heart and vascular system, induced by the vis medicatrix naturæ. This change in modern pathology has been adopted and taught in the fchools of medicine, particularly that of Edinburgh, where Dr. Cullen has improved it by many ufeful illuftrations, (and fome additions, apparently founded in truth, with a very few exceptions) particularly of his opinion, that debility is a cause of fpafm; for to us the temporary fufpenfion of itrength, obfervable in fevers, feems, from their remote causes, symptoms, and cure, to be rather an effect than a caufe of fever. With thefe apparent amendments in the theory of fevers, a confiderable improvement in their treatment was introduced by the use of antimonials, particularly of Kermes's Mineral in France, and of James's Powder and Emetic Tartar in England; all which in conformity to the new and prevailing hypothefis, have been faid to act in the cure of fevers, chiefly by a relaxing power, exerted in refolving the fuppofed fpafmodic ftri&ture of the extreme veffels. We have premised thefe reflections on fevers and on antimonials, as being the only fubjects of confideration, mentioned in the titlepage before us; though on examination we find a train of other difcafes, particularly phrenitis, cynanche, peripneumonia, pleuritis, carditis, peritonitis, gaftritis, enteritis, hepatitis, cyftitis, hyfteritis, rheumatismus, and arthritis, dragged into the book itfelf, and fuperficially difcuffed. Mr. White appears however to have acquired fome, we cannot fay a perfect knowledge of the improved doctrines lately taught by medical profeffors, especially thofe of Edinburgh; and, to fuch practitioners as are wholly unacquainted with thefe doctrines, his obfervations may prove useful: though, in truth, they afford nothing of importance which has not been much better delivered by others. B---t. DRAMATIC. Art. 47. The Romance of an Hour; a Comedy of two Acts, as performed with univerfal applaufe, at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. Written by Hugh Kelly, Efq; 8vo. 1 s. Kearfly. 1774. Though this piece is not without fufficient merit to entitle it to a place in the catalogue of Farces, it has by no means any preten fions fufficient to juftify the contempt with which the Author affects to treat his cotemporary dramatists, in the Epilogue; and it is cxtremely whimfical, that the fame Writer, who in that Epilogue piques himself, on owning his obligations to Marmontel, in his Preface, affects to disclaim the French novelift, and to derive his fuccefs from his own original stock of genius. The fources from which he has drawn are evident; and if he claims praise from originality of conception in regard to the character of Bajora, he ought to have fuftained that claim, by an equal degree of originality in the execution, wherein we think he greatly fails; having exhibited a fimple gentoo in the garb of a methodist preacher. The catastrophe alfo is ridiculously precipitated, and indeed the whole fecond act much inferior, in every refpect, to the firft. The Arlequin Sauvage of the Italian Comedy, might have afforded the Author of our Dramatick Romance fome good hints; but perhaps, as Cumberland D How dif Cumberland difowns Shadwell, Kelly difowns an acquaintance with POETICA L. C. A fatire on the exaltation of Wilkes to the city chair; written in Swift throng the citizens to free The champion of their liberty; No horfe, nor afs, nor mule thall draw But charter'd fhoulders bear from thrall, The anti-patriots will gain a good laugh by the humour of this Dialogues between husbands and wives. The women are all clever, and the men are noodles: the poetry very fo-fo. Some modern characters are well hit: Nabobs, aldermen, jockeys, ftock-jobbers, trading-juftices, common councilmen, and many others are fatirically exhibited. Even Reviewers do not escape; and to thow our impar tiality, we shall select what the Author has fo feverely said of as, as perhaps the smartest part of his book: A Recipe to make a modern Critic. Two drachms of ftale fenfe, and a fcruple of wit, A line or two out of Ariftotle's rules, And a fatchel of nonfenfe glean'd up from the fchools; Of farcafms two hundred from any old book; Ten or twelve lines of good claffical prate, With the name of old Horace to add to their weight; A few Latin maxims, two mottos from Greece, A fprig from Quintilian, of logic a piece; The law of a furgeon, and phyfic's ftrong purge, And all that mechanical powers can urge; Twelve French repartees, and three lines from Boileau, Of candour a grain, and of fcandal a ton, A The author I. Northouck. The The eye of a mole, and the nail of a cat, The gander's long windpipe, the monkey's crimp paw; To confefs the truth, it is a provoking thing, that a man cannot write a bad or filly book, but he must be told on't by thofe curfed critics!-What golden times would Authors have, were it not for this generation of vipers! It is amazing that all Grubftreet does not rife against them, and get them totally exterminated by act of parliament! Art. 50. The Theorifts, a Satire. By the Author of MedicoMattix. [See Review, vol. 50, p. 314.] 4to. Is, Kearly. This Writer expreffes great difcontent, that we have on a former occafion placed him with the family of the Wellencughs. We know, not from whence this fhould proceed, unless it be trom a conscioufnefs that he belongs to the Badenoughs. If this be the cafe, and if we have mistaken his genealogy, we cannot blame his anger; for a true ancient Priton would fooner prove himself defcended from an ancient Pritish hogdriver, than from a Saxon peer. From the Badenoughs, therefore, a numerous and flourishing family, we will fuppofe that he is defcended; and, indeed, the following Badenoughicifms leave little doubt upon the matter: P. 8. What you advife would be my chiefeft pride. Chief, good friend, is not a pofitive, but a fuperlative adjective, and admits of not farther degrees of comparison. P. 12. Themfelves unnlighten 'd, what can they explain? Unnligh ten'd though fpelt with two ns is a fad word for unenlighten'd; if the double n was a typographical error, it is ftill worfe; for then it will mean nothing more than not disburthen`d. In the next couplet offend and understand are forry rhymes. P. 14. And plain experience, in apparel trim. Every taylor knows that thefe two epithets are diametrically oppofite, and cannot poffibly be applicable to the fame subject. So, good Mr. Badenough, adieu to you! And when you next -Leave Sanctorius for an idle fong, Bring no more fuggeftions of bribery against the Reviewers; for, be affured, this is only a fmall part of the flagellation they have in ftore for you. What! more finishing ftrokes + !-But, the occafion, we fee, is fair; Mr. Hill feems to have found fufficient caufe for the prefent publication. He had, it appears, refolved, on very commendable principles, to quit entirely this field of controverfy; and he had, What! any? Even a good one? Who could have expected tigsfrom fuch thiftles? † See Review, vol. xlviii. March 1733, p. 240. in a Christian-like manner, at a friendly interview, fhaken hands with Mr. Wesley, and laid by his pen. In the fame pacific difpofition he wrote to his principal antagonist, Mr. Fletcher, the three letters here published; and he alfo put a stop to the fale of fuch of his tracts as this conteft had given birth to. It foon, however, appeared, that all this peaceable intention, and praife-worthy proceeding, was moft injuriously mifreprefented.' It was confidently rumoured, and affirmed, that he had recanted his fentiments, and had begged Mr. Wesley's pardon, for having written against his principles. As this falsehood gained ground, and even staggered fome of his own particular friends, Mr. Hill found himself under the disagreeable neceffity of appearing once more in public, upon the occafion; not to carry on the difpute-but only to lay before the religious world his real motives for difcontinuing it. And as thefe will be beft feen by the private letters which he wrote to Mr. Fletcher, he has been prevailed upon to let them go out in their original drefs, not having had the leaft defign of publishing them, at the time they were written." From the contents of thefe letters we are fully satisfied, that there was not the least foundation for the report that Mr. Hill had retracted his religious opinions; it only appears that he laudably wished for peace, while his opponents are for war. This retiring champion of the tabernacle, however, like the Parthians of old, is not lefs formidable in his retreat than in a direct attack. He here lets fly, at the Arminians and Perfectionifts, one of his fharpest pointed arrows. He ftiles it their Creed.' He fays he has compofed it from their fentiments;' and he adds, that he can scarcely read it without horror.' Yet he thinks himself justified in publifhing it, as Mr. Fletcher ftill continued the controverfy with fo much warmth. Thus infead of peace,' behold what great bitterness +.' Art. 52. Religion a Farce. In a Letter to a Reader in the Univerfity of Salamanca. 8vo. 6d. Williams. This being a curious title to a contemptible performance, it may require more explanation than it deferves. A fchifm having arifen in the established church concerning fubfcription to articles of faith, a fly Catholic fteps in, armed with a clumfy two-edged fword, to fight his way between the defenders of fubfcription and the petitioners against fuch mental bondage. The Diffenters, with fome of Mother Church's own undutiful children, clamour about the right of private judgment; the Papifts fland watching the event of the conteft, hinting, that if an act should pafs to releafe the petitioners from fubfcription, there can be no reason to refufe Papilts a repeal of the Test: and when the church withstands thefe attacks, and defends her fpiritual outworks by human laws, both her antagonists reproach her with intolerancy and popifh principles. In this country, however, and in this question, Roman Catholics ought to be fet afide, as unworthy of attention; for when proteftant liberty is in difpute, all profeffed enemies to it are excluded, on their own principles, and can have no claim to come in for fnacks, as this Writer expreffes it, with the clerical petitioners. Accordingly, when he endeavoured to deduce fuch a claim in the public papers, (the letters relating to + Ifa. xxxviii. 17. One of our Author's mottoes. which compofe the greateft part of this publication) the correfpondence he engaged in was juftly declined, as foon as his complexion appeared, and he was left to fay what he pleased, as long as the printer thought his letters worth inferting. From fome indications, this pamphlet appears to come from the fame ftrange pen that engaged against duelling and fuicide in Article 18, of this Month's Catalogue. N. Art. 53. Methodifm a Farce. In a fecond Letter to a Reader in the University of Salamanca. 8vo. s. Meighan. 1774. Another attempt from the above indefatigable hand, to start a Romish controverfy in the daily papers; but his ridiculous letters being all confeffedly rejected by the news-printers, he has had perfeverance enough to publish in fpite of them, though they confift chiefly of expoftulations with the faid printers, for their difregard of him. Indeed his ftyle of writing, apart from the fubject, was fufficient to exclude him; and for this he makes the following apology. In regard to the ftyle, which certain connoiffeurs ftigmatife him for, as being neither profe nor verfe, he, once for all, gives them to understand, that, Plutarch-like, he of things, not words, is ever in purfuit; and that if a vein for numbers has, fince the days of Rofcius, to pieces for the stage no objection been, it fhould not be to his, if now and then perchance indulged.' For the credit of the celebrated order of Jefus, it is to be hoped this emulator of Plutarch and Rofcius was not of that brotherhood. N. SERMONS. I. A Sermon upon the Turf, by a Saint from the Tabernacle : preached at the laft Newmarket Meeting. 8vo. 9 d. Bew. 1774. An excellent difcourfe in the affumed character; though we will not fcrutinize too clofely into the Writer's pretenfions to faintfhip. It is doubtful whether the Tabernacle will own a man, who appears to have too much of the wag in him to rank among the long difmal faces that harangue about Moorfields; though it is probable he is no stranger to a pulpit of fome other clafs: he may therefore at prefent be allowed a place among Poor Robin's finful faints, until he can make out a better title to canonization. The following extra& from this difcourfe will fufficiently inform our Readers of his talents.. 'It may be about three weeks ago that I faw a crowd, and inquiring what was the matter, I found they had made a ring, in which two men ftripped of their very fhirts, were prepared to encounter with fifts. I called out to them to fufpend their quarrel, 'till I had communicated fomething which it nearly concerned them to know; I prevailed, and like a bleffed peacemaker, fo completely foftened them, that they put on their fhirts again, and parted friends. The other inftance is fo extraordinary, and indeed almoft incredible, that if I was not able to produce witneffes of its truth, I fhould be unwilling to mention it. You know there is a diverfion that goes by the name of cocking, in which the company are extremely clamorous, prophanely fwearing and bullying, infomuch that a perfon with moderate lungs could not poffibly be heard. At fuch affembly I was prefent, not prompted by avarice to act the fame butcherly part with |