native Americans are not perfons to vifit for mere amufement. The Travels of the Duke de Châtelet take us back to the view of Portugal as it was near forty years ago; but the account appears to have been correct when it was given; and for the changes which time and political occurrences have introduced, we must make proportionable al lowance. Among flighter sketches of this nature, Lieut. Steele's Tour in the Atlantic †, and Miss Spencer's Summer Excurfions, in our own country, may admit of a curfory notice; if they do not ma terially inftruct, they may at leaft agreeably amufe, which, if done in a rational manner, is worthy of fome commendation, PHILOSOPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY. The Afiatic Refearches § lead us by an eafy tranfition from the former clafs to this; being often oc cupied in the defcription of new regions, and the objects which they offer to view. Their contents indeed are fo extremely various, that they may better connect different divifions than be affigned to any one. We have now concluded our account of the eighth volume. Mr. de Luc's elementary work on Geology, is an excellent introduction to that now important fcience, and we rejoice to fee the labours of an early coadjutor fo long continued with fuccefs. Religion herfelf is fupported by the refearches of Mr. de Luc. Mr. Dalton's Volume on Chemistry**, is the beginning of a fyftematic treatife, to be completed when the author may find leifure. It certainly promises well, fo far as he has yet proceeded, and we shall be glad to fee the remainder of the work, By the efforts of various naturalifts, British Zoology is likely to receive a complete investigation. To the number of labourers in this department, Mr. Bingley is now added; and by the plan which he has formed for his Memoirs of British Quadrupeds, is enabled to add fyftematic method to popular ilJuftration, without confufing the one or obfcuring the other. The Elements of the Linnæan Botany, as lately given in two small volumes, with plates †, are a model of elegance in an introductory work. Very feldom have etchings of fuch freedom and fpirit been employed to initiate young ftudents; and the defcriptive parts are no lefs remarkable for judicious felection. MEDICINE. Though Medicine has been, for fo many ages, the ftudy of the most enlightened men, yet improveinents are always wanting, and will probably be wanting to the end of the world. Much gratitude is therefore due to thofe who ftrike out a novel remedy, which is not only fupported by reason, but confirmed by fuccefsful practice. Such appear to be the circumftances under which Mr. Watt, a furgeon of Glasgow, has published his Cafes of Diabetes, &c. We have paid to his publication that attention which it seemed to demand, and we recommend it to the confideration of medical practitioners in general. The arduous fubject of Infanity has been confiderably illuftrated by the tract of Mr. Haflam §. who however fhines much more as a medical attendant, than in the character hè occafionally affumes, of a metaphyfical philofopher. The plan of intro No. V. p. 444. ‡ Nó. IT. p. 124, + No. V. P. 522. ducing Opium into the human frame, by means of friction, has been fuccefsfully pursued by Mr. Ward*, of Manchester; and it is not improbable, that in time, the fame mode of application will be found practicable with many other drugs. The doctrine of Mufcular Motions has been ably illuftrated by Dr. Barclay, of Edinburgh †, the harfhnefs of whofe nomenclature, though it may alarm the young ftudent, will not prevent the zealous phyfician from confidering his important opinions. To comprefs into a neat and convenient form the general maxims of diagnofis and practice is alfo an arduous tafk, though of humbler eftimation than thofe of invention and difcovery. Dr. Hooper, however, has not difdained the employment, and his Phyfician's Vade Mecum ‡ proves, that he was qualified to fucceed in it. LAW. The Treatife on Tithes, which Mr. Toller has founded on the refearches of Dr. Woodefon §, is fuch a work as must be acceptable, not only to profeffional men, but to all who have tithes either to pay or to receive. The clearness of its method and the foundnefs of its authorities give it every title to attention. The privileges of the House of Commons having been ftrangely difputed by thofe, whose safety depends upon their continuance, Mr. C. W. Wynn, in a tract of much research, and by arguments no lefs found than learned, has defended the caufe of the people against themselves; and shown, that the right affumed is connected with the vital principles of the Conftitution. The fame doctrine is held by another writer, Mr. Fleckie ¶, and the cafe is in fact fo clear, No. V. p. 524. 416... + No. VI. p. 635. that that nothing but a temporary delufion could throw a fhade upon it. If the people could any where be made wife enough to know, that their occasional errors muft, for their own fakes, be oppofed, it would be in England; but while they who have better knowledge, find or fancy an interest in deluding them, that period is but little likely to arrive. POLITICS. The fame topic might very powerfully be illuftrated by the confideration of Mr. Stephen's able fpeech on the American Overtures*. That honourable Member there demonftrates, that the measure which was then moved to be refcinded, and to render which unpopular incredible pains had been taken, not wholly without fuccefs, was the very ftep which had actually recovered our trade; and withour which, or fomething equivalent, it could not have been reftored. Such is the patriotifm of invariable oppofition to Government! The policy of the American Cabinet (if the expreffion may be used) was further developed by the pen of a Bostonian †, who fhows us plainly what we have to expect from the difpofition of Mr. Madifon. But to the pen of another American, a Mr. Walsh, well known to many leading perfons in this country, we are indebted for the moft luminous view of the prefent ftate of France, that deep political knowledge, and accu rate perfonal enquiry could produce. Qualified as this writer evidently is to pronounce with decifion on fuch fubjects, we rejoice in the encomiums which he has voluntarily bestowed upon England; and look forward with earneft anticipation to a more finished political work, which he promises in the prefent. A * No. III. p. 262. + No. IV. p. 410. No. V. p. 433. His name has fince been made known. kind of abstract of this Letter was very judiciously published, foon after the original appeared, under the title of England and France*. A few of the fame truths were explained by our countryman Mr. Sturt, lately escaped from the tyranny of Verdun; but his tract, though ufeful in its way, does not, in all re fpects, carry with it an equal authority. The Principles and Conduct of the War, were ably elucidated by an anonymous writer, whom we noticed early in the prefent volume; and our domeftic diffentions were.endeavoured to be counteracted by another writer, affuming the title of Plain Senfe §. The Speech and Letter of Lord Melville, on important topics of arrangement, particularly relating to naval affairs, could not fail to deferve attention, and were juftly recommended to the notice of our readers. Other political tracts, though mentioned with fome approbation, do not appear fufficiently important to be again brought forward. They must be fought for in our Monthly Catalogues. POETRY. Efcaping from Politics to Poetry is like going from the Furies to the Graces, a very happy delivery! Here we have only to choose among various Sweets; a feparate compofition, or a volume collected. In the former divifion we notice the Plants, by Mr. Tighe, an ingenious poem, of which the two firft Cantos give a pleasing hope of thofe which are to follow. But Mr. Croker's Lyrical Poem, on the Battles of Talavera **,.deferves a more particular diftinction. Seldom, in this day, do we see fuch |