fpecific gravity and compofition of the feveral kinds of water at Bath; and concludes the whole with the following deductions from the experiments he has made.

1. The water with which this place is generally fupplied, which is brought from fprings in the neighbourhood, is of a middle kind, containing more foreign matter than the best river or fpring waters; but confiderably lefs than the generality of pump waters, and particularly than that of London.

II. The comparative goodness of the waters is not easy to afcertain, the experiments varying as to this point, and the dif ference being very small. To me they feem to ftand in the following order:

• Water of the Circus refervoir-beft.

From the city refervoir and Beacon Hill-nearly alike.

From Beechen Cliff-very little worfe than the two foregoing.

III. Selenites, and common falt, appeared to be the principal impregnations of the faline kind. The proportions in which thefe differed in the feveral fprings, with refpect to one another, are too minute to be of confequence, and at the fame time difficult to be afcertained with exactnefs. Befides thefe, an oily matter, probably of the nature of foffil oil, is present in all thefe waters, which is moft confpicuous in the Beechen Cliff water and that of the city refervoir. Fixible air is undoubtedly contained in all the waters, and in nearly the fame proportion in all, which does not feem to differ much from the proportion ufually found in fpring waters.

IV. No fulphureous impregnation is contained in any of the waters, nor any difference of temperature from fpring water in general, even in fome pump waters that rife in the city, and very near the hot springs.

V. No lead, or other ingredient particularly injurious to health, appears to be contained in any of the waters.

VI. The pump water, or that which is drawn up by pumps from wells in the city, is much more impure than the spring water which comes from the furrounding hills, and not fo agreeable to the tafte, as it contains a portion of the bitter purg ing falt.

VII. The river water, from its flow course, and being frequently muddied, is not in general fo pure, and fit for internal ufe, as the fpring waters.

• VIII. We have reason to think, that the health of those who ir habit or refort to this place will be likely to be improved, from what it was formerly, by the introduction of better water for use in diet.

Dr. Falconer modeftly obferves, that he cannot fay the experiments afford conclufions fo explicit as he could wish; but he hopes he has not been mifled in those which he has drawn,

and

and he is confcious of having related them with fidelity, and all the accuracy in his power. We have already had fufficient evidence that he poffeffes thefe qualifications, fo effentially re-> quifite in every writer who engages in the province of experiment, and are glad to find that he continues to exercise them on fubje&s of public utility.

XI. Huberti Langueti, Galli, Epiftola ad Philippium Sydneium, Equitem Anglum. Accurante D. Dalrymple, de Hailes, Eq.. Svo. 6s. in boards. Murray.

HUbertus Languetus was confeffedly one of the most learned

men of the age in which he lived; nor is he lefs celebrated by his contemporaries for probity, extenfive knowledge of the world, and an amiable fimplicity of manners. He was by birth a Frenchman; but leaving his native country at an early period, he vifited almost all the parts of Europe, where he was univerfally careffed, and formed intimate friendships with the most eminent perfons of the time. The latter part of his life was spent in Germany, in which country he died, we believe, in the year 1581, at an advanced age.

The correspondence of Languetus with fir Philip Sydney, commences in 1573, and continues to the year 1580, a little before his death. How closely it was maintained during that interval, especially on the part of Languetus, is evident from the number of letters in this collection, which amounts to ninety-feven; all which, except one or two, are written to fir Philip. The character of these letters was known to the public even in the life time of the author, and they feem to have been held in great efteem for the purity of language with which they are written, and the excellent precepts they inculcate. As a fpecimen of the compofition, we thall prefent our readers with part of a letter dated from Cologne, Q&. 22, 1578, in which the author warmly diffuades fir Philip Sydney from entering on a life of retirement, of which he had fignified an intention.

Eft mihi maxime ingratum, quod (ut fcribis) capiat te tædium ejus vitæ, ad quam non dubito quin à Deo fis vocatus, et cupias fugere aulæ veftræ lucem, et te in loca ab hominum frequentia remota recipere, ut fugias illas negotiorum procellas, quibus plerumque ita jactantur ii qui in republica verfantur, ut fæpenumero oblivifcantur fe eâ conditione natos effe, ut fibi fit moriendum, nec quicquam minus cogitant, quam quid de ipfis poft hanc vitam fit futurum. Fateor fane in fplendidis aulis effe tot vitiorum illecebras, ut fe purum ab iis confervare, et in loca tam lubrico veftigia figere, fit valde difficile; fed eft nitendum virtute et animi magnitudine adverfus eas difficultates, in

X 4

qui.

quibus fuperandis, quo plus erit laboris, eo major erit gloria quæ ex ea victoria reportabitur. Natura te maximis animi et corporis dotibus ornavit; fortuna vero nobilitate et opibus, ac fplendidis neceffitudinibus; tu autem à prima pueritia animum magne ftudio excoluifli iis artibus quæ contendentibus ad virtutem magno adjumento effe folent. Tunc igitur, tot adminiculis inftructus adverfus fortunæ et invidiæ tela, tuam induftriam denegabis patriæ eam expofcenti? et eximium illud talentum à Deo tibi concreditum defodies? In republica, ficut in corpore humano, oportet quodlibet membrum fuo munere fungi; quod fi non fiat, illa membrorum harmonia turbatur, et corpus ex ea re incommodum fentit, quod eo majus fentit quo nobilius eft membrum illud quod officium fuum facere defiit. Homines tenuioris fortunæ præftant operas reipublicæ quando id requirit neceffitas. Qui funt re magis lautâ, conferunt pecuniam ad ejus ufus nobilitas vero adhibetur ad dignitates et magiftratus, et præcipuæ funt ejus partes in propellendis hoftibus qui aliquid in republicæ perniciem moliuntur, turpeque eft ipfis periculi metu non facere ea quæ funt fui officii. Id autem præmium laborum et periculorum quæ fuftinet, confequitur, ut à reliquis ordinibus colatur, et in honore habeatur, et fit immunis à multis oneribus quibus alii ordines funt obnoxii. Quod fi refugiat labores et pericula quæ pro republica fubire tenetur, et nihilominus velit frui iis immunitatibus quæ funt iftorum laborum et periculorum præmia, inique certe facere videbitur. Depone igitur iftam animi remiffionem, et patriæ tuam operam et induftriam requirenti ne denega; nec, ut ait poeta, "Invidiam placare pares virtute relictâ," fed eam fortiter defpice, et fac quæ reipublicæ falutaria effe judicabis.'

In a letter in the year 1575, Languetus, with his ufual folicitude for the intereft and welfare of his correfpondent, recommends to him to cultivate an intimacy with Cecil and Walfingham. The method which he advifes as the most promifing for gaining the good graces of the former of those minifters, deferves to be remarked. He fays there is no way of fucceeding fo well as by loving his (Cecil's) children, or af fecting to love them. But he enjoins him to beware left his fimulation fhould be difcovered by a perfon of so much fagacity.

Ubi in Angliam veneris, vide ut colas Cecilium, qui eft tui amans, et tibi reddet omnia faciliora. Nullâ autem re ejus benevolentiam magis demereri poteris, quam fi ejus liberos ames, aut faltem fimules te amare. Verum memineris fenem aftutum, et longo rerum ufu edoctum, facile deprehendere adolefcentum fimulationes.'

Thefe letters in general contain the warm effufions of friendfhip, united with fage admonitions, and juft obfervations on the world; and are alfo interfperfed, not only with anecdotes

of.

of private perfons, but with many particulars relative to the history of those times.

The editor of this epiftolary collection is Sir David Dalrymple, one of the Lords of Seffion in Scotland, who dedicates it to the lord chief baron Smythe, a defcendant of the family. of Sydney.

XII. Liber Singularis de Byfo Antiquorum, quo, ex Egyptia Lingua, Res veftiara Antiquorum, imprimis in S. Codice Hebræorum occurrens, explicatur: addita ad Calcem Mantiffe Egyptiaca V. Omnia Cura et Studio Joannis Reinoldi Forster, LL. D. &c. 8vo. 2s. 6d. White.

THERE is no occafion, on which writers differ more in their opinions, than they do concerning the explanation of those terms, which denote trees, plants, fruits, and other natural productions, among the ancients. The Byffus has given occafion to many enquiries; and fome think it is utterly unknown at this day. The author of this tract says: Byffus antiquorum è duabus plantis, bombace & goffypio, &c. He inveftigates the subject with great industry and learning; and, as a confirmation of his opinion, informs us, that he has examined the wrappers of feveral Egyptian mummies, and found them to be cotton.

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The Appendix contains an explication of fome terms in the Old Teftament, which our author derives from the Egyptian language. 1. Zaphath-Paaneah. Gen. xli. 45. (The name, which Pharaoh gave to Jofeph) denotes, he says, scriba divinus fpiritus æterni.' 2. Abrech, Gen. xli. 43. rendered by our tranflators, "bow the knee," fignifies à rege cinctus, vel veftitus. i. e. En hominem regiis veftibus cinctum.' 3. thebe, Exod. ii. 3. 5. tranflated ark, implies, navis è ramis palmæ facta. 4. Cherub, imports fpiritus tonitru.' Laftly,' à difquifition concerning the topaz of the ancients.

6

This is an elaborate performance, containing many critical. difquifitions concerning various articles of clothing among the ancients.

XIII. Subfcription; or, Hiftorical Extracts. Humbly infcribed to the right reverend the Bishops: and, to the Petitioners; fhewing the Impropriety of their Petition. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Hay.

THE 'HE author of this publication ironically obferves, that the late application to parliament for abolishing fubfcriptions is improper; as it has occafioned a number of writers and preachers,

preachers, who think themfelves orthodox, to advance a great deal of blafphemy and nonfenfe, in oppofition to the petitioners; and alto, because the petition is not likely to be attended with fuccefs.

He proceeds to lay before the reader a feries of historical facts, with obfervations on the origin, and the progress of subfcription.

He commences thefe difquifitions with the following reprefentation of pure, unadulterated Chriftianity, and the origin of human impofitions:

In the Mofaic difpenfation, the perfections, and abfolute unity of God, the importance of moral righteoufness, and of faith in a future Redeemer are express articles. The circumftances also of the life, the office, the death, and merits of this. Redeemer are predicted by the prophets, and typified by several ritual inftitutions, Thefe things threw a fort of veil over fome parts of the Jewish difpenfation: but when Chrift came, he took this veil away. He himself was the great anti-type; was the very perfon to whom thefe prophecies, and ritual obferv. ançes pointed, and in whom they were all fulfilled. There was no farther ufe for mystery; which was therefore now laid afide; for in Chrift, all is, properly fpeaking, revelation. He taught clearly, though not fyftematically, all that is neceffary for man's falvation. And whoever fhall examine his doctrines without prejudice, will find that the capital articles of his religion are thefe: the fupremacy, perfections, and abfolute unity of God: the neceffity of moral purity, or of repentance for every confcious deviation from it: the forgivene's of fins, and moral ref titution as the effect of fincere repentance: the belief and acknowledgement that Chrift was the Redeemer promifed by God, and predicted by the prophets that he fuffered actual death, was again raised to life: that all fufficient power was then given. him to raife us at God's appointed time, from the state of actual. death to a future life of immortality. At which period, there will be a doom of equitable retribution to every one according to the deeds done in the body. Thefe, as I apprehend, are the capital articles of the religion taught by Jefus Chrift: in which there is no difficulty; nothing unworthy the affent of a rational man; which call for no depth of human learning, nor any uncommon reach of human genius to comprehend them. But this very circumstance, its fimplicity, which was the higheft. recommendation, and deserved alfo the highest regard, made it a tumbling block, and rock of offence, and funk it into contempt.

The firft learned teachers of Christianity, whofe previous education had been formed in the fchools of human wisdom, were too much influenced by the fublime and bafelefs vifions of pagan philofophy, pagan theology, and pagan metaphyfics; more particularly the theology and metaphyfics of Plato. From