parties, and on maxims and rules of policy: but that these are appropriately introduced in a work of which the object is to vindicate the conduct of an individual, in one single transaction, we are wholly at a loss to perceive.

The Count DE PUISAYE is unquestionably a man of ability and information. If he wishes to deal fairly by the public, and to engage its favourable regard, we advise him no longer to trifle with it as he has hitherto done, but, in the volume which he announces, let him fully meet the charges advanced against him. We own that we are completely tired by these tedious narratives; and our memory presents to us no instance of a personal vidication spun to any thing like the length of these memoirs.

ART. XIX. Manuel de Trigonométrie Pratique, &c.; i. e. A Manual of Practical Trigonometry. By the Abbe DELAGRIVE, FR.S. London, and Geographer in Paris. Revised and augmented by Tables of Logarithms for the Use of Engineers, &c. By A. A L. REYNAUD, Professor at the Polymatic School, &c. 8vo. Paris. 1806. Imported by De Boffe. Price 78.

WE E may expose our own ignorance of books and of authors, but we certainly mean to cast no oblique slur on the reputation of M. DE DELAGRIVE, when we affirm that the Trigonometry of that author was unknown to us, before the words Nouvelle Edition advised us of its existence. There are, in our opinion, within the same compass, trigonometrical treatises in France much superior to the one before us, both for matter and arrangement. Indeed, we regard the present as deficient in these points: the trigonometrical formule are sparingly afforded, and, when any present themselves, they are not very neatly deduced; and it is impossible from this book to learn trigonometry theoretically, and difficult to acquire it practically.

This manual was intended, no doubt, to teach trigonometry in its practical uses: to enable students to understand and to conduct those processes which are necessary, in measuring an arc of the meridian; for this operation requires a practical knowlege of surveying in its largest extent;—and with reference to this measurement of an arc of the meridian, rules and tables are here laid down and constructed: for instance, for reducing angles observed in one plane, to their value in another plane; for reducing observations made at one part of a station, to the centre or the observed part of such station, &c.-The latter portion of the volume is occupied by tables of

8

logarithms,

logarithms, and of sines, tangents, &c.; and to these, the editor has prefixed an explanation.

We have not the means of present reference to the Ency clopédie Méthodique: but, if we recollect rightly, M. DELAGRIVE is the author of the Trigonometry inserted in that work.

ART. XX. Moyens de conserver la Santé des Habitans des Campagnes, &c.; i. e. On the Means of preserving the Health of Countrypeople, &c. By Madame GACON-DUFOUR, Author of several Works on Rural and Domestic Economy. 12mo. PP. 330. Paris. 1806. Imported by De Boffe. Price 4s.

THIS volume presents to us a phænomenon of not very frequent occurrence, a medical work written by a female. Madame GACON-DUFOUR appears to have spent the greatest part of her life in the country; and in consequence of a turn for observation, and a desire of benefiting the condition of those around her, she has been led to compose this treatise on the health of the peasantry. It is unnecessary to dwell on the importance of the object; yet it must be acknowleged that it has not hitherto met with that degree of attention which it seemed to demand. The publication before us, though of small dimensions, embraces the discussion of a great variety of topics; such as directions for the construction of the habitations of the poor, for their diet and clothing, and for the nursing and management of their children; observations on the causes which render the air unfit for respiration, on the injurious tendency of many of the operations in which the peasantry are Occasionally engaged, and the means for obviating these effects, &c. &c. on which, and other similar subjects, we have some plain and generally judicious remarks, the result of common experience, but little perverted by theory.

Besides the more substantial merits of this volume, we have been interested in the perusal of it, in consequence of the information which it incidentally contains respecting the customs and manners of the French peasantry. On such points, it is difficult to keep the mind free from national bias: but the impression, which is left by Mad. GACON-DUFOUR's work, is not favourable with respect either to the comforts or the state of civilization of those for whose use it is intended.

ART.

ART. XXI. Dictionnaire Portatif de Géographie Universelle, &c; i. e. A Dictionary of Universal Geography, including a comparative View of that of the Antients, of the middle Ages, and of modern Times; presenting á geographical, historical, political, and statistical View of the Globe, and of its Partitions in different Ages, as well as its actual State; -the Denominations and the Divisions both antient and modern, of Countries, Kingdoms, Republics, Cities, Towns, &c:-their History, natural and artificial Productions, Commerce, Climate, Situation, Population, Manners, &c; -and more especially the State of antient and modern France. Digested after the Plan of Vosgien, from various Writers. By P. C. V. BOISTE. Accompanied by a Quarto Atlas, consisting of forty five plates. 8vo. Paris. 18c6. Imported by De Boffe.

WE say in England that "Good wine needs no bush:" but we suppose that in France puffing is necessary to help off even a good thing; otherwise, we cannot account for the pompous display of the merits of this useful Gazetteer. M. BOISTE talks of the multitude of authors whom he has consulted; of the compression of a vast quantity of matter into a narrow space; of his laconic style, consisting for the most part of substantives and adjectives, similar to that of Linné in his Natural History; of his attention to accuracy; and of his incessant endeavour to make history keep pace with geography. The compilation is an evidence of the patient industry of its author, and will be very useful to most readers: but we could not avoid a smile at seeing a volume, consisting of 1077 pages, denominated Portatif, for it can be a pocket volume only to a Brogdignagian.

In a work comprising such a vast multitude of articles, many omissions and errors will be expected to occur; and we have discovered several of both : but their enumeration would evince a minuteness of criticism to which, in the present instance, we are not inclined to descend. Though M. BorsTE professes to have consulted Crutwell in his account of England, the proper names of our counties and towns are often incorrectly spelt, and the notices will be unsatisfactory to the English reader. The 220,000 inhabitants of Norfolk, for instance, will not approve of being all called chicaneurs. We know not what is meant by Etomar being the chief place in the isle of Thanet.

The exhibition of the antient with the modern names of places is very useful; and with all the defects of the present work, (which, whenever they are discovered, should be corrected in the margin,) we venture to recommend it as a valu

able

able book of geographical reference. We hope that, wher Europe is at rest, and the territorial portions of princes can be confidently assigned, an undertaking similar to that of M. BOISTE will be executed in our own country.

ART. XXII. Explication de la Fable, &c.; ie. An Explication of Mythology by History, and by Ægyptian Hieroglyphics, the real Source of Mythology. By M. J. B LIONNOIS, Dean of the Faculty of Arts in the University of Nancy. 12mo. Paris-London, De Boffe. Price gs. sewed.

IT

3 Vols.

is certainly to be desired that young persons should be introduced to the nature and foundation of the antient mythology, as far as the records of history will enable us to arrive at the sources from which the idolatry of the antients was derived. Diodorus Siculus is on this account a most valuable and interesting author; and although he is neither to be admired for his style, nor is worthy of dependance for every position and fact which he has stated, yet the remains of his history which have descended to us furnish a most valuable illustration, and throw great and important light on the fictions of early times.

On an inspection of the present volumes, we perceived that the information contained in the Greek historian had not been neglected; and in the first article, we also found that recourse had been had to the curious fragment of Sanchoniathon, which is preserved in Eusebius. On this account, we were led at first to give the author credit for much industry and ingenuity in drawing up this treatise: but we soon recollected a similar work, though far more copious and extensive, by the Abbé Bannier; and on turning to that valuable performance, we discovered that M. LIONNOIS had composed this publication altogether of excerpta quadam from the mythology of Bannier. Even the introductory remarks are taken from that Abbé; and yet no confession, no preface whatever, apologizes for the liberty which he has used!-The third volume contains a compressed account of Egypt, derived from late descriptions of that country.-This is a most ingenious mode of making a new book.

INDEX

To the REMARKABLE PASSAGES in this Volume.

N. B. To find any particular Book, or Pamphlet, see the
Table of Contents, prefixed to the Volume.