HISTORY.

IVALITE de la France et de l'An

Ile par Guillaume, Duc de Normandie, jufqu'à laRupture du Traité d'Amiens par I'Angleterre," &c.-Hiftory of the Rivalry between France and England, from the Epoch of the Conqueft by William Duke of Normandy, until the Rupture of the Treaty of Amiens on the Part of England, by VIENOT VAUBLANC, a Member of the Legislative Body, 1 vol. 8vo.

This work includes five principal epochs, each exhibiting the most ample proofs of that unhappy jealoufy which has prevail. ed between England and France, during a period of about eight centuries. The firft chapter treats of the invafion in 1066, under William the Norman, while the latt retraces the events which preceded the conclufion, and have followed the rupture, of the treaty of Amiens.

An attempt is here made to prove to the other European nations, that the policy of Ergland has invariably been, mercantile, wily, and perfidious; and it is boaftingly and ridiculously afferted, that in chaftsfing our nation, the French government will acquit a debt of eight hundred years ftanding, and avenge humanity of the most violent of its oppreffors!!!" Much praife is given to the moderation of the French government, as well as to its inviolable respect for treaties; while the moft happy refult is prefaged from the immenfe preparations now taking place on the hoftile fhores of Gaul.

"Hiftoire du Bas Empire, en commençant à Conftantin le Grand," &c. A History of the Lower Empire, comme cing with the Reign of Conftantine the Great. By M. LEBEACE, Perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Infcriptions and Belles Lettres; continued by M. AMEILHON, formerly a Member of the fame Academy, and at prefent of the Natianal Inftitute of France, Vol. 25.

This publication, first undertaken during the time of the monarchy, is continued under what is fancifully termed the republic. The author who commenced the work is now no more, and the labours of M. Ameilhon, his fucceffor, have been interrupted by other puriuits; " as he has been employed, for a confiderable time pat, in re cuing an immenfe multitude of books appertaining to the nation from the hands of cupidity and ignorance."

The volume now before us contains a portion of the reign of John Paleologus and Cantacuzene; in other words, it

includes the period between 1341 and 1332. M. Ameilhon is of opinion with Gibbon,

ter, where he compofed a celebrated book, rather exhibits in the work an apology for his own ambitious views, than the confeffion of his errors; while, instead of developing the characters and designs of those men who engaged in the events of the time, he only prefents the furface of facts, with the addition of an immoderate praise of himself and his partifans. It must be allowed, however, that he was not unfrequently entitled to compaffion, more especially at thofe periods when abandoned by a friend whom he had raised to the highest offices of the ftate; affailed by the furious patriarch who prefided over the Greek church; and deprived of his adherents, and even of his mother, by treachery and injuftice. This lady, whofe fon had governed the empire, as prime minifter, and relufed to accept of the purple when tendered to him, "was fuffered to languish during many months in a prifon : the was condemned to pass the winter without fire, notwithstanding the extreme rigour of the cold; and ferved, at the fame time, with but a fcanty portion of food. In addition to this, he was entirely configned to the difcretion of the fatellites intrusted to guard her: thofe vile and brutal men exhibited none of that delicacy, which age, fex, and condition required. Endeavouring to torment her by their odious prefence, as well as by reproachful words, they were never out of fight, and they tasked their fancies to invent new untruths, on purpose to render her fituation more difaftrous. Sometimes they announced that her fon had been brought a prifoner to Conftantinople; fometimes they said that he was killed in battle; that the victor had sent his head to court, and that (if the pleased) they would procure a fight of it for her!

They examined every thing with the moft fcrupulous exactnefs. If either foup, or any liquid intended as a medicine, was brought into her chamber, they plunged their dirty hands to the bottom of the vale, to be certain that fome writing was not concealed there; a proceeding which infpired this lady with fuch difguft, that he would no longer take any thing even to fupport nature. The want of nourishment, chagrin, neglect, and forrow, foon reduced her to the most deplorable state. In this fituation, the enemy of her fon refufed her a phyfician, on which the emprefs fent her own; but, being intimidated

by

by the menaces of the patriarch, he beheld his patient without daring to utter a fingle fyllable. Having deceived the vigilance of the fpies who furrounded him, he contrived, however, to make her understand by figns, that bleeding would be highly ufeful; but there was no pesfon to perform the operation. fo that the fick lady expired, confumed at once by forrow and the ardours of a burning fever."

In the mean time, the empire is defcribed as reduced to the loweft degree of mifery, and tottering to its fall. Weakened, and almost reduced to Thrace, it exhibited thofe convulfive motions which already announced its approaching end.

The Genoefe etablished at Galata made the capital tremble, and feemed to be on the point of rendering themselves mafters of it. The Serbes, under the command of their Kral or chief, by turns, took part with the different factions, and enriched themselves at the expence of all. The Bulgarians adopted the fame policy; while the Tartars or Tatars of the Crimea ravaged Thrace wherever they were in expectation of finding plunder. Another empire exifted at Trebizonde, and was alfo threatened with immediate diffo. lution. A Turk, who had obtained pof. feffion of Smyrna, called himself Prince of Ionia; another was Sultan of Bithynia. Cantacuzene, during a ftruggle of five years with his enemies, had recourfe, by turns, to all thefe barbarians: this was nothing better than an invitation to them to ruin that very empire to the command of which he himself afpired. Amer, Sultan of Smyrna, was his friend; and Orehan, Sultan of Smyrna, became his fonin-law.

We are at the same time shocked at the atrocity of the manners of the people. The Greeks had by this time attained the character of being the moft fubtle poifoners in the whole world, and the Italians never rivalled them in this horrid art, until an habitual intercourfe had rendered them apt fcholars.

The law of nations was wholly difregarded, and it required far more courage to be an ambaffador than an officer. Thofe fent to negociate treaties were fometimes thrown into jail, fometimes torn to pieces by means of whips, and at other times cut afunder by fwords. Conftantinople was a fea-port, and yet the inhabitants were entirely ignorant of naval af fairs; they could only oppofe to the Genoefe, veffels badly conftructed, unskilful crews, and admirals ftill more ignorant than themselves.

All the riches which Conftantine had brought with him from Rome, the wealth amaffed by his fucceffors, and the spoils of fo many nations, were by this time all diffipated. When Cantacuzene caufed himself to be confirmed in the capital, by the ceremony of confecration, which he received along with Paleologus, his colleague, the folemnity became ridiculous in confequence of the poverty every where apparent.

"The falfe diamonds and coloured ftones (we are told) replaced thofe magnificent jewels which were formerly feenduring the feftivals of the court. Cups and dishes of pewter, brafs, and clay, fupplied the place of gold; and, while instead of rich stuffs, which were accustomed to adorn the apartments, gilded leather was only to be seen.”

In another part we find the following paffage: " Along with vice and criminality reigned the most ridiculous fuperRtition. Cantacuzene undertook to celebrate the fanctity of the Bishop of Didymo. ticus. Heaven itself, forced reluctantly by the fervent prayers of this prelate to give a falfe teftimony, permitted a woman, guilty of the crime of adultery, to carry a red-hot iron in her hand, in order to demonftrate her innocence to her husband and the public." The above language is very strong, and an attempt has doubtlefs been made upon this occafion to imitate Voltaire. Here follows a passage, which appears to be written with fimilar views:

"A herefy, which originated among the monks of Mount Athos, was about this time spread abroad at Conftantinople Thefe ftupid folitaries imagined, that by deep meditation, added to the circumftance of contemplating their navel without interruption, they would behold the light of Tabor. The great difficulty was to difcover, whether this light was eternal or created? A council was convoked on purpose to punish the enemies of this herefy, or, more properly fpeaking, of this madness, who were anathematized, perfecuted, mafficred, and deprived of the rites of fepulture. Cantacuzene, who throughout the whole of his Memoirs vaunts his profound wisdom, pro. tected the fenfelefs Palamites; for it was thus that thefe fectarists were denominated from the name of Palamas their chief. He also became the ardent perfecutor of Nicephoras Grégoras, who refused to facrifice his reafon to the defpotism of the prince."

While treating of Nicephoras Grégoras, M. Ameilhon here endeavours to

give

give a leffon to fuch as, like himself, treat of important events. "It is not fufficiently recollected (fays he) that the duties of an hiftorian are also those of a judge. If he ought to be inexorable on the one hand, when it becomes his duty to develope or purfue crime; he cannot be too careful on the other hand, that he does not overwhelm innocence. In fine, he cannot take too much care, left he should be induced, by falfe reprefentations, to affail innocence, or prefcribe too much reserve to his pen, when he is about to pronounce a judgment that will decide on the reputation of any one, and thus immolate his reputation to the fcorn and execration of pofterity."

To this work, Levelque, a member of the hiftorical clafs of the National Inftitute, has given a public teftimony of approbation; but it is not unlikely that it will be contemplated in a different point of view by others, more efpecially in this country. It is but fair, however, to remark, that the talents and erudition of M. Ameilhon have been long efteemed in France, even before the late Revolution. He is praised by his countrymen for the chafteness of his language; but they seem to be aware, that neither his example nor that of other writers of eminence, will be able to fhelter it from innovation. Were it poffible to confine the youth of both fexes to read thofe works only, produced during the age of Louis XIV. they would be influenced by the prefent ftyle of converfation not in the capital alone, but throughout the nation.

Afect of innovators," as they are termed by the old school, is, and has been for fome time, bufily occupied in erecting what they are pleased to term, une langue bien faite, as if that had been an unimproved language in which Racine, Boileau, Boffuet, and Fenelon, exhibited their genius and their talents. In the mean time, the fecond clafs of the Inftitute has undertaken the task of reftoring, if ftill poffible, the French language to

its former ftandard.

"Recherches Hiftoriques fur les Principales Nations établies en Siberie et dans les Pays adjacens, lors de la Conquête des Ruffes, Ouvrage traduit du Ruffe par M. HOTTENWERK, ancien Officier de Carrabiniers au Service de la Ruffie,"-Hiftorical Researches relative to the Principal Nations, established in Siberia, and the adjacent Countries, &c. tranflated from the Ruffian by M. HOTTENWERK, formerly an Officer of Carabiniers, in the Service of Ruffia. I vol. 8vo.

2

The genealogies of obfcure tribes, like thofe of individuals deftitute of celebrity, are but little interefting to any except themselves; yet, as an object of curiofity, fome will be pleafed to trace the origin even of the modern Siberians. We are here told, that they derive their fource from that immenfe nation of Tartars or Tatars, who, under different names, have ravaged and conquered one half of the globe: this nation, which the remoteft periods develope to us in a state, not fa vage, which is the infancy of nations, but barbarous, which is a mark of their degeneracy from civilifed fociety. This nation, in fhort, which appears to be in our time what it was in the remotelt antiquity, is here described through all its remote branches and ramifications.

The mode adopted upon this occafion is the comparison of idioms, which is praifed by fome, but confidered as highly equivocal by others. In compliance with this plaufible theory, the Hungarians are confidered as Tatars (Ongri) not only con formity to the refemblance of names, but of language, a variety of words being found to correfpond in the vocabularies of each.

The author, alío, has here endeavoured to clear up the nearly obfelete traditions, concerning Prefter John. Joinville ftates, that certain miffionaries (Cordelier friars) difcovered this Catholic fovereign, in Upper Afia, and prefenting themselves before him in quality of ambassadors, fang the Salve Regina,by way of an harangue. Since that period, a number of curious differtations have been written concerning this extraordinary perfonage, nearly all of which are recounted in this volume; but the author feems to have forgotten the hypothefis fuggefted by an English traveller, who fuppofes the kings of Abyffinia to be defcended from Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and denominates them Chriftians following the Greek rites. On mentioning the king's name, they make ufe of a formula, fomewhat like our buzza! exclaiming Preta bani! which the Cordeliers are fuppofed to have miftaken for the name of the king, whence they defignated him Prètre Jean!

MISCELLANIES.

"Système Univerfel et Complet de Sténographie; ou, Manière abrégee d'Ecrire applicable à tous les Idiomes, et fondée fur des Principes fi fimples et fi faciles à faifir, qu'on peut connoître en une Heure les Elémens de cet Art et fe mettre en Etat dans très peu de Temps de fuivre la Parole d'un Orateur. Inventé par SAMUEL TAYLOR, et adapté a la Langue Françaife, par T.P. BERTIA

T. P. BERTIN," &c.—An Univerfal and Complete Syftem of Stenography, &c. invented by SAMUEL TAYLOR, and adapted to the French Language by T. P. BERTIN, &c. 1 vol. 8vo.

The advantages of fhort hand are obvious, particularly in a country like England, where our orators, both in the fenate and at the bar, are at liberty to exprefs their fentiments; but in France (at least at prefent) this art must be confidered as little better than an useless accomplishment. An involuntary tribute is, however, paid to Great-Britain on the prefent occafion; for Taylor's method is declared to be the best ever invented, and is confequently adopted here: yet, notwithstanding this confeffion, M. Bertin has received from the Abbé Sicard, teacher of the deaf and dumb, the fanciful appellation of "the Newton of Abbreviators." It is here boafted, that the art has been brought to fuch perfection by this mafter, that the number 500, 100 can be reprefented by four characters only.

"Mélanges de Phyfiologie, de Phyfique et de Chimie; contenant entr'autres Chofes, un Traité fur les Sympathies ou fur les Rapports Organiques; un Traité fur l'Electricité; un Traité furle Galvanisme ; et un Traité fur le Magnétifme, ou l'Aimant; le Tout confidéré fous de nouvelles Vues; Ouvrage destiné à concourir à deux Prix propofés, l'un, depuis longtemps par l'Inftitut National, fur les Sympathies, et l'autre propofé par le Gouvernement fur des Découvertes relatives à l'Electricité. Par CLAUDE ROUCHER-DERATTE, Officier de Santé, Profeffeur de Phyfique et de Chimie à l'Ecole Centrale du Département de l'Herault," &c.-A Mifcellany of Phyfiology, Natural Philofophy, and Chemistry, by CLAUDE ROUCHER-DERATTE, Officer of Health, &c. 2 vols. 8vo.

The vanity of this boaftful profeffor is fo exceffive as to excite ridicule. He very cordially tells us, "that his fyftem forms a complete body of doctrine, the torch of which is calculated to throw a radiance over the fcience of man, as well as the phyfiology and metaphyfics which conftitute it.' He adds, that the human heart, of which it was hitherto impoffible to found the depth, in confequence of the impenetrable mystery that covered it, is no longer inacceffible, as the veil is at length torn away. The following is the modeft motto in the title-page:

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Exegi monumentum are perrennius, "Regalique fitu pyramidum altius.” "Mémoires Historiques de JEANNE

GOMART DE VAUBERNIER, Comteffe DUBARRY, dernière Maîtreffe de Louis XV.; rédigés fur des Pièces authentiques: avec des Détails fur ce qui s'est paffé à la Cour de France pendant qu'elle y étoit en Faveur; fuivis de fa Correfpondance avec M. M. de Briffac, Rohan, Mauffab:é, Madame Lebrun, et autres Perfonnes, pendant les Années 1790, 91, et 92; auxquels on a joint la Relation defes quatre Voyages à Londres, fes Entretiens avec M. Pitt, fon Procès et celui de M. M. Wandenyver, Banquiers, et l'importante Déclaration qu'elle fit entre deux Guichets de la Conciergerie après le Jugement qui la condamnoit á la Mort; par M. de FAVROLLE," &c.-Hiftorical Memoirs of JEAN GOMART DE VAUBERNIER, Counters de Barré, the last Mistress of Louis XV. &c. 4 vols. 12mo.

The celebrated woman, whofe life and adventures are here recorded, lived in great fplendour towards the latter part of the reign of Louis XV. and perished on a fcaffold foon after the execution of his grandfon.

During the period when her word was a law, and her authority paramount, a thoufand fatires were circulated again't this titled courtezan: her morals, of courfe, formed a fair fubject of attack; but not content with this, her enemies reproached her with the baseness of her birth, as well as the vileness of her conduct during the early fcenes of her youth. It is worthy of remark, however, that unlike her predeceffor Madame de Pompadour, who alfo enjoyed the favour of the monarch, fhe never caufed fearch to be made after, or endeavoured to procure, the punishment of the authors, What is fill more ftrange, fhe never hired any pen in her defence, and the only work that ever appeared in her favour, was published after the demife of her royal paramour, and confequently during her difgrace. In this production, entitled "La Galerie des Dames Françaifes," (the Gallery of French Ladies) many praifes are lavished on her beauty, equally on the excellent qualities of her mind and heart, but no attempt whatsoever is made to diffemble. any of her faults.

This lady was placed near the person of the lafcivious monarch, by the enemies of the Duke de Choifeul; and it appears, notwithstanding the feductions of that politic minifter, whom Frederic the Great had denominated" the coachman of Europe," she always remained faithful to her protectors. She alfo openly countenanced and affifted the family of a man who efpoufed

once

efpoused her from the odious principle of intereft, and never once claimed the rights of a husband.

The two first volumes are filled with the adventures of her early life, a great portion of which are likely to be at leaft apocryphal; in addition to this, they have been repeatedly narrated before. The third and fourth contain an account of facts, lefs known, but more interefting; they chiefly relate to her conduct during the late revolution. A robbery of diamonds, to a confiderable amount, rendered it neceffary that she should take no lefs than four journies to England, &c.; and these became a pretext for her death, while certain Dutch bankers, who could be reproached with no other crime than that of tranfmitting money to a female who had left France with regular paffports, and therefore could not be confidered as an emigrant, were involved in her ruin.

A little before her execution, the attempted to obtain a procrastination, if not a repeal, of the fentence, by offering to indicate the particular parts, where the had concealed her money. On the other hand, M. Wandenyver, fenior, who was affaffinated along with her, fo far from lament ing his fate, calmly employed himself in defignating certain effects appertaining to foreigners, which had been entrusted to his care; and knowing that all his own property would be confifcated, he earnest ly entreated that a debt of 300 livres in affignats, which he owed to Boze, the painter, might be repaid him.

On being placed in the fatal cart along with this old man, his two fons, and the deputy Noel, Madame Dubarry was feized with terror, and uttered loud and piering lamentations.

"The grief of the Countess (fays M. De Favrolle) was fo violent, and indeed fo moving, that the officer of the gendarmerie, fearing left a capricious people, who had permitted the king and queen to be tranquilly conducted to the guillotine, might produce a commotion, and thus fave the mistress of Louis XV. gave orders to haften the progrefs of thofe condemned. On their arrival at the Place de la Revolution fhe was obliged to defcend firft, and her grief now became fo violent, that her reafon feemed to be affected; and when the executioner appeared, the exclaimed, Help! Help! (A moi! A moi!) Soon after this, he was more collected, and with that mild and perfuafive voice that never before entreated in vain, exclaimed, "Allow me a moment longer, Sir, I be

feech you!" (Encore un moment, Monfieur, je vous prie!) But deaf, as the frightful deity of which he was the minister, he did not appear even to hear the words addreffed to him from her ftill charming mouth; for he feized the unfortunate Dubarry and without the leaft pity for her fine form, threw her on the block; a moment after this, that head whose beauty had placed it fo near the throne, fell under the axe that terminated the fate of our last king and his august spouse.

"Introduction à la Phyfique Terreftre par les Fluides Expanfibles.”—An Introduction to the Natural Philosophy of the Earth, by the Expanfible Fluids.

M. de Luc, a natural philofopher of great repute on the continent, appears by this publication to be at open war with the chemists of the prefent day. He announces in his preface, "that he confiders the new chemical theory, as completely barring the way to the advancement of fcience," and he treats it with an equal degre of ferocity throughout the whole of his work.

After quoting Bacon, and making the fame reproach to the philofophers of the prefent day, as that great man did to thofe of his own age, he enters on an analysis of the new theory, and while alluding to the compofition and decompofition of water, observes, that the whole foundation of the modern doctrines, entirely refts on two facts, one of which, if we are to give credit to its advocates, has been proved analytically, the other fynthetically. He then attacks the principles which have directed the late M. de Lavoifier in his opinions, and after defcribing a variety of experiments concludes thus: "All thefe particular facts, of which it would be eafy to multiply examples, authorise me to lay it down as a general principle, that nearly all the bodies in nature, (according to M.de Lavoifier) are capable of exifting in three different ftates; in the ftate of folidity; in the state of liquidity; and in the äereform ftate; and that these three ftates of the fame bodies depend on the quantity of caloric combined with them."

This, however, is denied by M. de Luc, who maintains, that mercury and water alone are in the state here alluded to; he alfo reproaches Lavoisier with having mis taken the nature of water, and infinuates that he has confounded the elastic vapour with the permanent gaffes.

"A Defcription of Plants, either en tirely new, or hitherto but little known, cultivated in the Garden of M. Cels,