makes the following obfervation on one of a child of three years old. This skull is remarkable by the fingularity of an arched contour or outline, which extends itself from the cavity of the nofe, to the point of the chin; If this head (hear him, ye that have laid in a large provifion of faith or fancy!) had had time to come to its full growth, the woman (N. B.) to whom it belonged, would have been VERY JUDICIOUS, but fomewhat TALKATIVE-in one word, a BABBLER.'

In the remainder of this fragment the author treats of the difference of skulls, relative to fexes and nations; this is a point afcertained by anatomical obfervations, and we have heard of an ingenious and celebrated anatomift* in Holland, who has a very rich and ghaftly collection of skulls, which he has studied with such affiduity and attention, that when he comes into a mifcellaneous company he can point out, not only the German, the African, the Indian, and the Calmuck, but the Englishman, the Irishman, and the Scotchman, by the external form of their skullbonesThis fragment is accompanied with a variety of figures, exhibiting fhadows (filhouettes) of the bony part of the head, of fkulls turned upfide down (no unusual phenomenon), of fummits of heads and their contours.-Thefe give occafion to many remarks and fpeculations, for which we refer the curious reader to the work itself.

The French call filhouettes, drawings of heads taken from their fhadows, and thefe fhadowy forms are the fubject of our author's eleventh FRAGMENT. Út all portraits (fays our author), these shadows are the most feeble and unfinished, but, at the fame time, the moft exact and faithful, when the light has been placed at a proper distance, and the shadow has been drawn on a smooth furface; then it is the immediate impreffion of Nature, and bears a character of originality, which the ablest artist will never hit off in his beft drawings, and yet it exhibits only a fingle line of the figure it reprefents: we fee in it neither exertion, nor light, nor colour; neither eyes, noftrils, nor cheeks, and only a small part of the lips. It is certain, that the filhouettes, or fhadows, as far as they reprefent nature, reprefent it with that ease, precision, and energy, which cannot be expected from a drawing; but as their reprefentative power is very limited in its extent, according to M. LAVATER'S own confeffion, they cannot express character fully; and therefore we are furprized, and fometimes fmile, to fee our excellent face-reader drawing from these shadows the most subtle lines of human capacity and genius, and the deepeft fecrets of moral character. When M. LAVATER exhorts the portrait or hiftorical painter to begin the study of his art by delineating the fe fhadows of heads from nature, and to copy, compare, and retouch them afterwards, he

* Profeffor CAMPER.

gives him, undoubtedly, very good advice; because, in reality, they are the lines of Nature's pencil, if we may use that expreffion. The characters, the moft diftinctly expreffed by Shadows, are anger, mildness, candour, obftinacy, extreme weakness, deep penetration, and fuperficial thinking. This

we conceive, and we are alfo of our author's opinion, when he fays, that pride and humility are more ftrongly marked in these representations, than vanity. But we do not agree with him when he says, that the fhadows exprefs better fuperiority of genius than great ftupidity. This is contradicted by several figures we have obferved in this work, where the most egregious ftupidity is exhibited in a fingle line drawn from the forehead to the chin, and reprefenting no more than the middle of the face. The eyes, it is true, bear a great part in the expression of ftupidity, but they are not lefs inftrumental in the expreffion of humility, pride, and elevation of mind.

After an ample enumeration of the various perpendicular lines and horizontal fections, that are to guide the phyfiognomift in obferving and measuring fhadows, and remarking, in ge neral, that thefe fhadows exprefs rather the natural difpofitions, than the actual ftate of a character, M. LAVATER proceeds to illuftrate and confirm, by examples, his reflections on this nice subject. He presents to his readers a confiderable number of heads, delineated from shadows, and he explains their contents, and even the fecrets of the hearts which employ them, fometimes happily, often obfcurely to us, but always boldly. In many of his interpretations he has, indeed, acquired confiderable affiftance from a lucky circumftance, even that a number of these heads and hearts were previously known to the public, by their learned labours or virtuous deeds: he, however, gives the phyfical reasons on which his decifions are founded: he also explains heads that were unknown to him; but in these last examples it is not eafy for the public to afcertain either the truth or falfehood of his interpretations; and that so much the lefs, as feveral of these heads are anonymous. It is well known, that when we have heard much faid to the advantage of perfons we have never feen, we have a natural propenfity, as foon as we see them, to feek for all their good qualities in their countenances; and here fancy gives often a great facility to the inveftigation. But it would not be fair to fuppofe that our author has recourse to such fuccours, he who goes with line and compafs, and, we fuppofe, by long observation and experience, has found out the pre-established harmony that reigns between certain forms of bones and mufcles, and certain qualities of the mind. We follow his investigations with pleasure, because they always difcover acuteness, fenfibility, and tafte; but we feel painfully in not being able to follow him with conviction; and

we

we are often in the dark, when he appears, to himself, all radiant with light and evidence. One great man may have a penetrating judgment, but we cannot fee this in the curvature of his forehead; and another may have an exquifite taste, but it is impoffible for us to difcern it in his nofe. Nevertheless, we like much to fee the faces which our ingenious author praises or blames; we feem now and then to catch fome rays of phyfiognonical light, and we are always entertained, and often inftructed, by the acceffory remarks which his interpretations occafion.

ADDITIONS TO THE ACCOUNT OF GLASSE'S GREEK CARACTACUS, in the Monthly Review for Dec. laft, p. 500. In juftice, to ourselves, our Review, and Mr. Glaffe, we make the following corrections, and additions:

Αι δευτέραι γαρ φροντίδες σοφώτεραι.

P. 506. V. 309. To Baguaveoles we ftill object, as it appears unauthorized. With refpect to the dialect, that might, perhaps, be defended by Verfe 1176, in the Trachiniæ of Sophocles: Προς των ΠΝΕΟΝΤΩΝ μηδενος θανείν υπου

if the verse be not as corrupt in the former part, as it feems to be in the latter.

Verfe 454. 800s. Though we fhould prefer ex didou1os, which is more common, Mr. Glaffe's ez eλoles may be admitted. Efchylus, Sept. ad Theb. Verfe 433.

Θες τε γαρ θελοντος εκπερσειν πολιν,

Και μη θέλοντος φησιν.

And again, Verfe 568.

Θεων θελόντων δ' αν αληθευσαιμ' εγώ.

Yet we feel inclined to prefer didores, because it occurs fo frequently. To the authorities already cited may be added that of Euripides, Rhefus. V. 103.

Θεα δίδοντες, πολεμίες ανευ μαχης

Φεύγειν εασαι, κ. τ. λ.

If in any circumftance refpecting the afcent of the Marquis d'Arlandes, and M. Pilatre de Rozier, in the Aeroltatic Machine (as mentioned in P. 556) our information appears imperfect, we thall be happy to receive more accurate intelligence, either from thofe brave and fpirited adventurers, or from any of their friends. Whatever communication they may pleafe to fend us, we shall infert in the Re view as early as poffible. In the mean while, we thought it incumbent on us to fuggeft to our Readers, that every part of our account of that curious difcovery, was taken from the work of M. Faujas, and from other authentic publications; except what relates to the experi ment of La Muette; and that account came to us through a channel, which, though private, we have yet no reafon to mistrust.

APP. Rev. Vol. LXIX.

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TO THE

MONTHLY CATALOGUE for December 1783.

BRITISH PUBLICATION S.

MISCELLANEO U S.

Art. 15. The Hiftory and Antiquities of Gloucester, including the Civil and Military Affairs of that ancient City; with a particular Account of St. Peter's Abbey, and other Religious Houfes, of the - Bishopric, Bishops and Dignitaries of the Cathedral-church, and all other public Establishments, from the earliest Period to the prefent Time. 8vo. 6 s. Cirencester printed, and fold by Crowder in London.

TH

HIS is part of a much larger work, entitled, The New Hiftory of Gloucestershire; for an account of which we refer our readers to the Review for July 1780, p. 10. It is felected from that performance, on the fuppofition that fome perfons, who did not chufe the expence of that large folio, might be defirous of purchasing a separate history of the city of Gloucefter. This volume may then be confidered as included in what has been already said of the former performance. We fhall therefore difmifs it with only adding an extract from the preface, in which the Editor, after having mentioned fome beneficial alterations, which have been made in this city, adds as follows: There is, however, one great obftacle to improvement ftill remaining, which affects almost every confiderable place in the kingdom, as well as Gloucester and indeed it is wonderful it fhould have escaped the attention of those who were the chief promoters of the law before mentioned (an act paffed for the improvement of the city, in the year 1781), or that it fhould be fo indifferent to them, as to prevent their endeavours to remove it, with other nuifances and public inConveniences. And now, who does not fee that a mortmain tenure is the obstacle alluded to; and that houses held in trust for charities, and by religious foundations, are infuperable bars to improvement. It would therefore become the wifdom of the legislature to authorize the taking of lands by mortmain proprietaries, in exchange for all houfes and buildings they may be poffeffed of in towns and cities, which houfes nobody will rebuild, becaufe a permanent intereft, equal to the expence of doing it cannot be obtained; fo to the difgrace of the towns they fland in, they generally remain in the unimproved ftate in which they were originally bequeathed, perhaps a century or two ago, by the benevolent but mistaken donors.' Art. 16. A Defcription of the Island of Madeira; with an Account of the Manners and Cultoms of its Inhabitants. 1s. Kearfley. 1783.

12mo.

Though this little piece is anonymous, it reads, as we fay, like an authentic performance; but it is a very flight one. We have, however, been agreeably amufed, with a defcription which would almoll tempt us to emigrate, in order to live on fo pleasant, romantic, and fertile a spot.

Art. 17. The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, containing the ancient and prefent State of it, Civil and Ecclefiaftical; collected from Public Records, and other the best Authorities, both Manufcript and printed and illuftrated with Maps and Views of Antiquities, Seats of the Nobility and Gentry, &c. by Edward Hafted of Canterbury, Efq; F. R. S. and S. A. Vol. II. Folio. 21. 12 s. 6 d. Canterbury printed; fold in London, by White, Baldwin, &c. 1783.

:

In a former review we gave an account of the first volume of this laborious undertaking. The fecond now makes its appearance, after employing the author, very conftantly, for about three years. It contains the defcription of one hundred and three parishes; maps of the several hundreds; plates of views, and of the feats of noblemen and gentlemen; and antiquities; with a large map of the county of KENT.

The volume is likewife enriched with full and ufeful indexes. An alphabetical lift of the feveral parishes; an index of places; another of perfons; and a fourth of heraldry, which exhibits a catalogue of the families and perfons, whofe coats of arms are described in this volume.

The author has now added to his former lift, the hundreds of Larkfield; Chatham and Gillingham; Maidstone; Wrotham and Littlefield; Twyford; Watchlingstone;. Brenchley and Hormonden; Weft Barnfield; Eyhorne; Milton and Tenham; and the hundred of Faver fham.

The author's labours are not yet completed. A third volume was announced for the prefs in October. We with Mr. Hafted the fuccefs, which fuch "toil and trouble" merit; and we hope, that the number and liberality of his fubfcribers will amply reward him, and not merely defray the expence of publication.

Art. 18. A Differtation on the pernicious Effects of Gaming; pub lished by appointment, as having gained a Prize (June 1783) in the University of Cambridge. By Richard Hey, LL. D. Fellow of Magdalen College (late Fellow of Sidney Suffex College) Cambridge, and Barrister at Law of the Middle Temple. Cambridge, Merrill. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Cadell. 1783.

This Effay (as might be expected from the occafion) appears to have exhausted every topic, both of reafoning and declamation, belonging to the fubject. The reafoning is ftrong; the declamation is eloquent. But the gamefter is too deeply engaged to liften to either. If, however, a fingle youth, yet unfeduced into this fashionable folly, fhould read and take warning, the author will reap a better recompenfe for his labour and ingenuity, than the praise of critics, or an honorary premium from the university.

Art. 19. The Hypercritic. 8vo. 1 S. White, &c. 1783. "The Chellea penfioner, who's rich in fcars,

"Fights o'er in prattle all his former wars!"

Very true, but these are the fcars received in the field of honour; but what are we to fay to the Hero, who recounts all the kickings and bruizes which he has himself provoked, and to which he has,

*See Review, Vol. LIX. p. 413. Dec. 1778.

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for