tk&€ COUNT OFSBOOKS: 
Will. not interfere in controuling 
affociations which do not appear, 
from any evidence which has as 
yet been laid before the public, to 
be adverfe to economy, good mo- 
rals, or public tranquillity. I have, 
indeed, more than once heard it 
infinuated, That friendly focieties 
are apt to degenerate into debating 
clubs; and that convivial meetings 
en a Saturday might become the 
apteft vehicles for diffeminating 
principles fubverfive of fubordina- 
tion and fubmiffion to the laws of 
our country. I have alfo heard it 
afferted, that the members of friend- » 
ly focieties, from being accuftomed 
to affemble at ale-houfes, are not 
only ftimulated by interefted land- 
lords, but encouraged by the con- 
tagion of ill examples, in the habits 
of drunkennefs; that the money 
which is {pent ona club-night, is 
entirely loft to a labouring family; 
and that there are various ways in 
which the earnings of induftry 
might be applied more advantage- 
ouily to the morals of the labourer 
and the comforts of his family. 
Friendly focieties, it is true, like 
all other human contrivances, have 
their defects. It is, however, though 
a fhort, a fufficient anfwer to fuch 
objections as I have noticed, and 
to fome others which it is unne- 
ceffary to enumerate, that thefe in- 
itutions do not aim at perfection, 
but improvement. They are not 
intended to be 
*¢ That faultlefs monfler which the world 
ne'er faw.” 
But it is a fuffcient proof of their 
excellence, that they are congenial 
to the focial latitudes and prejudices 
of the labourer; and that, if they 
cannot correct the inclination 
(which is too often caufed by hard 
Jabour) for conviviality and diffi- 
pation, they, xt leaft, convert a vi- 
487. 
cious propenfity into an ufeful in- 
{trument of economy and induftry, 
and fecure to their members 
(what can feldom be purchafed at 
too dear a rate) fubfiftence during 
ficknefs, and independence in old 
age.” 
The whole of the fecond, and 
nearly a half of the third volume, 
are taken up with 181 parochial re- 
ports, the refult of his enquiries ; 
the other half of the laft volume 
confifts of a voluminous appendix, 
containing a great variety of im- 
portant and authentic documents. 
On the whole, we cannot but con- 
gratulate the public on a work, the 
refult of fo much labour and un- 
wearied induftry, which, is calcu- 
lated to doa great deal of good, and 
reflects great honour on the author. 
Thoughts on the Struéture of the Globe ; 
and the Scriptural Hiftory of the 
Earth, and of Mankind ; compared 
with the Cofmogonies, Chronologies, anid 
original Traditions of ancient Nations ; 
an Abjfira and Review of feveral 
modern Syfens ; with an Attempt to 
explain Philofophical'y, the Mofarcal 
Account of the Creation and Deluge, 
and to deduce from this laft Event, 
the Canfes of the adiual Stru@ture of 
the Earth, In a Series of Letters, 
with Notes and Liuftrations, by Philip 
Howard, Efy. 4t0, 1797, 
"THE fubftance of this work was, 
as we are informed, by the 
author, publifhed in two letters in 
the French language, toward the 
end of the year 1786: he has fince 
reviled, corrected, and confiderably 
enlarged it. In it we are brought 
acquainted with the outlines of 
thofe {cientific fyftems which, keep- 
ing pace with numerous publica- 
tions in every path of literature, 
were calculated to tear up in th¢ 
h publie 
