the Lord for the affiftance of his holy fpirit to enable me to preach. And, bleffed be his holy name! for near fix years that I have laboured as an unworthy fervant of Jesus Christ in < the ministry of the gofpel, I have never had any reason to repent this truft: but he has been pleased to help and affift me even beyond my expectations.'

The reft of the book contains a delightful narrative of the i wonderful fuccefs of our Author's miniftry, of the miracles that were wrought by him in many parts of England and Wales, and of God's farther dealings with Mr. Cornelius Cayley, down to the year 1758; the whole being epilogued with a moft delectable poem, intended to illuftrate the mystery of the

new birth.

We have dwelt the longer on this out-of-the-way article, merely to let our Readers see what sort of stuff our modern faints are made of.

G

The Method of cultivating Madder, as it is now practifed by the Dutch in Zealand (where the best Madder is produced). With their manner of drying, ftamping, and manufacturing it for ufe. Embellished with draughts of their buildings, and kilns, erected for that purpose. To which is added, the method of cultivating Madder in England, from many experiments made in the courfe of thirty years on the culture of that useful plant. By Philip Miller, F. R. S. Member of the Academy at Florence, and Gardener to the worshipful company of Apothecaries. at Chelfea. 4to. 2s. 6d. Printed for the Author, and fold by Rivington.

T

HAT it ought to be among the firft objects of attention in a country which depends principally on its commerce for its wealth and welfare, to render all the materials neceffary to its manufactures as cheap and as easily attainable as poffible, is an uncontrovertable truth; nor is it less certain, that Madder (the fubject of this performance) is not only an ufeful but an abfolutely neceffary material to a great variety of Britain's most valuable manufactures.

In proof of the advantages that would accrue to England from a due encouragement of the cultivation of Madder, our Author obferves, that the Dutch have received from hence, for it, for many years paft, upon an average, more than one hundred and eighty thousand pounds a year.' Befides, as our demands have increafed for this commodity, our neighbours have adulterated it in fuch a manner, that an allowance of twenty

pounds has been made, in ore cafk, to the confumer, for the lofs fuftained by adulteration.

Convinced of the utility that must attend the home-growth of this material, foneceffary to our manufactures, the legislature have countenanced its cultivation by two acts of Parliament paffed in their laft feffion.-To promote the fame good end, the truly laudable fociety for the encouragement of arts, manufactures, and commerce, have offered an handsome premium.---And in order to facilitate the execution of fo well-directed a defign, Mr. Miller devotes his prefent labours.

Though our Author, in his Dictionary, has afforded confiderable fcope to this important article, yet he there candidly confeffes, that he was then unacquainted with the manner of drying and preparing the roots for ufe. That defect he has now amply fupplied, and as longer experience has furnished him with further opportunities of inftructing himself in better methods of cultivating this useful plant, he here ingenuously communicates his improvements and discoveries.

He makes it evident, that there is in England a fufficiency of land, either unemployed, or employed to lefs advantageous purpofes, fit for the culture of Madder.---He points out fome conveniences we might have fuperior to the Dutch, with respect to the buildings requifite to its preparation: and he further obferves, that, if properly carried on, it will employ a great "number of hands from the time harveft is over, till the fpring of the year, which is generally a dead time for labourers; and hereby the parishes may be eafed of the poor's rate, which is a confideration worthy of public attention."

Extracts from this work would rather be injuring the Author, than informing our Readers, as nothing less than an attentive perufal of the whole can render it truly useful.

L

Continuation of the Chevalier Goddard's Tranflation of Guicciardini's Hiftory of the Wars of Italy, Vol. VII. VIII. and IX.

IN our Review of the former volumes of this work, it was

each volume; the fame method is intended, with respect to these now before us.

The treaty of Noyon concluded in the year 1516, gave an appearance of peace to the greatest part of Europe; neverthe

See Review, Vol. X. p. 399, and 401. Vol. XI. p. 17, and 190. Vol. XII. p. 200. and Vol. XIII. p. 18.

lefs

lefs, Italy was referved for further calamities. The foldiers of that time seem to have been generally mercenaries, indifferent in what service they engaged, fo that they were but employed. The pope had, during the late troubles, arbitrarily deprived Francefco Maria della Rovere of his duchy of Urbino. The Duke watched the firft opportunity of recovering his dominions, and being joined by fome of the difbanded troops, raised new commotions, which were not quieted for the fpace of eight months; and though in the end the pope was victorious, his fuccefs was attended with difreputation to himself and to his. Generals.

During thefe tranfactions, his Holinefs was threatned with yet more imminent dangers: fome difcontented Cardinals had formed a defign againft his life. However the plot was timely difcovered, and the confpirators punished.

These were the principal events of the year 1517; in the fucceeding year Italy enjoyed a profound peace, to which it had been a ftranger for many years. The fame pacific difpofition appeared among all the Chriftian powers. chief attention was to oppofe the arms of Selim, Emperor of Their the Turks, which were become formidable to all Christendom. To this purpose, confultations were held at the inftance of the Pontiff, for a general croifade, which, however, was not carried into effect.

The year 1519 was remarkable for the death of the Emperor Maximilian; the competitors to fucceed him in that dignity were Charles V. King of Spain, and Francis I. King of France. The election being determined in favour of the former, gave birth to new jealoufies between the two contenders for power, who, nevertheless, did not immediately come to an open rupture, being reftrained rather by motives of prudence than any real defire of amity.-The year 1521 was diftinguished by Luther's oppofition to the papal authority, whence sprung the reformation; the particulars of which are here flightly paffed

over.

<

The beginning to new commotions,' our Author obferves, was given by thofe very perfons who, being more than others obliged to procure the prefervation of peace, are more frequently the difturbers of it, and kindle, with all their industry and authority, a combuftion which, if no other remedy be fufficient, they ought to extinguish with their own blood.' The Pope's ambition prompted him to enter into a confederacy with the Emperor againft France: hence a new war broke out, which was carried on with equal fury, and various success; but at last (in 1522) terminated to the difadvantage of the French, who

were

re

624

Guicciardini's History of Italy continued.

were forced to abandon moft of their poffeffions in Italy. In the course of thefe tranfactions, our Historian exhibited the first proofs of his military capacity, in his defence of Reggio and Parma.-On the firft of December 1521, died Leo X. whofe character is thus drawn by Guicciardini, than whom nobody knew him better. He was a Prince worthy to be praised, as well as blamed, on many accounts, and who greatly deceived the ' expectations conceived of him at his affumption to the pontificate, fince he appeared to be endowed with greater prudence, ⚫ but with much lefs goodness, than all had imagined.'

The eighth volume opens with the reception of Adrian (Leo's fucceffor in the papacy) at Rome, where he made his entry on. the 29th of Auguft, 1522, amidst a vast concourse of people, by whom,' fays our Author, though his coming was defired with the utmost impatience, becaufe Rome, without the prefence of Pontiffs, is more like a defart than a city, yet the fight created a fort of uneafinefs in the minds of all who confidered, that they had got a Pope of a barbarous nation, quite • unexperienced in the affairs of Italy, of the court, and even of thofe nations which, by long intercourfe, were grown familiar to Italy.'

The fuccefs of the Turks, who had taken the island of Rhodes,, and threatned to extend their conqueft, made Adrian, on his firft coming to Italy, very folicitous for a general peace; but when he found his endeavours for this purpose ineffectual, he attached himself to the interefts of the Emperor. However, he did not long enjoy the papal chair, dying the 24th of September 1523, to the no fmall detriment of the confederates, who were deprived not only of the pontifical authority, but also of the fubfidies for which, by the articles of the treaty, he was engaged.' His fucceffor was Julius of Medici, who affumed the name of Clement.

In the mean while, the French had again invaded Italy with a powerful army. The war was carried on with vigour on both fides; but as we have neither room nor inclination to recite the particulars of marches and counter-marches, fieges and battles, let it fuffice to mention, that on the 25th of February, 1525, was fought the famous battle of Pavia, where the French were totally defeated, and their King made prisoner.

We he fee, that the Italians, even at at time, ftill retained fo much of the old Roman pride, as to confider all other nations as Barbarians. And when it is remembered, that Adrian (a Fleming by birth) had been preceptor to Charles V. of Spain, the propriety of thefe reflections, and the reasonableness of the people's terrors, may be jully queftioned.

The

The captivity of Francis, and the conditions of his releasement, are matters fo well known in hiftory, that it is needless to dwell upon them here. The Emperor furnishes an inftance, that even too much fuccefs may be dangerous. They who at firft courted his friendship, began to fear his power; for the reduction of which, various fchemes were formed, and new alliances entered into.-With the particulars of these alliances commenceth volume the 9th.

The confederates against the Emperor were the Pope, the King of France, the Venetians, and the Duke of Milan: this alliance was made in the year 1526, but without any apparent advantage to the confederates, as the Imperialifts continued victorious till 1528, when Fortune seems to have changed fides, and brought the French troops before Naples.-The confequence of this fiege we are to expect in the fucceeding volume.

There is not, perhaps, any hiftory capable of furnishing ftronger inftances of the abufe of the pontifical power, or more cogent reafons for reftraining it, than this before us.---But, as was observed in the beginning of this article, we are now only giving a fummary of the contents; reflections must be reserved till the work is completed.

Ն

The Principles of Agriculture and Vegetation. By Francis Home*, M. D. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. The fecond edition, with additions. 8vo. 3s. Millar.

THE

HE first edition of this ingenious work was published about two or three years ago; but not having been yet mentioned in the Review, the new impreffion has a juft claim o our present notice.

A preliminary advertisement, from the Author, informs us, that the Edinburgh Society, established in the year 1753, for the improvement of arts and manufactures, named, amongst other articles, the following:

• For the best Differtation on Vegetation and the Principles of Agriculture, a Gold Medal.'

In order to promote fo useful a defign, we are further told, Dr. Home's papers were compofed and delivered in to the So

Author of the Experiments on Bleaching; fee Review, vol. XIV. p. 428;-and of Principia Medicinæ, fee Review for July laft, p. 169. APPEND. Vol. XIX.

Sf

ciety;