A Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century: Part First; in Two Volumes: Containing a Sketch of the Revolutions and Improvements in Science, Arts, and Literature During that Period, Volume 1

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T. and J. Swords, 1803 - Art, Modern - 510 pages

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Page 1 - And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night ; and let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days,
Page 406 - Sir Joshua Reynolds was, on very many accounts, one of the most memorable men of his time. He was the first Englishman who added the praise of the elegant arts to the other glories of his country.
Page 351 - But now the great map of mankind is unrolled at once, and there is no state or gradation of barbarism, and no mode of refinement, which we have not at the same moment under our view...
Page 511 - A curious Herbal, containing five hundred cuts of the most useful plants which are now used in the practice of physic, engraved on folio copper plūtes, afler drawings taken from the life, by Elizabeth Blackwell. To which is added, a short description of the plants, and their common uses in physic, ? vols, folio.
Page 420 - The advantages of this instrument are, that its tones are incomparably sweet beyond those of any other ; that they may be swelled and softened at pleasure by stronger or weaker pressures of the finger, and continued to any length ; and that the instrument, being once well tuned, never again wants tuning.
Page 4 - The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Page 485 - It is hardly necessary to add, that anything which any insulated body, or system of bodies, can continue to furnish without limitation, cannot possibly be a material substance ; and it appears to me to be extremely difficult, if not quite impossible, to form any distinct idea of anything capable of being excited and communicated in the manner the Heat was excited and communicated in these experiments, except it be MOTION.
Page 406 - Englishman who added the praise of the elegant arts to the other glories of his country. In taste — in grace — in facility — in happy invention — and in the richness and harmony of colouring, he was equal to the greatest masters of the renowned ages. In portrait he went beyond them ; for he communicated to that description of the art, in which English artists are most engaged, a variety...
Page 261 - The remote causes are certain sedative powers applied to the nervous system, which, diminishing the energy of the brain, thereby produce a debility in the whole of the functions, and particularly in the action of the extreme vessels.
Page 108 - Indeed, every mechanic art, in the different processes of which heat, moisture, solution, mixture, or fermentation is necessary, must ever keep pace in improvement with this branch of philosophy. To the physician this science is of still greater value, and is daily growing in importance. He learns from it to compound his medicines, to disarm poisons of their force, to adjust remedies to diseases, and to adopt general means of preserving health. To «he student of natural history chemistry furnishes...

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