toric Gallery of the most celebrated Men of all Ages and Countries, containing their Portraits, Sketches of their Lives, and Remarks on their Characters and Works: by a Society of Men of Letters." This publicationis intended to comprise twelve volumes duodecimo; and each volume to contain seventy-two portraits. ageur, &c..." Memoirs of a Traveljer now in Retirement; containing historic, political, and literary Anecdotes relative to several of the principal Personages of the Age." The traveller here referred to is M. Dutens: this work has also been rendered into our own tongue, and noticed by us accordingly. Memoires et Lettres, &c..." Memoirs and Let ters of the Marshal De Jessé, con- The chief travels, voyages, and taining Anecdotes of Facts never tours are as follow: Voyage en before published, relating to the Italie et en Sicilie, fait en 1801 et Reigns of Louis XIV. and Louis 1802---"Travels in Italy and SiXV.;" 2 vols. 8vo. An anonycily in the Years 1801 and 1802, mous publication-and in some de- by M. Arenze de Lesser, Member gree questionable, though the edi- of the Legislative Body." This tor affirms that the originals, or will not do either for an Italian or authentic copies of the papers here an English version; the author referred to, can be produced. Let- says, "I have seen nothing worse tres inedités de Mirabeau, &c.-"Un- than the women of these states published Letters of Mirabeau ;" (Parma, Placentia, and Rome), exthe whole forming a continuation cept perhaps the five hundred Enof the letters written from the dun- glish women, who after the peace geon of Vincennes from 1777 to of Amiens flocked with such con1780 inclusively. Edited by J. F. fidence to France to exhibit their Vitry, formerly of the Office of Fo- persons, or, what is still more rireign Affairs. Notice de la Vie et diculous, their fashions to the addes Ecrits de George Louis Le miration of the Parisians." VoySage." Sketch of the Life and age en Moree, &c.-" Travels in Writings of George Louis Le Sage, the Marea, to Constantinople in of Geneva, Member of the Acade. Albania, and many other Parts of my and Institute of Bologna, &c. the Ottoman Empire, in the Years digested from his Notes by M. Pre- 1798-1801: by F. C. H. L. Pouvost." Histoire Litéraire de l'Abbé queville, M. D. Member of the Morelli---"The Literary History of Commission of Sciences and Arts Abbate Morelli." This is a mere of Egypt." The result of having translation from the original Ita- been taken prisoner during the lian. Gallerie Historique des Illus- war between France and the Ottotres Germains--" Historic Galle- man Porte, carried to Constantiry of Illustrious Germans, from nople, and afterwards set at lithe Days of Arminius to our own berty, to return home as he could. Times, with their respective Por- This work is worth naturalizing. traits, and Engravings taken from Voyage à la Partie Orientale de some remarkable Occurrence in la Terre-Firme, dans l'Amerique their Lives." An abridged trans. Meridionale, fait pendant les Anlation of the chevalier Klein's "Ger- nées 1801-1804- Travels in the man Biography," in five folio vo- Eastern Part of Terra-Firma, in lumes. Galerie Historique des South America, in the Years 1801 Hommes les plus celebres"-His-1804: by F. Dupons, Ex-agent of of the French Government, at Caracas, 3 vols. 8vo. Paris." A valuable work-replete with ob servation and sound judgement. Independently of these, we notice that Pallas's Travels in the Southern Governments of the Russian Empire, in 1793 and 1794, have been translated into French from the German, by M. M. De la Bonlaye, M. D. and Tonnelier, member of the Societies of Natural History and Philomacy, 2 vols. 4to; and Dr. Moore's Travels in France, Switzerland, and Germany (from the English), by an anonymous female pen, occupying 2 vols. 8vo. We shall next give a glance at the chief publications in the branches of diplomacy, statistics, civil and municipal law. De la Ligue Hanséatique, &c.-"Of the Hanseatic League, its Origin, Progress, Power, and Political Constitution, to the Period of its Declension in the Sixteenth Century: by P. H. Mallet, late Professor of History, and Member of several Academies." A correct and instructive dissertation, evincing an enlightened head and a liberal heart. De la Preponderance Maritime, &c." On the Maritime and Commercial Preponderance of England, or the Înterests of other Nations relative to England and France: by M. Montbrion." A philippic against the present commercial aggrandizement of Great Britain, and in favour of an universal coalition against her. Nous verrons. Recherches sur la Force de l'Arme Française, &c." Researches on the Strength of the French Army, the Basis on which it should be established according to Circumstances, and a List of the Secretaries of State or Ministers of War, from Henry IV. to the Year 1805." The first vo lume only of a work which is to trace the first campaigns of the revolution. We shall, therefore, have an opportunity of returning to it hereafter. Tableaus Com. paratifs des Depenses, &c." Comparative Statements of the Expenses and Revenues of France and England, by M: Sabatier." An answer, but an inefficient one, to the calculations and reasoning of M. Gentz. Recherches sur la Législation Criminelle, &c.-" Inquiries relative to the State of Criminal Legislation during the Epoch of the Dauphins, according to Thomassin, Valbonnais, Chorier, &c., by M. Berriat (St. Prix) of Gre noble." This work discovers much unwearied research, and a liberal spirit. Code et Nouvelles de Justinien: Nouvelles de l'Empereur Leon, &c.-" Code and Addita. ments of Justinian; Additaments of the Emperor Leo; Fragments of Caius Ulpinus and of Paul; by P. A. Tissot, Jurisconsult, and Member of several learned Societies." Useful for students in civil law, and capable of supplying, as it is designed to do, the deficiencies in the editions of Ferriere and Huldt. Dictionnaire du Code Civil, &c "Dictionary of the Civil Code: by A. G. Daubenton, Exjudge." The Jacob's Law Dictionary of Modern France. The principal travels and voyages that have issued from the different German presses are as follow: Meine Reise über den Gotthard, &c." My Journey across Mount Gothard to the Borromaan Islands and Milan; and thence back across the Val Formazza, the Grimsel, and the Upper-land, performed in the Summer of 1801, 2 vols. 8vo." An entertaining and interesting tour; in the course of which we learn that that the patriotic story of William Tell has no foundation in real history, or at least not in the manner in which it is commonly related; as we do also that the hospitable convent on Mount St. Gothard has fallen into a heap of ruins beneath the remorseless warfare of the present times. Briefe auf einer Reise von Lothringen, &c." Letters written during a Journey from Lorraine to Lower Saxony." Reise nach Hyeres"Journey to Heyeres in the Spring of 1804 by M. Fischer." Reise in die Klassische Gegenden Rome "Journey to the Classical Country of Rome;" by M. Bonstetten. In none of these, however, do we perceive any peculiarity of merit, or singularity of anecdote or description. M. M. Gunther and Bruckner have added the last volume to their "Picturesque Tour through Saxony;" and the Briefe eines Reisenden Franzosen, &c.---"Letters of a Frenchman during his Travels in Germany," have reached a new edition. To which we may add, that under the title of Spiele und Belustigungen der Russen: "Sports and Pastimes of the Russians," M. M. Geisler and Richter have produced a very splendid and characteristic work upon the subject in question. It is printed in folio on vellum paper, and embellished with twelve coloured plates: the letterpress is both in German and French. culations, the generality of his res marks are pregnant with political truth. He apostrophises, our own country, with much spirit :-be lieves us to be on the decline; not from the victories of Bonaparte however, for all his triumphs can never in his judgement seriously injure us, but from our own inter nal misconduct: yet the day that England is ruined, will, in his opinion, be a fatal day to the rest of the world. Authentische Darstillung, &c." Authentic Statement of the Relations be tween England and Spain before and at the Rupture between those two Powers by Frederic de Gentz." M. Gentz has already proved himself an able advocate on the part of Great Britain, and he is still as warmly attached to the same side as if he had been feed by a special retainer. Statistischer Umriss der Sämtlichen, &c." Statistic View of all the European States considered with respect to their Extent, Population, Productions, Commerce, Finances, Military, Constitution and Colo. nies or Possessions in other Parts. of the World: by G. Hassel. Brunswick." This is to be a very extensive work, if it still seem good to the author to continue it; for which, however, he appears to possess sufficient ability, should the new politics of Bruns wick allow him to persevere. The size of the work is folie: and the In the class of statistics and di- first two numbers of the first voplomacy, the Geist der Zeit-lume are all that have yet reached "Spirit of the Times," by M. Ernest Moritz Arndt, is an excellent work, and entitled to much praise, especially by Englishmen. M. Arndt is a comprehensive observer; and though the late reverses on the continent have abruptly falsified some of his spe us. "America nach seiner ehemaligen und jetzigen Verfassung"America considered in her Former and Present State: by F. J Kretscher, 3 vols." An excellent and indefatigable statistic compi lation. Anfangsgruende des Philosophischer Criminal Rechts "Philosophical Elements of Cri minal Jurisprudence. With an Appendix on the Art of Juridical Defence: by C. S. Zacharia, Pro fessor at the University of Wittem berg." Punishments are never to be inflicted by way of example to others; but merely in regard to the degree of criminality in the offender: they ought to be restricted to a confinement of the person, or to infringements upon personal liberty, and never to affect limb, life, or property. Such are the doctrines here chiefly supported. Ueber den Einfluss des Handels und der Handels, &c."On the Influence of Commerce and Commercial Systems upon National Prosperity: by G. F. Kiemeyer." A work well entitled to the attention of political economists. Wahr heit ohne Schminke, &c.-"Truth without Disguise; or a Dissertation on a free CornTrade." A truly rational and public-spirited performance ; which the author points out the absurdity of all government restraints, and the inefficiency of all government magazines; and establishes that the utmost liberty of action is necessary to obtain grain in abundance, and at a moderate rate. CHAPTER IV. LITERATURE AND POLITE ARTS: Being the Productions of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, SweDenmark, Hungary, Turkey, Modern Greece, American States. TE WE shall with the different scientific and literary societies of Europe. The National Institute, which, in our last Retrospect, we noticed as giving evident proofs of a decline, is now more than ever in danger of actual and speedy dissolution. It commenced, as our readers well know, with a division into the three grand classes of Moral and Political, Physical and Mathematical, and one for Literature and Polite Arts: each of which was to furnish a volume of Memoirs annually. At the beginning of 1804, however, it was discovered by the imperial patron of the Institution that it was in8 tions of Moral and Political Sciences-or, in other words, that a degree of liberty had been indulged by many of the memoirists of this department, in their respective speculations, that was incompatible with his view of good order and civil authority: to draw a line of distinction, and mark out the extreme point to which writers of this description might advance, without overstepping it, was invidious and difficult, and perhaps impossible: the Gordian knot, therefore, was cut instead of being untied, by the second as well as by the first Alexander; and, as though by magic spell, the entire department department of Moral and Political Sciences, in a moment ceased to exist, and was instantaneously merged into the two remaining classes. The change seems to have torpefied the Institution and to have deprived its members of almost the whole of their activity. And hence, though the public have from the above period had a right to expect only two votumes annually instead of three, even this it is found impossible to comply with. The class of Literature and Polite Arts not being prepared, the class of Physics and Mathematics has been obliged to publish its annual volume alone; which constitutes the sixth in the regular series, leaving its associate class to overtake it, as it may be able. Even in this volume we perceive, or think we perceive, less general excellence than in the preceding from the same class. It contains two biographic sketches or notices as it is now the fashion to denominate them: one of which is an Elogy on Dr. Priestley, from the eloquent pen of M. Cuvier. It is by far the best, and the most impartial life of him that has hitherto appeared, notwithstanding its deterioration by a few trivial mistakes into which the biographer has fallen: he pays due compliment to Dr. Priestley's philosophical discoveries, and sufficient ly reprobates the spirit of vanity and innovation so conspicuous in his theological controversies and opinions. The best memoirs we have noticed are two or three on chemical and economical subjects, by M. M. Vauquelin and Fourcroy-a mathematical paper by M. Le Gendre, and an article on natural history by M. Lacé pède. As some atonement for the un expected curtailment that has been made in the quantity of select. matter hitherto usually published by the National Institution, we have to notice that the establishment has now commenced a work which is to give to the public a punctual scries of memoirs, that have been presented to it, but have not or could not be published in the regular body of the Institute's own memoirs, as having been presented by foreigners, philosophers who were not members of it. Of this new work we have received the first volume, entitled "Mé. moires présentés à l'Institut National." Into this volume we cannot enter: it contains many valu able papers on most departments of science, except that of morals and politics. Its size is quarto. The Academy for Useful Sciences at Erfort has published its volume of Memoirs for the preceding year (1805): the chief atticles in which are, "On the Gymnotus electricus, by M. Humboldt. On the Oxyd of Antimony, by M. Bucholz. On the Existence of Azot in the Acetic Acid, by M. Trumsdorf. On several species of Veronica, by M. Bernardi. On several Species of Fungus, by M. Haberle. A Latin Society has lately been established at Jena, and the result of its labours are now before us in its first volume, entitled "Nova Acta Societatis Latinæ Jenensis." Its attention is entirely directed to classical literature: of course the papers are in the Latin tongue, except occasional translations; yet there is one exception, in an article "On the Hecate of the Greeks," from the pen of professor Voss, the admirable translator of Homer and Virgil, who has preferred his own German. Francisci a Mesguien Meninski Lexicon |