never fo close. We may moreover doubt whether there does not pafs fome of the Matter of the Fire, or that of the Veffels into the Matters diftilled.

If it be faid that the Operations of Chymiftry might make us know thofe Plants which have in them a greater quantity of certain Principles; I anfwer, we fhall yet find herein a great many difficulties: For the various degrees of Fire, the age of the Plants, the places where they grow, the difference of the Seafons more or lef's rainy, the different exactnefs in luting the Veffels in which the diftillations are made, their different Matters, the different mixture of their Parts with the diftilled Matters, the fixation of the volatile Salts by the fixed, and the volatilisation of the fixed by the volatile, may make a Plant which has naturally more fixed or volatile Salt than another, fhew lefs of it, and fo of the other Principles.

From all which I conclude that Chymistry cannot give any light in knowing what are the Caufes of the particular Effects of any Plant.

I therefore own my ignorance in this refpect, and that in the researches which I have made of thefe particular Caufes, I have discovered nothing which can fatisfy me, or has the least appearance of certainty; for which Reafon I advife the Learned not to torture themselves in feeking after them either by Chymistry, or those Reafonings which might be grounded on the common Hypothefis of hot and cold, moift and dry, or on that of acid and alkali, &c. but to ftop only at what the Obfervations and Experiments of feveral Ages have been able to difcover herein. It is by this that we know venemous Plants and the Strength of their Poison, APRIL 1731. R

and

ARTICLE XXI.

INQUISITIO

PAROCHIALIS.

W

E have been importun'd, and cannot refufe publishing the following Paper, which perhaps will be well received even by the Antiquaries.

QUERIES.

I. The Church.

The Dedication, Wakes and Feasts, Fabrick, Form, Situation, Monuments, Epitaphs, Arms, and Devifes.

What Charitable Gifts to the Church or to the Poor, Schools or Hofpitals; the Founder, Time, Stipend, Number?

II. The Parish.

I. The Compafs, Length, Breadth, Number of Acres.

II. Remarkable Boundaries or Perambulations.

III. Mountains, Hills, Mines, Minerals, Parks.

IV. Rivers or Streams that arise in or pass through the Parish.

V. Pub

V. Publick Bridges or Ways, by whom built or repaired?

VI. Manufactures of the Place.

VII. Manors, Lordships, Courts held, and by whom?

VIII. Hamlets or Tithings, Markets, Fairs. IX. Nature of the Air, contributing to Health or Sickness.

X. Nature of the Soil, if Corn, Pafture, fruitful or barren.

XI. Publick Commons for the use of Poor, whether inclosed or open?

XII. Antiquities, Roman Coins, Camps, Pavements, or any other Rarities.

XIII. Noblemens and Gentlemens Houfes ftanding or decay'd, what particular Name, what Age, and in what manner built?

III. Parishioners.

I. Number of Families and Perfons, their Ranks, Titles, Profeffions and Qualifications.

II. Men of Note born, bred, or buried there, Pedigrees of Families, and Blazon of their Arms.

K味

MARCH 1731.

P

ARTI

hind the Scenes in order to examine the feveral Springs by which the Artist eluded the Eye. But whether it were that Experience had made him too diffident, as Eufebius thinks; or that he might fometimes have been prompted to argue from a Spirit of Party, which is but too apt to fway the Mind; he was now become very troublesome and importunate in the Difpute. He fo ordered matters that he confus'd his Adversaries by denying Principles, and cut down every thing that clafh'd with his Sentiments, without the leaft Ceremony or Diftinction. There are few ancient Writers but have foifted fome fpurious Piece among the Canonical Books of Scripture: However Caius did his utmoft to leffen their Number. He would not have expos'd himself to Cenfure, had he only purg'd them; but then he rooted up the Wheat with the Tares. As he was one Day difputing before Pope S. Zephyrinus against the Montanifts, who objected to him a Paffage out of the Epistle to the Hebrews, he had the boldnefs to affert, that it was neither written by St. Paul, or Canonical; and carried his Argument fo far, that he not only ftruck those good Chriftians dumb who little expected fuch Pofitions from him, but even infinuated his Opinion into the Churches of the Eaft, which abfolutely rejected it. Is this then the now fo much boasted Tradition, of which the Fathers of the Church were the faithful Guardians? Some who afcrib'd fpurious Pieces to the Apostles, and others who denied them to be Authors of their genuine Productions. "Tis furprizing that Caius, in order to strengthen his own Arguments, fhould have been reduced to the fatal neceffity of excluding the Revelations from the Books of Scripture. He needed only have given a fpi

glorious Paths, muft not be look'd upon as infignificant Labour, &c.

In the mean time, how far he has fucceeded in his Effay, he recommends to the faid Lord Bishop of Durham's Candor, and all true and equitable Judges to determine.

That his Specimen, which is the first of the Minor Prophets entire, fhall fpeak for it felf.

As to the Errors and Lapfes that may be excepted against the Attempt, the Author anfwers in a becoming modeft way, in affuring us however, that he is fenfible of none worth notice; and as for the Particles, light Variations, &c. as touch not the Senfe, nor affect the proper Dialect or Idiom of the Greek Tranflators, he is under no concern. Then concludes, that a Work of this Nature has never been attempted before by any one fo young in any Age or Country.

Now, with reference to the Plan it felf, 'tis propos'd, fays our Author, to go through all the minor Prophets; if the Effay he offers to the Publick be entertertain'd with a Reception a Work of fo much Usefulness and Difinterestedness may in reafon expect, and which will contain, in effect, all Editions in this, various Readings which have hitherto come abroad, by reprefenting them all at one view; with the Original Text, which is what has never been done before.

This may probably be an Incitement to other Men of Learning and Leifure, to fet about other Parts of the Bible, or to join in the fame Defign, which will deferve the highest Encouragement. To finish the whole Canon of Scripture with accuracy, is a Work of too great labour for any fingle Perfon to undertake, and can ne

P 2

ver