all 
1808.] 
Inoculation for the small pox was the 
discovery of the last century; at least 
the commencement of the practice in the 
scientific nations of Europe was within 
this period. By it, one of the most for- 
midable diseases incident to the human 
constitution is greatly alleviated. Re- 
cently, experiments of inoculation by the 
kine pox fairly promise to bamsh the 
small pox from human society. Should 
the attempt prove successful, it will be 
considered as one of the greatest disco- 
veries of the world. 
The arts, which lessen the labour of 
man, enlarge the basis of society, and 
add to our conyenience and comfort, 
have been greatly improved. 
Commerce has unfurled her sails in 
every clime, and has united by her bands 
the family of man. An interchange now 
takes place between the nations of the 
earth, of the productions of every soil, 
and of the manufactures of every coun- 
try. Scientific research has been blen- 
ded with commercial enterprize. The 
Asiatic Society, composed of English 
literary characters, settled in the East 
Indies, have explored the ancient lore, 
which lay buried in the Sanscrit language. 
Their late president, the learned, the 
pious, the humane, Sir William Jones, 
pre-eminently distinguished himself in 
these researches. He brought to light 
the hidden treasures of past ages, and 
has thereby strengthened the evidence 
of the authenticity of the Old Testa- 
ment. 
An English and a Dutch embassy to 
the court of China have increased our 
knowledge of the customs and manners 
of this ancient and singular people. 
Geography, within the last century, 
has been rendered more perfect. Cook 
has completed the map of the world; 
Bruce explored the sources of the Nile. 
Ledyark, Park, and Brown, have traced 
the course of the Niger, and laid the in- 
terior of Africa before our view. 
Within the above period the English 
language was embellished; and the sup- 
osition is by some entertained, that it 
o passed its point of supreme excel- 
lence, and is on the decline. The first 
fifty years of the last century are se- 
lected, by some critics, as the Augustan 
age of the English language; and they 
Say, that late English writers of cele- 
brity sacrifice perspicuity to sound, aud 
strength of composition to harmony of 
periods. Whatever may be the decision 
of cool judgment on this subject, the 
tefined taste must be pleased with the 
A Review of the Exghteenth Century. 
321 
copious, the flowing stream of Robertson, 
the polished diction of Gibbon, and the 
chaste neat-style of Blair. 
In institutions of humanity, the last 
century abounded. In these, the Eng- 
lish nation was conspicuous, Humane 
societies, and charity schools of various 
descriptions, were multiplied among 
them; and many measures of a public 
nature adopted to remove the sufferings, 
and alleviate the burthens, of man, 
The eighteenth century \was distin- 
guished by numerous defences of Chris- 
tianity, which satisfy the inquiring and 
the honest mind of its truth; and for va- 
rious treatises on moral philosophy, 
which delineate the obligations of man, 
through all his relations, and deduce the 
duties of his character from the nature 
of his powers, and the condition of bis 
action. It has also been distinzuished 
by a flood of sceptical and profligate 
publications. Within this period infix 
delity has assumed a more daring attix 
tude, and uttered her blasphemies jn a 
bolder tone. 
Within the last century the face of 
North America has been totally changed, 
Our population has increased in a degree 
probably unparalleled in the history of 
the world, The wilderness has flourish- 
ed like the rose, and the desert become a 
fruitful field. Within this period we have 
obtained a name among the sovereion 
and independent nations of the earth; 
and free and liberal constitutions of civil 
government have been established through 
our country. Our literary institutions 
have been extended; and we have made 
honourable improvements in arts and 
sciences. Wecan number our propor= 
tion of distinguished characters on the 
roll of fame. As a patriot, a general, 
and a statesman, we reckon Washington, 
the glory of his age, and the honour.of 
his race. In the science of civil govern« 
ment, we have Adams and Hamilton. In 
astronomy and the higher branches of 
the mathematics, Winthrop and Ritten- 
house. Inelectvicity, Franklin. Inshis- 
tory, Ramsay, Belknap, and Minot. In 
natural history, Jefferson and Wiliiams, 
In divinity, Mayhew, Edwards, Lathrop, 
and Clarke. 
———— fe 
To the Editor of the Monthly Mugazine. 
SIR, 
Th reading the description of that 
beautiful phenomenon, the marine 
rainbow, as recently given by Dr. Carey, 
in his moral tale, entitled, “ Learning 
better 
