Other inftances of the fame kind of dealing we have to complain of. For example: "This idea of the reproduction of animals from a single living filament of their fathers, appears to have been fhadowed or allegorized in the curious account in facred writ of the formation of Eve from a rib of Adam." p. 489. Does it indeed fo appear? And is a rib of a perfon not a father, the proper representative of a fingle living filament of one who is? What is this but hanging out false colours, and with little care to hide their falfenefs? Having thus taken a general view of Dr. Darwin's fyftem, and expreffed our difapprobation of it, we could eafily proceed to state objections against many particular parts, a few only of which we shall felect. p. 22. " Where the organ of fenfe is totally destroyed, the ideas which were received by that organ feem to perith along with it." There cannot be a more controvertible affertion than this. The author feems aware of it with refpect to blind people, and therefore throws in, that the organ of vifion is feldom totally deftroyed; but the inftances that might be adduced in refutation of the pofition are innumerable and befides, does not his own fyftem allow ideas to be renewed by recollection? p. 34. "the pulfations of the heart are owing to the irritations caufed by the stimulus of blood." Yet when, from intermiffion of breathing, the heart ceafes to act, by renewing the act of breathing it is again put in motion: though it was full of blood all the time, which ought to have afforded fufficient ftimulus. p. 54. That "the mufcular fibres are the terminations of nerves," is, we conceive, phyfically untrue. p. 74. "Hence the quantity of motion produced in any particular part of the animal fyftem, will be the quantity of ftimulus," &c. All this theory appears erroneous, Weakness, when exeeffive, may irritate, or produce ftrong action. An animal when bleeding to death fhall have the fame pulfe from irritation, as, from the feel alone, would feem to require bleeding. p. 144. . All quadrupeds that have collar-bones (clavicula)-the lion," &c. Lions have no clavicles. Without proceeding in this enumeration, fo far as to fatigue our readers, or too much extend our article, already long, we fhall content ourselves with faying, that, in many other inftances, we no more admit the facts from which our author reafons, than we do his fpeculations. On the fubject of the effect of parental imagination on the offspring, Dr. D. differs from all his predeceflors. Sir Thomas More, in a curious epigram on this point, fays, Atqui graves tradunt fophi, K BRIT. CRIT. VOL. V. FEB. 1795. produces produces "notas certas et indelebiles"-the doctor, on the contrary, fays, quodcunque patres. Who fhall decide?-If the new theory prevails it will at least spoil a good epigram, for Sir Thomas accounts for the likeness of a child generated in the absence of the husband, by telling him that the wife, Te tota cogitaverat, Dum pertimefcit anxia Ne tu, Sabine, incommodus, This, however, is an inferior confideration; and, if our author will but leave us the perfuafion of an immortal foul, we shall not despair of producing good epigrams on any theories. When it is recollected that this work has in part engaged the author's attention for above twenty years, no perfon will doubt that it must contain much learning collected from various fources, and much curious information. At the fame time, the commencement of the theory fo long ago may account for the fhare that a very active imagination appears to have taken in the formation of it. That great ingenuity will be difplayed in many parts, and that every thing related will be delivered in a pleafing manner, must also be expected from the author of the Botanic Garden. But, upon the whole, we cannot but express much doubt whether it will ever tend, as the author intimates," to capacitate men of moderate abilities to practife the art of healing with real advantage to the public;-enable every one of literary acquirements to diftinguish the genuine difciples of medicine from those of boaftful effrontery, or of wily addrefs; and-teach mankind, in fome important fituations, the knowledge of themselves. This is an arduous attempt, and it will require all the modefty which the author fo properly expreffes, at the end of the fame preface, to hear with patience all the objections which muft neceffarily be made against its execution, ART. VII. ART. VII. Poems, by Lady Burrell, Vol. II. 8vo. 6s. ART. VIII. The Thymbriad, from Xenophon's Cyropædia. By OUR UR account of these publications has accidentally been delayed, and we are now induced to notice them altogether, as well to render the author juftice, as because they are immediately before us. Our opinion of Lady Burrell's talents and taste has been already given in our first volume, p. 146, and we certainly have no occafion to retract, in any inftance, the commendations which we then beftowed.Happy is it for Lady Burrell, and happy would it be for other females in a fimilar ftation and predicament, to have the power of retiring to the bowers of the Mufes, for that complacency and delight, which is too much obstructed by the circumftances of the times, and which is ever incompatible with the din of fashion, and tumults of the world. The first volume confifted of a mifcellaneous collection of Poetical pieces, and the fecond comprehends a ftill greater variety. We do not fay that all are faultlefs, but we may truly fay that fome are excellent, and that all are elegant. There is also a quality confpicuous in the prefent collection which certainly did not appear to fo much advantage in the former, and that is humour. This is fuccefsfully exhibited in fome of the first Poems, and in the Fables and Riddles. The following Elegy, as it arrested our attention in our progrefs, will not improbably, be acceptable to our readers, and ferve as a fpecimen of the entertainment to be received from perusing the whole. "Methinks across a barren heath A fad proceffion feems to move, Which ends the cordial hopes of love. As o'er the heath they bend their way, My fon! my Celadon! farewell." By pity urg'd, I drop a tear, Thofe gentle virtues I revere. I fain thy merits wou'd declare, Demands the remnant of my lay. Their love for Celadon to fhew- But how can they record in verse His fame with their accuftom'd skill? Wit, harmony, expreffion, tafte, Around his early grave to mourn, While Friendship muses on his urn." P. 9z. With the fubject of the THYMBRIAD (the Loves and Fate of Abradates and Panthea) moft of our readers are probably acquainted. It has been made the fubject of many an animated Poem, and many an interesting picture, and will be admired as long as the human mind fhall continue to be fufceptible of thofe emotions which are at the fame time the most From the furvey we powerful and the moft amiable. were able to take of the performance before us, Lady Burrell appears to have managed the story with no mean fkill, judgBut as the author has here exerted her tament, or effect. lents in an undertaking of greater difficulty, it seems but reasonable to show with what degree of excellence the composes blank verfe. We felect for this purpose the conclufion of the Poem, and we think the reader will agree with us, that it exhibits no proof of wearied fpirits or exhausted talents.-Panthea thus fpeaks: "My thanks, O Cyrus, and my prayers are thine: May Oromazes blefs thee with content, Profperity and health, connubial love, "And popular efteem.-Thou eaftern ftar! "Decreed in future days to grace his brow "And when the hour of death and reft is come, "Oh! let me lie within the fepulchre Where Abradates is decreed to fleep. Soon "To this dear faithful maid, that freedom give, Prolong their anxious hours; from fad fufpence "Relieve their minds. Repofe and folitude " Is |