ficient to fay, that as a veffel of copper, tin, or lead, would probably be used in this operation, his mineral hypothefis is still fafe. If, after all, you urge, that thefe noxious impregnations might poffibly occafion a colic or palfy, but that the gout is a different affair-no, fays he, they are the fame thing in effect, though a little different in appearance. To fuch reafoning do people fometimes defcend in fupport of a favourite hypothefis!

Art. 18. An Effay on the Cure of Abfceffes, Wounds, and Ulcers. Alfo, a New Method of curing the Lues Venerea, with Dr Hunter's and Mr. Cruickshanks's Opinion on this Method, and alfo on the Abforption in Human Bodies; with Experiments on infenfible Perfpiration. By Peter Clare, Surgeon. The Second Edition, illuftrated by Cafes and Anatomical Engravings. 8vo. 4 S. Boards. Cadell. 1779.

In our Review for June laft, we gave fome account of the first edition of this work. Confiderable additions are now made to it, particularly in the obfervations furnished by Mr Cruickshanks. Art. 19. Thoughts on Amputation. Being a Supplement to the Letters on Compound Fractures, and a Comment on Dr. Bilguer's Book on this Operation. To which is added, A fhort Effay on the Ufe of Opium in Mortifications. By Thomas Kirkland, M. D. Member of the Medical Society at Edinburgh. 8vo. 2 S. Dawfon. 1780.

Mr. Pott, in a late publication, pointing out the neceffity of amputation in certain cafes, and the advantage of performing this operation speedily, was led to make fome fevere ftri&tures on Dr. Bilguer's celebrated work, in which a contrary practice was maintained. On the other hand, Dr. Kirkland, of Afhby, takes up the pen in favour of Bilguer, and attempts to fhew, that his general doctrine is neither fo ablurd nor mischievous as Mr. Pott has reprefented it; and that his own experience, particulary in compound fractures, confirms the fuppofition that amputation is much less frequently neceffary than is ufually imagined. As degree of injury is almoft the fole thing which must determine this point, it is very dif. ficult to lay down any precife rules in these cafes; but we think it fufficiently appears, that Dr. Kirkland and his friends, as well as practitioners in various other parts of the country, have faved many a limb, which would have been doomed, without hefitation, to the knife, in a London hofpital. It is very poffible, however, that the attempt to fave the limb in one cafe, and its speedy removal in the other, may be both equally right; fince the difference between the air of a crowded city hofpital, and that of a private chamber in the country, will give room to expect a very different event in fimilar aceidents and we are rather furprised, that this important circumftance in the debate has been fo little dwelt on by either party.

Dr. Kirkland's remarks on the ufe of opium, in mortifications, tend chiefly to fhew, that the propriety of employing this remedy will entirely depend on the particular nature and fymptoms of the cafe: that wherever there is much pain and irritability, opiates will greatly affift in the cure; but that where the vis vite are very languid,

See Review for March 1779.
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the

the part affected indolent, and nervous energy deftroyed, cordial and ftimulating medicines are proper, and opium is prejudicial.

NOVEL.

Art. 20. The Relapfe. A Novel. In Two Volumes. 12mo. 5 s. Lowndes. 1779.

There has, of late, been fuch an uncommon dearth of this kind of food, that, at this time, no doubt, many thousand eager appetites are craving for fomething new, to whom a dish prepared by the author of Indiana Danby will be a delicious morfel.

AFFAIRS OF THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY.

Art. 21. Thoughts on the Treaty now agitating between Government and the East India Company, thewing the conceived Defects of the Propofitions drawn up by the Court of Directors; and containing a new Set of Propofitions, perhaps more advantageous to the Public, to the Company, and the oppreffed Inhabitants of Hindostan. By Archibald Mitchell, late Major of Engineers, belonging to the Establishment of Fort St. George. 4to. Is. 6d. Donaldson. 1780.

Mr. Mitchell appears to have ftudied his fubject with due attention, and to have difcuffed it with ability and perfpicuity. The points under his confideration are enumerated in the title. He puts the following query, Would it not be proper that the Government or the Company should give 1000 1. or fuch other fum as they fhall think adequate, to be paid to the perfon who gives in the beft and fhortest draughts of a charter, or articles of partnership, betwixt Government and the Company ?'-Should this hint be taken, we think Mr. Mitchell well qualified to put in for the prize; of which his Propofitions, above mentioned, may be taken as a fpecimen, being laid down as the basis of an agreement between Government and the Company.

Art. 22. Heads of an Agreement between Parliament and the Eaft India Company. 8vo. 13 Pages.

These propofitions seem to be laid down on the part of the Company, but we know not on what authority. They are dated Feb. 18, 1780: thofe prepared by the Court of Directors were given at the Eaft India Houfe, on the 28th of January.

Art. 23. State of the Eaft India Company, with an Examination of the Propofitions now before the Proprietors, confidered as Matter of Account; and Sketch of equitable Terms of an Accommodation between the Public and the Proprietors. 8vo. 1 s. Sewell. 1780.

The calculations, estimates, and obfervations contained in this compendium of the Company's great and most effential concerns, appear to come from a perfon well informed, and deeply experienced, in regard to a fubject which muft, in the highest degree, affect the commercial and eventually the political interefts of this country. The Writer figns himfelf" An old and faithful Servant of the Com

The Company's Propofitions are added, by way of Appendix to this pamphlet.

pany;"

pany;" and we are ready to conclude, from the contents of his publication, that he has not assumed an imaginary character.

L A W.

Art. 24. Abstract of the Smugglers, Arreft, Militia, Convicts, House Tax, and other interefting Acts of Parliament passed in the Seffions of 1779. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Fielding and Walker.

An ufeful and judicious abridgment. The great bulk to which the volume of our acts of parliament is annually fwoln, renders fome publication of this kind almoft neceffary. We really believe that the most prolific authors in this country are (with due reverence be it fpoken) Meffrs. the King, Lords, and Commons; and that the fruits of their joint labours, for ten years past, far exceed, in number and fize, all that the two univerfities have produced in the course of half a century. Is it not then time to abrogate the ancient maxim that "ignorantia legis excufat neminem? What a task does the legislature impofe on the good fubjects of this realm in expecting that their understanding and memory fhould keep pace with the enormous growth of the statute book!

For who can read so fast, as they can write?"

DRAMATIC.

8vo.

Art. 25. The Times; a Comedy, As it is now performing at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane. By Mrs. Griffith. 1 s. 6d. Fielding and Walker. 1780.

To this comedy is prefixed an advertisement beginning thus:

The favourable reception which the following comedy has met with from a candid and generous Public, calls for my warmeft acknowledgments; and though it may be of little confequence to them to know the fource of fo flight an amufement, I think myself bound by truth and gratitude to own, that the first idea of this piece was hinted to me by my ever-respected and lamented friend Mr. GARRICK, who mentioned GOLDONI's Bourru Bienfaisant, as a sketch that, if adapted to our times and manners, might be rendered pleafing to an English audience. Those who have read the French piece muft judge how far I have profited by GOLDONI's work; but of this I am certain, that had Mr. GARRICK lived to afford me that friendly affiftance which he has done on former occafions, my comedy would have been more worthy of the reception with which it has been honoured. I will, however, hope that," with all its im• perfections on its head," the fame indulgence which attended its reprefentation, will follow it into the clofet; and that the Reader will allow me the only merit I prefume to claim, that of meaning well.' Sir William Woodley, the Bourru Bienfaisant, has, we think, been rather more ably delineated by Garrick's own hand, in his little comedy of Bon Ton. His Sir John Trotley and Mrs. Griffith's Sir William Woodley are, in their leading features, extremely fimilar to each other. The additional touches, given to Sir William, rather aggravate than heighten the character: for furely his intention to join his niece to a man thirty years older than herself, relishes of abfurdity rather than benevolence. His peevishnefs, and harmlefs love of backgammon, are more pleasant qualities.

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As to the Times, they are but faintly coloured in this draught of them. Mrs Griffith views with too much delicacy the foibles of her own fex, and is too little acquainted with the irregularities of the other, to mark them with fufficient force and accuracy. We think, however, that the fcene of the rout is rather too coarse a picture of the affembly of a woman of fashion; and that the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Bromley are too openly profligate, even to carry on their frauds and impofitions. Lady Mary and Lofa are amiable and tender; and indeed the genius of the Writer feems to delight in touches of fentiment rather than ftrokes of humour.

POETICA L.

Art. 26. The Spanish Invafion; or, Defeat of the Invincible Armada; a Poem. With critical Notes, explaining every principal Circumftance of that fingular Enterprize, and the Methods then taken to defend this Nation. To which is prefixed, a new Sketch of the Life of Queen Elizabeth, and an Introduction proper to be read at this important Crifis, which refembles, more than any other Period, the Danger we were in during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; and the Mode of our Deliverance under the Aufpices of Providence and that glorious Queen. 4to. is. 6 d. Macgowan.

This tedious chronicle in rhyme has tried our patience to its utmoft extent. If Patience, like Charity, covered the multitude of fins, we certainly fhould have few to answer for.

Art. 27. Ode to Britannia (for the Year 1780), occafioned by our late Succeffes. By Robert Alves, A. M. 4to. 6d. Edin burgh. Creech.

Of this Ode we are forry not to fpeak in the terms we could wish. Poor Britannia has been fo be-versed and be oded, that it is no wonder a writer finds it difficult to rife above mediocrity on fuch a threadbare subject.

Art. 28. Poems fit for a Bishop, which Two Bishops will read. An American Prayer. Address to Religion. Saul at Endor, an Ode. Inicription in Memory of the Earl of Chatham. 4to. 1 S. Almon. 1780.

Upon what grounds this Writer flatters himself that two Bishops will read his poems, does not, from the poems themselves, appear. If the two Bishops, indeed, were Reviewers, they would then be compelled to do what muft, otherwife, in all probability, be a matter of choice. So far, however, we may venture to fay, that whoever reads either the American Prayer, or the Addrefs to Religion, will not find much to cenfure.

Art. 29. The Death of Eumenio; a Poem. By John Fawcett, 12mo. 6 d. Leeds printed. Sold by Keith, &e in London. If Mr. Fawcett's poetical talents bore any proportion to his apparent piety, his rivals would be few. He might extort from Envy herfelf that praife, which, at prefent, the most candid indulgence dares not venture to allow him. If, as we have learnt, this is the

By thread bare, we do not mean to infinuate (what fome poli ticians would have us believe) that Britannia is in rags.

worthy

worthy Author's first attempt, in this fpecies of writing, great allowance is to be made; and on this principle the feverity of criticism is, on the prefent occafion, with-held.

Art. 30. The Sea-Fight; an Elegiac Poem, from Henry to Laura. Founded on an original Correfpondence between the Parties, in the Year 1759. Written at Sea by Charles Shillito. 4t0. I s. 6d. Dodfley.

However laudable it may be to devote, as Mr. Shillito has done, the leisure hours which a fea life will fometimes afford, to literary amufements; yet, with refpect to the prefent poem, we are forry to fay it is much too unfinished for publication.

Art. 31. A Ride and Walk through Stourbead; a Poem. 4to. IS. Rivington. 1780.

This Writer's attempt upon the Muse of blank verfe will be best explained by one of his own fimiles:

So has one feen cur-dog eight inches high

Attempt the flately, arduous greyhound's love.

AFFAIRS OF IRELAND.

Art. 32. Authentic Minutes of the Debate in the Irish Houfe of Commons, Dec. 20, 1779, on receiving the Refolutions of the Britifh Houfe of Commons for granting to Ireland a free Trade. To which are added, the Speeches of fome noble Lords, fpoken on the fame Occafion, the Day following. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. H. Payne, &c. 1780.

It will give pleasure to the English reader, to obferve how gratefully and handfomely the gentlemen of the Irish fenate expreffed themfelves, on the conciliatory difpofition manifefted toward them by the British parliament.-Although thefe fpecimens of Hibernian oratory are handed to us on unknown authority, we have no fufpicion of their authenticity; and we hope they contain the true and general fenfe of that nation, in regard to the fabject of BRITANNIA's late filterly tokens of affection.-Some of our brethren on the other fide the channel may, however, have their own peculiar method of expreffing their fatisfaction :-like Mr. Parnell (for instance), one of the members of their Houfe of Commons, who began his fpeech, on the occafion here alluded to, in the following blunt and honeft terms:-"The highest compliment I can pay to the English government, is to fay, that their prefent conduct is the reverfe of their former."

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 33. A State of the Expedition from Canada, as laid before the Houfe of Commons, by Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, and verified by Evidence; with a Collection of authentic Documents, and an Addition of many Circumstances which were prevented from appearing before the Houfe by the Prorogation of Parlia ment. Written and collected by HIMSELF; and dedicated to the Officers of the Army he commanded. 4to, 12 s. Boards, Almon, 1780.

This is a publication of very confiderable importance, abounding, as the title truly affirms, with authentic documents,' and affording a clear and comprehensive view of whatever relates to the General's conduct,

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