The five From the We decline to print the Criticifm of Camifis, not from any objection to the performance itself, but from a rule we always adhere to of laying afide all anonymous strictures on cur brethren. An anfwer by an author in his own defence we thould not object to. letters he mentions we have postponed till we fee the remainder of the collection. fpecimen we cannot ascertain whether they are proper for our publication or not. The Letters from G. H. will be welcome. We have received others from another Correfpondent, which we hope to gratify our readers with in a fhort time. AVERAGE PRICES of CORN, from Sept. 8, to Sept. 13, 1788. Wheat Rye Barl Oats Beans d. Wheat Rye Bar!. Oats Beans 5 510 02 52 22 II Suffolk Durham Northumberl. 5 23 Weftmorld. 6 44 9,2 1 3 Lancashire Salop 66556 0,0 0.2 2 10 Somerset 55600055 5 6 3 I 6 O 5110 73 5 9.0 42 102 13 013 ΟΙ W3 0 9 0 90 410 010 ΟΙ 3 02 72 3 4 43 II 11,2 3 9,0 22 10 2 2 I WALES, Sept. 1, to Sept. 6, 1788. North Wales 5 94 313 cf1 914 7 South Wales 5 914 913 STATE of the BAROMETER and THERMOMETER. AUGUST. BAROMETER, N.N. W. Suffex Kent 2/1 THERMOM, WIND. E. S. E. S. S. E. S. S. E. N. N. E. S. W. SEPTEMBER. S. W. An ACCOUNT of DOCTOR JOHN BERKENHOUT. [ WITH A PORTRAIT OF HIM. ] DOCTOR JOHN BERKENHOUT was born, about the year 1730, at Leeds in Yorkshire, and educated at the grammar fchool in that town. His father, who was a merchant, and a native of Holland, intended him for trade; and, with that view, fint him, at an early age, to Germany, in order to learn foreign languages. After continuing a few years in that country, he made the tour of Eurupe in company with one or more Ength noblemen. On their return to Germany they vifited Berlin, where Mr. Berkenhout m.t with a near relation of his father's, the Baron de Bielfeldr, a nobleman then in high eftimation with the late King of Pruffia; diftinguifhed as one of the founders of the Royal Acad.my of Sciences at Berlin, and univerfally known as a politician and a man of letters. With this relation our young travelier fixed his abode for fome time, and, regardless of his original deftination, became a cadet in a Pruilian regiment of foot. He foon obtained an Enign's commiffion, and, in the space of a few years, was advanced to the rank of CapLain. He quitted the Pruffian fervice on the declaration of war between England and France in 1756, and was honoured with the command of a company in the fervice of his native country. When peace was concluded in 1760, not chufing, we fuppofe, to lead a life of inactivity on half-pay, he went down to Edinburgh, and commenced ftudent of phyfic. During his refidence at that Univerfity he published his Clavis Anglica Lingue Botanica; a book of finguler utility to all students of botany. This book has been long out of print. It is the only botanical Lexicon in our language, and particularly expletive of the Linnean fyftem; we are therefore happy to learn, that the author is preparing a new edition. Having continued fome years at Edinburgh, Mr. B. went to the University of Leyden, where he took the degree of Doctor of Phyfic. This was in the year 1765, as we learn from the date of his Thefts, which we have feen. It is entitled, Differtatio medica inauguralis de Podagra, and dedicated to his relation Baron de Bieifeldt. Returning to England, Dr. B. fettled at Ifleworth in Middlefex (where he now refides), and foon after published his Pharmacopaia Medici, the third edition of which was printed in 1782.-In 1778, he was fent by Government with the Commissioners to America. Neither the Commiflioners nor their Secretary were fuffered by the Congrefs to proceed further than New-York. Dr. B. however, found means to penetrate as far as Philadelphia, where the Congrefs was then aflembled. He appears to have remained in that city for fome time without moleftation; but at last they began to fufpect that he was fent by Lord orth for the purpote of tampering with fome of their leading members. The Doctor was immediately feized and committed to prifon. How long he remained a state prifoner, or by what means he obtained his liberty, we are not informed; but we find from the publick prints, that he re-joined the Commiffioners at New-York, and returned with them to England.-For this temporary facrifice of the emoluments of his protefion, and in consideration of his having, in the fervice of his fovereign, committed himself to the mercy of a Congrels of enraged R.publicans, he obtained a pension: we hope for the credit of the miniftry, it is a good one. Many years previous to this event (viz. in 1769 or 1770) Dr. B. published his Outlines of the Natural Hijlory of Great Britain and Irond, in 3 vois. 12mo.a work which enablished his reputation as a Naturalift. This very uieful book has alfo been long out of print; but we we informed that a new edition is actually in the prefs. In the year 1773 he wrote a pamphlet, entiled, in Eloy on the Bite of a Mad Dog, in which the Claim to Infallibility of the Frincipal Prefervative Remedies against the Hydrophobia is examined. This pampilot is inferibed to Sir George Baker, ard lerves to be univerfally read. In the year following Dr. B. publifhed his Simptomatology; a bok which is too univerfally known to require any recommendation. His lat pub ication, which appeared at the beginning of the prefent year, is entitled, Firft Lines of the Theory and Practice of Philofophical Chemistry. It is dedicated to Mr. Eden, our prefent Ambaffador at the Court of Spain, whom the Doctor accompanied to America. Of this book it is fufficient to fay, that it exhibits a fatisfactory difplay of the prefent fate of Chemistry; and that it is the only fyftematical book on this subject in the English language. Thele, we believe, except a learned preface to the trandation of Dr. Pomme's treatife on hyfteric difeafes, are all Dr. B.'s writings in the line of his profeffion; but he is not lefs known as the author of other valuable works, particularly the Biographia Literaria, published by Dodley, and which we hope the Doctor will find leifine to finish. We have alfo good reafon to fuppole him the author of certain humorous publications, in profe and verie, to which he did not think fit to prefix his name. We likewife remember to have feen a tranflation from the Swedifh language, of the celebrated Count Tellin's Letters to the prefen: King of Sweden, by our author. It is dedicated to the Prince of Wales, his prefent Majetty of Great-Bitam; and was, we believe, Mr. B.'s firit publication. Since the above was written, we recollect that Dr. Be keni out was the author of "Lucubrations on Ways and Means ;" from which feveral of our prefent taxes were adopted; alfo of an anfwer to Dr. Cadogan's pamphlet on the gout. To the PUBLISHER of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE. FROM Since that time I have met with him very icidom; bu. I have ben very attentive to his literary progrefs. I am in poffulion of all the books which bear his name in the title, and I am astonish. ed at the extent and variety of the knowledge they contin. He was originally intended for a merchan: thence his knowledge of the principles of Commerce. He was fome years in one of the best difciplined armies in Europe: thence hiş knowledge of the art of War. His tranflation of COUNT TASSIN'S LETTERS thew him to be well acquainted with the Swedish Language, and that he is a good Pret. His HARMACOPOEIA MEDICI, &c. demontrate his skill in his profesion. His OUTLINES CF NATURAL HISTORY and his BOTANICAL LEXICON prove his knowledge in every brunch of Nat ra' Itory. HIS FIRST LINES OF PHILOSOPHI CAL CHEMISTRY have convinced the world |