K

* tur.'-However, Dr. Stack affures us, both in his title-page, and by a note on this paffage, that he not only had leave, but that the tranflation was revifed by the author. LXII. The Practice of Phyfic. Founded on principles in phyfiology and pathology, hitherto unapplied in physical enquiries. By John Shebbeare, M. D. reg. acad. fcient. Paris foc. In two volumes. 8vo. 10s. Hodges.

The principle this writer fuppofes hitherto unapplied by phyfiologifts and pathologifts, is fire, which he holds the real elementary exiflence of, with many other writers, and which muft imply its materiality, however peculiar. The prefence of this in the human fyftem he confiders as the cause of animal heat, and its excefs or defect as the principal cause of all diseases.

The first volume, containing 370 pages, pretty honestly printed, is almost entirely hypothetical; being either employed in attempting to fubvert and ridicule the phyfiological notions of feveral living, reputable, medical writers, or in labouring to establish his own. He appears frequently inclined to challenge the authors, he would very gladly expofe, to a phyfiological controverfy; which it is as probable they may decline, as that he will attribute their filence to one motive, while they may have others very different for it.

His fecond volume, of much the same size, treats indeed of feveral diseases; but does not meddle confiderably in forms of prefcription, the general direction being either to heighten or abate the fire; which, with all our author's imaginary novelty, amounts only to an adoption of both the hot and cold regimen. But it seems no great recommendation of what he fuppofes his peculiar theory here, that, in order to abate the fire, he often recommends bleeding to a deliquium, or fwconing; a practice, which (however reconcileable with an hypothefts, that denies any fecretion in the brain, from the blood carried up to it) experience will warrant, upon the whole, to be oftner pernicious than falutary.

We shall not obtrude any quotations on the public, from a writer, who, notwithstanding his utmoft pretences, has lefs difcovery than difquifition; and who is much more exuberant than correct. He is not to be claffed among dull, heavy fcrawlers; having more fancy than judgment, and more virulence and vanity than moft writers we have met with on any fubject. Not content to inftruct meer pupils as a profeffor, he pronounces like an oracle, with a confidence of rectifying the whole faculty: And these fudden documents are the more extraordinary from our author, as the time and place of his inftitution and graduation in phyfic are not generally known in London, and, we hear, have been queftioned at Paris. He commends the great Harvey and Newton, indeed, and admits, that if they had lived to. his day, and feen the effects of electricity, it is probable they might have shared the honour of his difcoveries: as there is

more

8

more than one modeft innuendo, of their poffeffing faculties congenial with his own. Befides his parade of the different branches of learning neceffary to complete the phyfician, he is very careful to evince, en passant, his tafte in painting and ftatuary, with his drollery and fting as a wit and fatirift, &c. &c. and, in brief, like Bayes, with his thunder and lightning, is for terrifying the town into their applaufe of himself, and himself only. For if we except, befides those already named, Sydenham, who had fufficient prudence and decency to fet, before the emer gence of our phænomenon; and the learned Doctors Langrish and Huxham, who are too remote to have the honour of consulting with him, he has abused almost every medical cotemporary he has named, and probably glanced his abuse at others he difdained to mention. The laft, indeed, he can only be certain about himself, but examples of the former abound throughout this work; which, whatever other knowledge it may contain, (there being much unquoted borrowing in it) contains the leaft selfknowledge, the leaft candor, or good-manners, of any treatife that has lately fallen under our confideration.

K SINGLE SERMONS fince our lift in the Review for February, 1755.

I.

EFORE the houfe of commons, Jan. 30, 1755. By William Friend, D. D. prebendary of Westminster, &c. 4to. 6d. Rivington.

2. The Nature and Obligation of Oaths. An affize-fermon at Exon cathedral, Aug. 7. 1754. By Thomas Alcock, M. A. of Brazen-nofe-college, Oxford. 8vo. 6d. Baldwin, &c.

3. The Univerfality of the Chriftian Revelation afferted. A vifitation-fermon at Towcester, May 10. 1754. By Bartholsmew Keeling, M. A. rector of Tiffield, in Northamptonshire, 8vo. 6d. Baldwin.

4. The bishop of Chichester's, before the house of lords, at Weftminster-abbey, Jan. 30, 1755. 4to. 6d. L. Davis.

5. The Abufe of miraculous Powers in the Church of Corinth confidered. Before the univerfity of Oxford, Feb. 2, 1755. By Richard Hind, D. D. rector of Shering, in Effex, and chaplain to the bishop of Norwich. 8vo. 6d. Rivington.

6. Mr. Burroughs's, at Barbican, Feb. 9, 1755, on the death of the rev. Mr. Ifaac Kimber. 8vo. 6d, Noon.

7. Against felf-murder, at South-Audley chapei, Jan. 12, 1755. By Francis Ayfcough, D. D. rector of Northfleet church, Hertfordshire. 4to. 6d. Cox.

8. The great Duty of training up Children recommended. At the parifh-church of Lugwardine, near Hereford, March 1, 1752. By H. Whishaw, A. M. vicar of the faid parish. 8vo. 6d. Knapton.

9. A prudent Enforcement of the Laws against Immorality and Prophaneness recommended. At Reading affizes, March 4, 1755By Jofeph Newton, A. M. vicar of Coleshill, Berks, and chaplain to Lord Folkftone. 8vo. 6d. Baldwin.

10. The Certainty of a future State afferted and vindicated, against the exceptions of the late Lord Bolingbroke. At St. Mary's, Oxford, at the affizes, March 6, 1755. By Thomas Randolph, D.D. 8vo. 6d. Rivington.

11. Before the fons of the clergy, at St. Paul's, April 27, 1755. By Samuel Salter, D. D. preacher at the Charter-houfe, &c. 4to. 6d. Whifton.

12. A feafonable Admonition to the church of England. Before the university of Oxford, at St. Mary's, May 29, 1751. 4to. Is. Withers.

ADDENDA to the MISCELLANEOUS articles.

LXIII. A correct Latin Edition of the Fables of Phaedrus: with a new literal English translation, and a copious parfing index; whereby young beginners may eafily and speedily attain the knowledge of the Latin tongue. By a Gentleman of the univerfity of Cambridge. For the ufe of fchools. Is. 6d. Dod.

12mo.

This edition of Phædrus appears to be better adapted than any of thofe hitherto published, to answer the end of inftructing young beginners in the knowledge of the Latin tongue. In the first part of the book, the original text of the author is printed after the beft editions: thofe of Dr. Hare and Dr. Bentley, with their critical emendations, are particularly regarded. In the fecond part, the text is difpofed in the order wherein it is to be conftrued; the ellipfes, where neceffary, are fupplied; and a new translation made of the whole; by the help of which children of the meanest capacities may learn their lessons, with great cafe and exactness. In the third part is added a parfing index, wherein every verb has its prefent and perfect tenfe, with the infinitive mood, firft fupine, conjugation, and the clafs, or kind of verb it belongs to, marked out,-The nouns subftantive have the genitive and dative cafes, with the gender and declenfion :-nouns adjective have all their terminations:-the other parts of fpeech are carefully diftinguished and explained; and the proper English of each word is placed after it. R.

ART. XLVII. Notes on the Philofophical Writings of Lord Bolingbroke. By Charles Bulkley. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Sewed. Noon.

T

HE principal defign of these notes, is to animadvert upon fuch paffages in Lord Bolingbroke's philofophical writings, as may feem to affect the credibility of the fcripture

I

history,

hiftory, the truth and authority of the gospel, the grounds of religious and moral obligations, their fupreme excellency, and infinite importance. They were originally intended as an amufement for the readers of the Evening Advertiser; and accordingly a confiderable part of them was published in that paper, during the months of April, May, June, July, Auguft, and September, 1754.

As to the merit of the performance, it is fufficient to say, that the ingenious author has fhewn great acuteness, perfpicuity, and judgment; his remarks are generally just and pertinent; and his manner equally entertaining and instructive. His fentiments on religious and moral fubjects appear to us to be rational and manly; he delivers them too with a becoming freedom, and discovers nothing of a bigotted attachment to the peculiar tenets of any party.

The degradation of human nature, the denial of a future ftate, and the impoffibility of our having any true or adequate notion of the moral attributes of the deity, are the three fundamental doctrines of Lord Bolingbroke's philofophy, and are particularly confidered by Mr. Bulkley; his remarks upon what his lordship has advanced in relation to them, are pertinent and fatisfactory, and well deserve an attentive perufal. Under what fpecious colours foever the noble author has endeavoured to advance thefe doctrines, it is eafy, as our author obferves, to difcern what is their real tendency.

In proportion,' fays he, to the low and difhonourable opinions which men entertain of their own natures, must be their apprehenfion of the excufableness, and even innocence, of any corrupt, base, groveling, and ignominious paffion which they may think proper to indulge. And at the fame time every reftraint, that might be laid upon fuch paffions, together with some of the most inspiring motives, which, < upon ingenuous minds, can never fail of having a powerful efficacy towards invigorating their virtuous purfuits, is taken away, by the fuppofed deftruction of our Being at death. And as for the notion, that the moral attributes of God are not the fame as in our ideas of them; tho' it be urged with the appearance of doing honour to thofe attributes, and tho' his lordship affumes to himself no (mall degree of merit, on account of this vindication of them; yet, in reality, it is vindicating them from afperfion, by denying their exiftence.'

'R

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW

For UNE, 1755.

ART. XLVIII. The History of the Roman Emperors, from Auguftus to Conftantine, by Mr. Crevier, profeffor of rhetoric in the college of Beauvais. Tranflated from the French by John Mills, efq; Vols. I. and I. 8vo. 5s. each. Knapton.

EEING an English tranflation of the learned Mr. Rollin's Roman hiftory has fome time ago received a fecond im preffion, it may be, in a great meafure, needless to inform our readers, that it is to this Mr. Crevier the public are obliged for the completion of that ingenious work; nor will it be more neceffary at prefent to mention, that this worthy dif ciple of that eminent hiftorian has fhewn himself altogether equal to the truft repofed in him by his judicious master *. The performance now before us is, as its author juftly terms it, a natural continuation of that he had lately ended:' the battle of Altium (which period concludes his former undertaking) afcertained the empire to Octavius Cafar, afterwards Auguftus; whole life employs the firft, as does that of his fuccellor, Tiberius, the fecond, of these volumes.

By an advertisement prefixed to the eighth volume of the Roman hiftory, we learn, that tho' Mr. Rollin, who died in July 1741, had made a rough draught of that and the greatest part of the ninth volume, yet he did not live to perfect either; but had intrufted them to the care of Mr. Crevier, who continued the history to the battle of Altium.

VOL. XII.

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