ferent quantities of heat or acid to be combined with them, for producing the changes in queftion.

Though Mr. Nicholfon is, in general, remarkably concife, yet, on fome fubjects, he is, confidered as a chemical writer, as remarkably copious: the conftruction of the thermometer takes up as much room as the whole chemical hiftory of earths; and the principles and properties of the balance, a great deal more. From this circumftance, and from the manner in which fome of the facts and operations are defcribed, it would feem as if he had been more converfant in general philofophy, than in the chemical elaboratory: but it must be added, that in the moft copious chapters, we meet with nothing but that with which the chemical student ought to be acquainted, and in those which are moft concife, we do not mifs much that he can reasonably expect to find. Here and there, indeed, fome things have either efcaped Mr. N's recollection, or they appeared to him of lefs importance than they do to us. After the burning of lime, for example, (p. 103,) we would have added the remarkable fact, that, by an exceis of heat, the peculiar properties of the quicklime are destroyed. The account of mortar, in the fame page, feems to require a little further explanation, for something more is necellary for the induration of mortar than the mere abforption of its water. In the preparation of plaister of Paris, (p. 104,) it would be proper to add, that the powdered ftone, in a moderate heat, boils and affumes the appearance of fluidity; a circumftance the more worthy of being mentioned, as the ceffation of this appearance is the criterion of the plaister being reduced to the proper flate for ufe. After faying, that ponderous earth has been obferved to refemble metallic fubtances in feveral properties, (p. 106,) we could wish to have thofe properties fpecified: the great weight does not seem to be a property of the pure earth ittelf, but of fome of its combinations; and even in them, it may poffibly be owing only to the abfence of water. When we are taught the manufacture of glass, from one part of flint or fand and two of alcali, (p. 113,) we thould be informed, alfo, what fpecies of glafs is meant: the author fays that no means have yet been found to prevent the lower parts of the pots of glafs from containing a denfer glass than the upper, by the fubfidence of the heavier materials; a circumftance which produces the appearance of threads or veins in the work;'-and that the imperfections of glafs are moft fenfibly felt in the conftruction of optical inftruments, especially thofe which are called achromatic:' he must therefore have had in view what is called fiint glass: but flint glafs contains a large proportion of a very different material, calx of lead; and it is

to

to this very calx that the imperfections above mentioned are owing. He does, indeed, take notice in another place, treating on lead itfelf, (p. 262,) that the calx of lead is a principal ingredient in moft of the modern fine white glaffes: but this is too inexplicit, for lead is an ingredient in no other than the flint glafs above defcribed, unlefs enamels and the glazes on earthen ware be meant. It might have been proper just to mention how thefe glazings are produced, as they are an object of fome importance; and likewile to give a cautionary hint, confidering the pernicious effects of the internal ufe of lead, that the lead glaze of our coarfe wares is diffolved even by the mild vegetable acids, though that of our fine wares refifts acids equally with flint glafs, being probably fimilar to that glass in its compofition and in the perfectnefs of its vitrification; of which laft circumftance, the brilliancy may be confidered as a criterion. We muft not dwell, however, on little imperfections of this kind, if fuch they be: plura nitent, et non ego paucis offendar maculis.

We cannot conclude without taking notice of the elegant and very diftinct manner in which the work is printed, and which we earneftly recommend to the imitation of fucceeding writers on fubjects of fcience. To ufe Mr. Nicholfon's words,

I have printed it [this work] on a page unufually full, at the fame time that I have revived an ancient and ufeful practice of annexing fide notes and references; which I believe has fallen into neglect, because it requires great care in the author, uncommon attention in the printer, and adds to the expences incurred by the publisher.'

Ch....m.

ART. XIV. One hundred and Twenty popular Sermons. By Philip Pyle, M. A. Rector of Castle Rifing, and Lynn St. Edmund in Norfolk; and Editor of his Father's Sermons. In 4 Vois. 8vo. About 520 Pages in each Vol. 1 1. 4 s. Boards. Robinfons. 1789.

T THESE difcourfes may be properly ftyled popular; not because they confift, as too many do, of mere declamation, and harangue, but because they are of a kind which is likely to gain attention, to inform, to imprefs and to improve the generality of congregations. The language and manner are fuited, perhaps, to all the different perions of whom an audience is ufually compofed; and at the fame time, the hearers are not fatigued by dry fpeculation, or amufed by addreffes to the paffions. Important and ufeful truth is here prefented in a rational way, paffages of fcripture and topics of virtue and duty are fenfibly explained, and all the great concerns of piety and morality are

urged

urged on the confcience, and recommended to immediate and unceafing regard, as effential to prefent peace and final happiness.

Some of the fubjects are, Divine Omniprefence; Agur's prayer; living to the glory of God; the beatitudes; falfehood and truth; man created in the image of God; Faith the foundation of piety and virtue; wifdom of fearing God; reliance on providence, Univerfal beneficence; God no refpecter of perfons; the parables; life and immortality; faith and works; death and judgment; public worship; friendly and chriftian rebukes; liberality; the relative duties; Benevolence; Selfexamination; immutability of Chrift; Chritt's refurrection; obedience, the teft of a Chriftian; virtue our best defence; inspiration; duty of praying for each other; mifchiefs of anger; miracles; the rebellion against Chrift; St. Paul's difcourfe to Felix; nature of truth; the true teacher; end of Christ's coming; how Chriftians will fee God and be like him; neceffity of correcting ourselves before we condemn our neighbour; Chriftian converfation; Our Saviour's confutation of the Sadducees, &c. &c.

From the above lift of the fubjects, the reader will perceive that the great drift of thefe volumes is ufeful inftruction and practical religion. The preacher avoids what is merely controverfial, neither does he generally efpoufe what may be reputed orthodox. He rejects, with fome warmth, the doctrines of predeftination and irrefiftable grace, which he feems to fuppofe neceffarily connected with Methodifm, although there is, we apprehend, a numerous band of Methodists who do not efpoufe them. He powerfully pleads, as a Chriftian minifter fhould, for morality and virtuous conduct, and zealously warns his readers against thofe perfons who would perfuade them to lay the principal itrefs on faith, or believing; at the fame time it muft be added, that he confiders faith and piety, (meaning, by thefe words, not fpeculative, but practical principles,) as of great importance, and the only true and fure foundation of an upright and useful behaviour. That Mr. Pyle is not a bigoted member of the established church, appears from the account which he gives of one of its inftitutions *,- Our church, fays he, orders that no perfons fhall be admitted to the holy communion, till they are confirmed by the bifhop, or are ready and defirous to be confirmed by him; the general meaning of which order is this, that no perfons fhall receive the facrament, till they come to years of difcretion, till they competently underftand the nature of it, and the important purposes for which they receive it.' That Mr. Pyle is a friend to free enquiry, to ra

*Vol. i. p. 254.

tional difquifition, to liberty, and to the rights of private judgment, is evident from the general ftrain, as well as from feveral particular parts, of thefe volumes.

There is certainly an inequality in thefe difcourfes; and though all have, in one way or another, a beneficial tendency, all are not alike inftructive and improving; and inftances occur in which the fubjects propofed may not be thoroughly difcuffed and investigated. On the whole, thofe readers who have perufed the three volumes of his father's fermons published a few years ago by this gentleman, will perceive a great fimilarity to them in the prefent work. The accounts which have already been given of the former publications *, will, in fome measure, correfpond with that now before us. The title which it bears, intimates that we are not here to expect a polish, or even any great accuracy of ftyle; and farther, as was faid of the other difcourfes, that a greater freedom of manner prevails than is very ufual in fermons which are made public; in fome few cafes, perhaps, we meet alfo with phrafes of rather too light and homely a kind.-The public are indebted to Mr. Pyle as well as to his father, for much judicious, inftructive obfervation, and most important and perfuafive advice.-There are fome of the late Mr. Pyle's fermons in thefe volumes, and they are carefully diftinguifhed by an afterifm. The present author very generously prefents whatever profits may arife from this publication, to the governors of the Norfolk and Norwich hofpital, for the benefit of that useful charity.

Hi.

ART. XV. Memoirs and Travels of Mauritius Auguftus, Count de Benyowfky, Magnate of the Kingdoms of Hungary and Poland, &c. &c. Confifting of his Military Operations in Poland, his Exile in Kamchatka, his Escape and Voyage from that Peninsula through the Northern Pacific Ocean, touching at Japan and Formofa, to Canton; with an Account of the French Settlement he was appointed to form upon the Ifland of Madagascar. Written by himself. Tranflated from the original Manufcript. 4to. 2 Vols. About 400 Pages in each. 21. 2s. Boards. Robin fons. 1790.

ME

EN of a romantic turn of mind, will, in course, meet with odd adventures; nor can it be otherwife; for even common occurrences, when improved by uncommon heads, receive a peculiarity of complexion in the procefs; and if fuch men undertake to write their own memoirs, whatever may be strange

* See Review for July 1773, vol. xlix. p. 34. and for May 1784, vol. lxx. p. 361.

REV. OCT. 1790.

N

in

in itself, becomes ftill ftranger in the relation: thefe memoirs afford an exemplification of this remark.

Count Benyowfky, we are informed, was born in Hungary, in 1741; his father was a general of cavalry in the Imperial fervice, and his mother was Baronefs of Revay, and hereditary Countess of Thurocz. Being wronged of his inheritance by his brothers in-law, he became a refugee in Poland; where he was engaged, in 1767, to join in the confederation there. forming; and diftinguifhed himfelf as an active partizan among thofe malcontents who gave King Staniflaus fo much disturbance in the early part of his reign. In the course of this irregular fervice, he was taken prifoner by the Ruffians, by whom he was very ill treated, and at length conveyed to Cazan, where he was permitted to live at large, under the notice of the garrifon. Here, being a ftate prifoner, his enterprizing character recommended him to a party who were then forming a confpiracy against the Ruffian government, in the execution of which he was invited to affociate: but the plot being betrayed, he was, in the refult, exiled to Kamchatka.

When arrived at this dreary place of his deftination, the Ruffian officer deputed by the governor of Kamchatka to receive the exiles, invited them to dinner, and regaled them. with boiled fish, roafted fish, fifh powdered and made into bread, and drink prepared by putrifying fifh in water; cookery, as he obferves, enough to difguft famine itself. He was then conducted to the town called Bolforetzkoy Oftrog, where he and his companions in exile were informed that they must provide for themfelves. To qualify them for this task, they had each a mufquet, lance, powder, and lead, with neceflary tools for building cabins, &c. given to them; for which they were to pay in furs, befide an annual tribute to government, of the fame kind.

The Count, whofe fpirit and addrefs did not allow him to acquiefce tamely under this prefcribed mode of favage life, immediately formed an affociation among his fellow prifoners, to concert measures for their efcape from this difmal folitude, under the moft folemn fanétions, with refpect to fecrefy and fidelity. In the mean time, he greatly improved his circumflances by opening a fchool, and by having among his pupils, the fon and three daughters of the governor, M. Nilow; and alfo by his knowlege of the game of chefs, at which he played with fome merchants, on the behalf of the Hettman of the Coffacks, and was allowed a proportion of the fums which he While matters were in this train, the Count informs us that Mifs Aphanafia, the youngest of the governor's daughters,

won.