The doctor first defcribes the fpring, which he fays, yields 35 pints in an hour, and is therefore fufficient to supply upwards of 350 perfons. The experiments are made with fkill, and the refult of them is, that a gallon of the water (wine measure) contains, a native Glauber falt combined with a portion Of Fpfom falt Sea falt Iron combined with fixed air Fixed air, combined with a portion of I ounce 5 grains 25 40 24 ounces meafures To these may be added a small portion of hepatic gas; by which term the doctor means Hepar Sulphuris converted into vapour by its phlogiston. The doctor's obfervations on thefe component parts are very judicious, and he infers," that this faline chalybeat water is cathartic, diuretic, and fometimes diaphoretic, "and that it operates by a very gentle ftimulus, without evidently accelerating the circulation, or irritating the nervous fyftem, like the rougher purgatives." The difeafes to which the doctor thinks these waters most applicable, are morbid affections of the primæ viæ, diforders of the glandular and lymphatic fyftem, cutaneous affections, and certain nervous complaints proceeding from impurities of the blood or lymph, or the fuppreffion of ordinary evacu ations. The doctor propofes fome doubts whether this water might not be ufed with effect, in beginning confumptions arifing from tubercles in, the lungs, and concludes with directions for drinking the water with fuccefs, and with the diet neceflary to be obferved while a..perfon is drinking them. He feems to think, that a great deal of their efficacy depends upon drinking them on the fpot, a 'circumftance which we believe to be common with most mineral waters; for as their moft active properties confift of very fubtil and volatile parts, it is evident that thefe cannot all be retained for a confiderable time, not to mention, that diffipation and change of air and place, may alfo have their fhare in the falutary effects of the water, particularly in chronic and nervous complains. 4 With refpect to cutaneous affections, the writer of this article, thinks thefe waters not fo well calculated to do fervice as thofe of Harrowgate, and this from the circumftance of the latter having more of the foetid finell, which proceeds from their containing a greater quantity of hepar fulphuris. He is alfo acquainted with a spring fituated upon the estate of a gentleman of the law in Somerfetfhire, which feems to contain a still greater quantity of this principle than the Harrowgate waters, and which he therefore thinks would be full as ufeful as the latter in all difeafes of the skin. FOREIGN LITERATURE, ART. XVI. Esai Analytique fur l'Air par, & les differentes efpeces d'Air, par M. de la Metherie, M. D. Paris. An Analytical Effay on pure Air, and the different fpecies of Air. THE HE author has boldly attempted, what perhaps none but a Frenchman would try, and what no man will furely accomplish foon, a theory of all the different fpecies of airs that have been difcovered. No reader, therefore, need be furprised when he meets with falfehood or uncertainty. He divides airs into two claffes, the first, comprehending fuch as are permanent; the fecond, fuch as are condenfable by cold or water-the latter are foon difpatched, by being deduced from the liquor that furnishes them, and the principle of heat; this is evidently wrong, fince thofe which are permanent in the cold, and yet are abforbed by water, are either rendered claftic by fomething elfe befides heat, or elfe heat is combined with them in a different manner; and therefore the fame theory is not applicable to them, as to fluids condenfable by cold. With refpect to the permanently elaftic fluids, when all that is borrowed from other writers, and all that is affirmed on weak or no proof is taken away, little will remain to M. Metherie, as the following abstract of his opinions may serve to fhew. He thinks that all permanently eleftic fluids are the progeny of pure or deflogisticated air; that this air has a great affinity to the matter of fire or light, which fills the universe: from thefe principles the whole theory is derived. Pure air with a certain quantity of fire or light produces heat, with a greater quantity, inflammable air, which the author follows the late English Chymifts, in fuppofing to be phlogifton-Pure air combined with the principle of heat, produces fixed air-with inflammable air, it produces foul or phlogifticated air-with water, the principle of heat, inflammable air, phlogisticated air, and perhaps fixed air, and a little earth, pure air produces the feveral mineral, animal, and vegetable acids. Pure air combined with the principle of heat, and the earthy principle produces lime, fixed and volatile alkali. Thefe Thefe fpecimens of the author's, will ferve amply to confirm our opinion of his publication, and at the fame time, to fhew how little he has advanced our chemical knowledge of aeriform fubftances. ART. XVII. Opufcules de Bergman traduits par, W. Moreau, T. 2. Dijon, 1785. MR. Morveau's Tranflation of Bergman's Effays, Vol. 11. R. Morveau's tranflation as far as we have examined it, is pretty accurate; but his notes are few, and thofe few unimportant. Is this a proof that Bergman had fo exhausted the fubjects he writes upon, that little can be added, at least without making great advances? or did not Mr. Morveau, whofe chemical abilities are confeffed, bestow much pains in executing the tafk he had undertaken? The moft remarkable thing in this tranflation, is Mr. Morveau's new phrafeology. Instead of making the acid an adjective, and the base the fubftantive, as Bergman does, he puts them in the relation of nominative and genitivé cafe: as for Pruffian alkali, Pruffite de potaffe, pruffite de foude, for ȧerated alkali mephite de potaffe, de foude, c. We cannot fee what is gained by this new change; it feems to us rather lefs perfpicuous and lefs fimple, than Bergman's fyftem of demonstration. MONTHLY CATALOGUE. [For SEPTEMBER, 1785.1 POLITICAL. Art. 18. A Fragment of the Hiftory of that Illuftrious PerJonage John Bull, Efq; Compiled by the celebrated Hiftorian Sir Humphrey Polesworth. Lately difcovered in the Repairs of Grab-hatch the Ancient Seat of the Family of the Polefworths: now first Published from the Original Manufcript, by Peregrine Pinfold of Grab-hatch, Efq; Octavo. 2s. 6d. Bew. LTHOUGH imitations carry in their very nature proof of inferiority to the originals they copy, and are, in fact, generally the productions of inferior capacities, yet they may when tolerable be read without difguft, in the fame manner that a favourite air introduced into vogue by a masterly performer in the opera-houfe is listened to, though with no great fatisfaction when fung by any ballad finger on the streets. It is not fo much the execution that draws attention, as the recollection of the object of his imitation. And every body hums over fashionable airs as he can. Whatever merit there is in the plan of this allegorical performance, is due, nou to to the perfon who attempts to befpeak favour by affuming the lu dicrous name of Peregrine Pinfold, and although we find not in this performance any thing of that inimitable delicacy, turn of thought, and humour which characterize the original and real history of John Bull by Dr. Arbuthnot, yet as fome characters and features of the prefent times are exhibited in fomething like the tone and manner of that celebrated writer, the reader has patience to go through this fragment from beginning to end. Among the best ideas of Peregrine Pinfold, is that of a convers fation between Trim (Lord Temple) and Mrs. Herenbaufen the nurfe (a nurfe that has given fourteen proofs that fhe is not of the feminine gender) who lay their heads together to make John Bull jealous of his wife, and even to destroy her. The genius of the Irish nation is alfo very justly and not unpleasantly defcribed in this pamphlet, under the character of paddy, John Bull's coufin. Art. 19. Mr. Pitt's reply to Mr. Orde, being a correct Abftract of the Speeches of thofe two Right Honourable Gentlemen, as delivered in the different Senates of Great-Britain and Ireland, on the Subject of the new Commercial Regulation between the two Countries; with a Defence of both. 8vo. IS. Jarvis, 1785. The object of this reply, is to fhew, by extracts from newspapers, that Mr. Pitt (for the author prefumes that Mr. Orde and Mr. Pitt are one) fays one thing in Ireland and another in Great-Britain.His admiration of "the power and double-edged policy of Mr. Pitt!" who could reconcile both nations to propofitions by which they are both to be lofers, is, we imagine, by this time fuípended: for "meetings have been held-remonftrances have been fabricatedapprehenfions have been intimated-and univerfal confternation excited."-None of these things had happened when this ephemeron author collected his notes, and threw out his ejaculations. Art. 20. Difcurfory Thoughts, &c. Difputing the Conftructions of his Majefty's Hon. Commiffioners and Crown Lawyers, relative to the Medicine and Horfe Acts; to which are added, the Opinions and Refolutions of the Farmers in Scotla viz. not to enter any drudge Horfe which is rode on. Alfo pointing qut a Parliamentary Remedy for the Grievance People fuitain by the Equivocal wording of the above Acts. With remarks on the late Trials concerning the Medicine Acts. By Francis Spiltbury. Octavo. is. London. (No Bookfellers Name) 1785. ! The antient Romans banifhed all phyficians from the confines of the Republic; a circumftance which, no doubt, confpired with others to extend the fame and power of that great nation, the fir beyond all comparison, in the annals of the world. Modern phyficians, ftung with fo fevere a cenfure from fo fenfible a people, have entered into a controverfy, and many differtations have been written concerning the degree of reputation in which phyficiaus were held among the ancients. But, without any imputation on the character of our phyficians, it may be allowed that the faculty were held in no great eftimation in antient times, being only equivalent to out our apothecaries, and venders of noftrums, who are, in general, moft ignorant and pernicious race of imortals, who fometimes amafs large fortunes by practiling on the weakness and credulity of the common people; and therefore fit objects of taxation, FRANCIS SPILSBURY, our author, who glories in being of that honourable fraternity, makes worfe even a bad caufe by the most ridiculous effufions of felf-conceit, and abfurd pretenfions, and in vulgar and ungrammatical language, proclaims his own merit and praife. Art. 21. An Addrefs to the King and People of Ireland upon. the Syftem of fihal Adjustment contained in the Twenty Propo fitions which have paffed the Houfe of Commons, and are now before the British Houfe of Lords. Defbrow, Octavo. 15. 1785 On the fubject of the famous fourth propofition refpecting our fiaal adjustment with Ireland, which is now fpoken of as proverbially/ as any propofition in Euclid, our author afks" Are fuch laws to be paffed in Ireland, in the fame manner as in Great-Britain?" This question he answers himself thus "By the British Parliament they are to be enacted, by the Irish Parliament they are to be enrolled, He contends, that with regard to the British Colony and Plantation trade, this propofition implies not only a virtual but even a formal' recognition of British legiflation on the part of Ireland, both INTERNALLY and EXTERNALLY. He is decidedly of opinion, that the twentieth propofition, in the words "the due collection thereof (the furplus of the hereditary revenue,) being fecured by permanent provifions" implies not only a perpetual revenue bill, but a perpetual British revenue establishment in Ireland. What this author has urged is certainly fufficient to fhew that it is difficult, if not impoffible, to reconcile the independency of the Irifh nation with the establishment of that external legislation, and fecurity to which Great Britain lays claim as a return for the conceffions fhe has made, and offers to continue, and to guarantee to Ireland refpecting commerce." Art. 22. Sermons on various Subjects, with an account of the Principles of the Proteftant Diffenters, their mode of Worship and forms of public Prayer, Baptifm and the Lord's Supper, By H. Kirkpatrick. 8vo. 5s. Johnfon. The prefent article, as the title exhibits, is a publication which confifts of various particulars. We must own, from the author's unembarraffed manner, that he feems to write from conviction, and even to defend principles which have produced much altercation, with a laudable degree of temper. He affects no novelty wher every refource of argument has been long fince exhaufted, but coolly and explicitly avows the prepoffeffions of the party to whom he belongs with as much fang froid as if the fillieft things he ad vances had never been called in queftion, and were unanswerable The fermons in this volume are totally deftitute of genius. The fubjects are not more trite than the file and manner of difcuffi g them. This much, however, ought to be admitted in the author's favour, that he feldom or never attempts to reason. His book is, ENG. Rev. SEPT. 2785. therefore, |