carefully to his fiyle, but we are perfuaded that circumftance will be overlooked by the judicious and candid Reader; and that Mr. Harmer's publication will be very acceptable to all who are defirous of improvement in Biblical knowlege,-to all who wish to enter more fully into the meaning of those particular fcripture expreffions, allufions, and circumftances of local defcription, and ancient manners, which are understood by few, even among the Learned.-But there is another view in which this work will meet with more univerfal acceptance: Confidered, merely, as a collection of the obfervations of a great number of the most refpectable travellers, on a vast variety of interefting fubjects, there is not, perhaps, a more entertaining mifcellany extant.

For a farther fpecimen of Mr. Harmer's critical abilities, particularly with refpect to Biblical fubjects, we refer the Reader to our account of his ingenious performance, intitled, "Outlines of a new Commentary on Solomon's Song." See Review, vol. xxxviii. p. 294.

ART. III. The Family Preacher: Confifting of practical Difcourfes for every Sunday throughout the Year: As alfo for ChristmasDay, Good Friday, and other folemn Occafions. By D. Bellamy, M. A. Chaplain of Kew and Petersham in the County of Surry, 4to. 11. 1 s. Law. 1776.

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T is now more than twenty years fince Mr. Bellamy's Family Preacher made its first appearance. This length of time, and other circumftances, together with the Author's defire of improving the work, has, we are told, excited and en⚫couraged him to a careful revife of the whole.

Since, fays he (in his preface) the first publication [of this compilement] the very mode of preaching has undergone confiderable alterations, not only as to language and length, but with refpect to formalities: to that tafte which prevails at the prefent day, and is countenanced by the practice of the most eminent preachers, the Author has endeavoured to conform; not indeed entirely rejecting order and method, but concealing them-ftudious neither to difguft by repetitions, nor disappoint by affected brevity. To accomplish this end, which he conceived his duty to the Public demanded, not only most of his materials have been new wrought, but in many inftances totally rejected, and their place fupplied by original compofitions carefully felected from near four hundred manufcripts accumulated in the course of thirty-five years miniftry in the churches of Petersham, Richmond, and Kew.

See Review, vol, xvii.

REV. May, 1776.

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It happens, indeed, that as few of these difcourfes were at firft written with a view to publication from the prefs; it is now out of his power to make thofe acknowledgments which he wishes to fuch writers whofe fentiments or language he may have occafionally adopted. However, under a general consciousness of having ufed this liberty with a fparing hand, he has little fufpicion that the originality of the prefent work will ever be a fubject of doubt; and if it be remembered that the defign of the Author was rather to do good to others than to advance his own reputation, it is of little importance to know from what sources fome of his materials may be drawn. Hence it is that he has fo feldom retained his own, on fubjects where he has been favoured with the valuable compofitions of his friends; among whom are names which are at once an ornament to the book, and a credit to its Author.'

The fubjects treated in these volumes are very well chofen for the ufe of families. The difcourfes are of the practical kind; the Author declaring that he very early felt the conviction of that faying of Archbishop Tillotson, the greatest herefy in the world is an immoral and wicked life; and this, it follows, is the only herefy the Reader will find him attacking, with any degree of feverity, throughout the whole work.'

Befide the fifty-two fermons which answer to the account in the title-page, there are fourteen others in the fecond volume, defigned for Good-Friday, Eafter-Day, Whitfunday, and other particular occafions. Thefe being regarded as treating on the more peculiar truths of Chriftianity, are detached from the rest, and follow by way of Supplement. But though there is certainly nothing improper in providing fermons for the seasons above-mentioned, we fhould apprehend that what is peculiar in Christianity, fo far as it concerns us or has a practical influence and tendency, ought to be frequently infisted on and intermingled with other fubjects. How can a regard to religion in general, or to particular branches of piety and virtue, be more powerfully recommended and enforced than by those peculiar arguments and motives with which divine revelation furnishes the Chriftian preacher !

We do not find that many fermons are omitted in this edi tion which appeared in the former. A few have different texts; fome are much altered, and we believe improved; and there are others which were not before printed. In the former publication we were told that feveral of the difcourfes were formed by extracts from thofe of different authors on the fame fubjects. This is the cafe alfo in the prefent edition: though moft of them, we believe, have undergone fome fresh modification. But many of the fermons in the firft collection, and yet more in the prefent, are compofitions which have not been published

in any other way. We find twelve fermons by James Carrington, M. A. Chancellor of Exeter; fix by the Tranflator of the Religious Ceremonies; two by Dr. Webfter, late Vicar of Ware; one, intitled, The Virtuous Wife, from an authentic MS. of the late Thomas Bray, D. D. five by a Rev. M. A. and a Rev. D. D. whose names are withheld.

We have no reason to be greatly surprised if, in fuch a number of fermons, and thus collected, there fhould be fome, and in one or two instances, a confiderable inequality; and perhaps this may frequently be difcovered in the fame fermon. But, on the whole, we confider this as a valuable collection. The Author appears to have employed much pains in preparing this edition for the public reception, and endeavouring to render it useful, and acceptable, as a GOOD FAMILY BOOK.

ART. IV. An Effay on Glandular Secretion; containing an Experimental Enquiry into the Formation of Pus; and a Critical Examination into an Opinion of Mr. John Hunter's, "That the Blood is alive." By James Hendy, M. D. 8vo. 2s. Bell. 1775.

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HE late ingenious Mr. Hewfon is known to have entertained fome curious opinions refpecting the use of the Spleen and thymus gland. The Author of this Effay appears to have been his pupil, and adopts his hypothefis with a degree of zeal which may do him honour in the character of a friend, though we think it not altogether confiftent with the caution neceffary for the investigation of truth.

General ideas of the functions which Dr. Hendy fuppofes the fpleen and thymus gland are destined to perform in the animal ceconomy, may be collected from the following extracts:

Some perfons, who were by no means mafters of Mr. Hewfon's reafoning, have nevertheless ventured to criticife his opinion concerning the use of the spleen, &c. by which they not only fhewed a want of judgment, in attempting to impugn a doctrine which they did not understand, but at the same time expofed their ardent though fruitless endeavours to clip the wings of a rifing genius. He however could have no victorious oppofer to his towering greatnefs; he could have no dangerous enemy to his future fame, but one, and that was death.

• There have not been wanting perfons who have affirmed, that the use Hewson attributed to the lymphatic fyftem was no real difcovery; and have placed it amongst the ridiculous opinions of the ancients. They have laid much ftrefs on the number of back-doors that Mr. Hewson left, that he might efcape the artillery of medical critics, and defend his hypothefis.

Thus, fay they, if it be advanced against Mr. Hewson, that feveral animals have been deprived of their fpleen, and still that these particles have been completely formed, he immediately flies to the thymus gland. If it be then remarked, that after a certain age this gland is obliterated, he will retire to the lymphatic glands, and

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affure us that they are formed there. And lastly, if it be opposed to his doctrine, that fome animals have no lymphatic glands, he then takes his laft fubterfuge, and defends himself by retiring to the lymphatic veffels themselves.

To avoid this crafty oppofition, for I cannot even term it fpecious reafoning, they ought to be informed, that it is the lymphatic fyftem which forms the red part of the blood, and that the spleen, thymus, and lymphatic glands are confidered as parts of, or appendages to, this fyftem.

I cannot avoid remarking, that one gentleman who opposes Hew. fon's doctrine, by the reafoning I have juft related, advances or rather fupports an opinion which is overturned by the above arguments, without leaving himself a fingle back-door to creep out at. He fays, it is highly probable that the fpleen is fubfervient to the liver, and that it prepares the blood for that vifcus. He muft permit me to afk, how the blood is prepared for the liver, when the spleen is cut out?'

In what fense the fpleen and thymus gland are to be con fidered as parts of, or appendages to, the lymphatic system, the following chapter will explain, viz.

That there is a propriety in calling thefe glands, of which I am now to fpeak, appendages to the lymphatic fyftem, I am well per. fuaded; and though I cannot enter on a full detail of the proofs which may be brought in fupport of this opinion, as fuch an enquiry would far exceed the bounds of a pamphlet, and would be a differ tation that would require more time and recollection than I can beflow on it, I hope the particular experiments and judicious arguments which lead to this difcovery will be published to the world among the pofthumous works of their invaluable author. It will be fufficient to the prefent purpose, to mention a few leading facts, and the general conclufions. That this fyftem takes its rife from the feveral cavities, and is by no means a continuation of the arteries, is ingeniously proved, by the celebrated anatomifts Drs. Monro and Hunter, and Mr. Hewfon. Yet, it is a fact, that the red particles of the blood are found in this fyftem of veffels *. This has been noticed by feveral obfervers, and, I believe, is not doubted by any. A question naturally arifes then, How should thefe particles come thither, if not formed in this fyftem? It may perhaps be answered, that they are abforbed. But furely this cannot be the cafe; for, in the first place, let us confider and compare thefe particles with the fcarcely visible lymphatic orifices, which appear on the villi of the inteftines, where it is to be prefumed they are as large as in any part of the body. We have no reafon to fuppofe that capillary attraction fhould cause these veffels to take up particles at least as large as their orifices. Befides, before they could be abforbed, they fhould be poured out into the cavities of the body. But this is not the cafe ; for they are not to be found mixed with the intersticial fluids, fo far

It is remarked by Dr. Haller, and brought as an argument to fupport the old idea, viz that the lymphatic veffels are continued from the fmall arteries.'

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as they have been examined, although they might be imagined to happen, in confequence of the struggles of the animal while under the operation neceffary for the experiment. But to fhew that this is not in the leaft degree probable, I must add, that thefe particles appeared in the thoracic dua immediately, both above and below a ligature, that was inftantly applied; which would not be the case, if the particles were abforbed. Is it not then with the highest probability, that I may answer the queftion, and fay, that thefe particles are formed in this fyftem, and in those parts which I term its appendages, viz. the lymphatic glands, the thymus, and the fpleen, becaufe they are found to aid the lymphatic fyftem in its office, and make the fyftem complete? I shall now proceed to speak of the ftru&ture of the lymphatic glands.

1. The lymphatic glands are found pretty conftantly in certain parts of the human body. When their arteries and veins are injected with coloured liquor, thefe veffels are found to divide fo very minutely, that they appear to be compofed of nothing elfe. And the fame appearance is feen, if we inject the lymphatic veffels with mercury. Hence I conclude that these two fyftems compofe thefe glands principally; not that I mean to exclude, the nerves. Many anatomifts have obferved that they are replete with cellular texture, and are invefted with a membranous tunic. The lymphatic veffels, which enter these glands, very frequently divide, as is obferved by Nuck and others, and unite again into one or more veffels, at the part at which they make their exit. In fome inftances, however, the gland is compofed fimply of a lymphatic veffel convolated, as is proved by unravelling them, and after this convolution they pafs on to the thoracic duct. Thefe glands are obferved to be larger in young. animals than in old ones.

2. The thymus is timilar in conftruction to the lymphatic glands, except in this circumstance, that the lymphatic veffels do not enter and pafs through, but take their rife from this gland. It is alfo larger in young animals, and gradually difappears as the animal advances in years, and is often obliterated in the adult flate. I may remark alfo, that it is largeft in fome animals, not fo much according to. their prefent fize, as in proportion to the fpeed with which they grow. Thus it is larger in proportion in a calf, than in the human foetus. I need not fay any thing of the fituation of this or the other glands, as I know not whether this would afford any aid to our. reafoning.

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3. The spleen is remarked by moft authors for the quantity of blood veffels that pafs into it, in proportion to its bulk. lar to the laft-mentioned gland in giving rife to numbers of lymphatic veffels. It is faid alfo to be of a cellular texture.

Before I'fpeak of the use of these parts, I muft refer to the Philofophical Tranfactions, where proof will be met with, to establish an opinion, which Mr. Hewfon advanced, viz. that the red particles of the blood are compofed of two parts, a central or middle folid part, and a furrounding veficle, or external covering. Mr. Hewfon, in the c. lecture of his anatomical course, made it appear extremely probable, that the lymphatic veffels themfelves were capable of forming both thefe parts; but that, for the more completely performing

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