Similar faults are by no means rare in this Pocket-book of knowlege: but their number is still exceeded by that of errors of the press; and we are truly concerned to add that the selection of articles, and the mode of discussing them, bespeak a want of reflection and negligence of research. In the present state of physical science, should we teach that there are only six metals in all nature? and that' mercury is rather the mother and basis of all metals?—that black lead is found chiefly in lead mines,' and that it appears to be nothing but lead not yet arrived at maturity?'-that diamonds are only found [found only] in the East Indies?-that one of the characteristics of stones is that they are infusible by heat ?'--that' stones are organized,' and that they draw their nutricious juices from the earth-that salix is a species of the willow?-that steatites is gathered always before sun rise, and in the morning, when there falls no dew, so that a stock must be laid up in the summer-months, to serve all the year?'—that, in some places, it comes up an inch or two above the surface of the ground; but the sun rising on it makes it fall again?—and that every morning there returns a fresh crop? We certainly wish well to Mr. Guy's labours, and to the respectable seminary of institution with which he is connected; but we must beg leave to remind him that elementary compilations, for the inform ation of youth, ought no to be executed in a superficial, uninteresting, and slovenly manner; and that he who professes to prepare a digest of general knowlege, for senior scholars, undertakes a task that calls for much judgment, diligence, taste, and talents. Indeed, we hesitate not to say, that the completion of such a design can never be attained by the ordinary process of mechanical compilation, and that the object is not below the dignity of the first philosopher of the age. Already, much mischief has been entailed on Society by the early adoption of erroneous statements, and the diffusion of prejudice among the thoughtless and unsuspecting. It is now time that learning and ge.. nius should condescend to mould the understanding and the morals of the young. Art. 42. Observations on the Climate of Ireland, and Researches concerning its Nature, from very early Periods to the present Time, with Thoughts on some Branches of Rural Economy, particularly recommended in an Address to the Inhabitants and Friends of this Country. To which are prefixed Preliminary Considerations on the Structure and Function of Plants-on the Analogy between the Vegetable and Animal Systems-on the general State of Woods and Plantations in Ireland, in antient and modern Times-on pe culiar Circumstances denoting the various Conditions of her Linen Manufacture throughout a Series of Ages-and on the Utility of the Co-operation of Art and Science in every Work wherein their joint Labours are required. By Wm. Patterson, MD, Member of the Royal Irish Academy. 8vo. PP. 326. Gilbert and Hodges, Dublin. The multifarious objects of this publication are fully expressed in its ample title. It contains much matter that is useful, and perhaps a little that is new: but it is immethodically put together, and in many places places we have to regret that it is not detailed with more accuracy The volume commences with what are called preliminary considerations, which are divided into five sections, and occupy more than onethird of its whole bulk. Section I. contains remarks on the study of meteorology, which are sufficiently correct and judicious. In section II. the author enters on the consideration of the anatomy and physiology of plants. Many of the observations on the first point are taken from M Mirbel, a recent French writer, not much known in this country; and this part will therefore be particularly interesting to the English reader. On the vegetable physiology, Dr. P. likewise makes use of this author, and also enters largely into the opinions promulgated in Dr. Darwin's Phytologia.-Although this part of Dr. Patterson's work displays some degree of ingenuity, we must confess that many of his speculations appear to us crude and unfounded, and, in not a few instances, he has fallen into inaccuracies of considerable magnitude. In proof of this position, we quote the following sentence: The importance of the carbonic substance, or coal, to the nourishment of all vegetables, will be still more evident when we consider that it is one of the primeval principles of our globe: for it is found in carbonic acid gas, of which it constitutes above a fourth part; and this gas exists in lime-stones and other substances, which date from the first origin of things.' The proportion of pure carbon, which enters into carbonic acid gas, is somewhat less than one-fifth; it is carbonic acid, not carbonic acid gas, which exists in lime-stone; and lastly, we presume, there are several minerals which bear greater marks of antiquity than lime stone. With respect to the effects of vegetation on the different gases, the author adopts the opinions of Senebier; and he supposes that plants have the power of decomposing carbonic acid, and of appropriating to themselves the carbon, while the oxygen is emitted in the aeriform state. We cannot coincide with him in his remarks on electricity; and as to all that we find concerning the hyperoxygenation of vegetables, the accumulation of their irritability, &c. we confess that it appears to us in no other light than as the playful wanderings of the imagination. In the 3d section, Dr. P. recurs to the importance of meteoro. logical knowlege, and proposes that professorships should be appointen for the express purpose of teaching it; a measure which we think is quite unnecessary, and would perhaps be injurious. We next have some remarks on the former state of the forests in Ireland, and an account of the periods of their successive destruction, until the country was brought to that bare state which it now exhibits. Section V. consists of a long dissertation on the antient Hibernian dress; and it contains a considerable portion of matter which, to af antiquary and an Irishman, may probably be interesting. At length we approach the body of the work; and first we have an account of the state of the weather during the years 1801 and 1802. A great storm, which happened at the commencement of the latter year, leads Dr. Patterson to speculate on the cause of winds: but he does not appear to us to have brought forwards any thing particularly novel or satisfactory. Dr. Hamilton, in a paper in one of the late volumes volumes of the Irish Transactions, took some pains to prove that the climate of Ireland had undergone an unfavourable change, particularly with respect to the growth of trees: but Dr. P. attempts to repel This unfavourthe charge, and, as it appears to us, with success. able change is attributed by Dr. Hamilton to the greater violence and frequency of the west winds: but Dr. Patterson, from the examination of meteorological registers, shews that this idea is without foun. dation. He likewise produces a number of instances in which young plantations have been formed, in situations very much exposed to the west, and yet the trees have grown with vigour and luxuriance.-The greatest part of the remainder of the work is occupied with arguments addressed to his countrymen in favour of planting the unoccupied tracts of their island, and directions for carrying his suggestions into effect. The Doctor appears to have paid very minute attention to the subject, and offers a number of practical remarks, which, we doubt not, would prove of considerable utility to any one who was disposed to engage in the undertaking-The directions for planting are properly followed by others for the making of fences, both such as may protect the young plants from the ravages of animals, and those which may serve as a shelter against storms.-The last chapter is on the culture of flax, and seems to contain much useful information; it is a subject of peculiar interest to the north of Ireland. The work is very inaccurately printed; and the long list of errata, which is placed at the end, might be made much longer, if all the mistakes were specified. SINGLE SERMONS. Art. 43. Repentance and Reform the only Ground of Divine Favour preached at West-Tillbury, Essex, on the Fast Day, Feb. 26, 1806. By the Rev. Sir Adam Gordon, Bart. Rector of that Parish. 8vo. Is. 6d. Rivingtons. This general doctrine of fast sermons has rarely been urged with more seriousness and energy than on the present occasion. After having bestowed the highest praise on the late minister for his talents, patriotism, disinterestedness, and piety, Sir Adam descends to expostulate with his hearers on the vices of the times. His picture is truly alarming, and in a patriotic view he exhorts sinners to repentance. Art. 44 National Blessings, Reasons for religious Gratitude-preached at St. James's Church. Bath, on the Thanksgiving Day Dec. 5. 1805. By Richard Warner, Curate of St. James's parish. To which are prefixed Animadversions on two Sermons, just published, by the Rev. Edmund Poulter, Prebendary of Winchester. And 25. Cuthell a Character of the late Right Hon. Wm. Pitt. 8vo. and Co. In this sensible and manly discourse, the preacher insists on our pecu liar obligations to religious gratitude, on account of our enjoying a purified religion and civil liberty, and being exempted from the local horrors of war. He is not less energetic in urging us to suitable expressions of gratitude to God, than in displaying the blessings by which our country country is distinguished from every other in Europe. Though, how ever, Mr. Warner is zealous in the cause of his native land, he does not suffer his patriotism to run riot, and to waste its vigor in extravagant declamation. His objections to Mr. Poulter's Sermons arise from that gentleman's outré expressious both of censure and of praise. We have often lamented that our clergy should abandon themselves to the intemperance of passion, instead of endeavouring to exercise calm and fair discrimination, and should forget that they only expose themselves when they obtrude for truth such representations as credulity itself cannot swallow. The subjoined character of Mr. Pitt, by a friend of Mr. Warner, is not so highly coloured as that which is drawn by Sir A. Gordon, or that of Mr. Poulter, but is a better likeness. CORRESPONDENCE. We have received a letter from Mr. Seymour, relative to our review of his Remarks on Shakspeare in our last Number: but he must excuse us if we decline to resume the discussion, and if we express our opinion that he has not succeeded in throwing any new light on the subjects to which he adverts. He admits that the passage from Macbeth, quoted in p. 36. is incorrigibly embarrassed,' and his supplemental remarks do not contradict that opinion. In the passage from Lear, in the same page, he still contends that there is a change of mood, and that "Prize me at her worth" is unequivocally imperative. The letter signed Asiaticus seems to be intitled to attention, but, as we can place no reliance on anonymous communications, we can neither print it wholly or in part, nor enter into any arguments respecting its contents. Indeed, to do this would be extraofficial, any farther than as our own opinions were controverted or our statements contradicted. X. Y. is requested to accept our thanks for his obliging and polite expressions. Alpha and Omega is sollicited to exercise his patience: a number of letters occur to compose the alphabet, besides the first and the last. In the last Appendix, p. 513. 1. 13. for De Wally,' r. De Wailly.-P. 515, 1, 26. and 516. 1. 13. for Franços,' r. François. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For NOVEMBER, 1806. ART. I. Mr. Roscoe's Life and Pontificate of Leo the Tenth. CON ONFORMABLY to our promise, we shall now briefly advert to the account which the author has given of the religious discussions of the sixteenth century. When it is considered how fully and minutely, as well as impartially, these events have been stated and discussed at various periods by different writers-how near a perfect history is that of the Reforma. tion, as it respects Germany, by Sleidan ;-how great is the merit of that of Burnet in reference to the same revolution in England;-how satisfactorily Fra. Paolo has exposed the policy and measures of the Roman church since the establishment of Protestantism;-what neat statements of the same transactions have proceeded from the pen of Beausobre-and how philosophical and comprehensive are the views of them which are to be found in the recent pages of M. Villers ;—it will be perceived that much is not to be expected from a fresh fabourer in the same field, though he should possess exemplary industry, and distinguished ingenuity. Yet these volumes may boast of passages which, if they do not instruct, will arrest the attention of the best informed. Mr. Roscoe takes notice of the state of thraldom and oppression, in which the see of Rome attempted to retain the human mind: an attempt which he regards as producing effects the reverse of those that were expected, and as disposing men to shake off a yoke which they found thus hardly to press on them. Alluding to the free manner in which the wits and philosophers of the preceding times had treated the church, he observes that it was soon perceived that the utmost danger was to be apprehended from a continuance of those liberties: but, instead of applying the effectual remedy of self-reformation, they had recourse to injudicious denunciations and penalties, which probably increased the evil. He then states the various VOL. LI. circumstances |
