as the authors of the volume before us observe in their preface," that every person should possess some knowledge of the history of his own country:" and they observe justly, that youth is the fittest time of life in which to acquire this knowledge; it is the season of the greatest leisure, the memory is less incumbered, curiosity is more easily stimulated and gratified, and impressions then received are most permanently retained in future life: it is, therefore, of the utmost consequence what kind of historical works, as well as others, are confided to the perusal of youth. History is usually a narration of striking events, originating in the worser passions of the human mind; because the effects of more amiable dispositions are rather private than notorious, and afford little opportunity for those animated descriptions, or those interesting incidents, in which history so strongly delights, that some have supposed them to form her proper object. This account of the settlement of America by colonists from England, by no means departs from the general character of history; it presents to our view not only the distresses naturally to be expected in commencing the population of an uncultivated country; such as, scanty means of subsistence if not absolute want, the absence of civilized society, and of public officers whose superintendance over extensive districts constitutes the general duties of government, and is acquiesced in by individuals for the benefit of the whole; but it abounds also in all the horrors of wars prolonged among savage nations, animated with all the violence of ungovernable passions, and infuriated by the most ferocious barbarities, massacres, torments, and lingering deaths. We equally pity, and equally blame the inhumanity and the impolicy of either side, alternately. Friends ourselves to the principles of peace, and desirous of their prevalence over the whole race of mankind, we acknowledge no distinction between White Brethren and Red Brethren. The human form was never made to be mangled, nor the human mind to be lacerated by its fellows. The reverend compilers of this volume have mingled in their performance much of that peculiar piety which they found in their originals: and which yet continues to tincture the phraseology of America; but we cannot recommend to European historians of the present day, the peculiarities of that language which might be sufficiently well understood when and where it was current, among the puritans who first peopled America, and their immediate descendants. Undoubtedly every event whether afflictive or prosperous may be referred to the superintending care of the great Father of all: but there is such a thing as a just medium between a total omission of acknowledgment to God, which tends strongly to the most despicable and pernicious atheism, and a perpetual introduction of special interferences of providence, which is apt to delude weak and uninstructed minds into the toils of superstition; -extremes almost equally to be avoided, by whoever wishes well to mankind and to his country, or designs to instruct the world at large; a principle which ought to be constantly kept in view by all who undertake to write whether for youth or for maturer years. The work begins with the discovery of America, mentions the origin of most towns of New England, with the names of their founders, and is brought down to the present time. It is printed on a large type, and does no discredit to the American press. Essay towards a Mineral History of Lapland, and West Bothnia. Stockholm, Delon. There are few countries where so much industry and attention is employed in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the country, as in Sweden. Warmholz, in his Bibliotheca Historica Sueco Gothica, mentions 854 works relative to Swedish geography; and in part iv. of Ludekin's Archives of Learning, we find a catalogue of more than 130 maps of this kingdom. We are much indebted to the office of the royal land-surveyor in Stockholm, for several distinct charts of the Swedish provinces; as likewise to Le Baron S. G. Hiomelin for his fine "Chartor öfver Suerige med bifogade Ritningar" in two parts. Many learned Swedes have travelled the different provinces of the kingdom, and have published descriptions of the places visited in their route. There also appears not infrequently, in academical disputations at the Universities, accurate descriptions of single parishes and districts, as well in the Latin as in the Swedish language. For some time past, public attention has been greatly directed to that cold and distant region, Lapland, as appears in the printed accounts of Skiöldebrand and Wahlenburg, and among ourselves of Acerbi.] To these may be added the author of the present work, which is of importance to mineralogists and geologists. Swedish Lapland possesses great treasures of iron ore, mines of copper, and in some places of lead containing silver. A part of Tornea Lapmark, i. e. the parish of Jukhasjarvi, Lulea Lapmark, also Gellivari and the parish of Jokkmoh, with a part of Pitea Lapmark are well known on account of the ores and minerals they furnish. But in Kemi Lapmark or in Enonteki parish, in Tornea Lapmark no vein of ore has hitherto been discovered. The nature of the country, the many sandy heaths and marshes, or hills covered with sand and stones, which seldom consist of solid materials, appear to be the cause. Where we find mountains in this country, they consist partly of granite, on the lower hills, and partly of the usual composition of mountains, on rocks, formed of glimmer and quartz in larger or thinner layers; without lime, or any of the justmentioned component parts of mountains. That district of Lapland which contains ores and minerals stretches from north west to south east; or from the high rocks there to the gulf of Bothnia, on the Baltic, in Tornea and Lulea Lapmark. In the adjoining parts, the parishes lying in West Bothnia, are found sulphur stones, and here and there a little copper ore, with a few stones containing iron; but, as well there as in the southern parishes of West Bothnia (a country which, according to the editor, is overflowed by the rivers descending from the rocky mountains, and from Lapmark) no ores of any value have been found; except a little iron stone on the Lapland boundaries. All the parishes are accurately described, according to their physical, as well as mineralogical circumstances. The situation of the mountains, the veins of ore and their situation, direction, quality, or fineness and revenue, are > examined and stated. The mines and smelting houses are noticed, and an historical account is given of their discovery and of the present state and quantity of their production». The different ininerals which are found in that country are likewise enumerated; as for example, the ore in the parish of Jukhasjarvi consists mostly in blue inclining to violet copper glass with yellow copper sand and green talkshiefer, with fine quartz and glimmer, and sonte chrystal of haih-path; with which are sometimes found, dark blue magnetic iron ore, and octohaedric chrystals of iron ore. The clean ore contains from 20 to 50 per cent. of copper; and, at the same time, 7 to 8 loths (oz.) of silver. Some part of the ore contains gold. The pare copper contains, in 100 marks, 20 loths of silver. Some have supposed that cinnabar has been found in the mines; but, the iron oker which has been found there, partly massive, and partly mixed with green quartz, and yellow-grey clay, which has been taken for cinnabar, has, on trial, been found to contain neither quicksilver nor copper. In several of the mines there have been found, among other minerals, sundry sorts of iron ore, strahlstein, speckstein, braunspath, chorit feldspath, kalkspath, glimmer schieffer, tremolit; likewise are found schleifstein, berg-chrystal, (and yet no real precious stone; although quartz chrystal, and halh-spath have been sometimes mistaken for such) likewise lead ore, and some sulphur ore. Several tons of lead ore have been sent from thence to Stockholm; which has been found useful for black lead pots, and other purposes. In a manner, equally intelligent and particular, the author describes the remaining parishes. In this description he has, in part, made use of the collection of minerals of the late Counsellor of Mines, Adlersparre; and, in part, of the yearly accounts sent to the College of Mines. The Protonotarius Robsam, in the College of Mines, has often taken journies through Lutea Lapland, and the artist Wallinan, and the mainer Swal, through West Bothnia These, with his own journies to the newly established mines and smelting houses, have furnished materials for the present work, in the perusal of which it would be of service to have before us the geographical chart of West Bothnia and Swedish LapJand, printed in 1796. The author has added to his description three new charts, viz. 1. The mountains of Gellivari, by Robsam; 2. The copper and iron mines of Svappavaara, by Adlerheim, Counsellor of Mines; and 3. A sketch of the granite quarry in Lappiovara; and the view of Yilastunturi. From the whole, we may see that nature here too, though so far to the north, has deposited treasures of minerals. It is a pity that the use of them is almost prohibited by their great distance, by the difficulty of conveyance, whether by rein deer, or by other modes, by the want of labourers, and the scarcity of wood, as no trees grow there, except the dwarf birch. For this reason, these mines do not always repay the labour and expense which is annually bestowed upon them. Epistolarion, &c. Correspondence, &c. in modern Greek. THE state of the Turkish empire appears to us to be so peculiar, that we know not how to consider the present government, as likely to be permanent: yet it has weathered so many storms resembling those which now assail it, that we know not how to consider its condition as desperate. This uncertainty induces us to accept from any quarter, authentic information, however imperfect, as to its past history, on which to ground some conjecture, as to its future fate. Something of this nature appears in the present volume; which combines additional interest with that which must always accompany productions of the Greek press, and indications of taste for the revival of letters among the descendants of those who once maintained a reputation in science and knowledge, which other nations might emulate, but did not equal. From the Patriarchal press at Constantinople, has lately appeared, a volume of letters, which the learned physician, Bazilius, the editor, wishes, should be put into the hands of youth, as specimens of the epistolary style, and as proper models for imitation. In this work it happens that the collateral circumstances interest much more than the main subject. If simplicity, brevity and point recommend letters, the stiff rhetoric and verbal inanity of most of these examples are not favourable to the instruction of learners; but, after a variety of tedious exemplars, which occupy 71 pages, follow 200 pages, containing the important letters of Alexander Maurocordatus, privy counsellor of state to the Porte, whose influence in war and peace, especially from the year 1653 to 1699, is well known. It is true, that his letters are not uniformly in the purest style. They possess, indeed, occasionally, but not always, that hearty simplicity which is greatly superior to artificial and ornamented sentences. But, unhappily, not one of them is dated; and it requires more than a superficial knowledge of the history of the times, to assign to each its proper period. Neither can we report favourably of the execution of the volume; the perusal of such a wretched print, with types, which should have been thrown aside as useless, on paper which is nearly transparent, is extremely tiresome Nevertheless, a reader need not lay this book out of his hand, without having received improvement of several kinds. We here see at once the character of one of the noblest of the modern Greeks. His family was from Chios. As a citizen, husband, father, friend, and man of business, he was worthy of true honour; nor was he unfortunate, in comparison with others; yet he was unceasingly oppressed by the despotic and suspicious government in whose service he laboured, and by want of patriotism among the Greek nation. He was well versed in the works of antiquity; and feelingly recommended to the Alexandrian Patriarch Gerasimus, as also, on every occasion to his son, to make himself thoroughly master of the works of the ancients as the only way to become great. He dwelt much on the cultivation of the old attic graces, whose remains had been collected by Marqurus and Korydalus; and strongly advises him to exercise himself in the ancient style. In criticism he seems to have taken Photius for his guide; and he commends to his son, the letters ascribed to Phalaris (of which Sir William Temple speaks so highly) which next to Photius's letters to Amphilochius, Bishop of Cyzicus, he esteems as the finest examples of writing. He is perfectly acquainted with every period of his national literature, and quotes the fathers of the church, and the Latin grammarians, frequently. As amusement in the camp, Militeus, Bishop of Arta, was commissioned to send him the Erotika. Nevertheless, his historical treatises merit the utmost attention; such as, several letters on the events of war, and especially the printed discourse, Presbytikas pros Germanous peri eirenes, of 1691, for which he rightfully assumes some merit (letter to Constantius Ducas). We confess it is not written in the style of Thucidydes; yet, the representation it contains is grand signior Achmet II. employed him in an not without eloquence. It appears that the embassy to Germany, at the commencement of his reign. The object of the Porte, at that time, was to convince the Austrians that a desire for peace, was not the effect of weakness, or fear. To this end, he enumerates their victories, to shew that they ought rather to be ascribed to accidental errors, from the too great haste of the Ottoman leaders, than to the preponderance of the Austrians; and that the Porte always remained possessed of great resources, after all its losses; that the Austrians should not deceive themselves, on account of the frequent insurrections in the Turkish provinces, or even in the metropolis, they having no relation with the Turkish government. If the Grand Seignor was too mild or negligent, something might break out and rage dreadfully for a few days, but the sovereign, or some man of power, soon rises up, and destroys the rebels in a little time, as the majesty of religion inspirits a multitude at the first summons. In Turkey, public affairs are not transacted exclusively by officers of birth or family. Talents and industry give the lowest born a claim to the highest offices of the state. Mistakes are sometimes made, but are soon remedied; and incapable ministers are treated without ceremony: therefore, when that immeasurable empire appears to be in the greatest danger, it is always possible and probable that among so many people of talent, the Sultan may find some man equal to meet the urgency of the occasion. Page 273, &c. are letters from John Nicholas, the son of Alexander Maurocordatus, Waivode, sometime of Moldavia, and sometime of Wallachia; not equal to his father's writings, yet not without interest. Several excellent men are likewise introduced to nearer notice: especially, Jacob Manar, the learned Argive, and Gerasimus (with whom A. Maurocordatus, was always in the closest connexion) also Dositheus Patriarch of Jerusalem. At the end (probably from the editor) we find a description of the months; in which many grammarians are quoted; but at the same time, there are many proofs of ignorance. The indictions he derives from Augustus. Among the Egyptians, Italians, and Bohemians, the day commences at sun set, with the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Nurembergers, from sun rise. A few prayers form the conclusion, not without something of Battology, or "vain repetition." That the Patriarchal press should publish more proofs and accounts of the actions and learning of such men as old Maurocordatus, and his friends, is highly to be wished. [Lit. Pan. Nov. 1806.] Vox. I. Tales in Verse; Critical, Satirical, and Humorous: By Thomas Holcroft. In two vols. price 8s. Symonds. In those days, he and Honor never parted; And swear It was a doubt, Or it was not, Just as they pleas'd to make it ; Resent it how he could, For damn 'em if they did not both defy Gunpowder, death, and him! Such was their whim. Your scoundrel fellows might indeed be truss'd up; But, as for them, they'd kick a dust up, Breed a riot, make a rout, And if they pleas'd, by way of freak, The nose would tweak, It was their itch; At all times ready they t'exchange a shot: Resolv'd to rule the roast. .... When shall the pond'rous truth be understood, Let innovating Blockheads chate, swarms, We should eat one another up at last! The very clay, of which we're made, In which to stand, or sit, or set their feet! By wholesale, one and all! Let Fungus still with Fungus vie; The above was written, printed, and published, as POETRY, by the Author, liv ing in Berner's Street, July 20, A. D. 1806. Military, Historical, and Political Memoirs of Count de Hordt, a Swedish Nobleman, and Lieut. Gen. in the service of the King of Prussia. 2 vols. crown 8vo. pp. about 720. Price 12s. Everton. London, 1806. An old soldier who is a man of sense, and has been a man of observation, that is to say, something beside a mere soldier, is one of the most amusing and entertaining of companions. The respect paid to well behaved military men of the superior classes, the opportunities they possess of enquiring into the truth of important facts, and the variety of persons and places which they visit in the course of their professional duties, are circumstances highly favourable to the acquisition of that knowledge of events and of the world, which, matured by reflection, improved by mental comparison and discrimination, and corrected by honour and morals, imparts to the discourse of a military character, a charm more easily felt than described. The same observation applies to the memoirs of those who have followed the profession of arms; and few books are more entertaining than those for which we are beholden to the private journals of observant officers. If the work before us is not the very first in the first class of such communications, yet it possesses many interesting passages; and some things in it, are more particularly, or more faithfully described than in other works of great reputation. Count Hordt was by birth a Swede, the profession of arms was hereditary in his family, and, willing to acquire experimental knowledge in his profession, he sought employment out of his native country, when that was at peace. He was first engaged in the Dutch service, under the prince of Waldeck, and behield with deep concern the blunders of the allies, the pernicious effects of jealousies, rivalships, and competitions, during those campaigns in Flanders, in 1744, &c. which were commanded by William, Duke of Cumberland. After the peace of 1748, he returned to Sweden; where he married, but engaging in a conspiracy in favour of the crown, which failed, he escaped from his native country, entered the Prussian service, was taken prisoner by the Russians, confined twenty-five months in the citadel at Petersburgh, was released from thence on the accession of Peter III. to the Russian throne, and afterwards, was gradually, without any unusual proportion of fighting, promoted by Frederic II. to the rank of Lieutenant General, and the post of governor of Spandau. He appears to have been on familiar terms with Prince Henry of Prussia; accompanied him twice to Petersburgh, supposes himself to have been in the secret of the partition of Poland, and states the occurrence which he conceives produced it. The characters he draws of eminent personages are mostly just; he corrects some mistakes in historians usually considered as well informed; but is, in our opinion, though perfectly honest, liable to some exceptions of a like na ture. We do not perceive that military lessons of unusual importance, or more than common skill, are taught by the work before us: but, there are several political observations which manifest a sound understanding in the writer, and lead to important consequences. The work opens with a description of the state of Sweden, during the reigns of Charles XI. and XII. and the assumption of accumulated power by the states on the demise of the latter, to the injury of the crown. A government the prey of distrust and animosity, a poor state, whose rulers accepted stipends from foreign courts, in order to support that party to which they were attached, and who relied on subsidies from France, as one of the ordinary ways and means of its members, however it might figuratively, or by courtesy, be called" independent," was not, in fact, entitled to that honorable distinc tion. The author well observes, that A monarch invested with full powers to do good, is above the temptation of selling himself to a foreign court, because his interest, closely linked with that of his people, is to avert every thing which might tend to endanger the security, peace and happiness of his monarchy: but what considerations would have sullicient power to confine within the limits of justice and patriotism the members of a senate and national assembly, who, having usurped and preserving the full exercise of the executive power, have neither enquiries nor punishment to dread, and who, poor, or at least, not wealthy, are, for the most part, eager to make a fortune, per fas et nefas, if circumstances favour their views? |