Manners and Cuftoms in the Weft-India Iflands; containing various Particulars refpecting the Soil, Cultivation, Produce, Trade, Officers, Inhabitants, c. Sc. with the Method of conducting a Sugar-Plantation; in which the ill Practices of Superintendants are pointed out: alfo the Treatment of Slaves, and SlaveTrade. By . B. Moreton, 8vo. 35. titched. Richardfon. London, 1790. THIS book may be called the young man's companion to the WeitIndies, being written by one who refided five years in Jamaica, to a youth fuppofed to be making up his mind whether he fhould engage in fuch an enterprife. We doubt not but the advice given him as a bookkeeper, negro-driver or overfeer, may be very juft and ufeful. Those who have filed fuch departments are doubtlefs the beft able to inftruct others. The author, however, does not stop here. He teaches the planter himfelf what will be moft to his intereft; and not contented with this, which may indeed be connected with his five years department, he becomes a divine, a phyfician, a lawyer, a ftatefman, and a poet of course. As far as Mr Moreton was likely to be competent, he appears to have given very prudent advice to his young friend, and to have truck out fome useful hints for older people. The Obfervations on the Slave Trade are, for the most part, judicious and humane; on the manner of living a mong the negroes, interelling and impartial; on the mode of treating them, rational and proper; on the general plan of living and economy preper for a young man to purfue, co pious and highly ufeful:-but on law and the other profeffions, dafhing, fuperficial, and trite. THE for ticle in this clafs contains an account of certain un common natural appearances of the ground obferved by Dr Mutton on Arthur's Seat. It appeared to be a narrow ftripe of the grafs quite dead and withered, the fides perfectly well defined, all the plants in the track ge Mm 2 Of his talents as a poet, the following 'extraft will give fome idea bir ing killed, without the contiguous freezing water appears very great; part having fuffered in the least. Two in one inftance, from an iron fhefl of or three fimilar tracks appeared to about nine inches in diameter, it threw have been fucceffively formed, year to the distance of 415 feet a plug 41 after year, running regularly parallel inches in length. Dr Hutton of to one another. The Dr has men-. Woolwich, by whom thefe experitioned two caufes for thofe appear- ments were communicated, concludes ances; electricity and infects; but he the paper by a calculation of the quanfeems fatisfied with neither. We tity which water expands by freezing, regret that his obfervations, which which appears to be in the ratio of were first made in 1776, have not. 174 to 10, or between the 17th and been far enough carried on, to lead to 18th part of itself. a probable conjecture as to the cause of the phenomenon, which might perhaps throw additional light on the philofophy of mountains. II. An account of the method of making otter of roles in the Eaft-Indies. It is done by evaporating in the fun water ftrongly impregnated with rofe leaves. III. Defcription of a mercurial level by Alexander Keith Efq; The inftrument confifts of a wooden box, with two fquare cavities at the ends thut in by wooden partitions, and communicating with each other by a channel running along the bottom of the box. Mercury is poured into the cavities till they are about half full, and the fights, which are made of ivory, float upon the furface. The invention is ingenious; we only apprehend fome inconvenience in the ufe of it from the difficulty of confining or fecuring the mercury in transportation. IV. Pathological obfervations on the brain by Mr Thos. Anderfon, furgeon." Several cafes are here communicated, confirming the opinion that an affection of one hemifphere of the brain produces its morbid fymptoms on the oppofite fide of the body. V. "Experiments on the expanfive force of freezing, water, by Major Williams of the Artillery, made at Quebec in 1784 and 1785" From thefe curious experiments, made by filling with water an iron bomb thell, closely plugged up, and then expofing it to the cold, the expanfive force of VI. "Abstract of experiments made to determine the true refiftance of the air to the furfaces of bodies of vari pus figures, and moved through it with different degrees of velocity," by Dr Hutton of Woolwich. These experiments were made with a machine confifting of a fmall vertical axis, with a long horizontal arm connected with it, to the extremity of which was affixed a hemifphere of pafteboard, the hollow part covered with a flat circle of the fame, that either the round or the flat fide might be made to go foremoft against the air. A fine filk cord being wound about the axis, and madę to go over a pully by a fmall weight at the end, turned the machine, from the diverfity of the velocity of which, in different cricumftances, the refiftance of the air could with tolerable accuracy be afcertained. From the table given in the paper of the velocities and actuating weights, the gene. ral conclufions drawn are, that with different velocities the refiftance is nearly as the fquare of the velocity, that the refiftance to the flat fide of the hemifphere was to that of the round fide as 2 to one; that the altitude of a column of air, whose preffure is equal to the refistance on the round fide, is half the altitude due to the velocity of the figure, the experiment in this cafe agreeing with the theory, but differing from it on the fat fide nearly in the proportion of one fourth of the whole. VII. "Obfervations of the places of the Georgium Sidus, by Profeffor Ro bison," bifon," from which an error of the thecry of this Planet appears of 6+5" in longitude, and 18" in latitude, VIIL "Anfwers to the objections of M. de Luc with regard to the theory of rain, by Dr Hutton." This is a pretty long and curious paper, in reply to fome things advanced by M. de Luc in his Idées fur la Meteorologie. The theory advanced by Dr Hutton in the former volume of thefe tranfactions was, that the capacity of the atmof phere for retaining humidity increafed with its heat, but in a growing and accelerated ratio; hence, if two portions of air, of different temperatures, each fufficiently faturated with humidity, are mixed together, the temperature of the mixed mafs would be of too small a retentive power for the degree of humidity introduced into it; a part of which must therefore form a vifible condensation, and be discharged in vapour or rain. M. de Luc's objections feem rather to be directed against fome of the facts adduced by Dr Hutton, in fupport of his theory, than against the theory itfelf, and in the prefent paper the Dr has in a very fatisfactory manner obviated.thefe objections, and adduced fome very folid additional proofs in fupport of his doctrines refpecting evaporation. IX. "Account of a diftemper vulgarly called the Mumps, by Robert Hamilton M. D." This difeafe, which feems not to be a common one, made its appearance at Lynn in 1758 and 1761; Dr Hamilton was at firft at a lofs how to treat it, but afterwards fell upon a method which is communicated in this paper, and was in general attended with fuccefs. X. A botanical and medical account of the Qualia Simaruba, by William Wright M. D." This tree, which is a fpecies of the Quaffia, is known in Jamaica by the names of Mountain Danfon, Bitter Damfon, and Stave-wood. The wood is hard, and useful for building, and the bark proved an excellent medicine in dy fenteries, fluxes, putrid fevers, and ha bitual colics. Botanical defcriptions accompanied with figures of both male and female plants are given. XI." On the motion of light as affected by refracting and reflecting fubftances which are alfo in motion by Profeffor Robifon." In confe quence of an obfervation of Abbé Bofcovich, "That if a telescope be conftructed, having its tube filled with water, and be directed to a terrestrial object properly fituated, it will be found to deviate from that object by a certain determined quantity eyery day.?? Mr Robifon has been led into thefe fpeculations which principally regard the aberration of light. The contriv ance of a telefcope filled with water, tho' fpecious in theory, he has, he fays, found impracticable in execu tion, for want of a substance sufficient ly tranfparent to admit the neceffary magnifying power; but he at the fame time faw that this aberration of terreftrial objects might enable philofophers to decide the queftion refpecting the acceleration of light when refracted towards the perpendicular, by means of a compound microscope of a particular conftruction defcribed in the paper, Mr Robifon had at first formed great hopes of feveral curious difcoveries from this inftrument, but in the courfe of his examination he discovered an overfight in Mr Bofcovich's reafoning, which unfortunately rendered this beautiful theory nugatory, and put an end to the expectations of farther difcoveries from that quarter. This error, and the circumstances relating to it, are accurately detailed in the prefent paper. XII. Demonftration of fome of D: Matthew Stewart's general Theo. rems, by Robert Small, D. D." Thefe would be unintelligible without the figures annexed., XIII. Remarks on the aftronomy of the Brahmins by John Playfair, A. M." This is a long and curious paper, though we are not fure but it might have been as properly ranked ces are touched on in the paper, tho' among the Literary as the Phyfiological papers, being valuable moftly as an investigation of the extent and antiquity of the Indian aftronomy, and not on account of the fcientific refearches it contains. This, however, is of no confequence, the paper itself certainly merits attention. The materials of it are chiefly taken from M. Bailly's "Traité de l'Aftronomie Indienne et Orientale;" but Mr Playfair has verified the calculations himself, and gone over the reasonings with the moft fcrupulous accuracy. It is impoffible to give a proper abfiract of the paper, it is fufficient to fay, that it contains ftrong arguments in favour of the antiquity of the Indian aftronomy, which is here carried back to the year 3102 before Chrift; and by an ingenious deduction from the table of the celestial motionsin ufe among the Brahmins, compared with the real motion as afcertained by European aftronomy, Mr Playfair attempts to fhew, with much force of reafoning, that the places and motions of the heavenly bodies must have been actually observed by the Brahmins at that early period, and could not have been calculated in an after-age, while, at the fame time the construction of the tables impline a great knowledge of geometry, a rithmetic, and even the theoretical part of aftronomy. The arguments contained in this paper, we admit, are ftrong, and yet doubts. ftrong doubts, fill remain. We could have wifhed that the material facts and documents on which the reafonings are founded, had come through the channel of an author lefs an enthufiaft for Indian attronomy than Mr Bailly. Great as his abilities confeffedly are, he may have been led, by his fyftem, to find a perfection in thefe Brahminical tables, which they do not really poffefs, and which they owe more to his ingenious interpretation than their own intrinfic excellency. Two circumftan "but flightly, which tend much to confirm our fcepticism in regard to this extraordinary antiquity; the one is the filence of the ancients with res gard to the Indian aftronomy, tho' had it fo early attained its fuppofed perfection, it could scarce have efcaped their notice. The other is, that the Brahmins at present have no knowledge of the principles on which their rules of calculation are founded, a certain proof at leaft that their fcience, if really the work of a remote antiquity, has been very imperfectly and unfkilfully tranfmitted to them; a circumftance that muft greatly di minish the authority of their teftimony as to its origin and ancient ftate. Mr Playfair concludes with obferv. ing, "that the whole evidence on this fubject is not yet before the public, and that the repofitories of Benares may contain what is to confirm or to invalidate thefe obfervations." Till thefe are laid open, and their contents made known, we apprehend it will be fafcft to fufpend our judgment on this obfcure though curious fubject. XIV." On the Refolution of Indeterminate Problems," by John Leslie, A. M. The object of this paper is to refolve the complicated expreffions obtained in the falution of indeterminate problems into fimple equations, by help of a fingle principle admitting of a very extenfive application. AxB be any compound quantity equal to another CXD, and let #be any rational number affumed at pleafure, it is manifeft that, taking equi multiples AxmB=CxmD; if there fore we fuppofe A= mD, it must fol C "Let low, that mB-C, or B= Thus two equations of a lower dimenfion are obtained. By repeated application of this principle, an higher equation, if it admit of divifors, will be refolved into thofe of the first order." The The mode of applying this principle in some of the more general problems is given by Mr Leflic. XV. " "Differtation on the Climate of Ruffia by Matthew Guthrie.M. D." Dr Guthrie fome years ago formed a defign of endeavouring to trace the influence of a cold climate on the human body;-in parfuance of this plan, he has here given a curious and accurate detail of the phenomena of the Ruffian climate. It is fcarce poffible to do juftice to this paper by any a bridgement, we can only mention a few leading particulars. The RuTian winter lafts from the end of September to the beginning of May, the mean period of the continuance of froft and fnow about 230 days in the year. Hail and tempefts are very uncommon in that feafon, and the prevail ing wind is the Weft; the air, tho' cold, is remarkably pure and elaftic, giving a fuiprfing tone to the human frame, and feems to be ftrongly im pregnated with the electric fluid. From the mode of living in Peterf burg, to guard against the weather in winter, Dr Guthrie fays he is convinced lefs cold is felt there than in London or Edinburgh during the cold moith weather that often takes place in these two cities. The Ruffian fummer is nearly as hot as the winter is cold; two British travellers from Bengal complained much of the heat of a Petersburg fummer; the atmosphere during that period is in general ferene and clear, but the hygrometer in a fine fummer evening indicated a greater degree of humidity than during the moft continued rainy weather. Spring and autumn are unknown in Ruffia, fummer and winter running into one another, almost without any fenfible intermediate period. To this paper. are annexed two letters from M. Epinas, Counfellor of State, to Dr Guthrie, containing fome remarks on feveral electrical meteorological phenómena peculiar to the climate of Ruffia Such are the physical papers contained in the prefent volume; our readers will eafily perceive they are, not all of equal value, but we may fafely affirm, that they are all of them, at leaft in fome degree, refpectable, and feveral of them will do real honour to the Society. [To be continued.] Short Sketches of the ancient Northern The object of the ingenious author of thefe pieces, is beft explained by a part of his preface: 1 Mr Gray is the only one among our celebrated poets, who has chofen to notice the mythology of the Goths;, he has touched it indeed with a mast terly, though fparing hand; yet even the little which he has chofen to introduce, has repaid his attention, by adding a fplendor, as well as novelty, to fome of his popular performances. It is certain, however, that the most fublime features of Scandinavian fuperftition have hitherto been concealed in the Sagas of Iceland, or have appeared only in the tragedies of Klopftock, and a few other pieces little known, except among the Germans and Danes, to whom they owe their existence. This being the cafe. I am tempted to publish thefe fhort poems, with a view of giving fome flight idea at leaft, of the neglected beauties of the Gothic religion, and of recommending a freer introduction of its imagery into the poetry of the English nation." Adriano; or, the First of June, a |