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diverfified, fometimes accelerated, fometimes retarded, in order to effectuate the unequal augmentation and diminution of the folar and lunar days, or all the inequalities of the motion of the moon. Moreover, as the hours of fun-rife and fun-fet are comprehended within four hours and eight hours, the two first indexes, inftead of a circular, have only an ofcillatory motion, proceeding firft from four hours to eight, and going retrograde afterwards from eight hours to four, and reciprocally. The whole mechanifm of this admirable work exhibits a fimplicity of conftruction that deferves the higheft applaufe: the fame pendulum clock fets in motion the planetarium, the planifphere, and the dials. There is befides a remarkable degree of elegance and fymmetry in the conftruction and arrangement of this orrery. It is but lately that I knew there was fuch a thing, and that I became acquainted with the Author. This modest man seems to have had no ambitious defire of being known, either to the public, or to the profeffors of this Univerfity. He has had no kind of affiftance in the conftruction of this machine, nor had he ever applied himself to the ftudy of mechanics before he undertook this arduous work. His modefty, however, does not hinder him from being communicative; for he explains all the parts of the machine, and anfwers all queftions without mystery and without referve. These particular circumftances render both the work and the artist still more worthy of admiration. I am truly delighted with both. In what obfcure corners and profeffions does genius fometimes take up its refidence? I am, Sir, &c.

Franeker, 17th of May, 1780.

MONTHLY

M.

CATALOGUE,

For AUGUST, 1781.

POLITICAL.

Two additional Letters to his Excellency Count Welderen, on the prefent Situation of Affurs between Great Britain and the United Provinces. By John Andrews, LL. D. 8vo. 2 5. White. 1781.

IN

N our Catalogue for February last we commended to the notice of our Readers the two former Letters, addreffed by this very fenfible and well-informed Writer, to the late Ambaffador from the States General to the British Court. In thofe Letters our ingenious Author most convincingly expatiated on the general neceffity of a good underflanding and union between the British and Dutch nations; the benefits which have refulted from a fincere cultivation of it on both fides; the dangers that clearly threaten, and will infallibly attend, a rupture between them; the confequences, truly tremendous,

which all Europe will certainly experience from the ambition and
tyranny of the houfe of Bourbon, fhould it compafs its long defired
object, the deftruction of the balance of power among the European
ftates. He endeavoured, at the fame time, to expose the abfurdity,
and the iniquity, of facrificing realities to mere forms; of adhering
to words, in preference to obvious meaning; of turning treaties, in-
tended for mutual advantage, into inftruments of partial, and even-
tually of reciprocal detriment: and he rendered it manifeft, by an
investigation of hiftorical circumftances, as well as by other reafons,
that the Spirit of treaties militated clearly and decifively against the
claims, fo unfeelingly infifted on by the Dutch, to carry on a trade
evidently calculated to accelerate the ruin of a people, with whom
they are not only at peace, but connected by treaties that imply
the strictest amity;-a people on whofe prefervation and welfare their
own unquestionably depend.

In the prefent publication, Dr. Andrews's view is to strengthen the
arguments contained in the preceding letters, by fome additional
ideas which have occurred on a further inspection of the subject.

In Letter III. he prefents us with a profpect of the general views of France, when the publicly took a decided part in the difpute between Great Britain and her Colonies; and, in the 4th Letter, he states the prefent fituation of this country, with respect to the war in America, to the European powers in general, and to her connexions with Holland in particular; and this he does in fo rational, so evident, and fo conciliatory a firain, as feems best and most happily adapted to rekindle the embers of friendship between the two nations.

In the Appendix he takes a diftinct view of the treaties fubfifting
between Great Britain and Holland; in order to demonftrate the in-
validity of the Dutch claims to carry naval ftores to the enemy; and
he clearly fhews, that fuch claims are contrary to the letter, as well as
to the fpirit, of thofe treaties.

Art. 11. The Conflitution, or a full Anfwer to Mr. Edmund
Burke's Anti-constitutional Plan of Reform. Addressed to the Ho-
nourable the Speaker of the House of Commons. By a Lover and
strenuous Supporter of the Conftitution. 8vo. 2 5. Nicoll.
1781.

A pert and frothy champion on the other fide; who has not only
mif-fpent abundance of his own time in writing, but will be the
caufe of mif-fpending the time of all those who have the patience to
read what he has written.
N.
Art. 12. Candid Thoughts; or, an Inquiry into the Caufes of

our National Difcontents and Misfortunes fince the Commencement
of the prefent Reign. 8vo. I s. 6d. Nicoll. 1781.
This is the production of a very fenfible writer, who, while he ful-
fils his promife of expreffing his thoughts with candor, does not
write the less convincingly on that account. He examines facts with

a penetrating eye, and ftates what he fees in a clear point of view;
but the feveral parts of his general argument (which is much in favour

*Thefe Letters to Count Welderen were all written before the rupture with Holland.

of

*Said to be written by Timothy Brecknock, who was hanged with Cps. Rob. Fitzgerald, 2. U thers, for the murder of Mr M'Donnel, in 1786.

1

of government) depend fo clofely on each other, that any detached extract muft appear to a disadvantage.

POLITICAL CONTROVERSY in Ireland. Art. 13. A Letter to the Right Honourable William Eden. Occafioned by a Pamphlet commonly attributed to him, and intitled, "Confiderations fubmitted to the People on their prefent Condition with regard to Trade and Conftitution." Dublin printed, London reprinted. 8vo. 1 s. 6 d. Debrett, 1781.

The coarse, illiberal manner of this writer, who undoubtedly afpires to the honourable diftinction of a patriot, excites so much difguft, that very little attention will be paid to the fubject of his epiftle; it being generally obferved, that anger is an indication of weak

nefs.

POETICAL.

N.

N. Art. 14. A familiar Epiftle from a Cat in the Queen's Palace, to Edmund Burke, Efq; on his Motion for the better Regulation of his Majefty's Civil List Establishment. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Kearfley. 1781.

Pufs, who is more of a patriot than a poet, thus apologizes for the defects of her purring in verfe:

Being a cat, and not much ufed to writing,

I own I am not very pat at ind ting.

We can more readily excufe Grimalkin's faults in point of authorship, than her want of fidelity and loyalty. She is a traitress; the reveals the fecrets of Buckingham-houfe, where he has her maintenance and protection;-and the ought, therefore, to be La Motted. Art. 15. The Beauties of Spring. A Poem. 4to. 3's. Nicoll. 1781.

We cannot much commend this Writer's judgment in felecting a fubject which, by his own confeffion, has been fo well treated before, and, he might have added, in the fame manner too. His powers of poetry are not fuch as will gain him the preference to Thomíon; to whofe imagination that of our Author feems congenial, however inferior; and whom he resembles too, in fimplicity and benevo

Georgical poet.

lence:- which is the utmost praise we can bestow on this unknown act Art. 16. The Daily Advertiser, in Metre. By Thomas Sternhold, Efq; formerly of the Temple, now of Stonecutter-ftreet. 4:0. 1 s. 6d. Kearsley.' 1781.

A puny child of humour, fcarcely worth the rearing.

Art. 17. Mifcellaneous Poems, Tranflations, and Imitations. By Benjamin Wet, of Weedon-Beck, Northamptonshire. 8vo. 3. fewed. Evans. 1780.

The admirers of genuine poetry will find fome entertainment in the perufal of these little pieces.

PHILOSOPHICAL.

ct

W -Art. 18. A Differtation upon the Nervous Syftem, to fhew its Influence upon the Soul. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. 1780. An extraordinary medley of phyfic, morality, and divinity, the purport of which lies beyond the reach of our penetration.

...A.

MATHE

MATHEMATICS.

Art. 19. An Examination of the first Six Books of Euclid's Elements. By William Auttin, M. A. Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford. 8vo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Rivingtons. 1781.

Those who have a tafte for thefe fubjects, and are poffeffed of Dr. Simpfen's Euclid, may find fome entertainment in comparing his criticifms with Mr. Auftin's; it is but juftice, however, to fay, that in general we prefer the Doctor's decifions.

MISCELLANEOUS.

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Art. 20. The Neptune of Europe, containing complete and correct Lifts of the Naval force of Great Britain, France, Spain, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, and Ruffia; with a variety of other interesting Materials, as fpecified in the Table of Contents, corrected to June 1, 1721 Small fize for the pocket. 2 s.

Bell.

If this compendium was printed as a curiofity, the intention has been completely answered; for fo fmall, and yet fo neat and legible, a type is feldom feen Could the printer find out the quimesse, defcribed by M. Commerfon as inhabiting the interior parts of Madagascar, and establish literature among them, he might there rival the fame acquired in Europe by the lzevirs and Baskerville.

N.

The hips and commanders of each nation, with many other particolars relating to marine eftablishments, public offices, &c. are very clearly digested and exhibited; ad on the credit of the prefatory advertisement, we fuppote it to be as e act as the nature of so variable a fubject will admit Art. 21. A Genealogica' History of the prefent Royal Families of Euripe, the Stadin iders of the Uited States, and the Succeffion of the Popes from the Fifteenth Century to the prefent time: with the Characters of each Sovereign, illuftrated with Tables of Defcent. By Mark Noble, F. A. S. † 12mo. 3s. fewed. Baldwin, 1781.

The love s of genealogy will doubtless be much gratified with a manual fo well calculated to atlift them in their researches; and which will alfo ferve to decide many a wager relating to royal confanguinity, in hiftorical converfations.

'N.

Art. 22. Remarks on Commodore Johnftone's Account of his Engagement with a French Squadron under the Command of Monf. de Suffrein, on April 16, 1-81, in Port Praya Road, in the liland of St. Jago. 8vo. 6 d Debrett. 1781.

Thefe letters, which appear to be now collected from their original publication in fome newspaper, retort on the Commodore in that fpiit of party, which his parliamentary strictures on Lord Howe's conduct in America avowedly excited. But how ftand the interests of the nation, and the characters of individuals, while our Commanders referve their activity for attacks, juftifications, and recriminations at home? N.

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+ Author of two differtations on the mint and coins of Durham. See Review, Vol. LXIV. p. 116,

MEDICAL,

MEDICA L.

Art. 23. Obfervations on the Poisonous Vegetables which are either indigenous in Grea, Britain, or cultivated for Ornament. By B. Wilmer, Surgeon. 8vo. 2 S. Longman. 1781.

Mr. Wilmer divides the poifonous vegetables of this country, according to the nature of their noxious effects, into two claffes: the fir including thofe which produce maniacal fymptoms, or the variQus 'nervous affections, from a vertigo to a fatal apoplexy; and which are feldom fatal in lefs than 24 hours:-the fecond, thofe which oc cafion epileptic fymptoms, and bring on death in the space of an hour or two. Of the former clafs, he particularly treats on henbane, deadly nightshade, blue monk's hood, dog's mercury, thorn-apple, common bemlock, bug agaric, and pepper agaric: of the latter clafs are enumerated, hemlock-dropwort, water-bemlock, and laurel. In each of thefe articles, he begins with a circumftantial botanical defcription of the fubject, with its fenfible qualities; then relates the morbid fymptoms it occafions, giving feveral cafes at length; and concludes with the most rational means of relief. On the whole, the work, though fhort, is inftructive and fatisfactory, and well worth the perufal of the faculty, to whole level, rather than that of the Public at large, it is written though, indeed, any tolerably informed perfon may confult it with advantage. We fhall juft fuggeft to the ingenious Author, that under the article Laurel, it might have been useful to mention the fimilarity in noxious effects, as well as in tafte and flavour, of the kernels of feveral kinds of fruit. Black cherry-water is justly looked upon as a very fufpicious article of the old difpenfatories, and on that account is discarded from the later ones. Botanical affinity here confirms the teft mony of the fenfes. Art. 24. Differtatio Medica Inauguralis de Homine Dextro & Siniftro. An Inaugural Differtation on the feparate Affections of the Right and Left Sides of the Body. By Meinard Simon Du Pui. 8vo. Leyden. 1780.

We have been favoured by the Author with a copy of this thefis, which is a very learned and elaborate treatife on a fingular subject in the animal economy.

The work is divided into two fections; the first, concerning thofe affections of either fide which are deducible from the vafcular fyftem and other parts; the fecond, concerning thofe which owe their origin to the nervous fyftem. In the first fection, the first chapter contains obfervations of difeafes affecting one fide only-the fecond inquires into the causes of thefe phenomena-the third difcuffs that ancient fubject of controverfy, "whether in the pleurify, and other difeafes, bleeding on the affected fide, or on that oppofite to it, be preferable ?"

A.

The fecond fection alfo contains three chapters. The brit relates obfervations of nervous affections of one fide only-the fecond offers various opinions concerning the causes of thefe affections--the third examines the validity of the two opinions respecting decuffation of the nerves, and endeavours to establish fomething concerning the caufe of the above mentioned affections.

To the thefis is annexed a Mantifa of pofitions in medicine, furgery, and anatomy, unconnected with the foregoing work, or with each other.

A.

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