&c., saw the light. Here he began to make experiments on air; being led to the subject by attending to the phenomenon of fixed air, in a brewery adjoining; and in 1772, he produced a pamphlet on the subject, which interested the scientifick part of the community.

After six years residence at Leeds, he accepted an invitation from the late Marquis of Lansdowne, then Earl of Shelburne, to reside with his lordship, as libra rian, or rather literary companion and friend, with an establishment of a house and 250l. per year, and 150%. for life, in case of their previous separation. During his connexion with his lordship, which continued seven years, he visited, in his company, France, Holland, and some parts of Germany. He pursued his chemical inquiries, and published four volumes of experiments on air; Observations on Education; Lectures on Oratory and Criticism; the third part of the Institutes of natural and revealed Religion; a Reply to the Scotch metaphysicians, Reid, Oswald, and Beattie; that part of Hartley on Man, relating to the association of ideas; a Harmony of the Gospels, and a controversy with Archbp.Newcomb, on the duration of our Lord's ministry; and Disquisitions on Matter and Spirit. For two years before he left the Marquis, he had perceived marks of dissatisfaction, of which he knew not the cause; and finally they parted in friendship. Dr. P. spent the following winter in London, where he was much with Dr. Franklin. He then removed to Birmingham, where he succeeded Mr. Hawkes, as minister and colleague with Mr, Blyth, in a congregation, which be praises for its liberality. Here he continued his

philosophical pursuits, and composed and sent from the press the Corruptions of Christianity; Correspondence with Dr. Horsley; and History of early opinions concerning Jesus Christ. And after these, in consequence of the number of his antagonists, he wrote an annual pamphlet in defence of the Unitarian doctrine, against all his opponents.

Such is the sketch of the Me moirs of himself, to 1787. There is a short continuation, by his own hand, bringing them to the year 1795, when he was at Northum berland. He thought he had the prospect of passing the remnant of his life happily at Birmingham; but he was continually growing more obnoxious to the friends of the government, and of the estab→ lishment. At length, when several of his friends celebrated the French revolution, July 14, 1791, a mob collected, and set fire to the dissenting meeting-houses, and to several dwelling-houses of dissenters; among others, that of Dr. P., and demolished his library, apparatus, and papers. He was forced to take refuge from their fury, in the metropolis. Sometime after his arrival there, he was chosen to succeed Dr. Price, at Hackney; and was a lecturer in the new college in that place. But the prejudices against him being very strong, and his sons emigrating to the United States, he followed them to this country in April, 1794, where he settled at Northumberland, a town situated at the confluence of the north-east, and west branches of the Susquehannah, and about 130 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

From this period the Memoirs are continued by the son, Joseph Priestley. The first part of this continuation is occupied with a long

statement of the reasons, which induced Dr. P. to leave England; and a refutation of the opinion, that he had cause to be dissatisfied with his reception here, or was disappointed in his expectation of respect, consideration, and enjoy. ment in this land of freedom, and • asylum of oppressed humanity.' In his new situation Dr. P. continued his theological and philosophical studies and experiments. For two or three winters after his arrival be delivered lectures on the Evidences of Christianity, in Philadelphia. In the successive years till his death he composed and published the remaining volumes of his Church History, Notes on the Scriptures, a Comparison of the Institutions of the Mosaick Religion with those of the Hindoos, several pamphlets and communications to societies upon philosophical subjects and in defence of phlogiston, &c. In 1799, thinking his political character and sentiments misunderstood and misrepresented, he published letters on politicks, which, his son thinks, satisfied the liberal and candid, and procured him friends. Whilst he was looking forward with pleasure to future exertions in the fields of science, his constitution began to fail. He became subject to a constant indigestion, extremely troublesome, and attended with increasing debility. He wrote and read however till the last, and died apparently in the full vigour of his mind and with the utmost tranquillity and even cheerfulness. We extract the description of his last hours:

'On Saturday, the 4th, my father got up for about an hour while his bed was made. He said he felt more comforta

ble in bed than up. He read a good deal, and looked over the first sheet of the third volume of the Notes, that he might see how we were likely to go on with it; and having examined the

Greek and Hebrew quotations, and finding them right, he said he was sa well. In the course of the day, he extisfied we should finish the work very pressed his gratitude in being permitted to die quietly in his family, without pain, with every convenience and comfort he could wish for. He dwelt upon the peculiarly happy situation in which it had pleased the Divine Being to place him in life; and the great advantage he had enjoyed in the acquaintance and friendship of some of the best and wisest men in the age in derived from having led an useful as which he lived, and the satisfaction he well as a happy life.

On Sunday he was much weaker, and only sat up in an armed chair while his bed was made. He desired me to read to him the eleventh chapter of end of the chapter, but he stopped me John. I was going on to read to the at the 45th verse. He dwelt for some time on the advantage he had derived from reading the scriptures daily, and that it would prove to me, as it had advised me to do the same; saying, done to him, a source of the purest pleasure. He desired me to reach him a pamphlet which was at his bed's head, Simpson on the Duration of future isfaction to you to read that pamphlet," Punishment. "It will be a source of satsaid he, giving it to me. "It contains my sentiments, and a belief in them will be a support to you in the most trying circumstances, as it has been to me. We shall all meet finally we only require to our different tempers, to prepare usTM different degrees of discipline, suited for final happiness." Upon Mr. coming into his room, he said, “You see, Sir, I am still living."

Mr.

live. 66

observed, he would always Yes," said he, "I believe I

shall; and we shall all meet again in

another and a better world." He said

this with great animation, laying hold

on Mr.

-'s hand in both his. Before prayers he desired me to reach him three publications, about which he would give me some directions next morning. His weakness would not permit him to do it at that time.

At prayers he had all the children brought to his bed-side as before. After prayers they wished him a good night, and were leaving the room. He desired them to stay, spoke to them each separately. He exhorted them

all to continue to love each other. "And you, little thing," speaking to Eliza, "remember the hymn you learned; Birds in their little nests agree,' &c. I am going to sleep as well as you for death is only a good long sound sleep in the grave. and we shall meet again." He congratulated us on the dispositions of our children; said it was a satisfaction to see them likely to turn out well; and continued for some time to express his confidence in a happy immortality, and in a future state, which would afford us an ample field for the exertion of our faculties.

On Monday morning, the 6th of February, after having lain perfectly still till four o'clock in the morning, he called to me, but in a fainter tone than usual, to give him some wine and tincture of bark. I asked him how he felt. He answered, he had no pain, but appeared fainting away gradually. About an hour after, he asked me for some chicken broth, of which he took a tea-cup full. His pulse was quick, weak, and fluttering, his breathing, though easy, short. About 8 o'clock, he asked me to give him some egg and wine. After this he lay quite still till ten o'clock, when he desired me and Mr. Cooper to bring him the pamphlets we had looked out the evening before. He then dictated as clearly and distinctly as he had ever done in his life the additions and alterations he wished to have made in each. Mr.

He said Mr.

Cooper took down the substance of what he said, which, when he had done, I read to him. Cooper had put it in his own language; he wished it to be put in his. I then took a pen and ink to his bed-side. He then repeated over again, nearly word for word, what he had before said; and when I had done, I read it over to him. "That is right; I have now done." About half an hour after he desired, in a faint voice, that we would move him from the bed on which he

lay to a cot, that he might lie with his lower limbs horizontal, and his head upright. He died in about ten minutes after we had moved him, but breathed his last so easy, that neither myself or my wife, who were both sitting close to him, perceived it at the time. He had put his hand to his face, which prevented our observing it.”

Observations, suggested by the Memoirs, and the review of other Vol. IV. No. 5.

Kk

But

THE honour of our country was deeply interested in the protest, we made against the practices of the American Editors of this work in publishing the first part of the first volume. In the republication of foreign books, of inferiour itaportance, by printers without character, we have learned, by melancholy experience, to expect shameful mutilations of fact, and perversions of sentiment. of Arts and Sciences was announthis valuable Universal Dictionary ced to the American publick with such promising auspices, revised, corrected, enlarged, and adapted to and scientifick characters,' that to this country by several literary have suspected it, would have been criminal. From these literary and scientifick characters we could not expect the artifices of African traders, who dilute and adulterate their liquors, because they can do it without raising any jealousy in the ignorant purchasers.

The appearance of the first number confounded our hopes. The publisher we knew, and him we trusted; but this knot of nameless editors, without responsibility, imposing on the printer and the publick, have degraded our literary character by folly without parallel, and meanness without exam. ple. The imputation shall not however be universal

From the garblings of the articles on religion we conclude, either, that the American Editors, confident in their own principles, were desirous of assuming infallibility and compelling us to follow them without examination; or, feeling their own weakness, were too diffident to meet the trans-atlantick theologists on equal ground in the arena of argument. On the horns of this dilemma we leave them to dangle. If the infidelity of Gibbon and the heresy of Priestley are to be controverted, let it be with decency, and let them be heard.

Nor was it only of the treatment of topicks in theology, that we complained. The biography of Abernethy, one of the best Christ tans since the reformation, was so shamefully perverted, that it seem ed, our Philadelphia publishers were to be alone holy in life, as well as infallible in doctrine. Though nearly 70 years have elapsed, since his body was committed to the grave, they have, like the vampyre, torn it from its sanctuary and endeavoured to defile it.

Tantæne animis cælestibus iræ ?
Dwells there such anger in religious

souls?

The general sentiment of indignation at such practices was uttered in so audible a manner, as to draw from the printer assurances, that he would give the text of the English Edition entire, except when erroneous in point of fact; and at the same time counteract the tendency of any pernicious doctrines, which it might be found to contain, by additional remarks and references, distinguished by crotches from the original article.' The Editors wince a little at being so confined to the text, and in the third number, article ANGEL, explain the principles, on which they

shall conduct the commentary: Far be it from us to sympathise with hereticks and infidels ;' and far be from us, infallible doctors of Philadelphia, any fear of openly canvassing the merits of your labours. We propose henceforward to examine chiefly the additions of the American Editors, and hope to pursue the subject monthly, till we overtake the publishers, and then to proceed with thein in equal pace.

With the publisher's promises for the future we are satisfied; and, if they shall be adhered to, we earnestly desire the success of the undertaking. But the former offence can hardly be expiated without reprinting the first halfvolume, as it should be, to satisfy the honour of the country, which they have stained; the laws of morality, which they have violated; the subscribers, whom they have wronged; and the publick, that they have insulted.

We shall expect in the American Edition, that the corrections and improvements, on subjects of geography, especially of our own country, will exceed in number those of all other branches of science. Some disappointment therefore is felt, when we find the article ALBANY, extracted into our Philadelphia Edition in the same words, which the English have used. The population of the city is settled by the general census of 1801, though the older census is followed in this book. Under this head the new articles of this quarto are sixteen in number, and cover perhaps a page and a half. They are ALCINO Mont, a small town of Tuscany; ALCONCHOL, a castle inSpain; ALDERTON Point,in our harbour of Boston; ALFRED, a sinall village in York county and district of Maine; ALLAH SHEER,

the ancient Philadelphia, in Asia Minor; ALMSBURY, on Merrimack river, in the county of Essex, which we believe should be spelt Amesbury; ALPNACH, a town of Switzerland; ALSTEAD, a small town in the county of Cheshire, state of New-Hampshire; ALTEN, a river of Norway; ALTIKESEK, a tribe of barbarians of Mount CauCasus; ALTORF, an insignificant town in Germany in the circle of Swabia; ALTUN KUPPREE, a city of Kurdistan; ALTYN OBO, a hill in the Crimea; ALVIDRAS, a remarkable rock of Portugal, near Lisbon; ALUPKA, a village of the Crimea; ALY-GHUR, a fort in India. Of these articles it will be seen, that most are of little value; yet they display the carefulness of the American Editors. An article of more importance, we believe, than any of these, is omitted in both publications. ALTAVELA, a small island in the West Indies, south of Cape Beata on the shore of Hispaniola. It is very high, and on account of its shape is one of the most distinguishable landmarks in the Caribbean Sea.

Additions are made to the articles in geography, ALDERBURGH, ALEPPO, ALEXANDRIA, ALHUYS, ALLEGHANY River, ALLEGHANY Mountains, ALNWICK, ALSTON Moor, ALTDORF, ALPS. The new matter may amount to another page and a half. The articles ALEPPO and ALLEGHANY only have any material gain from our American publishers. On Dr. Russell's directions for avoiding the plague, under the former of them, the American Editors have some useful remarks. But we must protest against a word, that three times thrust itself into their half-page. We believe the English language knows no such word, as preventative.' We

have indeed a trisyllable, that conveys the meaning, intended by those writers, and perhaps preventive sounds as well, as the word now made with two letters more.

But we have a cause of complaint, relating to several of these articles, last mentioned; which is, that when only a sentence, or a paragraph is added, the whole head is claimed by the brackets, that we thought were to distinguish the respective property of the English and American authors. Can it be possible, that the Philadelphia publishers would have their subscribers believe, that the work of Dr. Rees and his coadjutors is so imperfect, as to want such articles as ALEXANDRIA and ALLEGHANY? It may however be admitted, as an excuse for this error, that this is the first No., in which the Addenda were to be divided from the original. We shall therefore expect more carefulness in future.

ALBUGO. We cannot find, as the American Editors refer to Ware on Cataract, the mode of restoring vision in a certain case, We should not expect a recommendation of such practice from that author; for in one part of his work he observes, that, when the iris is simply punctured or divided, its edges are very apt to come together and reunite. In cases therefore, in which the pupil is closed, he recommends the formation of a new pupil by the excision of a flap, or semi-circular portion of the iris. The other observations upon articles of medical science are, we believe, judicious and correct.

To the article ALEMBERT a short paragraph is added by the republishers, expressive of regret, that his virtues should have been found in alliance with principles, tending to the destruction of all