the throat and mouth of these creatures and this seems to me the most evident proof of the incapacity of orangs, apes, and monkies, to utter any modulated voice, as indeed they never have been obferved to do.' Article 20. Account of the Free Martin. By Mr. John Hunter, F. R. S. Hermaphrodites, in general, feem to be cafual and anomalous productions, or lufus naturæ: but in the Bovine race, as we learn for the first time in this paper, nature, for fome reason best known to herself, in the myfterious process of generation, seems to follow a regular fyftem in the production of an hermaphrodite. It seems, that if a cow bring forth twins, that are both bull-calves, or both cow-calves; each becomes refpectively a perfect bull, or cow: but, on the contrary, if a cow produce two calves, one of which is a bull-calf, and the other apparently a cow; though the bull-calf becomes a perfect bull, the other calf is a kind of hermaphrodite, unfit for propagation. The animal, at leaft, is not known to breed; never fhews the leaft inclination for the bull; nor does the bull ever take the leaft notice of it. This hermaphrodite is called the Free Martin. It has the teats and the external female parts of the cow: in other refpects, it exhibits an unequal mixture of the two fexes; in which, at least in the three inftances here defcribed by the Author, the female is predominant. It resembles those imperfect or mutilated animals, the ox, or fpayed heifer, in form, and other particulars. It is much larger than either the bull or cow its horns are likewife larger; being fimilar to those of an ox, whom it resembles too in its bellow, or voice. MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. Article 5. Account of Dr. Knight's Method of making_artificial Load-ftones. By Mr. Benjamin Wilfon, F. R. S. It appears from this paper, that the artificial magnets made by the late Dr. Knight were formed of a fubtle powder of iron, made into a pafte with oil. A great quantity of clean iron filings were put into a large tub containing clean water; in which, with much labour, they were agitated many hours, in order that the friction might break the filings into an impalpable powder. This would, on agitation, remain for a fhort time fufpended in the water, which in its turbid ftate was poured off into a clean 'veffel, where the fine powder foon fubfided. In fhort, his process, with refpect to the effential particulars, appears to be the very fame with that invented by Lemeri, for the preparation of what is called his Martial Ethiops. When a fufficient quantity of this powder had been collected and dried, it was made into a pafte with linfeed oil;—a subftance, which would fupply it perhaps with more phlogiston than the fmall quantity it might have loft in the process; particularly in the drying. Being moulded into convenient forms, the pieces were dried before a moderate fire; where they acquired the neceffary degree of hardness. He then gave them their magnetic virtue in any direction he pleased, by placing them between the extreme ends of his large magazine of artificial magnets for a few seconds or more, as he faw occasion. 6 By this method, adds Mr. Wilfon, the virtue they acquired was fuch, that when any one of these pieces was held between two of his best ten guinea bars, with its poles purposely inverted; it immediately of itself turned about to recover its natu ral direction, which the force of those very powerful bars was not sufficient to counteract.' Article 15. Account of the Effects of Lightning on Board the Atlas. By Allen Cowper, Efq. Mafter of the Atlas Eaft Indiaman, &c. A conductor belonging to this fhip was unfortunately not fixed at the time of the accident (the afternoon of December 31, 1778) because lightning is extremely unufual at that time of the year, in our climate. By the explofion, which was attended with a most violent squall, very heavy rain, and large hail, a feaman in the main catharpins was ftruck dead; another in the main top was miferably fcorched, and rendered fenfelefs; and others received very smart shocks. A fulphureous smell produced by it lafted all that day and night. Though the principal difcharge appears to have been made near the main mast; no vifible trace of the lightning could be perceived on that or the other mafts, nor indeed any where elfe, except on the bodies and cloaths of the men through whom it paffed. The topgallant-mafts had no iron work upon them. Article 19. Account of a new Method of cultivating the Sugar Cane. By Mr. Cazaud. This paper, which is tranflated from the French, appears to contain many valuable obfervations, made by a Sugar Planter at Grenada, relative to the beft method of cultivating a plant which, Mr. Cazaud obferves, is worth nine millions fterling annually to Europe. Many particulars, likewise, relating to it's natural hiftory are here communicated, and are illuftrated by a plate; without which the article would be unintelligible. One remark however of a general nature may be extracted; to fhew the immenfe difference occafioned by natural climate, in cafes where we endeavour to produce the fame temperature, in our artificial hot-houses. On that night and the following morning, a dreadful form paffed over particular parts of England. In a place near the middle of the island, and not far from the fea, the lightning was frequent; though the thunder could not be heard on account of the wind. In the Weft India islands, from the time of the appearance of the first joint, the cane acquires a fresh joint nearly every week, for the space of 40 or 50 weeks; whereas in the King of France's botanic garden at Paris, M. Thouin fhewed the author a cane which had been brought from America in a pot ten years before; and which, in all that time, had got only two joints out of the ground. To know a plant therefore thoroughly, fays Mr. Cazaud, we fhould ftudy it in the climate to which it belongs." From the laft article in this volume, the meteorological journal of the royal fociety, we learn that the variation of the needle, in July 1778, was 22 degrees, 20 minutes. next. TH B...y. The MATHEMATICAL Articles will be reviewed in our ART. VI. A fight Sketch of the Controverfy between Dr. Priestley and his Opponents, on the Subject of his Difquifitions on Matter and Spirit. In a Letter to a Friend. 8vo. 1 S. Becket. 1780. HE ingenious artift, who has here undertaken a delineation of the controverfy between Dr. Priestley and his Anfwerers, profeffes in the moft modeft terms, to give only a flight fketch, or the mere outlines of the ground on which the metaphyfical and religious combatants have exerted themselves. His outlines, however, are far from being deftitute of ftrong light and shade; nor is a little warm colouring wanting occafionally. He declares himself to be no difciple of Dr. Priestley, but nevertheless defirous of bearing a willing tribute to his merit; particularly in expofing the partial, erroneous, and, in one or two well known inftances, wilfully falfe accounts, that have been given of his doctrine, and its tendency. On the prefent controverfy, fays our Author, Dr. Priestley hath had the misfortune of being misunderstood, or misreprefented, beyond any other writer of rank and character in the literary world-unlefs, perhaps, we except the moft learned and ingenious author of the "Divine Legation of Mofes." Both have fallen under the invidious imputation of fcepticism: and the religious profeffions of both have been equally dfcreditedeither by ignorance, which could not comprehend the tenor of arguments that were not confined to the common and beaten track of fpeculation and logic; or by envy-which, when it fails to destroy a man's claims to learning and genius, will torture its invention, and Scripture too, to make his religion queftionable.' Dr. Priestley, he afterwards adds, has been accused of a defign the moft oppofite to his wifhes; and that is, to fubvert the doctrine of a future ftáte. His enemies-for as a Prefbyterian he hath many-and as a Socinian more-have preci pitately caught at the charge: and fome of them were not deftitute of that cunning and addrefs which were juft fufficient to give it the credit they defired. The fwarm of Atheistic Libertines, who are not qualified to reafon about religion, but only to vilify it, because it is a check on their views, were very eager to adopt as a truth, what his enemies had exhibited as an accufation. They were happy to enroll the name of Priestley in the catalogue of thofe heroic writers, who, fcorning an accommodation with religion, had nobly rejected, in the greatness of their fouls, both its duties and its fanctions; and having reprefented virtue as the mere creature of cuftom and polity, had given up a future ftate as the dream of fuperftition, or the artifice of prieftcraft.' The perfons whofe writings relative to Dr. Priestley's metaphyfical and religious opinions are more particularly noticed in this fketch, are-that original character, the Priest of Nature, John Buncle, Efq;-the Rev. David Williams, the Preacher in Margaret-Street,' who hath only the fecondary honour of coming after John Buncle, Efq;' in this high and felf-appointed office; the memorable Mr. James Seton;-the Notorious' envenomed old Jacobite,' Shebbeare;-Mr. Jofeph Berrington; the late Dr. Kenrick;-a Chriftian;-Mr. Whitehead; Dr. Horley;-Dr. Price ;-Philalethes Rufticans;-Dr. Duncan; the mighty" Vindicator of the Church of England," and one or two others.-After briefly reviewing, with much fpirit, and occafionally with humour, the opinions or views of the controvertifts, the Author difcuffes the true point in debate between Dr. Priestley and his more fober and rational opponents; principally, to use his own words, with a view to convince the Infidel, that Dr. Priestley is no partizan of his cause, no advocate for any doctrine that hath the most remote tendency to unfettle the laws or fanctions of religion: but on the contrary, that he hath exerted his best talents in fixing them on the only foundation on which they can fecurely ftand,-and that is, the GOSPEL of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, whose refurrection ALONE "hath begotten us again to a lively hope of an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." B...T. ART. VII. Letters on the Utility and Policy of employing Machines to Becket. 1780. Written by Mr. The. Bentley. THE HE fubject of thefe Letters forms a confiderable branch of that useful science which explains the principles and caufes of the populousness and wealth of nations. The prac tice of this fcience, fo peculiarly interefting to mankind, is better understood in England than it was by any of the ancient, and than it is by all the modern nations of Europe. Yet by fome unaccountable fatality, which it is almost as difficult to believe as to explain, there is fcarcely any civilifed people who have paid less attention to the theory of political œconomy than the generality of the inhabitants of this ifland. The name we have borrowed from the French, as they did from the Greeks; which tends to prove that our continental neighbours preceded us in examining this branch of ftudy; and it is well known that they had established innumerable focieties for cultivating it, and had published many voluminous works, containing the result of their reafonings and inquiries; while in England, this important science was comprehended within the narrow limits of a few imperfect treatises, which merit our attention rather from the particular facts they relate, than from the general principles which they explain. But refpecting this branch of knowledge, as well as many others, it may be obferved, that what the French have begun or invented, the English have improved and carried to perfection. We can now boast of two writers in our own language, whofe fuperior merit is allowed by the general confent of Europe, and even of the French themfelves, to raise them above the whole clafs of French aconomifts t; and whofe penetration and ability have defcribed the internal ftructure of the political edifice, with a degree of perfpicuity and of force, which is equally inftructive and convincing. The reader, who has paid any attention to the philofophical principles of government, will immediately recollect the names of Hume and Smith, whofe writings, by a felicity rarely allotted to the productions of this ifland, have paffed the feas in fafety and with honour; have acquired one uniform character among the thinking part of mankind in every country which they have reached; and while decried by the ignorant prejudice, clamorous faction, and fuperftitious bigotry of a particular party at home, have obtained the general fuffrage of philofophers in every corner of Europe. The great principles of the economical science are fo ably and fo copiously explained by these invaluable writers, that * Davenant's Difcourfes, Petty's Political Arithmetic, Mun, Gee, Law, Child on Trade. The writers upon economy lo called, With Hume's "Effays," and Smith's " Caufes of National Wealth," we might clafs, Sir James Stuart's work on "Political Economy," if the low and incorrect flyle and careless arrangement of that performance did not difgrace the fenfible obfervations, and deep, yet folid reafonings with which it abounds. REY. Mar. 1780. Q it |