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ART. XVII. Catalogus Bibliotheca Historico-Naturalis Josephi Banks, Regi a conciliis intimis, Baroneti, Balnei Equitis, Regia Societatis Prasidis, cat. Auctore Jona Dryander, A. M. Regia Societatis Bibliothecario. 8vo. 5 Vols. Elmsley. 1800.

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HE name of Sir Joseph Banks stands pre-eminent among the modern patrons of science, and must descend to posterity with distinguished honour. In an age in which literature and philosophy derive little protection from the great, and in which the revenues of the titled and opulent are squandered in finery, dissipation, and childish extravagance, Sir Joseph employs his noble income with signal reputation to himself and with great benefit to society, by promoting science and encouAt his house, Philosophy holds her raging scientific men. court and has her levée. To his honour be it said, that he lives as the President of the Royal Society ought to live; and it is to be wished that the presidents of other literary bodies would copy his example. His library is an evidence of his scientific ardor and perseverance; and the publication of this catalogue is a proof that he wishes it to be considered in some respects as a public collection, which the learned and the studious in the several branches of Natural Philosophy are always at liberty, on proper application, to consult.

Mr. Dryander, the Librarian of the Royal Society, has evinced great judgment in arranging, in classing, and in cataloguizing so large a collection; his labour must have been great but whatever it may have been, we regret that he did not take the additional trouble of writing some explanatory preface, instead of leaving the work entirely to speak for itself, Receiving it as it is presented to us, we can only take a brief notice of the contents of each volume. The First, containing 309 pages, includes General Writers, and is divided into two parts,-1. Books which treat of other sciences besides Natural History, and, 2. The General Writers of Natural History. The Second volume, occupying 578 pages, is appropriated to Zeologists, and is divided into four parts; 1. The writers on Zoology in general, or on any particular branch of it; 2. Those on Physical: 3. Those on Medical; and, 4. Those on Oeconomical Zoology. Volume III., containing 656 pages, is devoted to Botanists, and is subdivided like the preceeding. The Fourth volume, containing 390 pages, exhibits the Mineralogists, with a similar subdivision. Vol. v. and last, containing 531 pages, is occupied by a supplement, and a general index

auctorum.

That our readers may have some idea of the subdivisions of this work, and of the detailed arrangement of this part of Sir

Joseph

Joseph Banks's noble library, we shall transcribe the order in which Mr. Dryander has classed the books under the head of General Writers on Natural History, in Part 2. of Vol. 1. viz. Economists; Historians; works on the lives and writings of Natural Historians; Bibliotheca Lexica; the methods of studying Natural History; Elements of Natural History; Systems of Nature; Affinities, their hisaory, and the plates which illustrate them; Description of Natural Objects, with miscellaneous observations; Collections; Microscopical Observations; Musea, specifying those of Great Britain, Holland, France, Italy, &c.; Topographists; Writers on the Sea and on Lakes; Philosophical Poets; Physico Theologians; Teologians, (i. e. writers on final causes); Biblical Philosophers; Critics on the Works of Antient Naturalists; Thaumatographi, or retailers of wonders; Palingenesia, or the writers (not many) who treat on those changes in nature which may be considered as kinds of resuscitation; Miscellaneous Physiologists; Collections on the Materia Medica, including writers on medicine, diet, poisons, and antidotes ;-and the class concludes with the authors on rural economy, and on the Ars Tinctoria, or art of dying.

The detail of this arrangement may serve to shew the wide extent of Sir Joseph's collection; and it may also assist gentlemen in making a scientific catalogue of their libraries.

ART. XVIII. Sermons, by the Reverend Sidney Smith, A. M. late Fellow of New College, Oxford. Vol. II. 12mo. pp. 298. 4s. 6d. Boards. Longman.

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the first volume of these sermons, an account has already been given *. A second edition of it is now published, with considerable augmentations: but our present attention must be directed to Vol. II. It contains eight discourses; and they are introduced by a preface, in which the sprightly and sensible author expresses his expectation of that candour from the reader which is due to sermons delivered to a mixed audience, and then adverts to the general neglect of public worship observcable among us. Passing by other grave and important causes, he adds, I still am afraid it must, in some little degree, be attributed to our form of worship and to the clergy themselves of the latter, however, he speaks in a handsome manner, but he remarks that the English clergy, when they have discharged the formal and exacted duties of religion, are not very forward, by gratuitous inspection and remonstrance,

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to keep alive and diffuse a due sense of religion in their parishioners.'

The low state of pulpit eloquence is another object of this reverend critic's discussion; and some causes are assigned for it, such as a bad choice of subjects, a bad taste in the language of sermons, a constant repetition of the same scriptural phrases, used, perhaps, with great judgment two hundred years ago, but now become so trite that they may, without any great detriment, be exchanged for others; and farther, the very ungraceful manner in which they are delivered.' On this last topic, Mr. Smith expatiates with a degree of sarcasm. We may observe, however, that serious composure and gravity are most becoming in the pulpit, and that much gesticulation awakens suspicion. A man ought always to manifest that he is himself in earnest, not in the pursuit of fame or interest, but in the cause of virtue, truth, and piety; and happy is he who, leaving himself out of the question, really and ardently seeks to be useful to others! - Excellent is the admonition of the heathen poet,

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Whether an increase of pomp and ceremony, good fires in churches, or improved music, might advance our piety and virtue, is a question which we shall not at present discuss nor decide; but we must not omit one of Mr. Smith's remarks on this subject;The same blighting wind (says he) chills piety, which is fatal to vegetative life: yet our power of encountering weather varies with the object of our hardihood; we are very Scythians, when pleasure is concerned, and Sybarites, when the bell summons us to church.' In another part, when speaking of the choice of subjects, it is remarked- The clergy are allowed about twenty-six hours every year for the (public) instruction of their fellow-creatures; and I cannot help thinking this short time had better be employed on practical subjects, explaining and enforcing that conduct which Christianity requires, and which mere worldly happiness commonly coincides to recommend. These are the topics nearest the heart, which make us more fit for this and a better world, and do all the good that sermons will ever do.'

To come now to the discourses themselves the subjects of them are as follow: Effects which Christianity ought to produce on Manners. Pride of Birth. Union of Innocence and Wisdom. Farewell-Sermon to a Country Parish. Vanity. Treatment of Servants. Men of the World. For the Swiss. The reader will probably have formed some judgment concern

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ing these sermons from what he will have remarked above, and from the account which has been given of the former volume. Any favourable opinion, which we may have expressed on that occasion, attaches equally to the present. If the author be lively and pleasant, he is also sensible and instructive: if he deviates somewhat from the common track, he does it in a manner which is adapted to draw and to fix the attention; and if, in some instances, he should be thought,not fully to have discussed the subject, sufficient is said to imply the rest and enforce the whole. The sermon inscribed Vanity deserts the aphorism or sententious reflection of the text, but it affords a striking portrait of the vain man.-Some objections might, perhaps, be made to the publication: but its merits, on the whole, are very predominant; and we may justly recommend it to notice, as likely to prove really beneficial to those who will allow it a careful perusal.

MONTHLY

CATALOGUE,

For JANUARY, 1802.

PHILOSOPHY.

Art. 19. Choix d'Amusemens Physiques et Mathematiques, &c.; i. e. A Selection of Philosophical and Mathematical Amusements, affording an agreeable Employment for the Minds of Young Persons. By M. L. Despiau, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. 12mo. 2 Vols. pp. 230. tach. Dulau and Co. London.

MUCH rational and innocent entertainment is afforded in this

selection; the substance of which, if not rare nor profound, is neither mean nor trivial; and it is well adapted (as the title-page expresses) to exercise the minds of youth, and to send them forth in quest of knowlege by exciting their curiosity.

The first volume is introduced by an argument on the necessity and use of mental recreation. We should hope that this discussion might have been spared, since it defends that which no one ought to attack, and recommends pursuits which all the world should regard as rational and amusing.-After the Introduction, we find questions in Arithmetic, Progressions arithmetical and geometrical, Properties of Numbers, Combinations, Problems on Games of Chance, in Algebra, &c. With these are mixed a great variety of what we call Tricks, viz. of divining a person's thoughts, of combining numbers, &c.

The second volume contains an explanation of a number of phanomena; with instructions for producing those curious effects which Philosophy, in its sportive humour and hour of indolence, has invented to amuse, or to astonish the vulgar.

This little work appears to us well adapted to answer its purpose of rational amusement and pleasing instruction: but we wish that the author had not stained it with the cruel artifice of destroying ravens, mentioned in p. 158. Vol. 11.

Art.

Art. 20. Select Amusements in Philosophy and Mathematics; proper for agreeably exercising the Minds of Youth. Translated from the French of M. L. Despiau. With several Corrections and Additions, particularly a large Table of the Chances or Odds at Play.

The whole recommended as an useful Book for Schools. By Dr. Hutton, Professor of Mathematics at Woolwich. 5s. 6d. Boards. Kearsley. 1801.

Izmo.

We know not by whom this translation has been performed, but, though not very skilfully executed, it will be acceptable to the English public. From the mode of printing Dr. Hutton's name in the title page, a hasty reader might be led to conclude that this Gentleman was the translator: we apprehend, however, that this is not the fact: though the work itself is very strongly recommended by the Doctor.

Art. 21. The System of the World. By M. Lambert. Translated from the French by James Jacque, Esq. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Boards.

Vernor and Hood. 1800.

This work is introduced by an encomium' on its author, composed (we apprehend) by the Secretary of the Berlin Academy. The Eulogy is here very incorrectly translated, but appears to have been originally written with much spirit and good sense; indeed, the Secretary had a favourable subject for the exertion of his powers. M. Lambert was born and educated in poverty, but rose superior to adverse circumstances; and he obtained favour and distinction not by caressing the rich and powerful, but by the impressive appeals which the display of his talents made to the judgment of the wise and discerning. His strong sense was contrasted with oddities and singu larities: when elevated above his humble condition, he still displayed the same simplicity of manners, was unrestrained, positive, and confident: he flattered no one, and never concealed the high opinion which he had of his own abilities and acquirements:-for instance:

The King called him to Potzdam in the month of March. It was a moment not a little critical in the fortunes of Mr. Lambert; and, at first, his stars seemed to decide against him. The peremptory tone of his answers; the confidence with which he replied without hesitation to the question-Que savez vous *?—Tout, Sire,-and then Comment l'avez vouz appris ?-De moimême.t-Striking ears, but little accustomed to such sounds, might naturally enough excite a suspicion, that the repletion of his brain had discomposed some of its main springs. Here the interview ended, but without effect; nor did it seem to leave the smallest chance in his favour; but the great Frederick, let into the singularity of the man, who, as one of our worthy colleagues daily honoured with his Majesty's conversa-, tion, assured him, bore a strong resemblance to the character of La Fontaine, would not deprive his Academy of a member from whom so much was to be expected. He was therefore admitted with a pension, and pronounced his inaugural oration in the month of January, 1765. Since that period, his Majesty honoured him with

What do you know?-Every thing.'

By what means have you learnt it?-By myself.

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