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ing behoved to be carried on by private fubfcription; and the fums contributed, are a ftriking proof of the neceffity of the undertaking, as well as of the regard and attachment of individuals to their Alma-mater. The estimate for completing the whole is about L.64,008, of this nearly L. 32,000 has been fubfcribed for.

The number of students varies; but, in general they amount to 1200 or 1300.

Connected with the College, and one of the greatest ornaments of the city, may be mentioned the Botanical Garden. It is fituated near the middle of Leith walk, and contains five English acres of ground. It is confidered as one of the best collections in the world for Botanical purposes. In the next place, the Obfervatory on the Calton hill may be noticed. Though intended originally to form a part of the College Aftronomical aparatus, yet fome circumftances have hitherto prevented that defign from being accompifhed. It contains the famous reflecting Telescope, of the late Mr James Short, perhaps one of the finest inftruments of the kind in the world. Admittance is got to it for a fmall fum to the prefent keeper.

In Edinburgh, there are four Banking Companies who iffue notes, befides private Banks, who difcount bills, &c. viz the Bank of Scotland, erected by act of Parliament in 1695. Their capital was originally 100,cool. it is now one million. It had been customary to iffue notes for trifling fums; 5 Shilling notes were very common; this had the effect to banish filver entirely. In the 1765, an act paffed, prohibiting all promiffory notes, payable to the bearer, under one pound Sterling.

The Royal Bank of Scotland, was incorporated by Royal Chater in 1727. The original capital was 111,cool. Sterling; it is now the fame with that of the Bank of Scotland.

The British Linen Company, was erected into a body corporate in 1746, with power to raise a capital of 100,000 Sterling, to encourage the manufacture of linen in Scotland; and it had the defired effect.

The only private Banking Company, that iffues notes, is Sir William Forbes, James Hunter, and Co.

The trade and manufactures of Edinburgh are by no means confiderable. Its population is much owing to the Supreme Courts being held there. The branches of manufacture, fuch as linen, carpeting, leather, &c. are comparatively on fo fmall a scale, as not to demand particular notice.

The inhabitants of Edinburgh, are well accomodated in elegant and healthy lodgings, upon eafy terms; and the fupplies of butcher meat, and of fifh in confiderable variety, render their fituation eafy and comfortable. From thefe circumftances, and the cheap rate at which almost every branch of useful and polite inftruction can be had, it is highly fuitable for the refidence of families who have children to educate. They may enjoy elegant amufements without diffipation, and the mind may be relaxed and entertained without being jaded, or the health impaired. The cup of pleafure may be tafted, without being poifoned by any galling reflexions on the cost.

It is not eafy to ftate, with precifion, the populousness of a large city; besides the inaccuracy of our regifters of deaths and burials, the numbers of entrants and emigrants are always fluctuating. From a pretty accurate furvey, made in the 1775, the number of feparate families then in Edinburgh, Leith, and their environs, amounted to 13,806, which, multiplied by 6, gives the number of inhabitants to be 82,836. Since that period, perhaps an increafe to 84,000 is not far wide of the truth.

(To be continued.)

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

The Elements of Medicine of John Brown, M. D. Tranflated from the Latin, with Comments and Illuftrations, by the Author. A new edition, revised and corrected. With a Biographical Preface, by Thomas Beddoes, M. D. and a head of the Author. 2 vols. 8vo. 12 boards. Johnson.

IT is well known that the late Dr Brown, whofe opinions have figured fo much in the medical world, died after a life of penury and difappointments, leaving behind him a totally deftitute family. The present republication of this work has been undertaken chiefly with a view to their relief.

It must be confidered as fortunate, that the execution of this defign has been committed to a gentleman of fuch acknowledged abilities as Dr Beddoes. Though a fpecimen of the original work would not be entertaining to the gene rality of our readers, yet the following humurous obfervations by the Editor will, we hope, be acceptable:

ON REPUTATION IN PHYSIC.

SECT. H. D. Mere collectors of fees, regardless of medical fcience, given to artifice and intrigue, each fpecies after its own

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3. The bullying DOCTOR D.

Inexorabilis, acer, Looks big, ftruts, fwaggers, fwears.

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Obf. Surgeons, in our times, more frequently bear these marks. According to a moft acute contemporary author, the famous Radcliffe was a complete specimen of the bullying D. "With fmall fkill in phyfic, and hardly any learning, he got into practice by vile arts. He would neglect a nobleman that gave exorbitant fees;" and to heighten the infult by contraft" at the fame time carefully attend a fervant or mean perfon for nothing; he was furly and morofe; treated his patients like dogs; extended his infolence even to the Royal Family; fcorned to confult with his betters on what emergency foever; looked down with contempt on the most deserving of his profeffion; and never would confer with any phyfician who would not pay homage to his fuperior genius, creep to his humour, and never approach him but with the flavish obfequiousness of a court flatterer."

"The bacchannalian Doctor D. given VOL. LVIII.

4.

to fottishness, if not to drunkennessgenerally fomewhat of the bully. voice, geftures, and equipage, contrived The folemn Doctor D. with garb, the futility of his art. to overawe weak imaginations, and hide

cies first practifed phyfic with pomp: Obf. 1. D. of this remarkable fpethey invented or borrowed from the other profeffions those barbarous habili ments, of which ridicule has but lately ftripped phyficians. In times, when a huge wig, or a flowing gown, could more effectually comm nd respect than found morality, substantial juftice, or ufeful fkill, the ftratagem fucceeded to admiration.

"Ob. 2. D. of this fpecies, when a pretext offers, fpeak oftentatioufly of their experience, never fufpecting any of their heaters may know, that there are understanding, which multiplicity of appearances ferves but to confound.

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5- The club bunting Doctor. D. frequenting the crowded haun's of men; pushing himself forward, faluting all he knows, and all who will know him; talking much and loud.

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Ok. In England, D. of this fpecies have of late been frequently feen in paroxyfms of frantic loyalty, and of civijme in France.

"6. The burr Do&or. D. fastening himfelf upon you as tenaciously as the heads of the noisome weed (centaurea calcitrapa) from which the trivial name of the fp. is taken, fix upon your cloaths. Obf. Nothing in art, but the juggler's addrefs in making you take what card he pleafes out of a pack, equals the dexterity with which D. of this fp. force themselves on patients.

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7. The wheedling Doctor. D. with an everlafting fmirk upon his countenance, frequent at the polite end of large cities, and at places of fashionable refort.

"Var. a. The Adonis wheedling D. D. with an handsome face, joined to the wily addrefs, characteristic of the fp. flourishes at the watering places; fometimes joins to his profession the trade of a fortune hunter; and if he fucceeds, gives phyfic to the dogs."

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Obf. 1. D. of this fp. when most moderate, prefcribe for every rich patienttwo draughts a day, and one night draught, befides pills and powders. Hence needlefsly to fwallow n ufeous drenches

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Obf. 2. The Adonis D. has no fooner or later a patient of note, ill of a fever or fome disease, that ufually terminates favourably; in cafe of recovery, the female bufy-bodies of the place exert their fpirit of cabal in behalf of the wonderworking youth, and his fortune is made. "8. The cafe-coining Doctor. D. publifhing forged or falfified cafes.

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"Obf. A very fertile fource of falfe facts has been opened for fome time paft. That is, in fome young phyficians, the vanity of being the authors of obfervations which are often too haftily made, and fometimes, perhaps, were entirely drefJed in the clofet. We dare not at present be more particular; but the next age will decern many inftances of perhaps the direct falfehoods, and certainly the many mistakes in fact, produced in the prefent age, concerning the virtues and powers of medicines." CULLEN. Mater. Med. I. 153.

"A-kin to this flagitious abuse, is the practice of purchafing false atteftations, on oath, for advertisements; and what is ftill worse in effect, though not in intention; a custom beginning to prevail among perfons of diftinction-who cannot be fuppofed capable of difcriminating diseases, or deciding on the efficacy of drugs-but who, nevertheless, permit Quacks to use their names in teftimony of cures, which they suppose themselves to have witnessed.

"9. The good fort of man Doctor. D. a good fort of man, armed, by fome miftake, with a diploma.

"Var. a. The goffiping good fort of man D. fetches and carries fcandal.

Obf. Varieties numerous as the hues of the chamæleon.

66 10. The Sectarian Doctor. D. dwelling among his own people at first; and by them often pufhed on to fpread devaftation among the best of mankind.

"Obf. Varieties manifold; each diftinguished by the livery of its fect-one is too curious to be omitted.

"Var. a. The infpired Sea. Doctor. D. believing himself to be infpired with the knowledge of diseases and remedies.

"In civilized countries not much more frequent than witches. Among rude tribes, as among the Tartar hordes, a kindred variety is univerfally found. See Gmelin's Travels. But thefe feem rather to pretend to inspiration, than real

ly to believe that their deity ferves them in the capacity of Prompter; and they conjoin the characters of priest and con jurer with that of phyfician. I have not been able to ascertain whether our variety receives the afflatus, except in its medical capacity; and the miracles it has wrought in this, are not fo perfectly authenticated as to filence cavillers."

Some ferious matter follows, introductory to the study of the Brunonian doctrine, which, it must be acknowledged, requires, beyond moft fyftems, the efforts of a clear head, and an exercised understanding, to prepare the way for its full comprehenfion. An ingenious illuftration by Mr Thomas Chriftie is made a part of this preliminary matter. Dr B. has added strictures on the origin, and on the imperfections and errors of the fyftem; and he gives the following fummary account of what he conceives to be its principal excellencies:

"The diftinguishing merit of Brown is obvious; he avoided all falfe analogies, and confined himself within the proper fphere of observation for a phyfician. Hence, at a time when I could not be fufpected of that difpofition to diminish the faults, and magnify the excellencies of his fyftem, which my fhare in the present publication may be fupposed to produce; I was led to remark, that "if he has not always discovered the truth, he is feldom forfaken by the fpirit of philofophy." Before him, inveftigations relative to medicine had been carried on just as rationally, as if to discover the qualities of the horse, the naturalift were to direct his attention to the movements of a windmill. There exifted no fyftem which was not either entirely, or in a great measure, founded upon the observed or fuppofed properties of fubftances deftitute of life. Thus Boerhaave taught, that diseases depend upon changes of the blood, fimilar to thofe which certain oily, watery, or mucilaginous liquors undergo. I have already had occation to fhew, that Cullen referred the phænomena of life to an imaginary fluid, endowed with the fame properties as the electric fluid, of which the very existence is ftill problematical. His predeceffors having, in this manner, left man entirely out of their fyftems, or affigned him an unimportant place: Brown atchieved the important service of reftoring him to his proper station in the centre."

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A Review of Dr Price's Writings on the
Finances of Great Britain. By William
Morgan, F. R. S. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Ca-
dell jun. and Davies.

THE national debt has always been a Left of much fpeculation. The finances of Great Britain have always excred the moft fanguine hopes of their abettors, as well as contradicted the aarts. This writer is no favourer of the funding fyftem.-We shall give a fummary of his ftate of the funded debt.

He first gives the particulars of the faded debt in January 1795, which had been incurred previously to the year 1784. Its amount is, principal, L. 256,964,078; zanual intereft and management L. 9,172-363. The additions to the funded debt fince 1788 are next ftated at, principal L. 51,897,251; intereft, &c. L.1,830,975. The whole then of the funded debt in 1795 is, principal, 308,861,3291.; intereft, &c. 11,003,3381. The amount of the unfunded debt is fated at L. 13,483,000; its intereft at 5 per cent. L. 674,150. If to these sums be added the Imperial loan and its intereft, which the writer fuppofes will be ultimately paid by this country, our national debt, and its intereft, will amount to the enormous fums of L. 331,699,329—and L. 12,127,488. Mr M. however allows, that fome deduction fhould be made from the foregoing fums, on account of the ftock which has been purchafed by the commiffioners for difcharging the national debt; but, in or der to fhew what is the real proportion of the debt discharged, to that remaining, he converts the whole funded and unfunded debt into three, per cents. and fates it at L. 383,823,294. His conclufas we fhall give in his own words:

"Is nine years about 14 millions of the three per cents. have been paid off, which, according to the foregoing computations, do not amount to 1-27th part of the whole national debt, or to nine pence in the pound. In lefs than three years, a debt has been incurred, which, if converted into three per cents. would, 23 appears above, exceed 70 millions:-in other words, the funded debt in the three last years, is five times greater than the debt difcharged in nine years. To congratulate the nation, therefore, under fach circumftances, on the progrefs that has been made in reducing its debts, to fuppofe it destitute of common un

which can fuffer itself to be deceived by derstanding; and the ignorant credulity thofe congratulations, is to be equalled only by the effrontery that can propose them. It is of little confequence, while millions are added to millions, every year, that new funds are established for redeeming thofe debts. The provifion, which is made for this purpose, of L. I per cent. per ann. will indeed, if invariably applied, discharge the principal in 37 years. But, in the circumftances of this country, what confolation or fecurity can fuch remedies afford? for neither our refources nor our credit are endless; and, therefore, if we go on to increase our debts, at the rate we have hitherto, it is manifeft, that long before the ter. mination of 37 years, they must be difcharged in a much more fummary way than by the operations of compound in tereft.

"If the ways and means in each year be compared with the public exigencies, they will, uniformly, be found to have fallen fhort of them, though, at the beginning of the year, the contrary had always been predicted. This, I think, is fufficiently proved to have been the cafe, fo far as the year 1790, in the third chapter of the foregoing treatise. In the year 1791, the fupplies (including L. 500,000 taken from the unclaimed ftock at the bank) were stated to be L. 14,881,634, and the expenditure L. 14,064,656. Between these two fums a difference of L. 816,978 was supposed to remain in favour of the ways and means; but at the beginning of the next year, inftead of this promised furplus in the income, we find a deficiency in it of L. 436,990.---In like manner, in the year 1792, the fupplies were estimated at L. 11,503,996, and the expenditure at L. 11,138,884, which fuppofed a balance, in favour of the former, of L. 365,182; but, at the conclufion of this year, the balance proved, as it did in the preceding year, to be on the other fide, and the grants were found to be deficient L. 575,325. In the year 1793, though 4 millions were borrowed, the expen. diture exceeded the grants L. 824,000; and in the year 1794, after borrowing 11 millions, the deficiency of the grants amounted to L. 1,095,000. In the prefent year, including the Imperial loan, our own loan, the vote of credit for the army and navy, &c. &c. the enormous fum of L. 30,583,000 has been already Ra

added

added to the public debts; and if we may reafon from the experience of the three foregoing years, in which the deficiency of the fupplies increased, in proportion to the magnitude of the expenditure, it is probable that the grants, in this year, will be more deficient than ever. But does not this circumftance portend our near approach to the termination of our refources? for, if this course be perfifted in, of adding millions annually to the public debts, the defi ciency of the grants in the preceding year will exceed the intereft of the new loan in the following year, and it will become necefiary, even in times of peace, to borrow money every year, in order to render the revenue equal to the ordinary expenditure. In fuch circumftan ces no credit can long be fuftained; and though the induftry and enterprize of this nation are undoubtedly very great, yet all industry and enterprize muft fink

at laft under the continual accumulation of fresh burdens; and fhould our credit be deftroyed, it will require more ability than has hitherto been difplayed, by the prefent conductors of our public affairs, to preferve a nation like ours, overwhelmed as it is with debts and taxes, from bankruptcy and ruin.

"From the year 1784 to the year 1789, new taxes have been laid to the anount of L. 1,075,300. In the year 1791, further taxes have been imposed, to the amount of L. 820,000. In the year 1793, further taxes have been laid, to the amount of L. 480,coo; and this year has been diftinguished, above all others in the annals of the country, by additional taxes to the ftupendous a mount of L. 1,600,000: fo that fince the commencement of the prefent adminiftration, the public burdens have been increased about 4 millions per annum, or, at leaft, L. 3,800,000, even after deducting those taxes which have been repealed in confequence of the oppofition railed against them, from their being Gonfidered as vexatious and oppreffive. But it should be remembered, that with all this mass of taxes we are still involved in the most expenfive war that has ever diftreffed this country, without a profpect of its conclufion; and to what magnitude the debts may be further increafed by the conteft, exceeds all the powers of computation to determine. Were peace to be immediately made, the ordinary expenditure would at least

be 20 millions per annum.---A fum which is fuppofed to be two millions greater than the yearly rents of all the lands in the kingdom. If, therefore, the annual income, arifing from all the landed property, be infufficient to pay the ordinary expences, and if our commerce, as one of our legiflators magnanimously, though perhaps not very wifely, declared, muft perifh rather than the object of this just and neceffary war fhould not be attained, there is reafon to apprehend, from the prefent appearance of things, that we are haftening towards a ftate of difficulty and danger, unknown in the hiftory of this country; and that we fhall exhibit, to the world, an awful example of the folly of a commercial nation's preferring war, and its ruinous confequences, to the cultivation of trade, and the peaceful enjoyment of its advantages.' An Efay on the malignant peftilential Fever introduced intothe Weft Indian Islands from Boullam on the coast of Guinea, as it appeared in 1793 and 1794. By C. Chisholm M. D. Surgeon to his Majefty's Ordnance in Grenada. 8vo. 3s. Boards. Dilly. 1795.

As the fubject of this volume is now of fuch general importance we shall give the fummary of the author's defcription of the fymptoms of this moft alarming malady, with his mode of cure.

“THE patient, without any previous complaint, fuddenly becomes giddy; he lofes his eye fight; every thing feems to move round him with inconceivable velocity; he falls down almost infenfible, and in that ftate remains half an hour or upwards. During this paroxyfm the body feels cold, and is overfpread with cold fweat, which iffues from every pore in astonishing abundance. On his recovery, the cold goes off, and is inftantly fucceeded by intenfe heat, and quick, fmall, hard pulfe; the head achs dreadfully, particularly the forehead and finciput, which is generally accompanied with pain in the right fide, and at the præcordia. The laft, however, has never been acute, and may rather be called oppreffion than pain. The eyes åre much inflamed, watery, protruded, and wildly rolling; the face much flushed; much heat is felt at the pit of the ftomach; and that organ feems to be confiderably affected by the naufea and frequent retching and vomiting, which then come on. The patient foon after

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