pocras ever reckoned a greater treat at the tables of the wealthy, than turtle and claret are now at the feast of every epicurean alderman.

Our mental tattes too, no less than our corporeal ones, are perpetually varying in their ton. Nor is this variation confined merely to the external garb, head-drefs, or what in any part we put on. The very fubjects of our more refined refearches have their vi ciffitudes; and fchool-divinity, with the other branches of monkifh education, never were more the fubjects of ferious inquiry than black-letter books, and printed heads, have fince been among the curious and inquifitive.

The wonder is not fo much to fee how each taite rifes in its turn, flourifhes, and dies away, as to fee with what eagerness, while it continues, the indulgence of it is purfued. This day a black letter book fetches two or three guineas at an auction, which in a few months goes perhaps to the trunk-maker; and the hundred-guilder print of Rembrandt, which but ten years ago would have been thought cheap in the proof at fifty or fixty guineas, in the prefent fatiety of enjoyments of this fort, would scarce pro duce as many fhillings.

But, befides thefe objects of connoiffeurship and literary inveftigation, there are other amufements, Mr. Urban, though of an humbler turn, which are purfued with equal warmth and eagernels. Your true pigeon fancver would give for a pair of right Japanese or Siam doves nearly as much as would purchase a couple of good Yorkshire hunters; and the gentlemen of the turf are hardly more extravagant in the breed and rearing of their geldings, than the florist has been in the choice and nurture of a tulip root from Holland.

I am obliged, Sir, to make ufe here of the past tense, for, alas! (as poor Robin fays) Omnium rerum viciffitudo; and this flowery tafte, which heretofore conftituted at once the wonder and employment of the age, feems now dwindled almost to nothing. The Grand Oronoque, once the glory of gardens, is now fallen to a few fhillings; and even the Pomp of Newbery and Catalaique itfelf would not in all the beauty of their bloom fetch at prefent more than ten or twenty gui neas!!! That our readers may fee how very inadequate thefe prices, great as they may appear to fome, are to the eftimation fet upon tulips, when the

true Antho-Mania prevailed, we shall here prefent them with fome account of the prices given for flowers in the years 1634, 35, 36, and 37, when the Dutch tulip-trade was at its greatest height.

In thofe years (faith mine author) people of all forts, from the greatest to the meanest, neglected all manner of bufinefs and manufacture, and fold their utenfils, &c. to engage in the tulip trade. Accordingly, in those days,

The Viceroy was fold for
Admiral Liefkens

250

440

Semper Auguftus

"In 1637 a collection of tulips of Wouter Brockholfmenfter was fold by his executors for 9000l.

"A fine Spanish cabinet, valued at 1000l. and 3ool. befides, were given for a Semper Augufius.

"Another gentleman fold three Semper Auguflujes for 1000l. each.

"The fame gentleman was offered for his flower-garden 1500l. a year for feven years, and every thing to be left as found, only referving the increase during that time for the money.

"One gentleman got in the space of four months 6000l.

"April 1637, by an order of the State, a great check was put to the tulip trade by invalidating their contracts; fo that a root was then fold for 51. which a few weeks before fold for 5001.

"It is related by a curious gentleman, that he had remarked, that in one city in Holland, in the space of three years, they had traded for a million fterling in tulips!!!

"It is further related, that a burgo- mafter had procured a place of confiderable profit for his friend, a native of Holland; when the latter offered to make him any amends in his power, which the former generoufly refused, and only defired to fee his flower garden, which was granted. In about two years afterwards came the gentleman to vifit the burgomaster, when perceiving in his garden a scarce tulip of great value (which the one had clandeftinely procured from the other), he flew into a violent paffion, refigned his place of 1oool. per ann. went home, tore up his flower garden, and has never been heard of fince." I am, Sir, yours, &c.

HUDSON, jun.

49. Epitome of Philofophical Tranfa&tions, Vol. LXIX. For the Year 1779. Part II. 4to. 75. 6d. L. Davis.

ART. XXII. Account of the Manner in which the Ruffians treat Perfons affected by the Fumes of burning Charcoal, and other Effluvia of the fame Nature. By Matthew Guthree, M.D.

This writer is a physician at St. Petersburg. The Ruffians are particularly expofed to thefe diforders from the conftruction of their houfes and ftoves. "The recovery is always attempted, and often effected, in this manner. They carry the patient immediately out of doors, and lay him upon the fnow, with nothing on him but a fhirt and linen drawers. His ftomach and temples are then well rubbed with fnow, and cold water or milk is poured down his throat. This friction is continued with fresh fnow until the livid hue which the body had when brought out is changed to its natural colour, and life renewed; then they cure the violent head-ach which remains by binding on the forehead a cataplafm of black rye-bread and vinegar. The lungs begin to play of themselves without blowing up, as in drowned perfons, as foon as the furcharge of phlogifton makes its escape from the body. This cafe is fo comnon and familiar that they never call in medical affiftance."

XXIII. An Account of an Apparatus applied to the Equatorial Infirument for correcting the Errors arifing from the Refraction in Altitude. By Mr. Peter Dollond, Optician.

This method confifts in applying two lenfes before the object-glafs of the telescope, one of them convex, and the other concave, both ground on fpheres of 30 feet, fo that the refraction of the one is entirely deftroyed by that of the other, and the focal length of the object-glafs remains unaltered. The convex lens is round, of the fame diameter as the object-glafs, and fitted to the end of the telefcope by a brais frame. The concave lens is of the fame width, but nearly two inches longer than it is wide, and is fixed into an oblong frame which flides on the other frame, and clofe to it. When the centers of thefe two lenfes, and alfo of the object glafs, coincide with each other, the image of any object formed in the telescope will not be moved: but, if one of the lenfes he moved on the other in the direction of a vertical arch, it will occafion a re

fraction, and by a fcale of equal parts applied to the brafs frame, the lens may be fet to occafion a refraction equal to that of the atmosphere in any altitude. This is more fully and clearly explained by a drawing of the refraction apparatus annexed.

XXIV. Experiments and Obfervations on the inflammable Air breathed by various Animals. By the Abbè Fontana. In confirmation of Dr. Priestley's hypothefis, and in oppofition to Mr. Sheele's, it appears, from thefe experiments, that inflammable air, extracted both from zinc and iron, and paffing through quickfilver, and even through water, is fatal to animals, even when their noses were stopped, and when it was breathed through the mouth only. The Abbè then breathed fome inflammable air in a bladder, after the manner of Mr. Sheele; at firft, he fays, with a kind of fear, but with fafety eleven times fucceffively. Another experiment, however, had nearly been fatal to him, as he loft his fight, and fell fenfelefs on the floor. The refult of his obfervations is, that inflammable air, after being breathed, is rather better than before, but that it ftill continues inflammable, and that the light fenfation which he felt on breathing it is owing to its fpecific levity. And here we would advise our Abbè to close his refearches, left he fall a victim to his rafh curiofity, like Empedocles and others.

XXX. On the Variation of the Temperature of boiling Water. By Sir Geo. Shuckburgh, Bart. F.R. and A. S.S.&c.

Meffrs.Le Monnier and Caffini made fome decifive obfervations to fhew that the heat of boiling water is very variable. M. de Luc's more complete Experiments were repeated by Sir George Shuckburgh in a journey over the Alps in 1775, and again in 1778. In this paper they are compared with M. de Luc's and with each other, and a table is added for the use of artists.

XXVI. Account of a new Kind of inflammable Air, or Gafs, which can be made in a Moment without Apparatus, and is as fit for Explosion as other inflammable Gaffes in Uje for that Purpole; together with a new Theory of Gunpowder. By John Ingen Houfz, Body Phyfician to their Imperial Majefties, and F.R.S.

From this new element of dephlo. gifticated air Dr. Ingen Houfz prognofticates great benefit to the human frame in various difeafes. The public

a.

are therefore much obliged to him for a cheap and eafy mode of procuring it, which is by means of vitriolic æther. For the particulars of the procefs we must refer to the article. Whether or no thefe airs may be made a fubftitute to gunpowder, as M.Volta of Coma fuppofes, let the inflammable Spirits that delight in war determine. To us an air-charged gun feems as vifionary, for fuch purpose, as Macbeth's air-drawn dagger.

XXVII. The Defcription of Two New Micrometers. By Mr. Ramsden, Optician.

Thefe cannot well be understood without the drawings annexed. One of them is a catoptric micrometer. The other, fuited to the principle of refraction, has a motion round the axis of vifion, for the conveniency of meafuring the diameter of a planet, &c. in any direction; whereas with the micrometer, which depends on moveable parallel wires, no diameter of a planet can be meafured, except that which is at right angles to the direction of its apparent motion.

XXVIII. Account of the Airs extraded from different Kinds of Waters; with Thoughts on the Salub ity of Air at different Places. By the Abbè Fontana.

Thefe experiments were made on air extracted from the water of a well, from that of the river Seine, from the water d'Arqueil at Paris, from diftilled water, &c. It appears that experiments made to afcertain the falubrity of the atmospherical air in various places, countries, and fituations, are not to be depended on; nor is the difference of the air between one country or fituation, and another, so great as is commonly imagined.

XXIX. Account of fome Experiments in Electricity. By Mr. Wm. Swift.

Thefe improvements confift of an anti-conductor, which, when the cylinder is put in motion, is charged negatively, and the whole machine is infulated. A flight sketch of it is annexed, with some experiments, which prove that the two conductors are charged, and differently charged, and alfo tend to thew the preference of points to balls, in diminishing and drawing off the electrical matter.

XXX. Sitedium incifum et Macrocarpon, ufufque prulluum qui exinde mafcuntur, deferipta a Carolo Petro Thunberg, M.D.

This writer, who refided at Batavia in 1775, here gives a generic and fpe

cific defcription (in Latin) of the Bread-fruit, whofe plants and feeds he preserved in a voyage from Ceylon to Europe in 1778; and with various obfervations on both these plants and their ufes, he defcribes fifteen different dishes which are made of them by the Dutch in the East-Indies.

XXXI. A Second Paper concerning fome Barometrical Measures in the Mines of the Hartz. By Mr. John Andrew de Luc, F.R.S. (French and English.)

The author communicated fome fimilar experiments two years ago. Thefe were made in one of the deepest mines in thofe mountains, named the deep St. John. The depth of one of the galleries he found to be 801 Englifh feet, and that of another 1359; the former barometric measurement being only four feet lefs, and the latter two feet more, than the geometrical measure and that there ought to be more certainty in the barometric meafure for the depth of mines than for the height of mountains, M. De Luc afligns two fatisfactory reafons, drawn from the vertical column in the fhafts of mines, and the homogeneity of the air. The paper concludes with fome general remarks on the barometrical measurement.

XXXII. On the Preceffion of the Equinoxes produced by the Sun's Attraction. By the Rev. Ifaac Milner, M.A. Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge.

This proceffion, which depends on · the unequal actions of the fun and moon on the protuberant parts of the earth at the equator, will be different according as the rifing at the equator is confidered as fluid, or as hard and compact. This problem of the preceffion, Mr. Milner adds, requires no principles but the received doctrine of motion, and the application of the lever he alfo determines by a problem how much any particle of the earth is affected by the unequal action of the fun, and mentions a design of tracing the real caufe of a mistake in the Principia, lib. III. prop. 39, in regard to the mean motion of the nodes of a fatellite and the ring of matter being the fame, as M. d'Alembert also has affirmed.

XXXIII. An Examination of various Ores in the Museum of Dr. William Hunter. By George Fordyce, M.D. and Mr Stane by Alchorne.

The three ores on which thefe experiments

50. Memoirs of the Life of David Garrick, Efq. Interfperfed with Characters and Anecdotes of bis theatrical Contempora ries. The Whole forming a Hiftory of the Stage, which includes a Period of thirty fix Years. By Thomas Davies. 2 vols. 8vo, 8s. Jewed. Printed for the Author.

WE fearee remember to have read a more pleafing compilation than this; and when, for that internal knowledge of the stage and its machinery which none but a player can poffefs or impart, we fcruple not to compare it with the Apology of Cibber, we cannot give it a higher commendation. Though little David is the commander in chief, and as fuch is properly placed in the van, yet many other theatric heroes and heroines pafs in review before us. Of feveral writers too the memoirs are interfperfed, viz. Aaron Hill, Dr. Brown, Ralph, Mallet, Smollet*, Kelly, Churchill, Goldimith, Cumberland, &c. For the early part of Mr. G.'s life the author was indebted, he tells us, to Dr. Johnfon, who was also the prompter and encourager of this undertaking. But we cannot pretend to detail particulars ;---and, befides, the most striking features of Mr. Garrick's life and character have been already well pourtrayed in our Magazine for 1779. (See the Index.) We fhall therefore confine ourselves to a few anecdotes, and one short chapter, as a specimen of the work, with fome occafional additions.

VOL. I.

P. 43. "Mr.Pope was perfuaded by Lord Orrery to fee him in the first dawn of his fame: that great man, who had often feen and admired Betterton, whofe picture he had painted, and which is now † in the poffeffion of Lord Mansfield, was ftruck with the propriety and beauty of Mr. Garrick's action; and, as a convincing preof that he had a good opinion of his merit, he told Lord Orrery, that he was afraid the young man would be spoiled, for he would have no competitor."

P. 127. During the run of the two

* "He was a man," fays our author, "who abounded in generofity and goodnature, but was at the fame time extremely fplenetic and revengeful." Whether the former part of this propofition is true we query; and how it is confiftent with the latter, we do not fee.

+ For "now," we doubt, must now be read" lately." O tempora! O mores!

Romeos, we also remember, on Mifs
Bellamy in Juliet exclaiming,
"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou
Romeo?".

a gallery wit replied, "Because Barry is at the other house."

P. 162. The "Stanzas on Mr. Garrick's Marriage" were printed in our Magazine for 1749, p. 232. That Mr. More wrote them may be true, but that it was with his friend's connivance we do not think, as it was faid, and generally believed, at the time of their first appearance, that Garrick was much alarmed, and faid, (perhaps to the author of them) " Is it by a friend or an enemy?"

P. 184. "It was with difficulty the good king [George II.] could be perfuaded, that he who reprefented fo ftrongly the atrocious as of a Richard III. could in reality be an honeft man: however, Tafwell, who acted the lord mayor of London, in the fame play, attracted his attention; the king thought him an excellent city magistrate, and laughed heartily at his burlefque addrefs."-His late Majesty, we have been told, ufed to call Mr. Garrick "a little buffoon- man," and could not easily forgive his making him ftart in the tent-icene of Richard.

P. 187. One of Mrs. Cibber's favourite comic characters was "The Country Wife." Of her choice we cannot say much in commendation. VOL. II.

P. 116. "It has been faid, that many years fince, when the sung in the oratorio of the Mefliah at Dublin, a certain bishop was fo affected with the extreme fenfibility of her manner, that he could not refrain from faying, Woman! thy fins be forgiven thee!" It fhould also be remembered, that Mrs. Cibber's voice being fo low that she defpaired of fucceeding as a finger on the stage, Handel faid he would let an air on purpofe, which he did in the Meffiah, to her own furprise and the delight of the audience. It may also be worth recording, that Garrick, with a view of anticipating Quin's fneers on his attempting Othello, faid, he fuppofed Mr. Q. when he faw him enter, would exclaim, "Here's Pompey, where's the tea-kettle ?" in allufion to a breakfast-scene in the Harlot's Progrefs. Quin did fay, that when Garrick played Othello, he would act Defdemona; and, on his acting Brute, he obferved, that " Garrick was not Sir John Brute, but only Mafer Jacky.”