CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON REVIEW.

SIR,

As your review of Baron Dimfdale's late publication will be read fo much more than the work itself, I think it a duty incumbent on me to defire you will publish this letter, or take fuch notice of it as is consistent with your plan.

It is not my design to enter into a medical refutation of the thoughts on general and partial inoculation, but to point out the fallacy of the author's objections to the Difpenfary for general inoculation, and to obferve that his fcheme for extending the practice of that falutary art would prove fo expenfive that it could never be adopted either by government or individuals.

There are fo many concurring caufes to occafion the increase of deaths arifing from the fmall-pox, that I am perfectly convinced it does not proceed from inoculation, as advanced by the Baron: on the contrary I think it evident that inoculation must be the means of decreasing the number; fince the effluvia thrown off must ever be in proportion to the quantity and virulence of the puftules. I hope fome able perfon will fit down to fhew the little care and attention that has been taken to afcertain facts, and indeed the futility of the whole performance. For the prefent let us confider this matter on the principle of univerfal benevolence, and in order to do this more effectually for the benefit of fociety, let us for a moment admit the Baron's affertion, that the number of deaths in this disorder is increased by the practice of inoculation. What are the confequences to the state? That a greater lofs will be fuftained amongst the laborious part of the community, until a general plan of inoculation is adopted, for all who are enabled by their fituation in life will avail themselves of its advantages, whilft the poor, without whom fociety cannet exift, are condemned without pity or help to the terrible evils and dangerous confequences of the disease in its natural state.

It is the duty of every man to render all the fervice in his power to that fociety of which he is a member. No plan, fraught with great benefits, can be carried into practice without fome difadvantages, but fo long as the How good effects preponderate, we are not to remain carelefs or indolent. amazingly abfurd then would it be to defer general inoculation any longer, becaufe is is fuppofed by a few that the infection is communicated and the natural difeafe fpread! In this great city, inoculation, according to our author's idea, is fufficiently practifed to keep up the natural fmall-pox perpetually, yet who can blame parents, whofe with is the welfare and fafety of their families, when he confiders that in the natural state of this diforder one dies in feven or thereabouts, and, by inoculation not one in five hundred. Amazing difproportion! fufficient furely to influence the benevolent heart to extend the practice for the benefit of the helpless as fpeedily-and on as large a fcale as poflible. On this principle-the principle of univerfal good-will to mankind and particular utility to the ftate, the institutors of the Difpenfary for general inoculation fet on foot this charity. They endeavoured to render it moft effentially ufeful. They only with that all, who confider the affair in its true light, and are fenfible of its propriety would affift in making it as extenfive as they are convinced it is ufeful. They plainly faw the utility of aflifting the neceffitous in this time, they termed it therefore a charity for general inoculation-inviting all whofe want of health did not render them unfit to partake of its benefits. Of what immediate service to the state and to the infantile part of the inhabitants of this city, might this chàrity be made by a little attention and affiduity!

Refpecting the state-It would be politic for government to encourage this inftitution and to fend the foldiers and failors who have not had the fmallpox as they arrive near the metropolis-Seamen in particular fhould be attended to, for every one converfant in that fervice knows how deftruc

M m m 2

tive

tive this disease too often proves amongst this useful body of people. They might be entertained at quarters according to the ufage of the navy, and a very trivial expence incured to the state.

Refpecting the children—and indeed the whole inhabitants of LondonThe officers of the different parishes thould make a point of fending their poor at ftated times, or as o ten as they find amongst them any who have not had the diforder. This in a few months, would obviate Baron Dimidale's ideal fears, and effectually answer the purpose of his vifionary fcheme-a fcheme that can never be carried into execution, as the expence would be greater than found policy could allow the state to be at even on this occafion.

I cannot difmifs the fubject without mentioning one circumstance which I dare fay will frike you forcibly. The Baron afferts that the natural smallpox is greatly increased by the practice of inoculation, and yet continues to inoculate largely. Either let him totally defift from the practice, or promote a more eligible and more practicable mode of carrying the happy confequen. ces of it to the poor; for, in the prefent ftate-if we allow his ideas to be juft-thofe inoculators, who have the greatest practice, are doing the greateft mifchief, and the Baron may be faid to have flain his thousands. I am Sir, your most obedient Servant June 27, 1776.

A GOVERNOR,

TO THE LONDON REVIEWERS.

GENTLEMEN,

As, in the rapidity of compofition and under the neceffity of attending to a multiplicity of objects, it is impoffible that many things muft not escape your attention, I hope you will not think it a piece of conceit in myfelf, or meant to impeach a fuperior critical fagacity in you, that I take the liberty of pointing out a circumftance, in which, I conceive, you have given countenance to a piece of falfe criticism in the strictures of a very ingenious writer; whofe authority, therefore, it is the more neceffary to ferutinize. Mr. Mickle the tranflator of Camoens's Lufiad, in defending the delicacy of his author's language, obferves, that in the times in which Camoens lived, delicacy of language was to little underfood even in England, that the groffeft imagery often found a place in the pulpit of the most pious divines; as a proof of which, he obferves, that in the old liturgy, it was esteemed no indelicacy of expreffion to enjoin the wife to be buxom in bed and at board. It must certainly be from inattention that you fuffered this fallacious piece of criticifm to efcape uncor rected; as you cannot be ignorant that the word buxom, in the time of Queen Elizabeth and for fome time after, meant merely obedient, yielding, agreeable to its original derivation from the Saxon word to bend.—I wonder that even Mr. Mickle fhould be unapprized of this, as Johnton, in his dictionary, gives the fame acceptation of the term; obferving that one John de Trevifa a clergyman tells his patron, in the language of that age, that he is obedient and buxom to all his commands. Spenfer, in like manner, fpeaks of the Irish being tractable and buxom to government. Even Milton applies this epithet in the fame fenfe to the air.

He with broad fails

Winnow'd the buxom air.

Johnfon, indeed, conceives that from the very ufe of the term in the old matrimonial fervice, its prefent meaning is derived; if fo, that ufe can by no means be urged as an inftance of its indelicacy or indecency. For the trac tability and compliance may be the effect of inclination and wantonnefs, docility and obedience may be equally the effect of modesty and duty. I am Gentlemen, your humble Servant'

Cambridge, June 27, 1776.

TO THE LONDON REVIEWERS.
GENTLEMEN,

P. R.

Belonging to a fociety, in which your Review is regarded as a literary oracic, I have frequently heard the delay of your promited London Catalugue

regretted

regretted; most of our members being curious to learn the opinion, of critics fo bold and unbiassed as yourselves, regarding publications that stand higher, as they conceive, in the esteem of the public than they deserve. At the fame time they forefee that, while a number of now popular performances are degraded, not a few of those, configned by a tastelefs and diffipated age to oblivion, will emerge from their obfcurity and claim a fhare equal to their merit in the public esteem.-You will not wonder at this, when I frankly confefs that we have among us more than one disappointed author, who modeftly conceives that, if justice were done him, he might fill up a nich in the Temple of Fame, with as much propriety as many of those, whom popular partiality has stuck up there. A fpice of envy, indeed, may intrude itself, when they flatter themselves you will proceed fo far as even to ouft some of thofe fortunate favourites; whofe names have been unaccountably hoisted fo high on the rubric poft, that even the pretenfions of over weening worth fcarce entitle them to fuch eminent exaltation. Be this, however, as it may; the publication of your Catalogue being apparently deferred fine die, and even the plan of it, as we conceive, too confined to admit of a copious critique on any particular work, an expedient hath been started, which in time may gratify our curiofity and at the fame time add not a little to the value of your critical compilation. This expedient is that you will occafionally indulge your readers with an impartial and well-digefted critique, on the most popular English books that have appeared within the last forty or fifty years, or even plus ultra: By which means your work will become by degrees a compleat body of English criticifm.-That you can allot but a part of each Review, for this department, is obvious; but we imagine that in a dearth of new publications and in the vacation season, the adopting this expedient, in fuch proportion as you can find room, will be more acceptable and edifying_to your readers than your otherwife neceffarily enlarging your accounts of a few books, and thofe of little importance but that arifing from their novelty. The docility you have fhewn, in adopting a former hint, communicated by our literary club, encourages us to this fecond application; which, if the object of it appears to you in the fame light it does to us, we doubt not you will honour with your confideration and compliance. We are your humble Servants,

London, June 29, 1776.

KA READING CLUB. By Order. I. B. Secretary. The Reviewers having confidered of the above expedient, are difpo fed to adopt it, in the degree proposed, and for the reason last assigned, viz. the want of room in their London Catalogue for a very copious account of any particular work. The publication of that Catalogue, however, is not deferred fine die, but will make its appearance with all poffible expedition.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The Rev. Mr. Priestley's Letter is received, and his correfpondence on the fabject propofed acceptable, on the conditions prescribed, viz. no alteration whatever.

S. W's letters would be better fent to the Gentleman's or fome other refpectable Magazine.

We are forry there are so many labourers in the literary vineyard that we can give no encouragement to our ingenious correspondent at Portsmouth.Should any thing foon offer, the shall hear from us.

Fond as the Reviewers are of jokes, they are like other people, in not chufing to have them cut too often at their own expence. No packets, therefore, fent them from diftant parts of the kingdom, will, for the future be received, unless franked or the postage paid.

The Reviewers are much flattered by H. S. and others, in the great deference paid to their judgment; but they cannot, unlefs to bookfellers, give any private opinion of unpublifhed manufcripts. The MSS. of H. S.-M. B.T. D. and S. V. will therefore be redelivered to the bearer or addrefs of cach refpectively,

CATA

CATALOGUE

FOREIGN BOOKS, lately published.

FRENCH.

Hiftoire de l'Academie Royale des Infcriptions.& Belles Lettres, &c. tom. xxxvi. 4to. Paris.

This volume of the Hiftory of the Royal Academy of Infcriptions and the Belles Letters, confifts of extracts taken from the registers of the academy from the year 1767 to 1769 inclufive.

Hiftoire Critique de la Decouverte des Longitudes, par l'auteur de Aftronomie des Marins. 8vo. Paris.

The Critical Hiftory of the Discovery of the Longitude, contains a detail of the feveral practical attempts that have been made to effect that discovery by watches, time-keepers, &c. and is executed with accuracy. Hiftoire de la Querelle de Philippe de Valois continuée fous leurs fucceffeurs, &c.

d'Edouard III. Paris.

120. 4 vols.

The Continuation of the Hiftory of the rivalship between France and England, by Mr. Guillard of the French Academy.

Inftructions d'une pere à fes enfans, fur la Nature & fur la Reli-' gion. 8vo. 2 tom. Geneve.

Moral and pious inftructions, written by a father for the use of his children. This father is Mr. Trembley, well known in the philofophical world for his discoveries in natural history.

Moyens d'extirper l'Ufure, ou projet d'Establishment d'une Caiffè de prêt Public a fix per cent. &c. 12mo. Paris.

A Project for the Extirpation of Ufury, by the Establishment of a Fund for lending Money to Individuals on various Security, at fix per cent. A project fomething fimilar to the Charitable Corporation fcheme, fet on foot in England above fifty years ago.

L'Etude de l'Homme. Par M. Contan.

If, as our countryman has it,

12mo. Paris,

The proper ftudy of mankind is man, we may with propriety recommend this little tract, by M. Contan, as by no means the least instructive on the subject.

Expofition Anatomique des Organes des Sens, &c. avec figures. fol. tom. I.

Anatomical Plates, with judicious and explicit Illuftrations. The prints are tolerably well engraved and coloured, by M. d'Agoty, the elder.

La

La France Illuftre, ou le Plutarque Francois. Annee. 1775. 4to.

Paris.

Another volume of Mr. Turpin's French Plutarch, fpiritedly, though fomewhat incorrectly written. This volume contains the lives of Marfhall Saxe, the Chancellor d'Agueffeau, and Marshall de Belle-Ifle. The plates are really well engraved.

Cours d'Etude pour l'Inftruction du Prince de Parma. 16 tom. 8vo. Parma.

A Course of Study for the Inftruction of the Prince of Parma. This work was compiled by the celebrated Abbé de Condillac, and is one of the most compleat performances of the kind extant.

Le Bienfaits de la Nuit, Ode. 8vo. Paris.

As Mr. André, the ingenious author of this ode, frankly confeffes he has fpoilt it, by imputing that to the night which is equally characteriftic of the day, it may be needlefs to remind him of the logical garrulity of old Polonius, that to prove day is day and night is night, what is it but to mifpend both day and night. Other poets lefs modeft, however, may profit by the observation.

Effai fur l'Hiftoire Naturelle de St. Dominque, &c. avec figures.

Paris.

This Effay on the Natural Hiftory of St. Domingo, appears to be faithfully drawn up on the fpot, as we learn, by Father Nicholfon, a Dominican friar, who refided fome years on the island.

Difcours fur les Monumens Publics de tous les Ages & de tous les Peuples connus, &c. Paris.

This extensive undertaking, giving an account of all the public monuments in the known world, has been impofed on himfelf by the Abbé de Luberfac, and is calculated to form a compendious hiftory of the arts in their progress from the most ancient to modern times.

La Propriété Litteraire defendue. 8vo. Gottingen

A tranflation from a tract on the fame fubject, written in German by J. S. Putter; in which literary piracy is tried, on the univerfal principles of Law of Equity, and condemned.

Examen Critique des Anciens Hiftoriens d'Alexandre le Grand.

4to.

Paris.

The Royal Academy of Infcriptions and Belles-Letters having propofed a Critical Examination of the ancient Hiftorians of Alexander the Great, as the subject of a prize for the years 1770 and 1772, the preference was given to Baron de St. Croix, author of the prefent performance which has fince received fome finishing touches by the maflerly hand that first designed it.

Syfteme Phyfique & Morale de la Femme. Paris. This is an ingenious philofophical treatile on the ftructure, conflitution, functions, and manners peculiar to the female sex.

Reflexions