Latin language; which characters were generally used by the ecclefiaftics and schoolmen in moft parts of Europe.'

In this chapter, particular attention is paid to the mode of writing ufed in the northern parts of Scotland and Ireland, and feveral fpecimens are exhibited of MSS. in the Gaelic and Iberno-Celtic language. We have likewife an account of the writing which was practifed im other parts of Europe, from the earliest times, till the invention of printing.

Chapter VI. Of the Chinese Characters, of Sigla or literary Signs, of Notæ ufed by Short-hand Writers, and of the va rious Modes of Secret Writing.

The Chinese characters, as the author obferves, which are by length of time become fymbolic, were originally imitative; they still partake fo much of their original hieroglyphic nature, that they do not combine into words like letters or marks for founds; but we find one mark for a man, another for a horse, a third for a dog, and in fhort a separate and diftinct mark for each thing which hath a corporeal form.

The Chinese alfo ufe a great number of marks entirely of a fymbolic nature, to imprefs on the eye the conceptions of the mind, which have no corporeal forms, though they do not combine thefe laft marks into words, like marks for founds or letters; but a feparate mark is made to represent or stand for each idea, and they use them in the fame manner as they do their abridged picture-characters, which were originally imitative or hieroglyphic.'

The Chinese characters, according to fome of their writers, amount to twenty-five thoufand, to thirty or forty thoufand, according to others; but the later writers fay they amount to eighty thoufand, though he is reckoned a very learned man, who is matter of fifteen or twenty thousand.

The Chinese books begin from the right hand; their letters are placed in perpendicular columns, of which there are generally ten in a page. They are read downwards, beginning from the right-hand fide of the paper. Sometimes a title is placed horizontally, and this is likewife read from the right hand.'

Chap. VII. Of Numerals, and of Numeral Characters.Many opinions concerning the origin of numerical characters, and the time of their introduction into Europe, have prevailed. Some writers afcribe the honour of this invention to the Indians, and fay they communicated them to the Arabs, from whom they were introduced among us by the Moors. This Indian origin is generally confidered as the best founded, and is moft refpected by men of learning. Others infift they were dérived from the Greeks, who communicated them to

the Indians, from whom we received them. Mat. Paris, Bernard Volius, bishop Huet, and Ward the rhetorical profeffor, fupport the latter opinion, which our author thinks is founded on mere arbitrary conjectures. The learned editors of the Nouveau Traité de Diplomatique refer to feveral MSS. in Italy and France, to prove that Arabic numerals were used in both thofe countries, in the latter end of the tenth, and in the beginning of the eleventh centuries.

When we confider the fmall refemblance there is between our numeral figures, and those Indian or Arabic characters from which they are faid to have been derived, we are almost inclined to think that they are only the Greek letters, corrupted and altered by transcribers; or that the idea of ufing fuch numeral characters was taken from the Greek alphabet, in which the letters are used as numerals. Thus 1, is probably iota, 2 ß, 3 Y, 4 A, 5 ε, 6 5, 7 3, initial of ουδεν.

8 n, 99, ọ, the

The refemblance is obvious in four inftances, namely, in 4, 6, 7, 9, which is as much as can be faid of the Indian or the Arabic numerals, which fee in Erpenii Gram. Arab. 1. i. c. 1. p. 17. Phil. Tranf. N° 439, and Mr. Aftle's 30th plate.

Chap. VIII. Of the Librarii, Notarii, and Antiquarii, of Illuminators, of Paintings and Ornaments, of Materials for writing upon, of Inftruments for writing with, of Inks.

In treating of ink, our author obferves, that we have at prefent none equal in beauty and colour to that used by the ancients; and he very properly reprefents the neceffity of paying more attention to this important article.

Chap. IX. Some Account of the Origin and Progrefs of Printing.

It is generally allowed, fays Mr. Aftle, that printing from wooden blocks has been practifed in China for many centuries. According to the accounts of the Chinese, and of P. Jovius, Oforius, and many other Europeans, printing began there about the year of Chrift 927. Printing then may be confidered as an Afiatic, and not an European invention.

It is generally agreed, that printing with moveable types was not practifed till after the middle of the fifteenth century, though prints from blocks of wood are traced as far back as the year 1423.

Aldus is erroneously fuppofed to have been the first Greek printer; but the neatnefs, beauty, and correctnefs of his editions, place him in a much higher rank than his predeceffors. He was born in 1445, and died in 1515. In 1501, he invented and introduced the Italic characters, which are ftill ufed, called from him Aldine or curfive.

བ་

In this article the reader is not to fuppofe that the paffages which we have extracted, contain the principal obfervations which the author has made on each refpective fubject. We have been obliged, in almost every inftance, to content ourfelves with a few fhort paragraphs, or an imperfect sketch of the argument; and to pass over many curious difquifitions without notice. In this cafe, the contracted limits of our Review must be our apology.

The facts which the author has ftated, he has generally derived from writers of the greatest credit; and has always faithfully cited his authorities.

His enquiries and obfervations are illuftrated by thirty-one elegant engravings, containing many ancient and modern alphabets, and fpecimens of original manufcripts, infcriptions, &c. It is to be wished that he had not crouded fome of his plates with so many different articles, fome of which are defcribed at the diftance of ten or fifteen pages from the engravings. Eight or ten additional plates would have obviated all objections of this nature.

This excellent work will be of infinite fervice in all in. quiries relative to the age and authenticity of manufcripts, and other monuments of antiquity. It contains much curious and interefting information, and a general hiftory of letters, from their origin to the present time. The author's amazing induftry, great accuracy, and extenfive crudition, deferve the highest encomiums.

Moral and Literary Differtations; chicfy intended as the Sequel to A Father's Inftructions. By Thomas Percival, M.D. F.R.S. and S.A. 8vo. 45. in Boards. Johnfon.

DR. Percival's Moral Tales were published fome years fince,

and have been fo well received, that they have paffed through five editions. The prefent Differtations are chiefly imtended as a fequel to the Tales, and calculated for young people at a more advanced age, when they are capable of difcerning the diftinctions and fubordinations of moral duty, and the criteria of a juft and refined taste.

The first article is a Socratic Dialogue on Truth, explaining the nature of veracity, fincerity, and faithfulness, by examples. The two following short extracts will give our readers a general idea of the author's plan.

'When you deliver to another as a certain truth, what you believe to be falfe, are you guilty of lying, fhould it afterwards prove to be true?

'Yes, anfwered Sophron; because my intention is to deceive, and to make a fuppofed falfhood pafs for truth. Chian-fu

was

was an officer in the guards of the emperor of Japan. He had formed a tender connection with one of the ladies of the court, and was on the point of marriage, when a formidable infurrection, in a diftant island of the empire, occafioned by the tyranny and cruel exactions of the government, obliged him to leave the capital without delay, to affume his poft in the royal army. The war was protracted through various caufes; and he bore with great impatience fo long an abfence from his mitrefs. By the influence of a bribe, he obtained permiflion from the commander in chief to return to Jeddo for a few weeks; during which time he hoped to celebrate his nuptials. But dreading, left the emperor should refent his defertion of the army at fo critical a juncture, he pretended that he brought tidings from the general of an important advantage gained over the enemy, which was likely foon to be fucceeded by a complete victory. These accounts were founded on probability, not on truth. His falfhoods however procured him the most favourable reception at court. He married the lady; and after a week spent in feftivity, prepared for his departure to join the army. An exprefs at this time arrived with the news of the entire defeat of the infurgents; but no mention was made of any previous difpatches by Chian-fu. The emperor fufpected that he had been guilty of deceit. He was ftrictly examined; confeffed his crime, and the motives of it; and was condemned to fuffer immediate death. For lying is a capital offence by the laws of Japan.'

In explaining the nature of fuch lawful evafions as do not contradict the truth, the author relates the answer of our Saviour to the chief priests and scribes relative to the payment of tribute, queen Elizabeth's reply to the dangerous question propofed to her concerning Chrift's real prefence in the facrament, and the following remarkable inftance of St. Paul's prudent conduct, in circumftances not very diffimilar. We fhall cite the laft example, because it has been feldom viewed in its proper light.

The Athenians had a law, which rendered it capital to promulgate any new divinities. And when Paul preached to them Jefus and the refurrection, he was accufed of having broken this law, and of being a "fetter forth of ftrange Gods;" and was carried before the Areopagus, a court of judicature, which took cognizance of all criminal matters, and was, in a particular manner, charged with the care of the eftablished religion. An impoftor, in fuch a fituation, would have retracted his doctrine to fave his life; and an enthusiast would have facrificed his life, without attempting to fave it by innocent means. But the apoftle wifely avoided both extremes;

* Socrates fuffered under this law."

and

and availing himself of an infcription" To the unknown God," which he had feen upon an altar in the city, he pleaded in his own defence, "Whom ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." By this prefence of mind he evaded the, law, and efcaped condemnation, without departing from the truth of the Gofpel, or violating the honour of God.'

The fecond article in this volume confifts of Mifcellaneous Obfervations on the Influence of Habit and Affociation. From this chapter it may be fufficient to extract the following anẹcdotes of Dr. Middleton, and Dr. Young.

The ftrongest tint, in the complexion of the human character, may be fometimes formed by a circumstance or event, apparently cafual; which, by forcibly impreffing the mind, produces a lafting affociation, that gives an uniform direction to the efforts of the understanding, and the feelings of the heart.

Dr. Conyers Middleton, one of the most learned, various, and elegant writers of the prefent age, is faid to have been much more addicted, in the early part of his life, to mufic, than to fcience. But he was roufed from his favourite amufement, and flimulated to the closest application to ftudy, by a farcasm of his rival and enemy, the celebrated Dr. Bentley, who ftigmatized him with the name of fiddler. And indignation made him eager to convince the doctor and the world, that he could write as well as fiddle; a conviction, of which his opponent had afterwards the most painful experience.

The author of the Night Thoughts, a poem which contains the tendereft touches of nature and paffion, and the fublimeft truths of morality and religion, intermixed with frivolous conceits, turgid obfcurities, and gloomy views of human life, wrote that work under the recent preffure of forrow for the lofs of his wife, and of a fon and daughter-in-law, whom he loved with paternal tenderness. Thefe feveral events happened within the short period of three months, as appears from the following apostrophe to death.

"Infatiate archer! could not one fuffice?

Thy fhaft flew thrice; and thrice my peace was flain;
And thrice, e'er thrice yon moon had fill'd her horns."

But, though time alleviated this diftrefs, his mind acquired from it a tincture of melancholy, which continued through life and caft a fable hue even on his very amufements. The like difpofition, alfo, difcovered itfelf in his rural improvements. He had an alcove in his garden, fo painted as to feem, at a distance, furnished with a bench or feat, which invited to repofe; and when, upon a nearer approach, the deception was perceived, this motto at the fame time presented itself to the eye,

Invifibilia non decipiunt."

"The things unfeen do not deceive us."

'The