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which is the date of their work: they trace the phenomena that indicate an affinity between electricity and lightning, and the ignis fatuus; they explain and illuftrate the principles of electrology, as applied to account for thefe meteors; and they refute thofe theories which have been invented to explain the production of lightning from other caufes. After reviewing the hypothefes of thofe philofophers who lived before the identity of lightning and electricity was afcertained by the experiments of Franklin, Dalibard, and Romas, the authors take notice of that maintained by M. Sigaud de la Fond: who, though he confiders the electrical fluid as the principal caufe of lightning, afferts that its effects depend on the inflammation of a fulphureous matter; and that it is nearly always produced by a union of the latter with the electric fluid. In fupport of this opinion, he obferves that flashes of fire, refembling lightning, and accompanied with an explofion like thunder, are often emitted from volcanos during their eruptions; but these phenomena are afcribed by the prefent writers, entirely to the fudden changes, with refpect to their proportion of electric fluid, effected in the fubftances which are decompofed during the eruption. The flames which, in earthquakes and hurricanes, are fometimes feen to burft from the earth, and which have also been urged to confirm this hypothefis, are here afcribed to clouds, negatively electrified, attracting the electric fluid from the earth, which, in its paffage, may fet fire to inflammable subftances, in the fame manner as the spark from the conductor of an electrical machine, without being combined with any fulphureous fubftance. Another argument adduced by M. Sigaud de la Fond is, that thunder and lightning are most frequent in those countries, where there are volcanos, and where the earth is moft replete with fulphureous fubftances; but this circumftance is confidered by Meffis. TROOSTWYK and KRAYENHOFF as accidental; and they attribute the effect to other caufes, which are known to be productive of electrical phenomena,-fuch as the more abundant exhalation of vapours, and the mountainous furface of the country.

The application of the principles of electrology to account. for the formation of other meteors, is next confidered; and the obfervations, that have been adduced for this purpose, are, in general, judicioufly appreciated; but we cannot help differing from the authors, when they prefer M. De Mairan's theory for explaining the Aurora Borealis to that of Dr. Franklin: the former is certainly ingenious, but it is at leaft equally conjectural with the latter, and, in our opinion, is attended with greater difficulties.

The laft chapter of this divifion relates to the influence of electricity in accelerating vegetation. After giving an account

of

of the experiments and conclufions of Nollet, Jallabert, Menon, and Achard, on the one hand, and of thofe of Dr. Ingenhoufz on the other, Meffrs. TROOSTWYK and KRAYENHOFF relate some experiments of their own, which seem to have been made with great care and accuracy; and which lead them to conclude, with Dr. Ingenhoufz, that electricity does not perceptibly affect vegetation.

In the fecond part of the work, the authors give an historical view of medical electricity; and then enter on an inveftigation of its nature and modus operandi in all the various ways of applying it for the cure of difeafes; they enumerate those diforders, in which it may be prefumed to be beneficial; and give a very large collection of cafes, from various writers, in which it has been attended with fuccefs. On this subject, so much has been written, that little room is left for new observations; thofe of the prefent authors tend to illuftrate and confirm the experiments and opinions which the moft judicious medical electricians have communicated to the world; and on which the theoretical part of this work may be confidered as a minute commentary.

The last chapter is employed in anfwering two fupplementary queftions, propofed by the Society; the firft of which, like the grand queftion, appears to be put in no very queftionable fhape, and the other does not admit of any general answer. The former is expreffed in these terms: Can the medical efficacy of artificial electricity be increafed by the affiftance of other remedies? And if fo, what are thefe? The latter is thus propofed: In cafes, where electricity may have been prejudicial, were its bad effects owing to any impropriety, relative to the diforder, in the nature of the remedy itself, or to an error in the manner of applying it? The answers to thefe queftions may eafily be conjectured.

The volume clofes with an appendix relative to Mr. Rennet's electrometer, which Mr. Cuthbertfon of Amfterdam feems to have improved, by reducing the flips of gold leaf to half the length and breadth prefcribed by Mr. Bennet, and by a fmall alteration of the cylinder; the lower part of which is of glass, two inches and an half in height, and the upper part of gum lac, of the fame diameter, and an inch high, covered with a brafs cap, and a projecting rim to keep off rain, on which a candlestick was mounted: thus conftructed, its fenfibility was found to be confiderably greater than when made according to Mr. Bennet's directions, as given in the Philofophical Tran actions, vol. lxxvii,; for an account of which, fee Review vol. lxxvii. page 339.

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ART. XXIII.

Reflexions fur l'Efclavage des Negres: i. e. Reflections on the Slavery of the Negroes. By M. SCHWARTZ, Minifter of the Gospel at Bienne. Printed at Neuchâtel, and fold in Paris. 8vo. 1788.

WHO

HOEVER may be the author of these reflections, for we find that the name and defcription affumed in the title-page are fictitious, his fentiments concerning flavery, and his arguments against the African flave-trade, are fuch as command our attention; though they are not materially different from what have been frequently urged on thefe fubjects. It muft, however, be remembered, that in the application of general principles, regard ought to be paid to the particular circumftances of the cafe; without which, the most philanthropic intentions may produce a fpecies of Quixotifm deftructive to focial order, and the happinefs of mankind. An overfight of this nature feems to prevail in the prefent work; and, indeed, in feveral pieces that we have seen on this fubject; where two propofitions, which, to us, appear very different in their tendency, are confidered as intimately and immediately connected. The flave-trade is undoubtedly contrary to every fentiment of humanity, and to every principle of true religion; nor can we recollect one argument in its favour, as it is now carried on, that is not fuggefted by the corrupt dictates of commercial avarice and political expediency, which are but too apt to plead the pretended utility of the end, in vindication of the most iniquitous means, and thus often become the worst corrupters of the human heart. If it ought, therefore, to be abolished, the only point in queftion is, how this fhall be effected with the leaft poffible difadvantage to both the mother country and her colonies. But, in difcuffing the queftion concerning the enfranchifement of the negroes in the Weft India iflands, confiderations occur, of a very different nature; the importance of which, even their most zealous advocates need not blush to acknowlege. The wretched condition, of the flaves, especially of thofe who are doomed to toil in the field, requires no exaggeration in order to engage the compaffion, and animate the zeal, of every benevolent heart to labour for the alleviation of their mifery. Were it probable that an immediate enfranchifement would be a real advantage to them, and could be granted with fafety to the community, we fhould rejoice in the event; but when we confider that, even as freemen, they will form a fociety diftinct from that of the whites, and when, in connection with this circumftance, we reflect on their number, the uncultivated ftate of their minds, the habits and difpofitions contracted under the fevere difcipline of fervitude, is it not to be feared that the fudden tranfition to freedom, may, in minds thus unprepared for the proper ufe

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of it, excite a spirit of licentioufnefs, that will defeat its bene ficent tendency with refpect to themselves, and may be de ftructive to the community? These appehenfions have n entirely escaped the attention of this author, who has propoledi fome general regulations for the prevention of diforders; but whether they would prove fufficient to answer the end propofed, at least in our colonies, we much doubt. They do not effectu ally provide for fuch a gradual modification of the treatment of the negroes, as may operate on their difpofitions, and quality them to become objects of civil government; nor do they in dicate that particular knowlege of the economy, habits, and character of the feveral claffes of flaves, which cannot be ac quired, but by long experience and impartial obfervation; but which is abfolutely neceffary to conftitute an adequate judge c this important part of the queftion. Without this effential r quifite, the moft eloquent declamation on the fubject will be productive of more evil than good, as it tends to prejudice the minds, and inflame the paffions, of mankind, with regard to a measure which demands cool deliberation, and the most provident attention to the confequences that may refult from it.

ART. XXIV.

Differtation fur cette Queftion, &c. i. e. Prize Differtation on the following Question, propofed by the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Metz: "Are there no Means of rendering the Jews in Frant more happy and useful?" by M. THIERY, Advocate in the Parliament of Nancy. 8vo. Paris. 1788.

TR

HE propofal of this queftion does no lefs honour to the Royal Society of Metz, than does the differtation before us to its humane and philofophical author. If the Jews have been accused of indulging a fpirit of hatred and contempt with regard to other nations, when they were in a state of profperity, it must be acknowleged that they have been amply repaid in the fame coin by thofe, who have called themfelves Chriftians; but whofe fevere and unjuft treatment of them has been totally inconfiftent with that univerfal good-will to man, of which our great Mafter was fo eminent a pattern.

M. THIERY introduces his fubject by an account of the various perfecutions and hardships which this unhappy people have fuftained in the different countries where they have endeavoured to find a fettlement: this account is written in an animated ftyle, and leads the author to observe that though, in the prefent age, the manners of mankind are lefs barbarous than in former times, yet the treatment of the Jews in France, and, he might have added, in moft other countries, is far from being fuch as juftice requires, and found policy would dictate. He

then

then enters more immediately on the difcuffion of the queftion; and furveys the obftacles which are fuppofed to lie in the way of the humane end propofed by it, arifing from the religion, the manners, the character, the prejudices, and the habits of this extraordinary people. Each of thefe difficulties is feparately examined; and he defcribes their prefent character and manners, appreciates their talents, vices, and virtues, and infers, that though their cuftoms and prejudices will always conflitute them a diftinct fociety, they will by no means juftify the contemptuous indifference with which they are generally treated,

Our ancestors, fays M. THIERY, perfecuted them; we degrade them; and hence their vices may, in a great measure, be afcribed to our abfurd laws and conduct relative to them; their induftry is rendered of little advantage, by their being prohibited from exerting it in various occupations, which might fupply the lower claffes with the means of fubfiftence: thus they are kept in a ftate of poverty, whence they are fuppofed to be dishonest, and are often induced to be fo, because they are allowed neither the advantages nor the encouragement which would render them fuperior to temptation: only one branch of induftry is left open to them, by which the love of gain, and the most minute attention to it, are rendered neceffary to them. To remove the evils of which we complain, we muft alter that unjust treatment from which they flow. To fucceed in this, we muft, by admitting them to partake with us the common advantages of civil life, infpire them with a love of the focial virtues, and animate them with a sense of honour; we must release them from all the hardships under which they labour, remove everv idea of oppreffion from their minds; obliterate, if poffible, all refentment of the paft, but, at leaft, prevent all apprehenfion for the future: we muft abolish all thofe humiliating reftraints which fetter their induftry; and we muft encourage their honeft endeavours, by promoting their fuccefs. In fhort, by fecuring to them the rights of men and of citizens, we muft unite their private interefts with thofe of the public. The only privilege, from which M. THIERY would exclude them, is that of holding places either of honour or profit, which he thinks ought to be enjoyed only by members of the eftablifhed church.

M. THIERY obferves that, by thus improving the condition of the Jews, we shall find them a ufeful people; on their fide, they will gradually renounce their prejudices, and confent to be happy with us. They expect, fays he, a Meffiah, an avenger and protector; let us be fuch to them; let us fix them with us by our liberality, and that will, to them, be the promifed land, in which they will experience peace and tranquillity.

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