If, however, the structure of the lines be carefully examined, it will be found essentially the same with that of the mock-tragedies already mentioned but the scythe and roller have been more industriously used in the present composition. We extract, in support of our opi nion, the following passage: Curse on his noble qualities, they blaze, And like the noontide sun absorb the beams hate. And sacking of proud Rome-this well shall aid, It has evidently been the wish of Mr. Ireland to assume the noble irregularity and overpowering enthusiasm of our antient dramatists: but in this attempt he has totally failed, and has shewn that he is equally remote from the fervid genius of the older and the classical correctness of more recent writers. If we must speak plainly, he possesses all the faults, without the fire, of the authors of Hurlothrumbo and Chrononhotonthologos! Art. 42. A Poetical Epistle to Sir George Beaumont, Bart., on the Encouragement of the British School of Painting. By William Sotheby, Esq. 8vo. Is. 6d, Wright. 1801. After Mr. Sotheby's perilous excursion to the domains of Virgil, we are happy to meet him in his native "wood-walks wild," in Epping Forest, in which his descriptive powers are shewn to more ad, vantage. He thus paints the attractions of his home-scenery: Here, o'er its base no mountain darkly bends, No boundless ocean spreads, no flood descends, No isle, by morn empurpled, gems the deep, No moon-light beams on silver turrets sleep. Yet here green champaigns stretch, and grassy glades * See Rev. vol. xxxiv. N. S. p. 75. Slopes Fer Slopes hung with fern, whose wavy tufts between, The poet then proceeds to celebrate the project of Sir G. Beaumont for an exhibition of celebrated pieces of the British School; and in describing the beauties and advantages of our landscape, he introduces the following highly pleasing lines: Say, where, by zephyrs borne, can Maia fling Mr. Sotheby's patriotic zeal not only renders him desirous of exalting the artists of our country, but makes him view the assemblage of Chefs d'Oeuvre at Paris with jealousy and anxiety: I dread not Gallia's desolating pow'rs, "No hostile foot shall bruise our native flow'rs." The feast is spred in proud theatric state, Wake the soft flute, and sweep th' accordant lyre, For this new species of alarm, we hope that there is not much foundation. Our fashionable travellers will not more readily become revolutionists by looking at pictures and statues in Paris, than their Ff3 forefathers forefathers became Roman catholics by admiring the same master. pieces at Rome.-Though we differ in this respect from the present author, we must do justice to his verses; which are much superior to the common strain of poetical compositions, and are equally commendable for their elegance and their morality. Fer Art. 43. The Surrender of Calais, an Historical Drama, (printed at York). 8vo. 28. Crosby and Letterman. 1801. Inattention to historical fact caunot be imputed to this northern genius: he rather falls into the contrary extreme, and turns his tragedy occasionally into a gazette. Witness the following speech of Sir W. de Manny: 7. de Vienne. The brave yield not to fortune, they controul it, W. de Manny. And so doth Edward; witness Cressy field, Sluys, Pontoise, Blanchetaque, and Norman Caen.Present or absent, fortune still is his; Proud Bergerac, unequal Auberoche, Morlaix and Rochderien, all are his; Villareal, Tonneins, and Sauveterre, St. Jean de Angeley, and Mirembeaù, Mortagne Sur-mèr, Annày, Surgeres, Benòn, Marans, aud Taillebourg, and Lusignan, Poitiers, and brave Aiguillon, all are his.' In a succeeding part of the play, we learn that Edward's purpose, in besieging Calais, was to teach the walls to make a reverence to him: • Herald. The brave do love the brave, else had not Edward, Unus'd to sue, and jealous of denial, So often importun'd these haughty walls These stiff-neck'd walls certainly deserved to be set in the dancingschool-stocks! The monarch might have exclaimed, with Bottom's Pyramus, "O wicked wall! thro' which I see no bliss, Curst be thy stones for thus deceiving me." On the whole, we apprehend that this Surrender of Calais' will be regarded as no great acquisition to our dramatic literature, though the author has avoided many errors of the modern stage. To be free from glaring faults is not sufficient to the complete success of a writer: it is requisite that he should attain some degree of excellence. Art. 44. A Medico-Metrical Address to the Students at the University of Edinburgh. Containing Characteristic Sketches of the Medical Professors in that celebrated School. By Lemuel Lancet, Esq. 8vo. 6d. Jordan. 1801. Old birds are not to be caught with chaff; and we have been too often deceived by title-pages and mottos, to put our trust in Mr. Lancet's affiche, "C'est bien Comique"-A perusal of these verses, in deed, Fer deed, has proved no joke to us ; and had they been much longer, we ceiving that they possess any degree of the vis comica, we dreaded a Art. 45. MEDICAL, &c. Art. 46. A Treatise on the New discovered Dropsy of the Membrane of the Brain, and watery Head of Children; proving that it may be frequently cured, if early discovered. With Objections to Vomits, &c. &c. To which are added, Observations on Errors in Nursing; on the Diseases of Children, their Treatment, &c. By William Rowley, M. D. &c. &c. 8vo. 25. Murray and 1 Highley. 1801. The disease, which is described in this pamphlet, is created by a serous effusion between the tunica arachnoides and pia mater. Dr. Rowley has bestowed much ink on the diagnostics of the complaint, without being able to point out any discriminating symptoms from which it may be certainly known; and where he imputes it, in many cases, to the practice of exciting vomiting by means of emetic tartar, we think that he is greatly deceived. The method of cure proposed by Dr. R. consists in the applica tion of blisters to the head; with the internal exhibition of gentle laxatives, diaphoretics, and small doses of calomel frequently repeated: but his observations might perhaps have been deemed more worthy of notice, if they had been introduced with less ostentation. The Doctor seems determined to claim the merit of almost every modern improvement; and the Schola Medicina Universalis Nova is Ff 4 held held up to our eyes as the oracle of the profession, in too many of his pages. Art. 47. Animal Magnetism, History of; its origin, progress, and present State; its Principles and Secrets displayed, as delivered by the late Dr. Demainauduc. To which is added, Dissertations on the Dropsy; Spasms; Epileptic Fits; St. Vitus's Dance; Gout; Rheumatism; and Consumption; with upwards of one hundred Cures and Cases. Also, Advice to those who visit the Sick, with Recipes to prevent Infection. A definition of Sympathy; Antipathy; the Effects of the Imagination on pregnant Women; Nature; History; and on the Resurrection of the Body. George Winter, M. D. 8vo. 6s. Boards. Newberry. 1801. We have sometimes had reason for complaining that books do not correspond to the expectations raised by their titles: but, in the instance before us, the title page conveys so just an idea of the nature of this performance, that the reader will not be deceived by the sample; though probably none but reviewers will proceed to the substance of the book, after having laboured through this faithful abstract of the author's composition. By From the sketch here given of the principles, as they are called, of animal magnetism, they appear to be only a revival of the Paracel Isian nonsense respecting the consensus mumialis. It would be an insult to our readers, to offer any remarks on such long exploded trash. It is necessary, however, to observe that Dr. Winter, though once a pupil of Dr. Demainauduc, is no advocate for the truth of his opinions, nor for the success of his gesticulations. The book can answer no other purpose than that of furnishing some materials for the history of quackery ;-that incurable disease of the human imagination, which must be expected to endure to all generations. Art. 48. Observation: on the Utility of Inoculating for the Variole Vaccine, or Cow-Pox. By Edward Gardner. Sro. Is. 6d. Johnson. 1801. Mr. Gardner is a warm advocate for the vaccine inoculation, and in this opinion we heartily concur with him. In the conclusion of his pamphlet, he alludes to the propriety of giving some testimony of public gratitude to Dr. Jenner for the introduction of this practice. Could our voice be effectually heard by those who have it in their power to confer such a distinction, it should not be delayed". The benefits of Dr. Jenner's discovery are indeed beyond calculation: and their influence on the health, the happiness, and the beauty of millions, will be extended to future ages. It is just, therefore, that the country which has the honour of claiming his birth, should discharge some part of the vast debt due to his merits from mankind at large. Art. 49. Practical Observations on the Use of Oxygen, or Vial Air, in the Cure of Diseases: To which are added, a few Experiments on the Vegetation of Plants. By D. Hill, Fellow of the London Medical Society. Part I. 4to. pp. 60. with Plates. 7s. 6d. Boards. Rivingtons, &c. 1800. We learn that an application of this nature has been made to parliament. It Fer Fer Fer |