MEDICINE. In glancing our eye over this ufually fertile diftrict, we find it rather barren. We have mentioned, indeed, various medical books, but few of eminence enough to claim a ftation here. Will it not feem ftrange to readers of this clafs, if we mention only two or three? Dr. Aikin's collection of the facts af-. certained on the subject of the Cow-Pox*; Mr. Hill's Practical Obfervationst on the medical ufe of Oxygen, or Vital Air; and the work of Dr. Saunders, on the nature and ufe of Mineral Waters. Of thefe, the first is a very useful register, the fecond a curious book of cafes, and the third a well-arranged compilation, with the addition of fome original obfervations. Two other works which found a place in our account, are of merit fo far dubious, that they might be paffed without much injury. Dr. Chisholm's Effay on the Peftilential Fever§, augmented greatly fince its first appearance, feems to urge with difproportionate zeal, a mode of practice not fo fanctioned by experience, as the author evidently thinks; and the German, Dr. Struve, who is to us the Kotzebue of Medicine, from the number of his works now thrust upon us in translations, has given very little that is of real value in his book, on the Education of Children. The Harveian Oration is, in its nature, rather a claffical exercise than a medical work; but Dr. Vaughaną has given it all the weight it can derive, from the excellence of arrangement and elegance of compofition. EDUCATION. Books of this defcription are always numerous. We fhall notice but a few, of more importance than the reft. To the ftudents in Hebrew, who never are fo numerous as we could wish, we must not omit to recommend Dr. Fitzgerald's Hebrew Grammar*; which teaches the language according to the Maforetic fyftem, now the most approved, and poffeffes every requifite for fuch a work of inftruction. The Art of making Abridgments, as taught by the Abbé Gaultiert, is one of the most useful exercises that can be prefented to the attention of young minds. The book is now complete, and will, no doubt, obtain extenfive patronage. On the founds of the French language, a fpecific treatife has been published by M. Levifact, while the peculiarities of the idiom may be fuccefsfully apprehended from the work of M. Bellenden §. We pass on to another branch of education, to which however we shall affign a feparate head. MUSIC. The study of mufical compofition has lately been promoted greatly, by the efforts of fome of its moft learned profeffors. A fecond Effay of Mr. Kollmann, in which the practical part of that fcience was treated with great fkill, demanded our particular attention||. Though not in every point agreed with this author, we gave him commendations which we feel no inclination to retract; and then proceeded to one who is, in fome refpects, an antagonist of the former. Mr. King, in his treatise, is particularly excellent in the work of arrangement; an advantage of no little value in any scientific work. Another mufical writer** ftill detains our attention, of whom we fhall have occafion to speak highly in a future Preface. * No. III. p. 325. No. V. P. 559. ** Mr. Shield. + No. VI. P. 666. il No. IV. p. 399. † No. IV. P. 447. No. V. p. 517. I MISCEL MISCELLANIES. We haften now to conclude: and, having fubdivided the former part of our account as much as poffible, have little to include within this general head. Having nothing of a biographical nature to mention, except Mr. Murphy's Life of Garrick*, we have poftponed it to this place: nor can we here fay of it quite fo much as we could with. We regret that it was not written at least ten years ago. The works of Mrs. H. Moret, in their collected state, place the author in a moft refpectable rank: and the principles delivered in them feem to us completely found, as well as happily expreffed. Dr. Cogan's ingenious work on the Paffions, is the firft of much importance that the public has received, fince the admirable Effay of Hutchefon. A comparifon, diligently made, might throw great light on both. The variety of useful matter in the Letters of Orton and Stonboufes, gives them a title to be honourably mentioned, in the class of mifcellaneous works. Their reference however is, very principally, to fubjects of divinity; and the piety which pervades the whole conveys continually a most valuable fpecies of inftruction. Thus do we end, nearly where we began, Atque in fe fua per veftigia volvitur index. No. VI. p. 637. § No. I. p. 42. + No. V. p. 527. No. Vl. p. 640. |