his inftructions that fuch a treatife was wanting, he immediately devoted his leifure hours to the formation of the prefent.

TRANSLATIONS from the ENGLISH. Among the laft tranflations from the English, are Count RUMFORD'S "Political, Economical, and Philofophical Ef fays;""GUTHRIE's Geographical Grammar,' which we have noticed before; "Moral Tales for the Ufe of Children;" "The Vagabond," by Mr WALKER; Travels into the interior Parts of Africa, by MUNGO PARK;" BROWNE'S "Travels into Africa, Egypt, and Syria;" Mrs. ROBINSON's two laft novels; Mrs. BENNET'S "Agnes de Courci;" "Geraldina;" TOWNSON's "Travels in Hungary ;""Philofophical and Political Letters on the Hiftory of Eng

EDUCATION.

"Theobald's Morgengabe," &c. &c. von J. G. D. SCHMIEDTGEN. Leipzig; 1798; pp. 432; 8vo. Theobald's Dowry to his Granddaughter Pauline. A book for young ladies, &c. &c. The author communicates to Pauline his obferva tions and inftructions on the following four fubjects: firft, on the destination of the female fex; fecondly, on the general moral conduct of the female fex; thirdly, relations of the female fex with regard to the civil ranks; and, fourthly, on the moral conduct of young ladies towards old people. Brevity, eafe of ftyle, and fyftematic order, are the principal characteristics of this little work. We only regret that Mr. Schmiedtgen has treated too fuperficially on feveral momentous points, which deferye more minute in veftigation.

1.D. PAUL GERHARD'S vertraute Briefe an die Jugend weiblichen Gefchlechts," &c. 1799; pp. xx, and 251; 8vo. Familiar Letters to Young Ladies, tending to amufe and to inftruct them.

2. Verfuch einer Vollständizen Belehrung für das gebildetere weibliche Gefchlecht, &c. von F. G. H. FIELITZ;" 1799; pp. 528; 8vo. Effay on a more complete Inftruction of the Female Sex, in the Phyfical and Maternal Duties, and every thing relating more or less to them.

3. "Tafchenbuch für die Sorgfältiger gebildete Jugend des weiblichen Ge

fchlechts" von G. P. WILMSEN; 1799 i pp. 200; Izmo.

No. 1. was published firft laft year, under the title, "GERHARD'Sertraute Briefe an feine reifende Tochter.". The publisher, however, found it neceffary to alter that title. The author, whofe real name is M. G. E. Fifcher, endeavours to convince his pretended daughter that natural beauty is an effential advantage of the female fex; and informs her of the means by the application of which it can he preferved as long as poffible. He takes particular pains to convince her, that stays, narrow fhoes, paint, and fimilar artificial means of preferving beauty, are fruitless, and that the whole art of beautifying the female form confifts in removing every thing tending to eclipfe, or to undermine, the natural charms of the fair fex. On this occafion he gives much ufeful advice with regard to cleanlinefs, modefty, elegance of language, dancing, &c. &c. Although thefe letters neither diftinguish themfelves by new ideas, not by perior ftyle of diétion, yet they animadvert with fuch honeft warmth upon many female follies as renders them deferving of the ferious perufal of every young lady.

d

fu

The author of No. 2. likewife difplays a very laudable zeal in his endeavours to be ufeful to the rifing generation; but is rather too prolix and tirefome, in many inftances, to have any chance of fucceeding, in a material degree, in his humane exertions.

No.

No. 3. is not inftructive enough for that class of the female fex for whom it is defigned.

66

Kinderbuch zur erften Uebung im Lefen," &c. &c. von F. GEDIKE. Berlin; 1798; pp. 228. A Book for Children, intended to inftruct them in Reading without the Help of A, B, C, and of Spelling. The author is one of thofe pedagogues who object against inftruction in reading by the affiftance of fpelling. In order to fpare his children that pretended torture, he tried to make them repeat whole words at once, and then to let them attentively look at the printed or written word, to enable them to recognife it again; and to guefs the pronunciation of other words,, in which the fame letters occur, with fome alteration, Every page of the firft fheets contains, therefore, a row of words in alphabetical order, in which one letter is the principal one, either in the beginning, or in the middle, or at the end, and alternately is printed red or black. The fubfequent Theets contain connected useful paffages, which are to ferve as exercifes in reading. The author has a high opinion of this mode of inftruction, which he juftifies by his own experience. Practicable as it, however, may be in private inftruction, it certainly never will fucceed in academies and public fchools, where children of different capacities are to be inftructed. "Neues Bilderbuch fur die Jugend," &c. &c. Vol. I. 1798; pp. 320. New Picture-book for Children; containing fhort, amufing, and inftructive Accounts, of the Manners, Opinions, and Customs, of Foreign Nations, as well as of Animals, and of other remarkable Objects, in diftant Countries; defigned to promote the Knowledge of Countries and Nations among Youth. With Plates. The book is divided in three fections. The firft treats on the opinions, manners, and cuftoms of foreign nations; the fecond contains remarkable objects of zoology; and the laft fome ftriking phenomena of nature or art; characterifing the climate, trade, induftry, &c. of foreign countries. This collection is culled from the accounts of creditable travellers, and enriched with judicious extracts from the beft geographical compilations. The greater number of obfervations concern Africa, as few only relating to Afia. Sparrman, Le Vaillant, and Thunberg, are the principal guides of the author. The fix plates belonging to this ufeful work are tolerably well executed.

"Materialien zum frühern Unterricht

in Bürger, und Induftrie, Schulen," &c. &c. von F. E. voN, ROCHOW. Berlin; 1798; pp. 47; 8vo. Materials for the elementary Inftruction in Schools, &c. The author of thefe materials is a very worthy nobleman, who has largely contributed towards the better regulation of public fchools. He endeavours to give, in this fmall pamphlet, an eafy and perfpicu-ous expofition of the words, to can, real, caufe, effect, tendency, means, and nature.

NATURAL HISTORY.

"Differtationes Academicæ Upfaliæ, habitæ fub Præfidio E. P. THUNBERG; Volumen Primum, cum Tabulis V. Æneis." Gottingen, 1799; pp. 326; 8vo. The preface informs us, that a Mr. PERSOON is the compiler and editor of this truly valuable collection, which will be highly acceptable to every friend of natural hiftory. Those who know how difficult it is to obtain foreign academical differtations, and are acquainted with the celebrity of Mr. Thunberg's name, will be eager to fee this collection fpeedily continued. The prefent volume. contains the following differtation: "Genera Nova Plantarum," P. I-VIII. 1788 1798; — De Scientia Botanica utili atque jucunda, 1793;-De Flora Strengnefenf, 1791;-De Uíu Menyanthidis trifoliatæ. 1797;-De Oleo Cajuputi. I. II. 1797-De Moxæ atque Ïgnis in Medicina Ufu, 1788;-De Cortice Angufturæ, 1793;-De Arbore Toxicaria Macaffarienfi, 1788;-De Medicina Africanorum, 1788;-Obfervationes circa Remedia nonnulla indigena, 1790 ;-De Nautarum Valetudine tuenda, 1795Obfervationes in Pharmacopeam Suecicam.

"Kurze Befchreibung der Gefährlichften Giftpflanzen," &c. Von G. H. A. DUNKER. 1798. A concife Defeription of the most dangerous Poifonous Plants, for the Inftruction of Children, &c. With 30 Plates. The author of this highly useful work fhows himfelf a very active friend of mankind; and his exertions to render himfelf useful to the world deferve the warmeft gratitude of every one who takes a lively intereft in the cause of humanity. The defcription which he gives of the most common poi fonous plants is extremely lucid, and the plates are correct, though deftitute of elegance.

Fauna Boica," &c. B. I. Nurenberg. 1798. pp. 729; large Svo. The Bavarian Fauna. A carefully digested Natural History of the tame Animals of Bavaria, by F. VON PAULA SCHRANK. The author, who is honourably known 6Y 2

in

in Germany, by feveral farmer works of natural hiftory, difplays in the prefent publication a high degree of judgment and diligence. It contains 1020 fpecies of animals which are indigenous in Bavaria. With regard to fyftematic order, he has adopted a method of his own, which, however, is rather detrimental than useful to his elaborate work, which is printed with great neatnefs and on good paper.

GEOGRAPHY.

"Allgemeine Ueberficht des Herzogthums Steyermark," &c. &c. Von Jos. M. VON LICHTENSTERN. 8vo. Wien. 1799. General Survey of the Duchy of Styria, with regard to its Geographical State, &c. &c. This elaborate work, from which we fhall make fome extracts in a future number of our magazine, af. fords ample information concerning the hiftory of the country, as well as the Styrian literature, and is a honourable proof of the great diligence with which the author has profecuted his inveftiga

tions.

"Nachrichten und Bemerkungen uber den Algierifchen Staat." Altona, 1798. 8vo. Account of, and Obfervations upon, the State of Algiers; with a Map and coloured Plates. This claffical work contains a great deal of highly interefting information, which is to be met with neither in Shaw, nor in the works of any other traveller who has vifited the African ftates. A tranflation of this valuable work being in hand, we deem it fuperfluous to prove our opinion of its claffical merits by an analyfis of its contents, which would take up more room than we can fpare confiftently with the confined limits of our retrofpect.

"Die Ebene von Troja," &c. &c. Von C. G. LENZ. Neu-Strelitz. 1798. pp. xxvi, and 706; 8vo. The Plain of Troy, after Count Choifeul Gouffier and other Travellers; together with a Trea. tife of Major Müller of Gottingen, &c. &c. with Maps. Mr. Lenz has furnifhed the lovers of geography, in this work, with a collection of the most important investigations of the geographical fituation of a pot which has been rendered famous by one of the most memorable events of antiquity. The locality of the Ilias has been investigated of late by different literati. Le Chevalier was the firft who fuccefsfully explored the fpot where Troy formerly food. He had, ar different times, inveftigated this coaft of Afia Minor, partly in company with Choifeul Gouffier, and partly by him

felf, and made feveral important difcoveries. Urged by the repeated requests of his friends at Edinburgh, he read his defcription of the plain of Troy to the fociety of arts and fciences of that place. Profeffor Dalzel tranflated this defcription into the English language, and it was afterwards inferted into the Tranfactions of the Society of Edinburgh. Prof. Dalzel having communicated a copy of this defcription to Prof. Heyne, of Gottingen, the latter published, in the year 1792, a German tranflation of it, together with critical annotations, additions, and a preface. The inveftigations of Choifeul, and of his fellow-travellers, and their drawings of the most remarkable objects which they examined on the fpot, were origi-, nally defigned for a fecond volume of the Voyage Pittorefque. A fortunate coincidence of circumftances put the fection of Troy into the hands of German literati. Mr. Lenz obtained poffeffion of this defcription, and of other papers relating to the fame object, and thus was enabled to publifh the prefent elaborate and highly interefting compofition. This work alfo contains "J. Dryant's Defcription of Troy and of its environs, after Homer, and a treatife of Major Müller of Gottingen, which throws much light upon this difficult fubject. Le Chevalier's map, as corrected by the Major, exhibits an excellent reprefentation of Troy and its environs.

"Fragmente ueber Italien," &c. &c Vol. I. and II. pp. 390, and 345; 1798. Fragments on Italy; extracted from the Journals of a young German. Thefe fragments rife far fuperior to the great number of travels in Italy which have been publifhed of late, containing neither a tirefome defcription of places which have been defcribed again and again, nor a newly-vamped catalogue of the works of art and the antiquities of that country. Their chief object is to diffufe a more accurate knowledge of the manner of thinking, and the national genius of the Italians. The author, who difplays tafte and judgment, and a more than common impartiality, connected with fuperior talents for obfervation, having refided in Italy during the most memorable epocha, namely, in the years 96 and 97, which diftinguishes itself in a peculiar manner by the remarkable Italian war and the revolution which it produced, and of which the author was an eye-witnefs, It will be ob vious to our readers, that these fragments muft relate many facts, ferving to folve va rious political enigmas, and to develope

many

many phenomena which hitherto have been enveloped in impenetrable dark nefs. The geographical and ftatistical information which thefe volumes afford are particularly valuable. The author difplays a peculiar degree of found and unbiaffed judgment in his account of Buonaparte and the Italian revolutions, and we can fafely affert that perhaps few books have been written on Italy, and the events which lately have taken place in that country, which are fuperior to thefe fragments in impartiality of judgment, intereft, and found reafoning. We only have to regret that the author has not omitted feveral odious biographical anecdotes, or at least not adduced more fubftantial and authentic proofs of their genuineness. We are happy to inform our readers, that two literary gentlemen are tranflating thefe interefting volumes jointly, and intend publifhing them in a fplendid quarto edition.

Momentanes Bedürfnifs für Zeitungs lefer," &c. &c. 1799. pp. 184; 12mo. Momentaneous Guide for Readers of Newspapers, or Manual of the prefent Helvetic Topography. A brief topographical defcription of Helvetia after its prefent divifion in eighteen cantons; to which is prefixed a concife account of the origin and formation of the Helvetic confederacy, and of the revolution in the year 1798.

"PRATT'S Aehrenlefe, auf einer Reife durch Wallis." 1798. PRATT'S Gleanings, on a Journey through Wales. The tranflation is faithful, and reads like an original. Some paffages and a few let ters have been left out. But as thefe omiffions are entirely confined to paffages which are uninterefting or of an overftrained fentimental caft, they rather are commendable, as improvements, than deferving of cenfure.

"H. M. MARCARD's Reife durch die Franzöfifche Schweitz, und Italien." Erfter Band. 1799; pp. 414; 8vo. H. M. MACARD'S Travels through FrenchSwitzerland and Italy. Mr. Marcard ftaid, in autumn 1785, a few weeks at Laufanne, and from there travelled, by the way of Geneve, through Savoy to Turin, Genoa, Piacenza, Parma, Modena, and Bologna, as far as Florence, where this first volume concludes. We cannot recommend this work as particularly in ftructive, although the author extends his account to the arts and fciences. The rancour with which he declaims against all republican forins of government, and the invectives which he on every opportunity pours out again Kant, the fa

mous philofopher of Königfberg, prove him to be utterly deftitute of that philo fophic fpirit of cosmopolitifm with which every traveller muft be endued, who is defirous of reprefenting the objects of his obfervations in a proper light, and of purfuing his inveftigations with impartial juftice.

Reife von Amfterdam über Madrid und Cadix nach Genua." Inden-Jahren, 1797 und 1798. Von C. A. FISCHER, 1799; 8vo. Berlin. Journey from Amfterdam through Madrid and to Genoa, The author difplays great skill in the art of interefting the heart and animating the imagination. Although many of the earlier travellers to the parts which he vifited have furnished us in their accounts with more geographical and statistical intelligence, yet none has afforded more amufement and inftruction to his readers than we meet with in Mr. Fifcher's interefting account. He does not tire the patience of his readers by fulfome repetitions of hacknied subjects, but relates the refults of his own experience, and defcribes his own feelings and obfervations in a dignified, though unadorned ftyle, He chiefly endeavours to exhibit a faithful picture of the character of the Spaniards, and to furnish fome interefting and valuable additions to Bourgoing's mafterly work on the fame fubje&t We must confefs, that the learned author has executed this talk with great fuccefs. He informs us that the number of inhabitants of Madrid,exclufively of the hospitals, the garrifon, and the children, amount to 13,980; Bilbao contains 13,000 inhabitants; Badajoz 9,000; Sevilla 70,000; Valencia 106,000; Barcelonetta 13,000.

"Hiftorifch, Statifch, Topographifche, Befchreibung von Süd-Preuffen und NeuSüd-Preuffen," &c. &c. Eriter Band. pp. 666; crown 8vo. Leipzig, 1798. Hiftorical, Statistical, and Topographical Defcription of South-Pruffia and NewSouth-Pruffia; with fix Plates and three Maps. This is the beginning of a welldigefted, inftructive, and extremely complete work on the faid provinces, whofe lateft organifation under the Pruffian fceptre has almost entirely changed the former divifions. The introduction contains a concife sketch of the late reduction of that part of Poland under the Pruffan fceptre, of the late infurrection, and of the general divifion of the provinces newly acquired by Pruffia. The political hiftory of thefe provinces is related with great fidelity. The statistical part contains a great deal of new and interefting, information. The topographical defcrip

tion diftinguishes itfelf by its critical correctness.

"Süd-Preuffen und Neu-Eft-Preuffen," &c. &c. Von F. HERSBERG. Berlin, 1798; pp. 252; 8vo. South-Pruffia and New-Eaft-Prullia, &c. &c. a Geographical and Statifical Sketch. The author of this elaborate publication modeftly calls it a mere effay; however, it is highly deferving of commendation, as it contains a great variety of inftructive information concerning the faid two provinces. Particularly interefting is the fection which contains a characteristic of the towns, villages, and their inhabitants. The work concludes with a concife defcription of Dantzick and Thorn, which now are incorporated with Weft- Pruffia.

1.

"Briefe ueber Berlin." Erfte Sammlung. 1798. pp. 91; 8vo. Letters on Berlin. Part I.

2. "Neuefles Gemachlde von Berlin, auf das Jahr 1798." Cölln, 1798. pp. 174: 8vo. Lateft Picture of Berlin."

3. Berlin von Seiner Enttehung b auf gegen waertige Zeit," &c. &c. Berfin,, 1798. pp. 112; 8vo. A Hiftoricogeographical Defcription of Berlin, from its Origin to the prefent Time; together with fome Obfervations on the Literature, Manners, and Cuftoms of its Inhabitants. The Letters, No. 1. are ftated to have been written by a traveller who faw Berlin for the first time. But this is very improbable, as the folid manner in which the author reafons upon the objects of his obfervations, and the uncommonly correct knowledge of that interefting city which he difplays, evidently befpeak a long and intimate acquaintance with the fubjects upon which he treats. It appears, by fome paffages, that thefe letters avere written already under the reign of the late king. They treat particularly upon the mode of life of the nobility of the fecond rate; efpecially upon the rage for gaming which prevails amongst them The author's obfervations upon the medical club, the academies of arts and fciences, the medico-chirurgico college, and the veterinary academy, are deferving of being read. The account of the national theatre, and of the merits of the actors belonging to it, is compofed with fcientific tafte; the language is, indeed, not without defects; however, the writer's pointed and judicious obfervations, and the feeling applications he makes of them, amply indemnify the reader for the few inaccuracies of diction which occafionally

occur.

The author of No. 2. paints in ftrong

colours the fashionable follies and vices of Berlin. He lashes the prevailing corrup tion with unmerciful feverity, exhibiting the rage for fashion which prevails at Berlin, the popular amufements of, its inhabitants, their addiction to gaming, and many other objects of cenfure. He difplays an intimate knowledge of the prevailing fpirit of the times, and exerts himfelf chiefly to expofe its dangerous influence to public view, and to render it ridi-' culous. The moft beautiful pictures, which betray a confiderable fhare of pfycholo gical acuteness, a high degree of fenfibi-. lity, and a quick fufceptibility of the beauties of nature, are fuperfcribed Gardens and tombs.

No. 3. is an extract from a larger work, entitled "The Traveller;" of which already four volumes are published. HISTORY.

"Lehrbuch der Gefchrihtfkunde älte. rer Zeiten." &c. &c. Von C. VENTU RINI. 1799. Pp. 386; 8vo. Compendium of Ancient Hiftory, from the Creation of the World to the great Migra tion of Nations, &c. &c. The good intention of the author deferves more praise than the manner in which he has executed his tafk; his compendium being in no degree fuperior to, the numerous publications of that clafs which are annually published in Germany.

"Freyheit der Franken, Adel, &c." &c. Von C. MANNERT. Altdorf, 1799. pp. 368; 8vo. French Liberty; Nobility; Slavery; Examination of a Part of the Ancient German Conftitution. Profeffor MANNERT relates under this affected title the hiftory of the monarchy of the Francs, from the times of Merovæus to those of Charles the great, in order to deduce therefrom the lofs of the ancient Franconian liberty, the origin of nobility and bondage. We do not recollect any German hiftorian who has treated upon thefe fubjects with fuch energetic brevity, and reprefented them with an equal degree of acutenefs and truth.

"Abrifz der Deutfchen Gefchichte." Von L. WESTENRIEDER. Munich, 1798. pp. 208; 8vo. A Sketch of the Hiftory of Germany. This hiftorical sketch of the celebrated Mr. Weftenrieder is entirely calculated to fupply the wants of Bavaria; and the manner in which he has executed it clearly fhows that he is perfectly acquainted with the requifites of a good national hiftory. He makes the juft obfervation, that the hiftorian ought to confider the princes and their minifters as phyficians of their people, and the lat

ter