moft original writer. Of a very different clafs was the Italian dramatist Alfieri, but his Memoirs written by himself have at leaft a lively amufement to offer, and abound with fingular anecdote. The life of Apollonius, as written by Philoftratus †, has little reference to genuine biography; but, as an ancient work, it demands fome degree of attention, and gives fcope to learned illuftration. Prince's Wor thies of Devon, long a scarce. book, is now reprinted for the advantage of the curious. They to whom books are valuable, only in proportion as they are scarce, will hardly thank the Editors for their trouble. The Life of Dryden, by Walter Scott, will be mentioned when we fpeak of the edition to which it is annexed §. TOPOGRAPHY. Topography, to be feen in perfection, should unite the talents of the biographer, the antiquary, and the tourift; and when all have taken their turn, an inftructive and pleafing work is produced. Ia Mr. Illingworth's account of Scampton, in Lincolnhire, the antiquary a little prevails; but the work is fuch as liberal readers of every class must infallibly approve. We have concluded in this volume our accounts of Mr. Polwbele's voluminous works on Devon/pire and Cornwall **; and we can fairly say of them, that, in point of diligent refearch, and elegant illuftration, they have feldom been furpaffed. Mr. Meyrick has rendered to the County of Cardigan tt a fimilar fervice; and his volume will doubtlefs be commended by thofe who delight in No. I. p. 88. p. 63o. + No. VI. p. 569. See below, p. xvii. No. I. p. 23. No. VI. No. III. p. 306. See vol. xxxiii. No. JV. p. 369. copious copious information. Chelsea has at length found its hiftorian, and Mr. Faulkner has shown, that even thofe things which are clofe at our doors, require fome antiquary to investigate, and fome hiftorian to record them. Lockie's Topography of London † is a work of mere reference, without defcription, and not pro feffing particular research; but it is a guide to ftrangers, of the completeft kind, referring to the name of every place in London in alphabetical order. Mr. Bigland defcribes the World at large, and though the extent of his fubject gives more pro→ perly another name to his labours, yet, as he ftands alone in our prefent volume, we venture to introduce him here. VOYAGES AND TRAVELS, As our countrymen are at prefent either excluded from France, or fhut up in it, we must rely chiefly upon foreigners for reports of its actual, ftate. In this point of view, we are obliged to Col. Pinkney, an American, for the account of a tour made by him in 1807 and 1808 §; not that his materials are very important, but that fomething is contributed, where at prefent a scarcity prevails. To other Americans, Captains Lewis and Clarke, we are indebted for a view of the interior of their own continent, and for travels by the Miffouri and Columbia Rivers where no civilized enquirer had till now intruded upon the retirements of the natives. Their expedition was the fame which was lefs perfectly defcribed by Gafs, and their route entirely different from that of our countryman, Sir Alexander Mackenzie **. From the accounts of both it is evident, that the No. VI. p. 624. + No. III. p. 311. I No. IV. .P 387. See vol. xxxii, p. 504. 120. * See our xxth volume, native Americans are not perfons to vifit for mere amusement. The Travels of the Duke de Chatelet 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 Mifs Spencer's Summer Excurfions, in our own country, may admit of a curfory notice; if they do not materially 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 Researches § lead us by an easy 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 herself 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 No. IV. p. 357.ight No. II p. 314 No. II. p. 189. No. III. p. 321, and IV. 346. I See Geological Letters, in our ** No. III. p. 241. we we fhall 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 ik Justration, without confufing the one or obfcuring the other. The Elements of the Linnaan Botany, as lately given in two fmall volumes, with plates †, are a model of elegance in an introductory work. Very feldom have etchings of fuch freedom and spirit been employed to initiate young ftudents; and the defcriptive parts are no lefs remarkable for judicį. ous felection. MEDICINE. 5 Though Medicine has been, for fo many ages, the ftudy of the most enlightened men, yet improvements 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 reafon, 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 feemed 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 he occafionally affumes, of a metaphyfical philofopher. The plan of intro No. V. P. 444. ·No. II. p. 12 4 + No. V. P. 522. ducing Opium into the human frame, by means of friction, has been fuccessfully 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 harshness of whofe nomenclature, though it may alarm the young ftudent, will not prevent the zealous physician from confidering his important opinions. To comprefs into a neat and convenient form the general maxims of diagnofis and practice is also an arduous task, 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, whofe fafety 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 cause of the people against themselves; and fhown, 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, |