1804. ] Half-Yearly Retro/pe 
A periodical publication, which belongs 
to the head of theology, and is denom'- 
nated the  Churchman’s Magazine,’ 
was undertaken at New Haven in the State 
of Conneéticut, about the beginning of 
the prefeut year. Four numbers have ap- 
peared. It is principally devoted to the 
vindication and extenfion of the doétrines 
of the epifcopal church. This ‘is the firft 
attemptin the United States, fo far as we 
are informed, to eftablifh a periodical pub- 
] cation, whofe objeét is to promote the in- 
tereft and views of a particular denomina- 
tion of Chriftians; and we fhould appre- 
hend that the tendency of fuch an under- 
taking can fcarcely be expected to be fa- 
vourable to the cultivation of liberal and 
Catholic fentiments. So far as a judgment 
can be formed from the numbers already 
publifhed, this Magazine is likely to be 
conducted in a feeble and fpiritlefs man- 
ner. 
MEDICINE. 
“© The Medical Repofitory, and Review 
of American Publications, on Medicine, Sur- 
gery,and the auxiliary Branches of Science vi 
condued by Drs. MircuiLL and MILLER, 
continuesto be the vehicle of a large mals of 
medical communications, which prove the 
flourifhing ftate and fteady advancement of 
that {cience in the United States. The ori- 
ginal communications publithed in this 
work often indicate more learning and ob- 
fervation than might be expected from phy- 
ficians difperfed over an immenfe tract 
of country, too difant from one another 
to hold much intercourfe, without the ad- 
vantage of public libraries, and too incet- 
fantly engaged in the laborious duies of 
their profeffion to enjoy much leifure. ‘he 
department of review exdibits a good out- 
line of the ftate of medical literature in 
the United States, and feems to preferve 
many notices of the publications of the 
day, which in the lapfe of time might be 
liable to fall into oblivion. ‘The depart- 
ment of medical and philofophical intelli- 
gence contains notices of many things 
“only obferved or occuring in America, 
which otherwife might be loft to inquirers 
living in other parts of the world. Tine 
firft volume of the fecond hexade, or anew 
feries, being the feventh from the begin- 
ning of the work, is now completed. 
The fecond part.of Profeffor Barron’s 
© Collections for an Ejjay towards a Ma- 
reria Medita of the United States,’ has 
been publithed within the period of this 
retrofpeét. Like ail the other perform. 
ances of this accomplifhed naturalift and 
phylician, the prefent refle&s great credit 
a 
of American Literature, 125 
on the inquifitive and dilcriminating quali- 
ties of his mind. 
MISCELLANEOUS, 
Under this head, the firft place is occu- 
pied by the Rev. Mr. MiLveEr’s ** Brief 
Retro/pe& of the Eighteeath Century ; con- 
taining a Sketch of the Revolutions and Im- 
provements in Sctence, Arts and Litera- 
ture, during that period.’ The work is 
comprized in two volumes 8vo. The title 
will fufficiently convey an imprefiion of the 
arduoufnefs of the undertaking, and ef= 
pecially of the difficulty of fuch a taf 
being performed by an individual, who, 
of courfe, muft be expected to be very 
unequally acquainted with the various 
fubjeéts which he attempts totreat. The 
author, has, however, furmounted the 
difficulties that lay in his courfe with a 
degree of fuccefs which refle&s much cre- 
dit on his diligence and learning. Some 
branches of knowledge are treated more 
at length, and with more fuccefs than 
others; but in all, the intelligent reader 
will difcover marks of refearch, judgment, 
and difcrimination, which place the abilities 
of the author in a very re(pectable point of 
view, and give reafon to expect that his 
future labours will procure him a high 
reputation in the republic of letters. 
The fubje&ts which come under exami- 
nation, are the following : Mechanical 
Philofophy, Chemical Philofophy, Natu. 
ral Hiftory, Medicine, Geography, Ma. — 
thematics, Navigation, Agriculture, Me- 
chanic Arts, Fine Arts, Phyfioonomy, 
Phiiofophy of the human Mind, Claffie 
Literature, Griental Literature, Modern 
Languages, Philofophy of Language, Hif. 
tory, B:ography, Romances and’ Novels, 
Poetry, Literary Journals, Political Jour- 
nals, Literary and Scientific Affociations, 
Encyciopedias, Education, Nations lately 
become literary. 
This publication will be rendered more 
interefting to foreigners, in confequence 
of the fulnefs of the information it cons 
tains (confidering the relative proportion 
maintained in the extent of other topics) 
concerning the ftate of literature and 
fcience in the Unite! States. To fuch as 
are deftrous of obtaining a better acquain 
tance with the preient condition of litera- 
ture in the new world, even minute de- 
tails will mot prove to be tirefome. The 
author thus endeavours to excufe himfelf 
for dwelling fo particularly on this branch 
of his fubje‘t. «* Perhaps a {till more fore 
mlapology will be deemed neceffary forthe — 
difpolition to introduce American writers 
and publications, evea of moderate charac. 
ter, 
