Retrospect of Domestic Literature—Miscellantes, 
medal, modelled by Mr. Flaxman, exe- 
cuted by Mr. Pidgeon, and engraved by 
Mr. Anker Smith. 
The diferent subjects are placed, as 
msual, under the several classes into 
which the business of the society is di- 
vided. d 
One of the most curious papers appears 
to be that of Dr. How1sox, in which he 
communicates the Chinese method of 
propagating fruit trees by abscisston. 
-Another curious communication occurs 
among the ** Papers in Chemistry,” from 
Lorp RIBBLESDALE, respecting a mine of 
giuc ore ‘at Malham Moor, in Craven, 
Yorkshire; portions of the product of 
which his lordship has used in paint, as a 
Substitiite for that banefal article white 
lead, fur some years. At the opening, 
it 1s stated from the Society, that although 
‘1 4ot appear, upon trial by various 
: ns, fully to answer the purposes of 
white lead, asa basis for paint, yet at 
possessed sufficient merit to induce the 
Society to vote their silver medal to his 
lordship. 
A third memoir, of great interest, will 
be found in the papers which relate, to 
Mr. Danriw’s “ Appuratus to secure per- 
sons from sinking in Water, or to act as a 
Lirt-Preserver, when shipwrecked.” It 
properly obtained the Society’s gold me- 
dal. 
Of the “ Essays of the London Archi- 
tectural Society,” we were best pleased 
with the perusal of the two first, “ On 
Modern Architecture,’ by Mr. En- 
muND Aikin; and, “ On the Rise and 
Progress of Gothic Architecture,” by-Mr. 
Samuer Brazvey, jun. The latter of 
these contains not only much scientific 
knowlege, but extensive reading. Hav- 
ing traced our ancient Church Architec- 
ture through its various stages of progres- 
sive improvement till the introduction of 
the Grecian style had annihilated its 
retensions to the favour of our artists, 
Mr. Beazley proceeds to consider a few 
of its parts scientifically, closmg with a 
consideration of its beauties as they afiect 
the imagination. 
Mr. Gricnrist has published “ An 
Examination of the Charges maintained 
by Messrs. Malone, Chalmers, and others, 
of Ben Jonson’s Enmity towards Shak- 
speare; in-which heargues with conside- 
rable force that the commentators, 1n en- 
deavouring to raise Shakspeare by depri- 
ciating Jonson, have only benefited the 
cause of Old Ben. The following lines 
in Jonson’s verses to the memory of 
Montury Mas., Ne. 173. 
601 
Shakspeare, are quite sufficient to do 
away the charge of malignity, 
—— ‘I confess thy writings to be such, 
‘¢ As neither man nor Muse can praise too 
much,”’ 
Here also may be mentioned, “ The 
Spirit of the Public Journals, for 1807 : 
being an impartial Selection of the most 
ingenious Hssays and Jeu.d’ Esprits that 
appear in the Newspapers and other Pub- 
ications :’—-with explanatory notes, and 
anecdotes of many of the persons alluded 
to. It is sufficient to say that this 
publication has stood the test of eleven 
years. 
The nature of Mr. Marcotm’s “ Anec- 
dotes of the Munners and Customs of Lon- 
don during the Highteenth Century ; in- 
cluding the Charities, Depravities, 
Dresses, and Amusements, of the Citizens 
of London during that period; witha Re- 
view of the Stute of Society in 1807,” will 
perhaps be best explained by an enume- 
ration of the contents of the different 
chapters, . 
‘Chap. 1. Persons of the Aborigines 
of London. Reasons why their Descen- 
dants degenerated, and afterwards reco- 
vered their pristine Beauty; Causes of 
Diseases and Distortion in Parish Chil- 
dren; Sketch of the History of the 
Foundling Hospital; Welsh Charity 
School; Miscellaneous Anecdotes of nu- 
merous Acts of Charity. Chap. If. 
Anecdotes of Depravity, from 1700 to 
1360. Chap. III. Manners and Cus- 
toms, including many Descriptions of 
Folly, which may be considered as Rami- 
fications of Depravity, and others that 
rather excite Mirth than Reprehension. 
Chap. IV. Eccentricity proved some- 
times injurious, though often inoffensive. 
Chap. V. Public Methods of raising Mo- 
ney, exemplified in Netices ‘relating to 
Lotteries, Benefit Societies, &c. Chap, 
VI, The Religiousand Political Passions 
of the Community illustrated by Anec- 
dotes of popular Tuniults. Chap. VIT. 
Amusement; Detail of all its varieties. 
than. VIII. Anecdotes of dress, and of 
the Caprices of fashion. Chap. IX. Do- 
mestic Architecture, traced from its ori- 
gin to its present improved state in Lon- 
don; lighting and improving of Streets; 
Obstructions in them; Ornaments, &c. 
Chap. X. The Ecclesiastical Architec- 
ture of London. Chap. Xf. Sculpture 
and Painting. Chap. XU. Sketeh of the 
present State of Society in London. 
The style in which the workis written is 
2s very 
