language either elegant or perfpicuous. Berkeley and Hume may be compared to the nightingale's. But it is true, that the fimplicity of the beginning of the feventeenth century was not yet recom penfed by modern elegance. Vox & præterea nibil; bat even this praife is inapplicable to Locke and Malebranche. But in truth he not feldom endeavours to convey things totally unintelligible, and our language had not arrived to its prefent perfection.

MED 1 CA L.

Art. 23. The Cafe of the Rev. Dr. Harwood: An Obftinate Palfy of above Two Years Duration, greatly relieved by Electricity. By Edward Harwood, D. D. 8vo. Buckland, ts. ‹Dr. Harwood,, well known in the literary world, here relates his fictions in confequence of an obftinate palfy, and the relief he found in electricity. There is a mixture of piety and gratitude in the relation, well befitting the divine, and the gentleman. Art. 24. An Effay on the Prevention of an Evil highly Injurious to Health, and Inimical to Enjoyment. By William Edmonftone, late Surgeon to the Eighty-ninth Regiment. 8vo. zs. Shep'perfon and Reynolds.

The main object of this effay, is the recommendation of a noftrum called the Prophylactic Liquid, for preventing venereal infection, but the Author muft excufe us, if we form no judgment of its merits until they are tried, as he keeps the ingredients in profound fecrecy.

Art. 25. A Treatife on the Difcafes of Children, with Directions for the Management of Infants from the Birth; especially fuch as are brought up by the hand. By Michael Underwood, M. D. Licentiate in Midwifery of the Royal College of Physicians in London, and Practitioner at the British Lying-in Hofpital. fmall 8vo. 3s. fewed. Matthews. 1784.

The Writers whom we poffefs on this fubject are but ill proportioned to its magnitude. If we except a few pamphlets on detached parts, we have had no regular account of the method of treating the dif cafes of children, fince that-given by Dr. Arinftrong, twenty years ago. In our opinion, Dr. Underwood has thrown out many new and valuable doctrines on the more important difeafes. He fets out with an affertion, which he in a great manner proves by his own writings, "That, as the complaints of infants are more obvious than it has generally been imagined, fo their number is comparatively small, their caufe uniform, and the treatment of most of them, fimple and certain." In the courfe of the work, he takes occafion to correct the errors of former writers, whether popular or fcientific. His own, practice is rational and experimental, and his disclosing it for the benefit of the younger part of the faculty, cannot but be attended with general utility.

Art. 26. A Syftem of Anatomy: from Monro, Winflow, Innes, and the latest authors. Arranged, as nearly as the nature of the work would admit, in the order of the Lectures delivered by the Profeffor of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh. In two vols. 8vo. Illuftrated with copper plates, rs. boards. Elliot, Edinburgh; Robinson, London.

This

This work comprehends Monro on the Bones: Winflow on the oints and other parts of the fresh bones; Innes on the Mufcles, with his illustrations of thele and of the skeleton: Winflow on the tifcera, blood-veffels, and organs of the fenfes; Monro, Hewfon, and other late writers, on the nerves and lymphatic velfelt. The compilation is made with judgment, and will no doubt be useful to ftudents. The plates are on a fcale by much too fmail to give any idea of the parts reprefented.

Art. 27. Some New Hints, relative to the Recovery of Perfons drowned, and apparently dead. By John Fuller, Surgeon at Ayton, Berwickshire. 8vo. 15. Cadell.

This pamphlet deferves the attention of the gentlemen belonging to the Humane Society in particular; and we think there are fome hints in it that may not prove ufelefs to practitioners in general. Art. 28. An Addrefs to Pregnant Ladies and Others, pointingout fuch women as are fit to be inftructed, and particularly to be employed in the Practice of Midwifery: together with the Heads of the Lectures, which they ought to be taught, and well verfed in, before they take upon themfelves fo important an Office. To which is added, an Index to the Symptoms of all Difeafes incident to the Human Species, elucidated with curious ExplanatoryNotes and Obfervations on the Practice of Medicine. By Mrs. Rachael Lane, Midwife, late Fractitioner at the Westminster Lying-in Hofpital, and regular Pupil to Dr. Leake, Member of the Royal College of Phyficians in London, Profeffor of Midwifery, and Phyfician in that Charity. 8vo. 2s. Printed for the

Author.

Mrs. Rachael Lane appears to have cultivated her mind by the theory as well as the practice of the obftetric art, and as the is well attested by Dr, Leake, and her pamphlet is tolerably compiled, we have no reafon to doubt that the does credit to the profeten. We cannot, however, fee any ufe in the major part of the pamphlet which is taken up by what the calls, An Index to the Symptoms of "all Difeafes, for what is a midwife to learn (granting it to be true) from being told that 4 body emaciated and unfit for motion portends Lues Fenerea, of French Pox, or, from being told that fumbling of the bowels portends inflammation of the bladder and intestines. She might have as well told us, that a pain in the leg portends amputation. Art. 29. The Speech of Lieutenant General Hale, in favour of the People, and the nomination and election of a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire, in the room of Sir George Savile. 8vo. Is. Todd, York; Baldwin, London.

In this addrefs there are the most evident and expreffive marks of patriotifin and public virtue. The author appears to be well informed; and his knowledge and integrity give à real value to his work. As he exhibits the undifguifed fentiments of his heart, his manner is warm, and his language nervous.

Art. 30. Remarks on the extraordinary Conduct of the Knight of the Ten Stars, and his Italian Efquire, to the editor of Don Quixote. In a Letter to the Rev. I. S. D.D. 8vo. 1s. Wilkie, London.

Here the reader is amufed with the fpirit of altercation that has K 3

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difgraced literature fo much. There may be fome degree of truth in the obfervations which are made in this publication; but there is infinitely more of peevishness. The most pointed wit can only apologize for productions like the present.

Art. 31. Every Man his own Law-Maker or, The Englishman's Complete Guide to a Parliamentary Reform: wherein the road to national confufion is made plain and easy to the meanest capacities. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Stockdale. London.

This author is an enemy to all parliamentary reform. He affects to convey his fentiments in an ironical manner. But his wit is fmall, and his ingenuity nothing. The important objects of nas tional management and economy are not proper topics for derifion, and levity.

Art, 32. Outlines of a ready Plan for protecting London and its environs from depredations of Houfe-breakers, Street and Highway-robbers. 8vo. 1s. Richardfon. London.

The hints held out in this pamphlet deferve confideration from mis nifters and statefmen. They feem to proceed from an intelligent perfon, and they are expreffed with a fuitable fimplicity and plainnefs. Art. 33. The Beauties of Captain Cook's Voyages, or a Selection of interefting Narratives. Being a circumftantial and entertaining Account of all the curious and extraordinary Occurrences which happened in his Voyages round the World, and to the Pacific Ocean. Selected from the voluminous Performances that have been publifhed; Care being taken to retrench all Superflui ties, and to reject whatever might appear to be ufelefs, uninterefting, or unentertaining. Containing among a Variety of other Articles, an Account of the Manners and Cuftoms of the Inha bitants of Nootka Sound. Alfo of thofe of Van Diemen's Land. The Friendly Iflands. Qonalafhka. Queen Charlotte's Sound. Sandwich Sound. Wateeoo. The Tfchutski, &c. &c. Alfo a Defcription of a grand Haiva at Tongataboo. A Bear-bunt at Kamtfchatka. An Account of the Mataevans prefenting their Daughters to Strangers. The Operation of the Romee. The Death of Captain Cook, &c. &c.. 12mo. 1s. 6d. Lifter. London. The unblufhing loquacity of this title-page will difguft the dif cerning reader, and be a fure indication to him that this publication is a catch-penny. The compiler, whoever he is, has no pretenfions of any kind to commendation; and while he appears to be exceedingly illiterate, the paper and printing of his publication are in the vileft file of imperfection.

f

For the ENGLISH REVIEW. POLITICAL STATE of EUROPE, for the year 1784. [Concluded from our laft.]

THE

HE exclufive right of the Houfe of Commons to grant fupplies throws an over-balance into that fcale, and makes the peers, though fuperior in ftation, inferior in importance. Then in deed they rife in the fcale of power when they arrange themselves, as they have fometimes done, in oppofition to the defpotifm of the Commons, on the fide of freedom.

But if the general voice of the nation has been able to controul the frongest branch of the legiflature, much more would it be able to controul the weakest. Whilft virtue, public fpirit, found fenfe, and a regard to property remain in the nation, a due balance will be preferved in the conftitution. The people, and all that can influence the people, reafon, juftice, felf-intereft, the love of the public: thefe yet form the fupreme power in the kingdom; and it is by an appeal to thefe only, that all difputes among the different members of the government can be ultimately determined. Such an appeal, on the occafion of Mr. Fox's India bill, was anticipated by numerous addreffes to the throne, and formally made by a diffolution of the old, and the convocation of a new parliament, when a great majority ap peared on the fide of the new minister.

Thus it appears, that there is a vital and a healing principle in the British conffitution, which regulates and directs its movements to the public good, which rectifies its diforders, and, amidst all its wanderings, brings it back to its natural ftate. While justice and public fpirit give efficacy to the laws, protect property, and give an intereft to the great body of the people in the prefervation of the conftitu tion, there is little danger of its fubverfion. When luxury, with all her enervating train of fictitious wants, fhall have prevailed over a fenfe of duty and a love of glory; when corruption fhall have made its way to judges and juries; when the laws fhall have loft their fpring, and bowed down before factions in the fenate and parties among the people; then indeed has the Genius of Liberty fled for ever. Then the bold fpirit of confcious right finks into mean fervility, and folicits from favour what it formerly demanded as a debt from jufzice.

(

From this detail of facts, and from thefe obfervations, we draw ! the following important conclufion, which we wish to hold up to the view, and which we would alfo wifh, in the prefent juncture, to imprefs on the hearts of our countrymen, THAT THE BEST POLITICAL REFORMATION IS A REFORMATION OF MANNERS.

On the meeting of the new parliament, which happened in the month of May, the fpeech from the throne recommended to the deliberation of parliament the unfettled affairs of India, the state of the revenue, and the means of restoring and invigorating public credit. These, with new taxes to a large amount for paying the intereft of the unfunded debt, were the cares which devolved on the young minifter.. The task he had to perform, difficult in itfelf, was the more arduous, that the nation had formed the higheit opinion both of his abilities and virtues. Fully to answer the extravagance of hope was impoffible, But on the whole, on an impartial review of the minifter or minifters,"

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we fall find, that as it was by the confidence of the nation that they acquired, fo they were ftudious, by the faine means, to retain their power. If they erred, they did not err intentionally. In framing the bills they wished to pafs, they readily adopted many amendments and improvements fuggefted by members in oppofition. But it was. impoffible not to depart from the fpirit of Mr. Fox's bill in their new one for regulating the affairs of India. But, even here, they mani fefted the greateft fpirit of accommodation; for never did any bill undergo more effential alterations; and all of thefe were in favour of the East India Company. The minifter, on this occafion, did not indeed fhew any difpofition to grafp at power himfelf. But his conduct, it must be owned, could not appear fo difinterested as it would have done, if, what he renounced for himfelf, he had given up to the public. He avoided the odium of grafping at power himself, by devolving it into the hands of his friends. The general principle of Mr. Pitt's Eaft India bill, is a partition of patronage and power between government and the company. Hence it is enfeebled, like too complex a machine, by too many fprings and checks, and counterchecks. It is indeed difficult, if not impoffible, to unite the delays and checks of freedom with that promptitude and vigour of govern ment, which are neceffary to controul and to retain in fubjection fuch diftant and extenfive dominions. The Eaft India Judicature bill is a proof that in Mr. Pitt's judgment, as well as in Mr. Fox's, our diftant dominions in Afia are not without an infufion of the spirit of defpotifm. Were it the intention of the British legiflature to prefer the interefts of internal liberty, both in Britain and Hindoftan, to all other confiderations, and in this fpirit to beftow on the Hindoos perfect freedom; or, on the other hand, were it their defign to fubject thofe diftreffed people to unqualified flavery; a plain road, in either cafe, would be before them. But it is difficult to form a fyftem that fhall combine the regards of liberty and humanity with the views of avarice and ambition. The relief which the bill now paffed into a law for the government of India holds out to the rajahs and zemindars of that country is fo cautious, fo flow, fo partial and circum-* fcribed, by an attention to the rights and interefts of the company. and their fervants who have and can eafily form claims on those unhappy people, that they will, in all probability, remain in the fame oppreffed condition as formerly.

We are now to follow the minifter in his plans for reftoring and invigorating public credit. The Commiffion of Accounts, originally fuggefted by Colonel Barre, and adopted by Lord North, the most effective plan of oeconomy that has yet been devifed by any of our reformers, met from Mr. Pitt all countenance and encouragement. A new scheme was adopted for increafing the revenue, and on the whole, diverting the energy and industry of a numerous class of men into fuch channels as might molt contribute to the wealth of the nation. This was an act for the prevention of fmuggling.

This act endeavours to remedy the evil of fmuggling, by lowering the duties on certain articles of importation, and by quafhing with an armed force all refiftance to the revenue officers. Time has not yet proved the efficacy of this act. It feems, however, to be founded on just and liberal principles, and to confult the commercial interefts

and