slave trade; salutary effects of the establishment of Christianity.-On the system of slavery among the Romans; gradual disappearance of slavery in Europe; gradual amelioration of the condition of negro slavery probability of its future abolition; remarks on the revolt of Important consequences of the discovery of America: introduction of new articles of luxury.-Influx of gold and silver from America into Europe, and its effects on the commercial and social system; low value of Euro- pean property prior to the discovery of the new continent.-General ob- servations on the circulation of gold and silver in different ages and countrics: investigation of some curious and interesting questions arising from that subject.-Effects of the discovery of America in re- gard to the exten on of Christianity.-Settlements made by the Por- tuguese in the east, under the celebrated General D'Albuquerque ; vast commercial empire of the Portuguese; its rise and fall.-Reformation of religion; its causes, progress, and effects; inconsistency of religious persecution with reason and Christian charity; happy prevalence of General view of the progress of human improvements in the modern times: remarks on the consequences of the invention of gun-powder; cursory view of he leading transactions of modern times: aggran- disement of the house of Austria; it depression: revoit of the Low countries; establishment of the Batavian republic: Spanish Armada aggrandisement of France under Louis XIV; civilization and aggran- disement of Russia.-Revolt of America: establishment of the Ame- rican republic: remarks on the remote, but certain consequences of that event: changes which those consequences must produce on the commercial affairs of the old continent.-Observations on the rapid ex- traordinary increase of the commerce and naval power of Great Britain: on the French revolution, and the war which ensued; extraordinary exertions of France and Great Britain; different opinions concerning the propriety of that war examined: view of the consequences which might probably have ensued, if Britain had preserved a neutrality: difficult situation of the British ministry at that period; inconsiderate. ness of those who presume to judge the conduct of their rulers, with- out knowing the motives of their conduct.-Remarks on the national debt, and on taxation; taxation a subject little understood; the effects of it not such as they are generally supposed; examination of the ques- tion, how far the national debt and high taxes tend to impoverish a na- tion: reciprocal effect of national wealth and high taxes, on each other, and on society: high taxes a necessary consequence of great national wealth exemplification of the subject in a comparison between Great Britain and Russia; British subjects better able to pay their taxes than those of any other country; influence of taxes on manufactures.-Re- marks on the consequences and tendency of war; advantages of the funding system: observations on the general diffusion of opulence and luxury in modern times: enquiry into the nature and consequences of what is called luxury --Observations on the state of the nations of Asia and Africa: investigations of the causes why some nations have so far excelled others in scientific and literary improvements, and why many are still in a savage state: particular remarks on the Hindoos and Chi- nese, in regard to these important particulars; a general enquiry whe- ther the difference we perceive in the state of the human mind, in dif- ferent parts of the world, proceeds from an essential difference in the No. 52, Corner of Second and Chesnut-streets, THE THIRD VOLUME OF SCOTT'S FAMILY BIBLE, CONSISTING OF Copious marginal references, with notes and practical observations, IN FOUR LARGE QUARTO VOLUMES. He has issued proposals to print an extra number of SCOTT'S COMMENTARY on the NEW TESTAMENT, independent of the OLD TESTAMENT, to accommodate those who do not find it convenient to take the whole of that excellent Commentary--at 7 dollars---to be raised to eight to non subscribers, when finished---ONE copy given for every NINE subscribed for or sold. JUST PUBLISHED, ORIENTAL CUSTOMS; Or, an illustration of the Sacred Scriptures, or an Explanatory application of the Customs and Manners of the Eastern Nations, and especially the Jews therein alluded to. Together with Observations on many difficult and obscure Texts, collected from the most celebrated Travellers, and the most eminent Critics-By Samuel Burder. THE BEAUTIES OF THE EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE; In two neat Octavo volumes-price 4 dol. 25 cts. IN TWO NEAT VOLS. DUODECIMO, OF ABOUT 350 PAGES EACH, TE END EDITION OF THE VILLAGE SERMONS, Dollars. 2 PHILOSOPHICAL AND CRITICAL ENQUIRIES, CHUNING CHRISTIANITY, BY CHARLES BONNET, OF GENEVA, F. R. S. Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, c. doll. 1 (Price 1 75 Cts. neat Octavo, bound and lettered) THE SONG OF SONGS, WHICH IS BY SOLOM O N. A NEW TRANSLATION WITH A COMMENTARY AND NOTES, BY THOMAS WILLIAMS, OF LONDON. Author of the Age of Infidelity, &c. THE WORKS OF THE LATE REV. DR. JOHN WITHERSPOON; Second Edition, in 4 handsome Octavo volumes, price 8 dollars 50 cts. bound and lettered. PROPOSALS, Are issued for a new and Improved edition of ADAMS' LECTURES on NATURAL and EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY-Revised and enlarged by R. PATTERSON, Esq. Director of the mint of the United States, Professor of Mathematics, and) Pro. tem.) teacher of Natural Philosophy in the University of Pennsylvania----in 5 volumes, one of which is plates. Price to subscribers 11 colls 50 cents----to be paid on delivery of the two first volumes. Just Printed a neat Edition of the Pocket Bible. [In twelve kind of bindings. ] ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS IN RELIGION, IN ONE NEAT VOLUME, DUODECIMO, OF ABOUT 400 PAGES, AT ONE DOLLAR TO SUBSCRIBERS. VILLAGE DIALOGUES, IN TWO NEAT VOLUMES, EMINENTLY PIOUS, AND OF LONDON. [Price. 2 dollars.] BAXTER'S MISCELLANIES, CONTAINING, CALL TO THE UNCONVERTED---WALKS IN SOLITUDE, AND DYING THOUGHTS, ALL IN ONE NEAT DUODECIMO VOLUME OF ABOUT 350 PAGES, For one dollar. A HANDSOME EDITION OF WATTS' PSALMS AND HYMNS. Neat plain binding, 75 cents----Fine paper, 1 dollar, and handsome morocco binding, 1 75 cents----ONE copy given for every FIVE purchased. [17] LETTERS ON HISTORY. LETTER I. SIR, In compliance with your request, I take the liberty of laying before you a few remarks on the use and importance of an acquaintance with his tory, accompanied with some reflections on the manner in which it ought to be read, so as to render it an instructive and entertaining fund of general information. The bent of your genius seems to lead you to the study of history. You wish to acquire a general knowledge of mankind, and historical reading is the only effectual means of obtaining it. In order to render you such assistance as the mediocrity of my abilities enables me, I here present you with some reflections and observations on the causes and consequences of the most remarkable events in the history of the world; with an attempt to delineate the general condition of mankind, in each remarkable period, C Curiosity is inherent in man; and, in some measure, accompanies every degree of the human understanding, and every modification of the mind. From the philosopher to the peasant, scarcely any one is found who is not desirous of information on one subject or another; but this curiosity is directed to different objects, in different minds, in proportion to their degrees of elevation, or the extent of their previous improvements. That great colossus of literature and moral philosophy, Dr. Johnson, says, "Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect." (Ramb. vol. 2. p. 267;) and again, (vol. 3. p. 252.) "Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last; and, perhaps always predominates in proportion to the strength of the mental faculties." These are the encomiums which that great observer of the human mind bestows on this passion; but with all deference to so respectable an authority, the praise is, perhaps, rather due to the direction it takes, than to the passion itself; for curiosity may be directed to the most insignificant as well as the most important objects. The uncultivated peasant confines his enquiries to the affairs of his own parish, while the man of a more improved understanding, and more extensive views, directs his attention to the affairs of the world at large, and is desirious of information relative to subjects which interest mankind in general; the schemes of politicians, the stratagems of war, the fluctuations |