portly/ and it 1 this part of the work the Editor has made ample use of the Dif M. MONTHLY CATALOGUE, MATHEMATICS and PHILOSOPHY. Art. 15. Mathematical Principles of Natural Philofophy. By Sir The HIS firft volume of Mr. Thorp's tranflation of the Principia T comprehends the first books of that immortal work. commentary with which he has enriched this verfion, part of which I is extracted from the works of Maclaurin, Saunderfon, Keil, and fome other writers, is added with a view to fupply thofe demonftrations which the Author had omitted, on the fuppofition that they were previously known; to point out the extent and limits of problems; and to fhew their practical ufe and application to the fyftem of the world.' That the Reader may receive benefit from this commentary, the Optics, felected and arranged for the Ufe of Students at the Uni- The fcarcity of Dr. Smith's Complete Syftem of Optics having been to arrange them in fuch order as should beft correspond with the plan The Commiffioners of Longitude having, on certain conditions, paid Mr. Ramfden the fum of 6151. as a reward for the improvements made by him in the art of dividing mathematical inftruments, by means of a particular engine, and for affigning over to them the right and property of the faid engine, for the use of the Public: Mr. Ramfden has, in this pamphlet, given a full defcription of the machine, and of the manner of ufing it; together with a description of another engine, by which the endless screw, which is a principal part of the dividing engine, is made. These descriptions are illuftrated by four plates, in which the different parts of the apparatus are. delineated on a very large scale. Art. 18. A Difcourfe on the Invention and Improvements of the •Reflecting Telescope, delivered before the Royal Society, Nov. 30, 1777. By Sir John Pringle, Baronet, Prefident. 4to. 1778. I s. 6 d. Sir Godfrey Copley's prize medal having been adjudged to Mr. Mudge for his excellent paper containing directions for making the beft compofition for the metals of reflecting telescopes, and for grinding and polishing the great Speculum, and giving it the true parabolic form; the Prefident gives a concife hiftory of the invention of that noble inftrument; and fails not to bestow on Mr. Mudge thofe praises to which he feems fo juftly intitled, for the improvements he has made in the different proceffes that relate to it, and for his difinterefed and liberal communication of them to the Public. Art. 19. A Treatise concerning Porifms. By Robert Simfon, M. D. In which the Author hopes that the Doctrine of Parisms is fufficiently explained, and, for the future, will be fafe from Oblivion. Tranflated from the Latin' by John Lawfon, B. D. 4to. 2s. 6d. Printed at Canterbury, and fold in London by Nourse. 3777. "B.y. The porifms of Euclid, contained in three books, were a curious collection of many things which related to the analysis of the more difficult and general problems, and were diftinguished, according to Pappus's account of their nature, from theorems in which fomething was propofed to be demonftrated, and from problems in which fomething was proposed to be conftructed, as in these something was proposed to be inveftigated. Nothing remains in the works of the ancient geometers concerning this fubject befides what Pappus has preferved in his mathematical collections. The celebrated D. Gregory, in the last page of his preface to Euclid's works, expreffes his opinion, "that it would not be difficult in fome measure to restore the porifms, when the Greek text of Pappus fhould fee the light;" but but Dr. Halley, after having published this Greek text in as correct GEOGRAPHY. R.S Art. 20. Geographical Exercifes, calculated to facilitate the Study of Geography, and by an expeditious Method to imprint a Knowledge of the Science on the Minds of Youth. With a concife Introduction, explaining the Principles of Geography. By William Faden. Folio. 15 s. Printed for the Proprietor, Succeffor to the late Mr. Jeffries, near Charing-Crofs. Thefe Exercifes conft of nine maps, judicioufly felected and neatly engraved; and of as many correfponding theets, with the fcales of longitude and latitude, together with the meridians and latitudes upon them; which are to be filled up by the fcholar with the coals, boundaries, rivers, provinces, &c. of the oppofite map. The utility of exercising young perfons in drawing maps is fufficiently Evident and this performance may contribute much to facilitate the acquifition of a fcience which it is thameful to be ignorant of. B.n.y. Art. 21. Two Letters from Mr. Burke to Gentlemen in the City of Bristol on the Bills now depending in Parliament, relative to the Trade of Ireland. 8vo. 15. Dodiley. 1778. POLITICAL. Mr. Burke having concurred with adminiftration, in favour of the bills above alluded to, on general [perhaps too general] principles of fair, open, national commerce, (confidering the Irish as a part of ourfelves) and regardless of the particular objections made to those bills by the merchants of Bristol, Liverpool, Glafgow, &c.-Murmurs were, confequently excited amongst his conftituents, of the first mentioned • What thofe objections are, does not particularly appear in these Letters; but they may be feen in every news-paper; and they feem to have weight fufficient to merit Mr. B.'s utmost attention. city, city, who complained that they could not have him for their advocate. On this occafion, Mr. B. deemed it neceffary, not only to affert the independency of his opinion, and to evince the rectitude of the vote he had given, but to endeavour, alfo, to convince the gentlemen of Bristol, that the natural tendency of the Bills in queftion, would be for their beneft, on the whole, as well as that of Ireland: Since Bristol, from its peculiarly advantageous fituation for commerce with Ireland, muft ever find its beft account in the profperity of that Island,-in proportion as it is better to trade with a rich and flourishing country than with a poor one.-Mr. B. has thrown out a variety of remarks drawn from more general confiderations; efpecially from the prefent critical fituation of government, &c. for which we refer to the letters, at length. Art. 22. A Letter to the Worshipful the Dean of Guild, and the "Awe ye gude fowk o' the toun of Innerkeithen; this is to let ye wat that there is cum to this toun the day, a beaft called a lamb: the laird o' the manor is to ha' the first quarter, the provot is to ha' the fecond quarter, and the minifter is to ha' the third quarter: the heed and the harigals.gaes to the baillie. I Johnny Bell is to ha' twa fma' puddings for cawing; but if nae body ipiers for the lave o' the beaft, it will no' be kill'd the day." The author fays he was furnished with the foregoing notable oration, by refpectable authority ;'-but he modestly adds, I vouch not for its truth.'-How many good jefts are spoilt by that ugly word fact! Art. 23. A Letter to the Hon. Mr. Chs F-x, upon his proceeding in Pt, on that memorable Day, Feb. 17, 1778. 8vo. Is. Fielding and Walker. Arraigns the conduct, and queftions the abilities of Mr. Fox; grounding his impeachment principally on what the Letter Writer terms the miferable' fpeech of this celebrated young orator, in reply to the minifter, when the latter publicly made that full and memorible recantation of his political errors, in the unhallowed chapel of St. Stephen.'-Good heaven! fays he, what materials were there bere [you fee, reader, it is but an here and there kind of flyle in It is for you, and for your intereft, as a dear, cherished, and refpected part of a valuable whole, that I have taken my fhare in this quellion.' which this gentleman writes] for one of the most masterly Philippies that ever touched or acted upon the heads and hearts, of men! And the ground, throughout fo ftrong and obvious, it feems to have needed but small ability or art to feize it. Real patriotic feelings could. not poffibly have refifted taking it. Your private line of interetted purfuit, one cannot but think, of course, would dictate it and your perfonal animofity to the man could leave no room to doubt, how much you wished him down: and yet you let this great occafion flip. To what can we afcribe this?-How poffibly account for the ftrange congratulating ftrain, for acquiefcing language and promifed fupport in the very moment of all others that called for your molt powerful invigorated exertions, that demanded the most animated, violent, redoubled efforts of oppofition. Inftead of this, it is remarked, Mr. F. actually, himself, moft unaccountably aided the very minifter, whose removal had been the fingle object of his (Mr. F.'s) political life, and concurred in fuffering OPPOSITION to be the dupe of minifterial jockeyfhip, to a degree beyond all power of belief.-The author concludes, your letting go bye fo palpable an opening, [to pufh the minifter from his ftation] can only be imputed to the want of neceffary, quick, political, difcernment, to your incapacity, your unfitness for that character and part which your puny, ill-fupported ambition led you vainly to affume.' On this point, and on the politics of the times, particularly the American revolt, the author enlarges, through forty pages, in which we meet with fome notable observations, expreffed in a manner fingularly uncouth and unpleafing. In principle, he is anti-minifterial, but not violent. He condemns the conduct of administration, as unhappily founded on one or both of the following capital deficiencies-the want of information, with refpect to the ftate of America, or, what is ftill worfe, an ignorance of human nature: which he endeavours to evince by arguments drawn from notorious facts.-With refpect, however, to the gentleman to whom these observations are immediately addreffed, he takes leave of him in the following terms: •Abilities, Sir, undoubtedly you poffefs-but I cannot fay that you have convinced me you have to that degree, or to that general extent, which your friends would feem to give you credit for. Appearing earlier than most characters, and the education you had received having been directed principally to the line of parliament, and under the immediate controul of one who felt not only a warm intereft in directing it, but who was fully competent to the task of giving it, being himself both an able politician, and a fuccefsful fpeaker in parliament-men were well and favourably difpofed to receive you upon the mere credit of your mafter, and you came forth with uncommon expectations and eclat-with every advantage too, for many of the old refpectable speakers were gone off-the remainder few retiring faft-and the diffipated manners and idle turn of the times furnished no fupply to thefe;-and thus ftanding in a manner alone and fingle-you appeared with unufual luftre-was regarded as a prodigy of parts. Your style of fpeaking marked evidently the fchool in which you ftudied-and proved the wonderous pains and care with which you had been taught. But circumftances, partly of your own producing, partly in the courfe of nature, foon left you to yourfelf; and |