together, two authors recommending particular plants to notice, the Vifcus Quercinus, or Milletoe, and the Humulus Lupulus or common Hop: the one for Epilepfy, and the other for Gout. Dr. Frafer* patronizes the former, and Mr. Freake † the latter; both, we doubt not, with the authority of careful experi-. ments on their fide. Dr. Meade has very laudably attempted to ascertain the medical power of Galvanifm, and has explained the most convenient methods of applying that agent, Dr. Reid has very elaborately treated the fubject of Confumption§, and though he is evidently too much attached to the Bru nonian System, his book is, on fome accounts, worthy of confideration. The very dangerous diforder of the hip joint, called Ischias, has been ably treated by Dr. Falconer ||, of Bath, with a particular view to the remedies of that place; but alfo with a ge-. neral confideration of the effects of warm water, and other useful intimations. The Domestic Guide, in Cafes of Infanity, though anonymous, was found to contain many valuable admonitions, directed to circumftances wherein they are peculiarly neceffary; and was therefore recommended by us as ufeful and judicious. The fubject of Vaccination continues to be anxiously difcuffed in the medical world. We fhall at prefent mention only two tracts, and those both in favour of it. These are an Answer to Dr. Mofely, by Mr. Ring**, and the very fpirited and judicious Reply to the Anti-vaccinifts in general, by Mr. Moore tt. Though the latter author employs wit, as well as argument, to feafon his reply, it is not like the wit of Dr. Rowley and fome of his brethren, coarse and illiberal, but neat, elegant, and pointed; fuch as readers, ignorant of medicine, may enjoy, from its intrinfic merit. We have seen, within our times, the Veterinary art grow up into a diftinct and honourable branch of medical practice, which Mr. Boardman, with laudable diligence, has now digefted into the convenient form of a Dictionary*. The fpecimens of that work, which we produced, muft fatisfy every reader, that it is executed with care and judgment. POETRY. The dignity of Epic Compofition must claim undoubted precedence in this clafs; and though Mr. Southey's Poem, entitled Madoc †, is not what he might have made it, by more attention and maturer judgment; it contains abundance of fine writing, and the moft undoubted marks of poetic genius. We were extensive in our remarks upon it, not only to fhow our refpect for fuch powers of writing, but alfo in hopes of contributing to its improvement, before it fhall pass again, as undoubtedly it will, through the prefs. The Poems and Plays of Profeffor RichardJon, of Glafgow, form two volumes, well worthy of the eftablished reputation of the author. Mrs. Weft's compofitions of the fame nature extend now to four volumes, of which the third and fourth are commended here at prefent. The poetry of Mr. Mant, known before as the Editor of T. Warton's Life and Poems, is fuch as cannot but do credit to the Wartonian School. Lyrics are more scarce, as certainly more difficult, than many other branches of poetry; yet even in that difficult ftyle, Mr. W. Smyth has produced a volume, which will not foon have many rivals. A poem, ably written, on the [ very * No. V. p. 495. + No. IV. p. 395. V. p. 486. No. III. p. 335. placed, by miftake, among Mifcellanies inftead of III. p. 335 ̊ No. I. p. 34° No. V. p. 559. ¶ No. II. Poetry. P. 179. new new though pleafing fubject of Home*, attracted our attention, though anonymous, and will, we should think, ere long, be avowed by its author. We see, at least, no reason why it fhould not. Nor were we lefs pleased with a volume of Translations from the Greek Anthology †, alfo anonymous, but equally proper to be owned, be the parent who he may. The fourth volume of the Poetical Register appeared to us at least equal to any of its predeceffors, every one of which deferved much praife. The remaining poems, which have lately come before us, (except indeed a compilation of Epigrams, called the British Martial §) were detached compofitions of no great extent. Such, for inftance, as two poems in celebration of Lord Nelfon, one entitled Victory in Tears, the other, Verfes on his Death. Both thefe have merit. The London Cries ** are of the fatirical kind, and by no means deficient, either in vigour or harmony. The Exhibition of 1805 occafioned a Poem, entitled The Purfuits of Painting tt; on a temporary fubject, it is true, but which, with the fame degree of taste and spirit, we fhould like to fee annually continued. Mr. Clifford's Angler is the first book of a didactic poem, which he will probably be induced to extend. The Bath Cafe and Subfcription §§ is a mere occafional feu d'Efprit, but, apparently, from a pen capable of higher exertions. Of the Drama we have almoft ceafed to think, except in retrofpect to ages paft; but Mr. Maurice, by his Fall of the Mogul, has fhown us that a tragedy may be written, even in the nineteenth century. * No. I. p. 81. No. II. p. 195. **No. III. p. 315. No. II. p. 194. No. VI. p. 629. ¶ No. II. p. 195. ‡‡ No. VI. p. 677. No. VI. p. 672. No. III. p. 289. NOVELS. NOVELS. We have to speak only of two Novels, as worthy of particular diftinction, one tranflated. The former is Siegwart, celebrated in the original German, and in French; but improved, we are fully perfuaded, in paffing through the revifion and tranflation of Mifs Hawkins*. The other is Mifs Edgeworth's Leonorat, a moral and yet not the lefs entertaining performance. We do not, however, undertake to fay, that no other novels worthy of commendation have lately appeared. We confefs that, difgufted with the many blanks which we used to find, for one prize, we have lately made it our practice to wait till we had heard fome good of a novel, before we attempted to notice it at all. MISCELLANIES. We Here we are at prefent to groupe a few books of very different tendency, yet none of them apparently belonging to any of our preceding claffes. begin with Mrs. Weft's, on the Duties and Character of Women, a book of confiderable value, notwithftanding a few blemishes, which are probably now removed; the work having lately arrived at a third edition. This is of itself a strong proof of its merit. No book could be more congenial to our private taftes and purfuits than that of Mr. Walker, on the Revival of the Drama in Italy §, which we hope to fee alfo augmented and improved in fubfequent editions. Mr. Bigland's Effays, and Dr. Sayers's Mifcellanies, are more fimilar to each other than the rest here mentioned; nor is it important to diftinguish accurately their refpective pretenfions. Either will repay the reader for his time, if he be not too much occupied, or too faftidious. The Miferies of Human Life, at first anonymous, but now owned by Mr. Beresford*, whom we formerly knew as a tranflator of Virgil †, are certainly very original in their defign and compofition. They are a lively ridicule against thofe who lay great ftrefs on trivial inconveniences, which are enumerated with much humour, and illuftrated by very claffical puns. Like others, who have been fortunate enough to hit off fomething new, Mr. B. has already feen his thought worn thread-bare by a thousand contemptible imitators. How fhall we pafs from this light topic, to a book of mere information on very ferious matters? Yet this we must do, unless we were to leave unnoticed one of the most useful compilations of its kind that have appeared. We fpeak of the Clergyman's Affiftant, a fubftitute for a book now out of print, and in fome refpects obfolete, called the "Clergyman's Vade-mecum." It might, perhaps, be reckoned by fome among the miseries of human life, to peruse fuch a book; yet it will be confulted with pleasure by those who have occafion for the information it contains. Here then we once more close our half-yearly course, which we cannot better finish than with that excellent defence of Reviews, which Baillet has fo well expreffed." Comme il n'y a point de Loix civiles qui défendent à perfonne de fe faire Auteur, et d'écrire pour le Public; il femble qu'il n'y en ait pas auffi, pour retrancher ou réformer la licence que No. II. p. 212. chacun |