Britain, and to the world. The Author was a witness of the system described, and an agent under it. Mr. MICHAEL FRYER, teacher of the Mathematics, and secretary to the Literary and Philosophical Society, Bristol, has issued Proposals for publishing by Subscription, in Three volumes, 8vo. illustrated with Copper-plates, a General History of the Mathematics, from the earliest Ages, till the Close of the Eighteenth Century, extracted chiefly from Montucla, Kastner, Bailly, Bossut, and others. Part I. will contain "History of the Mathematics, from their Origin, till the Destruction of the Grecian Empire." Part II. "History of the Mathematics among the Eastern Nations; viz. the Arabs, the Persians, the Jews, the Indians, and the Chinese." Part III. "History of the Mathematics among the Latins, and other Western Nations, until the Commencement of the 17th Century." Part IV. "History of the Mathematics during the 17th Century." Part V. "History of the Mathematics during the 18th Century." An improved edition for schools of the original text of JUVENAL and PERSIUS, cleared of all the most exceptionable passages, illustrated with explanatory Notes, and preliminary Essays, by the late EDWARD OWEN, M.A. Rector of Warrington, is expected to be finished by Michaelmas. Messrs. SMITH and Son of Glasgow, have in the press, a Catalogue, containing many works that will interest the Bibliographer from their extreme rarity. The Black Letter, and early printed books, are most of them in fine condition. It will appear some time in during the ensuing month. riety of topicks in Life and Religion could not, from the nature of its contents, be published with propriety before his death; but, that event having now occurred, it is become desirable to publish together all that will ever appear of his Works. A Memoir of Mr. CECIL will be prefixed to the First Volume; and it is hoped the whole will be ready by Christmas. Mr. ALLNUTT, of Henley, is about to favour the publick with a new and improved Edition of his useful and correct Account of the Navigations of the Rivers and Canals West of London. Notice of a splendid reprint of the first edition of WALTON'S Complete Angler, was given in Vol. LXXX. p. 336, which is nearly ready for publication. Mr. Bagster has taken off a few proofs from the Plates of Fishes, which are engraved on silver; and will present a set gratis to such purchasers of the QUARTO copies of the 7th edition as will take the trouble to send him their copies to have them inserted. We learn with satisfaction that the Dramatic Works of Honest LILLO, as the Reviewers emphatically styled him, which have long been extremely scarce, and borne a very high price, are now reprinting in a superior manner, with additions; under the inspection of a gentleman well known to the late ISAAC REED, and will be ready for publication in September. Notices on the present Internal State of France, translated from the French of M. FABER, late a Public Officer in that country, are announced for publication. This work is said to be from the pen of one of the ablest Political writers of the French Government, and contains an exposition of the highest importance to Great INDEX INDICATORIUS. The MARGATE WAG, who had no better amusement on Sunday the 29th of July than writing two letters (one of them in a feigned name) may save himself any farther trouble. He seems not to be aware that the Post-office very honourably returns the Postage of such tricking letters; or that such petty Frauds (for such they are) frequently lead to greater crimes. If "A constant Customer" could be aware of the anxiety attendant on a periodical publication, combining multifarious objects, he would not be surprised at a postponement of the "accustomed information;" printed now as a public record. AMATEUR'S "Letter VI." was printed in our Supplement, vol. LXXX. p. 624. R. S. suggests as an inconsistency, that in Government Offices the Old Style is still adhered to, though it is now more than Half a Century since the general use of it was abolished by Authority. The article sent by Dr. and Mr. CLARKE is a direct Advertisement; and, as such, proper only for a Blue Cover. CRITO's kind letter is received. Rev. R. FALCONER (Editor of STRABO) in our next; with "Account of the Northumberland Household Book," by W.S.S.; "An Unconverted Jew, and Englishman ;" "R. ATKINS ;" "CLERICUS SURRIENSIS ;" "A Subscriber to the Clergy Orphan School;" P. " on the Established Church;" "A Lover of Decency" &c. &c. 7. The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili. Translated from the original Italian of the Abbé Don Z. Ignatius Molina. To which are added, Notes from the Spanish and French Versions, and Two Appendixes, by the English Editor: the First, An Account of the Archipelago of Chiloe, from the Description Historical of P. F. Pedro Gonzalez de Agueros; the Second, An Account of the Native Tribes who inhabit the Southern Extremity of South America; extracted chiefly from Falkner's Description of Patagonia in Two Volumes, 8vo. Long man and Co. 1809. A MAP of Chili faces the titlepage; and we have two Prefaces, the Translator's, and Preface to the Natural History of Chili. The former states the opinion of the Gentleman to whom the British publick is indebted for the present publication (which accords precisely with our own), that the History of the Spanish Settlements has at all periods been interesting to the inhabitants of Europe, and at no time more so than at this eventful era, when the state of the Mother Country makes it extremely probable they must be separated, to form another new empire in the West. The Translator considers Chili, in many respects, as the most important of these settlements, particularly as the soil is fertile beyond example, the climate equally mild and salubrious, and precious metals afford a constant source of wealth. Nature, indeed, may be said to have lavished her best gifts on this favoured district of the globe. "In its minerals, its plants, and its animals, the naturalist will find an interesting and copious field of research; and the character of its natives furnishes a subject no less curious and interesting to the moralist." It seems the Araucanian, who is styled "the proud and invincible" by the Translator, exhibits traits of character peculiar to himself, and scarcely to be paralleled by any nation in the old or new world. The arms of Spain, in the meridian of its military glory, were directed in vain against these brave people, who were a brilliant example for the modern Spaniards in their resistance of oppression. Araucanians, it is true, to their high sense of independence and unyielding courage, had the good fortune of uniting a system of tactics so excelGENT. MAG. August, 1810. "The lent as even to excite the admiration of their enemies: and to this, in a great measure, may be ascribed their successfully opposing, with far infe rior arms, a powerful and disciplined foe." It is not yet determined to what particular cause the curious enquirer may venture to attribute the superiority of the Araucanians. The Au thor of the work inclines to suppose them to be the descendants of some great and powerful nation of foreign origin. The gentleman alluded to, Don Juan Ignatius Molina, a native of Chili, belonged to the order of Jesuits, and was celebrated for his literary acquirements, his extensive knowledge in Natural History, and his collections in that department of science. When the Society to which he belonged was dissolved, he shared the common fate of his brethren in their banishment from the territories of Spain. This misfortune was accompanied by another, perhaps full as severe to the feelings of an accomplished mind, the loss of his Collections and MSS. "The most important of the latter, relative to Chili, he had, however, the good fortune to regain by accident some time after his residence in Bologna, in Italy, whither he had gone on his arrival in Europe." The history of his native country, produced in consequence of the above event, appeared at different periods : the first part, containing the Natural History, in 1787, and the second some years after. The original Italian work soon obtained great approbation on the European continent, where it has been translated into the German, Spanish, and French lau guages. The celebrated Abbé Clavigero, referring in a note in his History of Mexico to that of Chili, mentions the Author as his learned friend, and speaks of the work before us in terms of commendation. The Translator concludes his Preface by saying: "In rendering this work into English, reference has been had both to the French and Spanish versions, which contain some valuable additional notes. Through the politeness of a gentleman of his acquaintance, the Translator has also been fur nished with an anonymous compendium of the History of Chili, printed in Bologna in 1776, from which the supplementary notes to this volume are taken.” In In the Preface to the Natural History of Chili, the Author declares that country may with great propriety be compared to Italy, allowed on all sides to be the garden of Europe; as it has still more considerable claims to be considered the garden of South America. The climates are very similar; " and they are situated under nearly similar parallels of latitude." The resemblance still farther exists, in the form of each being long in proportion to their breadth, and in the chains of mountains which divide both. The Cordilleras, or the Andes, like the Apennines, are the sources whence almost all the rivers are derived which fertilize the two countries. These magnificent natural elevations have a sensible influence on the salubrity of the climate in Italy and Chili; and so firmly are the inhabitants (of the latter) convinced of this fact, that whenever they attempt to account for any change in the state of the atmosphere, they attribute it to the effect of these mountains, which they consider as powerful and infallible agents." However desirable it has been to be well acquainted with the peculiar advantages of such a country, and its political situation, the accounts which had previously appeared were extremely superficial; and, of the natural productions, not more was known than of the language and customs of the inhabitants, or of "the exertions which the Chilians have made, even in our days, to defend their liberties. Don J. Ignatius admits that some valuable, but very concise particulars, have been given by Father Louis Feuillé, a French Minim Friar, of the plants and animals he observed upon the coast." This, he adds, "is a work of great merit; the descriptions are precise, and perfectly correct; but, as it was published by the order and at the expence of the King, the copies of it have become very scarce, and are in the possession of but few.” Several Spanish Authors wrote on the subject of Chili, both in the last and present centuries: why they never published their labours, the Author promises to explain in the course of his work. Don Pedro de Figueroa, and the Abbés Michael de Oliverez and Philip Vidaurre, are commended for their various merits: the two first treat of the political history of the country from the invasion of the Spaniards to the present era; and Oliverez has been particularly successful in his collection of facts relative to the protracted resistance of the Araucanians. The work of the Abbé Vidaurre is principally employed upon the natural productions and customs of Chili, and displays much intelligence and acuteness of research." The bravery and perseverance of the people just named, caused the writings of four poems on that subject. Don J. Ignatius divides his History of Chili into four chapters: in the first, he gives a succinct geographical account of the country, with the state of the climate, seasons, wind, meteors, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The remainder describe natural objects, beginning with the most simple, and proceeding to the most complex; or, in other words, from the mineral to the vegetable and animal kingdoms. And in the last the Author introduces certain conjectures of his own, relating to the inhabitants of Chili, and the mountaineers, as he considers the Patagonians and pretended giants. He refers the various objects noticed to the genera of Linnæus, as far as he found it practicable; but, in some instances, finding it difficult to reduce them to those that are known, he had recourse to his own inventive faculties. The classification of that celebrated Naturalist appearing incompatible with the plan of the work, he did not adopt it; and, though he followed his system, it was not from a conviction of its superiority to that of any other, but because it has been of late so generally adopted;" for, great as the respect might be which he felt for so learned a writer, Don J. could not "always approve of his nomenclature," far preferring the system of Wallerius and Bomare, in mineralogy, that of Tournefort in botany, and of Brisson in zoology," as more simple and better known to the world in general. In his description of subjects in Natural History, the Author declined the use of technical terms, to accommodate those not familiar with that study; at the same time, he introduced the Linnæan characters, in Latin, of the known species, and his own discoveries, at the bottom of the page. The following note belongs to this part of the Preface: in this version, to make some variation in this respect; and, conformably thereto, the technical descriptions will be found at the end of the volume, arranged under their respective heads." Amer. Trans. Don Ignatius professes to give his descriptions in the most concise and satisfactory manner, so as to furnish the essential character of the species. He has passed over, intentionally, the common characteristics of the genus; and his readers will find, he observes, "that the same brevity prevails throughout the work, which is written in a plain and unaffected manner, without bewildering myself with vague conjectures and hazardous hypotheses, which would have been deviating altogether from the limits that I had prescribed to myself." We cannot resist the present opportunity of giving our assent to the method adopted by this enlightened writer, as we maintain with him that all illustrations of the sciences should be given to the publick in terms equally plain and brief, without extraneous matter, calculated to raise doubts rather than confirm truth. A modest sincerity actuating this gentle man, he quotes those Authors who have written on Chili, to convince the world that he has not exaggerated in his accounts of the salubrity of the climate and the excellence of the soil, through partiality for his native country, and to shew he might have been justified in saying still The succeeding paragraph confirms our good opinion of the Author, and increases our reliance on what he has thought proper to advance in the course of his volumes: "With respect to this work, it is no more than a compendium, or an abridged history of many of the natural productions of Chili. The reflecting reader will not look in it for a complete natural history of that country; such a work would have required much greater means than I possess, and such assistance as I have not been able to procure." "It has been thought advisable, In answer to the suggestions which more. The Don thought it possible that those who are acquainted with M. De Pauw's philosophical enquiries respecting the Americans, might be surprised to find remarks in the history of Chili not exactly corresponding with what has been advanced by that gentleman respecting America in general, to to the opinions of many learned men who have visited that country, and have fully refuted his assertions. Among those who merit particular attention on this subject, is Count Juan Reynaldes Carli, so well known by his various literary productions, particularly his American Letters, in which, with much critical and philosophical investigation, he has com prised whatever may serve to convey a clear and correct idea of America.' We have given the whole of the animadversions upon M. De Pauw's errors, to use the least harsh of the terms of censure, because we conceive it to be an imperious duty imposed upon us as Reviewers, to expose to public disapprobation those Authors who have the temerity to offer their reveries and conjectures upon subjects which absolutely demand the utmost vigilance of research and personal observation. The admirers of M. De Pauw may attribute Molina's strictures to envy and national prejudice; far from agreeing with them on this point, we are ready to assert, that it is incumbent on every writer to declare the truth only, in his own case; and to remove the prejudices raised by false information in the works of others. There can be no difficulty in deciding upon the merits of the accuser and accused when, like Molina, the former appears supported by honest and modest reference to persons of veracity, who corroborate his corrections. The Preface concludes by inform ing the reader, "that the mile made use of in this work is the geographical mile of sixty to a degree; the foot, the French foot; and the pound that of Italy, of twelve ounces." Chili, thus far introduced to the notice of our readers, is a portion of South America fronting upon the South Sea or Pacific Ocean, between the 24th and 45th degrees of South latitude, and the 304th and 308th degrees of longitude. The extent of this country is very considerable; but the breadth varies (as the sea approaches or retires from the Cordilleras or the Andes) from 300 to 210 and 120 miles: the length is 1260 geographical miles. The Western boundary is the Pacific Ocean, Peru the Northern, the Eastern Tucuman Cujo and Patagonia, and the Southern is the land of Magellan. The moun tains are an effectual barrier between Chili and the above Provinces; as it is with the utmost difficulty and danger that persons cross them in the summer on eight or nine roads, whence it sometimes happens even mules are precipitated into the rivers or valleys below. "The Andes, which are considered as the loftiest mountains in the world, cross the whole continent of America, in a direction from South to North; for I consider," says Molina, "the mountains in North America as only a continuation of the Cordilleras. The part that appertains to Chili may be 120 miles in breadth: tains, all of them of a prodigious height, it consists of a great number of moun which appear to be chained to each other; and where Nature displays all the beauties and all the horrors of the most picturesque situations. Although it abounds with frightful precipices, many agreeable valleys and fertile pastures are to be found there; and the rivers that derive their sources from the mountains, often exhibit the most pleasing, as well as the most terrifying, features." The Patagonians, who bear the names of Chiquillanes, Pehuenches, Puelches, and Huilliches, Chilian colouists, inhabit the only portion of the Cordilleras fit for the reception of man; between the 24th and 33d degrees of latitude, these mountains are complete deserts. From the commencement of spring till autumn, the whole district of Chili experiences serene and delightful weather. The rainy season is confined to the space of time between April and the close of August. In Coquimbo and Copiapo, two Northern Provinces, it seldom rains; “in the central ones it usually rains three or four days in succession, and the pleasant weather continues fifteen or twenty days." Farther South, the rain frequently falls without cessation for nine or ten days, though unaccompanied by storms or hail; and lightning is almost unknown, even among the Andes. Snow never falls in the maritime Provinces, in those near the Andes it may be seen, perhaps, once in five years, generally melting as it descends, and very rarely covering the ground for a day. "In the Andes, on the contrary, it falls in such quantities, from April to November, that it not only lies there constantly during that time, but even renders their wholly impassable |