38 
perftitioufly attached to ancient learning 
as to religion, and inthe habit of reproach- 
ing every one (Garrick, for inftance) who 
had nut a confiderable knowledge of an- 
cient authors ; and yet this literary cenfor 
always beftewed upon Burke indiferimi- 
rate and unbounded praife. 
Mr. Burke was the admired companion 
of Mr. Fox, whofe attic tafe is well- 
known. 
Mr. Burke, in his writings, often refers 
to Grecian literature; and fometimes ap- 
peals, in his late works, for the juftice of 
hhis criticifims, to the decifion of Mr. For. 
' The Latin quotations, in the writings 
and fpeeches of Mr. Burke, (in fome of 
Ins fpeeches, too, conceived and delivered 
in hafte) are numerous and appofite. 
I ftate thefe facts, in refutation of the 
affertion of your correfpondent, as what 
the public know, and as probable evidence 
that Mr. Burke was Jearned, in the com- 
mon acceptation of that term. 
T have an object in view. I am anxious 
to know the fruth in this particular con- 
cernins the attainments of Mr. Burke: 
and I with as well to invite the commu- 
nications ef your correfpondents on this 
fabje&, as to -imprefs upon the mind of 
Dr. LAWRENCE, the neceflity of afford- 
ing us exact informatien on this head, in 
his lifeof his illuftrious orator and ftatef- 
Man. - 
Were it known that Mr. Burke was 
ignorant of Latin and Greek, it is to be 
feared, that it would banith Horace and 
Homer from the {chools. We muft know 
the fa&. 
I had conceived, and I do conceive, 
that it is almoft impoffible to form an ora- 
ter and writer, hke Mr. Burke, without 
giving hima knowledge of the languages 
of Greece and Rome. .I do not mean to 
fay, that aknowledge of Latin and Greek 
will make any man a fine writer, or a 
fpeaker ; nor have I forgotten the dry re- 
procf that a man of wit once gave a pe- 
dant in my prefence :---** Sir, IT have read 
all the beft authors of Greece and Rome.”’ 
‘© Yes, Sir,” was-the reply. «« you can 
boatt of attainments that Shakefpeare ne- 
ver knew.”’ PyYRRHO. 
London, Feb. 18, 1798. 

’ Jo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HE attention of medical men has 
ai lately been much direfted to the 
effects of the Nitric Acid, exhibited in- 
ternally: and though thofe effe&ts have 
been found very different, by different 
practitioners, yet it is evident, from the 
whole collective teftimony, that a very 
Mr. Henry on the External ufe of Nitric Acids 
valuable medicine, which had been. hi- 
therto wholly neglected in its uncombined: 
ftate, is added to the Materia Medica. 
But as the difagreeable tafte which it 
poffeffes, and the bulky form in which it 
has been given, have raifed objeétions to 
its ufe, it is a matter of confequence, that 
gentlemen, who are engaged in making” 
trials with it, fhould have early informa- 
tion, that there is great probability, that 
the Nitric Acid, diluted to the degree at 
which it has been given by the mouth, 
is, like Mercury, when applied to the fkin, 
abforbed, and afterwards produces in the 
fyftem, the fame effects that arife from its 
internalufe. 4 
By the laft fleet from the Eaft Indies, 
I received a letter from Dr. ScortT, of, 
Bombay, the gentleman who firft recom- 
mended, and himfelf commenced, the in- 
ternal ufe of the Nitric Acid. Inclofed 
was a pamphlet, containing, in addition. 
to the letters which he had before pub- 
lifhed, two additional ones, in which he 
communicates this important informa- 
tion, not founded on conjeéture only, but 
on actual experiment. | 
In one inveterate cafe of Syphilis, in’ 
which the relief from Mercury had been 
imperfect and temporary, Dr. ScoTT ap- 
plied cloths, wet with the Nitric Acid; 
with thefe the legs of hi¢ patients were 
furrounded, and the cloths were kept meift 
with additional water, for an hour or two 
daily. The relief received was remarka- 
ble: the fymptoms, which were of the. 
worft kind, difappeared ; his ftrength re- 
turned ; and, at the end of three months, 
he continued in good health, ‘though, 
during that period, he ufed no other reme- 
dy than Nitric bathing. 
In other cafes, Dr. Scort caufed the 
legs, and part of the thighs, to be im- 
merfed for an hour, night and mornings 
in water, acidulated with Nitric Acid, as 
far as the {kin could bear it without un- 
eafinefs. This mode was attended with. 
equal fuccefs. And, as a fimall quantity 
of acid.is fuffiicient to acidulaté a large 
portion of water, and as the fame:acidu- 
lous water will laft for a long time, Dr. 
Scott obferves, that a bath fo large as 
to cover the whole body may be prepared. 
at a {mall expence. 
From the marked aétion of the Nitric 
Acid, on the refinous fubfance of the 
bile, Dr. Scorr thinks it probable, that 
bathing in dilute Nitric Acid may be-fer- 
viceable in the early flages of the yellow 
fever. Iam, Sir, your very humble fer- 
Vanty.. Tromas HENRY. 
Manchefier, Feb. 22 1798 
