humorous print, engraved in the true electioneering style, is prefixed; highly burlesquing the populace, drawing citizen Trny through the Borough of Southwark, to the Grove-house at Camberwell. Art. 40. The Times; or a Fig for Invasion. A Musical Entertainment. By a British Officer. 8vo. 15. 6d. Becket. This is a political drama, recommending the prosecution of the war. One Englishman kills two Frenchmen (the usual number is three); a parrot sings God save great George our King; and the last scene concludes with expressing a trust that we shall thus ever carry on the war.' We doubt not the good intentions of this officer, but we cannot compliment either his philosophy, or his dramatic abilities. Capt. B....y. Art. 41. Poems, by Joseph Cottle. Second Edition, with Additions. 12mo. pp. 200. 4s. Boards. Robinsons. Of the former edition of these poems, which were published without the author's name, we gave our readers an account in the Review for August, 1796. The additions to the present impression consist of two pieces, entitled, Ricardo and Cassandra, and Lee Boo; the sentiments of which are particulaaly entitled to our approbation.-Of Mr. Cottle's poetic talents, we briefly delivered our opinion in the article quoted above. MEDICAL and CHEMICAL, Art. 42. Descriptive Account of a new Method of treating old Ulcers in the Legs. By Thomas Baynton, Surgeon of Bristol. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Robinsons. 1797. As ulcers of the legs, notwithstanding the various improvements in their treatment which have been proposed of late years with great confidence, still frequently remain obstinate and unyielding, a new method, superior in its success, and easy to be put in practice, cannot fail to attract the attention of surgeons, if properly authenticated. The writer of the present pamphlet appears to have every claim, from education, experience, and candour, to a hearing on the subject from his brother practitioners; and after having explained, in a few words, the essential part of his proposed method, we shall refer to the work itself for the cases and reasonings by which it is supported. Mr. B.'s mode differs from the common application of tight bandage only in the use of slips of sticking plaster, by which the sound skin from the opposite sides of the ulcer is made to approximate, and in a free employment of cold spring water to wet the bandage and dressings. The manner of applying the slips of plaster is by cutting them of lengths sufficient to pass quite round the limb, with about four inches to spare. They are first to be placed with their middle on the part of the limb opposite to the sore, and the ends are then to be drawn round across the sore with as much force as can be borne, and the whole ulcer is to be covered with these slips from below upwards, including an inch of sound skin each way. After this, pieces of soft callico, doubled, are to be laid over the part, and a long callico bandage is to be applied round the whole limb from the foot to the knee; and these are to be kept frequently wetted over the sore by cold water poured from a tea-pot. It is to the contraction of the granulations Ai. granulations from the pressure, and the gradual approach of the skin, that Mr. B. attributes the principal effect of this method; and he gives some reasoning from Mr. J. Hunter's ideas on this subject. He has also some remarks on the effect of the abstraction of heat by the cold water; and these he might have farther enforced by reference to Mr. Rigby's ingenious essay on Animal Heat, which contains some remarkable instances of the cure of ulcers by the constant application of cold water alone. The cases adduced by Mr. B. are very striking and indubitable proofs of the efficacy of his method; and we cannot hesitate in recommending a perusal of the whole tract to our medical readers. Art. 43. Suggestions for the Improvement of Hospitals, and other charitable Institutions. By William Blizard, F. R.S. & F.A.S. 8vo. 35. 6d. Boards. Dilly. 1796. This volume begins with Reflections on the Subject of Assistant Surgeons to Hospitals, originally written when such an appointment was in agitation at the London Hospital. The arguments here adduced in its favour are judicious, but sufficiently obvious. The next section contains Remarks concerning Circumstances of Distress not within the Provisions of Hospitals, with the Address and Regulations of the Samaritan Society. To those who wish to augment their modes of doing. good, the condition of the families of hospital patients, and of many of the patients themselves when discharged, affords a variety of cases for the beneficial exercise of their liberality; and the Samaritan Society here described, and particularly attached to the London Hospital, may advantageously be imitated by the supporters of any other institution of the kind. Cursory Observations relative to Hospitals occupy the greatest part of the volume. These relate to their site, mode of building, ventilation, diet, management, and other circumstances on which their salubrity and use principally depend. Though they are justly denominated cursory, and display no great connection nor profundity of thought, yet, as proceeding in many instances from the dictates of real experience, and breathing a spirit of enlightened humanity, they are worthy of the attention of all who are concerned in the success of these institutions. The writer acknowleges frequent obligations to the excellent Mr. Howard for suggestions under this head. Propositions for promoting the Usefulness and Propriety of Hospitals and other Public Charities form the last article. The first of these propositions is for triennial parochial sermons and collections from house to house in London, and within seven miles round, for the benefit of these institutions. Whether this would not look too much like a compulsory mode of enforcing charity, and take from the contributors that choice and distinction respecting the objects which are necessary to interest them in their real success, and which ought to be exerted, we think may not improperly be questioned: the fault of the spirit of charity, in this country, is not that it is slack, but that it is heedless, and perhaps too fond of novelty; and Mr. B. himself seerns sensible that the attention and superintendence of individuals are often more wanted than their money.-The second proposition is for the appointment of representatives of the several hospitals and other Ai. other public charities in the metropolis, to meet at stated times, and Though we cannot compliment this writer on any considerable ex. The mischiefs arising from the abuse of spirituous liquors are so obvious, and have so often been described both by moral and medical writers, that we rather wonder they should have been made the subject of a prize essay in a society for the improvement of arts and agriculture. Certainly, they who have addicted themselves to intemperance do not err for want of knowing the consequences; and unless a writer possesses the talent of interesting the heart and the imagination, like the author of Isaac Jenkins*, he has little chance of making an impression powerful enough to counteract the force of habit and inclination. In the present performance, we find nothing but what is commonly known, related in a common manner. It is, indeed, a new piece of information to us that ardent spirits are ever corrected or disguised by the mixture of aqua-fortis; nor can we conceive how such a strong acid is made a palatable ingredient. We cannot but think Dr. Fothergill too favourable to punch, which appears to us the most insidious of all ways of using spirits, from its pleasantness to the palate, and the effect of the sweet and sour in overcoming, not the noxious properties, but merely the taste, of the strong liquor. Dr. F. says, however, many things very rationally; and, though we do not think his oratory extremely persuasive, his facts may have their influenceon persons who are sober enough to attend to them. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 46. Sketches on various Subjects; moral, literary, and political. "The Democrat," a novel, was mentioned in our 19th vol. p. 207. The author now presents us with various essays, which, as the preface states, are the gleanings of a common-place-book to which, in the course of 25 years, he has committed his thoughts.' See Rev. vol. xi. p. 226. Selections from the ** By Henry James Pye. Erg . M.P. Do Poet laureate. 1s. pp. 41. the accumulated industry of so long a period of time led us to expect no common matters. We have, however, turned over all the leaves of the volume, without finding any thing very new, very good, or very absurd; and we class it among those every-day publications which the world can exist with, or without, equally well. Tay. Art. 47. A Reply to the Strictures of the Monthly Reviewers, in February 1797, on the Tragedy of the Battle of Eddington. By J. Penn, Esq. 8vo. R. White. 1797. In our 22d vol. p. 231. we noticed with approbation the letters on the drama annexed to the second edition of the Battle of EddingOf those letters these strictures form a sort of continuation. They are written with good sense and candour: but it is obviously improper in us to enter into a detailed examination of them. The author no doubt feels with Don Augustin de Moatiano, whose critical disquisitions created the reputation of his tragedy: "Quanto queda dicho di mi Virginia, es en algun modo una satisfaccion anticipada à los cargos, que justamente temo, que me hagan los criticos. No se alucinaràn sin duda con las ilusiones del amor propio, que sen las que pueden haberme deslumbrado à mi." ton. Do Art. 48. The Chronicle of the Kings of England, from the Norman A new Conquest, unto the present Time. By R. Dodsley. Edition enlarged. 12mo. pp. 156. 2s. Vernor and Hood, &c. This is not an unskilful imitation of the style of the Chronicle of the Jewish Kings: but there certainly might have been a better selection of the chief events in each reign, than such as the ridiculous story of the contract between the Devil and Cromwell, &c. for we can hardly imagine that it was the intention of the author, by such gross absurdities, to strengthen the resemblance between his work and the Bible. Art. 49. An Appeal to Impartial Posterity, by Madame Roland, Wife of the Minister of the Interior. Translated from the French Original. Second Edition, revised and corrected. 8vo. 2 Vols. Boards. Johnson. 1796. In our account of the first edition of this translation, particularly of the fourth part, (see Rev. vol. xix. Appendix, p. 506.) we complained of the negligence with which the translator had executed his task. In the present edition, we find the whole revised and considerably improved. We have examined it in many parts, and in those paragraphs in which the French idiom had before prevailed to a disgusting degree, the English style has now assumed its native charac teristics. In most of the places which we formerly particularized as incorrect, we observe that the necessary alterations have been made : but we can point out several instances in which improvement is still possible. Vol. i. p. 124. Casting about for expedients' is too colloquial an expression. P. 159. Madame R. is made to say, speaking of M. and Madame Robert, Nor did I ever see them, or speak of them afterwards' yet, in the next page, she mentions their meeting again a few months afterwards.' The French expression "je ne les revis plus" here means only that she saw them no more at that time; that is, A.Ai. during the stay which they then made at Paris. P. 187. Speaking of the ingenuousness of Roland's character, his lady says of him, His book is always open: this is too literal a rendering of the French expression; it should have been, the book of his heart is always open. P. 191. and Part ii. p. 158, the English editor still translates Madame R.'s signatureRoland, formerly Phlipon;' instead of born Phlipon. We objected to this before. (See Rev. Appendix, vol. xvii. P. 494.) Vol. II. (Part iv.) p. 57. we perceive a manifest improvement. In the first edition, the present tense had here been used, when speaking of past events, though the original was not guilty of this deviation from propriety. It is now corrected; and we observe this amendment in several places. In our Appendix, vol. xix. p. 509. we pointed out a passage which seemed to indicate that Madame R. was almost, if not quite, an atheist but, not having then seen the original, we hesitated to admit the idea. In this second edition, however, the sense of that passage is still the same; and on examining the French, which is now before us, we find that the meaning is accurately given. We copy Madame R.'s words; "Je m'en tiens à l'homme que vous connoissez, me moque du diable, & ne crois guères en Dieu." Still we know not how far this expression should be taken seriously, nor whether this infidelity ought to be imputed to her. In one of her farewell letters, just before her execution, she says, (vol. I. p. 135.) " C'est une Providence qui a tout conduit."-English edit. p. 124. It was Providence that conducted every thing.' We are well aware of the difficulty, in translating from a foreign language, of preserving the purity of that in which the translator writes; and much allowance should be made for the appearance of foreign idiom and construction at intervals. Indeed, we think this difficulty so nearly insurmountable, that we should ever hesitate to quote a translation as authority for the language which is used in it; except in cases in which the most severe attention has been paid, and revision after revision has taken place; and these scrupulous duties, we believe, are seldom fulfilled. Perhaps the only mode by which a translator could entirely naturalize his MS. would be, after all his own labours had been exerted, by submitting it to the correction of some competent friend, whose ideas had not been dwelling on the foreign dialect, and who would therefore most readily observe its intrusion on his native tongue.-With these allowances, it must be acknowleged that the present work now makes a very respectable ap、 pearance. Would not a well-selected portrait of Madame Roland have been an agreeable addition to these volumes? Art. 50. A Letter on the Secret Tribunals of Westphalia, addressed to Elizabeth Countess of Pembroke. By the Rev. William Coxe, 8vo, Is. Cadell jun. and Davies. Admitting that the Druidical religion was the patrimony of the Cimbric nations; that the Belge were a Cimbric tribe; and that descendants of the Belge continued, even so late as under Charle, REV. MAY, 1797. I magne, G. 2. |