every body of the system whose time of vibrating agrees nearly with that of the body first set in motion. The vocal organs of men and beasts are systems of this kind; and, possessing numberless slight variations in the elasticity and tension of their similar parts, their joint beats or pulses are capable of being diversified to an unlimited degree. On the Benefits and Duties resulting from the Institution of Societies for the Advancement of Literature and Philosophy. By, the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, A. M. Like the other delineations of social duties given to the public by this popular writer, the present discourse contains much good sense, expressed in polished language. Yet, per-haps, considering the age, character, and specific views of persons entering into literary societies, little attention is to be expected from them to the obvious and general remarks of a professed moralist, respecting the ends of their institution. Probably, most readers of this volume will deem this paper, however proper to be read at an anniversary meeting of the society, somewhat misplaced among the collection of its scientific labours. On an Universal Character: in a Letter from James Anderson, LL.D. &c. &c. This is a slight sketch of a design, the difficulty of which does not consist in the general idea, which has already been conceived by many ingenious men, but in the adjustment of particulars, and still more in the power of bringing it to actual execution; a power exceeding not only that of a learned individual, but probably of an union of all the learning and civil authority of an age. An Account of three different Kinds of Timber Trees, which are likely to prove a great Acquisition to this Kingdom, both in point of Profit, and as Trees for Ornament and Shade. By Charles White, Efq. F. R.S. The trees here proposed to the planter, from the actual observation of their growth in the plantations of the ingenious and public-spirited writer, are, 1. The broad-leaved American black birch, Betula nigra, Linn. sp. pl. 1394. B. foliis rhombeo●vatis, duplicato-serratis, acutis, subtus pubescentibus, basi integris: strobilorum squamis villosis; laciniis linearibus, æqualibus, Hart. Keavens. 2. The Athenian poplar tree; populus (Graca) foliis cordatis, glabris, basi glandulosis, remote crenatis; petiolis compres sis; ramis teretibus. 3. The iron, wainscoat, or Turkey oak, which appears to be a variety of the Quercus Cerris, Linn. The details given by Mr. White respecting these trees will be interesting to those who are concerned in similar inquiries. REV. JAN. 1799. E Some from p.48 to here, Dr Ai. Some Account of the Persian Cotton Tree. By Matthew Guth rie, M.D. F. R.S. &c. The writer begins this short paper with an enumeration of Linné's five species of cotton, of which the last, the Gossypium herbaceum or G. annuum, is the kind in question. This is called by Linné a native of America, and it may now be so reckoned: but Dr. Guthrie adduces reasons for supposing that its seed was originally procured from Smyrna for the use of the American colonies. It is now cultivated in the northern provinces of Persia, bordering the Caspian sea; and a brief account of the mode of culture is here given. Hints on the Establishment of an Universal Written Character. By William Brown, M. D. This paper is] founded on that of Dr. Anderson already noticed. It contains many ingenious remarks on the application of signs to language, which are intended to shew the possibility of rendering visible signs universally intelligible: but we confess that difficulties appear to us to arise faster, on a close view of the subject, than ingenuity can remove them. Account of a remarkable Change of Colour in a Negroe. By Miers Fisher. We here meet with a curious narration, which is incapable of abridgment, relative to an American-born negroe, of African descent, but with a mixture of blood in his pedigree, from the American Indian, and from the European. No reason can be assigned for his change of colour, which has already blanched the greatest part of his skin, and is in a state of progress. ART. VII. The History of England, from the earliest Dawn of Record ferent views and with different success, have undertaken to give a history of this country, and recollect the names of Rapin, Guthrie, Ralph, Macaulay, Henry, Hume, &c. who have all employed their respective talents in the same pursuit, we naturally inquire with what new lights a succeeding author expects to illustrate a subject which has been so often discussed. Dr. Coote appears to have expected the question; and, in a short criticism in his preface on our numerous historians, he has acquainted his readers with the reasons which led him to the present attempt, and has informed them what they will find in the course of his labours. • Impelled by the love of fame, by views of pecuniary emolument, or by motives of a more disinterested nature, many writers have, at different 12 different times, ushered themselves into public notice, as narrators of the remarkable events of England: From some of these historians, it would be invidious and unjust to withhold the tribute of admiration and applause: but a short critique on the productions of the most modern of these writers will constitute, perhaps, the most satisfactory apology for the appearance of a new work on the same subject. Hume, as an historian, has long enjoyed an extraordinary share of popularity; and his performance seems to be considered, by the majority of readers, as the best account of the affairs of this nation. His abilities were perhaps competent to the production of an history which might have far surpassed all the efforts of his British predecessors; and, if his talents had been exerted with a just regard to candor and impartiality, and with the sole view of exhibiting a fair and accurate delineation of the transactions of former days, his historic fame would have rested on a more solid basis than that which now supports it. The spirit of philosophy which animates his work gives it a manifest superiority over most of the English histories by which it was preceded. His style is elegant, without affectation; and nervous, without an appearance of labor. His arguments in defence of a favorite hypothesis possess all the acuteness of sophistry, though their force is disarmed by the application of sound logic, and the adduction of undistorted facts. Under the pretext of ex posing the delusions of fanaticism, the weakness of bigotry, and the arts of selfish and designing ecclesiastics, he indirectly endeavours to sap the fabric of religion itself, and undermine the dearest interests of society. His political principles are adverse to the claims of freedom and, under the cloak of impartial discussion, he vilifies the exertiona of the patriot, and depresses the generous flame of liberty. The reputation of Rapin is now in the wane. The multiplicity of his errors, his want of animation, and his injudicious use of his materials, have occasioned the decline of that eminence which he once enjoyed, and which produced an unprecedented sale of his voluminous work. His general impartiality was the original cause of the success of his history; but that quality is not so conspicuous in this author as his advocates pretend; nor, on the other hand, is his performance so defective in this respect as some later historians have insinuated. Though Carte is supposed to have employed more time and labor on his history than any preceding or subsequent writer; his success did not correspond with his hopes. The well-known pre judices entertained by him precluded the obvious requisite which such a work demands; and the public could not be expected to che-. rish a very high opinion of the sagacity or penetration of that author, who, in an enlightened age, could decisively attribute the ima ginary cure of the scrofula by the royal touch, to a sanative virtue conferred by Heaven on anointed sovereignty. Carte, however, where his prepossessions do not intervene, is a faithful and accurate writer; but he rarely displays any portion of the graces or the energy of composition. Guthrie was a good classical scholar, and an ingenious author.. His history of England is no contemptible work; but it appears to have T have been written with too great rapidity and too little attention of the mind. His remarks too frequently disgust by the vanity with which they are offered, or merit censure by the want of a deliberate examination of that point on which he confidently pronounces his sentiments. The charge of haste and inaccuracy, which the present critic has ventured to fix on Guthrie, is more justly imputable to his countryman Smollett, as the history compiled by the latter is solely borrowed from modern writers, whose misrepresentations he has copied, and whose errors he has multiplied. A comparison of his work with the historical labors of Rapin, Carte, and Guthrie, will perhaps convince the examinant, that he did not consult one of the original authors whom he has quoted in his margin. But his defects as an historian are in some measure palliated by that nervous elegance which often appears in his diction, and that judgment which prevents him from dwelling on occurrences of inferior moment. • Goldsmith wrote with spirit and ability; but his history of this kingdom is a mere epitome, and is calculated rather for the amusement of an idle hour, than for the improvement of those who aspire to a competent knowledge of English affairs. Henry is an accurate and judicious author; but his plan is too detached and disjointed to please the general reader; and that division of his work which comprehends the civil and military history of Great Britain, is too concise to be satisfactory. Whether these strictures are so well founded as to furnish an undisputed reason for the production of a new history of the English nation, the public must ultimately determine. But the author, who now comes forward, begs leave to express his hopes, that a new work on this popular subject, comprised within moderate limits, and untinctured with the rancor of party or the bias of prejudice, will be honored with the patronage of his countrymen. parent state. In that performance to which the public attention is now requested, the narrative will commence from the earliest period of authenticity, and be continued to the year 1783; a memorable epoch in our annals, distinguished by a peace which separated a wide extent of colonial possessions in North America from the government of the The author will not only record every political event of importance, but will interweave such transactions of a more private nature as may tend to the elucidation of the subject. He will avail himself of those new lights which have been lately thrown on different periods of our history, from original papers and records. He will exhibit a faithful portrait of the virtues and vices of the respective monarchs who have swayed the sceptre of this kingdom, free from the warm coloring of adulation, and the invidious strokes of prejudice and misconception. He will endeavour to explore the motives that have led to interesting measures, however disguised by ostensible pretexts. He will trace the origin of our constitution, both civil and ecclesiastical; the progress of science, and of the liberal and mechanical arts; the occasional variations in the customs, manners, pursuits, &c. of the successive inhabitants of this country. By way of Appendix to each volume, he will subjoin such important docu ments ments as may illustrate the context, or tend to the gratification of historical curiosity; for instance, curious state-papers, the most remarkable of the royal wills, specimens of language, &c. With respect to his style, he will avoid that affectation of profuse ornament, those meretricious embellishments of speech, which are better adapted to the florid page of the rhetorician, than to the graceful and manly dignity of the historian; and will aim at preserving that chaste sim plicity and nervous perspicuity of diction, which the most esteemed critics in all ages have recommended as the most proper for historic composition.' In a preliminary discourse, the author gives the most probable account of the origin of the primitive inhabitants of Britain, a view of the persons, dress, manners, and characters of the people, as they appeared at the time of Cæsar's invasion, and a sketch of their government, religion, commerce, and civil and military institutions. This account is very concise, perhaps too much so, considering the variety and importance of the subjects discussed in it: but, though the statement is not complete, we have discovered no instances of its being erroneous. Dr. Coote has not passed over the period in which the Romans were settled in this island, in the same unsatisfactory manner in which it was treated by Hume; who was of opinion that the transactions of that time were more connected with, and were to be sought rather in, the Roman than the British annals. Would not the same reason equally apply to the Saxon, the Danish, and the Norman invasions? The present author, following Dr. Henry, places the time of the final departure of the Romans from this country in the year 420, though he cannot vouch for the accuracy of that date. The first volume of this work terminates with the battle of Hastings; by which event the crown of England was transferred from the head of Harold the Second to the possession of William Duke of Normandy; who certainly had been nominated by Edward the Confessor to succeed him, if that nomination had not been confirmed by the Great Council of the Nation. We are inclined to believe, however, from the tapestry. which was found in the cathedral of Bayeux, and from other monuments of our history, that William was called to the succession by the destination of Edward with the consent of the Great Council, and that Harold was sent into Normandy to acquaint him with this circumstance. Dr. Coote appears to think that the nomination was solely from the Confessor, and that Harold was sent into Normandy with a different purpose; namely, for that of reclaiming the hostages which had been sent thither on the defeat of his father, Earl Godwin. |