ing reduced to a fimple or connected fyftem. This fuppofition is, however, as well falfe, as highly injurious to the 'caufe of Philofophy. The various action which the seve⚫ral kinds of bodies exert on each other, either in the natural course of their refpective operation, or through the mediation of art, is governed by regular and correspondent modes, and laws; which conftitute fuch a generical affi⚫nity of fome with others, throughout the whole of the individuals, that, being understood in the degree which due ⚫ experiments and obfervation render practicable, and digeft⚫ed by proper methodical arrangement, they furnish fufficient principles to account for, and explain the nature and pow⚫ers of each particular; and, alfo, to predict, in most cases, the fubfequent effects of its action on any other. It must be allowed, indeed, that this does not extend to all inftances with equal certainty, as in the cafe of the mechanical principles: but yet it is fuch an approximation, as anfwers extremely well in practical ufe; and makes, moreover, a body of fpeculative fcience, not lefs pleafing, when obtained in a more perfect manner: as there is such a diffufive and continual opportunity of applying it to the explication of occurring phenomena, in all the minuter parts of the field of Nature.'

Doubtless, if a rational and scientific theory of Chemistry fhould be neglected, till we might be able to give a mechanical explication of the modes of action in the minuter parts of bodies, it might be long enough before fuch a theory would be perfected. Such chemical principles may, neverthelefs, be deduced from obfervation and experiment, as may serve for the bafis of fuch a fyftem; without admitting, at present, of mechanical explication; even as the Newtonian Philofophy was a compleat fyftem, tho' founded on the principles of Attraction, Repulfion, and other general properties, whofe caufes were confeffedly unknown, and mode of action inexplicable.

We cannot help thinking, however, that our Author is a little unfortunate (as, indeed, Sir Ifaac Newton himself was) in making choice of the term and principle of Attraction: efpecially as, at this time of day, all Attraction is, pretty generally, conceived to be the effect of fome mechanical motion, or impulfe: fo that it would have equally answered his purpose, to have fuppofed his chemical elements endowed with specific qualities of Impulfe, as of Attraction, and would have been lefs liable to objection from the Advocates for the mechanical Philofophy. We must acknowlege, nevertheless, that this obREV. Dec. 1759. jection

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jection does not, in the leaft, tend to invalidate his theory; or affect the conclufions he has drawn from experimental proofs of the exifience of fuch fpecific qualities of attraction in the fecondary or chemical elements of compound bodies.

But to come to our Author's defign. Conceiving the want of a fcientific fyftem to be, at prefent, the greatest impediment to the improvement of natural knowlege, he tells us, that the importance of it had long infpired him with a defire of fupplying fo necessary a work; to the execution of which he has not been remifs in applying himfelf. The extenfivenefs, and complex nature of the fubject, however, rendering it a task of fuch labour and difficulty, as almost to make him defpair of accomplishing it, he thought it expedient, in the mean time, to publifh a more compendious work; which may be preparatory to, and, in fome measure, a subftitute for, one more copious and perfect.

It is fuch a compendious Introduction to Philofophic Chemiftry, that is here offered to the public: the final defign of which is, in the Author's words, That it fhould incite the tafte for this kind of ftudy; and furnifh, at the fame time, the facile means of its profecution. The mediative intention is, that it fhould prefent the fketch, or primæ lineæ, of the principles of the chemical Philofophy; as well as of operative Chemistry, fo far as relates to experiment; toge⚫ther with a practical view of all the leading proceffes known, and their principal application to economical purposes; or to the explanation of the phenomena of Nature; and subferviently to this, a delineation, likewife, of the generical character of each clafs of the fubjects, and the criterions of diftinction of the feveral fpecies of bodies, with a fuccinct • enumeration of all their general properties; or, in other words, the philofophic hiftory of each article.

In perfuance of this defign,' continues the Author, I have firft, in an introductory Difcourfe, laid down the general theoretic and practical principles of Chemistry, as well in a philofophic as technical light: founding the one part on the appearances of nature prefented by her in her ufual courfe, or produced by art; and the other, as far as could be made expedient, on the notions and method already received. In what relates to the practice, I have endeavoured to convey full and clear inftructions for the fabrication and preparation of the neceflary apparatus: there not having been, before, any attempt to the accommodating the utenfils and inftruments of Chemistry folely to experimental purposes; nor confe

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quently to the teaching in what manner, an Elaboratory for fpeculative ufes fhould be furnished: in default of which information, the furnaces employed for Pharmacy, practical Metallurgy, or other arts, are generally erroneously conftructed on fuch occafions, and the correfpondent utenfils provided, at an unneceffary expence; and yet prove afterwards, incommodious for fome, and infufficient to other proceffes, requifite to be practifed in experimental perfuits. To these I have fubjoined ample directions for the execution of all the general operations, that may become needful to the performance of any experiment or procefs: whether fuch as folely appertain to Chemiftry, or fuch, as being in more general ufe, are nevertheless occafionally introduced into it, in aid of the others.

I then proceed to give the experiments and proceffes on the feveral particular kinds of bodies: but, in order to tender them effectual in explaining and demonstrating the true nature and properties of the fubjects, I have prefixed a concife view of the philofophic hiftory of each article that conftitutes them; and of the manner in which they may be<come the object of experiment: attempting to eftablish first the proper generical nature of each, with refpect to what it is capable of effecting on, and fuffering from, other bodies: which I conceive to be the only juft principle of identity or diverfity of kind in a scientific confideration of natural bodies.

To the experiments and proceffes are fubjoined, for the moft part, obfervations explanatory of the encheirefis, and illuftrative of the doctrine intended to be established by them; pointing out alfo the application which is, or may be, made of each to œconomical or commercial ufes; and the collateral lights that may be drawn from it, with relation to other parts of this treatise, or of natural Philofophy ⚫ in general.

This is the plan of difpofition of the contents of the work: and the particular fubje&is of experiment embraced in it are, firft, earths; fecondly, falts; thirdly, animal fubftances; fourthly, vegetabic fubftances; and, fifthly, metallic bodies.'

Such are the defign, method, and fubject of this Efay, on the Inftitutes of experimental Chemistry; in the execution of which, the genius and fagacity of the Author, as a Philofopher, are no lefs confpicuous than his skill and industry as a practical Chemist.

We fhould with pleafure enter into the particulars of this curious and interefting work; but, for the following reafons,

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which,

which, we hope, will be a fatisfactory excufe to thofe of our Readers who might otherwife be defirous of having their justly-excited curiofity further fatisfied. In the firft place, it would be impoffible to convey an adequate idea of the Author's principles and arguments, without extending this article to an inconvenient length.

In the next, our fo doing would only ferve to increase their defire to perufe the work itself; which perufal would render the best abstract we could make of it, with respect to them, entirely useless and, as to our Readers in general, certain it is, that however curious and important a work of this nature may appear to many, it would afford the majority little inftruction or entertainment.

We take our leave, therefore, of this truly ingenious performance; moft earnestly recommending it to the attentive perufal, and confideration, of all those who are, in any wife, engaged in phyfical studies.

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The Chemical Works of Cafpar Neumann, M. D. Profeffor of Chemistry at Berlin, F. R. S. &c. Abridged and methodized, with large Additions, containing the later Difcoveries and Improvements made in Chemistry and the Arts depending thereon. By William Lewis, M. B. and F. R. S. 4to. Il. I S. Johnston.

E are here prefented with a very compleat, and com ́prehensive abridgment of the voluminous works of Dr. Neumann, formerly Director of the royal Elaboratory and Apotheca at Berlin: an Author, fays our Editor, who, bi.affed by no theory, and attached to no opinions, has enquired, by experiment, into the properties and ufes of the moft confiderable natural and artificial productions, as well as the preparation of the principal commodities which depend on Chemistry; and feems to have candidly, and without referve, communicated all he discovered.

There is, indeed, hardly any material circumftance, relating to the chemical hiftory of the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, which this laborious Author, or his induftrious and accurate Editor, have not inferted in the text or annotations. We must do the latter the justice alfo, to say, that we think he has fully and effectually compleated his defign, of collecting and difpofing with propriety, the many valuable materials, fcattered up and down, in the writings of our indefatigable Profeffor. Nor will the Chemist, in

theory

theory or practice, think himself lefs obliged to the candour and ingenuity of Dr. Lewis, for the remarks he has himself thought proper to add, refpecting the later difcoveries and improvements made in Chemistry, and the Arts depending thereon: not a little of which we are indebted for, to the Diaries of his own Elaboratory.

The difpofition of the parts of the fubject, in all works of this nature, is generally fo much alike, when any method at all is pursued, that it would be needless to enter into a particular detail of the contents of this volume. As it may be expected, however, that we should give fome fpecimen of the work, we fhall felect Dr. Neumann's account, and chemical analyfis, of the principal wines drank in Europe.

(1.) The Madeira iflands, and Palma one of the Canaries, afford two kinds; the first called Madera Sec; the latter, which is the richeft and beft of the two, Canary or Palm Sec. The name Sec (corruptly written Sack,) fignifies dry; thefe wines being made from half-dried grapes. There is another fort of Sec wine, inferior to both the foregoing, prepared about Xeres in Spain, and hence called, according to our Orthography, Sherris or Sherry. (2.) The wines of Candia and Greece, particularly the latter, are of common ufe in Italy. Malmfey was formerly the produce of thofe parts only, but is now brought chiefly from Spain: It is a fweet wine, of a golden, or brownish-yellow colour: the Italians call it Manna alla bocca e balfamo • al cervello. "Manna to the mouth and balfam to the brain." Zant and Cephalonia send also to Venice fome good, and no fmall quantity of indifferent wines almoft all the wines indeed made ufe of in the Venetian territories come from Greece and the Morea; of which there are fome forts fo · bad, and fo cheap, that large quanties are made into Vinegar for the preparation of Ceruffe.

(3.) Italy, not Greece, produces the Vino Greco: this is a gold coloured unctous wine, of a pungent fweetnefs, the growth of Mount Vefuvius, greatly fophifticated by the Neapolitans. In the neighbourhood of Vefuvius is made the Mangiaguerra wine, as alfo a thick blackish one • called Verracia; and at the foot of the hill, the delicious Vino vergine: the Italians apply this laft name likewise to all the other wines made without preffure. The kingdom of Naples affords the Campania or Paufilippo and Mufcatel, the Surentine, Salernitan, and other excellent wines, as also the Chiarello, much drank at Rome. But the principal of all these wines is the red, fat, fweet, and greatly poig-' ← nant one, called Lachryma Chrifti. (4.) The Ecclefiaftical Kk 3 • State

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