the most useful of which the author has selected a considerable num ber, are solved by the globe, by projection, and by calculation. Mr. Kelly's account of the several methods that have been proposed, and that are generally practised, for determining the longitude, is concise and clear, and sufficiently comprehensive for those to whose benefit his views have been principally directed. The author's new projection for solving a lunar observation is either founded on principles which he has not explained, or is merely tentative and casual in its effect. Concerning this method, however, he very justly observes that, although it gives a result which is surprisingly exact, especially when neither of the observed bodies is very near the horizon or the zenith, the problem is too complicated to admit of a solution perfectly accurate by such a simple projection. His new method of working the lunar observations is an improvement of the common trigonometrical solution, as it is performed merely by sines without the interference of cosines, by taking the zenith-distance instead of the altitude :-but without tables calculated to seconds this method is impracticable. To those, however, who are in possession of Taylor's tables, this mode of operation is sufficiently obvious, and will be thought, in cases that require great exactness, most eligible. The figures in this work are formed on a large scale, correctly drawn, and neatly engraved. Art. 23. Arithmetical Questions on a new Plan: designed as a Sup Boards. Dilly. Rc.s. In a book of common arithmetic we did not expect to find that variety of information which this work contains. The author's reading has been very extensive; and his researches seem to have been directed with a particular view to this publication. There is scarcely any subject, nor any kind of knowlege, to which he is not desirous, with a very laudable zeal, of engaging the attention of his pupils; and instead of composing a mere treatise of arithmetic, he has compiled an universal common-place book for their instruction. While he is professedly employed in teaching them the common rules and operations of numerical computation, he takes occasion to introduce a variety of topics in astronomy and geography, biography and chronology, mechanics and philosophy, natural, civil, and ecclesiastical history, politics and government, ethics and theology; and he ranges with them, generally in prose, but occasionally in verse, through the whole circle of sciences, sacred and profane. We applaud the assiduity and labour displayed in this work, as well as the motives that induced the author to devote so much time to the compilation of it: but we much doubt whether this plan of communicating general instruction will be as efficient . efficient as it is comprehensive, Those who have been concerned in the education of young persons well know that it is possible, by aiming at too much, to defeat their own purpose; and to prevent that success which, with more moderate views, they might reasonably expect. If the attention of the learner be distracted by a variety of different subjects that have no immediate connection with each other, and his memory be overloaded with facts and dates that are incidentally introduced without any natural relation to the main object, his progress in the pursuit of useful knowlege is more likely to be retarded than promoted. The mass of matter, which this industrious author has collected together, overwhelms the arithmetical rules and examples, which are the principal objects of this treatise; and the scholar will be apt to forget that he is learning arithmetic, while he is expected to acquire any competent knowlege of the collateral subjects that are crouded together into so small a compass. As a book of reference, this treatise will be found instructive and useful; and it would probably have been more valuable in this view, if the author had contented himself with pursuing his course of arithmetic without interruption, and had arranged his other materials in the form of an appendix, with occasional references for the direction of his scholars, and for the particular exercise of such as were most likely to derive any considerable advantage from it. When we regard it, however, as a Supplement to the Author's engraved Introduction to Arith, metic, it appears to have been his design to communicate miscellaneous information in this way more than the knowlege of arithmetic: but, after all, there is a great degree of confusion, compensated by very trivial advantages, in thus blending miscellaneous subjects with the operations of arithmetic, Without judicious selection on the part of the teacher, and very diligent application on that of the learner, this book will, we appre hend, be much less useful as a treatise of arithmetic than many others of a more compendious kind, which have fallen under our frequent notice: but, as a work of general instruction and amusement, altogether unconnected with arithmetical rules, it does honour to the com piler, and deserves to be recommended, Art. 24. An Introduction to Arithmetic and Algebra. By Thomas Manning. 8vo. pp. 312. 6s. Boards. Rivingtons, 1796. Although the ingenious author of this treatise does not profess to introduce into it any novelty or variety beyond what occurs in many other books on the same subjects, he has rendered it peculiarly instructing and interesting, by his mode of illustrating the grounds and reasons of the most obvious and common operations, He does not satisfy himself with merely laying down a rule, which the learner is to apply mechanically to the solution of the questions and examples that are subjoined: but he explores the principles of the rule, and elucidates, in ininute detail, the rationale of each operation that is performed. This circumstance constitutes what we conceive to be the principal and distinguishing excellence of Mr. M.'s work, and cannot fail to recommend it to persons who are desirous of learning arithmetic and algebra, without the assistance of a tutor, and without having recourse to any other book. The Re.s. The four fundamental rules of arithmetic are scientifically and very satisfactorily explained; and the algebraic part comprehends vulgar and decimal fractions, with the extraction of roots, and extends to the solution of quadratic equations. The author acknowleges that he has availed himself of the publications of other approved writers: but few instances will be found, in which he has adopted any thing without considerable additions and alterations. The chapter on the permutations and combinations of quantities contains a concise, and yet sufficiently intelligible, explication of this curious and useful part of science; and the author has introduced the subject with peculiar advantage, as a preliminary to the investigation and solution of the binomial theorem. His demonstration of this theorem is a very valuable addition to the work. The following advertisement is prefixed, and we transcribe it for the information of those who have encouraged this publication. As the present work has very much exceeded the limits originally expected by the author, he finds himself under the necessity of either totally omitting, or of delivering in a future volume, some of the articles which were mentioned in his first proposals, but for which he could not find room in this publication. Respecting these, it is his intention to fulfil his obligations, by immediately submitting them to the public-should their decision on the present attempt justify him in hazarding a second.' LAW. Art. 25. Term Reports in the Court of King's Bench, from Hilary We have already noticed the republication of the two former volumes of this useful work, in their present commodious size, and have only now to inform our readers that this is execnted exactly on the same plan. Re.s. S.R. Art. 26. Modern Reports, or Select Cases adjudged in the Courts of King's Bench, Chancery, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, from the Restoration of Charles II. to the 28th Year of George II. The 5th Edition, corrected, with the Addition of Marginal References and Notes, and 381 Cases. By Thomas Leach, Esq. of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law. Royal 8vo. 12 Volumes. 61. 9s. Boards, 71. 78. bound. Robinsons, &c. 1796. The first four volumes of the present publication were noticed in our 13th vol. N. S. p. 82.; and to that article we must refer for the character of the work. It is necessary for us now only to observe that the whole is completed, and to extract from the preface the account which Mr. Leach has given of the new matter introduced in this edition. The promised assistance of several respectable characters in the profession, induced the editor to hope, when he first engaged in the undertaking, In undertaking, that he should be able to amass a sufficient collection of In the 9th volume will be found an additional collection of cases in the court of Chancery during the time of Lord Hardwicke, from Michaelmas Term in the 10th year of George II. to Trinity Term in the 28th of George II. These cases fill 283 pages, are ninety in number, and 52 now for the first time reported; they were all of them, except the last 13, printed from a collection of MSS. cases preserved in the library of the late Samuel Salte Esq. of the Inner Temple, and many of them bear the author's name, which is printed as it appeared in the original MSS. The last 13 cases in this volume were kindly sent to the editor through the hands of one of the proprietors of the work, by Charles Butler Esq. of Lincoln's Inn.— To the xith volume is added a collection of select cases in the King's Bench, from Trinity Term in the 4th year of George I. to Michaelmas Term in the 4th year of George II. They are 136 in number, 78 of which are not reported in any other work.-These cases were selected from a collection of Law MSS. the production of Jonathan Wells, Esq. Barrister at Law. The indexes to the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11th volumes, have been carefully corrected.' It would have been much more convenient for the reader, and would have occupied lefs room, if these indexes had been incorporated but we are sorry to observe that law editors seem, of late, not less attentive to the size and price than to the usefulness of their publications. Art. 27. An Abridgment of Penal Statutes, which exhibits at one 1795. year S.R. year 1775, and was noticed in our 54th volume, p. 162;-the compiler since that time has had the opportunity, in successive editions, of improving on his original plan; and we are happy in having it in our power to say, that the usefulness of the publication is considerably augmented. The nature and contents of this volume are so fully set forth in the title page, as to render any farther account of them unnecessary. Art. 28. The Law of Evidence, by Lord Chief Baron Gilbert; considerably enlarged by Capel Lofft, Barrister at Law. To which is prefixed some Account of the Author; his Abstract of Locke's Essay; and his Argument in a Case of Homicide in Ireland. Vols. III. and IV. Royal 8vo. 18s. Boards. Longman, Dilly, &c. 1792. 1796. Of the first two volumes of this work, of the alterations made in the arrangement of it by Mr. Lofft, and of his reasons for such alterations, we gave an account in our 10th volume, N. S. p. 243.— It is scarcely necessary for us, on the present occasion, to say more than that the original plan is now completed by the publication of the volumes before us, and that in the middle of the last volume we find the following extraordinary, and to us unaccountable, note: From circumstances which need not here be detailed, the copy furnished by Mr. Lofft was abruptly discontinued at this part.-It was found necessary, therefore, that the work should be concluded in the best manner that such a conjuncture would permit. The following pages, with the general index of principal matters, and part of the synoptical index, were compiled by a gentleman, who, though wishing on this occasion to remain totally unknown to the profession, apologizes to them for the inadequate manner in which he is conscious his task has been fulfilled; and rests his plea for excuse on the known difficulty of pursuing a plan laid down by another with whom he had no concurrence or communication.' S.R. We cannot dismiss this article without remarking that, though the Chief Baron's abstract of Locke's Essay, and his argument in a case of Homicide in Ireland, might very properly be inserted in a collection of his works, there is no propriety in introducing them into the present publication; and that the edition before us appears to be somewhat overcharged with superfluous matter. Do Art. 29. A Practical Arrangement of the Laws relative to the Excise: Though the public have, of late years, been presented with various books on the subject of the Excise laws, yet we have seen no production on this important topic, so comprehensive and useful as the work now before us. As the statutes and adjudged cases rela |