na ed, and it required no ordinary hand to do justice to it. With such advantages there is combined much moral feeling, whilst the ground of history in some points of Zenobia's character, and the state of Christianity in that age, furnish opportunities for introducing topics of the highest moment into these pages. We trust therefore that a better purpose may be answered in perusak than that which works of mere fancy commonly supply.

The following extract may serve to convey some notion of the style, and to shew that we have not without some reason marked our approbation of its merits.

Some of the youths who act their parts in the subsequent portions of the history, are introduced under the penetrating eye of Elkanah, who weighs each expression of their growing inclination. Zabdas the Palmyrenian youth, takes fire at some remarks of Statirus, a Persian youth, who gives his voice for Persia. Longinus, whose character is very well maintained throughout this work, and touched with great taste and delicacy, tries to caim the contest by this observation:

"Let us learn to love and respect the country we live in, said Longinus, regardless to whatever soil we owe our birth.

"On what subject dispute ye? demanded Claudian, advancing, Rome is empress of the world; I am the only Roman present, ye are therefore all my subjects when thus thou boastest, except Palmyra from the world," said Zabdas, the blush of patriotism burning on his cheek, for it has never been overcome, nor ever will be conquered.' The only answer to this remark was loud laughter, until Claudian, emboldened by success, enquired in what school hast thou been taught? even Longinus can find no argument to defend thee.

"The noble Zabdas stole a look at the averted countenance of the young Greek, which he perceiving, advanced and took his hand. Be not ashamed, my friend, at thus forgetting, or never having heard of the misfortunes of thy native city; the school in which thou art studying, teaches thee not to pity but defend her. The history of Palmyra may be comprized in few words: it was beautified by Solomon the Jewish king, and was successively conquered by Pharoah Necho, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Macedonian, and Mark Antony: these were its enemies and pillagers, but to the Roman emperor Adrian, who turned his triumph to nobler ends, your city owes its present strength and beauty. Thus we see Palmyra hath often been subdued; but the sword of Zabdas may hereafter so prevail that the last conquest shall remain the last.'

Put it to the test, exclaimed Meonius: Zabdas shall represent Palmyra, Claudian, do thou seize one hand, Statirus seize the other if he shake ye off, Palmyra will secure her independ ence, nay, rival Rome, and never again be subject. Let Zabdas but keep firm on the spot where he at this instant stands, until the sunbeam

sunbeam which now shines full on the face of yon statue, pass from it, and if our nation be doomed to fall a prey to either party, let us behold to whom the victim is destined.

"With all the spirit of their age, the proposal was adopted, and Zabdas, his youthful bosom swelling with patriotic ardour, while fierce delight blazed in his countenance, stood undauntedly, and suffered his hands to be seized by the Roman and the Persian.

"The rest of the assembly retired to a distance, when on a signal being given, the contest began. Of equal years, height, and strength, the struggle was severe. Now Statirus appeared to prevail, and now the Roman. The bosoms of the spectators were variously agitated, but none could partake of the feelings of Elkanah.

"Moses, when brought before Pharoah, reflected Elkanah, though but three years of age, trampled on the crown of Ægypt. Cassius, when seven, struck Sylla for calling his father king of Rome. Cato, at five, braved that death which he welcomed afterwards at Utica.

"The trial had continued some time, when Zabdas, by a powerful exertion, drawing his assailants close to his breast, with a sudden spring threw them from him, and they fell; he stood, a youthful Hercules. A general cry of joy succeeded, but the time allotted not being yet elapsed, they started up and again seized their enemy. He wheeled, he bent, he strained every nerve, and raised his eyes with agony to the face of the statue from which the sun was fast receding. Longinus, fearful of bodily injury. would have interfered, when he was checked by Zabdas himself. The struggle continued. Elkana gazed more intently, and unconscious of his situation, was on the point of exclaiming glory to Palmyra. When O Palmyra! was thien thy fate thus foreshown by a boy. Ere the sunbeam could leave the cheek of the statue, the strength of Zabdas failed, and he was dragged from Statirus by Claudian, who, in the sudden phrenzy of the moment, flung him with violence to the ground, and seemingly bereft of life.

"By the care of Longinus, and others, Zabdas at length recovered, but never did he lift his eyes from the earth until roused by Meonius, who shouted aloud victory! victory to the Romans! "In an instant Zabdas stood erect, and who that beheld his rapid motion and spirited deportment, could have known he had been severely injured by the fall. Is it for thee, demanded he fiercely, to proclaim the ruin of our country? Thou a Palmyrenian in Palmyra to exult in her destruction. My heart to the last was firm, but my strength gave way. Thy strength might have vanquished both these, but thy heart-Meonius, I would not change my heart for thine."

DRAMATIC.

DRAMATIC.

ART. 20. Madison Agonistes; or, the Agonies of Mother Goose. A Fragment of a Political Burletta, as octing on the American Stage. 12mo. 103 pp. 5s. Cawthorne. 1814. From so happily chosen a name, we looked for much humour in this mock heroic drama, nor were we disappointed. The worthy President of the United States is represented under the character of Mother Goose, and his tutor in iniquity, the Ex-President as Mother Jeff. Some of the terms are exceedingly ludicrous, particularly a burlesque upon the sleeping scene of Lady Macbeth, where poor Madison is introduced raving mad at the ill success of his roguery and folly.

"Mother J. What is't she does now? Look, she rubs her hands. Phys. 'Tis her accustom'd action, ever since

Great Hopkins died.

In such disgust?

Mot. J. Why is her nostril curl'd

Phys. Impossible to guess.

Mother Goose. Out, damned spot! out, I say!-One-two-ten thousand-train of artillery---Prevost-Hill-Why, then, 'tis time to do't.

Mot. J. Ha! just the words of our last conversation (aside). Offi. (whispers). What damned spot does the poor lady mean? Phys. Old England. 'Twas her wonted way to call it

A damned spot on the fair face of ocean.

Off. What would she do?

Phys. Why, cringe to that same England,

Follow the wise example of her betters,

And send in her adhesion.

Mot. J. Hush, here's more.

Mot. G. Guard-rooms and black holes are murky? Fye, my Hopkins, fye? a soldier, and afraid of court-martials? What need you fear who knows it? none shall call you to account. Yet who would have thought the Canadians to have had so much English blood in them?

Phys. Do you mark that?

Mot. J. Alas! there's truth in it. Mot. G. Jeff and James had good names- -Where are they now? What, will this bad news never have done? No more of that, my Hopkins, no more of that; you've spilt your peach brandy with this starting.

Mat. J. Go to, go to; you've spilt the nation's blood.

Mot. G. Here's the smell of death in the room,-a deadly ill smell.—All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten * this one poor General. Oh, oh, oh!

6

"Meaning metaphorically, to sweeten his fame. Apage aliam interpretationem,' as the Dutch commentators say.”

Phys.

Phys. What a grunt's there! The heart is sorely charg'd.
Mot. J. I would not have abus'd her charge so sorely
As she has done, for all the dignities

Of the whole body of our mighty Congress.

Phys. Well, well, well, well.

Mot. J. Pray God she get safe off, sir.

Mot. G. Wash your face, Hull; put on your regimentals, look not so pale. I tell you again, the dead are buried; they cannot come out of their graves to call their General a poltroon.

Mot. J. Even so?

Phys. Yes, there's reasoning in't, you see.
She names the dead alone: for all the rest,
Who either ran away, or roar'd for quarter,
Will hardly call him so, from fellow-feeling.

Mot. G. To the coal-hole, to the coal-hole; there's cannon to the northward-hark !-Come, come, come, give me your hand; what's done, cannot be undone. To the coal-hole, to the coal-hole-coalhole coal-hole."-Exit.-P. 15.

A droll scene is next represented between Jerome Buonaparte and his cast-off flame Miss Patterson, before whose window he makes his appearance in the disguise of a ballad-singer, with a hurdy gurdy and tattered blue trowsers, and singing the following air, which is parodied from a favourite song in the celebrated pantomine of Mother Goose, entitled the "Cabin Boy."

King Jerome.

"I learn'd to row, to reef, and steer,
On board a coasting hoy;

And thus commenc'd my high career,
An aukward cabin-boy.

"Promoted to a Queen and throne,
I jump'd for very joy,

And left at Baltimore to moan,

My wedded wife and boy.

"But ah! that Crown is now no more;

I'm out of all employ;

I am but what I was before,

A dirty cabin-boy." P. 18.

There are some other burlesque sketches of foreign political scenes at the end of the book, which are by no means devoid of humour, though not equal to Madison Agonistes.

MEDICINE.

ART. 21. Practical Essay on the Diseases of the Absorbent System, which obtained the Prize given by the Royal College of Surgeons in 1812. By W. Goodlad, Surgeon, Bury, Lancashire. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Longman. 1814.

Any medical essay, stamped with so good a recommendation

as

as a prize from the College of Surgeons, comes forward with a claim to notice. We have no doubt that the medical reader will find much to fix his attention in Mr. Goodlad's Essay. He appears to have studied his subject carefully in all its bearings, and to have added practical observation to theoretical reasoning. His work is divided into four chapters; the first treats of the strucfure and anatomy of the absorbent vessels. In his second, the chemical properties of chyle and lymph are considered. The third details the various diseases of the absorbent vessels and the mode of treatinent; and in the fourth the more difficult diseases of the absorbent glands, are described and discussed at confiderable length. Many valuable practical observations are given respecting the mode of treatment; the following cautions respecting the proper times for administering mercury in scrophuous complaints, apppear to be judicious and well timed.

"In the early stage of scrofulous complaints, the exhibition of mercury will uniformly do harm, and it should be most strictly abstained from, where the disease is most rapid; but when the disposition to enlargement is removed, and when stimulating liniments, friction or blisters, produce no re-action, mercurial medieines may be given with great advantage, and will facilitate the absorption of the tumour.

"Where the disease has produced inflammation on the skin, similar cautions are necessary to be observed, as every preparation of mercury would increase the irritation. But when this symptom is removed, mercury may be resorted to with confidence; though salivation must be carefully prevented from taking place.

"I would advise the carly opening of scrofulous abscesses, because if the result of the after treatment, which I have recommended, should not be complete, it will at any rate prevent the sloughs from being so extensive as they would otherwise have been: and where the re-production of lost parts is so difficult to be effected, the utmost attention should be directed to preserve them.

"Besides, where the disease has long existed, and is kept up by habit, one part of the ulcerated surface will be covered by granulations, and another portion covered with a slough, whilst the skin is gradually ulcerating. No application can be equally beneficial to these different stages, and much time will pass away in attaining one uniform character in the sore.

"When, as in this case, the skin and cellular membrane are under the influence of a disease which they have no power to support, mercurial preparations would be highly injurious; but when the irritable actions are removed, and a slough only covers the ulcer, they will be again admissible, though we cannot be too cautious that the mineral is not pushed further, or continued longer, than is necessary to remove the cause for which it was exhibited. Indeed, it cannot be denied that it is frequently necessary to discontinue it, and soothe the ulcer, before this desirable event has

taken