260 



every species of which we are the avowed 

 enemies, we deem it meritorious ; and, of 

 c(»urse,are pleased at perceiving that Dr. 

 Hibbert has proved himself to be so well 

 qualified tor the task. In his research 

 into the subject of phantasms and fanciful 

 appearances, he has evidently turned his 

 eye to every connected circumstance ; 

 and we freely allow him the praise of 

 having, for his decisions, depended solely 

 upon professional experience and rational 

 and satisfactory deductions. Dr. H.'s 

 physical causes (and he admits of no other) 

 are various, and treated in a clear, close, 

 and exemplary manner. His opinions are 

 succinctly stated, and sanctioned by the 

 citation of numerous and applicable cases. 

 tSome of these exhibit the power of spectral 

 illusions as resulting from the highly-ex- 

 cited states of particular temperaments; 

 others impute their occurrence to " the 

 neglect of accnstoraed periodical blood- 

 letting ;'' others again show them as 

 derived from hectic symptoms, from 

 febrile and inflammatory affections, from 

 inflammation of the brain, from nervous 

 irritability, from hypochondiiasis, and 

 other morbid excitements, both of body 

 and mind. The view taken of the subject 

 is general and comprehensive, and the 

 plan of elucidation such as is well calcu- 

 lated to undeceive the weak and credulous, 

 and confirm the opinions of the more sensi- 

 ble part of mankind. On this ground, to 

 say nothing of the amusing features of the 

 work, we recommend Dr. Hibbert's book 

 to public attention; convinced that, in 

 order to its producing much good, it is 

 only necessary that it should be much 

 read. 



Tht History of Lymc-Regis, from the 

 Earliest Periods to the Present Day, by G. 

 RoiiERTS. This little work (originally 

 published by subscription) possesses, from 

 the fulness and perspicuity with which it 

 describes, and reasons upon, whatever con- 

 cerns the ancient town of Lyme, all the 

 utility generally annexed to works of a 

 topographical nature. After iuforming 

 his readers concerning the origin of Lyme- 

 Eegis, — giving the derivation of its name, 

 tracing its gradual progress from its rude 

 and accidental beginning, to its present 

 magnitude, population, and handsome ap- 

 pearance, — Mr. Roberts presents his sub- 

 scribers with a kind of Lymc-Regis 

 Guide ; and then, casting his eyes upou the 

 neighbouring country, delineates its fea- 

 tures and its beauty. His description of 

 the town itself is minute and satisfactory; 

 its habits, customs, accommodations for 

 valetudinarians, and pleasurable conveni- 

 ences for its healthy visitants, are fully and 

 faithfully pourtrayed, and would scarcely 

 fail to excite sufficient curiosity to induce 

 many a visitation to the town, were it 

 only for the purpose of conipaiing the 

 picture with ita original. 



Literary and Critical Proeinium. £Apri! I, 



A Series of Letters mtd Communicutions, 

 addressed to the Select Committee of the 

 House if Commons, on the Highways of the 

 Kingdom, by J. Paterson. This little 

 publication, offered to the consideration 

 of the Select Legislatorial Committee, 

 contains many remarks which appear to 

 US to be highly worthy of tlieir attention. 

 That the state of our highways, compared 

 with that of the roads travelled by our 

 forefathers, is really excellent, we readily 

 grant; but are not the less of opinion, 

 that every further improvement that sci- 

 ence and ingenuity can suggest, ought to 

 be adopted. The hints here given are nu- 

 merous, and many of them original. They 

 concern the constructions of carriages 

 and their wheels, as well as the furmation 

 and elevation of the roads ; and, were 

 some of Mr. Paterson's ideas adopted, 

 considerable advantages would undoubt- 

 edly result. Every question respecting 

 the problem of " What is the best possible 

 materials for, and dispositions of, the 

 public ways," has a claim to the attention 

 of the proper authorities; and, we hope 

 these " Letters and Communications" will 

 be duly weighed by those to whom they 

 are addressed. 



1\1r. Bukridge's Treatise on Naval 

 Dry Rot, Sfc. has appeared, and it exhibits 

 a most alarming view of the British navy. 

 Mr. Bunidge attributes the origin of dry 

 rot to the practice of hewing naval oaks in 

 summer instead of the viinter: the conse- 

 quence is, the loss of 250!. worth of timber, 

 ill seeking to save 25!. worth of bark! 

 Mr. B'.irridge appears to have sought for 

 remedies by native substitutes for oak 

 baik, in order to promote agriculture, and 

 return to the ancient practice of building 

 our navy with winter-hewn oak, (when the 

 bark is useless to tanners,) which appears 

 to be built contrary to the statute of 

 James the First, in 1603, directing tliathi^ 

 majesty's ships, houses, and mills, should 

 be built vrith timber hewn in winter. Mr. 

 Burridge's object appears two-fold, whicli 

 he submits to the legislature. He strongly 

 urges the freedom of the leather-trade, 

 and a new system of sliip-buiiding, to be 

 regulated by Acts of Parliament ; and, 

 certainly, two more vital or important 

 questions cannot claim attentive and 

 serious public inquiry and deliberation; 

 we therefoie recommend the perusal 

 of his letter to (he comptroller of the 

 navy, because it may be in time to save 

 many fine naval oaks from fatal axes 

 next May, at the bark harvest. The book 

 contains the particulars of naval dry rot, 

 its origin, progress, nature, effects, danger, 

 and remedies. 



The justice and necessity of our repre- 

 lieiidary remarks, in p. 71, on the unjust 

 criticisms of scientific works which ot'ten 

 appear in the Quarterly Journal, edited at 

 the Koyiil Institution, (by Mr. Brande, as 



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