from their own excellence. Antiquities, or remnants of history, are tanquam tabula naufragii, when induftrious perfons, by an exact and fcrupulous diligence and obfervation, out of monuments, names, words, proverbs, traditions, private records and • evidences, fragments of stories, paffages of books that concern not itory, and the like, do fave and recover fomewhat from the deluge of time.'* * De Aug. Sci. R. An addrefs, delivered before the Roxbury Charitable Society, at their anniversary meeting, September 17, 1804. By Luther Richardjon. Boston, printed by Munroe & Francis. pp. 18. ADDRESSES before charitable affociations have become fo frequent, that moft orators feel obliged, on thefe occafions, to depart from the beaten track, and to lead their auditors through thofe paths, in which more novel entertainments may be found. Philanthropy is the fubject of Mr. Richardfon's addrefs; but if, at any time he deviates from it, he Feturns without abruptnefs,and by the new profpects which he prefents, excites increased attention and pleasure. In this addrefs is much manly fentiment and much ingenuity; But the fentiments are fometimes obfcured by a redundance and confufion of metaphor, and that fimplicity is violated which confitutes the beauty of ftyle, and; which is compatible with the highest fublimity. "Tumors in writing, as well as in the human body, are certain diforders ;" and deface many pages which might, otherwife, obtain unqualified ap probation. In vindication of thefe ftrictures, we preient our readers with the two firit paragraphs of this addrefs, which are, indeed, the most exceptionable. Forever foaring on the wings of defire to imaginary bilfs, the pride of creation, and the fovereign of the world; yet felf-fubjected to the tyranny of paffion, the sport of fortune, and the child of frailty-With a mind, unbounded as the univerfe, and commenfurate with eternity; yet chained down by nature to mortality-Courting on the fiery chariot of ambition to immortal fame, while trembling on the brink of infamy and destruction—is the fate of mortals. While we contemplate the awful fcene of human viciffitude, nature would revolt at the frightful thought, did not religion cheer the defponding mind, and juftify the ways of God to man." She points us to philanthropy, as the golden chain, which unites theie adverfe deftinies; white heaven-born charity fills the hideous chaẩm; and divine benevolence, like a boundless ocean, laves either fhore with its peaceful waves. In proof of the juftness of our commendations, we might adduce many pallages. The following, however, will be fatisfactory. Pardon me, 0 trafting thy enviable pre-eminence with the unfortunate nations of Europe, for reminding thee of national fins, yet unrepented of; and of crimes against philanthropy, yet unexpiated. Let it not be told, that even in America," the broafted afylum of perfecuted liberty, deeds of inhumanity are daily fanétior-” ed and committed, which would draw tears from the marble eyes of infenfibility, which would fuffufe with flame my country, after con the face of favage cruelty. Let hiftory be filent, and no longer reproach her tyrants with cruelty, fince the present age produces Freemen, who have enlarged the empire of human mifery and oppreffion, and who commit barbarities for avarice. For the truth of this, I appeal to our devoted victims of Africa, languishing in flavery. I appeal to their inhuman tafk-masters, whofe daily luxuries are mingled with their tears and blood. I call to witnefs the fordid plunderer of the human race, the infamous robber of mankind, who deliberately enumerates the miferies he is about to commit on the peaceful nations of Africa-What articles will purchase one flave, what fetters will be neceffary to chain him on board his fhip-what fcourgings will be inflicted to compel him to his talk-and who calmly counts each drop of blood trickling from his cruel ftripes. Is it poffible that these enormities are tolerated by a government whofe boafted creed is" equal and exact juftice to all' With fhame and confufion let us turn to the charter of our liberties, and with terror and astonishment, like the hand writing upon the wall, read "all men are born free and equal, and possess "certain unalienable rights, among which is the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties."Incredible inconfiftency of national character! Oh strange depravity of human nature!-The names of liberty and patriotism are a libel upon us. "Eulogium" is not an English word. p. 6. We are forry to obferve fuch violation of the rules of grammar, as in the following fentences. Disdaining the milder arts and focial virtues, the profperity and happiness of one empire was effected only, by the fubjugation and flavery of the world. p.7. Never, perhaps, in the annals of time, bas the ways of providence appeared more dark and myfterious. p. 12. The expreffion in page 11, the bounties of benevolence," Vol. I. No. 13. Eeee is in itself tautological, and in its connection redundant. The punctuation of this addrefs is very incorrec. Obfervations on Phthifis Pulmonalis, and the ufe of the Digitalis in the treatment of that difeafe with practical remarks on the ufe of the tepid bath. By Ifaac Rand, M. D. A. A. et S. H. Soc. and Prefident of the Maffa chufetts Medical Society. Read at the request of the Maachusetts Medical Society, June 6, 1804. THIS little pamphlet is a copy of a difcourfe delivered before the Maffachufetts Medical Society, at their last annual meeting, and published by their defire. Agreeably to its title it confifts of two parts. We are happy to fee in the first part the notice, which is taken of a very powerful remedy, that has excited the attention of the most celebrated English prac titioners. Dr. Rand introduces his obfervations by the following remark-"No difeafe is more frequent or fatal than the phthifis pulmonalis, the prevention and cure are among the defiderata in our fyftem of medicine." So true is it that the means of cure are not established, that with the learned and with the unlearned it is univerfally believed, that to have a confumption is to be marked for early death. If any remedy can be found, which will fave the life of one in ten fubjects of this difcafe, medicine may affume new courage, and its profeffors may hope at a future day to wipe medicine in increafed dofes till off the reproach which the rec ords of this difeafe afford againft" the number of the pulfations of them. Such a remedy is prom- the artery is diminished to fifty ifed us in the digitalis purpurea. or fixty." It is not intended to We repeat therefore that it gives deny the truth of this opinion, us great pleafure to fee the notice nor rafhly to decide against the which is taken of this medicine propriety of the direction. It is in thefe "Obfervations"; and however incumbent on practition Atill more, that its virtues have ers to obferve carefully, and to been proved and its ufe fanction- wait for more enlarged experied by fo eminent a practitioner as 'ence, before they form decided the author of them. opinions on this fubject. Scme patients will not bear a sufficient quantity of this medicine to reduce the pulfe in any confiderable degree, without a ferious difturbance of important parts of the animal fyftem. Are thefe patients incapable of receiving benefit from the digitalis? Is the diminished action of the fanguiferous veffels an effential circumftance, on which the curative effects of this medicine depend?— Thefe queftions are important. The attention of medical practitioners to them is earnestly fo licited, and we will go out of our province to request communica tions for the Anthology in antwer to them. Dr. Rand, after ftating the great ravages produced by phthifis pulmonalis, and deploring that fo many in the prime of life become its victims, goes on to "give a concife hiftory of the digitalis purpurea, and its modus operandi, with a cafe or two fubjoined, with cautionary hints." From the history of the med ical ufe of this plant, it appears that it was employed with fuccefs as a cure for phthifis pulmonalis in the fixteenth century. It is to be regretted that, from want of fufficient caution in the exhibition of it, it was at that time laid afide, as a deleterious plant too dangerous to be administered to the human fubject. Some explanation to account for this difufe of to powerful an agent is offered. Its late introduction for the fame purpofes, for which it was then employed, is not traced. The explanation given in this difcourfe of the modus operandi of the foxglove probably accords with the fentiments of meil phyficians on this fubject. It is founded on the opinion that its falutary effects are perceived only, when it diminishes the frequency of the action of the heart and arteries. Agreeably to this, it is directed to adminifter the Dr. Rand recommends the writings of Beddoes, Withering, Drake and Fowler on the ufe of this plant; and he mentions a fuggeftion of one of thefe refpe&ting the chamomile flowers, which, if well founded, is important. Two cafes are added of patients apparently faved by the foxglove. Cautionary hints are alfo added, which demand the attention of all, who adminifter this remedy. The Doctor concludes his obfervations on the digitalis purpurea with the following remark:"Although I do not think with Dr. Beddoes, that this is as infal lible a remedy in confumption, as mercury in lues venerea, and bark in intermittents, I mult acknowledge and with pleasure affert, that I have cured more by this medicine, than by all and every other medicine conjoined." This remark gives us the more pleafure, when we reflect that the cures by this medicine must have been effected within a few years, while other medicines have no doubt been diligently employed by this refpectable practitioner for many years. In the fecond part of this dif courfe Dr. R. recommends the warm bath as ftrengthening and corroborating, in oppofition to the common opinion, that it is weakening and relaxing. He alfo gives fome "hints on clothing." In this fecond part of the difcourfe the reader will find difplayed much learning, and he will receive useful information and advice. delicacy of a modern beau would be ftartled at the harsh exclamation of the auftere and unrelenting. fatirift of antiquity to his friend, who propofed marriage. "What madnefs, prithee, has thy mind poffeft? "What fuakes, what furies, agitate thy breaft? "Heavens! wilt thou tamely drag the galling chain, "While hemp is to be bought, while knives remain ; "While windows woo thee fo divinely high, "And Tiber and the Emilian bridge is nigh?" GIFF. These fatires, though indeed with mitigated feverity, have been continued in modern days; but after having engaged fuch minds as Chaucer, Pope, Young, Boileau, &c. they have become a fpecies of wit, fo obvious and cafy, that we have no ambition of acquiring fame by attempting thefe poems were expofed to ridito difplay it. Even therefore, if cule, we fhould feel no difpofition to indulge the cynical pleasure of general farcafm and undifcriminating contempt. The volume opens with an irregular poem on the birth of Genius. For this irregularity the author may plead the authority of writers fo numerous and fafhionable, that it may be worth inquiry to confider, how far it contributes to the grandeur or beauty of poetry. In the eleva tion of fervid compofition, when the poet "wakes to rapture every * Certe fanus eras. Juv. ? trembling ftring" of the lyre, he may be fuppofed to forget the exactnefs of critical laws, and irregularity may be forgiven, if not approved. On this principle we may defend the odes of Gray, and the objections, even of fuch a critick as Johnfon, must be pronounced cold and unpoetical. But when the flow of thought is equable and calm, when we are only told that Phoebus enamoured of Azuria becomes the paFent of Genius, irregular ftanzas Nor is are harsh and unmufical. it fufficient to fay, that they add variety to the compofition; where there is variety in the fentiment they are unneceffary, where there is none they are unavailing. The infipidity of water will not be corrected by throwing it into agitation. The fubjects of thefe poems are fo numerous, that it would be tedious, if it were not ufelefs, to enumerate them. We find fev, eral patriotick and complimentary odes; a number of fongs and fugitive pieces; feveral fonnets, which are better than fonnets ufually are, and feveral tranflations, which are better than tranf. lations fometimes are. To the fentiments expreffed in these writings we give unreferved appro bation, as they are the refult of immemorial experience, and have received the undeviating acquiefcence of all mankind. The ode to Senfibility is the only inftance, in which the fentiment is at all exceptionable. We would not plead the caufe of apathy, or even of that unruffled indifference, which can fay with Greville, Half pleafed contented I will be, Content but half to please. Yet this childish praife of good. nefs by inftinct should be left to the naufeous nonfenfe of modern novels. As fome compenfation however for this cenfure, we extract a ftanza from the lines on Affection, as a very favourable fpecimen of the value of the volume. Yes, they are happy if the polished gem, On which the fun in varied colours plays, Rejoices that his luftre comes from him, And glows delighted to reflect his rays. We have offered almost unqualified praise to the fentiments advanced by Mrs. Rowfon, and we may add, that the religious pieces are often elevated and devout. This furely is higher praife, than if we could fay, that the poffeffes all the fine frenzy of the poet, and all the raptures of the lyre. From the refpectable manner in which we understand fhe fulfils the duties of life, we took up her volume with a difpofition to be pleafed. We have given our approbation to her in, tentions; but to fay, that fhe pol feffes in any high degree the qualities of a poet is praife, which, if we would defcend to offer, the publick would not endure. No. IV. The Clergyman's Looking-Glafs. The main pillar of antichrift's kingdom fbaken, and the folly of Fannes made manifeft; being an examination of "Mr. Ofgood's arguments in fav our of the antichriftian practice of Sprinkling children, under pretence of baptizing them. By Elas Smith, fervant of Jefus Chrift. Bofton. Printed for the Author. pp. 36. |