.....326
E.
550 Ermarc's observations in Norway,

Thomas's Sermon at Woburn Chapel, 356 Expulsion of the French from St. Domingo,

F.
598 Fever in the West Indies, remedy for, .447
Fine arts encouraged at Rome,
655 Fish newly discovered,

551 Gardener's, (Mr.) crop of potatoes in ex-Pilchowski, David, biograp. notice of, 440
hausted ground,
...448 Platina, analysis of,

.418 Geological observations by Mr. Churchman, POLTRY, ORIGINAL,-Ad Glandem, 291.-

32 Grape seed, a substitute for coffee,
Re-Greek Fire,

160 Gymnasium at Petersburgh, ......381
H.

127 Horneman, the traveller, notice of,

762 Humboldt, the traveller, death of, ....768
763
J.

.251 Jalap root from America,
K.
Kant, professor, death of,
Kotzebue, anecdotes respecting,

L.
Lamarc's meteorological observations, 384
Laplace on falling bodies,
573

Duperron's Translation of the Dupnekh'at,, Letter from Dr. Tilesius at Santa Cruz,

Neckar, biographical notice of,
573 National Institute of France, 127,
...768 Native iron,
768 Noehden, Dr. in reply to Crinitus,
571
O.
.382

Deaf and dumb instructed at Vienna, 576 Pallas, the traveller, death of,

Degree of the earth, mensuration of, in Paper currency, on the system, 627, 634, 753 Waterspout in Iceland,
Lapland,
.573 Paris as it was, &c. observations of Detector Wilna University,

VOLUME III.]

WHIL

THE LITERARY JOURNAL.

LITERATURE.

general eagerness for literary speculation. In the returning fondness of men for the arts and habits of peace, and in the free intercourse again opened with foreign nations, they saw a prospect of at length reaping a harvest which had so often been blighted by the storms of a long-protracted war. Authors received a liberal price for their productions, splendid editions of valuable works were undertaken, and literature promised to be more widely diffused, more elegantly adorned, and genius more liberally rewarded than it had been in any age or nation.

General View of Literature for 1803. HILE we return our acknowledgements to the public for the very extensive patronage which, even in its first year, has been bestowed on our new attempt to introduce a regular Journal of Literature into this country; we cannot, perhaps, at the commencement of this new year, present any thing to our readers either more instructive or more entertaining, than a general view of what has been done in the Literary World during the course of the This happy prospect for Great Britain, and for the year eighteen hundred and three. We do not, in this human species, was however of short continuance. view, intend to fill up our pages with a list of books The unceasing clamours of an ominous war-faction and authors, and to recapitulate that catalogue which at home, having inflamed to madness the inveterate has already been so amply given in our different hatred of the French ruler towards this country, while numbers; nor do we mean to enter at length into at the same time their false depreciation of our nathe merits even of those authors who have brought tional spirit, excited his hopes, Great Britain and forward something new, or improved what was al-France were again unexpectedly plunged into a war, ready known in the subjects of which they treat, a detail which furnishes materials for a number of successive reviews: the sketch we shall at present give, must of necessity be extremely general; it must be confined to the general spirit, the general improvement or corruption apparent in those works, which during the last twelve months have issued from the press; and must rather exhibit the general impression which has been made on our own minds by the literary works of that period, than the merits or defects of particular authors.

Every one must recollect the eager competition, and bustle of preparation which appeared in the literary world at the commencement of the last year. The return of peace, the removal of some burdensome taxes, and the long-interrupted intercourse which was opened anew with the Continent, seemed to have set free, and called into action, all the intellectual faculties of the nation. Authors of various descriptions who had completed their works, and awaited the favourable era of peace for their publication; soldiers who had returned from distant expeditions; historians who had been silently treasuring up the rapid events of the last war; travellers who had eagerly hastened, on the first conclusion of peace, to the capital of France to observe the effects of a twelve years revolution, and the rich spoils of so many countries-all eagerly pressed forward to communicate their information to an expecting Public. As the press was now become the vehicle for every species of intelligence, both in the most refined, and the most common arts of life, men of all descriptions were anxious, both for the sake of fame and profit, to proclaim their merits by this channel to the world; and numerous periodical publications were prepared to receive the essays of those who had not materials or leisure to write a book.

Nor were the booksellers backward to second this

VOL. III.

whose only object and end appeared to be mutual destruction. From the arts of peace, the minds of our countrymen were suddenly turned to the defence of their lives and properties against threatened ruin; and amidst the hurry of military levies and exercises, the ingenious and splendid productions of the press were almost forgotten. The swarm of periodical publications which had appeared at the commencement of the year, almost without exception, died away; the attention of ingenious men was distracted from their pursuits, which were either interrupted for the time, or altogether abandoned; and the spirited booksellers who had risked so much in the cause of literature, found their new works and splendid editions left in heaps upon their shelves.

Fortunately for the cause of knowledge and civilization, the general alarm has in some degree subsided. The force employed against us indeed continues daily to increase; but our means of repelling it increase in a much greater proportion; and the confidence arsing. from so great a part of the population being armed and disciplined, has again begun to give activity to those pursuits which can only flourish amidst a general sense of security. We trust that in the course of the present year, we shall have to call the public attention to many literary performances of merit.

Such has been the complexion of the times during this last year, and such the effects which public events have produced on the literary world. In viewing the works which have appeared in different branches, we find few of much consideration in PHYSICS, and the sciences connected with it. The works which have appeared on the various branches of PHYSICS, have been mostly confined to detached parts of each branch. Natural History has became a favourite topic of reading with the many, and the brilliant plates with which works of this nature may be adorned, have not been forgotten as incentives to purchasers A

ever, to conduct his nomenclature through a system of Anatomy, before it can be received as a substitute for the one at present in use. The progress of the Veterinary Art has called forth some works in Coms parative Anatomy; but this branch is as yet in its infancy.

but as the merits of the engraver and printer are in those works most conspicuous, they do not fall particularly under our observation. The Testacea Britannica of Mr. Montagu, has given a very ample detail of the shells found in this island: and Mr. Lambert's Genus Pinus affords a most splendid treat to the lovers of Botany. We have The publications on MEDICINE are always as nualso seen the elegant and ingenious pen of Mr. merous as the diseases, and the theories of the diseases Playfair employed in defending the Huttonian System which present themselves. The Cow-por has during of Geology. In mechanical philosophy, Dr. Small the last year been the great animating principle of the has with considerable success introduced the Astro- many medical pamphlets which have issued from nomical Discoveries of Kepler to the more particular the press. The efficacy of this great discovery seems acquaintance of his countrymen; and the late Bishop of now to be acknowledged in every quarter of the globe. Clonfert's Analysis of the Principles of Natural Philoso-The medical attendants of the inferior animals, have phy has been given to the public. In Chemistry, although also begun to communicate their useful discoveries the science has been rapidly advancing, the books through the press; and the several new Systems of written have been necessarily few. To conduct ex- Farriery, &c. which are produced, give room to experiments of magnitude with precision, and to obtain pect that man will not be the only animal about which such a number of results as may afford a solid foun- the faculty differ. The large profits which a medical dation for a general law, is the work of much time, practitioner may acquire with a little sprinkling of much labour, as well as great information and talents, knowledge joined to other qualifications, and the vast Yet in Chemistry it is by such arts alone that advances labour of reducing medicine to any thing like a can now be made, as the enlightened geniuses who of science, has hitherto prevented any one from hazardlate years have applied to that science, have for evering that attempt. From the progress of chemistry, banished from it that false mode of forming theories, which substitutes the bewildering chimeras of fancy for the actual observation of facts which alone leads to truth. We must here caution our readers against supposing that the small number of the literary productions marks a supineness in any branch of experimental philosophy. We have already given reasons why any great advances must be slowly produced;duced a list of publications, which in a literary point and it has become customary with men of science to publish, from time to time, the results of their labours in various periodical repositories of science, which, however valuable, cannot fall properly under the notice of a review. All that we can for some time expect of large works on Experimental Philosophy, are collections from time to time of those facts which are successively ascertained. Of this sort we have last year received a valuable addition in Cavallo's Elements of Natural and Experimental Philosophy in four vols. Mr. Johnson has also collected the facts on Animal Chemistry, in three volumes. The various experiments on Galvanism, have of late excited public attention, and given rise to publications of various sizes, which have not, however, thrown much light on this branch | of science.

The first volume of a very valuable work conducted by Dr. Hutton, Dr. Shaw, and Dr. R. Pearson, has also made its appearance. It is an Abridgement of the Philo- || sophical Transactions of the Royal Society, and promises to prove a repository where every thing valuable in the scientific researches of this country will be contained, free from those heaps of accumulated rubbish which would otherwise perplex and disgust the reader.

anatomy, and physiology, we may however expect important improvements in medicine.

AGRICULTURE, that solid source of national wealth, has lately been much improved, in consequence of the discoveries made by several chemists and scientific farmers, and communicated in a variety of pamphlets; and the other, useful and ornamental arts have pro

of view do not require particular notice.

The SCIENCE OF MIND, and the branches connected with it, open the widest field for literary abilities. The examination of the powers of the human mind, and the laws by which they are regulated, has, by Dr. Reid and his followers, been brought down from the vain regions of theory, and conducted on the solid foundation of facts ascertained by experience. While the mere speculations of fancy, supported by ingenious sophistry, with a veil of metaphysical jargon thrown over their defects, were received as actual advances in this science, new systems of mental philosophy might every day be expected to supersede those already in vogue. But when facts are required as the foundation of theories, and when terms are accurately defined and understood, every step must be taken with caution, and the advances must necessarily be slow. The number of books on this subject must therefore diminish, while their value must greatly increase.

THEOLOGY has during the last year called forth comparatively few writers. The violent attempts made to banish religion altogether out of the world, by a set of men whose vices made them willing to believe themselves atheists, had previously been opposed with A very important improvement in the science of the greatest success and nearly subdued. That conANATOMY, has, in the course of the last year been troversy between sects, which was once such a prolific proposed by Dr. Barclay. He has published the out- source of massy volumes, has given way to a milder line of a new Nomenclature, formed on a regular plan, and more rational spirit; and men of superior genius and deriving its appellations from fixed appearances, have found exercise for their talents in pursuits more instead of that confused and indefinite mass of terms within the reach of human comprehension. To free by which the student of Anatomy has been so long our systems of theology from those doubts and obobstructed and confounded. Dr. Barclay has, how-scurities which overhang them, opens indeed a wide

surely philosophers, in all ages. The philosophical views of Turgot, and the clear, solid, and comprehensive principles of Smith in his Wealth of Nations, have indeed of late years turned the labours of politi

field for talents in the most important object that can occupy the attention of man: but it is only by candid and patient investigation that this can be effected; and the mere repetition of what has already been a thousand times written and spoken can scarcely de-cal inquirers into a channel which may conduct serve notice in a review of theological literature. them to useful and important truths. The wild and During the course of the last year, Mr. Bryant in his unmeaning jargon introduced during the French revoObservations on some Parts of Scripture, has shewn us lution into every thing which respects the nature and the edifying example of a layman, continuing in his actions of men, has indeed greatly impeded the pro78th year to advocate the cause of Christianity withgress of rational inquiry. We now read, with mingled diligence and success. Marsh's defence of his Hypo- surprise and contempt, of the efforts which were made thesis on the Origin and Composition of the three first to banish common sense out of the world; yet we Gospels, against a supposed attack of the Bishop of should recollect that it is but eight or ten years since Oxford, has excited the attention of controversialists; the Political Justice of Godwin was received by many and in Mr. Sharpe's fanciful doctrine of the Greek people as a system actually intended to direct the acarticle, which has been dexterously attacked by Mr. tions of men. We may also observe, on the other Gregory Blunt, we have an instance of an over-zea- hand, that the abuse of free inquiry has produced lous friend injuring a good cause by false arguments, many obstacles to the progress of political science. which it does not require for its support. With single An apprehension that the bonds of society were about sermons of all descriptions, the greater portion indeed to be torn asunder by the delusions of theorists, inpolitical, the press has of late overflowed. We can- duced the peaceable and well-meaning to cling to not indeed suppose any of these will circulate much their old habits, and even to those prejudices and beyond the little range of friends or hearers, which abuses which time had interwoven with their ancient perhaps was all that was intended when they were institutions. The advances of political science will given to the press: One exception however requires by this means be rendered more slow, but at the same to be made of the eloquent discourse of Mr. Hall on time we trust more solid. During the course of the the Sentiments proper to the present Crisis, which con- last year, we have seen a work appear in which the cludes in a strain of glowing eloquence that has rarely nature and progress of the English Constitution have been surpassed. The volume of Sermons the most de-been delineated with the hand of a master; and we serving of notice is that by Dr. Browne of Aberdeen; account it a public loss to this empire, that the labours yet even here we find nothing particularly striking. of Millar were interrupted by death before their comThe LAWS of our country, and those who study pletion. The Inquiries of Malthus into population, them, are yearly obliged to many diligent gentlemen and those of Brougham into the Colonial Policy of who add an infinite variety of new cases and decisions Europe, although not free from an inclination to speto the stock already on hand. We say obliged to culate beyond what is warranted by facts, are in gethem; for the vast and imperviable collection of opi-neral conducted on true philosophical principles, and nions and precedents, so rapidly accumulating, must one day compel government, as it happened to Justinian, to find some means of cleansing the Augean stable, if it is intended that the study of law should be at all practicable.* The inconvenience of this unwieldy accumulation is indeed less felt by the nation, while the excellent institution of Juries, and the upright conduct of our judges, which is daily reported to the public, remedy in a great degree the defects of

our code.

may be esteemed as considerable accessions to the science of political economy. The controversial pamphlets of our domestic parties, with which the press constantly teems, deserve little attention from a literary review. Two, however, distinguished by the signature of the Near Observer, and the reply of the More Accurate Observer, have acquired particular celebrity from their being considered as the manifestoes of the late and the present administration. The loyal effusions of all sorts to which the present circumstances of the country have given birth, are innumerable.

In POLITICAL SCIENCE several works have appeared, and some of them bear the characteristics of a sound and just philosophy. No science has been less rescued In POLITICAL HISTORY, OR HISTORY properly so from the follies of random speculation than politics. called, the number of candidates for public favour have So much are the passions of men interested in the been numerous. The British temper seems particularly questions which arise on this subject, that calm inves-well calculated to undertake that patient, grave, and tigation and candid discussion are rarely resorted to; and to establish true principles is much less the object than to confound antagonists. Hence it is that amidst the general uncertainty which over-hangs political science, theories of the most wild and extravagant nature have been successively written and admired; and to form systems of government and of political economy, have been the favourite recreations of lei-phens, and others, have swelled our literary catalogues

We understand that Government is at present employing some legal gentlemen of abilities, to revise the statute laws, with a view to their abridgment. Editor.

persevering investigation which is necessary to the composition of history; and no country of modern times rivals Great Britain, either in the value or number of her historians. The great events of the present reign, both at home and abroad, have naturally drawn forth many pens to record them; the names of Bisset, Adolphus, Wilson, Plowden, Coote, Ste

of last year. To detail the respective merits of these authors, is the work of particular reviews: we shall here make only a few observations which are more or

booby a grave and learned judge, by means of wrapping him up in the wig and gown of his lordship of the King's Bench.

less applicable to all of them. History, if intended for any useful purpose, ought ever to be fitted for the instruction of those who are to act: and whether it be the historian's intention to develope the plans of statesmen, to trace the operations of a campaign, or to describe the private actions of individuals, it should be his endeavour so to select the facts on which every event turned, that each example he records should afford an useful lesson of experience. Those historians who have done so to the most perfection, are justly raised to the highest share of reputation. The historians of the last year present few examples so finished as to be useful to any description of men. We hear of plans of statesmen, and resolutions of cabinets which fall as it were from the clouds, and again vanish like the baseless fabric of a vision, without leaving behind any trace by which they may be linked to the succeeding chapter of accidents.haps most deserves to be noticed for its composition We read of battles having been fought, hundreds and thousands laid prostrate in the dust, a right wing victorious, and a left wing defeated; but the general who should search in such histories for a lesson from experience, would learn little more than that a battle may be won on the Rhine and lost on the Danube. In the descriptions of individual characters, the prevailing mode is equally uninstructive: instead of seizing upon the peculiar features which mark the disposition of a man, and afford the key to his actions, we usually find an inexplicable antithesis, or a collection of abstract terms which impress no distinct idea on the mind of the reader.

These histories indeed bear the marks of being hastily composed; and the contest seems to have been, not who should produce the best history, but who should anticipate his competitors. The narrative of recent events is always in danger of being crowded with details of no interest or use to posterity: in this age, where documents so much abound, and where the state of parties and the opinions of statesmen are so widely known by the publication of the parliamentary debates, historians load their pages with the opinions and characters of men, unimportant in the general picture of the times, and certainly to be forgotten by posterity. Such is the influence of all these causes, that we can look upon the histories of the last year in no other light than as narratives of that species known in France by the name of Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire.

We cannot close our observations on the histories of last year, without remarking one abuse which seems rather on the increase. It is an idea strongly impressed on every man who sits down to write a history at present, that this species of composition demands a certain gravity and dignity of style. It does not however seem to be understood, that in the best historians, these qualities of the expression, arise solely from the depth and magnitude of the thought. Hence it is that we have simple narrative perpetually overloaded, and rendered dull and tedious by an overflow of those foot-and-a-half words (as Horace terms them,) which by their lofty sound serve only the more to expose the emptiness of the natter. To render history dignified and elevated by such means, is like thinking to make an uneducated

There is a species of mixed composition, which along with geographical and topographical descriptions, contains likewise the manners and history of a particular people. Since the communication between the different parts of the world has been opened, this species of writing has become very general, and if well executed is equally entertaining and instructive. Voyages, travels, tours, letters, are daily issuing from the press, and along with novels, form the great topic of popular reading. The renewed communication with the continent, during the summer of 1802, has proved a most fruitful topic for travellers; yet although something is to be learnt from all of them, the work entitled, Paris as it Was, and as it Is, perand interesting materials; although we must enter our protest against the partial spirit in which it is written. Translations of the 2d volume of Pallas's travels in the Crimea, and Golberry's in Africa, have been given to the British public. A very happy example, set to civil and military officers by the French, of describing those scenes where they have acted or been stationed by government, has been imitated by some of our officers. Besides Sir Robert Wilson's narrative of the expedition in Egypt, other officers have, though not very happily, attempted descriptions of that scene of warfare; and Mr. Wittman in his account of the military embassy, has added many interesting particulars of the state of the Turkish empire. Percival's account of our newly acquired possessions in Ceylon, has been received with approbation. Dallas's history of the Maroons contains much curious information.

TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY has of late been much and most justly encouraged. All the counties of England will soon have their respective historians. Polwhele has this year described Cornwall at great length.

A

BIOGRAPHY is a species of literature equally agreeable to readers of every description; and its materials rise up in a continual and inexhaustible succession. hasty and careless mode of composition, a deficiency in those facts which mark the character, and an extreme negligence in tracing its progress and features, are almost the universal defects of our present biographical sketches. It is here, that the most useful lessons of action ought to be found; but the rapid biographers of the age seem anxious to write what may be bought, without regarding the secondary consideration of utility. From this mass of crude and insipid madeup books, we must except the life of Reid by Mr. Stewart. Yet even here we have to regret the want of private anecdote; and this performance, however we may admire the composition, is chiefly valuable for the view which it contains of Reid's philosophical opinions.

It has of late become very much the vogue to chuse out some distinguished personage, whose life may serve as a sort of cement to connect the anecdotes and incidents of the times in which he lived. Of this mixture of history with biography, Godwin's Life of Chaucer, (of which a review is given in the following