ful; to discountenance such as are visionary and impracticable; and, above all, to infuse into the minds of those honorary Members that come among us, a just sense of the importance of the study of Agriculture as a Science, and of the practice as an Art.'

The proceedings of the Board in consequence of the scarcity in the year 1800 having excited some animadversion, Lord C. passes them in review; justifying the advice which the society gave on that occasion, and recounting the efforts which it made to obtain a general inclosure bill. On this subject, he delivers his opinion with manliness and energy:

The crisis in which the Bill was produced, was particularly favourable to it. A scarcity, almost approaching to a famine, existed, and this measure was loudly called for by the Publick. If, under such circumstances of pressure, those who had it in their power to administer the remedy, could suffer the passions, prejudices, or interests of others, so to mislead their judgment, what have we at this time to expect from the attempt? If, after the fatal experience of more than twenty millions sterling having been sent to foreign countries for the purchase of grain, within the short period of a very few years, they can shut their eyes upon the past, and consider the present abundance as perpetual; if they can still condemn millions of acres, which are capable of every kind of produce, to remain dreary wastes-I can impute it to little less than to a species of infatuation. The case seems to me desperate; and I may almost say of them, in the forcible language of Scripture, "Neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

Lord C. next recounts the pains taken by the Board in adjudging the premiums for Essays on "the best method of converting Grasslands into tillage, and, after a certain time, of restoring them to grass again, with improvements, or at least without injury," and their sedulous attention to avoid partiality. Between three and four hundred Essays were received on this subject, from which the Board selected matter for one volume; and another, we find, is in readiness. The harmony and cordiality which have prevailed at this Board are noticed with pride and satisfaction, and Lord C. does not omit to mention its economy and the good state of its finances.

MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Art. 16. Elements of War: or, Rules and Regulations of the Army, in Miniature: Shewing the Duty of a Regiment in every Situation. By Nathaniel Hood, Lieut. H. P. 40th Regiment. Izmo. 78. sewed. Debrett.

The first part of this work contains the method of parading a battalion, and its different movements: the second includes the whole form of a review; and the third relates to the duties of the different officers and guards in camp and garrison; Courts Martial; Military rank and honours; &c. somewhat in the style of Captain Reide's Military Discipline.

Mr. Hood has interspersed some sensible general remarks, from which we extract the following:

* See Rev. Vol. xxxix. N. S. p. 59.

Young

Young officers should never be detached from head-quarters; nor should ensigns meet with any promotion till they clearly understood the system.-For this purpose, if boards of general officers, like courts of admiralty, were to meet, by order of commanders in chief, abroad and at home, to examine such ensigns as come forward recommended to be heard, and approve and disapprove according, as found; granting certified qualifications, in order to entitle them to promotion as opportunity may present in turn; it would encourage the spirit of discipline, and every officer, rejected ensigns excepted, would be capable of his charge, and fit for the important trust of the public money and lives of thousands.’—

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Discipline is not to be promoted, however zealous the intent may be, by exercising the stern and haughty power of distinction out of place; nor will extreme unnecessary severity favour the attempt. If a deportment, founded on such principles, is held out to enforce obedience, obedience comes without respect: the rigid doctrine of an uniform austerity in man against man is waging war against nature. To hurt the feelings of the well-intended checks the progress of pursuit it makes way for enmity, giving to secret opposition a place where all should link together, and in one united cause support the chain of rank.'

Regiments are deprived of their necessary numbers of officers by allowing field-officers companies: if they were otherwise recompensed, and each regiment allowed ten captains, it would add much to the good of the service. It would also be a farther addition, as well as a public saving, if his Majesty was pleased to grant no new commissions to private gentlemen whilst a single half-pay officer, able to serve, remained on the list. Farther, in time of peace, to dissolve the rank of ensign, giving place to lieutenants (their superiors), who otherwise fall back upon the present; the rotation of just promotion, in this case, would never be impeded.'

The first regulation proposed in this last paragraph has lately taken place.

VOYAGE S.

Art. 17. A Voyage Round the World; performed during the Years 1790, 1791, and 1792. By Etienne Marchand. Preceded by Historical Introduction, and illustrated by Charts, &c. Translated from the French of C. P. Claret Fleurieu, of the National Institute of Arts and Sciences, &c. 2 Vols. 8vo, and 4to Atlas. 11. 11s. 6d. Boards. Longman and Rees.

An account of the Voyage of Captain Marchand, and of the vari ous geographical remarks which M. Fleurieu has introduced in the work published with that title, has already been given by us at considerable length (see Appendix to our 33d, 34th, and 35th Volumes, N. S.). All that appears necessary to be done on the present occasion, therefore, is to notice the manner in which this translation has been executed,

In a prefatory advertisement, the editors inform the public that they were favoured with the fair sheets of the original by the author, M. Fleurieu. On comparing our translation with the original, (they say) it will be found that we have most scrupulously followed our Author from the beginning of his INTRODUCTION to the end of the JOUR

NAL OF THE ROUTE. This comprises the whole of the NARRATIVE of MARCHAND'S voyage, and the NOTES relating to it. The two volumes of natural history, descriptive of the birds, fishes, &c. &c. seen in the course of the voyage, being intended more as a vehicle of instruction to navigators in general, than a fresh source of informa tion to persons already versed in that interesting science, we have thought that those who might be desirous of reaping in so extensive a field would prefer consulting the original to having recourse to a translation; and, for that reason, we have declined rendering them into English. Impressed with the same idea, we have omitted the "Recherches sur les Terres Australes de DRAKE, et un examen critique du Voyage de ROGGEWEEN," which, together with the Systême métrique decimal appliqué à l Hydrographie et aux calculs de la Navigation," may be considered rather in the light of an Appendix than as forming an integral part of the original work.'

The parts which, in the foregoing extract, are mentioned to have been omitted, were so wholly unconnected with the voyage of Marchand, that the translators were fully intitled to the option of retaining or rejecting them..

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They then proceed to state that, in the general chart exhibiting the tract of the Solide, as well as in the text, they have adhered to the new hydrographical division and nomenclature proposed by M. Fleurieu.' In doing this, the editors have gone beyond their original, and have likewise outstripped the limits of their own plan. M. Fleurieu, who wrote the Observations sur la division bydrographique du Globe, et changemens proposés dans la nomenclature générale et particulière de l'Hydrographie, did not advance his proposed changes into practice, but contented himself with using the customary and established names for the general chart which he published with the voyage of Marchand. When the translators chose to affix the names of the newly proposed nomenclature to their general chart, it became a matter of propriety, and almost of necessity, that M. Fleuricu's treatise on that head should have been included in their publication: yet it is one of the parts which they have omitted. They have translated the whole of the narrative which relates to Marchand's voyage, and they appear to have rendered it with fidelity. In some parts, indeed, the originat has been too closely followed; for in laboured passages, a translator ought to avail himself of opportunities of clearing the sense by vary ing the expression, when it can be done with advantage, and without departing from the ideas of the author.

MATHEMATICS.

Art. 18. A Treatise on the Motion of Fluids, Natural and Artificial: in which that of Air and Water is particularly considered, and demonstrated in a plain and familiar Manner. Illustrated with Copper Plates. By M. Clare, A. M. Revised and corrected, with considerable Additions, by R. Hall, M. D. 8vo. pp. 380. 10s. 6d. Boards. Vernor and Hood. 1802.

This is one of those treatises of which we are compelled to speak in general terms. It is on the whole ably executed, but we would not undertake to defend it throughout, in all its reasonings and con

jectures

jectures. The facts and explanations which it contains are not new, but they are skilfully arranged and treated; and without great labour or preparatory study, a perusal of it will convey information, some practically useful, and much pleasantly curious. Of the degree of merit that belongs to the present editor for his corrections and augmentations, we are unable to speak, as our endeavours to procure the ori ginal work have proved unsuccessful.

Art. 19. A clear and satisfactory Demonstration of the Longitude; and also, a Demonstration of the Surface of the Earth; with an Attempt to explain the Error in our present System. 4to. 58. Winbolt and Co.

Be it known to all Mathematicians, to those who have long and unadvisedly admired Euclid, Archimedes, and Newton, that a certain computist (we are ignorant of his name) has, by long and laborious investigation, discovered that the surfaces of the spheres are not four times the area of their great circles; that the circumference of a circle is to its diameter not as 3.1416, &c. : 1, but as 3.2 : 1; that a square is to its diagonal as 5: 7; &c.; besides a great number of other important facts. Now, therefore, we, styling ourselves critics, and professing to love truth better than either Socrates or Plato, do earnestly intreat the said Mathematicians to divest themselves of all prejudice and vulgar errors, and to prepare with all humility their minds for the reception of the great truths contained in this new Gospel of Mathematical Science.

POLITICAL.

Art. 20. Buonaparte in the West Indies; or, the History of Toussaint Louverture, the African Hero. In Three Parts. 8vo. 3d. each Part. Hatchard.

Since friends are prone to extenuate and panegyrize, and enemies to degrade and calumniate, it is difficult for the public to obtain the real characters of men; and the only rule for avoiding gross error is to make reasonable allowances for the prejudices and motives of either party. If the life of Toussaint by Dubroca (see M. Rev. Vol. xxxviii. p. 332. N. S.) was published at Paris in order to blacken his reputation, this pamphlet is as evidently composed to wash it white, and to give it brilliancy. The African Hero is here celebrated for his piety, humanity *, noble sentiments, and honourable conduct; while the proceedings of Bonaparte towards him and the negroes of St. Domingo are represented as full of baseness, treachery, and cruelty. In resisting the propositions of Coisnon, which were artfully made under circumstances of the most affecting kind, this biographer speaks of Toussaint's strength and magnanimity as derived from divine assistance: I doubt not that, at this trying moment, he thought of the heroism of the Cross, and was strengthened from above.' We more than doubt the propriety of such an assertion, being confident that it is no real embellishment to the narrative.

There is, in spite of slander, no just ground to believe that one drop of blood not shed fairly in the field, and in the heat of action, ever tarnished the glory of Toussaint.'

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An uniform strain of encomium on the African hero pervades these pages:

He never despaired of the cause of freedom, never offered to abandon it; but still preferred all the dangers and sufferings of war, to a peace which would have placed him in safety, riches, and power, but which must have been bought at the expence of his honour and virtue, or, let me rather say, of his duty to God. Worldly men may be thought staunch patriots, and may think themselves so; but there are cases too trying for any virtue that is not rooted in religion. To devote himself to the public good, and sacrifice all that is dear to him, even life itself, when the very people for whom all this is to be suffered distrust, forsake, and betray their generous champion, is a flight of virtue too high for any one who does not, like Toussaint, expect his praise and his reward in a better world.'

With a virtuous enmity to slavery and the slave-trade, this writer pours forth the full current of his indignation on the object and measures of Bonaparte in the expedition to St. Domingo, and rejoices in its complete failure.

Entering on the last act of his Hero's life, the author thanks God that, though a white man, he is not a Frenchman; and if the charges here adduced against our enemies respecting their perfidy, barbarity, and dishonour, be well founded, he may justly be allowed to boast of a negative pride in not belonging to that nation.

After a series of cruel sufferings in cold and damp dungeons, Toussaint died, if we may credit the French papers, in the prison of Besançon, on the 25th of April last; and he is gone (to use the words of his present biographer) to reap the fruits of his virtues in that happier world. "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary

are at rest."

An Appendix is promised, in which the innocence of this African Chief is to be proved on the testimony of his enemies.

Art. 21. A Letter to the Right Hon. Henry Addington, on the Principles of Paper Loans, and their Influence on National Power. 8vo. 18. Scott.

In strict propriety, we ought not to say that things are dearer than they were formerly, but that money is cheaper; and this cheapness of money arises from its abundance, or rather from the abundance of that which passes for money, and in a great measure supplies its place; for the quantity of Coin is not increased, but has suffered a visible diminution. Articles of trade and commerce are more likely to be kept at a low and uniform price by the use of metallic money employed as the medium of exchange, than by the substitution of paper-money; since the quantity of coin is limited, while paper currency may be multiplied ad libitum. When, however, the issue of papermoney has been excessive, it is much easier to lament the evils which it has created, than to apply a safe and practicable remedy. It must be remarked, also, that, if the introduction of the paper medium has been attended with some bad effects, and may (unless great prudence be employed) produce certain fatal consequences, it has served very good purposes, in as much as it has enlarged the sphere of the na

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