To point out the frequent and melancholy abufes of this authority, would be to draw a picture, of what many an amiable woman fuffers from it; and many an unamiable one too. For though men are apt. and perhaps naturally enough, to fuppofe, that thefe two characters merit very different treatment; yet they fhould confider, that all have the feelings of right and wrong,-all are equally entitled to juftice,though all have not an equal claim to love and admiration.'

On the important fubject of property, it is remarked, P. 278, that it were much to be wifhed that women were fomewhat more attended to, in the diftribution of fortune. This attention to their worldly comfort, is the more reasonable, that they are debarred by the tyranny of fashion-as I have before more than once had occafion to obfervefrom availing themfelves of their talents and induftry, to promote their intereft and independence. However high the fphere of life in which a man is born, if his fortune be not equal to his birth or his ambition, there are a thousand different ways by which he may advance himself with honor in the world; whereas women of a certain rank, are totally excluded from a poffibility, even of fupporting that stile of life to which they have been accuftomed, if they are left without competent fortunes. But what is infinitely worfe because it leads to want, or infamy, or both-few, very few are the employments left open even for women of the inferior claffes, by which they can fecure independence; and to which without a doubt may be greatly attributed, the ruin of moft of the fex, in the lower ranks. For, want of fortune, and want of appropriate employment, leave them open to the attempts of those who can afford to bribe them from the paths of virtue. And the want of thefe, likewife unfit them, for being proper wives to men in their own ftation, who in general can fcarcely afford to marry, without fome affiftance, either in industry or money.

• Indeed the bufineffes appropriated by cuftom for women, are fo very few in proportion to the number of candidates, that they are foon monopolized. And many a poor young creature, after wafting fome of the most precious years of her life, upon a fedentary and unhealthy bufinefs, finds it impoffible after all to proceed; and falls at laft a prey to thofe evils, which fhe has been for many years laboring to ward off."

To render woman fuch as the ought to be, a cultivation of the love of truth,' is recommended, P. 252, a deteftation of hypocrify and difguife-fimplicity of manners in as great a degree as can be reasonably expected, or as is confiftent with the advanced ftate of fociety-unaffected modesty of heart and conduct, with much allowance for the frailties, and much compaffion for the miferies of the unfortunate liberal opinions and humane conduct with regard to domeftics and dependents and a reasonable defire after knowledge, notwithstanding the illiberal prejudices thrown in the way-these compose the body and the leading branches of the fyftem. The ramifications are infinite.'

P. 290. The confequences from the liberation of women reafon ably to be expected, are, fuch as feldom fail to enfue, when any individuals, or focieties, or claffes of mankind are reftored to their na tural rights; that is to fay when they find themselves at ease in their proper places; not degraded nor fettered by unneceffary confinement, but bound by fuch wholefome reftraints, as prevent liberty from degenerating into licentioufnefs. In fuch a fituation, all will perform their appropriate parts, with redoubled ability, cheerfulness, and aia

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crity;

crity; when compared with others in lefs happy and favourable circumftances.

I will own, however, that even if the pretenfions of the fexes were finally adjusted, and that equilibrium eftablished, which I have endeavoured to point out as neceffary to the peace and fatisfaction of both; that perfection, or compleat happinefs, is not to be expected. Of this however we are certain, that if univerfal juftice were to prevail among mankind,-in which of courfe we include womankind,-that we thould then be on the high road to happinefs; of which we might reasonably hope to taste a competent fhare in this world, and might fately truft to a good providence for the perfection of it in another.'

P. 293. Let men endeavour to make women happy-not by flattering their follies and abfurdities-but by every reasonable means; and above all by confidering them as rational beings upon a footing with themfelves,-influenced by the fame paffions,-and having the fame claims to all the rights of humanity; which, indeed, are fo fimple, that juftice well defined includes the whole. And then "women from being happy, will always be in good humor;" and from being happy, and always in good humor, it is but reasonable to hope, that they will at laft be, what all wife, and good men with them, and what in reality they may-and OUGHT TO BE.'

Should this sketch receive the approbation of the public, a fecond volume is promifed, confifting of (P. 295.) a chapter on religionone on politics--one on old maids--a fhort one of queriesand a recapitulation of the main fubject of the appeal.'

We have, in reviewing this production, exceeded our ufual limits. from regarding a fubject involving the welfare and happiness of half the human fpecies as of no inconfiderable importance. Of the flyle and compofition the fpecimens given afford a copious and fufficient example.

A. G.

TRANSACTIONS OF SOCIETIES.

ART. VIII. Memoirs of the Literary and Philofophical Society of Manchester. Vol. V. Part 1. 8vo. 334 pages. 4 plates. Pr. 6s. boards. Cadell and Davics. 1798.

THE papers contained in this part of the Memoirs of the Manchefter Society are equally ufeful and important with thofe that have preceded it. We are pleafed to obferve, that the members keep their attention, in a great measure, fixed on practical objects.

way.

Art. 1. Curfory Remarks, moral and political, en Party Prejudice. By Samuel Argent Bardfley, M.D.-The fubject on which this paper treats is of much importance, but Dr. B. has handled it in a fomewhat fuperficial We cannot think with the doctor, that there is a natural bias in the mind to prejudice. We rather fufpect, that the whole will be found to depend on other caufes; at leaft, habit and education have great influence. The pernicious confequences of indulging this kind of prejudice are well defcribed, and support our opinion. P. 3.

The evil of party-prejudice," fays Dr. B., is not confined to the ftate. It invades the peace of individuals, friends, and neighbours. The tender charities of blood and kindred are frequently diffolved. Detraction is

the

the bitter, but detefted foe of human happinefs. Party-malice, however, acting under the mafk of patriotifm, instead of exciting deteftation of its malignity, too often meets with the applaufe of the zealous partizan. Characters are thus blafted with impunity; and the atrocity of the crime is concealed by the influence of prejudice.'

And again, P. 5.

The hiftory of many great characters in free ftates affords numerous examples, to prove the danger and folly of communicating and cherishing party-prejudice. Its tenacious hold on the most powerful intellects is truly aftonishing! Is there a breaft fo fteeled by party-fpirit, as not to lament for human infirmity, when the political bigotry of a Milton and a Johnfon appear to view? Milton, who ftrenuoufly oppofed the re-eftablishment of limited monarchy, and became the champion of republicanism, funk fo deeply under the power of prejudice, as to glory in being united both in praise and difpraife, in danger and in triumph, with the fanatical ufurper Cromwell. Johnfon was educated a partybigot. His father who excited his reverence, and his mother whose indulgence won his affections, inculcated a fet of opinions, which "grew with his growth, and ftrengthened with his itrength." He was not fatisfied with taking copious draughts of the fpirit of party, but drank up the very dregs and lees of national and perfonal prejudice!'

Doctor B. appears afterwards to entertain more juft conceptions of the advantage of education, and we perfectly agree with him in thinking, that the minds of young people cannot be too early impreffed with the importance of fundamental principles. They cannot, at leaft, in a political point of view, be too foon taught to difcriminate between perfons and things, between the tranfaction and he who performed it. On the following pofition, which we conceive to be just, the reader will readily make his own conclufions.

P. JO.

Perhaps,' fays the author, the fureft teft of the rectitude and pure intentions of any party formed in a ftate, is the conduct of its leaders towards the moderate and peaceable clafs of citizens. For if thefe contending parties have degenerated into factions, actuated by ambition or falfe zeal, they will alike mark with deteflation the moderate men of the community, who may have refufed to inlift under their respective banners.'

The effects of party prejudice in free and defpotic flates are confi dered with fome minutenefs and attention. The author has here occafionally thrown out judicious remarks.

Art. 2. Extraordinary Facts relating to the Vifion of Colour., with Obfervations. By Mr. John Dalton -It has long been known, that colours are not feen alike by every perfon, and in the inftance before us we have a very ftriking exception to the ordinary mode of diftinguithing them. Inftead of diftinguishing fix kinds of colour in the folar image, I fee,' fays our author, P. 31, only two or at most three diftinctions. Thefe I fhould call yellow and blue; or yellow, blue, and purple. My yellow comprehends the red, orange, yellow, and green of others; and my blue and purple coincide with theirs. That part of the image which others' call red, appears to me little more than a shade, or defect of light; alter that the orange, yellow, and green feem one colour, which defcends pretty uniformly from an intenfe to a rare yellow, making what I fhould call different fhades of yellow. The difference between the green part and

the blue part is very ftriking to my eye: they feem to be strongly con trafted. That between the blue and purple is much lefs fo. The purple appears to be blue much darkened and condensed. In viewing the Hame of a candle by night through the prifm, the appearances are pretty much the fame, except that the, red extremity of the image appears more vivid than that of the folar image.'

The refults of his obfervations on the colours of bodies in general, as feen by day-light and candle-light, are curious and interefting, but we have not room. to infert them.

Mr. D. thinks, that more perfons than have generally been fuppofed fee colours in the fame way as himself, as upon more particular inquiry he has met with many.

The principal facts in refpect to our author's vifion are these.

P. 40.-1. In the folar fpectrum three colours appear, yellow, blue, and purple. The two former make a contraft; the two latter feem to differ more in degree than in kind.

2. Pink appears, by day-light, to be fky-blue a little faded; by candle-light it affumes an orange or yellowish appearance, which forms a ftrong contraft to blue.

3. Crimson appears a muddy blue by day; and crimson woollen yarn is much the fame as dark blue.

4. Red and Scarlet have a more vivid and flaming appearance by candle-light than by day-light.

5. There is not much difference in colour between a ftick of red fealing wax and grafs, by day.

6. Dark green woollen cloth feems a muddy red, much darker than grafs, and of a very different colour.

The colour of a florid complexion is dufky blue.

8. Coats, gowns, &c. appear to us frequently to be badly matched with linings, when others fay they are not. On the other hand, we fhould match crimsons with claret or mud; pinks with light blues; browns with reds; and drabs with greens.

9. In all points where we differ from other perfons, the difference is much less by candle-light than by day-light.'

The caufe of this anomalous vifion Mr. D. conceives to be as follows. P. 41. The first time,' fays he, I was enabled to form a plaufible idea of the caufe of our vifion, was after obferving that a fky-blue tranfparent liquid modified the light of a candle fo as to make it fimilar to day-light; and, of course, restored to pink its proper colour by day, namely, light blue. This was an importane obfervation. At the fame time that it exhibited the effect of a tranfparent coloured medium in the modification of colours, it feemed to indicate the analogy of folarlight to that refulting from combuftion; and that the former is modified by the tranfi arent blue atmosphere, as the latter is by the tranfparent blue liquid. Now the effect of a tranfparent coloured medium, as Mr. Delaval has proved, is to tranfmit more, and confequently imbibe fewer of the rays of its own colour, than of thofe of other colours. Reflecting upon thefe facts, I was led to conjecture that one of the humours of my eye must be a tranfparent, but coloured, medium, fo conftituted as to abforb red and green rays principally, because I obtain no proper ideas of thefe in the folar fpectrum; and to tranfmit blue and other colours more perfectly. What feemed to make against this opinion however was, that I thought red bodies, such as vermillion, fhould appear black

to

How this difficulty was obviated

to me, which was contrary to fact. will be understood from what follows.

Newton has fufficiently afcertained, that opake bodies are of a par ticular colour from their reflecting the rays of light of that colour more copioufly than thofe of the other colours; the unreflected rays being abforbed by the bodies. Adopting this fact, we are infenfibly led to conclude, that the more rays of any one colour a body reflects, and the fewer of every other colour, the more perfect will be the colour. This conclufion, however, is certainly erroneous. Splendid coloured bodies reflect light of every colour copioufly; but that of their own moft fo. Accordingly we find, that bodies of all colours, when placed in homogeneal light of any colour, appear of that particular colour. Hence a body that is red may appear of any other colour to an eye that does not tranfmit red, according as thofe other colours are more copiously reflected from the body, or tranfmitted through the humours of the eye."

This coloured medium Mr. D. fuppofes to be the vitreous humour, and to be a modification of blue. No fuch colour of this humour has however been noticed by any phyfiologift.

Art. 3. An Inquiry into the Name of the Founder of Huln Abbey, Northumberland, the firft in England of the Order of Carmelites: With Remarks on Dr. Ferriar's Account of the Monument in the Church of that Monaftery. By Robert Uvedale, B. A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, Correfponding Member of the Literary and Philofophical Society, Manchefter.To illuftrate the obfcure remains of antiquity with any probability of fuccefs, circumftances must be minutely examined and compared. This Mr. U. feems to have done with great care and impartiality. The refult, however, in many refpects differs from that, to which the inquiries of Dr. F. had led him. Mr. U. is convinced, that Frefburn has no juft claim to be confidered as the founder of Hulu monaftery, as afferted by bishop Gibfon and Mr. Gough.

P. 49. Firft: Becaufe bishop Gibfon and others have afferted Frefburn to have been the founder merely on the authority of John Bale.

Secondly: Because, from Leland and Camden and other authori ties, it would appear that John de Vefcy was the founder.'

Dr. F. fuppofed, in his ingenious paper on this fubject, inferted in a former part of thefe memoirs, that the title of founder of this abbey could only belong to William de Vefcy. This Mr. U. thinks was advanced on the authority of Grofe, which is not fatisfactory.

P.51. William de Vefcy,' fays he, certainly lived at the time Huln monaftery was founded; but ftill he has no juft claim to the title of founder. By the charter of John lord Vefcy we find, that the faid John did grant to the white friars, all the buildings, &c. which William de Vefcy his father permitted them to inhabit. Hence, it should feem, that John de Velcy brought thofe friars from the Holy Land; that, at his interceffion, they were permitted to inhabit Huln abbey; and that he afterwards granted, &c. And therefore, to John de Vefcy the ap pellation of founder properly belongs.'

On Dr. F.'s account of the monument in the church of Huln abbey Mr. U. has made feveral remarks, which difplay no mean acquaintance with the fubjects of antiquity.

Art. 4. On the Variety of Voices. By Mr. John Gough. Communi cated by Dr. Holme.-The reafon of the vaft difference of vocal founds has, perhaps, never been philofophically investigated, or thoroughly un

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derstood