Discourse delivered to the Students of the Royal Academy, &c. 193 hers, characters, paffions, and affections. He ought to know fomething concerning the mind, as well as a great deal concerning the body, of man.' "" That the ftudent may not be disheartened, however, from the fuppofition, that it is neceffary for him to become a profound philofopher, in order to become a great artift, it is ob ferved that "For this purpofe, it is not neceffary he fhould go into fuch a compafs of reading, as muft, by diftracting his attention, difqualify him for the practical part of his profeffion, and make him fink the performer in the critic. Reading, if it can be made the favourite recreation of his leisure hours, will improve and enlarge his mind, without tetarding his actual industry." It is farther as justly remarked, that "What fuch partial and defultory reading cannot afford, may be fupplied by the converfation of learned and ingenious men, which is the best of all fubftitutes for thofe who have not the means or opportu nities of deep ftudy. There are many fuch men in this age; and they will be pleafed with communicating their ideas to artists, when they fee them curious and docile, if they are treated with that respect and deference which is fo juttly their due. Into fuch fociety, young artifts, if they make it the point of their ambition, will by degrees be admitted. There, without formal teaching, they will infenfibly come to feel and reafon like those they live with, and find a rational and fyftematic taste imperceptibly formed in their minds, which they will know how to reduce to a ftandard, by applying general truth to their own purposes, better perhaps than thofe to whom they owed the origi nal fentiment." Addreffes to Young Men. By fames Fordyce, D. D. 12mo. 2 vols. 7s. fewed. Cadell. pre We are glad to find the principal objections, which we formerly made to this ingenious declaimer's difcourfes, obviated in the prefent publication. It is, indeed, with good difcretion that, reflecting on the difguft which the young men of the fent times entertain toward pulpit oratory, Dr. Fordyce hath taken another method of addreffing them.-Of the peculiarities of his ftyle and manner, however, it was not eafy, or perhaps neceflary, to diveft himself: these being fo well known, therefore, the matter of thefe difcourfes becomes the fole object of our attention. The fubjects are the following. The Reverence which Young Men owe to themfelves-Honour, as a Principle-Honour, as a Reward-The Defire of PraifeLove Friendship-A Manly Spirit, as oppofed to Cowardice The Beauty of Humility-The State of the Times, as a Motive to early Piety. We felect the following quotation ! VOL. VI. B b fren from the first, as a Chriftian orator's amplification of the Hea then philofopher's aphorifm, "Youth, learn to respect thyfelf." "Whether I confider you, whom I have now the pleasure of addreffing, as individuals, or a part of fociety; as entering on the theatre of life, or defigned for a higher existence when you leave it; as poffeffed of great advantages, fubject to many difficulties, or expofed to peculiar temptations; I am deeply impreffed with your importance, and tenderly anxious for your welfare. Thus, indeed, I have long felt with regard to you; and to merit your eftecin by promoting your improvement, your reputation, and your happiness, has long been an object of my ambition. "Will you hearken to me, then, as to a brother and a friend, whilst I endeavour with freedom and affection, with familiarity and refpect at the fame time, to engage your thoughts on a variety of topics clofely connected with your particular circumftances, and your best interefts? I pretend to no influence, but that of perfuafion, and to no authority, but that of truth. It is not my intention to indulge indifcriminate fa tire, or general declamation against vice and folly, without any diftinc tion of characters, or any view to the principles and manners of the age. I mean not to burden your memories with the minute fubdivi fions of fcholaftic method, or to perplex your understandings with the unfatisfactory fubtilties of theological debate. Yet lefs would I feek to miflead your imaginations by the phantoms of a wild enthufiafm, or chill your hearts by the gloomy fpectres of fuperftition. Far from wishing to debar you from any innocent delight, I propofe to fhow, by what means you may actually multiply your pleafures, and enjoy with the higheft relish, to the largest extent, and for the longest term, every gratification becoming your nature, and suited to your state. "Our fyftem, nevertheless, may appear to be somewhat unfashionable. But if you will honour us with your attention, we doubt not of being able to convince you, that in reality it implies nothing vulgar or illiberal; that it requires not a fingle action, word, look, or thought, of which you can have reafon, in any company, or on any occafion, to be ashamed. Neither, as I hope, will you find us, in the profecution of our plan, strict without neceffity, or fevere without caufe. We are willing, gentlemen, to make every candid allowance for the imbecillity of human nature, like those who feel themselves men; and for the gaiety of juvenile minds, like thofe who remember that they also were once young. When the clearest rules of duty oblige us to remonftrate, and our warnings are feconded by the most awful fanctions of religion, even then we would temper admonition with tenderness, and engage you to embrace inftruction chiefly from ingenuous motives; always regretting when we are compelled to enforce it by confiderations lefs attractive, but never affuming the air of a tutor, or adopting the style of thofe that affect" to have dominion over your faith, instead of being helpers of your joy." Young men exhort to be fober-minded-Intreat the younger men as brethren" were the directions given by an Apoftle to two Evangelifts, who were both his pupils and his friends, refpecting the manner in which they should treat the youth of their days. You will not fay, that that this was the language of a bigot. A bigot, you are fenfible, is the avowed enemy of all moderate counfels. A condefcending difpofition, an obliging demeanour, he neither practifes nor commends. His fancy is too much heated to regard the measures of common sense, or the laws of focial life, in matters of spiritual concern; and his judgement is too narrow to comprehend the extenfive objects' of religion and humanity. Such a man does not exhort, but dictate, does not intreat, but command; and as for the plain unpretending virtues of prudence and fobriety, a temperate mind and a difcreet behaviour, what are they to him who is intoxicated with a conceit of his fuperior fanctity and wisdom? How different was the character of St. Paul! "Formerly, indeed, he too had been a blind and furious zealot : but from the time that he imbibed the meek and lowly fpirit, with the enlarged and generous principles of his new Mafter, no one could be more mild or unaffuming, more ftrictly attentive to the rights of mankind, or more fweetly folicitous for their falvation" Young men exhort."-to what? To difplay their courage, or their zeal, by perfe. cuting thofe who differ from them, by deftroying God's creatures in God's name, as he had done when himself a young man; or yet to evidence their virtue and their piety by renouncing all terreftrial enjoyments, relinquishing all fecular connexions, and being unprofitable to others under the pretence of faving themfelves? No; but to be fober-minded," that is to fay, regular and confiderate, careful to govern their paffions, improve their faculties, and prepare for performing with diligence and difcretion their duty to fociety. But however important or neceffary fuch advice may appear, it must never be obtruded with officioufnefs, or preffed with afperity; it must still be prompted by a benevolent difpofition, and still accompanied with an amiable addrefs. This enlightened man well knew that the human mind revolts against all violent attempts to controul her; that the requires to have her reafon convinced by argument, and her affection engaged by kindness; that her innate pride is fhocked at those who would prefume to tutor her with rigour; that both the fpirit and impatience. of youth in particular are apt to rebel, where authority, however founded, is not foftened by gentleness, or rather where the mafter is not happily concealed in the friend; but that much may be done by him who has the fkill to graft inftruction upon ingenuity, and to gain the confidence of his difciples by using them well." Intreat the young men as brethren." Regarding them as the rational offspring of your common Parent, as members of the fame great family with you, initiated in the fame divine faith, and destined to the fame immortal fellowship, avoid in your reproofs, admonitions, and counfels, whatever might tend to difguft or difcourage them: let candour and benignity reign in all: befeech, obteft, conjure them to be wife, to be good, to be happy let your arguments breathe, throughout, the heart-felt earnestnefs, the whole beautiful flame of fraternal and christian friendhip. In short, St. Paul was thoroughly acquainted with human nature and human life. In this inftance he difcovers not more concern for the edification and felicity of Young Men, than knowledge of their confequence, character, and fituation." A compliment this to St. Paul, which we may pay to the prefent preacher ! Bb 2 S. Theory Theory of Colours and Vifion. By G. Palmer, 8vo. 15, Leacroft. We have here a new fyftem, if fo unfyftematical a theory may be called fuch, of Light and Colours. It is given in a dialogue between the author, Mr. G. Palmer, and his friend Mr. Johnfon, who begins the colloquy with a " Well, Mr. Palmer, how do you manage with regard to light?"-To this Mr. P. replies, "I obferve, I analyfe, and I draw confe quences." Previously, however, to his obfervations, analy zations, and deductions, he very properly lays down his principles, which we shall give our readers in his own words. THEORY OF COLOURS AND VISION. By G. PALMER. PRINCIPLES. 1. There is no colour in the light. 2. Each ray of light is compounded of three others rays only: one of these rays is analogous to the yellow, one to the red, and the other to the blue. 3. Thefe rays confift in a different proportion, which they keep exe actly, notwithstanding the decrease, or increafe, of ftrength of their principal ray." 4. The coloured fuperficies abforb the rays analogous to the colours of which they feem painted, and which are perceived only by the reflection of the other rays, 5. A white furface, by reflecting all these rays, fhews an abfolute want of colours. 6. A furface painted of the three colouring principles, in a conve nient proportion and denfity, by abforbing the three rays of light (according to the fourth principle) fhews an abfolute want of light, or a perfect blackness. 7. Any one of thofe three colouring principles is capable of becom ing black, without any alteration of its fubitance, by abforbing the rays which are not analogous to it, when its intenseness exceeds the proportion of its own ray. VISION. PRINCIPLES. 1. The fuperficies of the retina is compounded of particles of three different kinds, analogous to the three rays of light; and each of thefe particles is moved by his own ray. 2. The complete and uniform motion of these particles produces the fenfation of white: this motion is the most tiresome for the eye, and may be ftrong enough to hurt, or even deftroy, its organization. 3. The abfolute want of motion in thefe particles, whether by the interception of light, or by the afpect of a black body, produces the fenfation of darknels; and this fenfation is the perfect quietnefs of the Eye. 4. The motion of these particles by difcompofed rays, whether by coloured bodies, or by prifmatic refractions, produces the fenfation of colours. 5. Any uniform motion of thefe particles by rays not difcompofed, but only decreased, from the white to the black, produces only sensa tions of more or lefs white; but none of colours. 6. These particles may be moved by the rays which are not analogous to them, when the intenseness of these rays exceeds their propor tion. 7. It is physically impoffible to determine abfolutely on the degree of white, or black, as that depends upon the organization of the eye. The eagle, which can bear the direct rays of the fun, must fee grey what appears white to us; and the cat, that is able to perceive objects in the dark, muft fee white what appears yet grey to our eyes. In illuftration of thefe principles, the author adduces the refult of various experiments with obfervations, applications, demonftrations, &c. by all which Mr. Johnfon very good-naturedly appears to be much informed and edified. For our own part, however, we remain ftill much in the dark amidst all this multiplicity of illumination. Not that we take upon us to fay Mr. Palmer's theory is altogether chimerical; for, to confefs the truth, we are either not fo complacent or fo clearfighted as Mr. Johnson. We cannot in particular make out what the author means by afferting that" each ray is compounded of three others rays only;" and juft as little what he means by fuch rays being analogous to his primary colours. Are the fimple rays themfelves compound? This physical trinityin-unity is, to us, totally inconceivable, W. An Examination of the Arguments contained in Dr. Maclaine's Anfwer to Soame Fenyns, Efq. on his View of the internal Evidence of the Chriftian Religion. With general Thoughts_and Reflections thereon. By the Rev. Edward Fleet, jun, B. A. of Oriel College, in Oxford. 2s. Brown. Having been, in the opinion of fome, rather fevere in our trictures on Dr. Maclaine's Letters, to which the prefent pamphlet is an anfwer, we cannot pafs it over fo very flightly as its infignificancy would otherwife induce us to do. Our reverend examiner, indeed, is not only a very poor writer, but as pitiful a reafoner; Mr. Jenyns reaping very little honour from fo incompetent an advocate. Take at once a fhort fpecimen both of his writing and reafoning. "Taking the most advantageous fituation in life, how fuperior are the miferies of it to the enjoyments! the different paffions, wishes, dif appointments, |