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this fubject in the following chapter, which contains remarks on the electricity of the atmosphere. These are chiefly taken from M. Sauffure's fecond volume of his Journey through the Alps: from thefe, which we cannot eafily abridge, M. de Luc concludes, that the electricity of the atmosphere belongs to the whole mafs of air, without a fenfible accumulation of the clectric fluid in any part; and the effects on the electrometer are chiefly electrophoric, produced by the little difference which generally occurs between the electrical flate of the air and the earth. The confequences which feem to arife from these facts are very important: we can only felect the refults, referring for the facts themselves to fect. 803, &c. of M. Sauffure's fecond volume. From the invariably pofitive state of the air at all times, when it is clear, our author thinks, that the fource of the electrical fluid must be in the air; for if it arofe from the earth, as dry air is a non-conductor, it must be, fometimes at least, negative. From the gradual diurnal increase of electricity alfo, our author fuppofes that it is formed and decompofed: as it increafes with the fun's rays, he thinks there is reason to suspect that they contribute to its formation, and most probably form its lighter or yielding ingredient. The peculiar ufe of the electrical fluid, and the confequences of its compofition and decompofition, M. de Luc fuppofes will fome time hence be more fully understood, and throw no inconfiderable light on meteorological changes.

The eighth chapter is on the remarkable circumftances in the phænomena of rain, and particularly on the place from whence the rain is derived, the times when it rains, and the winds which precede or accompany rain. The first fection is, in a great degree, a recapitulation of what has preceded. The author points out the peculiar appearance of the clouds which produce rain, but confeffes his ignorance of the manner in which the transformation of air into watery vapour is effected. The ufual caufes of changes in the æquilibrium in the air, M. de Lue fhows can produce only inconfiderable winds. The chief cause, fo far as they are connected with rain, arifes from the greater bulk of expansive vapours, when compared with the air, from which they are produced, and the effects, he thinks, are more confiderable, as the quantity of vapour is greater, and the change takes place in the lower ftrata of the atmosphere.

The concluding chapter contains general remarks on the nature of effects and caufes in the armosphere; but these are ge neral reflections, which need not detain us. To this volume is annexed the plan of fome projected works. The first of these is a fcientific work on the hygrometer, and the fecond a philo fophical mifcellany. The last will contain, among other fubjects, our author's letters to M. de la Place, on the mechanical fyftem of philofophy of M. de Sage, the examination of M. Trembly's memoir on the menfuration of heights by the barometer, and an extract of a memoir on aftronomical refractions.

The little account of what M. de Luc has obferved respecting the comparison of hygrometers, fhows that these instruments are not yet to be depended on.

After following our author fo minutely, through his two voJumes, we ought not perhaps to conclude, without afcertaining their general merits. As a philofopher, M. de Luc is minute, accurate, and attentive. His great forte is the examination and appreciation of what is already known: his eyes are those of a lynx to pe ceive defects; but his views are not fufficiently great and expanded, to fupply them. He adopts theoretical opinions, difcards them, and again feems to return to them as truths, difplaying feemingly Sybill's leaves, not properly connected and united. Above all, tedious repetitions; reflections, often of importance, but fometimes mifplaced; and an intricate perplexed ity le render his work unpleafing. It contains, however, fo many obfervations of real importance, fo many curi ous and interesting facts, with reflections often fo juft and appofite, that the work, while it will inftruct the reader, will not detract from the well-earned fame of the writer.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE.
DIVINITY, &c.

The Predictions of the Apafles concerning the End of the World.
A Sermon preached before the University of Cambridge, on Sun-
day, May 23, 1790. By Thomas Edwards, LL.D. 8vo.
IS. Mathews.

T

HIS feems to be a part of a ferics of fermons on the subject of fome paffages of Mr. Gibbon's Hiftory. Dr. Edwards allows, with the hiftorian, that the apostles feemed to confider the end of the world as not far diftant, and that the language of Chrift himself feemed to fupport this opinion. The texts which he examines, with this view, are Matthew xvi. 28, the paffages which relate to this fubject in the twenty-fourth chapter of the fame Evangelift, the First Epistle of Paul to the Theffa lonians, verfe 4, and the Epistle to the Hebrews x. 25. The Fundamental Principles of the Established Church, proved to be the Doctrine of the Scriptures; an introductory Difcourfe preached March 7th, at Debenham, in Suffolk, after reading the Thirty-nine Articles. By William Hurn. Evo. gd.

Matthews.

This is a laboured, and fometimes a fatisfatory defence of the doctrines of the church of England, as they are contained in the thirty-nine articles. The different texts of Scripture are compiled with fome care, and occafionally urged with fome force; but, in many parts of the defence, we think Mr. Hurn fails. Is it becaufe the Articles are indefenfible ?

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Afhort Hiftory of the Pharifees, with a Parallel between the Ancient and Modern. By Thomas Twining. 8vo. 15. Johnson. As our Lord fpeaks of the Pharifees always with feverity, Mr. Twining equires into the caufe of this oppofition. It arifes, he thinks, from their peculiar tenets, which were highly pernicious, and their perverfion of the law. He fuppoles their doctrines were derived from the Stoics, and that there is no refemblance between them and the modern Diffenters. The Pharisees were predeftinarians and perfecutors: we can eafily fuppofe therefore to whom he would give this title in the prefent times; but we fufpect that the other features of the character do not fupport the refemblance.

A Short Critical Differtation upon the true Meaning of the Word D'an, found in Genefis i. 21. By the Rev. James Hurdis, M. A. 8vo. s. Johnson.

The mode of criticism adopted by our author is to examine the probable meaning of different words, by tracing them in all the paffages in which they occur. With this view, he has

and in the ,תנות תניניס תנים תנ"ך traced the words

greater number of inttances where they occur, they probably mean, as our author contends, the crocodile. In Deuteronomy xxii. 23. Jeremiah x. 22. Jeremiah li. 37. and Malachi i. 3. perhaps this interpretation is not exact; but, befides them, there are twenty-three other paffages, in the greater number of which our author's tranflation appears to be accurate. We shall tranfcribe our author's concluding argument.

There yet remains an argument, which proves that the crocodile, and not the whale, is to be understood in Gen. i. 21. At whatever time Mofes wrote the book of Genefis, whether before or after the departure of the Ifraelites from Egypt, to af fure them that the Lord their God was the creator of the croco dile, has a manifeft propriety, which is not to be found in the prefent tranflation. For he might naturally fuppofe, fhould they incline to idolatry, one of the firft objects of their adora tion would be the crocodile, which they had feen' worshipped in Egypt.

Obfervations upon the Miraculous Conception of our Saviour: with a particular View to the Exceptions of Dr. Priefly on the Subje. By N. Nifbett, M. A. 8vo. 25. Johnfon.

This is a very able and candid reply to Dr. Priestley's objec tions to the miraculous conception, of which we should have with pleasure given a more particular account, if the objections themfelves could have been, from their mode of publication, the objects of our attention. Mr. Nißbett feems to believe the authenticity of Ignatius's Epiftles, and trufts much, with great reafon, to the teftimony of Justin Martyr. He replies alfa fhortly to Dr. Edwards's fermon refpecting the teftimony of the

apoftles

apostles (noticed in the present Number), but promifes to confider his arguments more fully in a separate work.

Remarks on the Religious Sentiments of learned and eminent Laymen; viz. Sir Ifaac Newton, Hon. Robert Boyle, Locke, Sir Matthews Hale, Addifon, Nelson, Lord Lyttelton, Weft, Soame Jenyns, Ec. &c. with occafional Reflections on Incredulity. Small Sve. 2s. 6d. fewed. Robinsons.

Our author introduces the religious opinions of fir Ifaac Newton, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Locke, fir Matthew Hale, Mr. Addison, Mr. Nelfon, lord Lyttelton, Mr. Weft, and Mr. Jenyns, not to rest religion on human teftimony, but to prove that the belief of Christianity is not inconfiftent with wifdom, learning, the most abftruse researches, or the most extenfive information. A fhort account of the lives of each perfon is prefixed, to fhow the extent of their learning, and that what no ignorance could be expected to hide, no prejudices obfcured. The Remarks' are, in general, paffages extracted from their works; and the editor is contented to point out their general fentiments, without determining who was of Paul and who of Apollos. The Arians and the Socinians have each, we believe, claimed fir Ifaac Newton as their own; but Whitton has told us, that fir Ifaac was irreconcileably angry with him because he said that he was an Arian. There are a few important prefs-errors, which fhould have been pointed out.

Elays meant as an Offering in Support of Rational Religion. By a Layman. 12mo. 25. 6d. fewed. Johnfon.

Our author must be reckoned among the laymen who have fupported the caufe of religion. His Hints and Effays' we formerly noticed in our XLIft volume, p. 75, and paid him the tribute of applaufe which was his due. Since that period his opinions refpecting the divinity of Chrift and on philofophical liberty are altered. He is become a decided Unitarian and Neceffarian. His reafons for the first alteration of opinion are given in the introduction; but they are not peculiarly new. They chiefly confift in the various texts, in which the humanity of Chrift is mentioned; but these afford only a partial view of the fubject: there are many others which should also be examined; and the scope and tenor of the whole Gospel should be taken into the account. The letter to Soame Jenyns principally relates to his opinion refpecting the Trinity, and the vicarious atonement by the death of our Saviour. It was published in the Gentleman's Magazine, but is not of great importance. Remarks on Dr. Priestley's different publications on philofophical neceffity follow, and of thefe we need only obferve, that the Second Thoughts' are the best. The other effays are on the knowledge of God, on punifhment and faith, Thefe, as well as every part of this volume fhow, that our au thor poffeffes a ferious, pious, and reflecting mind. We can

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not compliment him highly on accuracy of judgment, or acuteness of difcrimination; yet we do not find him, in either refpect, deficient.

POETRY.

St. James's Street, a Poem, in blank Verfe. By Marmaduke
Milton, Efq. 8vo. 15. 6d. Debrett.

It is pretty well underflood that Peter Pindar's Lyrics, however admirable in their way, bear no very striking resemblance to thofe of the Theban Pindar, except in the irregularity of their numbers. The adoption of a fimilar metre likewife with that used in the Paradife Loft, conftitutes the fole refemblance between Marmaduke Milton and his immortal namefake. Squire Marmaduke alfo proves, like the other felf-nominated fquire, a very lively and entertaining companion. He makes himself merry, and expofes with humour, devoid of all afperity, fome of the fashionable levities of the times; and defcribes the most ftriking circumftances that commonly occur in St. James'sftreet, from the tranquil morn to the more bufy and interesting poon of night;' whence he thus concludes his poem:

• Ev'n now the folemn, mystic rites begin
Nocturnal. Duly thefe to celebrate,
With pomp convenient, stately temples rife,
With ev'ry fplendid decoration gay,

Beneath thy fav'ring aufpices, St, James!-
Above the reft THREE rife pre-eminent,

With vaulted domes, and boaft the well-known names
Of BOODLE, BROOKES, and WHITE, who kindly bid
Thefe fpacious fanes their willing gates unfold

To ohofen worshippers, who all night long

Hither refort in never-ceafing crowds,
And, pleas'd their votive offerings to make,
Befide the altars take their pious ftand
With zealot perfeverance, nor retire
'Till rofy morn proclaim returning day :-
Nay fometimes, wrapt in holy reverence,
They start not "at the crowing of the cock,"
Nor bluth to borrow part of day itfelf

For their protracted rites, which thou, perhaps,
READER BENIGN, may'it now expect the Mufe
Shou'd fully to thy curious ear reveal.

1

-Ah nie!-thou little know'ft how hard the task
To fing in numbers due thofe folemn rites
Mysterious, which demand the amplest powers
Of POESY DESCRIPTIVE, and require
The joint affiftance of the tuneful Nine;
If not of Phoebus' felf.-

How then fhall he,

Who rarely dares invoke a fingle Muse
To fmile propitious on his cafual lays,

And

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