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rendered mischievously uncertain. The confusion of fraud with felony, (a new practice,) he held to be highly pernicious; and for one, I look upon it with horror. By this means, men are entrapped by the law itself."

It is natural to feel more than an ordinary degree of concern, for the disgraces of a man whose military conduct is said to have recommended him to the notice of some of the most distinguished characters. in Europe. His narrative affords an useful lesson, by shewing that talents and exertion can be of little avail to those who indulge in continued habits of extravagance. An unrestrained warmth of disposition appears, likewise, to have involved him frequently in disagreeable situations. Some portion of this intemperance occasionally appears in the language which he uses: in one instance especially, (p. 284,) in a manner which does not admit of excuse.

The author has not related his adventures in one unbroken series : his narrative contains some curious anecdotes respecting military transactions on the Continent. The observations are, in general, such as bespeak a man conversant with the world, but strongly tinctured with military enthusiasm : for instance, he praises the godlike troops' of the King of Prussia. In drawing the character of a Russian soldier, he finishes the portrait with the following encomium; formed by nature and education for the trade of war, their minds are not estranged from the paths of obedience by those smatterings of knowledge which only serve to lead to insubordination and mutiny.'

The relation of the mutiny on board the Lady Shore (in which ship the author was going to New South Wales,) seems to be the most unvarnished account of that transaction which has yet appeared. His subsequent adventures in the Brazils are entertaining, and give considerable information respecting that country.

From among his hair-breadth escapes, we select the following adventure, in which he shewed no small share of address in eluding the fangs of the merciless catchpole.

Sitting at breakfast, I was attacked by three of them (hailiffs). I then lived in Oxendon-street, and almost opposite to me lodged Lord (then the Hon. Mr.) Semple, [Sempill] who bore a commission in the guards: but though our names were alike, our circumstances differed widely; for he owed nobody a farthing, and I owed every body who would give me credit. As soon as these vultures of the law entered, they, with the usual etiquette, gave me a very pressing invitation to a house kept by one of them. Wishing to decline this honour, I affected much surprise, and told them they must needs be mistaken, as I was in debt to nobody. They asked if I was not Captain Semple? " Then, gentlemen," said I, " the whole is cleared up. Another Captain Semple lives in this street. I see him now," (pointing to his lodgings,) "this is not the first, nor hardly the twentieth time that I have been arrested for him. His attornies, his duns, and his bailiffs will force me to quit this street." I added, that I was wearied with such incessant visits, and must, for my own sake, bring any illegal act before a court of justice. This puzzled the bailiffs, who, with some reluctance, went down stairs, and inquired if any other Captain Semple lived in that street. The servant told them there was, and pointed pointed out to them the same house that I had done. This satisfied them, and I profited by the diversion made in my favour to escape A head of the author fronts the title-page. In the narrative, he has announced his intention of publishing an account of the first three campaigns of the war, illustrated with maps, and plans of every rearkable movement made by the allied armies.

Art. 46. Asiatic Researches; or, Transactions of the Society instituted in Bengal, for inquiring into the History and Antiquities, the Arts, Sciences, and Literature of Asia. Vol. V. Printed verbatim from the Calcutta Edition. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Boards.

Sewell, &c. 1799.

We are glad to see the English edition of the Asiatic Researches, in 8vo, proceeding, as we apprehend, with success; and printed with so respectable an appearance.

We forbear to particularize the contents of this fifth volume, because the principal papers in the original Oriental edition, in in quarto, have all been reviewed by us as they successively arrived in Europe from Calcutta. Our account of the 4th and last volume of the original publication was given in the M. R. vol. xxvi. (1798) p. 121: where also, in a note, we announced the commencement of the octavo edition, by the London booksellers; of which the fifth and last volume is now before us.

Art. 47. Cursory Remarks on Bread and Coals. 8vo. 18. Hatchard,

&c. 1800.

The judgment and acuteness of the writer of this production entitle his remarks to the general attention of the public, and especially of those who may have it in their power to take any steps towards remedying the grievances which are here most justly stated: particularly the unnatural and unnecessary scarcity of coals for fuel, in and around the metropolis, to a great distance. -The last-mentioned source of distress to so many thousands of the poor, perhaps hundreds of thousands! is an evil which we may expect will be endured with the less patience and resignation, as coals are never liable to the vicissitudes of climate and unfavourable seasons; it is of the mismanagement of Man, alone, that we have here to complain. - Why should the numerous poor of London, and its environs, not enjoy the common benefits afforded by the situation and happy circumstances of our island, as well as the inhabitants of Durham, &c. &c.?

On this very interesting subject of the coal-trade, as well as on that still more interesting (because more general) one of bread-corn, the public spirited remarker throws out a number of useful hints *, expressed with energy of language, and in a strain of reasoning well adapted to the urgency of the occasions.

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Art. 48. The General Apiarian, wherein a simple, humane, and advantageous Method of obtaining the Produce of Bees, with.

* He particularly proposes that Government should take the coal-navigation into its own hands. This, however, may require much consideration.

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out destroying them, is pointed out in a Series of Letters to a Friend. By J. Isaac, Secretary to the Aniarian Society established at Exeter. 12mo. pp. 108. 2s. 6d. sewed. Johnson.

1799.

Yorick tells us that, " when a man gets across his hobby-horse, he rides it most hobby-horsically." Now as the Apiary seems to be Mr. Isaac's hobby-horse, the reader must excuse his getting over the ground in his own particular way. He inust not smile (we mean, unless he cannot help it) at the author's dedicating this little tract to the Apiarian Society, which (he says) has the honour of being the first establishment of the kind in the known world, and which has 'stood forwards in defence of the bee; and at his pathetic address to those who suffocate their bees over the body of the dead queen. • Take her up-shew her to all your friends-teach them to know her distinguishing features, and be a regicide no more!"

Such canters must be excused; and in noticing them, we would not wish to be thought to ridicule this gentleman's humanity: but we would soberly suggest, if, as it is here stated, the life of the common bees be not more than six months long, and that of the drones only three; and if the swarm which filled a peck and a half in July be reduced in December, by a natural mortality, to the size of a quart; whether there be much difference between deprivation, as here recommended, and the common way of destruction by suffocation? It also seems to admit of a question whether it be not better, in order to keep up the quantity of bees in an apiary, to preserve some strong stocks, uninjured by any aukward robbing process, and to destroy the rest as expeditiously as possible, than to run the risk of weakening all the stocks by the practice of deprivation? We wish, as much as this author can do, that honey could be taken without destroying the lives of these industrious insects: but the process recommended is so difficult, and involves so much subsequent care, that we cannot flatter ourselves that it will be generally adopted; though it may not be amiss, for those who keep bees, to attend to the directions here given relative to this subject.

This treatise has the merit of brevity: but it gives no new information, of any consequence, relative to the apiary. It treats of situation and aspect-bee-houses and hives of the different bees, and the natural duration of their lives-swarms, and hiving them-uniting swarms and stocks-deprivation, and the implements necessary for taking honey and wax, without destroying the bees-separation of honey and wax-making of mead-feeding and management-the enemies of bees:--with advice on the sale and purchase of swarms, and on the effects of the stings of bees; in which we are recommended, in case of being stung, to rub the bee that has stung us, or any other bee, on the wound. This is making the body the antidote to the tail.

Mr. Isaac seems to have been much indebted to Key's Bee-Master.

* Mr. Isaac does not mean, defence of the bee's person and property, but saving his life, depriving him of his ample stores, and putting him on short allowance.

Art, Art. 49. Thoughts on the Condition of Women, and on the Injustice of Mental Subordination. By Mary Robinson. Second Edition. 8vo.

28. 6d. Longman and Rees. 1799.

This is a republication of a work noticed in our Review, vol. xxix. p. 477, N. S. under the title of "A Letter to the Women of England, on the Injustice of Mental Subordination," with the fictitious signature of Anne Frances Randall. A work having been lately published at Paris, on a similar subject, Mrs. Robinson has been induced, as she tells us, to avow herself the author of this pamphlet.

Art. 50. Sheridan and Kotzebue. The enterprising Adventures of Pizarro, preceded by a brief Sketch of the Voyages and Discoveries of Columbus and Cortez, &c. 8vo. 5s. Hurst, &c. 1799.

Notwithstanding the hearty meal which the public have made on the Anglo-Teutonic Pizarro, the author of this pamphlet, who signs himself John Britton, seems to think that this dish of hashed meat, heated again from Dr. Robertson's History, may still be palatable. All that we can say of such a performance is that the abridgment appears to be correct.

Biographical sketches are next given of Messrs. Sheridan and Kotzebue, which are avowedly taken from a periodical publication.

As if all this compilation were insufficient, we have next an analysis of Marmontel's Incas of Peru, from which Kotzebue took the plots of his two popular dramas, the Virgin of the Sun, and the Death of Rolla. Here, indeed, our patience forsook us, and we could not avoid crying out, Neighbour, you are tedious."

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Mr. Britton's zeal, however, has carried him yet farther; he vindicates Mr. Sheridan's alterations in the Pizarro of Drury Lane against a host of critics, and is very wroth with those who do not admire them, though he is evidently unable to answer the objections.

How far his ardour might have led him, it is impossible to conjecture: but " compassion for the patience of his readers makes him finish" at length. We humbly thank Mr. Britton for his welcome, though tardy humanity.

Art. 51. Experimental Essays, Political, Economical, and Philosophical. By Count Rumford. Essay X. Part I. On the Construction of Kitchen Fire-places, and Kitchen Utensils; together with Remarks and Observations relating to the various Processes of Cookery, and Proposals for improving that most useful Art. 8vo. pp. 100, and 7 plates. 2s. 6d. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1799.

Man has been called, by way of discrimination, a cooking animal; be it so: but there is no reason that he should cook extravagantly. He must allow, with Count Rumford, that' nothing is so disgraceful to society and to individuals, as u meaning wastefulness.' Now the object of the Count, whose philosophy is of the really useful kind, is to shew that there is great wastefulness in the kitchen and culinary processes of Great Britain; and to recommend a system that will remedy those evils, Endeavouring to establish economy on philosophic

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Losophic principles, he will recommend his thoughts to the attention of all who are not extremely ignorant or extremely prejudiced. He observes that all the fuel used in making water boil with violence is wasted, without adding in the smallest degree to the heat of the water, or shortening the process of cooking a single instant; and that the waste of fuel which arises from making liquids boil unnecessarily, when nothing more would be necessary than to keep them boiling hot, is enormous. On this simple principle, iple, he proceeds; and in order to enforce the adoption of his economical plans, he farther observes that the unscientific and slovenly method of cookery makes the food less savory, less wholesome and nourishing." - The true reason why nourishing soups are not more in use among the common people of Great Britain is, because they do not know how good they really are, nor how to prepare them."

Count R. reprobates the open kitchen-fire-places now in common use, and particularly that devouring implement called a kitchen. range. More fuel (he observes) is frequently consumed in a kitchen. range, to boil a tea-kettle, than with proper management would be sufficient to cook a good dinner for fifty men.' He anathematizes with equal vehemence the common appendage of the range, viz, the smoke-jack.

The Count gives descriptions, accompanied by plates, of the manner in which several kitchens are fitted up on the Continent. These cannot be perfectly understood without the engravings; though the general principles of their construction are, that each boiler, kettle, and stew-pan, should have its separate closed fireplace; and that each fire-place should have its separate grate, and its separate ash-pit, closed by a door well fitted to its frame, and furnished with a register for regulating the quantity of air admitted into the fire-place through the grate.

The ingenious author condemns not only the open fire-place, but the connection of ovens and boilers with the kitchen-range. He advises that these should be detached, and heated each with its separate fire; and he informs us that these closed fire-places for iron ovens and roasters can hardly be made too small. When (says he) my roasters shall become more generally known, and the management of them better understood, I have no doubt but that open chimney fireplaces, and open fires of all descriptions, will be found to be much less necessary in kitchens than they now are. I am even sanguine enough to expect that the time will come when open fires will disappear, even in our dwelling rooms and most elegant apartments.' In this latter expectation we cannot concur with the Count. Our chimneys contribute to ventilate our apartments, and the heat from open fires is more pleasant than that which is derived from a stove coming through a flue.

Count Rumford's attention has been benevolently directed to the improvement of the cottage fire-place: but his ideas are not matured on that subject. He has however recommended the construction of cheap ovens, which may prove highly useful to the poor, and to all small families

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