us; Half-yearly Retrofpect of Domestic Literature. Queftion as it flood in March 1798," is a pamphlet attributed to Mr. FRANCIS: it has obtained from the public a merited approbation for the perfpicuity of its ftyle, the acutenefs of its reafoning, and the accuracy of its statements. A great deal of found, good fenfe, expreffed in, eafy, intelligible and unornamented language, is to be found in a fmall publication, which we earnestly recommend to general perufal, intitled" Peace in our Power upon Terms not Unreasonable," by, CHARLES BARING, Efq. Mr. LISTER'S "Oppofition Dangerous," was written when the ghoft of invafion frightened it very properly recommended us to forget all petty political difputes, and heartily unite to lay it. Of a fimilar nature is " An Addrefs to the People of Great Britain," by Mr. GEORGE BURGES. "A ferious Addrefs" alfo has been submitted" to the People of Great Britain," by JAMES JOHNSON, Eiq. a gentleman of minifterial politics, who warmly reprobates the ungenerous artifice which many friends of government adopt, of blending and confounding the two distinct and often oppofite characters of reformer and revolutionist. PETER PORCUPINE, of no very honourable notoriety, has publifhed a work, in two parts, intitled, "Democratic Principles illuftrated by Example." The name of H. R. YORKE is familiar to many of us in confequence of a conviction for feditious practices, he was fentenced to a long imprifoniment, during which period he appears to have undergone a gradual and complete change in his political principles; he has now published "A Letter to the Reformers," wherein he exhibits a full recantation of his former tenets. Knowing fo little of Mr. YORKE as we do, it would be highly unbecoming to join that general voice of cenfure which, of courie, is directed against him by the party, whofe principles he has deferted: Mr. YORKE may be actuated by the purest and most honourable motives; we enter not into the receffes of another man's heart. "The Cafe of the People of England," &c. is written by one of 80,000 incorrigible jacobins," who, notwithstanding, appears to have a fincere refpe&t for the form and principles of our own conftitution; his pamphlet difplays ability and information. Mr. ANTHONY AUFRERE, as "A Warning to Britons," has published "from a well-authenticated German publication," a moft horrible, and, we fincerely hope, as every man of feeling muft hope, an exaggerated relation of the 489 treacherous and inhuman conduct of the French officers and foldiers towards the peasants of Suabia, during the invafion of Germany in 1796. We could enumerate the title-pages of various other political publications, but the task, perhaps, would be no lets tirefome to our readers than ourselves; particularly as we are not aware of having omitted any, whofe eminence, either in wifdom, or in folly, merits enumeration. On the fubject of American politics, however, two publications deferve attention: the aim of Mr. HARPER'S "Obfervations on the Difpute between the United States and France," is to criminate the latter and exculpate the former: it is a well-known and melancholy truth, that America is divided into two parties, the one adherent-perhaps through gratitude -to the French, who generously stepped forward to affift them in their ever-memorable ftruggle; and the other, yet attached to the once parent-country, who are folicitous to preferve with it, their prefent alliance. Mr. HARPER is a champion of the latter; he enlarges in a strain of animated, indeed, but not very eloquent invective, on the arrogance and unbounded ambition of the French Republic; he developes her political manoeuvres in refpect to the United States, and confiders the object of her connection with them, to be the revival of ancient animolity between England and America; reflecting, that this revival would evidently be attended with striking and immediate advantages to France, Thefe obfervations, however, of Mr. HARPER, it feems, are to be received with very cautious confent; for a late minifter plenipotentiary from the republic of America to that of France, Mr. MUNROE, has published "A View of the Conduct of the Executive in the Foreign Affairs of the United States, as connelled with the Miffion to the French Republic during the Years 1794-5, and 6,” wherein some of the most important ftatements of Mr. HARPER are invalidated; not to fay intirely overthrown. Mr. MUNROE'S pamphlet is entitled to the greater respect perhaps, fince it was not written in reply to Mr. HARPER, but contains an accidental and unintended impeachment of his accuracy; Mr. M. has, moreover, illuftrated his pamphlet, and given it indifputable authority, by the infertion of his own diplomatic inftructions and correfpondence. Few are the works which have come before us on the fubjects of GENEALO 490 Half yearly Retrofpect of Domeftic Literature. GENEALOGY AND ANTIQUITIES; but thofe fw are excellent in their kind. Mr. D. LYEONS" Envirens of London," is a valuable work, which most of us, probably, have perufed; a younger brother of that gentleman, Mr. S. LYSONS, has published a very interefting "Account of Reman Antiquities difcovered at Woodchefter, in the County of Gloucester; in this fplendid work, Mr. L. has difplayed an uncommon variety of ornamental and curious acquirements: though not profeffionally an artift, he has executed, not merely the drawings and admeasurements himself, but, with one or two exceptions, bas alfo engraven the plates, and in a ftyle of fuperior delicacy and elegance. The defcriptive portion of this volume difplays much diligence of inveftigation, and is no lefs creditable to Mr. LYSONS, as an antiquary, than the graphic as an artist. The price of the magnificent work is ten guineas in boards. Mr. LANG. LEY'S History and Antiquities of the Hundred of Defborough and Deanery of Wycombe,” is a work rather of useful reference to the hiftorian, than of general intereft to the public: it is executed with induftry and ability; nor is it the fault of Mr. L. that the hundred of Defborough poffeffes but little attraction to the antiquary. We are indebted to an anonymous editor, for the publication of a curious account of the "Venerable and Primitial See of St. Andrews; reliquie Divi Andre." This work was written by a true (though unworthy) fone of the church,' (as he modeftly ftyles himfelf), Mr. GEORGE MARTINE, of Clermont, who feems to have held fome office, probably that of fecretary, under Archbifhop Sharp. This work is printed from an original manufcript, preferving not only Mr. Martine's ftyle, but his fpelling, both of which have undergone confiderable alterations in MSS. of the univerfity, the Harleian library, and that in the poffeffion of Dr. Adamfon. Whoever is defirous of information relative to the early hiftory of St. Andrews, will not be difappointed in the perufal of this curious volume. In profecution of a defign which the fociety of antiquaries has refolved to execute, of publishing accurate measures of all the principal ecclefiaftical buildings of England, it has now prefented the public with "Some Account of the Cathedral Church of Exeter, illuflrative of the plans, clevations, and sections of that building. This magnificent work is the first of the feries; it contains eleven plates, which are executed on a large fcale and in an elegant manner. The "Colle&tion of fearce and interefting Trals, tending to elucidate detached parts of the Hiftory of Great Britain," is felected from the Somers collections, and arranged in chronological order. This work is doubly valuable, from the fcarcity of the larger work from which it is compiled. We must not omit to mention, that the indefatigable Mr. NICHOLS, has publifhed Illuftrations of the Manners and Expences of Ancient Times in Englend," which he has deduced from the accompts of church-wardens, and other authentic documents. VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. Few works are better calculated to blend inftruction with amufement, than thofe which may be comprehended under the prefent head: fince our laft retrospect, feveral of unusual merit have been added to our collection of voyages and travels. Among them is Mr. DALLAWAY's" Cenftantinople, Ancient and Modern; with Excurfions to the Shores and Iftands of the Archipelago, and to the Troad." The object of Mr. D. was not fo much to delineate the prefent manners of the Ottoman empire, as to obtain and communicate an accurate information of the prefent ftate of those ruins which were once the pride of claffic antiquity, and to infpect thofe fcenes once dignified by the refidence of the moft enlightened people of their day.” In this tour, of about a thousand miles, Mr. D. furveyed the eastern coaft of the fea of Marmora, and traverfing Anatolia, purfued the gean fhores on his return, and vifited the illands of Samos, Chio, Mitylene, and Tenedos, examining alfo the now defolate region of the Troad. A very ample account is given of the metropolis of the empire, which is inhabited by a motley crew of Turks, Greeks, Jews, Armenians, and Franks, from every European nation. Among the public edifices of Conftantinople-confifting of 13 libraries, 500 fchools, 130 baths, khans for the accommodation of merchants, bazars for the difplay of their wares, together with coffee-houfes, and teriaki-khana, where opium is fold, (a drug now giving way to wine) is the remarkably magnificent mofque of Sultan Ahmed I. How much the influence of internal embellishments over the mind, of gilded tablets, and the dim religious light" of richly-painted windows, is heightened, in chriftian churches, by the full choir and decent ceremonies, will be felt, fays Mr. DALLAWAY," in thefe temples of Mahommed, in which are feen only Half-yearly Retrofpect of British Literature. nly a few devotees, writhing themselves in diftorted attitudes, and drawling out portions of the Koran with equal loudnefs and difcordance." A tranflation has appeared, from the original Italian of the Abbé LAZZARO SPALLANZANI's "Travels in the Two Sicilies, and Jome Parts of the Appenines." The celebrity of SPALLANZANI, as a naturalift, philofopher, and phyfiologift, will excite very confiderable attention to the prefent performance: his microfcopical oblervations, and his experiments, multifarious, indeed, and Valuable, but many of them attended with circumstances of DISGUSTING AND UNPARDONABLE CRUELTY, are wellknown to the learned, and many of them, even to the unlearned world. The prefent work, however, may be read without fhock to the feelings of any one, for the Abbate, whofe former ftudies have been chiefly devoted to the investigation of animal and vegetable phenomena, has now turned his attention to the minutiae of mineralogy. For the purpose of forming an ample and valuable collection of volcanic matter, SPALLANZANI made the circuit of the Phlegrean fields and the olian ifles: the ever-burning craters of Ætna, Stromboli and Vefuvius, fubmitted to his undaunted and indefatigable research. We have frequently had occafion, and seldom more occafion than at prefent, to lament, that it is inconfiftent with our plan to enter at large into works of curiofity and importance; it is evident, however, that a retrospect of fo unreftricted a nature, would fwell to a fize difproportionate to our other communica tions. With reluctance, therefore, we muft content ourfelves with a fimple recommendation of the Abbè SPALLANZANI's travels, to the perufal of our readers. A republication has appeared of " Paul Hentzner's Travels into England during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth," &c. Horace Walpole tranflated thefe travels from the Latin, and printed them at Strawberry Hill, about forty years ago; to the prefent edition, which is correctly and beautifully printed, the Fragmenta Regalia, or Obfervations on Queen Elizabeth's Times and Favourites, are added: the engia ings which adorn this work, are nummerous, and executed in a ftyle of confiderable elegance. Dr. MOODY has edited "A Sketch of Modern France," written in a feries of letters, by a Lady, during a tour through that country in the years 1796 and 1797. Thefe letters are written with a great deal of vivacity; they abound in anecdotes, for the most part illustra SUPP. MONTHLY MAC, No. xxx. 49r tive of eminent characters, and are evi- 492 Half-yearly Retrofpect of British Literature. a ftill larger proportion were in a state of vallalage in the canton of Zurich; nor did Lucerne, the Boeotia of Switzerland, wear, in any degree, lefs heavy or lefs galling chains than either. "What," exclaims Gustavus Vafa to the miners of Dalecarlia, "What but liberty Through the famed courfe of thirteen hun dred years, Aloof hath held INVASION from your hills, And fanctified their fhade?.... And what are fifty, what a thousand slaves, But the French have marched over the hills of Switzerland, for the mountaineers had no liberty to ftrike for; and they yielded, after an obftinate, indeed, though a fhort conflict, to the reftlefs and ambitious arms of a proud and overbearing republic. The last thirty pages of Mifs WILLIAMS's interefting work contain important matter, and matter very little known, relative to this invafion; which had not taken place at the time fhe wrote, but which the feems to have clearly anticipated from the temper which the obferved in the country. It appears that the popular party of the Pays de Vaud claimed from the French an ancient guarantee of their republican independence, in oppofition to the governments of Switzerland, particularly that of Berne; this guarantee was made by the French nation in the year 1565, in confirmation of the treaty of Laufanne, concluded the preceding year, between Philibert, the fucceffor of Charles the Third, duke of Savoy, and the Swifs cantons. Mifs WILLIAMS has given a history of this curious and important treaty, which, if correct, fecms, on the acknowledged principles of national faith, not only to justify the invation of Switzerland by France, but to how that it was fimply the honourable fulfilment of an old engagement in favour of the people The invafion of Switzerland has met with fuch general reprobation, that we are particularly folicitous not to mislead our readers, and prompt them to an erroneous judgment on the fubject; Mifs WILLIAMS wrote antecedent to the revolution, and confequently cannot be fufpected of having written exprefsly in vindication of it. We have ftated plainly, what was the impreflion made on our minds in the perufal of her tour; a very oppofite impreflion might be made on the minds of others. We with our readers, therefore, not to form their opinion from The laft work which we have occafion to notice in this department of literature is, "Travels through the Maritime Ap from Italy to Lyons, across the Col de Tend," &c. by Mr. ALBANIS BEAUMONT, author of "The Rhatian Alps," &c. The chief merit of this publication, as well as of the former by the fame gentleman, confifts in the splendour of its plates, and the elegance of its typography. It is printed in folio, and the price of it is five guineas. TOURS. Some few narratives of what may be denominated domeftic excurfions, unafpiring to the dignity of "Voyages and Travels," have too much merit to be paffed over in filence. We have feldom perufed a mall volume, which, for a delineation of character, variety of incident, and variety of defcription, exceeds Mr. WARNER'S " Walk through Wales." We are happy to obferve an increafing frequency of thefe pedestrian tours: to walk, is, beyond all compari fon, the most independent and advanta geous mode of travelling; Smelfuugns and Mundungus may purfue their jour ney as they pleafe; but it grieves one to fee a man of tafte at the mercy of a poíti. lion. Mr. HENRY SKRINE is rather a common-place traveller: his " Two facceffive Tours through the whole of Wales. is a mediocre performance, affording but little room, either to cenfure or applaud. Mr. WOODWARD's "Eccentric Excur fions" contain abundant sketches of character and country, in different parts of England and South Wales. A vein of humour pervades them, which, however, is not always the most happy: the work is embellished with a hundred engravings, many of them original and characteristic. Mr. M'NAYR'S " Guide from Glagow to fome of the most remarkable Scenes in the Highlands of Scotland," is fomewhat overcharged with defcription; we question not the warmth of the author's feelings at the fcenes he furveyed, but a man of fimple and correct tafte would, in fome degree, have repulfed the wantonness and luxuriance of his imagination, when he fat down to write. As the eye may be offended at a glare of colouring, fo may the ear be foon furfeited by richness and however, is entitled to confiderable praife mellifluence of defeription. Mr. M'NAYR, like Mr. WARNER, the pedestrian tourist just mentioned, he is an admirer of Oilian, Half-yearly Retrofpect of British Literature. and abounds with poetic and hiftorical quotation. TOPOGRAPHY. Dr. J. A. GRAHAM'S “Descriptive Sketch of the prefent State of Vermont" is written in a style of such uniform panegyric, that, in order to derive much valuable information, it must be read with confiderable caution; with fuch caution, however, it may be carefully perufed. Mr. POLWHELE has published a part of the first volume of his "History of Devonbire;" it is fomewhat fingular, that this elaborate work was introduced to the public by a fecond volume, which ap- in 493 quefts, and the coinage among the Por- We proceed to an interesting and useful BIOGRAPHY, which is cultivated to a confiderable ex- tranflation, which this valuable work has 3S2 No |