"The nobility and gentry of England have long borne the res proach of foreigners, and of the native literati in general, for a selfish and haughty conduct respecting their picture galleries, and collections of curiosities. The complainants say, that the posses sors of rare and valuable works of art should give free admission at all times to the curious artist, and to every person of laudable curiosity and it is further urged that they manage these things better in France,' Italy, &c. It must, however, be obvious, that a general system of policy, which may be unexceptionable in one country, a certain state of society, and with a particular class of people, would be highly improper in another country essentially different in habits and character. Thus in England, where ignorance, vulgarity, or something worse, are the characteristics of the lower orders, and where frivolity, affectation, and insolence are the leading traits in a class of lounging persons who haunt most public places, it would be excess of folly for gentlemen who possess valuable museums, to give unlimited admission to the public. I have the honour of knowing some gentlemen who possess valuable collections of pictures, &c. which they would cheerfully, if they could confidently and without much inconvenience, display to the public. But the public of England are not yet sufficiently advanced in refinement and taste to appreciate and fully enjoy such indulgencies; certain restrictions are necessary; and these, if properly constituted and regulated, are as useful and pleasant to the visitor, as to him who grants the favour. It should be recollected that private collections are generally formed for individual gratification [never!], and that a private gentleman is naturally and rationally more disposed to study domestic comfort than to sacrifice it to public curiosity. Whenever, therefore we are freely admitted to examine and study, (without extravagant taxation) the valuable repositories of art in the houses of opulent persons, we ought to be thankful."

We did not know that the public of England are peculiarly tasteless, rude, ignorant, and vicious as Mr. Britton supposes; still less did we think them frivolous and affected; we had thought the latter character more particularly characteristic (as the author would say) of certain ambitious neighbours. We should therefore recommend it to gentlemen of fortune who have made extensive collections of paintings or other curiosities, to try the experiment; let them not be deterred by the English populacho nor their “vulgarity or something worse;" let them advertise that their museums are open to the public only whilst that public conducts itself with decorum, and the zeal of the amateurs will be a sufficient guarantee for the safety of the treasures. Should this measure not be sufficient, let them enclose the paintings or other objects of curiosity, so that no violence can be practised on them; but above all, let them not attempt to destroy the independent spirit of Englishmen by inducing them to supplicate for permission to behold their works of art. Perish paintings, sooner than degrade the noble minds of Englishmen into such servile sycophants as

the worthless slaves of Napoleon! The English, public may be rude, but it is the rudeness of virtue and genius, which are unknown in the polished countries of the arts.

The author had at first proposed to preface this Catalogue with a "concise review of the present state of the Fine Arts in Eng land," but he has deferred it to some future occasion, in order to render it more complete. The question at issue between artists and the patrons of the arts, respecting patronage, is worthy of serious and dispassionate investigation. "Men of talent, we are told, loudly complain of being neglected and despised, whilst those of rank and opulence declare that they are not only disposed to encourage and reward merit, but are constantly in the habit of doing so." Perhaps there is much truth in both assertions, however opposite. There is undoubtedly among persons of good taste a great predilection in favour of the ancient artists, which to a certain degree necessarily implies a contempt for the moderns, and so far the living artists may be correct in what relates to their wounded yanity. The numerous collections which are formed and forming of the works of modern artists, still more completely establishes the truth of the patrons' assertion, that "they are constantly in the habit" of encouraging merit. But the fact is, the vanity of artists has never been nor perhaps never will be fully gratified, and they of course have always been a querulous race, who never thought their own genius sufficiently appreciated by the public. Their vanity also impels them to luxuriousness and ostentatious pomp; and a painter, perhaps the son of a peasant or honest tradesmen, is not satisfied with his encouragement, and never ceases railing against the illiberality, parsimony, and want of taste, among his noble or wealthy countrymen, unless he is enabled by the practice of his art to support a retinue and magnificence suitable to a peer of the realm! Let them observe the necessarily industrious and economical lives of the first artists in France and Italy; let them contrast them with their own, and change for ever after from murmurs to grateful praises of that country and its inhabitants, in which their enjoyments are so much greater than in any other.

times

This Catalogue will be found very convenient to persons visiting the splendid collection of the noble Marquis, whose exemplary liberality in submitting his paintings to public inspection, deserves the thanks of all friends to taste and genius. The regulations necessary to be observed previous to admission, the proper to apply for tickets of admission, and the season of exhibition, every Wednesday from 12 to 5 o'clock during the months of May, June, and July, are particularly stated. To the volume is added, a ground-plan of Cleveland-house and a view of the New Gallery. The catalogue numbers and names of each painting are regularly mentioned, and as the work is printed on good paper with large margins, persons may write their own remarks against the No. of each picture. Had Mr. B. consulted the Catalogue Raisoné du Musée Napoleon, he would have found many curious particu

lars respecting paintings which might have suggested to his some new inquiries.

MEDICINE.

Au Essay, addressed to Medical Students, on the Importance and Utility of the Profession; and on the urgent necessity there is for them to obtain a more perfect Knowledge of its different Branches, than is acquired by Pupils in general, &c. pp. 77, 12mo. 2s. 6d. Highley, 1808.

THIS is a well meant effusion of an intelligent and well educated practitioner, who is deeply affected with the murderous ignorance of the inferior classes of the medical tribe. It is truly horrible to reflect on the most criminal ignorance which still prevails among great numbers of our apothecaries, men-midwives, and country surgeons, in whose untutored hands the lives of his majesty's subjects are daily exposed to the most eminent perils: that man who can coolly contemplate its destructive effects, must have a sterile mind inured to slaughter. We sincerely wish that all parents who destine their children to the study of medical science or art, and that all students in this profession, would attentively read this little Essay, which, although not distinguished by any brilliance of wit or sentiment, is yet replete with good sense, most salutary advice, and considerable experience in medical tuition. A strict observance of the precepts here inculcated must infallibly produce a good member of society, a skilful practitioner (particularly in surgery, which appears to be the branch contemplated by the writer), and lead to well-founded fame and fortune. There is one hint in this meritorious little tract, which we cannot pass unnoticed; it is, that the legislature should encourage the study of anatomy, by giving up" the bodies of all those whose crimes may bring them to an untimely death," to be publicly dissected; and it is justly expected, that "dread of dissection might tend to lessen the number of these wretched and anfortunate victims, whom the frequent examples of premature and violent death does not seem to deter from the commission of the most daring and atrocious offences." Humanity, sound policy, and the general interests of society, demanded attention to such a wise and necessary measure. Very great alterations and improvements for the study of anatomy are now making in London, and we doubt not that the legislature, whenever the public theatre of anatomy shall be finished in Lincoln's Inn Fields, will adopt this plan.

Observations on the Egyptian Opthalmia, and Ophthalmia Purutenta, as it has appeared in England. By William Thomas, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Assistant.

Surgeon in the Eleventh Royal Veteran Battalion. pp. 59; 8vo. G. Robinson, 1908.

Mr. THOMAS appears a sensible, well-informed and judicious practitioner; he distinguishes the Egyptian Opthalmia from the Ophthalmia Purulenta; the former he considers the Chemosis of the Greeks, and Ophthalmia Vera of the Arabians; and the latter the disease which has appeared in this country, and which is generally admitted to arise from specific contagion. It is presumed, however, that "a disease so highly inflammatory as the Egyptian or Ophthalmia Vera, in which the secretions are great, may be changed from its simple state by European habits, from their mode of living, being mixed in numbers and crowded into hospitals, after inflammation had taken place; causes which were at all times known to be favourable to the propagation of contagion, and probably did in this instance convert a simple inflammatory disease into a contagious one." The circumstance of military men only being attacked with it, adds something to the probability of this conjecture. Mr. Thomas thinks that the Ophthalmia Purulenta is propagated by contact and the other modes of infectious diseases, and that those who were infected only by the medium af the atmosphere suffered it more mildly. The author did not wait till the disease had made such a progress as to occasion a copious effusion of tears; on the contrary, he observed, in the Northampton militia in 1806, to which he was then surgeon, some days before any change took place perceptible to common observers," a difference in the caruncula lachrymalis of the eye infected (as it is rare that both are so in this early stage); it will appear fuller and larger than in its natural state;" this he found" an invariable token of approaching disease." The thickening of the caruncle appeared before any pain or irritation was experienced by the patient; this the author considers as constituting a striking distinction between Ophthalmia Vera or Egyptian Ophthalmia, as it appears in that country, and Ophthalmia Purulenta in this; the former commencing with fever and increasing with the inflammation of the eyes, while the latter begins with local affection without even head-ach or febrile disposition. As an additional proof that they are two distinct diseases, bleeding in Ophthal mia Purulenta, except in peculiar cases of inflammatory diathesis, when it is unavoidable, generally occasions blindness, whereas it is the sovereign remedy in Egyptian Ophthalmia. Mr. Thomas succeeded in curing all his patients (during from five to twelve days), in the Nottingham militia in 1806, and the 11th Royal Ve teran Battallion in 1808, by means of frequent ablutions with cold water thrown upon the eyes, (which were never allowed to be rubbed or wiped with cloths) and the following ointment intro duced, three or four times a day, into the great canthus of the eye, in order that it might diffuse itself over the whole eye: R. Unge. Sperm. Cæti; 1oz. Kali ppt. Ï scrup. m. Ungt. molle. In some obstinate cases a litte more kali (nearly double) was added, with the happiest effect; it gave a smarting pain which soon passed

off and cleansed the eye with the effusions of cold water. Tables are subjoined of the number of patients and the duration of their disease in the above corps, and as this disease is evidently contagious in a high degree, we think not only medical men but the nation are indebted to the ingenions and modest efforts of Mr,

Thomas.

EDUCATION.

Excerpta ex variis Romanis Poetis, qui in Scholis rariùs leguntur, Notulis illustrata, quas collegit in studiosæ Juventutis Usum Johannes Rogers Pitman, A. B. pp. 445, 12mo. Rivington, London, 1808.

THE success, if not the utility, of elegant extracts in all the modern languages, would naturally indicate the propriety of similar works in the ancient. Many such publications, indeed, have already appeared, but they are either by far too copious or too brief: the present collection is therefore better adapted for those qui ad seriores poetas aliquando divertat, as the Editor observes, than any thing of the kind hitherto published. The poets whose works Mr. Pitman has culled are Lucretius, Catullus, Propertius, Tibullus, Persius, Seneca, Lucan, Flaccus, S. Italicus, Statius, Martial, Juvenal, Ausonius and Claudian. The extracts, particularly from Martial and Propertius, are sufficiently copious, especially as many of the latter writer's effusions are odious. A very useful appendix is added, consisting of some brief notices of the authors, and of the best editions, translations and commentaries on their works, with extracts from the notes of the best scholiasts. Of Propertius the author very properly remarks, Sed tamen elegias, cætera egregias, immunda maculat obscanitas, et inanem eruditionis affectationem ubique jactat. The latter censure will we hope satisfy youth that there is nothing more in this author worthy of their attention, except what is here laid before them. The industry evinced in the compitation of this volume is truly laudable, as the editor has referred, in the Appendix, to almost every work, both ancient and modern, in which the writings of the above poets are examined, translated into English, or criticised; and he as uniformly displays good taste and sound judgment. Upon the whole, we think these Excerpta will be found a most useful work in all classical schools for occasional exercises, as they will neither vitiate the taste nor the morals, while they furnish an agreeable variety to the young student.

The Logographic-Emblematical French Spelling-Book: or French Pronunciation made eufy. Being a Method by which any Child, four or five Years old, and of ever so slow an Apprehension, although perfectly unacquainted with his Letters, will in a few Months, be enabled to read French fluently, and pronounce it as if he were a Parisian born. To which are added, besides Instructions to enable any Person to put this Method in Practice, and Certificates of the Efficacy of the jame, a Systematical Ap