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Review-Cases of Tic Doloureaux.

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It too frequently happens, that inculated to be highly beneficial, to a works of this description, their authors class of readers, who have not much impregnate them, with what may be learning, nor many books; and especalled the slang of party, thus furnish- cially because the important subjects ing occasions of suspicion, that the pro- are placed within the reach of their motion of sectarian interest predomi- comprehension. nates over practical utility. From these charges the volume before us is happily exempt. The style in which it is written is simple and perspicuous, and the truths of the gospel are recommended on scriptural grounds. The pages are closely printed; but though the type is rather small, the paragraphs, which are numerous, furnish relief to the reader, and facilitate his progress through the work. From the author's third sermon, we give the following passage as a specimen.

“He (Christ) teaches a lesson of humility. Pride keeps man out of his proper place, and separates between him and happiness; and it arises from false views of ourselves, and of our performances. On the other hand, a proper and just view of our imperfections, and failings, and transgressions, is calculated to humble us to the dust, and to bring us to the feet of our heavenly Father. And such view of ourselves, the teaching of Christ abundantly affords. Who does not know that the blessed Jesus had to preach among persons who made the whole of religion to consist of outward service, and who looked only to the mere letter of the law? and who among us has not read his excellent and heart-searching sermon, recorded in the 5th and 6th and 7th chapters of St. Matthew's gospel? and who that reads these chapters can fail to observe how extensive and spiritual he declares the law of God to be; that it condemns not only wicked works and evil words, but that it reaches even to the thoughts and intents of the heart? He who came to bear witness to the truth, has declared a lustful desire to be adultery; and has said Whosoever shall be angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of judgment. Now, my dear friends, who of us can bear this touch-stone? If we are to be judged by such rules as these, instead of being proud of our excellence, we must appear to be altogether as an unclean thing. Nor is this all the bumbling truth which the Saviour teaches; for he represents the children of Adam as so disordered that they cannot heal themselves, and therefore need a Heavenly Physician; and he declares positively, that the state of their souls is so bad as to require a change equal to a new birth; such a change as the Spirit of God only can produce. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. For except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Before honour is humility and the soul that, looking unto Jesus as its teacher, humbly admits this doctrine, is prepared to receive a lesson of thankfulness; in that glorious display which is made of the kindness and mercy of God, in the plan of Gospel salvation. pp. 32, 33.

We cannot but consider this work to be valuable, because it seems cal

REVIEW.-Cases of Tic Doloureaux, successfully treated. By Benjamin Hutchinson, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, of London, §c.§c. Longman & Co.

ALMOST the whole period of our life is occupied in the pursuit of pleasure, or in the evasion of pain. The former is but a fleeting enjoyment, while the latter is the common and constant attendant on humanity, from the cradle to the grave. The nerves, those silk-like cords, which convey sensation to the brain, and volition from that organ to the muscles, and other parts of the animal machine, evince no cognizable change or motion, in the performance of these two opposite functions. They may also be thrilled with exquisite pleasure, or tortured with excruciating pain, and still exhibit no visible indication of either in their structure. In this state of our physiological and pathotogical darkness, then, respecting this wonderful and complex nervous system, we must explore our way by the aid of such facts, as our experience and practice shall ascertain, for we have but few, if any, general principles, to guide us through this labyrinth of uncertainty. Pain is, perhaps, an evil of greater magnitude even than death itself; consequently, he who frees a human being from extraordinary suffering, is much more entitled to the applause and thanks of his fellow-creatures, than he who merely saves from accidental death the life of a citizen.

Mr. Hutchinson, the highly respectable author of the pamphlet before us, appears fully entitled to these encomiums. He presents himself before the public, in a garb of ability and modesty, which cannot fail to make a favourable impression on every man, whose approbation it is He comes for desirable to obtain. ward with "neither a new remedy, nor a new theory," but merely "with a few observations which he has made in the successful administration of a mineral substance, well known, but too much neglected, or inaccurately,

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Reviews.-A Sermon-Geographical Exercise Book. 184

or inefficiently employed." He attributes his success in the management of this hitherto most obstinate disease, to the activity with which he has employed the carbonate of iron, a remedy formerly used in doses far too small to produce the desired effects, in this and many other disorders. After giving an ample history of the nature, seat, cause, symptoms, and the usual methods of treating the Tic Doloureaux, Mr. Hutchinson proceeds to state, that the complete failure of the means usually employed to subdue the torments of this disease, induced him to try the different preparations of iron; and his investigations appear to have been attended with the most happy results. The particular preparation of iron, preferred by Mr. Hutchinson, is the Terri Carbonas, of the London Pharmacopoeia, and this he recommends in very unusually large doses, even to the extent of four scruples, three times a day. Mr. Hutchinson has selected from his Case Book, six highly satisfactory and well-described cases, which we sincerely wish we had room to transcribe. They cannot but be considered a sufficient evidence of the hitherto unknown powers of a gigantic agent, as a remedy in this cruel disease: and we must be allowed to say, that in our opinion, Mr. Hutchinson is fully entitled to the very respectful consideration of his professional brethren, for this valuable contribution to our scanty stock of therapeutical knowledge, as well as for the liberality and disinterestedness with which he has communicated to the world, a remedy, which, in the hands of greedy empiricism, might have proved a productive and very fertile source of considerable pecuniary emolument.

the necessity of providing for the spiritual instruction of their infirm aud aged inhabitants. Many of these, from a variety of causes, have not an opportunity of attending places of public worship; and it is painful to reflect, that in this enlightened age, out of about 10,000 parishes, not more than ten enjoy any spiritual provision from the Establishment. Hitherto a considerable portion of this labour, has devolved on the Methodists and Dissenters; and we cannot but congratulate Mr. Bradley and the parish officers of Manchester, in showing to the country an example so worthy of universal imitation. The sermon contains many useful observations.

REVIEW.-A Geographical Exercise
Book, designed for the use of Schools,
and private families. By C. Robert-
son. Lackington, & Co. London.
WE readily concur with Mr. Robert-
son in opinion, that “ among the various
studies that now occupy the attention
of youth, few can claim a greater de-
gree of pre-eminence than that of
Geography, connected with the practi-
cal use of the Globes;" and few we
conceive will presume to deny, that
whatever tends to facilitate the ac-
quirement of science, or of any branch
of useful knowledge, is of real advan-
tage to mankind, and is entitled to
encouragement and support in pro-
portion to its importance.

The design of this work is to furnish the pupil with a kind of geographical ciphering book, on the pages of which he may enter the result of his various experiments, and the solutions of his problems, just as the young arithmetician enters his various sums, when he is fully assured of their correctness. This method Mr. Robertson conceives will tend to stihas a journal which records his promulate the learner, knowing that he

REVIEW. The best Provision for the Poor. A Sermon preached at the opening of St. Matthew's chapel, Man-gress, while at the same time it will chester Poor-house, on Sunday Afternoon, Dec. 5th, 1819. By the Rev. Robert Bradley, Chaplain. pp. 24. London, Westley, 1820.

THIS discourse derives its principal importance from the charity which it advocates and recommends. We rejoice to find that the parochial clergy, and those who have the management of poor-houses are beginning to see

ces he is making in his geographical enable his friends to watch the advanlearning.

The Problems laid down, and the Rules given for their solution, are in substance much the same that we find in every treatise on the use of the globes, with this advantage, that both Problem and Rule are very concise, without being deficient in perspicuity. From those data, distinct questions

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Review.-Divine Origin of Revelation.

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are proposed under each problem, to | authenticity of scripture, from moral which the pupil, by referring to his motives, without entering into any globes, according to the rules given, is metaphysical disquisitions, or taking expected to find an answer, which he its stand on philosophical ground. must insert in columns or blank spaces We do not mean, however, to insinuate left for this purpose. that these important sources of evidence are disregarded by our author. He admits their value, but assigns to them their respective limits, in the following passages:

We have no doubt that the plan laid down by the author will prove highly advantageous, by enabling the pupils, when advanced to maturity, to refresh their memories with the acquirements of their youthful years, and by operating as an incentive on their posterity, to equal, if not to surpass, in geographical knowledge, the attainments of their

ancestors.

REVIEW.-Reasons for admitting the Divine Origin of Revelation. By Joseph Jones, M.A. Longman, Hurst, &c. London. pp. 111. 1820.

ALTHOUGH Revelation has been assailed during the many ages of its existence, its truth still remains unshaken. Attack has produced defence, and this has elicited in its favour a complication of evidence arising from the most unexpected quarters.

It is a maxim among lawyers, that the title of an estate which has been questioned, submitted to legal examination, and pronounced valid, acquires additional strength by the scrutiny it has undergone. It is much the same with the Book of Divine Revelation. It has been assailed in every part that was thought vulnerable, but those attacks have been regularly repelled, and Christianity has risen with new triumphs from each contest.

The enemies, however, of those doctrines which the sacred writings contain, although unable to advance any thing new, have been assiduous in giving circulation to long-refuted objections and half-forgotten calumnies, and in disseminating them in pamphlets among a description of persons, who know little or nothing of their antiquity or refutation. This circumstance, renders a circulation of the popular evidences in favour of Christianity peculiarly necessary, especially at the present time, to counteract the influence of that moral and intellectual poison, which the emissaries of infidelity are thus endeavouring to diffuse among the artisans, mechanics, and labouring classes of society.

The work before us is rather persuasive than argumentative, urging the No. 24.-VOL. III.

to violate any acknowledged principle of sound "It is not intended in the following pages philosophy, while at the same time it is as little intended to compose a mere philosophical essay. Philosophy and Theology are distinct things: nor do we suppose that the former has any just title to arrogate a claim, as valuable as its rules, and as sober and sound as its spirit may be, to dictate in a peremptory manner about the latter. We undoubtedly owe to reason and philosophy a very profound and sincere regard; but we must wisely assign to them their proper provinces and limits; and we must always remember, that theology is a peculiar subject.

"The evidences of our religion are external and internal; the first description of evidence being composed of accredited testimony to certain facts; and the second resulting from the examination of the discoveries which the re

cords themselves contain. Historical evi

dence, of which we are competent judges, stands, if it be firmly established, as an impreg nable fortress, not to be in the slightest degree affected by the most ingenious, or virulent, or reiterated assaults. If the impugners of revelation acted with candour and fairness, they would desist from desseminating their calumnies, till by the complete subversion of historithem. Let them dispassionately examine the cal evidence, they had shewn the justice of labours of a Paley and a Chalmers; let them shew, if they are able to do it, by a method of reasoning and philosophizing as sober, as judicious, and as acute, as that which those great men have exhibited, that their statements are

fallacious, and that there is no credit whatever to be given to historical testimony. The whole subject will then at least assume a new complexion.

"Internal evidence is a very different thing. It rests on certain moral notions and feelings that belong to our nature, and on certain assumpWe advance certain positions; or, at least, we tions that are made in agreement with them. form and entertain certain notions; and we then apply them as so many tests by which we judge of the character of revelation, and of its claim to our esteem. Is this process proper, justifiable, and philosophical? We see nothing historical evidence is sufficient in itself, and in it to the contrary. It is allowed, that the incontrovertible; and some, on this ground, may deem any thing farther to be entirely superfluous. We are not prepared to adopt this notion in its full extent, until we have been convinced, that the very idea of internal evidence is a vain fabrication of the mind; that all our moral notions and feelings are so delusive as not to deserve the slightest credit;

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Review Tributes to Truth.

and that every assumption that proceeds upon them, must, in the very nature of things, be purely gratuitous."

The preceding quotations furnish a fair specimen, not only of the author's style and manner of writing, but of those views which he has taken of the momentous subject which employs his pen. What these introductory observations promise, the subsequent pages amply fulfil. In these, the moral nature of God, the responsibility of man, and, from his lapsed condition, the necessity of such a development of the Divine will as the Bible supplies, are urged with much affectionate solicitude; and the consequences which flow from the use or

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has at least one good trait, that of brevity, we shall transcribe it.— "DEDICATED ΤΟ THE GUARDIAN

SPIRIT OF THE BRITISH ISLES.

Protecting Spirit! Thou hast ever been regarded as one easily yielding to corporeal pleasures, and more especially to that lowest if thou hadst not been formed for such pleaof all the pleasures of the stomach. Certainly, sures, thou wouldest not have been fitted for our protector; but equally certain is it, that a formation, fitting thee for other pleasures, was been cherished as our Protector; but seldom infinitely more necessary. Long hast thou has it been acknowledged, that it is to thee we are chiefly indebted for all the pleasures of the mind, which every British subject must feel, and which is the very height of his enjoyment here.

Long hast thou been the Protector of our

abuse of those precepts and mercies mental pleasure! Truth hast thou ever supwhich Christianity presents, are anti-ported! and every British subject, relying on cipated with a strong feeling of re- thy ever-supporting, and unconquerable power, gard. When this book becomes known must hail thee with delight, to a certain class of readers, it will Padstow, 1819. not want any other recommendation.

REVIEW.-Tributes to Truth, by Nicholas Littleton. Wherein a few obscurities, made or left by Locke and others, are removed, and Philosophy and Common Sense go hand in hand. Vol. I. Part I. 4to. pp. 126.-1819.

"Truth is never ashamed."

THAT Venal motives are more commonly the object of dedications, than pure respect or gratitude, cannot be questionep. Our being permitted to attach certain great names of respectability among the literary world, to publications, or such as have great weight with the public as patrons of literature, must tend frequently to increase their sale, if not their value. But what additional support the author of the work before us can possibly suppose to derive, either of celebrity or gain, by dedicating to the Guardian Spirit of the British Isles,' we cannot easily conceive. Neither can we understand who or what this aerial being may be; and we must confess, as some palliation of our stupidity, that our friends who have seen this volume, are involved in the same mysterious doubt. Many have paid their devoirs to nobility, and even to majesty: but no one within our recollection, before Mr. L. has ever ventured to solicit prefatory protection from any such imaginary being. We shall not extend our remarks; for as this dedicatory epistle

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As does the Author.' We have often read of Bacchus presiding over the flowing Can, cheering his votaries to excess, and exciting them to madness, by his all-powerful narcotics; but we never heard of him as the patron, or encourager of literature; or that it is to him we are chiefly indebted for all the 'pleasures of the mind.' It is generally supposed, that men of the most sober habits have the clearest understandings:-that spirit, therefore, must be made up of very contradictory principles,which can at one time recommend food to the mind, and at another be strenuous in advocating habits, which will tend to annihilate its digestion.

That protector must be indeed of the unaccountable sort, which bids his disciples, first inhale the pleasures of the mind,' and then instil such poison as will, in most instances, counteract its influence. We must confess, we should approach such a spirit, let our adulation be ever so well got up, with rather a doubtful submission, lest we should be so unfortunate as to offer it at a time when his capricious disposition might savour more of destruction than condescension! In fine, we hesitate not to say, that we do not consider this imagined protector will be any safeguard, or do any credit, to the morality or celebrity of our author.

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The volume before us, is made up of dedication, a preface, and an introduction, upon which we shall immediately enter, dwelling chiefly on such parts only as appear most likely to give

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Review-Tributes to Truth.

a general idea of its coutents. As our analysis will be conducted with sober criticism, we hope to bear in mind, throughout, the lesson of Seneca

Ab honesto nulla re deterribitur,-ad turpia nulla spe invitabitur.

To give our readers an idea of the author's reasoning, we shall begin by a quotation from the preface, which it appears to us should be explanatory of the main design of the work, but which has been converted, in this instance, to a strange metaphysical disquisition!

• Whenever we express ourselves accordant to our knowledge, we are then said to speak the truth. Truth, as regarding the reality of things, the certainty of existence, is immutable; is never different; but as regarding mind, it is otherwise: for since some know better than others, therefore the truth of different persons differs: one man's truth is better to be trusted to than is another man's truth; although the truth of one man is no more truth than is the truth of the other man; as in the one man, truth is expressive of knowledge, so it is in the other man; and the difference between them is with regard to knowledge.'

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Mr. L. is in some way connected with the medical profession, for he supports his positions and remarks by examples drawn from the Materia Medica. We cannot but remark, that our author has extended his preface to an unnecessary length by protracted pieces of poetry, which, however they may tend to convey his meaning, might, in our humble judgment, be very much curtailed.

We always thought that system was a concatenation of links, or series of operations, by which certain effects might be produced, or merely the instrument by which certain wished-for consequences might be effected :—but

our author declares that

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System is a word become at last synonymous with supposition; each system-maker dresses up a supposition in some gaudy, or perhaps beautiful apparel.' p. x.

How often is it the case, that we condemn in others what we ourselves practise. Mr. L. declares, that, ‘led by systems, men's minds become confused,' (p. x.) while he himself has methodically divided the volume before us into dedication, preface, and introduction, and his remarks and positions are not thrown together with all the carelessness imaginable. And why does system confound men's minds? Because

Supposition being overlooked for immutable truth, and this truth, confounded with supposition; which is known, that which is true, immutably true, becomes confounded with what is thought to be thus true.' p. x.

As truth is never ashamed,' so, under every possible circumstance, it admits of no variation. Our author says, When we express ourselves according to our knowledge, we are then said to speak the truth.' We cannot subscribe to this definition of truth without some hesitation, for, according to our celebrated lexicographer, Johnson, "Truth is conformity of notions to things." Therefore there is a wide difference between contingency of notions to things, and con- As we have reason to suppose Mr. formity to them. Does Mr. L. mean Littleton is connected with the faculty, to say, that because a person speaks we would ask-Whether anatomy is to the best of his knowledge and belief supported on scientific, or chimerical of any circumstance, that the truth or principles? From the little we know falsity of such a circumstance, shall be of this science, we are inclined to think made to correspond with, or be altered it as one of the most perfect; and as by, this uncertain mode of communica- we would not doubt Mr. L.'s knowtion-that bare assertion shall be the ledge so much as to think him sceptitouch-stone of truth? Impossible! cal on this point, we shall naturally Truth, without exception, and in every disclaim the position, that its systems sense of the word, must be physically are altogether imaginary, or that they correct, and it is not to be affected by rest on any thing short of fact. Sysassertion or circumstance. If truth be tem relates only to the specific combigarbled or tarnished, the defect rests nation of materials. It matters not with him who does so, let the cause be what enters into this combination, what it may; yet the fact itself remains whether facts, theories, or supposition, unsullied, and is as much truth as if for we again repeat, that system merely stated correctly.-Veritas non recipit relates to a regular arrangement, withmagis ac minus,-truth is ipso facto im- out bearing any affinity to the nature mutable. of the materials. It is " any comWe should judge, by his elucida-plexure or combination of many things tions in a succeeding paragraph, that acting together; or, a scheme which

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