650 Retrofped? of Dom:ftic Literature. — Medicine, Anatomy, &e. 
contains much ancient hifory, and efta- 
blifhes many important truths hitherto 
little known or atrended te. 
<The fixth chapter treats of the writing 
of the Chinefe, and of varicus charafters 
and literary figns, ufed both by the an- 
cients and moderrs, for brevity, expedition, 
or fecrecy. The faéts which appear in 
the courfe of this chapter, fully confirm 
the doétrine laid down in the fecond and 
fourth ch>pters, that al] marks whatever 
are fignificant by compa, and that LET- 
TERS co not derive their powers from 
their forms, but from the founds which 
men have agreed to annex to them. 
<¢ The feventh chapter treats of nume- 
rals and of numeral charaéters, which were 
prooably ufed before letters. 
‘¢ The eighth chapter treats of the libra- 
rii, notarii, and an iquarii, among the an- 
cients ; of paintings and ornaments; of 
the materials for writing upon; of inftru- 
ments for writing with; and fome account 
cf inks, both ancient and modern.” 
The Baroneis STAEL has publifhed, in 
two volumes, cétavo, ** A Treatife on 
Ancient and Modera Literature.” 
Tznorance and prefumption generally 
go hand in hand: in the prefent vclume 
they proceed pafibus equis, in the moft 
cordial manner. 
To the maay and fubftantial obliga- 
tions which the rifing generation owes to 
Dr. Aixin, he has now added acother in 
the publication of a ‘ Series of Letters 
toa young Lady, ou a Courfe of Englifh 
Poetry.” 
The corre€tnefs of Dr. Aikin’s tafte, 
poetical and moral, united to his found 
and dilcriminating judgment, admirably 
qualifics him as a guide through the mazy 
and feductive paths of peetry. The utili- 
ty of fuch a work as the prefent muft for- 
cibly imprefs any one who reflects on the vat 
and increafing number of Englifh poets, 
whofe volumes {clicit the perufal of young 
perfons. To have tie belt authors point- 
ed out, their beauties and defeis examin- 
ed and unfolded, and the tendency of their 
works expofed, are immenfe advantages to 
young perions who are entering on a courfe 
of Englith poetry. Dr. Aikin does not 
affume the office of a matier, requiring 
that his pupils fhou'd damn where he cen- 
. fuves, and extol when he approves: his 
object is to form tneir judgment and im- 
prove their talie, in order that they may 
themfelves be truffed with the delicate 
tafk of tc'ection ; at the fame time pointing 
cut thofe fources from which the fineft jen- 
tim:nts may be imbibed, and the mo 
pure, harmonious, and appropriate fat- 
guage learnt. 
Mr. Greene has publifhed fome ** O6- 
fervations on the Drama, with a View te 
its more beneficial Effe&s on the Morals 
and Manners of Scciety.”’ 
Thefe obfervations do more credit te 
the moral than to the critical tafte of the 
author, who is very infuficiently acquaint- 
ed with the fubjeét on which he has the 
rafhine{s to write. 
Dr. RENpDER’s ** Analyfs of the Ger- 
man Language, is a work of conlider- 
able merit. 
MEDICINE, ANATOMY, SURGERY, &c, 
Dr. SavER WALKER’S “ Obfervations 
on the Conffitution of Women, an. on fome 
of the Difeafes to which they are more ef- 
‘ pecially liable,” form an uteful compen- 
dium of the prevailing praétice as to fe- 
male complaints. ‘The doétor has not, 
however, thrown much light on any of 
them from his perfonal cbfervations. 
Mr. Foco’s ‘ Obferwations on the 
Opinions of Ancient and Modern Phyfci- 
ans refpecting the Nature and Caufe of the 
Uterine Difcharge, and various other Fe- 
male Complaints,” are fuperficial, flippant, 
and indelicate. 
Wre have occafionally noticed the zum- 
bers of Dr. BEDDOoE’s “ Hygeia,” as they 
appeared : the work is now completed in 
hree volumes as introductory to a com- 
preneniive treatife-on phyficlogy. Per- 
haps it difplays a greater portion of ge- 
nius and imagination, than of judgment 
or icience. . 
“* A Fifth Differtation on Fever, Ge, by 
GEORGE ForDYCE.” 
This pofthumous work is edited by Dr. 
Webs: it compleies the view of tever, 
originaily propofed by the fkilful ana re- 
gretted author, and was left by him near- 
Jy in its prefent tate. The defign of it 
is, to point out the difeafes which may be 
complicated with, avd the irregularities 
and accidents which may occur in, conti- 
nued fevers. To the prefent Differtation 
is annexed, a general fummary of the opi- 
nions which the author has advanced in 
his Eflays, and a reply to fome objections 
whicn have been made againit them. - 
Dr. HOOPER’s ** Anatomical Plates of 
the Theracie and Abdominal Vifcera, ac- 
companied by Explanatory Maps,” will 
be found of cijential ufe to ftudents. The 
fame may be truly {aid of his ** Diagram 
of the Human Eye,” and ‘* Map of ihe Hu- 
man kar.’ Yo Dr. Hooper we are alfo. 
very much incebted for a republication, in 
ales 
