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foundation for the enormous power of the present ruler of France. We must necessarily make allowances for the impulse under which the history of these desolating wars was composed, and the present manacled state of the Paris press. M. Servan, however, does not appear altogether in the light of a flatterer of Bonaparte, and if we may credit an assertion in the work before us, he has always been viewed by him with jealousy and on more occasions than one, there appears to have been no small room for jealousy in the bosom of a man so devoured with ambition as Napoleon I.

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We have not yet done either with Italy, or its modern ravager. The "Récit Historique de la Campagne, &c." "Historic Account of the Campaign of Bonaparte in Italy, in the years 1796 and 1797, by an eye-witness," still claims our attention. The present work, however, is of a different character from any of the preceding, and for this very reason, we feel a particular desire to notice it. The name of the eyewitness we know not; but there is a general air of impartiality and fairness in his statement of facts, that very much, we confess, prejudices us in his favour. We are, at the same time, aware that his facts do not at all times warrant his conclusions, and hence feel disposed to make some allowance in the argumentative parts of his work. It is the author's direct object to refute the accounts contained in a well-known work, entitled "The Campaigns of Bonaparte in Italy, during the years IV. and V. of the French republic, by a General Officer," which is here said to disguise and misre present facts, and to be a monument of adulation and baseness. In the prosecution of this object the present

writer has certainly presented us with a most simple and intelligible statement of transactions, purposely dressed up for effect by his prede cessor, and has in many cases reduced battles to skirmishes, and victories to slight advantages, the result moreover of accident or sheer goodluck, rather than of heroism or comprehensive foresight. He succeeds in reducing to a far inferior number than has been usually sup posed the Austrian forces, and in angmenting those of the French army; and he deserves the thanks of every liberal mind for having rescued from obscurity names which deserve to be held in remembrance, and for having dissipated a variety of bombastic and illusory boasts of pretenders to heroism.

"Histoire de Campagne, &c." "His tory of the Campaigns of the French Armies in Prusia, Saxony and Poland, during the years 1806 and 1807; preceded by a history of the late war with Austria, and followed by short accounts (notices) of the marshalls of the Empire, 3 vols. 12mo. Paris." These volumes are chiefly compiled from the French official accounts, and bear the general stamp of the official language: their tone is bold, glowing, and pointed, when directed to the partisans of the French empire, and humiliating and contemptuous when describing its enemies. Even in the midst of all the parade of military virtues and political craft here exhibited, nothing is more obvious than that Bonaparte has been more indebted to the weakness and blunders of his adversaries, than to his own counsels and prowess. The short biographic notices of his chief officers, subjoined to this work, is entertaining, and may prove useful.

"Pièces Historique de la Revolution, &c." "Historic Summary

of

prefers the present government of France, which is almost purely monarchical, to that of England, which unites the principles of republicanism and pure monarchy.

"Versuch über eine Allgemeine anwendbare Minisk, &c." " Inquiry respecting an universally practicable System of Symbols for the use and instruction of the deafly-dumb: by .J. M. Weinburger, Vienna, 4to." This indefatigable and able teacher, to whom we have, on several occa sions, antecedently begged leave to pay our respects, is well known to have been for many years chief director of the institution for instructing the deafly-dumb at Vienna, under the patronage of the Emperor and his family. In the work before us, the author introduces a handalphabet, which, in effect, constitutes the system of symbols he refers to, and by means of which, or in other words, by varying the positions of the fingers of a single hand, on which variation the letters of the alphabet are made to depend, his scholars are capable of holding an easy communication of ideas.

The only work of real value in the department before us, which has reached us from the American States, is entitled "Propositions for amending the Constitution of the United States of America, submitted by Mr. Hillhouse, to the Senate of the United States, on the 12th day of April, 1808. With his explanatory remarks, 12mo. Wash

ington and New York." The perpetual irritation which is kept alive by the present mode of electing the chief executive officer, the Senate and House of Representatives of the Union, calls aloud at all times for some change or other; but more especially at the existing pe riod, in which the general state of Europe, and the system of politics exhibited by the President for the time being, and perhaps to be exhibited by his successor, add fuel to the prveious fire, and exacer. bate the public feeling in a tenfold degree. Mr. Hillhouse effectually succeeds in pointing out the cause of this intestine commotion, but we have many doubts whether the plan he proposes would actually serve as a remedy: we mean that of choosing the chief magistrate annually from the Senate by lot; of reducing his salary from 25,000 to 15,000 dollars per aunum, and of restricting his power of appointment to offices; in conjunction with which he proposes also that the House of Representatives, instead of being elected as at present, for two years, shall be only elected for one; and that the term of service in the Senate shall be reduced from six years to three. The Senate, however, has decreed this communication of sufficient consequence, to order it, on its express authority, to be printed and circulated for the general information of the country.

CHAPTER

liary forces, or those of dependent countries, form a part of it. In the time of Louis XIV. it averaged collectively 500,000; and at present is unquestionably above this number. The performance, however, is well entitled to the attentive perusal of military men, and especially those who make the science of engineering their chief study.

66

Exposicion de las Praticas, &c." "Exposition of the Practices and Machinations which led to the Usurpation of the Crown of Spain, and the means adopted by the emperor of the French to carry it into execution, by Don Pedro Cavallos, first Secretary of State, &c. Madrid, 18mo." We notice this publication as one of the most interesting documents that have ever appeared in the political world; that will be refered to as a record of authority by ensuing generations, and that tends more than any other publication that has hitherto been submitted to the world, to develope the lawless ambition of the tyrant whose iron rod is felt from one end of the continent to the other, and who proves himself to be equally destitute of public principle aud secret compunction; who despises public opinion, and is resolved to have no will but his own. The translation and universal circulation of this most curious archive in our own tongue, renders it unnecessary for us to dwell upon it at greater length.

From the German press we have received M.Bergman's "Historische Schrifften, &c." "Historic Memoirs on the History of Livonia," published in two octavo volumes, at Leipsic-a publication that gives an interesting and general account of this eventful country. We have also to notice the following from the same quarter.

"Meine Reise durch England,

&e." "My Travels in England, by D. Collenbach, 8vo. Gotha." The writer is an intelligent man, and his work contains many remarks that may afford entertainment to our own countrymen, and advantage to those of Germany. His object in visiting us, however, was merely that of obtaining a knowledge of the practical state of English arts and manufactures, and to these subjects the work is confined almost exclusively. M. Collenbach, with true German appetite, appears to be fond of good eating and drinking--but discovers a very indifferent taste for polite literature.

"Statistic der Europaeschen Staaten." "Statistics of the States of Europe, by Conrad Mannert, 8vo. Bamberg." This volume appears to have be compiled with great caution and examination. We recommend it to the chartists and geographical writers of our own country, as it will be found to correct a multitude of very common, and at the same time very important errors, to be met with in our chorographies of foreign states.

"Untersuchungen ueber Gebustsa. del und die Möglictheit seiner fort dauer im neunzehnten Jahrhundert, &c." "Inquiry into hereditary' Nobility, and the possibility of its continuance in the nineteenth cen tury, by the author of the New Levia than, Berlin, 8vo." The anonymous writer of this work has acquired no small degree of reputation by his New Leviathan; and in this, as in that, we perceive much able reasoning, often, however, too abstractly conducted, and not unfrequently too largely blended with fancy and idle speculation. It does not appear decided as to the best form of political government, and is equally hostile to monarchies and to republics; yet with strange inconsistency he

prefers

Of the biographical productions for the year the following are the principal.

"Histoire de Fenelon, &c." "History of Fenelon, composed from original Manuscripts; by M. L. F. De Bausset, late Bishop of Alais, &c." 3 vols. 8vo. Paris." We hope these volumes will be translat ed. Genuine biography is always interesting, and peculiarly so when directed to unfold the moral worth, the high intellectual talents, the inappreciable services, and unmerited sufferings of a character so pre-eminently distinguished as that before us. It is justly observed by the present writer, that the memory of Fenelon is as dear to foreign nations as to France herself; that his principal works have been translated into all languages: and that unanimous consent has pronounced them to be the most proper for fixing the attention of young persons, and inspiring them with a love of virtue. They also serve, which has been also as extensively conceded, beyond all others, to embellish the fancy, to purify the taste, to fructify the reason of mature age, and to diffuse a charm and interest over the closing scenes of life. Much of the information communicated in these biographic pages is original, and drawn from manuscrips which preceding biographers have never had an opportunity of consulting. Of the authenticity of these records there appears to be no doubt; and they uniformly represent the archbishop in the same amiable light in which we have been accustomed to contemplate him.

"Memoires et Correspondences Litteraires, Dramatique, et Anecdotiques, de C. S. Favart, &c." "Memoirs, Correspondence, and Anecdotes, literary and dramatic, of C. S. Favart, drawn up from authentic

and original documents, by H. S. Dumolard, 3 vols. 8vo. Paris." Favart was one of the greatest wits, and the best dramatist of his age: but his life, like that of many other celebrated wits, was peculiarly diversified and eventful. He was haunted by jealousy, persecuted by envy, plundered by flatterers and specious adventurers, and too often a prey to penury and disease. The correspondence between himself and Count Durazzo, of Vienna, which occupies by far too large a space in the volumes before us, is not peculiarly interesting; but with this exception, they overflow with spirit, and intranslatable humour and pleasan tries. To the, French reader they open a fund of entertainment, but they are ill calculated for transfusion into a foreign tongue; the essence they contain would be found to fly off in the transfer.

"Eloge de Corneille." "Elogy of Corneille." This biographic picture is published anonymously; it was intended to have been admitted into a competition for the prize lately offered by the French National Institute for the best elo gy on the character to which it is devoted; but was rejected for reasons that have no connection with its literary merits. Corneille may be regarded as the father of the French drama; and the chief object of the present writer is to trace him critically through his various pretensions to this character. He first treats of the importance of the tra gic drama, and the direction given to it by Corneille; he proceeds to admeasure the degree of merit due to the works of Corneille, and the peculiarities by which they are distinguished. He then touches upon the dramatist's general design or object in his dramatic writings; he next advances to a consideration of

CHAPTER IV.

LITERATURE AND POLITE ARTS.

Comprising the chief productions of France, Germany, Italy, Portugal,

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and America.

EMOIRES de l'Institut National, &c," "Memoirs of the French National Institute for the year 1806." The events of war, which in a considerable degree cut off our communication with the continent, prove in no small measure, unfriendly to the actual productions of continental writers whether single or in the aggregate. The transactions of this celebrated society, are on this account considerably in arrear in point of publication; while of those actually published we have not hitherto received any regular series later than to the year 1807, containing the memoirs of the year 1806. These transactions are introduced by an admirable report of M. Cuvier, on the general state and progress of science for the year to which they refer. In medicine' it chiefly notices the advance of vac. cination; in arts and manufactures, M. Vauquelin's valuable observations on the use and application of metals as colouring substances; in mineralogy other remarks of the same excellent naturalist, as well as observations of other excellent oryctologists on the best modes of rendering the native iron of France malleable and of general use. In the division of chemistry the names of Seguin, Menard, and Count Rumford, are mentioned with high approbation, yet various experi. ments are adverted to in disproof of the theory of this last philosopher relative to the production of heat

by mere vibrations in the particles
of the heated body, instead of by
the access of a positive matter of
heat, hitherto known by the name of
caloric. In the department of his-
tory the reporter has but little
to offer of high distinction; the
name of M. Mongez is mentioned,
however, with respect in the subdivi-
sion of paleology: and in the depart-
ment of mineralogy we are chiefly
informed, from the observations of
M. Dupont de Hemouss, that almost
all attempts to predict the phæno-
mena of changes of weather, from
the state of the atmosphere, must be
futile, since nothing can exceed the
variability of the action of heat upon
the atmospheric regions. The report
upon the general state of mathema-
tics for the period included, is
drawn up by M. Delambre, M.
Cuvier's colleague in the Secretary-
ship to the Institute. It relates
chiefly to experiments for ascertain-
ing the declination and inclination
of the compass, together with the
intensity of the magnetic power;
and to the best modes of construct-
ing thermometers and barometers.
We prefer giving a sketch of this
general summary to a mere cata-
logue (which is all we could give)
of the papers actually read and print-
ed. We shall only further observe,
that amongst these M. La Place's
Memoir on the apparent attraction
and repulsion of small bodies swim-
ming on the surface of fluids, ap-
pears to be one of the most valuable
in the collection.

Of

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