumes of this excellent publication, may be extended to this. It contains a variety of new and important facts, and practical obfervations, which cannot but render it highly interefting and useful to every member of the medical profeffion. As the utility of the work is fo obvious, we learn with pleafure from the prefent volume that a French tranflation of it is now regularly publifhed at Dijon, under the aufpices of the Intendant of the province of Burgundy. Works like this, that tend to diffufe ufeful knowledge, efpecially on a fubject fo intimately connected with the welfare and happiness of the human fpecies as the cure of difeafe (notwithstanding what Rouffeau and others have faid to the contrary) cannot have too extenfive a circulation -The following brief view of the contents of the prefent volume will fhew how much the medical faculty (and we may add the public in general) are indebted to Dr. Simmons, the learned and ju dicious editor of the Journal, for the zeal and abilities he difplays in this undertaking. 1. Obfervations on the Ufe and Abufe of Mercury in the Cure of the Syphilis. Communicated in a Letter to Samuel Foart Simmons, M. D. F. R. S. By Thomas Kirkland, M. D. Member of the Royal Medical Society at Edinburgh.-The author of this truly practical paper has diftinguished himself by feveral valuable publications, and particularly by a work on medical furgery, in which he has given fome hints on the utility of mall dotes of mercury; a subject on which he here dilates more fully, with the hopes, as he fays, of preventing the injury ftill daily done to conftitutions by large dofes of this mineral, Dr. Kirkland relies, even in the worft cafes, on fmall doses of quick-filver divided in ftarch. 2. Some Experiments made with a View to afcertain the Duration of the infectious Power of Variolous Matter. By Thomas Houlton, M. D. Phylician to the Liverpool Infirmary.-Dr. Houlton, who was employed, in 1768, to inoculate two children of the late Prince Andrew Poniatowski, brother to the king of Po land, preferved fome of the matter taken from thefe two patients, in a bottle flightly corked, till the year 1781, when it was found on repeated trials to be incapable of communicating infection. 3. Cafe of a Retention of Urine removed by Electricity. Communicated in a Letter to Dr. Simmons, by Samuel Snowden, M. D. Phyfician at Stroud in Gloucefter fhire.-The effects of electricity in complaints of this kind have hitherto been but flightly mentioned by authors; the prefent cafe is on that account the more valuable, cfpecially as the efficacy of the remedy in this inftance is very striking, 4. Cafe of a Lumbar Abfcefs, with an Account of the Appearances on Diffection. By Mr. Laurence White Maguire, Surgeon of the Navy.-The whole of this hiftory is curious; the opinions of Mr. Jon Hunter and Mr. Cline concerning the cafe are mentioned; and the refult of the anatomical investigation is accurately defcribed. 5. Cafe of an Abfcefs of the Liver occafioned by a Blow; with an Account of the Appearances on Diffection. Communicated in a Letter to Dr. Simmons, by Mr. Ifaac Oliphant, Surgeon in London.-A poor labouring man fell from a hay-loft to the ground, and the upper part of his belly pitched upon a rafter that was lying on the pavement. This laid the foundation of the disease described by Mr. Olipant. After the death of the unhappy sufferer, a large cavity was found in the liver, capable of holding a quart, and containing a black matter intermixed with pus. This cafe ferves as an additional proof of the injury the abdominal viscera may occafionally receive from external blows. 6. An Account of a Suppreffion of Stools and Urine, occafioned by an Accumulation of hardened Feces in the Rectum. By the fame.-This caufe, which gave rife to the train of painful fymptoms here defcribed, is perhaps not fufficiently attended to; and it has fometimes proved fatal, and the nature of the complaint has not been ascertained till after death. Mr. Oliphant writes like a well-informed practitioner. 7. Two Inftances of the Effects of With the following title: Journal de Medicine de Londres, traduit de l'Anglois de M. Samuel Foart Simmons, Medecin de Londres; par M. Mafuyer, M. D. de l'Univerfité de Montpellier, Agrégé au College des Medecins de Dijon, et Affocié a l'Academie Royale des Sciences, Arts, et Belles Lettres de cette Ville. Drinking |