Retrofpect of American Literature—Law, Geography. 
lity in a vegetable is deftroyed by the 
abftra€tion of carbone or water, which is 
compofed of oxygen or hydrogen. But 
we do not perceive in what manner the 
admiffion of all this will in reality bring 
us better acquainted than we have before 
been with the nature of the principle of 
life. 
A more wild and incoherent publica- 
tion can fcarcely be imagined than Dr. 
Ruston’s ** Colle&tion of Faéts ; inter- 
{perfed with Obferyations on the Nature, 
Caufes, and Cure, of the Yellow Fever ; 
in a Series of Letters, addreffed to the In- 
habitants of the United States.”’ Part I. 
This firt part contains eleven letters; 
and with them the public muft be con- 
tented; as the author has recently paid 
the debt of nature, and vothing is faid of 
any additional parts having been prepar- 
ed for the prefs. The lofs of a fecond 
or more parts is the lefs to be regretted, 
as, in the firft, no indication.is afforded of 
fuch an acquaintance with the fubjeéct, as 
would be neceffary to throw any light 
upon it. In the account of the plague of 
Athens, which occupies one letter, and 
that of London, in 1665, which fills an- 
other, the author appears to have taken 
little pains to obtain accurate informa- 
tion, or to have been very unfortunate in 
the dire€tion of his refearches. It is not 
eafy to collect what his opinions are of 
the nature of the yellow fever ; and in- 
deed it is probable that he had formed no 
definite notions on the fubjeét. He utes 
much freedom in blaming the modes of 
praclice which have moft generally pre- 
vailed, without providirg fuch fubftitutes. 
as would be likely to fatisfy the inquifi- 
tive phyfician. 
LAW. 
The gentlemen of this profeffion 
in the United States feem to be 
lefs inclined than others to appear in 
the capacity of authors. Many rea- 
fons might be’affigned for this, without 
reforting to the charge of more indolence 
or inattention than are to be found among 
others. 
“« Reports of Cafes argued and adjudg- 
ed in the Supreme Couit cf the United 
States, in Auguft and December Terms, 
1801, and February Term, 1803 ; Vol. 
I.; by Witttam Crancu, Affiftant 
Judge of the Circuit Court of the Diftritt 
of Cclumbia,”’ do mwch credit,to the di- 
ligence, fidelity, and accuracy, of Judge 
Cranch, and well deferve to obtain a ge. 
neral circulation in the United States. 
It is to be hoped the Judge will be in- 
65) 
duced to continue this under'aking, and 
to lay before the public, as often as miy 
be convenient, the refult of his labours. 
* An Abftraét of the Laws of the 
United States, which relate chiefly to the 
Dutiesand Authority of the Judges of the 
inferior State-Courts, and the Juftices cf 
Peace throughout the Usion; illuftrated 
by Extracts from Englifh Law-Books ; 
to which is added an Appendix, contain- 
ing a variety of ufeful Precedents.” This 
work has been drawn up by SAMUEL 
BayarD, Efq. Counfellur at Law, and 
late one of the Judges of Common Pleas 
for the County of Welt Chefter, in the 
State of New York. 
The obje& of the work is to afford 
fome affittance to the judicial magiftracy 
of the feveral ftates, by condenfing within 
a {mall compafs, and furnifhing at a mo- 
derate expence, all thofe laws, cr parts of 
laws, which relate to the duties and au- 
thority of the Judges of the State-Courts 
and Juftices of the Peace throughout the 
Union. Thefe are illuftrated by fuch 
parts of the Englith law as are applicable. 
The work fhorily treats of the mode of 
proceeding in criminal cafes, and in fuits 
for penalttes, under the law of the United 
States. It contains a fummary of the 
rules and principles of evidence, and 
clofes with a felection of fuch precedents 
as promife to be of the moit extenfive ule 
to the American magiftrate. “he vo- 
lumes of the Aéts of Congre’S are now be- 
coming numerous ; from thefe acts the 
prefent work contains, under diltinét 
heads, a compilation of all that is of im- 
portance to the different Judges of the 
State Courts and Jultices of Peace in the 
United States. In undertaking this pub- 
lication Mr. Bayard has rendcred an ac- 
ceptable fervice to a large bédy of magif- 
tracy, whofe fituation, in many inftances, 
does not readily allow them accels to the 
Laws of Congrefs. His plan is well ar- 
ranged, and the whole execution is fuch 
as to reflect credit on his diligence, accu- 
racy, and good lenfe. sf 
GEOGRAPHY. : 
Mr. PinKerTon’s ‘* Modern Geogra 
phy,”’ has been lately re-publifhed in Phi- 
ladelphia, with additions and improve- 
ments, which will render it a much more 
valuable work in theeltimation of the peo- 
ple of the United States. 
In the Britith edition, the article Ame- 
rica had been treated in a very defeStive 
manner. Not only omiffions of much im- 
portance, were frequently to be obferved, 
but errors and miftatements had taken 
a ait ; place 
