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to have an opportunity of laying before our readers the cafe of this apparently-injured officer; which certainly, on the face of it, exculpates him from the imputation of fo foul an offence.

MILITARY.

ART. 20. Narrative of the Operations of a Detachment in an Ex-” pedition to Candy in the Ifland of Ceylon, in the Year 1804, with fome Obfervations on the previous Campaign, and on the Nature of Candian Warfare, &c. &c. By Major Johnfton, of the Third Ceylon Regiment, then Captain Commandant of the Detachment. 8vo. 6s. Baldwin. 1811.

It is impoffible to perufe this narrative without the greatest intereft as well as the heartieft fympathy for the gallant officer, who, without the fmallest degree of oftentation or vanity, tells his melancholy tale.. It was intended, it feems, that fix detach ments of troops in the British fervice were to penetrate, by dif ferent avenues, the interior of Ceylon, and at an appointed time affemble in the vicinity of Candy, the capital; yet, by fome ftrange confufion in the orders given, Major Johnfton's was the only one of the fix detachments who perfevered and accomplished this arduous undertaking. He proceeded with his fmall force, and overcoming difficulties hardly to be imagined, not only made good his march from Barticalo on the coaft to Candy, but in fpite of the accumulated force of the Candians affembled to mo left and harrafs him, accomplished his retreat alfo by a long detour from Candy to Trincomale. On his return, he was called to account for his prefumed difobedience, which reminds us of the fai for, who having taken a fort from the enemy, and being threatened with punishment, fwore he would never take a fort again. Major Johniton was, of courfe, honourably acquitted, but it feems in comprehenfible to us, that public orders fhould be fo equivocally given as to hazard the deftruction of fo many gallant fellows. Major Johnston's book alfo contains many judicious obfervations on the climate and mode of warfare in Ceylon, well worth the attention of his fuperiors. This is the unvarnished journal of a foldier, but the author, we fhould think, poffeffes materials for a more extenfive and interefting work.

ART. 21. The Imprefs confidered as the Caufe why British Sea. men defert from our Service to the Americans; with a Review of the Encouragement now held out by the Royal Navy, and the Means in our Power of Abolishing the Imprefs. 8vo. 29 pp. Is. 6d. Sold No. 377, Strand.

The fubject of this little work has fo often been difcuffed, and the inefficacy of every plan hitherto proposed, as a fubftitute for the imprefs of feamen, has been pronounced by fuch re

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fpectable authorities, that we cannot venture any confident opinion upon the fuggeftions of the prefent author. Yet, we confefs, that we are among thofe who deeply lament the neceffity of a practice fo repugnant, not only to British freedom, but, in many individual inftances, to common humanity: nor can we wholly relinquifh the hope, that means may yet be found to render the abolition of it confiftent with the fecurity of the British empire. The fcheme of this author is not indeed wholly new. After enumerating the advantages now held out to our feamen (fo much fuperior to thofe which they enjoyed but a few years ago) he propofes an augmentation, by adequate bounties, of that highly ufeful corps, "the Royal Marines," from about 30,000 (their prefent number) to 50,000 men; fuggefting, what we believe to be the fact, that the prefent establishment has been found inadequate to furnish the ufual proportion allotted to our fhips of war. According to the author's plan, the com.. plement of marines would, in a 74 gun fhip, be increafed from 125 (their prefent number) to 208, and in fhips of other rates in the fame proportion, reducing, we prefume, in an equal ratio, the complement of feamen. Whether fuch an alteration be expedient or practicable, we must leave to the judgment of perfons exprienced in the naval fervice. The author, however, points out feveral parts of the duty which may be, and indeed are, performed by marines. The defalcation in the number of feamen in the Royal Navy that might be occafioned at first, by abolishing the imprefs, would not, he conceives, exceed 10,000 men; which he more than provides for by the additional number of marines; and he is perfuaded that, after the irritation and difguft, raised in the minds of failors by the compulfion and confequent confinement of the imprefs, have fubfided, they will fee more clearly the advantages of the King's fervice, and no longer conceal themfelves to avoid it, or (which he justly states as a ferious national lofs) fly to the American fervice; in which it is fcarcely poffible to diftinguith them from natives of the United States.

Upon the whole, though we tremble at an experiment fo ha zardous as that of at once abolishing the imprefs, before another method has stood the test of experience, yet the author's scheme of augmenting the marines might, we think, at first be tried without danger; and poffibly it might lead to that which we fhould deem a happy result,

MATHEMATICS.

ART. 22. Mathematics fimplified and practically illuftrated, by the Adaptation of the principal Problems to the ordinary Purposes of Life, and by a progressive Arrangement applied to the most fa miliar Objects, in the plaineft Terms: together with a complete

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Efay on the Art of Surveying Lands, c. by fuch fimple Inventions as may for ever banish the Neceffity of coftly and complex Inftruments. By Capt. Thomas Williamfon, Author of the Wild Sports of India. 8vo. 224 pp. 9s. Longman and Co. 1808.

Though this work may not much advance the progress of fcience, it is well calculated to enrich mechanical operators, with ideas gained from pure fcience. Every thing is formed in confiftency with this plan. The directions are fo clear and fimple, that an unlearned perfon cannot mifapprehend them; and though it was necessary to have many plates and many figures, fome of them not a little complicated, they have all been etched (probably by the author himfelf) in fuch a manner as to keep down the price within the reach of common purchasers. The plates are twentythree in number, yet the price is no more than is above stated. Two plates, however, have been uniformly etched on one copper, and then worked off together.

The plan of the author is to give the most important mathematical problems and theorems in order, and then to lay down the fimpleft and moft correct way of performing or proving them in practice, explaining at the fame time what are the difficulties and errors likely to occur. Thus we have, in each inftance, the propofition, and then the application. The latter is fometimes made amufing by an example, as in the following cafe. After Problem 22 (for they are all called Problems) Triangles of equal bafe and altitude are equal to each other;" the application follows in these terms:

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"This is a most important problem, inafmuch as it relates to furveying, and to architectural purpofes. It is the bafis of an infinity of operations, and teaches as a truth what is not fufficiently obvious to the eye, viz. that however much extended or oblique a triangle may be, yet, if it lay (lie) between a certain parallel, and have the fame extent of bafe with another, which may be more compact, and appear longer, yet, that the area or furface of each will be exactly the fame.

"I recollect feeing a gentleman greatly embarrassed, for want of knowing whether he should fave materials by finishing his houfe with a pavilion roof, or with gables. The carpenter he employed infifted on the pavilion being the cheapest as to materials; while the mafon gave a firm opinion, that the gables would fave much wood and flate. The fact was, that the car. penter knew the pavilion was moft expenfive, while the mason was intent on the additional quantity of work he would be paid for, if the gables were run up; neither of them, however, underftood that the furface to be covered, being under the fame angles, must be alike in either mode; and that confequently the amount taken off at the upper corners of the front and back of the pavilion roof, would exactly complete its two ends." P. 49.

That there is no royal road to geometry is certain, but the

ideas derived from pure geometry cannot be too extensively made known, and Captain W. feems to have taken a good method of diffufing fuch ideas. The great inconvenience of the present edition is, the incorrectnefs of the plates, which though explained and apologized for, caufes yet more perplexity than the expla nation fuppofes or counteracts.

HISTORY

ART. 23. Cromwelliana. A Chronological Detail of Events in which Oliver Cromwell was engaged; from the Year 1642, to his Death, 1658: with a Continuation of other Tranfactions, to the Reftoration. Writing Folio. 196 pp. 11. 15s. Stace.

1810.

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This collection, which was formed, we understand, by the publisher, Mr. Stace, confifts of extracts from the Diurnals, Mer curies, and other public newspapers of the time. A list of these, to the number of about one hundred and ten, is prefixed, and the compiler professes to have had accefs to them, "through the kindnefs of a gentleman.' Whether the collection is more complete than that which was the Royal Collection, now by His Majesty's munificence placed in the British Mufeum, we are not able to pronounce. The extracts, though unconnected, except by chro nology, are altogether extremely curious; and the Cromwelliana muft, of neceffity, be examined by future hiftorians of that dif mal period. The features of the times may there abundantly be feen in all their ftrange deformity, and to give a fpecimen or two would be to little purpofe, as the whole confifts of extracts.

There are a few plates; that of the Battle of Worcester, faid to be from an original picture, contains very little of the battle, but it has the portrait of Cromwell on horfeback, and in action, and a view of the cathedral and bridge of Worcester in the back ground. The other plates relate to his lying in state, and contain autographs of Cromwell and others.

The editor folicits fupport in publishing a second part according to the original plan: but either the firft compilation must be ill made, or a fecond, from the fame materials, and relating to the fame time, must be of very inferior value.

EDUCATION.

ART. 24. Thoughts and Remarks on establishing an Inftitution for the Support and Education of unportioned refpectable Females. By the Author of "The Step Mother," "Letters to young Females," "Conftantia Neville, or The Weft Indian," &c. 8vo. 248 pp. Longman and Co. 1809.

Long has this book been on our fhelves, and ofteu in our hands.

The object of the writer, (who is a female) appeared fo laudable, that we wished to find the execution of her work entitled to equal praife; but, (perhaps from over faftidioufnefs) we have not till now been able to perufe it throughout. It is the hard task of reviewers, on many occafions, to wade through irrelevant matter, and to ftruggle with the difguft which trifling anecdotes, frivolous obfervations, and frequent affectation neceffarily produce. This task we have at laft accomplished, and we make this confeffion with regret, because the author's intentions have our full approbation, and we do not think her fcheme impracticable, if the would print a fhort outline of the plan, and caufe it to be circu lated amongst perfons of rank, fortune, and known benevolence. It is briefly, as the title of the work implies, to establish a school or fchools for the education of females born in a respectable rank of life, whofe friends cannot afford to educate, or poffibly even to fupport them. The fame inftitution is alfo intended to provide a refuge for widows and fpinfters more advanced in years, but who have not incomes fufficient for their due fupport. These are all frequent cafes in the prefent ftate of fociety, and not only lamentable in themfelves, but as the author obferves, injurious to public morals and happiness. They might probably be alleviated, at least, by fuch an establishment as this author fuggefts; which she terms A Proteftant Nunnery," or " Houfe of Refuge;' and, if no measure of that kind is in contemplation, we fear it is because the propofal is contained in a work not calculated to be

read.

ART. 25. Mylius's School Dictionary of the English Language, in tended for thofe by whom a Dictionary is used as a Series of daily Leffons; in which fuch Words as are Pedantical, Vulgar, Indeli cate, and Obfolete are omitted; and fuch only are preferved as are purely and fimply English, or are of neceffary Ufe and Application. The Second Edition, to which is prefixed, a New Guide to the English Tongue. By Edward Baldwin, Efq. 12mo. 2 S Goodwin. 1809.

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School books fell rapidly, and the prefent has attained a fecond edition before we knew of the first, The title-page to this makes bold promifes, which it is not eafy to verify or refute, without a more intimate acquaintance with the work than we can undertake to form. Mr. Baldwin's introduction contains useful things; particularly his account of terminations.

ART. 26. Important Studies for the Female Sex, in Reference to modern Manners. Addreffed to a young Lady of Diftinction. By Mrs. Cockle. I 2mo. 297 PP. 78. Chapple. 1809.

The author of this book is a diligent writer for the benefit of youth, and we have before had occafion to praise her efforts. In the introduction to this, the fpeaks with diffidence of attempting

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