For after what I fhall lay before the public, I shall not be afraid of lofing any thing in the esteem of my countrymen, by their most direct and pofitive affertions. Again, let it be fuppofed that Dr. Priestley were arraigned at any other bar than that of the public. Would you believe him guilty, becaufe his advocate pleaded, and not himself? I am that advocate. And if I can fatisfactorily prove the allegations of his adverfaries to be falfe, or they themselves unworthy of having their teftimony credited-in short, if I can prove the charges of partiality, mifreprefentation and untruth upon this their joint production (and I never was fo much mistaken if I cannot) every reasonable man will be fatisfied. All, the public on this occafion can require is, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And that requifition can be more completely anfwered by a perfon refiding on the fpot than by one at a distance. It is matter of fact that is now in queflion, not principles. I hope thefe will be thought fufficient and fatisfactory reafons for my antwering this bundle of depofitions, instead of Dr. Priestley.' The matters difcuffed in thefe letters relate chiefly to the Sundayfchools, and to the refcinding of the refolution which allowed the children of the diffenters to attend their own place of worship. Whether Mr. Edwards will make good all that he has advanced, will be feen as he proceeds. At prefent, we fhall only say, that, though he writes with fpirit and with great command of language, his letters are calculated rather to inflame than to conciliate his adverfaries; and we think, if he were lefs diffufe, and if he kept himfelf to a difpaffionate examination of facts, he would more effectually gain his object, provided truth be on his fide, than by bold invec tives, and by that fmartness of reply, in which controverfial writers are generally folicitous of fhining. MEDICA L. Moo-y, Art. 28. An Efay on the Changes produced in the Body by Operations of the Mind. By the late Dr. Corp, M. D. of Bath. Evo. Pp. 102. 2s. 6d. Ridgway. 1791. Dr. Corp first fhews the dependance that fubfifts between the mind and the body, and then treats of thofe parts of the human machine on which its functions chiefly depend; arranging them under the heads of fenfibility and mobility. He then goes on to inquire how thefe functions are affected by the different exertions of the mind, as by fimple thought, or attention: by intention, or ftudy: by hope, joy, anger, fear, grief, and anxiety.-On thefe feveral fubjects, we meet with fome judicious obfervations, but they are not remarkable either for novelty or importance. Art. 29. Formula Medicamentorum concinnata: or, Elegant Medical Prescriptions for various Diforders. Translated from the Latin of the late Dr. Hugh Smith. To which is prefixed a Sketch of his Life. 8vo. pp. 131. 3s. Barr. 1791. This pamphlet, we are told, is a tranflation of a text-book used by Dr. Smith in reading lectures on the theory and practice of phyfic: 8 phyfic: the original was published by the author, in Latin. We do not perceive in it any thing that strikes us as very important. The sketch of Dr. Smith's life is a meagre performance. 0. Art. 30. The Poor Man's Medicine Cheft; or Thompson's Box of Antibilious Alterative Pills. With a few brief Remarks on the Stomach clearly demonftrating how much Health depends on paying attention to that Ventricle in particular, and the Bowels in general. By John-Weeks Thompfon, Surgeon. 8vo. pp. 36. 15. Taylor. 1791. This worthy gentleman talks with becoming confidence of himfelf and his medicine. I pofitively and boldly affert that I do not believe it is in the power of chemical and medical art to compofe a better medicine, a milder and more COMPLEAT ALTERATIVE, OUT of the drugs, &c. in prefent ufe.'-Should any perfons yield faith to these affertions, may their faith make them whole. Art. 31. The general and particular Principles of Animal Electricity and Magnetijm, &c. in which are found Dr. Bell's Secrets and Practice, as delivered to his Pupils in Paris, London, Dublin, &c. &c.-Shewing how to magnetife and cure different Diseases; to produce Crifes, as well as Somnambulifm, or Sleep walking; and in that State of Sleep to make a Perfon eat, drink, walk, fing, and play on any Inftruments they are used to, &c.; to make Apparatus and other Acceffaries to produce magnetical Facts; allo to magretife Rivers, Rooms, Trees, and other Bodies, animate and inanimate; to raise the Arms, Legs, of a Perfon awake, and to make him rife from his Chair; to raise the Arm of a Perfon abfent from one Room to another; alfo to treat him at a Distance. All the new Experiments and Phenomena are explained by M. le Docteur Bell, Profeffor of that Science, and Member of the Philofophical Harmonic Society at Paris, &c. &c. 8vo. PP. 80. 5s. Sael. 1792. Moft wonderful Dr. Bell!-we will not rob you of any of your fecrets by tranfcribing them: if our readers wish to explore them, they may buy the book, and pay for it. NOVELS. Art. 32. Fanny, or the Deferted Daughter. Being the firft literary Attempt of a young Lady. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. fewed. Bew. 1792. Though this production may not be poffeffed of fufficient excellence to enfure it a place in the first clafs of novels, it has too much merit to be thrown among the rubbish of the circulating libraries. As the first literary attempt of a young lady, it may claim indulgence; from its intrinsic worth, it is entitled to a confiderable fhare of praife. The ftory, (which is fimply that of a deferted daughter expofed to a series of hazards from thofe who profeffed to be her protectors and friends, and, after many embarrassments, conducted to the fummit of felicity in a happy union with the object of an early attachment, and restored to the rank and fortune to which he had been by birth entitled,) is filled up with a fufficient variety of incidents to fix the reader's attention. The 0. 0. The language is eafy and natural; without much ornament, but, at the fame time, without any very culpable negligence. The chief excellence, however, of the work, confifts in the lively and touching manner in which it reprefents the expreffion of emotions and paffions. The gradual progrefs of tender fentiments in virtuous bofoms, the firmnefs and dignity of confcious innocence in moments of hazard and distress, and its triumph over fufpicion and jealoufy, are well defcribed. We may add that the moral tendency of the tale is fuch as perfectly correfponds with the writer's declaration, that if he were conscious of a fingle line inimical to the interefts of virtue, she would burn the book, rather than prefent it to the public, though the were fure of being celebrated as the firft novel writer of the age.' E. Art. 33. Lady Almira Grantham, in a Series of Letters, interfperfed with feveral interefting Stories, written in the Year MDCCLXXXIX. 12mo. 2 Vols. About 220 Pages in each. 55. fewed. Printed at Bath, by Hazard. 1792. If we take more notice of this story than of others of the fame clafs, it is because it is patronifed by a lift of fubfcribers, and becable the authorefs has prefixed, in our opinion, a very ill-judged dedication, generally addreffed to the Gentlemen Reviewers. In this addrefs, on the credit of a favourable account given of one of her former productions, fhe intreats the fame indulgence to the prefent performance. She pleads its being produced to fill up a vacant hour;' and adds, as I never had the vanity to write for fame, to which I can have no pretenfions, I feek for no encomiums. A narrow fortune, and an induftrious mind, have led me to fill up every leifure hour with fome employ. As a lover of the quill, it engroffed thofe vacancies; and the good wishes of friends perfuaded me to make them of advantage, from the above circumftances.' Private pleas may weigh with private friends, in foliciting a fubfcription, but can extend no farther; and to treat a work with more indulgence than it merits, from regard to the author, known or unknown, would be to use the public ill, for the fake of an individual. As this lady confeffes that her first production, though candidly treated by the Reviewers, yielded but little profit, and as the difclaims all pretenfions to fame; we mean kindly to her in afking, whether the cannot use a needle in any mode, turn a fpinning wheel, kuit, touch a keyed inftrument, or handle a painting brush, or any brush, as well as a pen? To fill up her own vacant hours merely to furnish others with the means of mifapplying their hours, is rendering a fad account of time: nor did we know that a narrow fortune afforded many vacant hours to an induftrious hand, however it may be with an induftrious mind. As this lady profeffes to understand the workings of the human heart, and the motives of human actions, fo intimately, if the muft exercife her pen, can fhe not use it more profitably than in fabricating idle tales eked out with old ftories? Surely, by a proper direction of her own talents, he might afford fome aid to others of her fex who may ftand in need of a friendly intelligent monitor! As for the novel now offered to us, it poffeffes no diftinction above the general fwarm of thefe productions; its defcriptions of mankind mankind are not realized in the common courfe of life; and therefore will engage the attention of youth, only to mislead their views, and to delude their expectations. POETRY and DRAMATIC. N. Art. 34. A Pair of Lyric Epifles to Lord Macartney and his Ship. By Peter Pindar, Elq. 4to. pp. 22. If there be any truth in the old doctrine of the metempsychosis, the Is. 6d. Symonds. 1792. foul of Democritus now inhabits the body of Peter Pindar :-Peter, who, like the merry Citizen of Abdera, laughs at almost every thing, and every body. Lord Macartney, and his Errand to China, and his Lion, and the Duke of Richmond, and the Baghot Camp, are, at this time, the checquer'd objects of his ridicule; and, as the honeft Boatswain of the Lion would fay, them!"-The poet now turns prophet, and predicts a most difaftrous "rare fan he makes with iflue to this grand eaftern million. The Emperor, it is foretold, will take offence at the British Ambaffador's throwing out a hint of prefents to be fent to England. Kien Long: Prefents!" exclaims the Imperial "Prefents! present the * rogues a Baftinade!" In short, behold, with dread, MACARTNEY fare; The bamboo founds-alas! no voice of Fame: I fee their lily + bottoms writhe with pain, And, like his LORDSHIP's, blush with blood and shame. Ah! what avails the coat of fcarlet die, And collar blue, around their pretty necks? Ah! what the Epaulettes, that roaft the eye, And loyal buttons, blazing with George Rex? Heav'ns! if KIEN LONG refolves upon their tripping, Now with a mock folemnity of face, I fee the mighty Emp'ror gravely place Fool's-caps on all the poor degraded men And now I hear the folemn Emp'ror fay, "'Tis thus we Kings of China folly pay; "Now, children, ye may all go home again." Our labing poet, or prophet, which thou wilt, reader, (or both, if thou pleafeft,) has not yet done with this fubject. LONG," &c. are published :-of which, more in our next Review. "Odes to KIEN Art. 35. Tea and Sugar, or the Nabob and the Creole; a Poem, in two Cantos. By Timothy Touchstone, Gent. 4to. 1s. Ridg way. 1792. *The name of the man of war appointed to convey the embaffy to China. + The reader may fuppofe that the poet here contrafteth the English fair complexion with the fallow hue of the Chinese, but, perhaps, he has another idea.-Obferve the next fubfequent flanza. A dread A dreadful picture-and the more dreadful, becaufe, in the outline, there is too much reafon to believe that it is drawn from lifeis here prefented, of Eaftern rapacity, and Western cruelty. The verfification is not remarkably correct, but the defign is benevolent, and the general impreffion is Rrongly in favour of juftice and humanity. E. Art. 36. Fragments of a Poem, intended to have been written in confequence of reading Major Majoribanks's Slavery. By the Rev. E. Holder of Briflol. 4to. pp. 20. 15. 6d. Dilly. 1792. The mufes cannot be more difhonoured, than when their aid is invoked against the caufe of humanity. We might have borne, in plain profe, the violent ebullition of this writer's indignation against those who are attempting to put a stop to the horrid injuftice and cruelty, which avarice has fo long been practising under the fanction of law. We should only have fmiled at the ingenious fophiftry, with which he endeavours to perfuade the public that the African trade is innocent, because not one in a hundred of the flaves would chufe to return to their native continent; and because the planters purchase only the ufufruct of their flaves, and do not buy their flesh by the pound: but we are fhocked when we fee the writer proftituting the powers of verification, which have formerly been at least more innocently employed, and opening a poem written in defence of flavery with thefe lines: • Curs'd be that baleful wit, that dares to point Its poifon'd shaft against the cause of truth, Conceals its fell defign beneath the veil Of philanthropic zeal and fympathy !' A New E. Art. 37. John Bull's Opinion; or the English Ça Ira. Bell. 1792. The author, a good Englishman, at least, evinces the fuperior happiness of his country, by a comparifon with the state of the furrounding nations; and his eftimate feems, in the general, a very fair one. We feel and we rejoice in the preference which he fo triumphantly gives to the flourishing circumstances of this fortunate ifland-We only with that the poet had been as happy in his ftrains as he is in his fubject. There are, however, fome notable ftrokes in his performance: we may inttance his allufion to the religious bigotry with which the Spaniards have been fo often, and fo juilly, reproached: To Ileria turn. Lo! Torture rifing from Religion's urn! That faith Heav'n will'd to all-here taught in blood- We |