if fuch a degree of labour is to be obtained from them as can recompence the proprietor in a tolerable degree.' Without entering into this queftion, or inquiring whether the intereft of the proprietor be a fufficient motive for the continuance of flavery, we fhall barely enumerate a few of the causes, which, independently of hard labour, fcanty fare, and ill-treatment, produce a decline in the numbers of flaves. Thefe are, polygamy; the nightly vifits of wives to their husbands in diftant plantations; the proflitution of young females; the unhealthy flate of fome plantations, and the improper fituation of the negroe huts; the prevalence of endemic, epidemic, and infectious difeafes; the lofs of imported flaves; a fufficient number not being imported to slave the eftates fully, and confequently too much labour being thrown on a few; the great number of infants loft by the tetanus; want of proper hofpitals, nurfes, and nourishment for the fick; want of due attention of proprietors and managers; the ignorance and inattention of the medical men.-On thefe feveral heads, the author offers fome judicious and ufeful remarks. To thefe are added, fome fenfible obfervations on preferving the health, and removing the difeafes, of negroes; nor can we avoid fympathizing with the writer, when, defcribing the ravages of a prevailing disease at Antigua, he obferves, that, worn down by fatigue, mortified by the lofs of fo many patients, enraged at the inhuman conduct of fome perfons, A's mind was kept in a perpetual ferment by complaints and remonftrances, often unavailing; nor were the large emoluments of his profeffion, any adequate compenfation; for he had rather be a fhoeblack, than again go through fix years of fuch a scene, to obtain millions. Even at the distance of eight years, his nights have been often difturbed by the recollection of those dreadful times, until evils of another, but not less diftreffing, caft, fuperceded their influence on a lively imagination, an irritable mind, and a fympathizing heart.' HORTICULTURE. Art. 24. The Hot-house Gardener on the general Culture of the Pine Apple, and Methods of forcing Early Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, and other choice Fruits, in Hot-houfes, Vineries, Fruit-houses, Hot-walls, &c. With Directions for raifing Melons and early Strawberries. By John Abercrombie, Author of Every Man his own Gardener; The Univerfal Gardener's Kalendar; The Complete Kitchen Gardener; and, The Garden Vade Mecum. Illuftrated with five Copper Plates, reprefenting the Pine Apple, Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, Cherries, Melon, and Strawberries; coloured from Nature. 8vo. pp. 238. 8s. 6d. coloured; 6s. plain, in Boards. Stockdale. 1789. Having expreffed our opinion, with fome degree of franknefs, concerning Mr. Abercrombie's courfe of authorship, on the occafion of comparing his three late fyitems of gardening *; we do not deem it neceffary to copy his example in going over the fame See Review, vol. lxxx. p. 444. ground ground again and again. On the prefent opportunity, we fhall therefore only remark, that as he has already published three Gardener's Calenders *, the work now before us is his fecond Hot-house Gardener. It is impoffible, in keeping a record of publications, not to recollect fuch glaring circumftances; and recollecting them, it would be forgetting our office not to mention them. Mr. A., therefore, in the prefent production, does not appear fo properly in the character of a gardener, as in that of a book-maker; nor does he now figure to great advantage in either capacity. The first circumftance that ftruck us on opening the volume, was the pretty pictures with which it is decorated! They are, indeed, coloured in a very natural lively manner; but why they were introduced, will be no eafy matter to explain: had they been strange plants lately brought from the Friendly Islands, or New South Wales, the reprefentations might have conveyed botanical information: but English gardeners, for whom this work is compofed, do not want the figures of duke cherries, and fcarlet ftrawberries! The very offer of them is an infult to their profeffional knowlege. Any corrections or improvements in the conftruction of a hot-houfe, might have appeared with propriety: but coloured prints of common fruits can only be exhibited ad captandum vulgus. Though a polished ftyle is not effential to works of a practical nature, yet clear plain language is expected in all literary performances: but in this requifite Mr. A. is ill qualified to exercife a pen. It is no impeachment of his fkill as a gardener, when we are obliged to obferve, that his mode of writing is remarkable for being embarraffed with a redundancy of words ill arranged, and loaded with perpetual repetitions, that confufe the fenfe which they are employed to convey; with this additional difadvantage to the purchajer, that a fubject which might have been contained in a moderate pocket volume, is thus extended to a large and expenfive fize: though, in juftice to the bookfeller, it may be abferved, that (handfomely printed, and decorated, as the work is, with coloured engravings,) we do not imagine the book could be afforded at a lower price than that which has been fet on it. PHILOSOPHY. Art. 25. Philofophical Amusements; or, eafy and inftructive Recreations for young People. 12mo. pp. 88. Is. Johnson. This little collection of numerical problems, fight-of-band tricks, and philofophical and chemical experiments, is, in general, tolerably well calculated for the amufement and improvement of young minds; though there are feveral which the compiler has not experienced, and does not understand: but he is particularly repre * Two under his own name, and one under the name of Mawe. + The former, published in 1781, is flyled, The Complete Forcing Gardener; or the Practice of forcing Fruits, Flowers, and Vegetables to early Maturity and Perfection, by the Aid of Artificial Heat, in the various Departments ufually conftructed for this Purpofe, &c. See Review, vol. Ixiv. p. 473. henfible henfible for recommending to his young pupils fome dangerous experiments, without giving any precautions for avoiding the danger, or any intimation of it's existence. He directs them to put into a glafs veffel, a pint of water and a pint of oil of vitriol, (p. 45.) with as little ceremony as if they were to mix water and milk: if he takes the trouble of following, literally, his own directions, he will prefently fee his glafs veffel cracked in pieces, and the corrofive acid liquor running about the room as hot as boiling water. He defires them to diftil foaking spirit of nitre (p. 62, 3)—to dry aurum fulminans, with a moderate heat (p. 77)-with the fame fangfroid that he would bid them fill the tea-pot, or fet the kettle by the fire. Indeed, Mr. Compiler, thefe operations are not childrens' play. MATHEMATICS, &c. Art. 26. Inflitutes of Arithmetic, elementary and practical: the new Menfuration of Superfices and Solids, and the Ufe of Logarithms in all the Parts of Arithmetic. To which are added, Tables of Annuities, Lives, &c. The whole defigned as a Directory or Text Book for the Ufe of Scools. By William Gordon, Mafter of the Mercantile Academy, Edinburgh. 8vo. pp. 329. 55. Creech, Edinburgh. Robinfons, London. 1789. Elementary books of arithmetic are now almoft as numerous as the teachers of that fcience. Every mafter, concluding that his method is better than that of any other perfon, prints it by way of a text-book, to be put into the hands of his fcholars, in order to lighten the labour of teaching; and, at the fame time, render the progress of his pupils more expeditious. There appears to us fo little difference in the generality of thefe books, that we think any of them may anfwer the purpofe which is intended by publishing them; yet, perhaps, each author may be able to teach better by his own book than he would by any other; and, if so, this variety of publications muft, on the whole, be an advantage to the public: but, we confefs, that there are books of arithmetic, which we fhould prefer to the volume now before us. POETRY. Art. 27. The British Album. 12mo. 2 Vols. 75. fewed. Bell. 1790. New title-pages do not always indicate new matter. The British Album will verify the affertion. Almoft all the poems which it includes have more than once been prefented to the public. They first drew attention in the daily paper called the World;" they were afterward collected into two little elegant volumes by Mr. Bell, and noticed by us, under the title of the "Poetry of the World;" they were then exhibited under the romantic title of " the Poetry of Della Crufca, Anna Matilda, &c. ;" and they are now offered to us as the British Album. Much as we admire many of thefe little poems, we cannot approve this mode of their republication. A poem A poem by Della Crufca, entitled "the Interview," is new, and breathes the fire of his former compofitions. It defcribes an interview with Anna Matilda; and as it may gratify our poetic readers, we fhall extract it, though it be rather too long for our limits: 'O WE HAVE MET, and now I call "OF LATE-where confluent torrents crash, Of waters, fhattering in the twilight beam; As o'er its black robe hung the tawny gleam. For ev'ry folace, ev'ry charm combin'd In the sweet madd'nings of her fong fincere. • Sudden I turn-for from a young grove's fhade, Or lightly wanton'd where the corn-flow'r blows, As the fond Lark, whofe clear and piercing fhake And almost feem th' ethereal wafte to cleave; Allured, entranc'd, I rush amidst the wood, AND THERE THE SOFT MUSICIAN CONSCIOUS STOOD. Imagination's bodied air, That now with ftrong illufion caught, With joy's full tide bedew'd my cheek, 'Twas ANNA's felf I faw, NOR HAD I POW'R TO SPEAK. O then I led her to the woven bow'r, Where flept the woodbine's fhelter'd flow'r, While near the feather'd mourner flung SHE SPOKE, but O! no found was heard That climbs the morning's upmost sky, Dar't thou, my tongue! the tale reveal? "ILL-FATED BARD!" he cried, "whofe length'ning grief Had won the pathos of my lyre's relief, For whom, full oft, I've loiter'd to rehearse Lean not to me, th' impaffioned verfe is o'er, Which chain'd thy heart, and forc'd thee to adore : Eternal fcorpions writhing in her hands, Ah! fmooth thy awful terror-ftriking brow, Ne'er will I quit th' undeviating LINE, Whofe SOURCE THOU art, and THOU the LAW DIVINE. The Sun fhall be fubdued, his fyftem fade, Ere I forfake the path thy FIAT made; Yet grant one foft regretful tear to flow, O grant without REVENGE, one bursting figh, 'Tis paft,- Farewell! ANOTHER claims my heart*, Then wing thy finking fteps, for here we part, She ceas'd, and fudden, like an evening wind * Mrs. Cowley is reported to be Anna Matilda. And |