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LIFE. A Poem.

MEMOIRS of the First Thirty-two Years of HAKEWILL'S VIEWS in ITALY, illustra-

in AFRICA: comprising its History, Laws, Superstitions, POETICAL VAGARIES; containing an Ode

AND

Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, etc.

This Journal is supplied Weekly, or Monthly, by the principal Booksellers and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom; but to those who may desire
its immediate transmission, by post, we beg to recommend the LITERARY GAZETTE, printed on stamped paper, price One Shilling.

No. 104.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1819.

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

A Journal of Science and the Arts. No. XII. Edited at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. London 1819. 8vo. pp. 402.

been suspended nearly an hour, but there
was no dislocation of the neck: the vol-
taic battery consisted of 270 pairs of 4
inch plates, with wires of communica-
tion, and pointed metallic rods with in-
sulating handles. The appalling pheno-
mena exhibited are thus related:-

the nape of the neck, close below the occi-
Exp. 1. A large incision was made into
put. The posterior half of the atlas verte
bra was then removed by bone forceps,
when the spinal marrow was brought into
view. A considerable incision was at the
same time made in the left hip, through the
great gluteal muscle, so as to bring the
sciatic nerve into sight; and a small cut
these did any blood flow. The pointed rod
was made in the heel. From neither of
connected with one end of the battery was
now placed in contact with the spinal mar-
row, while the other rod was applied to the
sciatic nerve. Every muscle of the body
was immediately agitated with convulsive
movements, resembling a violent shudder-
The left side was most
ing from cold.

This, as well as being the latest, is one of
the best Numbers hitherto published of
an useful and interesting work. It con-
tains, besides other valuable matters,
some good observations on calculous
disorders by Mr. Brande, and an excel-
lent description, with plates, of the
Ægina Marbles, unfortunately purchased
for the Crown Prince of Bavaria, and
lost to this country, notwithstanding the
efforts of the writer, Mr. Cockerell. But
our principal inducement to take it up
for our review, is to present our readers
with the detail of some fearfully curious
experiments made on the body of a mur-
derer, after his execution at Glasgow, by
Dr. Ure, and of which he read an account powerfully convulsed at each renewal of
to the Literary Society of that city, on rod from the hip to the heel, the knee being
the electric contact. On moving the second
the 10th ultimo. After taking a gene-previously bent, the leg was thrown out
ral view of his subject, and arguing with such violence as nearly to overturn
that the comparatively slight effects pro- one of the assistants, who in vain attempted
duced in preceding galvanic experi- to prevent its extension.
ments arose from inattention to the
Exp. 2. The left phrenic nerve was now
weak contractile movements of the mus- laid bare at the outer edge of the sterno-
cular masses through which the energy thyroideus muscle, from three to four
was directed, and to the necessary dis- inches above the clavicle; the cutaneous
tinction between the positive and
incision having been made by the side of
tive poles of the battery, the learned the sterno-cleido-mastoideus. Since this
gentleman quotes the researches of Dr. nerve is distributed to the diaphragm, and
since it communicates with the heart through
Wilson Philip (particularly mentioned in the eighth pair, it was expected, by trans-
the Philosophical Transactions,) from mitting the galvanic power along it, that
which it appears that the galvanic the respiratory process would be renewed.
energy is capable of supplying the place Accordingly, a small incision having been.
of the nervous influence, and enabling the made under the cartilage of the seventh
stomach to digest food after the nerves rib, the point of the one insulating rod
subservient to digestion are cut off. Dr. head of the diaphragm, while the other
was brought into contact with the great
Ure then proceeds to describe the experi-point was applied to the phrenic nerve in
ments made (Nov. 4th) on the corpse of the neck. This muscle, the main agent of
the murderer Clydsdale, who was a mid-respiration, was instantly contracted, but
dle-sized, athletic, and extremely muscu-
lar man, about 30 years of age. He had

nega

with less force than was expected. Satisfied, from ample experience on the living body, that more powerful effects can be The experiments were made on rabbits produced in galvanic excitation, by leaving those in which the eighth pair of nerves were di- the extreme communicating rods in close vided by incisions in the neck speedily died, appa- contact with the parts to be operated on, rently of suffocation, the food remaining unaltered while the electric chain or circuit is comin their stomachs; but after the same operation was performed, galvanism being transmitted along thepleted, by running the end of the wires

nerve below its section to a disc of silver in con

tact with the skin opposite the stomach, no difficulty of breathing occurred, and the process of digestion was carried on, so long as the experiments were persevered in, as perfectly as in healthy rabbits, whose nerves were uncut!! VOL. III.

along the top of the plates in the last
trough of either pole, the other wire being
steadily immersed in the last cell of the op-
posite pole, I had immediate recourse to this
method. The success of it was truly won-
derful. Full, nay, laborious breathing, in

PRICE 8d.

stantly commenced. The chest heaved, and fell; the belly was protruded, and again collapsed, with the relaxing and retiring diaphragm. This process was continued, without interruption, as long as I continued the electric discharges.

In the judgment of many scientific gentlemen who witnessed the scene, this respistriking ever made with the philosophical ratory experiment was perhaps the most apparatus. Let it also be remembered, that for full half an hour before this period, the body had been well nigh drained of its blood, and the spinal marrow severely lacerated. No pulsation could be perceived meanwhile at the heart or wrist; but it may be supposed that, but for the evacua tion of the blood,-the essential stimulus of

that organ,-this phenomenon might also

have occurred.

bare in the forehead, as it issues through Exp. 3. The supra-orbital nerve was laid the supra-ciliary foramen, in the eyebrow: the one conducting rod being applied to it, and the other to the heel, most extraordinary grimaces were exhibited every time that the electric discharges were made, by edges of the last trough, from the 220th to running the wire in my hand along the each greater than the preceding one, were the 227th pair of plates; thus fifty shocks, given in two seconds: every muscle in his countenance was simultaneously thrown into fearful action; rage, horror, despair, anguish, and ghastly smiles, united their hideous expression in the murderer's face, surpassing far the wildest representations of a Fuseli or a Kean. At this period several of the spectators were forced to leave the apartment from terror or sickness, and one gentleman fainted.

consisted in transmitting the electric power Exp. 4. The last galvanic experiment from the spinal marrow to the ulnar nerve, as it passes by the internal condyle at the elbow; the fingers now moved nimbly, like those of a violin performer; an assistant, to open forcibly, in spite of his efforts. who tried to close the fist, found the hand When the one rod was applied to a slight incision in the tip of the fore-finger, the fist being previously clenched, that finger extended instantly; and from the convalsive agitation of the arm, he seemed to point to the different spectators, some of whom thought he had come to life.

Other experiments were added, to ascertain the quantity of residual air in the lungs; but these, though important to science, do not court extract. Dr. Ure

seems to conclude that but for the incisions into the blood vessels in the neck and wounds of the spinal marrow of the criminal, life might have been restored!!

An Ode to Scandal; to which are added,
Stanzas on Fire. By the late Right
Hon. R. B. Sheridan, London 1819.
pp. 23.

The publisher of these short poems (Mr.
W. Wright) asserts their authenticity,
and tells us that the comedy of "The
School for Scandal" was founded on the
Ode. Not being in the secret either of
proprietor or vendor, we cannot take
upon ourselves to vouch for or to con-
tradict the accuracy of these statements.
All that we can do is to reprint a speci-
men of the work, and express our
opinion of its merits. The Ode to
Scandal is altogether rather a clever
performance, than one that will confer
any glory upon the name of its presumed
writer. Indeed it must be a very su-
perior production which can enhance
the literary character of Sheridan; and
the present is of too slight a fabric to
set up any pretensions to that rank. It
is nevertheless, as far as it goes, a jeu
d'esprit not unworthy even of the talents
of him to whose pen it is ascribed. The
following description of Scandal's scholars
is more humorous than remarkable for
correctness of language or versifica-
tion

Heavens! Methinks I see thy train
Lightly tripping o'er the plain;
All the alphabet 1 view,

Stepping forward two by two;-
Hush for as they coupled walk,
Sure I hear the letters talk;

Though, slowly whispering, half they smother
The well-concerted tales they tell of one an-
other!

"Lord! who'd have thought our cousin D,
"Could think of marrying Mrs. E.?
"True, I don't like such things to tell;
"But, faith, I pity Mrs. L.
"And was I her, the bride to vex
"I would intrigue with Mr. X.:
"But they do say that Charlotte U.
"With Fanny M. and we know who,
"Occasion'd all, for you must know
"They set their caps at Mr. Q,
"And as they courted Mrs. E.
"They thought, if she'd have cousin D.
That things might be by Colonel A.
"Just brought about in their own way."

To deserve the highest praise, compositions of this class should be polished to the utmost: and it is therefore we are rather inclined to fancy that this Ode was founded on the School for Scandal, than that the School for Scandal was founded on this Ode. Mr. Sheridan would scarcely have committed even the minute inelegancies pointed at by our italics, nor, in so short an extract, have recurred to the same literal rhyme on D. and E. Our next quotation is in a better manner, and we may praise it by repeating its own first line.

Oh! How the pleasing style regales my ear:-
But what new forms are those which now appear?
See yonder in the thickest throng
Designing Envy stalks along

Big with malicious laughter;
Fiction and Cunning swell her train,
While stretching far behind,-in vain,
Poor Truth comes panting after!

Now, now indeed, I burn with sacred fires,
'Tis Scandal's self that every thought inspires !
Thy working magic through each artery steal;
I feel, all potent Genius! now I feel

Each moment to my prying eyes
Some fresh disfigured beauties rise;
Each moment I perceive some flaw,
That e'en Ill-nature never saw,

But hush! some airy whisperer hints,
In accents wisely faint,
"Divine Cleora rather squints:
"Maria uses paint!

"That though some fops of Celia prate,
"Yet be not hers the praise;
"For, if she should be passing straight,
"Hem! she may thank her stays,

"Each fool of Delia's figure talks,

And celebrates her fame;
"But for my part, whene'er she walks,
"I vow I think she's lame.

"And see Ma'am Harriet toss her head,
"Lawk! how the creature stares :
"Well, well, thank Heavens, it can't be said
"I give myself such airs."

A personification of Candour (not
Mrs. Candour) follows; and an episode
of an artless girl destroyed by the poi-
sonous breath of slander, which concludes
rather impotently;

Or mute on the pathway she gazes,
And weeps as she scatters her daisies;
Or else in a strain, more distractingly loud,
She chaunts the sad thoughts of her fancy,
And shivers and sings of her cold shroud.
Alas! alas, poor Nancy!

It would be unjust to so small a pub-
lication to deprive it of novelty by copy-
ing much more of it, and we only add
the just and pretty lines with which the
Ode concludes:

To Woman every charm was given,
Designed by all-indulgent Heaven
To soften care;

For ye were formed to bless mankind,
To harmonize and soothe the mind:
Indeed, indeed, ye were.

But when from those sweet lips we hear
Ill-nature's whisper, Envy's sneer,

simile of Mr. Sheridan's signature attached to this Ode.

There is nothing brilliant in th Stanzas on Fire.

Horace Walpole's Letters to the Rer.
W. Cole. 4to. pp. 259,
(Concluded.)

We take up our pen to add a fe further extracts to our review of th entertaining volume.

On a visit to Berkeley Castle, M Walpole says,

The room shewn for the murder Edward 2d, and the shrieks of an agonizi king, I verily believe to be genuine. It a dismal chamber, almost at top of house, quite detached, and to be approach only by a kind of foot-bridge, and fr that descends a large flight of steps t terminate on strong gates; exactly a sit tion for a corps de garde. In that roo they shew you a cast of a face in plast and tell you it was taken from Edward I was not quite so easy of faith about th for it is evidently the face of Charles I.

The steeple of the church, lately rebu handsomely, stands some paces from t body; in the latter are three tombs of old Berkeleys, with cumbent figures. T wife of the lord Berkeley, who was suppos to be privy to the murder, has a curic head-gear; it is like a long horse-sh quilted in quatrefoils; and like lord F pington's wig, allows no more than breadth of a half-crown to be discovered the face.

Though an antiquarian himself, o Author laughed at the pursuit general and especially at those branches whi he did not eare for,

I bought (says he, June 1775,) the f volume of Manchester, but could not r it; it was much too learned for me, seemed rather an account of Babel t Manchester, I mean in point of antiqu To be sure, it is very kind in an author promise one the history of a country to and give one a circumstantial account the antediluvian world into the barg But I am simple and ignorant, and de no more than I pay for. And then for progenitors, Noah and the Saxons, I h no curiosity about them. Bishop Lyt ton used to plague me to death about rows, and tumuli, and Roman camps, all those bumps in the ground that do amount to a most imperfect ichnograp but, in good truth, I am content with arts when perfected, nor inquire how in niously people contrived to do with them and I care still less for remains vestiges of art. As it may be a matter of curiosity to Bryant, who is sublime in unknown kn some of our readers, we subjoin a fac-ledge, diverted me more, yet I have

Your power that moment dies:
Each coxcomb makes your name his sport,
And fools, when angry, will retort

What men of sense despise.

Leave then, such vain disputes as these,
And take a nobler road to please,

Let CANDOUR guide your way;
So shall you daily conquests gain,
And Captives, happy in your chain,
Be proud to own your sway.

art that retain no