We cannot help, however, obferving that, in the enumeration of their different compounds it might have been a confiderable improvement, had they been arranged agreeable to the laws of elective attractions, rather than to an alphabetical arrangement. If the dif ferent acids had been arranged alphabetically, their various compounds under each head might have been fo placed that the first mentioned fubftance might have been known to have the power of decompounding all thofe below it; and fo on refpectively.

Our limits will not permit us to enter into the new theoretical opinions refpecting the formation of the Sulphuric Acid, or the ideas refpecting Hydrogan Caloric, &c. &c. for thefe we muft refer our readers to the work itself, premifing, that we do not apprehend the chemifts on this fide of the water will implicitly adopt all the opinions even of a Lavoifier or a Fourcroy.

There is much ingenuity difplayed in the new fyftem of chemical characters by Meffieurs Hallenfratz and Adel, which puts us very much in mind of the elegant neatuefs and fimplicity of the late Dr. Byrom's Stenography. We cannot help fubfcribing to their utility, becaufe, by the ufe of thefe characters, we think it poffible for chemifts of different countries, ftrangers to each other's language, to communicate chemical ideas, and even reciprocally to make themselves mafters of each other's problems and combinations.

Dr. St John, in a well-written Preface to the work before us, takes notice of a very curious phenomenon refpect ing the putrefaction of human bodies; which we think fufficiently important to communicate to our readers in a future number, as we imagine the knowledge of it cannot be too generally conveyed, fome very fingular and melancholy accidents from diffe&tion having lately happened in this country, provably from a fimilar caufe.

105. Sermons y Mr. Symmons; (reviewed in a Letur from a Correspondent.)

"Ubi PLURA nitent in carmine, non ego "PAUCIS offendar maculis." HOR. TO encourage rifing merit, and to call forth latent excellence to the obfervation of the publick, is unquestionably the more agreeable and the more noble part of the duty of a critic. He who is truly entitled to that refpectable name will naturally be more inclined to dwell

upon numerous and evident excellencies, though attended with fome imperfections, than to point the feverity of his cenfures against inconsiderable defects. This golden rule in Criticism seems to have been overlooked by the author of a critique on Mr. Symmons's Sermons in a late Review. The merit which the Sermons cannot be denied to pof fefs he attempts to "damn with faint "praife;" and the faults which they may be thought to have he exaggerates and dwells upon, and cenfures with a very difproportioned feverity. The Sermons and the Criticifm ale before the publick; and whoever, of ability and judgement, will take the trouble to compare them, will find abundant proofs of my allertions.

of

Give me leave, Mr. Urban, in your impartial pages, to fupply the omiffion, by giving a jufter character of the merits of thefe Sermons. Their merits are, indeed, great. The profeffional Critic allows, that the author poffeffes" abili"ties and learning; that the Sermons "contain juft remarks, clear and point"ed explanations of different paffages "of the Scriptures, with a manly and "rational piety and that in many "them the divifions are peculiarly "happy." I add, that the Sermons difcover a vigour and comprehenfion of understanding, a clearnefs and precifion of ideas and language, and a happy felection of the leading and diftinguishing thoughts and circunftances belonging to the fubject, which always mark and difcriminate the man of genius. Thefe, with a warm, but in general well-governed, imagination, and a style every where nervous and dignified,-at times, animated and figurative in a high degree, and, excepting in a very few infiances, correctly juft, are the excellencies of thefe difcourfes They do honour to the author, and deferve high praife.

It were eafy to give extracts, which would fully juftify the above character; but at this time I must confine myself within more moderate bounds. Give me leave only to refer the attention of the learned to the eighth and ninth fermons, as decifive fpecimens of the character given.

In them will be found the excellence of compofition and ftyle, which I have attributed to the author. Let the Sermons be read and examined. Let the

Critical Review for February, 1788. author

culate concife abftracts of the law, and offer encouragement to informers. He proposes an additional tax on the oil ufed in manufacturing the wool, to anfwer the expence of their falaries, which he estimates at 6000l. This may do in the closet of a fpeculator; but placemen are too much out of fashion at prefent.

110. Tranfactions of the Royal Irish Academy,

1787. 410.

MANY and various have been the attempts to form a literary fociety in Ireland. Mr. Wm. Molyneux, the friend and correfpondent of Mr. Locke, eftablished, in 1683, a philofophical fociety, on the plan of the Royal Society of London, which ended in the confufions of 1688. It appears, from the Spalding Society's Minutes, that fuch an one fubfifted in 1707. Their plan feems to have been refumed, without fuccefs, in the beginning of the present century, when the Earl of Pembroke, then lord-lieutenant, prefided over a philofophical fociety in Dublin College. Under the guidance and patronage of Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bart. a phyficohiftorical fociety was formed in 1740, to collect materials for the Hiftory of Ireland, on the plan of Camden's Britannia; of which the Hiftories of feveral Counties were published as fpecimens. This fociety, who appointed an antiquarian committee in 1772, ceafed about 14 or 15 years ago, for want of matter for their inquiries. Mr. Conyngham collected about feven perfons afterwards into another fociety, whom he wished to illuftrate the drawings he was then making at a great expence : but this alfo was diffolved after publishing four 8vo volumes of "Collectanea "Hibernica." In 1782 the Royal Irish Academy was inftituted, whofe Tranf actions are now published with all that caution which characterises the fifter Society of London: for at the head of the volume" the Academy defire it to "be understood, that, as a body, they "are not answerable for any opinion, re"prefentation of facts, or train of rea "foning, which may appear in the fol"lowing papers. The authors of the "feveral eflays are alone responsible for "their contents."-- -This Academy profeffes to unite, in one plan, the "three compartments of Science, Po"lite Literature, and Antiquities. It "has been inftituted at a time when it

66

*

* Rather, departments.

prefdent, whofe zeal for the interefts "of Ireland could only be equalled by "his zeal for the interefts of learning. "Animated by fuch encouragement, "the Irish nation are called on to exert "themselves. The Academy, in this "volume, with most respectful defer

ence, prefents the first fruits of its la"bours to the publick: whether the "beginning now made fhall be relinquithed with difgrace, or this Society "be taught to afpire to hopes of vigour "and continuance, is a question which "those who have abilities to promote "the advancement of literature fhould "be informed is left, with all its impor"tant confequences, for their exer"tions to determine.-To embolden "their diffidence, the nature of these "publications holds out all the advan tages of mutual example; while the great national benefit to be derived "from this inftitution must stamp their "indolence a crime of no lefs magni"tude than treafon against the welfare "of Ireland. They are called on by

66

66

every tie which can have a laudable "influence on the heart of man; by the

"

hopes of fuccefs, and the infamy of "defeat; by the folicitations of a natu"ral instinct, which will not fuffer their "faculties to reft without exertion; and "by the authoritative voice of Reafon "and Experience, which pronounce "fuch exertions falutary; by emula"tion; by philanthropy; by honeft pride; by a glorious view of the dignity of their country, and the dignity "of human nature. To fuch a call, "Irishmen cannot be inattentive; the "God of Truth will look propitious "on their labours; and a ray from "Heaven will light them to fuccefs." Preface, by the Rev. Robert Burrowes, 4.M. fellow of Trinity College, Dublin,

66

and M. R. I. A.

Fellow, &c. ;-with plan and elevation defigned and drawn by him, engraved by J. Ford.

II. Account of Parhelia feen Sept. 24, 1783, at Cook's-town. By the Rev. J. A. Hamilton, D.D.

III. Obfertations on the Lunar E clipfe, March 18, 1783; communicated by Dr. Uther.

IV. A fynthetical Demonftration of the Rule for the Quadrature of fimple Curves, per qua: ones terminorum NuBy the Rev. Dr. Young, Peale of Trinity College.

St.

tion of a new portable Ba. he Rev. A. M'Gui.e.

"s on Pemphigus. By P. M.D.

VI. O the Extraction of Cubic and other Roots; communicated by Dr. Young.

VIII. Hiftory of an Ovarium wherein were found Teeth, Hair, and Bones. By Dr. Cleghorn. Drawn by J. BalJard; engraved by J. Mannin and M. Wall.

The article of Polite Literature conGifts of,

I. An Effay on Sublimity of Writing. By the Rev. Dr. Richard Stalk, Fellow of Trinity College. (A Supplement to Longinus and Mr. Burke.)

II. III. Efay on the Style of Dr. Samuel Johnson. By the Rev. Mr. Burrowes.

IV. Thoughts on Lyric Poetry. By William Preston. To which is fubjoined, an "Irregular Ode to the Moon. "By the fame."

In the clafs of Antiquities we have, I. An Account of an ancient Infcription, in Ogham Characters, on the Sepulchral Monument of an Irish Chief; difcovered by Mr. Theophilus O'Flanagan, Student of Trinity College.

This famous infcription was first difcovered by this antiquary in 1784, who prefented a memorial on it to Mr. Vallancey, 1784, and fhewed it to Mr. E. Burton, who defcribed it to the Right Hon. Wm. Burton Cunninghame, in 1785. It is engraved in the XIVth number of the Collectanea Hibernica, and in this volume. Mr. O'F. has an appointment of 20cl. per annum, out of the revenues of the Academy, for tranflating ancient Irish MSS. and other antiquarian difcoveries.

II. The Antiquity of the Woollen Manufactures in Ireland proved from a Paifage of an ancient Florentine Poet. GENT. MAG. June, 1786.

529

By the Earl of Charlemont, Prefident R. I A.

The poem is called Dittamondi (a corruption for Dicta Munii), by Fazio delli Uberti, a Florentine nobleman, nearly contemporary with Dante. The author, after travelling over England and Scotland, comes to Ireland, which he defcribes as eminent for its ferges, or fays:

Similimente paffamo in Irlanda ` La qual fra noi e degna di tama Per le nobile fare che ci manda; and the 4 Die onnaire della Crufca" quotes an old Florentine account book for a piece of Irish fay for Andrew's wife. Irish friezes, cloth, and woollen alfo occur in Madox and Rymer, in the time of Henry III. and Richard II.; proofs of a prior antiquity to the Englith woollen manufacture.

III. An Inquiry concerning the Original of the Scots in Britain. By the Bishop of Killaloe.

His Lordship fuppofes the Northern parts of Ireland originally peopled from the adjacent parts of Caledonia, as the Scotifh antiquaries affert; and that the Irish might have been the children, rather than the parents, of the ancient Caledonians, before the invation and, fettlement of the Milefian dignafty; but that an Irish colony, under Riuda, called Dalriadans, and by Bede, Dalrheudini, migrated into Scotland about the year 150, and were completely ef tablifhed there about the year 396; foon after which they chofe, for their independent monarch, Fergus II. fecond fon of Earca, by Muirdeach, King of Ireland, who gave him the famous Liab fail, or ftone of deftiny, now in Weftminster Abbey.

IV. Ancient Gaelic Poems refpecting the race of the Frians, collected in the Highlands of Scotland. By Dr. Young.

These are the fragments which Mr. M'Pherson and Mr. M'Arthur, minif ter of Muil, call furious Irish or Erfe fongs, from which the former raised his fanciful fuperftructure on fo narrow a bottom, not diftinguishing the Erfe from the Irifb.

V. Account of a Greek MS. of St. Matthew's Golpel, in Trinity College Library. By the Rev. Mr. Barret, Fellow of that College.

This MS. is written over three others, viz. St. Chryfoftom on the priesthood, two fragments of Ifaiah, and fome orations of Gregory Nazianzen. It takes

up

up 64 pages, of which 59 contain parts wanting in the Alexandrian. The characters are equal in fize to thofe in Montfaucon's fpecimen of the old Ca. farean Genefis, and bear a great refem blance to the Alexandrian, which it refembles in orthography, and in the placing the chapters both in the margin and top of the page, and in other particulars, and is judged to precede the end of the 4th century. A fpecimen of it is engraved.

VI. An Account of a Number of fmall Silver Coins found in an Urn in Queen's County, near Ballylinam, 1786. By Mr. Beauford.

Mr. B. refers them to fome of the kings and chiefs of Ireland, between the years 862 and 870, the work of a Danish artift, and infcribed with Latin letters of the middle ages, Runic characters, and thofe called by the Irish Ogham Creabb; with a plate of 12 coins and an alphabet.

VII. An ancient Urn dug up in a cell of flag ftones, in Wicklow, 1785. By Thomas Green, Efq.

A Lift of the Society is fubjoined.

111. Tranfactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. I. 4to.

HOW far two Societies in this kingdom, incorporated by royal charter for fimilar purpofes, may promote the interefts of fcience and of literature, time only can difcover; but it can hardly be questioned, that the Royal Society of Edinburgh owes its origin to that national partiality for which, if the Scotch have been fometimes praifed, they have been more frequently, and perhaps more justly, blamed.

During the courfe of the prefent century there has arifen, on the other fide of the Tweed, a number of writers detervedly famed in the republic of letters; and fifter Peg, who, in the laft age had, among her literary domeftics, only a few fanatical divines and a few perplex. ed lawyers, can now boaft of her hiftorians, her poets, her critics, her philofophers, and, above all, of her phyficians. Of late years, indeed, the has even prefumed to reprefent the learned inen in her family as fuperior, both in number and in merit, to thofe in the family of her brother, Johr Bull; and the renown, which John derives from that fociety which has fo long held its meetings within the manor of Bullock's Hatch, appears to have been a diftinction which

Peg could no longer brook. The fpirit which made her apply to the common guardian of their fortunes to remove this diftinction, and to put her upon the fame footing with her brother, is a fpirit which we cannot condemn, and which perhaps we feel ourselves inclined to applaud; but why has it not exerted itself with uniformity? The Tranfactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, though undoubtedly publifhed for the bonour of Scotland, appear to be the property of an English book. feller. The volume bears, indeed, on its title-page, to have been printed for the Bookjeller to the Royal Society. But

we

cannot help believing, that his name has been made ufe of, merely to lull the angry paffions of the Caledo nian patriots; and that Mr. Cadell, by whom, we are informed, the book is fold in London, is really its proprietor and publisher.

Of Mr. **** we do not remember to have beard before; and when we enquired about him at fome of our brother reviewers, natives of the city of Edinburgh, we were told that, although he is a very good man, it was by no means furprifing that he had not attracted our notice, as he never gave, and boasts that he never gave, a fingle fhilling for literary property, that his name is to be found on the title-page of but one book, a Collection of Hymns, published, fome years ago, by the General Affembly of the Church of Scot land; and that to every Scotchman it appeared very ftrange, that be should have been employed, rather than ELLIOT or CREECH, or fome other obftetric practitioner of name, to usher into the world this child of Caledonia. Similar reflections occurred to ourselves. The name of Mr. Creech ftands here enrolled with the other names of the Scotifh literati; and Mr. Elliot has, of late years, been almoft the fole publither of the works of Scotifh authors, which he has, no doubt, purchased at their full value. The national fpirit muft, therefore, have been greatly deproffed, we had almoft faid, funk into meannefs, when it was refolved that the Tranfactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh should not be difpofed of to one of thefe bookfellers, rather than given to a bookiciler of London. If the interefts of fcience, or the honour of the kingdom, required a fociety to be corporated by Toyal charter in Scotland,

why