tion and deep refearch: indeed the author almoft perfuades us that he has arrived at the boundaries of inveftigation, and exbaufted all the fountains of knowledge. Thus, after touching on the difficulty of explaining the manner in which impreffions reach the fenforium, he remarks,

"Even the voluntary functions themfelves, the very functions that feem to depend on our own choice, that feem to follow as the confequences of our own previous intentions; even these very functions are in many refpects fully as inexplicable as the involun tary; the functions over which we have no controul, and concerning a great many of which we have not even the leaft information by feeling, by confcioufnefs, or the proceffes of reafoning. A man cannot move his tongue, or his finger; he cannot fo much as even make a fign that he really has within him a few inconfiderable particles of knowledge, without employing at that very moment a variety of means of which he is grofsly and deplorably ignorant, and muft ever be ignorant to the laft pulfation that vibrates in his heart." P. 269.

The most original portion of the volume is the third part, which treats of the action of mufcles, and contains their different arrange. ments according to the motions in which they co-operate. The author begins by confidering the motions of the head, and proceeds in regular order to thofe of the neck, trunk, and extremities. The arrangement is judicious, and furgeons and anatomifts will derive much inftruction, from this part of the work, at least, from that portion of it which they can understand. That this is not a groundlefs infinuation, we fubmit the following fpecimen to our readers. The author, after defcribing four pair of muscles which affect the articulation between the occipital bone and the atlas only, obferves, "As each of thefe pairs has one of their halves fituated dextrad, and the other finiftrad, of the mefial plane, in exerting a force that is fternad or dorfad, they must at the fame time exert a force that is dextrad or finiftrad. In conceiving, therefore, how the head is inclined fimply fternad, fimply dorfad, dextrad, or finiftrad, we cannot help feeing that it must move in the diagonals of forces that are fternal, of forces that are dorsal, dextral, or finiftral; that the lateral forces, dextral and finiftral, muft act as directors to the fternal and dorfal; the fternal and dorfal, again, as directors to the dextral and finiftral; that the motor forces must be moderated by thofe of the oppofite afpect, and the facral forces, at the centre of motion, be refifted by the fulcrum: in all cafes, the dorfal mufcles, dextrad and finiftrad, being the motors in inflections dorfad; the fternal mufcles, dextrad and finiftrad, the motor mufcles in inflections fternad; and the lateral mufcles, dorfad and finiftrad, neceffarily co-operating in inflections latered." P. 313.

In taking leave of this work, we have no hesitation in declaring, that it is a valuable addition to phyfiological fcience: at the

Afame

fame time, we fear, that it is too abftrufe for the generality of ftudents, while thofe who are capable of comprehending it will hardly find leifure for the acquifition of knowledge which is rather curious than useful.

POLITICS.

ART. 19. The British Expofé; or Comparative Views of the Political State of Great Britain and the European Continent, A. D. 1810. By Menaceus. 8vo. 31 pp. 25. Chapple,

1810.

An expofition of the comparative ftate of Great Britain and the Continent is undoubtedly (as this Author obferves) the best antidote to that poifon which it is ftill the object of fome perfons to infufe into the minds of our countrymen; and forms the moft complete detection of thofe artifices by which they would reconcile as to a yoke the moft opprefive, perhaps, that ever yet was endured by civilized nations.

The very nature of fuch a government as that of France, the character of him who wields it, and thofe notorious acts, which it is impoffible to deny and shamelefs to palliate, we fhould have fuppofed, would have deprived our enemy of all apologists or abettors in this free and happy country. But (ftrange to relate!) there are ftill found thofe who are dazzled by his fucceffes and blinded to the confequences refulting from them, who cherish thofe principles of anarchy which have paved the way to his military defpotifm. Against fuch evil defigns, or fuch deplorable infatuation, it is neceffary to guard our countrymen by frequent warnings. We therefore fincerely applaud the inten tions of this Writer; intentions which are executed with con. fiderable energy and effect. It is juftly remarked by him, that in the early stages of their Revolution, the tribe of French fophifts prepared the way for their armies, in countries which might have proved invulnerable by the ordinary modes of warfare. That fuch is the fyftem purfued by the prefent revolutionary Chief, no one can doubt who perufes the journals and other publications on the Continent, now univerfally fubjected to his controul or influence. His means indeed are fomewhat varied, but the ob. ject and end is the fame, namely, to palliate or difguife his own tyranny, and render all the former established governments odious and contemptible to the people. The pains taken to drown the cries of the injured and oppreffed in the notes of military preparation, the fyftem of espionage by which the freedom of fpeech, and almost of thought, is fuppreffed, and all confidence and friendship annihilated, are ftrikingly contrafted by this Author with the real freedom and happinefs of Britain.

"I never hear," fays he, "a man with a fmile on his coun

tenance,

tenance, extol the talents, enumerate the fucceffès, of praife the government of Bonaparte, without confidering him, if à British fubject, as an enemy to his country; and if a foreigner, an enemy to the happiness and profperity of Britain, and unworthy of its protection. Thofe who once fupported the prin ciples and doctrines of Paine, are ftill the fame beings, with this difference only: formerly, they publicly declared that ail govern ments were oppreffive, and contrary to the rights of man; now, they privately diffeminate that Britons have nothing worth fighting for; that the Napoleon Code of laws, and the Imperial Government of France are monuments of the moft ftupendous human wifdom; and that the people are much happier under fuch government than thofe who enjoy the bleffings of the ad. mirable and enviable British conftitation. Such Perfons are more numerous than is generally fuppofed; and they are the more dangerous, because they act in the dark. It is therefore the duty of the real patriot to endeavour to counteract fuch infernal machi nations, and to convince deluded people of their errors, by divesting fome of the actors in the political drama, which has been performing in Europe ever fince the year 1789, of their tinfel decorations, and expofing them in that ftate which Nature intended, when the ushered them into the world." P. 7.

The Author proceeds to notice, with fome feverity, the clamours of the difaffected in this country, and especially their mifreprefentation of facts and perverfion of language. Of the latter he gives a very appofite inftance in their abuse of the term emancipation, applying it to the claim of the Roman Catholics, who have long been in the full enjoyment of freedom, but are not to be fatisfied without power and commanding influence. In the course of these remarks he takes occafion to cenfure the conduct of the late Administration, and efpecially their treatment of their Sovereign, (a topic which has already been fufficiently dif cuffed,) and he contrafts the miferies of the continent with the enviable fituation of this country.

On the whole we can recommend this little work to thofe who may not have leifure for the perufal of more laboured publications, as equally juft in its arguments and public spirited in its motives.

ART. 20. A Letter to Samuel Whitbread, Efq. M. P. upon the Military Conduct of Lord Wellington. With fome Remarks upon the Marquis Wellesley's Government in India, and the Fatal Effects of Party Spirit. By Britannicus. 8vo. 101 pp. 45. Chapple.

1810.

The object of this Letter is to prove (fo far as the fubje& admits of proof) the military fkill and confummate ability dif played by Lord Wellington in his various campaigns, and pace ticularly in the laft, which has been to much criticized by a party

at home. It is impoffible, within our limits, to follow the Wri ter through his very detailed and (in our opinion) convincing ftatements, or to do juftice to the arguments by which he vindi. cates the fame of this diftinguished General; and it appears the lefs neceffary, becaufe, with the exception of a few democratic Orators, and fome prejudiced retainers of Party, we believe the talents and fervices of this Commander are generally acknowledg ed and admired by his countrymen. On almoft the only quef tionable measure, (that of advancing fo far into Spain) the Author has done much towards repelling the charge of rafhnefs and inconfideration, fo induftrioufly thrown on that brave Officer whom he defends. In order to prove the military talents of Lord Wellington this writer follows him through his campaigns in India, apparently with confiderable local knowledge and intelligence: he then defcribes the campaign in Portugal, which terminated by the battle of Vimiera, declaring that had his propofal of following up that victory been acceded to, the capture or deftruction of Junot's army would have been the certain confequence, and the Convention of Cintra would never have taken place. In the late campaign, the paffage of the Douro is defcribed as having evinced great talents in the Commander; by whom Marshal Soult (one of the ableft of the French Generals) is faid to have been completely furprised. But the Author employs his chief attention in explaining and vindicating the motives which induced Lord Wellington to advance against the French armies in Spain. That measure, he itates was undertaken at the earnest defire of the fupreme Junta; it promised the most complete fuccefs against the corps of Victor; the defeat of which would probably have decided the fate of the campaign; fince the French armies would then have been engaged feparately, and beaten in detail. This fplendid fuccefs was prevented by the obftinate folly, or the treachery of the Spanish General; who might also have rendered the victory of Talavera, complete by the almost entire deftruction of the French army en gaged. The Writer alfo accounts for the untoward circumstances, which occafioned the fubfequent retreat of the British army; a retreat which he defcribes as the most judicious and masterly; by which our General was still enabled to affect a confiderable diver. fion of the enemy's force in Spain, and to protect the kingdom of Portugal. In the courfe of this defence he animadverts with just feverity on the harangues of the City Orator, Waithman; who, without the least acquaintance with the art of war, or (probably) any local knowledge of the fcene of action, and certainly without a knowledge of all the circumftances which occurred, took upon hinfelf to depreciate the talents and condemn the meafures of an experienced and diftinguifhed General. Nor is he lefs fevere on the Writers in the Edinburgh Review, who flippantly and most uncandidly reprefented Lord Wellington as having marched into Spain for no object but "to see the country and get near the "French;"

French;" as if the junction with the principal Spanish force, the deftruction of Victor's army (of which there was fo fair a profpect) and the diverfion of fo large a French force from the South of Spain, were no objects; as if the earnest request of the Spanish govern ment did not merit attention.

Lastly, the Author adverts to and repels fome of the calumnies thrown out against the Marquis Wellesley for his conduct in India. On the whole he appears a well-informed and candid Writer; and his ftatements (which we believe to be accurate) fhould make the afperfers of one of our ablest Generals blush for their ill-founded cenfures.

ART. 21. Short Remarks on the State of Parties at the Close of the Year 1809. 8vo. 30 PP. Is. Hatchard. 1810.

The object of this little tract is to convince those who with well in general to the prefent adminiftration, or (at least) who do not wish to be governed by the party now in oppofition, that by joining in the cenfure of fome particular measures, fuch as the Walcheren Expedition, or objecting to the feceffion of fome late Members, (for inftance of Mr. Canning) they are; uninten tionally indeed, but effectually, playing the game of their adver faries; of thofe whofe return to power they still fincerely deprecate. There is much of truth in this observation; and probably that confideration had its weight in the deliberations of Parliament, the refult of which has fuftained the prefent Minifters in powers The Author alfo juftly diftinguishes the parties that compofe the prefent, and indeed moft former Oppofitions, confifting of the partizans of certain leaders, who only wish for a change of Minifters, and the Reformers or Revolutionifts; the object, or at least the tendency, of whofe measures is the overthrow of all government. This fhould, in our opinion, be feriously confidered by all the refpectable part of the oppofition; fince; by lending theinfelves to the views of the popular Demagogues, and combining with them to inflame the minds of the people, they may produce a crifis which might end in the deftruction not only of their adverfaries, but of all their own hopes, and ultimately of the conftitution itself.

ART. 22. A Letter to the Right Honourable Spencer Perċevál, Firft Lord of the Treasury, &c. &c. &c. upon his reported Cor refpondence with Lord Viscount Melville, in Reference to the Re turn of that noble Lord to Power. By A Country Gentleman. 8va 43 PP. 2s. 6d. Chapple. 1810.

The cenfure which this Letter endeavours to fix on the prefent Minifter for his fuppofed correfpondence with Lord Viscount Melville, refts wholly on the accuracy of all the circumstances,

Tt

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXXV. JUNE, 1810.