laudable endeavours have hitherto failed of fuccefs, yet they have been to powerfully fupported, that he has been encouraged again to form a plan of this kind, which he intends to propofe to the fuffrages of the fenate, upon fome day near the clofe of February. The plan is here exhibited, with the view of having it duly confidered and examined beforehand; and the propofitions of which it confifts, will be offered in diftin&t graces, that a difference of opinion, concerning the particular mode of execution, may not obftruct the establishment of thofe, which comprehend the merits of the main queflion. To us the fcheme laid down appears to be excellent; and we cannot but hope, that the friends to the reputation and intereft of the univerfity, and of the national welfare, will, at length, be found fo numerous as to crown it with fuccefs. Art. 19. Stenography: or a Concife and Practical Syftem of Short-hand writing; by W. Williamfon, Teacher of that Art in London, late of Edinburgh. Small 8vo. 10 s. 6 d. Brown. 1775, The art of fhort-hand-writing has of late years received confiderable improvements, by being reduced to more fimple principles, and rendered lefs burdenfome to the memory, while it preferves its principal excellencies, brevity and legibility.-The love of fimplifying may, however, be carried too far; for it does not seem in the nature of the thing poffible to difencumber this art from all particular rules of abbreviation, and at the fame time to attain the ends of it in the most perfect manner. The prefent fcheme of fhort hand is the most fimple we have met with; making ufe of only 22 characters; 16 for confonants, and 6 for th, ch, fb, fis, ing, tion; and laying down no other fundamental rules than thefe four: That words must be written according to their found without regard to spelling-That vowels are not to be written, but at the beginning and end of words, and then to be expreffed by a dot, which is to be used in common for all vowels without regard to the place in which it ftands-That all words, except where the point for vowels is ufed, are to be written, without taking off the pen-and that words or fentences may be abbreviated at pleafure, by writing only the radical parts or firft letters of words, or wholly leaving out fuch words as the fenfe will eafily fupply.' Such a fyftem of fhort-hand as this may certainly be learnt with great cafe, but whether it will have all the advantages of one which makes a more regular provifion for abbreviation (as is the cafe, for inftance, in Byrom's and Palmer's fhort-hand,) must be determined by the practitioners of the art. The principal defects we obferve in this fyftem, is that the fame character is used for fand v, and for g and, and that the letter r is either expreffed by the ufual Roman character, or by the fame mark with the letter s. Art. 20. The Tutor's Obfervations on Memory: With plain and practical Rules for improving and exercising it; and brief hints on Compofition. For the Ufe of Schools. 8vo. 1 s. Hay. 1775. Though the obfervations we meet with in this piece are extremely obvious, and the rules are not fufficiently particular and fyftematical for an elementary work to be ufed in fchools; it contains fome fome just remarks, and plain directions, which may be of use to young students. NATURAL HISTORY. Art. 21. A Defcription of the MANGOSTAN, and the BREADFRUIT: the firft, efteemed one of the most delicious; and the other, the most useful, of all the Fruits in the East-Indies. By John Ellis, Efq; Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Upfal; Agent for Dominica. To which are added, Directions to Voyagers, for bringing over thefe and other vegetable Productions, which would be extremely beneficial to the Inhabitants of our Weft India Llands. With Figures. 4to. 3 s. 6 d. fewed. Dilly. 1775 The Mangoftan is a tree, mentioned by different writers, as producing the most delicious fruit of any yet known. The tree itself, its leaves, fruit, flower, feeds, &c. are here particularly defcribed. The fruit is faid to be of the fize of a fmall orange, of as delicate and agreeable a flavour as the richeft grape; full of juice, and tafting of ftrawberries and grapes together. In fhort, by the accounts here collected, it appears to be one of the finest fruits in the world; exceedingly wholefome; the only one which fick people may be allowed to eat without any fcruple, and is given with fafety in almost every diforder. I have authority (fays this Author) to affure the reader, that Dr. Solander, in the laft ftage of a dreadful putrid fever that feized him at Batavia, when all his friends about him had given him up for loft, found himself infenfibly recovering by fucking this delicious and refreshing fruit.' The tree is about feventeen or eighteen feet high, its dried bark, we are told, is ufed medically, with fuccefs; and alfo employed by the Chinese dyers. But the Bread-Fruit tree, which, it is faid, has been little regarded in comparison with the Mangoftan, is fuperior to it in point of ufe. The Mangoftan is beneficial to the fick and grateful to all. But the Bread-Fruit affords a moft neceffary and pleasant article of fubfiftence to many. The tree is about the fize of a middling oak; a particular description of it is here laid before the reader. The fruit, we are told, is of the bignefs of a good penny loaf; the natives are faid to gather it before it is quite ripe, and bake it till the cruft is pretty black, then they rafp it, and there remains a pretty loaf, with a tender yellow cruft, and the crumb of it is foft and fweet as a new-baked roll: as this fruit is in season seven or eight months in the year, the natives feed on no other fort of bread during that time. Both the above trees are natives of the Eaft Indies: the Mangoftan originally grows in the Molucca llands; the Bread-Fruit tree in the Ladrone Ilands, particularly in the Island of Tinian, where Lord Anson found it, and in fome of the Philippines. Captain Cook met with it at Otaheite, and gives a very particular defcription of it in the account of his voyage. Mr. Ellis pleads very earnestly and justly for the introduction of these trees into our Weft-India Islands; where, we think with him, the fruit of the Mangolan would be peculiarly welcome and ferviceable; and the Bread-Fruit, which he thinks would easily. be cultivated there, might probably be made to fupply an important article of food to all ranks of the inhabitants, especially to the Negroes. He gives particular directions for the proper importation of thefe trees; trees; and to the elegant prints of the trees themfelves, fubjoins drawings of fuch boxes, as have been found by experience capable of preferving very tender plants, in great health and vigour, during a very long and tedious voyage. He feems folicitous that thefe trees might be tranfmitted to Great Britain; but we should think they would hardly fucceed in our climate; particularly the Mangoftan, which our Author fays, in one place, could in these temperate regions only be preferved in ftoves, as an object of curiofity. In the latter part of the work, Mr. Ellis gives a long lift of other trees and plants, which might be collected from different parts of the world, and introduced, he apprehends, with fuccefs, to our WeftIndia Islands. To this he adds obfervations and inftructions for captains of fhips, furgeons, fupercargoes, and others, who are unacquainted with botany. We cannot but wish that his proposals and inftructions may be diligently attended to; as it appears to us an object of importance, which, in a courfe of years, might be followed by great national utility. We are glad to find there is some probability that handsome premiums will be offered to encourage this defign. RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. By fome Accident, the Four following Tra&s, which have been publifhed a confiderable Time, have hitherto escaped our Notice. That this fhould have been the Cafe, with regard to the Three Smaller of them, is the lefs to be wondered at, as we believe they were first printed and dispersed in the Country, and the lowness of the Price must greatly, if not entirely, have prevented their being advertised in the London Papers. But we cannot well explain how the other came to be omitted. It is Art. 22. A free Addrefs to Proteftant Diffenters, on the Subjest of Church Difcipline; with a preliminary Difcourfe, concerning the Spirit of Chriftianity, and the Corruption of it by falfe Notions of Religion. By Jofeph Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. 8vo. 2 s. 6d. Johnfon. In this Work, the Author reprefents the state and effect of church difcipline, in primitive times; gives a general account of the corruption and decay of the primitive church difcipline; and then particularly defcribes the very low ftate of it among the Diffenters, with the inconveniences thence arifing. He points out, in the next place, the circumftances that have contributed to bring church difcipline into fo low a condition among the Diffenters; which leads him to a more diftin&t view of the progrefs and present eftimation of preaching. From thefe topics he paffes on to a delineation of a method of Church government; anfwers the objections that may be made to his fcheme; difplays its advantages; and concludes with fome additional confiderations in favour of church difcipline, as motives to the establishment of it. Dr. Priestley (with whom we have no difpute, except when David Hartley and the Scotch Philofophers happen to fet us together by * Perhaps it was owing to the near resemblance of its title, to that of another tract published about the fame time. the the ears) has treated the several parts of his fubject in a very fenfible and liberal manner. He freely expofes the deficiences, neglects, and errors of the Diffenters in point of church difcipline; and earnestly contends for its being put upon fuch a footing as may contribute to promote the purposes of chriftian piety and virtue. The preliminary difcourfe, concerning the fpirit of chriftianity, is excellent; and the Author hath made fome admirable obfervations on the unhappy influence which falfe notions of religion, early imbibed, continue to have upon the minds and conduct of men, even after the notions themfelves have been difcarded. Art. 23. An Appeal to the ferious and candid Profeffors of Chrifianity, on the following Subjects, viz. 1. The Ufe of Reafon in Matters of Reli ion. 2. The Power of Man to do the Will of God. 3. Original Sin. 4. Election and Reprobation. 5. The Divinity of Christ. And, 6. Atonement for Sin by the Death of Christ. By a Lover of the Gofpel. 12mo. Johnfon. I d. The fubjects here fpecified are treated in the plainest manner, this fmall piece being intended for the benefit of common Chriftians. We can venture to fay, that it contains more good fenfe and rati nal divinity, than are to be found in many bulky volumes. The Tract before us has gone through five editions; and the Writer expreffes his wifh, that any perfon would reprint this and the other fmall pieces connected with it; efpecially in fuch a way, as that they may be fold very cheap, or that thofe perfons who think them calculated to do good, may afford to buy a number of copies to diftribute gratis. Art. 24 A familiar Illuftration of certain Paffages of Scripture relating to the Power of Man to do the Will of God, Origi nal sin, Election and Reprobation, the Divinity of Chrift, and Atonement for Sin, by the Death of Chrift. By a Lover of the Golpel. 12mo. 4 d. Johnson. This is a fupplement to the preceding pamphlet, containing a particular explanation of thofe paffages of fcripture which relate to the doctrines mentioned in the title page, and are fuppofed to favour the Calviniftical opinions. As much found criticiim and fcriptural knowledge are here to be met with, as perhaps were ever comprifed in the fame compafs. Art. 25. The Triumph of Truth; being an Account of the Trial of Mr. E Elwall, for Herefy and Blafphemy, at Stafford Affizes, before Judge Denton. To which are added, Extracts from William Penn's Sandy Foundation fhaken, and a few additional Illustrations. By the Author of an Appeal to the serious and candid Profeffors of Chriftianity, &c. 12mo. d. Johnson. It appears that Mr. Elwall was tried at Stafford, in the year 1726, for writing a book intitled, A true Teftimony for God and his facred Law; b.ing a plain, honeft Defence of the first Commandment of God, against all the Trinitarians under Heaven, Thou jouit have no other Gods but me.' At this trial he afferted and vidicated the doctrine of the divine unity, with a firmness and pretence of mind that were truly apoftolical, and which have had had but few examples fince the first promulgation of christianity. So great was the force of truth on this memorable occafion, that a reputable and honeft jury, directed by a good natured and fenfible judge, acquitted the criminal, contrary to the exprefs laws of this country, according to which he ought to have been fentenced to a fevere punishment, as a convicted and avowed blaf phemer. We entirely agree with the prefent Publisher, that it is impoffible for an unprejudiced perfon to read this account of the trial (written by Mr. Elwall himself, with fo much true fimplicity, perfpicuity, and ftrength of evidence) without feeling the greateft veneration for the Writer, the fulleft conviction and love of the truth, and a proportionable zeal in maintaining it. It is well known, that the three preceding Tracts come from the pen of Dr. Priestley. Art. 26. An Account of what Concern Dr. Gibbons bad, in the Late Tranfactions among the Proteftant Diffenters at Northampton; in which his Conduct is cleared from the unjust Censures that have been paffed upon him. 8vo. 6d. Buckland. * In our Review for July 1775, we gave fome account of a narrative relating to Mr. Hextal's perfecution at Northampton; and, in mentioning the conduct of fome London minifters, (which, from the reprefentations contained in the pamphlet, did not appear to be, in all refpects, juftifiable) we cafually fet down the name of Dr. Gibbons, one of thofe minifters, instead of the name of Dr. Conder. Of this mifnomer, Dr. G. apprifed us, in a long letter, for which he demanded a place, at full length, in the Review. Though we did not think it proper wholly to comply with this demand, yet, in justice to the Doctor's character, we rectified the mistake, in our Auguft Review, by informing our Readers, that Dr. Conder was the perfon meant, in the cenfure here alluded to, and not Dr. Gibbons. This amende honorable not fatisfying Dr. Gibbons, he has expanded his letter into a pamphlet, in which he, with peculiar generofity and candour, brings a railing accufation against the Reviewers; branding their ACKNOWLEDGED and innocent mistake, with the name of A Charge, as falfe as Falfehood could make it. But, as this may only be the Doctor's way, we shall take no farther notice of it. A general remark or two, however, having occurred to us, on this revival of the fubject, we fhall just hint them, for the due confideration of the Doctor and his Brethren. I. As Dr. G. and Dr. C. had been applied to by the fame party, with refpect to the Northampton difpute; as they had confulted with fome of their brethren upon it; as the matter had been debated before an affembly of them at Pinners-Hall, and they had formally given their opinion upon it; we cannot but think that a fubfequent letter t, addreffed to any one of them, was to be confidered as fent to all,-fince the writer might reasonably *Intitled The pernicious Effects of Religious Contention and Bigotry, &c. + See Review, July, p. 94, par. 4. fuppose, |