genius, and judgment, it must be attributed, that this great work was begun and finished in the course of three winter months), erected, at a convenient distance and contiguous to the same stream, at Smethwick, a great and complete manufactory and foundery, into which a branch from the Birmingham canal enters; and thereby the coals, pig-iron, bricks, sand, &c. are brought, and their engines, or other heavy goods, are transported in boats to every part of the kingdom, there being a wet dock within their walls for four boats to lie. The plan of this work being well digested and settled previous to laying the first stone, the whole is thereby rendered more complete than such works as generally arise gradually from disjointed ideas. And, from the great experience of the proprietors, they have applied the power of steam to the boring of cylinders, pumps, &c.; to drilling, to turning, to blowing their melting furnaces, and whatever tends to abridge human labour, and obtain accuracy; for, by the superiority of all their tools, they are enabled to attain expedition and perfection in a higher degree than heretofore.” In a national view, Mr. Boulton's undertakings are highly va luable and important. By collecting around him artists of various descriptions, rival talents have been called forth, and by successive competition have been multiplied to an extent hi ly beneficial to the public. A barren heath has been covered with plenty and popu lation; and these works, which in their infancy were little known and attended to, now cover several acres, give employment to more than 600 persons, and are said to be the first of their kind in Europe.' Every precaution has been always taken, and in the most judicious manner, by the proprietors, to diminish the poor's levies, and keep their numerous workmen from becoming troublesome to the parish, &c. One great instance of which is a long-established society for the sick and lame, &c. for the better management of which are printed, on a large sheet, “Rules for conducting the Insurance Society belonging to the Soro MANUFACTORY." These consist of xxv articles: some of which are these: "I. That every person employed in the SOHO MANUFACTORY shall be a member of this society, who can earn from 2s. 6d. per week, or upwards. "II. Each member shall pay to the treasure-box, agreeable to the following table, which is divided into eight parts; viz. the member who is set down at 2s. 6d. per week shall pay d. per week; 5s. Id.; and so on, in like proportion, to 203. 4d.; and none to exceed that sum. VI. If any member is sick, lame, and incapable of work, he shall receive, after three days? notice to the committee, as follows, during his illness, viz. if he pays in the box, for 2s. 6d. he shall receive 25. per week; and for 58. 45.; and so on in like proportion;" &c. The rules of this manufactory have certainly been productive of the most laudable and salutary effects. And, besides the great attention to cleanliness and wholesome air, &c. this manufactory has always always been distinguished for its order and good behaviour, and particularly during the great riots at Birmingham. No expence has been spared to render these works uniform and handsome in architecture, as well as neat and commodious, as exhibited in the annexed plate. The same liberal spirit and taste has the great and worthy proprietor gradually exercised in the adjoining gar dens, groves, and pleasure-grounds, which, at the same time that they form an agreeable separation from his own residence, render Soho a much admired scene of picturesque beauty. Wandering through these secluded walks, or on the banks of the several fine lakes and waterfalls which adorn them, we may here enjoy the sweets of solitude and retirement, as if far distant from the busy hum of men. In scenes like these the studious and philosophic mind occasionally finds a most agreeable and salutary asylum. That the poet has likewise felt their influence appears by the following tribute to the memory of a departed friend : At the termination of the walk beyond the cottage, in the secluded grove, where nothing intrudes upon the eye but the new church at Birmingham, where Dr. Small was buried, is erected a tribute to his memory, on which are the following elegant lines by Dr. Darwin: " M. S. GULIELMI SMALL, M. D. M.DCC.LXXV. "Ye gay and young, who, thoughtless of your doom, And Day's bright sunshine for a while forego. Extorts your praises, or requests your tear; Cold Contemplation leans her aching head, On human woe her steady eye she turns, Waves her meek hand, and sighs for Science dead, For Science, Virtue, and for SMALL, she mourns!” This is in one of the oldest groves between the house and manufactory. Let us now turn our attention to the more recent improvements on the opposite side; where, in the extensive new plantations, we see the most extraordinary effects produced by irrigation, with the powerful aid of the steam-engine, which, when at liberty from its other labours, forces up water by pipes to the summit of these grounds; so that, in the dryest season, when all other vegetation was We knew Dr. Small, and can vouch for the truth of this eulogium. Rev. perishing for want of rain and water, these plantations were amply supplied, and now as amply reward the ingenious contriver by their flourishing foliage. Here also we see the New Hydraulic Ram, which is a self-moving water-work applicable to agricultural purposes, and constructed with great ingenuity and simplicity. The house, which was before much too small for the hospitable purposes of its generous owner, has been lately enlarged. At the top of the roof, which is made very neat and commodious, either for common or telescopic observations, the prospect is extensive and beautiful, commanding an agreeable view of the principal part of Birmingham to the South, the autient Gothic splendour of Aston hall Eastward, with Barr Beacon, and all the rich scenery of the intermediate vallies towards the North, Sandwell park, and the new foundery at Smethwick, &c. to the West.' Mr. Shaw apologizes for not continuing the account of Mines, Manufactories, Canals, Agriculture, &c.; yet, besides the establishments at Handsworth, this volume takes notice of those for making Iron, Soap, white and red Lead, and Metal Sashes for Windows, at Tipton; of Mr. Wilkinson's Iron Works at Bradley, Glass Works, &c. Affixed to this volume are Additions to and Corrections of the General History, &c. of Vol. I. and at the end is an Appendix of Additions and Corrections respecting the Parochial History of the present volume. Numerous plates embellish the common copies of this work, many of the drawings for which appear to have been taken by Mr. Shaw; and the illuminated copies are adorned by additional engravings, and coloured prints. ART. VII. Oriental Customs: or, an Illustration of the Sacred Scriptures, by an explanatory Application of the Customs and Manners of the Eastern Nations, and especially the Jews, therein alluded to. Together with Observations on many difficult and obscure Texts, collected from the most celebrated Travellers, and the most eminent Critics. By Samuel Burder. 8vo. PP. 400. 9s. Boards. Williams. 1802. IN proportion to our conviction of the importance of the Scriptures, must be our solicitude to understand not only their plainest passages, but also every text which may be ob scured by metaphor or remote allusion; and since all their authors were Asiatics, it is natural to suppose that to us many perplexities of this kind will occur. To surmount these obstacies, we must have recourse to the customs and manners of the East; which must be studied in connection with antient languages, in order to obtain a correct apprehension of the meaning of the Sacred Writers. The judicious Mr. Harmer, in his valuable Observations, led the way in this species o Scripture illustration, and afforded ample evidence of its utility: but, but, as the field is very extensive, he left much to be collected by future gleaners. The Scriptures properly belong to the class of Eastern literature: they abound with Orientalisms in their style; and they describe a climate, and a state of society, very different from those which we find in the northern parts of Europe. Our connection with the East Indies, and the various travels which have been undertaken to explore regions of the vast continent of Asia, with the immense peninsula of Africa, (where the customs of the inhabitants are for the most part permanent, and not like the fleeting fashions of European countries,) have assisted us in comprehending the precise meaning of a multitude of passages in the Sacred Books, which must otherwise have remained inexplicable, their beauty and their meaning being alike concealed from us. The Old Testament is a collection of writings purely Oriental; and, independently of our estimation of them in a religious view, they are to be prized as perhaps the most curious monuments of remote antiquity. As they were written before the conquests of the Greeks and Romans, they discover no admixture of European with Asiatic manners: but the New Testament, having been composed subsequently to these events, alludes not only to the customs and institutions of Palestine, where our Saviour and his Apostles were born, but to those of Asia Minor and Greece, and to the modes of life introduced by the Romans in their provinces and colonies. The dominion of Rome evinces itself in those Latin terms which are to be found in the Greek of the New Testament, as well as in the Roman manners which it describes as prevalent even among the Jews. From these considerations, it is evidently the office of the true critic, in commenting on the Sacred Books, to inform himself respecting the state of society and of language at the period at which they were written. Mr. Harmer's volumes will greatly assist him in obtaining this desideratum; and Mr. Burder is intitled to commendation for the labour which he has bestowed in the same line of inquiry. We shall allow him to explain the object which he has had in view, and to make his acknowlegements for the assistance which he has received in the prosecution of it: I have endeavoured to select from Mr. Harmer's Observations whatever appeared important and interesting. This has not indeed been done in the form of a regular abridgment; but after extracting such materials as appeared suitable, liave inserted them in those places, where, according to the passages prefixed to each of the arti cles, they ought to stand. This method I apprehend to be new, and not before attempted, but I hope will prove both agreeable and M 3 useful useful. As it is the avowed intention of each article to explain some passage, it is proper that it should be inserted at length, and in a manner so conspicuous as at once to attract the attention of the reader. To the materials collected from Mr. Harmer have been added some very important remarks from Shaw, Pococke, Russell, Bruce, and other eminent writers. It is admitted that many of these things have repeatedly passed through the press; but as the valuable ob servations which have been made by travellers and critics lie interspersed in separate and expensive publications, a compendious selection of them appeared very desirable, and is here accomplished. But many of the following observations are original: they are not, however, particularly distinguished from the rest. I must here avail myself of an opportunity to acknowledge my obligations to M. Gillingwater, of Harleston in Norfolk, for the very liberal manner in which he favoured me with the use of his manuscript papers. They consist of additions to, and corrections of, Mr. Harmer's Observations, and were communicated to that gentleman with a view to assist him in the farther prosecution of his work; but it was too late, as the fourth and last volume was then nearly completed at the press, and in a single instance only, towards the close of it, was any use made of these materials. From this collection I have made many extracts, and have enriched this volume with several new articles on subjects which had not before been discussed. In the progress of my work, I have also derived very considerable assistance from many valuable books furnished by James Brown, Esq. of St. Albans; for which I acknowledge myself greatly obliged, and especially for his very care. ful correction of the manuscript before it went to the press.' Instead of selecting from Harmer, it might have been preferable if Mr. Burder had given a Supplement, or Continuation: but, conceiving that the style of Mr. H. was difficult and prolix, that some of the subjects which he has discussed might be omitted, and that his work is too copious for the general reader, Mr. B. has been induced to abridge and classify it, and to interweave additional observations. He proceeds regularly through the O. and N. T., from Genesis to Revelation; and the merit of his illustrations will appear from the following specimens: No. 22, GEN. xxxi. 40. In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night. "In Europe the days and nights resemble each other with respect to the qualities of heat and cold; but it is quite otherwise in the East. In the Lower Asia in particular, the day is always hot; and as soon as the sun is fifteen degrees above the horizon, no cold is felt in the depth of winter itself. On the contrary, in the height of summer the nights are as cold as at Paris in the month of March. It is for this reason that in Persia and Turkey they always make use of furred habits in the country, such only being sufficient to resist the cold of the nights." (Chardin in Hermer, vol. i. p 74.) Campbell (Travels, part ii. p. 100.) says, "sometimes we lay at night out in the open air, rather than enter a |