ART. VII. Confiderations on the Utility of Conductors for Lightning; in which the Nature and Properties of the Lightning are explained, and the admirable Uses of Conductors in preventing its calamitous Effects clearly pointed out. By Nicholas Meredith, Optical and Mathematical Instrument Maker to his R. H. the Duke of York. 8vo. pp. 45, and 1 Plate. 13. Matthews. 1789. A Laudable attempt to render the use of Conductors more general, by diffusing the knowlege of them where it has not yet reached; and enabling those, who are unacquainted with electricity, to understand the office which they perform, and the security which they afford. Mr. M. says that, In the course of his experience as a tradesman, he has had frequent occafion to lament, that, after all that has been written on electricity, scarce one person in a hundred, that he has met with, has been at all acquainted with the true nature of the lightning, or the invaluable properties of conductors, though almost every person to whom he has shewn the experiments mentioned in the following pages, or others fimilar to them, have been very forcibly struck with the facts so illustrated; nor is it difficult to account for this, as nothing has ever been written profefsedly upon the fubject (except the learned treatife of Lord Mahon, which is by far too learned and too large for the generality of readers). It is true, the utility of conductors for lightning has formed a part of almost every treatise on electricity; but there are thousands who would be glad to have themselves and their habitations defended from the former who have no wish to study the latter; not to mention the thousands more who know not that lightning and electricity are at all connected; and who therefore, whatever they may fuffer either in 'apprehenfion or reality, will not suspect that they can be relieved by confulting a treatise on electricity. These confiderations, the truth of which the author's profeffion gives him frequent opportunities to observe, first induced him to publish a fmall tract on the subject. In the profecution of his design he has endeavoured not so much to acquit himself with elegance as an author, as to write with perfpicuity and fimplicity, and as much brevity as was thought consistent with clear illustration, that the magnitude of the book might not (as in other cafes) defeat its own intention. If his abilities have been fufficient to make himself understood, little more is required on the present occafion, where every thing depends not on the powers of argument, but on a plain statement of facts.' It is not to be expected that we should enter into the particulars of a compilation of this kind; but justice requires us to obferve, that it is well calculated to answer its profeffed design; and that the capital experiments respecting the course of lightning, with the utility of conductors, are clearly and fairly A.ted. An additional page at the end informs us, that conductors 'are erect-d by the author, in the most complete manner, at the moderate expence of five guineas.' Now, in the dictionary of a tradesman, we apprend that the most complete manner ima plies neatness or excellence of workmanship. But it should be remembered, that there is a numerous and important class of the community, to whom that circumstance will not be deemed effential, and who, nevertheless, ought not to be altogether overlooked: fome instructions might have been given them for obtaining, in the easiest and most effectual manner, that security which the pamphlet has taught them to expect. He who writes on a fubject so interesting to all, should confider himself, not as a tradesman of the metropolis, but as a citizen of the world. ART. VIII. Discourses on varicks Subjects. To which are added, Confiderations on Pluralities. By Samuel Disney, LL.B. late Vicar of Halstead, Effex. With a Preface, by John Disney, D.D. F.S.A. 8vo. pp. 422. 6s. Boards. Johnson. 1788. THE HE Preface to this posthumous publication contains an account of the life and character of the author, which cannot fail to impress the reader with an high respect for his merit. After becoming Vicar of Halttead, he repeatedly refused any additional preferment with the cure of fouls; and this refutal was folely the result of a conviction, that the acceptance would have been inconfiftent with his duty to the people of whom he had taken the charge, and with the character of a faithful paftor. The grounds on which this judgment was formed are clearly and strongly expressed in the piece fubjoined to these Discourses; a piece which does equal credit to the writer's understanding and to his heart. There is fomething so truly honeft (we might have faid apoftolical) in the sentiments with which these Confiderations are closed, that we cannot deny ourselves the fatisfaction of transcribing them: • The answer of John of France to his nobles, when they earnestly importuned him, for many reasons of state, not to return to his imprifonment in England, is always spoken of as one of the moft beautiful traits in modern history; "If integrity," said he, " was banished by all the rest of the world, it ought to be found in the words and actions of kings." The answer was of rank, equal to the man; but, furely, it is no less suitable, no less becoming, no less effentially neceffary in the mouth and actions of a minister of Jesus Chrift. Generofity, disinterestedness, and contempt of the things of this world, ought to conftitute our characters: we ought to be willing to submit to some temporary inconvenience, for the fake of advancing the credit of our Matter. How then can we defcend so low as to feek for fuperfluities by something very oppofite to fimplicity of conduct, and in the very reverie of that felf-denial we recommend? "Having food and raiment," the decencies, not the elegancies of life, ought to be content," and thankful. A life of study, and piety, and usefulness, is most effectually cultivated by a moderate enjoyment of the things of this world: for a too great fulness of bread is often "we times a curse, as well in the use, as in the manner in which it is pro cured. These are truths, of which I am well assured by the observations which I have already made in life. I have not often found a clergyman more mortified in his spirit, and more diligent in his vocation, by bis becoming so rich as to be, what is called, greatly above the world. For then engagements of another nature begin to appear neceffary, and many other employments encroach upon his proper function. Independence is indeed greatly desirable, and even laudable in the defire: but that is rather to be found in frugality and abstinence, than fought for in the abundance of the world. The providence of God is better for us than our best care for ourselves; let us only practise virtue, and trust in him, and we shall not feel want. Let the man who is wishing for another living, rise up immediately, and visit the fick and the afflicted of that, of which he hath already possession: that employment will give him other thoughts, and God's blessing. Let him ask himself, if there are no ignorant or vicious persons within his present cure, upon whom he may exercise his fuperfluous attention. If he is in want, let him retrench some unnecessary expence : let him cultivate his glebe with his own hands, rather than filch a revenue from another's. Let him recollect, in the hour of his defpondency, how many of his poorer brethren are unprovided for with one benefice: and, if he has either humility, or humanity, he may give a better current to his meditations. May we study, therefore, to fit ourselves for the work of our Master, rather than to engross the lucrative offices in his church! We shall one day, perhaps, not lament that we were in so private a flation: the hour is rolling on with a filent, though a steady, pace, when, if our trusts and our revenues have been confiderable, as confiderable a return of labour and duty will be expected: when we must be answerable for the talents we have received; when, not the measure, but the application of them will be rewarded by our Lord Jefus Chrift.' The Discourses are in the same spirit, plain, practical, and without the weakness of fanaticism, or the extravagance of enthusiasm, adapted to promote a religious temper and character. ART. IX. A Voyage round the World; but more particularly to the North West Coast of America: performed in 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, in the King George and Queen Charlotte, Captains Portlock and Dixon. Embellished with Twenty Copperplates; and dedicated, by Permiffion, to his Majelly, by Captain Nathaniel Portlock. 4to. PP. 450. 11. 5s. Boards. Stockdale. 1789. our IN Review for June, we gave an account of Captain Dixon's narration of the Voyage which is the fubject of the volume now before us. As this expedicion promised to be a measure pregnant with beneficial consequences to the commercial interests of this country (and may actually prove so, in the event), it must conduce not a little to the fatisfaction of the Public, that separate details have been given of the particular incidents and results of the Voyage, by the Commanders of both the ships employed on this occafion, -as each of their relations will ferve the purposes of a check on the other, of comparison, where doubts may arife, and of illustration, where any appearance of obscurity may seem to require it. It is, however, rather a disadvantageous circumstance, to those readers, in general, of Captain Portlock's account, who have, previoufly, perused Capt. Dixon's book, that they will feel, in no small degree, the want of new matter in this fecond publication. But this difadvantage is a necessary confequence againft which no provifion could poffibly have been made: for, had the two narratives appeared together, at the fame time, the first that happened to come into perufal, would, in course, deprive the other of its power of pleasing from the novelty of its contents. On the whole, however, the Public will certainly be much benefited by this twofold publication; as our stock of knowlege, with respect to inquiries, and discoveries, of this interefting kind [interesting in every sense of the word], will be, more or less, increased by every new and authentic communication, relative to these important and pleasing subjects. While Captain Portlock lay in Prince William's Sound, and after Captain Dixon had left him, he fitted up his long boat, and fent one of his officers in her, twice, to trade in Cook's River; where, though their success in respect to trade, efpecially the fecond time, was not fo great as they expected, yet these four runs along the coaft, from one place to the other, have brought us much better acquainted with that part of it, than we were before. It may also be observed that we are indebted to a similar circumstance for a more minute knowlege than Captain Cook had left us of the coast between Cape Edgecumbe, and the inlet, which is here denominated Portlock's Harbour. But it must be confeffed, that, befide the discoveries which have been made in these two places, and which we do not mean to depreciate, geography does not appear to owe much, on which we can reckon with certainty, to the labours of Captain Portlock. For notwithstanding many complaints are made, in Captain Portlock's and in Captain Dixon's narratives, of the miltakes which Captain Cook has committed, and that many confiderable deviations from his chart appear in theirs, we are by no means fatisfied, that there was sufficient cause for the former, or any authority for the latter. It is very remarkable, that they themselves, in their fubfequent visits to the fame place, have shewn that many of their complaints were groundless, which nevertheless are suffered to stand in the preceding part of their narratives; and that most of their other alterations, which are of any importance, want authority, we shall now endeavour to Thew. In both charts, the land which forms Captain Cook's Cape Whitsunday is made an island, with a direct passage into Cook's River, between it and the main land, nearly as wide as the ifland is broad. This, we allow, cannot be faid to be done entirely without authority; because we are told that Captain Meares found his way through that passage into Cook's River. But admitting this fact, which appears very extraordinary, as we shall presently shew, it is not poffible for that paflage to have either the extent, or the form which is affigned to it, in either of thefe maps, unless Captain Cook had been blind, or had afferted a wilful and palpable falsehood, in p. 405 of the second volume of his laft Voyage; where he expressly says he crossed the mouth of Whitsuntide Bay, and faw land all round the bottom of it: fo that either the land is connected, or else the points lock in, one behind another. But at the same time that we are told Captain Meares passed through this strait into Cook's River, we are informed also, that he took it for the real entrance into that river; and that he did not discover his mistake, until he met with fome Russians, who informed him of it. But will it not appear very strange to attentive readers, that Captain Meares, a Lieutenant in the British navy, should mistake a passage which cannot be more than a league or two wide, and runs nearly in a northern direction, for the mouth of a river which is at least ten or twelve leagues wide in the narrowest part, and where the direction is almost due west? We have already adverted to the impropriety of calling the island formed by this strait (fuppofing it to be one) Kodiac *. In Captain Portlock's map, the land which forms Captain Cook's Cape Hinchingbrook is made an island, by a pretty wide strait which runs out of the second bay, to the northward, into that which lies between Kaye's Island and Cape Hinchingbrook: and in Captain Dixon's map, Kaye's Island, and that to the northward of it, are both joined to the main by a very large shoal, which is made also to take up a great part of Comptroller's Bay; and yet it does not appear, from either of those gentlemen's narratives, that their ships, or any of their boats, were in, or so near to, either of these places, as to determine those points. Much cenfure is passed on Captain Cook's map, with respect to the form of Montague Island; and it is repeatedly contrafted with, and set in foil to that of a Mr. Edgar (who was Master of the Adventure), but with how much justice it is impoffible for * Review for June laft, p. 511. REV. Oct, 1789. Y US |