fixth, a confiderable quantity of fluid, multa aqua, Morgagni fays, flowed from the fpinal tube. When the veffels in the neck were di vided, much blood of a black colour was discharged."

As a fluid, fimilar to that which flowed from the spinal tube, was found within the head, and the veffels of the brain were turgid with blood, Morgagni very properly placed this cafe in his first chapter, where he treats of the diseases of the brain. The induration of the lungs, he attributes to a former and fevere illness, but we will lay a part of his observations on this cafe before our readers, by which they will fee how little they deserve the title of infignificant or uninterefting, beftowed upon them by the editor. "Quod pulmonum lobus prædurus fuerit, nihil ad noviffimum attinet morbum, in quo nulla vitiati ejus vifceris indicia funt animadverfa. Scilicet alterius morbi, et quidem gravis, aut reliquiæ illæ erant, aut fundamenta, minime in lanario miranda. Hoc enim opificum genus ex pulmonibus plerumque laborare, atque adeo inde mori fæpenumero, videmus; quippe qui oleo fordidi, gravemque hujus halitum inter refpirandum excipientes, in hypocauftis vitam fere nudi degunt, ex iifdem fubinde calentes exeunt, et feminudi in publicum prodeunt," &c.

On comparing the defcription of the difeafe of which this patient died, with the definition of continued inflammatory fever, given at the head of the fection, there will appear the most marked difagreement. In continued inflammatory fever, the functions of the brain are but little disturbed, and there is no primary local disease. But the fubject of this cafe was fo delirious, that it was neceffary to confine him, and, on diffection, the lungs and brain were found to be materially injured.

The view we have given of this cafe, will be fufficient to fhow the difficulty, if not the impractibility, of carrying the plan the editor has propofed into execution. Many other cafes equally faulty might be produced.

To what number of volumes the work is propofed, or more properly, is likely to be extended, we are not informed; the editor indeed feems to have made fo fmall a progress in it, that he is fcarce able to form any opinion upon it himself. "He hopes," he fays, "to complete that part of the work, allotted to univerfal difcafes, within another volume; or fhould the materials be found incompreffible into that fize, he engages that it fhall not exceed two volumes. It is meant," he adds, "that the local, fexual, and infantine diseases, shall be continued in feparate publications, conducted on the fame plan." But it is probable the difficulties he will have to encounter, may induce him to alter his project. A collection of the most rare

and

and curious cafes and diffections, compreffed into a small compafs, without any commentary, except the obfervations Morgagni has given to explain fuch circumftances as would not otherwise be intelligible, would, we are perfuaded, be very acceptable to many perfons, who have neither leifure nor inclination to read voluminous works. Among other things, it would ferve to fhow the refources of nature in carrying on her operations, when parts, that fem effential to our exiftence, are fo much injured, as to be scarce able to perform their functions. On fuch a work we should be glad to find this editor engaged.

BRITISH

CATALOGUE.

POETRY..

ART. 21. The Pleader's Guide, a didactic Poem, in two Books; containing the conduct of a Suit at Law, with the Arguments of Counsellor Bother'um and Counsellor Bore'um, in an Action between John-a-Gull and John-a-Gudgeon, for Alfault and Battery at a late contefted Election. By the late John Surrebutter, Efq. Special Pleader and Bar rifter at Law. 8vo. 79 pp. 35. 6d. Cadell. 1796.

་

A pleader may, perhaps, find a fafer guide than the poet who here offers his fervice, but he cannot eafily find one more facetious and agreeable. There is really abundance of humour throughout this little poem, expreffed in very claffical language; and we hope the author will find encouragement fufficient to produce the promifed continuation. If our enquiries have been fuccefstul, this guide is an immediate defcendant of a guide, whofe instructions refpecting a famous city in the well have gained univeral admiration: and we may almost fay of the prefent bard, what would be the higheft ftrain of commendation, " fequitur patrem paffibus æquis." Allowing for the difference of measure, and the more confined nature of the fubject, this praife is hardly beyond the truth. But let us call Mr. Surrebutter into court to plead for nimfelf. He begins thus:

Of legal fictions, quirks, and gloffes,
Attorney's gains, and clients loffes;
Of fuits created, loft, and won;
How to undo and be undone;

Whether

Whether by common law, or civil,
A man goes fooner to the devil:
Things which few mortals can difciofe
In verfe, or comprehend in profe,
I fing-do thou, bright Phoebus deign
To thine for once in Chancery-lane.

The technical part of the poem appears to be truly correct; but is, perhaps, rather too abundant to please the general reader; it is, however, fully explained in the notes; and may thus furnish a pleafing method of acquiring fome legal knowledge. The part most calculated to be generally underflood and relished, is the counfellor's account of his own education at special pleading, &c.

"Whoe'er has drawn a fpecial plea,
Has heard of old TOM TEWKESBURY,
Deaf as a poft, and thick as muftard,
He aim'd at wit, and bawl'd and blufter'd,
And died a Nifi prius leader-

That genius was y fpecial pleader.
That great man's office I attended,
By HAWK and BUZZARD recommended:
Attorneys both of wondrous skill,

To pluck the goofe and drive the quill;
Three years fat his moky room in,
Pens, paper, ink, and pounce confuming:
The fourth, when Eign day begun,
Joyful 1 hail'd th' aufpicious fun;
Bade Tewkibury and clerk adieu.
(Purification, eighty-two)

Of both I wafh'd my hands; and, though
With nothing for my cash to fhew,
But precedents, fo fcrawl'd and blurr'd,
I fcarce could read one single word;
Nor in my books of common-place,
One feature of the law could trace,
Save Buzzard's nofe and vifage thin,
And Hawk's deficiency of chin,
Which I, while lolling at my eafe,
Was wont to draw instead of pleas:
My chambers I equipt complete,

Made friends, hir'd books, and gave to eat
If haply to regale my friends on

My mother fent a haunch of ven'son,

Im tt refpectfully entreated

The choiceft company to eat it;

To wit, old BUZZARD, HAWK, and CRow,
Item, TOM THORN BACK, SHARK, and Co.
Attorneys each, as keen and ftaunch,

As e'er devour'd a client's haunch.
Nor did I not their clerks invite,
To eat faid ven'fon hash'd at night;

For

For well I knew that hopeful fry,
My rifing merit would defery;
The fame litigious courfe purfue;
And, when to fifh of prey they grew,
By love of food and conteft led,

Would haunt the spot where once they fed."

The rest of Mr. Surrebutter's education is related with equal hu

mour.

ART. 22. The Economy of Monaftic Life (as it exifled in England) a Poem, with philofophical and archeological Illuftrations, from Lyndwood, Dugdale, Selden, Wilkins, Willis, Spelman, Warton, Sc. and copious Extracts from original MSS. by T. D. Fofbrooke, M. A. Curate of Horfley, Gloucestershire. 4to. 75. 6d. Faulder. 1796.

That the author of this production is a ftudious and well-informed antiquary, every line of his preliminary differtation will evince. With exemplary care and correctnefs, he has gathered from all fources whatever could be applicable to his purpofe; and, in digefting his materials, has been careful, in every intance, to refer to his authori ties. The following sketch of the duties of a monaftic day, is more complete than any thing that is ufually found, and is, as we said, well fupported by references.

The principal religious duties were as follow. The fervice of the Romish church confifted in what is called the Breviary, or feven hours, a division originating among the ancient monks. In the Breviary, however, the fervices are fpecifically eight. Mattins, Lauds, Prime, Thirds, Sixths, Nones, Vefpers, and Completorium or Complin. Among the (probably fome) monks, the fervices were more numerous. Mattins, the fervice of midnight, was followed by Lauds, probably celebrated about three in the morning, Prime about fix, or break of day. Nine o'clock was the stated time of Thirds, and im mediately preceded high Mafs or Communion Service*. Twelve o'clock was anciently devoted to Sixths, and three P. M. to Nones; but the etymology and ufual application of the word of Noon, was taken from this hour being hurried back to Mid-day. Vefpers followed immediately after dinner, and we meet with a fecond fervice of that name. Completorium or Complin, was celebrated at twilight, or about fix in the evening-the fecond Complin or Lucernarium, probably at the tolling of the Curfew."

It is impoffible to give equal commendation to the poetry. Antiquarian exactnefs is perhaps hardly compatible with the enthusiasm of poetry; nor does the ear of the author appear to be either formed or xercifed to judge of poetic melody. We take a ftanza at random, "This arch, more picture thus, the tall ash shades, On whofe lank arms, the Autumn's early fpoil,

The hallowed mifletoe a green wreath braids;
Admitted we revere a long-drawn aisle.

Which, however, did not occur daily.

The

The church conventual of a ruin'd pile;
Brackets of human faces, pofterns low,
And mouldings richly wrought by fretter's toil,

And windows, erft where robed in gorgeous thow
Of Jeffe's honour'd race were ranged a tinted row."

Mr. Fofbrook, though he does not write profeffedly in an antiquated ftyle, is fond of obfolete and uncommon words and phrafes. "Sequacious ivy weaves a nappy frieze ;" we have alfo the " teachy (for techy) nettle,"-" nefh Acacias," fibrils,""ftreamlets,""deeds of dare,"" tented sky,"-" preen," '-"gonfalons,"feral black," &c. with many fuch quaint and affected lines as the following:

31

"Uncoil the tangled dance to tipfy tones of joy;"

and where bells are called

Supreme lords of a boundless world of tone."

We should conceive that, among the refpectable fubfcribers to this poem, many, if confulted, would have told the author that thefe things, which occur perpetually, are blemishes, instead of ornaments, to his poem; and should all have been removed.

ART. 23. The Fofbuade, an heroi-facred Poem; containing a Series of the most important Events which passed upon the great Theatre of the World, from the Creation to the ever memorable and important Æra of our Saviour's Crucifixion. By the late Walter Burke, Efq. 12mo. 240 pp. 45. Downes. 1794.

Zealous as we are for the welfare of the whole ftate of Parnaffus, and attentive to its moft minute tranfactions, it is furprifing that a complete epic poem fhould fo long have efcaped our obfervation. Much poetry, however, there is, which is by its nature most calculated to blush unfeen, and waste its nefs on the defert air;" and to this clafs the prefent poem undoubtedly belongs. Had not a fenfe of our obligation to the public induced us to repair our omiffion when discovered, very few of our readers would have had occafion to complain at a total filence refpecting the "Jofuade." As Mr. W. Burke is ftated in the title-page to be "the late," we prefume he does not speak for himfelf in the preface, where it is faid that virtue," though enchanting in a ftate the most unadorned, will not, it is prefumed, appear lefs amiable for being drefied to advantage." We have fometimes had occafion to fpeak of editorial partiality, and certainly it will be thought to be exemplified, when fuch a ftyle as the following is faid to drefs virtue to advantage. It fhould be remarked Soo that the fpecimen is not, by any means, particularly unfavourable.

"To what difgnifes will not meanness bend,

To hide fome blemish, or attain fome end ;

A coward, here notorious, often tried,
Brays like an afs, cloak'd in a lion's hide:

Of