and obfervations are delivered, may make them ufeful to perfons vifiting the fea coaft, enabling them in all ordinary cafes, to manage themselves, without the aid of a medical guide. ART. 25. Letters on the Caufe, and Treatment of the Gout, in which fome digreffive Remarks, on other Medical Subjects are interfperfed. By the Late Robert Hamilton, M. D. of Lynn Regis. 8vo. 194 PP. Price 55. Crosby and Co. 1806. This is a pofthumous publication, but, as it appears, was left by the author nearly ready for the prefs. The letters were originally written to a friend, who was afflicted with the gout, to which the author ultimately fell a martyr. The firft, and by far the largest part of the volume, confifts in inquiries into the various theories, as to the cause and nature of the gout, which have been broached at different times, with a new theory invented by the author, as better agreeing, he thinks, with, and accounting for the phenomena of gout, than any preceding. The gout is a difeafe, he fays, of the whole body, imparted to the embryo, before it attains confiftence, or folidity, and therefore intimately mixed with the whole mafs, with the bones, mufcles, veffels of every denomination, as well as with the fluids. What have been called caufes of the gout, as intemperance, intense study, &c. are only exciting caufes. The disease must have exifted in the conftitution, or thefe ftimuli could not have excited it. If intemperance caufed the gout, then all intemperate perfons would be afflicted with gout, which we know does no happen. The gout is an incurable disease. The only affiftance medicine can give, is in alleviating pain, fhortening the fits, and perhaps preventing their recurring fo frequently, as they might, if left un aided. The author joins thofe who confider gout as a highly inflammatory disease, and does not hesitate, when the patient is young, or of a full habit, to commence the procefs of curing the fit, with one or more bleedings; he then purges, with calomel and jalap, and through the whole courfe he keeps the body open, by giving from time to time, gentle opening medicines; he al applies blifters, to, or near the parts that are pained. He affures the reader, he had followed this practice upon himself and on many of his friends, for more than twenty years, with manifeft advantage, and without meeting with a fingle accident that could fairly be attributed to the remedies he had employed. Our readers will fee, that the author's theory of the gout is at the leaft as fanciful, as any of thofe he condemns, and abfolutely incapable of being proved, but the practice is deferving the highest degree, of attention. We cannot help congratulating the public, on the improvement, gradually introduced in the management of the gout. The late Dr. Heberden was decidedly averfe to putting additional loads of 8 flannel flannel on the limbs, and to giving wine and other heating cordials, to keep the gout in the extremities. Though not autho rized by experience, he faw no reafon against bleeding gouty patients occafionally. When the difeafe attacked the lungs, it was agreed to be proper. Why not bleed then, he says, when the inflammation runs high, to prevent that accident. We trust the practice will foon become general; or where the patient is too feeble to allow a vein to be opened, that leeches will be applied to the part, which we have feen advantageously done in a few inftances. To the use of fleecy hofiery, this author strongly ob jects. By increafing the heat in the limb, the gout is detained, and the joint weakened. During the fit, he fays, the limb fhould be lefs covered than ufual, and the patient should keep out of the bed as much as he can. In the last letter, which fills twenty pages, the author gives a concentrated view of the theory and practice recommended in tlie former letters. It contains, a code of rules for the treatment of gout, laid down in a clear, methodical and judicious manner, and may be read, with advantage, we think, both by physicians and by perfons afflicted with the disease. DIVINITY. ART. 26. A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Rochefter, in the Year 1806; and published at their Request. By John Law, D. D. Archdeacon of Rochefter. 4to. 1s. 6d. Payne. 1806. 20 PR This is the third or fourth time that we have had occafion to notice the Charges of this refpectable divine, and always with ftrong and well-deferved commendation. Nor does the present difcourfe betray any diminution either of zeal or talents. The Archdeacon fpeaks with concifenefs, but judgment, on public matters. He is more extended and more strong, as the occafion required, on those which relate to religion. He expreffes himself with moderation on the Calvinistical Controverfy, but with pointed and juft praises of Dr. Laurence's Bamptonian Lectures *.* On a fubject which has been handled with violence on both fides, that of Mr. Lancaster's mode of education for youth, Dr. Law writes with fo much temperance and good fenfe, that we are induced to infert the paffage. * But he furely goes too far, when he confiders "election to eternal life" as one of the Calvinistic doctrines opposed in thofe lectures. Predeftination to eternal death is certainly there oppofed, and rightly. But if the other is not in our 17th Article, what is? "Any attempt to establish a regularity of manners in fociety is undoubtedly laudable. But if this is to be effected by the introduction of a new scheme, not erected on the bafis of Christian morality, it is much to be feared, not only that the attempt will prove vifionary, but that it may tend to fubvert the fundamental maxim of the Apoftle, "always with good will to do fervice, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth, the fame fhall he receive of the Lord *. "A love of novelty, which perhaps is inherent in the mind, leads as frequently to applaud new meafures, without maturely reflecting on their confequences. A comprehenfive plan of communicating information with apparent facility, and of fubduing the ftubborn will by a sense of shame, is naturally embraced by thofe, who generously wish for the improvement of their fellow-creatures. But we are to confider our brethren not entirely as belonging to a civil community, but as inheritors of the kingdom of heaven and in this latter capacity they muft learn the principles of the doctrine of Christ, if they hope to attain to the recompenfe that He promifed." "Admitting that a fenfe of fhame may operate with ingenuous difpofitions, and that it is advisable to encourage it, yet it will not be fufficiently powerful to counteract irregular defires, and vicious propenfities. The hope of concealment will influence fome, and the certainty of efcaping rigid cenfure by a compance with the manners of the times, will lead to a deviation from that purity and ftrictnefs, which are required from the members of Chrift. Set before men as ftrongly as poffible the beauty of virtue; point out its obvious tendency to advance the happiness of the world; but omit not the additional obligations and fanctions which are enforced in the holy fcriptures. Let men but be impreffed with the perfuafion of their future appearance at the judgment-feat of Chrift, and they will then be afraid of committing offences, for which they know theinfelves to be account. able; and they will be anxious to "commend themselves to every man's confcience in the fight of God." This is "the old path and the good way; and if we walk not therein," let us take care that we facrifice not the wisdom of God to the idol of reafon; and that, in the attempt to civilize mankind, we forget that the true characteristic of man is, that of a religious, and not merely a rational being.” P. 17. Thefe are highly important topics for confideration; which, more or lefs, every part of the charge deferves. ART. 27. A Sermon preached before the University of Cambridge, June 29, 186, being Commencement Sunday. By Ed. ward Maltby, D.D. dell and Co., &c. 4to 25. Cambridge, printed; Ca London. 1806. The fubject of this difcourfe is judiciously chofen, with refer. ence particularly to the younger part of the preacher's audience, the ftudents in the univerfity of Cambridge. The neceffity of employing opportunities offered, and the impoffibility of recalling them when neglected, are well explained and inforced. The heads of the difcourfe are thefe, 1. That to every individual is allotted the performance of his peculiar work or employment. 2. That a diftinct and proper season is affigned to each individual for his work; and alfo for each part of his work. 3. That they are in a fatal error, who fail to improve their opportunities of gaining the knowledge, and discharging the duties, fuited to their refpective ftations. From the part in which application is made to the particular cafe of the author's hearers, we shall felect a very admirable fpecimen. "Thus briefly have I attempted to point out your duties. As to opportunities, you have here unbounded leifure for the acquifi. tion of knowledge;-you have an ample fupply of books, in every language and every fcience. Here emulation ftimulates exertion, and honourable diftinction rewards it. Nor, in addition to other means of improvement and incentives to industry, muft forget the leffons and the example of good and great men. Can you then be too often or too ferioufly reminded, that thefe opportunities have their appointed bounds? When this period of probation is paft, other feenes, other duties await you. In the world, upon which many of you foon must enter, a fucceffion of cares, with which you are now unacquainted—of occupations, for which you are unprepared-muft deprive you of the means for acquiring knowledge which are here fo largely af forded, and may fruftrate any determinations you have formed for a more vigorous and effectual profecution of your ftudies. "In an Affembly of Chriftian Youth, many of them preparing for the office of Religious Inftructors, it furely cannot appear unfeafonable to enforce the proper employment of time, even in the various pursuits of human science, from religious motives. Already have I endeavoured to fhew, that industry in our worldly callings may, and muft, be inculcated, upon the principle of obedience to that God, who has affigned to his creatures their feveral stations in life. And, it were eafy to prove that every ftudy, by which the powers of the human mind are invigorated and enlarged, has a tendency to improve us in the belief and practice of true Religion. Whatfoever extends the limits of our knowledge, whether in the natural or in the moral world, cannot fail to fupply additional proofs of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Deity. The abftrufe fciences, by exercifing the faculties in the art of reafoning, enable it to grafp more firmly the various arguments for the truth of Chriftianity and even thofe thofe ftudies, by which the fancy is warmed, and the taste matured, difpofe us to estimate more justly, and to feel more exquifitely, the lofty imagery, the appropriate diction, and the winning fimplicity of the Sacred Writers. This indeed is the end, to which every part of knowledge should be ultimately directed; nor can we fet forth, in a fairer or more ftriking point of view, the advantages of polite and recondite learning, than by fhewing that it affords the cleareft perception of the excellency, as well as truth, of Revealed Religion." P. 17. The talents and learning of Dr. M. are well known, not only at the university but in the world at large; and this discourse will certainly not tend to diminish the estimation, in which they are fo justly held. ART. 28. A Treatife on Religious Experience: in which its Nature, Evidences, and Advantages are confidered. By Charles Buck. 12mo. 330 pp. 3s. 6d. Williams and Smith, &c. 1805. * Our expectation has been agreeably difappointed in this book. From its title we looked for fomething enthufiaftic and delufive; and though we had formerly praised the author, as a man of diligence and found understanding, we feared that now he must have deviated into lefs fecure paths, with those whom ima gination governs more than reafon. We have not found it fo, on perufing his book. There is much in it, on which every christian may meditate with advantage, and little that can give offence to any. True it is that he appears to be a diffenter, but one who is neither bigotted nor uncharitable, as we fall prefently take occafion to show. EXPERIENCE fignifics, in his book, nothing miraculous or preternatural; but fuch an obfervation applied to religion, as may equally be ufed in other objects of purfuit, "the judge, the ftatefman, the general, the merchant, the mafter, the mariner," he says, "are all refpected in proportion to their experience;" namely their experience, in their respective purfuits." So in religion," he adds, "it is experience that is more advantageous than bare theory." P. 28. All this is perfectly true. "I am no advocate," he fays elfewhere," for vifions, revelations, and fingular impulfes." The utmost he allows is, that, "there have been fome inftances of extraordinary experience, and fingular manifeftations, which as fome would think (it) complete enthusiasm to believe, so I think, on the other hand, it would be incredulity to deny." P. 148. He then cites the opinion of Dr. Watts, with one or two inftances, which, indeed, are not decifive, but which it is not important to conteft. British Critic, Aug. 1803. H BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXIX. JAN. 1807. That |