equal Expence, difcovered folely by John Morley, of Blickling, in the County of Norfolk, farming Bailiff to the Hon. William Asbeton Harbord, to which is added, his much approved Plan of Clamping Muck, whereby a confiderable Expence is faved to the Farmer; and alfo the Manner of Improving the Growth of Un derwoods, in the most luxuriant Way. The fecond Edition, revifed and corrected, by the Author, with additional Obfervations on various Kinds of Manure not in general Use in this or the adjoing Counties; and Remarks on the Cultivation of Turnips, improving grazing Lands, &c. &c. 8vo. 72 p. 75. Norwich; Stevenfon. London; Scatcherd, 1811.

This title page is fo ample," that it is nearly a table of contents. This fecond edition is a very improved one; and we ftrongly recommend it, not only to the plain farmer, but to gentlemen who wish to promote the interefts of agriculture by their at tentive practice of it. To the author, and to agricultural writers in general, we recommend a greater degree of bashfulnefs in fetting prices on their works. "It is rated," (Mr. Morley fays) "at a price fo moderate:"-72 octavo pages at feven fhillings! A farmer, felling much corn and cattle at this rate, may foon become the purchafer of the eftate which he rents,

NAVAL IMPROVEMENT.

ART. 30. A Letter to the Prime Minifter and First Lord of the Admiralty, from a Captain in the Royal Navy, on the Extenfion of the Naval Etablishm nts of the Country; with an engraved Sketch of the Body of Falmouth Harbour; wherein it is proved, that this Harbour, from the Combination of Situation, Safety, Eafe f Entrance, Capacity, and extreme Sufceptibility of Improvement, is the first Harbour in Great Britain for all naval Purposes connected with the Atlantic Ocean. 4to. PP. 50. 4s. 6d. Stockdale. 1810.

It may appear, at first fight, that this Letter is nothing more than part of a controverfy on a local fubject. But the very fen.. fible and ingenious author by no means confines himself to Falmouth or its vicinities. At one time he difcuffes a political topic in a most masterly manner; at another, takes a wide geographical range, looking around him with a keen and penetrating eye; and at all times, whether touching at Falmouth or at Torbay, or hovering over the Atlantic, or the Indian Ocean, discovers great profeffional knowledge.

Where the efforts of the British Navy-that formidable arm of national power-have been for a long time, and are likely to be chiefly required in the ages to come is an enquiry of a moft extenfive nature: yet this is an enquiry instituted by this author.

It

It is true, he very foon defcends, as a writer of precifion would naturally do, from general- fpeculation to particular statements; and his examination of Torbay, Cawfand Bay, and PlymouthSound, and St. Mary's Sound, among the Scilly Islands, &c. &c. to prove, that on the S. W. coafts of England, there exists no harbour equal to that of Falmouth, will doubtless be useful to the gentlemen of the British Navy. Of the accuracy of his ftatements, his manner of writing gives us, we think, internal evidence. When he adduces facts he is well deferving of our attention; but we always fufpect the argumentum ad hominem, the meré appeal to opinion. "It is known," fays he, " that the Hon. Admiral Bofcawen, whofe judgment and patriotism few men will question, turned himfelf with attention to Falmouth Harbour, and feriously propofed to form a Naval Establishment within it, as an undertaking that would prove pregnant with beneficial ad. vantages to the military marine of the nation." P. 9.

In adverting to this paffage we ought to recollect the connec tion of the Bofcawen's with Falmouth. The foundest judgment will be influenced by local partialities.

The author, however, feems to ftate fairly, and to reafon closely. To the following declamatory paragraph we do not object, as it occurs towards the conclufion of the Letter, and no fuch had occurred before. "When the Almighty Being, who governs the universe, overwhelmed the old world for the wickedness of its inhabitants with the flood, and in that dreadful judgment, no doubt, separated the British islands from the neighbouring continent; it may be allowable to imagine, that the time in which we live was particularly marked in His decrees relating to the alarming changes that have, and are taking place, in this fublunary globe-the time in which]. The Sovereign of these realms thould wield the univerfal fceptre of the ocean, never before given to the most powerful of empires; mild in her fway to the peaceable and honourable, but terrible to her enemies as the aroufed elements, amidst which the bears her deftroying thunders that have laid the navies of the nations proftrate. Is it then a matter of little moment that this fceptre fhould be maintained in its present glory and power?" P. 38.

Longinus would have almost quoted this fentence as a specimen of the fublime: it merits prefervation in our Review. But it is religious as well as fublime. We rejoice that our worthy Captain is not of the new school. We give him credit for his faith and his philofophy. And, whatever may be faid of the question at iffue, we fcruple not to recommend this Letter to our readers, for its acute remark, and candour, and found fenfe, as well as its hiftorical and geographical information.

ART.

PHILOSOPHY.

ART. 31. An Efay on the Hiftory, Practice, and Theory of Electricity By John Bywater. 8vo. 127 pp. 6s. John. fon. 1810.

127 pp.

Those who are well acquainted with the Phænomena of Electricity will derive no additional information from this work, and to those who are ignorant of the fubject we cannot recom inend it, as it is much too general and unconnected to give any thing like a comprehenfive idea of the fcience.

The only circumitance which can excite attention in Mr. Bywater's Treatife is an attempt to establish a new Theory of Electricity. He fuppofes, "that there are two Electric Fluids which are compofed of caloric and the conftituent parts of the atmos phere." That "in the excitation of electricity by the electrical machine, the air is decompofed, its two gaffes are more clofely united to caloric, or matter of heat, by the attrition of the cy linder and rubber, and constitute two diftinct electric fluids.' And on this principle he endeavours to explain, though not in a very fatisfactory manner, fome of the moft remarkable phenomena of electricity.

ART. 32. A Familar Analyfis of the Fluid capable of producing the Phænomena of Electricity and Galvanism, or Combustion; with fome Remarks on fimple Galvanic Circles, and their Influence upon the Vital Principle of Animals ; illuftrated by the Theories and Experiments of Galvani, Garnet, Davy, Young, Thompson, &c. c. By Matthew Yatman, Ejq. 8vo. Kearfley, &c. 1810.

73 pp.

2s. 6d.

Any perfon may read this pamphlet half through and find it difficult to fay what was the object of the author in writing it. The concluding chapter however will convince him that it was for the fole purpose of recommending tractors, not Dr. Perkins's, for "they," it feems, "were most unphilofophically put toge gether;" but others much more efficacious; as plainly appear from the furprizing cures performed by means of them! an account of which, as is usual on thefe occafions, is given at the end of the work.

SURGERY.

ART. 33. A Practical Effay on Cancer, being the Subftance of Obfervations to which the annual Prize for 1808, was adjudged by the Royal College of Surgeons of London. By Chriftopher Turner Johnson, Surgeon, Exeter, c. &c. pp. 126. J. Cal low. 1810.

A work which has paffed the formidable ordeal, and been honoured

honoured by the prize of the Royal College of Surgeons, might well be fuppofed to defy the pen of criticifm; but we believe that no book bearing the name of the ingenious author of this effay can with juftice be dealt with feverely. Should it have a fault, the found judgment, the ardent zeal, the accurate obfervation, and the skilful knowledge which have marked the early walks of Mr. Johnson in the paths of furgery, must insure him the meed of praife, which we gladly beftow upon him.

Mr. Johnson, we fincerely lament to fay, is now no more: death has robbed the profeffion of one of its brighteft ornaments; of one whofe career promised a life of great value to his friends, and of incalculable advantage to the cause of furgery.

The little book before us will be found to be a plain, unaffected effay on a disease which has baffled, and is ftill likely to defy all attempts, either to account for its caufe, or to apply a permanent cure. It appears to us to contain nothing objectionable throughout, nor, on the other hand, does it prefent us with any thing strikingly novel either in theory or in practice. It holds forth, however, fome ufeful practical information, worthy of the perufal of furgeons, and of the honour that has been conferred upon it.

ART. 34.

DIVINITY.

The Difference fated betwixt the Prefbyterian Etablifhment, and the Epifcopal Church of Scotland. By the Rev. James Milne, Minifter of St. Andrew's Chapel, Banff. 8vo. 80 pp. 25. Chalmers, Aberdeen; Rivingtons, London. 1811.

The occafion of writing and printing this tract is stated to be the defire of counteracting an opinion, circulated by fome perfons with diligence," that there is no difference of any moment between the Prefbyterian establishment, and the epifcopal church; and confequently, that there is no ground for preferring the cominunion of the one to that of the other, except in tafte or convenience. They who entertain this opinion are," fays this author,

confident in afferting, and zealous in recommending it; and at the fame time take to themfelves no little praife, for being, as they phrafe it, charitable, moderate, and liberal in their fentiments." To point out the real and important differences between them is therefore the object of the writer; and though the epifcopal church of Scotland is particularly in his contemplation, there is hardly any important part of this tract, the historical part excepted, which is not equally applicable to the ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

The tract is well written, and judiciously divided into five chapters,

chapters, preceded by a fhort introduction. The subjects of the chapters are thefe: 1. Of the origin of the Presbyterian establishment, and of the epifcopal church of Scotland. 2. Of the doc. trinal standards of both. 3. Of the doctrine of each. 4. Of the worship of each. 5. Of their refpective governments. Thefe are followed by a brief but strong conclufion. For clear statement and found information this trt cannot easily be furpaffed, nor is it lefs diftinguished for found reafoning. As we cannot go into more detail on the fubject, we give, as a fpecim, the au.. thor's account of the worship of the epifcopal church, to the ccuracy of which we can all bear teftimony. We leave those who know not enough of the Prefbyterian worship to make the contraft for themselves, to feek it in the book.

"The way of worship in the epifcopal church prefents, in regular and pleafing fuccellion for inftruction and admo..ition, the facts upon which christianity is built, the truths which it reveals, the duties which it inculcates, the examples which it furn.fhes, the rewards which it offers, and the punishments which it denounces; provides adequate fupport for human infirmity on the trying occafions which most require it; when God fhould be praifed for his goodnefs, leads gratitude, in the most becoming manner, to the throne of grace, with the fong of thanksgiving; allows preaching its proper p'ace, and gives it its full weight in the fcale of duties, but turns the attention to prayer and the holy communion, as the fervices which conftitute chriftian worship: refpects the privileges of chriftian people, and affigns them their part in public prayer, that they may perfonally join in it, and not be merely fpectators at its performance; enables those who come to the house of God with devout affections, to give utterance to them in the unexceptionable words of divine inspiration or primitive piety; fhows, in 'the prayers that are ufed, what is to be believed, and what is to be done, that God may graciously hear, and mercifully anfwer them; conftantly prefents to the mind, and infenfibly fixes in the memory, by means of excellent forms, the fubftance of evangelical truth, and thereby facilitates the recollection of religious ideas, the revival of virtuous impreffions, and the expreffion of pious fentiments; and upon the whole, fulfils the commandment of God concerning his worship, with fuch regard to its defign, as may be faid to guard faith powerfully, to direct practice wifely, and to establish, in the dif charge of a grand duty, a unity, which has an admirable tendency to confolidate the body of Christ, and which muft inspire the mind of every serious and reflecting chriftian with elevating conceptions, exhilarating hopes, and tranfporting anticipations,”P. 62.

A more eloquent and masterly fummary could not easily be somprised within fo fmall a compass,

X

BRIT. CRIT. VOL XXXVII. SEPT. 1811.

ART.