
Retrofpedt of Domeftic Literature——Medicine, &5c. 
The third volume will be devoted to the 
Saxon times; and the fourth will give 
*« The Hiftory of the ftrenuous Efforts of 
Norman Genius, and of the Preparations 
which their fturdy and violent Endea- 
yours were permitted to make for better 
Times.” Mr. King has fome whimfical 
notions interfperfed through his work, 
which, however, do not by. any means 
detraét from its curiofity or intereft. 
One cannot help fmiling at his dreadful 
apprehenfions left we fhould relapfe to the 
idolatry of our pagan anceftors, if we 
become too intimately acquainted with 
Its captivating folemnities ! Speaking of 
Stone Henge, “ It is an bappy circum- 
fiance,’ fays he, ‘‘ that we do not, at 
this diftance of time, with precifion, un- 
derftand what the abominations here 
practifed, in the latter moft corrupted 
ages of druidifm, were ;”’ and again, “ It 
is not to be lamented that we are fo far 
ignorant, and it would be serving but an 
wll purpofe to endeavour to bring them to 
light again, or to ftrive to catch ideas of 
them by the wild guidance of. conjec- 
ture.” Mr. King is of opinion, that all 
the improvements of human life, in ar- 
chiteéture, 8zc. &c. are rather the refult 
of immediate mfpiration from the Deity, 
than of the unaided efforts of human 
reafon! ! With all its whimficalities, 
however, this work is extremely curious, 
and will be confidered as a valuable addi- 
tion to the literature of the country. 
The four firft numbers are publithed of 
the fecond volume of Mr. Byrwne’s 
«© Anriguities of Great Britain.” The 
_ firft volume of this very elegant work 
was publifhed, many years ago, by Mr. 
Hearne and Mr. Byrne in conjunétion ; 
the fecond, which isin no refpeét inferior 
to the former, is carried on by Mr. B. 
alone, from drawings made by Mr.. 
Hearne for that purpofe. Each number 
(price 13s.) contains four plates, ten 
inches by feven, and the volume will be 
completed in thirteen numbers. Each 
plate is accompanied by a fhort and cor- 
reét defcription in Englifh and in French. 
The part already publifhed exhibits 
views of the following antiquities: St. 
Peter's, Oxford; St. Botolph’s Priory,. 
Colchefter; Newark Caftle, Notting- 
hamfhire; Lanthony Abbey, Monmouth- 
fhire ; South Gate, Yarmouth, Norfeik ; 
Gloucefter Cathedral; Hereford Cathe- 
dral; Church of St. James, Dunwich, 
Suffolk; Salifbury Cathedral; Ludlow 
Caftle, general view; Ditto, interior 
view ; Chepftow Caftle, Monmouth- 
MonTHLy Mac. 
655 
fhire ; Barnard Caftle, Durham; Caifter 
Caftle, Norfolk; Epifcopal Palace ar 
Wells; and the Market-Crofs at Glafton- 
bury. 
MEDICINE, &c. 
Mr. PEarson’s “ Obfervations of 
the Effeéts of various Articles of thé 
Materia Medica in the Cure of the Lues 
Venerea, illuftrated with Cafes,’ are 
compreffed into a fmall but .valuable 
volume. Mr. Pearfon is fenior furgeon 
of the Lock Hofpical, the Afylum, and 
Public Difpenfary: his opportunities, 
therefore, of trying experiments in the 
cure of fyphilitic affections are almoft in- 
numerable. Soon after the venereal 
difeafe made its appearance in Europe, 
mercury was difcovered to be effeétual in 
curing it: by ignorant and unfkilful 
practitioners, however, it was frequently 
adminiftered in fuch mercilefs quantities 
as to produce other complaints fearcely 
lefs fatal than that which it was intended 
to remedy. In confequence of this, it 
began to lofe its popularity, and various 
vegetable produétions, guaiacum, the 
China and farfaparilla roots, mezereon, 
opium, &c. &c. were introduced as fub- 
ftitutes for this dangerous remedy. Some 
of thefe. medicines having been found 
ferviceable in removing fome of the confe- 
quences of the difcafe, and in counteract- 
ing the ill effeéts of the mercury, were 
fuppofed to be ufeful remedies in the 
fyphilis itfelf: in a fhort time, however, 
it was difcovered that too fanguine ex= 
pectations had been formed of thefe pom- 
pous fpecifics, and the mercury, which 
had funk feveral degrees, now rofe to its 
former ftation. Mr. Pearfon gives a 
concife hiftory of each of thefe medicines, 
fhowing the circumftances to which they 
owed their popularity, and thofe by 
which they loft it. He is of opinion, 
that practitioners have been no lefs rath 
in relinquifhing altogether thefe once 
popular remedies than they were in ex- 
tolling them beyond their merit; for, 
although none of them, unafhifted by 
mercury, were fpecifics againft the vene- 
real poifon, yet almoft all of them have been 
found ufeful in relieving certain fymptoms 
of the difeafe. ‘This ingenious volume 
concludes with an enquiry into the effi- 
cacy of the various acids which have, of 
late years, been fo celebrated for their 
antifyphilitic virtues. Mr, Pearfon con- 
fiders the murizted barytes, and two of 
the mineral acids, as poffeffing the power 
of fufpending, for a hmited time, the pro- 
erefs of the difeafe, and of removing 
al many 
