preffors fhould be excluded. This is the real meaning of the words of the prophet, and which are fo plain, as to be underftood without a comment.' In a future publication Rabbi Levi engages to fhew, in oppofition to Warburton, that the doctrine of a future state of rewards and punishments was both known and taught by Mofes, as an effential article of his dispensation. The language of this writer is, in many places, confused and ungrammatical; but he feems to be well acquainted with the theory of his own religion, and the Talmudical fyftem of rites and ceremonies. On this account his book may be acceptable to those who wish for information in these particulars, without the trouble of consulting more voluminous compilations. Tranfactions of the Society, inftituted at London, for the Encou- INt 5s. in N the Fifty-fifth Volume of our Journal we confidered the laft volume of Memoirs of Agriculture, &c.' by Mr. Doffie; and then obferved, that we found no articles later than the year 1776. But this was not the only information we ufually received of the proceedings of this fociety, fince the premiums for the enfuing year were annually published, for the information of those who might wish to claim the reward, by communicating their difcoveries.. We are now informed, that the Society have changed the mode of their communications; but this change applies only to their own annual publications. To their lift of premiums, they propofe to add the events of their former offers, and to infert fome of the moft diftinguished papers. It is not our bufinefs to enquire how this may affect the publication, formerly conducted by Mr. Doffie. Though it may in fome degree detract from the novelty of its intelligence, if continued, yet the public curiofity will not be greatly anticipated, if the annual communications are not more confiderable than those before us. In the article just now mentioned, we alfo hinted at the fource of fome objections which had diminished the luftre of the Society's intentions, and detracted from the praife which they had deferved from the execution. It is not improbable that our fuggeftions may have been the origin of the prefent volume; for, to their abstract of the feveral bounties and premiums diftributed to the different candidates, they have added fome account of the views of the Society in their offer; and of the confequences of their encouragement. These are, in many inftances, highly advantageous to the difcernment which dictated dictated the one, and to the spirit which animated the discoverer in the profecution of the other. While we allow the juftice of the obfervations in general, we may be permitted to add, from our own remarks, that fome of the manufactures are by no means in a flourishing state: yet the fociety ftill deferve the greatest credit from thofe, whofe fuccefs has been more perfect and complete. It was by no means advantageous to their proceedings, to have propofed a premium for procuring fish by land-carriage; but, though this was an object very different from their original inftitution, it was ultimately ufeful, by improving the conftruction of the wheel carriages used for that purpose. As we cannot completely detail the objects of the several premiums, and as every partial account would be unfatisfac-, tory and useless, we fhall not enlarge on this fubject. We were rather surprised to fee a premium propofed for procuring the foffil alkali from fea-falt, as we have reason to believe that a patent has been already obtained for this preparation; and the duty has been taken off, by a particular act of parliament, from the falt which has been confumed in the operation. These circumstances will probably preclude the Society from receiving any information of the means by which the feparation is effected; though it may not prevent famples and certificates from being produced. If fome experiments, made with this intention, have not deceived us, the end may be eafily obtained, and at a cheap rate, on many parts of the English coaft. The articles contained in this volume are, an Account of the Method made ufe of, and the fuccefs attending Mr. David Day's Plantation of Ash, for which he received a Premium of Twenty Pounds, in the Year 1779.' The fame gentleman received the gold medal in 1780, for the fame plantation; and we are next prefented with an eftimate of the expence attending it. The fubfequent article is an Account of the Plantation of Scotch Firs, for which the Gold Medal was adjudged to Francis Moore, of Apfley Guife, Efq. in the Year 1779. Some mifcellaneous communications from Dr. William Fordyce follow, on the Siberian wheat and cluf-, tered potatoes. The next accounts relate to the turnep-rooted cabbage, for which Mr. Tugwell and Mr. Robins received the premiums in 1777 and 1780. The laft article, on agriculture, is the information received from John Pratt, efq. refpetting the planting of lucerne; and it was communicated in 1780. The only communication on the fubject of chemistry is from Mr. Clegg, of Manchester. It relates to a fubftitute for VOL. LVII. Feb. 1784. K ver verdigrife, in dying black, and confifts in uniting vitriol of copper to an alkali. We fhall infert Mr. Clegg's description of the process. Saturate two pounds of vitriol of copper, with a strong alkaline falt (American pot-afhes, when to be procured, are recommended.) The vitriol will take about an equal weight of dry athes. Both the vitriol and the afhes are to be previously diffolved apart. When this proportion is mixed, well stirred, and fuffered to ftand a few hours, a precipitate will fubfide. Upon adding a few drops of the folution of afhes, if the mixture be saturated, the water on the top of the vessel will remain colourless; but it not, a blue colour will be produced; upon which add more afhes; there is no danger in its being a little over faturated with afhes. Take care to add the folution of afhes to that of vitriol by a little at a time, otherwife the effervefcence which enfues will caufe them to overflow the veffel: thefe four pounds of vitriol of copper and afhes will be equal to about the fame weight of verdigris, and fhould be added to the other liquors of the dye, at different times, as is usual with verdigris. The black, thus dyed, will be perfectly innocent to the goods, rather tending to keep them foft than corrode them, particularly hats, in which there is the greateft confumption of verdigris. For those who are conftantly using verdigris, it would be proper to have a veffel always at hand, containing a faturated folution of vitriol of copper; and another, with a faturated folution of afhes, ready to mix as they are wanted; for I find they do not answer fo well if long kept.' This account is, in many refpects, unfatisfactory. The native vitriol differs materially in its ftrength, and the subftances combined with it; fo that in different fituations, we fhould apprehend that the event would not be the fame. If the common blue vitriol of the fhops is employed, it appears entirely to contradict the author's reafoning on the fubject; for he seems to think, that the copper is only useful in combining with the acid, and confequently enabling the iron to act more completely on the aftringent vegetable matter. It will be obvious therefore, that in a fimple combination of copper and vitriolic acid, this effect will be imperfectly obtained. We strongly fufpect that he employed native vitriol, which is generally combined with iron and with earth. If however we wish to avoid the acid, there will be little occadion originally to employ it; for when the iron is minutely divided, the aftringent matter of the vegetable will act on it, and produce a very perfect black colour. There was, we are informed, a series of experiments on this fubject made by Dr. Bancroft, author of the Natural History of Guiana, and com communicated to the Royal Society. We know not why they were difcontinued; but the improvements depended entirely on this principle. He used filings of steel, which are too dear for the prefent purpose: the experiment, we believe, will fucceed equally well with the fcales of iron, fo frequently found in fmiths' fhops; and they may be easily triturated to any requifite fineness. If the attempts of the Society to procure. a manufactory of verdigris in this kingdom do not fucceed, we would recommend these hints to their attention: we by no means think that the end is accomplished by Mr. Clegg's coinmunication. The next article is the production of lady Moira. Its intention is to explain a method of making a coarse, but serviceable cloth, from the very refuse of flax, commonly called the Backings,' with other almost useless materials. A detail of this kind cannot be entertaining; but the benevolence of the attempt deserves the highest applause. A very clear and intelligent account of the improvements in the diving-bell, by the ingenious, but unfortunate Mr. Spalding, is introduced under the title of Mechanics. It is well known that, from unforeseen accidents, he was himself the victim of his own ingenuity. The additional parts are however remarkably well adapted for the purpofe; and the relation is candid and perfpicuous; fo that there is little doubt but that it may, in fome future period, be a valuable inftru ment. It was the object of the Society to procure an univerfal ftandard of weights and measures, entirely independent of any rule, but what every country and every climate might furnish. Mr. Hatton attempted to find this standard by ap proximation. The pulfe of a healthy person is fuppofed to beat seventy-two ftrokes in a minute; if this be affumed, at firft, as the measure of that space, a pendulum, which in the interval makes fixty vibrations, may be supposed to be the ftandard measure of a fecond. This measure is afterwards corrected; but, as the queftion was not completely folved, he received only part of the premium. An abftract of his attempt is preferved in this volume, and illuftrated by a plate; fo that we cannot be more particular on this subject. There is another mode of menfuration by the apparent revolution of any fixed star; but this can be only useful in one latitude, without corrections, which depend alfo on his machine. The laft article contains an Account of Experiments and Obfervations on different Species of Cotton, together with K 2 fome 1 fome Remarks on their Culture,' for which Mr. Andrew Bennett received a gold medal in the year 1778. We do not meet with any thing fufficiently interefting to induce us to transcribe any part of it. On the whole if, in fome inftances, the Society's attention has been directed to objects, which feem incapable of producing any national advantage, in others, their attempts are equally interefting and useful. We ought not to forget one part of the information in this volume, that from the feed of the white poppy it is poffible to procure oil little inferior to olive oil; confequently a premium is offered for the cultiva tion of this flower. The late war, which for a time obstructed our commerce, has informed us of many valuable fubftitutes for foreign articles, in our own dominions. Among the rest, oils have been procured from many of our indigenous feeds, and fold for the olive oil of Spain and Italy, as well as for the oil of the fpermaceti whale. If the Society extend their objects in this line, we know that they may receive valuable information on fimilar fubjects. Joannis Phyfiophili Specimen Monochologia Methodo Linnæano. With Plates. 8vo. Is. 6d. Johnfon.. Aatural hiftory is peculiarly adapted to diftinction, when a number of species resemble each other. It will readily be allowed that this is the cafe in the new fcience of monochology; fo that our author's fpecimen is at leaft ufeful, as well as new. This is however a lively fatire, if a science fo exact and dry can ever affume this appearance. It is intended to point out the difference of the various orders, and to fhow that they are almoft equally ufelefs or injurious. In this view, our author deferves commendation; but he forgets the old adage cucullus non facit monachum ;' and his generical defcription has no other peculiarity. Indeed he fails as a natural hiftorian, in many refpects; and it seems probable, that he is not very converfant with the fcience. But he deferves our applause in the more extenfive and useful character of a benevolent patriot, of the friend to man. Perhaps the form in which he has clothed his fatire may render it lefs interefting and intelligible; but it has probably not been overlooked by an active and enlightened fovereign, whofe influence and example has already difcouraged thefe luxurious reclufes. We can only wish, that it may be as extenfive as it is fpirited and judicious. The monkish orders. appear, if poffible, ftill more defpicable, from the affertions, which have been defended in their public difputations. Some of thefe are fubjoined, together with the titles of the works from which they are extracted. Jobn |