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77] Dernières Pensées du Grand Frédéric.-Mrs. Crouch.-Ulm and Trafalgar. [78

works like this before us, because, we are confident that the grammar of sciences cannot be rendered too familiar. Elementary works not only leave a strong impression on the youthful mind, which it preserves with great tenacity in future life ; but they wander into places where more regular treatises never penetrate and they communicate, as it were by accident, very useful knowledge to persons who otherwise might have remained in total ignorance. Our remarks will be understood to arise from our good wishes for the science, and our desire that every improvement of which it is susceptible should be adopted in treatises of this description. The book is neatly printed, and fit for the parlour.

Dernières Pensées, &c. Last Thoughts of the Great Frederic, King of Prussia, written with his own hand at Berlin, in 1786. 8vo. pp. 30. Price 1s. 6d. Paris, ISO6. London. Dulau.

M. Champelle, a surgeon at Paris, is the editor of this little pamphlet; and he takes the trouble to sign every copy with his own hand, pour éviter les contrefa

Cons. He affirms that the Duke of Meck

lenburgh, entrusted him with the original; a copy of which has been used in the present edition. We do not, nevertheless, vouch for the authenticity of this production. If the original MS. had been open to inspection, and its character were established; or, if the party who received it from the King, would testify its correctness, we might then entertain a better opinion of it.

The following is a favourable specimen.

I hate the accumulation of riches by individuals; in good policy they ought to be distributed. The strength of a state consists in the welfare of its people; not in the wealth accumulated in a few of its cities, and among some of its opulent inhabitants. The people more readily part with a portion of their necessaries, than rich individuals with their superfluities. To enrich the court, is to impoverish the provinces. I have rendered many around me discontented, but the reflection that the people would be something less so, consoled ine. A state is soon deprived of its resources when the people is in distress. The power of the English nation resides in the wealth of its husbandmen and mechanics; the poverty of those classes is the torment of France. Riches in possession of the people favour population, and procure plenty; they are like the blood in

the arteries which produces growth and vigour; but, if engrossed elsewhere, they only promote luxury; which is always on the look out after distant and foreign objects.

It is of consequence that the Protestant religion should preserve its ascendancy, and that others should not make too rapid progress. This persuasion suits best with all governments. Its principles favour labour and population: it more easily associates with all others: its ministers are without sway: they have no extravagant revenues, nor any pointical influence on their people. A prelate whose income might pay, and maintain, a regiment, is a circumstance beyond my compre hension.

Memoirs of Mrs. Crouch, including a retrospect of the Stage, during the years she performed. By M. T. Young.2 vols. 12mo. 9s. Asperne. 1806.

A play-bill twenty years in length! The author, like bully Bottom, "may rehearse more obscenely and courageously," and think himself secure from blame too, be cause" when the players are all dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry it he that writ it, had played Pyramus, and hanged himself in Thisbe's garters, it would have been a fine tragedy !"—although it sins against both literature and morals. In the language of Macbeth, This life...

is a tale Told by an ideot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing

Ulm and Trafalgar. A Poem. Second Edition. 4to. pp. 10. Price 1s. London. Hatchard, 1800.

The contrast between those events which occurred almost at the same instant, in the distant localities of Ulm andTrafalgar, is not only striking, but well calculated to create an interest favourable to the poet, and adapted to inflame the magic glances of that prophetic eye, in a fine phrensy rolling," which defies the narrow bound's of space and time. A kind of melancholy value attaches to the stanzas before us, as some of them are thought to be the production of a late eminent statesman; and to have softened those hours of suffering which inevitably attend disease. Though his body was enfeebled, yet his mind retained sufficient vigour to

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plate with ineffable delight the deli-. verance and the triumph of his country, while he saw, not without a pang, other

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countries suffering under the accumulated miseries of war, of famine, and of distress more poignant than death itself. If we could select those passages to which we allude, we should certainly present them to our readers: but we do not pretend to the exercise of such magical discrimination. The merit of the poem may be determined from the following speci

men.

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Not joy thus doubtful, sadness thus sincere, Shall grace, erewhile, the Tyrant-Conqueror's bier! Whether with undiscriminating sweep The scythe of war, amid the mangled heap, Shall lay him low; or lone, corroding care, Without one heart to pity or to share, And cheerless toils of solitary sway, Shall waste his withering frame with slow decay; Come when it will, from Heav'n's all-righteous hand, To save, or to avenge, each injured land, Nations shall kneel to bless the welcome doom; And France, unfetter'd, trample on his tomb.

But thee, loved Chief! what genuine griefs bemoan!

Fleets, cities, camps; the cottage, and the throne! Round thy throng'd hearse those mingling sorrows flow,

And seek faint solace in a pomp of woe!

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Yet not the vows thy weeping country pays, Not that high meed, thy mourning Sovereign's praise;

Not, that the great, the beauteous, and the brave, Bend, in mute reverence, o'er thy closing grave; That with such grief as bathes a kindred bier, Collective nations mourn a death so dear ;Not these alone shall soothe thy sainted shade, And consecrate the spot where thou art laid! Not these alone. But, bursting through the gloom, With radiant glory from thy trophied tomb, The sacred splendour of thy deathless name Shall grace and guard thy country's martial fame, Far seen, shall blaze the unextinguish'd ray, A mighty beacon, lighting Glory's way; With living lustre this proud land adorn, And shine, and save, through ages yet unborn!

Report ascribes the general composition of this little poem to George Canning, Esq. M. P. but many of the lines are attributed to the late Right Honourable,WilJiam Pitt,

Dictionnaire de Géographie Universelle, &c. Par P. C. V. Boiste. A Dictionary of Universal Geography, ancient, of the middle ages, and modern, compared: presenting the geographical, historical, political, and statistical picture of the globe, and of its parts, in its different ages and its present state. The names and divisions ancient and recent of Countries, Kingdoms, Republics, Cities, Towns, &c. Their history, productions, natural and ingenious, their commerce, climate, situation, population, manners of their inhabitants, &c. &c. Svo. One very thick volume; or capable of being formed into two volumes. With an Atlas in 4to. containing 45 Maps, newly laid down, from the latest information, &c. Desray. Paris, 1806. Imported by Dulau and Co. Price £1. 11s. 6d.

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Very seldom indeed is our confidence raised by a promising French title, because we have too often found that there no trusting to title pages," among that lively and ingenious people. French promises differ extremely from performance, nor is it easy on comparing the latter to recognise the features of the former. But the present work forms an honourable exception. The compiler appears to have consulted the best authorities which have described the various parts of the globe; and has compressed his accounts by the omission of articles and particles, within the narrowest limits possible. The volume, in consequence, contains a mass of information: not on any subject, perhaps, at length; but enough to answer a temporary purpose, and to repay cursory inves、 tigation. It is also brought down to the latest period possible: and on the whole we feel ourselves bound to describe it as a work of great labour and merit. We shall give as a specimen, not chosen with particular attention, the following article.

ISELAND, Islandia, great volcanic island in the N. of Europe, 1601. long, by 60 in width, 5,500 square; its southern extremity, under lat. 63; yields to Denmark a revenue of £7,500: extensive forests; mountainous, stoney and sterile, excellent pasturages; grass of a wonderful fragrancy; no corn; the ice parting from the lands around the pole, brings store of wood, and animals, foxes and bears: very good horses: hot and salubrious springs : many rivers and lakes full of fishes: mount Hecla, the most famous among its Moun

tains, throws out flames, and torrents of hot waters: many other volcanoes: government formerly aristocratic: taken in 1263, by the Kings of Norway was at length united to Denmark with Norway: houses scattered here and there, for fear of fire, or sunk into the earth, for shelter from winds and cold: 50,000 inhabitants, Lutherans of the Augsburgh confession: idle, great players at chess: live on their cattle and fisheries: no high roads, nor any other towns or villages than Bessestedt, Hola and Schalholt, a bishopric: in 1783, in the S. E. of the island, an isle appeared above the sea: it is now enlarged: there is under this sea an active seat of fire: produces salt, and sulphur, fish, meat, wool, &c. Before 1778 no Reindeer: often ravaged by diseases: the black pestilence in 1347 and following years, almost universally destructive: the small-pox has been very injurious; in 1707 and 1708 carried off 16,000 persons; vaccination is introduced: the language is a dialect of the runic : are of middling size, well made, not vigorous; tolerably industrious and hospitable: the women prepare the fish, sew and knit: the men dress leather, and exercise the mechanic arts; are attached to their country, notwithstanding the severity of the climate: in 1786, the King of Denmark rendered its commerce free, before monopolized by a company; a considerable Lerring fishery, by the Dutch. Long. of Patrickfiord 53, 30. Reikanegs, 354, 53, 30.

Our readers may perceive that it is not impossible to suggest a better order, and arrangement, of the information presented: yet the substance of the information itself is good. We learn, however, that the government of Denmark, has recently given directions for building a town, intended to be the capital of the island, and to restore to this country that eminence in letters which it once enjoyed, and which is not mentioned in the account before us. Probably, this intention of the Sovereign was not known when this arti cle was compiled. But a mention of the Iceland literati would not have been amiss. The maps are sufficiently good: but not superior to what are in use among ourselves.

La Colombe messagère plus rapide que Eclair, &c. The messenger Dove more rapid than Lightning, by Michael Sabbagh; translated from the Arabic into French, by A. C. Sylvestre de Sacy. Svo. Price 4s. Paris, 1806.

This work is divided into five chapters. The first, treats of the species of birds

named hamam; and of the species to which the work particularly refers the second, of that variety of pigeon which is to be selected, of the natural qualities, and character of this bird; the third, of the first institutor of the method of conveying intelligence by pigeons, and of those who subsequently imitated his example: the fourth, of the manner of breeding and educating these pigeons; and of cautions to be taken when they are sent off with letters; the fifth, contains passages both in prose and verse, selected from eminent writers of former times, on this subject.

However familiar the Arabic language may be to M. Sylvestre de Sacy, he has not neglected, as he informs us in his notes, to consult the author of the work, on the sense of several expressions which occur in it. An advantage infinitely to be valued by every translator who wishes to do justice to the work under his

care.

Manuel d'Arithmétique, etc. Manual of Arithmetic, as formerly practised, and Decimal, for the Use of Schools, and of Youth intended for Business, &c. 18mo. Paris. Ancelle, 1806. Imported by Dulau and Co. Price 2s. 6d. A neat little volume containing the usual rules of arithmetic adapted to the comprehension of learners: it is no further deserving of distinction among ourselves, than as it demonstrates the difficulties experienced by the French, in reducing their former calculations to their present. The former ell is 1 metre and 19 parts in 100. The former toise is 1 metre and 95 parts in 100. The tables annexed, record that the louis d'or, which Jan. 1, 1790, sold for 25 livres 2 sous, in assignats, sold in 1796, on the 17th of Prairial, for 17,950 livres in the same paper. In the same year, 100 livres of mandats were worth on the 1st of Germinal, 34 livres 10 sous: on the 21st of Thermidor, following, they were worth only 1 liv. 11 sous.

Did ever any age, or place, witness an equal depreciation of public paper, secured on national good faith, honour, and property? We confess that uniformity is very desirable in the weights and measures of Britain; but French uniformity greatly exceeds the value at which honest John Bull appreciates its advantages.

Mes Périls pendant la Revolution de Naples, &c.-My Perils during the Revolution at Naples, wherein are recited all the horrors committed in that city by the Lazzaroni and the Calabrians; to which is annexed an exact account of the Manners of the Inhabitants of Calabria. By N***, eye-witness, &c. 8vo. pp. 107. Paris. Bacot, 1806. Imported by Dulau. Price 3s.

A History of Love and Murder: or, rather, of Murder and Love; for the author narrates first his tragedy, but his pamphlet terminates in matrimony; according to the good old rule of romances,

"he chose one of the most beautiful and wealthy young ladies of the city, in union with whom, he passed the rest of his life happily, surrounded by peace, honour, and virtue."

The history purports to be that of a young man who escaped the terrors of the time when the Lazzaroni, preceding Cardinal Ruffo, entered Naples, and treated the Gallic partisans with a slight taste of those miseries which their principals know so well how to administer. That many such histories might be compiled we doubt not, but, after those already published by Frenchmen themselves, our sympathy can only be excited by incidents uncommonly interesting and striking; both in matter and manner. They must also possess greater marks of authenticity than the tale before us, which being calculated for the meridian of Paris, is not degraded by inconvenient attention to lubberly matter of fact. The description of Calabrian manners, promised in the title page, is common place: ignorance and innocence are consorted as usual; and the felicity of retirement is described as greatly preferable to the evils attendant on courts and cities.

Disappointed in our hopes of finding a correct delineation of Calabrian manners, we are happy to meet a compensation in a sketch of the manners of the Neapolitans, prefixed by way of introduction. It is borrowed from "Travels to Naples," published at Berlin, in 1804. This we think worth translating: especially as public attention is, by late events, attracted very strongly towards the South of Italy.

The author's remarks include the following subjects.

ANGER. The Neapolitans threaten each

other with assassination, when they quarrel; and even when their quarrels are not on very serious subjects, they vociferate so loudly, that strangers unaccustomed to such violence, suppose them at daggers drawing.

FUNERAL PROCESSIONS.-The meeting of a procession, might suggest the inquiry, whether living men are attending a corpse to the grave, or whether spectres are not bearing the dead to his long home: inasmuch as all who surround the bier are enveloped in white, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot: two small peeping holes for the eyes exparitions solemnly glide in procession, singing cepted. When twenty or thirty of these appsalms, and holding flambeaux in their hands, during a dark night, while the bier is distinctly seen, covered with a red pall, on which are embroidered crowns of geld; the whole advancing without the spectator's perception of the moving power by which the bier is drawn or carried, it produces a sensation of terror. The dead are accompanied to the grave by members of the various fraternities. bier appears to be self-moving, because the pall extending almost to the ground, those who carry it are wholly concealed.

The

The procession of a rich individual, or a noble, consists in a bier covered with blue velvet, splendidly emblazoned, followed by thirty or forty Lazzaronis each carrying a small standard displaying the arms of the deceased: these ragged mourners walk six or eight in. rank. At present only priests and children are carried with their faces uncovered. Children are strewed with flowers: a nosegay of flowers is also put into their hands, and even into their mouths; a company of children dressed to represent angels, but somewhat opera-fashion, attends them, and practices various antics in their progress to the grave.

EQUIPAGES. This is the last article of luxury relinquished by the Neapolitans; not that they possess costly and superb equipages; they even ought not to be too showy; if drawn by two horses, that is enough: for at Naples nothing is so much dreaded as walking. Insomuch that they do not describe a man who is ruined, by saying "he has not bread :"alas, poor man! he is obliged to go on

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GAMING.-The Neapolitan nobility have no other occupation than play. If the governments of Europe are shaken, they play; if Pompeia rises from its ruins, they play; Vesuvius vomits flames, they play; the ruins of Poestum, distant a few miles, are universally admired by strangers, for the Neapolitans

play. The most distinguished princes of the

country keep tennis courts.

JEALOUSY.-Strangers have no longer any thing to fear from Italian jealousy, described as formerly so dreadful; but now confined to

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PUBLIC READERS.-A remarkable incident at Naples is that of the Readers on the Mole. The Mole is a pier projecting into the sea, forming a very agreeable walk, with the exception of the stench from which it is rarely free. To the left are the ships at anchor; to the right the waves break against the rocks: the light-house is at the extremity. Although the mole is of ample width, and paved with large slabs of stone, yet coaches are forbidden from driving on it. Indeed it is not possible to admit them; for the throng is constantly so considerable that a person on foot can with difficulty make his way through it.

Here abound adventurers of all sorts, who speculate on the credulity of the populace, and others who profit by popular curiosity. Among the latter are two men, somewhat advanced in life, yet still hearty, whose scanty but not ragged clothing marks their close alliance to the mendicant class; they form with benches, a square, which occasionally has two rows; here they seat themselves, holding in their hands a manuscript, and occasionally they attract a numerous audience. Their most usual hearers are sailors, servants, artisans, and children. The history which irresistibly engages these auditors, is constantly that of a certain Prince Rinaldi, for whom the Neapolitans entertain unlimited affection. This prince was a hero always victorious over robbers, monsters, giants, and amazons; but, on every occasion, politeness itself towards the ladies. What most surprises a stranger is, that all these exploits are sung; but in a uniform kind of melody, not unlike recitative.

The narrator exerts his whole strength in the accompaniment of action, and not infrequently bestows no feeble blow on some one near him, which excites a laugh among the crowd. If the subject of his description be a murderous battle, he renders the scene as sensible as possible by his gesticulation : he draws his sword with his right hand, elevates in his left his book by way of shield, to defend his breast, darts on his enemy, slays him outright; being wounded, writhes in the very anguish of pain, or celebrates his triumph by a song. When the story is closed the relator delivers his hat to a Lazzaroni; who understands well enough the meaning of this signal, and with the hat in his hand solicits the donations of the hearers.

LOTTERY, Drawing of.-In a very large hal of the Vicaria, or Justice-court, are assembled sundry persons dressed in black, their heads covered with immense full bottoined perukes; these are gentlemen, very well paid, for coming once a fortnight, and enduring a quarter of a hour's weariness, in a convenient situation. The boy who, as usual in other

countries, draws the numbers, is loaded with images of saints: he is blessed and drenched with holy water before he commences his labours. Nearly two thousand persons are squeezed together in this hall; and although every window and door is open, yet the air is so loaded with mephitic vapours, that, I incline to think, no candle would burn in it. The hootings and hisses of the mad-headed populace are yet more intolerable, if possible, than the offensive exhalations. Often might a spectator ask himself, whether he were not ia a mad-house? If one of the commissioners comes rather late, he is received with reproaches, and hisses enough to turn the head of the most sagacious councelior. When the wheel goes round the shout of the spectators is hor.ible.

The first drawn ticket, being given by the boy who drew it to one of the commissioners, he gave it to a lazzaroni who stood behind him. Instantly the hall resounded with shouts of applause and screains of joy; the second number on the contrary, was received with expressions of chagrin. I went out at this instant, to escape the crowd. On the stair case I met another personage whose attentions were directed to the purse: it was a pious good soul, who, speculating on the nuinerous assembly, took this opportunity of soliciting donations on behalf of the souls in purgatory. The idea was a good one, espe cially was it applicable before the drawing begun to those who were interested in the event, because at that time, every one would hope his good works might be rewarded by the favours of fortune. The stair case was morcover filled with lame beggars; and in order to mprize every characterstic of the Neapolitan superstition, gambling, poverty, and filth were huddled together. On a second floor every kind of nastiness was permitted and practised. When a number was drawn, it was announced through a window, to an agent placed in the street, for the purpose, who proceeded instantly to inform the administration of the lottery, and, as he went, communicated his intelligence to the curious. Directly as the people perceived from a distance the approach of one of these agents, a general exclamation ensued, and thousands of hands waved in the air, for the Neapolitans do nothing without action. All spoke together, during half a minute, to communicate their deep reflections among their neighbours after which they waited till another messenger appeared. The fury of lottery gaming is more excessive here than in other places, because here superstition finds most room for its exercise and the Neapolitans are determined in the choice of their numbers, by the most despicable artifices, such as calculation to predict their success, &c. The folly of this infernal game has infected the whole population, and even the

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